The Alliance has created this Policy Watch page to help you keep track of public policies that may have impacts in your communities. We will update this page on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. We also provide links to other organizations tracking policy so you can stay abreast of activities. These sites are being updated regularly so check back often.If immediate action on an issue is required, watch your email for an alert from us.Federal UpdatesUPDATE!! Take Action on Proposed CRA Changes – The Community Opportunity Alliance has prepared a CRA Advocacy Toolkit to help us influence the conversation about reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act. We ask that you sign onto their principles-based member letter by October 2. We will be work-shopping composing your own comment letters at the Summit on Oct. 7th. Click here for more information. UPDATE!! 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act – The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents the most significant federal housing legislation in a generation. Enterprise Community Partners has done an analysis of the legislation, breaking down the bill’s key components, exploring housing affordability opportunities, and highlighting the potential impact on communities. You can read it here. Also, you can attend a session on the topic at our Summit on Oct. 7th.Read the Housing Action Lab blog from FHC to see what implementation might look like for Florida. NEW!! House Passes Continuing Resolution - to extend federal program funding through December 11. The Bill delays the implementation through the duration of the CR of a harmful proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would make significant changes to the federal grant process. Learn more. NEW!! OBBB Update - The Treasury Department and IRS have issued Fact Sheet 2026-13 (FAQs) and Notice 2026-28, providing guidance on the new deduction for qualified overtime compensation and changes made to the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave (PFML). NEW!! Bipartisan Safeguarding America’s Nonprofits Act Reintroduced - Reps. Steube (R-FL) and DelBene (D-WA) reintroduced the Safeguarding America’s Non-profits Act (H.R. 10148) to amend the Internal Revenue Code to clarify that a nonprofit’s federal tax-exempt status under 501(c) does not constitute federal financial assistance and therefore the organizations are not subject to additional regulation. Read more. NEW!! Administration Remains Barred from Reinstating Broad Funding Freeze – The D.C. Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction in the National Council of Nonprofits’ first lawsuit, National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which halted the funding freeze ordered by OMB in January 2025. In issuing the decision, the court concluded that the government was unlikely to reinstate the broad funding freeze, and thus the case was now moot. The decision does not affect the practical implications for nonprofits as another preliminary injunction also halting the funding freeze from a separate, but related case brought by 23 state attorneys general is still in effect. Read more. NEW!! Federal Court Blocks Changes to Homelessness Programs: A federal court ruled against the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care homelessness programs.Read more. NEW!! Federal Court Rejects New Conditions on HHS, HUD Funding: A federal court ruled that the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cannot require grant applicants to comply with new terms and conditions. Read more. NEW!! Litigation Challenges Withholding of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Funds: Two nonprofits have filed litigation against the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Treasury over their decision to withhold $289 million in funding through the CDFI Fund. Read more. UPDATE!! Voter Registration Day - It’s not too soon to be planning how to help register voters for the 2026 election cycle. You can sign up to be a Community Partner in just minutes and help kick-start your National Voter Registration Day (September 15) activities. In light of recent changes to the Voting Right Act, mobilizing voters is more important than ever.
The general election on November 3rd. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
Government Contacts Policy Links
Florida Updates
UPDATE!! Proposed Property Tax Amendment - Amendment 3, the proposed property tax changes, is now “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homesteaded Property Assessments.” The body of the amendment includes this amended language: “This amendment increases the homestead exemption, for all non-school taxes, to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and adjusts for inflation thereafter. It requires the Legislature to prescribe a uniform procedure for counties and municipalities, for their respective levies, to increase the homestead exemption up to full assessed value, and allows special districts, subject to referendum approval, to do the same,” It also clarifies that the 5 year waiting period for new Florida residents will be implemented "to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution." The Florida Nonprofit Alliance has developed numerous resources to help you educate yourself and your community about this important proposal. Please visit their Resources for Nonprofits web page. Resources from the Association of counties are available here. Making Housing a Local Campaign Issue – The Florida Housing Coalition has developed a field guide for advocates building candidate questionnaires this election season. They’ve developed 10 themes to help housing advocates create questions for candidates running for city or county commission. Each one covers a housing issue, why it matters, and sample questions to get you started. Honestly, it couldn’t be easier. Check it out here and create your local housing advocacy tool. REMINDER!! Florida Nonprofit Corporations Act in Effect - HB 797 updates Florida Statutes on nonprofit governance standards. Take a look at the Florida Nonprofit Corporation Act Self-Assessment Guide, published by FNA. The Alliance has already used this and can personally recommend it. 2027 FL Legislative Session Interim Committee Meetings – schedule has been released. The 2026 Session will officially begin March 2, 2027, and run for 60 consecutive days, with April 30, 2027 being the final scheduled day.
Government Contacts Policy Links |
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