The bills nearing the finish line in the Florida Legislature
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals; Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Florida lawmakers are expected to adjourn this year's legislative session next Friday.
Why it matters: Time is winding down for bills to reach the finish line, with everything from a proposal to eliminate property taxes to a budget request linked to a new Rays stadium at stake.
- Here's where the bills we're monitoring stand.
💰 Property taxes galore: Only one of the seven proposed constitutional amendments aimed at slashing property taxes appears poised to pass.
- House Joint Resolution 203 — which would phase out non-school property taxes on primary residences between 2027 and 2037 — only needs to pass the Senate Appropriations Committee to reach the Senate floor.
- That proposal comes with a steep price tag: Local governments are estimated to lose about $13.3 billion a year if it passes.
👀 Ballot referenda to elect Hillsborough County's superintendent and to expand the county commission have cleared the House and have one committee stop left before reaching the Senate floor.
🪪 Isaiah's law: House Bill 35, which is named after an 18-year-old killed in a hit-and-run in Hillsborough County, would designate those with three convictions of driving without a license as habitual traffic offenders.
- The bill passed the House in February, and its counterpart in the Senate is scheduled for a floor vote.
🛑 Among the bills that have stalled: Florida's AI Bill of Rights sailed through the Senate with support from Gov. Ron DeSantis — but its opponents, which include President Trump, may have defeated it.
- The legislation would have required AI platforms like OpenAI and Claude to bar minors from creating an account or maintaining an account without consent from a parent or guardian.
- State Rep. Alex Rizo (R-Hialeah), who sponsored the House version, said it's unlikely to advance in the lower chamber as House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) wants to leave AI regulation to the federal government.
💸 Budget: The Senate laid down its proposed budget and moved to amend the House's, which leaves many of Tampa Bay's priorities up for negotiation.
- Lawmakers have until March 13 to finalize a budget.