Chris Dawson, Attorney, GrayRobinson
The Florida Legislature entered the 2022 regular session with two primary objectives: pass a state spending plan for 2022-2023 and redraw the state’s legislative and congressional maps as part of the once-in-a-decade redistricting process. After sixty days of session and some overtime for the record-breaking, $112.1B state budget, Florida lawmakers find themselves with more work to do before they can hit the campaign trail for the 2022 election season. Efforts to redraw the state’s congressional districts hit a roadblock with Governor DeSantis’ veto pen and legislators will return for a special session to try again on congressional maps. Despite this unfinished business, the Legislature had a very productive regular session this year. Let’s take a look at the 2022 regular session “by the numbers” on the following pages.
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States Census. Florida was apportioned 28 seats In the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 Census, one more than it received after the 2010 Census.
The Florida Legislature passed CS/SJR 100, which contains state House and Senate districts for the qualification, nomination and election of members of the Florida Legislature in the primary and general elections held in 2022 and thereafter. On March 3, 2022,
the Florida Supreme Court deemed the state House and Senate maps valid pursuant to their constitutional review.
The Florida Legislature passed CS/SB 102, which contains the congressional districts to serve for the qualification, nomination and election of members to the U.S. House of Representatives in the primary and general elections held in 2022 and thereafter. In an
unprecedented move, the bill also contains a secondary map to become effective should the primary map be invalidated. Where these maps differ is how they treat the 5th Congressional District, a predominantly black district that currently stretches from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. Governor Ron Desantis has insisted the current district is unconstitutional. The primary map appears to be a concession to Governor Desantis’ position and draws a more compact 5th District around Jacksonville, while the secondary
map – which would kick in if courts strike down the primary map – maintains its current orientation. Rep. Tom Leek, House
Redistricting Committee Chair stated the primary map does not diminish overall minority access because it simply shifts the black
seat to the East. He also said the top-tier minority protections in Florida’s Constitution aren’t based on county lines but population centers.
Governor Desantis received and quickly vetoed the Florida Legislature’s congressional maps as he said he would do even before the Florida House and Senate formally voted on and approved them. In coordination with Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Governor Desantis called a special session from April 19 through April 22 to redraw the maps.
Chris Dawson is an Attorney and professional Lobbyist for GrayRobinson’s Orlando office and is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Alabama. He primarily focuses on lobbying and government relations for public and private sector clients at the executive and legislative levels of state government. He is credentialed as a Designated Professional Lobbyist by the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. Chris also holds two degrees in Civil Engineering and has experience in construction litigation and design professional malpractice defense.
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