Special Budget Session Ahead After Legislature Adjourns Without Budget

The 2026 Florida Regular Legislative Session concluded on March 13, 2026, with lawmakers adjourning sine die without passing a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Florida Senate chamber in the State Capitol in Tallahassee, where lawmakers concluded the 2026 legislative session without finalizing the state budget.

Florida Special Budget Session is now set for mid-April  to complete negotiations on the FY 2026–2027 state budget. It marks the second consecutive year that Florida’s legislature has ended its regular session without a finalized appropriations package. While the budget remained unresolved, lawmakers did advance a limited number of policy measures before adjournment.

Of the more than 1,800 bills filed this session, roughly 230 were ultimately approved, representing about 12 percent of total legislation introduced. Among the measures that passed were bills addressing voter access procedures, restrictions on teacher unions, and expanded authority for the Governor to designate certain organizations as terrorist groups under state law.

Several additional bills cleared the Legislature during the closing days of session and are now awaiting action from the Governor, who must either sign the measures into law or issue vetoes in the coming weeks.

What Comes Next: Special Budget Session

Lawmakers will reconvene in Tallahassee in April to finalize and pass the FY 2026–2027 state budget.

Additional Special Sessions Possible: Legislative leaders have indicated that separate special sessions may be required to address unresolved policy matters, including ongoing discussions surrounding property tax reform and other unfinished legislative priorities.

Until a budget is adopted, the state’s fiscal planning process remains incomplete, placing additional pressure on negotiations during the upcoming special session.