The Florida Senate

This bill provides the following modifications for the 2026-2027 fiscal year:

•            Provides legislative intent that the implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

•            Incorporates the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) work papers by reference for the purpose of displaying the calculations used by the Legislature.

•            Incorporates by reference the School Readiness Program Reimbursement Rates for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

•            Modifies the FEFP to revise the required local effort calculation from no more than 90 percent of the district’s total FEFP to no more than 85 percent and revises the state-funded discretionary supplement.

•            Revises the conditions for which funds may be used from the Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program.

•            Requires the Department of Education (DOE) to release a request for information no later than September 1, 2026, to seek information from interested parties who can provide a technology solution that establishes a statewide education data interoperability platform to perform the statutorily required cross-checking of files submitted by the nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations.

•            Provides that a value of 0.025 is assigned to each elementary and middle school grade student who earns a Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Digital Tool Certificate in the 2026-2027 school year.

•            Notwithstands the requirements that annual salary adjustments made for an employee on the performance salary schedule be a certain percent greater than an annual salary adjustment made for the same type of any other salary schedule adopted by the district school board.

•            Provides that the incentive grants for regional consortium service organizations shall be funded based on an amount specified in the GAA.

•            Requires universities to designate a percentage of their annual state operating budget carry forward to be applied towards the completion of previously funded Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) projects or deferred maintenance.

•            Modifies the fee waivers for students enrolled in a Program of Strategic Emphasis or a state-approved teacher preparation program to specify that a university shall waive 100 percent of a student’s out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and fees after all aid is applied.

•            Removes the requirement that Miami-Dade College partners with the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom and approves a direct-support organization for the Institute for Freedom in the Americas.

•            Allows a university board of trustees that is beginning an approved capital outlay project with a healthcare provider, notwithstanding s. 1001.706(7), F.S., to accept the healthcare provider’s procurement methods and construction contracts and reimburse the healthcare provider for its expenses using the proceeds from a bond issuance approved by the Board of Governors (BOG).

•            Authorizes a state university to use reserves or carryforward funds for the payment of the annual payment to the City of Tallahassee under the transfer of assets agreement for Florida State University (FSU) health.

•            Authorizes a state university to use reserves or carryforward funds for payments of land acquisition that support an updated campus master plan.

•            Allows the Board of Trustees of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) to use carryforward or non-state funds for presidential remuneration.

•            Authorizes the BOG and the State Board of Education (SBE) to amend a college’s or university’s application to change to its general education courses.

•            Authorizes a university to use state funds to support Title IX mandates for construction, maintenance, and capital needs.

•            Modifies the requirements that the SBE and the BOG must consider before including a new PECO project for new construction, remodeling, or renovation, in its prioritized funding requests to the Governor and Legislature; requires state colleges and universities to place one-half percent of the total building value of the new PECO project into a reserve escrow account for future maintenance needs; and removes the requirement that the reserve account be specific to the new project.

•            Authorizes a state university board of trustees to transfer unreserved cash among auxiliary enterprises so long as the transfer does not affect revenues necessary to cover expenditures nor violate bond covenants or debt service payments and requires reporting to the BOG.

•            Authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to submit a budget amendment to realign funding within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address any projected surpluses and deficits and to maximize the use of state trust funds for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to realign funding within the Florida KidCare program appropriation categories to address projected surpluses and deficits within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment must be submitted in the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

•            Provides that the Department of Health (DOH) is not required to prepare a statement of estimated regulatory costs when adopting rules relating to medical marijuana testing laboratories, and any such rules adopted prior to July 1, 2026, are exempt from the legislative ratification provision of s. 120.541(3), F.S.

•            Repeals Rule 64ER25-6, Florida Administrative Code, relating to advertising and marketing by medical marijuana treatment centers.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit budget amendments to implement the federally approved Directed Payment Program for hospitals statewide and the Indirect Medical Education Program and a nursing workforce expansion and education program.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to implement the federally approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service supplemental payments for certain cancer hospitals. The budget amendment must include written notice of approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approving the state-directed payment.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment requesting spending authority to implement a Supplemental Payment Plan for specialty children’s hospitals. The budget amendment must include written notice of approval from the CMS approving the state-directed payment.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to implement the Low-Income Pool Program. The budget amendment must include an approved reimbursement and funding methodology, the final terms and conditions of the low-income pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to support the state match required.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to implement fee-for-service supplemental payments and manage a supplemental payment plan to support physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental school, or a public hospital. The budget amendment must include written notice of approval from the CMS approving the state-directed payment.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to implement a certified expenditure program for emergency medical transportation services. The budget amendment must include written notice of approval from the CMS approving the state-directed payment.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment requesting additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public expenditures to support the state match required.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment requesting spending authority to implement a Supplemental Payment Plan for specialty children’s hospitals. The budget amendment must include written notice of approval from the CMS approving the state-directed payment.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit budget amendments to request additional budget authority to implement the Florida School-Based Services Program.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to establish the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force to evaluate cost-containment strategies for Medicaid-funded ABA services.

