Florida lawmakers prioritize efficiency over budget cuts

Florida lawmakers are working on new bills to improve government efficiency instead of following Governor Ron DeSantis’ plan that aims to cut jobs and audit state agencies. DeSantis created a task force to find waste in government, but legislators prefer a less aggressive approach. Senate President Ben Albritton highlighted that past budgeting practices established by Governor Jeb Bush have served the state well. The proposed bills focus on enhancing the state’s technology infrastructure and streamlining administrative processes. These measures aim to make government operations more efficient and transparent. One key bill, SB 7026, would create a new agency to manage the state’s technology systems. This agency would help secure personal data and update outdated technology. Current systems are often scattered across different agencies, making coordination difficult. Lawmakers also learned about problems from an audit showing missing data on state vehicles and past challenges with Medicaid and unemployment benefits that have cost millions to address. Another bill, SB 7024, would focus on long-range budgeting and planning to improve government operations. A third bill, SB 108, would enhance transparency by requiring quicker implementation of new laws and regular reviews of agency rules. This bill recently passed its committee with unanimous support and aims to make interactions with the government easier for the public. Representative Toby Overdorf echoed the sentiment, advocating for a smarter, more efficient government that reduces unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles for Floridians.