TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – June 30, 2025 — Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget on Monday, touting it as a near-perfect match to his original proposal and highlighting a range of priorities he says reinforce the state’s fiscal strength, educational leadership, and commitment to public safety.
The final budget came in just $10 million shy of DeSantis’ initial recommendations and includes over $2 billion in tax relief, major investments in K-12 and higher education, record funding for water quality, and significant boosts to transportation and law enforcement.
“This is a strong, responsible budget that reflects our commitment to fiscal discipline and targeted investment,” DeSantis said in a statement. “Since I took office in 2019, we’ve tripled Florida’s Rainy Day Fund, and now it’s constitutionally maxed out.”
Key Tax Relief Measures
The newly signed budget delivers a slate of tax cuts DeSantis says are designed to ease the burden on families and businesses alike. Among them are a permanent back-to-school sales tax holiday every August, ongoing exemptions for hurricane preparedness items, elimination of the business rent tax, and a new “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” running from September 8 through the end of the year.
Combined with previous efforts, DeSantis says his administration has delivered nearly $10 billion in tax relief to Floridians since 2019.
Debt Reduction and Long-Term Fiscal Planning
The governor also emphasized the budget’s commitment to paying down state debt. Florida will have repaid nearly 50% of all historical state debt by the end of the fiscal year, according to DeSantis, and future budgets will now include at least $250 million annually in accelerated debt repayment.
Historic Education Funding
In K-12 education, DeSantis pointed to what he described as a “record-setting” investment, including the highest per-student funding in state history and $1.36 billion earmarked for salary increases for full-time teachers with at least two years of experience. The budget also allocates $7.4 million for civics education programs designed to promote civic understanding and constitutional principles.
On higher education, the budget fully funds the state’s Bright Futures Scholarship program at $637.7 million, which DeSantis credited as key to Florida maintaining its #1 ranking for higher education affordability and quality.
Infrastructure and Environment
Transportation infrastructure saw a major boost, with $15.1 billion directed to Florida Department of Transportation projects statewide. DeSantis said the investment is expected to yield a fourfold return in economic benefits.
Environmental spending also remained a top priority. The budget allocates $1.4 billion for water quality initiatives and Everglades restoration—bringing the administration’s total second-term investment in that area to $4.6 billion, well above the $3.5 billion goal DeSantis set.
Public Safety and First Responders
Law enforcement and first responders also received substantial support. The budget includes pay raises for state law enforcement officers and firefighters and continues the $5,000 recruitment bonuses for law enforcement personnel—a program now in its fourth year.
“This budget is about keeping Florida safe, strong, and moving forward,” DeSantis said.
With the budget now signed, Florida’s new fiscal year begins July 1.
