Florida

Lawmakers seal lean budget deal, aim for June 16 final vote

Published

5 months ago

June 13, 2025

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Lawmakers seal lean budget deal, aim for June 16 final vote

‘Nobody wanted a government shutdown. Nobody wanted employees to be without a paycheck,’ one top lawmaker said.

Florida lawmakers reached a budget agreement for 2025-26 after a month-long standoff, although the final number wasn’t available.
Among other things, the budget includes $560 million in special projects and a 2% raise for state workers.
A final budget vote is scheduled for June 16 after the constitutionally required 72-hour ‘cooling-off’ period.

State lawmakers finally put the finishing touches on a drawn-out budget negotiation this year, agreeing to nearly $560 million in funding for projects and sealing deals on environmental and higher education funding.

The move sets up a vote on the 2025-26 budget – delayed for more than a month over a standoff between House and Senate leaders over tax cuts – for June 16. Florida’s constitution requires a 72-hour “cooling off” period once the budget is made public before legislators can vote on it.

A price tag for the total budget wasn’t available the afternoon of June 13, but House budget chief Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said it would be less than Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal of $115.6 billion. The current year’s budget is $118.6 billion.

“Choices have to be made, right? And we all come from different corners of this state with different experiences and different situations so that conversation took a little bit longer than expected,” McClure told reporters.

“Hopefully next year’s legislature and future legislatures will be the beneficiaries, where otherwise they would have been making equally if not more difficult decisions than we did this year,” he added.

The cuts include eliminating more than 1,000 vacant positions throughout the state government and setting aside $750 million per year into a key reserve fund.

Not every portion of the budget, though, will see cuts. State workers will receive an across-the-board raise of 2%, and teachers and law enforcement will receive targeted raises, as will judges, state attorneys and public defenders.

Lawmakers agree on over half-billion dollars’ worth of special projects

As part of the last-minute deals, lawmakers agreed to $560 million in special projects in what have come to be known as “sprinkle lists,” a nickname from the idea that lawmakers are “sprinkling” extra money across the state.

That includes $136.9 million to boost nursing home reimbursement rates, $23 million in operational funds for the Florida State Guard, $10 million for a cancer research fund supported by First Lady Casey DeSantis and $1.8 million for the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

Senate budget chief Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, said with President Donald Trump and other top federal officials talking about phasing out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it was important to provide funding for the Florida State Guard to help state residents recover from future hurricanes.

“We heard yesterday from our friends in Washington after this hurricane season there may be no more FEMA. We may be on our own some day and that would not be the time to start thinking, ‘Should we plan ahead?’ ” Hooper said. “The State Guard’s an important part of making sure we have the resources.”

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, has said he wanted to cut expenses, concerned about a projected $7 billion shortfall in two years if current spending trends continued. But he clashed with Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, about how to do it.

Perez’s main priority was cutting the state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, costing state coffers about $5 billion per year. Albritton initially refused to go along, concerned such a big cut would hamper the ability to fund vital programs for a growing state.

The dispute pushed the budget negotiations past the original May 2 end date for the regular session. Then a “framework” agreed to by Albritton and Perez to cut the sales tax to 5.75% was scuttled by DeSantis, who vowed to veto any tax cut plan that included an overall sales tax reduction. He was concerned such a move would crowd out his push for a property tax cut on the 2026 statewide ballot.

When House and Senate negotiators went back to the drawing board, another framework for a tax cut deal emerged, with $1.6 billion in cuts. Those details still need to be worked out, but Hooper and McClure said they’d meet again to hash out a deal on the tax bill.

Before the latest agreement, lawmakers knew they were pressed for time to pass a spending plan. The fiscal year ends June 30, and if a budget isn’t in place by then, parts of state government may need to shut down.

“We knew that we had to come here to get where we are today because, come July 1, nobody wanted a government shutdown. Nobody wanted employees to be without a paycheck,” Hooper said.

Lawmakers are poised to vote on the budget the evening of June 16. DeSantis, who has line-item veto authority, must still sign it into law by June 30. Given the fights with the Legislature, he could wield a heavy veto pen when he does.

This is a developing news story and will be updated. Check back later for more.

Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

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Florida

How to watch Tennessee vs. Florida FREE live stream today

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Tennessee vs. Florida FREE live stream today

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GAINESVILLE, FL – The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers head to Florida to take on the Gators in a primetime SEC matchup today, Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

If you’ve cut ties with your cable provider, there are still ways you can tune in. Several streaming services will broadcast the game live and you can watch on Fubo (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial), Sling (promotional offers as low as $4.99) and the ESPN streaming app.

