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Small Business Insider: April 2026 Edition

Press ReleaseCommunityGeneral News Article

2026
 
Welcome back to the Small Business Insider, the go-to resource for essential information that empowers and connects Florida’s local businesses and is made exclusively available to members of the Florida Chamber Small Business Council.
Join Us for Our Next Small Business Council Meeting on June 18th  
 
On June 18th, the Small Business Council will hold a webinar to hear a recap of the 2026 special sessions and provide a breakdown of the 2026 election. We will also hear from guest speaker Secretary Alex Kelly, Florida Department of Commerce, on Opportunity Zones 2.0, a key economic development tool that is intended to spur economic growth and prosperity at the local level. Be sure to register now for the next meeting on Tuesday, June 18th, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET below.
Register Here
 
National Small Business Week
 
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in partnership with the national Small Business Development Center (SBDC), announced a virtual summit as a part of Small Business Week on May 5th and 6th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The virtual summit will include workshops on topics like accessing federal resources, digital marketing, manufacturing, human resources, online business resources, and artificial intelligence. This event is an opportunity for small businesses to learn more about the resources available to them and ways to streamline their business practices. If you are interested in joining, you can sign up here.
 
Toplines from Tallahassee
 
Toplines from Tallahassee is your monthly briefing on key developments that may impact your business.

 
  • Special Session D Began Yesterday: After originally scheduled for April 20th, special session D on congressional redistricting was delayed to a April 28th start date. Governor Ron DeSantis issued a revised proclamation to delay the special session and expand the scope beyond congressional redistricting to include consumer protections under his “AI Bill of Rights” and medical freedom. The Senate passed the AI bill off the floor yesterday with a 37-1 vote and the full Senate will consider the congressional map as early as today. The Senate did not consider the medical freedom bill, instead pulling the bill from consideration prior to a Rules Committee hearing. House Speaker Danny Perez said the House will only consider new congressional maps for special session, with the vote by the full House expected today. 
 
  • Special Session E: By the end of the 2026 regular legislation session, the Florida legislature was unable to come to an agreement on the budget, the one item they are constitutionally required to pass each year. On April 23, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez announced they were able to reach an agreement on allocations, marking a breakthrough to begin budget talks. The special session for Florida’s budget will be May 12-29, and the proclamation for this special session is forthcoming.
 
  • Property Tax Special Session?: During the 2026 regular session, a property tax bill did not pass both chambers, however the House did pass a property tax proposal to eliminate the non-school portion of homestead property taxes. A gubernatorial priority, it is expected the legislature will reconvene the property tax discussion during a special session, however both chambers have yet to come to an agreement on what this would look like. The Florida Chamber continues to educate lawmakers on a potential tax shift absent a tax cut on non-homestead properties, including renters and businesses, or a reduction in local spending. The property tax special session could take place in conjunction with the special session for the budget on May 12-29 or could be called for some time after the budget special session.
 
2026 Legislative Session Bill Tracker 
 
SB 548/ HB 1139 (Sen. Stan McClain, Rep. Richard Gentry) - Growth Management: Lowers costs on new development by preventing local governments from abusing the calculation of impact fees through establishing specific criteria that must exist to demonstrate “extraordinary circumstances” and justify increases. 
Bill language was amended onto HB 1329, which passed both the House and Senate. PASSED.
SB 1096/ HB 1407 (Sen. Danny Burgess, Wyman Duggan) - Remedies for Violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act: Creates clarity on the statute of limitations for alleged violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act, benefiting both the employer and employee and ensuring claims are resolved in a timely manner.
HB 1407 passed the House and Senate and is now waiting to be signed by the Governor. PASSED.
If you would like to read the Florida Chamber’s full end of session breakdown of what passed, what remains unfinished business and what was defeated, click here.
 
Federal Corner 
 
The Federal Corner is intended to provide details of what is happening in Washington, D.C., that may impact your business. It’s important that if these federal provisions apply or potentially apply that you are aware so you can take advantage or take the proper steps accordingly.


