Florida's 2026 Legislative Session: The Most Dangerous Days in Florida

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session, which gaveled in January 13 and is scheduled to end on March 13, promises to be-yet again-a contentious one. With prospects increasing for continued infighting between House and Senate Republican leaders and among Republicans in general, it is likely that a number of major issues impacting the lives and the pocketbooks of Floridians will go unresolved. Instead, we may be treated to Tallahassee's now-standard fare: showcase battles over culture war issues, continued erosion of the public interest (public schools, public health, public lands, public employees), special treatment for monied interests, and the ruthless imposition of state preemption over local decision-making powers.

But wait! There's more! The Governor, anticipating (drooling over?) a predicted Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act and enable districts to be redrawn without consideration for minority representation, has already called for a Special Session on Congressional redistricting for April 20-24. He has hinted as well at a second Special Session on property tax relief, date to be determined.

So buckle up; it's going to be a bumpy ride. Here's Week 1's list of key bills-the good, the bad, and the ugly-that are gaining early traction in at least one chamber. Note the prevalence of bills that lack support thus far in the sister chamber.

• HB 133 (Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer). Reverses post-Parkland reform measures by dropping the age from 21 to 18. Passed the House floor vote on January 15. No companion bill in the Senate.
• HB 167 (Former Phosphate Mining Lands). Makes it harder to sue Mosaic for radiation exposure from their former phosphate mines. Passed the House on January 15. No companion bill in the Senate.
• HJR 203 (Phased-Out Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads). Proposed constitutional amendment applicable to non-school property tax that gradually increases homestead exemptions by $100,000 each year beginning in 2028 until 2037, when exemptions will increase to automatically match the assessed value of the property. Passed its second of three House committees on January 15. No companion bill in the Senate.
• SB 250 (Rural Communities). Provides economic stimulus and support structures for rural, fiscally-restrained counties, a top priority for the Senate President. Passed the Senate on January 14. House companion bill HB 723 has been assigned to four committees and faces a difficult path forward.
• HB 289 (Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child). Opens the door to the concept of fetal personhood from conception on. Passed the HouseHouse floor vote on January 15. Senate companion bill SB 164 has passed the first of three committees.
• SB 318 (Educational Scholarship Programs). Major revamping of the manner in which K-12 vouchers are distributed in the wake of a state audit revealing significant mishandling of scholarship funding. Passed the Senate on January 14. No House companion, with some hostility to certain provisions already expressed by House education leaders.
• SB 354 (Blue Ribbon Projects). Allows owners of rural mega-tracts to develop them without a public hearing or vote by local officials. Passed the first of three Senate committees January 13. House companion bill HB 299 has also passed committee one of three.
• HB 479 (Land and Water Management) Limits buffer zones between housing developments and wetlands to dimensions established by the state, overriding local watershed protection regulations. Passed its first House committee of three January 13. Senate companion bill SB 718 has yet to be scheduled for committee consideration.
• HJR 583 (Protection of Religious Expression in Public Schools). Would enshrine in the Florida Constitution current law granting religious expression the same status as non-religious expression in coursework, clothing, etc. Passed its first House committee of two. Senate companion bill SB 1104 has just been filed and assigned to three committees.