The Florida Legislature went home from their 60-day legislative session on Friday night without passing a budget, but did vote to extend the regular session no later than June 6.
The Senate and House voted on a resolution (HCR 1631) that lists 16 bills that they will consider when they return, likely beginning in the week of May 12, with only bills related to the budget on the agenda.
Senate President Ben Albritton said on the floor of the Senate that the House and Senate had reached a framework for a budget plan, which will include $2.8 billion in tax relief, “the most historic tax relief package in the history of our state.”
“Floridians expect and deserve a balanced budget that reduces state spending, lowers per capita spending, and reduces the growth of state bureaucracy,” he said. “I am committed to working with our partners in the Florida House to pass a budget that reduces debt, accounts for significant, broad-based tax relief, and maintains historic state reserves for emergencies.”
There remains about a $4 billion gap between the proposed budgets passed by the House and Senate last month. The new fiscal year opens on July 1.
Friday’s session included several hour-long breaks sprinkled throughout the day as lawmakers worked to prepare bills that could still win approval in both chambers. In some cases, they couldn’t find common ground, and those bills died on the floor.
Hurricane recovery
One measure they did pass on Friday (SB 180) is aimed at strengthening hurricane relief and recovery and enhance response efforts in Florida. Pinellas County Republican Nick DiCeglie, the bill sponsor, cited the ways local governments in his district handled (or mishandled) recovery efforts following the devastating one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall.
The bill prohibits local governments from increasing building permit or inspection fees for six months after a hurricane or tropical storm emergency declared by the governor or federal government.
It requires local governments to develop post-storm permitting plans that provide for special building permits and inspection procedures. It also says that local governments must ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available post-storm for “expeditious building inspections, permitting and enforcement tasks.
Local governments must lay out multiple locations where building permit services will be offered in person during regular business hours at a minimum.
“Multiple major hurricanes ravaged Florida last year, leaving extensive damage statewide,” said DiCeglie.
“After a storm, Floridians need a clear path to recovery. We’re fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes. Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm.”
Earlier in the day, the Senate quickly voted on one of the most controversial bills of the session — making it more difficult for citizens to place constitutional amendments on the state ballot. The two chambers had bounced the bill back and forth between them for three days before passing it mostly along party lines (with newly independent Sen. Jason Pizzo joining the Republicans in supporting it).
The Senate voted final passage at 1:44 p.m. The governor signed it at 7:57 p.m., according to legislative records.
“The Speaker said that good things come to those who wait,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell. “Well, Floridians have been waiting an awful long time, and they want us to get property insurance costs under control. They want us to make sure that they have housing affordability, affordable healthcare costs.”
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
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