Capitol Watch: Public Records Accountability and Slashing Corporate Tax Revenues

TALLAHASSEE — The 2026 Florida Legislative Session continues, and here are two big considerations to keep an eye on.

Transparency, anyone?

House Bill 437 would require government officials in Florida to respond to record requests within three days. It would also address the common practice of charging excessive fees to those who make requests.

There are provisions for particularly complicated requests, but officials would have to provide and update/eplaination if it isn't fulfilled within 15 days. Best of all, it has teeth, including misdemeanor charges for officials who do not comply.

The bill has moved through several committees and had its first reading in the House last week.

Piggyback on the One Big Beautiful Bill?

Florida lawmakers typically update our corporate tax laws each session to align with changes at the federal level. This "piggyback" bill typically passes with little to no fanfare. However, because of the slashed corporate income taxes in Trump's OBBBA, legislators would have $3.5 billion less in their budget this year.

Florida's state corporate tax code is already so corporation-friendly that 99 percent of corporations pay no state corporate tax, but piggybacking would give a large share of what the state does manage to collect to some of the biggest and most profitable corporations in the world at the expense of critical services that benefit its citizens.

Email your Manatee County legislators and let them know what you think of these bills:

Senator Jim Boyd: boyd.jim.web@flsenate.gov
Rep. Will Robinson: Will.Robinson@flhouse.gov
Rep. Bill Conerly: Bill.Conerly@flhouse.gov