Senate President Albritton Proposes $197 Million “Rural Renaissance” Plan

Controlled sugarcane field burning near Lake Okeechobee in South Florida, a longstanding agricultural practice at the center of environmental and public health policy discussions.

Senate President Ben Albritton has introduced a $197 million “Rural Renaissance Plan” package to revitalize Florida’s rural communities through targeted investments in infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and education.

Filed as SB 110, the proposal also redirects $97 million in existing funds and creates a new Office of Rural Prosperity to help local governments access state and federal resources.

Highlights of the proposal include:

• $110 million for rural road upgrades

• $48 million for affordable housing

• Over $80 million for improved healthcare access

  
  

With rural poverty rates at 20% and eight counties losing population over the past decade, Albritton and sponsor Sen. Corey Simon say the package aims to reverse decline through modern infrastructure and service expansion. The 2025 legislative session begins March 4.