Legislative Update - August 15, 2025

Governor Appoints New Lieutenant Governor - Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday named state Sen. Jay Collins as Florida’s new lieutenant governor, filling the vacancy created in February when Jeanette Núñez resigned to become president of Florida International University. Collins, a Republican from Hillsborough County, has served in the Senate since 2022 and is a retired U.S. Army Green Beret medic with multiple combat deployments.

Senate Seat Vacancy & Potential Successors - Collins’ appointment leaves his Senate seat open, and speculation is already underway about who might replace him. Democrats believe they have a chance to flip the seat, noting that former Sen. Janet Cruz narrowly lost to Collins. Potential Republican contenders include Rep. Josie Tomkow, Layla Collins (the lieutenant governor’s wife), Rep. Karen Gonzales Pittman, and Rep. Susan Valdes.

Senate President Signals Early Exit - Senate President Ben Albritton hinted this week that he may not complete his term. Speaking at legislative delegation meetings in Charlotte and Hardee counties, the Wauchula Republican suggested that this round of delegation visits would be his last for Senate District 27.

FWC Approves Black Bear Hunt - On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the state’s first black bear hunt in a decade. The Dec. 6–28 season will take place in four “bear management units” across 31 counties, with 187 permits issued by lottery: 68 in the East Panhandle, 46 in North Florida, 18 in Central Florida, and 55 in the South. Each permit allows one bear to be taken using archery, bait, firearms, or hounding — a method opponents describe as “a chase to exhaustion” ending in a close-range kill.

Tropical Weather Update - Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to become the season’s first hurricane Friday and threaten the Caribbean before turning away from land where it will intensify further in the Atlantic, according to the NHC.

Governor …

“Ron DeSantis picks ‘the Chuck Norris of Florida politics’ as new top deputy” via Charles Creitz of Fox News — DeSantis on Tuesday appointed state Sen. Collins, a decorated combat veteran and amputee, to serve as Florida’s new Lieutenant Governor. The selection makes the DeSantis-Collins ticket the only all-veteran executive leadership team in the United States. Collins, a Tampa Republican, will fill the vacancy left by former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez.

Collins Named LG, Leaving Bay Area Senate Seat Open - Republican Jay Collins was appointed Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis to be lieutenant governor, a move that opens a Senate seat in what has been a swing district in years past. The role of lieutenant governor is a mostly ceremonial position, though it could give Collins a platform from which to make a run for governor in 2026 when DeSantis will be term-limited, and signal the governor's backing of the former Green Beret to replace him. Collins' new job has no official statutory duties except to be next in line to become governor should something happen to the sitting governor. The post has been vacant since February, when former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez resigned to become president of Florida International University. Collins was sworn in Tuesday, with DeSantis calling him a strong conservative. "He's been a man of action," DeSantis said. "He has delivered conservative wins, and I think has been one of the most productive senators we have had in modern Florida history." Collins ran legislation (SB 264) in 2023 that banned certain people from China, Russia, Iran, and other countries from purchasing agricultural land in the state or land near a military base or critical infrastructure, and prohibited Chinese nationals who aren't legal U.S. residents from buying most Florida property. He has also been an ally of DeSantis in the Senate, which hasn't recently always backed the governor's positions. Aside from what the move may signal about the next governor's race, the choice of Collins could impact state public policy more by creating a no-incumbent race for a Senate seat in a district that could be competitive. Collins flipped the Senate seat Republican when he won by about 10 percentage points in 2022 after former Sen. Janet Cruz had flipped it Democrat four years earlier. Republicans make up about 39% of the electorate in the Tampa Bay area Senate District 14 to just under 32% for Democrats, but almost 30% of the voters in the district are registered with no party affiliation. Still, President Trump won the district last year by more than 6 percentage points. There is a long list of potential candidates with local name recognition likely to consider running for the seat. Tampa Bay Times / Florida Politics / USA Today Network / News Service Florida / Politico / The Center Square / DeSantis Press Release / LobbyTools Executive Appointments Page / LobbyTools Party Statistics Page

Ron DeSantis weighs in on Jay Collins’ and Casey DeSantis’ political futures" via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — DeSantis on Wednesday cast his newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Collins, as a “compelling” potential candidate for Governor in 2026 but stopped short of a formal endorsement, strategically leaving his options open in the race to succeed him.

