For decades, Florida’s bishops, along with their brother bishops across the US, have been consistent in their calls for Congress to pass multifaceted reform of the nation’s immigration system. Church teaching recognizes a country’s right and responsibility to promote public order, safety, and security through well-regulated borders and just limits on immigration. The remedy for our inadequate immigration system should take place at the federal level, not through piecemeal policies at the state level.
Florida legislators gathered in Tallahassee on Monday, January 27, 2025, to convene for a special session called by Governor DeSantis to address a range of topics, including immigration. After a short period of announcements, the House and Senate adjourned, only to re-adjourn in a separate special session called by legislative leaders to take up and pass their own immigration legislation instead of the governor's broader plan.
The 60-day regular Florida legislative session is set to begin on March 4 and run through May 2, 2025. Each year, the FCCB releases its policy priorities prior to the start of the annual legislative session. Key issues for 2025 have been identified and are listed under the advocacy areas of Life & Dignity, Health Care, Family & Social Concerns, and Education on our website.
In the United States, January 22 is designated as a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. The day is to be observed in prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.
Florida's Bishops invite you to join them in Tallahassee to advocate for the protection of human life and dignity as lawmakers continue the important work of shaping Florida's laws and future for the common good. Each year during the legislative session, Catholics from across the state gather in Florida's capital city to put their faith and civic responsibility into action.
Recently, Catholic advocates like you urged President Biden to commute the death sentences of the 40 people who were on federal death row. Thanks in large part to those efforts, President Biden commuted 37 of those death sentences on December 23.
Joseph P. Harmon, PhD, joined the Conference in January. Joe works under the direction of the executive director and is a member of the policy team. He is responsible for assisting with review of bills filed in each legislative session, research and position development.