| The Mayfield Minute - July 27, 2025 |
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Committee Assignments
Last week, I had the privilege of being selected by Senate President Ben Albritton to serve on the following Senate Committees for the remainder of the 2024-2026 term:
· Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability, Chair
· Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining, Alternating Chair
· Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Vice Chair
· Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
· Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development;
· Committee on Commerce and Tourism
· Committee on Fiscal Policy
· Committee on Regulated Industries
· Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight
The 2025-2026 Interim Committee Week schedule is as follows:
· Week 1 -- Monday, October 6th through Friday, October 10th
· Week 2 -- Monday, October 13th through Friday, October 17th
· Week 3 -- Monday, November 3rd through Friday, November 7th
· Week 4 -- Monday, November 17th through Friday, November 21st
· Week 5 -- Monday, December 1st through Friday, December 5th
· Week 6 -- Monday, December 8th through Friday, October 12th
The Legislature will convene in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 13th, and will meet through March 13th, 2026. All committee meetings and regular session meetings are available on the Florida Channel.
To schedule a meeting in Tallahassee during either the interim committee weeks or the regular session, please contact my district office.
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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| Sales Tax Relief Beginning August 1st |
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Permanent Back-To-School Tax Holiday
As a reminder, as part of the 2025-2026 Tax Package, the Florida Legislature expanded the state’s existing temporary Back-To-School tax holiday into a permanent, recurring tax holiday held annually from August 1st through August 31st.
This ensures that Florida families will always be supported with sales tax relief when they need it most.
For the entire month of August, there will be no tax on the retail sale of:
· Clothing, footwear, wallets, bags, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, and diaper bags with a sales price of $100 or less per item.
· Certain school supplies with a sales price of $50 or less per item.
· Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less.
· Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories with a sales price of $1,500 or less, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.
The Florida Department of Revenue published a guide with additional details on what qualifies as an eligible purchase. To read the full guide, click here.
Year-Round Tax Relief on Disaster Preparedness, Health, and Safety Items
Traditionally, the state has offered brief tax holidays each year at the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, to give Floridians an opportunity to stock up on disaster preparedness items.
This year, in recognition that disaster could strike at any time, the Legislature passed the 2025-2026 tax package, which created a permanent, year-round exemption of sales tax for certain disaster preparedness.
Additionally, sales tax exemptions for certain health and safety items had previously been offered during the temporary Florida Freedom Summer tax holiday. This year's tax package created a permanent, year-round exemption of sales tax for those items as well.
Below is a full list of disaster preparedness, health, and safety items that will be exempt from sales tax, beginning Friday, August 1, 2025:
· AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries.
· Smoke detection devices.
· Carbon monoxide alarms
· Fire extinguishers.
· Portable generators.
· Waterproof tarps and other flexible waterproof sheeting that are 1,000 square feet or less.
· Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits.
· Portable gas or diesel fuel cans with a capacity of 5 gallons or less.
· Health and Safety items such as life jackets, bicycle helmets, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
The Florida Department of Revenue published a guide with additional details on what qualifies as an eligible purchase. To read the full guide, click here. |
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Florida to Receive Over $675 Million in Disaster Relief for Florida Agriculture
Last week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, applauded U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ announcement of more than $675 million in federal block grant funding to support Florida’s agriculture industry. Florida’s producers suffered over $3 billion in damages and losses from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton.
“I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Brooke Rollins, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for recognizing the need for critical financial relief for our farmers, ranchers, and growers,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Florida’s producers have endured back-to-back devastating hurricane seasons, and this funding is a major victory that will help them rebuild and recover.
Relief funding will assist eligible producers with:
· Infrastructure damage
· Market loss compensation
· Citrus-specific impacts, including projected economic loss
· Timber damage
The block grant funding is in addition to approximately $150 million that the state of Florida has allocated through FDACS’ Agricultural and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program and timber recovery program to support producers with emergency capital.
To view the news release in full, click here.
