Florida lawmakers are choosing not to take up the state’s ongoing condo issue during a special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday.
Instead, state Senator Randy Fine, R-Melbourne, said the discussion will be centered around the state’s budget, and passing illegal immigration reform policies.
“If the governor called a 30 day special season starting on a week that we were going to be here to deal with these series of issues— I would have said that it was worthy of consideration," said Fine.
The Republican lawmaker told reporters on Monday that it would be nearly impossible to address the safety and financial concerns surrounding the state’s condo crisis in just five days.
Gov. DeSantis wanted lawmakers to convene to tackle condos, as well as other issues ranging from illegal immigration, to citizen-led ballot initiatives in a session he called earlier this month.
"I met with condominium owners in Pinellas County to hear their concerns about the effect of some post-Surfside legislative reforms," DeSantis said on X.
Today, I met with condominium owners in Pinellas County to hear their concerns about the effect of some post-Surfside legislative reforms.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 19, 2024
This feedback will enable the Legislature to make necessary changes so that condo owners—particularly seniors on fixed income—can afford to… pic.twitter.com/U3SnyEdUJz
"This feedback will enable the Legislature to make necessary changes so that condo owners—particularly seniors on fixed income—can afford to stay in their units."
Lawmakers gaveled that session in on Monday, then immediately adjourned. Later on the same day, lawmakers opened a session of their own to focus on supporting President Donald Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws.
“I believe special sessions should be used sparingly and should not be stunts used to generate headlines,” Daniel Perez, the new House speaker, said from the chamber floor.
Perez thinks it’s best to have the conversation on condos during the regular session, which starts in March.
"The question shouldn't be when," Perez told reporters in November. "The question should be what. What is the solution that people are offering to the issue before condos? It's an issue we'll be discussing during [regular] session."