Florida House Backs Down on DeSantis Emergency Fund Limits & State Education Budget Battle Heats Up

House lawmakers retreat from proposal to restrict governor's use of emergency funds for immigration enforcement, while House and Senate clash over per-student education funding

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Florida House of Representatives is backing away from a proposal that would have limited Gov. Ron DeSantis' use of a multibillion-dollar emergency fund for immigration enforcement efforts. Meanwhile, the House and Senate are at odds over per-student education funding, with the chambers proposing different increases to the base student allocation and differing approaches to the state's massive voucher program.

Why it matters

The retreat on emergency fund restrictions removes a potential check on the governor's spending powers, while the education budget battle reflects the ongoing partisan divide over school choice policies in Florida. These developments will shape the state's priorities and resource allocation in the coming year.

The details

The House proposal would have extended the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through 2030 with added reporting requirements, but would have limited its use to natural disaster response. This prompted criticism from DeSantis and his allies, who argued it would undermine public safety and state security. House leaders are now preparing to adopt an amendment allowing the administration to continue funding immigration initiatives through the emergency fund. On education, the House plan would increase total per-student funding by $247.60, including a $129 boost to the base allocation. The Senate proposes a $150.98 overall increase, with $50 added to base funding. Both budgets set aside about $101 million for teacher raises, but the chambers differ on other priorities like student transportation and rural teacher incentives.

  • The Florida House of Representatives is retreating from its proposal this week.
  • The Florida Senate unveiled its education spending plan on Friday, a day after the Florida House of Representatives released its proposal.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida who has faced criticism from the GOP-led House over his use of emergency funds for immigration enforcement efforts.

Daniel Perez

The Republican speaker of the Florida House of Representatives who said immigration enforcement could have been funded separately, but denied that lawmakers intended to cut it off.

Ben Albritton

The Republican president of the Florida Senate who is leading the chamber's negotiations on the education budget.

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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.