“Florida to use shuttered prison as 2nd immigration detention center after ‘Alligator Alcatraz’” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — DeSantis announced the state will open a second immigration detention center inside a now-shuttered state prison in North Florida as the fate of its first such facility in the Everglades lies in the hands of a federal judge. Florida plans to spend up to $6 million to stand up Baker Correctional Institution — which is 15 minutes away from an airport in Lake City — to hold more than 1,300 people awaiting deportation. Baker was “temporarily closed” amid ongoing staffing problems in the state prison system. DeSantis had previously said the state was looking to set up a second center at Camp Blanding, the primary training facility for the Florida National Guard located in North Florida. But state officials decided instead that it would be cheaper and more efficient to use the closed state prison. The new center, which is being called “Deportation Depot,” is expected to be operational in about two weeks.

“Ron DeSantis says White House should ‘award’ Florida another congressional seat” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis is advocating for an unprecedented move, urging the Trump administration to award Florida and Texas additional congressional seats before the 2026 Midterms. Citing Florida’s historic population growth over the past few years, DeSantis argues the state is underrepresented and that its current congressional map, based on the 2020 Census, is outdated. He suggests the administration should unilaterally reallocate seats from other states to Florida and Texas to correct this “unfairness.” This controversial proposal would force a redrawing of congressional maps and almost certainly trigger significant legal challenges from any state that stands to lose a representative. DeSantis claims such an adjustment is appropriate to reflect the state’s dramatic demographic shifts.

Attorney General …

James Uthmeier invokes executive action to ban 7-OH in Florida” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Uthmeier says Florida is immediately banning the substance 7-OH, an acronym for hydroxymitragynine. Uthmeier said he is invoking an executive order to ban the drug, which he says is an extension of the opioid crisis. The drug 7-OH was readily available at smoke shops, vape stores, convenience stores and gas stations before the ban in Florida. It is a derivative of the kratom plant, which is cultivated generally in Asian countries and has been drawing increasing attention as the use of the substance is growing. “We are taking executive action to prohibit and reschedule 7-OH,” Uthmeier said at a news conference in Tampa. "It is chemically manipulated in a way to where it is actually very dense and actually, I’m told by medical experts, it can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine."

CFO …

“‘This is a long-term thing’: CFO Blaise Ingoglia says DOGE audits are here to stay” via Sophia Fanning and Ashley Suter of WFLA — Ingoglia held a news conference in Tampa about the recent DOGE audits of municipalities across Tampa Bay. Monday marks the first day the DOGE team will be in Hillsborough County to perform an audit on government spending. Ingoglia said the audits in other parts of the state have been successful so far, and that they’re not slowing down any time soon. He also said municipalities will face steep fines for not cooperating with the DOGE team’s requests. Counties and cities will be fined $1,000 per day per item being examined. The department will create reports for each municipality they visit, which Ingoglia estimated could take around 60 days.

Legislative …

Albritton Hints at Early Exit from Florida Senate After Presidency - Senate President Ben Albritton is signaling he may step down before his term ends in 2028, suggesting at recent Charlotte and Hardee County legislative delegation meetings that this year's tour of Senate District 27 will be his last. "This is our 16th — 16th — Hardee County delegation meeting, and likely my last," said Albritton, who represented Hardee County in the House for eight years before his 2018 election to the Senate. Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, is slated to preside over his final legislative session in 2026 but has hinted he won't remain in the chamber afterward, despite winning a four-year term in 2024 that would allow him to serve a decade in the Senate. The move leaves open the possibility of a resignation that would trigger a special election to fill the remainder of his term — a scenario that could give his successor a similarly long tenure, depending on future redistricting. "We'll gavel out in March, and then, you know, somebody else will be your senator," Albritton said. Albritton's predecessor, former Senate President Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, continues to serve in the chamber but will not be able to run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits. Florida Politics

