On Wednesday and Thursday, a diverse array of 10 bills, addressing topics from gun control to agriculture, will be introduced in their respective legislative chambers.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As Florida’s 2026 legislative session kicks off, lawmakers are wasting no time tackling some of the state’s most pressing issues.
This week, 10 bills concerning critical areas such as gun regulation and agricultural policy are scheduled for consideration, marking some of the session’s initial legislative actions.
The Senate, convening Wednesday evening, will prioritize the Rural Renaissance initiative by deliberating over SB 250. Spearheaded by Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, this bill—which narrowly missed inclusion in last year’s budget—aims to funnel $200 million into rural communities to bolster educational, healthcare, housing, and infrastructural access.
“Since the 1500s, citrus has been a cornerstone of our state, continuing to play a vital role in Florida’s Rural Renaissance,” remarked Albritton. “I am committed to ensuring the prosperity of Florida citrus under my watch.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, has yet to indicate whether this bill will be prioritized within the House agenda.
“Whether it’s important to [Albritton] or not, it doesn’t change the direction of the bill itself,” he said. “If the members want to hear the bill, the bill will be heard. If they don’t want to hear it, it won’t be heard.”
Meanwhile, in the House, discussions are starting about HB 133, an effort to lower the age requirement to buy a rifle from 21 to 18. It’s a measure that was put in place back in 2018 in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17.
The House is also looking to rekindle efforts to pass HB 6003, which would allow adult children of parents who died due to medical malpractice to have a right to file lawsuits to recover non-economic damages. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar bill last year, saying it would cause malpractice insurance premiums to go up and would make it harder to hire doctors.
Families testified in front of the legislature for the bill last year that had gained significant support.
“I would have never imagined that I would take my father to the ER for minor back pain and 40 days later I would be holding his hand as I hear his last heartbeat and watch him take his last breath,” family member Karen Aguilar said.
The Senate will hear the two bills added to the Special Order Calendar Wednesday evening, and the House will hear eight Thursday morning.
