2026 Florida Pre-Legislative Session Lookahead

Florida’s 60-day Legislative Session will convene next Tuesday, January 13, and is scheduled to sine die on March 13. This will be the final year with Senate President Ben Albritton (R–Bartow) and Speaker Danny Perez (R–Miami) holding the gavels, as well as Governor Ron DeSantis (R) serving as Chief Executive.

While we are going into Session with one vacant seat in the Senate (District 14) and three vacant seats in the House (Districts 52, 87, and 113), Republicans still hold supermajorities in both chambers, controlling 27 of the 40 Senate seats and 84 of the 120 House seats. However, even with a Republican trifecta and supermajorities, significant intra-party disagreements remain. Last year’s Legislative Session was extended by 45 days beyond the customary 60-day timeframe due to these divisions.

Following the statewide general election scheduled for November 2, Senate Republicans have named Senator Jim Boyd (R–Bradenton) as President-Designate, and House Republicans have named Representative Sam Garrison (R–Fleming Island) as Speaker-Designate for the 2027 and 2028 Legislative Sessions. As the current Session progresses and these leaders move closer to their designation dates, the internal power dynamics within the Legislature are expected to shift, with their influence continuing to grow throughout the year.

Hot Topics to Watch
Senate President Albritton, Speaker Perez, and Governor DeSantis will each deliver opening day remarks outlining their respective priorities and setting the tone for the Session. The Governor has already released several priorities and recommendations, including a proposed $117.35 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026–2027, and policy proposals for a Citizens Bill of Rights for Artificial Intelligence and ethical dog breeding to crack down on puppy mills and animal abuse, as well as continuing to champion insurance rate decreases from the 2023 tort reforms, Everglades restoration efforts, and immigration enforcement.

Last year there were major disagreements on the state budget and tax revenue collections, as well as the Senate President and Speaker’s policy priorities. Many of these issues are expected to resurface this year. Senate President Albritton’s primary initiative was an agriculture-focused package commonly referred to as the “Rural Renaissance” bill, while Speaker Perez prioritized rolling back reforms enacted under the previous Speaker related to legal system abuse. The Speaker advanced several bills viewed as trial bar–friendly, including proposals that would expand or create additional causes of action.

One issue already receiving increased attention and debate is property taxation. The House has released eight proposals offering eliminations, exemptions, or reforms aimed at providing property tax relief. The Governor has released his own property tax proposal, so this issue will likely serve as a negotiation between the Executive and Legislative branches as the discussion develops. These proposals could ultimately be placed on the November ballot for consideration by voters.

The Current Situation
At present, 1,195 bills have been filed for the 2026 Legislative Session, with additional filings expected ahead of the January 9 bill filing deadline. Compared to prior years, this represents a relatively low volume of filed legislation at this stage.

Legislation of Interest
Our lobbying team will continue to closely monitor legislation as bills are filed, amended, and advance through the committee process. If you have questions regarding legislation that may impact your industry—or broader political, policy, or regulatory developments—please do not hesitate to contact our team.