2026 Legislative Priorities
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce represents more than 600 local businesses and organizations. These priorities were approved by the Board of Directors on January 23, 2026.

Growth Management & Local Authority

Support: Preserving local authority to manage growth, update comprehensive plans, and protect community character—especially following disasters.

Economic & Workforce Development

Support:

• Funding for education, training, and workforce development.
• Investment in post-secondary education tied to high-skill, high-wage jobs.
• State and local solutions to address the county’s workforce housing shortage.

Attainable Housing

Support: Zoning flexibility, incentives, and streamlined approvals for workforce and attainable housing.
Oppose: Policies that discourage affordable or attainable housing development.

Tourism Promotion

Support:

• Continued funding for Visit Florida.
• Dedicated use of tourism tax revenues to support local destination marketing and economic growth.

Property & Windstorm Insurance

Support:

• Limits on excessive insurance rate increases.
• Mitigation incentives, greater insurer oversight, and financial assistance for impacted homeowners.

Clean Water & the Indian River Lagoon

Support:

• Funding for septic-to-sewer conversions.
• Continued state, local, and federal investment in water quality and the Indian River Lagoon.

Federal Disaster Assistance

Support: Improved coordination among disaster response agencies to speed recovery and protect data privacy.

Property Tax Reform

Support: Fair, transparent, and locally controlled property taxes.
Oppose: Unfunded state-mandated tax reforms that burden local governments.