Florida House moves to rein in emergency fund spending

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(The Center Square) – A bill that would block Gov. Ron DeSantis from using Florida's emergency fund for immigration enforcement efforts advanced in the state House on Monday. 

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, created in 2022, is the state’s main source of funding for preparations and responses to disasters declared by the governor as a state of emergency. The legislature has transferred $3.4 billion to the fund as of 2025, according to the state Department of Financial Services. 

The House Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee voted unanimously to limit how DeSantis spends the money. He has renewed a state of emergency on mass migration of undocumented immigrants multiple times since January 2023.

DeSantis spokesman Alex Lanfranconi slammed the measure, posting on X that "Florida House ‘Republicans’ are trying to defund Alligator Alcatraz and other detainment centers across the state. Floridians did not vote for this.”

A bill that advanced in the state Senate would extend the fund to 2027. The measure does not include the restrictions approved by the House committee.

The fund expires on Tuesday and could be debated again as lawmakers from both chambers negotiate the state budget. 

It has come under scrutiny in recent weeks as reports surfaced that DeSantis' administration spent hundreds of millions of dollars on immigration enforcement efforts that have not yet been reimbursed by the federal government.