County Setting State, Federal Priorities for 2026

By Lisa Neff

Manatee County officials are making plans to lend support for state and federal initiatives, but also bring home some bucks from D.C. and Tallahassee.

The board of commissioners earlier this month reviewed with government relations manager Brent Anderson Manatee’s the county’s priorities for the 2026 state legislative session, as well as the priorities for the next year in Congress. The board was expected to adopt its legislative agenda this week.

At the federal level, priorities include support for passing:

            • The Manatee Protection Act, which requires the U.S. Department of the Interior to include the West Indian manatee on the endangered species list and extend endangered species protection to manatees;

            • The Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act, which would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster;

            • Goldie’s Act, which would direct the Agriculture Department to document and record violations of the act observed during inspections and provide a copy of the records to state and local animal control or law enforcement within 24 hours;

            • The Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act, which would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Sarasota County portion of the river as part of the wild and scenic rivers system and explore options to include Manatee’s portion.

The county also supports robust federal funding for roads, bridges, rail and transit; reforms to FEMA’s public assistance program to expedite reimbursements; and increased federal funding to counties for election security.

Potential federal appropriations requests include:

            • $3 million for a planned veterans resource hub and memorial park on Buckeye Road in Palmetto;

            • $6 million — $3 million in fiscal 2027 and $3 million in fiscal 2028 — to develop the North/South Greenway Trail;

            • $10 million for the Gamble Creek Flood Mitigation Area in Parrish;

            • $3 million to renovate a Bradenton building to house the Fresh Start homeless services program.

At the state level, potential appropriations requests include $2.5 million for the Fresh Start project, as well as:

            • $2 million to rebuild the Anna Maria City Pier, which was destroyed by the 2024 hurricanes;

            • $1.5 million for replacing the Singletary Road Bridge over a Myakka River branch;

            • $3 million for the extension of 51st Street West from 53rd Avenue West to El Conquistador Parkway to support economic development in the southwest district;

            • $3 million for the veterans resource hub and memorial park.

State legislative priorities for the county include changing state law to allow a residential district, municipality or county to set a maximum speed limit of 15 mph.

The county also has policy positions on its legislative agenda, including support for:

            • Preserving home rule and local authority, including on land use, planning water resources and revenues;

            • Preserving local emergency management authority;

            • Legislation allowing the expanded use of additional dwelling units;

            • Full funding of programs such as the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund, Safe Children Coalition, Community Care for the Elderly and Home Care for the Elderly;

            • Funding and programs that strengthen extreme weather preparedness, stormwater and flood control and coastal protection;

            • Full funding of the justice department and expanded investment in behavioral health, substance abuse treatment and related services;

            • Increased funding for workforce training and education programs;

            • Funding and policies that expand trail networks, promote walking and biking, parks and green spaces and increase access to recreation.

Anderson said components of the county’s 2026 legislative agenda will “live” on the county’s website at mymanatee.org, and some components will be on materials to be shared when lobbying state and federal lawmakers.

Manatee County’s state legislative delegation is expected to meet Oct. 27 to hear requests from local governments, nonprofits and others in advance of the next session, which begins Jan. 13, 2026.

In January, the 119th Congress will begin its second session.