Legislators in the Florida House and Senate heard Gov. Ron DeSantis praise past accomplishments under his reign while acknowledging more work to do as the legislative session in Tallahassee began Jan. 13.
In his remarks during a joint session of the House and Senate, the governor outlined his desire for the Legislature to approve and send a ballot initiative to voters related to property tax relief. In his remarks, DeSantis said Floridians should be able to own their home without “paying rent to the government.”
Several resolutions are progressing through the House on certain types of property tax relief, such as those with property insurance or people over 65. No specific measures are moving in the Senate yet. All proposals in the House safeguard school and law enforcement funding, but property tax dollars could be axed for local municipalities, fire departments and special districts.
“Let’s all work together and get something done and let these people have a say,” DeSantis said.
He also wants legislators to institute measures related to artificial intelligence. DeSantis said while the technology is touted as a way to cure cancer and expand the U.S. military’s edge, there’s concern that artificial intelligence could upend the economy by putting people out of work. He also acknowledged how chat bots are linked to teen suicide, and he shared concerns how power-intensive data centers could harm the environment.
“Some say this could displace human beings,” he said. “We can never relieve ourselves of our responsibility to think for ourselves, as Floridians, Americans and human beings made in the image of God.”
DeSantis also lauded recent efforts by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to reduce premiums. A day before his address, the governor announced that when policy renewals begin this spring, 330,000 Citizens policyholders statewide will see an average decrease in their premiums of 8.7%. In the Florida Keys, roughly 1,000 policyholders will see a reduction of 11.3%. Additionally, wind-only policies in the Florida Keys will see a reduction or no increase in their premiums.
“It is welcome news for some of our community members in Monroe County,” said Mel Montagne, president for Fair Insurance Rates of Monroe. For more than 18 years, FIRM has fought for fair, equitable and affordable property insurance coverage for homeowners, residents and business owners in the Florida Keys.
Before outlining his priorities for the 2026 session, DeSantis noted how the state has the lowest amount of spending per capita and one of the lowest number of state employees in the nation. He also noted how restoration projects in the Everglades are sending more water south.
“Salinity levels are the healthiest in decades,” DeSantis said. “Even the flamingos have returned inside the Glades.”
With promising sights of flamingos in the Florida Keys’ backyard, state Rep. Jim Mooney is hopeful his bill to designate the American flamingo as Florida’s official bird clears the legislature and gets signed by the governor. The bill moved out of the Natural Resources and Disasters Committee via 14-1 vote. The bill, which now sits in the State Affairs Committee, also would designate the Florida scrub-jay as the official state songbird.
A similar bill sponsored by state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, who represents the Keys and portions of Miami-Dade County, was voted out of the Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee by a 6-0 tally.
American flamingos historically lived in Florida, but overhunting around the turn of the 20th century resulted in their disappearance from the state. By 1925, captive breeding in South Florida had reintroduced them, and there is evidence that some flamingos migrated to Florida on their own throughout the 1900s.
In recent times, American flamingos have been observed along the Florida coast, although they are most commonly seen in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and occasionally in the Keys.
Following DeSantis’ address, the joint session was adjourned. Committee meetings started as another 60-day session began at the state Capitol.
