Legislative Update - April 11, 2025

The House and Senate passed their versions of the 2025-26 budget. The Senate’s budget comes in at $117.4 billion but the House proposed budget is lower at $113 billion. They are now in posture to begin negotiating the budget in conference committee meetings. A final budget agreement must be reached by April 29 to adhere to the constitutionally mandated 72-hour "cooling off" period if the Legislature is to end its session on time on May 2.

"New Florida immigration law halted by judge amid lawsuits from immigrant advocates" via The Palm Beach Post — A U.S. district judge has temporarily blocked Florida's new immigration law, citing federal authority over immigration.

Judge Kathleen Williams granted a temporary restraining order against the law, enacted by the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. DeSantis, which created state crimes for undocumented immigrants entering or re-entering Florida.

Governor …

DeSantis Sets Special Election for Thompson Seat: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday issued an executive order calling a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Geraldine Thompson. A special primary election will be held on June 24, with a special general election on Sept. 2. News Service Florida / Click Orlando / LobbyTools

DeSantis Defends $10M Hope Florida Allocation Amid Legislative Scrutiny - Gov. Ron DeSantis is defending the diversion of $10 million from a state settlement with a Medicaid vendor to First Lady Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida initiative, calling it a "cherry on top" of a broader $67 million legal settlement between the state and Medicaid provider Centene — Florida's largest Medicaid managed care operator and parent company of Sunshine Health. "This was in addition to what they were getting. This is kind of like a cherry on top where they agreed to make an additional contribution," DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday. The issue sparked legislative scrutiny earlier this week, with the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee Chair Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, taking aim at Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris over a lack of transparency and oversight of taxpayer funds. News outlets reported that the $10 million was wired directly to Hope Florida within a week of the agreement's finalization and was part of a settlement agreement involving allegations that Centene's pharmacy benefit manager withheld prescription drug rebate savings owed to the state. Hope Florida, launched by the first lady in 2021, works outside the government to connect people to community resources in an effort to reduce reliance on public welfare programs. Harris defended the donation, saying the money is used to help families become self-sufficient and didn't come from "taxpayer funds." She also called the House inquiry a "complete ambush," while Andrade stated that the money should have gone through a state account. House Speaker Daniel Perez later defended the committee's stance on the issue, saying members were just trying to "get answers." The governor disagreed. "These are people who never had anything negative to say about any of the stuff … with Hope Florida, and so they're basically grasping at straws to try to do something to try to reflect negatively on it. Like, it has nothing to do with Hope Florida. But the reality is this is a political agenda, and you do have Republicans and the leadership office working hat in hand with the Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times, very liberal media outlets," DeSantis said. After the hearing, AHCA spokesperson Mallory McManus also defended the agency's role and criticized Andrade. "It's concerning how little Representative Andrade understands about Medicaid," she said, accusing him of misrepresenting the structure of Hope Florida. "AHCA is proud of our work helping people reduce government dependency and achieve economic self-sufficiency." Meanwhile, Andrade called the "bizarre public statement" a "badge of honor" in response. The controversy comes as lawmakers consider permanently placing Hope Florida within the governor's office (SB 1144 and HB 1327), and the House's proposed health budget provides $2.5 million to fund over 30 call center jobs tied to Hope Florida, with several positions designated for military veterans. Florida Politics / Compare SB 1144 and HB 1327

“Ron DeSantis pushed for child labor rollbacks behind the scenes,”” via McKenna Schueler of Orlando Weekly— Through a public record request, the Orlando Weekly found DeSantis’ office emailed the draft bill language to the two lawmakers sponsoring HB 1225 and SB 918 to weaken child labor laws. “As discussed, please see the Employment of Minors bill language attached and the section-by-section breakdown for easy reference,” wrote Mary Clare Futch, deputy director of legislative affairs for the Governor’s Office, in a Feb. 10 email to Sen. Jay Collins, the Republican who sponsored the Senate version. Futch added, “Thank you for your willingness to champion this great policy!” The Weekly reported that the challenge to Florida’s labor laws for children is being tied to advocates pushing for parental rights.

