Florida’s 2025 legislative session has officially started, with major topics including immigration, gun laws, housing, and insurance expected to dominate discussions over the next two months.
Governor Ron DeSantis kicked off the session with his annual speech, outlining his vision for the state. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, a Democrat from Tampa, delivered the party’s rebuttal.
In his speech, DeSantis emphasized the importance of upholding American principles, describing them as the foundation that Florida must never abandon. “We have stood in the breach and protected our people from noxious ideologies and trendy but empty social fads. We chose freedom over fear. We chose education over indoctrination. We have chosen law and order over rioting and disorder,” DeSantis said.
The governor’s 30-minute address covered a range of issues, including immigration, gun laws, education, and property taxes.
Political analyst March noted that a key takeaway from the speech was how DeSantis positioned Florida as a national leader. He highlighted the state’s efforts to combat illegal immigration, promote economic growth, and fight against what he termed “woke ideology.” March pointed out that DeSantis’ comments on Florida’s anti-illegal immigration measures seemed to set the stage for a possible presidential campaign, with DeSantis suggesting his leadership in Florida could be applied to the nation. “He’s framing Florida as the best state, and now he’s positioning himself to do the same for the country,” March said.
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