A major rift has emerged between the Florida House and Senate, throwing the state’s budget negotiations into turmoil and guaranteeing an extended legislative session. In a sharply worded letter to House members on Friday, Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) announced that the Senate would not hold a vote on the House’s proposed tax relief package, effectively dismantling the agreed-upon framework for a budget deal.
Perez directly blamed Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) for the impasse, citing a broken commitment.
“The Senate president informed me this week that he is breaking his commitment to the House that he publicly announced from the Senate rostrum,” Perez wrote. “I was disappointed when the Senate president informed me of his decision to no longer bring the House’s historic tax proposal to the Senate floor. As I’m sure you can appreciate, this blew up the framework for the budget deal we had negotiated.”
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Perez further emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that Albritton “blew up the framework for the budget deal we had,” forcing lawmakers to extend the 2025 legislative session to June 30 to complete the 2025-26 state budget – the one job they are constitutionally mandated to do each year. A new budget must be finalized by this deadline as the state’s fiscal year commences on July 1.
The two chambers’ inability to agree on a budget, typically the final act of the 60-day legislative session slated to conclude in early June, means lawmakers will now remain in Tallahassee until at least the end of the month. The extended session was initially expected to commence on Monday.
Disagreements over the total spending amount and the nature of tax relief have plagued budget negotiations. Initially, the House proposed a significantly smaller budget, approximately $4.4 billion less than the proposals put forth by the Senate and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
However, the primary sticking point appears to be the House’s ambitious plan for a $5 billion cut in the state’s sales tax. Senate President Albritton has repeatedly voiced concerns about the potential impact of such a substantial reduction on state revenues, particularly in the event of an economic downturn. He has advocated for a more modest tax relief package.
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Speaker Perez expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “I apologize for the lateness of this update, but circumstances have changed significantly from when we were together last Friday.”
In a May 9 memo to his members, released to the news media, Perez reiterated that Albritton broke “his commitment to the House” by stating he would “no longer bring the House’s historic tax proposal to the Senate floor.”
Despite the setback, Perez indicated that the House would proceed with its responsibilities. He announced that the House would convene on Tuesday to pass a concurrent resolution formally extending the legislative session through the end of June. Additionally, the Select Committee on Property Taxes is scheduled to meet on the same day, and negotiations with the Senate regarding the specific dates for the extended session will commence.
“While the circumstances leading to this conference are less than ideal or even expected, as members of the Florida House, our responsibilities do not change,” Perez affirmed in his letter. “We will deliver a fiscally conservative budget that cuts government waste and puts Florida on the best possible trajectory for long-term success.”
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