"Florida Governor says state doesn’t need FEMA" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

"DeSantis says Florida won’t be ‘immune’ to economic ‘slowdown,’ but the state can ‘weather storms’" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — “(During) the Great Recession, we did worse than most other states on that. We got hit harder because so much of the economy was built up in real estate speculation,” DeSantis said during a speech to the National Rental Home Council. “I think this time, because our economy’s much more diversified, I don’t think that we’ve had necessarily the same factors that happen leading into that. If we do have a slowdown, I think we’ll do better than other states around the country, not going to be immune to it, but I think we’re positioned to do better.” Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon believe a recession is likely, and most conventional wisdom is with them. “Now you have markets. There’s different things going on with the markets. So, I don’t know how that all is going to shake out,” DeSantis added.

Legislative …

Competing Budgets Passed Setting Up Conference - The House and Senate each passed competing budget proposals on Wednesday setting up negotiations over the roughly $4 billion differences in the plans, including diverging ideas on tax cuts and state employee pay. The Senate passed its $117.4 billion budget proposal (SB 2500) unanimously with no debate on Wednesday, although senators did pepper the budget committee chairs with questions about details of spending on schools and a wait list for services from the Agency of Persons With Disabilities. The House amended its version of the budget bill (HB 5001), proposing spending just under $113 billion, onto the bill arriving from the Senate and passed it on a 98-6 vote, and agreed to a conference committee to work out the discrepancies. A major point of divergence is the House's push to cut the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, a move that would reduce state revenue by roughly $5 billion, while the Senate is set to add in a clothing sales tax cut. Passage of the two budgets gives lawmakers a little over three weeks to agree on a final spending plan. News Service Florida / LobbyTools Budget Tab

HB 7031 by Ways & Means Chairman Wyman Duggan passed off the House Floor by a vote of 112-0. The bill includes a reduction of the Florida-only Business Rent Tax from two percent down to 1.25 percent, saving local businesses approximately $376 million annually. Florida remains the only state in the nation that charges a tax on commercial leases, which puts Florida’s job creators at a competitive disadvantage compared to businesses in every other state in the nation. The reduction in this Florida-only tax will allow local businesses to hire new employees, reinvest in their business, and invest in their communities.

Albritton Floats Clothing Tax Cut - Senate President Ben Albritton said Wednesday that the chamber will propose permanently eliminating the sales tax on clothing and shoes up to $75, joining the governor's office and the House in offering major tax cut proposals. Albritton said the goal of the Senate's proposed clothing tax cut was to help a broad segment of the population that would need tax relief, noting that clothing was a necessity, like groceries, most of which are already exempt from sales tax. "We view this as an opportunity to help across the board," said Albritton, R-Wauchula. The Senate proposal would also call for a study on the possibility of reducing or eliminating property taxes on Floridians' permanent homes. The plan, first reported earlier Wednesday by the publication In Session, would be a third idea for major tax relief, following a proposal by Republican House Speaker Danny Perez to cut the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and a push by Gov. Ron DeSantis for a large cut in property taxes. Albritton said all three ideas have some merit and didn't rule out that there may be a combination that lawmakers land on this year. "We're going to, I believe, come up with some tax relief." In a memo to senators, Albritton said the details would be included in a proposed committee bill to be released this week by the Finance and Tax Committee. Perez said Wednesday that he was aware of the new Senate idea, but said the House plan was his focus. "We believe in our budget," Perez said. In Session / Florida Phoenix / Senate Memo

“‘Bought and paid for’: Ben Albritton unveils road map to end property taxes — with voter OK” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — No more property taxes in Florida? It could happen, Albritton says. The Senate President just detailed a plan to study and establish a framework to reduce or eliminate property taxes for Floridians’ primary homes. At the end of the study, based on its findings, lawmakers would then craft a constitutional amendment for voter consideration during the 2026 General Election. The plan is part of a tax relief package (SPB 7034) Albritton unveiled this week that also includes a permanent end to sales taxes for clothing and shoes, and a renewal of several annual sales tax holidays, freezes and credits. Those two provisions won’t require voter approval. But the massive impact of nixing property taxes calls for a broad consensus, Albritton said, and a vote by the people is a must.