•            Authorizes the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to submit a budget amendment to realign funding within the department based on the implementation of the Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments, and nonrelative caregiver payments.

•            Authorizes the DCF, the Department of  Health (DOH), and the AHCA to submit budget amendments to increase budget authority as necessary to meet caseload requirements for Refugee Programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and requires the DCF to submit quarterly reports on caseloads and expenditures.

•            Authorizes the DCF to submit budget amendments to increase funding for the following federal grants: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer, American Rescue Plan (ARP) Grant, State Opioid Response Grant, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, Mental Health Block Grant, Chafee Grant for independent living services, Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV-B Subparts 1 and 2 Grant, Elder Justice Act, Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Grant, and Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing Grant.

•            Revises provider data reporting requirements, allowing providers to use their own systems if data is electronically transmitted in agency-approved formats, and updates billing, technical, and staff training requirements.

•            Authorizes the funding appropriated to the Managing Entities for non-qualified counties in Fiscal Year 2026-2027 to be carried forward and provide that such funds are exempt from the 8 percent carry forward threshold.

•            Requires core services funding to be allocated as provided in the GAA and requires the DCF to use the tiered funding methodology developed and submitted pursuant to section 34 of ch. 2025-199, L.O.F., as the baseline framework for any updates, refinements, or enhancements to the model and to continue to collect detailed cost, expenditure, and census data from community-based care lead agencies.

•            Requires the unexpended balance of carryforward funds from community-based care lead agencies as of July 1, 2026, to be returned to the DCF and authorizes the DCF to submit budget amendments to mitigate community-based care lead agencies revenue shortfalls associated with unexpected spikes in child removals or out-of-home care.

•            Authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal revenues become available.

•            Authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues become available.

•            Authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for COVID-19 grants if additional federal revenues become available.

•            Requires the AHCA to immediately suspend all development activities related to the modular replacement of the Florida Medicaid Management Information System, referred to as the Florida Health Care Connections Project (FX), for any system components, modules, or functionality that have not yet achieved operational status and federal certification where applicable; provided, however, that system components that are currently certified and operational continue to be maintained and supported to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

•            Requires the AHCA, in consultation with the DOH, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), the DCF, and the Department of Corrections (DOC), to competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for prescription drugs, including insulin and epinephrine, for all participating agencies. The contract must require that the vendor be compensated on a contingency basis paid from a portion of the savings achieved through the negotiation and purchase of prescription drugs.

•            Authorizes skilled nursing facilities to temporarily suspend all or part of their operations without losing licensure due to disasters, state of emergency, or facility modernization. The provision allows an additional year of inactive licensure, with renewals conditioned on demonstrated good-faith progress or delays beyond the provider’s control, such as permitting or litigation. If further extensions are denied, the provider has 60 days to pursue a change of ownership, effective retroactive to the original inactive-license expiration date.

•            Authorizes the APD to submit budget amendments to transfer funding from salaries and benefits to contractual services in order to support additional staff augmentation at the Developmental Disability Centers.

•            Authorizes the APD to submit budget amendments to request funds from the Lump Sum Home and Community Based Waiver category necessary to address any deficits or funding shortfalls within its existing appropriation.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to submit budget amendments as needed, notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, F.S., to increase budget authority to implement the home and community-based services Medicaid waiver program of the APD.

•            Provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), subject to Legislative Budget Commission (LBC) approval, may request authority to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide necessary salary rate sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans nursing homes, if the DVA projects that additional direct care staff are needed to meet its staffing ratios.

•            Provides that, notwithstanding s. 409.915, F.S., the state Medicaid expenditures shall exclude the specially assessed funds for the Hospital Directed Payment Program.

•            Authorizes the DVA to submit a budget amendment pursuant to ch. 216, F.S., subject to federal approval, requesting additional spending authority to support the development and construction of a new State Veterans Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in Collier County.

•            Authorizes the Department of Elderly Affairs (DOEA) to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food Program or from the Older Americans Act if additional federal revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

•            Authorizes the Neurological Injury Compensation Association to accept new claims during Fiscal Year 2025-2026, in excess of the total of all current estimates for the fiscal year.

