The Florida Legislature will begin its 2026 Session next week, advocating for new bills, modified bills and removing bills while also putting together the state’s more than $110 billion budget.  

The state representatives and senators will also approve funding for a host of Florida’s cities, counties, special districts and private organizations through the annual bill named Appropriations.  

In the 2025 Session, the Florida House and Senate approved billions in appropriations before Gov. Ron DeSantis, with line-item veto power, cut $567 million from around 600 projects. 

This year, Alachua County’s legislative delegation has filled out request forms for 40 different projects that total $140 million. The majority of the money is for University of Florida projects, followed by local governments, Santa Fe College and then local organizations.  

The Alachua County delegation includes state Sen. Jennifer Bradley, state Sen. Stan McClain, state Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, state Rep. Chad Johnson and state Rep. Chuck Brannan III.  

The following is the full list of appropriations requested by those five representatives for entities located in Alachua County.  

Alachua County Newnans Lake System Hydrologic Restoration  

• $1,200,000 

• Hinson and McClain 

• To improve the water quality in Newnans Lake using a combination of stream, wetland and floodplain restoration. 

• More info: Alachua County, Gainesville work to reduce Newnans Lake impairment 

Alachua County – Celebration Pointe Sports Center Versatility and Capacity Upgrade 

• $500,000 

• Johnson and McClain 

• To buy a portable collegiate-level court floor system, an integrated sound system and portable bleacher seating. 

Alachua County – State Road 24 (Archer Road) 4-Lane Widening PD&E and Design 

• $2,725,000 

• Johnson and McClain 

• To complete planning and design work for the future four-lane expansion on Archer Road. 

Alachua County Fire Rescue Firegrounds Training Facility  

• $3,000,000  

• Johnson 

• To construct a six-story Fire Training Tower with props on property owned by Alachua County. 

Alachua County Fire Rescue Emergency Evacuation Vehicle  

• $2,500,000 

• Hinson 

• To replace an aged Emergency Evacuation Vehicle (bus) provided by a 2012 UASI Grant and used in hurricane evacuations. 

Gainesville – SR 331/SR 121 Strategic Intermodal Bypass Connector 

• $1,000,000 

• Brannan 

• To pay for clearing, grubbing, grading, stormwater management facility, street lighting, drive and traffic signal for a two-lane curb and gutter roadway. 

Gainesville Fire Rescue Fire Apparatus Replacement Initiative  

• $850,000  

• McClain and Johnson 

• To replace a re-purposed reserve apparatus that was deployed into front-line service following the annexation in southwest Gainesville.  

Gainesville Fire Rescue EMS Advanced Cardiac Monitoring   

• $500,000  

• Hinson 

• To replace aging, end-of-life cardiac monitors with a single, standardized platform capable of transcutaneous pacing, advanced rhythm analysis, synchronized cardioversion, defibrillation, 12-lead ECG acquisition and interpretation. 

Alachua Wastewater Capacity Expansion and Resiliency Force Main 

• $6,500,000 

• Brannan 

• To increase wastewater conveyance capacity and strengthen system reliability by constructing a new force main. 

Alachua Substation Capacity Doubling and System Reliability Enhancement 

• $4,500,000 

• Brannan 

• To purchase and install a new power transformer, switchgear and associated protection equipment and to build a control building with relay panels, SCADA systems, battery banks and communication infrastructure. 

Alachua – Cleather H. Hathcock, Sr. Community Center 

• $3,200,000 

• Brannan 

• To design and construct a new facility. 

High Springs Fan Press  

• $570,000 

• Brannan 

• To purchase and install a rotary fan press for efficient Biosolid dewatering. 

High Springs Northwest Alachua County Utility Maintenance Equipment 

• $250,000 

• Brannan 

• To acquire a Class 5 truck and a hydro vac system to enhance the water and wastewater teams’ efficiency in managing sewage leaks. 

Newberry Regional First Responder Training Facility Phase II  

• $500,000 

• Johnson 

• To complete construction on Phase 2 of the all-hazard training facility’s joint training rooms. 

Newberry Champions Park Improvements  

• $500,000 

• McClain and Johnson 

• To remove 14,960 square feet of deteriorated fencing embedded in a concrete walkway, site clearance and installation of 14,960 feet of commercial vinyl-coated fencing. 

Archer Recreation Area Renovations  

• $195,000 

• McClain 

• To revitalize its parks and recreation areas by upgrading the splash pad for improved safety and accessibility and renovating Maddox Park baseball fields to enhance play conditions and attract regional events. 

Archer Septic to Sewer Project  

• $1,250,000 

• McClain 

• To remove and properly abandon existing septic systems and connect homes and businesses to a new municipal collection system under an interlocal agreement with the neighboring city of Newberry’s regional Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

Hawthorne Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements 

• $400,000 

• Hinson and McClain 

• To purchase and install a new clarifier drive unit, flow meter and stainless-steel diffusers to improve treatment performance, energy efficiency and monitoring accuracy. 

