Immigration, Petition Bills Filed for Special Session
On the eve of a special legislative session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican lawmakers filed a flurry of bills to crack down on undocumented immigrants and place additional restrictions on the ballot initiative process.
Bills Filed
As of late Sunday afternoon, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, had filed 11 bills in the Senate, while Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, and Rep. John Temple, R-Wildwood, had filed House versions that largely mirrored the Senate bills.
Immigration Bills
The bills would end in-state tuition at colleges and universities for undocumented-immigrant students known as dreamers; place new requirements on police to help with immigration-enforcement efforts; and dramatically change the petition process for proposed constitutional amendments.
Ballot Initiative Bills
Collins and Caruso filed bills to overhaul the ballot-initiative process, including the elimination of the use of paid petition gatherers to collect signatures. Voters could request petition forms to be mailed to them by supervisors of elections; they could then mail back signed petitions. The proposals come after DeSantis led efforts to defeat ballot proposals in November that would have enshrined abortion rights in the state Constitution and allowed recreational use of marijuana.
Uncertainty Surrounds Special Session
The special session, which is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday, has been surrounded by uncertainty. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, have raised objections, citing the March 4 start of the regular legislative session. DeSantis has made a series of appearances to try to pressure lawmakers into acting on the issues, particularly focusing on immigration issues.
What’s at Stake
Among the proposals:
- Repeal of the 2014 law allowing undocumented-immigrant students to avoid higher out-of-state tuition rates
- New requirements for law enforcement agencies to support immigration-enforcement efforts
- Changes to the petition process for proposed constitutional amendments
FAQs
- What is the special session about?
The special session is focused on making changes to carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. - What are the key issues being addressed?
Immigration, ballot initiative process, and aid to hurricane victims. - Will the special session actually take place?
The session is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday, but it is unclear how it will proceed given the objections from Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez.
