Legislative Update - August 29, 2025

A number of developments are unfolding in Florida this week:

• Painted Crosswalks – The state has begun painting over rainbow crosswalks and other decorative street art. A new law requires local governments to remove non-compliant crosswalks and traffic fixture decorations or risk losing state transportation funding. Some local governments are challenging the measure.
• Alligator Alcatraz – A federal judge has ordered the $218 million project to shut down within 60 days. According to Kevin Guthrie, FDEM, the closure will happen before the deadline.
• Redistricting – The Governor said he expects the legislature to revisit redistricting next year.
• Orange County Audit – The state has issued subpoenas for several Orange County employees as part of the DOGE audit, alleging that information is being withheld.
• Governor’s Race – Former House Speaker Paul Renner is considering entering the race, potentially adding another high-profile candidate.
• Back to School Sales Tax Holiday – Florida’s one-month “back-to-school sales-tax holiday” ends at midnight Aug. 31.
• Lake-Sumter State College Selects New President - State Rep. John Temple, a veteran educator and political ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, was selected Thursday to become president of Lake-Sumter State College. The Lake-Sumter Board of Trustees unanimously backed Temple, a Wildwood Republican who will join a list of former GOP lawmakers heading state colleges and universities. Looks like we will have another special election to replace him.

Governor …

“Ron DeSantis vows to continue work on Alligator Alcatraz despite ruling ordering a halt” via Chad Gillis of the Naples Daily News — A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction halting all operations at Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention center located near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. The ruling marks a major victory for the Miccosukee Tribe and environmental groups that filed the lawsuit. In defiant response, DeSantis called the judge unfair and vowed the state would not be deterred, promising deportations would continue with the Trump administration. The center was controversially fast-tracked under a state of emergency, bypassing normal review. While opponents are celebrating the win, they anticipate a prolonged legal battle as DeSantis remains committed to the project, setting the stage for a significant environmental and political showdown.

“Security for Gov. DeSantis, family cost nearly $10.7 million last year, reports show” via Gray Rohrer of the USA Today Network-Florida — Taxpayer spending to protect DeSantis, his family, and visiting dignitaries remained high last year — continuing a surge that began during his presidential campaign — according to newly released reports from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, security costs for DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, their three children and for the Capitol and Governor’s Mansion grounds ran to nearly $10.7 million. That was down from the prior year, which included his presidential run, including several trips to Iowa and other early GOP Primary battleground states, when the costs totaled more than $12 million. In 2022, DeSantis’ security price tag was $5.94 million; it then increased to $9.4 million in 2023.

DeSantis: 'Virtue Signaling' Cities Will Have to Paint Over Crosswalk Art - Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that communities opposing a state crackdown on painted crosswalks and streets are "virtue signaling" for wanting to be able to keep paintings that have political meaning and that they should just go along with the effort to remove them. DeSantis pointed specifically to two cities, Delray Beach and Key West, where city officials have said they'll oppose the state effort and seek to keep rainbow crosswalks that honor local LGBTQ community members. "It's like they think that they should just be a law unto themselves," DeSantis said of the cities. "You're always going to have the Key Wests of the world that are going to virtue signal. That's just what they do." The governor said the cities' crosswalks will be eliminated along with all other street art that doesn't comply with a new state law. State officials have notified local governments that they must remove all painted crosswalk "art" and other non-compliant traffic fixture decorations or face the loss of state transportation funding, citing legislation (SB 1662) signed into law in June that included a requirement that pavement markings and signage comply with state regulations prioritizing safety. "The Florida Legislature passed a law that was very clear ... we're not doing the commandeering of the roads to put up messaging," DeSantis said at a Tampa press conference on Tuesday. "We've made the policy decision in Florida that we're not going to use the roads for that purpose." Officials in St. Petersburg had sought exemptions from the order, but were denied and said the city will comply and Tampa officials said this week they'll also remove all painted street features. South Florida Sun-Sentinel / Orlando Sentinel