St. Johns River Water Management District Announces Blue School Grant
Blue School Grants provide funding to teachers within the District in support of their efforts to engage students in understanding and appreciating Florida’s freshwater and estuarine systems. The application cycle will open on August 1st and close on September 21st.
The mission of the Blue School Grant program is for students to develop an appreciation for Florida’s water, an understanding of water as a limited resource, and a water ethic that they can foster throughout their lifetime.
Up to $3,000 will be awarded to each selected teacher. A total of $60,000 is expected to be awarded for the 2025–2026 school year.
Requirements:
· Educators must be working with grades K–12 in public and charter schools
· Schools must be within the boundaries of the St. Johns River Water Management District. To confirm your district, click here
· Projects may be for individual classes, teaching teams, or a grade level
To be considered for funding, submit a description of your proposed project, including the goal and key concepts addressed. See Application Overview for details. Grant selection is competitive, and projects will be ranked using a rubric.
For additional information, including the timeline for applications and awards, click here.
FHP Celebrates Graduating Recruits
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) celebrated the graduation of 32 new recruits, consisting of 20 from the 154th Basic Recruit Class (BRC) and 12 from the Transitional Recruit Class (TRC).
Graduates from the 154th BRC have undergone a rigorous 29 weeks of training, equivalent to 770 hours. This comprehensive training began on January 13, 2025. It included high liability classes, defensive tactics, firearms, vehicle operations, and first aid, ensuring that our new troopers are well-prepared for the challenges they will face in their
duties.
Twelve graduates of the TRC held Florida law enforcement certifications at the time they entered the program. Those experienced officers attended an eight-week transitional academy tailored specifically for officers who have already been certified.
Executive Director Dave Kerner said. “Today, 32 individuals become State Troopers, and with each one of them on the road, Florida becomes safer. They are out there protecting Floridians and putting the bad guys where they belong. As they begin this new chapter, they will do so with the backing of a strong FHP family, a grateful state, and leadership that believes in them. Welcome to the Patrol—you’ve earned your place, and your mission starts now.”
To view the full announcement, click here. |
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Nicole Grabner, Executive Director of One Voice Brevard
Our Constituent of the Week is Nicole Grabner, a disabled United States Air Force Veteran and Founder and Executive Director of One Voice Brevard.
Ms. Grabner was born in New Mexico and raised in Germany. After graduating from High School, she moved back to the United States. She enrolled at the University of Maryland, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature.
She served in the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2005 as a Production and Maintenance Manager and from 2008 to 2014 as a Senior Executive Secretary.
After leaving the Air Force, Ms. Grabner worked for several years teaching English as a Second Language at VIPKID. Outside of her teaching career, Ms. Grabner provided freelance writing and editing services to several publications, including Military Spouse, GI Jobs Magazine, and Begin With.
Ms. Grabner is the mother of two neurodivergent children. Neurodivergent describes someone who has a disorder or condition that affects the way the brain processes information.
In 2023, Ms. Grabner's challenges raising two neurodivergent children led her to participate in the Partners in Policymaking (PIP) leadership training program. PIP prepares adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members, who have decision-making responsibility over an affected loved one, to be effective advocates at the local, state, and federal levels.
After graduating from the PIP program, Ms. Grabner founded One Voice Brevard and is currently serving as the Executive Director. One Voice Brevard is a coalition effort of different disability nonprofit groups in Brevard County to educate, empower, and advocate for disability voices.
Her advocacy work includes working as a representative for military spouses as well as abused and neglected children in the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Florida and serves as the Community Partner Lead for the grassroots group “We The People, For All The People."
SD 19 is grateful to Ms. Grabner for her military service, leadership, and compassionate advocacy for vulnerable members of our community |
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The New World's Largest Cruise Ship, Star of the Seas, Is En Route to Port Canaveral
Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, the Star of the Seas, has departed from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and is en route to her new homeport at Port Canaveral.
