The Florida Policy Project is a think tank founded by former Republican state Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) to publish research related to Florida state issues. ¹ It uses its research to advocate for increased housing subsidies, social programs for incarcerated individuals, and subsidies for insurance. ^{2 3 4}

In May 2024, the Florida Policy Project hosted a conference titled the “Florida Housing Summit” to discuss zoning, housing vouchers, and other housing policies in Florida. The conference was sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association, Florida Trend, Reason Foundation, AARP Florida, Lennar, and University of South Florida Health. ⁵

Background

The Florida Policy Project was founded in 2023 by former Republican Florida state senator Jeff Brandes. ⁶ It is a think tank that advocates for regulating the insurance industry to address rising premiums, social programs that address recidivism rates, subsidizing self-driving vehicles, and welfare programs to address housing costs. ⁷

The Florida Policy Project publishes research reports to support its advocacy. ⁸ It also hosts a “Florida Housing Summit,” which is a conference that hosts various researchers on housing policies, discussing housing vouchers, zoning, and other housing policies. ⁹

Reports

Housing

In April 2024, the Florida Policy Project published a report that advocates for increasing public spending on housing vouchers to address housing affordability. The report argues that increasing funding for housing vouchers would address the issue of a decrease in housing supply, the increase in the median home price, and the increase in the average rent price. In addition to housing vouchers for low-income households, the Florida Policy Project also advocates for increased funding for home-buying programs and other rental-assistance programs. ¹⁰

The Florida Policy Project’s report on housing vouchers also discusses subsidizing low-income developments and expediting zoning applications. It advocates for continuing such policies regarding zoning and continuing subsidizing the developments, but it argues that new subsidies are more effectively spent on housing vouchers. ¹¹

Insurance

In April 2024, the Florida Policy Project published a report on publicly backed insurance programs in Florida and what it describes as a lack of involvement by regulators in preventing insurance companies from going insolvent. The report advocates for regulators to address rising insurance costs to increase investments in Florida real estate. It criticizes subsidized insurance plans for high-value homes and commercial properties for incentivizing investments in high-cost properties, but it advocates for subsidized insurance plans for low-income households and communities. ¹²

In addition to increasing insurance subsidies, the Florida Policy Project report on insurance advocates for creating stricter building codes so buildings are more storm resistant, lowering the risks for insurance companies. It also advocates for policies that would control land use, also to allegedly reduce risks, and for subsidies to fund insurance risk reduction. ¹³

Criminal Justice

In October 2023, the Florida Policy Project published a report on Florida’s incarceration rate and recommendations on how the crime rate can be reduced as well as criminal justice spending. It argues the largest contributor to the crime rate is recidivism and advocates for social programs to lower recidivism rates. It advocates for increasing government funding for job-training programs, education services, substance abuse and mental health programs, and transitional services. ¹⁴

The Florida Policy Project advocates for funding social programs for incarcerated individuals and former convicts as it argues they may lead to lower incarceration rates which would reduce the amount of money spent on incarcerated individuals. ¹⁵

Leadership

Jeff Brandes is the founder and president of the Florida Policy Project. He served as a Republican state senator from 2010 to 2022 and founded the Florida Policy Project following his departure from office to promote his policy ideas on insurance, housing, criminal justice, and transportation. ¹⁶

1. “Jeff Brandes Launches Florida Policy Project.” Influence Magazine, April 16, 2023. https://issuu.com/influenceflorida/docs/influence_spring23/s/22687655.
2. “Unlocking Potential by Elevating Housing Vouchers: Best Practices and Policy Insights.” Florida Policy Project, April 2, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPP-REPORT_Elevating_Housing_Vouchers_Final.pdf
3. Kousky, Carolyn, and Lori Medders. “THE EVOLUTION OF FLORIDA’S PUBLIC-PRIVATE APPROACH TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.” Florida Policy Project, April 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FINAL_Florida-Insurance-Market-Report.pdf
4. “Improving Reentry in Florida: Reducing Crime, Reducing Costs, and Transforming Lives.” Florida Policy Project, October 2, 2023. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ReentryLongFinal10.15.23.pdf
5. “Florida Housing Summit.” Florida Policy Project, May 17, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/florida-housing-summit/.
6. “Jeff Brandes Launches Florida Policy Project.” Influence Magazine, April 16, 2023. https://issuu.com/influenceflorida/docs/influence_spring23/s/22687655.
7. “How Vouchers Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis.” Florida Policy Project, April 16, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/news-events/how-vouchers-can-help-solve-the-housing-crisis/.
8. “Research.” Florida Policy Project, June 4, 2023. https://floridapolicyproject.com/research/.
9. “Florida Housing Summit.” Florida Policy Project, May 17, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/florida-housing-summit/.
10. “Unlocking Potential by Elevating Housing Vouchers: Best Practices and Policy Insights.” Florida Policy Project, April 2, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPP-REPORT_Elevating_Housing_Vouchers_Final.pdf.
11. “Unlocking Potential by Elevating Housing Vouchers: Best Practices and Policy Insights.” Florida Policy Project, April 2, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FPP-REPORT_Elevating_Housing_Vouchers_Final.pdf.
12. Kousky, Carolyn, and Lori Medders. “THE EVOLUTION OF FLORIDA’S PUBLIC-PRIVATE APPROACH TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.” Florida Policy Project, April 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FINAL_Florida-Insurance-Market-Report.pdf.
13. Kousky, Carolyn, and Lori Medders. “THE EVOLUTION OF FLORIDA’S PUBLIC-PRIVATE APPROACH TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.” Florida Policy Project, April 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FINAL_Florida-Insurance-Market-Report.pdf.
14. “Improving Reentry in Florida: Reducing Crime, Reducing Costs, and Transforming Lives.” Florida Policy Project, October 2, 2023. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ReentryLongFinal10.15.23.pdf.
15. “Improving Reentry in Florida: Reducing Crime, Reducing Costs, and Transforming Lives.” Florida Policy Project, October 2, 2023. https://floridapolicyproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ReentryLongFinal10.15.23.pdf.
16. “Leadership.” Florida Policy Project, April 16, 2024. https://floridapolicyproject.com/leadership/