Legislative Update - March 7, 2025

The Florida Legislature officially gaveled in the 2025 regular legislative session on Tuesday. The session will run for 60 consecutive days. With the new streak of independence by the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, we may see more of the agenda they want compared to Governor DeSantis. Insurance will be a top priority this session for the House along with tax reforms and governmental accountability. The Senate is looking to boost agriculture and rural growth.

Governor …

DeSantis Backs Property Tax Reform, Constitutional Amendment Changes, Easing Gun Restrictions - Gov. Ron DeSantis urged lawmakers to continue to back his push for keeping taxes low while calling on them to look more broadly at the local property taxing system in his State of the State address on Tuesday. The governor also called for new restrictions on the process for getting constitutional amendment proposals on the ballot after he spent much of the fall fighting to defeat amendments related to abortion and marijuana. And DeSantis said lawmakers should be stronger on gun rights, noting Florida has fallen behind other conservative states on the issue. Giving his second-to-last speech opening a regular legislative session, DeSantis touted Florida's economy, cheering an unemployment rate that has been lower than the national average for more than 50 straight months, and attributed the strong economy to disciplined government spending. He mentioned the state's large rainy day fund, low taxes, a budget that has shrunk, and per capita debt that's lower than the federal government's and other states. "We must continue to be a friend to the taxpayer," DeSantis said, noting he's proposing some new sales tax holidays for boaters and gun buyers. He also called for eliminating a tax on business rents. But responding to what has become a common refrain among Floridians, that the general cost of housing in the state is becoming less affordable, DeSantis said it is time to look at property taxes, which support many local school systems and local services, but have become, he said, unfairly high. "Escalating assessments have created a gusher of revenue for local governments — and many in Florida have seen their budgets increase far beyond the growth in population," the governor said. "Taxpayers need relief. You buy a home, pay off a mortgage — and yet you still have to write a check to the government every year just to live on your own property? ... I know members of the Legislature are studying the issue in anticipation of formulating a proposal to place on the 2026 ballot to provide constitutional protections for Florida property owners. Please know you have my support." On guns, DeSantis said lawmakers should revisit stricter gun laws enacted after the 2018 Parkland school shooting that included raising the legal age for buying a rifle and changes to the state's red flag law to allow law enforcement to seize guns from dangerous people. "We need to be a strong Second Amendment state," DeSantis said. "I know many of you agree, so let's get some positive reform done for the people in this state of Florida," DeSantis also noted that lawmakers earlier this year already tackled one of the biggest problems he said Florida residents care about, touting the law passed during a February special session that now makes it a crime for undocumented immigrants to enter Florida. "We will be part of the solution, not part of the problem," DeSantis said. "We are not a sanctuary state, we are a rule of law state." DeSantis State of State Speech / Tampa Bay Times- Miami Herald / USA Today Network / Associated Press / Politico Playbook / Florida Phoenix

DeSantis finds himself in an unusual position as Legislative Session starts" via Romy Ellenbogen, Alexandra Glorioso and Ana Ceballos of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau — Despite securing an early victory with a signed immigration bill, DeSantis faces a potentially challenging Legislative Session as his key priorities face resistance. While addressing the Legislature, DeSantis highlighted goals like ballot initiative reform, property tax reduction and condo fee relief, none of which have yet materialized into concrete bills. Perez and Albritton, hinting at an independent stance, focused on insurance accountability and spending cuts rather than wholly embracing DeSantis’ agenda. "We are the public’s watchdogs," Perez said, promising rigorous scrutiny. Albritton noted that law enforcement finds risk protection orders "invaluable." House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell dismissed DeSantis' address as a "snooze fest," suggesting his ideas lacked support.

