Legislative Update - June 13, 2025

The Legislature is still working to finalize the budget. The extended session is scheduled to run through June 18. Lawmakers are aiming to complete the budget by June 13, which would allow for a vote on June 16 in accordance with Florida’s constitutionally mandated 72-hour "cooling off" period between the budget's release and final vote. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

In election news, Republicans secured victories in all three special legislative general elections held Tuesday. The GOP retained House Districts 3 and 32, and former Rep. Debbie Mayfield reclaimed her former Senate seat on the Space Coast, winning with 54% of the vote.

Governor …

DeSantis: Fla Drivers Can Run Over Protesters If Trapped - Gov. Ron DeSantis said that if protests like those being seen in California come to Florida and drivers fear for their safety in the middle of a crowd, they would be justified in running over a protester. "If you're driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety, and so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you," DeSantis said on The Rubin Report podcast. "You don't have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets." DeSantis said the kind of protests that shut down streets won't be tolerated in Florida anyway. "You have no right to commandeer streets," DeSantis said. "First of all, it's just wrong; second of all, that has huge impacts on people's quality of life. We have an absolutely zero tolerance policy for that." In 2021, the year after the death of George Floyd and the sometimes violent protests that followed, DeSantis pushed the Legislature to pass legislation (HB 1) that toughened penalties for protesters when demonstrations turn violent. The law created new crimes, including "mob intimidation," and enhanced penalties for others, including aggravated rioting and aggravated inciting a riot. Florida does have a statute that says people may not "willfully obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of a public street, highway, or road by: impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding, or restraining traffic or passage thereon; standing on or remaining in the street, highway, or road; or endangering the safe movement of vehicles or pedestrians traveling thereon," but it is a civil violation resulting in a ticket, unless officials determine the blocking of traffic is part of a riot, in which case there could be criminal penalties. The 2021 "anti-rioting" law also grants civil immunity to people who are accused in lawsuits of injuring protesters if the defendant can show that the person they injured was committing a crime and "acting in furtherance of a riot." Attorney General James Uthmeier backed the governor's position on people who may feel threatened in the midst of unrest. "You don't need to sit there and wait while people smash your window and damage your vehicle and put your family in jeopardy," Uthmeier said. "You drive. Just drive." The Hill / Newsweek / Florida Politics

“‘Damnit, get somebody in there’: Jimmy Patronis presses Ron DeSantis over CFO vacancy" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Now a U.S. Congressman, former Florida CFO Patronis is publicly criticizing DeSantis for leaving the state's top financial post vacant for over four months. Patronis expressed frustration that no one is properly auditing state finances and claimed the use of an "AutoPen" to sign state checks is unconstitutional without a CFO's oversight. Despite DeSantis’ earlier assurances that the key role would be filled "expeditiously" after the Legislative Session, it remains empty. Adding to the tension, Patronis also sided with the Legislature in its probe of how a foundation linked to the current Attorney General, a DeSantis ally, used Medicaid settlement funds for political ads, signaling a growing rift.

"Hope Florida Foundation to amend tax return to show golf tourney made more money" via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — A May 2024 golf tournament hosted by Gov. DeSantis to raise money for the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit linked to the First Lady, reportedly lost over $17,000, according to its delinquent federal tax return. The foundation, however, now claims the event was an “extraordinary success” and plans to amend its return to attribute nearly $700,000 in previously unreported donations to the fundraiser. Despite the new claims, IRS rules indicate the event still operated at a loss, as expenses outweighed direct event-related revenue. This financial disarray highlights ongoing issues that have plagued the two-year-old charity.

“Bonjour, Ron DeSantis! Florida leaders heading to France on trade mission” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — DeSantis and other state, business and education leaders are heading overseas on a three-day trip next week to France. “Our next trade mission delegation is headed to France and the 55th International Paris Air Show,” DeSantis said in a statement to announce the Monday-Wednesday visit. “Florida’s focus on manufacturing, aviation, and the space industry already makes it a global leader in aerospace. Our efforts on this trip will be to promote further investment in our state and bring more high-paying jobs to Florida.” Joining DeSantis will be several other state and education leaders. The delegation includes Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Transportation Jared Perdue, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long.

“DeSantis offers Florida’s State Guard to California. No thanks, says Gavin Newsom” via Siena Duncan of the Miami Herald — After the Trump administration sent Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to the protests against immigration enforcement, DeSantis proposed adding another group to the mix: the Florida State Guard. Newsom, however, declined DeSantis’ offer. “Given the Guard were not needed in the first place, we declined DeSantis’ attempt to inflame an already chaotic situation made worse by his party’s leader,” Newsom spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo said. A state guard, maintained in 23 states, is a state-trained, state-funded volunteer force meant to respond to “man-made and natural disasters.”

