DeSantis says he has ‘no plans’ to call Legislature back for a special session

Reacting to speculation and media reports, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appeared to quash a plan to bring lawmakers back to Tallahassee to address any unresolved issues, including immigration.

“I have no plans to call a special session,” DeSantis said while speaking with reporters after a bill signing ceremony in Cape Canaveral. “I’ve been asked: Would you do more immigration? Of course I’ll do more immigration. Would you do this? Of course I will. It’s there. Whether that’s a special session or not, but I am for some of the things that people have been talking about, but we don’t have a plan necessarily to do a special session.”

The 2024 legislative session ended March 8, but the Florida Legislature has still not sent all approved bills to the governor for consideration, including the massive 2024-25 state budget, which would be effective July 1.

It was DeSantis himself who back in March raised the possibility of bringing the Legislature back to Tallahassee to address immigration issues. Appearing on a podcast with Sean Hannity, the governor said he was considering having the state enact a bill that would allow law enforcement to have the authorization to arrest and detain undocumented immigrants, echoing a Texas measure that has been blocked in the courts.

But that was then. DeSantis said on Tuesday that “if there are things that we need to do, then I’m sure the Legislature will want to do it. But as of now, we’re moving forward with the budget.”

There was also speculation that a special session could be convened to address abortion-related issues, months before Floridians vote on a constitutional amendment that would rescind the state’s new six-week abortion law and return a woman’s right to abortion up until the time of viability.

“I am and I suspect it was anti-abortion extremists and others who were trying to float this idea and get Republican support too,” Orlando Democratic House Rep. Anna Eskamani told the Phoenix in a text message. “Glad to see it did not work.”

According to the Florida Constitution, a special session may be called either by the governor, by a joint proclamation issued by the Senate President and House Speaker or by a three-fifths vote of each chamber in the Legislature.

But Senate President Kathleen Passidomo has no plans to make such a call. Senate spokesperson Katie Betta told the Phoenix “No” on the issue.

The Phoenix also reached out to House Speaker Paul Renner’s office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.