DeSantis signs $116.5B Florida budget, vetoes more than $1B in spending

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida's $116.5 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, wielding his line-item veto pen to eliminate more than $1 billion in spending from the Legislature's plan.

The Republican governor's vetoes affected local projects, some education initiatives and health programs, according to state officials. Despite the cuts, the budget represents a significant increase in state spending and includes major funding boosts for several of the governor's priorities.

The spending plan increases funding for school vouchers and infrastructure projects while also dedicating resources to hurricane recovery efforts across the state. Florida has faced repeated hurricane damage in recent years, making disaster recovery a continuing budget priority.

Among the casualties of DeSantis's veto pen were numerous hometown earmarks—local projects requested by individual legislators for their districts—as well as some arts and cultural grants. Line-item vetoes allow Florida's governor to eliminate specific spending items while approving the overall budget, a power that has made the veto process a closely watched annual ritual in state government.

The budget signing comes as DeSantis has been particularly active in recent weeks, with the governor signing well over 100 measures so far this year. Among the significant legislation approved was a bill to substantially increase the homestead property tax exemption starting in 2027 and 2028.

The state has also advanced major policy changes affecting various sectors. Florida officials have moved forward with plans to tighten SNAP eligibility rules set to take effect in 2026, a move that will reshape safety-net access for low-income residents.

The new fiscal year budget takes effect July 1. Florida operates on an annual budget cycle, with the Legislature typically passing a spending plan during its spring session for the governor's signature.

The $1 billion in vetoes represents less than 1 percent of the total budget but affects dozens of specific projects and programs that had been approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Lawmakers often include funding for local projects as part of budget negotiations, though these items face uncertain prospects when they reach the governor's desk.

State officials have not yet released a detailed breakdown of all vetoed items. The budget covers state operations, education, health care, transportation and other government services for Florida's more than 22 million residents.