Florida's budget negotiations are facing significant hurdles in June 2025 as House Speaker Daniel Perez explores alternatives to a sales tax cut to curb state spending. This shift follows the breakdown of a budget agreement between the House and Senate. Perez has openly criticized the Senate president and accused Governor Ron DeSantis of evading crucial discussions.
The House is now prepared to evaluate various proposals to reduce the state budget, excluding DeSantis' property tax relief plan. The primary point of contention remains a substantial sales tax cut initially proposed by Perez. DeSantis has indicated that the tax cut might be "dead on arrival," prompting Senate President Ben Albritton to advocate for a more targeted strategy.
Lawmakers are under pressure to approve a budget, with the House voting to extend the session until the end of June. Senator Ed Hooper suggests that the budget could be finalized sooner but accuses the House of attempting to provoke a veto from the governor. Negotiations are ongoing as the situation remains fluid.