“Senate proposes sales tax holidays to help hunters, workers and families” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — As part of his tax relief package, Albritton is proposing several sales tax holidays this year to help Floridians save money. The proposed tax holidays would benefit families buying tickets, workers needing tools, parents shopping for back-to-school items and Floridians preparing for hurricane season. “Over the last decade, sales tax holidays, particularly for hurricane season and back-to-school have become something Floridians have come to expect and plan for,” Albritton wrote in a memo this week. “Our goal was to avoid overlapping holidays, which can be confusing for consumers and retailers alike.”

House Panel Votes to Expand E-Verify, Sends Bill to Floor - A House committee on Monday voted to require all Florida employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check would-be employees' legal work status. Currently only businesses with 25 or more employees are required to use the system to weed out immigrants not legally allowed to work in the country, a limit seen by many as a nod to small employers who say it would be too burdensome to check workers — but acknowledged by others as part of a resistance in some industries to denying jobs to foreign workers without whom the companies wouldn't be able to find employees. The measure (HB 955), by Republican Rep. Berny Jacques, passed in the House Commerce Committee on a 19-3 vote, with three Democrats joining Republicans in voting for the bill. The committee was the final stop for the measure before consideration by the full House. Critics of the exemption from both sides of the political aisle have said this year that if Republicans truly want to crack down on illegal immigration, as Gov. Ron DeSantis, President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have said they want to do, then they'll force all businesses to use the system. During debate in the committee on Monday, several members rejected the idea that it was too difficult for businesses to use the free E-Verify system, and one Republican, Rep. David Borrero, said the reason businesses can't find workers for the jobs for which they hire undocumented workers is that wages are too low, and passage might raise pay to "reasonable rates for the American people." Florida is one of several states considering expanding use of E-Verify. Florida Politics / Florida Phoenix / Spectrum News

Proposal to Raise Florida Highway Speed Limits Gets Another Green Light - A plan to increase speed limits on Florida highways is accelerating in the Legislature, with the Senate bill clearing its final committee stop on Tuesday. The transportation package (SB 462), by Indian Rocks Beach Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, would boost the maximum speed on interstate highways and Florida's Turnpike from 70 to 75 miles per hour. It would also raise limits on four-lane divided highways in rural areas from 65 to 70 mph, and allow increases from 60 to 65 mph on other roads, where deemed "safe and advisable" by transportation officials. The legislation also includes additional provisions such as requiring the retrofitting of traffic signals for remote operation and banning land-use fees for certain student pilot programs. It unanimously passed the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee and is now ready for the floor. A House counterpart (HB 567), sponsored by Sarasota Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland, is expected to be considered in its second of three committee stops on Thursday: the House Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee. A similar proposal was vetoed in 2014 by then-Gov. Rick Scott, who cited concerns from law enforcement over potential safety risks. News Service Florida / Compare SB 462 and HB 567

Gulf of America Bills Go to Gov - Gov. Ron DeSantis will now decide whether Florida laws and textbooks will switch the name of the big body of water along the state's west coast to the Gulf of America. The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills that make the change, one (HB 575) that changes references to the Gulf of Mexico in state statutes to Gulf of America to match a decree by President Donald Trump, and another (HB 549) that will eventually require school books to make the change as well. Both bills had already passed the House and so now go to DeSantis for his signature or veto. "Ever since President Trump entered the Oval Office, he has fought for America first policies that honor our country's greatness," said Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said in a statement. "Mr. President, I'm proud to say that the Florida Senate stands with you in the fight to recognize the Gulf of America and celebrate American exceptionalism." Both measures passed the Senate Wednesday by the same vote, 28-9, with Democrats voting against. "This is a symbolic gesture that offers no tangible benefits," said Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Lori Berman. "We are prioritizing a superficial display of nationalism over the pressing needs of the districts we represent." USA Today Network / News Service Florida / Florida Politics / Florida Phoenix / Senate Press Release

