EP 148 School Board Chair Ruben Colon

Podcast News Topics

Synergy Billing is celebrating 20 years and expanding their headquarters into the former WyoTech building at Destination Daytona. That facility is 93,000 square feet — and Jayson Meyer is looking for good neighbors! Interested? Call us!

March 11 - Legislature will not adjourn its regular 60-day session on time this Friday…lack of agreement on a new FY 2026-27 that starts July 1. $1.4 B gap to whittle down…..when they agree on a final budget, there’s a constitutionally-required 72-hour cooling off period before they can take a final vote.

• SB 840 Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters intends to scale back and clarify 2025 Hurricane-Recovery Law Restrictions On Local Planning Authority (SB 180) yet maintains limits meant to speed rebuilding after storms. Passed Senate…on House calendar
• SB 482 by Sen Tom Leek establishes an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” lets users know when they’re interacting with an AI system vs a human; sets privacy protections for personal data. Passed Senate…sent to House….
• HJR 203 a property‑tax elimination constitutional amendment passed the House...currently before Senate.  House had several other property tax measures but they’re not moving.
• SB 7046 part of a Senate’s tax package includes certain property tax revisions to exemptions/millage rules but it’s not a sweeping property tax elimination bill. On Senate calendar.
• Gov DeSantis called a special legislative session for April 20 to draw new congressional districts.
• He also wants a mid-summer special session to consider property tax relief…

County Council meets March 17…on the agenda….

• contract with consultant Alfred Benesch & Company for new 2026 Impact Fee Study.
• a comprehensive review of the Volusia Forever program.
• mini-budget Workshop regarding Votran/Transit Services.
• 3 appointments to Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
• 7 appointments from specified categories for Contractor Licensing and Construction Appeals board.

Recap of Volusia Elected Officials Roundtable

Recap of Volusia Charter Review Commission

Volusia Sheriff's Office seized 225 illegal gambling machines and $97,000 in cash as part of 'Operation Reel of Fortune' ….an illegal gambling operations investigation that covered were Volusia, Flagler, Brevard, and Duval.

Fla Citizen Initiatives for 2026 Constitutional amendment…

Dept of State announced that no of active constitutional amendment citizen‑initiative met requirements to appear on the 2026 general election ballot — no initiative secured the required 880,00 verified signatures by the February 1 legal deadline.

Federal Reserve Bd meets next week March 17–18..most economists expect it’ll be a “wait-and-see” meeting and no change to the current 3.5%–3.75% federal funds rate.

Congress has NOT reached agreement to fund DHS….it is STILL in a partial shutdown mode with many divisions operating without appropriations — including Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, and FEMA — although many of these entities remain working without pay.

In the Senate, Democrats blocked the House funding measure, preventing it from reaching the 60‑vote threshold needed to advance a funding package…want ICE policy reforms

NSB City Commission appointed 5 members to their Economic Development Advisory Board

South Daytona took up an agreement with LTG to design a Traffic Camera Network with funding from FDOT