Florida lawmakers face an unexpected obstacle as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session: winter weather.
House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton announced the cancellation of committee meetings scheduled for this week due to forecasts of snow and ice in the Tallahassee area.
“Weather forecasts predicting snow and ice in Tallahassee on Tuesday night and into Wednesday have not improved over the weekend,” Albritton stated in a memo to lawmakers. “I am concerned with senators, staff, and visitors being out on the roads traveling to and around the Tallahassee area in these conditions.”
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Schools in Tallahassee have also been closed in anticipation of the severe winter weather.
While committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled, lawmakers will return to Tallahassee on January 27th for a special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis.
With some adjustments, House meetings will be rescheduled for January 28th and 29th.
The special session, which was called by DeSantis to address a range of issues, including immigration enforcement, hurricane relief, and condo safety, has been met with resistance from legislative leaders who consider it premature.
However, lawmakers are constitutionally obligated to convene for the special session on January 27th.
The specific agenda for the special session remains unclear, but it is expected to cover a variety of topics, including:
- Immigration enforcement
- Hurricane relief
- Funding for the My Safe Florida Home program
- Ballot initiative rules
- Condominium safety laws
The cancellation of this week’s committee meetings, which were primarily focused on presentations and overviews of issues, may disrupt lawmakers’ preparations for the regular legislative session, which begins on March 4th.
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However, with additional committee meetings scheduled for February, lawmakers will have further opportunities to discuss and address key legislative priorities.
This unusual interruption due to winter weather highlights the unpredictable nature of Florida’s climate and the challenges it can pose even for the state’s legislative process.
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