Mayor Donna Deegan believes the “Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act” is “redundant,” imposing a local prohibition on activity already illegal at the federal and state level.

But the City Council passed what they are calling the strongest such legislation in the country anyway on Tuesday by a 12–5 vote, forcing the Mayor to either sign the legislation, veto it, or do nothing, in what appears to be a potential early flashpoint in her re-election bid in two years.

Should it become law, the bill would make it a “local crime” to be an undocumented immigrant in Duval County. It also contemplates money for 25 fingerprint readers for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to identify and process undocumented immigrants.

Republican Michael Boylan attempted substitute legislation ahead of discussion, imputing “nefarious reasons” and “fearmongering” as being behind the bill. He said state laws sufficed, that the money for the fingerprint readers should come out of Council Contingency, and that the legislation should be a resolution.

Sponsor Kevin Carrico, who is the Vice President of the Council, said that was an unfriendly substitution and urged voting it down, a position echoed by Rory Diamond, who said Boylan’s proposal would “gut” the bill and pave the way for Jacksonville to become a “sanctuary city.”

Matt Carlucci countered in favor of the substitute, saying that he saw “immigrants doing work where regular Americans don’t do work.” He also said Carrico’s bill was “meanspirited” and suggested such legislation complicates his path to being President of the Council next year.

Rahman Johnson introduced a second substitute, which also failed. Boylan then filed a second amendment, to no avail.

Diamond called the question quickly after the failed amendments, and a vote came without further debate.

Sheriff TK Waters and the Fraternal Order of Police back the bill.

“I encourage Mayor Donna Deegan to swiftly sign this important bill into law. The people of Jacksonville deserve nothing less,” Waters said after the bill passed.

Carrico hopes Deegan will put “politics aside and sign this bill into law,” saying the legislation “gives our Sheriff and his officers more tools in the toolbox to keep our community safe from violent criminals who are in our country illegally.”

“Jacksonville is setting the standard for cities across America. We are taking decisive action to ensure our community is safe and we are fully supporting federal and state authorities in enforcing immigration laws. This policy demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the interests of our citizens,” Carrico added.

Whether the Mayor signs or not remains to be seen, per her office, which said “she’s waiting to see what it looks like” on Tuesday afternoon.

That question has been resolved.

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Legislation that could have required governments to preserve Confederate monuments once again appears in limbo.

The Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee declined to take up the bill (SB 1816) following a contentious hearing. While the Senate President’s Office said the legislation can still be taken up at a future meeting, no time was granted to extend the committee even though all public testimony was taken.

Critics of the legislation burst into cheers as the committee gaveled to a close without hearing the bill, and Senators in opposition to the legislation cheered its apparent death.

“Good Riddance!” said Sen. Tina Polsky, a Boca Raton Democrat who sits on the committee. “After two years of this hateful bill failing, let’s finally be done with wasting our time in committees over this nonsense that no one needs or wants. I imagine we never see it again. Back to real issues.”

A similar bill last year was passed in a committee, but with multiple Republican Senators voicing discomfort about the legislation in its form. Within a day, then-Senate President Kathleen Passidomo made clear the bill would not move forward.

But the bill resurfaced this year, now sponsored by freshman Sen. Stan McClain, an Ocala Republican.

The Government Oversight committee was the first to hear the “Protection of Historic Monuments and Memorials” bill this year, and it’s unusual to go through a presentation and public testimony without taking action on legislation. If the bill cannot make it through a first committee stop next week, that likely precludes it being considered this Legislative Session.

Sen. Randy Fine chaired most of the Tuesday meeting, though he left for much of the monuments bill discussion to present campus carry legislation that was shot down in another committee. Due to his resignation to run for Congress, he will vacate his Senate seat after Monday, and said it will likely fall to a new committee Chair to decide whether to take up the bill again.

That decision will likely belong to Sen. Nick DiCeglie, a Pinellas Republican and the committee Vice Chair. DiCeglie led the meeting through most of the Confederate bill discussion. Florida Politics has asked if he has any plans to revive the bill and will update this story when we receive a response.

McClain, for his part, presented the bill as an attempt to preserve all Florida military history that has been on display for more than 25 years.

The bill would create the Historic Florida Monuments and Memorials Protection Act to prevent the removal, damage or destruction of a monument or memorial located on public property falling into that age range. It would allow individuals with a special interest in monuments to bring civil actions against cities that try to remove such monuments.

A House companion bill (HB 1599) filed by Rep. Dean Black, a Jacksonville Republican, has not been slated for consideration in a committee in the lower chamber.

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The Jacksonville City Council voted 11-6 Tuesday night to affirm its “lack of confidence” in General Counsel Michael Fackler’s ability to be unbiased and independent.

While the supermajority Republican legislative body was unanimous in confirming him in 2023, relationships have soured amid perceptions that Fackler serves Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan rather than the lawmakers.

Tensions were seen most vividly during a special meeting last month where members of both parties pilloried Fackler for not advising the Council amid a dispute over the Meridian Waste contract.

Tuesday night made it clear that time healed no wounds; the resolution had ten Republican sponsors (Raul Arias, Ron Salem, Rory Diamond, Randy White, Kevin Carrico, Nick Howland, Chris Miller, Joe Carlucci, Mike Gay, and Will Lahnen).

Other Republicans resisted, however, despite language being watered down to make it clear that not all members of the Council oppose the general counsel.

Ken Amaro lauded Fackler staffers for coming to his office and talking to him.

“I think if our general counsel was that bad we have provisions in place where we could get rid of him,” Amaro said. “This legislation has the potential to cause more damage than good … (and) questions about what’s going on here at City Hall.”

Matt Carlucci echoed Amaro’s take.

“This will come back to haunt us especially if this general counsel has to defend us in a case,” he predicted.

Michael Boylan noted he wanted to withdraw the resolution in committee, saying the “damage has been done” already.

Diamond stood his ground, saying the vote of no confidence, if it passed, should lead Fackler to resign.

Democrat Tyrona Clark-Murray said that the resolution was “legally baseless” given that Fackler’s failings were not sufficient to drive him out of office.

Salem noted the resolution was “non-binding,” a “gauge of Council’s confidence” in Fackler. But he contended that Fackler’s handling of the Meridian situation was an “earthquake” for Council.

He also said former general counsels told him Fackler overstretched with binding legal opinions, and that if they could speak publicly, the “vote would be 17-0.”

“We have a general counsel who is ill suited for the job,” Salem said, blaming himself as president of the Council for “rushing” the vote to confirm Fackler through.

Carlucci noted that lawyers he’s talked to support Fackler, including the Jacksonville Bar Association.

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