Here's what we know about the budget deal:
- Florida lawmakers reach budget deal late Friday evening
- The budget is lower than Governor DeSantis' proposal
- Would provide $2.8 billion in total tax relief
Florida lawmakers passed a budget deal late Friday evening, ending the House and Senate deadlock.
Budget negotiations seemed to be at a standstill as Friday, the 60th and final scheduled day of the legislative session, came and went.
WATCH: Political reporter Forrest Saunders was at the State House when the deal was reached
Legislators stayed at the state house late Friday evening, and around 10 p.m., House Speaker Danny Perez told members that a deal had been reached.
Perez said the top line on the state budget would be lower than Governor DeSantis' proposal, which was $115.6 billion.
It would provide $2.8 billion in total tax relief, $2.5 billion of which would be recurring tax cuts and $1.6 billion of recurring sales tax cuts.
Perez called it a historic package.
“Members, this will be the largest tax cut in the history of Florida. In addition, this will make us the only state in the history of the United States to permanently cut a sales tax,” Perez said.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
