Florida\u2019s regular legislative session is scheduled to end in one week, but official budget negotiations haven\u2019t even started. This likely means an extended session or a special session to finish the only job constitutionally required of lawmakers.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve also seen some priority bills pass the Senate while getting no discussion in the House. <\/p>\n
First, the House and Senate are about a billion and a half dollars apart on their state budget proposals.<\/p>\n
“We have a fundamental disagreement on what the budget should look like for the state of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for that reason, House Speaker Daniel Perez told reporters at the Capitol this week it\u2019s looking less likely that lawmakers will end the session on time.<\/p>\n
“The House believes we should spend less money. The Senate believes we should spend more money. I am concerned with the future of the state of Florida. The three-year outlook is important to me. I want to make sure that future legislatures have the flexibility that I have had to make the right decision,\u201d Perez said. \u201cI don\u2019t think that I am very flexible on wanting to spend more money.\u201d<\/p>\n
The budget isn\u2019t the only issue. The Senate has passed some prominent bills that haven\u2019t been heard in any House committees.<\/p>\n
As far as Perez is concerned, that means they\u2019re likely dead for the year.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what happened to a bill titled Medical Freedom<\/a>. It would expand a parent\u2019s ability to opt students out of vaccines, an issue backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Perez has regularly butted heads with the governor, and while the vaccine bill made it to the Senate floor, Perez says it won\u2019t be considered by the House.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a bill that wasn\u2019t heard in the House. It wasn\u2019t heard in the committee process. Obviously we function different than the Senate. A bill that hasn\u2019t moved in the House is not gonna be brought up at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n