As we alluded to this morning, House Republicans plan to caucus tomorrow evening and set in motion a process to replace Ray Sansom as speaker.

Under caucus rules, Sansom is currently the "Republican leader." Tomorrow evening, he will lose that title and a 15-day deadline will commence to pick a new leader. Candidates would have seven days to file. But a two-thirds vote of the caucus could sidestep that waiting period and pick a new leader immediately.

That would likely be Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, who is already acting as speaker while Sansom deals with legal issues over his dealings with Northwest Florida State College.

Even then, Cretul would not be the official, permanent speaker. That would have to wait until March 3, the first day of regular session, as a new speaker must be chosen by the full House.