About
DeSantis entered office in 2019 and positioned Florida as a testing ground for conservative policy experimentation, from expansive school-choice programs to aggressive Everglades restoration that quadrupled funding levels. His administration retired nearly half of Florida's accumulated taxpayer-supported debt while tripling rainy-day reserves and funding record teacher salary increases, establishing minimum educator pay at $47,500—the highest in the Southeast. As his tenure winds down in 2026, DeSantis has emphasized legislative accomplishments including elimination of taxes on business rent and baby items, congestion relief projects, and water quality upgrades affecting South Florida ecosystems like Biscayne Bay. His education policies—particularly voucher programs and school board endorsements—have reshaped Miami-Dade's conservative direction while drawing criticism from educators over reduced public school funding. DeSantis' final legislative session priorities include election integrity measures and addressing Florida's property insurance and condominium cost crises.
