Florida House Speaker Danny Perez announced significant changes to the chamber’s legislative process during the Special Session, focusing on immigration legislation while also addressing a contentious budget dispute with the Governor’s office.
In a departure from traditional procedures, Perez revealed that a new immigration bill (HB 1B) will be heard by three specially created Select Committees on Illegal Immigration, rather than following the usual path through standing committees. The committees, chaired by Representatives Robinson, Tomkow, and Duggan, will meet consecutively in Webster Hall, allowing for broader member participation in the legislative process.
“Another thing I dislike about Special Session is that it excludes too many Members from the conversation,” Perez stated, explaining his decision to create multiple select committees. This approach aims to ensure more representatives have the opportunity to review and contribute to the legislation before it reaches the House floor.
BUDGET BATTLE
The Speaker also announced a significant challenge to Governor’s recent veto of $57 million from the Legislature’s operating budget, which represented a 30% cut to their operational funds. The Legislature has been operating using cash reserves to maintain essential functions, including legal, accounting, human resources, and various legislative oversight offices.
Perez highlighted the contrast between this budget cut and the Executive Office of the Governor’s budget treatment, noting that the Governor’s office has received a 70% budget increase over the past six years. He characterized the veto as either “a misunderstanding of the importance of the appropriation or at worst an attempt to threaten the independence of our separate branch of government.”
Looking ahead, Perez outlined plans for a more comprehensive approach to reviewing vetoed appropriations. “I will be utilizing our new House Rule authorizing the creation of combined workgroups so that a workgroup from the budget subcommittees and their corresponding policy subcommittees can systematically review vetoed appropriations to see if anything might be an appropriate candidate to bring before the body for reinstatement. It will be my intention that such reinstatements should be a part of every Floor Session until we bring our 2025-2026 House Budget to the Floor.”
The House will convene on the floor at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Perez added, “I anticipate that we will complete our work in one day.”