Representative Javonte Edmonds told the Royal Palm Beach Village Council on July 17 that the 2025 Florida legislative session stretched to 105 days and produced major tax and budget changes that will affect local services and residents.

Edmonds, who represents House District 88, said the Legislature produced what he called a historic budget and a tax package that phases out the state business tax while increasing reserve funds and leaving health care as the only spending silo that rose this year. “Usually, when we go to Tallahassee, we are supposed to spend 60 days in session, and our constitutional duty is to pass the budget. This year instead of spending 60 days in Tallahassee, we spent a 105,” Edmonds said.

He said the final budget totaled about $115 billion before vetoes and rose to roughly $117 billion after vetoes, and that the Legislature has increased reserves to nearly $15 billion. Edmonds said the state business tax, currently about 2 percent, will drop to 1 percent at the start of 2026 and be eliminated by January 2027, reducing state revenue and likely producing service reductions at the state and local level. “Although we are removing this tax, that means we are collecting less revenue in the state of Florida,” Edmonds said.

Why it matters: the change shrinks the state’s revenue base, Edmonds said, and combined with demographic trends and anticipated federal funding pressure could lead to cuts in services local residents rely on. He singled out potential reductions to SNAP and Medicaid and said state agencies will be forced to tighten staffing; “We've decided to cut over 2,000 jobs in the department of healthcare alone,” he said.

Key policy takeaways Edmonds highlighted:
- Business tax: phased reduction and elimination of the corporate/business tax (2% → 1% → eliminated) in 2026–2027, which Edmonds warned will reduce state revenues available for programs.
- Budget and reserves: a roughly $117 billion final budget after vetoes, with an increase in reserves toward a long-term goal (Edmonds cited nearly $15 billion in reserves and a proposed constitutional amendment in 2026 to raise the required reserve level).
- Homeowner and condo aid: Edmonds promoted the My Safe Florida Home program, saying it provides up to $10,000 grants for roof, window and door hardening; the application window opens August 4 and the program has roughly $280 million allocated. He also cited a My Safe Florida condo pilot that offers up to $275,000 for condo associations.
- Condominium reserves and assessments: House Bill 913, passed after the Surfside collapse-era reforms, offers options for condo associations to use credit or loans to meet reserve funding requirements and lessens the immediate assessment burden on residents.
- Insurance reform: Edmonds said insurance proposals — such as restricting cancellations within 30 days of a hurricane and changing the fee structure for attorney fees in insurance litigation — did not prevail this session. He said leadership subpoenaed company executives but “there were more questions than answers.”
- Education and schools: changes expanding the ease of converting public schools to charter status and bills limiting cell phone use in K–8 schools were among the education measures he cited. He also called out Senate Bill 1080, which sets timelines for local permitting processes (receipt notice within five days, application completeness notice within 30 days, decision within 180 days).
- Other measures: Edmonds said legislators approved a bill clarifying that overpayments to health-care facilities are not automatically refundable and said state parks are protected from certain development after recent proposals drew community concern.

Council members asked follow-up questions about programs municipalities and residents can use. Edmonds repeated that local governments will see budget pressure and urged constituents to apply for state homeowner assistance programs. He closed by recognizing his legislative assistant, Reyna Sarkar, who accompanied him to the meeting.

What’s next: Edmonds said the select committee on property tax relief — which he serves on — will reconvene before the 2026 session to consider proposals including ballot referendums on property-tax repeal, increased homestead exemptions and other options; he said discussions will continue and that the committee has met twice so far.