FloridaHB 5003E2026EHouseWALLET

Implementing the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act

Sponsored By: Lawrence McClure (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationHouse CalendarAppropriations -SJ 20

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

55 provisions identified: 29 benefits, 8 costs, 18 mixed.

More homeowners qualify for hurricane grants

My Safe Florida Home grants no longer limit applicants to low or moderate incomes. Existing requirements remain: inspection eligibility, insurance of $700,000 or less, and a program inspection within the preceding 24 months. County property records must show construction before January 1, 2008; applicants must agree to final inspection and provide insurer discount information. The program can accept signed or electronically verified age statements made under penalty of perjury. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Court-appointed lawyer access rules continue

Florida continues its rules for appointing public defenders, regional conflict counsel, civil counsel, and private lawyers. Regional counsel follows a public defender's certification that the defender cannot or lacks authority to represent the person. Private counsel follows regional counsel's certification of a conflict. Registry, contract, and payment rules also continue. A private lawyer outside the registry can be paid only when the court finds no registry lawyer available and statutory requirements are met.

People can seek detainer-record removal

The law allows state rules for removing immigration-detainer records made unlawfully or by mistake. A law enforcement agency must apply when the detaining agency or a court finds the detention unlawful or mistaken. Adults, or a minor's parent or guardian, may also apply with endorsement from the detaining agency's head or designee. Applications must include required detention, identity, tracking, and detainer information and be signed on agency letterhead. This process expires July 1, 2027.

Families retain access to birth-injury claims

For fiscal year 2026–2027, Florida's birth-related neurological injury program may accept new claims when estimates exceed the usual statutory limit. This preserves access to the claims process, not a guaranteed payment. The exception expires July 1, 2027. The law states that these amendments do not take effect if SB 1668 becomes law.

More homeowners qualify for hurricane inspections

My Safe Florida Home inspections cover site-built, owner-occupied homes on individual parcels with a homestead exemption. Detached homes qualify, and attached homes qualify when they are no more than three stories tall. Homeowners can apply for another inspection after more than 24 months if the earlier inspection brought no program grant payment. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Covered school workers receive required raises

School districts and charter schools must provide the 2026–2027 salary increases set in Specific Appropriation 88. This applies to employees covered by that appropriation. The supplied text does not state raise amounts or identify every covered employee group. The requirement expires July 1, 2027.

Immigration-duty bonuses for local correctional officers

For fiscal year 2026–2027, local agencies may apply for bonuses up to $1,000 per qualifying certified correctional officer. An additional 7.65% covers the officer's share of payroll tax. Officers need at least six months as warrant service officers or immigration officers under the federal jail enforcement model. Agencies must certify service and provide information required by the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. Operations solely at state correctional facilities are excluded, and the authority expires July 1, 2027.

Public employees can get Roth savings options

Florida deferred compensation plans can offer a qualified Roth contribution program to all employees eligible for the plan. The program must meet federal Roth requirements. The law authorizes this option but does not require a plan to offer it. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Fishing and seafood businesses get facility grants

Florida's environmental department administers working waterfront grants for eligible commercial saltwater license holders, wholesale dealers, retailers, and seafood houses. Grants cover eligible repair, maintenance, replacement, construction, or renovation of equipment, water-adjacent facilities, infrastructure, and shoreside facilities. Applicants must show a benefit to the local economy, and recipients must submit annual progress reports. Grant amounts are not stated. The provision expires July 1, 2027.

Hurricane Michael businesses get loan funding support

For 2026–2027, Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund money must support the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund. The program assists businesses affected by Hurricane Michael, as directed in the state budget. The supplied text does not state loan amounts, terms, or further eligibility details. This funding direction expires July 1, 2027.

Disability agencies can seek waiver funding

Florida's disability agency can request money from the home- and community-based services waiver lump sum to cover shortfalls. It and the health care agency can also request more budget authority to carry out the Medicaid waiver. Those joint requests must be submitted at least three days before the action takes effect. Budget changes face state notice, review, and objection procedures; extra funding is not guaranteed. These authorities expire July 1, 2027.

