On October 25, 2023, the Alachua County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing was held on the campus of Santa Fe State College. In attendance were: Representative Charles "Chuck" Clemons, Representative Chuck Brannan, Senator Jennifer Bradley, Senator Keith Perry, and Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson.

The League of Women Voters of Alachua County (LWVAC) was granted time to speak for three minutes. LWVAC President, Janice Garry, represented LWVAC to express our wishes for the coming 2024 Legislative Session. Below is the text from her address, and the video recording courtesy of The Florida Channel is available here (Note: President Garry's address starts at approximately 01:40:37. Long-time LWVAC member Donna Waller also addressed the Deligation at 02:37:00 regarding the Gainesville City Charter).

Candy also captured a video recording of President Garry's address, and it is available on our YouTube channel.

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION PUBLIC MEETING
PRESENTATION NOTES
10/25/23

My name is Janice Garry. I am president of the League of Women Voters of Alachua County.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.

For over 100 years, the League of Women Voters has steadfastly provided education to voters on important issues of the day and assisted citizens to vote. Although there has never been any proof of voter fraud in Florida that swayed an election, for three years in a row, the legislature has added restrictions to voting. Last year, criteria and significant penalties were added to third party registration organizations that were so prohibitive, voter registration by those organizations became untenable. Voter registration through those organizations disproportionately served non-white citizens. The League joins the Supervisors of Elections all over the state who have urged the legislature to not impose further restrictions on voting during the upcoming session.

Further, the League of Women Voters believes that:

• The legislature should accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid to the millions of Floridians who have no way to pay for medical care.
• The legislature should accept federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that would allow the middle class to have energy-efficient homes and would diminish carbon emissions that are causing sea encroachment to the hundreds of miles of Florida coastline.
• Too many children have died from guns. There should be universal background checks and a three-day waiting period for all gun sales.
• Too many women have been impoverished by unwanted pregnancies. Women and doctors should make decisions on each woman’s reproductive health choices.
• Education professionals should make decisions on the content of history lessons and what books are placed in schools.
• The state’s takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities is a violation of home rule.

The views just expressed are the views of the majority of people. Our communities, our state and our country are most vibrant when the talents of the many contribute. Not when the shouts of the few silence the rest.

Thank you for your work for Floridians and for Florida.