FloridaSB 25022025SenateWALLET

Implementing the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

58 provisions identified: 31 benefits, 10 costs, 17 mixed.

Coastal homeowners keep storm restoration help

The hurricane restoration grant program continues through July 1, 2026, for Ian or Nicole erosion costs incurred after September 23, 2022. Eligible counties are Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Palm Beach, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, and Volusia. Authorized or permit-exempt work on qualifying homesteaded site-built homes with up to four units, condominiums, and cooperatives qualifies; sand placement can receive 100% reimbursement. Armoring requires a 1:1 owner-state share, with state caps of $300,000 per single-family project and $600,000 per condominium or cooperative project; applications are first-come, first-served, with low- and moderate-income priority. Local projects must protect upland structures and benefit owners at large, can receive full funding, must finish by July 1, 2026, and can use no more than half of remaining funds.

Fewer workers qualify for homebuying help

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Hometown Hero homebuying assistance is limited to specified worker and military groups. Eligible workers include qualifying full-time employees of Florida-based employers in health care, schools, first response, public safety, courts, and child care. Specified servicemembers and veterans working full-time for Florida-based employers also qualify. Borrowers must meet the program's other requirements, and the housing corporation must publish eligible occupations. The law sets no individual assistance amount.

Recruitment bonuses come with service rules

Eligible certified officers can get a one-time recruitment bonus up to $5,000, subject to funding and proration. They must complete two years of full-time law enforcement work after certification, possibly across agencies. Documented breaks do not count toward service and cannot exceed 180 days; job-to-job intervals have a separate 15-day limit. Officers must repay the bonus for unmet service, except after discharge for reasons other than misconduct. The program expires July 1, 2026.

Broader treatment access for first responders

The statewide eTMS treatment pilot serves veterans, qualifying first responders, and their immediate families for conditions listed in state law. Covered responders include part-time and auxiliary police, 911 telecommunicators, government-employed EMTs and paramedics, and specified volunteer or retired personnel. The Department of Financial Services must renew the existing contract for two years and clarify that it covers treatment. The contract and payments are not classified as state financial assistance under state audit law. These provisions expire July 1, 2026.

Bonuses for qualifying county immigration officers

For fiscal year 2025–2026, local agencies can apply for bonuses for qualifying certified county detention officers. Officers must have at least six months of service as a 287(g) warrant service or jail-enforcement-model immigration officer. Bonuses reach $1,000, plus 7.65% for the officer's FICA tax share, for a maximum of $1,076.50. Agencies must certify service and provide information required by the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. The authority expires July 1, 2026.

Florida sets a PFAS cleanup process

Florida must adopt statewide cleanup levels if federal PFAS standards for drinking water, groundwater, and soil are not final by January 1, 2026. The state must prioritize the chemicals PFOA and PFOS. The cleanup rules cannot take effect until the Legislature approves them. This rulemaking provision expires July 1, 2026.

State funding faces new content restrictions

State agencies and other recipients must use state money consistently with stated principles on race, sex, discrimination, and merit. These principles also address responsibility for others’ past actions and instruction causing guilt or psychological distress based on those actions. Agencies cannot fund contractors that act as, or use, monitors rating news accuracy, misinformation, bias, standards, or ethics. Specified audience-measurement and public-relations monitoring services are excluded. Both restrictions expire July 1, 2026, and govern public spending rather than household conduct.

State budget controls conservation fund allocations

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the state budget controls covered Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund spending. This removes the direction to dedicate at least $25 million to Indian River Lagoon priority water-quality projects. The budget also overrides covered Land Acquisition Trust Fund directions for Lake Apopka restoration and land acquisition. Florida Forever Trust Fund distributions likewise follow the budget instead of usual statutory shares. These exceptions expire July 1, 2026; the provisions do not state replacement project amounts.

Road projects can shift with revenues

Florida’s transportation department may rebalance specified fiscal year 2025–2026 project funds because projected revenues are lower. It may request up to $200 million in budget authority to advance or delay projects and realign resources. As far as feasible, it must protect signed contracts, debt payments, planned safety work, and preservation projects. Amendments must follow state procedures, safeguard district allocations, and keep projects within the finance plan. The authority expires July 1, 2026; it does not identify which projects change.