School districts face lower local revenue caps

For 2026–2027, required local property-tax revenue cannot exceed 85% of each district's Florida Education Finance Program calculation. The former cap was 90%. This limits the local revenue counted for school funding; individual property-tax effects are not stated. The rule expires July 1, 2027.

Home grants cover work with inspection checks

My Safe Florida Home grants can cover protection for exterior doors, garage doors, windows, and skylights. Covered roof work includes stronger roof-to-wall connections, stronger roof-deck attachments, secondary water resistance, and roof-covering replacement. The initial hurricane inspection must recommend the work. Payment covers only improvements identified by the final hurricane inspection. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Homeowners get longer grant deadlines

Homeowners have 18 months after My Safe Florida Home grant approval to finish construction and request a final inspection. This replaces the one-year deadline and separate six-month extension option; missing the deadline means abandonment and return of grant money. The department must give at least 5 business days' notice before treating an application as abandoned. Applicants responding within 5 business days of receipt with good cause can apply again, or the department can keep the application open. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Lottery retailers receive six percent commissions

Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida Lottery retailers receive a 6% commission on each ticket sold or issued as a prize. The commission is based on the ticket's purchase price. Extra retailer pay is limited to the appropriated Florida Lottery Retailer Bonus Commission program. These rules apply only to the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Florida replaces accounting systems, pauses updates

Florida must replace four main FLAIR components and CMS cash-management and accounting components with one integrated financial system. It must follow state financial-management law and avoid duplicating existing financial, personnel, purchasing, and budgeting systems. Agencies review requirements and technical plans, and an executive steering committee approves them. Management Services must help agencies connect People First to Florida PALM and pause major People First updates until PALM is complete. Routine maintenance and needed integration repairs remain allowed; stakeholder planning and detailed cost estimates are due December 31, 2026. The People First requirements expire July 1, 2027; specified Financial Services funds from 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 remain available through 2026–2027.

Land and water spending rules loosen

For fiscal year 2026–2027, land acquisition fund spending follows the state budget instead of the usual $100 million annual land-purchase direction. The law does not state the replacement amount. Water Protection and Sustainability Program funds also follow the budget instead of specified usual water-quality grant requirements. These changes give the state spending flexibility while setting aside existing funding directions. Both changes expire July 1, 2027.

Childcare providers get a yearly payment schedule

Florida uses the School Readiness Program Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2026–2027 schedule when budgeting the program's allocation. The supplied text does not include the rates or show whether payments rise or fall. This rule applies to the 2026–2027 budget year and expires July 1, 2027.

School districts can receive funding backstops

After school funding recalculations, enrollment stabilization money can address specified scholarship enrollment or per-student funding gaps, supplement shortfalls, or lower district enrollment. It also covers district financial emergencies when the State Board of Education appoints a financial emergency board. The program aims to raise district unreserved general fund balances to 3% of general fund revenue. Annual appropriations are optional, and awards are reduced proportionately if calculated totals exceed appropriations; the Legislature must maintain a projected $250 million minimum program balance for the upcoming fiscal year. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Schools get state funding with budget limits

For 2026–2027, state discretionary operating money supports college- or university-sponsored charter schools and Florida Virtual School. The formula multiplies maximum nonvoted discretionary operating millage by 96% of statewide taxable value, then divides by statewide full-time-equivalent enrollment. That per-student amount is multiplied by each school's full-time-equivalent enrollment. Separately, district discretionary supplements are reduced proportionately when recalculated totals exceed the state appropriation. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Eight counties can add senior care providers

Florida can contract with more Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly organizations in eight counties. They are Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, Orange, Pinellas, and Santa Rosa. Residents must qualify for the program; the law does not guarantee additional contracts. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Citizens can use state claim hearings

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation can contract with the Division of Administrative Hearings to resolve claim disputes. The disputes must be covered by the applicable insurance policy's dispute process. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Capitol tenants gain space approval rights

