Florida emergency trust fund nears expiration, House yet to act on extension

Gov. DeSantis emergency fund set to expire

The clock is ticking on billions of dollars that Governor DeSantis can use to pay for emergency relief. FOX 13's Evan Axelbank reports.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The future of a state emergency trust fund used by Governor Ron DeSantis is uncertain as it nears its expiration date Monday.

The backstory:

This week, the Florida Senate approved a measure to extend the four-year-old Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 2027. However, the Florida House has not yet taken up the bill, leaving the fund set to expire without further action.

The trust fund was created in 2022 to provide a dedicated source of money for emergency response efforts. DeSantis declared a state of emergency over illegal immigration in 2023 and has renewed it every 60 days, as required under state law. The fund has supported various emergency actions during that time.

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What they're saying:

"Recreating this trust fund will ensure that this state is prepared to respond for disasters, until Dec. 31, 2027," State Sen. Ed Hooper said.

Hooper also noted that when the fund was created, lawmakers limited the governor’s authority to draw emergency money directly from general revenue, instead requiring that funds be specifically appropriated into the trust.

The other side:

But some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about how the money has been used, particularly for immigration enforcement efforts, including funding for a detention center in South Florida known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

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State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith argued the fund lacks sufficient oversight.

"We don’t have the appropriate guardrails on the emergency trust fund. As a result, this spending has been off the rails," Smith said.

State Sen. Shevrin Jones said lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.

State officials have said the federal government pledged to reimburse Florida for immigration enforcement expenses, though the state has not yet received repayment.

What's next:

If the House does not act before the deadline, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund will expire.