Legislative Update - June 6, 2025

The Florida House and Senate reconvened Tuesday to kick off conference committee meetings focused on finalizing the state budget. By Thursday, both chambers met in session and passed a concurrent resolution (HCR 1635), extending the legislative session by an additional 12 days.

According to a memo issued by Senate President Albritton, only the budget chairs are expected to be working today. However, time has been set aside for continued negotiations over the weekend.

Fingers crossed they wrap up by the June 18 deadline outlined in HCR 1635!

Former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly will run for Governor as a Democrat, he announced Thursday. A diverse group of 22 candidates has filed to run in the 2026 election for Florida governor, a wide-open contest that will unfold as the current governor reaches his term limit.

Governor …

"Inside Ron DeSantis’ tough year in Florida" via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — DeSantis faces a challenging political landscape, marked by clashes with the state House Speaker, a prolonged budget dispute delaying key appointments, and departing allies. His once-iron grip on state politics has loosened significantly since his unsuccessful presidential bid. DeSantis, now term-limited, is navigating a messy University of Florida presidential selection and has yet to endorse a gubernatorial successor, while First Lady Casey DeSantis mulls her own run amid scrutiny of her Hope Florida initiative. Despite a spokesperson asserting DeSantis is "playing the long game," operatives describe a state of "flailing" and "chaos," with his future political prospects beyond 2026 uncertain. Key vacancies, including Lieutenant Governor and CFO, remain unfilled, further highlighting his diminished control.

“DeSantis to Floridians: It’s time to prepare for hurricanes” via Eric Daugherty of Florida’s Voice — DeSantis highlighted Florida’s past success in hurricane response during a news conference Friday, and called on residents to get ready for the season that begins on Sunday, June 1. Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. “I really hope this is the only time you see me and Kevin Guthrie this Summer,” he said. The Florida Division of Emergency Management recently released a call to prepare, listing essential items for Floridians to consider, such as knowing their evacuation zone and building a hurricane preparedness kit. The state urges residents to keep their gas tanks at least half full throughout hurricane season and advises them to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. “You just have to prepare and plan that we are gonna have impacts,” DeSantis said. “If you don’t plan and it happens, you’re gonna immediately be saying, ‘Why didn’t I do this, why didn’t I do that?'”

DeSantis Insider Kamoutsas to Be Next Education Commissioner - As expected, Anastasios Kamoutsas, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, was chosen by the State Board of Education as the next Florida education commissioner during the board's meeting on Wednesday. Kamoutsas will replace Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. pending approval of the Florida Board of Governors of Diaz as interim president of the University of West Florida. Supporters who spoke on behalf of Kamoutsas included the president of Florida International University President, former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, and former state House speaker and now Board of Governors member Jose´ Oliva, who called Kamoutsas "relentless." A part of the governor's inner circle, Kamoutsas served as general counsel and chief of staff in the Department of Education before his current stint as DeSantis' deputy chief of staff. He has said part of his role in the governor's office was to vet candidates for spots on state university boards of trustees. Kamoutsas was involved in efforts to end school mask mandates during the pandemic and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and helped to reshape postsecondary institution leadership in Florida. The 36-year-old was also linked to recent reports involving political fundraising calls allegedly made by staffers in the governor's office and to a 2023 whistle-blower incident in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement involving the governor's travel records. Kamoutsas holds a degree in political science from Florida International University and a law degree from Regent University in Virginia. Associated Press / Miami Herald / Tampa Bay Times / USA Today Network

Legislative …

“House resolution would push Session end to June 18” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics — It had to end someday. There could be 12 more days of Session if lawmakers OK a resolution filed by the House Rules Chair. Fleming Island Republican Rep. Sam Garrison, a future House Speaker, filed HCR 1635 late Wednesday. It would overwrite the current extension approved by way of a resolution passed at the tail end of the Regular Session, allowing the Session to continue through June 18. Another extension was a foregone conclusion. The state constitution requires a 72-hour gap between when the budget is printed and when lawmakers vote on it. HCR 1635 limits lawmakers to considering bills in the 2500 and 5000 series, which include each chamber’s main budget bill (SB 2500/HB 5001) and the various implementing bills putting them into action. Lawmakers may also consider SB 7022, SB 7030 and HB 7031 — the latter is a vehicle for the 0.75% sales tax cut pushed by House Speaker Daniel Perez. Notably absent is SB 110, the cornerstone of Senate President Albritton’s “Rural Renaissance” priority.

