Legislative Update - July 25, 2025

Former State Senator Blaise Ingoglia was sworn in Monday as Florida’s new Chief Financial Officer and immediately hit the ground running, joining the Governor at multiple press conferences. On Tuesday, Governor DeSantis announced his office will conduct on-site inspections of local governments that fail to cooperate with his statewide spending audit. He specifically called out Broward, Alachua, and Manatee counties for what he described as a lack of compliance.

Senator Joe Gruters had already filed to run for the CFO position in 2026, setting up an unusual race between Ingoglia and Gruters. However, overnight reports indicate that Senator Gruters may resign from the Senate to become the new Chair of the Republican National Committee.

Additionally, State Representative Joe Casello tragically passed away from a massive heart attack. A special election has been called to fill the vacant seat in the Florida House.

Rest in peace to a 'gentle giant' — "State Rep. Joe Casello of Boynton Beach, 73, dies after suffering massive heart attack" via Mike Diamond of The Palm Beach Post — Casello, a 73-year-old Democratic legislator and former Boynton Beach Commissioner, died July 18 after a massive heart attack. A retired 33-year veteran firefighter and Air Force veteran, Casello was a popular four-term Representative for House District 90, known for his bipartisan and common sense approach. Colleagues from both parties, including Republican Mike Caruso and Democratic Chair Nikki Fried, praised his legacy of selfless public service, courage and compassion. Before being taken off life support, Casello released a statement celebrating his career and urging for political unity.

Ingoglia Sworn In as CFO, Will Focus on Spending, Insurance - Former state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a longtime ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, was sworn in Monday as Florida's new Chief Financial Officer, promising to prioritize oversight of local government spending and insurance regulation. "You are not going to see anyone fight harder for the taxpayer, for the consumer, than I will, and I'm planning on hitting the ground running," Ingoglia said after taking the oath of office at the Capitol. The appointment follows the resignation of former CFO Jimmy Patronis, who stepped down to run for Congress earlier this year. DeSantis called Ingoglia "a new sheriff in town" who will harness the CFO's authority to audit municipal and county governments. "You are going to see these audits commence very quickly," DeSantis stated. "And all I can say is any of the big spenders in these local governments that are not watching tax dollars wisely, you better buckle up." Ingoglia, a homebuilder from Spring Hill and a state legislator since 2014, will receive a $140,000 salary as CFO. He officially resigned from his Senate seat on Friday. The CFO doesn't have a lot of ability to steer state spending from a policy standpoint, with the state budget written by lawmakers and approved by the governor. But the CFO does have auditing power over spending of some tax dollars as head of the Department of Financial Services. As part of the Cabinet, or the various boards made up of Cabinet members, the CFO also has some control over the Office of Insurance Regulation and the agency that invests state holdings like the state employee pension fund. The choice of Ingoglia gives DeSantis another close ally on the Cabinet — he also filled the vacant attorney general's seat with his former chief of staff James Uthmeier. The other spot on the Cabinet is held by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, also a Republican. The 2026 CFO race could be a contest between the DeSantis and Trump wings of the state GOP. Ingoglia hasn't officially committed to running in 2026, but President Donald Trump has already endorsed another GOP lawmaker, Sen. Joe Gruters, who is an accountant in Sarasota. "There's going to be plenty of time to campaign," said Ingoglia. "I know two things in politics: The voters will not reward you unless you do a good job, and the second thing is, usually, like 99% of the time, in the Republican primary, the more conservative candidate wins," he added. USA Today Network / Florida Politics / News Service Florida / Florida Phoenix / WKMG

"Blaise Ingoglia takes office as state CFO, but Donald Trump-fueled fight looms" via John Kennedy of the Tallahassee Democrat — Chief Financial Officer Ingoglia, an appointee of Gov. DeSantis, has been sworn into office, facing an impending challenge in the next Republican Primary. Ingoglia's selection was opposed by Trump, who endorsed state Sen. Joe Gruters for the CFO position. This sets the stage for a divisive Primary, viewed as a proxy fight between DeSantis and Trump. Despite the opposition, Ingoglia, a former state Senator and past Chair of the Florida Republican Party, remains confident that his conservative platform will resonate with voters and secure him a victory.