On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched phase one of the tariff refund process in response to the U.S Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Small businesses based in the United States and importers that paid tariffs may be able to seek refunds. Phase one of the refund process includes new functionality of the already familiar portal system to importers, the Automated Commercial Environment System (ACE). The new function, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries system (CAPE), will refund duties to importers. Small businesses will need to contact their Importers of Record (IOR) or customs broker to request refunds for duties imposed under the IEEPA. Only the IOR or customs broker for listed entries may file the CAPE declaration. Importers should expect that valid IEEPA refunds will be paid 60-90 days after acceptance of the declaration. For more information, click here.
Federal Corner




For more information on what is happening at the federal level on labor and other regulatory issues, click the link above. If you would like to engage in our federal legislative or regulatory advocacy efforts, please contact Florida Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs, Carolyn Johnson, at cjohnson@flchamber.com.
 
Florida By The Numbers
 

Latest Data Shows Florida Leading Nation in Income Migration, and February Labor Market Cooling
The April 2026 edition of Florida By The Numbers is now available. Florida continues to lead the nation in attracting new residents and income, reinforcing the state’s long-term economic strength. At the same time, new data points to emerging shifts in the labor market and inflation trends that business leaders should be watching closely. Florida Chamber Foundation Senior Research Economist Sheridan Morby breaks down what the latest numbers mean for Florida's economy and for business leaders as we continue working toward the primary target of becoming a top-10 global economy.


This month's updates include:

 
  • Income Migration:
  • Florida remains a national leader for net income migration, gaining $2.4 million per hour and contributing to $20.6 billion for the year.
  • Florida outpaced the #2 state, Texas, by more than 3.5 times and exceeded the next five states combined.
 
  • Labor Market Outlook:
  • Florida's labor market saw year-over-year job declines, but current conditions reflect a “low hire, low fire” environment, not massive layoffs.
  • Upcoming data will help determine the trend.
 
  • Workforce Leadership in Action:
  • In this month’s Florida By the Numbers, Adrienne Johnston, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida (Florida Chamber Foundation Community Development Partner), shares how data-driven strategies and partnerships are helping keep Florida’s workforce system strong and competitive.
  • CareerSource Florida continues to play a key role in ensuring Florida’s workforce system remains aligned with the evolving needs of employers and job seekers across the state.
 
  • Inflation Outlook:
  • Energy prices are increasing, but core inflation remains relatively stable at 2.6%.
  • Stable core inflation suggests the Federal Reserve may continue a cautious approach.
  • No changes in interest rates.


Additional metrics and more are found on TheFloridaScorecard.org.
 
Upcoming Events and Announcements
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with FloridaCommerce, has launched the 2nd annual Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition to spotlight the innovation, talent, and industrial strength behind the products made right here in Florida.


From advanced materials and aerospace components to energy systems, construction technologies, and infrastructure-supporting equipment, this competition highlights the essential role manufacturing plays in supporting Florida’s long-term infrastructure and economic resilience.


Nominations are now open until May 31. Nominate a product today.
Secure your spot at the 2026 Florida Chamber Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability the nation’s only conference dedicated to helping you and your company advance safety, health, and sustainability. This premier event is designed for industry leaders ready to drive lasting excellence across the three pillars essential to workplace success. Featuring highly sought-after keynote speakers selected for their expertise, as well as customized competitive breakout sessions across Safety, Health, Sustainability, and Leadership tracks, our annual Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability offers an extensive learning experience and is on track to become the must-attend educational event of 2026.
Join us for the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2026 Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from 9:00am-4:00pm ET, at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Florida’s business leaders, community advocates, and policymakers will address the 10 root causes of generational poverty, the business impacts of poverty, and ways to get involved at the zip code level to create a pathway to prosperity for all Floridians.
Join the Florida Chamber Foundation for the 2026 Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit, June 23, 2026, from 8:30am-4:00pm ET at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Engage with your Florida business peers, education, and workforce advocates, and elected officials as we discuss the importance of investing in the current and future workforce to build a stronger talent pipeline for Florida.
 
 






If your company has an update to feature in the Small Business Insider, please share with Jahvin Gordon, Director of Business Climate & Governance Policy, at jgordon@flchamber.com.
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Small Business Insider: April 2026 Edition
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