TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – Tallahassee lawmakers are compiling the 2025 legislative meeting. But with no final budget in sight, the million-dollar question, what will come next?
The Senate and House of Representatives were unable to meet the 60-day deadline to pass the final budget. Currently, lawmakers have broken a week and are choosing to extend the session. Or they can die today and pass the budget back this summer.
The 2025 legislative meeting is not normal. Lawmakers met three special sessions to tackle immigration reform, with Capitol clashes between the governor, the House and the Senate, and the final state budget is still in the air now.
“I think it’s special, I think it’s the best way to say it. At what point is the special session not that special?” Sen. Jay Collins (R-Hillsboro County) said.
With the fiscal deadline approaching, lawmakers are scheduled to return home that week. A special session will then be called by July 1st, allowing the Senate and House to ultimately agree to the state budget.
“Many bills will die today. The special session may be more focused on the budget, in addition to the tax package, the biggest issue of the conflict with us between the two rooms,” said Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando).
Political analysts say state legislators have one job. Passing the final budget, but instead they are extending part-time legislative sessions for more days.
“There’s a difference of about $4.4 billion between the House and Senate, and I think tax cuts and what they look like, and in fact, Florida voters are thinking. Why are you wasting our time?
“We hear what people are saying. We work day and night to get these things done. We keep working until we get it right. Whether it’s being extended now or we die or not, we’re going to get this budget done,” Collins said.
Whatever happens, lawmakers will have to go back in the coming weeks or this summer to pass a budget the governor signs.