Medicaid computer replacement faces spending limits

Florida must replace its Medicaid management system and fiscal agent operations with the modular Florida Health Care Connection system. The system must meet state and federal requirements, including architecture, governance, purchasing, and oversight rules; funding cannot exceed federal authorizations. It cannot duplicate other health and human services agencies’ systems or buy outside non-Medicaid functions without legislative funding or authorization. Contracts signed after July 1, 2022, are generally excluded, except specified non-deliverables-based staff services purchased through the state technology staffing contract. These provisions expire July 1, 2026, and do not themselves change Medicaid eligibility.

Court-appointed lawyer rules continue temporarily

The law continues rules for appointing lawyers to eligible people who cannot afford one. Public defenders must certify in writing when a conflict or lack of authority prevents representation. Regional conflict counsel comes next; private counsel follows only after regional counsel certifies a conflict in writing. The framework also covers lawyer registries, contracts, billing records, and payment review. On July 1, 2026, specified appointment and payment rules revert to June 30, 2019, text, preserving separate amendments.

Birth injury program can accept claims

During fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida’s birth-related neurological injury compensation program may accept new qualifying claims despite its funding threshold. This authority applies when current estimates reach or exceed the statutory threshold for funds on hand and expected funds. It expires July 1, 2026. The law does not set a new payment amount.

More care planning for Florida veterans

Veterans' Affairs can request extra positions, operating funds, or salary authority when more direct-care staff are needed for its staffing ratio. The Legislative Budget Commission must approve those requests for veterans' nursing homes. The department can also request more spending authority for a Collier County veterans' nursing home and adult day health center. That request requires federal approval, and the law sets no funding amount or guarantee of construction. Both authorities expire July 1, 2026.

Grants support working waterfront businesses

Environmental Protection administers grants supporting commercial fishing and marine aquaculture operations, equipment, and waterfront facilities. Covered facility work includes repairs, maintenance, replacement, construction, and renovation. Eligible applicants include specified commercial saltwater license holders, wholesale dealers, retailers, and seafood houses. Applicants must show a benefit to the local economy. The law states no grant amounts.

Loans support businesses hurt by Michael

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund money must support the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund. The loans assist businesses affected by Hurricane Michael, as provided in the state budget. This provision states no loan amounts or repayment terms. The authority expires July 1, 2026.

Petroleum sites get cleanup cost relief

For fiscal year 2025–2026, covered petroleum cleanup and liability-insurance program activities have no deductibles, copayments, or enforced monetary caps. The Inland Protection Trust Fund absorbs covered costs without reimbursement or recovery. Costs from before the grace period are excluded, and owners must allow department site access. Sites with specified gross negligence, intentional damage, or willful falsification hiding a serious discharge are ineligible; owners remain liable. The relief expires July 1, 2026.

Courts can borrow for operating needs

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida’s chief justice may borrow from eligible state trust funds to meet court appropriations. Loans can use only treasury money beyond the lending funds’ needs. The chief justice must notify the Governor and legislative appropriations chairs in writing when a loan is used. Loans must be repaid by the fiscal year’s end. The authority expires July 1, 2026.

Farms gain water compliance presumption

Beginning July 1, 2025, agricultural producers using specified state-approved best management practices are presumed to meet applicable water recovery or prevention strategies. These strategies address minimum water flows or levels. The presumption applies only to producers implementing those practices. It expires July 1, 2026, and provides no direct payment.

First responders gain compliant drone grants

Subject to approved funding, law enforcement, fire services, ambulance crews, and other first responders may seek compliant drone grants. Applicants may turn in eligible noncompliant drones or request funds for new compliant drones, supplying requested information. A drone submitted for replacement must work and not be at the end of its useful life. Awards use replacement costs and first-come order; rural and previously unfunded applicants get priority among same-day applications. The authority expires July 1, 2026.

Local grants support abandoned boat removal

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida’s wildlife commission may use approved vessel-removal funds for local government grants or direct removal work. Covered vessels include derelict boats and specified boats declared public nuisances. The work may include storage, destruction, and disposal, using private contractors. The authority expires July 1, 2026; no funding amount is stated.

Prisons can request extra staffing funds

The Corrections Department may request additional positions and unallocated general revenue when inmate counts exceed the February 21, 2025, forecast. The trigger is 1% above that forecast for two consecutive months, or 2% above it in any month. Requests can cover essential staff and other resources. The Legislative Budget Commission must approve them. This fiscal year 2025–2026 authority expires July 1, 2026.

Disability providers gain operating flexibility

Contracted developmental disability service providers may record services in their own systems without training on the agency’s system. They must send required data in the agency’s format and frequency and meet its hardware and software standards. The disability agency may also request transfers from salary budgets to contract budgets for extra Developmental Disability Center staffing resources. Those transfers follow state notice, review, and objection rules. Both authorities expire July 1, 2026.

