Welcome to Committee Week 2 of the 2024 Session! 

Both chambers convened this week for their second round of interim committee meetings. Committees heard from state agencies regarding their FY2024-25 Legislative Budget Requests, as well as a number of presentations from subject matter experts on key state issues. The remaining interim committee schedule is as follows: 

• November 6-9, 2023 
• November 13-17, 2023 
• December 4-7, 2023 
• December 11-15, 2023 

Regular session will begin on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. 

Reminder! Register for FAC’s Upcoming Legislative Conference 

FAC will conclude our 2023-2024 Policy Development Process at our Legislative Conference in Hillsborough County, November 15-17. This is the last opportunity for members to make their voice heard on FAC’s legislative platform for the upcoming year. Policy committees will discuss the policy proposals, hear presentations from subject matter experts, and ultimately finalize and adopt FAC’s 2024 Legislative Action Plan. Register here! 

Jeff Scala, Senior Associate Director of Public Policy at the Florida Association of Counties, gives brief update of what happened this week at the Capitol.

On Tuesday, the Senate Republican Caucus officially named Sen. Ben Albritton as the chamber’s President-Designate. Sen. Albritton will take over leadership of the Senate following the 2024 election cycle, assuming the GOP maintains its majority as expected. His district, Senate District 27, includes Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte, Polk, and Lee Counties.  



Meanwhile, House Republicans designated Miami Rep. Daniel Perez its next Speaker of the House during the prior committee week in September.  

On Wednesday, Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to discuss the opioid settlement in the state of Florida. The opioid settlement refers to the legal resolution of claims against pharmaceutical opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid epidemic. The rollout of most of that money begins this year. This settlement comes after years of nationwide lawsuits. Florida will receive a settlement of $3.14 billion over an 18-year period. Florida’s counties and cities will receive 15% of this settlement for a total of $475.5 million. Additionally, there is a $1.14 billion in regional funds available. The distribution of funds will start this year.  

The presentation can be accessed below: 

Video; Meeting Packet 

On Monday, the House Select Committee on Hurricane Resiliency & Recovery heard from Kevin Guthrie, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Director Guthrie noted that FDEM has allocated $202 million in recovery funding, with rapid utility account restoration after Hurricane Idalia.  

FDEM disbursed $1 billion in post-Hurricane Ian recovery funds, totaling $1.26 billion obligated and $1.9 billion in development. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program offers nearly $939.9 million for long-term hazard mitigation measures. $350 million authorized in the 2023 General Appropriations Act supports hurricane repair and recovery projects, with over 400 funding applications received and 23 awards granted. FDEM operates 10 regional response teams, hosts annual summits for logistical support, and offers training opportunities for emergency management professionals. 

Additionally, the Select Committee heard from a panel of county officials on the recovery efforts from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane spoke, as well as Emily Lewis, Deputy County Administrator for Charlotte County; Jamie French, Head of Growth Management Department for Collier County; Jessica Fentress, Coastal Division Director for Volusia County; and Jonathon Lord, Emergency Management Director for Flager County. 

The presentation can be accessed below: 

Video; Meeting Packet

On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee heard from Florida Commerce’s Deputy Secretary, Meredith Ivey, who provided an update on broadband deployment grant programs. The presentation included a review of Local Technology Planning Teams (LTPT’s). 

Currently, the Office of Broadband is administering two grants: 

Broadband Opportunity Program  

• $400 million total; $226 million awarded as of July 2023 

Capital Projects Fund 

• $366 million in total 
• Funds granted via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 
• The state has designated three project categories within the program: 
• Broadband Infrastructure Program 
• Multi-Purpose Facilities Program 
• Digital Connectivity Technology Program 

Meanwhile, Florida was allocated $1.1 billion in federal funding through the upcoming Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Program funding is intended for planning, deployment, mapping, and adoption/use activities.  

The presentation can be accessed below: 



Video; Meeting Packet 

On Wednesday, the House Energy, Communications, and Cybersecurity subcommittee hosted the state’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Jeremy Rodgers for a cybersecurity presentation. Rodgers provided some historical and statutory background on Florida Digital Service (FLDS), a division of Florida’s Department of Management Services.  

