Florida voters would be asked to do away with the office of lieutenant governor and create a new Cabinet position of “commissioner of government efficiency,” under a proposed constitutional amendment filed Thursday in the state House.
The proposal (HJR 1325) would give the commissioner of government efficiency authority to “audit, investigate and report on fraud, waste and abuse” in the executive branch and in local governments and special districts.
House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, and Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, filed the proposal for consideration during the legislative session that will start Tuesday.
If approved by lawmakers, it would go on the 2026 ballot.
The proposal comes as Florida has a vacancy at lieutenant governor, after Jeanette Nunez resigned to become interim president of Florida International University last week.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated he will wait until after the legislative session to appoint a successor to Nunez.
The proposed constitutional amendment would require the Legislature by March 2027 to appoint a commissioner of government efficiency, who would serve until the office is up for election in 2028.
The proposal also calls for eliminating the state Government Efficiency Task Force, which was created in a 2006 constitutional amendment.
DeSantis said Monday a new “state DOGE task force” will review about 900 state positions, university spending, local government spending and the need for about 70 state boards and commissions.
