The 2026 Florida Legislative Session begins this week, and more than 1,000 bills have been filed overall for consideration by the legislature.
Some of the top issues:
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis promised to present a plan that would exempt homeowners from paying local property taxes, but to get what he wants on the 2026 ballot, he will have to include support from the Republican-controlled State Senate and the State House, which most likely won’t go along with it.
REDISTRICTING
The GOP wants to increase Florida’s congressional power by creating another district that will benefit Republicans. If needed, the Governor has already called for a special session following the normal session.
GUNS
State House GOP lawmakers believe they have the votes to repeal the 2018 gun bill that increased the age from 18-21 to buy a long rifle. Currently, the Florida State Senate shows no signs of supporting that legislation.
Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier recently laid out a number of policy proposals for lawmakers to consider during the 2026 Legislative Session.
The proposals include Missy’s Law, which would require the revocation of bond for anyone convicted of a dangerous crime and remove judicial discretion, and Florida’s Insanity Defense & Mental Health Accountability Act which narrows the “insanity” defense to ensure mental health claims are not abused to escape justice.
Attorney General Uthmeier is also calling on the Legislature to codify emergency rules related to the classification of isolated and/or concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I controlled substance. Furthermore, he is proposing that prosecutors be added to the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Special Risk Class and the expansion of protective measures to prevent predators from pursuing parenthood.
Liberty Partners also contributed to this story.