DeSantis Supports Increased Law Enforcement to Curb Spring Break 'Mayhem' - Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing another year of heightened law enforcement efforts to prevent spring break from spiraling into "madness and mayhem and chaos." At a press conference in Miami Beach on Thursday, DeSantis said he has directed state law enforcement officers to assist Miami Beach and other cities requesting support through April. As of this week, 12 agencies have requested assistance, and more than 100 troopers are set to be deployed, according to the governor. Additional assets are also on standby for deployment including drones, aircraft, armored vehicles, and K9 units. "There's a lot of great reasons to want to come here, and we welcome that and we'll continue to welcome that," said DeSantis. "But it's got to be done in a way that is good for everybody." In 2024, more than 140 state troopers were deployed to at least 17 popular spring break destinations, assisting with crowd control, DUI checkpoints, and identifying individuals with outstanding warrants or stolen vehicles. Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner credited the increased law enforcement presence for a safer spring break season in 2024. "We had no fatalities, no shootings, no stampedes," said Meiner. "Hotel occupancy last year, in 2024, was up from 2023. Our hotel room rate last year was the highest in the nation for the month of March. That is success on every level." DeSantis Press Release / News Service Florida / Florida Politics / The Capitolist / The Floridian / Florida Phoenix / WPLG

“With wife mulling ’26 campaign, DeSantis talks up her work in State of the State speech” via Ana Ceballos and Alexandra Glorioso of the Miami Herald — DeSantis used his State of the State address to talk about his policy priorities — and, notably, his wife’s efforts in his administration, amid speculation that she is considering a run to be his successor. With state lawmakers gathering to launch Florida’s annual Legislative Session, DeSantis used a good portion of his Opening Day remarks to highlight her work with an initiative called Hope Florida, which helps connect the needy with existing faith-based, private and nonprofit services instead of government assistance. “Hope Florida was designed by our First Lady, Casey DeSantis, to transform the way government agencies provide services to our fellow citizens in need rather than perpetuate dependence on a great society-style bureaucracy,” DeSantis said.

Legislative …

Perez: Lawmakers to Take on Insurance Industry Profits - A state House committee could conduct hearings into property insurance companies' profits in a bid to find out whether the industry is holding out on Florida customers and unfairly keeping rates high, House Speaker Daniel Perez during his opening day speech for the 2025 regular legislative session. The Miami Republican said the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee will be able to issue subpoenas, put witnesses under oath, and hire outside experts in taking on the companies. "A couple of years ago, the insurance industry came to the Legislature and said without sweeping reforms companies could not compete in Florida," Perez explained. "We have since learned of reports — in existence at that time but not disclosed to the Legislature — that may suggest some insurance companies were using accounting tricks to hide substantial profits while telling us they were in a crisis." As he opened the 2025 lawmaking session on Tuesday, Perez also said lawmakers will make an effort to tackle other basic cost-of-living issues, and seek to make government more accountable to Florida residents. Perez noted that no House Bill 1 or other low number bill signifying leadership priority bills exists this year. "I will not find meaning for my Speakership in personal priorities," said Perez. He asked House members, however, to tackle the state's tax structure to try to root out ways to keep government spending down, with a possible eye toward lowering taxes more broadly. "We spend every new dime of recurring revenue while congratulating ourselves for giving easy to fund, non-recurring sales tax holidays. We can do better," said Perez. "I am challenging our budget subcommittee chairs to dive into the budget and find real savings in recurring revenue." Perez Speech / Tampa Bay Times / News Service Florida / Axios / Florida's Voice / WFSU / WUSF / Florida Channel (Video) / LobbyTools Opening Day Leadership Speeches