Democracy institute must offer leadership programs

The Institute for Freedom in the Americas must hold workshops, symposiums, and conferences promoting democracy. It must partner with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom on coursework supporting democratic practices and economic and legal reforms. It must also offer learning and hands-on opportunities for regional leaders pursuing democracy and governance careers. These requirements expire July 1, 2026.

Unemployment claims system gets upgrade planning

Florida’s Commerce Department must review its unemployment claims and benefits system each year and identify improvements. Improvements depend on approved funding and must cover cloud infrastructure, software, data analysis and reporting, and cybersecurity. The department must seek input from specified state technology, revenue, and accounting offices. Reports are due September 1, 2025, and annually, covering past results and a prioritized two-year plan with costs and deadlines. This requirement expires July 1, 2026.

Conservation agencies receive monthly fund transfers

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida must distribute Land Acquisition Trust Fund revenue monthly after required debt payments. Agencies receive shares based on their appropriations, and no recipient fund can receive more than its yearly appropriation. The state must also transfer the specified shortfall between fiscal year 2024–2025 appropriations and actual transfers. The wildlife commission may receive advances from unobligated balances under a detailed spending plan, recovered through quarterly transfers by June 30, 2026. The provision expires July 1, 2026.

Panhandle county grants follow budget instructions

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida Panhandle county grant funds must follow the state budget’s instructions for purposes and distribution. The implementing provision does not state the grant total, eligible projects, or each county’s share. This direction expires July 1, 2026.

State backs disease-resistant citrus trees

The Department of Citrus must enter agreements by January 1, 2026, to increase production of greening-tolerant or resistant trees. Agreements must also support bringing resistance or tolerance technologies to market. For each agreement without competitive bidding, the department must explain its justification to its Inspector General. The law sets no funding amount or household payment. The provision expires July 1, 2026.

State construction budgets gain amendment options

During fiscal year 2025–2026, the Legislative Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new state construction and other capital projects. It may also approve increases to agency appropriations for those projects. Amendments remain subject to state notice and objection procedures. This authority expires July 1, 2026, and sets no funding amount.

State seeks cheaper large office leases

Florida’s management department and tenant agencies must use tenant brokers to seek lower costs on covered private office and storage leases. Covered space exceeds 2,000 square feet, with leases expiring July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The effort must appear in the 2025 master leasing report. Lease-by-lease status and savings must be reported by November 1, 2025. The mandate expires July 1, 2026; no savings amount is guaranteed.

Benefit programs gain operating budget flexibility

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Children and Families can seek more spending authority for listed federal grants. These include SNAP, Pandemic EBT, opioid and substance-use response, Chafee independent living, Title IV-B, and Elder Justice programs. They also include violence-against-women programs, survivor housing, and mental health grants. The department can move funds and seek added authority to operate the ACCESS benefits system. Changes face state notice, review, and objection procedures, set no individual benefit increase, and expire July 1, 2026.

Health programs can use extra federal funds

For fiscal year 2025–2026, the Department of Health can seek added spending authority for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. It can also seek added authority for federal COVID-19 relief. Each increase depends on extra federal revenue for that purpose and faces state notice, review, and objection procedures. The law sets no added funding amount, and the authority expires July 1, 2026.

More funding flexibility for meal programs

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Health can seek more spending authority for WIC and the Child Care Food Program. Elderly Affairs can do the same for the Adult Care Food Program when extra federal revenue will be spent that year. Agriculture can seek added spending authority for the National School Lunch Program. All requests face state notice, review, and objection procedures; no increase amount or household benefit increase is guaranteed. These authorities expire July 1, 2026.

New Medicaid payment rules for nursing homes

Florida's nursing-home payment model separates direct-care and indirect-care costs. Rates must be reset every fourth year using the latest audited cost report. Extra direct-care payments are available to providers above the 80th percentile in care hours per patient day, with above-average Medicaid shares. Pediatric, Veterans' Affairs, and government-owned facilities keep cost-based payments. These amendments expire July 1, 2026, and state no payment amounts.

Opioid settlement funds get more time

For fiscal year 2025–2026, behavioral health managing entities may carry documented, unused State Opioid Settlement Trust Fund appropriations into the next year. These funds do not count toward the 8% cumulative carryforward cap. The provision expires July 1, 2026. It does not set a new household benefit or funding amount.

