For more than 100 years, the Florida League of Cities has been the united voice for Florida’s municipalities. When Florida’s city officials formed a group of municipal governments for the first time in 1922, they wanted to shape legislation, share the advantages of cooperative action, and exchange ideas and experiences. Growing from a small number of cities and towns, their membership now represents more than 400 cities in the Sunshine State.
The League represents municipal government interests at the state and federal levels with a dedicated team of legislative advocates that help ensure local voices are making local choices in our cities.
All five Sarasota City Commissioners have been appointed to serve on a Florida League of Cities 2024-2025 legislative policy committee. Committee appointments and supporting City of Sarasota staff members include:
- Mayor Liz Alpert: Intergovernmental Relations, Mobility, and
Emergency Management Committee; Staff member: Nik Patel, City Engineer - Vice Mayor Debbie Trice: Development, Code Compliance, and Redevelopment
- Kyle Battie: Municipal Operations Committee; Staff member: Jennifer Jorgensen, Governmental Relations Manager
- Jen Ahearn-Koch: Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works Committee; Staff member: Wade Cobb Capital Projects Engineer
- Erik Arroyo: Finance and Taxation; Staff member: Kelly Strickland, Financial Administration Director
Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch has received the Florida League of Cities 2025 Home Rule Hero award for her unwavering advocacy for municipal home rule leading up to and during the 2025 Florida Legislative Session.
This is her seventh consecutive year being recognized as a Home Rule Hero.
Commissioner Ahearn-Koch accepted the award Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a ManaSota League of Cities meeting hosted by the City of Bradenton.
Advocacy
- 2025 Legislative Platform
- Bill Summaries – Updated weekly during Legislative Session, this report includes summaries of bills with municipal impact and their current status.
- On Tap at the Cap – A weekly roundup of bill movement and updates on priority issues sent each Friday during legislative session.
- Legislative Alert & Updates – Action Alerts and Legislative Updates for the 2025 Legislative Session listed in ascending order by date.