DES MOINES, Iowa — What a difference a year and a not-so-successful presidential campaign makes.

Last year, Florida’s annual legislative session became a 60-day grinding marathon as Republicans in charge pushed through a long line of conservative and controversial proposals on abortion, sexual orientation and guns that Gov. Ron DeSantis would ultimately use as selling points for his presidential bid.

Ahead of this year’s session that starts Tuesday, however, the Florida governor spent most of his days in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he’s been campaigning to win the GOP presidential nomination. DeSantis, who has struggled to gain traction in the race, is scheduled to dip back into Tallahassee on Tuesday to give his annual “State of the State” speech, but so far he has laid out only a threadbare agenda compared to previous years.

His focus on his presidential campaign instead of the session — the most important several months for lawmakers in the state — has left legislators frustrated. He hasn’t rolled out a long line of policy initiatives he wants from legislators or communicated to legislative leaders what he wants done.

“We really don’t know what this session is about, which is odd,” said state Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the leader of the House Democrats.

It’s quite a remarkable turnabout for a governor who has multiple times pressed legislators into action, including pushing them........

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