2025-2027 BIENNIUM
The Florida State Organization Legislative Committee continues to advocate on behalf
of women, children, and educators throughout the year.
The Issues of Concern for 2025-2026, as identified by our members, are the following:
1. LOSS OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (K-12) AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS (VOUCHERS) GOING TO PRIVATE AND HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING RECEIVED BY STUDENTS.
2. SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR EDUCATORS AND STAFF THAT ALIGN WITH COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES
3. MENTAL HEALTH AND FACTORS THAT DISRUPT CLASSROOM LEARNING AND IMPACT
SCHOOL SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
On Tuesday December 9th, 2025, a contingent of 21 DKG members, led by the Legislative Committee, met in Tallahassee with Florida legislators from both parties to present and discuss these Issues of Concern.
We wish to thank the following legislators and aides who graciously shared their time and expertise with us:
Senator Keith Truenow
Senator Lori Berman
Senator Don Gaetz
Representative Toby Overdorf
Senator Darryl Rouson
Representative Tae Edmonds
Representative Debra Tendrich
Senator Danny Burgess
Representative Taylor Yarkosky
Kathy Mizereck, Sr. Policy Aide for Education, for Senator Ben Albritton
Florida’s Legislative Session opens on Tuesday, January 13 th and ends on Friday, March 30, 2026. Watch for updates from the committee on legislation related to women, children and education, and take action by contacting those who represent you
in Tallahassee! Your voice as an educator MATTERS!
of women, children, and educators throughout the year.
The Issues of Concern for 2025-2026, as identified by our members, are the following:
1. LOSS OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (K-12) AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS (VOUCHERS) GOING TO PRIVATE AND HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS WITH LITTLE TO NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING RECEIVED BY STUDENTS.
2. SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR EDUCATORS AND STAFF THAT ALIGN WITH COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES
3. MENTAL HEALTH AND FACTORS THAT DISRUPT CLASSROOM LEARNING AND IMPACT
SCHOOL SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
On Tuesday December 9th, 2025, a contingent of 21 DKG members, led by the Legislative Committee, met in Tallahassee with Florida legislators from both parties to present and discuss these Issues of Concern.
We wish to thank the following legislators and aides who graciously shared their time and expertise with us:
Senator Keith Truenow
Senator Lori Berman
Senator Don Gaetz
Representative Toby Overdorf
Senator Darryl Rouson
Representative Tae Edmonds
Representative Debra Tendrich
Senator Danny Burgess
Representative Taylor Yarkosky
Kathy Mizereck, Sr. Policy Aide for Education, for Senator Ben Albritton
Florida’s Legislative Session opens on Tuesday, January 13 th and ends on Friday, March 30, 2026. Watch for updates from the committee on legislation related to women, children and education, and take action by contacting those who represent you
in Tallahassee! Your voice as an educator MATTERS!
Advocating for Women, Children and Education in Florida
DKG Is There for You!
Members of the DKG Legislative Committee for 2025-2027
District I-Donna Heald
[email protected]
District II- Janeice Smith
[email protected]
District III- Nikki Frenette
[email protected]
District IV- Diana Brown
[email protected]
District V-Anne Knight
[email protected]
District VI- Barb Davis
[email protected]
DKG Is There for You!
Members of the DKG Legislative Committee for 2025-2027
District I-Donna Heald
[email protected]
District II- Janeice Smith
[email protected]
District III- Nikki Frenette
[email protected]
District IV- Diana Brown
[email protected]
District V-Anne Knight
[email protected]
District VI- Barb Davis
[email protected]
Members of the Legislative Committee are fully committed to honoring DKG Purposes 4
and 7 through their non-partisan advocacy work on behalf of women, children, and
education. In 2024-2025, they presented advocacy sessions at conferences and
conventions, met with their local chapters to share information about strategies for
effective advocacy, surveyed practicing and retired educators regarding their priority
issues, and sponsored both virtual and in-person meetings with Florida legislators.
If YOU want to join them as an advocate for education, here are some
suggestions to begin or continue your Advocacy on behalf of women, children,
and education throughout the year:
1. Initiate or maintain a relationship with your representative or senator, (either U.S or
Florida) by sending messages (phone, text, email, or U.S. mail) to express your
concerns, ideas, or offer congratulations for decisions of this legislator that you feel will
benefit all. Keep the messages short and to the point!
2. Don’t ignore certain lawmakers because they do not belong to your political party.
Everyone has an important voice and power.
3. Write your own message rather than using an electronic form that you receive online.
The form letters do not carry the weight of personally written messages.
4. Help the members of your chapter to stay informed and to become advocates.
Remind them of the power that can be found in numbers. (One phone call may not
make a difference, but 20 will).
5. Participate in rallies or marches to support an issue that you care about. Ask others
to join you-remember, “showing up” sends a powerful message to lawmakers!
6. Vote in every election-local and state elections matter as much or more as the
presidential election!
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FLORIDA STATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER:
Florida House of Representatives
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FLORIDA STATE SENATOR
Florida State Senate
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OR SENATOR, CALL THIS NUMBER:
(202) 224-3121 OR GO TO Congress.gov
“If You don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
if you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. “
Nora Roberts
and 7 through their non-partisan advocacy work on behalf of women, children, and
education. In 2024-2025, they presented advocacy sessions at conferences and
conventions, met with their local chapters to share information about strategies for
effective advocacy, surveyed practicing and retired educators regarding their priority
issues, and sponsored both virtual and in-person meetings with Florida legislators.
If YOU want to join them as an advocate for education, here are some
suggestions to begin or continue your Advocacy on behalf of women, children,
and education throughout the year:
1. Initiate or maintain a relationship with your representative or senator, (either U.S or
Florida) by sending messages (phone, text, email, or U.S. mail) to express your
concerns, ideas, or offer congratulations for decisions of this legislator that you feel will
benefit all. Keep the messages short and to the point!
2. Don’t ignore certain lawmakers because they do not belong to your political party.
Everyone has an important voice and power.
3. Write your own message rather than using an electronic form that you receive online.
The form letters do not carry the weight of personally written messages.
4. Help the members of your chapter to stay informed and to become advocates.
Remind them of the power that can be found in numbers. (One phone call may not
make a difference, but 20 will).
5. Participate in rallies or marches to support an issue that you care about. Ask others
to join you-remember, “showing up” sends a powerful message to lawmakers!
6. Vote in every election-local and state elections matter as much or more as the
presidential election!
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FLORIDA STATE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER:
Florida House of Representatives
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FLORIDA STATE SENATOR
Florida State Senate
TO LOCATE AND CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OR SENATOR, CALL THIS NUMBER:
(202) 224-3121 OR GO TO Congress.gov
“If You don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
if you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. “
Nora Roberts
