TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida lawmakers concluded their 2026 legislative session on Friday, having agreed to about 235 measures that await action from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The session, which started with nearly 2,000 bills and resolutions, saw several key issues left unresolved, including the state budget and education reforms.
The House and Senate failed to reach an agreement on the fiscal plan, with disputes over spending levels for areas such as health care, education, transportation, and the environment. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton vowed to return in mid-April to work out their differences. Other key issues, such as an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and regulations on data centers, saw partial progress, with some business-friendly carve-outs passed, but others, like a comprehensive AI bill, were not taken up.
Some of the key issues that were not resolved include:
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: DeSantis’ priorities included creating an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” and imposing regulations on massive energy and water consuming data centers.
- BUDGET: The chambers could not reach an agreement on spending levels for areas including health care, education, transportation, and the environment.
- EDUCATION: The Senate passed a plan to address growing pains in school-voucher programs, but the House never took up the bill.
- GROWTH MANAGEMENT: Legislation was put forward to scale back a 2025 law crafted after the 2024 hurricanes.
For local residents, the impact of these unresolved issues may be felt in the coming months. The Hernando Sun will continue to provide updates on these key issues as they develop.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
