My Trip to Tallahassee with the Lakewood Ranch Business
Alliance

This past week, I had the privilege of traveling to Tallahassee as part of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA) delegation. Our mission was clear—to advocate for policies that support business growth, workforce development, and infrastructure investment. We engaged directly with key members of the SRQ Delegation, including Senators Jim Boyd and Joe Gruters, as well as Representatives James Buchanan, Fiona McFarland, Will Robinson, and Bill Conerly. Our discussions centered around critical issues such as the repeal of the Commercial Lease Tax, increased funding for local road projects, expansion of workforce training programs, access to
affordable child and early learning care and solutions to Florida’s ongoing housing crisis.

However, our trip was not just about business advocacy—we also had a front-row seat to a historic legislative moment. While we were in Tallahassee, the Florida Legislature convened a special session to address immigration policy, culminating in the swift passage of a sweeping immigration bill. This legislation, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, aligns Florida’s immigration enforcement with President Donald Trump’s federal policies, introducing strict measures on undocumented immigration, penalties for sanctuary jurisdictions, and new state
enforcement mechanisms. While we were not there for the final vote, we witnessed firsthand the intensity of the political process and the coordination between state leaders and the White House. This bill will continue to take center stage in our government and the courts as constitutional and legal appeals are anticipated.

As we left Tallahassee, we carried with us not only the hope that our advocacy would lead to meaningful support for businesses but also a deep understanding of how rapidly state government can act on major policies. The experience reinforced the importance of being engaged in both economic and legislative discussions—because business and politics are more intertwined than ever.