November 1, 2026 - Time to Fall Back and Vote!

The Mayfield Minute - November 1, 2026

Good Morning!

It's Time to Fall Back

At approximately 2:00 a.m. this morning, the time changed back one hour. In 1918, the Standard Time Act, officially creating Daylight Savings Time (DST), was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

In 2007, Congress passed a statute permanently affirming that the time changes would begin annually on the second Sunday in March (Spring Forward) and end on the first Sunday in November (Fall Back).

In March 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted for former U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 to permanently end the annual “fall back” in November. The legislation was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives for action but was never taken up for a vote, despite broad support among lawmakers and the American people. Last year, U.S. Senator Rick Scott reintroduced the legislation, as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025.

On July 14, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 by a 308–117 vote. The Act was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee and has not been passed by the Senate or signed into law.

Nineteen states, including Florida, have passed legislation or resolutions calling on the federal government to make Daylight Savings Time permanent year-round. The next "spring forward" time change will take place on March 14, 2027.

As a reminder, this Tuesday, November 3rd is Election Day. This is a critically important election which will decide the future of our state. In addition to several candidate races at the local, state, and federal levels, Floridians will have an opportunity to vote on several important ballot initiatives.

In the October 26th edition of the Mayfield Minute, I highlighted the three local referenda on the ballot in Brevard County. In the October 18th edition, I highlighted the three proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution.

Additionally, I have shared an update from Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd regarding election integrity in this week’s Statewide Updates below.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (321) 409-2025. My staff and I are here to serve you!

Floridian Making an Impact

John Anderson

Last week, country singer and Florida native John Anderson passed away at the age of 71. In honor of his contributions to the music industry and Florida’s environmental preservation, I’m honored to highlight him as our Floridian Making an Impact.

Mr. Anderson was born and raised in Apopka, surrounded by orange groves and swampland. These landscapes would serve as an inspiration for his music about Florida’s natural beauty. After graduating from Apopka High School in 1972, he immediately moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.

In 1992, following a series of successful albums, Mr. Anderson released Seminole Wind, featuring the title track of the same name. This song explored the conservation of old-Florida and honored the Native American tribes woven into the state’s history. It would go on to inspire generations to protect Florida’s heritage, natural environment, and way of life, reinforcing the importance of preserving the state’s unique landscapes, including the Everglades.

In 2024, Mr. Anderson was inducted in the national Country Music Hall of Fame and the Florida Artist Hall of Fame in recognition of his musical contributions.

Following his passing, Governor DeSantis announced an executive order establishing Seminole Wind as Florida’s anthem. Additionally, Governor DeSantis directed the necessary steps be taken to erect historic markers within the City of Apopka and Orange County, recognizing the contributions of Mr. Anderson to Florida’s heritage.

Governor DeSantis also directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to work with the St. John’s Water Management District to designate the trail system within the Lake Apopka North Shore as the John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System.

This week, I'm proud to honor and remember John Anderson as a great Floridian, who inspired generations of Floridians to appreciate, celebrate, and protect the natural beauty and heritage of our state.

To read Governor DeSantis’ full executive order, click here.

Statewide Update

Florida Secretary of State Reports on Election Readiness

Last week, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd issued an election readiness update ahead of the General Election on November 3rd, emphasizing the administration of high integrity, efficient elections as early voting continues statewide. He stressed the duty to uphold constitutional and statutory responsibilities while holding accountable any attempts to violate election laws, calling free and fair elections a cornerstone of the Republic.

Secretary Byrd reported that the Office of Election Crimes and Security, established in 2022 as the nation’s first state-level office dedicated to investigating election law violations, continues to make progress in identifying fraud. Since the office was created, more than 100 cases of election fraud have been prosecuted.

Last month, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the results of a recent operation which resulted in the arrest of more than 20 individuals charged with illegally voting. Suspicious voter fraud activity can be reported to Florida’s Voter Fraud Hotline at (877) 868-3737 or online here.