Governor …

DeSantis Highlights $218M Boost to Florida's Cancer Research, Treatment: Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis on Wednesday touted $218 million in funding earmarked for cancer-related initiatives in the state budget (SB 2500), which took effect July 1. The investment brings Florida's total spending on cancer research and treatment to $1.1 billion since 2019. "Florida is committed to continuing to be a national leader in cancer treatment and care," said the governor in a prepared statement. This fiscal year's funding includes $127.5 million for the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, which supports Florida's four National Cancer Institute-designated hospitals — Moffitt Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, UF Shands Hospital, and UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center — as well as those working toward the designation. The program was renamed in 2022 to honor the First Lady's cancer journey and her work expanding collaboration through the state's Cancer Connect platform. DeSantis also highlighted $30 million for the newly launched Cancer Connect Collaborative Incubator, which will initially focus on pediatric cancer. In addition, the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, created in 2023 to support startups and rural providers advancing cancer care, received a full $60 million allocation in its second year. DeSantis Press Release / Florida Politics

DeSantis Sets Special Election to Fill Casello, Ingoglia Seats: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday set September and December dates for special elections for vacant seats in the House and Senate. DeSantis ordered special primary elections for Sept. 30 and general elections, if needed, for Dec. 9 to fill vacancies in House District 90 in South Florida and Senate District 11 in the Tampa Bay area. The House district was left vacant by the death last week of Rep. Joe Casello, a Palm Beach County Democrat who died following a severe heart attack on Friday. The Senate district seat was vacated this week by former Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, who resigned when named to fill a vacancy on the Cabinet as state chief financial officer. LobbyTools

DeSantis may call Special Session to redraw congressional districts before next census” via Gray Rohrer of the USA Today Network-Florida — DeSantis is considering calling a Special Session of the Legislature to rearrange Florida's congressional districts. “I do think it would be appropriate to do a redistricting here in the mid-decade. So, we’re working through what that would look like,” DeSantis told reporters at an event in Bradenton. The remarks come as Texas is engaged in a highly unusual redistricting Session years before the next U.S. Census in 2030. Trump has also said he wants four other GOP-held states to join Texas in redrawing U.S. House district lines to help Republicans keep control of the chamber after the 2026 Midterm Elections. Republicans currently hold a 220-212 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House.

"Environmentalists’ lawsuit to halt ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ filed in wrong court, Florida official says" via Mike Schneider of The Associated Press — Florida’s top emergency official is challenging a lawsuit by environmental groups aimed at stopping an immigration detention center in the Everglades, arguing the case was filed in the wrong court. The official, Kevin Guthrie, asserts that while Miami-Dade County owns the land, the facility itself is in Collier County, placing it in Florida's middle judicial district, not the southern district where the suit was filed. Environmentalists counter that the southern district is the proper venue since a significant portion of the events are tied to Miami-Dade.

"Florida’s disaster pipeline funnels millions to politically connected contractors" via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — A migrant detention camp dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ was rapidly constructed in the Florida Everglades for $240 million, with a projected annual operating cost of $450 million. DeSantis used emergency powers to suspend state laws and bypass the competitive public bidding process, awarding no-bid contracts from a fund he alone controls. The camp's construction was authorized under an immigration emergency order DeSantis signed in 2023 and has been renewed 15 times. Critics, like Democratic Rep. Fentrice Driskell, have labeled the project "Gator Grift," arguing that immigration does not constitute a state emergency in the same way as a hurricane.

Ron DeSantis targets Broward, Gainesville with DOGE audit letters" via Alexandra Glorioso of the Tampa Bay Times and Amanda Rosa of the Miami Herald — DeSantis announced Tuesday that his office will conduct on-site inspections of local governments that fail to cooperate with his statewide spending audit, specifically targeting Broward County for what he called a lack of compliance.

"DeSantis targets Florida cities with audits, makes no mention of own no-bid spending" via John Kennedy of the Tallahassee Democrat — DeSantis is launching an assault on local government spending, directing his CFO to audit cities and counties for alleged misuse of taxpayer money. The effort aims to build a case for a significant property tax overhaul on the 2026 ballot. However, this move comes as DeSantis' own office has steered at least $225 million into no-bid contracts for a migrant facility, a practice enabled by a state of emergency he repeatedly extends. Critics from both parties label the audits "political theater," highlighting the hypocrisy of scrutinizing local finances. At the same time, his administration leverages emergency powers for its opaque spending, which they argue is ideological rather than a matter of good governance.