Attorney General …

“Attorney General loses appeal to overturn order blocking immigration law” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald — A federal appeals court has upheld a temporary injunction blocking Florida's controversial new immigration law, SB-4. The law, signed by Gov. DeSantis, makes it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to enter Florida if they have previously been deported or denied entry. The ruling from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is a significant victory for immigration advocates, affirming a lower court's decision to halt enforcement while the law's constitutionality is challenged. The appeal was brought by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who argued the state has a right to enforce the law.

Legislature …

Lawmakers Aim to Finalize Budget Friday, Vote Early Next Week - Florida legislative leaders say they hope to finalize the state's 2025-2026 fiscal year budget by today, setting up votes in the House and Senate as early as Monday. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and House Budget Committee Chair Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said Thursday night they're working to resolve remaining differences, including funding for infrastructure and public-sector pay raises. "We're hopeful that occurs," said Hooper. The budget was originally due May 2, the scheduled end of this year's regular legislative session, but disagreements forced lawmakers to extend their work. With the new fiscal year beginning July 1, the Legislature must abide by Florida's constitutionally required 72-hour "cooling off" period between when the final budget is printed and when lawmakers can vote — meaning Friday is the last day to reach a deal in time for Monday floor action. Negotiations have occurred largely behind closed doors. On Thursday, lawmakers exchanged offers on education, transportation, and justice programs. Proposals included $351 million to continue the "Moving Florida Forward" initiative for accelerating 20 road projects, including $100 million earmarked for the Kendall Parkway in South Florida. The House also proposed expanding a planned 2% raise for most state workers to include Supreme Court justices — bringing their salaries to $264,136, with Public Service Commission members earning $158,094, and state attorneys and public defenders garnering $223,318. Previously approved raises of 8% to 13% for law enforcement and firefighters would remain intact. The governor and Cabinet members are not included in those proposed increases. Once lawmakers pass the spending plan, the governor will have line item veto power. News Service Florida / Florida Politics / Politico Pro / LobbyTools Budget Tab / LobbyTools Monitoring 2025 Legislative Session Extension Activity

Budget Talks Press On as Lawmakers Aim for June 13 Deal - Budget negotiations continued over the weekend, with Senate budget chief Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and his House counterpart Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, working to hash out unresolved issues that were bumped up to them late last week. "Significant progress continued to be made today in the budget conference process," Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said in a memorandum on Sunday. Hooper and McClure will continue to meet on Monday, starting at 1:00 pm. Late last week, lawmakers in both chambers adopted a measure (HCR 1635) that extended the 2025 session until June 18. Budget completion is expected by June 13, with a vote on June 16, abiding by Florida's constitutionally required 72-hour "cooling off" period between when the final budget is printed and when lawmakers can vote. The state's new 2025-26 fiscal year begins on July 1. Albritton Memo / LobbyTools Calendar / LobbyTools Budget Tab / LobbyTools Monitoring 2025 Legislative Session Extension Activity

Florida legislators move closer to wrapping up budget work" via Gary Fineout and Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO — Florida lawmakers are nearing a final budget agreement, having reached deals on transportation, law enforcement, and local projects. They have allocated $25 million for a job growth fund and $15 million for law enforcement recruitment bonuses, both less than DeSantis requested. In K-12 education, the Senate is now aligning with the House to fund programs like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate fully. While a 2% raise for all state workers is set, the Senate has offered a 10-15% pay hike for state law enforcement and firefighters, below the Governor’s proposal. With progress in key areas, the chambers are on track to send a final budget to DeSantis by their June 16 deadline.

Lawmakers Narrow Budget Gaps, On Track to Finalize Spending Plan - As Senate budget chief Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and his House counterpart Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, work to hash out unresolved issues that were bumped up to them late last week, lawmakers made key strides Monday toward finalizing a new state budget, striking deals on transportation, law enforcement, and economic development. After delays caused by weeks of gridlock over taxes and spending, negotiators showed progress by advancing proposals on school funding and state employee pay raises, among other priorities. Florida's current fiscal year ends June 30. In one agreement, legislators settled on allocating $25 million for the state's Job Growth Grant Fund — far short of the $75 million Gov. Ron DeSantis requested. The program funds infrastructure and workforce projects to help attract or expand businesses. Lawmakers also approved $15 million for the governor's law enforcement recruitment bonus program, which offers incentives of up to $5,000 for new and relocating officers. DeSantis had sought $23 million. Despite the trimmed allocations, the developments reflect growing consensus between the House and Senate, positioning the Legislature to meet its budget timeline. Budget completion is expected by June 13, with a vote on June 16, abiding by Florida's constitutionally required 72-hour "cooling off" period between when the final budget is printed and when lawmakers can vote. The spending plan would then go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has line-item veto power. The state's new 2025-26 fiscal year begins on July 1. Politico Pro / LobbyTools Budget Tab / LobbyTools Monitoring 2025 Legislative Session Extension Activity

