Florida has suspended 25 rules amid DeSantis' immigration state of emergency

Gov. DeSantis is expected to extend the emergency declaration, which has been ongoing since 2023.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to re-up his 2023 immigration state of emergency for the 19th time this week, extending his expanded scope of powers into the fourth calendar year and continuing to skirt more than two dozen state laws and regulations.

Over the past three years, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has suspended 25 statutes and rules using the immigration state of emergency justification, according to a review by the Miami Herald.

The Herald identified each of the 25 provisions by going through lists of suspended laws within seven emergency orders issued by the Division of Emergency Management since January 2023 in connection to DeSantis’ immigration state of emergency. Those legal loopholes remain in effect for as long as DeSantis extends his emergency declaration.

The bypassed laws include requirements for competitive bidding, oversight of excessive spending, proper licensing, public transparency laws and safety restrictions.

The current state of emergency was set to expire this Saturday. DeSantis’ team said he plans to continue extending the emergency declaration indefinitely.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/12/02/desantis-immigration-state-of-emergency-powers-suspended-rules/