Lawmakers' special session to discuss state budget, Miami-Dade requests
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Lawmakers are headed back to Tallahassee this week to make good on their sole constitutional obligation: the state budget.
State of play: The Legislature will convene the special session tomorrow, and it will last until May 29. The Senate has already refiled its $115 billion proposal, while the House has yet to do so.
- The budget proposal approved by the House during the regular session totaled $113.6 billion.
- Here's a look at what else is on the table, including a handful of local budget requests that are still up for debate.
💸 Sales tax holidays: Legislation filed in the House would, among other things, create a yearlong sales tax exemption on gun accessories such as holsters, magazines and grips.
- It would also create a sales tax holiday from September to December for hunting, fishing and camping supplies, including crossbows, fishing rods and reels priced at $75 or less, tents priced at $200 or less and more.
- The bill would also create a two-year exemption from the sales and use tax on the sale of home-hardening products, including impact-resistant doors, garage doors and windows, for eligible residential homes.
🚶🏻♂️Nature trail: Miami-Dade county initially requested $1 million to fund construction of a 2.5-mile segment of the Biscayne-Everglades Greenway near Homestead.
- The request, now at $350,000, includes the construction of a 10-foot-wide asphalt multi-use trail along the Mowry Canal, Southwest 117th Avenue and Southwest 320th Street, along with new bike lanes on Southwest 137th Avenue.
🔫 AI gun detection: Miami-Dade Public Schools is requesting $350,000 to fund an AI-based gun detection technology.
- The company ZeroEyes would tap into existing school district cameras to detect weapons. Initially, the request was for $3 million.
What's next: If an agreement isn't reached before the special session closes, state lawmakers have until July 1 to avoid a government shutdown.