TALLAHASSEE, Florida — As lawmakers return to the Florida Capitol on Tuesday to hammer out a state budget, they’ll have to resolve ongoing spending sticking points between the state House and Senate: money for agriculture and the environment.
The two chambers were originally far apart on top-line general revenue spending, with the House’s proposal falling far below the Senate’s. But legislative leaders announced last month that they had reached a deal to appropriate $1.38 billion in general revenue for agriculture, natural resources and the environment — a significant spending jump for the House.
Environmental advocacy groups — and Gov. Ron DeSantis, in one case — have called for the Legislature to change its tune on key spending areas like the Florida Everglades, state parks and conservation easements.
As lawmakers now turn to line item spending, agriculture, natural resources and environment appropriations conference Chair Jason Brodeur indicated it will primarily be up to the House to determine how to reconcile the existing spending gap.
