Florida Legislature Begins Three-Week Budget Negotiations for 2026-27
Florida lawmakers reconvened for a three-week special session Tuesday to hammer out the state’s 2026-27 budget, marking the fifth special session under current legislative leadership.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Florida lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday to begin a planned three-week special session focused on finalizing the state’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Conference committees made up of joint House and Senate panels were scheduled to meet later Tuesday to resolve spending differences between the chambers, legislative leaders announced. The negotiations represent the Legislature’s effort to pass the only bill mandated by the Florida Constitution: the state budget.
Second Special Session This Year
This marks the second special session of 2026 and the fifth under the leadership of House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton. The additional legislative sessions come at a financial cost to taxpayers and occur amid strained relations between the chambers and Governor Ron DeSantis.
The dynamic represents a shift from DeSantis’ previous control over the Legislature during his presidential campaign preparations. Relations have grown particularly tense under Perez and Albritton’s leadership, with the Senate President notably avoiding press conferences since the regular session ended in March.
Procedural Votes Move Budget Forward
Both chambers conducted procedural votes Tuesday to advance their respective budget proposals. The House passed its version 98-8, while the Senate approved its budget proposal by a unanimous 32-0 vote. The budgets will guide state spending from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell criticized the process Speaker Perez employed to initiate budget negotiations. Driskell objected to Perez preventing members from asking questions or debating the budget before Tuesday’s vote.
“Questions and debate have already happened on these bills during the regular session,” Perez said Tuesday morning, defending the procedural approach. “All that remains are a series of motions to put these bills into proper posture. Because we are being efficient with our time today, we will begin conferencing this afternoon.”
Working From Regular Session Proposals
Both the House and Senate are operating from budget bills they passed during the regular legislative session earlier this year. The conference committees will work to reconcile differences between the two proposals over the coming weeks.
The special session is the latest chapter in ongoing budget negotiations that have extended beyond the regular session timeline. Legislative leaders expressed optimism about reaching agreement within the three-week timeframe they have established for completing the state’s spending plan.
