Senate President Ben Albritton's "rural renaissance" package passed his chamber unanimously Wednesday for the second year in a row.
Whether it will make headway in the House remains to be seen. The proposal was held up in the House last year amid disagreements between the chambers.
The $218 million dollar package would have wide-ranging effects on rural Florida, including allocations for roads, affordable housing, expanding education, boosting health care and modernizing commerce.
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During a press availability after the bill passed, Albritton said he's hopeful that this year it will pass, especially because he says it has received backing from the Trump administration.
"The federal government and President Trump's leadership is interested in a renewal, whether it's a renaissance or whatever you want to call it, but a renewal in rural America. So, I'm hopeful this year. I'm optimistic this year," Albritton said.
Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon is sponsoring the bill. On the Senate floor before it passed, he said it will be a game changer for many people in the communities he serves.
"They're just hard-working people, and honestly, they don't want to ask the government for anything, but there are things that are needed in these communities, roads that are torn down, water systems that are failing," he said.
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