Florida has taken a limited approach to paid family leave, covering only some public employees. A statewide policy covering working Floridians in the public *and* private sectors would help families here thrive.
ICYMI, FPI's latest report
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/a-smar...
The FL Senate proposed a $115B budget for next fiscal year, which would cut current spending by $1.9B. The FL House's $113.6B proposal would cut current spending by nearly $3.4B.
As lawmakers hammer out an agreement, check out FPI's overview of each chamber's budget recs 👇
SAVE THE DATE: FPI is hosting the second Florida Policy Summit on September 16–17, 2026 at Lido Beach Resort in Sarasota, FL!
Registration begins in early May.
To stay up-to-date, go to: FloridaPolicySummit.org
📻 Tune in today (4/16) at 12 PM (ET) to WUSF 89.7! FPI's Alexis Tsoukalas, PhD, will be a guest on “Florida Matters Live & Local” discussing how statewide paid family leave could benefit working Floridians. Don't miss it. 🔗
t.co/4jrZC0EBLu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=27e0...
The Working Floridians Tax Rebate (WFTR) would help make FL's tax code fairer, putting $1.1 billion back into the pockets of Floridians with low to moderate income while pumping about $881 million into our state's economy annually.
Learn more: workingfloridiansrebate.org
(2/2)
Today, #TaxDay, a reminder that an effective tax code supports thriving communities while ensuring that everyone pays their share.
But Florida has the most upside-down tax code in the nation, as per @itep.org. (1/2)
Based on the FL House and the FL Senate budget recs, it's clear that lawmakers — up against deep federal cuts to SNAP & Medicaid and a looming state budget deficit — are veering toward austerity (i.e. budget cuts) instead of revenue-raising measures. (2/2) www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florid...
A recent federal law, H.R. 1, extended trillions in tax cuts skewed to the wealthiest households in America--paid for with massive cuts to health care and food assistance. Today, #TaxDay, it’s important to consider how H.R. 1 is impacting Floridians. (1/2)
NEW: FPI found that a statewide paid leave program would benefit upwards of 194,000 working Floridians.
Read the latest report by Alexis Tsoukalas, PhD here: bit.ly/FloridaPFML
Florida's 2026 regular session has come to a close. However, state lawmakers have not addressed key cost-of-living issues, like skyrocketing health care and energy costs.
Read FPI's full statement below.
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/statem...
New restrictions under federal law (H.R. 1) have led to thousands of immigrants, including children and older adults, losing food assistance in Florida.
Cuts to SNAP hurt families -- and they have adverse impacts throughout communities.
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/thousa...
As FPI CEO Sadaf Knight notes, SB 1758 would push thousands of Floridians — including deeply low-income parents and young adults — off Medicaid and into the healthcare coverage gap.
Read the full press release here:
www.healthyfla.org/single-post/...
ICYMI: During a recent discussion hosted by @aspeninstitute.bsky.social on work & opportunity narratives in the U.S. South, Alexis Tsoukalas, PhD, talks about FPI's efforts to protect child labor laws, historical barriers to worker justice in Florida, and more.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYV2...
ICYMI: Although Florida policymakers are facing significant budget challenges, they continue to focus on cutting expenditures while neglecting to raise revenue.
Below, FPI's overview of the Florida House and Senate budget proposals 👇 www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florid...
On March 3, the Florida House is slated to vote on HB 1279, legislation that aims to further restrict higher education access for immigrants in Florida.
Read more from FPI 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/sb-105...
The strike ended when the recently integrated Florida Education Association and the state agreed to increase investments in education.
Learn more at The Florida Timeline 👇 (3/3)
www.floridatimeline.org/timeline/196...
In 1968, Florida still had segregated schools, but Black and white teachers had joined together to stage the first statewide teacher strike in the United States to demand higher pay and improved school budgets. (2/3)
A look back on the Florida teachers strike in February/March 1968 as we close out #BlackHistoryMonth. Black teachers brought their experience with civil rights organizing tactics and support from civil rights leaders to the strike. (1/3)
Yesterday, we released a statement from FPI CEO Sadaf Knight on the signing of HB 693, in which the language that would have taken health insurance access away from lawfully residing immigrant children was amended OUT of the bill.
Read the full statement:
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/statem...
House Bill (HB) 693 aims to impose new standards on Medicaid and SNAP eligibility, a move that would cause undue harm to Florida’s families.
Read more in FPI's bill summary 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/bill-s...
NEW on FPIs blog: Legislation (SB 1758/HB 1453) would implement Medicaid work-reporting requirements in Florida. This would come with steep administrative costs and push even more parents into the health care coverage gap.
Read more below 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/medica...
NEW: Under the FL Dept. of Education's proposed rule, school districts would not have to bear the full financial burden of Schools of Hope co-location; however, they would bear the brunt of “incremental” costs, such as maintenance.
Read more 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/school...
"Floridians are going to be paying for the relief. You're not getting savings out of nothing. You're paying for those savings by cutting services or by paying higher fees or by paying more taxes."
-FPI's Esteban Santis on how HJR 201 would impact Floridians [Via @wusf.org]
Joint resolutions aiming to cut property taxes in Florida would cost localities anywhere from $6.7 billion (HJR 205) to $18.3 billion (HJR 201) annually.
ICYMI: FPI examines what's at stake under property tax reform measures 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/bill-s...
Senate Bill 318 would implement a number of important measures to increase accountability and transparency in Florida's universal voucher program.
ICYMI: Read FPI's bill summary below 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/bill-s...
“I don’t think [state lawmakers] are treating this as the four-alarm fire that it is."
-FPI's Holly Bullard on the impact of federal cuts to food assistance on Florida's SNAP program. Via @newrepublic.com
ICYMI: A recent poll conducted on behalf of FPI found that 63% of Florida voters believe property insurance relief should be a higher priority for the state Legislature than property tax relief when given a choice between the two.
Learn more 👇
www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florid...
Text that reads: "Pursue equity. Lead with integrity. Share power. Be kind." Underneath the text is FPI's logo.
Here in the Sunshine State, guided by our core values and our partnerships with groups across the state, we reaffirm FPI's commitment to removing historical roadblocks to economic mobility so that all Floridians can truly thrive. (2/2)
#MLKDay
Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vast contributions to the fight for civil rights and human dignity. (1/2)
Tomorrow (Jan. 13) marks the start of Florida's 2026 regular legislative session.
Want the latest in Florida policy news, along with info on upcoming webinars and events?
Sign up now for our Policy Matters newsletter 👇
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