Collins Appointment Drives Speculation on Possible Sen Candidates - The opening of the Senate District 14 seat in the Tampa Bay area with the appointment of Republican Jay Collins as lieutenant governor ramped up discussion about possible candidates for the one-time swing district seat. As noted above, Collins won the seat in 2022 and flipped it after former Sen. Janet Cruz had taken it for Democrats four years earlier, and while Republicans hold a registration advantage, nearly one in three voters in the district is registered with no party affiliation. The list of possible candidates includes Cruz, and Collins' wife Layla, a Republican who is currently on the Florida Board of Education. Several other locally familiar candidates have been mentioned as possibly interested in seeking the seat. One lesser-known Democrat opened a campaign account Monday for Senate District 14 on Tuesday. The candidate, Brian Nathan, filed to run for the SD 14 seat in the 2026 race, but the account could be converted to run in an expected special election to replace Collins. Florida Politics

Business …

WalletHub analysis: Florida is sixth-best state to live in

Florida was the only Sun Belt state listed in the top 10, while 9 out of the 10 worst states were from the region.

When it comes to the best states to live in, a new WalletHub analysis places Florida just outside the top 5.

WalletHub, a personal finance management company, looked at all 50 states and compared dozens of factors to determine the list. Those factors include cost of living, job availability, quality of education and safety, among other criteria.

Florida Gas Prices Jump, Then Begin to Ease After Volatile Two Weeks: Florida drivers saw a 10-cent jump in gas prices last week, with the state average hitting $3.05 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA. The spike followed a turbulent two-week stretch in which prices fell 20 cents in 10 days, then surged 19 cents early last week before sliding back 7 cents over the weekend. "Florida gas prices have fluctuated within the same 26-cent range for almost a year now," said AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins. "Prices at the pump will continue to move in that range until there's a significant change in oil prices or a major disruption — like a hurricane — impacts the supply chain." The state's average price has not topped $3.20 per gallon since Sept. 6, 2024, and has since fluctuated between $2.92 and $3.18. National oil markets also saw movement, with U.S. crude prices dropping 5% last week amid expectations that OPEC's decision to boost production will outpace demand. West Texas Intermediate closed Friday at $63.88 per barrel, down $3.45 from the previous week. The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area remains the most expensive for refueling at $3.18 per gallon, while the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach region offers the current cheapest gas prices at $2.85 per gallon. AAA Press Release / News Service Florida

Florida Jobless Claims Dip Slightly in Early August: Florida recorded 6,230 new unemployment claims for the week ending Aug. 9, a slight decrease from the revised 6,252 claims reported the previous week, according to recently released data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Since early June, the state has averaged 6,866 claims weekly. Nationally, an estimated 224,000 claims were filed last week, down from 227,000 the week before. The national figures are seasonally adjusted, while Florida's are not. The Florida Department of Commerce is expected to release its July unemployment report Friday. The state's jobless rate has held steady at 3.7% since April, compared to the national rate of 4.2% in July. News Service Florida / Florida Politics

June Tax Collections Beat Forecast Amid Pre-Tariff Spending - Florida's general revenue collections for June came in slightly above expectations, likely boosted by consumer spending ahead of anticipated tariff impacts, according to a report released late last week by the Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research. The state collected about $4.85 billion in net general revenue, $31.6 million more than economists projected in March. Analysts said the gains reflect a second straight month of consumers preparing for tariffs championed by President Donald Trump. "June collections reflect activity that largely occurred in May and several factors explain the net result, including consumers' pre-buying of goods in advance of the expected impact of tariffs," the report said. Sales taxes, the state's largest revenue source, brought in $3.099 billion, beating forecasts by $192.4 million. Earnings on investments also exceeded expectations, reaching $141 million — $34 million over projections. But other sources lagged, with corporate income tax collections falling short by $171.4 million, totaling $991.3 million. General revenue is closely watched as it funds key programs in education, health care, and corrections. An updated forecast from the state's Revenue Estimating Conference is expected Friday and lawmakers use the projections when crafting the next fiscal year's state budget. The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to start Jan. 13, with fall committee meetings set to take place the weeks of Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, Nov. 3, and Nov. 17, and Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. News Service Florida / LobbyTools 2026 Legislative Session Dates

