HB 5001 General Appropriations Act

The Florida Legislature passed a budget this session that demonstrates our continued commitment to providing a quality education for Florida’s students by proposing total state education funding that exceeds any previous year. We included $544 million for maintenance, repair, renovation and construction projects at public K-12/charter schools, colleges and universities. We also took steps to make colleges more affordable by eliminating the automatic annual rate of inflation increases currently authorized for institutions of higher learning. Further, we ended the soaring cost increase for Florida Prepaid College Program. These changes will reduce the cost of a new 4-Year Florida University Plan by $10,000 and will result in $50 million in refunds to families with an existing 4-Year Florida University Plan. The budget additionally provides funding to serve all Floridians on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Medicaid Waiver intensive needs waiting list. The Legislature also added over $62 million in recurring funds to reform the child welfare services program. The budget includes significant investments to protect our environment, ensure the safety of our citizens and improve our transportation and education infrastructure.