©2024 The News Service of Florida
With House Health Care Appropriations Chair Sam Garrison saying lawmakers were “kind of at a bump in the road,” a conference committee could not reach agreement Wednesday on a series of key health- and human-services issues.
The impasse means that the unresolved issues will go to Senate Appropriations Chair Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, and House Appropriations Chair Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, for further negotiations.
Lawmakers are trying to finish a budget so they will be able to end the legislative session as scheduled March 8.
Garrison, R-Fleming Island, said the conference committee of House and Senate members broke off, at least in part, because the Senate did not make an offer about funding for lawmaker-proposed projects.
“We will have a budget,” Garrison said. “It will be done on time. It’s just not going to be done at this (conference committee) stage, unfortunately.”
In addition to funding for projects, Garrison said unresolved issues include such things as budget fine print known as “proviso language” and “implementing” and “conforming” bills needed to carry out the budget.
Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said the conference committee had reached an agreement on many issues, including providing $80 million for a cancer innovation fund.
The budget needs to be finished by Tuesday for the session to end on time.
That is because of a 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote on the spending plan.
The 2024-2025 budget will take effect July 1.
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