state budget

Six weeks after the regularly scheduled session ended, legislative leaders finished negotiating details of a spending plan Friday for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The Republican-dominated legislature has encouraged the expansion of charter schools

Legislative leaders said Thursday evening they hope to finish a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year on Friday so it can go before the House and Senate early next week.

Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email that President Ben Albritton intends to revive the proposal to boost economic development in rural areas next year.

Nearly a month after leaving the Capitol without passing a budget, House and Senate leaders said Friday night they had reached an agreement that will clear the way for lawmakers to begin hammering out details of a spending plan Tuesday.

When the legislature left after the 60-day regular session ended in May, they did so without passing the one, constitutionally mandated bill they have to pass each year: the state budget. The House and Senate are more than $4 billion apart in their spending plans.

The House and Senate don't seem close on a budget deal. The House and Gov. Ron DeSantis don't seem close, period.

As legislative leaders try to restart the budget process, DeSantis rejected a summit with House and Senate leaders proposed by Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power.

Florida's regular legislative session was scheduled to finish on May 2. But lawmakers extended it to finish the budget and address certain proposals. Your Florida talked with people across the state about how they think the first 60 days went.

Legislative leaders say they have a general agreement on a budget. Lawmakers had to approve an extension of the regular session because they didn't finalize a spending plan.