Florida House Unveils Lean $113.6 Billion Budget as Senate Counters With $115 Billion Plan

Overview

• The House plan lands roughly $1 billion below last year’s final budget and about $4 billion under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ December request.
• It caps the emergency preparedness fund at $100 million, limits use to declared natural disasters, bans spending on aircraft, boats and motor vehicles, requires sworn annual reports, and routes federal reimbursements to the general fund.
• The proposal omits funding for DeSantis-backed immigration enforcement projects, including the Everglades facility, and provides no money for the Florida State Guard.
• The Senate released a $115 billion plan that leaders say restrains spending and directs about $30 billion to K-12 schools and scholarships, a $693 million increase with per-student funding up about $151 and $1.4 billion for teacher raises.
• Senate leaders said they had sought a coordinated rollout with the House; committees will take up the Senate plan next week as both chambers work toward a single balanced budget.