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.

WASHINGTON (FNN) — The United States criticized the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) after the commission held a thematic hearing examining U.S. counter-narcoterrorism operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

According to U.S. officials, the commission exceeded its authority by addressing matters they say fall outside the body’s human rights mandate and into areas governed by international humanitarian law.

U.S. ARGUES COMMISSION EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY

U.S. officials said the IACHR acted beyond its competence by convening the hearing, asserting that the issues discussed involve the interpretation and application of international humanitarian law rather than human rights law.

The United States argued that the commission should not intervene in matters currently being litigated in U.S. federal courts.

Officials also contended that the hearing allowed the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to attempt to force the United States to disclose legal arguments and evidence prematurely in two ongoing court cases.

CONCERNS ABOUT IMPACT ON DOMESTIC LITIGATION

According to the U.S. statement, the commission risks becoming entangled in domestic legal strategies when it considers matters already under review in national courts.

U.S. officials warned that using the commission’s hearings to influence ongoing litigation could undermine the integrity of both domestic legal processes and the regional human rights system.

The United States urged the commission to adhere closely to its governing statute and rules of procedure when deciding whether to convene hearings.

CALL TO FOCUS ON PENDING HUMAN RIGHTS PETITIONS

The United States also called on the commission to focus its attention on unresolved petitions already before it.

Officials noted that many individual cases have remained pending for years, and in some instances decades, without resolution.

The United States argued that addressing those cases in a timely manner would strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of the inter-American human rights system.

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.