Chamber's state legislative agenda keeps focus on strong local business community
The Chamber has set its 2026 state legislative priorities, ahead of the legislative session slated to begin in January. Last month, the Chamber's Public Policy Committee Chair Beth Tate presented this advocacy agenda to the county's legislative delegation.
Our legislative agenda positions St. Johns County as a competitive, attractive community for business by championing four pillars that all reinforce each other: economic development and competitiveness, workforce development and attainable housing, infrastructure and transportation, and tourism.
Economic Development and Competitiveness
The Chamber is strongly advocating for reforms to reduce or eliminate the tangible personal property tax, which is a major barrier for small business growth and capital investment. At the same time, we’re focused on expanding advanced manufacturing in St. Johns County, ensuring we provide county revenues without compromising essential services or increasing the tax burden of homeowners. We also support the use of state and federal aviation infrastructure dollars to unlock transformative opportunities at the St. Augustine Airport, one of our most strategic economic assets.
Workforce Development and Attainable Housing
Our businesses cannot thrive if our workforce cannot live here. That’s why we are pushing for expanded funding mechanisms to build workforce housing through public-private partnerships that allow pragmatic, local-control-driven solutions. We are pushing to provide full funding of CAPE, CTE, technical training, and career academies to ensure students and adults can train locally for high-wage jobs without leaving the region.
Infrastructure and Transportation
Our ability to grow sustainably depends on smarter mobility. The Chamber supports expanded public transportation options in St. Johns County and fully back the Board of County Commissioners’ infrastructure priorities. The Chamber is calling for continued support of beach refurbishment, particularly south of the Guana Reserve, and we support completing a feasibility study of a regional commuter rail line linking Jacksonville and St. Augustine, a generational project that could redefine access, workforce mobility, and economic growth.
Tourism
Tourism is not just heritage; it’s one of our most powerful economic engines. The Chamber supports passage of the governance legislation needed to launch the Museum of Black History, a landmark project for cultural impact and tourism growth. We strongly support permanent funding for Visit Florida and capital investments in historic preservation.
This agenda is business-driven and locally grounded. It strengthens our economy, modernizes our infrastructure, sustains our tourism industry, and supports the people who live and work here. With strong leadership and partnership, we can secure long-term prosperity without sacrificing the character and autonomy that make St. Johns County exceptional.