"DeSantis still vetting LG candidates, won’t offer time frame for appointment" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis is not committing to a timeline for selecting a new Lieutenant Governor, a position left vacant after Jeanette Nuñez became president of Florida International University. Although he recently filled the CFO role, DeSantis told reporters he is still vetting candidates for LG and a decision will come "soon," but not immediately. The Governor's primary function in this role is to have a successor ready; similarly, former Gov. Rick Scott waited 10 months to fill a vacancy. Speculation suggests the delay could be strategic, potentially allowing DeSantis to choose an appointee who would not challenge a possible gubernatorial run by First Lady Casey DeSantis against U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds

“Redistricting gamble? DeSantis may push for more GOP-friendly congressional maps” via Gray Rohrer of USA TODAY Network-Florida — DeSantis notched a victory on July 17 when the Florida Supreme Court upheld congressional district lines largely drawn by him, cementing GOP-friendly maps. Even with another legal battle pending, there’s nothing in state or federal law preventing DeSantis from calling a Special Session to redraw the maps seven years before the next required redistricting Session under the U.S. Constitution. Such a move, however, carries its own perils. Republicans already have a 20-8 advantage over Democrats in Florida’s congressional delegation. Even with the GOP’s surging lead in active registered voters, it could be difficult to draw another Republican district, which would likely require splitting a heavily Democratic district into other GOP districts.

Washington DC …

"Trump wants Joe Gruters to head Republican National Committee" via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Trump has endorsed state Sen. Gruters for Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair, a move poised to reshape Florida politics. The endorsement follows current Chair Michael Whatley’s announcement that he will step down to run for the U.S. Senate. Gruters, a longtime Trump ally and current RNC Treasurer, is now expected to abandon his planned campaign for Florida Chief Financial Officer. This effectively cancels the looming 2026 Primary battle against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointee, Blaise Ingoglia. By accepting the national party leadership role, Gruters will diffuse a major intra-party conflict in the state, averting a high-profile proxy war between Trump and DeSantis-aligned forces.

“Trump and Susie Wiles are like a new John Madden and Pat Summerall” via Michael Toth of The Hill — Pundits have credited White House Chief of Staff Wiles for the new administration’s winning streak. But less has been written on how Wiles, who ran Trump’s successful 2024 Election campaign, has prevailed where others have failed in instilling discipline in the notoriously free-wheeling Trump operation. A clue to understanding why the President and his Chief of Staff have synced so far comes from an unexpected place — the legendary NFL broadcasting duo of Madden and Summerall, who is also Wiles’ late father. The on-air magic of Madden and Summerall played a pivotal role in the modern NFL’s dominance over virtually everything else on television. It also helps explain how Wiles has succeeded in supporting another famously unscripted communicator.

Legislative …

Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, made a series of moves after former Sen. Blaise Ingoglia exited the Legislature to become state chief financial officer and Brevard County Republican Debbie Mayfield returned to the Senate.

Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was named chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee, which was previously held by Ingoglia. Gruters, meanwhile, left his seat on the Commerce and Tourism Committee.

Mayfield was named chairwoman of the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, and vice chairwoman to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Mayfield, who left the Senate in November, recently returned after winning a special election to replace former Sen. Randy Fine, a Brevard Republican who won a special election for a congressional seat.

Mayfield also was placed on several other committees, such as the Fiscal Policy Committee, the Commerce and Tourism Committee, the Regulated Industries Committee and the Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Committee.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, was added to the Rules Committee. Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City was removed from the Higher Education Appropriations Committee. Sen. Jason Brodeur was removed from the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. And Senate Majority Leader Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, was removed from the Agriculture Committee.

By the Numbers: House Net Worths: Florida lawmakers faced a July 1 deadline for filing updated financial disclosure reports. Here are state House members who have reported the highest net worths:

— Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City: $152,674,559

— Rep. Meg Weinberger, R-Palm Beach Gardens: $29,871,247

— Rep. Judson Sapp, R-Green Cove Springs: $21,916,582

— Rep. J.J. Grow, R-Inverness: $20,985,416

— Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton: $16,466,533

— Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee: $15,451,179

— Rep. Taylor Yarkosky, R-Montverde: $8,060,000

— Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs: $7,444,394

— Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville: $5,972,850

— Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor: $5,940,503

Business …

Florida Jobless Claims Dip as Unemployment Rate Holds Steady: Florida saw a decline in first-time unemployment claims last week, with an estimated 6,154 filings, down from a revised total of 7,335 the week prior, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The state figures are not seasonally adjusted. Nationally, the number of seasonally adjusted claims also fell, from 221,000 to 217,000 for the week ending July 12. After a steady decline in jobless claims leading into summer, Florida saw an unusual spike in early June, with new unemployment filings surpassing 8,000, the highest so far in 2025. Since then, weekly numbers have fluctuated. The latest drop in Florida mirrors a national trend. Across the U.S., there were 215,792 new unemployment claims last week — a 17.4% decrease from the previous week, outperforming economists' forecast of a 15.8% drop. Year-over-year comparisons also show improvement. Initial jobless claims for the same week in 2024 totaled 225,839. While the filings have remained volatile over the past two months, Florida's unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in June, with about 415,000 residents out of work in a labor force totaling 11.2 million. The national unemployment rate stands at 4.1%, and the Sunshine State has been able to maintain a lower unemployment rate than the nationwide figure for 56 straight months. News Service Florida / Florida Politics

