| debThe Mayfield Minute - July 6, 2025 |
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Clean Beaches Week began July 1st and extends through July 7th. The week is dedicated to celebrating America's beaches and raising awareness on the importance of keeping beaches debris-free for the enjoyment of people and the survival of marine life.
The United States has a total coastline measuring approximately 12,383 miles. Florida's coastline is approximately 8,436 miles, second only to Alaska's, which is approximately 33,904 miles.
During Clean Beaches Week, beach visitors are encouraged to proactively remove marine debris. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) defines "marine debris" as anything man-made and discarded that enters the environment.
The most common marine debris includes fishing gear, netting, derelict traps, boating debris, snorkel/dive equipment, paper and plastic trash, and household items.
Tips to keep beaches clean:
- Pick up your trash, "leave no trace" of your visit
- Be mindful of shorebirds' nests and turtle nests while picking up debris
- Stay off the dunes
- Clean up after your pets if you are visiting a pet-friendly beach
- Report deceased or distressed marine life to the Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922)
To join a local beach clean-up event, contact Keep Brevard Beautiful.
I consider it a great honor to represent Senate District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they, too, can subscribe to the Mayfield Minute.
If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 321-409-2025. My staff and I are here to serve you! |
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| Bill Action by Governor DeSantis |
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Of the bills passed during the 2025 Legislative Session, Governor DeSantis has signed 247 into law, and three remain pending his consideration.
Upon receipt of a bill, the Governor has seven days to sign, veto, or take no action, at which point the bill will automatically become law.
Some of the bills signed by Governor DeSantis last week include:
SB 2502 -- Implementing the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act
SB 2504 -- Collective Bargaining
SB 2506 -- Natural Resources
SB 2508 -- Judges
SB 2510 -- Prekindergarten through Grade 12 Education
SB 2514 -- Health and Human Services
SB 7022 -- Retirement
HB 5013 -- State-funded Property Reinsurance Programs
HB 5017 -- Debt Reduction
HB 7018 -- Review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act
SB 892 -- Florida State University Election Law Center
CS/CS/CS HB 1421 -- Improving Screening for and Treatment of Blood Clots
CS/HB 4047 -- Fort Pierce Farms Water Control, St. Lucie County
CS/HB 4049 --North Street Lucie River Water Control District
Six bills were vetoed last week:
HB 5015 -- State Group Insurance
HB 1455 -- Public Officers and Employees
HB 1133 -- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
HB 1095 -- Criminal Offender Substance Abuse Pilot Program
CS/HB 1427 -- Nursing Education Programs
HB 11 -- Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates |
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Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Signed by Governor DeSantis
On Monday, June 30th, Governor DeSantis signed into law the budget and tax package for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. This year's budget totals $114.5 billion, reflecting a reduction in overall state spending for the second consecutive year, while providing substantial funding for the following programs of critical importance to our state:
- $124.5 million to support the revitalization of Florida’s historic citrus industry through large-scale field trials, marketing, and recovery and response programs
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- $55 million in salary increases for state law enforcement officers and state firefighters in addition to $14.4 million in grants to recruit and support county sheriff’s deputies
- $1.3 billion for teacher pay increases in the Florida Education Finance Program
- $240 million for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs for critical health care services, infrastructure improvements, and support for Veterans’ Nursing Homes
- $1.587 billion for the environment including water quality improvement projects and the restoration of Florida’s springs, the Everglades, and the Indian River Lagoon
- $268 million for land conservation through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and Florida Forever Program.
Tax Package:
The Tax Package delivers more than $1.3 billion in broad-based tax relief for Florida families and businesses including:
- Permanent elimination of the business rent tax, effective October 1, 2025
- Permanent elimination of sales tax on:
- Gold, silver, or platinum bullion
- Specified Health and Safety Items
- Specified Disaster Preparedness Items
- State Park Admission.
- The August Back to School Tax Holiday became a permanent recurring tax holiday.
- Establishes a Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday from September 8th through December 31, 2025
Building the State’s Reserve Funds:
The budget and related bills set aside significant funding in our reserves which include:
- $12.4 billion towards the State’s reserve funds
- $830 million to pay down state debt
- If approved by the voters in 2026, $1.1 billion for the budget stabilization fund
Local Project Funding Update
The legislature appropriated a total of $46,141,018 for projects within Brevard County. Of these appropriations, Governor DeSantis exercised his line-item veto authority to eliminate $14,642,618 from the budget.
