{"id":281982,"date":"2026-05-23T12:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/281982\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T12:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:49:10","slug":"budget-conference-house-and-senate-are-closer-to-deal-on-job-growth-grant-fund-spending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/281982\/","title":{"rendered":"Budget conference: House and Senate are closer to deal on Job Growth Grant Fund spending"},"content":{"rendered":"

Job Growth Grant Fund is getting hashed out in late budget talks.<\/p>\n

The House and Senate are moving closer to a deal on how much to spend on the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund<\/a> \u2014 which is Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 pet program.<\/p>\n

The Senate has sought $45 million during the ongoing budget talks. In its latest bump offer out late Friday, the House offered $40 million \u2014 a significant increase from the House\u2019s original $5 million proposal in the Transportation and Economic Development conference.<\/p>\n

Budget negotiators are currently working through Memorial Day holiday to hash out the spending plan after the Legislature failed to pass one at the end of the 60-day Regular Session.<\/p>\n

The grant program<\/a> is meant to help boost economic development by funding infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Previous grant winners include: Citrus and Levy counties and the city of Newberry getting funding for wastewater infrastructure<\/a>, SeaPort Manatee to\u00a0rebuild a dock<\/a> and St. Petersburg College to spend on\u00a0 tech programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

DeSantis often travels around Florida and announces the projects at a news conference to tout how his administration is creating jobs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But DeSantis and House Republican leaders have been increasingly at odds the past two years, raising questions about whether the House would agree to fund DeSantis\u2019 priorities.<\/p>\n

DeSantis was seeking $50 million<\/a> for for the Job Growth Grant Fund in his spending proposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Leaders say they can still finish before the end of May, but it could be close. A budget memo from House Speaker Daniel Perez has House Budget Chair Lawrence McClure and Hooper meeting at 8 a.m. Tuesday to hold talks \u201cuntil completion.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the budget hits desks that day, it starts the constitutionally required 72-hour cooling-off period, teeing up a House floor vote Friday, May 29, with the Senate to follow before Sine Die \u2014 with a month to spare before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.<\/p>\n

This is the second straight year of a drawn-out budget; last year\u2019s wasn\u2019t passed until June 16.<\/p>\n

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