The Florida legislative session began March 4 at the Capitol, with the House and Senate convening for their regular 60-day session. The session opened with Gov. Ron DeSantis delivering the State of the Senate address.
With topics such as immigration, abortion, gun laws, and racial and gender identity taking center stage in DeSantis’ speech, state representatives are focusing on issues they consider priorities.
“We have our own ideas on what good government means and how to produce for Floridians, and we’re going to assert that,” said Senate President Ben Albritton in an interview with Politico.
Students across Florida are paying closer attention than ever to lawmakers’ plans for their futures. Students Demand Action, a campus organization advocating against gun violence, is among the student groups closely monitoring legislative developments that affect them, their peers, and the broader Florida population.
“Gov. DeSantis’ conservative agenda and policies have shaped the political landscape of Florida,” said Jakhia Andrew, a third-year pre-law criminal justice major. “I think that many people, myself included, are scared that he will use his version of ‘doge’ to target programs that benefit marginalized communities.”
Damya Ollivierre, vice president of the Florida A&M University chapter of Students Demand Action, believes it is essential for students to take action where they can. As a leader of a group focused on gun violence prevention and education, Ollivierre emphasizes that they do not advocate for a total ban on firearms but instead push for proper vetting processes for those seeking to purchase them.
“There are bills on the floor that are a direct harm to Florida residents,” said Ollivierre, a junior criminal justice major. “Sen. Randy Fine has introduced a bill to lower the firearm purchase age limit from 21 to 18. In the past decade, Florida has fallen victim to several mass shootings, such as those in Parkland and at the Orlando Pulse Nightclub.”
With the impact of executive orders signed during President Donald Trump’s past administration and a recent influx of overwhelming legislation, many students feel discouraged from participating in politics. However, students like Dejah Charles, a sophomore political science major, continue to organize and encourage others to use their voices to advocate for policies that protect citizens’ rights.
“In my opinion, the measures being done are far too drastic,” Charles said, referring to Senate Bill 2C, which would make it a felony for undocumented individuals to vote in state elections and prohibit the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from issuing driver’s licenses or identification cards to them.
Charles also expressed her disappointment in the recent passage of House Bill 1205, which, if signed into law, would create significant financial and legal barriers to the citizen-led amendment process, making it less accessible to everyday Floridians.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, the state already has one of the strictest citizen-led amendment processes in the country—a fact demonstrated during the 2024 general election when Amendment 3 and Amendment 4 failed to pass.
“There are many representatives who actually support our needs and movements,” Charles said. “I want more support like that, and I hope more people are able to find good in the midst of so much catastrophe.”