Beginning July 1, 2026, permanent tenants control reductions or moves of Capitol Complex interior space allocated on or after January 1, 2026. Legislative parking allocated on January 1, 2026, also requires consent before reduction or reassignment; lawmakers get first refusal on additional vacant interior space and parking. Management Services must obtain affected permanent tenants' approval of Capitol Center project scope, design, and timing, except for the Governor. Senate or House projects need their chamber leader's approval; shared legislative space needs both, including before projects enter the department's statutory report. Chamber leaders can renovate their own spaces without department approval, and long-range planning must seek all permanent tenants' feedback. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

Crime-victim grants can use extra funding

During fiscal year 2026–2027, Florida's legal affairs department may seek more spending authority for Victims of Crime Act grants. Extra federal revenue specifically for victim-assistance services must be available. The request follows state notice, review, and objection procedures. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Florida contracts for police radio upgrades

Florida must enter a 15-year contract with the company operating its statewide radio system on January 1, 2021. The contract covers radios, a Project 25 upgrade, added capacity and coverage, upkeep, and transfer of specified towers and leases. A new trust fund receives existing statutory surcharges to support the system. With appropriations, it can pay for equipment, construction, operations, services, and recurring maintenance after completion. The provisions expire July 1, 2027, but the required contract term is 15 years.

Florida coordinates aerial mapping purchases

Florida's transportation department becomes the main statewide contact for aerial laser mapping purchases and cost-sharing. This role covers geographic information systems and shared mapping data. State and local agencies can make agreements delegating related purchasing and cost-sharing authority to the department. Agreements must follow state budget law, and this role expires July 1, 2027.

Florida courts can use temporary treasury loans

During 2026–2027, Florida's Chief Justice can borrow from temporarily excess state treasury balances to help courts meet their appropriations. Using a loan requires written notice to the Governor and legislative appropriations chairs. Loans must be repaid by the end of that fiscal year. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Local vessel cleanup gets funding flexibility

Florida's wildlife commission can use existing derelict-vessel funds for local government grants or direct cleanup work. Covered vessels include derelict and migrant vessels, at-risk vessel turn-ins, and vessels declared public nuisances. Funds can pay for removal, storage, destruction, and disposal, including work by private contractors. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Prisons can request added staff funding

During fiscal year 2026–2027, Florida's corrections department may request extra authorized positions and additional unallocated general revenue for institutional needs. Inmate counts must exceed the December 23, 2025 projection by 1% for two consecutive months or 2% in one month. The Legislative Budget Commission must review and approve the request. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Medicaid plans can earn quality payments

Florida's health care agency can request extra spending authority for quality incentive payments to Medicaid managed care plans. Plans must meet agency-set quality measures and performance outcomes to receive payments. The budget request must include written approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Seniors' programs can use extra federal money

During 2026–2027, Florida's elderly affairs department can request more spending authority when extra federal revenue is available. This applies to the USDA Adult Care Food Program and Older Americans Act programs. Requests face state notice, review, and objection procedures. The authority expires July 1, 2027.

Veterans' homes gain staffing and construction options

Florida's veterans department can seek extra positions, trust fund spending, or salary authority for essential nursing-home staff. It must project a need to meet its staffing ratio and obtain Legislative Budget Commission approval. It can use Collier County agreement funds and 2023 appropriations to plan and build a veterans' nursing home and adult day health center. The department can seek a federally approved construction grant and additional spending authority, which faces state review. These authorities expire July 1, 2027.

Florida supports citrus greening resistance

Florida's agriculture department may lease a qualifying facility to speed growth of citrus budwood trees and seedlings resistant or tolerant to citrus greening. The program may also support bringing related resistance technologies to market. The facility must meet state statutory requirements. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

State agencies seek lower facility costs

Florida must use tenant brokers to renegotiate or replace private office or storage leases larger than 2,000 square feet. Covered leases expire from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2029; a status and savings report is due November 1, 2026. After disposition of a managed state building, Management Services may help affected Facilities Pool agencies pay relocation costs. Assistance can include furniture, fixtures, and equipment, using no more than 5% of facility-disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust Fund. Both provisions expire July 1, 2027.

