House Budget Plan Approved 74-45: April 17

The Florida House of Representatives passed its $65.1 billion budget bills (HB 5001, HB 5101) on Friday, April 17.  The Florida Senate passed its budget bill (SB 2600) on Thursday, April 16, which is $549 million higher than the House version.

Negotiators for the Florida Senate and House of Representatives will hold a Joint Budget Conference on Monday, April 20, 8:00-9:00 a.m., at a location to be determined, to reconcile the spending plans.

Florida Speaker of the House Larry Cretul (R-Ocala) and Senate President Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) said that budget issues not resolved at the Joint Budget Conference will proceed to appropriations chairmen at Noon on Thursday, April 23.  Budget issues subsequently unresolved will then proceed to presiding officers at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24.

Speaker Cretul said that would allow the Legislature time to reach a compromise on and pass the budget by the end of the 2009 Legislative Session, scheduled to adjourn May 1.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

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