By STAFF REPORTS
In December, Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out his proposed budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, pitching to lawmakers a nearly $117.4 billion budget, up from the current $114.8 billion budget.
The Governor is required to provide a proposed budget 30 days before the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins Jan. 13. In it, DeSantis highlighted some key elements. In a news release, he touted nearly $17 billion in reserves and $250 million recommended toward continued debt reduction.
“Since I became governor, we have run budget surpluses, reduced the state’s legacy debt by more than 50 percent and enacted record tax relief,” said DeSantis. “Today I announced the ‘Floridians First’ Budget, which will keep Florida on the course of fiscal responsibility and delivers on the priorities that have made Florida the greatest state in America.”
Among the environmental items highlighted in the budget:
Everglades restoration
Of $810 million dedicated to Everglades restoration in the proposed budget, $681 million is earmarked for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a long-term project central to federal, state and local government efforts. The plan requires the Federal and state governments to match dollars to restore the Everglades. This summer, during the 25th Anniversary year of CERP, DeSantis announced at the Environmental Permitting Summer School conference an agreement between Florida and the Trump Administration to allow some state control to accelerate projects.
During DeSantis’ time as Governor, nearly $9.5 billion has been allocated to Everglades restoration and water quality, if the recommended $1.4 billion is passed into law in the spring. Within the CERP funding is $586 million for the Central Everglades Planning Project, funding all remaining components of state-funded portions of the EAA Reservoir and CEPP South-Blue Shanty Flow-way. An additional $50 million is being recommended for Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries discharge reductions and $79 million for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, according to the Governor’s office.
Other Water Projects
- $150 million for Water Quality Improvement Grant Program for projects to construct, upgrade or expand wastewater facilities, including septic to sewer conversions, stormwater management projects and agricultural nutrient reduction projects
- $100 million for Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay
- $50 million to accelerate Total Maximum Daily Load nutrient reductions
- $100 million for the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment Area project to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen going into Lake Okeechobee via the Kissimmee River
- $50 million for springs restoration and land acquisition to support springshed protection
- $65 million to improve water quality and combat the impacts of harmful algal blooms, including blue-green algae and red tide
- 60 million for the Alternative Water Supply Grant Program
Land Conservation
The budget recommendation includes $70 million budgeted for Florida State Parks to make infrastructure improvements and resource management to maintain the system. Florida’s state parks have won the National Gold Medal a record four times.
Within the recommended budget is $150 million to protect Florida conservation land, including $115 million for the Florida Forever Program and $75 million in beach nourishment funding. With a focus on rural and interior land protection, the budget contemplates $200 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program for perpetual conservation easements, $19 million for citrus research and the Citrus Health Response Program. Within the $19 million is $7 million for citrus research and advertising.
Other Environmental Programs
The budget also includes recommendations on other programs:
- $25 million to restore Florida’s Oyster reefs in Apalachicola Bay
- $4 million for replanting of trees and timber impacted by hurricanes and natural disasters
- $12 million for the care and management of manatees, including $3 million for seagrass restoration
The Florida Legislature’s annual session begins on Jan. 13, 2026, and ends on March 13, 2026. Legislators are required to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2026. As of late December, nearly 1,000 bills had been filed for consideration in the upcoming session. Budget discussions typically begin around the midway point of the session, in early February 2026.
