A new legislative measure in Florida aims to prevent state emergency funds from being allocated for immigration enforcement activities. The bill, known as PCB TED 26-02, received unanimous approval from the Florida House Transportation and Economic Development subcommittee on Monday. This development marks a significant shift in the Republican stance on immigration funding, moving away from the aggressive policies endorsed just a year ago.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Griff Griffits, a Republican from Panama City Beach, specifies that the state’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund will be strictly reserved for natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. “This bill would prohibit [funding for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’]. It is for natural disasters only,” Griffits stated after the committee hearing. He emphasized that any future immigration issues could be addressed separately through a special session called by the governor.
The bill’s passage represents an unusual alignment between House Republicans and Democrats, both of whom have expressed skepticism about the governor’s immigration policies. This collaboration has sparked tensions with Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has strongly opposed the measure. Attorney General James Uthmeier criticized the bill on social media, questioning the decision to limit the governor’s authority in combating illegal immigration. “Florida House ‘Republicans’ are trying to defund Alligator Alcatraz and other detainment centers across the state. Floridians did not vote for this,” Uthmeier posted on X.
Details of the Proposed Legislation
The proposed bill aims to recreate the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, restricting its use exclusively for natural disasters. Under the new guidelines, the governor will be required to submit quarterly reports on the fund’s financial status. Any federal reimbursements to the fund would be redirected to the Legislature’s General Revenue Fund, and the purchase of aircraft or boats from the trust would be prohibited. The bill sets the fund’s expiration date as July 1, 2030.
Currently, the existing version of the fund is set to expire at midnight on Tuesday. The Senate recently voted to maintain the fund’s existing structure, creating a potential impasse between the two chambers. Established in 2022, the fund allows the governor to address emergencies without needing legislative approval. Following DeSantis’s declaration of an ongoing state of emergency for immigration in January 2023, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has drawn heavily from this fund, spending over $573 million on immigration enforcement. This amount includes $406 million spent within a six-month period.
Opponents of these expenditures have labeled them an “abuse” of public funds, likening the trust to a “slush fund.” Griffits countered this notion, arguing that the fund should be exclusively dedicated to addressing natural disasters. “That [immigration] problem is going away with President Trump. He has shut the flow down,” Griffits remarked. “There’s no point in slowing this fund down just to fight about those issues that come and go.”
As the legislative session continues, the implications of this bill may reshape Florida’s approach to immigration funding and challenge the authority of the DeSantis administration. The outcome will depend on further negotiations between the House and Senate, as well as the governor’s response to this developing situation.
