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 non-recurring 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:

- Download Appropriations Project Request Fillable Form (Fiscal Year 2020-2021)
- House Rule 5-14
- Joint Rule 2-2 and 2-3

2020 Project Bills

- Appropriations Project Bills 2020

Historical Project Bills

- Appropriations Project Bills 2019
- Appropriations Project Bills 2018
- Appropriations Project Bills 2017

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:
1. 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;
2. transportation project that is not in the Department of Transportation’s Five Year Work Program;
3. 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;
4. 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
5. local water project.

Are there any exceptions to this definition?
The term “appropriations project” does NOT include an appropriation that:
1. is specifically authorized by statute;
2. is part of a statewide distribution to local governments; or
3. 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?
PECO project is not an appropriations project if it was:
1. included in the Department of Education’s comprehensive Legislative Budget Request pursuant to s. 1013.60, F.S.;
2. included on any year of the 3-year “funded list” list provided to the legislature pursuant to s. 1013.64, F.S., which limits the project list total to the amount of total PECO funds available for State Universities and Florida Colleges as determined by the Department of Education based on official estimates published by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research;
3. 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
4. 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 non-recurring 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:
1. a House Member must submit an Appropriations Project Request form containing detailed information about the proposed project;
2. a House Member must file an Appropriations Project Bill relating to the project; and
3. 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.
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 request form must be submitted in order for an Appropriations Project to be considered for funding in the House budget. The form must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on November 15, 2019
Is there a standard format for Appropriations Project Bills?
Yes. Once the Appropriations Project Request Form review has been finalized for completeness, a bill draft for the Appropriations Project will be automatically generated and submitted 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.
Who can submit a House Appropriations Project Request form?
Only a Member of the House of Representatives or their staff on the Member’s behalf can submit such a form.
If an Appropriations Project received a recurring appropriation in the 2019-2020 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 2020-2021 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.

Recurring/Non-Recurring Funding

If an Appropriations Project received a non-recurring appropriation in the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act, is it eligible to receive recurring funding in the 2020-2021 General Appropriations Act?
No. Only Appropriations Projects that received recurring funding in the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act may continue to receive recurring funding.
Can an Appropriations Project that received recurring funding in the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act get an increase in recurring funding in the budget?
No. Such a project may not receive more recurring funding than it received in the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act. If a request for increased funding was submitted and subsequently funded, the additional funding would be non-recurring.
Can an Appropriations Project that was not funded in the 2019-2020 General Appropriations Act receive recurring funding in the 2020-2021 budget?
No. It can only receive nonrecurring funding.
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. An appropriations project that was not included in either chamber’s bill may not be included 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.