DeSantis: Congressional Redistricting Attempt Coming in Spring - Florida lawmakers will redraw the state's congressional districts in the spring, Gov. Ron DeSantis said this past weekend, while acknowledging he doesn't know exactly what the redraw will look like, including how many congressional seats the state may have. "It'll happen in the spring, and the Legislature, I fully anticipate, will produce a revised congressional map, maybe with 29 seats, maybe with the current 28," DeSantis said Saturday on the Mark Levin Show. The Trump administration has raised the possibility of a new mid-decade Census to update the population numbers on which the current districts are based, and any change in the number of congressional seats Florida would have to be based on a population change. DeSantis said, however, that Florida lawmakers can redraw the congressional district map regardless of the number of districts. Florida currently has a 20-8 Republican advantage in its congressional delegation. Florida Politics

DeSantis Touts $1.3B in Tampa Bay Transportation Upgrades: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday marked the completion of the Howard Frankland Bridge Replacement Project and broke ground on the I-275 Express Expansion, two major undertakings totaling more than $1.3 billion aimed at easing congestion, strengthening hurricane evacuation routes, and improving mobility across the Tampa Bay region. The new Howard Frankland Bridge, the largest transportation project ever completed in FDOT District 7, opened earlier this summer with 50% more capacity. The bridge is designed to withstand hurricanes and connects directly to the recently finished Gateway Expressway and I-275 Express projects. Meanwhile, the I-275 expansion in Pinellas County will widen the interstate, add express lanes, and link directly to the new bridge. State and local officials say the project could cut travel delays by up to 85%, generate more than $1.4 billion in economic value, and reinforce I-275's role as a key evacuation route. It's expected to be completed 15 years ahead of schedule. "Our Moving Florida Forward Initiative is delivering major improvements years ahead of schedule, reducing delays for families and businesses, and making long-term investments that will support Florida's growth for generations to come," the governor said in a prepared statement. Launched in 2023, Moving Florida Forward is set to accelerate more than 20 major congestion relief projects statewide. DeSantis Press Release / DeSantis One Pager / Video via X

DeSantis Appoints Bouza as New Resilience Chief: Florida environmental leaders are hailing the appointment of Edward "Eddy" Bouza II as the state's new chief resilience officer by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bouza will be tasked with mitigating hurricane and flooding risk. A certified flood plain manager, Bouza is a program management director of the Resilient Florida Program, created by the Legislature to distribute grants statewide to safeguard communities from and address the impacts of hurricanes, extreme weather, flooding and sea level rise. Bouza also completed a training program through the state's Natural Resources Leadership Institute featuring nature-based resilience features, like appropriate plantings instead of sea walls. "Eddy Bouza has been a driving force in advancing Florida's resilience strategy, helping communities better prepare for flooding and hurricanes. Through the Resilient Florida Program, he has positioned Florida as a national leader in resilience, and his appointment as chief resilience officer will further strengthen efforts to protect our environment, economy and communities," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. "The Environmental Defense Fund applauds Governor DeSantis' appointment of Eddy Bouza as Florida's chief resilience officer," said Environmental Defense Fund Florida Director Dawn Shirreff.?"Bouza's leadership and experience will be essential to operationalize nature-based resilience solutions and scale critical efforts to protect Florida's families and businesses from the risks of flooding and hurricanes." Department of Environmental Protection News Release / WFSU / News Service Florida

“As reporting questions Alligator Alcatraz future, Ron DeSantis says deportations continue” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Despite an email from Emergency Management Director Guthrie revealing the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center would have “zero inmates within days,” DeSantis insists Florida’s deportation mission continues successfully. DeSantis publicly framed the facility’s rapid emptying as a positive outcome of swift deportations, while also stating detainee placement is ultimately a federal decision. He stressed that Florida remains “ready to help,” pointing to the new 1,300-bed “Deportation Depot” in Baker County as proof of an ongoing need. This messaging creates a contrast between the administration’s public commitment and the reality of its South Florida facility shutting down far ahead of a court-ordered deadline, suggesting the operational needs may have shifted.

“CFO Blaise Ingoglia, DeSantis fire off subpoenas at Orange County for DOGE audit obstruction” via Amber Jo Cooper of Florida’s Voice — Officials are issuing subpoenas in a state-led investigation into local government spending, following what they say are possible attempts to conceal public records tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion grant programs in Orange County. Ingoglia said they received a tip from someone inside county government that stated people were changing the names of files related to DEI in an attempt to “hide the information from us.” He said they compiled data and saw some anomalies that were “very strange indeed.”

