Who is Wilton Simpson? The Florida Legislature against DeSantis's immigration bill
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Legislature convened on Monday, as required by the state constitution, for Gov. DeSantis's special session to address immigration enforcement.
Although the legislature convened, the meeting only lasted for a number of minutes before they adjourned and reconvened with their own special session focusing on a different immigration bill.
RELATED: Florida lawmakers end special session called by Governor DeSantis, call their own session
The legislature then put together their own immigration bill which they're calling the TRUMP Act, "Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy,". This would make the agriculture commissioner the state's new "Chief Immigration Officer".
The TRUMP Act allots half a billion dollars to law enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration, and it repeals in-state tuition for the children of those who are undocumented.
The other side:
Gov. DeSantis was not happy with how the special session he called for was handled or the legislative session that followed. The governor stated in a response video posted on X that he was unhappy with the immigration enforcement power being "stripped" from him, and he called the TRUMP Act "substantially weaker".
Who is Wilton Simpson?
Dig deeper:
Wilton Simpson is Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture. A fifth-generation Floridian and lifelong farmer, Simpson has dedicated over 40 years to managing a large-scale egg-laying operation.
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Simpson leads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In his first legislative session in the role, Simpson prioritized securing the future of Florida agriculture, emphasizing the importance of locally grown food, defending Second Amendment rights, and defining agriculture as a national security issue.
The department’s responsibilities include protecting the environment, ensuring the safety and affordability of the food supply, and advocating for Florida consumers.
From 2012 to 2022, Simpson served in the Florida Senate, where he was elected Senate President for the 2020-2022 term. During his tenure, he navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for policies that kept Florida open and thriving. He also championed agriculture, securing historic funding and enacting key protections such as the Right to Farm Act and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act.
Simpson, a resident of Pasco County, lives with his wife, Kathy. They have their son Wilton Jr. and his wife Caroline living nearby, along with their daughter Lauran, her husband Kenten, and their daughters, Addy and Emy.
With a lifelong commitment to agriculture and public service, Simpson continues to work toward ensuring Florida’s farmers, consumers, and natural resources thrive for generations to come, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source: The information in this article comes from the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and X.