During its meeting in January 2024, SOT Council met with Visit Orlando to discuss concerns expressed by SOT members about how safe attendees of the 64th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo will be based on Florida legislative actions in recent years.
Council felt that it was extremely helpful to be able to discuss these topics directly with Visit Orlando and receive more detailed information about the state of affairs in the city. As a result, Council is giving this opportunity to the SOT membership by hosting a webinar on April 30 at 1:00 pm (US EDT, UTC -4) featuring guests from Visit Orlando to address any questions or concerns of SOT leaders and members. You can register for the webinar now.
If you have specific items that you would like addressed, please pre-submit your questions by April 22. There may be time for on-the-spot questions, but pre-submitting your question will help us prioritize topics, as we will do our best to address all pre-submitted comments and questions.
Here is some information that SOT Council has already learned about Orlando.
General Safety
For more than 20 years, SOT has employed Information Network Associates (INA) Inc. to assess security risks associated with the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo and to be an on-site security team. This relationship continues in 2025, with INA providing pre-meeting reports on potential areas of concern (e.g., protests) and an on-site team to assist attendees and monitor activity.
While HB 543 (“Public Safety Bill”) allows concealed weapons without a permit—open carry is illegal—no weapons are allowed in hotels or the convention center. In addition, there is an Orange County Sheriff’s Office Substation on the convention center property, meaning that there is a constant police presence.
Diversity
“Orange County is open for business. Our residents represent a broad diaspora of cultures, which makes us stronger as a society. Please be assured our community values diversity and embraces inclusion. Hate is never welcome here.” —Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings
More than 52% of the Orange County population identifies as non-white.
LGBTQ+
Orlando has the third largest LGBTQ+ population in the United States—only San Francisco and New York have larger populations.
During the Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, the convention center space is considered private, meaning laws such as HB 1521 (i.e., the “Transgender Bathroom Ban” bill) are not applicable. Since the law went into effect in July 2023, there have been no police calls/reports countywide regarding this bill.
Women’s Health
Local women’s and children’s hospitals have confirmed that they will provide prenatal care to Orlando residents and visitors. HB 5 (regarding abortion regulations) provides provisions allowing procedures (including abortion) that will save the woman’s life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function or in situations where the fetus has not achieved viability and has a fatal fetal abnormality.
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