Legislature …

State Treasury Reports Record $2.5B in Interest Earnings: Florida's Division of Treasury generated a record $2.5 billion in interest earnings during the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing state estimates, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced this week. The Treasury, part of the Department of Financial Services, manages the state's funds and assets. Ingoglia said the unexpected gains will help support key projects across Florida, including investments in roads, schools, hospitals, and other critical projects. The division attributed the growth to its diversified strategy of short-, intermediate-, and long-term fixed-income investments. The approach, according to the news release, has allowed the Treasury to maintain liquidity, protect capital, and generate higher-than-expected returns. "Our treasury team is laser-focused on making Floridians' dollars work harder, stretch further, and deliver more for the people," Ingoglia stated. "When government operates with the discipline and the principles of the private sector and free markets, it creates value instead of eroding it. Every dollar we earn is a dollar taxpayers don't have to pay." Ingoglia Press Release / Florida Politics

Alligator Alcatraz …

“Kevin Guthrie says ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will likely be empty within days, email shows” via The Associated Press — A top Florida official revealed the controversial Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility will likely be empty within days, a stunning development as the state simultaneously fights a court order to close the site.

“Florida taxpayers may lose $218M on empty ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as judge orders shutdown” via Mike Schneider and Kate Payne of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

State Seeks to Keep Everglades Detention Center Open Pending Appeal: Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to halt a judge's order requiring the shutdown of the Everglades immigrant-detention facility, known as "Alligator Alcatraz." In a 52-page motion filed with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, state attorneys requested a stay of U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' preliminary injunction issued last week. The injunction stemmed from a lawsuit brought by environmental groups and joined by the Miccosukee Tribe, challenging the center's operations in the environmentally sensitive region. News Service Florida

Feds Seek to Keep Everglades Detention Center Open: Federal lawyers are pushing for a stay of an order that called for the shutdown of Florida's immigration detention center in the Everglades. Lawyers for the federal Department of Homeland Security over the weekend asked U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to hold off on enforcement of her earlier order calling for the detention center to be shut down. The field office director for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Miami said in the motion to pause the injunction that closing the detention facility will endanger the community. This past Friday, a third lawsuit challenging the detention center built by Florida to house federally-detained immigrants pending deportation was filed by civil rights groups who argue the state of Florida has no authority to run an immigration detention center. Associated Press / Law360

“Alligator Alcatraz contractors have links to allegations of fraud, price-gouging” via Shirsho Dasgupta of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Five of the contractors Florida has employed to build and operate Alligator Alcatraz ⁠— the controversial immigration detention site in the Everglades ⁠— have links to allegations of improper business practices and misuse of public funds. One of the firms allegedly allowed armed Mexican nationals with no legal immigration status to be brought into the United States by a subcontractor to provide security for its work in building a border wall as part of a federal contract. Another company recently agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement addressing allegations that it had sold to the U.S. federal government products made in prohibited countries like China. A third shares top executives with two businesses that were accused by ex-employees of filing inflated hurricane insurance claims in federally declared disaster areas.

Business issues …

“Florida’s monthlong sales-tax holiday ending soon on clothing, school supplies, computers” via Dave Berman of Florida Today — Time is running short for Floridians who want to save money by not paying sales tax on clothing, school supplies and computer gear. Florida’s one-month “back-to-school sales-tax holiday” ends at midnight Aug. 31. Then, the tax will be added once more to the price of the merchandise. A new law passed this year makes the month of August a sales-tax holiday for certain items every year. The state estimates that this sales-tax holiday will save consumers $217 million this August.

Gas Prices Drop - Average gasoline prices in Florida dropped 15 cents a gallon over the past week, while demand is expected to increase for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for the AAA auto club, said there’s no guarantee the price decline will hold through the holiday. “For almost a year, Florida gas prices have followed a pattern of declining for about 10 days, then rebounding 10 to 20 cents,” Jenkins said in a prepared statement. “While that could happen this week, pump prices should remain lower than last year's Labor Day levels.” Last year, Florida averaged $3.30 a gallon heading into the end-of-summer holiday. Florida motorists Monday paid an average of $2.92 for regular unleaded gas, down from $3.07 a week earlier, according to AAA. Average prices have gone up and down in recent months, ranging roughly from $2.92 to $3.15. The national average price Monday was $3.16 a gallon, up 2 cents from a week earlier. AAA said Orlando is expected to be among the top U.S. destinations for travelers during the holiday weekend.

