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Sine Die | March 15, 2024 | Legislative Reporter The 2024 Florida Legislative Session ended as scheduled on March 8. The legislature passed its $117.46 billion budget (HB 5001) which will now go to Governor DeSantis, who has lineitem veto powers. The spending plan includes about $49.4 billion in general revenue funding and more than $68 billion in trust fund spending that’s mostly earmarked for specific types of needs. Highlights of the budget cited by lawmakers this year included a 3 percent pay increase for state workers, a $450 million toll rebate program sought by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a $1.8 billion increase for PreK-12 schools, $717 million to expand Florida’s health care workforce, $100 million in recurring funding for prison infrastructure, more money for the environment and around $500 million to help pay off outstanding debt. A total of 1,902 bills of all types were filed, with only 324 bills finally being passed by both chambers. An additional 294 bills were “laid on the table” indicating their companion measure passed. The Bill Tracking Report, as of March 14, can be viewed here. Please review it to see the final status of the bills that APA Florida tracked over the session. Bills that Died: Of interest the following bills were among those that failed to pass this year: • Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates (SB 104, HB 47) • County Commissioner Term Limits (SB 438, HB 57) • Trees on Residential Property (SB 122) • Governing Body Meetings (SB 894, HB 157) • Dredging and Beach Restoration Projects (SB 608, HB 163) • Conversion Charter Schools (SB 246, HB 109) • Saltwater Intrusion Vulnerability Assessments (SB 298, HB 1079) • School District Levies (SB 1062, HB 333) • Requiring Broader Public Support of Constitutional Amendments or Revisions (HB 335) • Agritourism (SB 696, HB 339) • Preemption of Recyclable and Polystyrene Materials (SB 498) March 15, 2024 | Sine Die | Legislative Reporter
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