Albritton Promises to Boost Forgotten Rural Florida, Citrus Industry, Boost Efficiency - Senate President Ben Albritton opened the legislative session on Tuesday by renewing a promise to try to bolster parts of the Florida economy he says have been overlooked with an effort to spur economic development in rural areas and to help prevent the end of the state's iconic citrus industry, which has struggled in recent years. "I was born and bred in Florida citrus and this vital industry is not going down on my watch," Albritton said. "Research and new technologies are offering a new hope for the future of Florida citrus. We're on the edge of something special. Florida citrus is making a comeback, one tree at a time." While trying to help the agriculture industry will be on the agenda, Albritton said during his opening day speech that the plan remains one that will bring about a broader "rural renaissance," backing a legislative effort to spur development outside the cities and suburbs, in addition to helping farmers. "This comprehensive package creates opportunities for our rural communities to expand education offerings, increase health care services and modernize commerce, in addition to an investment in farm-to-market roads to support the agriculture supply chain that feeds communities across the state," Albritton said. The president also backed House Speaker Daniel Perez' plans to take a sharper look at the insurance industry and whether it is accountable for rates it charges to Florida customers, and said an existing state Government Efficiency Task Force can help Florida find other ways to govern better. Albritton also remembered Democratic Sen. Geraldine Thompson, who died unexpectedly weeks before the start of the session. New Senate handbooks this year are dedicated to Thompson. Florida Politics / Florida Phoenix / LobbyTools Opening Day Leadership Speeches

“Democrats see Republican leaders in Legislature borrowing a lot of their ideas” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — When Florida Republicans promised a bold conservative agenda this Session, Democrats couldn’t help noticing how often policies championed start from lawmakers in the back rows. Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo noted in his official response to DeSantis’ State of the State address that the Governor called for curbing illegal immigration. Yet Pizzo filed the first E-Verify bill for consideration this year. Rep. Berny Jacques, Republican, later filed another E-Verify bill for all private employers, which lacks a Republican Senate companion. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are eager to investigate allegations of insurance companies hiding profits while denying claims, something Perez called for in his opening day remarks, following a call already issued by House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell last month.

E-Verify, Gun Bills on Watch List: Among the measures lawmakers will take on this spring are bills to lower the age limit for buying a rifle, ban some universities from accepting undocumented students, and broaden requirements for potential employers to check work status of applicants (SB 782, SB 955, HB 1033). Axios Tampa Bay

Immigration, Property Insurance, Condo Laws on Legislative Agendas: Issues on tap for lawmakers in the regular session that starts Tuesday include immigration, property insurance, condominium reforms and crime. The Center Square / USA Today Network

Party Switching Enforcement Bill Moving in Senate: A bill (SB 280) that moved forward in the Senate this week would allow candidates and political parties to sue to get candidates for office thrown off the ballot if it's believed the candidate wasn't either a member of the party whose nomination they're seeking or not affiliated with a party for a year before qualifying for the general election. Florida law already requires candidates to affirm that they weren't a member of another party for a year before the election, but backers of the bill say there is no enforcement mechanism. The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Democrat Sen. Kristen Arrington. Party switching is a sensitive issue for legislative Democrats, who while already facing a Republican supermajority have recently seen two members, Reps. Hillary Cassell and Susan Valdés switch parties. The measure was unanimously approved earlier this week in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee and is now awaiting a hearing from the Judiciary Committee. Florida Politics

Senate Panel OKs Change for Initiative Petitions - A House committee on Thursday advanced legislation (HB 1205) that backers say is needed to make it harder for "outside interest groups" to influence ballot initiatives to change the state constitution. But in approving the bill adding checks on the petition process, supporters of the Republican-pushed legislation brushed aside concerns of critics who said the bill will make it harder for anyone — not just interested outsiders — to change the document when the Legislature won't do what voters want. The bill follows last year's battle over amendments enshrining abortion rights in the constitution and legalizing recreational marijuana. Both measures won a majority of votes, but were defeated because they fell short of the 60% threshold for passing constitutional amendments — the result of an earlier effort to make it harder to amend the constitution. Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans led a fight against both measures and many opponents said both efforts were driven by special interest groups they allege used fraud in some cases to get enough signatures to get the questions on the ballot. "The process has been taken over by out-of-state fraudsters looking to make a quick buck and by special interests intent on buying their way into our Constitution," said Republican bill sponsor Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka. The bill would create more stringent timelines and new requirements for delivering and verifying petition forms, require more detailed information from petition signers, and require that people who collect signatures are residents of Florida and U.S. citizens. Much of the objection to the bill in extensive public testimony in the committee on Thursday surrounded another provision, requiring that amendment sponsors post a $1 million bond to guarantee payment of penalties ultimately levied for violating other sections. Opponents argued that provision would actually bolster special interests because "ordinary citizens" wouldn't be able to afford to start citizen initiatives. Supporters noted that posting a bond requires paying only a fraction of the bond amount, and that the amount would be far lower than most citizen groups spend to get measures on the ballot. The bill, one of several seeking to change the amendment process, was approved by the House Government Operations Subcommittee on a 14-4 vote and goes next to the State Affairs Committee. Tampa Bay Times / Florida Politics / News Service Florida / Florida Phoenix / The Floridian

