DeSantis vows ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’ in State of the State Address

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’s State of the State Address highlighted the bold endeavors he wants lawmakers to address during the 2023 Legislative Session.

“So we find ourselves in Florida on the front lines in the battle for freedom. Together, we have made Florida the nation’s most desired destination and we have produced historic results,” DeSantis said. “We will hold the line. We won’t back down and I can promise you this: you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

The governor, who won re-election by nearly 20 points, reiterated his support for proposals he had announced months leading up to the session. Those include school choice, the Second Amendment, tax relief and immigration.

“We believe that borders matter,” DeSantis said. “We have put Floridians first and we will continue to do that.”

This led into the governor’s urgency for lawmakers to pass illegal immigration reforms. He also restated his stance on increasing penalties for fentanyl distributors.

“Florida is not a sanctuary state and we will uphold the rule of law,” DeSantis said.

The governor said it is time for lawmakers to pass “constitutional carry,” also known as permitless carry, in Florida. Permitless carry would allow citizens to carry a firearm without being required to obtain a concealed carry license from the state.

The governor noted how the state is “proud to be pro-family” with his proposed permanent sales tax exemptions for family necessities. It is part of a $2 billion tax relief proposal lawmakers are considering.

Multiple times the governor said the state has “rejected the biomedical security state” and urged lawmakers to pass permanent protections against vaccine and mask mandates.

“We also need to protect the free speech rights and conscience rights of physicians,” he said. “The medical establishment whiffed an awful lot during COVID and physicians who follow the evidence should not be penalized simply because they buck a stale consensus.”

As expected, he emphasized expanding school choice, passing a teacher’s bill of rights, and fortifying parental rights.

“Our schools must deliver a good education, not political indoctrination,” the governor said.

The governor made hard-hitting statements against medical procedures to treat gender dysphoria.

“It’s sad that we have to say this but our children are not guinea pigs for science experimentation,” he explained. “And we cannot allow people to make money off mutilating them.”

The governor highlighted Chloe Cole who has become an activist against gender dysphoria procedures following a double mastectomy she regretted agreeing to as a minor.

“Chloe, thank you for your bravery and the people of Florida and the legislature should heed your advice and provide protections against these procedures,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis called attention to the high number of frivolous lawsuits and thanked Speaker Renner for proposed reforms.

“The legal system should be centered on achieving justice not lining the pockets of lawyers,” DeSantis said.

The governor also praised Senate President Katheen Passidomo, R-Naples, for tackling workforce housing. She has championed legislation to encourage businesses to provide more affordable housing.

“Workers who make our economy tick should be able to find a place to live that’s affordable in their general area of their jobs,” he said.

The governor took aim at China, who he said is strategically buying land across the country.

“We will not allow land grabs by CCP backed businesses in our state,” he said.

DeSantis started the speech touting Florida’s accomplishments and high rankings in law enforcement recruitment, tourism, and solid budget surplus.

“We ranked number one in the nation for education freedom. We ranked number one in the nation for parental involvement in education,” DeSantis announced.

The governor transitioned to applauding the state’s overall stance on the coronavirus pandemic, a theme throughout the governor’s re-election campaign.

“We defied the experts. We bucked the elites. We did it our way. The Florida way and the result is that we are the number one destination for our fellow Americans who are looking for a better life.”

The governor talked about the catastrophic hurricane that pummeled Southwest Florida. Hurricane victims from Pine Island and Sanibel were the governor’s guests during the speech as he talked about the impact from rebuilding the bridges in a matter of days.

He also the federal government’s “excessive spending” put Americans in the “worst period of sustained inflation.” It led into the governor’s efforts of slashing toll costs for Floridians and providing $1 billion in tax relief.

The governor brought several people who benefited from the state’s initiatives and programs under his administration. For example, DeSantis highlighted someone who benefited from the governor’s truck driver initiatives. He also talked about his “record resources” to help bring more nurses into the system.

The governor highlighted the recruitment bonus program that provides law enforcement officers with a $5,000 signing bonus in Florida. He spotlighted a Cape Coral officer who took advantage of the program and moved from Maryland.

Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, gave their speeches prior to the governor.