Welcome to Committee Week 2 of the 2025 Legislative Session 

Both chambers convened this week for their second round of interim committee meetings. Committees heard from agency leaders regarding their FY 2024-25 legislative priorities, as well as a number of presentations from subject matter experts on key state issues. The remaining interim committee schedule is as follows: 

• January 21-24, 2025 
• February 3-7, 2025 
• February 10-14, 2025 
• February 17-21, 2025 

Regular session will begin on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. 

On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the call for the legislature to convene in special session, from January 27-31. The proclamation included the following issues for consideration:  

• Illegal Immigration 
• Condo Regulation and Affordability  
• Post-Disaster Relief for the Agricultural Industry 
• My Safe Florida Home program 
• Reforming the Citizens’ Initiative Process 



In response to the call, the legislature’s Presiding Officers, President Ben Albritton and Speaker Danny Perez, issued a memo calling the Governor’s decision “premature” and recommended that further action be suspended until President Trump takes office and issues guidance.  

On Wednesday, the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee held a panel discussion on home rule powers and preemption of local government. Committee leadership provided an overview of the history of local governmental powers including roles of state, county, and municipal government. FAC Executive Director Ginger Delegal described the natural tension that exists in a shared governance system within a diverse state with impacts from a global economy, different categories of preemption (substantive subject matter and structural changes to local government), and the primary role of voters in making local decisions to shape their communities’ character.  



The committee heard local perspectives from FAC and the Florida League of Cities, as well as the private sector with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida. Three former county commissioners, now House members, spoke about their experience at the local and state level including: Vice Chair Griff Griffitts (Bay), Representative Chip LaMarca (Broward), and Representative Jeff Holcomb (Hernando).  

On Tuesday, the Senate Community Affairs Committee heard from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) and OPPAGA regarding Affordable Housing. Marisa Button and David Westcott at FHFC delivered updates pertaining to SAIL funding and homeownership through the Live Local Act SB 102 (2023). OPPAGA staff director Alex Regalado reported findings from two housing affordability studies OPPAGA was directed to conduct in 2023 and 2024. 

On Wednesday, the Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee hosted a panel discussion on workforce and attainable housing. This panel included FHFC’s Bill Aldinger, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s Sam Young, Wendover Housing Partners’ Jonathan Wolf, Tallahassee Assistant City Manager, Abena Ojetayo, and Clara Long from the Escambia County Department of Neighborhood & Human Services. The committee includes Rep. Vicki Lopez, who is expected to file a series of bills addressing affordable housing this session.  



One major takeaway from the meeting was an update from Chair Salzman about her intentions for the committee: “I am focusing on public-private partnerships, policies that facilitate the empowerment of these partnerships. It is not my intention to provide additional funding or tax credits that are not already in the system.” 

On Tuesday, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson delivered remarks to both the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee and the Senate Agriculture Committee. Notably, Commissioner Simpson spoke to the need for the conservation and responsible management of agricultural lands. To this end, he highlighted the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which acquires the development rights of key farmlands to create conservation easements and ensure sustainable agricultural production.  



Additional focus was placed on combating citrus greening, and the success of the state’s post-disaster loan program for getting farmers back on their feet following 2024’s hurricane activity. 

On Tuesday January 14th, the House Natural Resources & Disasters subcommittee convened a panel of local government representatives to discuss the impacts of the 2024 hurricane season. Speakers included Emergency Management Directors Sandra Tapfumaneyi of Sarasota County and Cathie Perkins of Pinellas County, along with Taylor County Administrator LaWanda Pemberton. The panel highlighted critical needs, including expanding shelter infrastructure to accommodate both the general population and individuals with special needs, as well as securing funding assistance for debris removal on non-county roads.

On Tuesday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee held a panel discussion regarding milestone Inspections of condo structures. The panel included six professionals from the building, engineering, reserve advisor, and local government landscape. During the discussion, updates were provided on recent findings and developments from milestone inspections conducted since the enactment of the legislation, as well as an evaluation of how these reports are being received statewide. Additional topics addressed included strategies to enhance condominium safety, and the approaches condo associations are taking to manage the Structural Integrity Reserve Study.