DeSantis finds himself in an unusual position as Florida’s legislative session starts

Ahead of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis already got his wish — an immigration bill he signed last month.

And while DeSantis has become accustomed to a compliant Legislature, his priorities this year, which he laid out during his State of the State address on Tuesday, are on shakier ground than ever before.

DeSantis’ goals are ideas he has previously floated, such as changing the state’s ballot initiative process, eliminating or significantly reducing property taxes and providing for condominium maintenance fee relief.

“My friends, we have great opportunities over the next 60 days,” DeSantis said. “The people of Florida are watching.”

But none of his priorities have yet made their way into agreed-upon, ready-to-go bills. And while lawmakers may be supportive of some of the goals DeSantis outlined, their approach differs so far.

READ MORE: Florida lawmakers prepare for one of most unpredictable legislative sessions in years

For example, Florida’s legislative leaders have struggled to find a condo relief solution that appeases everyone.

The House and Senate have widely different ideas for ballot initiative changes, with the House departing from the governor’s much more sweeping proposals.

DeSantis has softened his language on his initial push to eliminate property taxes — a high-profile proposal that would need voter approval — and has said he would “look to put it on” in the 2026 session, not this one.

DeSantis is also asking lawmakers to revisit gun-safety measures passed in recent years. Those include undoing a ban on selling rifles to people younger than 21 and repealing red flag laws, a post-Parkland measure that allows courts to temporarily remove guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.

The governor said he wasn’t sure what the Legislature would do on those issues, but Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said law enforcement finds risk protection orders “invaluable.”

House Speaker Danny Perez, R-Miami, and Albritton focused their speeches more on holding insurers accountable and cutting wasteful government spending than they did on any of the governor’s list of proposals.

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell called the governor’s speech a “snooze fest” and said “maybe he doesn’t have any new ideas.”

“Maybe he was being more careful about not getting ahead of his skis and putting out bold ideas,” she said, given that they may not have the support of Republican legislative leaders.

Emboldened leaders

When DeSantis first called lawmakers back to Tallahassee to pass his immigration package in January, Perez and Albritton issued a firm rebuke that has become rare under DeSantis’ tenure.

The two leaders instead flipped the special session on its head and put forward their own bill.

While leaders and the governor ultimately came to a consensus, the fight hangs heavy over 2025’s session. And though it’s unclear if there’s residual bad blood, the squabble proved that Perez and Albritton are coming into office ready to behave more independently.

Albritton and Perez both mentioned the need for making sure Floridians’ tax dollars are spent prudently.

DeSantis has also moved to investigate government spending. But the legislative leaders have previously hinted at examining executive spending in particular, which has grown in recent years.

“We are the public’s watchdogs,” Perez said Tuesday. “Members, do not be afraid to shake the tree of government and pull out the weeds of waste, fraud or abuse.”

A focus on insurance

Perez and Albritton reiterated that they want to crack down on reported insurance industry concerns.

The Herald/Times last month revealed that a 2022 state report showed insurance companies lost millions, while their affiliate companies made billions, at the start of the insurance crisis.

Albritton said he would not allow insurers to “manipulate the system.” Perez took it further, saying he asked the Insurance & Banking Subcommittee to conduct hearings, issue subpoenas and put witnesses under oath.

During his speech, Perez said that when the insurance industry came to Florida a few years ago, they told lawmakers insurers couldn’t compete without sweeping reforms.

HERALD/TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Florida House to investigate whether property insurers hid profits with ‘accounting tricks’

But Perez, referring to the Herald/Times story, said lawmakers have since learned about reports that “may suggest some insurance companies were using accounting tricks to hide substantial profits while telling us they were in a crisis.”

On Friday, Driskell called for DeSantis and Perez to investigate.

Driskell said she was optimistic that the House investigation could lead to meaningful reform.

Condo reform

DeSantis said Tuesday the Legislature’s 2021 law, responding to the tower collapse in Surfside, was putting some unit owners in a bind. The bill requires condominium associations to save money for future building repairs.

DeSantis said he was confident the Legislature would act.

“We do not want to see anybody forced out of their condominium because of legislation,” he said. “So, let’s get the job done for them.”

The House and Senate are both proposing changes to the law this session but neither chamber leader mentioned the brewing condominium financial crisis in their own remarks Tuesday.

Herald/Times staff writer Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 5:05 PM.