TALLAHASSEE — Standing before a joint session of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his final State of the State address, a 30-minute speech that functioned as both a legislative roadmap and a definitive closing argument for his eight-year tenure. With his trademark defiance, DeSantis declared that Florida has “set the standard” for the rest of the nation, urging lawmakers to spend his final year in office cementing a legacy of fiscal conservatism and aggressive opposition to “ideological indoctrination.”
A “Spirit of 1776” Legislative Push
DeSantis opened the 2026 Legislative Session by calling on the Republican-controlled House and Senate to move swiftly on a suite of conservative priorities. “My message is simple: Get the bills to my desk,” DeSantis told a packed House chamber. “In the spirit of 1776, I am happy to put my John Hancock on those pieces of legislation.”
The Governor’s agenda for the 60-day session is headlined by a renewed push to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at the local government level, expanding on his previous efforts to purge such initiatives from public universities. He also called for further expansions of gun rights and additional measures to combat illegal immigration, specifically targeting the enforcement of state-level criminal penalties for those entering the state illegally.
The Battle Over Property Taxes
The most significant domestic policy proposal centered on the Governor’s “Floridians First” budget, which totals $117.4 billion. DeSantis doubled down on a provocative plan to allow voters to decide on the total repeal of property taxes for owner-occupied homes.
“The Legislature has the ability to place a measure on the ballot to provide transformational relief,” DeSantis said. He challenged the traditional reliance on property taxes, asking rhetorically if citizens truly own their homes if they must pay the government “rent” every year just to live there.
To mitigate the impact on local governments—some of whom have warned that such a move would gut essential services like police and fire departments—the Governor proposed a $300 million fund to fully reimburse “fiscally constrained” rural counties. However, he warned that in the long term, local municipalities would have to “figure it out” by finding efficiencies rather than relying on state bailouts.
A New Frontier: Regulating Artificial Intelligence
In a departure from his usual “culture war” rhetoric, DeSantis spent a significant portion of his address railing against the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Labeling himself a “chief AI skeptic,” the Governor argued that the technology poses a direct threat to the job market and the privacy of Florida citizens.
He proposed new consumer protections to prevent “massive data centers” from exploiting Floridians’ personal information and expressed concern that AI could be used to amplify the “noxious ideologies” he has fought throughout his governorship.
Legacy and “Hope”
The Governor also used the platform to highlight the success of “Hope Florida,” the initiative spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis. He credited the program—which connects individuals in need with faith-based and private-sector partners rather than government bureaucracy—with transforming the state’s social safety net.
“We chose freedom over fear; education over indoctrination; law and order over rioting and disorder,” DeSantis said, reflecting on his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent years. He noted that since 2019, Florida has paid off 41% of its total state debt and currently maintains the lowest number of state government workers per capita in the country.
Counter-Perspectives
The speech was met with immediate pushback from advocacy groups and Democratic leaders. Outside the capitol, a coalition including the ACLU of Florida and the Florida Education Association issued a “rebuke” to the Governor’s remarks.
Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground, argued that the Governor’s time in office has been shaped by “national and federal influence rather than the needs of everyday Floridians.” Critics pointed to the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis and the high cost of living as evidence that the “Florida Model” has left many residents behind.
As the session begins, the tension between the Governor’s office and local governments over tax revenue, as well as the debate over his legacy, is expected to dominate the halls of the Tallahassee capitol. For DeSantis, however, the path forward is clear: “Our rudder is set. Our compass is in hand. True north is our destination.”
Sources & Links
- Florida Politics: ‘We have set the standard’: In final State of the State, Gov. DeSantis says his tenure delivered for Floridians
- Politico Pro: DeSantis rails against AI in final ‘State of the State’ address
- Bloomberg Government: DeSantis Bid to Drop Florida Property Taxes Tops State Agenda
- Florida Department of Commerce: Governor Ron DeSantis Delivers State of the State Address
- WUSF News: DeSantis floats spring special session to reduce property tax
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