Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

We do it every year, and we’re sorry for it, but we forgot to wish our friend, former Sen. Jeff Brandes, a happy birthday in this morning’s edition of Sunburn. We’ll try to not forget next year!

First Shot

The Senate has moved a step closer to passing a new bill that is a compromise between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature over who gets the power to oversee the state’s immigration efforts.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill (SB 2C) sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters that would establish a board to oversee Florida’s immigration efforts and increase penalties for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

Democrats spoke fiercely against another provision in the measure that would eliminate in-state tuition rates for the 6,500 undocumented immigrants currently attending Florida’s public colleges and universities.

Last month, the Legislature passed the TRUMP Act naming Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as the state’s immigration enforcement chief, taking that power from DeSantis.

Lawmakers and DeSantis clashed over who should be the leader working with the federal government to stop illegal immigration. The Governor vowed to veto the bill.

The Legislature went back into Special Session this week for the third time, with Gruters’ bill proposing that no single official would have the role. Instead, DeSantis, Simpson, the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer and handpicked county Sheriffs and Police Chiefs would share those responsibilities and be required to make decisions unanimously as a council. 

During Wednesday’s hearing, Democrats raised concerns that undocumented students known as Dreamers could see tuition tripled or quadrupled to out-of-state rates, potentially forcing them to drop out of school.

Read more on Florida Politics.

Evening Reads

—”How Mexico’s leader is writing the playbook for handling Donald Trump” via Santiago Pérez, José de Córdoba and Vipal Monga of The Wall Street Journal

—”Republicans love Trump’s spending cuts. Just not in their states.” via Maya C. Miller and Catie Edmondson of The New York Times

—”Trump’s shocking purge of public health data, explained” via Dylan Scott of Vox

—”The government waste DOGE should be cutting” via Stephen Macekura of The Atlantic

—”How RFK Jr., once a long shot, arrived at the precipice of Trump’s Cabinet” via Dan Diamond of The Washington Post

—”Ron DeSantis was able to fly migrants anywhere in the country. Now he’ll need permission.” via Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times

—”Florida’s supercharged voucher program sends millions to wealthy families, pricy private schools” via Annie Martin, Leslie Postal and Scott Travis of the Orlando Sentinel/South Florida Sun-Sentinel

—”Are mass deportations Christian? Florida leaders contemplate the question.” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times

—“Scientists detect a mysterious messenger from the cosmos” via Carolyn Y. Johnson of The Washington Post

—”How the Village People went from ‘Y.M.C.A.’ to MAGA” via David Browne of Rolling Stone

Quote of the Day

“The President is tired of the drip, drip, drip; he wants people out.”

— Secretary of State Marco Rubio, telling Hamas to speed up hostage releases.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

The Governor is working up a thirst protecting petroleum-powered vessels. Help him cool down with something frozen — preferably prepared in a TailGator 2.25 HP gas-powered blender.

DeSantis says his COVID-era policies are to thank after another record year for tourism, but we’re still recommending an Orange Crush for the VISIT FLORIDA team.

Florida TaxWatch gets a Make It Count for reminding policymakers that it’s never too early to prep for the Census. 

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Noles trying to move up ACC standings

Florida State will try to improve its standing in the Atlantic Coast Conference when it plays Wake Forest tonight (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

The Seminoles (14-9, 5-7 ACC) sit in ninth place in the ACC standings after snapping a four-game losing streak last week in a 67-60 victory over Notre Dame. Jamir Watkins led FSU with 21 points while Malique Ewin added 18 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.

With eight games remaining in the regular season, Florida State must finish strong to avoid playing on the first day of the ACC tournament. Teams seeded 10 through 15 would have a much longer road to winning the conference tournament and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, likely the only chance for the Noles to play in March Madness.

Wake Forest (18-6, 10-3) is tied for fourth in the conference standings, thanks to a three-game winning streak. The game is important for the Demon Deacons, as the top four seeds in the conference receive first—and second-round byes in the postseason tournament.

Tonight’s game is the only scheduled meeting between the Seminoles and Demon Deacons this season.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.

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As of Jan. 1, Florida’s vote-by-mail (VBM) rolls were officially reset under a relatively new law.

When in the past, voters who requested mail-in ballots in previous election cycles did not have to request them again for the following two election cycles, this law requires voters to formally request mail-in ballots after every federal election cycle. Therefore, all standing requests after the 2024 Elections have now been wiped out. The impact of this change has been immediate and staggering, with the number of voters set to receive mail-in ballots plunging to record lows.

In 2024 alone, more than 3 million Florida voters voted by mail out of over 3.5 million Florida voters who had requested a mail ballot. That number will now reset, and every voter wishing to vote by mail in elections this year must make sure they request their ballot ahead of the applicable deadline. The implications are even more concerning with two congressional Special Elections scheduled for April 1. Voter turnout is at risk, particularly in a state where mail-in ballots have historically been a welcome resource.

