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NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsAugust 27, 2026Hillsborough

Florida lawmakers demand overdue financial report for state emergency fund

A group of Democratic lawmakers is demanding that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) provide a legally required accounting of the state's Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund. The report, mandated by SB 7040, is over 40 days overdue and must detail how billions in disaster funds are being spent, including significant expenditures on immigration enforcement.

emergency managementgovernment transparencystate budgetimmigrationdisaster relief
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — News

Why It Matters

The serves as the state's primary financial resource for disasters, and residents have a stake in ensuring transparency regarding how these tax dollars are allocated between hurricane response and other state initiatives.

Key Facts

  • SB 7040 requires FDEM to file quarterly reports on the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund starting July 15.
  • The required reports must include projected year-end balances, cash-flow statements, federal reimbursements, asset inventories, and unpaid invoices.
  • Lawmakers report the first required filing is 41 days overdue as of late August.
  • FDEM provided five spreadsheets on July 28, but lawmakers claim these lacked the specific inventory, asset, and invoice details required by law.
  • Over $4.7 billion has flowed through the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund since 2022.
  • Approximately $566 million was spent on immigration enforcement in the last fiscal year.
  • Total immigration-related spending since 2023 is reported at over $573 million.
  • The state is seeking $608 million in federal reimbursements for immigration-related costs.
  • Governor DeSantis stated that $100 million in federal reimbursements has been received to date.
  • Lawmakers have requested the complete report by the end of August.

Who's Mentioned

personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida”personKevin Guthrie“Former director of FDEM”personJay Collins“Lieutenant Governor”personJared Perdue“New director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management”personAnna Eskamani“State Representative, D-Orlando”