Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

DeSantis signed the tax-cut package as he also approved a new state budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which will start Tuesday.

The Commission for Public Higher Education will need federal approval. Other participants are university systems in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

USF agreed to name the Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research for Sen. Darryl Rouson weeks after the House outraged senators by removing the proposal for the center from a bill.

It would take effect with the July 1 start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year but remains subject to vetoes from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The House and Senate will vote on the package next week along with a budget for 2025-26. The plan is projected to reduce state and local government revenue by about $1.3 billion next fiscal year.

The goal is to get the budget finished this week, along with accompanying bills that will include a tax package.

The House and Senate are expected to vote June 16 on the budget and a tax package.

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

Gov. Ron DeSantis has supported moving NASA’s headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Florida, with backers saying it would put leaders closer to the agency’s operations.

John Morgan, who is semi-retired to Hawaii, has teased a run for governor for years but isn't advocating for the Republican or Democratic parties. Pizzo dropped his party affiliation after stepping down as Senate Democratic leader on April 24.