Refugee programs gain budget flexibility

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Children and Families, Health, and the Medicaid agency can seek more spending authority for federal refugee programs. Budget changes face state notice, review, and objection procedures. Children and Families must report quarterly on refugee arrivals, countries of origin, and projected spending. The law sets no added funding amount, and the authority expires July 1, 2026.

State seeks savings on certain medicines

The Medicaid agency must use competitive bidding to hire a vendor to negotiate prices for certain drugs and biological products. Products must be excluded from the existing state program and ineligible under the cited federal importation law. The contract can allow direct purchases when feasible and advantageous. The vendor receives part of achieved savings; the law guarantees no household price cut. This authority expires July 1, 2026.

Universities gain health construction contracting options

For approved construction projects involving health care providers, state university boards may accept the providers’ purchasing methods and construction contracts. Universities may reimburse provider expenses using proceeds from bond issues approved by the Board of Governors. This authority expires July 1, 2026. No project or reimbursement amount is specified.

Payment caps for appointed criminal lawyers

For fiscal year 2025–2026, appointed criminal lawyers face trial payment caps of $2,000 for misdemeanor or juvenile cases. The cap is $15,000 for noncapital felonies, including life felonies, and $25,000 for capital cases. A capital case means death is a possible sentence and prosecutors have not waived seeking it. Appeals have a $9,000 cap. These lawyer payment limits—not payments to defendants—expire July 1, 2026.

Payment limits for parents’ appointed lawyers

Appointed lawyers in child dependency cases have payment caps of $1,450 for the first year and $700 each later year. Cases ending parental rights have caps of $1,800 for the first year and $700 each later year. Dependency appeals have a $1,800 cap; appeals ending parental rights have a $3,500 cap. Billing conditions also apply. These limits cover lawyer payments, not money paid to families.

State meeting lodging reimbursements stay capped

Lodging reimbursement is capped at $225 per day for meetings, conferences, or conventions sponsored partly or fully by state agencies or courts. Employees can pay costs above the cap with personal money. The cap excludes travel for audits, examinations, inspections, investigations, litigation, and emergency response. It expires July 1, 2026.

Local governments face financial review deadlines

Florida’s budget office may review local government functions, spending, and records for fiscal years ending September 30, 2024, and September 30, 2025. Local governments receiving state funding in the current or prior fiscal year must provide requested access within seven business days. Access covers staff, premises, and data systems, but excludes records confidential under state or federal law. Noncompliance can bring a $1,000 daily fine only after the budget office recommends it and three-fourths of the Administration Commission approves. The provision expires July 1, 2026.

Agencies pay insurance assessments on vacancies

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered agencies owe monthly assessments for vacant jobs eligible for State Group Insurance. Each assessment equals the employer cost of individual coverage, adjusted for the job's state-funded share; fully federally funded jobs are exempt. Agencies must pay within 30 days using allocated salary and benefit money. Agencies must report federally funded jobs and seek inclusion in indirect cost plans for fiscal year 2026–2027 and later. The assessment provision expires July 1, 2026.

Fuel storage damage payments exclude costs

Florida’s ethanol or biodiesel damage program excludes specified storage-system repair, replacement, and prevention costs through July 1, 2026. Owners and operators must cover application preparation, accountant services, and certain costs above approved amounts. The program also excludes previously reimbursed equipment and work at sites that remain out of compliance. Damage caused wholly or partly by other causes is excluded too.

Legislators keep the 2010 salary level

For fiscal year 2025–2026, Florida legislators’ authorized salaries remain at the level in effect on July 1, 2010. This salary limit expires July 1, 2026. The provision does not state the dollar amount or compare it with otherwise applicable pay.

State agencies face tighter travel rules

During fiscal year 2025–2026, state agencies may spend travel funds only on activities critical to their missions. Foreign and out-of-state trips, conferences, training, and administrative travel need written agency-head approval. Agency heads must consider online alternatives before approving covered travel. Law enforcement, military, emergency management, and public health travel are exempt. The restriction expires July 1, 2026.

New payment rules for disability services

Beginning October 1, 2025, providers receive monthly Medicaid payments for Life Skills Development Levels 3 and 4 at 16 attendance days. Below 16 days in a calendar month, existing hourly rates apply; the law does not state the monthly amount. The disability agency can request waiver funds to cover shortfalls. It and the Medicaid agency can request added waiver spending authority at least three days before action takes effect. Requests face state notice, review, and objection procedures, and these authorities expire July 1, 2026.

Counties face detention payment collection

The Juvenile Justice Department must review whether counties have paid their required juvenile detention costs. When a county has not paid, the state must deduct the debt from that county’s state distributions. The money goes to the Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund. This creates no new direct household payment duty. The collection provision expires July 1, 2026.

