Rural Renaissance, Property Taxes, And A DeSantis Tribute: Albritton Delivers Opening Day Remarks

By Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix

January 13, 2026

Florida Senate President Ben Albritton gaveled in the chamber Tuesday for 2026 legislative session, outlining his priorities of revitalizing rural Florida and cutting costs — while offering a tribute to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

It will be DeSantis’ final session as governor, whose tenure Albritton characterized as “unpredictable, surprising, energetic, trailblazing,” and, at times, “rough and tumble.” The Wauchula Republican acknowledged the “different” session experienced last year, but, he said “we completed our mission.”

“I’m not king of the Senate — collaboration and communication are the driving forces here,” Albritton told lawmakers, speaking to a chamber packed with senators’ families, the Cabinet, and Lt. Gov Jay Collins, himself a former senator. DeSantis, ahead of his State of the State address, was not present.

“I’m here to serve Floridians and each of you, in my own way, using Biblical principles,” Albritton continued.

The 2025 session was marked by an unanticipated rebellion against DeSantis by the GOP supermajority Legislature. Spearheaded by House Speaker Danny Perez — and briefly supported by Albritton — lawmakers insisted on asserting independence from the governor, a stark contrast to the domination DeSantis enjoyed for most of his administration.

The mass discord led to disagreements over the budget, the only measure constitutionally required to pass each year. It ended up being signed into law just days before the July 1 deadline.

Albritton, entering his second and final year as Senate president, launched into a salute to what he characterized as the Trump administration’s dedication to rural America. He described a discussion he had with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who Albritton said plans to make his “Rural Renaissance” legislation a “national model across the United States.”

Last session, Albritton’s “Rural Renaissance” package died when the House refused to adopt Senate language. Its provisions — revitalized this year — include funding for rural roads, housing, education, healthcare, and business to the tune of $217.9 million.

Part of this rural focus will extend to citrus, a driving force in Florida’s agricultural economy, Albritton said. This will expand on last year’s “Make Citrus Great Again” and “Farmers Feeding Florida” initiatives.

“Citrus has been a pillar of our state since the 1500s and remains a key part of Florida’s Rural Renaissance,” Albritton said. “Research and new technologies offered renewed hope for the future of citrus in Florida. I’m keeping my foot on the gas — Florida Citrus is not going down on my watch.”

The Senate president’s other priority this session is affordability. However, he cautioned that the Legislature’s ability to address skyrocketing costs is limited.

“We have to be honest with constituents. The ability of the Florida Legislature — in a 60-day session — to influence the price of goods and services within a state economy that is largely driven by national and international economic trends is pretty limited,” Albritton said, taking care to praise Trump’s tax cuts.

Costs have been a dominating issue in Florida politics in the past few years, most recently rearing its head in the form of property taxes. Soaring taxes on homes have sparked a GOP insistence on either eliminating the taxes or seriously slashing them.

The call first came from DeSantis ahead of the 2025 session, but fears of eliminating funding for law enforcement, schools, fire departments, and other public works has proven a hefty obstacle. This year, DeSantis has floated a late spring special session to solve the problem.

“I look forward to providing voters the opportunity to pass meaningful property tax relief,” Albritton said. “And, again this year, the Florida Legislature will pass a balanced budget that holds the line on state spending, pays down debt, cuts taxes, and saves for the future.

“That’s the strong fiscal-responsibility Floridians expect and deserve, and that’s the single best thing we in the Florida Legislature can do to keep our state on the right track,” he added.

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