While not addressing a special legislative session sought by Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, discussed economic issues as he spoke Wednesday to business leaders about the 2022 regular session, which will start in January.

Simpson, who is running for agriculture commissioner next year, joined other state officials in promoting Florida ports as an alternative to the bottleneck of cargo ships off southern California. He also pointed to continuing Republican priorities.

“For Florida to stay strong in the future, it is going to be doing more of the same things that we have done for the last decade,” Simpson said during the opening day of the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s two-day Future of Florida Forum in Orlando. “That’s low taxes, low regulation, infrastructure, education and getting out of the way of entrepreneurs.”

Earlier Wednesday, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis listed as a 2022 legislative priority securing $10 million to provide new equipment and training for Florida’s urban search and rescue task forces. Patronis also said his office is working on proposals that would provide incentives to residents to make improvements that will harden their homes against hurricanes.

DeSantis last week requested holding a special session to push back against federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates. But dates and details of a special session have not been announced. DeSantis and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, are scheduled to speak Thursday at the Florida Chamber forum.