Florida lawmakers getting ready for special meeting in Tallahassee

ORLANDO, Fla. – State lawmakers will head back to Tallahassee for a special session set to start on Monday.

The session was called by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month.

Immigration is a top priority for the governor, but he also wants state legislators to focus on hurricane relief, condo fee reform, and improving the citizen ballot initiative process.

During a roundtable in Jacksonville on Thursday, DeSantis emphasized his commitment to issues related to immigration and election integrity.

Governor DeSantis likened his stance on important issues to a persistent junkyard dog, emphasizing that he will not back down on matters such as immigration and election integrity. He expressed his commitment to addressing these issues without delay.

During a press conference in Tallahassee on January 13, Governor DeSantis shared his expectations for policy changes under the new administration, particularly emphasizing issues related to immigration and the southern border.

However, Florida Senate President Ben Albritton and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez issued a joint memorandum hours later, calling the special session premature.

The memorandum issued by Albritton and Perez said in part:

“In particular, when it comes to immigration, we are strong supporters of President Trump and stand ready to follow his lead. At this time, we are not aware of any specific guidance provided to the states about actions state legislatures can take to support forthcoming federal action. It is completely irresponsible to get out ahead of any announcements President Trump will make, especially when uninformed or ill-timed state action could potentially impair or impede the success of President Trump’s forthcoming efforts to end illegal immigration, close our borders, and protect the sovereignty of our nation.”

Also on the agenda for this session are skyrocketing condo fees resulting from a safety law passed in 2022 in response to the Surfside condo collapse in 2021.

DeSantis also discussed condo fee reform during his Jan. 13 news conference.

“One piece of legislation was just not going to be able to solve all the problems,” Desantis said. “We’re now seeing some problems that I think were unintended that have popped up, and we have a responsibility to act to make sure that people can stay in their condo units.”

The governor is also asking legislators to consider immediate relief funding for hurricane-affected areas and agricultural needs. However, the memorandum from Albritton and Perez also stated that there are ample funds to pay for the state’s ongoing disaster response efforts.

It also mentions that the issues of ballot initiatives and condo safety are complex topics that should be discussed during the regular session.

The special session is set to begin Monday at 10:30 a.m.