Florida Budget Preps for Possible Difficulties to Come - As Florida lawmakers try to wrap up work on a proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, in many ways they're looking a little beyond that date to what may be coming down the road: the possibility of an economic downturn made more difficult by major efforts in Washington to drastically reduce how much the federal government spends around the country. The prospect of cuts to Medicaid, the main health care program for nearly 1 in 5 people in the state, could be the biggest future budget issue on the horizon for Florida, along with possible cuts to other social services and emergency relief in the wake of hurricanes, which Florida could have to fund on its own instead of relying on the federal government. "There may not be a FEMA next year, none of us know that," the Senate's budget chief, Republican Sen. Ed Hooper said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Legislature's Republican leadership isn't talking publicly much about the budget difficulties the state could face because of cuts pushed by the Trump administration and the GOP-led Congress, but it is taking steps to shore up reserves and significantly cut spending to bolster the state against what may come (or not come) financially. "The question is: 'Do I believe this budget prepares Florida for what could be coming out of the 'DOGE' cuts or just the changes that come out of Washington D.C.?' And I would say yes." said Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. Lawmakers are seeking to set aside $1.5 billion over the next two years for the state's main reserve account if voters agree to increase the size of the reserve. Politico

"DeSantis wants to cut property taxes. Florida’s proposed K-12 budget relies on them" via Andrew Atterbury and Gary Fineout of POLITICO — As DeSantis calls for property tax cuts, Florida's Legislature is ironically crafting a K-12 education budget increase that is heavily reliant on them. Lawmakers are proposing a $945 million spending boost, with over 70% — or $674 million — generated by local property taxes. This marks a significant shift from previous years and aims to offset costs as Florida's booming universal school-choice program drives declining public school enrollment. The reliance on property taxes to fund schools creates a policy paradox, as the Governor advocates for tax relief. At the same time, the Legislature’s budget leans more on local revenue to maintain educational services, highlighting the complex financial challenge of funding both public and private education.

Hurricanes …

Trump: FEMA to Shut Down After Hurricane Season - The federal government will start to shutter its disaster response agency, but will wait until the end of this year's hurricane season to do it, President Donald Trump said Wednesday. The states will have to "wean" themselves off of help from the federal government, the president said, though he didn't get into details, including when federal money might still be available, though managed by states, or whether states would have to fully fit the bill for most losses. "We're moving it back to the states, so the governors can handle (it). That's why they're governors," Trump told reporters at the White House. "If they can't handle it, they shouldn't be governor ... When you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind in a state, that's what you have governors for. They're supposed to fix those problems." FEMA has already been dramatically pared down since Trump began his second term, its workforce cut by about a third. Federal Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said that FEMA "fundamentally needs to go away" as it currently operates. "While we are running this hurricane season, making sure that we have pre-staged and worked with the regions that are traditionally hit in these areas, we're also building communication and mutual aid agreements among states to respond to each other so that they can stand on their own two feet with the federal government coming in in catastrophic circumstances with funding," Noem said. The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1, but typically ramps up later in the summer when ocean waters are at their warmest. It goes through November, though tropical storms have in the past sometimes formed as late as late December or early January. Forecasters this year have predicted a more active than normal season. Bloomberg News / Reuters / Washington Post / CNN

CSU Hurricane Forecast Steady: 9 Hurricanes Expected - Colorado State University researchers on Wednesday said they still expect 17 named storms, including nine hurricanes and possibly four major storms this hurricane season. The updated June forecast cites unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean as the primary driver of above-average activity. Warm ocean water fuels tropical systems, increasing the risk of stronger storms. But scientists noted more uncertainty in this year's outlook compared to 2024 due to weaker climate signals. "So far, the 2025 hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to 1996, 1999, 2008, 2011 and 2021," said CSU Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach. "While the average of our analog seasons had above-average levels of activity, the relatively large spread in observed activity in our analog years highlights the uncertainty associated with this outlook." While still active, the 2025 projection is more moderate than last year's "extremely active" forecast, which called for 11 hurricanes. That difference is partly due to stronger winds over the Atlantic so far this year, which have cooled the waters. Most forecasting groups align with CSU's expectations, projecting between eight and nine hurricanes. "The forecast could be woefully wrong, maybe it's a super quiet season. But even if we can forecast exactly the number of storms, we can't tell you where they're going to go," said Klotzbach. Sun Sentinel / News Service Florida

