Florida Legislature Begins Budget Talks After Monthlong Standoff

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton announced an agreement that will allow lawmakers to resume negotiating the 2025-2026 state budget starting Tuesday, with an expected passage date of June 16. The framework includes a $900 million tax cut by eliminating the tax on commercial leases, $350 million in permanent sales tax exemptions for families, $250 million in debt reduction, and a $750 million annual payment into the state's rainy-day fund, which is proposed to have its cap raised from 10% to 25%. Conference committees will work intensively over several days, with unresolved issues to be resolved by budget chairs before the budget is presented on the Senate floor. The budget aims to be fiscally responsible by reducing state spending, lowering per capita spending, and limiting bureaucracy growth, while providing broad tax relief and bolstering emergency reserves. Governor Ron DeSantis will have two weeks after passage to exercise line-item vetoes, though he has expressed frustration with the delayed budget affecting hurricane season preparations. The agreement follows weeks of behind-the-scenes talks after lawmakers failed to pass a budget by the May 2 session end due to disagreements over tax cuts and spending levels.