Republican lawmakers have submitted a number of legislation to tighten down on illegal immigration and further restrict the ballot initiative process as Florida prepares for a special legislative session called by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The bills, which were filed on Sunday, demonstrate DeSantis’s dedication to furthering President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and advocating for reforms in a number of areas, such as how undocumented immigrant students are treated, police participation in immigration enforcement, and the constitutional amendment petition process.
A plan that would eliminate in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students, sometimes known as “dreamers,” who are currently able to pay lower tuition rates at Florida’s public colleges and universities, is one of the proposed proposals.
In an effort to increase the extent of state participation in federal immigration proceedings, the lawmakers also proposed provisions that would oblige local law enforcement organizations to support immigration enforcement initiatives.
A proposal to restructure the petition procedure for constitutional amendments, which would make it more challenging for citizens to suggest changes to the state constitution, is another important component of the legislative drive.
Under the leadership of Senators Jay Collins, Jonathan Martin, and Blaise Ingoglia, 11 measures have been submitted as of Sunday afternoon.
Representatives John Temple and Mike Caruso had introduced counterpart bills in the House that were essentially identical to the Senate’s ideas.
DeSantis first convened the special session on January 13 to discuss ballot initiatives, immigration-related issues, and other state concerns.
DeSantis has called for legislative action to help victims of recent disasters and to address concerns that are driving up expenses for condominium associations and their inhabitants, in addition to stepping up efforts to combat illegal immigration.
Nonetheless, the state legislature’s disagreement and uncertainty have plagued the extraordinary session.
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House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have objected, claiming that the session is premature, especially since the main parliamentary session starts on March 4.
Notwithstanding these reservations, DeSantis has made a number of public appearances with a strong emphasis on immigration reform in an attempt to persuade Congress to act right away.
It’s still uncertain how the bills will develop as the special session draws near.
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As of Sunday, neither chamber had scheduled committee hearings to review the measures, despite the fact that both the Senate and the House are expected to meet on Monday morning.
DeSantis’ ability to garner enough support from lawmakers to approve the planned legislation and address the divisive topics of immigration and the state’s petition process will be a major factor in how the session turns out.
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