DeSantis Proposes $115.6B State Budget

By Jim Turner

The proposed budget includes several Florida Realtors priorities such as elimination of the Business Rent Tax and more money for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis late Sunday proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition.

Florida Realtors Legislative Priorities

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s proposed 2025-2026 budget would positively affect some of Florida Realtors®’ legislative priorities, including:

The repeal of the state’s Business Rent Tax, saving Florida businesses $1.6 billion.
The budget invests over $600 million for the My Safe Florida Home and Condo grant programs to provide free inspections and cost sharing for approved home hardening and wind mitigation projects. This includes:
- $480 million in additional current year funds to address the 45,000 homeowners with completed inspections that are waiting on additional funding to apply for a grant under the My Safe Florida Home Program.
- $109 million in recurring funds to provide approximately 10,000 new inspections and grants annually under the My Safe Florida Home Program.
- $30 million to restore the My Safe Florida Home Condominium Pilot Program to allow for more condo associations to apply for the program, as current year funds are already maxed out.

More than $500 million for housing programs:
- $178.5 million for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.
- $227.7 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program.
- $100 million for the fourth year of the Hometown Heroes Housing program to provide down payment and closing cost assistance for first time homebuyers while adding members of the State Guard to the list of eligible applicants.
The governor’s budget recommends $1.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality.