| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout | | 
The legislative leaders do have several options at their disposal, including perhaps sending their own warning shots. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | Good morning from Tallahassee and welcome to Monday. It’s the moment of truth for Gov. RON DESANTIS and Republican leaders Senate President BEN ALBRITTON and House Speaker DANNY PEREZ. The key question: Will the leaders usher in a new era of resistance and refuse to let DeSantis call the shots, or will they bend to his will to pass new laws focused on illegal immigration amid backing from President DONALD TRUMP and the governor’s persistent attacks against opposition? Legislators have been left guessing about what’s about to go down, report POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout. A post about the agenda specifies only that lawmakers are due to gavel in at the Capitol at 10:30 a.m. — and that they’ll stay around “until completion.” Technically, they could just gavel in and gavel out — something lawmakers did to then-independent Gov. CHARLIE CRIST in 2010. But that’s not expected to happen. There are a few key things to watch. First: Where else does DeSantis take his message? He has already held press conferences, done Fox News hits and pleaded directly with members of the state party. The governor has said in no uncertain terms that he wants to see members publicly back his proposals on illegal immigration. It’s always possible that Trump, who is scheduled to be in Doral on Monday, will also chime in again. Another key question: Could the Legislature give into some of DeSantis’ demands, but not all? The governor wants restrictions on illegal immigration, but he also wants to make it harder to pass policies through ballot initiatives. And, since September, he has wanted to change condo safety regulations causing many residents to get priced out of their homes. Legislative leaders rebuffed him, preferring to look at the issue when the regular session kicks off in March. Albritton and Perez have avoided the same full-court press as DeSantis, staying silent on their plans when asked by reporters. Over the weekend, three legislators privately expressed frustrations to POLITICO about being unable to file bills. But by Sunday afternoon, a long series of bills dealing with immigration and ballot initiatives started showing up. Let’s be clear: The legislative leaders do have several options at their disposal, including perhaps sending their own warning shots … like say, oh maybe, overriding budget items or bills the governor previously vetoed. Finally: What do Democrats have planned? Even though the minority party is seriously outnumbered in both chambers, some of their protest actions could break through in news reporter or over social media — the way they did during redistricting. It’s possible, too, that Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants could stage emotional protests against the proposals. But it remains to be seen if resisting changes to immigration policy is what Democrats want, given the importance voters placed on the issue in the 2024 elections. — Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout 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.
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Nuñez was the original sponsor of the tuition bill about a decade ago when she was in the Legislature. | Lynne Sladky/AP | NUÑEZ SPEAKS OUT — Over the weekend, Lt. Gov. JEANETTE NUÑEZ came out against Florida’s provision allowing students whose undocumented parents brought them to the U.S. as children to receive in-state tuition. The position is a stunning turnaround for Nuñez, who was the original sponsor of the bill about a decade ago when she was in the Legislature. DeSantis has targeted the tuition measure for repeal in recent years, but this is the first time his second-in-command has taken a public position on it. Florida, she said, shouldn’t create any incentives for people to come to the U.S. illegally. “Our country looks very different today than it did then,” Nuñez wrote on X in response to a post from POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “It’s time to repeal this law. It has served its purpose and run its course.” ED AGENCY ALSO BACKING TRUMP PLANS — “The Florida Department of Education plans to cooperate with the Trump administration's new directive to allow immigration enforcement within schools,” reports Axios Tampa Bay’s Yacob Reyes. GAS PLANTS PLAN — “NextEra Energy President and CEO John Ketchum announced Friday that the Florida-based company will partner with GE Vernova to build gas plants for utilities around the country in support of President Donald Trump's agenda for ‘energy dominance,’” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Ketchum said during an annual earnings call that NextEra, the parent company of Florida Power & Light Co., supports Trump's energy plans, adding that the company is well-suited to help meet growing American energy demands.” REGULATIONS SCRUTINY — “How some Christian group homes avoid Florida’s standards,” by The New York Times’ Laura C. Morel. “In Florida, homes for pregnant adults and their babies can operate without any government regulation. But homes that admit mothers who are minors must either obtain a state license or register with the Christian association,” the nonprofit Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies. Florida is unusual in that it allows faith-based children’s homes to register with a nonprofit in lieu of state licensing.” INCOMING — Florida is set to receive $233 million as part of a multibillion-dollar settlement with Purdue Pharma, the maker of the highly addictive OxyContin painkiller, reports Rick Mayer of Health News Florida. The money is intended to help support addiction prevention and treatment. LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — Rep. DIANNE HART (D-Tampa) introduced legislation to reduce minimum prison sentences, per Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix … State Rep. JESSICA BAKER (R-Jacksonville) introduced legislation that would require jails to cooperate with ICE, per A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics. CALL FOR NOMS — Florida Politics is looking for nominations for its “Fourth Floor Files” series for INFLUENCE MAGAZINE. The series will highlight people who work behind the scenes. See past examples. — “Another legislative tussle in the works over Florida cancer research funding,” by Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix. — Text messages warning of unpaid SunPass tolls are probably a scam, reports Emily Wunderlich of the Tampa Bay Times.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | 
State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) is running for Congress with President Donald Trump's endorsement. | Phil Sears/AP | TOMORROW — Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts hold primary elections for the seats left vacant by former Reps. MATT GAETZ and MIKE WALTZ. While the general election won’t happen until April 1, Republicans in both races are expected to prevail in the deep-red seats. Trump has endorsed Florida Chief Financial Officer JIMMY PATRONIS and state Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne) for Districts 1 and 6, respectively, posting on Truth Social about both men again over the weekend. The Associated Press has a primer on what to expect. DEM WEEKEND IN ORLANDO — The Florida Democratic Party reelected NIKKI FRIED as state party chair during their meeting in Orlando on Saturday, despite the party’s drubbing in the 2024 elections and lack of national investment. As for Fried’s own future plans, she officially ruled out a 2026 run for governor — an office she was widely expected to seek again after running in 2022 and losing the Democratic nomination to then-Rep. CHARLIE CRIST. “I just committed four years to this party, and we’ve got a lot of work to do,” she said. “I’ve committed to doing that work on the ground here in the party. I am not running for governor in 2026.” The other elected officers were:
- DANIEL HENRY for vice chair
- IONE TOWNSEND for secretary
- WES HODGE for treasurer
- DNC members: JUAN CUBA, RIC GABLE, SAMUEL VILCHEZ SANTIAGO, SAMANTHA HOPE HERRING, SEAN SHAW, LYDIA HUDSON, MILLIE HERRERA, ALLISON MINNERLY, PAMELA CASTELLANA, ALAN CLENDENIN and JUDY MOUNT
Looking ahead, the state party will be focused on voter registration and messaging, Fried said, especially around affordability issues in the state. As Florida lawmakers prepare to kick off a special session that’s supposed to be focused on illegal immigration, Fried acknowledged that the U.S. had “an immigration problem” but pressed for “a balanced approach,” pointing out how much of Florida’s economy relies on migrant workers. Interviews with party members indicated that Florida Democrats plan to message against Trump policies and double down on investing in local races to build up a bench of candidates for higher office. — “Florida’s Jewish voters: How political groups see tests ahead to court their vote,” by Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
| | | | New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CLASH AHEAD — “Ron DeSantis has proposed a crackdown on state referendums. It could complicate Donald Trump’s Florida casino dreams,” by CNN’s Steve Contorno. “The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which operates casinos throughout the state and has exclusive rights to offer sports betting and table games like blackjack, stands to become one of the greatest beneficiaries of DeSantis’ proposed changes. A 2018 constitutional amendment approved by voters — after a $46 million campaign funded mostly by the tribe and the Walt Disney Co. — explicitly requires that Floridians pass a citizens-led ballot initiative to change the constitution before gambling can be expanded. “As it is, the changes DeSantis has proposed could effectively secure an impenetrable monopoly on most forms of gambling for the tribe and dampen Trump’s dreams of someday operating a Las Vegas-style casino in the Sunshine State.” ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday will ask its county commission to boost its budget by $43.3 million to help pay for staff overtime garnered assisting in Trump’s security, reports Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post. The federal government may help with costs, but the county wouldn’t be reimbursed until 2026.
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Billboard in West Palm Beach from PatientRightsAdvocate.org. | PatientRightsAdvocate.org | BILLBOARD — The national health transparency organization PatientRightsAdvocate.org just put up a billboard in Trump’s backyard of West Palm Beach to highlight a law he signed during his first term that made hospitals post what they charged for surgeries and other medical care. The billboard will stay up through March 2 and is intended to push incoming health officials to enforce the law so that patients can more easily shop around for care. The group wants regulation changes after former President JOE BIDEN’s administration allowed hospitals to post algorithms or formulas instead of prices. — “In a new memo, Miami-Dade mayor abandons incinerator plan attacked by Trump’s son,” reports the Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks.
| | DATELINE D.C. | | KICKING OFF TODAY — Republicans are planning meetings around their legislative agenda at their retreat in Doral this week, reports POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill. The retreat kicks off this afternoon at Trump National Doral, with Trump expected to join for dinner. COMMITTEE PLACEMENT — Newly sworn-in Sen. ASHLEY MOODY (R-Fla.) received her committee assignments last week. She’ll be on: Judiciary; Homeland Security and Government Affairs; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Aging (which is chaired by fellow Florida Sen. RICK SCOTT) and the Joint Economic panel. OBJECTION — “Rep. María Elvira Salazar called on the Department of Homeland Security in a letter Friday not to remove people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who were allowed to enter the U.S. by President Joe Biden’s administration under a humanitarian parole program,” reports POLITICO’s Ali Bianco. Salazar wrote: “Although President Biden originally created this program on dubious legal grounds and brought individuals here without a plan for their future, they were still enrolled under programs offered to them. Therefore, I believe they should have the ability to see their applications out to rectify their legal status.”
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