TO: Members of the Press
FROM: Bryan Griffin, Director of Communications, Governor Ron DeSantis
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
RE:  Proclamation Issued January 13, 2025

TALLAHASSEE, FL - On January 13, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the below proclamation, calling for a special session of the Florida Legislature to convene on January 27th, 2025, and to address the following issues: combatting illegal immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief in response to natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home program, and the citizens’ initiative petition process.

To view the executed proclamation, click here.  To watch the governor's press conference on the call, click here. Please also see the governor's statement on X.  

                                                                                                  PROCLAMATION 
                                                                                                STATE OF FLORIDA 
                                                                              EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 
                                                                                                      TALLAHASSEE 
                                  TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  

     WHEREAS, Article III, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution permits the Governor to convene the Legislature in Special Session during which only such legislative business may be transacted as is within the purview of this Proclamation, or of a communication from the Governor, or as is introduced by consent of two-thirds of the membership of each house of the Legislature; and

     WHEREAS, Article III, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution limits the duration of a Special Session to twenty (20) consecutive days; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Florida is experiencing a wide range of issues that require immediate attention; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government’s open border policies under Joe Biden have caused an unprecedented increase of illegal immigration into the United States, including Florida, which has resulted in massive costs and other adverse impacts to the American people; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government’s policies demonstrate a brazen disregard for the rule of law and pose a threat to public safety; and

     WHEREAS, on November 5, 2024, the American people elected Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, President-Elect Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, and has conveyed plans to immediately address the Biden border crisis; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Florida will play an important role in supporting the Trump administration and must be fully prepared with sufficient resources; and

     WHEREAS, the Florida condominium market continues to face challenges including soaring costs related to assessments, repairs, and inspections; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Legislature to address these challenges to ensure that Florida residents can continue to afford to live in their homes; and

     WHEREAS, in 2024, Florida experienced significant natural disasters causing wide-spread disruption to the agricultural industry; and

     WHEREAS, these disruptions have revealed several needs within the agricultural industry and the communities highly affected by the agricultural industry that necessitates immediate Legislative action; and

     WHEREAS, the integrity of the election process is of critical importance; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of State has identified several instances of fraud in the citizen initiative petition process the past election cycle; and

     WHEREAS, both in-state and out-of-state organizations exploited loopholes in the citizen initiative petition process; and

     WHEREAS, the loopholes need to be immediately closed and the citizens’ initiative petition process needs to be strengthened to ensure the integrity of our election process.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, Governor of the State of Florida, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by Article III, Section 3(c)(1) of the Florida Constitution, do hereby proclaim as follows:

          Section 1: The Legislature of the State of Florida is convened in Special Session commencing at 9:00 a.m., Monday, January 27, and extending no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2025.

          Section 2: The Legislature of the State of Florida is convened in Special Session for the sole and exclusive purpose of considering legislation and appropriations relating to (a) combatting illegal immigration, (b) condominium regulation, (c) agricultural relief in response to natural disasters, (d) replenishing the My Safe Florida Home program, and (e) citizens’ initiative petition process.