Florida Lawmakers Conclude Budget Talks: $115B Plan Heads to DeSantis!

Wauchula, Florida, USA - In a somewhat dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Legislative Session, Florida lawmakers have finalized a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. After two extensions and a lengthy negotiation period, the budget was finally approved on June 16, 2025, just a fortnight before a potential government shutdown. The total budget amounts to $115.1 billion—$3 billion less than last year’s budget of over $118 billion. This marks a reduction that lawmakers say reflects shifting priorities and ongoing fiscal discussions.

A notable aspect of this year’s budget negotiations was the significant disagreement between the House and Senate regarding tax cuts. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton indicated a shift in strategy, signaling an end to large budget increases that have characterized previous sessions. Florida’s budget has climbed from $93 billion five years ago to last year’s peak of over $116 billion, but for the upcoming budget, there will be no dramatic increase. The current budget represents a $1.5 billion reduction from the previous year and falls short of Governor Ron DeSantis’s proposed plan by $500 million, as Florida Politics reports.

Cooling Off and Tax Cuts

After finalizing the spending plan, a mandatory 72-hour cooling-off period began before a final vote could take place. This procedure allows lawmakers a breath of air to consider the implications of their decisions. Despite the cooling-off period, the legislature moved swiftly, with a vote scheduled on Monday, following Click Orlando report.

The budget’s tax provisions have stirred both excitement and discontent among various stakeholders. A $1.3 billion tax cut package, which includes a back-to-school sales tax holiday and the repeal of the business rent tax, is expected to impact state revenues significantly—by around $904.8 million. While the Florida Chamber of Commerce has praised these cuts as beneficial for local competitiveness, critics, including many Democrats, argue that they disproportionately favor corporations over working families and fail to address other pressing affordability issues. This highlights the ongoing tension in Florida’s approach to fiscal policy as lawmakers strive to strike a balance between encouraging growth and ensuring equity.

Budget Details and Future Prospects

The budget also earmarks substantial allocations for public employees, with a guaranteed raise of at least 2% or $1,000, effective July 1, showing some commitment to improving compensation. Notably, it includes $580 million for one-time debt repayments, which encompasses $230 million dedicated to environmental bonds, as discussed by Tallahassee.com.

A critical area of focus in this budget is environmental conservation, as it allocates $460.7 million for water-related projects—though it is less than the Senate’s original request. This continued investment suggests that lawmakers recognize the importance of sustainability, despite budgetary constraints. The total for spending on various projects and programs comes in around $560 million, covering schools, roads, and cultural initiatives.

However, lingering questions remain regarding the state’s approach to property taxes and future budgetary discussions. Lawmakers anticipate that property tax reforms will be a point of continued debate as they head into the next session. Meanwhile, Governor DeSantis, currently engaged in a trade mission in France, has two weeks to sign the budget, raising speculation on potential vetoes as well.

This latest budget reflects a period of change in Florida, as lawmakers grapple with the nuances of fiscal responsibility while navigating the demands of their constituents. It will be intriguing to see how these decisions unfold as the state approaches a new fiscal year on July 1, and what ramifications they will have on residents throughout Florida.