In Tallahassee, Florida, for the past six years, Governor Ron DeSantis has wielded significant influence over Florida’s legislature. However, in the second-to-last legislative session of his term, his sway diminished noticeably. Initially, DeSantis and top lawmakers aligned closely on a range of issues, from parental rights to gun control, which bolstered his political profile ahead of his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2024.
This year, DeSantis aimed to enforce former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, remove state property taxes, and address the condominium crisis in South Florida. Yet, his impact waned as Republican lawmakers began openly challenging his mandates, even questioning his management of state agencies. Despite his efforts, the legislative session concluded late Friday without a finalized budget ready for DeSantis to sign. The session has been extended until early June to finalize the budget, which the governor must approve before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
This dissent poses a new hurdle for the governor, who may have presidential ambitions for 2028. Recently, DeSantis has escalated his criticisms against legislators, dubbing them the “House of Pettiness.” Key issues in this legislative session did not align with DeSantis’ objectives.
On immigration, Republican lawmakers rejected a special session called by DeSantis to discuss Trump’s immigration policies. Instead, they quickly ended the session and reconvened with their own proposals, dismissing DeSantis-backed measures. This marked a dramatic shift as such defiance was unimaginable in previous years. Eventually, a compromise was achieved, resulting in immigration measures that surpassed Trump’s executive orders by implementing the death penalty for undocumented immigrants committing capital offenses in Florida.
An investigation was initiated into Hope Florida, an initiative by First Lady Casey DeSantis focused on a significant donation from Centene Corporation to the Hope Florida Foundation. The governor had requested the creation of a Hope Florida Office under his oversight to advance the first lady’s agenda ahead of the 2026 elections. However, lawmakers’ queries into the initiative prompted DeSantis to accuse them of negatively targeting the first lady. The investigation, led by Rep. Alex Andrade, concluded it found evidence of misuse of Medicaid funds.
In February, DeSantis proposed a $115.6 billion budget featuring immigration enforcement funding, Everglades restoration, and tax relief measures. Yet, consensus on a budget between the House and Senate remains elusive. Disagreements include the House advocating a $113 billion budget with a sales tax reduction, contrary to the Senate’s $117.4 billion plan. DeSantis criticized the House’s approach, emphasizing property tax reductions instead. He expressed dissatisfaction with the House’s stance, labeling them as ineffective.
The session also aimed to tackle pressing condominium issues, focusing on rising insurance rates and association fees affecting South Florida residents and retirees. A 2022 law mandated condominium reserves for repairs, creating financial strains for owners. The new legislation, passed Wednesday, permits associations to use credit lines for reserves, offering residents flexibility in reserve payments during repairs. DeSantis had criticized the House’s proposal for potentially endangering residents’ homes in favor of developers. He urged reforms ensuring residents can maintain their condominium units.
Throughout this term, Governor DeSantis has encountered unanticipated challenges, with legislators now navigating independently on significant state issues, leading to increased scrutiny and questions about his future endeavors.