The Florida Legislature reached a deal on a $114.5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, including pay raises for law enforcement, corrections officers, and teachers, as well as record K-12 education funding. The budget heads to Governor DeSantis, who has signaled potential vetoes.
Florida lawmakers are set to vote on a proposed $114.5 billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, following a special session that concluded with a deal early Tuesday.
The budget, along with implementing and conforming bills, was distributed to House and Senate members at 11:41 a.m. Tuesday, triggering a constitutionally required 72-hour cooling off period before final votes can occur. The vote is expected around noon Friday. This year's spending plan is $500 million less than the current $115.1 billion budget, which was ultimately reduced to $114.8 billion after Governor Ron DeSantis exercised his veto power.
During a recent news conference, DeSantis warned he may further cut this year's plan, noting his tendency to veto projects from lawmakers who oppose his agenda while supporting those aligned with his goals. His largest veto came in 2022 when he slashed over $3 billion from the approved budget. The budget required a special session for the second consecutive year, as lawmakers failed to reach a consensus during the regular session.
The tax package accompanying the budget includes various relief measures, though specifics were not immediately detailed. The 72-hour waiting period is designed to give lawmakers time to review the nearly 500-page document before voting. Last year's budget saw DeSantis veto over $300 million in projects, and he has indicated he will scrutinize this year's plan similarly. The governor's influence on spending priorities remains a key factor in Florida's budget process.
The budget includes significant pay increases for state law enforcement officers, firefighters, park rangers, and corrections officers. Law enforcement and first responders would receive a 4 percent pay raise, a topic debated for over a year. Corrections officers' salaries would increase from $22 to $24 per hour. Governor DeSantis emphasized the need to hire more personnel in corrections and highway patrol during a February 2025 press conference.
Education funding is a major component, with approximately $30 billion allocated for K-12 public schools, school choice programs, and teacher raises, including bonuses for teachers with at least 10 years of experience in Florida. This would mark the highest one-year education investment in state history. The chambers agreed to prevent deep cuts to school districts facing declining enrollment, a measure prompted by emergency administration in Union and Glades counties.
The ongoing debate over the state voucher program resulted in maintaining $4.5 billion for scholarships within the main funding formula, despite Senate concerns about mismanagement highlighted in a November audit. A measure setting aside $7 million for capital improvements at private schools in financially disadvantaged areas was amended to require the funds to be spent in rural counties with less than 10,000 people, with disbursement by Dec. 1.
Healthcare provisions include a compromise on the Cancer Innovation Fund championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis, with $20 million allocated, down from the Senate's preferred $30 million and against House opposition. Emergency funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which faced federal funding shortfalls, was provided through June 30. The budget also allows Florida State University to use existing funds to acquire Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare from the city, with a 30-year payment plan and $1.7 billion in investments.
Additionally, control of the University of South Florida's Manatee-Sarasota campus will be transferred to New College of Florida, a late-stage agreement after House insistence and Senate resistance. The budget now heads to Governor DeSantis for approval, with potential line-item vetoes expected to shape the final spending plan. The education portion also includes funding for school safety measures and mental health services, while transportation projects received allocations for road improvements and bridge repairs.
The budget's environmental sections fund Everglades restoration and coastal resilience initiatives. Overall, the spending plan reflects a compromise between the House and Senate, balancing priorities amid fiscal constraints
Florida Budget Law Enforcement Raises Education Funding Desantis Special Session
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