The final budget included $31,498,400 for the following local projects:
- Who We Play For: Sudden Cardiac Prevention -- $500,000
- Rockledge Regional Public Safety Training Center -- $700,000
- St. Lucie River North Fork Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration -- $862,000
- Brevard Adults with Disabilities - $300,000
- Circles of Care - Brevard - $1,256,239
- Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center - $10,000,000
- Brevard County Indialantic Stormwater Drainage Improvements - $1,764,078
- Brevard County Indian River Lagoon Countywide Sewer Connection Assistance $2,900,000
- Brevard County West Central Avenue Bridge Replacement - $1,263,183
- Melbourne Downtown Core Streetscape Design - $1,000,000
- Melbourne Front Street Boat Dock Replacement Project - $500,000
- Palm Bay Turkey Creek Sanctuary Water Quality Improvement Project - $1,000,000
- Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Restoration Project - $975,000
- Manufacturing Talent Asset Pipeline (TAP) Program - $400,000
- Sebastian Inlet North and South Jetty Maintenance and Safety Improvements - $1,000,000
- Veteran Housing and Homelessness Intervention Program - $250,000
- Cape Canaveral Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Emergency Shoreline Enhancement Initiative - $4,757,900
- Lifetime Counseling Center - Thrive Within Program - $350,000
Below are the projects that were vetoed from the final budget:
- Aging Matters in Brevard -- $500,000
- Rockledge Traffic Light Revitalization -- $600,000
- Melbourne Village Stormwater Study -- $180,000
- Indialantic Riverside Park Pier & Kayak Launch -- $350,000
- Brevard - Aviation Assembly and Fabrication Hangar - $1,008,618
- Brevard County School District West Shore Jr./Sr. High School Expansion - $5,000,000
- Brevard County Sykes Creek Phase 2 Environmental Dredging - $4,324,000
- Brevard County Sykes Creek Zones M, N, & T Septic-to-Sewer Connection Assistance - $900,000
- West Melbourne Flood Risk Reduction - Canal C69 and C70 Improvements - $350,000
- Palm Bay Fiber Optic Expansion - $500,000
- Children’s Center for Education and Collaboration-The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, Inc. - $350,000
- Palm Bay Police Department Communications Center Expansion, Phase 1 - $80,000
- East Coast Zoological Society of Florida Banana River Living Shoreline Restoration Buffering the Aquarium Campus - $500,000
- Satellite Beach Data Center Server - $220,000
For a full list of all the projects the Governor vetoed, click here. |
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Affordable Housing Programs Fully Funded in State Budget
The Sadowski Housing Trust Fund was fully funded with $164 million for the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, approximately $71 million for the Florida State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program. In addition, the legislature provided $150 million from the general revenue fund for SAIL program.
“The Florida Legislature put together and passed a budget that uses all of Florida’s Sadowski housing trust fund monies for Florida’s SHIP and SAIL programs to help create needed housing that is affordable for Floridians,” said Mark Hendrickson, the facilitator of the Sadowski Coalition and Executive Director of the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities.
The SHIP program provides funding to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing. The program is designed to serve families with very low to moderate income.
The SAIL program focuses on helping affordable housing developers obtain low-interest loans.
“These proven programs are the state’s most successful and effective tools for creating housing that is affordable, providing safe places for Florida’s families, veterans, seniors, and workforce to call home,” Hendrickson added.
FWC Announces GatorWise Public Awareness Campaign
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is launching a new public awareness campaign, GatorWise. FWC estimates Florida is home to 1.3 million alligators. GatorWise aims to promote realistic public perceptions about alligators and assist the public in taking appropriate actions to minimize conflict.
“Florida has seen tremendous population growth in recent years, with many people living or recreating near water,” said Matthew Nichols, FWC Alligator Management Program Coordinator. “Because alligators can be found in nearly any water body in Florida, it’s safest to always assume they’re present. GatorWise provides consistent, science-based information from across the Southeast to help people safely share the landscape with these important animals.”
FWC Safety Tips Include:
- Never feed or approach alligators
- Properly dispose of fish scraps
- Keep pets away from the water’s edge
- Supervise small children near water
- Maintain a safe distance if an alligator is spotted
- Nuisance alligators can be reported to the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286)
For more information on GatorWise, click here.
Florida's Insurance Market is Growing
Last week, Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky announced additional growth in Florida’s insurance market with two new companies approved to write residential policies. Since historic legislative reforms, Florida’s market continues to stabilize and now has 14 new companies doing business in the state.
Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said, “I am pleased to announce two additional property and casualty companies doing business in our state, with more companies to be announced in the near future. Our market is becoming more and more competitive, and we continue to see great progress."
Incline National Insurance Company is headquartered in Texas and is approved to write various types of insurance policies.
The Florida Insurance and Reinsurance Company is domiciled in Florida and will primarily focus on writing coverage for condominiums and condominium associations.
Florida had the lowest average homeowners’ rate increase in the nation in 2024, with an average statewide increase of only one percent.
For more information from Florida's Office of Insurance Regulations, click here. |
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John Moran, Founder of Pineapple Cove Academy
Our Constituent of the Week is Mr. John Moran, a leader in education throughout Brevard County.
Mr. Moran is the president of Classical Education Management LLC, president and chief executive officer at Pineapple Cove Academy Inc., and founder of Pineapple Cove Classical Academy.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. His background is rooted in business, and before venturing into education, he was employed in the trade show, retail, and wholesaling industries. His business philosophy of providing quality products at a reasonable price seamlessly transferred to his ventures in education.
In 2006, he opened the Pineapple Cove Academy with a mission to provide an academically oriented preschool that fosters cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development in every child. Today, Pineapple Cove Academy has three locations: Palm Bay, West Melbourne, and Melbourne.
In 2014, he launched the Pineapple Cove Classical Academy, a charter school affiliated with Hillsdale College. His mission and vision for the academy is to continually develop graduates in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. Pineapple Cove Classical Academy has three locations: Palm Bay, West Melbourne, and Lockmar (Palm Bay).
With nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Moran built a successful career in education and business services. His mission of quality education for all continues to thrive since the opening of the first school with 420 students to today, where over 4,000 students are on waiting lists to attend one of the three Pineapple Cove Classical Academy campuses.
In addition to his career in education, he has excelled as founder, CEO, and president of Classical Education Management, LLC since 2017. He has also served as the president of JAC Development, LLC since 2014. He is an active member of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce and a philanthropic contributor to local charities.
Mr. Moran takes great pride in collaborating with local policymakers and developers to explore expanding his school network. A significant project he is championing is the development of a state-of-the-art, Olympic-size swimming pool, fittingly named “Wave at Pineapple Cove Academy.” This project, estimated at $6 to $7 million is generously funded by developers. The pool will hold school swim competitions and serve as a community hub, accessible to the public on weekends and during the summer months.
Looking forward, Mr. Moran is committed to continuing his mission of building schools and providing quality education opportunities to children and families who may not be able to afford traditional education alternatives.
SD 19 is grateful for Mr. Moran’s compassionate leadership, his commitment to children and families, and his tireless efforts to continue creating innovative and educational opportunities for all students. |
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Brevard County Sheriff Deputies and Good Samaritans Rescue Injured Sea Turtle
A distressed sea turtle is now recovering thanks to deputies from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Canaveral precinct who were alerted of the reptile's condition by an off-duty Titusville police commander (Wright)
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the incident began when Titusville Police Commander Wright noticed a sea turtle struggling near the pier at Jetty Park and quickly contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Contos and Deputy Williams responded and found the sea turtle unable to swim due to entanglement in a fishing line and a hook tied to a six-pound weight embedded in its flipper. Good Samaritans nearby provided a net to the deputies who were able to bring the injured turtle to shore, where they removed the fishing line and weight, but not the embedded hook.
Melanie, a volunteer from the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, arrived to assist with a transport basket and delivered the turtle to the Brevard Zoo for specialized treatment. The sea turtle, now affectionately known as “Corporal Crush, is recovering at the zoo.
“Thank you to Cmdr. Wright, Melanie, the helpful citizens, the Brevard Zoo, and of course all of our team at Canaveral Precinct for doing another incredible job in keeping all of our community members safe… even the ones with flippers!” said Sheriff Ivey.
Understanding Beach Warning Flags System Saves Lives
Brevard County officials are urging residents and visitors to be informed about the Florida Beach Warning Flag (FBWF) system. The five warning flag colors are uniform throughout Florida to keep travelers visiting various beaches informed of local conditions.
