About this Event
Florida Amendment 3: The Local Impact
How Amendment 3 Could Affect Community Budgets & Essential Services
What happens when the financial environment of a community changes—and how can residents, businesses and community leaders prepare before those changes are felt?
The Sovereign Pride: Florida Amendment 3 — The Local Impact is a free community-focused educational forum bringing together public-safety professionals, community leaders, educators, business owners and residents for a practical conversation about preparation, leadership, financial resilience and protecting essential community services.
Florida's 2026 general-election ballot identifies Amendment 3 as “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments.”
This event is not for or against Amendment 3 and is not intended to tell attendees how they should vote.
Instead, the conversation centers on a practical question:
If the financial environment of our communities changes, how do we prepare for it?
The program will explore preparation strategies relating to local operating budgets, public safety, emergency response, education, businesses, households, workforce planning and community services.
Attendees will hear conversations covering artificial intelligence and operational efficiency, grants and alternative funding, rebates and purchasing efficiencies, public-private partnerships, workforce planning, community preparedness and protecting essential services.
The event includes three featured presentations, a six-person community panel, audience Q&A and networking. These subjects and the event's preparation-focused purpose come directly from the current event plan. SOVEREIGN-PRIDE-PRESENTS-SAVE-O…
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for city and county leaders, police, fire and emergency services, planning and zoning professionals, educators, business owners, homeowners, community organizations and residents. NEW SMYRNA BEACH
Admission is free. Registration is recommended.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Doors Open & Guest Arrival
Info: Check-in, networking, seating, and event welcome.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Opening Remarks
Info: Co-Hosts: Jason Hanson & Vivian Saavedra
🕑: 10:40 AM - 10:55 AM
Featured Presentation Black Flag Protection Group
Info: Community Safety, Child Protection & Public-Private Preparedness
🕑: 10:57 AM - 11:12 AM
Featured Presentation Chief Otto Drozd III
Info: Pride, Ownership & the Responsibility of Leadership
🕑: 11:14 AM - 11:29 AM
Featured Presentation Ray DeLuca
Info: Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency & Preparing for Tomorrow
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Lunch Intermission & Networking
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:10 PM
Community Panel Introduction
Info: Moderated by Jason Hanson & Vivian Saavedra
🕑: 12:10 PM - 12:55 PM
Moderated Community Panel
Info: Discussion focused on essential services, public safety, education, AI, workforce efficiency, grants, alternative funding, rebates, partnerships, and community preparedness.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:20 PM
Audience Q&A & Panel Discussion
🕑: 01:20 PM - 01:25 PM
Final Panel Takeaways
🕑: 01:25 PM - 01:30 PM
Closing Remarks
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Networking & Meet the Speakers
Event venue & nearby stays
Brannon Center, 105 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, United States