State lawmakers will be gathering in Tallahassee next week for the start of the 2016 legislative session.
State Representative Bobby Powell hosted a town hall meeting in West Palm Beach Wednesday night to remind residents of some of the bills he says they need to be watching that impact our area.
"We want to make sure people know the hot topics, the issues they'll be seeing this legislative session," Powell said.
About 50 residents listened to Powell discuss bills geared toward education, sober homes and opportunities for criminals after they serve their time.
The most heated discussion from residents surrounded bills being proposed related to gun laws and police.
That includes a bill proposing open carry laws for registered gun owners, and bills setting parameters for body cameras for law enforcement.
That includes putting rules into place to regulate when officers wear body cameras, and where on their bodies.
"There is a lot at stake for the neighborhoods and the community at large," said West Palm Beach resident, Mary Braham.
"When it comes to gun violence and it comes to a lot of the open carry pieces of legislation, those are things that I really do oppose because of the influx in violence we've seen in the local community," Powell said.
Braham says she also attended the town hall to remind representatives that their constituents are watching their actions, and holding them accountable.
The 2016 session starts next week and lasts into March.