Seven Florida public universities are earning recognition for outreach to their respective communities in the state.

The State University System (SUS) of Florida announced that the Carnegie Foundation awarded the schools with the 2026 Community Engagement Classification. The award, which is designated by the American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, highlights colleges and universities that are involved in the community.

The Sunshine State schools receiving the recognition include Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, the University of Florida, the University of North Florida and the University of South Florida. Of the 12 state universities in Florida, the University of Central Florida and the University of West Florida also obtained the honor in 2024.

“Florida’s public higher education system leads the nation because our focus extends past handing out degrees; our institutions care about their impact on their communities, statewide, and beyond,” said SUS Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine.

“From nursing to engineering to aerospace technology, our academic programs are serving students and Floridians through innovative research and experiential learning that solve today’s challenges and prepare tomorrow’s leaders.”

Carnegie officials note that 230 U.S. higher-education institutions were selected for the award.

“The Community Engagement Classification is awarded following a process of self-study by each institution. The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years with classification cycles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024, and now 2026. The 2029 cycle will be for first-time applicants,” a Carnegie news release said.

SUS officials say the schools never shied away from giving back to residents.

“Under the System’s strategic plan, universities prioritize engaging stakeholders in their communities to elevate student and economic outcomes, and to cultivate prepared and engaged citizens,” said SUS Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.

“Recognition through the Community Engagement Classification demonstrates this plan in action, proving that our universities are a comprehensive resource for communities and businesses across the state and serve Floridians in the ways that matter most.”

Florida is in the middle of a housing affordability crisis.

Across our state, families are feeling the squeeze of a housing market that no longer works for them. Rapid population growth, rising construction costs, and record-high taxes all contribute to the crisis. But a major part of the problem is far less visible.

Outdated zoning rules are making it harder to build the homes Floridians need.

Minimum lot-size mandates are a major issue. In many communities, local governments require new homes to be built on lots that are far larger than the market demands. This may have made sense a decade ago, but today it limits housing supply, increases costs, and pushes homeownership out of reach for the next generation.

The impact is clear. According to the American Enterprise Institute, Florida faces a housing shortage of more than 486,000 homes. Families are paying more than ever just to keep a roof overhead, and the average home price in Florida has now reached about $400,000. This is a clear sign that housing costs are continuing to rise in Florida, and we urgently need these reforms. Multigenerational households, which are increasingly common in states where families care for multiple children and aging parents under one roof, often cannot expand or add living space because zoning rules restrict growth.

The housing affordability crisis is not accidental. It’s the result of decades of policies that restricted supply, limited housing types, and made it nearly impossible for the market to keep up with demand.

Florida homeowners need common-sense solutions. Thankfully, lawmakers have filed legislation, SB 948 and HB 1143, that would modernize minimum lot size requirements and restore flexibility for both homeowners and builders. This reform would allow the market to produce the smaller, more attainable homes that do not exist today. And Florida would not be alone.

Texas recently enacted similar lot-size reforms and has shown that a conservative, pro-growth approach to zoning works. When Texas lifted unnecessary land-use barriers, communities gained more choices and families benefited from a wider range of affordable housing options.

This effort also aligns with another important housing solution moving through the Legislature. House Bill 313 and Senate Bill 48 strengthen support for accessory dwelling units (ADU), often called garage apartments, in-law suites, or granny flats. ADUs give families a practical way to create affordable rental units, support aging parents, help young adults stay close to home and make better use of underused land near jobs and schools.

Both reforms target the same issue: the lack of affordable homes in communities across Florida.

When local governments enforce large minimum lot sizes, they block the smaller, more affordable homes that many families would choose. They also make it more difficult for ADUs, modular homes, and cottage-style developments to expand.

At a time when families are being priced out of the neighborhoods they love, these restrictions no longer make sense.