“North Florida manufacturers show signs of major contraction in July” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — First Coast manufacturing contracted yet again in July, marking a half-year of contraction among industrialists in the region. The University of North Florida (UNF) Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey (JEMS) showed 10 out of 12 sectors contracted last month, an even sharper decline than in June. The streak of overall contraction among First Coast manufacturers started in February and has not reversed since. Albert Loh, interim Dean of the UNF Coggin College of Business, supervises the survey of industrial output. “Multiple subindexes, including new orders, new export orders, backlogs of work, input purchases, material inventories, and employment, registered well below 50, showing broad-based weakness in demand and production pipelines,” Loh said.

“The ultra-rich own more second homes in Miami than in any other city on earth” via Max Klaver of the Miami Herald — Lavish houses, often second or third residences, dot much of Miami’s waterfront. These are increasingly the homes of the ultra-wealthy — those with net worths exceeding $30 million. They’ve flocked in such great numbers that Miami is now the top global city for second homes of ultra-high net worth individuals, a new report found. Some 13,200 such people, the most of any city on the planet, now keep a second home in the Miami metro area, according to Altrata, a wealth intelligence firm. In total, when you factor in primary residences, nearly 17,500 ultra-wealthy people have houses in Miami, the fourth-largest über-rich population in the world behind New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

“Florida home insurer says it requested steep rate decreases for home and condo policies” via Ron Hurtibise of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — One of Florida’s largest property insurers says it has requested the largest rate decreases for home and condo unit owners in the company’s 20-year history. Boca Raton-based Florida Peninsula said it has proposed average decreases of 8.4% for its homeowner policies and 12% for condo unit policies. The decreases, if approved by state insurance regulators, would take effect Oct. 31. They would be another welcome development for Florida homeowners who have recently endured multiple years of steep cost inflation. Cost hikes are finally beginning to slow, and in some cases recede, as legislative reforms of 2022 and 2023 are reducing insurers’ claims and litigation costs, industry experts say.

“Canadians furious about Trump flee their private Florida community” via Ari Altstedter of Bloomberg — In the private Florida community of Windsor, a wave of Canadian homeowners are selling their properties, fueled by fury over Trump’s anti-Canada rhetoric. Despite its understated elegance and Canadian heritage, Windsor isn’t immune to the political climate. Roger Oatley, a retired lawyer who sold his home, said Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state and imposing tariffs “made people quite furious.” Another former resident, Walt Macnee, explained that Trump “made it very uncomfortable to be in a nation that was threatening so much new and clear animosity.” This exodus from a community founded by one of Canada’s wealthiest families signals a deep and potentially lasting rift between the two nations.

Immigration …

Arrests of Undocumented for Entering Fla Continue Despite Judge's Order - Despite an order from a federal judge halting enforcement of new state laws that ban people who are in the U.S. illegally from entering Florida, police continue to charge people under the laws, the AP reported Monday. After U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams first blocked the new statutes from being enforced, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier told police he couldn't prevent them from enforcing the laws anyway, and said he didn't think the judge's order was legitimate. The two new statutes make it a crime for immigrants to enter or re-enter Florida after having entered the country illegally. Uthmeier was held in contempt for that stance, and as a result has been required to file bimonthly reports on whether arrests are continuing to be made under the law. According to the latest of those reports, at least two people were arrested and charged in July in Sarasota County with violating the new prohibitions. The prosecutor's office in the county dismissed the charges against the two defendants, and requested the sheriff's office advise the arresting officer about the court's order halting enforcement of the law, according to the report. Associated Press

