Florida’s 2026 regular legislative session came to a close on Friday, March 13, but with a significant asterisk: lawmakers adjourned without passing a state budget. This means while the “regular” clock has stopped, the work is far from over.
Here is the breakdown of the hits, the misses, and the upcoming overtime.
What Passed
Despite a “lighter” legislative output than previous years (about 237 bills passed compared to over 300 in 2024), several high-profile measures are headed to Governor DeSantis’ desk:
- Sovereign Immunity Reform (SB 1336): In a major compromise, lawmakers raised the caps on damages that can be awarded to victims of government negligence to $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident (up from $160k/$200k).
- Voter Verification (HB 991): New requirements for how voters must prove U.S. citizenship to register.
- Public Union Restrictions (SB 1296): Further tightening rules on public sector unions, building on the controversial 2023 “union-busting” legislation.
- School Safety & Culture: A sweeping school safety package (HB 757) passed, along with a bill requiring portraits of Washington and Lincoln in all public schools.
- Property Rights & Squatting: New laws (SB 1293) making it a felony to occupy a property using forged documents and simplifying the process for landlords to remove squatters.
- Public Health Funding: Emergency funding was approved to restore access to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), protecting care for over 10,000 Floridians.
What Failed (or Stalled)
Several massive priorities didn’t make the cut during the 60-day sprint:
- Property Tax Relief: Despite the Governor’s call to eliminate property taxes for homeowners, the House and Senate could not agree on a specific plan. This remains one of the biggest “to-do” items.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): A bill to help the housing crisis by allowing “mother-in-law suites” in single-family zones (SB 48) failed after the two chambers couldn’t agree on the final language.
- Flag Bans & “Don’t Say Gay” Extensions: Most of the high-profile anti-LGBTQ+ bills, including a ban on Pride flags in government buildings and “Don’t Say Gay” workplace expansions, failed to pass.
- Gun Purchase Age: Efforts to lower the gun purchase age back to 18 (HB 133) did not move forward.
What’s Next: The “Special” Season
The gavel falling on March 13 wasn’t a final goodbye. Because the state budget remains unfinished, Florida is heading into a busy spring:
- April Budget Session: Lawmakers will return in mid-April specifically to hammer out the state’s multi-billion dollar budget.
- Property Tax Debate: Legislative leaders hope to use the special session to finally reach a deal on property tax relief that could appear on the November ballot.
- Redistricting: A separate special session is already slated for late April to handle potential redistricting maps.
- The “Medical Freedom” Push: Governor DeSantis has hinted at further special sessions to address “Medical Freedom” (vaccine opt-outs) and an “AI Bill of Rights.”
Note: Until the budget is signed, funding for major programs like the My Safe Florida Home grant and the Hometown Heroes housing program remains in limbo.