Florida Senate advances $115 billion budget with raises for state workers and targeted spending

Senators on the floor advanced the Senate's proposed 2026-27 budget and a set of implementing bills after a day of presentations from appropriation committee chairs and extended member questioning.

Appropriations Chair Hooper presented the general appropriations vehicle, stating, "The Senate budget totals $115,000,000,000," and described it as "fiscally responsible" with lower overall spending than last year while maintaining reserves. He said the package front-loads a 3% pay raise for all state employees and a 5% pay increase for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers and park rangers, and includes investments in water quality, transportation and more than $1 billion in education capital outlay.

The chamber heard detailed presentations from silo chairs. Senator Burgess, who covered PreK–12 education, said the total PreK–12 budget (including local funds) was $34,900,000,000 and highlighted a $693 million increase for public schools and K–12 scholarships, a $50 increase to the base student allocation and separate state funding for the Family Empowerment Scholarship at $4.5 billion. He described one-time and supplemental supports, including $25 million to assist districts with enrollment declines and multiple school safety grants.

Senator Harrell, the higher education chair, described an approximately $11.9 billion higher-education total and emphasized workforce training, college system operating increases and targeted program investments including community school grants and initiatives to support students with autism.

On health, Senator Trumbull said the HHS silo increased by "more than $2,100,000,000 or 4.6%," with more than 80% of the growth directed to KidCare and Medicaid. Trumbull also identified an $118 million appropriation for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) but told senators that the department had informed staff the $118 million would cover service gaps for about six months for certain income brackets, a point members said would be revisited in conference negotiations.

Senator Garcia outlined the criminal and civil justice silo at about $7.9 billion, noting a $111 million inclusion in the back of the bill to address the Department of Corrections' current-year operational deficit and investments for operations, dorm capacity and IT systems.

After the presentations and questions, the Senate substituted the House appropriations vehicle and passed the implementing appropriations bill on a roll-call vote (36 yays, 0 nays). Multiple implementing and conforming bills were read a third time and passed on largely unanimous votes; sponsors moved the measures to conference with the House.

Why it matters: the package reflects the Senate's priorities for the coming fiscal year, including pay raises for the state workforce and directed investments in education, public safety, health programs and environmental priorities. Nearly all major motions passed with unanimous or near-unanimous support on the floor, but several funding items flagged for follow-up in conference — notably ADAP and select Medicaid and hospital rate changes.

Next steps: the Senate moved the bills to conference with the House and chair Hooper said negotiations will continue as staff and members reconcile differences and finalize statutory implementing language.