Hours after Governor Ron DeSantis called on the Florida Legislature to gather at the end of this month in a special legislative session to address immigration as well as issues regarding condominiums, hurricane relief, and petition initiatives, the leaders of the House and Senate say that would be premature and they won’t cooperate.

“Florida’s Constitution compels our attendance at a special session unilaterally called by the Governor,” write Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez in a letter issued shortly after 5:00 p.m. Monday.

“However, the power to convene a special session also resides with the presiding officers. As the people’s elected representatives, the Legislature, not the Governor, will decide when and what legislation we consider.”

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DeSantis originally asked Albritton and Perez to call for a special legislative session on illegal immigration last week in Tampa, but the two leaders never formally responded. Some lawmakers told the Phoenix last week that they didn’t see any reason for a special session with the 60-day regular session less than two months away.

In their letter, Albritton and Perez say that when it comes to immigration — the driving force that DeSantis said is the reason that the Legislature must convene earlier than their March 4 starting date — “we are strong supporters of President Trump and stand ready to follow his lead.”

But they add that they “are not aware of any specific guidance provided to the states about actions state legislatures can take to support forthcoming federal action.”

“It is completely irresponsible to get out ahead of any announcements President Trump will make, especially when uninformed or ill-timed state action could potentially impair or impede the success of President Trump’s forthcoming efforts to end illegal immigration, close our borders, and protect the sovereignty of our nation,” Albritton and Perez write.

In fact, the two leaders told reporters in November that immigration policy comes from the federal government, not the states, and backed away from any legislation to address the incoming Trump administration’s promise for mass deportations.

‘Fragments of ideas’

Albritton and Perez also noted on Monday that while DeSantis had discussed “fragments of ideas” for a special session to take place on Jan. 27, “he did not release any actual bill language or even meaningful details for legislators and our constituents to consider.”

Regarding the three other issues that DeSantis wants lawmakers to address, Albritton and Perez see no reason those issues can’t be addressed during the regular session.

“With regard to the additional issues outlined by the Governor this morning, the fact is there are ample funds accessible and available to pay for the State’s ongoing disaster response efforts and additional funds do not have to wait until July 1,” when the next fiscal year state budget will take effect, they write.

“Condominium safety and ballot initiatives proposing constitutional amendments are complex subjects and should be considered during the regular session, not a truncated special session.”

Update: Despite the legislative leaders comments, DeSantis is determined that the Legislature convene for a special session. The governor posted a response on X approximately an hour-and-a-half later after Albritton and Perez’ letter was sent out, complete with a proclamation calling for the Legislature to convene at 9:00 a.m. January 27.

“President-elect Trump was elected with a mandate to stop illegal immigration and deport illegal aliens already in our country,” he said in a statement.

“State and local officials in Florida will actively facilitate the Trump Administration’s policies against illegal immigration, and to do that we need to immediately set aside and approve the necessary funding and resources now. As part of the special session I called for January 27, the week after President Trump is sworn in, I am calling on the legislature to appropriate funding for detention, relocation, transportation infrastructure, local law enforcement support, and everything else needed for Florida to carry out this mission.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.