DeSantis kicks off return to Florida with slew of bill signings thanks to ‘productive’ lawmakers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – At a bill signing in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked Florida lawmakers for being “productive” since his reelection in passing laws that are “leading the country.”

In November 2022, a red wave swept across Florida, handing DeSantis a near-20 point victory and state Republicans supermajorities in the legislature.

Since then, an increasingly long list of “wins” supported by Republicans have been tallied up, or are on their way – ranging from massive tax relief, a six-week abortion ban, an illegal immigration crackdown, legislation targeting central bank digital currency, and among other bills, DeSantis’ most recently signed law targeting environmental, social and corporate governance practices.

“We’ve done so much stuff this year to lead the country as is… We’ve got a lot more in the hopper that we will be signing in the law over the next few weeks,” DeSantis said Tuesday.

“I think what we’ll be able to say when the dust settles – with the budget, and the legislative, and all the bills – that there’s never been a bolder and more productive six months in the history of the state of Florida in terms of really delivering on big promises,” he said.

The Florida House, led by Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and the Senate, led by President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, have been instrumental figures in ramming through an ambitious conservative agenda as the state trended further right in 2022.

Last week, DeSantis spent his time overseas in countries like Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom on a trade mission.

There, he touted Florida’s global market appeal and secured future investment from out-of-country businesses.

DeSantis then kicked off his first week back in the Sunshine State – just a few days before the session’s May 5 closing date – with a kickoff of bill signings that are expected to continue throughout the month.

In addition to Tuesday’s signing on “woke” investment practices and social credit scores, on Monday, DeSantis signed a much-anticipated piece of legislation that enables the death penalty for child rapists, directly challenging U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Also Monday, he signed legislation cracking down on fentanyl dealing and directing the state Supreme Court to develop a uniform statewide bond schedule.

A bill signing will also take place Wednesday.

Florida lawmakers have continued to pass conservative-touted legislation through the last several days of session.

Tuesday, some notable bills that were sent to DeSantis include fining credit card companies for tracking gun purchases, outlawing central bank digital currency, an illegal immigration crackdown, and a bill that would allow health care providers to opt out of services based on conscience objections.

More pieces of legislation will be passed through May 5.