It's been a very busy season. Regular Legislative Session, Special Sessions, and we've got a lot to show for it. Out of nearly 2,000 proposed bills, roughly 269 passed the Florida Legislature in Regular Session, three of which I sponsored through the process. Shortly thereafter, the House and Senate came together for a Special Session to hammer out the state's fiscal year 2026-2027 $114.5 billion budget - it was no small feat!

This week, state legislators were called back for a second Special Session to consider Governor DeSantis's property tax exemption for homestead properties which, if approved by 60% of voters on the November ballot, will increase our current $50,000 homestead property tax exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. Let's start here.

Governor DeSantis is right. Floridians deserve meaningful tax relief. As we awaited his ideas, I volunteered to serve on the Florida House's Select Committee on Property Taxes to deliver thoughtful proposals earlier this year.

Governor DeSantis announced his proposal May 27, state legislators were summoned to Tallahassee for a vote June 1-3. For such a fundamental reorientation of how we fund state and local government, it was little time to consider with no protections for public school funding, no revenue estimation studies, no recourse without another constitutional amendment, and a great deal of unanswered questions about the constitutionality of the measure as drafted, as well as the dramatic change to the state's tax revenue structure.

I voted "no".

As a former judge and retired military officer, I am thoughtful before I send any man to jail or war. Today, I am a state representative for parts of Okaloosa County, and I approach each vote with that same thoughtfulness which Florida families deserve. The truth is, this proposal wasn't ripe and I voted my conscience. The voters of House District 4 entrust me to do nothing less.

The bill passed both the House and Senate Floors on June 2, and, along with the Legislature's proposed 2026-2027 budget, is now on the Governor's desk. If approved by 60% of voters on the November ballot, the initial property tax exemption increase would go into effect on January 1, 2027.

Policy Bills

Of my seven sponsored bills, I am proud to say that a technical "3.3" were successfully passed by both the House and Senate this past Regular Session.

1/3 of a bill? You read that correctly. One of my bills never received a committee hearing, which generally means the bill is "dead". However, with help from a band of friends and colleagues, I managed to amend a portion of my "dead" bill to another bill passing off of the House Floor that very day.

Because of that confluence of events - a mixture of hard work, determination, and luck - veterans will now be able to keep the unique alphanumeric designation of their disabled veteran license plate upon reissue, renewal, or transfer, as well as request a DV tag from their Tax Collector's office. Small changes with big impacts for our most deserving veteran community!

HB 177 – Offices of Criminal Conflict and Regional Counsel

• In capital cases (potential death penalty) that are being represented by a regional counsel, this bill would allow a judge to appoint a regional counsel from a different region when a conflict arises involving the original RC, or the original RC determines that it can no longer represent the defendant.
• If this situation were to arise now, private counsel would be appointed, which generally drives the cost much higher. The purpose of the bill is to save money by allowing another RC to represent the defendant, instead of private counsel. If another RC declines to take the case, which they are allowed to do at their discretion, then a judge will go ahead and appoint private counsel.

HB 199 – Veterans Affairs

• Clarifies that a judge, in consultation with the veteran's court team (including but not limited to state attorney, public defender, veteran advocate, treatment representative, etc.) makes the decision of whether or not a defendant will enter into a veteran's treatment court program.
• Creates an alternate pathway into VTC for defendants with nonviolent, felony offenses.

SB 110 – Homestead Exemptions

• Clarifies that individuals holding 98-year or longer residential leases qualify for Florida’s homestead tax exemption, even if the leases end at their deaths.    

Budget Requests

Of the 42 appropriations projects requested through my office this year, 33 were included in the Legislature's proposed $114.5 billion state budget, totaling $20,787,250 for House District 4. I am immensely grateful to State Senators Gaetz and Trumbull for providing steady support and assistance from across the hall to secure these projects in the final budget.

As stated, the Legislature's proposed budget currently rests with the Governor and his veto pen. The figures listed below represent the total funds allocated to projects within each subject area. Receiving entities include Okaloosa County, multiple municipalities including those in North Okaloosa and House District 3, local non-profit organizations, Northwest Florida State College and University of West Florida, and many more.

Agriculture & Natural Resources (water projects)

• $4,087,500

Healthcare

• $3,280,000

Higher Education

• $5,000,000

Justice

• $425,000

Pre-K/12 Education

• $500,000

State Administration (Fire Districts)

• $200,000

Transportation & Economic Development (infrastructure & roads)

• $7,294,750

Chair of the Justice Budget Subcommittee

To be frank, it was a tremendous amount of fun to serve as Chair of the House Justice Budget Subcommittee these past two years. Late nights in spreadsheets and early morning meetings, it was hard work that paid-off in spades and I am extremely proud of each member's dedication.

We dug deep into vacant positions within the justice portion of the budget, pushed agency partners to make some tough decisions, and relentlessly pursued greater transparency and accountability on behalf of the taxpayer dollar. We were able to secure the funding necessary to begin construction of a new 600-bed prison hospital for our aging/infirmed prison population, which will greatly relieve medical and transport costs for the Department of Corrections, as well as desperately-needed pay raises for corrections officers, and funding for a new juvenile detention center in Broward County.

I pray that we can build on this great work for years, in Legislatures to come.

CLICK IMAGES for full-page versions.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier of Destin, FL

Florida Department of Transportation District 3 Secretary Tim Smith

Okaloosa County School Board Member Tim Bryant

Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux

NWFSC Officials

City of Mary Esther Officials

Lily Pulitzer Day in the House

OCSO Deputy Jason Register, Law Enforcement Officer of the Day

Speaker Daniel Perez

State Rep. Nathan Boyles

What you want to know about Florida’s controversial property tax idea on the official 2026 ballot

"Representatives Patt Maney (R – South Okaloosa County) and Nathan Boyles (R – North Okaloosa County and Most of Santa Rosa County) voted against placing the measure on the ballot. Shane Abbott (R – Walton County) voted for the measure. Senators Don Gaetz (R – Crestview) and Jay Trumbull (R – Panama City) also voted to place the question on the ballot."

FULL STORY in Midbay News HERE.

Hundreds honor fallen service members at Fort Walton Beach Memorial Day ceremony

"Hundreds gathered at Rogers-Hinson Post 235 on Monday to honor military members who died in service to their country during a Memorial Day ceremony that carried on despite inclement weather...Other dignitaries in attendance included State Rep. Patt Maney, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former Okaloosa County judge, and keynote speaker U.S. Army Col. Blake Anderson."

FULL STORY in Get the Coast HERE.

What to know about Florida lawmakers’ $114 billion deal for a new state budget

"The chairperson of the House justice budget, Rep. Patt Maney, R-Shalimar, said offsite medical care for inmates is costly. Guards must be paid to accompany an inmate during a hospital stay.

'If we have a prison hospital, on prison grounds, then we can cut that cost of guarding and hopefully control the cost of medical,' Maney said."

FULL STORY in Miami Herald HERE.

From battlefield to budget fight: Patt Maney brings military lessons to Tallahassee

"Rep. Patt Maney, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former county judge, now chairs the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and is working to shape spending on courts, prisons, juvenile justice and state law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of communication, mentorship, and collaboration."

FULL INTERVIEW in State Affairs HERE.

Navy Secretary Hung Cao visits Lenah Higbee statue at Okaloosa Veterans Park

"Cao, dressed for the ball at the adjacent Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, stopped at the park with state Rep. Patt Maney, a retired Army brigadier general and personal friend, and Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who spearheaded the effort to create the park. Ketchel said Cao had just learned of the Higbee statue."

FULL STORY in Get the Coast HERE.