Florida Gas Prices Rebound After Dipping to Multi-Month Low: Florida gas prices spiked last week after briefly hitting their lowest level since May, according to AAA — the auto club group. The state average for regular unleaded fell to $2.93 before jumping to $3.14 midweek and settling at $3.08 by Sunday, a 14-cent rise from the previous week. The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area remains the most expensive for refueling at $3.24 per gallon, while the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach region offers the cheapest gas prices at $2.88 per gallon. AAA Press Release / News Service Florida

Florida’s economy is ahead of the curve, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s latest Business & Economic Mid-Year Report.

The state’s GDP reached an estimated $1.76 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 1.4% year-over-year growth. By contrast, national GDP declined by 0.5%, so concerns about a broader slowdown.

By the Numbers: June Housing Prices - The industry group Florida Realtors this week released a report that showed the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in June was $412,000. Here were median prices in the state’s metropolitan statistical areas:

— Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $755,000

— Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $643,343

— Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $449,000

— North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $448,500

— Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin: $420,000

— Port St. Lucie: $415,000

— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: $410,000

— Jacksonville: $399,000

— Sebastian-Vero Beach: $392,975

— Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville: $383,875

— Cape Coral-Fort Myers: $380,000

— The Villages: $367,500

— Panama City: $363,163

— Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach: $362,500

— Gainesville: $360,000

— Tallahassee: $345,000

— Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent: $339,300

— Punta Gorda: $335,000

— Lakeland-Winter Haven: $323,420

— Ocala: $293,000

— Homosassa Springs: $291,000

— Sebring: $285,000

Source: Florida Realtors

Florida leads nation in home insurance non-renewal rates | WLRN

https://www.cfpublic.org/housing-homelessness/2025-07-22/florida-leads-nation-in-home-insurance-non-renewal-rates

COVID …

Florida COVID Deaths Top 1,100 in 2025: More than 1,100 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Florida so far this year, with the toll continuing to rise gradually, according to recently updated data by the state Department of Health. As of mid-July, 1,144 deaths have been linked to the virus in 2025 — up from 1,027 at the end of June. Broward County has recorded the highest number of deaths this year with 82, followed by Palm Beach County at 78, Miami-Dade County with 77, Pinellas County with 69, Polk County at 67, and Hillsborough County with 66 fatalities. While the virus continues to pose a risk, the death toll remains significantly lower than in previous years. Since the pandemic began in 2020, Florida saw peak fatalities in 2021 with 39,876 deaths, followed by 21,317 in 2022, 8,448 in 2023, and 6,025 in 2024. The state reported 23,351 COVID deaths in 2020. News Service Florida

Elections …

"Donald Trump endorses Ashley Moody's return to Senate" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — President Trump has issued his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Sen. Moody in her U.S. Senate bid, aiming to solidify her front-runner status. Trump praised the former Attorney General for her work on the economy, border security, and the military. The powerful endorsement provides a crucial boost for the appointed Senator, as a recent poll revealed 45% of voters are unfamiliar with her. A staunch Trump ally who supported a 2020 Election lawsuit and co-sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, Moody is now positioned as the overwhelming favorite to secure the GOP nomination and win the seat, with prediction markets giving her an 89% chance of victory next November.

“Palm Beach County Democrats unite behind Rob Long in Special Election for HD 90” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — The House District 90 race is culminating far sooner than initially expected due to the recent death of Rep. Joe Casello. Every state-level elected Democrat in Palm Beach County is backing Delray Beach Commissioner Long for the job. Long, who filed to run for HD 90 in February with an endorsement from Casello and eight other Palm Beach County Democrats, is refiling to run in a newly called Special Election for Casello’s seat. The remaining members of the Democratic legislative delegation of Palm Beach County — Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, Sens. Mack Bernard and Tina Polsky, and Reps. Tae Edmonds, Kelly Skidmore and Debra Tendrich — wasted no time reconfirming their support.