TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – It’s extensively recognized that Gov. Ron DeSantis is open to the concept of a particular session to assist resolve the condominium affordability disaster. Nevertheless, the governor can also be open to the concept of state lawmakers doing extra earlier than the yearly scheduled session begins.
One factor state lawmakers can do now, the governor mentioned, is fund the My Protected Florida Residence Program that provides as much as $10,000 towards residence enhancements.
“If anyone wants aid, give it to them now as an alternative of ready till July 1,” DeSantis mentioned. “Fund that, as a result of if they’ll make repairs anyway, this can assist them fortify it. In order that’s time delicate.”
State Senate President Ben Albritton, whose district contains parts of Polk and Hardee counties, has already expressed the necessity to assist farmers who confronted injury through the back-to-back storms.
“There are issues with agriculture that I do know President Albritton is thinking about,” DeSantis mentioned.
Up to now, it is unclear if Republican management within the legislative department would really like a particular session in any respect, particularly one that features dealing with a number of subjects.
Democratic state Rep. Michele Rayner, out of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, agrees with the governor on funding packages to assist with hurricane aid however mentioned extra might be finished about insurance coverage.
“We will fund the My Protected Florida now. No. 2, we even have to actually have an actual dialog about property insurance coverage,” Reyner mentioned.
Gov. DeSantis can also be thinking about doing extra to broaden on earlier legal guidelines involving immigration.
“There must be some further laws to assist complement the federal authorities’s newfound appreciation to cease unlawful immigration and maintain folks accountable,” DeSantis mentioned.
The governor is referring to a change in management on the White Home.
“I’ve spoken with President-elect Trump about when he is available in, there’s going to be quite a lot of govt orders going down,” DeSantis mentioned. “There’s going to be quite a lot of adjustments in coverage, notably in respect to unlawful immigration.”
The governor did not go into specifics on what lawmakers ought to vote on however mentioned state efforts about immigration below his watch.
“We aren’t a sanctuary state. We banned sanctuary cities my first 12 months as governor,” DeSantis mentioned. “We’ve got the transport program. We have finished rather a lot. We handed a serious invoice in 2023.”
That invoice contains funding a migrant relocation program, limiting social companies for undocumented immigrants, and strengthening employment necessities.
Rep. Rayner mentioned there’s nothing extra Florida can do about immigration.
“We do not want a particular session about that. No. 2, I believe it is an terrible concept,” Rayner mentioned. “Immigration falls squarely within the federal authorities’s purview. There’s nothing that the state of Florida must do.”
USF Political Communications Professor Joshua Scacco mentioned the governor is proposing concepts voters need and placing the ball in lawmakers’ fingers.
“If nothing else, what the governor is doing is aligning these form of requires a particular session with the place citizen and voter sentiment is. No less than in phrases, what are a very powerful points,” Scacco mentioned.
