(The Center Square) – Florida’s legislative leaders are opposed to a special session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis that they say is only 50 days before the regular session begins.
Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Bartow, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, released a letter late Monday that announced their opposition. They said the move is premature.
“It is completely irresponsible to get out ahead of any announcements President Trump will make,” the letter reads. “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.”
President-elect Donald Trump supported the special session call in a post on his Truth Social account.
“Thank you Ron, hopefully other governors will follow!” Trump said.
The proclamation was released on Tuesday and calls for a special session Jan. 27-31. By law, special sessions are limited to 20 days.
In the proclamation, DeSantis wants lawmakers to deal with state help for possible deportations of undocumented migrants that have been proposed by Trump; hurricane relief; issues related to condominium laws related to the 2021 Surfside disaster; the state’s ballot initiative process; and election fraud.
The two legislative leaders also criticized DeSantis for not releasing any potential bill language or any “meaningful details” for his special session agenda.
They also said in the letter that there are “ample” funds for hurricane relief and that condominium safety and ballot initiatives are complex issues that should be handled in the regular session which starts March 4 and not in “a truncated special session.”
“Florida’s Constitution compels our attendance at a special session unilaterally called by the Governor,” the letter reads. “However, the power to convene a special session also resides with the presiding officers. As the people’s elected representatives, the Legislature, not the Governor, will decide when and what legislation we consider.”
