On Friday, July 10, The Osceola Chamber welcomed Osceola County’s Florida state legislators for an update on the spring 2026 legislative session in a panel discussion moderated by Walt Disney World Senior Government Advisory Manager Leticia Adams. The program also included a panel discussion covering the latest updates from, and a look at the economic landscape of, Osceola County featuring local government leaders and moderated by Chamber Board Chair Rebekah Hurd with AdventHealth.

The luncheon event, held at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, was hosted by The Osceola Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet. At the start, the National Anthem was performed by Kate Walther, a student at the Osceola County School for the Arts. Centerpieces were provided by Market Street Florist. Spencer Pylant, Regional Manager, External Affairs – Central Florida Region, TECO Peoples Gas and Co-Chair of The Osceola Chamber Government Advisory Committee, presented Florida State Representative Erika Booth (District 35) with the Chamber’s Distinguished Public Service Award.

The Osceola Legislative Delegation panel featured Senator Kristen Arrington (District 25),Representative Jose Alvarez (District 46), Representative Paula Stark (District47), Representative Leonard Spencer (District 45), and Representative Erika Booth (District 35), who engaged in a moderated conversation with Disney’s Adams. They highlighted their successes with policy and appropriations during the recent legislative session in Tallahassee.

Senator Arrington identified the Property Tax Amendment ballot item as an issue constituents should educate themselves on, while Representative Spencer agreed that property taxes, along with Artificial Intelligence, was the top issue that should be on businessowners’ radar.  Representative Booth commended the Chamber, local government leadership, and other special interest groups for keeping her informed on what’s up locally and identified affordability as a key issue. Representative Jose Alvarez cited his past role as City of Kissimmee Mayor as influential in his assessment of the property tax issue.

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The local leadership panel consisted of City of Kissimmee City Manager Mike Steigerwald, Osceola County Manager Don Fisher, City of St. Cloud City Manager Veronica Miller, and Osceola County School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Shanoff. Steigerwald and Miller drew attention to exciting new development projects within their cities and Fisher touted new investments in NeoCity, including two economic development agreements with South Korean companies. Dr. Shanoff noted that the Osceola School District has risen to number three in the state in graduate college attendance, thanks to Osceola Prosper and other initiatives, and thanked his board, teachers, and District staff for the county’s highest ever graduation rate in 2026. A comparison between current operations and potential impacts should the property tax amendment pass were also part of the conversation.

The Osceola Chamber’s 2026 Osceola Update was sponsored by Walt Disney World Resort, Austin Commercial, HCA Florida Healthcare, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Orlando Health, Advent Health, Valencia College, Encore, Gaylord Palms, Osceola County, Osceola County School District, Overstreet Law, Sunbridge, TECO People’s Gas, TohoWater Authority, Universal Orlando Resort, Advanced Ultrasound FL, and Market Street Florist.

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Check out images from the Legislative Panel below.

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Check out images from the Local Leaders Panel.

Check out some event images!