TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Members of the Florida House Democratic Caucus criticized Republican leadership Friday, calling the 2026 session of the Florida Legislature a failure after lawmakers adjourned without completing the state budget.

Democratic leaders said the Legislature failed to address rising costs affecting Florida families and seniors, including housing, insurance, groceries and health care.

“Republicans fought among themselves and Floridians lost,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa.

Democrats Criticize GOP Legislative Priorities

Driskell said Democrats repeatedly focused on affordability during the session and filed legislation aimed at lowering the cost of living. She argued Republican lawmakers instead prioritized controversial policy issues that did not directly address household expenses.

According to House Democrats, those issues included proposals related to firearm regulations, voting access, vaccine policy, local government authority over property taxes, and debates surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“Republicans used affordability as an empty buzzword and ignored the problem,” Driskell said. “Florida is becoming too expensive for too many Floridians.”

Driskell also noted that Republicans control the governor’s office and both legislative chambers but were unable to finalize a budget before the session concluded.

House Democrats Highlight Affordability Bills

House Democrats pointed to several proposals they filed this session aimed at reducing costs for Floridians.

Among them were HB 319, designed to lower property insurance costs; HB 687, which sought to cut government waste and corrupt spending; and HB 675, intended to make homeownership more affordable.

Democrats argued those proposals would have provided financial relief to working families facing rising housing and insurance costs across the state.

Democrats Cite Bipartisan Legislation Passed

Despite disagreements over priorities, Democratic lawmakers said they successfully advocated for several measures that passed both chambers during the session.

Approved legislation included measures to enhance child protective investigations, expand a veterans dental care grant program, strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence, and create a uterine fibroid research database.

Other bills addressed human trafficking education for nurses, historic cemetery protections, drowning prevention, support services for people with developmental disabilities, expanded health care access, and improved treatment and education related to sickle cell disease.

Democrats Call for Focus on Affordability

House Democratic Leader-designate Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, said Floridians expect lawmakers to address the state’s affordability crisis and complete their constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget.

“Floridians want, and deserve, a state government that works to make their lives better,” Hunschofsky said. “We were elected to pass a balanced budget and help Floridians with the affordability crisis. Unfortunately, we’re going home without accomplishing either.”

She added that Democrats plan to continue advocating for policies aimed at lowering costs and improving quality of life for Florida residents.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Ron DeSantis announced Friday the appointment of Alex Peraza to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, which serves Miami-Dade County.

Peraza, of Coral Gables, is a partner at Diamond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A., a law firm based in South Florida.

The Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for reviewing and recommending qualified candidates for judicial appointments within the circuit.

Peraza earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. His appointment term will run through July 1, 2027.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — The Florida Legislature adjourned sine die after 60 days without reaching an agreement on the state’s 2026–2027 budget, leaving lawmakers at an impasse and forcing negotiations to continue outside the regular session.

With the regular session ending, all bills not tied to the state budget or included in a potential special session call are now considered dead for the legislative year.

Following adjournment, Lori Berman, leader of the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus, released a statement criticizing the Legislature for failing to address affordability issues facing Florida residents.

“After 60 days, we’re leaving Tallahassee with no budget passed and very little to show for it,” Berman said. “While I’m proud of the wins Democrats have helped secure — including a fix for the ADAP program — the Florida Senate Democrats’ Affordability Agenda was completely ignored by the rest of the Legislature.”

Berman argued that lawmakers prioritized controversial policy proposals rather than addressing the rising cost of living in Florida.

“Instead, we passed bills that make it harder for students and the elderly to vote, prevent local governments from supporting community events or pursuing environmental goals, and target public sector unions that help put food on the tables of our public servants,” Berman said. “We spent more time trying to make ivermectin available over the counter than making sure people can afford their health care in the first place.”

She urged lawmakers to return with a renewed focus on solutions to the state’s affordability challenges.

“This Legislature clearly needs to get our priorities straight,” Berman said. “As we go home until we can solve the budget impasse, I hope my colleagues will join me in working toward creative budgetary solutions to Florida’s affordability crisis. It’s not too late to continue the fight for a more affordable Florida.”

Senate Democratic Bills That Passed Both Chambers

Despite the budget stalemate, several bills sponsored by members of the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus passed both chambers during the session.

Among the measures approved were legislation expanding eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program sponsored by Sen. Barbara Sharief, and a candidate qualification requirement bill introduced by Sen. Kristen Arrington requiring candidates to be registered members of their political party for at least 365 consecutive days before a general election.

Lawmakers also approved the “Teddy Bridgewater Act,” sponsored by Sen. Shevrin Jones, which allows high school coaches to use limited personal funds to support student athletes with necessities such as food, transportation and recovery services.

Additional Measures Address Health, Safety and Education

Other bills approved during the session include legislation strengthening protections for users of virtual currency kiosks sponsored by Sen. Darryl Rouson, and the HAVEN Act filed by Berman, which calls for a feasibility study on systems allowing victims of abuse to discreetly report domestic violence to law enforcement.

Additional measures focus on teacher mentoring programs, sickle cell disease education for medical professionals, protections for individuals with developmental disabilities, and new children’s initiatives in communities across Florida.

Lawmakers also passed legislation aimed at protecting historic African American cemeteries and expanding workforce education funding through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund.

Budget Negotiations Expected to Continue

With no state budget finalized before adjournment, legislative leaders are expected to reconvene in a special session to complete the spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

Until then, negotiations between legislative leadership and the governor’s office will likely continue as lawmakers attempt to resolve the budget impasse and address key policy priorities before the new fiscal year begins.