Micanopy Historic District Public Recreation Facility Improvements  

• $375,000 

• McClain 

• To install a dedicated ADA accessible public restroom facility in Micanopy’s Historic District to address a critical lack of accessible amenities. 

Micanopy Water Distribution System Improvements  

• $2,000,000 

• McClain 

• To replace aging, dilapidated water mains within its distribution system that no longer meet operational needs. 

Micanopy Comprehensive Planning Study  

• $85,000 

• McClain 

• To develop a Comprehensive Plan that will serve as a long-term guiding document for future growth and development. 

Waldo State Road 24 Sewer Line Replacement 

• $3,553,680 

• To replace aging terracotta (vitrified clay) sewer lines along State Road 24 that are highly susceptible to breaks and leaks, causing infiltration, inflow and potential environmental contamination. 

Waldo — Water Meter Replacement  

• $742,000 

• Brannan 

• To replace approximately 530 aging residential and commercial water meters with new Advanced Metering Infrastructure smart meters to reduce water loss, improve billing accuracy and increase utility efficiency. 

La Crosse Fire Department New Pumper 

• $1,391,843 

• Brannan 

• To purchase a new pumper, enhancing the Town of La Crosse Fire Department’s capacity to respond quickly and effectively to fires and emergencies. 

UF/IFAS Fertilizer Application Rate Study  

• $3,300,000 

• McClain 

• To fund resources (salaries and equipment) necessary to finalize research projects focusing on developing modernized, science-based fertilizer (nutrient) application rates. 

UF Mobile Outreach Clinic  

• $850,000 

• Johnson 

• To purchase replacement vehicles that will increase capacity to see more patients. 

UF Health Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit Network  

• $3,362,690 

• McClain and Brannan 

• To cover all operational costs of three Mobile Stroke Treatment Units in the state. 

University of Florida – Dental Sciences Building  

• $47,500,000 

• Brannan 

• To remodel, renovate and build additional space for clinical teaching, faculty practice clinics, clinical support, teaching labs, simulation labs, classrooms and administration. 

University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – Animal Sciences Expansion and Renovation 

• $4,000,000 

• Johnson 

• To provide for significant renovations of the UF/IFAS Meat Science Laboratory to serve our current and future teaching, research, and extension outreach programs. 

University of Florida Health – Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research  

• $5,000,000 

• McClain 

• To support salaries for over 60 researchers and physician scientists, along with travel and equipment costs. 

University of Florida – Hamilton School Building Additional Space Renovation 

• $1,800,000 

• McClain 

• To continue renovations for the Hamilton School, address the need for classrooms, learning communities, conference rooms, support space and deferred maintenance issues. 

Santa Fe College – Workforce Innovation Training Center  

• $15,685,906 

• Brannan 

• To acquire property adjacent to the college’s downtown location and build a 15,300-square-foot Workforce Innovation and Training Center to better serve the development of local businesses, support upskilling and reskilling efforts for both the unemployed and underemployed. 

Santa Fe College – Renovate/Remodel M Building (McClain) (NW Campus) 

• $11,966,804 

• Johnson and McClain 

• To renovate and remodel 23,540 gross square feet of classrooms and labs and add 1,800 square feet. 

Dance Alive National Ballet Center for the Arts  

• $1,700,000 

• McClain 

• To complete a 22,422-square-foot Arts Center featuring 3 dance studios, 3 music studios, a 200-seat studio theater and an art gallery. 

Fresh Food Pathways Project (Community Food Hub of North Florida) 

• $5,000,000 

• Hinson 

• To establish a regional food aggregation hub to strengthen the local food system by connecting small and mid-sized agricultural producers with institutional buyers, commercial clients and underserved communities. 

Gainesville Empowerment Zone Family Learning Center  

• $380,000 

• Hinson and McClain 

• To fund salaries and benefits for nine staff to continue offering education services to children. 

Pleasant Street Historic Society—Smith Griffin House Renovation  

• $350,000 

• Hinson 

• To renovate the Smith Griffin House and create a living museum to inform residents and visitors of the history and contributions of the early and subsequent African American community members. 

Queen Esther’s Place – Girls Transitional Housing from Foster Care  

• $700,000 

• Hinson and McClain 

• To provide 2 years of transitional housing for girls in the foster care system. 

University Community Choir (Mt. Pleasant UMC Community Choir)  

• $100,000  

• Hinson  

• To pay for an executive director, computer, copier, drums, keyboards, speakers and travelling equipment in order to reintroduce gospel music—its authentic form and integrity—while educating others about its enduring strength and purpose. 

Youth Re-Entry and Workforces Readiness Program (Strong-MINDed Mentoring Inc) 

• $160,120 

• Hinson 

• To pay for salaries, transportation and equipment for the Guns Down Tools Up initiative. 

Editor’s note: This list will be updated when Bradley submits her appropriation requests.