By eliminating minimum lot-size mandates, lawmakers can enable new starter homes, duplexes, cottages, and family-friendly ADUs that reflect how people actually live today. A statewide approach would also bring consistency and predictability to a system that currently varies widely across localities.

Florida has always been a place of opportunity. But opportunity means little if families cannot afford to buy a home and stay there.

Americans for Prosperity-Florida supports this legislation because it puts families, homeowners and communities first. Floridians deserve the freedom to use their property in ways that meet their needs while strengthening families and communities. We appreciate Sen. Stan McClain and Rep. Danny Nix, sponsors of SB 948 and HB 1143, along with Sen. Don Gaetz, for driving these common sense solutions that will help lower housing costs and expand opportunities for Florida families.

It is time to lift outdated restrictions and help end the housing affordability crisis.

Together, we can get the government out of the way and create greater housing opportunities for Florida families.

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Skylar Zander is the State Director of Americans for Prosperity-Florida.

News that U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn will retire after this year has fueled speculation about who may enter the race. But three Democrats have been running for months, collectively raising more than a quarter million dollars to take on the incumbent.

Yen Bailey, who challenged Dunn in 2024, was preparing for a rematch. But the race also drew in foreign aid professional Amanda Maria Green and tech entrepreneur Nic Zateslo. All suggested in online posts that Dunn’s motivation for retirement may have been a sense that the 2026 Midterms will prove especially hostile to Republicans.

Of course, the prospect of an open seat has drawn new interest in the race. Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, a Tallahassee Democrat, confirmed to Florida Politics she is thinking about a run. And many expect interest from former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat who lost to Dunn in 2022, and former state Sen. Loranne Ausley, a Tallahassee Democrat unseated the same year.

But the candidates already in the running have a jump on organizing and fundraising, even if they don’t have as much experience on the trail.

Bailey, a Tallahassee lawyer, won just 38.3% of the vote against Dunn in the last election cycle. That election proved to be a good year for Republicans, with 58.5% of voters in the district voting for Donald Trump for President and 60% backing U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s re-election.

But she welcomed the retirement news, declaring “Dunn is done” in a post on X.

“This district has a genuine chance at real representation that shows up, listens and actually works for the people,” she said in a video message. “We also know that the Republican Party is a well-oiled machine. The rumors are already swirling about who they’re going to run next, and whoever it is, they are going to be loyal to Trump and do exactly what he tells them to.”

Through the end of September, Bailey raised more than $102,000, including more than $88,000 in individual contributions. The total also includes a $13,000 candidate loan.

But Zateslo reported more than $120,000 in fundraising, including about $18,000 in self-funding. He has worked at a number of political tech companies, including working as chief operating officer for Votivate, a technology project launched by the Working Families Party and now used by Democrats and progressive groups.

After Dunn announced he would not seek re-election, Zateslo issued a statement saying Democrats need to mobilize immediately.

“For those of us who call North Florida home, this is an important moment to take stock of what has worked, what has not, and what kind of leadership we need going forward,” he said.

“l am an Eagle Scout, an entrepreneur, a husband and a father of two young boys who grew up right here in North Florida. I believe we need leadership grounded in integrity, real-world experience, and a willingness to do the work, not in career ambition or the same old political playbook.”

Green filed for the office in August and has since raised about $42,000 for a run, all through outside donations. She worked nine years for Chemonics International, a top contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development before its dismantling under Trump.

She has been campaigning while pregnant for months, and had a child days before Dunn’s announcement. But she jumped online at the news to post a statement on the development.

“Thank you, Neal Dunn, for finally recognizing that another run for this seat would be a disservice to our community. After five terms of absentee leadership, we finally have an open seat and a real chance to move forward,” she said.

“Florida’s District 2 has been asking for more, and for better, for a long time: better communication, more presence, real accountability, and true representation. Today is proof that persistence and pressure work. To my neighbors in North Florida — our work is far from over. We deserve better, and I will demand better as your representative. With your support, we can fight for a better and stronger future for our families, together.”