TALLAHASSEE, Florida — State House and Senate budget negotiators Tuesday reached decisions on several major spending items, including a boost in teacher pay recommended by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and money for land acquisition programs. They also agreed to an amount for the state’s main road-building program.
Here’s a roundup of some significant decisions made on the second day of this year’s budget conference:
House and Senate negotiators agreed to $100 million in recurring spending for conservation easements through the state agriculture department. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson had requested $300 million for the easements program for the upcoming fiscal year that starts in July.
The House and Senate negotiators also agreed to environmental spending from Seminole Tribe gambling revenues as laid out in FL SB 1638 (24R), which passed the Senate unanimously last week.
FL SB 1638 (24R)