TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Lawmakers have finally wrapped the 2025 legislative session after passing the $115 billion state budget.
Leaders have indicated that the budget aims to reduce state debt, decrease per capita spending, and slow the expansion of the state government. Additionally, it will introduce broad tax relief measures, such as removing the sales tax on hurricane supplies and implementing a permanent back-to-school sales tax holiday every August.
“This is now a permanent tax cut, occurring annually regardless of legislative approval, as it is included in the budget,” stated House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami).
However, the tax relief package is not universally seen as beneficial. State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) pointed out that the package includes both drawbacks and benefits.
“When you look at this sales tax reduction, it actually amounts to very little in the pockets of Floridians, but it is astronomical impact to our state budget,” Driskell said.
“I don’t view this on day 105 as a failure, I view it as is that we dug in deep and that we had lots of conversation about government efficiency and that’s what the speaker and I were hoping for,” said Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula).
DeSantis has about two weeks to sign the budget and issue vetoes before July 1st, the start of the new fiscal year.