•            Authorizes the AHCA to contract with additional Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations in Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, Orange, Pinellas, and Santa Rosa Counties.

•            Increases the nursing home prospective payment methodology for the Medicaid Quality Incentive Program Payment Pool and revise the quality score threshold for facilities to qualify for incentive payments.

•            Allows the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) to request additional positions and appropriations from unallocated general revenue during Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for the DOC if the actual inmate population of the DOC exceeds certain Criminal Justice Estimating Conference forecasts. The additional positions and appropriations may be used for essential staff, fixed capital improvements, and other resources to provide classification, security, food services, health services, and other variable expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated increase in the inmate population, and are subject to LBC review and approval.

•            Provides the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with the authority to request a trust fund loan.

•            Continues to require written certification of conflict by the public defender or regional conflict counsel before a court may appoint private conflict counsel.

•            Creates a rebuttable presumption of correctness for objections to billings made by the Justice Administrative Commission (JAC) and provides requirements for payments to private counsel. Reenacts s. 27.5304(1)(3)(6)(7)(11)(12)(a)-(e), F.S., to increase caps for compensation of court appointed counsel in criminal cases.

•            Clarifies the eligibility for bonus payments provided to local law enforcement from the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program include county correctional officers.

•            Authorizes the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) to submit a budget amendment subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures, to increase budget authority for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) assistance grants if additional federal funds become available.

•            Requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to conduct a study on payment scams and submit a report to the Legislature and make such report publicly available. The report must include recommendations regarding the effectiveness of anti-scam training programs.

•            Establishes the Drone as the First Responder Grant Program within the FDLE to provide drones to law enforcement and first responder agencies.

•            Requires law enforcement agencies to capture and submit to the FDLE fingerprint records of qualifying offenders who are in custody and subject to an immigration detainer, requires the FDLE to create a record containing such person’s immigration detainer information, and authorizes the FDLE to administratively expunge immigration detainer records if a person was detained contrary to law or by mistake.

•            Requires the Department of Management Services (DMS) and agencies to utilize a tenant broker to renegotiate private lease agreements, in excess of 2,000 square feet, expiring between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2029, and submit a report by November 1, 2026.

•            Authorizes transfers of up to five percent of approved budget between categories. Agencies may not transfer funds from a data center appropriation category to a category other than a data center appropriation category.

•            Authorizes the EOG to transfer funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories -Risk Management Insurance” between departments, in order to align the budget authority granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk management insurance.  

•            Authorizes the EOG to transfer funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories - Transfer to DMS - Human Resources Services Purchased per Statewide Contract” of the GAA between departments, in order to align the budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid by each agency to the DMS for human resources management services.   

•            Authorizes the DMS to use five percent of facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust Fund to offset relocation expenses associated with disposition of state office buildings.

•            Defines the components of the Florida Accounting Information Resource subsystem (FLAIR) and Cash Management System included in the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Planning Accounting and Ledger Management (PALM) system. This section also provides the executive steering committee membership and the procedures for executive steering committee meetings and decisions.

•            Carries forward the authority of DMS to execute a 15-year contract with the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) operator.

•            Provides that the amendment to s. 282.709(3), F.S., expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that section reverts to that in existence on June 1, 2021.

•            Authorizes state agencies and other eligible users of the SLERS network to utilize the DMS state SLERS contract for the purchase of equipment and services.

•            Authorizes the reduction of the MyFloridaMarketPlace transaction fee from 1 percent to 0.70 percent.

•            Requires the commission for lottery ticket sales to be set at 6 percent of the purchase price of each ticket sold or issued as a prize by a retailer.

•            Provides that the text of s. 24.105(9)(i), F.S., expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that section reverts to that in existence on June 30, 2023.

•            Authorizes Citizen’s Property Insurance Corp. to contract with the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) regarding its claim determinations.

•            Authorizes a deferred compensation plan to offer all eligible employees a qualified Roth contribution program in accordance with s. 402A of the Internal Revenue Code.

•            Requires the DMS to continue partnering with its current People First third-party operator and directs the DMS to continue the integration of the system with PALM.

•            Revises the eligibility requirements of the My Safe Florida Home Program to only include individuals who have low or moderate income and have had an inspection completed within the last 24 months and revise eligibility standards for program inspections and grants to require that the home must be a single-family unit on an individual parcel of land that is either a detached residential property as required by current law or an attached residential property of three stories or less.