In the Florida Legislature, we are continuing to work to secure our elections. This past year, the legislature passed HB 991, also known as the Florida SAVE Act. This legislation strengthened voter ID requirements, required verification of citizenship, and mandated that all votes must be recorded on paper ballots.

I was proud to support the Florida SAVE Act and worked closely with the bill sponsor to include common sense voter transparency measures. The bill requires all candidates for public office to disclose any dual citizenships they may hold and requires candidates for federal office to disclose if they intend to trade stocks while in office.

As a reminder, the 2026 General Election will take place this Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct and present a current valid photo ID. To locate your Brevard County precinct, click here.

On election day, results will appear on FloridaElectionWatch.gov starting at 8:00 p.m. EST, with ongoing reporting and hourly turnout updates available.

Governor DeSantis Announces $100 Million in Springs and Water Supply Projects

This week, Governor DeSantis announced an award of $100 million across 45 projects through the Springs Restoration and Alternative Water Supply Grant programs. These projects aim to protect and restore Florida’s springs, expand alternative water supplies, and encourage water conservation.

“I was proud to announce $100 million for springs restoration and alternative water supply projects throughout Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “These strategic investments will build on the progress we’ve made in protecting our natural resources and improving water quality in communities across Florida, so that we can leave this state to God better than we found it.”

The Springs Restoration Grant Program funds projects that support both improvements in water quality and spring flow. Approximately $50 million in funding will be awarded to 23 projects aimed at restoring Florida’s springs through wastewater upgrades and other enhancements that will collectively reduce total Nitrogen by more than 55,000 pounds per year.

Additionally, $50 million has been awarded to projects to reduce Florida’s reliance on traditional freshwater sources by expanding the use of alternative water supplies. These projects will help produce over 60 million gallons of water per day and will focus on the expansion of reclaimed water use, enhancing aquifer recharge, and promoting water conservation.

I have long been an advocate for the restoration and protection of our natural resources, including water quality. Since the passage of my Clean Waterways Act (2020), the legislature has invested more than $1.3 billion in funding for water quality improvement grants statewide and $286 million for water quality grants through the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program. I look forward to continuing my support of these grant programs to protect Florida’s waterways.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Approves USAA Auto Rate Decreases Impacting Nearly 500,000 Policies

Last week, Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky approved several auto insurance rate decreases for USAA Group. The average rate decrease is 7%, impacting over 498,000 policies, with some policyholders seeing reductions of up to 11.2%. The company’s highest concentration of business is in Brevard, Escambia, and Okaloosa counties, where average rate decreases will be 5.8%, 8%, and 8.4%, respectively.

Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said, “The Office of Insurance Regulation is constantly reaching out to insurers to inquire about rate relief, and USAA is always stepping up to the plate and looking out for their consumers. This is fantastic news and I encourage other companies to continue following suit.”

Florida’s auto insurance market continues to show strong growth and stability. As of this Fall, the top five auto groups have indicated a rate change of 12.6%, representing 81% of Florida’s auto market. In 2025, Florida ranked first in the nation for the lowest personal auto liability loss ratio at 52.5%, its lowest level in 15 years.

For highlights on Florida’s insurance market, click here.

Constituent of the Week

Captain Rosa M. Reich, United States Air Force (Fmr.)

Our Constituent of the Week is former United States Air Force Captain Rosa M. Reich.

Captain Reich was born in Michigan to a military family. Throughout her childhood her family moved many times, ultimately settling in Nebraska. In 1983, she graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in history. While in college, she participated in the Air Force ROTC with a full scholarship and upon completion, she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.

From 1983 to 1987, Captain Reich was stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas where she served as a Deputy Combat Crew Commander before becoming a Missile Combat Crew Commander. While on active duty, she graduated from the University of Arkansas with a master’s degree in operations management.

In 1992, she moved to Brevard County with her husband, Douglas Shull, who was stationed at Patrick Space Force Base. Upon arriving, Captain Reich began a 17-year civilian career with Brevard County Health and Human Services while continuing to serve part-time as an Air Force public affairs reservist. During her career with the County, she held a variety of leadership positions including managing affordable housing initiatives, directing housing assistance programs, and overseeing the administration of millions of dollars in federal and state funding.

