{"id":63810,"date":"2026-03-16T17:18:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=63810"},"modified":"2026-03-16T17:18:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:18:50","slug":"lawmakers-adjourned-without-passing-a-state-budget-this-means-while-the-regular-clock-has-stopped-the-work-is-far-from-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/03\/16\/lawmakers-adjourned-without-passing-a-state-budget-this-means-while-the-regular-clock-has-stopped-the-work-is-far-from-over\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers adjourned without passing a state budget. This means while the “regular” clock has stopped, the work is far from over"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Florida\u2019s 2026 regular legislative session came to a close on Friday, March 13<\/strong>, but with a significant asterisk: lawmakers adjourned without passing a state budget.<\/sup> This means while the “regular” clock has stopped, the work is far from over.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here is the breakdown of the hits, the misses, and the upcoming overtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

What Passed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 desk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Sovereign Immunity Reform (SB 1336):<\/strong> In a major compromise, lawmakers raised the caps on damages that can be awarded to victims of government negligence to $200,000 per person<\/strong> and $300,000 per incident<\/strong> (up from $160k\/$200k).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Voter Verification (HB 991):<\/strong> New requirements for how voters must prove U.S. citizenship to register.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Public Union Restrictions (SB 1296):<\/strong> Further tightening rules on public sector unions, building on the controversial 2023 “union-busting” legislation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • School Safety & Culture:<\/strong> A sweeping school safety package (HB 757) passed, along with a bill requiring portraits of Washington and Lincoln in all public schools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Property Rights & Squatting:<\/strong> New laws (SB 1293) making it a felony to occupy a property using forged documents and simplifying the process for landlords to remove squatters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Public Health Funding:<\/strong> Emergency funding was approved to restore access to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)<\/strong>, protecting care for over 10,000 Floridians.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    What Failed (or Stalled)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Several massive priorities didn’t make the cut during the 60-day sprint:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Property Tax Relief:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs):<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Flag Bans & “Don’t Say Gay” Extensions:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Gun Purchase Age:<\/strong> Efforts to lower the gun purchase age back to 18 (HB 133) did not move forward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      What\u2019s Next: The “Special” Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The gavel falling on March 13 wasn’t a final goodbye.<\/sup> Because the state budget<\/strong> remains unfinished, Florida is heading into a busy spring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. April Budget Session:<\/strong> Lawmakers will return in mid-April specifically to hammer out the state\u2019s multi-billion dollar budget.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Property Tax Debate:<\/strong> Legislative leaders hope to use the special session to finally reach a deal on property tax relief that could appear on the November ballot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Redistricting:<\/strong> A separate special session is already slated for late April to handle potential redistricting maps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. The “Medical Freedom” Push:<\/strong> Governor DeSantis has hinted at further special sessions to address “Medical Freedom” (vaccine opt-outs) and an “AI Bill of Rights.”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n

        Note:<\/strong> Until the budget is signed, funding for major programs like the My Safe Florida Home<\/em> grant and the Hometown Heroes<\/em> housing program remains in limbo.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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