State data-center charges get a cap

For fiscal year 2026–2027, the Governor's office may move existing Northwest Regional Data Center funds between departments. Transfers must match estimated data-processing costs and follow state notice, review, and objection procedures. Related contract-management auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies cannot exceed 3%. These provisions expire July 1, 2027.

Counties retain a Medicaid funding exclusion

Florida continues excluding certain locally assessed funds when calculating counties' Medicaid contributions. The funds must pay the nonfederal share of the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021. The exclusion continues through July 1, 2027. The law does not state the resulting contribution for any county.

Student digital certificates add school funding weight

For 2026–2027, each elementary or middle school student earning a CAPE Digital Tool certificate receives a 0.025 funding value. This value enters the school's academic acceleration supplement calculation, not a direct payment to the student. The resulting dollar amount is not stated. The rule expires July 1, 2027.

Universities can fund Title IX facility needs

Florida state universities can use state funds for construction, maintenance, and capital needs supporting Title IX and related state requirements. The law does not require a particular project or provide a specific funding amount. This authority expires July 1, 2027.

Court-appointed lawyers face state pay limits

For fiscal year 2026–2027, appointed criminal lawyers' trial pay is capped at $2,000 for misdemeanors and juvenile cases. Noncapital nonlife and life felony trials have a $15,000 cap; capital trials have a $25,000 cap. Capital cases are those where death is a possible sentence and the state has not waived seeking it. Appeal pay is capped at $9,000, and these caps expire July 1, 2027. Separately, lawyers who refuse case-document review by the Justice Administrative Commission or Auditor General cannot seek or receive more than the applicable flat fee.

Police must submit immigration-detainer fingerprints

Florida law enforcement agencies must capture and electronically submit fingerprints for qualifying people in custody with immigration detainers. Submissions must follow state rules. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement must create, process, store, maintain, and share the related detainer records. These requirements expire July 1, 2027.

State Guard applicants face tighter standards

Current or former police officers applying to the Florida State Guard must meet conduct standards, including officers from other states. They must be in good standing with good moral character, or have left on good terms without disciplinary action. For the felony bar, a finding of guilt counts even with withheld adjudication or a no-contest plea. Specialized-unit members must be certified law enforcement officers, have good moral character, and meet Guard applicant requirements. These amendments expire July 1, 2027.

Agencies pay assessments for vacant jobs

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered state agencies owe monthly assessments for vacant positions eligible for state group health insurance. Each assessment equals the employer cost of individual employee health coverage. Partly state-funded positions are charged in proportion to their state-funded share; fully federally funded positions are exempt. Agencies must pay within 30 days. The requirement expires July 1, 2027, and does not directly charge households.

State agencies face tighter travel limits

During fiscal year 2026–2027, state agencies can use travel funds only for work critical to their missions. Foreign, out-of-state, conference, training, and administrative travel needs written agency-head approval after considering electronic alternatives. Approved international trips require quarterly reports to legislative leaders explaining reasons and costs. Law enforcement, military, emergency management, and public health travel are exempt. These limits expire July 1, 2027.

State purchasing transactions carry 0.7% fee

Users of Florida's online procurement system pay a 0.7% fee on covered transactions. The fee applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It equals the covered transaction amount multiplied by 0.007.

Legislator pay stays at 2010 level

For fiscal year 2026–2027, Florida legislators' authorized salaries are fixed at the level in effect on July 1, 2010. The law does not state the salary amount or a change from current pay. This salary limit expires July 1, 2027.

State workers face travel reimbursement limits

State agencies and the judicial branch set personal-vehicle mileage payments for official travel, capped at IRS standard mileage rates. The law does not guarantee the maximum mileage rate. Lodging for meetings, conferences, or conventions they organize or sponsor is capped at $225 daily; employees can personally pay more. The lodging cap excludes travel for audits, examinations, inspections, investigations, litigation, and emergency response. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

First responders get matching drone grants

Subject to appropriations, Florida provides grants for eligible new drones used by police, fire services, ambulance crews, and other first responders. Applications are funded in order received, with caps of $250,000 per agency and $50,000 per drone. Drones must meet statutory requirements. Recipients generally must provide at least a 50% local match, which may be waived for agencies serving only fiscally constrained counties. The program expires July 1, 2027.

