TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers have agreed on a budget deal framework, but will have to extend their session to finalize it.
Negotiations appeared to be at a standstill on the final scheduled day of the legislative session.
Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez made the announcement late Friday night.
The proposed deal is lower than the governor’s proposal, which was $115.6 billion, but is still the largest in state history. It includes $2.8 billion in total tax relief, with $2.5 billion of that as a recurring tax cut and $1.6 billion as a recurring sales tax cut.
Speaker Perez called the package historic, saying, “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.”
The session is being extended until June 6, but lawmakers will take a break this weekend and next week.
They will return May 12 for conference committees.