Lawmakers Extend Budget Session, Move Toward Recession-Proofing

Lawmakers on Thursday adopted a measure (HCR 1635) that will extend the 2025 session until June 18, as leaders focused on bolstering the state's savings position in preparation for a potential future economic downturn, an issue that was a key concern of the Senate president and a sticking point that helped hold up passage of the budget earlier this year. Senate President Ben Albritton had balked earlier this year at a House budget he feared was too heavy on tax cuts at the expense of setting aside money for what many economists say is on the horizon: a major drop in incoming state revenue. Legislative budget writers continued on Thursday to work through details of a proposed budget agreement, acknowledging the likelihood of future federal funding cuts and the possibility of a future recession, and moving to set aside $1.5 billion over the next two fiscal years. "We're saving for the future," Albritton told senators on Thursday.. "We can all be proud of our historic level of reserves in our budget this year." Lawmakers also rolled out legislation (SJR 1908, HJR 5019) that would put an initiative on the 2026 ballot that would increase how much money can sit in state reserves. Conferees from both chambers continued to work on the different parts of the budget, with completion now expected by June 13 and a vote on June 16. The Legislature adjourned May 23 without a budget and have been trying to work out a deal since. The state's new fiscal year begins on July 1. The Center Square / Florida Phoenix / WUSF

Lawmakers Eye Additional Extension to Wrap Up Budget Work - Florida's 2025 legislative session could stretch nearly two weeks longer than already expected, under a new resolution filed late Wednesday by House Rules & Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island. The concurrent resolution (HCR 1635), if approved, would add 12 more days to the already extended session. Lawmakers had previously passed HCR 1631, pushing the end date from May 2 to June 6. If the new resolution is voted up, the extended session would run through June 18. The additional extension had been anticipated since Florida's constitution mandates a 72-hour "cooling off period" between when the final budget is printed and when lawmakers can vote on it — a deadline they couldn't meet this week. Though negotiations have advanced, the state's 2025-26 fiscal year spending plan remains incomplete. The proposed extension would also limit what legislation can be considered during the extra days. The newest resolution would restrict action to the main budget bills (SB 2500 and HB 5001) and related implementing and conforming budget bills, such as measures tied to the state retirement system (SB 7022), school vouchers (SB 7030), and a proposed 0.75% sales tax cut (HB 7031), a priority pushed by House Speaker Daniel Perez. But Senate President Ben Albritton's proposed "rural renaissance" (SB 110) initiative, aimed at expanding economic development in rural communities, would be dropped from consideration. While it passed the Senate unanimously nearly three months ago, it failed to gain traction in the House. Another proposal left out of the newest extension was a wide-ranging tax package (HB 7033) worth $5 billion that included a somewhat contentious provision allowing local governments to redirect some funds from the Tourist Development Tax, a 6% "bed tax," or surcharge on short-term stays in hotels or other lodging. Both the House and Senate must sign off on HCR 1635 for the new extension to take effect. Florida Politics / LobbyTools: Monitoring 2025 Legislative Session Extension Activity / LobbyTools Budget Tab

"Senate leader’s ‘Rural Renaissance’ package is dead for this year" via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — Albritton’s ambitious "rural renaissance" initiative, a top legislative priority aimed at boosting Florida's rural counties with significant economic aid, has been shelved for this year. Funding for the estimated $200 million program was not included in the final budget agreement between the House and Senate, largely due to House Republican resistance to the cost. The bill's fate became entangled with a larger tax cut package that collapsed after Gov. DeSantis threatened a veto, straining relations between legislative leaders. Albritton’s office confirmed the setback but stated he remains committed to pursuing the popular, Senate-passed legislation, which included direct support for fiscally constrained counties, when lawmakers reconvene in early 2026.