Local battery-collection mandates face temporary limits

Counties and cities cannot require stores or distributors to establish battery collection sites until a handling-practices study is produced. They also cannot require collection or handling of batteries or battery-containing products for off-site recycling or disposal. This protects retailers from those local mandates while limiting local collection rules. The restriction expires July 1, 2027, and does not create a statewide collection service.

Nursing home quality payments get new rules

The nursing home quality payment pool equals 18.1373% of included facilities' September 2016 payments unrelated to property. Facilities must earn at least 33% of available quality points to qualify. Florida must include resident satisfaction surveys once the agency finds they provide a statistically and scientifically valid measure. Scoring changes caused by resetting payment calculations must wait one year after recalculations are complete and scores are public. These rules expire July 1, 2027.

College course lists require state board review

Florida's Articulation Coordinating Committee must submit a general education course list by December 1, 2026. The list must contain the information required by state law. The State Board of Education and Board of Governors must approve, reject, or amend it for institutions they oversee. This requirement expires July 1, 2027.

Scholarship payments get attendance and privacy checks

Florida's education department must seek information by September 1, 2026, about a statewide Family Empowerment Scholarship data platform. Its request requires specified legislative chairs' review and approval by August 14; the report is due November 2, 2026. Required platform features include secure data exchange, attendance comparisons, real-time conflict notices before quarterly payment deadlines, and pre-payment eligibility lists. A student reported in public school needs a completed standard withdrawal form for inclusion; student privacy and state and district data authority must be preserved. These requirements expire July 1, 2027.

Agency technology spending faces stronger oversight

Beginning July 1, 2026, specified technology projects receive 25% of their funds, with 75% held in reserve. Business and Professional Regulation, Children and Families, Corrections, Education, Financial Services, and Revenue can request releases covering three months of planned costs. Requests need updated work plans, monthly spending plans, and status reports explaining differences from plans. Starting with the second quarterly release, agencies must remove costs not yet incurred and move them to future months when needed. Recipients must send monthly status reports within 30 days after each month closes. Separately, Persons with Disabilities, Children and Families, Corrections, Financial Services, Health, and Revenue must hire independent reviewers for specified projects. Reviewers check agency and vendor work, schedules, budgets, and technical deliverables, sending results simultaneously to designated executive and legislative overseers. These requirements expire July 1, 2027.

Florida gains budget flexibility with safeguards

The Legislature can authorize transfers of unappropriated trust-fund cash to the Budget Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund. Transfers need authorization in the state budget and exclude federally required funds, debt-pledged funds, and other listed protected funds. This makes money available for those destinations while removing it from the source funds. For fiscal year 2026–2027, the Legislative Budget Commission can also approve new capital projects or increased project funding through budget amendments. Notice and objection procedures apply, and both authorities expire July 1, 2027.

Working waterfront projects receive grant support

The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts program provides grants and supports full land purchases or purchases of limited property rights. The trust and agriculture department jointly set application and ranking procedures. Priority rises for municipalities under 30,000 residents, high-growth areas, redevelopment areas, sites beside designated aquatic preserves, and local-economy projects. Applicants must identify funding for costs above the grant, and recipients must report progress annually. The provision expires July 1, 2027.

Regional school groups get budget-set grants

For 2026–2027, regional education service groups with at least four school districts qualify for budget-set incentive grants. This replaces the statutory $50,000 amount per district and eligible member. Each group's board decides which services to provide and how to use the money. The grant amount is not stated here, and the rule expires July 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Lawrence McClure
Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 236 • No: 41

Senate vote • 5/29/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 34 • No: 1

House vote • 5/29/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 78 • No: 27

House vote • 5/12/2026