Daniel Perez

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.

Florida lawmakers are working out the details on the budget and tax breaks. They've given themselves until mid-June to get it done.

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.

Florida Senate President Ben Albritton wrote in a memo that he believes they are making progress but are not in a position to begin the budget conference next week.

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

Perez has called for reducing the state’s sales-tax rate but indicated Tuesday he is more focused on reducing spending. DeSantis, meanwhile, has pushed for property-tax cuts.

DeSantis argued Wednesday that a House plan to reduce the sales-tax rate is something “nobody is asking for” and would “effectively kill any opportunity to do property-tax reform.”

DeSantis and his administration defend the initiative, saying it has helped transition 30,000 people off government assistance and saved the state $100 million.

The inquiry into DeSantis administration spending has raised questions about potentially missing state-owned vehicles, agency leaders earning six-figure salaries while living in other states and more.

House Speaker Daniel Perez has ordered an inquiry into agencies' finances. This is part of a broader effort to cut spending as they look to create a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.