Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans a special session to address immigration issues as Trump’s inauguration approaches, aiming for legislative action.
DeSantis said, “We don’t have time to waste,” emphasizing that the public has made their stance clear. He’s also looking to tackle some other issues, like changing how citizen initiatives get on the ballot and revamping laws related to condos after that tragic Surfside disaster. Plus, he wants to allocate more funds to help communities hit hard by hurricanes.
Even though the regular legislative session kicks off in March, DeSantis is pushing for this special session around January 27. He’s particularly focused on immigration, as Trump has promised a big deportation effort starting January 20.
While he didn’t dive deep into specifics, DeSantis mentioned he wants to repeal a law that lets undocumented students pay in-state tuition, which was signed into law back in 2014. He believes it’s time to remove any incentives for illegal immigration in Florida.
He’s also looking to provide funding to local law enforcement to support the crackdown and hold accountable any local areas that might resist these efforts. He hinted that the funding could be in the “tens of millions.”
On top of that, DeSantis wants to make it tougher for citizen initiatives to get on the ballot. He’s citing an investigation into petitions for an abortion access amendment that didn’t quite make the cut last November. He’s suggesting new rules for verifying signatures, like requiring photo ID or notarization.
There’s also some concern about condo owners facing rising assessments due to new safety guidelines after that tragic building collapse in 2021. DeSantis acknowledged there’s no solid agreement yet between the House and Senate on how to tackle this issue.
As for the reaction, legislative leaders didn’t jump in right away, which might mean they’re not fully on board with DeSantis’ plans. One Democratic representative, Anna Eskamani, criticized him for what she sees as a waste of taxpayer money, calling it a political stunt rather than a genuine effort to help Floridians.
