Jackie Llanos

1 week ago | floridaphoenix.com | Jackie Llanos |Jay Waagmeester

The GOP-led Legislature approved a $115.1 billion budget for the next fiscal year, plus a $1.3 billion tax cut package, nearing midnight on Monday after a tumultuous and unusually long legislative session. The final votes came more than six weeks after the scheduled end of the typically 60-day session and just two weeks ahead of the July 1 beginning of the new fiscal year, as legislative leaders wrangled over the state’s spending pace and dueling tax cut proposals.

1 week ago | miamitimesonline.com | Jackie Llanos |Jay Waagmeester |Christine Sexton

Amid looming federal cuts, legislators finalized the state spending and tax relief plans for the next fiscal year Friday, announcing they expect to take a final vote on the budget Monday evening. As of Friday evening, the budget had not been printed, but Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, told reporters the spending plan is about $500 million less than what Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed $115.6 billion budget for state fiscal year 2025-26.

1 week ago | floridaphoenix.com | Jackie Llanos |Mitch Perry

In what was the largest mobilization against the policies of the Trump administration since the president returned to the White House in January, Floridians gathered in more than 70 cities as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day” protests.

2 weeks ago | floridaphoenix.com | Jackie Llanos |Jay Waagmeester |Christine Sexton

Amid looming federal cuts, legislators finalized the state spending plan for the next fiscal year Friday, announcing they expect to take a final vote on the budget Monday evening. At press time, the budget had not been printed, but Senate Budget Chief Ed Hooper told reporters the spending plan is about $500 million less than what Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed $115.6 billion budget for state fiscal year 2025-26.

2 weeks ago | miamitimesonline.com | Jackie Llanos |Jay Waagmeester

As another deadline nears for the Florida Legislature to finalize the state’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget, the chambers’ budget chairs appear to disagree on whether they will be able to wrap up negotiations Friday for a Monday vote.