Nassau County BOCC Approves Legislative Priorities for 2026

Each year, in coordination with the Nassau County Legislative Delegation, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) submits a prioritized list of local funding initiative requests for the Florida Legislature to consider as part of their annual budgeting process.. 

At the Wednesday, October 15, 2025, meeting, the BOCC discussed its top legislative priorities for the 2026 session:

Historic Courthouse Tower Repairs/Replacement
The County is seeking $500,000 in Legislative funding to reclad the existing cupola and replacement of the clock tower.

Courthouse Redesign and new courtroom
The County is seeking $500,000 to add two additional courtrooms at the Robert M. Foster Justice Center.

Sheriff's Work Ethics and Training (SWEAT) Program
The County is seeking for $125,000 to allow the Sheriff's Office to continue tutoring and mentoring services for at-risk youth. 

Thomas Creek Restoration Project
The County is seeking a $1 million match to assist in obtaining properties identified in the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan and return the floodplain to its original state. 

I-95 Interchange
The Nassau County Mobility Plan, Northeast Florida Transportation Planning Organization, and the State of Florida approved the East Nassau Community Planning Area Sector Plan which identifies a new interchange to be located on I-95 between the SR2000/A1A interchange and the US Highway 17 interchange. This new interchange will provide a critical parallel corridor to SR200/A1A and represents an opportunity to expand the County's economic base. The County is seeking $7 million for Preliminary Design and Engineering for a future interchange.

As the Wednesday, November 19, 2025 meeting, the Board added an additional priority project, following a recent meeting with the Sheriff's Office:  

K-9 Unit Regional Training Facility- Public Safety Training Complex 
Phase III of the Public Safety Training Center includes plans for a K-9 Unit Regional Training Facility with indoor and outdoor training environments that will serve as a regional hub for K-9 training and certification. The BOCC is seeking $1 million for this project. 

County staff continues to work with members of the Delegation, partner agencies and the County's contracted lobbyist to prepare for another successful Legislative Session. Now that the projects have been identified, the County will complete all the necessary State forms. Our Lobbyist and our State Legislatures will then advocate in Tallahassee on our behalf during the upcoming Legislative Session.