Florida House Passes $113.6B Budget, Advances Property Tax Repeal as Senate Showdown Looms

Lawmakers spar over state worker raises, conservation funding, and school dollars as DeSantis-backed plan to phase out most property taxes advances.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 11:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Florida House of Representatives approved a $113.6 billion spending plan and signaled it’s willing to extend the legislative session to negotiate with the Florida Senate, which is expected to pass a $115 billion proposal. The two chambers are currently deadlocked over several high-stakes priorities, including state employee pay, conservation funding, and education. Meanwhile, the House has advanced a DeSantis-backed plan to gradually eliminate non-school property taxes, potentially costing local governments over $13 billion annually.

Why it matters

The budget battle and property tax repeal proposal highlight the ongoing political tensions in Florida, with the House and Senate at odds over key fiscal and policy issues. The potential loss of billions in local government revenue raises concerns about how essential services like police, fire, and infrastructure will be funded if the property tax repeal is approved. The negotiations between the chambers will be closely watched as they seek to resolve their differences before the scheduled March 13 adjournment.

The details

The Florida House passed a $113.6 billion spending plan, with Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) warning that budget talks with the Senate could stretch beyond the scheduled March 13 adjournment. The Senate is expected to pass a $115 billion proposal, setting up negotiations over a $1.4 billion gap and policy differences. The two chambers are currently deadlocked over state employee pay, conservation funding, and education. The House has also approved a sweeping proposal to gradually eliminate most property taxes, which could result in over $13 billion in annual revenue losses for local governments statewide.

  • The Florida House approved the $113.6 billion budget on Thursday.
  • The Florida Senate is expected to pass its $115 billion proposal in the coming weeks.

The players

Daniel Perez

Republican Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Ben Albritton

Republican President of the Florida Senate.

Ron DeSantis

Republican Governor of Florida who has backed the property tax repeal proposal.

Florida Policy Institute

A non-partisan research organization that has analyzed the potential fiscal impact of the property tax repeal proposal.

Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research

A state agency that has estimated the potential revenue losses from various tax reform amendments under consideration.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.