Is his grip loosening? How DeSantis’ and Florida lawmakers’ priorities have clashed

As Florida lawmakers reach the tail-end of the annual legislative session, Republican legislative leaders are increasingly backing proposals that Gov. Ron DeSantis has expressed skepticism about, signaling a possible shift in the state’s political dynamics following the Republican governor’s failed presidential bid.

The clearest example of the changing relationships between DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature came into view on Thursday when House Speaker Paul Renner — a close ally of the governor — pushed to send the governor a bill that bans social media access for most minors just hours after DeSantis said there were “legitimate issues” with the proposal.

The move puts DeSantis in a politically precarious position, as he will need to act on the bill — a leadership priority — before the end of legislative session, when a myriad of budget and policy issues remain under negotiation. On Friday, DeSantis said he would be reviewing the measure and making a decision on it “very quickly.”

The friction over the issues was noticed by at least one Republican lawmaker, who predicted the governor’s influence over the Legislature would wane after his failed run for president.

State Rep. Juan C. Porras, R-Miami, said it was “very inspiring” to witness lawmakers send the governor a bill DeSantis had criticized, and said the Legislature would have “ample time to consider overriding his veto” if he were to disagree with the will of the Legislature.

“I, for one, look forward to that day,” Porras said.

With two weeks left in the legislative session, anything can happen. But the social media bill is one in a growing number of examples in which Republican lawmakers have taken votes that are in conflict with DeSantis’ wishes — a dynamic that in recent years was uncommon to see as the governor was ascending on the national political stage.

Lawmakers have rejected a plan that could have brought a casino to the Fontainebleau Miami, even though the governor publicly backed it. So far, both the House and Senate have been reluctant to give him the money he wants to bulk up a civilian military force under his control. And they are considering easing restrictions on some Chinese residents who want to buy land in Florida, a move that DeSantis has balked at.

Blocking most citizens of China from buying real estate close to military compounds or “critical infrastructure” has been a top priority for DeSantis in the last year. On Thursday, Renner said he would be willing to revisit the state law to allow Chinese residents with some types of visas to buy property.

“I think the idea, the concept, is very good to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from buying lands near military bases or critical infrastructure,” Renner said. “But if it created unintended consequences, are we saying we are not going to take a look at that?”

Just hours earlier at a press conference, DeSantis said the proposed rewrite would not “pass muster with me.”

DeSantis has also expressed skepticism about a bill lawmakers sent him that says drivers cannot operate in the left lane of a highway unless they are passing another vehicle or preparing to exit the roadway.

“We’re gonna be pulling people over for that?” DeSantis said at a press conference on Friday. “How would that work? I’m going to actually talk to people who do this for a living.”

With three years left in his term, DeSantis remains an influential player in the legislative process. He still has sway over many of the measures moving in the Legislature. For instance, bills that would change how the state addresses retail theft and homeless encampments are advancing in the Legislature after DeSantis expressed support for those ideas.

And an election bill that would have forced party primary candidates into runoffs if they don’t get more than 50% of the vote is believed to be dead for this legislative session after the governor expressed “serious concerns” about it.

But lawmakers’ recent actions may be an indicator that the governor’s grip is loosening — at least compared to previous years.

Read more: Deference or ‘vengeance’? Which Ron DeSantis has returned to rule over Florida

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, for her part, has drawn a red line on some of the more partisan issues that the Republican Party of Florida has advocated for. In early February, the state party adopted a 10-point policy platform, which included socially conservative bills that have failed to gain much traction during this year’s legislative session.

When asked about it by reporters, Passidomo said: “Our bill process is not the Republican Party of Florida … We are the Legislature. We make the laws. We review the laws.”

DeSantis still believes the legislative session will end with big wins for Republicans — and his vision for the state.

“When this legislative session settles, I think you are going to see a lot of other examples of really big wins that we were able to put points on the board,” he told reporters on Friday.

This story was originally published February 23, 2024 at 1:51 PM.