Rep. Sam Garrison Prioritizes Behavioral Health Ahead of Florida’s 2026 Legislative Session

Florida Chamber of Commerce

3 weeks ago

As Florida lawmakers prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, Rep. Sam Garrison emphasized that behavioral health, including mental health and substance use disorders, will remain a top priority. Speaking at the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In, the Fleming Island Republican—who is in line to become House Speaker after November’s elections—called the issue a “first-tier” challenge that affects all demographics, amplified by technology and social media.

Garrison noted that mental health is one of the few areas of broad bipartisan agreement in the Legislature. He stressed the need for a modern, cohesive strategy for behavioral health services rather than relying on hospitals to absorb costs or on unsustainable reimbursement models. Drawing from his experience as a prosecutor and observations from his wife’s teaching career, Garrison highlighted the pervasive impact of mental health challenges, even among students from well-resourced families.

He concluded that while Florida has made significant strides in behavioral health compared to other states, an aggressive, forward-thinking strategy is essential to address growing needs effectively.