Florida Jobless Claims Hold Steady as National Filings Dip: Florida's job market showed little change last week, with 5,968 first-time unemployment claims filed, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday. That's a slight drop from the revised total of 6,143 claims for the week ending Aug. 16. Over the past four weeks, Florida has averaged about 6,203 new claims, while the average since April has hovered around 6,595. The state's unemployment rate has remained steady at 3.7% for the past four months. Nationally, jobless filings fell to 229,000 last week, down from a revised 234,000 the week before. Unlike Florida's data, the federal figures are seasonally adjusted. The national unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in July. News Service Florida / Florida Politics

By the Numbers: July Housing Prices - The industry group Florida Realtors last week released a report that showed the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in July was $410,000. Here were median prices in the state’s metropolitan statistical areas:

— Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $720,000

— Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $637,700

— North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $480,000

— Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $444,028

— Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin: $442,000

— Port St. Lucie: $405,900

— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater: $405,000

— Sebastian-Vero Beach: $400,000

— Jacksonville: $398,743

— Panama City: $380,000

— Cape Coral-Fort Myers: $375,000

— Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville: $373,895

— The Villages: $355,000

— Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach: $350,000

— Gainesville: $350,000

— Punta Gorda: $345,000

— Tallahassee: $345,000

— Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent: $339,000

— Lakeland-Winter Haven: $319,990

— Ocala: $289,900

— Homosassa Springs: $279,900

— Sebring: $270,000

Source: Florida Realtors

Immigration …

“Florida agricultural law enforcement to ramp up immigration arrests on interstates” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Days after an immigrant from California was extradited to Florida for allegedly killing three in a trucking accident here, Florida will begin to target truck-driving immigrants at interstate inspection stations throughout the state. At an inspection station off the eastbound lanes on Interstate 10 in Live Oak, Florida, officials said they would begin to intercept undocumented immigrants with driver’s licenses from other states at these sites. They’re also asking the federal government to revoke commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs for undocumented immigrants. But while some states do allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license, no state has a program that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a CDL.

State Targeting Truck Drivers in Immigrant Search; Pushing CDL Changes:Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is pressing federal transportation officials to revoke commercial driver's license (CDL) programs in California and Washington state following a fatal crash in Florida that authorities say involved an undocumented immigrant truck driver. Uthmeier said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that they should decertify those states from issuing CDLs and cut off federal funding. In the Aug. 12 crash on the Florida Turnpike truck driver Harjinder Singh allegedly made an illegal U-turn in a semi-trailer before colliding with a minivan, killing three people. Singh has been charged with vehicular homicide. State officials say Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and later obtained CDLs in California and Washington. Uthmeier argued that Singh's immigration status, inability to speak English, and failure to recognize road signs should have disqualified him under federal law. "States like California and Washington ignored the rules, gave an illegal alien a license to drive a 40-ton truck, and three people are dead as a result," Uthmeier said. "A preventable tragedy due to sanctuary state policies." Uthmeier and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson also said the Florida Highway Patrol started "searching for undocumented truck drivers" at checkpoints along the state's borders. The Florida truck crash has also sparked a petition calling for leniency toward Singh, which has reportedly gathered nearly three million signatures. Uthmeier Press Release / Florida Politics / WUSF / WINK News

Campaigns & Elections …

“DeSantis’ dilemma: to endorse or not endorse in the race to replace him as Governor?” via Alexandra Glorioso of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau — Nearing the end of his term, DeSantis seeks a successor to protect his legacy, a choice complicated by a charity scandal diminishing his wife’s prospects. He has elevated Sen. Jay Collins to Lieutenant Governor, positioning him as a loyal but risky gubernatorial candidate. This move defies the safer path of endorsing Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds, whom DeSantis resents for disloyalty during the Presidential Primary. The decision creates a high-stakes dilemma: backing Collins could prove DeSantis’ enduring influence but risks reigniting a feud with Trump and alienating the MAGA base. DeSantis’ political future and the fate of his signature policies hang in the balance of this consequential endorsement.