Business …

Florida Gas Prices Briefly Spike Before Easing Again: Florida gas prices jumped 15 cents early last week, peaking at $3.22 per gallon before easing to $3.19 by Sunday. That's still up eight cents from a week ago and six cents from last month, but 29 cents lower than this time last year, according to AAA. The shift comes as U.S. crude oil prices dropped sharply, closing at $61.99 per barrel on Friday — the lowest since April 2021 — and dipping below $60 in overnight trading. Oil prices heavily influence what drivers pay at the pump, typically accounting for about half the cost. "Oil prices plummeted last week, which should contribute to lower prices at the gas pump," said AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins. "The oil price plunge is reportedly attributed to concerns that tariffs could cause a global economic slowdown, potentially resulting in a reduction in fuel demand." The market is also worried about over supply after OPEC+ announced plans to raise production. AAA Press Release / Florida Politics / News Service Florida

State Sees Spike in First-Time Jobless Claims, Highest in Two Months: Florida recorded its highest number of first-time unemployment claims in two months last week, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. An estimated 6,510 initial jobless claims were filed during the week ending April 5, a noticeable jump from the 5,587 claims reported the previous week. It marks the highest weekly total since early February when 6,778 claims were filed. So far, in 2024, Florida has averaged 6,106 new claims per week. Nationally, initial claims also rose slightly, reaching 223,000 compared to 219,000 the week prior. The national unemployment rate in March ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1% in February, while Florida's remained lower at 3.6% in February. Updated statewide numbers are expected from the Florida Department of Commerce later this month. News Service Florida / Florida Politics

Campaigns & Elections …

“LaVon Bracy Davis resigns from HD 40 to run for late Geraldine Thompson’s Senate seat” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Rep. Bracy Davis has submitted her formal resignation so she can run to replace the late Sen. Thompson. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the State Representative for Florida’s House District 40,” Bracy Davis wrote in a letter to DeSantis. “Since my first day in office, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of our district — fighting for quality education, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and protecting the right to vote.” Earlier this week, DeSantis called a Special Election to replace Thompson in Senate District 15 after she unexpectedly died in February. A Special Primary was scheduled for June 24, with the Special Election set for Sept. 2 to decide who succeeds Thompson. Bracy Davis’ resignation is effective Sept. 1, a day before the final vote in SD 15. Florida law requires her to resign to run for the office. State law says the irrevocable resignation must be submitted 10 days before qualification begins. The Governor set a qualifying period from April 21 to April 23 at noon, meaning any contender holding a public office must submit their resignation no later than today.

Health Care Related News Articles

“House budget cuts may create nurse, health care shortage” via Michael Costeines of The Floridian — Florida College & University Leaders discussed Monday how the House of Representatives' recent budget proposal to trim $4 billion would affect higher education for state students, particularly those who use Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grants, which some rely on to pursue degrees to become nurses in the health care industry. Members of the discussion were from the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). The ICUF includes President Bob Boyd, Barry University President Mike Allen, St. Thomas University President David Armstrong, and Keiser University Chancellor Arthur Keiser. Barry University President Mike Allen addressed his concerns and their potential impact, including on the health care sector in South Florida. In particular, nurses are heavily employed in the area, with many local hospitals.

Autonomous Practice for Psych Nurses Approved: The full House advanced a measure on Wednesday that would expand the scope of practice for advanced nurse practitioners in Florida. The bill (HB 883), filed by Republican Rep. Jason Shoaf, would add psychiatric nurses to the list of those authorized to practice autonomously and establish their own practices so long as they meet certain requirements. Currently, only advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, are permitted to practice independently without physician supervision, under certain circumstances. Supporters argue the legislation could help alleviate the health care worker shortage and lead to a reduction in health care costs, noting that 27 other states already allow for it. Opponents worry it could affect quality of care and dissuade students from going to medical school to become a psychiatrist. "Nurses are nurses. Psychiatrists are psychiatrists," said Boca Raton Democrat Rep. Kelly Skidmore during debate on the House floor. The initiative passed on an 87-22 vote, but a similar Senate companion (SB 758) by Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon has yet to be introduced in committee.

