TALLAHASSEE – Today, the 2025 Florida Legislative Session will begin in Tallahassee amidst a historic affordability crisis in the state that is top of mind for working families and seniors.

In response, Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo and Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach issued the following statements:

“This session, Floridians deserve a people-first agenda that prioritizes lower costs, higher wages, and safer communities,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “Right now, for too many working families and seniors, Florida’s affordability crisis is putting their freedom to live healthy, prosperous, and safe lives at risk. Over the next sixty days, lawmakers need to focus on real solutions to the issues facing their constituents that will expand access to health care, bring down costs, and protect public safety in order to build a brighter future for all of us.”

“All Floridians should have the freedom to know that if they work hard, they will have a fair shot at living their version of the American Dream,” stated Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “Whether your family has farmed, worshipped, or hunted on this land for generations or you’re starting a family or small business here for the first time, Florida is becoming unaffordable for Floridians due to impacts from the climate crisis as stronger storms raise the cost of property insurance and recovery. Floridians need real solutions this session, not more excuses from politicians paid off by the same corporate polluters and insurance companies who jack up our rates and fail to deliver on their promises.”