- Green – Low hazard; calm conditions, but exercise caution
- Yellow – Medium hazard; moderate surf and/or currents
- Red – High hazard; strong surf and/or dangerous currents
- Double Red – Water closed to the public due to extremely hazardous conditions
- Purple – Dangerous marine life present, such as jellyfish or stingrays
These flags are flown daily at all lifeguarded beach locations in Brevard County. They are also posted on the Brevard County Fire Rescue Facebook page and the Cocoa Beach Fire Department’s website. Many local beachside hotels and surf shops will also have updated conditions available.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), in 2023, Florida led the nation with 16 rip current-related fatalities, many occurring on the East Central Florida coast. You can view the NWS rip current forecast here; however, officials urge that conditions can change quickly, so remain alert and adhere to the posted flags.
Other safety recommendations include:
- Swim and surf near a lifeguard
- Never enter the water during double-red flag conditions
- Avoid swimming alone
- Watch children closely, even in shallow water
- Shuffle your feet in the surf to avoid stepping on stingrays (especially when purple flags are flying)
Aging Matters in Brevard and FPL Deliver Thousands of Emergency Food Kits to Seniors
To ensure seniors in our community are properly prepared for any potential storms, Aging Matters in Brevard partnered with FPL to deliver 2,200 meal kits filled with three days of non-perishable items, including water, nutritious food and snacks, and essential supplies.
Volunteers from both organizations helped to assemble and deliver the kits to homebound seniors and those in areas that may be hard to reach after a significant storm.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to be above average. It is critical that vulnerable seniors have a plan and access to support through local organizations, including Aging Matters in Brevard.
According to the most recent U.S. Census, approximately 24.9% of the Brevard County population is age 65 or over.
If you are a senior, a family member, or a caregiver of a senior in need of assistance before, during, or after a storm, click here. |
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Melbourne Regional Chamber to Host Annual Hero Appreciation Week
The Melbourne Regional Chamber (MRC) will host their Annual Hero Appreciation Week from Monday, July 14th through Friday, July 18th. The purpose of the week of recognition is to show appreciation to those who make significant contributions to the growth, development, and betterment of the community.
Community members are invited to nominate a hero by completing a brief form here. All nominations must be received by Friday, July 11th.
During the weeklong celebration, the MRC will dedicate each day to heroes from various career fields and for volunteerism (see schedule below):
- Monday, July 14th – Nonprofit
- Tuesday, July 15th – Education
- Wednesday, July 16th -- First Responders & Military
- Thursday, July 17th – Healthcare
All hero nominees will be invited to the Hero Appreciation Week Celebration breakfast. The event will take place at the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center (250 West NASA Boulevard) in Melbourne on Friday, July 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
For more information, click here.
18th Annual Tour de Turtles Migratory Marathon
The 18th annual Tour de Turtles migratory marathon, where sea turtles are tagged with satellite trackers and released back to the sea, will take place on Sunday, July 27th at 7:30 a.m. at the Barrier Island Center (8385 South Highway A1A) in Melbourne Beach. The event is open to the public with additional parking available at Bonsteel Park.
The summer marathon is a three-month race that allows organizations like the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) to track migratory patterns of sea turtle species, such as loggerheads and leatherbacks, after they leave their beaches to nest.
“We plan to release two female loggerhead turtles,” said Sarah Rhodes-Ondi, STC community stewardship coordinator." One sponsored by Gideon’s Bakehouse will be swimming to raise awareness about water quality, the second turtle will be sponsored by Sea Life Trust and swimming to raise awareness about the threat of plastic debris.”
The public can follow the sea turtle’s migration online at tourdeturtles.org or through the STC Turtle Tracker app available on iPhones and Androids. The marathon officially begins on Friday, August 1st.
For more information on Florida’s laws and regulations related to sea turtles, click here.
Brevard County Seeks Crossing Guards
Brevard County’s Public Safety division will be hosting two recruitment events to hire crossing guards for the upcoming school year. The first event will take place on Tuesday, July 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Port St. John Library (6500 Carole Avenue), and the second will be held on Wednesday, July 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Suntree Library (902 Jordan Blass Drive).
The crossing guard job opportunity is a permanent part-time position, working two hours each weekday during the school year. Crossing guards will be paid at a rate of $15.00 per hour with benefits including a pension, paid holidays and leave time, and summers and weekends off.
For more information, email Deborah.Morancie@brevardfl.gov or click here. |
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Contact Information
Melbourne Office
900 East Strawbridge Avenue,
Suite 408,
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-409-2025
Tallahassee Office
400 South Monroe Street,
302 Senate Building,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
850-487-5019
Staff
Yvette Campbell
William Gooden
Kelli Lane |
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