“Bill to establish standards for memory care services advances” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — The Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee has advanced a measure to establish specific standards and operational requirements for facilities providing memory care services in Florida. Miami Republican Rep. Mike Redondo presented the bill (HB 493). He said it intends to offer minimal standards for the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to ensure that patients receive memory care services. “I was surprised to learn that AHCA does not have the regulatory authority to regulate facilities that advertise themselves as providing memory care services in the state of Florida,” Redondo said. “What this bill’s intended to do is to provide some fairly minimal standards frankly, but minimum standards I think are necessary to ensure that patients who are receiving memory care services and family members contracting for memory care services are actually receiving appropriate care and will protect the citizens of Florida in these facilities.”

Fluoride Ban Advances, Ready for Full Senate - Local Communities would be prohibited from putting fluoride in the water supply under a provision of the "Florida Farm Bill" (SB 700), a catch-all agriculture and regulatory bill now headed to the full Senate after passing the GOP-led Senate Fiscal Policy Committee Tuesday on a 13-5 party-line vote. The legislation, by Tavares Republican Sen. Keith Truenow, would redefine "water quality additive" and comes amid ongoing local debates across the state over water fluoridation, a practice long used to promote dental health. Escambia County resident and fluoridation critic Pueschel Schneier told lawmakers the issue boils down to "medical freedom," arguing, "No government entity has the right to medicate us against our will. They have no right to medicate an entire population because they believe maybe a small portion of that population will benefit." Opponents of the bill pushed back, including Jackson Oberlink, legislative director for Florida For All, who said, "Are cavities the new culture war? Is the water too woke?" and called the proposal a threat to one of the most successful public health initiatives in U.S. history. The debate has gained momentum under Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, who oppose fluoridation. Ladapo has called it "public health malpractice," citing a National Institutes of Health report linking high fluoride exposure to lower IQ in children. The American Dental Association responded by claiming Ladapo was "misinformed," saying the studies involved levels twice the recommended 0.7 mg per liter standard used since the 1950s to support oral health. The bill moves forward as several states turn their attention to the issue. The U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this week called on all states to ban fluoride in drinking water after Utah became the first state to enact such a ban. Several counties and municipalities across Florida have already voted locally to end the fluoridation of drinking water. The statewide legislation also aims to regulate psychedelic mushrooms, promote transparency for plant-based products, and restrict drone usage over or near private property, state hunting lands, or shooting ranges if used with the intent to harass. Additionally, the bill covers a wide range of other agricultural and regulatory issues, including increasing penalties for stealing checks from mailboxes, requiring schools to provide facilities for 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs, and preventing local governments from regulating housing for "legally verified" agricultural workers, among other things. A proposal that included a similar housing provision was vetoed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cited the bill's lack of enforcement related to undocumented labor. The House companion (HB 651), by Lake Placid Republican Rep. Kaylee Tuck, is waiting to be heard in its fourth and final committee of reference: the House Commerce Committee. News Service Florida / WUSF / Florida Phoenix / Compare HB 651 and SB 700

State Launches Medicaid Transparency Dashboard: Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration on Monday unveiled a new tool aimed at increasing transparency within the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program. The new Health Plan Transparency Dashboard provides detailed data on key health outcomes and administrative performance across Medicaid health plans. The dashboard features metrics such as birth outcomes, preventable hospital visits, mental health follow-up care, primary care access, and timeliness of provider payments. Users can also compare performance between different health plans. The data will be updated quarterly, with the next release in July set to include information from the latest round of SMMC 3.0 health plan contracts. "Providing consumers and interested stakeholders with more transparent health care data is a priority at our Agency," said AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris in a prepared statement. "With the release of the Health Plan Transparency Dashboard, we are making data and information available like never before. We believe this will be a valuable tool in understanding the performance of our health plans in key areas, highlighting strengths and opportunities for improvement." AHCA Press Release