Proponents of the VBM reset justified the change as necessary to combat voter fraud and enhance security around our elections. They framed the policy as a proactive step to secure Florida’s elections despite the absence of any significant evidence of widespread mail-in ballot fraud in the state.

In practice, the reset has disrupted long-established voting habits and placed an enormous burden on election officials tasked with re-educating millions of Floridians about the new requirements. This is costing them financially because they have to do sufficient outreach to make voters aware, and it is bogging down their already at-capacity systems and processes for administering elections.

For voters who’ve grown accustomed to a seamless process, the abrupt change feels less like an effort to improve our voting process and more like an unnecessary obstacle to participation. Instead of bolstering trust in the electoral system, the policy risks undermining it by creating barriers to a voting method that has historically been both accessible and reliable to voters of all backgrounds. It bears repeating that the change was implemented to supposedly address ineligible votes being cast, although this issue is so rare that the “solution” actually ends up being more hurtful toward voters than protective of the voting process.

What’s more, these barriers pose obstacles for senior citizens, working people who cannot afford to take time away from their jobs to stand in line at a polling site, those with disabilities, and communities of color.

With special elections set to take place in our state this year, the need for this information is greater than ever. For example, voters who wish to cast a mail-in ballot for the primary elections in Districts 1 and 6 must submit a request for one by 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2025. Similarly, local elections for positions like mayors and commissioners are set for March 11th, with requests for mail-in ballots due no later than February 27th.

The clock is ticking for Floridians to make sure they are prepared.

Floridians must be armed with the information needed to participate in our democratic process. Without a concerted effort, we risk not being able to have our voices heard in local contests that will impact our districts and state for years to come. Policies like the one eliminating our former vote-by-mail system are solutions in search of a problem; we cannot allow such reckless measures to determine our status quo.

Voting remains the foundation of our democracy, and we must work to protect our right to practice our civic duty. Let’s stay informed to ensure we build the Florida we all deserve.

Election officials and advocates are working to raise awareness and ensure voters are prepared. Submitting a VBM request is straightforward and can often be done online through the county Supervisor of Elections website. Once submitted, voters can track the status of their request, ensuring their ballot will be mailed to them in time.

As Florida enters a new election cycle, it’s essential to prioritize voter education. Let’s make this year one where Floridians get ahead of the curve, stay informed, and safeguard their right to vote. By staying alert to policy changes, meeting deadlines, and communicating with election officials, voters can ensure their voices are heard. Please don’t wait until the last minute; it’s important to submit your request now and take the stress out of the election cycle later. Remember, while you always have the option to vote in person, missing the VBM deadline means forfeiting the convenience and accessibility that voting by mail provides.

Voting should be accessible to everyone. Familiarize yourself (and others!) with the requirements and upcoming deadlines, take action now, and make sure your voice is heard when it matters most.

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Ricardo Negrón-Almodóvar is Florida Senior Campaign Manager at All Voting is Local. He specializes in voting and civil rights advocacy, focusing on language access and protecting voting rights. Passionate about empowering often-overlooked communities, he works to ensure equitable access to the ballot.

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A former Florida House Speaker will help to shape education policy for the state’s institutions of higher learning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the selection of Paul Renner to the Board of Governors on Wednesday, where he is poised to help oversee the operation and management of state universities.

Renner’s appointment is effective April 15, and is contingent on Senate confirmation.

A Navy veteran and former state prosecutor, Renner is currently Of Counsel for Nelson Mullins.

In that role, he deals with a wide range of commercial litigation matters, and also offers advice to clients on election law.

Renner did his undergraduate work at Davidson College in Charlotte, North Carolina. From there, he got his law degree at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law.

DeSantis and Renner had a strong relationship throughout their shared time in politics, with Renner representing the Palm Coast area that was also included in the Congressional district DeSantis served before running for Governor in 2018.

During an interview while he was in the Florida House, Renner said they had an “excellent” relationship, with the Governor’s legislative background helping to bolster that.

“Coming from [Congress], he understands that we’re all in this together,” he told Florida Politics.

Before being elected to the Palm Coast centered district, Renner lost a Special Election for a seat on Jacksonville’s Westside by just two votes. Investigation of that election revealed anomalies that could have changed the outcome, but the Duval County Canvassing Board rejected the evidence.

Litigation was an option, but Renner opted not to pursue that avenue.

“I decided that the right thing to do is to not litigate,” he told The Observer. “There was a point in which — for whatever reason — I wasn’t supposed to win that race … It would have been more about me and not about what I believe in.”

There are 17 members on the Board of Governors, with 14 of them appointed by the Florida Governor and confirmed for seven years each. The Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, the Commissioner of Education, and the Chair of the Florida Student Association fill the other seats.

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