State Representative Jack McFarland says the 2026 legislative session will start with a simple goal: hold spending steady and review every agency line by line. He joined Brian Haldane to explain why the budget will drive the session from day one.
McFarland says the governor’s plan uses a “standstill” approach. He believes it fits the moment because state revenue will drop over the next few years. Since the money is tightening, he says lawmakers must prepare early. He also notes that recent agency work found real savings. Those savings, he says, put the state in a stronger position.
Because of that, lawmakers kept early childhood education funding at the same level. Federal support dropped, but the state covered the gap. The same thing happened with SNAP. The state had to take on new administrative costs, yet the program stayed stable. McFarland says these choices protected major needs without increasing overall spending.
The Gator Scholarship Program will be one of the biggest debates. The governor asked for about $50 million to expand it. However, McFarland says lawmakers still see issues. For example, the program may cover supplies and clothing in ways the Legislature did not expect. Costs could grow fast, and he warns that long-term expenses may double each year. He says the idea has value, but the price must stay responsible.
When asked about his own bills, McFarland says he is staying focused on the budget. Speaker Phillip DeVillier asked him to keep his attention on appropriations, and McFarland says that helps him deliver better results.
As the session gets closer, he plans to return and break down new numbers, agency updates, and early themes lawmakers will watch.