New State Law Impacts Monroe County TDC Grants and Event Funding

Monroe County is informing the public of changes to Tourist Development Council (TDC) grant eligibility following the passage of new state legislation restricting the use of public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Florida Statute 125.595(1)(b); Senate Bill 1134/House Bill 1001, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2026, prohibits counties from funding, promoting, or taking official action related to DEI efforts. The law specifically prohibits the county from promoting or providing preferential treatment or special benefits to a person or group based on that person's or group's race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation while still allowing the use of equal opportunity or equal employment opportunity materials designed to inform a person about the prohibition against discrimination based on protected status under state or federal law. The law also provides an extensive list of exemptions.

As a result of the newly enacted law, Monroe County and the TDC are mandated to review event grant applications and funding allocations to confirm compliance with the new state law.  The TDC utilizes committees in five districts, known as the District Advisory Committees (DACs), along with the Cultural and Fishing Umbrella committees, to review and award grants under the TDC event grant program. After thoroughly reviewing the grant applications to determine eligibility under the new law, each DAC and Umbrella will consider the eligible applications and publicly recommend funding. There were no impacts to DAC II, DAC III, DAC IV, DAC V, and the fishing-related event applications.

Several DAC I and Cultural Umbrella applications were affected by the new law. For events occurring prior to the effective date of the law, Jan. 1, 2027, funding may be provided only for the portion of activities that take place before that date, resulting in reduced funding eligibility. For example, several Cultural Umbrella event applications will see eligible funding adjustments as follows, and during next year’s grant application cycle, they will not be eligible if they maintain the same event specifics:

• Aquanettes: Past, Present, and Future- $20,000 (Reduced from $35,000)
• Randy Roberts Live- $8,750 (Reduced from $35,000)
• Sons and Daughters of Italy- $3,500 (Reduced from $25,000)
• The Birdcage Cabaret Starring Christopher Peterson- $20,000 (Reduced from $35,000)

Other grant applicants requesting funding for events that occur after Jan. 1, 2027, the effective date of the new law, will no longer be eligible for funding under the new state law. These include:

• Cultural Umbrella application: Visibility is Power
• DAC I event applications, including:
  • Key West Pride 2027 
  • Tropical Heat Key West 2027 
  • Womenfest Key West 2027

The legislation also establishes enforcement provisions, including potential legal action by residents against counties that violate the law, and penalties for elected officials, including removal from office for misfeasance. Monroe County emphasizes that these changes are not discretionary and are required to comply with state law.