The federal government shutdown is now about to enter its fourth week, with no end–and few Republicans–in sight. Legislators in Tallahassee have completed their second Interim Committee Week, and taken the first steps toward putting a series of property tax reforms on the 2026 ballot. Other bills filed to date include Democratic proposals to address pocketbook issues like insurance and access to medical care, as well as redistricting and the right to vote. Locally, the results of elections in Miami, Miami Beach, Homestead, and Hialeah will determine the direction of future policy initiatives in those municipalities, while the Mayor and County Commissioners celebrate the imminent rollout of the BRT bus service, face a likely new push to extend the UDB, and prepare to roll out expansion of the Rapid Transit Zone in Coral Gables. The School Board awaits potential notification by Schools of Hope charter school providers of proposals to impose forced, rent-free, co-location of charter schools with underenrolled M-DCPS public schools.

Miami-Dade County; Local Municipalities; School District: 

• With the likelihood that the Florida Legislature will place a series of property tax reform initiatives on the 2026 ballot, County and municipal governments are eyeing their budgets and their prized initiatives with great trepidation. Property taxes currently underwrite local public safety (police, fire, EMT) budgets, as well as monies spent on parks, roads, sidewalks, cultural offerings, non-profit support, and other residential amenities. Even with law enforcement budgets sheltered from cuts by Tallahassee’s currently-proposed ballot language, any significant decrease in County and municipal revenues will certainly necessitate reductions in personnel and public services.
• On the horizon is another potential attempt to extend the UDB (Urban Development Boundary) line, as mega-developer Lennar has proposed a 960-acre, 7000-home, mixed-use development named “City Park” in West Kendall. Approval would require a supermajority vote by the County Commission. It was just two years ago that Commissioners agreed to override Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s veto of a measure to move the boundary line to create a warehouse district in deep South Dade, a project now shelved thanks to a successful legal challenge. New (and revived) preemptive legislation in Tallahassee may undercut the ability of local elected officials to decide the fate of the proposed City Park development.
• Metro Express, the longest all-electric BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) service in the nation, launches on October 27, stopping at 14 stations from Dadeland South to Florida City. In other transit news, the County Commission has approved expansion of the Rapid Transit Zone around the current University Station in Coral Gables.
• On November 11, rules recently adopted by the State Board of Education will take effect allowing Schools of Hope charter school providers to notify Miami-Dade County Public Schools of their intention to co-locate, rent-free, a charter school under their control in a vacant or underused District facility, including, potentially, a currently operating, but underenrolled, public school. M-DCPS may propose alternate sites, but will have no power to enforce its preferences.

Florida:

• Legislative:
  • The Florida Legislature completed the second of six proposed Interim Committee Weeks in advance of the January 13 opening of the 2026 Legislative Session. To date, more than 200 policy bills have been filed, all of which can be tracked using our 2026 FLORIDA BILL TRACKER. It is expected that hundreds of additional bills will be filed during the coming weeks.
  • Of note: In addition to a wide range of property tax reform measures, Republicans have filed a number of “red meat” bills, including SB 166 (Grall) to require parental permission before a minor can be treated for a diagnosed STD, HB 133 (Sirois) to drop the age to 18 to purchase a handgun, and various proposals to designate specified roadways in memory of Charlie Kirk. For their part, Miami-Dade Democrats Senator Shevrin Jones and Representative Felicia Robinson have teamed up to file legislation to clarify the voting rights status of returning citizens, while Jones has proposed a ban on off-cycle redistricting. Numerous Democrats have filed measures to address the property insurance crisis, as well as to enhance gun violence protections. 

• Executive: 
  • With Hope Florida now under criminal investigation, a lieutenant governor whose long-rumored gubernatorial plans have been eclipsed by the rising star of Republican rival Byron Donalds, and state legislators continuing to go their own way, Governor De Santis is very much acting, walking and quacking like the lame duck he is. That may change, however, if the issue of Congressional redistricting moves to the front burner, and Republicans unite to push for additional gerrymandered seats. The Governor still has the power to call a Special Session, and still wields the veto pen at a moment when incumbents running for reelection in 2026 will want to showcase pet projects to their constituents.

• Judicial:
  • The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on October 9th, 10th, and 11th and is scheduled to meet again on November 4th and 5th. October’s cases considered involved matters of criminal conviction and sentencing, civil liability, judicial discipline, and statutory authority. November’s docket consists of capital cases.

Federal Government:

As thousands of Miamians gathered October 18 at at the Torch of Freedom to commemorate “No Kings Day,” Representative-Elect Grijalva (D-Arizona) was still awaiting her swearing-in ceremony, those federal workers who had not resigned or been fired were still awaiting their paychecks, the Epstein files were still under lock and key, and the residents of Chicago and Portland were still under performative occupation. Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court was likely weighing the complete gutting of the Voting Rights Act to wipe out protections for current minority districts and pave the way for a mid-cycle Republican redistricting bonanza.

• Executive:
  • While the pace of Executive Orders has slowed, Trump’s total of 210 to date already matches the entirety of those he signed during his first term, and it far surpasses the number Biden signed during all four years in office. Recent orders have included a security guarantee for Qatar and a $1 million “Gold Card” visa. Meanwhile, just in the last three weeks, Trump has authorized the C.I.A. to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, Hegseth has assembled the entire senior command of the U.S. military for a dressing down on physical fitness and grooming, McMahon has offered special privileges to those universities willing to dance to the administration’s tune, and RFK has altered long-standing vaccine protocols, suggested, without supporting evidence, a relationship between Tylenol and autism, and warned against early circumcision.

• Legislative:
  • As the budget impasse continues, House Democrats have remained in Washington, while their Republican colleagues have been in recess. Senators of both parties have emerged every few days, most recently on October 16, to vote–and reject–rival budget proposals. In the September issue of BoldlyBlue, we noted that in 2025 Congress had passed only 36 bills that were signed into law. That number has not changed.

• Judicial:
  • The Court has now heard oral arguments on Chiles v. Salazar regarding the constitutionality of Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” and Louisiana v. Callais, a case with the potential to nullify Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and permit redistricting without taking minority representation into account. On November 5 the Court will hear Learning Resources v. Trump, a test of the power of the President to impose tariffs, and on December 8 Trump v. Slaughter, a case involving the presidential power to fire a previously protected agency head. The issue of limits on coordinated campaign expenditures will be considered in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission on December 9

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