Florida passes $117B budget on final day of legislative session

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lawmakers often save the most important issue for the final day of their annual session. This year in Florida, that meant raising the age for strippers to 21.

Oh, and they also passed a $117 billion state budget.

But unlike the previous two years when GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis was gearing up to run for president, he didn't ask as much from the Legislature. This year there were fewer divisive bills addressing issues like abortion, guns, racism and LGBTQ+ rights — and more focused on the priorities of House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.