Leaders Release Budget Allocations - Health care and human services will get the largest share of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, with just over $17.5 billion of the roughly $50 billion in general revenue in the spending plan earmarked for the HHS silo under budget category "allocations" released Monday by legislative leaders. The K-12 education budget will get nearly the same amount, just over $16 billion, according to the category spending figures released by Senate President Ben Albritton. After several weeks of disagreement and negotiation over the overall size of the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, legislative leaders announced late last week that they'd settled on a big picture budget framework that allowed them to divide up the general revenue the state expects to collect and spend into the different categories of the budget. Conference committees on each of those budget silos will now work in committees starting today to hammer out the details on the final spending plan. Under the allocations plan, the higher education budget and the criminal and civil justice budget will each be allotted about $6.5 billion, and the agriculture and the environment budget will get about $1.5 billion. The remainder of the general revenue accounted for in the budget will go to state administration and general government ($674 million), transportation, tourism and economic development ($552 million) and administered funds and statewide issues ($527 million). GR Fund Allocations / Florida Politics / LobbyTools Budget Tab

"Budget conference: Lawmakers tighten leash on executive branch, add reporting requirements for allocations" via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — A significant trend emerging in Florida's budget negotiations is the imposition of stricter reporting mandates on executive branch agencies. Lawmakers are attaching conditions that require detailed quarterly or monthly updates on spending, IT project progress, and program outcomes from departments such as Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Health Care Administration. This push for enhanced accountability and transparency, championed by figures such as Senate President Ben Albritton, aims to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure the effective use of funds. These stipulations, requiring agencies to report back on how money is used effectively, are increasingly common across numerous budget provisos, particularly pronounced in the health care sector, signaling a legislative effort for greater oversight of executive spending.

House lawmaker proposes budget cuts to Hope Florida" via Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times — In a contentious move during Florida's budget conference, Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, who is investigating the Hope Florida initiative, has proposed significant funding cuts to the program. Andrade's proposal targets 20 Hope navigator positions, state workers who connect individuals in need with non-governmental aid, and an additional six proposed navigator roles within the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. This move aims to reduce the House's health care budget offer by $2.5 million, a decision that requires Senate approval.

Tax Collections Top Projections - Buoyed by corporate income taxes, Florida’s general-revenue collections in April topped projections by $247.5 million, according to a new report posted online by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research. The state had net general revenue in April of $5.5959 billion, compared to a projection of $5.3484 billion. General revenue is made up of numerous tax sources, with the largest portion coming from sales taxes. It plays a critical role in funding programs such as schools, health care and prisons. Corporate income-tax collections in April beat a projection by $146.6 million, the report showed. A panel of economists known as the Revenue Estimating Conference updates general-revenue projections periodically during the year. It last issued an update in March.

Business …

“Florida’s population to increase by 1.4M people by 2030” via The Center Square — A report released Tuesday says Florida’s population could grow by 1.4 million people by 2030 and cautions that inflation’s effects could linger into 2027. The quarterly economic performance report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Florida TaxWatch group examined key trends in population growth, employment, income, GDP and tourism and predicts the state’s economy could hit some headwinds by 2027 before recovering by 2030. Florida TaxWatch executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Kottkamp said in a release that he is “cautiously optimistic that Florida’s economy will remain strong through 2030.” “Overall, Florida’s economic growth pattern will match or surpass the national economic growth pattern in most economic indicators for the next five years, including population and net migration, employment, GDP and income growth, and tourism,” Kottkamp said.

Gas Prices Down from Last Year - Florida motorists enter the busy summer driving season with average gasoline prices nearly 40 cents lower than a year ago. The AAA auto club said the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas Monday in Florida was $3.08 a gallon, compared to $3.45 a gallon a year ago. Monday’s average was 2 cents higher than a week ago, as AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said crude-oil prices have remained relatively stable. “This should enable Florida gas prices to remain within the same 20-cent range they've cycled in for the better part of the past year,” Jenkins said in a statement. The national average price Monday was $3.14 a gallon, according to AAA. Average prices in Florida ranged from $2.76 a gallon in the Panama City area to $3.24 in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area.

