What to Know
- Florida Legislature approved the $89 billion budget in a rare session on Sunday.
- The new budget includes increased funding for public schools.
- It also sets aside $100 million for Florida's land preservation program.
Florida legislators are close to ending their annual session after approving an $89 billion budget.
The Florida Legislature approved the new budget during a rare Sunday session.
Legislators extended their session because they were unable to finish work on the budget in time. Florida has a 72-hour "cooling off period" to make sure everyone can read the budget before the final vote.
The 60-day session was supposed to end Friday. Legislators got bogged down during budget negotiations while they spent hours debating and working on a comprehensive gun and school safety bill.
The new budget includes increased funding for public schools and sets aside $100 million for Florida's land preservation program.
Most of the increase for schools is tied to a sweeping gun and school safety bill already signed by Gov. Rick Scott.