The 248,663-gross-ton vessel ties her sister ship, the Icon of the Seas, based at the Port of Miami, as the two largest cruise ships in the world. The Star of the Seas has 20 decks, 2,805 staterooms, can accommodate 5,600 guests in double occupancy, and 2,350 crew members.
Construction of the ship began in February 2023, and by June 2025, the Star of the Seas had successfully passed all sea trial tests, including navigation, propulsion, and safety.
The ship made a stop in Spain on July 24th before arriving in Port Canaveral. The “Star of the Seas” will operate four preview cruises beginning August 16th.
The ship’s first regular sailing is set for August 31st and will sail alternating 7-night cruises in the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean has not yet disclosed the date of her naming ceremony, but has confirmed that Motown superstar Diana Ross, formerly the lead singer of the Supremes, will serve as Godmother.
For more information, click here.
Brevard County Commission Votes Unanimously to Increase Firefighters’ Pay
Last week, Brevard County officials voted 5-0 on a new contract that increases wages for firefighters and paramedics over the next three years. Brevard County Fire Rescue has reported a high turnover rate of its first responders due to low pay.
Brevard County firefighter EMTs will ultimately receive a 21% increase in their pay, and the paramedics’ average increase is 18%. Fire prevention inspectors will see a 26% pay raise.
Fire services special assessment fees will be raised by more than 37% to pay for the salary increases and fund fire station improvements and equipment modernization.
For more information on careers with Brevard Fire Rescue, click here.
Digital Devices Help Test Water Quality in Indian River Lagoon
With the assistance of a $4,000 grant from the Indian River Lagoon Estuary Program, the Marine Resources Council has been able to purchase digital testing probes to equip their volunteer water testers.
The new technology is a much-needed upgrade. Before it was available, they had to test the water manually, which took an hour to complete.
For the past 10 years, MRC has been unable to send their manual tests to the state for data collection because the state moved to the digital method. With the assistance of the grant funds, they are now on the same system.
To learn more about the MRC or to join their next First Friday Litter Patrol on Friday, August 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Ted Moorhead House in Palm Bay (3275 Dixie Highway NE), click here. |
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State of the Schools: "Foundations for the Future"
Accelerate Brevard will hold the annual State of the Schools event at Viera Middle School (6093 Stadium Parkway) in Melbourne on Tuesday, August. 5th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dr. Mark Rendell, Superintendent of Brevard County Public Schools, will provide the keynote address, followed by a panel discussion.
This year’s theme, Foundations for the Future, highlights the essential role the business community plays in strengthening educational outcomes—particularly through early literacy initiatives that lay the groundwork for lifelong success.
Tickets are $25 for members of Accelerate Brevard and $35 for non-members. For more information, click here.
Helping Hands Disability Resource Conference
Several disability advocacy groups, including One Voice, Angels Bridging Gaps, and the Brevard Autism Coalition, are partnering to host the Helping Hands Disability Resource Conference. The conference will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium (624 East Hibiscus Blvd.)
This free conference is intended to bring together Floridians of all ages, both with and without disabilities, for a day of education and empowerment. The keynote presenter is J.J. Holmes, a prominent disability advocate throughout the state.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in:
· Workshops and training sessions
· Open panel discussions
· Breakout sessions on legislation, mental health, ministry, support services
· Networking with disability advocates, non-profits, and service providers
A special childcare area will be available if needed.
For more information, email abg.marketingdirector@gmail.com.
Brevard County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the next class of their Citizens Academy.
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During the multi-week course, citizens will experience everything from SWAT, Bomb Squad, Motor Unit and K9 demos, visiting the Aviation Hangar and testing their crime scene investigation skills.
The academy will meet every Monday from August 4th through September 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The academy will have additional meetings on Tuesday, September 2nd from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and on Saturday, September 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
To apply for BCSO's Citizens Academy, click here. Please be aware that the program has limited space available and reaches capacity quickly.
For any additional information, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 321-264-7755. |
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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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