Legislative leaders call special session in early November
TALLAHASSEE – Florida legislative leaders called a special session for early November covering a range of topics, including broader sanctions against Iran promised by Gov. Ron DeSantis, enhanced security at Jewish day schools and new hurricane and insurance relief measures.
House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, announced the Nov. 6-9 session late Friday afternoon, “in coordination with the governor’s office.”
Lawmakers were scheduled to be in Tallahassee that week for committee meetings. Most of those meetings now will likely be shelved for special session action.
DeSantis also may not be around much. The third Republican presidential debate is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami and Florida’s governor, badly trailing GOP frontrunner, former President Trump, will be there.
Trump, who doesn’t plan to take part in the debate, is instead planning a rally in nearby Hialeah.
Passidomo, in her statement unveiling the planned special session said, “we have identified several issues that warrant our attention in advance of the 2024 Regular Session.”
A half-dozen topics are listed, including Florida’s response to the invasion of Israel by Hamas, aid for North Florida residents and the agriculture industry hit hard by the recent Hurricane Idalia, and probably more money for the My Safe Florida Home program which is facing a backlog of grant applications.
The program, which provides inspections and state grants for residents making their homes more storm-resistant, is one of the Legislature’s recent steps which have so far done little to reduce skyrocketing homeowners’ insurance costs.
Another session proposal would make more state money available for students with unique abilities through the state’s Family Empowerment Scholarships, a voucher program. More special needs students than anticipated this school year are seeking to take part in the big voucher expansion approved by lawmakers earlier this year.
DeSantis is calling for expanding Florida’s sanctions against Iran, which denies direct knowledge of the Oct..7 invasion of Israel by Hamas but historically has supported the Islamist military and political organization.
Earlier Friday, DeSantis’ office pledged that action was coming during a special session, without providing any details or dates.
“I can confirm that the strongest sanctions against Iran by any state in the nation, as proposed by Governor DeSantis, will be part of an upcoming special session,” DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said in a prepared statement.
He added, “We look forward to working with the Legislature to show Florida’s continued support for Israel.”
The special session is expected to include the Legislature issuing a formal proclamation in support of the state of Israel along with more state spending to combat anti-Semitism, including heightened security at Jewish days schools.
The state has already steered $18 million toward safeguarding these schools.
Florida has listed Iran as a “foreign country of concern,” along with China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. Since 2008, Florida has prohibited state agencies and local governments from contracting for goods and services of more than $1 million with any business that has contracts with the Iranian government.
In addition, a state law passed this spring placed land-ownership restrictions on people from Iran and the other foreign countries of concern. Also, the federal government has imposed broad, strict sanctions on Iran since 1979.
Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, issued a statement Friday tying the planned special session to DeSantis’ presidential bid.
“This looks like yet another case of Ron DeSantis using the Legislature to try to help his failing presidential campaign,” Driskell said. “We will be watching closely to make sure Floridians’ tax dollars aren’t wasted trying to impress out-of-state GOP primary voters. DeSantis’ policy failures at home have left Floridians paying the most for homeowners insurance, auto insurance, and rent in the country. I think Floridians would prefer their governor spend as much time addressing these pocketbook issues here as he spends on his ambitions.”
A bipartisan group of lawmakers gathered Wednesday in the Capitol to show support for Israel.
“We know the Iranian regime funds Hamas and assists other terror groups,” Renner said that day.
DeSantis also has taken other steps since the Hamas attack, including declaring a state of emergency that helped clear the way for Florida to help fly Americans back home.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.