Tallahassee – ahead of this year’s legislative meeting, Gov. Ron DeSantis already had his wish – an immigration bill he signed last month.
And while DeSantis has become accustomed to compliant legislatures, his priorities this year, laid out in Tuesday’s state speech, are more than ever in Sheikhor Land.
Desantis’ goals are previously thoughts, such as changing the state’s voting initiative process, eliminating or significantly reducing property taxes, and providing maintenance fee relief for apartments.
“My friend, we have great opportunities over the next 60 days,” DeSantis said. “The people in Florida are watching.”
But none of his priorities have yet to advance into agreed, ready-to-date bills. And while lawmakers may support some of the goals outlined by Desantis, their approach has been different to date.
For example, Florida legislative leaders have struggled to find a condo relief solution that everyone has soothed.
The House and Senate have very different ideas about changing voting initiatives, but the House starts from the governor’s much more drastic proposal.
Desantis softened his language with his first push to eliminate property taxes – a famous proposal that requires voter approval – said he would “put it on” in the 2026 session instead.
DeSantis also calls on lawmakers to revisit gun safety measures that have been passed in recent years. These include revoking the ban on selling rifles to people under the age of 21 and repealing the Red Flag Act. This is a post-Parkland measure that allows courts to temporarily remove guns from those pose a danger to themselves and others.
The governor said he was unsure of what Congress will do about these issues, but Senate President R-Wauchula Ben Albritton said law enforcement finds the risk protection order “incredibly valuable.”
House Speakers Danny Perez, R-Miami and Albritton focused more on taking responsibility for insurance companies and reducing wasteful government spending than they did on one of the governor’s list of proposals.
House Democrat leader Fentris Driskel called the governor’s speech “snoozefest” and said “probably he has no new ideas.”
“Maybe he was more careful not to come up with any bold ideas ahead of skiing,” she said.
Brave leader
When DeSantis first called lawmakers to return to Tallahassee and passed the immigration package in January, Perez and Albritton issued a rare, solid responsibility during DeSantis’ tenure.
Instead, the two leaders flipped a special session over their heads and introduced their own bill.
The leaders and governors ultimately reached a consensus, but the fight will be heavier in the 2025 session. And although it is unclear whether there is bad blood remaining, Squabble has proven that Perez and Albritton are more prepared to act independently.
Both Albritton and Perez said they need to make sure Floridians’ taxes are spent carefully.
Desantis is also working to investigate government spending. However, legislative leaders have previously suggested that they would specifically examine executive spending, which has grown in recent years.
“We’re the watchdog of the masses,” Perez said Tuesday. “Members, don’t be afraid to rock government trees and pull out weeds of waste, fraud and abuse.”
Focused on insurance
Perez and Albritton reiterated they wanted to crack down on reported insurance industry concerns.
The Times/Herald revealed last month that a 2022 state report showed insurance companies lost millions at the start of the insurance crisis.
Albritton said it would not allow insurers to “operate the system.” Perez said he had taken that further, holding a hearing with the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee, issued subpoena and asked the witness to be placed under oath.
In his speech, Perez said when the insurance industry came to Florida a few years ago, they said that lawmakers’ insurance companies couldn’t compete without sweeping reforms.
However, Perez said he’s learned about reports that lawmakers have since then that “some insurers may be using accounting tricks to hide significant profits while they are in crisis.”
On Friday, Doriskel asked DeSantis and Perez to investigate.
Driskell said he was optimistic that the House investigation could lead to meaningful reforms.
Condominium Reform
DeSantis said Tuesday that Congress’s 2021 laws tie down owners of some units in response to the collapse of surfside towers. The bill calls for apartment associations to save money for future building repairs.
DeSantis said he is confident that Congress will act.
“We don’t want to see anyone being kicked out of their apartment complex because of the law,” he said. “So let’s get the job done for them.”
The House and Senate both propose changes to the law in this session, but neither room leader has mentioned the brewing condo financial crisis in their remarks Tuesday.
Times/Herald Staff Writer Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.