•            Prevents funds for local government fire equipment and services funded through the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 GAA and the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 GAA from reverting at the end of the fiscal year.

•            Authorizes the EOG to submit a budget amendment to transfer funds appropriated in the “Northwest Regional Data Center” category between departments in order to align the budget authority granted based on the estimated costs for data processing services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

•            Provides that auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies related to contract management services provided to Northwest Regional Data Center shall not exceed three percent.

•            Directs the Division of Risk Management at the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to continue contracting with the existing provider to establish a statewide pilot program to make electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (eTMS) available for veterans, first responders, and immediate family members thereof with certain medical conditions. The section also revises the definition of the term first responder. 

•            Authorizes the DFS to continue the existing eTMS contract and clarifies that any funds paid by the DFS pursuant to the contract do not constitute state financial assistance as provided in s. 215.97, F.S.

•            Requires the DFS to retain the estimated amount of atypical receipts in a separate account and provides that such amount is in addition to the $15 million the DFS is authorized to retain under current law.

•            Requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to include any aviation fuel taxes collected for period prior to the repeal of certain laws with the distribution made under s. 206.606, F.S., and to deduct any refunds and associated administrative costs for such taxes from the distribution.

•            Extends the due date for tax distributions made during the third and fourth quarters of the 2026-2027 fiscal year by the DOR from the 25th day of the month to the last working day of the month to temporarily accommodate the transition to PALM and notwithstands s. 215.422(1), F.S., to revise the time period relating to the payment of invoices.

•            Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority to support the National School Lunch Program.

•            Authorizes loans to land acquisition trust funds within several agencies.

•            Provides that, in order to implement specific appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the DACS, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), and the Department of State (DOS), the DEP will transfer a proportionate share of revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the DEP on a monthly basis, after subtracting required debt service payments, to each agency and retain a proportionate share within the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the DEP. Total distributions to a land acquisition trust fund within the other agencies may not exceed the total appropriations for the fiscal year. The section further provides that the DEP may advance funds from the beginning unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF) to the LATF within the FWC for cash flow purposes.

•            Notwithstands the Florida Forever statutory distribution to authorize distributions as provided in the GAA.

•            Extends the current requirement that the DEP adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, and soil if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not finalized standards by January 1, 2027.

•            Notwithstands the requirements of the Petroleum Cleanup Participation Program and the Florida Petroleum Liability and Restoration Insurance Program relating to deductibles, copayments, and monetary caps and provides that all costs relating to the program be absorbed by the Inland Protection Trust Fund.

•            Revises the requirements for the usage of the Inland Protection Trust Fund for ethanol or biodiesel damage.

•            Provides that, notwithstanding ch. 287, F.S., the Department of Citrus is authorized to enter into agreements to expedite the increased production of citrus trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus greening.

•            Clarifies that grants under the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront program may be awarded for capital expenditure projects to support the commercial and marine aquaculture industries.

•            Authorizes the FWC to use funds appropriated for derelict vessel removal for grants to local governments to remove themselves or pay private contractors to, remove, store, destroy, and dispose of derelict vessels, migrant vessels, at-risk vessel turn in program vessels, or vessels declared a public nuisance.

•            Authorizes funds appropriated from the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to be used as provided in the GAA.

•            Provides that the distribution from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund shall be as provided in the GAA.

•            Allows the DACS to administer a program to expedite the expansion of citrus tree propagation.

•            Provides that a county or municipal government may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that requires a distributor or retailer to establish battery collection sites or to collect or handle batteries and products containing batteries for off-site recycling or disposal until a study providing recommended practices for a distributor or retailer regarding proper collection and handling has been produced.

•            Allows funds to be used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund Program to provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael as provided in the GAA.

•            Authorizes the chair and vice chair of the LBC to approve, pursuant to s. 216.177, F.S., a Department of Transportation (DOT) work program amendment that adds a new project, or a phase of a new project, in excess of $3 million, if the LBC does not meet or consider, within 30 days of submittal, the amendment by the DOT.

•            Authorizes flexibility for the DOT to rebalance funds within the Work Program to account for laws enacted which adjust the department’s statutory revenue distributions.

•            Authorizes the DOT to advance or defer up to $200 million in programmed projects in the Adopted Work Program in order to realign resources and ensure a balanced financial plan.

•            Creates a grant program for the planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in 6 inland panhandle counties.

•            Authorizes the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) to submit budget amendments to increase budget authority for projected expenditures due to federal reimbursements from federally declared disasters.

