Budget Deal Reached; Session Will End Monday

The House and Senate have reached agreement on a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, Senate President Joe Negron said Wednesday morning. 

Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, said they will extend the legislative session to Monday.

Negron stressed that the extension applies only to the budget and budget-related bills. The extension is needed because House and Senate leaders could not reach agreement on a budget by Tuesday night. Because it didn't, the constitutionally required 72-hour “cooling off” had to extend another work day.

Look for more on this story later.