Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers his 2025 State of the State address at the Florida Capitol
Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee Tuesday for the annual 60-day legislative session.
The House and Senate officially went into session around 10 a.m., with House Speaker Daniel Perez marking the passing of state Sen. Geraldine Thompson and former Florida legislator and congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
The first order of business, after legislative leaders delivered opening remarks to their members, was Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address.
Some of the key debates to take place over the next 60 days at the Capitol include action on illegal immigration, property taxes, lowering the cost of homeowners' insurance, and other issues.
In his address, Gov. DeSantis' outlined his priorities for the session ahead and his vision for Florida's future.
"Florida is the leader among states because we lean into challenges, tackle the big issues, and deliver results for the people that we serve," the governor said.
He praised a new law cracking down on illegal immigration in the state.
"Thanks to the recent legislation, it is now a crime to enter Florida illegally, the days of catch and release are over, and all state and local law enforcement have a duty to assist in interior immigration enforcement efforts," he said.
DeSantis also touted Florida's "strong economic environment," saying the state ranks "#1 in entrepreneurship, #1 in new business formations, #1 in GDP growth among large states, and have an unemployment rate that is lower than the national average for more than 50 months straight."
He also noted, "We continue to set tourism records. 2024 saw more than 142 million visitors to our state."
He addressed concerns about property taxes, saying, "While Florida property values have surged in recent years, this has come at a cost to taxpayers squeezed by increasing local government property taxes. ... I know members of the Legislature are studying the issue in anticipation of formulating a proposal to place on the 2026 ballot to provide constitutional protections for Florida property owners. Please know you have my support."
