The Junior League of Miami Advocacy Committee has three pillars:

1. Advocate for specific legislation at the state and national levels that is relevant to our key issue areas.

2. Educate our members about advocacy and public policy.

3. Coordinate the exchange of information from community-based League projects to policymakers.

The Junior League of Miami is part of The Junior League of Florida SPAC (State Public Affairs Committee), which takes action on state and national issues that affect our projects, priority issue areas and communities primarily by supporting legislation that we have identified as being critical to the work of our member Leagues, their community partners, and the lives of Florida women, children and families. SPAC represents 22 Leagues and over 11,000 women across the state.

The Junior League of Miami’s core focus area is food insecurity. We select legislation that aligns with our Position Statements which are reviewed and updated annually.

2024-2025 Position Statements

1. Health and Hunger

The Junior League of Miami is actively working with local organizations to increase access to plentiful, fresh, healthy food for all Miami-Dade residents who are in need. This includes serving communities that are considered food deserts because of where they are located, not being in close proximity to grocery stores that have fresh produce and healthy food options. This also includes advocating for policies that increase access to fresh and healthy food for Miami-Dade residents of all socioeconomic statuses.

2. Improved Education

The Junior League of Miami recognizes that quality education is essential for our community’s students to become productive members of our global society. We are

committed to supporting policies and programs that ensure excellence, equality of access, and safety in our schools. This also includes serving children in developing literacy skills to ensure they are able to receive the most out of their education.

3. Community Safety and Environment

The Junior League of Miami supports the goal of fostering a safe and beautiful community within Miami-Dade. From researching ways to decrease violence to advocating for the well-being of women, children and youth, we support programs, policies, and educational initiatives that reduce and prevent incidences of harm. This also includes advocating for the preservation and expansion of green spaces and community gardens and protecting trees.

In the 2024 legislative session, SPAC was focused on legislative reform across key focus areas: 

● Health and Hunger

● At-Risk Youth

● House Bill 185 (HB 185) and Senate Bill 1224 (SB 1224) Dependent Children passed: Revises

● Community Safety

As the 2025 legislative session approaches, Florida lawmakers have filed several notable bills addressing critical issues: 

1. Firearm Laws 

● Open Carry (HB 31): Proposes allowing Floridians to openly carry firearms and repealing the state’s “red-flag” law, which permits temporary firearm confiscation for safety concerns. This proposal faces resistance from law enforcement and Senate President Ben Albritton.

● Lowering Firearm Purchase Age (SB 94): A bill to lower the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 21 back to 18, reversing a restriction implemented after the 2018 Parkland shooting.

2. Public Safety 

● Boating Safety (SB 58): Expands the definition of “vessel homicide” to include the death of an unborn child caused by reckless boating that injures a pregnant woman.

3. Environmental Concerns 

● Weather Modification Ban (SB 56): Seeks to prohibit injecting chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather patterns or sunlight intensity.

4. Education Regulation 

● Religious Colleges (SB 46): Proposes guidelines for nonpublic, religious postsecondary institutions to offer certain programs without state licensure.