Appropriations Project Bills

The Florida House Rules bring an unprecedented level of scrutiny to budget projects. All projects in the House budget have to be filed as individual bills. In order for a project to be funded in the House budget, it must be filed as a standalone bill, be favorably considered in committee, and request only a nonrecurring appropriation.

Follow the links below to view a fillable version of the form with information that Members must submit through the Appropriation Project Request System in order to file an Appropriations Project Bill:

2022 Project Bills

- Appropriations Project Bills 2022

Historical Project Bills

FAQs

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Definition of Appropriations Project

What is an Appropriations Project?
House Rule 5.14 and Joint Rule 2.2 provide the full definition of what constitutes an appropriation project. Generally, an Appropriations Project is any appropriation or proviso to a specifically named:
  • local government, private entity, or privately-operated program, or an appropriation or proviso which is written in such a manner as to exclusively describe a particular local government, private entity, or privately-operated program;
  • transportation facility that is not in the Department of Transportation’s Five Year Work Program submitted pursuant to s. 339.135, F.S.;
  • education fixed capital outlay project that was not submitted pursuant to ss. 1013.60 or 1013.64, F.S., and has not been previously funded by the Legislature;
  • program, research initiative, institute, center, or similar entity at a specific state college or state university, that was not recommended by the Board of Governors or the State Board of Education in their Legislative Budget Request; or
  • local water project.
Are there any exceptions to this definition?
The term “appropriations project” does NOT include an appropriation that:
  • is specifically authorized by statute;
  • is part of a statewide distribution to local governments; or
  • was recommended by a commission, council, or other similar entity created in statute to make annual funding recommendations, not to exceed the amount recommended by the entity.
How can you tell if a public education fixed capital outlay (PECO) project is NOT an appropriations project?
A PECO project is not an appropriations project if it was:
  • included in the Department of Education’s comprehensive Legislative Budget Request pursuant to s. 1013.60, F.S.;
  • included on any year of the 3-year priority list provided to the Legislature pursuant to s. 1013.64, F.S.;
  • funded in a prior General Appropriations Act even though it is not on the lists required by ss. 1013.60 and 1013.64, F.S.; or
  • included on a list of Special Facilities projects recommended by the committee established pursuant to s. 1013.64, F.S.

Process

I am interested in obtaining funding in the budget for an Appropriations Project that has not previously received any state funding or a project that received a nonrecurring appropriation in the prior year’s General Appropriations Act. What do I do?
In order for an Appropriations Project to be eligible to be funded in the House budget:
  • a House Member must submit an Appropriations Project Request form containing detailed information about the proposed project;
  • a House Member must file an Appropriations Project Bill relating to the project;
  • the organization or entity for which the Appropriations Project Request form was submitted must file an attestation with the Public Integrity & Elections Committee; and
  • the Appropriations Project Bill must be heard and reported favorably by a committee or subcommittee of the House to be included in the House budget.
What is an Appropriations Project Bill?
It is a standalone Member bill providing funding for a single Appropriations Project. Prior to filing an Appropriations Project Bill, a House Member must submit an Appropriations Project Request form containing detailed information on the project. A completed request form must be submitted in order for an Appropriations Project to be considered for funding in the House budget.
Is it necessary to complete a House Appropriations Project Request form in order to file an Appropriations Project Bill, and is there a deadline for the completion of such a form?
Yes. A completed Appropriations Project Request form must be submitted before an Appropriations Project Bill can be drafted. Appropriations Project Request forms must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on November 17, 2021. Once the form is submitted and reviewed for completeness, a bill draft for the appropriations project will be generated for the sponsoring Member’s review.
When is the Appropriations Project Bill filing deadline?
The deadline is noon on the 1st day of regular session (January 11, 2022).
Who can submit a House Appropriations Project Request form?
Only a Member of the House of Representatives, or his or her staff on the Member’s behalf, can submit a form.
If an Appropriations Project received a recurring appropriation in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act, does an Appropriations Project Request form need to be submitted in order for the project to receive identical recurring funding in the 2022-2023 General Appropriations Act?
No. However, as with any budget issue which receives recurring funding in a fiscal year, such funding may be reduced or eliminated in a subsequent fiscal year. It is important to monitor the status of an Appropriations Project throughout the budget process.

Attestation

What is an attestation?
An attestation is a signed verification under penalty of perjury that the information in an Appropriations Project Request form is true and accurate, that any inaccuracies will be promptly corrected, and that the organization or entity requesting funding consents to investigation of such information and any matter relevant thereto.
Who files the attestation?
The attestation should be completed and signed by the Principal Officer of the organization or entity for which an Appropriations Project Request form was submitted. “Principal Officer” means the individual who, regardless of title, has ultimate responsibility for implementing the decisions of the governing body of the organization or entity or for supervising the management, administration, or operation of the organization or entity.
Where do I submit the attestation?
The completed and signed attestation must be sent by electronic mail to the Public Integrity & Elections Committee at the following address: AppropriationsProjectVerify@myfloridahouse.gov.
When is the deadline to file the attestation?
The completed and signed attestation must be submitted after the Appropriations Project Bill is filed. It must be received by the Public Integrity & Elections Committee before the Appropriations Project Bill can be placed on a House committee or subcommittee notice.

Funding

If an Appropriations Project received a nonrecurring appropriation in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act, is it eligible to receive recurring funding in the 2022-2023 General Appropriations Act?
No. Only Appropriations Projects that received recurring funding in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act may continue to receive recurring funding.
Can an Appropriations Project that received recurring funding in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act receive an increase in recurring funding in the budget?
No. Such a project may not receive more recurring funding than it received in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act. An Appropriations Project Request can be submitted for an increase in funding; however, any additional funding would be nonrecurring.
Can an Appropriations Project that was not funded in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act receive recurring funding in the 2022-2023 budget?
No. It can only receive nonrecurring funding.
Can an Appropriations Project Bill be funded at less than the amount requested?
An Appropriations Project Bill must be funded at 50 percent or more of the amount proposed in the bill as originally filed in order to be included in the House General Appropriations Act. The 50 percent requirement does not apply to the conference report.
Does an Appropriations Project have to have been funded in the House General Appropriations Act in order to be eligible for funding in the conference report?
No. However, pursuant to Joint Rule 2.3(8), an Appropriations Project must be funded in either the House or Senate General Appropriations Act (or both) in order to be eligible for funding in the conference report.
Can an Appropriations Project be funded in the conference report if it was not funded in either the House or Senate General Appropriations Act?
No. An Appropriations Project that was not included in either chamber’s bill may not be included in the conference report.