TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Governor Ron DeSantis prevented a government shutdown by signing Florida’s $117.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, set to begin on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Following a protracted session characterized by conflicts at the Capitol, some detractors are questioning whether the outcomes truly benefited the residents of Florida. Was the 105-day extended session justifiable in its duration?
At the start of the 2025 legislative session, legislators vowed to prioritize affordability, but it quickly transformed into a standoff involving the governor, the House Speaker, and the Senate President.
DeSantis called the 2025 session “unnecessarily bumpy,” blaming the delays on House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami).
“The session was unnecessarily bumpy,” said DeSantis. “I think a lot of the agenda was not an agenda that the voters sent them there to do, so I think the way it went 45 days, it didn’t need to go 45 days, this could have been done 45 days earlier, I could have signed this budget a month ago and have substantially similar things.”
DeSantis, however, said he is proud this year’s budget reduces state spending, builds reserves, supports priorities like teacher pay and law enforcement bonuses, and delivers tax relief for Florida families.
“This year’s budget continues our commitment to repaying our debts ahead of schedule, saving money for Floridians, and delivering tax relief for Florida families,” DeSantis said.
Despite the permanent back-to-school tax holiday, the new year-round hurricane sales tax exemption, and an elimination of the business rent tax, concerns over budget priorities continue to rise.
“This session started out with a lot of hope and a lot of talk about affordability and really trying to make Florida more affordable for Floridians. But in many ways, I feel like it’s ending with a whimper because it will forever be characterized by the Republican party infighting, which delayed us,” said State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa).
Political Analyst Tara Newsom added to the discussion, saying even with the lengthy session, the final budget is missing the mark for Floridians.
“This 105 days and this lengthy extended session didn’t produce the kind of policy that Florida voters asked the Florida legislature to do. They asked for a reduction in property taxes, they asked for home insurance policy changes. They asked for preserving our state lands and they got none of it,” said Newsom.
In the end, lawmakers passed a budget with plenty of tax breaks, but was it the kind Floridians were asking for?