“Florida gains $196B in income as taxpayers flee high-tax states” via Gulf Shore Business — Florida gained the most from interstate migration over the past decade, with $196 billion in adjusted gross income flowing in. The analysis shows that taxpayers are consistently moving from high-tax states, such as New York, California and Illinois — each of which lost tens of billions in income — to lower-tax states, such as Florida and Texas. While factors like housing and weather play a role, the report cites tax policy as the strongest driver behind these moves. New York lost $111 billion, California $102 billion and Illinois $63 billion in income during the same period.

“Miami-Dade’s sagging condo market could be ‘next great crisis’ as values drop” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald — As real estate demand softens, Miami-Dade condominiums are showing the weakest numbers. Real estate values on existing homes and commercial property grew about 7% countywide at the start of 2025. But when isolated only to existing condominiums, values dropped slightly from the start of 2024 — a decline of less than 1%, according to Property Appraiser Tomás Regalado. “The condos are the next great crisis, because of a perfect storm,” Regalado said at a Monday news conference where he discussed the annual report from his office.

Campaigns & Elections …

22 candidates have officially filed, entering the 2026 race for Florida governor

https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/candidates-officially-filed-florida-governor-election/64980809

Jolly in as Dem for Run for Governor - Former Congressman David Jolly said Wednesday he's entering the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. Jolly, who represented a Tampa Bay area district in Congress as a Republican, is the first major Democratic candidate to announce he’ll run to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Jolly joined the Democratic Party about six weeks ago. Republicans have held the governorship in Florida since early 1999, when Democrat Buddy MacKay finished out the term of Democrat Lawton Chiles, who had died in office. Jeb Bush took over later that month and Republicans have been in the position ever since. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is the front-runner so far for the Republican

José Javier Rodríguez launches bid for Attorney General, vows to 'root out corruption'" via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Rodríguez, a former Democratic State Senator ousted in a "ghost candidate" scheme, is running for Florida Attorney General. He aims to challenge "corrupt power brokers" and address rising costs, setting up a potential high-profile race against appointed AG James Uthmeier, who faces scrutiny over Medicaid settlement funds. Rodríguez, recently Assistant Secretary of Labor, vows to be "the People’s Lawyer," focusing on ethics, election integrity, and workers' rights. He plans to take on malfeasant corporations, including FPL, which was implicated in the scheme that cost him his Senate seat. His candidacy marks a significant political comeback attempt in a Republican-dominated state, with the 2026 AG race already drawing considerable attention.

Judge Declines to Halt Most New Restrictions on Florida Ballot Initiatives: A federal judge on Wednesday declined to block portions of a newly enacted state law (HB 1205) that imposes stricter rules on the state's ballot initiative process, dealing a setback to groups aiming to put issues before voters in the 2026 general election. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, and Florida Decides Healthcare, which is backing a proposed ballot initiative to expand Medicaid in the state. The groups sued shortly after the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the new restrictions last month, which took effect immediately. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, however, did grant a preliminary injunction for a specific provision of the law that provides potential felony offenses for certain grassroots involvement. Despite the legal challenge, Judge Walker allowed most of the law to remain in effect while the case proceeds. News Service Florida / FL Decides Healthcare Press Release

Sad news …    

Former FSU President, House Speaker John Thrasher Dies at 81: Former House speaker and state senator John Thrasher, who served as president of Florida State University after his long tenure in the Legislature, died early Friday at age 81 from cancer, according to a family spokesperson. Thrasher was instrumental in Florida's political shift from Democratic to Republican control and served as House speaker from 1999 to 2000 during Gov. Jeb Bush's first term. He later served in the state Senate. Thrasher helped usher in major legislation as a state lawmaker, including the landmark A+ education plan that introduced school grading and private school vouchers. Thrasher, who was an FSU graduate, was also an Army combat veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served in a medical support unit. Thrasher's lobbying firm, The Southern Group, announced in April that the former Jacksonville area House and Senate member was receiving treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare for a recent cancer diagnosis. Senate Memorandum / House Memorandum / Politico Pro / Tampa Bay Times / USA Today Network / Jax Today / News Service Florida / Florida Politics