Sen. Don Gaetz told business leaders Friday that he plans to champion three major bills in the upcoming legislative session, focusing on property insurance costs, affordable housing and Medicaid reform.

• Speaking at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee on Oct. 3, the District 1 senator said Florida is becoming “the unaffordable state” for many residents despite its reputation as a low-tax state.

“As I move around the state of Florida, what people tell me is they’re glad we’re the free state of Florida. They’re glad that we’re the low-tax state of Florida. But more and more for some people, we are becoming the unaffordable state of Florida,” Gaetz said.

Property insurance costs in Florida exceed those in any other state, the senator said, noting that three-fourths of Floridians saw their rates increase this year rather than level out or decline.

• Gaetz said he will propose legislation placing limits on property insurance costs, calling it his “second shot” at addressing the issue.

On affordable housing, Gaetz said he has been working on the issue “for so long” and plans to sponsor legislation to improve and expand affordable housing options across the state.

In a video released Monday, Gaetz provided details about Senate Bill 48, which would allow property owners to voluntarily develop accessory dwelling units, commonly called ‘granny flats’, on their properties.

• “Under this bill, property owners can decide if they want to develop what are called accessory dwelling units, or we call them – ‘granny flats,’ a small dwelling on their property that then the homeowner, the property owner can rent out to somebody who might be able to live in an area that’s close to where they’re employed and pay a rent that they can afford,” Gaetz said in the video.

The senator said the approach has been used successfully in other states and, while it won’t solve all housing problems, “it will begin to take a bite” out of workforce housing challenges.

At Friday’s chamber event, Gaetz emphasized the need for people to live closer to their workplaces.

“We need to make it more possible for more people to live closer to where they work every day,” he said, adding that long commutes cost money, increase traffic and create hardship for workers.

His third proposed bill would establish a work requirement for able-bodied Medicaid recipients who are not caring for small children at home. Gaetz noted that Florida’s Medicaid system pays for healthcare for people who cannot afford it and those with special needs, but currently has no work requirement.

• “In Florida, you can be an able-bodied person not taking care of a small child, and you can still get your friends and neighbors and taxpayers to pay for your Medicaid. I don’t think that’s right,” Gaetz said.

The senator estimated the work requirement would save taxpayers half a billion dollars.

Gaetz told the Chamber audience he wants to make Florida more affordable for people on fixed income, who are starting businesses, and those who are “trying to struggle with the realities of life and build a prosperity in this state.”

“It’s fine to have a free state of Florida, and I’m for it. It’s great to have a low-tax state and I’m pleased about that. But we have to make sure that Florida is affordable for all of us and all the people who depend on us,” Gaetz said.