House Speaker Daniel Perez in his parting remarks to members Tuesday emphasized the importance of standing firm, while Senate President Ben Albritton emphasized love.
As of now, Tuesday was probably the last meeting of the 2024-2026 Florida Legislature, convened in special session to pass Gov. Ron DeSantis plan to slash property taxes.
The sessions were marked by GOP infighting, on display in and different approaches on , , and school vouchers. The House did not pass the citrus-farming Albritton鈥檚 priority legislation, 鈥�,鈥� a package that would鈥檝e provided nearly $150 million in infrastructure, education, and health care to rural communities.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 always been easy, but easy was never the point. I hope you know that I鈥檝e tried to ensure that our service together mattered, that we stood up for what was right, even when it wasn鈥檛 expedient, that we stood our ground even when it would have been simpler to retreat,鈥� Perez told his members in what could have been his final moment in the rostrum.
In the early days of the two-year leadership terms, the House and Senate proved they could DeSantis鈥� veto and bucked his call for a special session on immigration, calling their own instead.
Perez Tuesday referenced 鈥渙ur share of twists and turns and battles that seem to stretch on for weeks and months, victories that have been hard won.鈥�
Particularly during the 2025 session, the governor on social media and in news conferences blasted the House for not fulfilling Republican campaign promises while Perez said his phone calls to DeSantis went unreturned. Perez at one point called DeSantis a 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淒espite what some have suggested, I never intended for conflict to define my tenure as speaker, but I have always believed that peace without purpose is laziness,鈥� Perez said.
READ MORE: Florida Legislature votes to put property tax changes on November ballot
鈥淭he first day that I was in the rostrum, I laid it on your hearts, a [Bible] verse, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 鈥楢nd then these three remain, faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love,鈥欌�� Albritton said to senators. 鈥淎nd what I would say to each of you is to remember that I do love you dearly, I love this body, I have loved this opportunity and through all the ups and downs you have been my rock.鈥�
He didn鈥檛 stress the turmoil to the same extent as Perez, just mentioning 鈥渦ps and downs.鈥� And the Senate lost one of its own in 2025, when died.
鈥淎lso, remember this, the second most powerful force in the world is self interest. The most powerful force in the world is love. Love never fails, and remember this, too: Kindness never comes back empty, never comes back empty,鈥� Albritton said.
is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