Business …

“Target was first. But Florida plans to come after more companies soon.” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — Florida is poised to become a significant force in holding corporate America accountable, as DeSantis and the state's pension fund trustees have approved a $20 million litigation fund aimed at aggressively pursuing lawsuits against companies.

This move signals a significant shift in strategy. It empowers the Florida Retirement System, which manages approximately $200 billion, to challenge corporate actions deemed detrimental to shareholders and scrutinize corporate governance practices.

The decision follows the state's recent lawsuit against Target, which alleges that the retailer misled investors with an LGBTQ marketing campaign that caused financial losses.

Chris Spencer, executive director of the State Board of Administration (SBA), emphasized that while Florida would be more assertive in exploring litigation, the primary goal is encouraging companies to adopt measures that enhance their financial success.

Some lawsuits may focus on prompting companies to reevaluate their governance structures rather than solely seeking monetary damages.

The new rules grant Spencer greater authority to initiate lawsuits with just a five-day notice to the Governor and other trustees, streamlining the process and addressing concerns that previous regulations put the state at a disadvantage.

Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that companies engaging in "radical ideological politics" would be held accountable. This initiative underscores Florida's commitment to safeguarding the financial interests of its retirees and signals a willingness to challenge corporate practices that deviate from traditional business objectives.

The move builds on Florida's past actions, including targeting companies with restricted business activities in Israel and criticizing financial institutions' use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations.

State Economists: Florida Falls Short on Expected January Revenue: Florida's general revenue collections for January came in lower than expected, falling $31.4 million short of projections made in August, state economists reported Tuesday. The state took in approximately $4.184 billion, with sales taxes — the largest revenue source — coming in $10.3 million below forecast, while corporate income taxes missed the mark by $18.8 million. But earnings on state investments exceeded expectations by $25.8 million. General revenue is crucial for funding key state programs, including education, health care, and corrections. Economists will update projections on March 14, shaping the budget negotiations for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. News Service Florida / EDR Monthly Revenue Report / EDR Detailed Report

State Sees Lowest Weekly Unemployment Claims of 2025: Florida recorded its lowest number of first-time unemployment claims since the start of the year, according to U.S. Department of Labor estimates released Thursday. For the week ending March 1, Florida saw 5,393 initial claims, a drop from 5,913 the previous week. Nationally, 221,000 claims were filed, down from 242,000 the week before. Since January, Florida has averaged 6,237 weekly claims. The state reported a 3.4% unemployment rate in December, with 377,000 people classified as unemployed from a labor force of 11 million. The Florida Department of Commerce is set to release the state's January unemployment rate on March 17 and the February rate on March 28. News Service Florida

COVID …

Five years after arrival of COVID-19, almost 100,000 dead, a changed Florida" via John Kennedy of The Florida Times-Union — Five years after Florida's first COVID cases, the state faces lasting changes. Nearly 100,000 Floridians died and the pandemic accelerated political polarization. Gov. DeSantis consolidated power, using executive orders to address the crisis and later pushing conservative policies. While initial COVID responses were effective, the state shifted toward personal freedom rhetoric. Schools struggle with academic declines, and home-schooling has risen. The pandemic fueled a Republican surge, with GOP registration exceeding Democrats by 1.2 million. Federal relief boosted Florida's spending, but the funds have run out. A budget surplus could soon become a deficit.

