Florida lawmakers finalized a $117 billion budget and a $1.3 billion tax package to end a legislative session that carried out many of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ priorities.
While Republicans and Democrats battled throughout the session on major policy issues, the House and Senate passed the budget (SB 2500) and tax package (HB 7063) with little opposition.
The tax package includes a series of expanded sales-tax “holidays” on back-to-school items, disaster-preparedness gear and summer events. The package, which DeSantis is expected to sign, also would trim a commercial-lease tax and give tax breaks on purchases ranging from diapers for babies and adults to cattle fencing, firearm-storage devices and gas stoves.
“We have a lot of money to do extra things with. You are seeing that with investments into education, investments into infrastructure, and investments into the environment. With all of those investments, we still have extra money. It’s only right to give that money back to the taxpayers,” Senate Finance and Tax Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, said.
While DeSantis has line-item veto power, the budget passed Friday would be 6.4 percent higher than the spending plan for the current fiscal year, which will end June 30.
The budget and related bills include 5% across-the-board pay raises for state employees, with additional increases for certain workers. The plan also places $10.9 billion into easily accessible reserves.
Lawmakers approved putting a record $26.7 billion into the Florida Education Finance Program, the main funding source for public schools. That represents an increase of $2.2 billion over the current year.
“The school districts are important. The charter schools are important. Private options are important. And we put the money where our mouth is on that,” DeSantis said.
Lawmakers also bolstered a multi-year plan to boost teacher salaries, pumping an additional $252 million into the effort.
The budget also includes $350 million for what has been dubbed the Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program, which would help hedge against unanticipated financial impacts from the expansion of school vouchers.
Lawmakers and DeSantis approved a bill (HB 1) that will make every Florida student eligible to receive vouchers. A Senate summary of the budget said the stabilization money is designed to “protect districts from financial instability as a result of changes” to student enrollment throughout the year.
Lawmakers also provided $107.5 million for DeSantis’ goal of expanding the recently revived Florida State Guard and $3 million for bonuses to build and maintain the Florida National Guard.
The Florida State Guard was initially set up during World War II to replace Florida National Guard members who were deployed abroad. It went inactive in 1947 but remained in state law. As it was revived last year, the state guard was promoted as assisting the Florida National Guard during emergencies.
Also, the budget includes $19 million to cover $5,000 hiring and retention bonuses for correctional officers at 15 Department of Corrections facilities with high vacancy rates. Another $8.5 million would go to raise salaries of correctional officers in privately operated facilities.
As for priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, lawmakers provided $711 million through a bill to help expand workforce housing and approved $200 million to bring bicycle and hiking trails to a planned statewide wildlife corridor, which would get $850 million.
For the environment, $100 million is headed to the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which supports the purchase of conservation easements to shield agricultural land from development. The budget also would provide $574.6 million for Everglades restoration, $300 million to combat rising seas, $104.9 million to restore the Indian River Lagoon, $50 million for the state’s natural springs, and $12.8 million to fight algae blooms.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION STAT LINE: General bills filed in House and Senate: 1,679; passed first chamber: 385; passed both House and Senate: 320; percentage of general bills passed: 19.1.
Local bills filed: 42; passed both House and Senate: 28; percentage of local bills passed: 66.7.
