Republicans in the Florida House proposed a budget with a record $6 billion in cuts, but Governor Ron DeSantis believes it represents misplaced priorities.
The Florida House Budget Committee, chaired by Representative Lawrence McClure, a Dover Republican, recently released a historic proposed state budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year along with the associated implementing and conforming bills.
“Republicans in the Florida House voted to undo millions of dollars in cost savings that I instituted last June when I signed the budget—and have voted to undo more than $60 million in cost savings over the past two months,” said Governor Ron DeSantis, also a Republican. “This represents misplaced priorities.”
Notably, the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) is $6 billion less than the current year budget and $2.7 billion less than Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal, according to House Republicans. But the Florida Governor believes other priorities deserve the focus of the legislature.
“Floridians deserve action on protecting medical freedom, strengthening laws to combat illegal immigration, relieving condo residents of higher costs, and enacting a Florida-first tax package that provides real relief to Florida residents on their property taxes,” Governor DeSantis said.
Republicans in the legislature say the House GAA funds areas like education, health care and the environment, and also makes possible Speaker Daniel Perez’s proposal to permanently slash Florida sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. If successful, it will be the largest tax cut in state history, saving Floridians nearly $5 billion per year, according to the Republicans.
Provisions in the House’s implementing bill ensure that every entity receiving state dollars upholds Florida’s principles of individual freedom – no state dollars will fund any program pushing diversity, equity and inclusion concepts. This measure reinforces the state’s commitment to merit, fairness and equal opportunity for all.
“So often when politicians talk about improving affordability, our strategies involve spending money on more government programs,” House Speaker Daniel Perez said in a statement. “We have forgotten a fundamental truth; tax dollars don’t belong to the government, they belong to the people. This year, we’re flipping the script by giving the people of Florida their own money back to them. This budget reflects our chamber’s values of conservative fiscal stewardship and accountability. This budget also reflects decisive action to rein in recurring spending and refocus on the true needs of everyday Floridians. By reducing unnecessary expenditures and cutting wasteful spending, we are ensuring that taxpayers see more of their dollars at work for them — and back in their pockets, too.”
“Our subcommittee chairs and members have worked tirelessly to scrutinize every dollar in this budget, identifying real savings and making responsible choices for the future of our state,” House Budget Chair Lawrence McClure said. “For the first time since the Great Recession, this budget will spend less than the previous year’s – an unprecedented step toward restoring true fiscal discipline. As a part of that commitment, we are taking a firm stance against DEI initiatives by ensuring that every entity receiving state funds upholds Florida’s values of individual freedom and equal opportunity, rather than promoting divisive ideological agendas. Special interests may claim otherwise, but the truth is clear: We are prioritizing the needs of Floridians above all else. This is a budget that truly puts the people first.”
For more information, visit the Florida House budget online.
