TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida’s 60-day legislative session ended Friday without a state budget, marking the second consecutive year lawmakers failed to pass a spending plan. Two special sessions are already scheduled for next month.
The adjournment, known as Sine Die, is traditionally marked by ceremony at the Capitol. This year, there was no stage, no celebration and no hanky drop.
Senate Minority Leader Laurie Berman said the legislature fell short of its most basic obligation.
“The one constitutional requirement that we have we failed at,” Berman said.
Legislative leaders said they will continue negotiating while lawmakers are away, working to close a $1.4 billion budget gap. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton both addressed the path forward.
“Chair McClure and I will continue to keep you updated on our progress on allocation negotiations,” Perez said.
“We will hold the line on spending, live within our means, and strike the right balance between spending and saving,” Albritton said.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said the session failed to deliver on the top issue voters raised after the 2024 election.
“This was too much talk, too little action. That’s a missed opportunity for the people of Florida. Affordability was the number one issue coming out of the 2024 election. We talked about affordability as a chamber,” Driskell said.
Driskell also pointed to internal Republican conflict as a factor.
“We keep missing the mark because we can’t get past this infighting. Floridians don’t care about the infighting. They don’t care. They’re not following that,” she said.
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Republicans said they are not concerned about returning to Tallahassee for additional sessions. Rep. Danny Nix of Port Charlotte said he believes the legislature has been responsible with state finances.
“I love the fact that we have leaders who are fighting for what’s best for Floridians. At the end of the day I think we’ve done really good work. We’re good stewards of making sure we’re fiscally sound in the state of Florida,” Nix said.
Lawmakers sent more than 200 bills to the governor for his signature during the session. Some members are already looking ahead to next year, when term limits will bring new legislative leadership.
“I’m hoping next year we have more dialogue with some of the senators that are over there and make sure that we have a better work product for next year,” said Rep. Juan Carlos Porras of Miami.
There will be two special sessions in April. One special session is planned to finalize the budget. A second special session is scheduled on congressional redistricting.
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