•            Clarifies that enhancements to the Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System are subject to appropriation, and revises submission timelines and annual reporting requirements for future modernization efforts.

•            Modifies the July 1, 2026, expiration date of the Law Enforcement Recruitment Program and requires newly employed officers to be Florida residents.

•            Exempts the DEM from s. 282.201, F.S., relating to the use of the state data center.

•            Authorizes the Department of Commerce to submit budget amendments to increase budget authority to support the federal Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program.

•            Provides that the DOT is the primary point of contact for statewide topographic aerial LiDAR procurement and cost-sharing related to statewide geographic information systems and geospatial data sharing.

•            Revises the qualification requirements for members of the Florida State Guard and requires that members of the specialized unit be certified law enforcement officers.

•            Requires the DMS to assess an administrative health assessment to each state agency equal to the employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for each vacant position.

•            Provides that notwithstanding s. 11.13, F.S., salaries of legislators must be maintained at the same level as July 1, 2010.

•            Reenacts s. 215.32(2)(b), F.S., in order to implement the transfer of moneys to the General Revenue Fund from trust funds in the GAA.

•            Authorizes each state agency and the judicial branch to establish its own mileage allowance for travel by privately owned vehicles for official travel, provided such mileage allowances do not exceed the standard mileage rates established by the Internal Revenue Service.

•            Provides that funds appropriated for travel by state employees be limited to travel for activities that are critical to each state agency’s mission. The section prohibits funds from being used to travel to foreign countries, other states, conferences, staff training, or other administrative functions unless the agency head approves in writing. The agency head is required to consider the use of teleconferencing and electronic communication to meet the needs of the activity before approving travel. If such travel is approved, the agency must provide quarterly reports to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. Travel for law enforcement purposes, military purposes, emergency management activities, or public health activities is exempt from this section.

•            Provides that, notwithstanding s. 112.061, F.S., costs for lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess of $225.

•            Authorizes the LBC to approve budget amendments for new fixed capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects.

•            Requires reviews for budget transfers to comply with ch. 216, F.S., maximize the use of available and appropriate funds, and not be contrary to legislative policy and intent.

•            Provides that, notwithstanding ch. 287, F.S., state agencies are authorized to purchase vehicles from non-State Term Contract vendors provided certain conditions are met.

•            Requires state agencies to provide information about the status of implementation of recently enacted legislation.

•            Provides that state executive agencies and the judicial branch are not required to develop or post a long-range program plan by September 30, 2026, for the 2027-2028 fiscal year, except in circumstances outlined in any updated written instructions prepared by the EOG in consultation with the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees.

•            Requires each state agency and the judicial branch, as part of their legislative budget request, to include an inventory of all ongoing technology-related projects that have a cumulative estimated or realized cost of more than $1 million. The inventory must include specified information. The bill also provides that unit cost summaries do not have to be submitted.

•            Provides that the use of state funds must be consistent with certain principles of individual freedom.

•            Prohibits a state agency from using state funds or contracting with certain advertising agencies or other contractors who use the services of media reliability and bias monitors.

•            Specifies that until the Workers Compensation three-member panel adopts a schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances, certain emergency services will be reimbursed for 75 percent of usual and customary charges, unless there is a contract.

•            Freezes the interior space and parking space allotted to the Governor, the Cabinet officers, and the Legislature as of January 1, 2026, including space that the DMS must offer for lease to the House of Representatives within the Capitol Building; and provides for coordination between the department and the Legislature for construction projects.

•            Requires 75 percent of the funding for certain IT projects to be held in reserve and authorizes budget amendments contingent on a spend plan and monthly status reporting requirements.

•            Requires certain agencies to contract with independent verification and validation (IV&V) providers to provide IV&V services for all entity staff and vendor work needed to implement certain projects.

•            Specifies that no section shall take effect if the appropriations and proviso to which it relates are vetoed. If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on June 16, 2026.

•            Provides that, if any other act passed during the 2026 Regular Session or the 2026 Special Session E contains a provision that is substantively the same as a provision in this act, but removes or otherwise is not subject to the future repeal applied by this act, the intent is for the other provision to take precedence and continue to operate.

•            Provides that, if any law amended by this act was also amended by a law enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the Legislature, such laws shall be construed as if they had been enacted during the same session of Legislature and full effect shall be given to each if possible.

•            Provides for severability.

 

If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026, except as otherwise expressly provided, or, if these provisions fail to become a law until after that date, they shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate retroactively to July 1, 2026.

 

Vote: Senate 34-1; House 78-27