The SEC is packed with teams that are filled with dogs that look to do nothing but win. Tennessee has been part of that club this season; among the teams in the AP Top 25, they hold the lowest rank in the conference at No. 20.

On the other side of the field is a Florida squad with a losing record, but they get to play the role of spoiler.

A look at Tennessee

The Volunteers offense has been on fire this season. The squad ranks second in points per game (43.4), second in total yards per game (495.0), and third in passing yards per game (318.3).

They score at a rate that makes the rest of their conference look silly, as far as how they prepare to get the ball into the endzone.

It was further shown in their recent 42-9 blowout win over New Mexico State. In a game where they were bouncing off the loss to Oklahoma, the defense was sturdy and held the Aggies run game to 27 yards on the day, while quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 73.9% of his passes for 204 yards, one score and two interceptions.

Now they get to prepare for a Florida squad who’s earned all three of their wins on home turf.

Within the rivalry, the last time they won consecutive games was the 2003 and 2004 season.

Tennessee players to watch

Joey Aguilar

One of the best quarterbacks in college football, Aguilar ranks eighth in passing yards (2,941) and ties for ninth in passing touchdowns (22) within all of college football.

Continuing his play at this rate could help the Volunteers creep into the College Football Playoff.

DeSean Bishop

Bishop has been a sturdy back that’s kept the run game afloat, ranking sixth in yards (770) and fourth in touchdowns within the SEC.

Watch No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida for free on FuboTV

A look at Florida

A 3-7 record isn’t enough to make the College Football Playoff, and with only two games remaining on the schedule, Florida can say goodbye to meeting the six-win requirement to make a bowl game.

However, the Gators can spoil the seasons of their peers, especially the Volunteers. Doing so would end a three-game skid for the Florida squad.

The Gators offense ranks 12th in passing yards (217.1) and 15th in points (20.8) within the conference. The defense ties for 12th in points allowed (23.6) and ranks 12th in rushing yards allowed (143.2) in the conference.

Florida players to watch

DJ Lagway

The sophomore quarterback could be better, with a 12 touchdowns-13 interceptions ratio to his name.

Jadan Baugh

Baugh has been solid with 808 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Watch No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida for free on DIRECTV

Who is announcing Tennessee vs. Florida?

With this primetime matchup being broadcasted on ABC, it will be announced by Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter).

What are the latest odds for Tennessee vs. Florida?

Note: These odds are as of Friday afternoon.

Spread: TENN (-4, -112) | FL (+4, -108)

Moneyline: TENN (-205) | FL (+170)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

Check out more information on how to watch the No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida game today on TV and streaming services:

What: No. 20 Tennessee vs. Florida college football

When: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | Gainesville, Fla.

Channel: ABC

Best streaming options: Fubo (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial), Sling (promotional offers as low as $4.99), ESPN streaming

About Fubo

Fubo, which offers a free trial, has three main packages: Pro costs $79.99/month; Elite is $89.99; Premier is priced at $99.99. Cancel before the free trial ends to avoid being charged. Fubo includes access to more than 185 sports, entertainment and news channels. You can record games, TV shows, movies and more.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, which also gives customers a free trial, offers four packages if you continue with the service after your trial ends: Entertainment for $69.99; Choice for $84.99; Ultimate for $109.99; and premier for $159.99. Choice offers the most channels for sports enthusiasts.

About Sling

Sling TV users can get a Day Pass for $4.99; Weekend Pass for $9.99; Week Pass for $14.99; Monthly Pass for $45.99 (and get half off your first month); and Season Pass for $199.99 for 5 months, then $45.99 per month thereafter. You can also subscribe to either the Blue package or the Orange package depending on your viewing preferences. Sling Blue allows up to three streams at a time and Sling Orange allows one stream at a time.

About ESPN

ESPN now offers an Unlimited Plan for $29.99 per month (or $299.99 for entire year) and a Select Plan for $11.99 per month (or $119.99 for entire year), which replicates its previous coverage of select games and broadcasts on ESPN Plus.

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Florida

Florida vs. Tennessee prediction: Who wins, and why?

Published

21 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Florida vs. Tennessee prediction: Who wins, and why?

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators football game prediction — Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

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Florida

LIVE UPDATES: Today’s breaking news in South Florida

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

LIVE UPDATES: Today’s breaking news in South Florida

You’re watching the NBC6 South Florida News streaming channel, which plays local South Florida news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can find the “NBC6 South Florida News” streaming channel on your phone or computer, and on Peacock, Samsung, Roku, Xumo or on our app, so you can watch our local news on your schedule.

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