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Florida Redistricting Special Session Wraps Up; Budget Special Session Starts
Florida’s sportsmen and outdoors enthusiasts at Hunter Nation stay informed on state politics because decisions in Tallahassee directly affect our access to public lands, wildlife management, conservation funding through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the future of hunting and fishing opportunities across the Sunshine State.
Redistricting Special Session (April 28 - May 1, 2026)
In January 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation calling a special legislative session focused on congressional redistricting. The session was later rescheduled to April 28 - May 1.
The stated purpose was to update Florida’s congressional district maps mid-decade to better reflect current population growth and shifts (malapportionment) and to align with anticipated U.S. Supreme Court guidance on the Voting Rights Act. On April 27, the governor’s office released a proposed map. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature passed the new congressional redistricting plan along largely party-line votes (House 83-28, Senate 21-17). The map significantly adjusts boundaries, particularly in South Florida, the Tampa Bay area, and Central Florida, and is projected to change the congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Governor DeSantis signed the plan into law shortly after passage. The new maps are now in effect for upcoming elections.
Upcoming Budget Special Session (May 12 - May 29, 2026)
Lawmakers return to Tallahassee May 12, for a second special session dedicated to finalizing the state budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The regular 2026 legislative session ended without a completed budget agreement.
This budget session is critical. The final budget will determine funding levels for key priorities such as:
- FWC operations
- Wildlife habitat conservation
- Public hunting and fishing access programs
- Everglades and wetland restoration
- Land acquisition and management
We will be closely monitoring the special session over the next two-and-a-half weeks and will provide updates on how proposed spending affects Florida’s outdoors community.
Hunter Nation encourages all members to stay engaged. Whether it’s redistricting impacts on federal representation or state budget decisions that fund the lands and waters we cherish, your voice matters.