After retiring from Brevard County in 2010, Captain Reich joined the board of Catholic Charities of Central Florida (CCCF). In 2014, she began working for CCCF full-time as a case manager and grant writer. In this role, she assisted homeless, and at-risk of homelessness, individuals and families with financial support and community resources. In 2022, she retired from CCCF.

Outside of her military and civic careers, Captain Reich has been a passionate community advocate and continues to support Veterans' organizations.

For 19 years, she served as a Girl Scout Leader and Training Facilitator for Girl Scouts of Citrus Council from 2000 to 2012. She was a member of the team that organized the centennial anniversary of Girl Scouts events in Brevard County and Central Florida. For her contributions she was awarded the Thanks Badge, the highest adult volunteer honor in Girl Scouting.

Captain Reich has been a member of the Military Officers Association of America Cape Canaveral Chapter since 2018 and currently serves as President. Under her leadership, the organization has remained actively engaged in advocacy, scholarship programs, and service projects benefiting local Veterans and their families.

From 2022 to 2025 she served as a board member for Land of Hope, a program of Community of Hope. She is currently serving as the Community Land Trust and Compliance Coordinator for Community of Hope, working on providing affordable homeownership for low to moderate income families.

Captain Reich resides in unincorporated Brevard County with her husband of 39 years, and they have two children and two grandchildren.

SD 19 is grateful to Captain Rosa M. Reich for dedicating her life to service in the military, local government, and nonprofit and community organizations. Her career reflects her enduring commitment to strengthening communities, supporting Veterans, and empowering individuals and families to obtain self-sufficiency, dignity, and stability.

District Highlights

Indian Harbour Beach Baffle-Box Ribbon-Cutting

Last Tuesday, I attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City of Indian Harbour Beach’s new baffle box, which will capture trash, sediment, and pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from stormwater before it enters the Indian River Lagoon.

The baffle box is located outside Indian Harbour Beach City Hall, between Cheyenne Court and South Patrick Drive. The project is yet another example of the important work being done to protect our waterways, improve water quality, and preserve the Indian River Lagoon for future generations.

Thank you to Mayor Nickle and the City of Indian Harbour Beach for your leadership and commitment to protecting our lagoon!

NASA Accelerates Artemis Plans as Moon Missions Move Forward

At a recent press conference, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlined the agency's updated roadmap for returning astronauts to the moon at a faster pace, and with a renewed focus on mission readiness.

"We're going to move with greater urgency and take advantage of the incredible capabilities that exist across government and industry to get Americans back to the lunar surface," said Administrator Isaacman.

A central topic of the briefing was the status of Artemis III, which remains targeted for launch in 2027. NASA officials said the mission will serve as a critical test of systems and procedures needed for future lunar landings, bringing together the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and commercial lunar lander technologies.

During the mission, NASA plans to demonstrate complex refueling and docking operations involving commercial landing systems, which are being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. These operations are considered essential milestones before astronauts can safely return to the lunar surface.

Additionally, NASA is working to shorten development timelines, streamline decision-making, and improve hardware integration and processing efficiency to help accelerate preparation for upcoming Artemis missions.

Looking beyond Artemis III, NASA's current plan calls for Artemis IV to carry astronauts to the moon in 2028.

To follow NASA's Artemis mission updates, click here.

EFSC Cybersecurity Student Team Takes 3rd in Statewide Competition

Eastern Florida State College’s (EFSC) Cyber Titans cybersecurity team earned third place in the Fourth Annual Florida College System Cybersecurity Competition, competing against 17 colleges statewide in a virtual cyber range excercises that simulated real-world threats.

The team is comprised of four students, Christen Stone, Ryan Bryant, Jason Beck, and Andrew Klinsic (pictured from left) led by Nicole Dyess, EFSC assistant professor of Advanced Technology and Computer Science and manager of the college’s Center for Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.

EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey highlighted the Cyber Titans achievement as recognition of one of Florida’s top programs and evidence of the faculty’s commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers on the Space Coast.

