Florida Lawmakers Still Negotiating FY’27 Budget as Governor Delays Redistricting Special Session Until April 28; House, Senate Differences Include Brightline Rail Corridor Funding 

Relevant Documents:
Special Session Proclamation
Brightline Florida Commuter Rail Service Development Update (March)

Florida lawmakers are still negotiating key issues related to the state’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, including transportation and economic development funding, as Gov. Ron Desantis delayed until next week a special legislative session originally slated to address a legislative redistricting proposal. Public transit funding to support existing commuter rail operations and new service development along tracks used by Brightline Florida is an issue lawmakers have to reach agreement on prior to the July 1 start of FY 2027 after the Legislature ended its regular session last month without approving an overall spending plan, as reported.

There is a difference of $1.451 billion, or 1.26 %, between the FY 2027 $113.575 billion budget plan approved by the state House of Representatives and the $115.026 billion FY 2027 budget plan approved by the state Senate. The Senate budget plan and DeSantis’ proposed budget for FY 2027 retained cuts implemented as part of the state’s current FY 2026 budget that reduced transit funding, while the House budget proposal restores the funding.

The cuts reduced funding for the South Florida Regional Rail Association, or SFRTA, to $15 million annually from $42 million annually, and eliminated sources of state funding for the $927.5 million Northeast Rapid Transit Corridor commuter rail project in Miami-Dade County along tracks currently used by Brightline. This leaves a remaining balance of $192 million to be filled, according to the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works.

Brightline Florida said in its March Commuter Rail Service Development Update that based on conversations with state officials, state and local project funding support continues during the current fiscal year and that additional state funds are expected to be programmed based on the Miami-Dade commuter project’s “continued prioritization by Miami-Dade County and local metropolitan/transportation planning organizations.” Because the project is a component of Florida’s “Strategic lntermodal System” transportation program, Brightline believes “multiple state work program revenue sources could be available for project construction,” according to the report.

Florida Senate Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper told reporters last week that Senate and House negotiators are trading proposals regarding the FY 2027 budget and that differences on transportation and economic development funding and agriculture and natural resource issues are being resolved.

Hooper denied that lawmakers are “stonewalling” but said the “easy stuff” has been resolved and the two chambers are addressing their respective priorities, according to a State Affairs Florida report. The Senate budget chief said House and Senate negotiations are nearing agreement on an overall budget amount but that differences remain on specific “allocations.” Hooper indicated that the budget talks could stretch into May.

DeSantis signed a proclamation on April 15 pushing back the special session to April 28 from April 20 and setting May 1 as its termination date. The proclamation also amended the matters to be considered to include, in addition to the redistricting proposal, legislation to protect Floridians from the dangers of artificial intelligence, including the development of an “AI Bill of Rights for Floridians,” and “medical freedom” legislation aimed at ensuring no Floridian faces discrimination based on mRNA vaccine status and that parents in Florida possess the “fundamental right to parental informed consent” related to the vaccine status of their minor child.

The governor has criticized the Legislature for failing to approve a spending plan during the legislative session and said that budget talks should not drag on through June. DeSantis has also indicated that he plans to call a special session for a proposed constitutional amendment to provide “homestead” property tax exemption for full-time residents for voters’ consideration in the November election.