Medical marijuana rules skip some procedures

Medical marijuana rules adopted before July 1, 2026, are exempt from specified rulemaking and cost-review requirements. This gives agencies a simpler process while removing those procedural reviews. The exemption does not itself change patient eligibility or available services. It expires July 1, 2026.

Public schools use annual funding calculations

Public-school funding for fiscal year 2025–2026 follows the Florida Education Finance Program calculations dated June 13, 2025. The law incorporates the document titled “Public School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) Fiscal Year 2025-2026.” This provision states no funding amount or district-by-district change. It expires July 1, 2026.

Land funds can borrow temporarily

The Governor can order temporary transfers when listed land acquisition trust funds cannot meet their obligations. Eligible funds are administered by Agriculture, Environmental Protection, State, or Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Lending trust funds must have money beyond their needs and appropriated obligations. Transfers face review and objection procedures, normally with seven days' notice; July 2025 requires three days unless waived. Money must be repaid by June 30, 2026, and the authority expires July 1, 2026.

Some trust funds can support reserves

The Legislature can authorize transfers of unappropriated trust-fund cash to the Budget Stabilization Fund or General Revenue Fund. Transfers require approval in the state budget, despite otherwise restricted trust-fund uses. Exclusions protect federally required, debt-pledged, transportation, retirement, and specified education, fiduciary, clearing, and constitutionally authorized funds. The law requires no transfer and sets no amount. This authority expires July 1, 2026.

State agencies get office relocation support

After final disposal of a state building, Management Services can use up to 5% of facility-disposal funds for affected agencies' moves. The money comes from the Architects Incidental Trust Fund and covers relocation, furniture, fixtures, and equipment for affected Florida Facilities Pool agencies. Beginning July 1, 2025, the department must offer the House at least 886 contiguous square feet of acceptable Capitol office space. The offer is due November 1, with occupancy by December 1, 2025, on floors from the Lower Level through 21. These provisions expire July 1, 2026.

County bond payments get collection protection

When collecting unpaid juvenile detention costs, the state cannot reduce pledged county distributions below required bond payments or covenant needs. Protection covers qualifying bonds issued before July 1, 2025, and qualifying refunding bonds backed by the specified distributions. Juvenile Justice must bill the county for amounts that cannot be withheld. The protection expires July 1, 2026.

Child care providers use annual rates

School Readiness provider payments for fiscal year 2025–2026 follow the reimbursement schedule dated June 13, 2025. The law incorporates the document titled “School Readiness Program Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2025-2026.” This provision states no rate amounts or eligibility changes. It expires July 1, 2026.

Child welfare funding gets new planning

Florida’s child welfare department may shift funds among guardianship aid, Level 1 foster care room and board, and relative or nonrelative caregiver payments. Transfers follow state notice, review, and objection procedures. The department must report a proposed tiered funding plan for community-based care lead agencies by December 1, 2025. The plan must reflect costs, sound financial estimates, regional living costs, prevention, family preservation, performance, and innovation; providers must supply requested cost data. These authorities expire July 1, 2026, without setting new family payment amounts.

Local hospital funds stay outside calculations

Specially assessed local funds remain excluded from state Medicaid spending calculations used for federal matching funds. This applies when they fund the nonfederal share of hospital directed payments after July 1, 2021. The rule affects financing calculations, not individual Medicaid eligibility or benefit amounts. It expires July 1, 2026.

Medicaid and KidCare budgets can shift

In the last quarter of fiscal year 2025–2026, the health care administration agency may submit one Medicaid funding realignment. For KidCare, that agency and the Health Department may each submit one amendment in the same quarter. KidCare amendments may move funds or increase budget authority for the Children’s Medical Services network. These changes can address projected surpluses and deficits and maximize state trust funds, subject to notice, review, and objection procedures. The authority expires July 1, 2026, and does not itself change eligibility or benefits.

Workers’ injury emergency care payment limits

Workers’ compensation emergency care receives 75% of usual and customary charges when no maximum allowance or Medicare billing code exists. This rate applies until the three-member panel adopts a maximum reimbursement schedule. A governing contract controls payment when one applies. The rule expires June 30, 2026. It sets provider reimbursement, not an injured worker’s out-of-pocket bill.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Appropriations
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 270 • No: 31

Senate vote • 6/16/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 24 • No: 8

House vote • 6/16/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 87 • No: 18

Senate vote • 4/9/2025