Columbia County Legislative Delegation: Rep. Chuck Brannan's Final Delegation Meeting
October 30, 2025 1:30 am | 5 min read
Rep. Chuck Brannan makes his final Legislative
Delegation remarks as Sen. Bradley looks on. Rep.
Brannan's remarks are in the Epilogue. (Columbia County
Observer photo)
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County’s Legislative Delegation covered a lot of territory Tuesday morning. Key issues included jail renovations, an emergency response warehouse, and school safety. While many of the speakers were looking for state handouts for local projects, two constitutional officers came offering assistance to the delegation, hands in their pockets.
Bill Huggins, the commander of the 105-year-old Columbia County American Legion Post 57, made the Post’s first request ever for assistance. Compared to Florida’s $115.1 billion budget, the request was less than miniscule.
Requests by Lisa Crowley, a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, and Mandy Pinckley, a volunteer advocate for Florida Citizens for Health, were altruistic in nature.
The Constitutionals – two came to say “thank you”
Kyle Keen addresses the Legislative Delegation.
Kyle Keen, Tax Collector: “I just want to say thank you for the support we've received throughout the years of service. I don't have a request at this time.”
With property taxes on everyone’s mind, Mr. Keen said, “I will tell you that I'm sure property tax reform is going to be a big topic this year, and I'm the Department of Revenue liaison for the Florida Tax Collector Association. If you have any questions or concerns about any of that, please let me know.”
Mr. Keen explained the role homestead (your house property tax) plays on the County tax roll. “I think about 45% of our tax rolls.” He said that if property tax is eliminated, it will cost the County $12 to $13 million.
Kylie Markham addresses the Legisaltive Delegation.
Kylie Markham, Deputy Administrator, Property Appraiser: Good morning. I'm Kylie Markham. I'm representing Jeff Hampton, our Property Appraiser.”
Ms. Markham said, “It's certainly been a busy and interesting year in the world of property taxes, especially with the ongoing discussions surrounding potential property tax reform… There are several legislative proposals being considered that could appear on the 2026 ballot.”
Ms. Markham continued, “The Property Appraisers Association has chosen not to take an official position on these proposals. We want you to know that our office is always available to provide information, data, and clarification. Please do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to assist in any way that we can… I want to sincerely thank you for all your hard work and dedication.”
Advocating for Veterans
Bill Huggins Columbia County American Legion Post
Commander Huggins introduced himself. Good morning, Senator Bradley, Representative Brannan. I'm here on behalf of Columbia County American Legion Post 57. I currently represent 840 active members of the post.”
Bill Huggins, Commander, Columbia County American Legion
Post.
“We're in the position of trying to acquire a generator that will power everything we have.”
Commander Huggins explained that last year’s major storms caused power outages for extended periods of time. He said, “A lot of our members are Vietnam era veterans in their 70s and 80s, and this can be devastating for them going without power.”
“This generator will power everything we have. Will give us the ability to provide hot meals, cold drinks, and a place of sanctuary for our members.”
He continued, “The appropriation we're asking for is $57,000. Our post is 105 years old. We have never reached out and asked for assistance, but every dollar we spend on this upgrade to provide service to our members and our community is a dollar we do not have to serve our veterans.”
Senator Bradley responded, “Make sure you get with staff, and they'll help you get the form together so we can review it. Thank you for coming. Thank you for your service.”
Volunteer Advocates for the Public Good
Lisa Crowley, an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, thanked the Delegation for the opportunity to appear.
Lisa Crowley addresses the Legislative Delegation.
Ms. Crowley said, “I am one of the many faces of Alzheimer's. I know many of you have been touched by the realities of Alzheimer's and dementia. Over 580,000 Floridians are living with Alzheimer's disease, including an estimated 16,100 here in Columbia County alone, which equates to over 11.3% of our 65 and older population.”
Ms. Crowley continued, “Due to your commitment, Florida has proven to be a leader in dementia care and support. I am proud to advocate alongside the Alzheimer's Association. With your support, we remain optimistic as we propose our 2026 legislative priorities.”
Ms. Crowley presented three main themes to the Delegation.
Public education was important to raise awareness. Ms. Crowley proposed a $1.5 million investment in a comprehensive, multimedia statewide campaign to educate Floridians on Alzheimer’s warning signs and reduce stigma, while leveraging the newly FDA-approved blood test and treatments that target amyloid plaque.
Caregiver Support was the second point in the triangle. Ms. Crowley emphasized that Florida has over 870,000 dementia caregivers (66% juggling their own health/families).
Dementia care navigation and respite services are important because they enable people with Alzheimer’s to remain safely at home. There are currently 17,000 Floridians on the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) respite-service wait list.
Ms. Crowley’s requests were not complicated.
She said, “We are asking the Florida legislature to codify the Florida Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, FACE program. We are also seeking an increase in funding for the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative (ADI) to provide caregivers with respite services.
Finally, Ms. Crowley asked the Delegation to continue supporting funding for the Alzheimer's brain bus, a mobile outreach program that travels throughout Florida, providing information on brain health, warning signs, and resources for caregivers.
Mr. Crowley explained that funding and support from the legislature have enabled the brain bus to visit all 67 counties, and thanked the delegation for its time.
Mandy Pinckley is a volunteer advocate for Florida Voices for Health. She is a psychology graduate and an autistic self-advocate.
Mandy Pinckley addresses the Legislative Delegation.
Ms. Pinckley spoke about the critical need for accessible and affordable healthcare in Florida. Drawing from her personal and academic experience, she highlighted how a lack of healthcare access negatively impacts Florida families and communities.
Ms. Pinckley called on the Delegation to address Florida's healthcare "coverage gap," which affects individuals who work, but do not earn enough to afford insurance. She specifically mentioned House Bill 1507 (Medicaid eligibility), a bill that aimed to solve this problem but did not advance in the legislature.
Ms. Pinckley requested renewed efforts to expand healthcare access, reduce barriers for people with disabilities, and strengthen mental health support across Florida.
Ms. Pinckley told the Delegation, “Expanding healthcare access isn’t just a policy decision, it’s a moral one.”
Epilogue
Representative Brannon's final remarks at his last Columbia County Legislative Delegation Meeting (abridged).
"I appreciate the opportunity to serve. I regret that I will not get to do another Legislative Delegation meeting. They’re always interesting – always good to hear from constituents.
Democracy is the process we have. It’s a process that serves us well. And we try to do everything we can to keep that process in place so that we move into the future for the best lives for our children. I only want what’s best for Florida and what’s best for the United States of America."