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Residents of District 85,
As I am writing this last newsletter to you all under the title “Representative Toby Overdorf,” I wanted to highlight how my time serving you all has been one of the greatest honors of my life. When I first walked into this chamber, I understood that the responsibility entrusted to me by my constituents was larger than anything else. It was a commitment to listen, to serve, and to work every day to make our communities stronger.
I have felt so privileged to wrap up my time here due to term limits, and I remain deeply grateful for the trust you've all placed in me each time I get chosen to be sent back to Tallahassee to serve in the Florida House.
This journey would have not been possible without all of you. It has been an honor to connect with so many of you and to hear directly about your hopes, challenges, and ideas. Our work is not done and 8 years have gone by too fast, but I am excited to see this process make room for new leaders who will continue the important work of serving our state.
The laughs, relationships, and accomplishments we have shared together are such precious memories to me. You all will always have a partner in me.
Sincerely,
Representative Overdorf |
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| Congratulations parents, teachers, and elementary students! This week during the consideration of SB 182, I successfully added cursive instruction language through an amendment to Rep. Snyder’s amendment to the bill. This provision requires Florida elementary school students to receive instruction in cursive writing starting second grade and demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade. |
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| Senior members are traditionally selected to conduct the Chamber on the last days of session. I had the honor of acting as Speaker and running the Chamber this week. Thank you, Speaker Perez! |
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Tuesday was filled with bittersweet moments as I presented my farewell speech. As I'm closing this chapter in the Florida House, I was filled with gratitude expressing my appreciation to my fellow members, family, friends, and past-present staff. I was honored to be joined by my family in Tallahassee for this memorable day.
It was also an honor to have past members of my team join me for the speech and a dinner afterward. It was wonderful to have everyone together, reminiscing and expressing gratitude for all that we accomplished during our time working side by side. Moments like these are a great reminder that the relationships built through service and hard work often last well beyond the time spent in office.
If you’d like to watch please click and view:
https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/3-10-26-farewell-representative-tobin-toby-overdorf-r-district-85-palm-bay/ |
| I was honored to have past members of my team join me for the speech and a dinner afterward. It was wonderful to have everyone together, reminiscing and expressing gratitude for all that we accomplished during our time working side by side. Moments like these are a great reminder that the relationships built through service and hard work often last well beyond the time spent in office. |
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As the 2026 Legislative Session concludes, I’m proud to share that several pieces of legislation I sponsored or co-sponsored successfully passed and are now headed to the Governor’s desk.
HB 1457 – Stormwater Treatment Improvements
This legislation strengthens Florida’s approach to stormwater management by improving how water-quality enhancement credits are created and used. The bill supports responsible growth while protecting our waterways and natural resources.
HB 4011 – St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District
This local bill expands the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District boundaries, allowing mosquito control services to reach additional areas of the county pending voter approval. Expanding these services will help improve public health and quality of life for residents.
HB 951 – Cash Transaction Rounding
HB 951 allows businesses to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel if pennies are phased out of circulation. The measure simplifies cash transactions while ensuring no impact to electronic payments.
HB 1137 – Alcoholic Beverage Tax Deductions
This bill allows alcohol distributors to deduct excise taxes on unsellable inventory caused by breakage, spoilage, evaporation, or expiration. The change aligns Florida law with common industry practices and provides fair tax treatment for distributors.
HB 803 – Building Permits and Inspections
This bill brings accountability, transparency, and fairness back into the building process. The changes protect safety while cutting waste, lowering costs, and promoting housing construction and repair, especially critical following storms and for growing communities across Florida. |
| On Wednesday we had a wonderful Legislative Prayer Breakfast. My dear friend Rep. Gottlieb and I had the privilege of conducting prayers and appreciation for our legislative leaders and friends. |
| My last ever interview with Joel Silver for Spotlight on Florida in the House. This particular interview was on the One-Cent Piece bill (HB961) and Florida Tourism. It has been a pleasure to comment and keep Floridians up to date. |
| This has been our legislative intern this session, Jasmine Camino. Jasmine is from Florida Atlantic University and joined us through FAU’s FFLIP Program. She’s a junior studying Political Science with a minor in Environmental Studies. Jasmine has a long term goal of being a Representative herself, we hope to see her at the state or federal level in no time. |
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I would also like to take a moment to recognize my Legislative Aide, Blake Cross, who did a phenomenal job stepping into this role during his very first experience working with the Florida Legislature.
Blake approached the session with professionalism, dedication, and a willingness to learn, quickly becoming a valuable part of our team.
It has been wonderful having him serve in this capacity, and I have no doubt he has a very bright future ahead of him. I look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in the years to come. |
| Watch this video as the House Seniors of 2026 reflect on their time serving in the Florida House. |
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The legislative session may have come to a close, but our work is far from over. We will be returning to Tallahassee several more times to continue important efforts on the Property Tax Committee, the state budget, and redistricting.
Here in the district, my team and I will continue working hard on behalf of our community through the remainder of my term.
Please remember that my office is always here to assist you. If you need help with a state agency or have a concern you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help.
Sincerely,
Rep. Toby Overdorf |
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