Campaigns and Elections …

Committee Considers Candidate Qualification: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday pushed forward on legislation (SB 280) to require those who want to be nominated by a political party to have been registered members of that party for at least 365 days before the qualification period begins for the general election. Kissimmee Democrat Sen. Kristen Arrington, the sponsor, explained that the bill creates a private right of action for parties or other candidates to challenge a candidate's party affiliation if they have not been registered to that party, or have not remained without affiliation, for a year before qualifying. The House version (HB 201), by Tallahassee Democrat Rep. Allison Tant is headed to the House Committee on State Affairs' Government Operations Subcommittee.

“Four candidates to compete in Republican Primary for soon-to-be-vacant Florida Senate seat” via Dave Berman of Florida Today — Four Republican candidates will be facing off in an April 1 GOP Primary for the soon-to-be-vacant District 19 seat in the Florida Senate, which includes Central and South Brevard County. The seat’s current occupant, Brevard County Republican Randy Fine, is resigning to run for Congress. The candidates include retired economic consultant Marcie Adkins, heavy equipment salesperson Mark Lightner III, former state Sen. Debbie Mayfield and Tim Thomas, a former member of the Melbourne City Council. The winner will face Democrat Vance Ahrens in the June 10 Special General Election.

“Stricter term limits for office? Proposal could topple Miami’s political dynasties” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald — In November, as Miami residents vote on a new Mayor and City Commissioners, they could also weigh in on a proposal to create lifetime term limits for elected officials — a significant shake-up to a system that currently allows elected officials to, under the right circumstances, spend decades in City Hall. Next week, the Miami City Commission is scheduled to take an initial vote on a proposal limiting an elected official to two terms as Mayor and two terms as City Commissioner, capping them at 16 years in office “during their lifetime.” The change would ultimately need to go to the city of Miami voters for approval — possibly as soon as the upcoming November election.

“Pollster finds JD Vance would defeat DeSantis in Florida 2028 GOP Primary” via Eric Daugherty of Florida’s Voice — First reported by Florida Politics, the poll found Vance at 47% support among likely Florida Republican voters and DeSantis at 33% – a 14-point advantage for the Vice President. The Fabrizio poll was conducted among 600 likely Florida Republican Primary voters. Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate out of Ohio in 2022 with the backing of Trump. Both Vance and DeSantis are young relative to the age of other D.C. politicians: DeSantis is 46, and Vance is 40. DeSantis is officially term-limited out of the Governorship in January 2027, with the next gubernatorial election taking place next November for the Sunshine State.

"The fight to replace DeSantis in Florida is on, marked by jockeying with Trump" via Matt Dixon of NBC News — The race to succeed Florida DeSantis is already heating up, sparking a proxy war between DeSantis and Trump. After Rep. Byron Donalds, a Trump ally, launched his campaign, Casey DeSantis, the state's popular First Lady, is considering a run, leading DeSantis' political machine to undermine Donalds subtly. DeSantis and his wife met with Trump to dissuade him from further involvement, though Trump's advisers say he remains committed to Donalds. DeSantis allies suggest Trump might issue a dual endorsement. With DeSantis subtly promoting his wife, the question remains: who will win Trump’s favor?

"‘Nothing’s ever easy’: Byron Donalds expects competition in GOP Governor’s race" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Donalds acknowledges a challenging path to the Governor's office, despite a coveted endorsement from Trump. Speaking with Fox News, Donalds stated, "I would love for things to be easy. But nothing’s ever easy, especially in politics.” Donalds faces potential competition from within the party, including speculation that First Lady Casey DeSantis may be positioned as a successor by Gov. DeSantis. While Donalds emphasizes earning the votes and endorsement of Floridians, DeSantis downplays the urgency of the 2026 Election Cycle, calling it a "lifetime away in politics.”