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Florida House elects Daniel Perez as speaker, adopts rules amid objections
Summary
At its organization session, the Florida House elected Daniel Perez as speaker and adopted House and joint rules; Democrats nominated Fentress Driscoll and voiced concerns about new time-management provisions but the rules were adopted by voice vote. Leadership posts and committee appointments were announced before the chamber adjourned sine die.
Daniel (Danny) Perez was elected speaker of the Florida House of Representatives on a voice vote during the chamber’s organization session. After Justice Curiel administered the oath, Perez said the House’s priority should be serving everyday Floridians and emphasized fiscal discipline and practical results over headline programs.
The session began with the clerk reading a certificate of election from Secretary of State Cord Bird and seating members-elect. The clerk reported a quorum of 101 members before ceremonial items including presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.
Nominations for speaker were made on the floor. Representative Kennedy nominated Daniel Perez; Representative Garrison seconded and delivered an extended endorsement. Representative Skidmore had earlier nominated Fentress Driscoll as the Democratic leader’s speaker designate; Driscoll used her recognition to frame the minority caucus as a “loyal opposition” and to outline broad policy priorities including disaster response, education, public safety and attention to rising poverty.
Driscoll later moved that nominations cease and asked that a unanimous vote be recorded for Perez; the House agreed and Perez was declared elected. After taking the oath, Perez told members he preferred measurable, durable solutions to symbolic programs: “We are the people's house, and it is the people of our state that should be our priority,” he said.
The House then moved to its internal business. Representative Garrison introduced House Resolution 10, which establishes the rules of the House for the 2024–2026 term. Representative Gottlieb spoke in opposition, arguing that time-management provisions in the proposed rules have curtailed debate and limited the opportunity for the opposition voice to be heard. Gottlieb urged members to vote no and called for a return to longer, more deliberate debate.
Garrison closed debate and HR 10 was adopted by voice vote. The record on the floor shows some members voiced opposition during the vote, but the transcript does not include a roll-call tally for the final adoption. The House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 20, establishing joint rules for the Legislature for the 2024–2026 term.
The House appointed a committee to inform the Senate that the House is organized and announced leadership and staff appointments, including the selection of Representative Wyman Duggan as speaker pro tempore by the Republican conference; his selection was recorded by unanimous consent and he was sworn in. The clerk was authorized to make technical and grammatical corrections to the rules for publication in the journal, and organization-session remarks were ordered spread upon the journal.
Representative Garrison moved that the House adjourn sine die; members agreed and the chamber stood adjourned.
Votes at a glance - Acceptance of Secretary of State certification: motion moved by Representative Robinson W; approved by voice vote. (Exact roll-call not specified.) - Election of Speaker Daniel Perez: nomination process concluded by motion of Representative Driscoll to cease nominations and record a unanimous vote; Perez declared elected by voice vote. (Recorded as unanimous by the motion; transcript records voice agreement.) - Adoption of House Resolution 10 (House rules): moved and explained by Representative Garrison; opposed on the floor by Representative Gottlieb; adopted by voice vote. (Exact tally not specified.) - Adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 (joint rules): adopted by voice vote. (Exact tally not specified.)
Key quotes “We are the people's house, and it is the people of our state that should be our priority,” — Daniel Perez, after being sworn in as Speaker. “These rules have changed so as to restrict debate and deny the people of the state of Florida the opportunity for the opposition voice to be heard,” — Representative Gottlieb, opposing HR 10.
What happens next With organization complete, the House set its internal rules and leadership for the coming session. The clerk will publish the corrected rules in the House journal and the appointed committee will inform the Senate that the House is organized. No legislative measures were passed during this session; it was limited to organizational and procedural actions.