“Seminole Tribe antes up with Byron Donalds” via Jacob Ogles of Florida

“Jay Collins will not run for Congress, focused on Lt. Governor job” via Javier Manjarres of The Floridian — Sources close to Lt. Gov. Collins have dismissed rumors of a congressional run as “categorically false,” insisting he is focused on his current duties and a “Florida First agenda.” While the congressional speculation has been squashed, it has intensified talk of his more likely ambition: a 2026 gubernatorial campaign. Such a bid would set up a major Republican Primary showdown with announced candidate Donalds. Collins is fueling this speculation by actively engaging with Democratic gubernatorial opponents, signaling his focus remains squarely on statewide politics and a potential run for Governor, despite his previous unsuccessful bid for Congress against Rep. Kathy Castor.

“Paul Renner close to announcing run for Governor” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

“Jon Maples notches key endorsement from ‘MAGA Meg’ Weinberger in HD 87 bid” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Lake Clarke Shores Council member Maples has secured a crucial endorsement in his bid for Florida’s House District 87 from Rep. Weinberger, a prominent Trump ally nicknamed “MAGA Meg.” Weinberger praised Maples as the “ally I need to help fight for President Trump’s agenda,” firmly positioning him as the America-First candidate in the race. This nod strengthens his standing in a competitive field aiming to replace Rep. Mike Caruso, whose recent appointment by DeSantis will likely trigger an earlier Special Election. Bolstered by this key conservative backing, Maples is already the fundraising leader among a slate of Republican and Democratic candidates, solidifying his status as a front-runner.

Rob Long, Bill Reicherter add big bucks to campaign coffers in Special Election for HD 90” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Democrat Long and Republican Reicherter infused their respective war chests with solid sums of cash between July 1 and Aug. 14 in the Special Election race for House District 90. They used very different methods to do so. Long, a Delray Beach Commissioner, depended on a blend of personal checks, corporate contributions and a large donation from a political committee to raise more than $20,000 in the last reporting period. Reicherter, a signage company owner with a long history of community involvement, added $100,625 to his campaign account over the same stretch. All but $623 of it was a self-loan.

Nationwide, Fla Polls Differ on Mail-in and Early Voting - While recent nationwide polling shows strong support for early voting and majority backing of mail-in ballot voting, Florida voters are split on voting before election day and aren't fans of voting-by-mail. The Pew Research Center reported last week that its national survey this month found 80% of Americans favor in-person early voting while 58% favor allowing voters to cast ballots by mail if they prefer. The results compare closely with a Gallop poll conducted last October indicating 73% of Americans favor in-person voting and 60% support mail-in absentee voting. But in contrast, a Florida Atlantic University PolCom Lab 2024 poll late last year revealed 51% of Florida voters prefer early in-person voting, but only 21% favor mail-in ballots, mirroring a drop in support for mail ballots in conservative states over the last few years and tracking with President Donald Trump's recent promise to "lead a movement" to end mail-in voting. A 2022 Florida State University Collins Institute survey revealed 79% of Florida respondents oppose moving to all mail elections. In this month's nationwide Pew polling, majorities in both parties (89% of Democrats, 71% of Republicans) support at least two weeks of early, in-person voting. However, a 51% gap in support for mail-in voting support exists between Democrats and Republicans. Pew also reported that both Republicans and Democrats living in states where mail-in voting is common are more likely to endorse that voting method than those living in states that restrict absentee and mail-in voting. For example, in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania, voters can request absentee ballots for any reason, but ballots aren't automatically sent to them; 58% of voters in those states favor allowing any voter to cast a ballot by mail. In states with universal mail-in voting, support for the practice remains higher on average. Florida voters using a mail-in ballot must request them 12 days before the election and return them to a local Supervisor of Elections office by Election Day. Early voting must be provided in any election in which there is a state or federal office on the ballot and starts 10 days before the election, ending 3 days before the election. Supervisors of Elections may offer more days within limitations. Pew Research Center / FAU PolCom Lab