Florida is the only state with a systemwide college cybersecurity competition of this kind. Participants also engaged in professional development sessions with industry leaders and received cyber range certifications from Global Business Solutions, Inc. The competition supports the Florida College System Cybersecurity Collaborative’s efforts to strengthen workforce partnerships and advance cybersecurity education statewide.

Congratulations to the EFSC Cyber Titans for their accomplishment and for representing the college’s outstanding cybersecurity program at the state level.

Upcoming Events

EFSC Scholarship Golf Classic

The Eastern Florida State College Scholarship Golf Classic will be held on Friday, November 6th at Rockledge Country Club (1591 South Fiske Blvd.) Event check-in is at 7:00 a.m. and the shotgun start begins at 8:30 a.m.

Individual player registration is $100 and $1,250 for a foursome. Lunch and the awards ceremony are included in the registration fee. Proceeds from the golf classic benefit EFSC student scholarships.

For more information on available sponsorships and to register, click here.

5th Annual DASH in Life 5K and Stroll of Hope & Healing

The 5th Annual Devotion Admiration Service Honor (DASH) in Life 5K and Stroll of Hope & Healing event hosted by St. Francis Hospice Foundation will be held on Saturday, November 7th, at Veterans Memorial Center Park and Amphitheater (400 South Sykes Parkway) in Merritt Island.

Event Schedule:

7:30 a.m. 5K Run/Walk begins
9:00 a.m. Special Veteran Recognition and Pinning Ceremony
9:30 a.m. Stroll of Hope & Healing begins

The event is open to all ages and there is no cost to participate. For a $25 donation, participants can reserve a sign with your loved one’s name. Other activities include Veterans resource booths, a Kids Zone, food trucks, patriotic music entertainment, raffle prizes, and awards.

The DASH in Life 5K & Stroll of Hope and Healing supports St. Francis Hospice’s Veterans program, providing specialized care to Veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the comfort, honor, and support they deserve during life’s final stages.

For more information and to register, click here.

City of Palm Bay Annual Veterans Day Parade

The City of Palm Bay will host their Annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The parade will begin at Tony Rosa Community Center (1502 Port Malabar Blvd. NE) and end at Veterans Memorial Park (2201 Port Malabar Blvd. NE).

Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 9:00 a.m. to secure viewing locations. Clearmont Street to Bianca Drive NE will be closed in both directions beginning at 9:00 a.m. All roadways will reopen as soon as barriers and pedestrians are cleared from the roadway and clean-up is complete.

For more information and to register to enter the parade, contact the Tony Rosa Community Center at (321) 952-3443 or email Holidayparade@palmbayfl.gov.

Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Veterans Day Ceremony

The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center (BVMC) will host a Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center (400 South Sykes Parkway) in Merritt Island.

A swearing-in ceremony of new BVMC officers and board members will be conducted by Dana Blickley, Brevard County Property Appraiser and brunch will be provided courtesy of SpaceX.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. For more information, call (321) 453-1776.

Free Lunch for Local Veterans at Melbourne Square Mall

In honor of Veterans Day, the Melbourne Square Mall will provide a complimentary lunch for the first 100 local Veterans visiting the mall on Wednesday, November 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Interested Veterans may pick up a free meal certificate at the Food Court entrance and choose from any of the participating eateries in the mall. The certificate is only valid on Veterans Day.

For more information, click here.

Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair 2026

The 14th Annual Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, November 10th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium (625 East Hibiscus Boulevard) in Melbourne.

The purpose of the event is to connect Veterans, transitioning service members, and their families with employers that actively recruit and value military experience. Attendees can expect to interact directly with hiring employers representing local companies in the following career fields:

Aerospace and defense manufacturing
Healthcare and biomedical technology
Law enforcement and emergency services
Building trades and logistics
Local government and education

The event is free of charge and open to the public. While non-Veteran walk-ins are welcome, priority check-in will be given to Veterans for the first hour of the job fair.

Pre-registration can be completed here, although it is not required to participate.