The presentation included highlights from FLDS’ local cybersecurity grant efforts in FY 22-23. This included grant applications in 66 counties, 730 deployments of new or restructured cybersecurity programs, and critical data reporting from 96% of participants. 

Looking ahead, FLDS will administer $40 million of state grant awards to local governments in FY2023-24, through the Local Cybersecurity Grant program. Program funding rose $10 million from the prior fiscal year. The grant will commence in December 2023, and will prioritize risk management and vulnerability mitigation projects. 

Meanwhile, the state was allocated $11.9 in federal grant awards, to be co-managed by FLDS and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. A portion of the funds have been specifically earmarked for rural community cybersecurity projects.  

On October 26, FLDS will offer a virtual cybersecurity training exercise, Anatomy of an Attack, as part of an ongoing series of workshops designed to educate vulnerable workforce members on cybersecurity protocols.  

The presentations can be accessed below:  

Video; Meeting Packet

This week state agencies presented their FY 24-25 Legislative Budget Requests.  

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection put in a budget request of approximately $1.8 billion dollars for FY 24-25. The agency highlighted proposed spending for the following programs: everglades restoration and protection of water resources ($1.2 B), resilience and coastal protection, ($206 M) cleanup programs ($211 M), and land purchase of prized properties ($175 M). 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee pitched a roughly $190 million-dollar legislative budget request to address resiliency, the Go Outdoors, Florida program, Florida Wildlife Corridor, Public Safety and Resource Protection and operational support. 

Also presenting their Legislative Budget Request in this committee were: 

Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services 

Department of Citrus 

The presentations can be accessed below:  

Video; Meeting Packet

The Department of Financial Services held a presentation for the House State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee where they placed a FY 24-25 budget request of $322.5 million, of which $225.8 M was requested for the My Safe Florida Home Program.  

Also presenting their Legislative Budget Request in this committee were: 

Department of Business Regulation 

Department of Revenue 

Department of Management Services 

The presentations can be accessed below:  

Video; Meeting Packet

Florida Department of Children and Families presented their budget request for FY 24-25 before the committee with their key areas of focus being to enhance program effectiveness, fostering a system of accountability, transparency, and alignment, enhance workforce and to provide additional support to improve immediate access to services and increase responsiveness. 

Florida Department of Health presented their legislative budget request for the upcoming year. Their request totaled out to be approx. $28 million from general revenues; the largest portion within this request, $9.7 million of general revenue funding, will be used to address public health laboratories. This allocation to the laboratories is meant to sustain operations and testing and to ensure readiness to respond to infectious disease breakouts. 

Also presenting their Legislative Budget Request in this committee was the Agency for Health Care Administration, 

The presentations can be accessed below:  



Video; Meeting Packet

Florida Department of Commerce presented a $1.7 billion-dollar legislative budget request for FY24-25. Florida Commerce assists the Governor in advancing Florida’s economy for every Floridian by championing the state’s economic development vision and implementing innovative initiatives to help citizens, communities, businesses, and visitors thrive.  

Also presenting their Legislative Budget Request in this committee were: 

Department of Military Affairs 

Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles 

Division of Emergency Management 

The presentations can be accessed below:  



Video; Meeting Packet

Florida’s Department of Corrections presented their legislative budget request for FY 24-25, FDC is seeking to tackle staffing challenges, education, and program advancements for inmates and to bolster infrastructure.  

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also presented in front of the Justice Appropriations committee where they requested $84 Million along with 44 FTEs. These resources will be spread across issues pertaining to agency operations, information tech projects, investigative and forensic services, increased workloads and skilled staffing. 

Also presenting their Legislative Budget Request in this committee were: 

Department of Juvenile Justice 

Florida Commission on Offender Review.  

The presentation can be accessed below:  

Video; Meeting Packet 

Finally, all state agency Legislative Budget Request Documents are available online at the Florida Fiscal Portal.