Rick Scott

Florida Legislature Approves $89 Billion Budget

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.

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