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HJR 1325

Succession to Office of Governor, Auditing, and Government Efficiency

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tyler Sirois and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a Cabinet-level Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) to investigate fraud/waste/abuse; eliminates the Lt. Governor and defers succession to statute.

Died in Rules
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Bill Summary · HJR 1325

Summary — HJR 1325: Succession to Office of Governor, Auditing, and Government Efficiency

Status: Died in Rules (House) — final legislative action: Died in Rules, 2025-06-16
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Classification: House Joint Resolution (proposes state constitutional amendment)
Sponsor(s): Sirois, Snyder
Companion: SJR 1756

Purpose / Intent

Proposes a Florida Constitutional amendment to (1) create a new statewide Cabinet office — the Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) — charged with investigating and reporting on fraud, waste, and abuse; (2) eliminate the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; and (3) repeal the Government Efficiency Task Force and the constitutional requirement that the Legislature appoint an auditor to audit public records.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) as a Cabinet officer with responsibility to investigate and report on fraud, waste, and abuse.
  • Places the COGE among Governor-and-Cabinet officers and names the COGE as head of (or member of the governance of) certain entities, including: Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and on the boards/trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, the Land Acquisition Trust Fund, and the State Board of Administration.
  • Eliminates the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; modifies succession framework by leaving detailed succession procedure to statutes enacted by the Legislature (instead of automatic succession by Lieutenant Governor).
  • Repeals the quadrennial Government Efficiency Task Force and the constitutional requirement that the Legislature appoint an auditor to audit public records.
  • Transition and election timing:
    • Legislature to convene no later than March 2, 2027, to appoint the first COGE by concurrent resolution.
    • Appointee serves until the 2028 general election; that appointee is prohibited from running for the office.
    • In 2028 the office would transition to an elected position to complete the remainder (two years) of the term.
    • Beginning in 2030 the COGE would be elected on the same four‑year cycle as Governor/Cabinet and subject to the same eight‑year term limit.
    • In 2044 voters would be given an opportunity to vote on whether to repeal the COGE.
  • Effective dates if approved by voters:
    • Elimination of Government Efficiency Task Force and creation of COGE: upon approval.
    • Elimination of Lieutenant Governor: effective January 5, 2027.

Fiscal / Practical Impact

  • Fiscal impact: Indeterminate but likely insignificant. Creation of COGE may add costs, partially offset by repeal of Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Task Force.
  • Administrative/election costs: statutory requirements to publish amendment text and distribute materials to supervisors of elections would impose standard election-related costs.
  • Legal/practical impact: changes the constitutional succession framework by removing the Lieutenant Governor as automatic successor and delegating succession specifics to statute.

Legislative Procedure & Votes

  • Committee actions: Government Operations — favorable 14 Y, 3 N; State Affairs (as CS) — favorable 17 Y, 8 N.
  • Floor: Committee Substitute (CS) passed House 3rd reading as amended on 4/16/2025 — YEAS 82, NAYS 32.
  • Final: Indefinitely postponed/withdrawn 5/03/2025; Died in Rules 6/16/2025 — therefore the measure did not reach voters.

Approval Thresholds (for placement and adoption if revived)

  • To appear on ballot: 3/5 vote of membership of both legislative houses.
  • For adoption by voters: at least 60% of electors voting on the measure.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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