WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Florida Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget

By Space Coast Daily // July 1, 2025

ABOVE VIDEO: Today, Gov. DeSantis signed Florida’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget. It ended up being just $10 million off from my original recommendations, and I am proud to say that many of my key priorities are reflected within it.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–2026, totaling $117.4 billion after $567 million in line-item vetoes. This budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.

The budget passed by the Legislature totaled $117.9 billion, and following line-item and other vetoes, this budget is only roughly $10 million above the Governor’s Recommended budget from February.

This marks the second consecutive year of a year-over-year reduction in state spending.

The budget also maintains $15.7 billion in reserves. Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has tripled the Budget Stabilization Fund, which will reach its maximum legal limit this year with an additional $429 million contributed. Since Governor DeSantis took office, Florida’s ‘Rainy Day Funds’ have more than tripled, reaching a record-high $4.9 billion.

The budget also includes $830 million in funding for Florida’s accelerated debt repayment program. This investment will enable the state to this year pay off nearly 50 percent of Florida’s tax-supported debt accrued since statehood, totaling more than $7.3 billion retired since 2019. To ensure this fiscal discipline continues, the budget includes a provision requiring a minimum of $250 million in debt repayment annually in perpetuity.

Florida has achieved record economic and educational success under Governor DeSantis’ tenure—ranking first in the nation for education, entrepreneurship, and new business formations—with more than 3.7 million new businesses established since 2019. These accomplishments have been realized while reducing government spending and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

This budget continues strong support for the governor’s key priorities, including teacher pay, law enforcement bonuses and pay raises, funding for civics in schools, a record amount of per-pupil K-12 funding, $1.4 billion for continued Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives, and over $15 billion to continue Florida’s decades-ahead-of-schedule transportation and infrastructure projects.

To read the veto letter and veto list, click here.

To see a veto summary list, click here.

“Once again, Florida is spending less than the previous year,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Since I took office in 2019, we have also tripled Florida’s Rainy-Day Fund. With this year’s additional commitment, the fund is maxed out. Additionally, under my administration, this year we will have repaid almost 50% of Florida’s historic debt—and we’re now requiring a repayment of $250 million in all future budgets. This year’s budget continues our commitment to repaying our debts ahead of schedule, saving money for Floridians, and delivering tax relief for Florida families.”

Total Budget: $117.4 billion
Line-item vetoes: $567 million
Reserves: $15.7 billion
Rainy Day Fund: Maxed out at $4.9 billion
Debt Repayment: $830 million
Annual Required Repayment (New): $250 million

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 state budget, continuing his administration’s focus on reduced spending, strong reserves, tax relief, and strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Key Highlights

Fiscal Responsibility

Second consecutive year of reduced state spending.
Budget is only $10 million above the Governor’s February recommendation.
Rainy Day Fund has tripled under DeSantis and reached its legal maximum.
$830 million invested in debt repayment; $7.3 billion paid off since 2019.

Tax Relief for Families and Businesses

$2 billion total in tax relief:
- Permanent repeal of the business rent tax.
- Multiple sales tax holidays including:
  - Back-to-School: Clothing < $100, school supplies < $50, computers < $1,500.
  - Outdoor recreation items (event tickets, sunscreen, life jackets, etc.).
  - Disaster preparedness items.
  - “Second Amendment” tax holiday on hunting, camping, and fishing gear.

Education Investment

K-12 Education

Total funding: $15.9 billion
Per-student spending: $9,130 (record high)
School Choice (Family Empowerment Scholarship): Over 429,000 students
Teacher salary increase: $1.36 billion (+$101.6M from FY 24–25)
Civics and safety funding: $290M (Safe Schools), $7.4M (Civics)

Higher Education

#1 in Higher Ed for nearly a decade
Bright Futures Scholarship: $637.7 million
Florida College System: $1.8 billion
State University System: $3.9 billion
HBCUs: $161.5 million
Workforce education: $726.9 million

Economic Growth & Infrastructure

Transportation: $15.1 billion total; $13.7B for construction/maintenance
Job creation:
- $50 million Job Growth Grant Fund
- $80 million for VISIT FLORIDA
Rural support:
- $22 million Rural Infrastructure Fund
- $92.2 million Small County Outreach
Housing:
- $163.8M (SHIP), $71.2M (SAIL), $50M (Hometown Heroes Program)
Secure Florida: $1.9M to enforce E-Verify and hiring compliance

Law Enforcement & Military Support

Total pay increase funding: $49 million
Minimum salary: $60,000 for state law enforcement
Recruitment bonus program: $20 million
Other funding:
- $3.3M for new FHP vehicles
- $2M for dash cams, $1.8M for bullet-proof shields
- $3M for ICE-compliant jail grants
- $2M for defense community support

Environmental Investments

Everglades & Water Quality

Total environmental funding: Over $1.4 billion
$550M – CERP
$64M – EAA Reservoir
$81M – Northern Everglades
$50M – Caloosahatchee/St. Lucie projects
$2M – Python removal
$460M – Targeted water quality improvements
$50M – Springs restoration
$30M – Harmful algae mitigation

Conservation

$996 million for land and conservation programs (Florida Forever, Wildlife Corridor)
$260M for Resilient Florida/Beach Nourishment
$127M for citrus industry preservation
$221M for cleanup of contaminated sites

Disaster Recovery & Resilience

$203.8 million for federal match costs from hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton
$150 million in federal CDBG funds for hurricane recovery and mitigation