As questions arise about the levels of “sunshine” in Tallahassee, the Florida Legislature has approved House Bill 1329, a transparency measure championed by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, requiring cities and counties to post detailed budgets, employee salaries, and related financial information online in standardized, easily accessible formats for public review.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Yvette Benarroch (R-Marco Island) in the House and carried by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) as companion SB 1566 in the Senate, cleared both chambers during the 2026 regular session and awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.
If enacted, the requirements—part of Ingoglia’s broader Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight initiative—would take effect Jan. 1, of next year.
Key provisions include extending the online posting period for tentative budgets from two to five days before public hearings, mandating final adopted budgets remain available for at least five years, requiring quarterly compensation summaries for county employees, and compelling local governments to publish budget development calendars and conduct exercises identifying potential spending reductions.
“As Chief Financial Officer, I have made it my mission to provide real transparency into local governments’ spending, so Floridians know exactly what their tax dollars will go toward,” Ingoglia said in a March 16, 2026, news release. “For far too long, local governments have benefited from ambiguity and inaccessibility in their spending habits.”
The legislation follows Ingoglia’s year-long statewide campaign criticizing municipal and county budgets for what he terms “excessive” or “wasteful” spending. Through audits and public reviews under the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) framework, his office has highlighted nearly $2 billion in purported overspending across more than a dozen jurisdictions in recent fiscal years, often comparing current budgets to pre-pandemic baselines and targeting items like staffing increases and non-essential projects.
Ingoglia praised lawmakers for advancing the bill, stating it will empower taxpayers to better track local decisions and hold officials accountable. Sponsors echoed the sentiment, with DiCeglie noting the measure promotes greater visibility into budget processes.
The bill now heads to DeSantis’ desk for final approval. No immediate indication of his position was available as of March 23, 2026. Full bill text and legislative history are available on the Florida Senate and House websites.