Business …

“Nearly half of Floridians are living paycheck to paycheck, report finds” via Max Klaver of the Miami Herald — They’re your child’s middle school teacher. They’re the seniors bagging your groceries at Publix. They’re the bank teller, the nurse, the neighbors. They might even be you. They’re nearly half of all Floridians, and they’re struggling to make ends meet, a new study finds. They’re what United Way calls ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. According to a recent report from the organization, most of the 4 million Florida households have a steady income, and they typically earn too much to qualify for state benefits such as food or child care assistance. But they’re living paycheck to paycheck. Only three states — Louisiana, Mississippi and New York — have higher percentages of residents under such financial pressure, United Way found.

Brevard Co Among Fastest Growing Economies in Nation: The "Space Coast" has seen some worrying economic times as the federal space program has declined, leaving what was once a mostly one-industry community on the brink of being irrelevant. But the rise of the private sector space industry, and a push to diversify the local economy has Brevard County booming. A new study found the Central Atlantic coast county had the highest growth rate among 100 midsized American communities during the past five years, as measured by gross domestic product, and the second-highest growth rate over the last 10 years. Florida Today

“Naples is an outlier, lags behind state numbers in jobs growth” via Dayna Harpster of WGCU — The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report shows increases of more than one percent in non-farm jobs in Florida and also overall in the United States for the year ending in April. Increases were also felt in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Punta Gorda areas with bumps of 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Sarasota’s available non-farm jobs jumped up 0.5% for the same period ending in April. The Naples-Marco Island area was the outlier with a decrease in jobs of 0.6%. In the leisure and hospitality sector, Southwest Florida experienced declines in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota (-3.7%), Naples-Marco Island (-6.6%), Cape Coral-Fort Myers (-6.9%) and Punta Gorda (-7.3%).

Florida Jobless Claims Hit Highest Level Since Hurricane Milton: Florida saw a sharp rise in first-time unemployment claims last week, marking the highest weekly total since Hurricane Milton struck the state in October 2024. According to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday, an estimated 8,549 initial claims were filed during the week ending June 7 — up significantly from the revised total of 5,698 the previous week, which included the Memorial Day holiday. The latest figure surpasses the state's weekly average of 6,213 claims so far this year. The last time Florida saw higher numbers was the week ending Oct. 19, when 10,800 claims were filed following Hurricane Milton's impact. Nationally, jobless claims held steady at 248,000 last week. The U.S. unemployment rate for May stood at 4.2%. Florida's most recent unemployment rate was 3.7% in April, with May figures set to be released by the state Department of Commerce on June 20. News Service Florida

“Gas prices hold steady amid global oil market volatility” via Florida Politics — After rising 10 cents last week, Florida gas prices fell slightly over the weekend, stabilizing at an average of $3.09 per gallon statewide Sunday — the same price as a week ago. “Florida gas prices remain in the same 30-cent range that Florida gas prices have fluctuated within since September,” AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement. That range has kept retail fuel prices relatively predictable for months, despite significant global fluctuations in oil markets. Oil prices surged roughly 6% last week, driven by mounting geopolitical tensions, robust U.S. economic indicators and ongoing supply constraints. The international benchmark for crude oil was $63.41 per barrel Friday, a jump from $60.79 the previous week.

Campaigns & Elections …

Mayfield Retakes Senate Seat, GOP Holds Two House Seats - Republicans won in three legislative special general elections on Tuesday, filling seats vacated by GOP lawmakers in state House Districts 3 and 32, while GOP former Rep. Debbie Mayfield retook her former Space Coast area Senate seat with 54% of the vote. Mayfield defeated Democrat Vance Ahrens in the race for the Brevard County Senate seat, which she held before former state Sen. Randy Fine, who vacated it this spring to run for Congress, and won. Mayfield significantly out fundraised her opponent, even though she was limited by a ban on fundraising during the legislative session. Despite Mayfield's fundraising advantage and name recognition, her margin was less than 10% over Ahrens. Mayfield was initially disqualified in her bid to return to the Senate after serving two terms in the House, with the Division of Elections finding it would be a term limits violation, but the state Supreme Court overturned that decision. Replacing Mayfield in Florida's House District 32 will be Republican Brian Hodgers, who got 55% of the vote in defeating Democrat Juan Hinojosa for the Space Coast House seat. In the Panhandle, Milton Republican Nathan Boyles won easily in House District 3, which straddles Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. He defeated Democrat Dondre Wise, getting more than 67% of the vote to 33% for Wise. That seat was vacated this year by former Rep. Joel Rudman, who left the Legislature in his bid to replace former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz in Congress, but lost in the Republican primary to Jimmy Patronis. Fine had left his Senate seat to replace former U.S. Representative Mike Waltz in Congress. Florida Today / Pensacola News Journal / Florida Politics / News Service Florida / The Floridian / WEAR / WUWF / LobbyTools

