TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida lawmakers passed 237 bills during the 60-day legislative session, the fewest passed during Gov. Ron DeSantis’s final term, with the state’s multi-billion-dollar operating budget among the items left unfinished.
Among the priorities that did not advance: property tax reforms, rural renaissance legislation, fixes to Florida’s school voucher system, insurance reform, major health care reforms, and artificial intelligence regulations.
House Minority Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell said the session fell short for residents.
“I’ve seen no transformative policies that help Floridians keep more money in their pockets,” Driskell said.
Florida politics:
Rep. Adam Anderson of Palm Harbor offered a different view.
“Sometimes what we don’t measure is a taller measure of success than what we do pass,” Anderson said.
Senate President Ben Albritton said the unfinished budget is not a cause for concern.
“Because we met for a 60-day session, that’s not the end of the world. There’s still plenty of time,” Albritton said.
Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee next month to pass a budget in a special session.
Friction between the House and Senate was a defining feature of the session. Members from both parties acknowledged the dynamic.
“I would say this is a session of the Florida House. I would say this is a session of tension between our Chamber and the governor. But that’s what the three branches of government are about,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando.
Rep. Danny Alvarez of Hillsborough County said the back-and-forth reflects the intent of the system.
“I like a back and forth. That’s how our founders created it. We fight for our people. They fight for theirs and somewhere we meet in the middle,” Alvarez said.
Political analyst Susan MacManus said the internal divisions were not unexpected.
“Frankly, when one party controls everything, the splits then and the grabs for power and influence become internal to that party,” MacManus said.
MacManus said the dynamic in Florida mirrors broader national trends.
“What we’re seeing in America is a frustration with legislative bodies. The country itself is polarized. Our legislative bodies are polarized,” MacManus said.
Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in April to pass a budget. The legislature has until July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.
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