“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the honorable members of this House and distinguished guests, good morning. Today marks a new beginning — a moment to reflect on our responsibility and to reaffirm our commitment to the people of Florida as we look forward to the 2025 legislative session.
“To the newly elected members of this Legislature, congratulations. I look forward to getting to know each of you and wish you the best of success in your individual journeys to help better the lives of Floridians across the state.
“To our returning members, welcome back to the Florida House. To Speaker-elect Danny Perez — I thank you for your friendship over the past six years, for the kindness you’ve shown my family and me, and the respect that you’ve extended to my caucus. I look forward to your leadership of this chamber and know that together, we will accomplish great things.
“Members, since the House last met, our state has encountered numerous challenges. From devastating weather events like back-to-back hurricanes and tornadoes that carved a path of devastation through an entire swath of our state to escalating property insurance, affordability and condo crises — we have our work cut out for us, work that will directly impact the lives of millions of Floridians and have ripple effects for generations to come.
“In the coming years, I hope that we all remember precisely why we were elected — to serve. In order to do that, we must first listen to our constituents. All of them. Those with whom we agree, and even more important, those with whom we do not.
“Because we learn the most through interactions that reveal a different perspective.
“And while there is not currently balance in this chamber, the people we represent are far more evenly divided on many of the most important issues that will be raised amongst us.
“I have shared these words before, but they bear repeating.
“It is important to me that you understand that my caucus intends to conduct ourselves as this great democracy demands: as the loyal opposition. The vocal minority whose voice is heard, despite the obvious math of the vote-count.
“We will be speaking for those who sent us to Tallahassee, and as the voices of those in your districts who may think, and believe, differently than you do. That is the role a strong representative democracy requires of us.
“We are not here to merely occupy seats; we are here to lead, to challenge, and to hold those with power accountable when they stray from the principles of justice and equity, because we wholeheartedly believe that every Floridian deserves the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.
“Legislation should involve compromise. We do not represent a monolith. Florida is a beautifully diverse state. It is full of different people with different needs and one size will absolutely not fit all. Our work here should reflect that every single day, no matter what the issue.
“We will serve with integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to our principles and to the purpose of ensuring that we take into account the perspectives you may find inconvenient to your purposes.
“We are committed to working with each of you whenever possible, yet we will not hesitate to oppose legislation that we deem harmful or unjust.
“Entering my second term as leader of the House Democrats in a Republican-controlled state government, I have fully internalized — it would be much easier on us if we didn’t fight.
“But our country was founded on the argument that there should be ‘no taxation without representation’ — how could we now abandon that ideal when there is so much on the line? The founding fathers set us on this path and they created our system of government with the intention that the voices of the minority needed to be heard and respected.
“We will hold the line, and we will fight for what we believe in. We will be the voice of reason, the voice of conscience, and the voice of the people. We will not be complicit in the dehumanization of ourselves or of others.
“I am hopeful that we will honor the individuals who travel to Tallahassee to speak with us by ensuring that they have the opportunity to speak in committee without undue restriction.
“In light of the clear mandate of a significant majority of voters — the very same voters who sent us to this chamber — I am hopeful that we can revisit the restrictions currently placed on women and their ability to have agency over their own bodies and give medical professionals the clearer guidance they have been asking for.
“In light of the multiple hurricanes that have hit our communities this season and the cascading increases in insurance costs, we must revisit the systems that were implemented by the majority of the Legislature over the last several sessions.
“With continuing gun violence here in our state and across the nation, we must stop regressing from the progress we made with the laws passed after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting and instead return to a place where we put our children’s safety first.
“With sliding SAT scores three years in a row, we must fight for public education that uplifts every child, regardless of their ZIP code. With roughly 12.7% of Floridians living in poverty, well above the national average, we must create economic pathways for families to build a brighter future.
“We will challenge legislation that marginalizes, discriminates, or divides. We will oppose efforts to weaken public services, to strip away essential rights, and to erode the foundations of our democracy.
“But let us be very clear: accountability is not just about opposition. It is about offering ideas and solutions, about being a voice for those who have been silenced, and about proving that the government can and should be a force for good. When we speak out, it is not to tear down, but to fight for a stronger, fairer future for everyone in the best way we know how. Our caucus is ready to work closely with our fellow members to pursue policies to improve the quality of life of all Floridians.
“As we prepare for the 2025 legislative session, let us do so with a spirit of purpose and resolve. Let us be the voice for those who feel unheard, the advocates for those who feel unseen, and the champions for those who feel forgotten.
“We have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to shape the future of Florida. Let us rise to this moment, not with hesitation, but with the conviction that our work here matters, that our voices are powerful, and that our collective actions can create lasting change.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”
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This article appears in Nov 14-20, 2024.