Florida’s 2026 legislative session concluded without lawmakers fulfilling their only constitutional responsibility of passing a state budget, prompting legislative leaders to schedule a special session for mid-April. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton announced the budget-focused special session as the state faces a July 1 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. The session’s end also left several major legislative priorities unfinished, including a property tax reduction measure intended for the November ballot.
“Now we can really focus in on the budget,” said Senate President Ben Albritton, noting there’s “still plenty of time” before the constitutional deadline. The budget must be completed by July 1 or Florida enters into a partial government shutdown. Lawmakers already have a separate special session scheduled for late April to address potential redistricting issues.
Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa criticized the Republican-controlled legislature’s performance during the regular session. “This was too much talk and too little action,” Driskell said, blasting Republicans for failing to complete key legislative priorities. Niceville Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, a former Senate president, offered his own assessment of the session’s conclusion, saying “the session went out with a whimper.”
Despite the unfinished budget, lawmakers did approve several significant measures that now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The legislature passed SB 1134, prohibiting Florida cities and counties from funding, carrying out or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Local officials who violate the measure could be removed from office, and local governments could face litigation from residents. Republicans argued taxpayers shouldn’t fund DEI programs they claim weaken equal opportunity, while Democrats warned the bill could hurt tourism and business profits tied to diversity-related events.
Lawmakers also approved SB 290, this year’s Florida Farm Bill, which includes the state Agriculture Department’s priorities and bars local governments from restricting gasoline-powered lawn equipment. The sweeping legislation limits door-to-door commercial solicitation, with sellers facing penalties if they approach properties displaying “no commercial solicitation” signs. The bill allows certain conservation lands to be surplussed for agricultural use while requiring protections supporters say will limit development, though environmentalists worry about conservation land loss.
Another passed measure, SB 484, addresses data centers and aims to ensure residents don’t pay more for utilities because of these computer facilities that store and process data for internet services and artificial intelligence. However, lawmakers dropped a provision that would have restricted nondisclosure agreements between governments and data center companies. The legislature also approved HB 1471, creating a state process to designate certain groups as domestic terrorist organizations, with supporters saying “it’s about public safety” while critics worry about constitutional violations.
The session’s conclusion leaves multiple special sessions on the horizon as lawmakers work to complete unfinished business. Beyond the mid-April budget session and late April redistricting session, legislators still need to address the property tax reduction proposal they failed to finalize during the regular session. The budget deadline of July 1 looms as the most pressing constitutional requirement facing the legislature.