TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The upcoming legislative session in Florida is poised to be a significant test of Governor Ron DeSantis’ authority within the state, particularly following his unsuccessful bid to challenge President-elect Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. As DeSantis contemplates his political career beyond his current tenure, the state’s new legislative leaders have officially taken their oaths of office, marking the beginning of the last two years of DeSantis’ second term, during which the Republican Party maintains unified control.
Despite some observers suggesting that DeSantis might be a typical lame duck, he appears to defy that label. Under his leadership, Florida has established itself as a crucial test site for conservative policies, implementing measures that range from restrictions on abortion access to the expansion of school voucher programs and the defense of gun rights.
DeSantis has shown his capability to utilize both the power of his office and the veto pen effectively. Notably, he secured a significant electoral win recently by orchestrating a campaign against two citizen-backed ballot measures aimed at ensuring abortion rights and legalizing recreational marijuana. Although both initiatives received strong support from voters, they failed to meet the 60% approval required by state law after DeSantis and his administration mobilized state agencies and public funds to oppose them. Critics of this move argue that it may breach state law.
During his initial address to state lawmakers on Tuesday, incoming Florida Senate President Ben Albritton praised DeSantis’ strategy in defeating the proposed amendments and defended the expenditure of state funds for campaigns against these measures. “Leading the charge to defeat those two amendments was incredible,” Albritton stated, expressing gratitude for DeSantis’ committed leadership in undermining these initiatives.
Ben Wilcox, the research director of Integrity Florida, a government watchdog organization, opined that DeSantis has tested the boundaries of utilizing public resources for campaign messaging. “Unless someone manages to impose limitations on the governor, I expect to see more of this in the future,” Wilcox remarked.
Newly appointed Florida House Speaker Danny Perez also emphasized that all government expenditures, including DeSantis’ allocation of public money for political messaging, should undergo strict scrutiny. “Any allocation of taxpayer dollars from the Legislature will be thoroughly examined,” Perez stated.
In prior years, state lawmakers have swiftly moved to support DeSantis’ agenda, creating an advantageous platform for his presidential aspirations. However, during the latest speeches, there was a noticeable lack of focus on LGBTQ+ issues and diversity initiatives, which have become central themes of DeSantis’ broader political aspirations. Additionally, both Albritton and Perez expressed reservations about DeSantis’ request for a special session to tackle rising maintenance costs for condominium owners, which stemmed from new regulations passed after a tragic building collapse in Surfside that resulted in 98 fatalities in 2021.
DeSantis has pressed legislators to act before the impending deadline for condominium inspections. Albritton indicated that this issue could be addressed in the upcoming regular legislative session set to begin on March 4, yet acknowledged the need for careful consideration.
Albritton, who is involved in the citrus industry, mentioned that his Christian values would inform his conservative leadership approach as he aims to foster what he describes as a “rural Renaissance,” addressing ongoing concerns regarding expansive development that threatens natural habitats and small-town communities. Conversely, Perez, who represents an area in the state’s largest metropolitan area of Miami-Dade County, pledged to focus on monitoring public spending and addressing the escalating affordability crisis in Florida.
Meanwhile, Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell urged her Republican colleagues, who have a supermajority in both legislative chambers, to prioritize the needs of the state’s economically disadvantaged residents and to heed the majority of voters who supported the abortion rights measure. If it had secured the necessary votes, the initiative would have enshrined the right to an abortion up until the point of viability, generally understood to be after 21 weeks of pregnancy. Current state law imposes a ban on most abortions after six weeks, often before many women are aware of their pregnancy.
“I remain hopeful that we can revisit the current restrictions surrounding women’s rights to their own bodies,” Driskell stated. Nonetheless, given the Republican majority in the Legislature, Democrats face substantial challenges in influencing the legislative direction and policies for the state moving forward.