“Poll shows Byron Donalds starts with 6-point lead over David Jolly in 2026 Governor’s race” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Donalds holds a comfortable lead on former U.S. Rep. Jolly if the two compete for Governor. But a third of the electorate remains undecided. That’s according to a poll from Victory Insights, which tested voter sentiment on the first major members of their respective parties to announce campaigns. The survey was put in the field from June 7 to 10, immediately after Jolly announced his campaign. The poll shows almost 37% of voters would vote for Donalds, who launched his campaign in March. Meanwhile, just over 31% would back Jolly, a Republican Congressman-turned-Democratic candidate. Nearly 32% of voters remain undecided, showing there’s room for both candidates to grow their name recognition.

The latest fundraising support shows some of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ deep-pocketed supporters getting involved in the 2026 gubernatorial race. But they are backing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ campaign.

Reporting from the Friends of Byron Donalds shows Richard Uihlein, a co-founder of Florida-based distribution company U-Line, donated $1 million to the political committee on June 6. That’s the second such donation from the business titan this year to the account, which is supporting Donalds’ bid for Governor.

“Lawyer Coretta Anthony-Smith’s money haul stirs up race for Geraldine Thompson’s seat” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel — The Special Election for Senate in Orange County includes two high-profile siblings and a former Congressman. Anthony-Smith, 54, a lawyer from Gotha, is the wild card in the race to succeed the late Sen. Thompson, who died in February. But as of Thursday, Anthony-Smith has raised more than all of them combined, lending herself $175,000 alongside contributions totaling more than $39,000. An affiliated PAC, chaired by Anthony-Smith, Action for Change Now, has also raised $66,500, largely from personal injury firms. “The money makes it a potential for an upset there,” said Matt Isbell, a Democratic elections analyst.

Health Care Related Articles

"Budget conference: House seeks reporting requirements on AHCA, and wants to hold back Shevaun Harris’ salary unless the agency complies" via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Following the Hope Florida scandal, the House is demanding unprecedented transparency on how the state spends Medicaid funds. In a bold new budget proposal, lawmakers are threatening to withhold the salary of Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Harris unless she complies. The proposal requires AHCA to enter into a data-sharing agreement with the Legislature by September, providing detailed information on Medicaid spending, including settlement dollars. This move stems directly from an investigation into how $10 million in Medicaid settlement money was funneled through the Hope Florida Foundation to political groups. The House’s hardball tactic underscores deep distrust and a commitment to holding the executive branch accountable for its use of public money.

Florida Abortions Drop Nearly 46% Following Six-Week Ban

The number of abortions performed in Florida has dropped sharply in 2025, with 17,377 procedures reported through June 2 — a 45.8% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to state data. The decline follows the implementation of a law in May 2024 that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy (SB 300). By June 3, 2024, 32,081 abortions had been reported for that year. Nearly all of the 2025 procedures — 17,269 — occurred during the first trimester. According to the state Agency for Health Care Administration, just 108 second-trimester abortions were performed, most due to fatal fetal abnormalities, severe genetic defects, or life-threatening conditions affecting the mother. News Service Florida

BayCare, Northwestern Partner on Tampa Health Campus: BayCare Health System has announced a new partnership with Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine, marking what the organization calls the "final key piece" in its transformation into an academic health system. The collaboration, also involving Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, aims to expand BayCare's access to new treatments, bolster clinical research, and enhance medical training. The announcement follows BayCare's February acquisition of three office buildings near St. Joseph's hospitals in Tampa, part of a site that will form the BayCare Academic Health and Research Corridor. Valued at $145 million, the purchase significantly expands the nonprofit's footprint in West Tampa. The partnership is central to BayCare's plans of expanding graduate medical education programs to 650 residents by 2029. BayCare Press Release / WUSF / Tampa Bay Times / Healthcare Innovation