Lawmakers Propose Florida’s Own Department of Government Efficiency

Aiming to Reduce Bureaucracy

With the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aiming to cut jobs at the federal level, Florida lawmakers are eager to follow suit. Rep. Tiffany Esposito, a Republican from Deltona, is leading the charge with a bill to create a "Florida DOGE" or "FLOGE" to reduce bureaucracy.

Key Aspects of the Bill

To combat what several lawmakers refer to as unnecessary red tape, the Florida Bill HB305 will allow lawmakers to have more control over administrative rules. The bill also introduces automatic expiration dates for state agency rules deemed outdated and requires cost-benefit analyses for new regulations. Esposito aims to streamline the current 170,000 regulatory restrictions in Florida.

Esposito’s Vision

"Rules and regulations are burdensome to our businesses, right? Like, it costs time, and time is money," said Esposito. "So, I think it saves the government money in not having to look at that administrative piece of every single one, every single one of those rules and regulations — but more importantly, it saves our businesses money and saves our Floridians and our taxpayers money."

Senate Partner and Legislative Sessions

The proposed bill is gaining traction, with Rep. Esposito bringing in a senate partner for the bill. With the legislative sessions set to start in a few days, lawmakers in support of HB305 are preparing to present it before committees.

Pushback and Concerns

However, the bill has received pushback from others, including Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando. She expressed concerns about the bill’s support from the Cicero Institute, which has advocated for loosening child labor laws. Eskamani also criticized Republican leadership for not taking action while in power.

"It’s ironic for Republican legislators to be doing this, as we’ve been under Republican control for about 30 years now," said Eskamani. "If there were problems with state agencies, you can do something about it."

Uncertain Future

The Florida 2025 legislative session will start on March 4, with over 840 pieces of legislation for lawmakers to consider. It remains unclear whether HB305 will gain traction.

Conclusion

The creation of a Florida Department of Government Efficiency aims to reduce bureaucracy and streamline regulations, but opponents argue it may have unintended consequences. The fate of HB305 hangs in the balance as lawmakers prepare to present the bill before committees.

FAQs

• What is the goal of the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (FLOGE)?
  The goal is to reduce bureaucracy and streamline regulations.
• What are the key aspects of the bill?
  The bill allows lawmakers to have more control over administrative rules, introduces automatic expiration dates for outdated rules, and requires cost-benefit analyses for new regulations.
• What is the current number of regulatory restrictions in Florida?
  There are over 170,000 regulatory restrictions in Florida.
• What is the timeline for the Florida 2025 legislative session?
  The session will start on March 4, 2025.