| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | 
House Speaker Danny Perez praised the effort as putting “teamwork over ego, getting work done over credit.” | Francis Chung/POLITICO | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. The Republican-majority Legislature has passed an immigration bill Gov. RON DESANTIS already dismissed as “weak, weak, weak.” Now, he has to decide on his next move. The governor’s complaints on Fox News, podcasts and social media appeared to do little to sway members in his direction. After nearly every GOP House member supported the legislation, state House Speaker DANNY PEREZ praised the effort as putting “teamwork over ego, getting work done over credit.” The bill passed 21-16 in the state Senate and 82-30 in the state House — with Democrats raising concerns about due process and taking in-state tuition away from undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. as children. Should the governor veto the legislation, the bill would not garner enough support in the state Senate to receive an override. DeSantis is already teeing up his next move: He’s set to do a roundtable in Titusville with DAVE KERNER, the director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Brevard County Sheriff WAYNE IVEY, at 9 a.m. (Tune in at the Florida Channel.) Beyond that, the governor could continue to make life painful for the Legislature by calling more special sessions. He also could release a budget proposal that takes aim at many members’ cherished projects. Likewise, the Legislature could hold oversight hearings about the governor’s actions in various areas or keep looking at overriding past budget vetoes. State Rep. JUAN CARLOS PORRAS (R-Miami) said there would be an “appetite” to do that. “Your last two years, you usually want to build bridges,” he said of the governor’s remaining years in office, “not destroy everything on your way out.” DeSantis gained just a handful of support. State Rep. MIKE CARUSO (R-West Palm Beach), who sided with the governor’s position, said the bill wasn’t strong enough. He lamented how the vote went down and said issues have been worked out privately in the past. “They didn't put it in the press, put it on TV, and come out with statements jointly from the president and the speaker,” he said. “I think that's a bad way to govern.” Another key dynamic: Just how much DeSantis and lawmakers in Tallahassee were clamoring for Trump’s support, your Playbook author and Gary Fineout report. Both sides have said they’ve been talking to him about how the state could best support federal efforts. Without Trump’s full-throated support and with a vengeful Legislature, DeSantis will have a harder time accomplishing his broader goals. When he ran for president in 2024, DeSantis often presented himself as a more effective version of Trump. But much of his agenda relied on the Legislature as a willing ally. Now, Trump holds the keys to making DeSantis’ immigration goals a reality. The question is whether he’ll take sides publicly. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | WHAT GOT ADDED TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BILL — Each chamber gaveled in a couple of hours late Tuesday after making some changes to their immigration bill, the TRUMP Act, following “technical assistance from the Trump administration.” Some of the changes include:
- Mandating the death penalty when an undocumented immigrant is convicted of murder or rape of a minor;
- Levying higher sentences on undocumented immigrants who are also gang members;
- Having the state immigration enforcement council recommend ways for local law enforcement to share data on transnational criminal organizations;
- Giving the newly created chief immigration officer power to fine jurisdictions when they violate Florida’s ban on sanctuary cities;
- Creating a $25 million fund to give bonuses to law enforcement officers who help ICE task forces.
“President Trump's executive orders make it clear, it's a new day in Washington and citizenship matters,” state Sen. JOE GRUTERS (R-Sarasota) said from the floor. “Immigration is a federal issue, and the federal government is taking the lead.” More details: USA Today Network — Florida has a bio on Agriculture Commissioner WILTON SIMPSON, who would take on the job of state “immigration czar” if the TRUMP Act were to become law. The legislation also received support from the Florida Sheriffs Association, which said lawmakers had “worked closely with us to ensure our concerns are heard so we have the tools we need to effectively and efficiently remove criminal aliens from our communities across the State of Florida.” WHAT STAYED UNTOUCHED — One key piece of the legislation would repeal a longstanding tuition break offered to undocumented students, a provision that scored a sizable chunk of attention from the Legislature — especially state Democrats, who fought against its removal. Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to amend the bill to give students currently using this waiver, which allows undocumented students to pay a cheaper in-state tuition rate, time to complete their degrees before “pulling the rug” out from under them. They contended that raising the cost of tuition would push students away from attending college in the state, including some in the middle of earning degrees. “It’s not the kids’ fault,” said state Senate Minority Leader JASON PIZZO. “This is an education they’re asking for — not a handout.” These arguments failed to sway Florida’s Republican majority, which passed the tuition waiver in 2014 under then-Gov. RICK SCOTT. “I’m not interested in giving illegal immigrants a discount on our colleges and universities,” said state Sen. RANDY FINE, the Melbourne Republican who filed the bill. — Andrew Atterbury — “Republican lawmakers question DeSantis' immigration record,” reports Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times.
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Gaetz said his legislation, filed Monday, is not a warning shot fired at the utility. | Steve Cannon/AP | 'BIGGEST TIGER IN THE JUNGLE' — “State Sen. Don Gaetz has filed a bill that would require the Public Service Commission to reveal the compensation for utility executives and to work to drive down utility earnings,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Gaetz said his legislation, filed Monday, is not a warning shot fired at the utility. But he said FPL customers are asking why they seem to be paying more than those who receive power from other companies, electric cooperatives or municipal utilities.” 'RESCUING' THE EVERGLADES — Friends of the Everglades said it is launching on Wednesday a campaign to encourage the state to spend hundreds of millions of additional dollars to buy land for Everglades restoration. The group is launching the "Rescue the River of Grass" campaign that aims to stop discharges from Lake Okeechobee that have caused past algae blooms and closed beaches. The campaign supports buying 102,600 acres of farmland south of Lake Okeechobee for building reservoirs to capture discharges. That's in addition to projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including the 10,100-acre federal reservoir now under construction in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Friends of the Everglades says the $500 million to $1 billion needed to buy additional land could come from revenue approved under the water and land conservation state ballot measure approved by voters in 2014. — Bruce Ritchie INFLUENZA OUTBREAK — Samples from more than 20,000 patients across the state tested positive for flu, reports Tampa Bay Times’ Christopher O’Donnell. Outbreaks have emerged in the Panhandle, northeast Florida and Pinellas County, and studies suggest that the chilly weather may have contributed to the rise in cases. LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — Rep. RYAN CHAMBERLIN (R-Ocala) filed a bill that would prohibit anyone from “establishing, promoting, participating in or operating” a pyramid scheme in Florida, reports Florida Politics’ Andrew Powell … Orlando Democrats Rep. ANNA ESKAMANI and Sen. CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH filed legislation that would provide money to small Orlando businesses affected by a massive sanitary sewer project, reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie … Gruters (R-Sarasota) filed legislation that would revise the definition of “drugs” to include edible vaccines, reports Rick Mayer of Health News Florida.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | NEW DEVELOPMENT AT SURFSIDE — A Dubai-based developer plans to construct an ultra-luxury complex at the site where 98 people died after a condo building partially collapsed, reports the Miami Herald’s Aaron Leibowitz. Families of the victims and Surfside’s mayor, CHARLES BURKETT, expressed hopes that the developer will acknowledge and memorialize the memory of the tragedy. — “Decision to remove Black WWII pilots’ history from Air Force training reversed,” reports WESH.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | SPECIAL ELECTION PRIMARY RESULTS — “Two Republicans endorsed by Trump easily won their Florida special election primaries Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, setting both Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine on a path to bolster the thin margins of the GOP-controlled House as it tries to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “I won for one reason and one reason only: Because Donald Trump asked me to run and he supported me,” Fine told Playbook on Tuesday. “So this isn't my win. This is his win. … No one's going to charge the hill harder for him.” What’s next, per Gary: “The primary victors [are] considered heavy favorites to win the April 1 general election in these GOP-friendly districts.”
| | DATELINE D.C. | | | 
Sen. Ashley Moody is making some of her first hires after being sworn in last week. | Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP | MOODY MAKES MOVES — Sen. ASHLEY MOODY is making some of her first hires after being sworn in last week. Moody has turned to JUSTIN ROTH to become her chief of staff and WHITNEY RAY as her state director. Ray worked for Moody during her six years as attorney general, including as communications director and deputy chief of staff. Ray worked for then-Florida Attorney General PAM BONDI before Moody was elected. Roth, who is a member of the Florida State University Board of Trustees, has more than 20 years of experience, including spending time as chief of staff for DeSantis when he was in the U.S. House. Roth also served as chief of staff for former Sen. MARTHA MCSALLY (R-Arizona). Roth’s most recent position was as a partner at LINK Public Affairs, where he led the Washington office. — Gary Fineout
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | MOUNT TRUMPMORE — Rep. ANNA PAULINA LUNA (R-Fla.) filed a bill to carve Trump’s likeness onto Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Her measure intends to honor Trump for his “bold leadership and steadfast dedication to America’s greatness,” and Mount Rushmore “deserves to reflect his towering legacy.” — “Trump wants to take back the Panama Canal. Can he do it?” by WLRN’s Jimena Romero.
| | TRANSITION TIME | | — Former POLITICO deputy congress editor TYLER WEYANT is the new Florida editor at POLITICO, based out of Washington with frequent trips to Tallahassee ahead. Former Florida editor ZACH MONTELLARO will become breaking news editor at POLITICO. Reach Tyler at tweyant@politico.com.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “‘Nickel Boys,' movie based on Marianna's Dozier School, nominated for Best Picture Oscar,” reports Douglas Soule of the Tallahassee Democrat. — “Google says Gulf of Mexico will change to Gulf of America in Maps app: Here's how,” by USA Today’s Gabe Hauari, Elizabeth Weise, and Trevor Hughes. BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Christopher Benjamin … Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
