BY JAMES GONZALEZ, FBPE Chair (2026)
One of the privileges of serving as chair of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers is the opportunity to hear directly from the professionals who make up our engineering community.
Over the past several weeks, many of you answered that call when we asked for your feedback on the proposed rules relating to expert reports. I want to personally thank everyone who took the time to read the proposals, submit comments, or attend a rules committee meeting to share your thoughts.
As engineers, you know that the best decisions are made when they’re informed by experience, sound judgment, and a willingness to consider different perspectives.
The Board approaches rulemaking the same way. While we have the responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, we also recognize that the engineers practicing throughout Florida bring knowledge and experience that simply cannot be duplicated around the Board table.
That’s why your involvement is so important.
The feedback we received was exactly what we had hoped for. It was thoughtful, professional, and constructive. Some comments supported portions of the proposal, others identified concerns, and many included practical recommendations that only someone actively practicing engineering could provide. Throughout the process, it was clear that everyone who participated shared the same goal of preserving the integrity of our profession while ensuring the rules governing it are practical, clear, and effective.
Most importantly, I want you to know that we listened.
After carefully considering the comments we received (hundreds of pages!), the Board concluded that the proposed rules would benefit from additional work before moving forward. Rather than pressing ahead, we have decided to revisit the language, work through the issues raised by our licensees, and develop revisions that better reflect the feedback we received.
To me, that’s the rulemaking process working exactly as it should.
Public input isn’t simply a box to check before adopting a rule. It’s one of the most valuable parts of the process.
The engineers who design our infrastructure, inspect our buildings, develop new technologies, and solve complex problems every day offer perspectives that help us write better rules. When you take the time to participate, you’re helping shape the future of engineering in Florida.
I also hope this experience encourages more of you to stay engaged with the Board’s work and, just as important, to read this publication throughout the year.
You can also attend a meeting when your schedule allows. You can review proposed rule changes and share your thoughts. We genuinely want to hear from you because your perspective makes us better.
The practice of engineering is constantly evolving, and our rules should evolve thoughtfully alongside it. That only happens when there is an open exchange of ideas between the Board and the professionals we serve. The recent response to the proposed expert report rules demonstrated just how invested Florida’s engineers are in their profession, and I couldn’t be more encouraged by that.
Thank you again for taking the time to participate. We value your input, we appreciate your professionalism, and we look forward to continuing to work with you as we refine these proposed rules.
James Gonzalez of Jacksonville, is a co-founder of Cobb & Gonzalez, P.A. He was appointed to the Board as a public member in 2022 and served as vice chair in 2025.