Elections …

“DeSantis, James Uthmeier say Florida deserves more House seats and wants them now” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Citing unfair apportionment after the 2020 Census, leading Florida Republicans, including DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier, are demanding the state receive up to five new U.S. House seats before the 2026 Midterms. They argue that irregularities, data-privacy measures, and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants unfairly benefited Democratic states while shortchanging Florida. Uthmeier has formally asked the Trump administration to reallocate seats based on corrected data, a move supported by a potential new census. Concurrently, DeSantis is pushing for an immediate, mid-decade redrawing of Florida’s congressional map, alleging unconstitutional racial gerrymandering in South Florida districts. This push aims to increase Florida’s political influence ahead of the typical decennial redistricting cycle.

“With Jay Collins expected to be DeSantis’ No. 2, who could replace him in the Senate?” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

“Union worker first Democrat to jump into SD 14 Special Election” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Following Sen. Jay Collins’ appointment as Lieutenant Governor, Democrats see an opportunity in the upcoming Special Election for his Senate District 14 seat. Navy veteran and union leader Brian Nathan has filed to run as a Democrat, campaigning on a platform of supporting working families. Despite the open seat, Nathan faces a significant uphill battle. Republicans hold a nearly seven-point voter registration advantage in a district Collins flipped red by 10 points in 2022. This reflects a broader rightward shift in the region, which has seen other local offices flip to GOP control. Reclaiming the seat will be a formidable challenge for Democrats, even with a newly energized candidate.

Whoops! The Democratic loser’s name gets printed on HD 40 sample ballots” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — The Orange County Supervisor of Elections got the Democratic candidate’s name mixed up on sample ballots sent to about 89,000 voters ahead of the House District 40 Special General Election next month. RaShon Young beat Travaris McCurdy in the Democratic Special Primary in June. But it’s McCurdy’s name that appears on sample ballots mailed to voters this week, the SOE said. “The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office takes full responsibility for this mistake. We have tracked the error and found it originated in our office during artwork creation for the printing process,” said SOE spokesperson Blake Summerlin in a press release this weekend. “The office is taking immediate action to correct it by mailing a ‘Notice of Printing Error’ to all affected voters, along with a rectified Sample Ballot.”

Health Care Related Articles

“Florida Surgeon General supports raw milk consumption despite 21 infections” via Christopher O’Donnell — Under Florida law, raw or unpasteurized milk can only be sold for consumption as pet or animal food. Since it’s not made to be consumed by humans, it also means the state is limited in how much it can regulate sanitation standards at dairies that sell unpasteurized milk. Yet the state’s top health official took to social media to support the consumption of raw milk, which has become a health fad in recent years. “Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices,” Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said. “I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks.”

“Florida wins federal approval to restrict soda, candy for SNAP recipients” via Shalina Chantlan of Stateline and Florida Phoenix — At least 12 states have received federal approval to restrict recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, from using their benefits to purchase certain foods such as soda and candy. The states receiving waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are overwhelmingly Republican. Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia received approval last week. The feds granted waivers to Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah earlier this year. SNAP served on average nearly 42 million people a month in fiscal 2024, with about 12% of the U.S. population receiving benefits.

"Extend federal tax credits and keep working Floridians insured, conservatives say" via Rosanne Dunkelberger of Florida Politics — Florida business and health care leaders are sounding the alarm that 4.7 million Floridians face a "burning dumpster fire" if Congress allows enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. Brewster Bevis of Associated Industries of Florida warns lawmakers must act before open enrollment begins or they will face "a lot of very dissatisfied and upset constituents who have no access to health care.” The subsidies expanded eligibility for premium assistance, and without them, KFF estimates 2.3 million Floridians could become uninsured. Panelists stressed these individuals won't qualify for Medicaid, and community clinics are too strained to absorb the impact. "If not this, then what?" asked Mary Mayhew of the Florida Hospital Association.