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Florida Legislature Approves $114.5 Billion Budget and Tax Package

The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis whose line‑item veto power could materially change funding for schools, restoration projects, and pay raises.

Overview

  • Lawmakers sent the $114.5 billion fiscal 2026–27 spending plan to the governor after votes on Friday that were unanimous in the Senate and 99-6 in the House.
  • The budget allocates roughly $30 billion for K-12 education while keeping about $4.5 billion for school-choice scholarships inside the main K-12 funding formula.
  • Major line items include $514 million for Everglades restoration, $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands easement program, $196 million for the citrus industry, and $4 million in restitution for the Groveland Four families.
  • The plan funds targeted pay increases—a 4% raise for state law enforcement, firefighters, and park rangers and a proposed bump for corrections officers from $22 to $24 per hour—and adds $75 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to stabilize access to HIV medicines.
  • Lawmakers approved about $272.2 million in tax relief and scheduled a separate special session on property-tax changes while key disputes remain over voucher oversight, post-term security funding, and which items DeSantis may veto before the July 1 effective date.