Florida Budget

The budget may be complete, but lawmakers are back at the Capitol to cut property taxes. We take a look at the governor's plan. Also, have you ever worried that something you posted online could affect your job?

The budget includes $30 billion for K-12 schools, with $201 million for teacher pay increases. That raise, though, will only go to teachers with 10 years of experience, with the increase capped at $3,000 per year.

The agreement restores eligibility for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to 400% of the federal poverty level ($62,600 per year), reverses the drug restrictions and provides $75 million to run the program.

The talks were part of a flurry of meetings as House and Senate leaders try to meet a Tuesday deadline to complete the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Florida legislative leaders are negotiating next year’s state budget behind closed doors — a secretive process Gov. Ron DeSantis compared to selecting a pope.

About $150 million sought to rebuild Hillsborough College isn't in the first spending offers. Budget committee Chair Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, says the state won't act until stadium financing is complete.

Differences between the House and Senate stem from the approach to funding for preeminent research universities, including USF, and the move of USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College.

Florida lawmakers are back in Tallahassee for a special session focused on next year’s state budget. One influential Republican senator says lawmakers are ready to “lay our swords down” after months of Capitol infighting.

The agreement reached Thursday involves top-line numbers, known as allocations.

It means Gov. Ron DeSantis' major priority will likely get pushed until late May — at the earliest.

Lawmakers ended their regular session on March 13 without agreeing to a spending plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. While talks are ongoing, no breakthrough to the logjam has been reached.

State budget leaders are being asked to let a pair of agencies distribute federal dollars for security around the seven FIFA World Cup matches that will be held in South Florida this summer.