A proposed constitutional amendment filed on Thursday would eliminate the office of lieutenant governor, restructuring the state’s executive branch and revising the gubernatorial line of succession.
House Joint Resolution 1325, put forth by Reps. Tyler Sirois and John Snyder, seeks to repeal Section 2 of Article IV of the Florida Constitution, which establishes the lieutenant governor’s position. The role, which carries no independent constitutional authority, primarily serves at the discretion of the governor.
The resolution removes references to the lieutenant governor in other constitutional provisions, including the role from impeachment procedures, and term-limit restrictions. The measure would also eliminate the requirement that gubernatorial candidates select a running mate and run as a joint ticket in general elections. If the amendment is approved, Florida law would need to be revised to establish a new succession plan for the governorship in the event of a vacancy, impeachment, or incapacity.
The resolution includes additional changes beyond the lieutenant governor’s removal, such as the elimination of the Government Efficiency Task Force and replacing it with the Office of the Commissioner of Government Efficiency, a new Cabinet-level position tasked with “auditing and investigating fraud, waste, and mismanagement in the executive branch and local governments.” The first commissioner would be appointed by the Legislature in 2027 before transitioning to an elected position in 2028.
If adopted by the Legislature, the proposal would be placed on the ballot for voter approval in the next general election or a special election authorized for that purpose. A statewide referendum in 2044 would determine whether the office should be retained, with an automatic repeal set for December 31, 2046, if voters choose to eliminate the position.
0 Comments