TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Physically, the Florida House and Senate are only a few hundred feet apart; however, when it comes to the state budget, the two have a distance of $1.4 billion to navigate.
Friday marked the end of the regular session, and both chambers have indicated they will adjourn Sine Die and head home without a budget in place, a decision that will require lawmakers to return to Tallahassee for a special session.
The impasse over the budget is adding to an already crowded calendar for lawmakers who are, at least for now, scheduled to return to the Capitol for property tax reform as well as a mid-decade redrawing of Florida’s congressional maps.
Last year, lawmakers pushed the session from the spring into the summer, finally passing a budget and adjourning on June 16th, a full 105 days after the start of the session.
While redistricting and property tax cuts are not required, a budget must be in place by July 1.