Agreement Sets Stage for Florida Budget Talks
House and Senate leaders have reached an agreement that enables lawmakers to begin hammering out details of a spending plan today, June 3.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Nearly a month after leaving the Capitol without passing a budget, House and Senate leaders said Friday night they had reached an agreement that will clear the way for lawmakers to begin hammering out details of a spending plan today, June 3.
House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, issued memos that indicated they expect to pass a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year on June 16.
The memos came after weeks of behind-the-scenes talks aimed at trying to kick-start the conference negotiating process.
It also includes what the memos described as $350 million in "permanent sales tax exemptions targeted towards Florida families," $250 million in debt reduction, and $750 million in annual payments into a state rainy-day fund.
“In total, the framework set forth in these allocations provides for a fiscally responsible, balanced budget that reduces state spending, lowers per capita spending, and reduces the growth of state bureaucracy,” Albritton wrote in his memo to senators. “The budget authorizes early payoff of state debt, accounts for significant, broad-based tax relief, and builds on historic state reserves for emergencies.”
Conference committees will start meeting Tuesday to negotiate details of the different parts of the budget, such as education, health care and criminal justice. Unresolved issues will go Thursday to House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, and Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Trinity, for further negotiations.
The fiscal year will start July 1, which, if a budget passes June 16, will give Gov. Ron DeSantis two weeks to use his line-item veto authority.
The House and Senate were unable to reach agreement on a budget before the scheduled May 2 end of the annual legislative session because of differences about tax cuts and spending levels. Lawmakers extended the session, but House and Senate leaders remained at odds as they worked behind the scenes.
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