Florida’s 2025 Legislative Session Ends with Big Wins for Citrus County Schools

In the very late hours of Monday evening, the Florida Legislature adjourned sine die, marking the official end of the 2025 Regular Session. But before the ceremonial dropping of the handkerchief, both chambers—the Florida House and Senate—passed the 2025 state budget. We’re proud to share that this year’s budget includes full approval of all Citrus County School Board legislative appropriation requests. These hard-won victories are a testament to persistent advocacy, strong partnerships, and a unified commitment to educational excellence.

If signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, this budget will bring significant investments to Citrus County Schools, fueling innovation, safety, and expanded educational opportunities for our students. Here’s a breakdown of what this means for our community.

Crystal River High School Health Academy Expansion

$1,046,090
This appropriation is a major leap forward for our health science education efforts. The expansion will enhance the Academy of Health Careers at Crystal River High School by increasing programming and updating state-of-the-art training facilities, including, among other additions, a simulated mini fire station. This addition will allow our Phil Royal EMT Pathway to grow by offering a Firefighter I course, broadening our reach in the public safety field.

The significance of this expansion cannot be overstated. These enhancements will be transformative, allowing more students to pursue meaningful careers in healthcare and emergency response. As workforce demands in health and public safety continue to rise across Citrus County and Florida, Citrus County Schools will be better positioned to help meet these challenges and lead by example.

Hurricane and Coastal Mitigation

$641,841
This allocation will fund essential capital improvements aimed at increasing resiliency to hurricanes and flooding at several of our school facilities. These upgrades are crucial in a coastal county like ours, where extreme weather events are not a matter of “if,” but “when.”

By investing in proactive mitigation now, we are helping to protect the continuity of learning, the safety of our students and staff, and the integrity of school infrastructure in the years ahead. This funding reflects a long-term commitment to safety, sustainability, and strategic preparedness.

Public Safety Training Annex (Including Indoor Range)

$250,000
The budget also includes initial planning and development funds for a new public safety training annex in Lecanto. This facility will help replace the county’s aging and decommissioned law enforcement training range. The vision for this annex is to provide a modern, purpose-built space to train the next generation of law enforcement professionals, first responders, and public safety leaders.

A well-equipped, accessible training space supports not just local law enforcement readiness but also creates opportunities for partnerships with schools and career academies to introduce students to careers in public safety.

Academy of Environmental Science – Building Safety Enhancements

$120,000
As a charter school operated in partnership with the district, the Academy of Environmental Science plays a unique and valued role in our local education ecosystem. This funding will go toward important safety improvements to its facilities, ensuring that students and staff can continue their hands-on, environmentally focused learning in a secure and modern setting.

Gratitude and Acknowledgements

None of this would have been possible without steadfast leadership and tireless collaboration. A special thank you goes to Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert and his leadership cabinet for their vision and strategic focus. Their dedication to student opportunity and school safety is reflected in every one of these projects.

The Citrus County School Board also deserves recognition for championing these priorities throughout the legislative session. Their commitment to forward-thinking, student-centered planning has set Citrus County apart.

We are especially grateful to Senator Blaise Ingoglia and Representative J.J. Grow for sponsoring and advancing these critical requests in Tallahassee. Senator Ingoglia, in particular, has made the Academy of Health Careers a personal legislative priority for two years running, showing what true advocacy for education can look like.

And behind every appropriation are countless hours of preparation, follow-up, and relationship-building. To the staff members, community advocates, and local leaders who supported these efforts behind the scenes, thank you. Your persistence and dedication have made a real difference.

What’s Next

In the coming days, the 2025 budget will head to Governor DeSantis’s desk for final review and signature. As with every budget cycle, the Governor has the ability to approve or veto individual line items. We remain hopeful and optimistic that the Governor will recognize the merit and impact of these requests for Citrus County and approve them in full.

We ask that you keep our students, our district, our community, and our state leaders, especially our legislators and Governor DeSantis, in your thoughts and prayers as this process moves forward.

Together, we are shaping a brighter, safer, and more opportunity-filled future for Citrus County. This legislative session was a powerful step in that journey, and we’re just getting started.

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