Florida lawmakers defy DeSantis with early exit from special session he demanded

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican, immediately gaveled out of the special session declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), decrying it as a “stunt,” leading lawmakers to gavel into their own.

Both Perez and Republican state Senate President Ben Albritton had called the session “premature” when it was declared two weeks ago, but they had largely been quiet on how they would approach the session after DeSantis warned it would be “very, very hazardous politically” if they defied him.