Legislative update highlights ongoing state budget negotiations, election season activity, and continued engagement with legislative guests across multiple policy discussions and professional roundtables

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida lawmakers returned to Tallahassee this week for a Special Session that immediately placed the state budget at the center of political and legislative activity, as negotiations resumed after a tense and unresolved Regular Session earlier this spring.

The Special Session, which runs from May 12 through May 29, was formally called after legislative leaders confirmed they had reached enough agreement on a general budget framework to restart negotiations. Even so, major details remain unsettled, and both chambers spent the opening days focused on procedural steps designed to move their respective budget proposals into position for formal conference discussions.

The Regular Session, which ended on March 13 after 60 scheduled days, closed without a final agreement on the state budget. That deadlock forced lawmakers into continued negotiations behind the scenes, stretching into weeks of planning before the Special Session was officially triggered.

When lawmakers reconvened on Tuesday, the House and Senate first handled technical but necessary procedural votes. These actions allowed both chambers to reset their budget bills into what legislators described as the “proper posture” for conference negotiations. While largely procedural in nature, these steps marked the formal restart of the budget-making process.

From there, attention quickly shifted to the Budget Conference process, where House and Senate negotiators begin working through differences between their spending plans. This phase is often described as the most detailed and time-consuming part of the entire budget cycle.

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Throughout the week, multiple Budget Conference Committees met across policy areas, reviewing proposals and advancing separate budget “silos” that cover different sectors of state spending. In many cases, each chamber presented structured “offers” through spreadsheets, outlining compromises or adjustments in an effort to close gaps between competing versions of the budget.

These negotiations are expected to continue intensively as subcommittees work through remaining disagreements. By the end of the week, unresolved issues are anticipated to be escalated to the full Budget Conference Committee, where leadership will attempt to resolve final differences and assemble a complete conference report.

Once a final agreement is reached, the budget must be placed “on the desk” of lawmakers for a constitutionally required 72-hour cooling-off period before any final vote can take place. This waiting period is designed to allow legislators time to review the full budget before approving it.

Lawmakers are currently expected to return during the final week of May to formally vote on the 2026–27 state budget, assuming negotiations proceed without further delays.

While budget discussions dominate the Special Session, Governor Ron DeSantis has continued his review of bills passed during the 2026 Regular Session. As of Wednesday, May 13, the governor had signed 85 bills into law. Another 18 bills remain pending on his desk, while 133 additional measures are still awaiting formal presentation.

Among the legislation already signed is SB 1296 – Public Employees Unions, which includes provisions requiring a Certified Public Accountant review of certain documents. The Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) noted during the session that while it does not take positions on union policy, it does work to ensure that any statutory language involving CPAs aligns with professional standards.

As a result, the final version of the bill includes language supported by the FICPA clarifying that CPAs will conduct these engagements using agreed upon procedures. This adjustment is intended to ensure that professionals performing the work have clear standards guiding their responsibilities.

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Another closely watched measure, HB 7031 – Internal Revenue Code, has not yet been acted on by the governor. The bill would decouple Florida from several provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making it a key issue for ongoing tax and budget discussions during the Special Session. The FICPA continues to monitor its status as lawmakers evaluate its potential impact.

Outside the Capitol, the FICPA has also remained active in direct engagement with legislators through a series of Office Managing Partner Roundtables held across the state.

In Orlando last week, the organization hosted firm leaders from Central Florida for discussions on pressing issues affecting the CPA profession. The event included participation from Rep. Rachel Plakon and members of her staff. During the session, Rep. Plakon addressed topics such as alternative pathways to CPA licensure, a subject that continues to draw attention among accounting professionals and educators.

The FICPA described the Orlando roundtable as an important opportunity to maintain open dialogue between lawmakers and industry leaders, especially as workforce development and licensing standards remain key policy issues in Florida.

A second roundtable took place this Monday in Jacksonville, bringing together CPA firm leaders from North Florida. That discussion featured Rep. Sam Greco, who provided insights on the most recent legislative session and shared perspectives on priorities expected to shape the next cycle.

FICPA leaders said the organization values ongoing communication with elected officials and sees these meetings as an important part of ensuring that legislative decisions reflect the realities of the profession. The group emphasized its continued commitment to building strong relationships with lawmakers across the state.

At the same time, the FICPA Governmental Affairs Team has remained active in broader political engagement efforts as the state moves deeper into an election cycle. Each election year, the team dedicates significant time to meeting with candidates seeking public office, helping to evaluate their positions on issues that affect Florida’s economy and professional sectors.

As part of this effort, the FICPA participates in the Florida Chamber of Commerce Political Institute’s candidate interview process. These sessions provide an opportunity for business and professional organizations to speak directly with candidates about policy priorities and economic concerns.

Last week, the FICPA Governmental Affairs Team traveled to Orlando to meet with multiple candidates running for seats in the Florida Legislature. The interviews focused on a range of topics relevant to the business community, including workforce development, taxation, and regulatory policy.

Next week, the team is scheduled to continue this process in Miami, where additional candidate interviews will take place. These discussions are expected to further inform the FICPA’s engagement strategy as election season progresses.

Officials with the organization described these interviews as a critical part of their political program, noting that early engagement helps build stronger relationships and ensures that CPA-related issues are represented in future legislative discussions.

The FICPA also acknowledged its continued partnership with the Florida Chamber of Commerce in organizing these events, saying the collaboration strengthens the ability of the broader business community to engage meaningfully with candidates.

Looking ahead, the FICPA Governmental Affairs Team said it will continue closely monitoring budget negotiations and any legislative developments that could impact the CPA profession. At the same time, the organization plans to stay active across the state through conferences, local chapter meetings, and ongoing engagement with both elected officials and candidates.

As the Special Session moves forward and election season gains momentum, Florida’s legislative and political landscape remains active and closely watched, with budget decisions, tax policy, and professional regulation all converging at a critical moment for the state’s future planning.