TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – The word that best summarizes 2025 at the Florida State Capitol is unprecedented.
From significant snow and ice in January to public infighting among Republicans, it was another year of national headlines from Tallahassee.
Historic winter weather hits Florida
January 22, 2025, will forever be the day Florida’s capital froze. North Florida became a winter wonderland as snow and ice shut down much of the Sunshine State.
People made snowmen and used whatever they could to sled down hills in the capital city.
“White. It’s honestly crazy,” said Bethany Morse, who was sledding for the first time.
“You don’t get snow in Florida very often,” said Spencer Gordon, also sledding.
Morse said the experience was “a little frightening just because you can’t really slow down. I was worried I’d go into the road.”
FDOT deployed its 11 snowplows on I-10. Troopers responded to hundreds of crashes. People were urged to stay home since much of the state doesn’t have the equipment to deal with such rare weather.
“For them to be stockpiling snowplows for a once-in-a-decade type thing, that’s not the smartest thing to do so that’s not a failing at all,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Immigration battles dominate legislature
The next week, the Republican-controlled legislature iced the governor out of a special session fighting illegal immigration, setting up a fight for power in the public eye that continues.
It took three special sessions to get bills that Governor Ron DeSantis would approve, requiring state and local governments to help with the Trump Administration’s deportation efforts.
“I can tell you the State of Florida will be safer and more secure as a result of this legislation,” DeSantis said.
“I just find it to be un-American for us to be demonizing immigrants as this country was built by immigrants,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.
Since then, every state and county law enforcement agency has an agreement to help with immigration enforcement, leading to several arrests of illegal immigrants. The state also has holding facilities, with alligator Alcatraz getting the most attention in the Everglades.
Lawmakers are considering more legislation, including expanding the state’s E-Verify requirement to all employers. The public fighting between DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez continues.
Cabinet reshuffling follows Trump appointments
DeSantis reshaped most of his cabinet after Trump recruited Florida officials for Washington.
He appointed Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate to replace Marco Rubio, who is now Secretary of State. Then he appointed his then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier, to the Florida Attorney General’s office.
Jimmy Patronis resigned as Chief Financial Officer to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress. DeSantis replaced him with Blaise Ingoglia, who had been in the Florida Senate.
Janette Nunez resigned her post as Lt. Gov to become FIU’s president, allowing DeSantis to put Jay Collins in as his number two.
Florida voters will be able to decide if Ingoglia and Uthmeier stay in their posts.
Trooper’s Law targets animal cruelty
A story that pulled at the heartstrings of the nation changed Florida law. Trooper’s Law makes it a felony to restrain a dog outside during a natural disaster.
That means a five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine for anyone convicted of the crime. Last year, state troopers found a dog tied up along I-75 as Hurricane Milton was approaching.
“There are these cases that happen. It might not be a great ending for all. We hope it is. This is a great tool to pursue these cases and to hope all the dogs have a happy ending,” said Kate MacFall, Florida Director of Humane World for Animals.
The charges were dropped against the dog’s original owner in this case.
Lawmaker proposes HOA ban
A state lawmaker says he wants to ban homeowners’ associations in Florida. The legislature says Florida has more HOAs than any other state, with about 45 percent of all homes in the state in one.
The Community Associations Institute says most people are happy with them. However, Miami Republican Juan Carlos Porras has led HOA reforms and now wants a larger conversation.
“I think that the conversation, like I said, needs to be started if we want to have a serious talk about any kind of regulation. We need to start at the point of, well, are they even necessary?” Porras said.
“There are so many people in Florida living in community associations that are very happy, that have invested their lifetime savings in their home, in their community,” said Dawn Bauman, Community Associations Institute.
As of now, a bill banning HOAs hasn’t been filed, but Porras says it’s coming soon.
2026 is already shaping up to be a very busy year in Florida politics as Governor Ron DeSantis enters his final year in office. The race to replace him is already shaping up to be a bitter battle.
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