Federal grants make up a significant portion of state budgets, providing funding for programs in health care, education, infrastructure, and public assistance.[1][2] These funds are typically accompanied by policy conditions or reporting requirements that shape how states implement federally funded programs. In response, states have developed varying oversight systems to review, approve, and monitor federal funding.
This page summarizes federal grant funding and oversight in Florida. It includes data on how federal dollars contribute to the state budget, highlights Florida’s position relative to other states, and analyzes key laws related to grant coordination, transparency, and accountability. This research was last updated in September 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS
In fiscal year 2023, 37.8% of Florida’s total state revenue came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—the 25th-highest share nationwide. The state received approximately $53.7 billion in federal funds, the 4th-highest total.[1]
Florida law integrated federal grant oversight across multiple branches: the governor’s office coordinated and approved agency grant requests, the Florida State Legislature retained appropriation and review authority, the Chief Financial Officer tracked and enforced compliance through financial reporting, and state agencies managed internal coordination and reporting of federal funds.
This article includes information about the following topics:
Background
Federal grants are a major source of funding for state governments, supporting programs in areas such as health care, education, transportation, and public assistance.[2] These funds are distributed through a variety of mechanisms—including block grants, categorical grants, and formula-based programs—and are typically accompanied by policy conditions, reporting requirements, or other administrative mandates.
Federal grants are reported as part of a state’s intergovernmental revenue, a category tracked annually by the United States Census Bureau. Intergovernmental revenue includes funds transferred from both federal and local governments, but federal sources account for the vast majority. In 2022, approximately 98% of intergovernmental revenue received by states came from the federal government.[3] In 2023—the most recent year for which data is available—states collectively received about $1.12 trillion in intergovernmental revenue, representing 36.7% of all general revenue.[1]
Because of the scale and conditional nature of federal funding, many states have adopted statutory and administrative frameworks to oversee how agencies apply for, accept, and manage federal grants. These frameworks reflect broader federalism concerns—such as how states balance fiscal dependence with administrative autonomy, and how they respond to federal mandates that may influence state policy priorities.
This research was last updated in July 2025.
Top federal funding programs to states
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government distributed over $1 trillion in grants to states. The largest programs included Medicaid, highway funding, rental assistance, and child nutrition. Medicaid alone accounted for 56.8% of federal grants to states, and the top 20 programs combined made up approximately 87.8% of total federal grant outlays to states.[4]
Federal funding to Florida
Amount of federal grants to Florida
In 2023, Florida received approximately $53.7 billion in intergovernmental revenue out of a total $141.9 billion in state revenue, the 4th-highest nationwide.[1] The national average was approximately $22.3 billion per state. Across all states, intergovernmental revenue totaled about $1.12 trillion out of $3.04 trillion in general revenue.[1] In 2022, approximately 98% of intergovernmental revenue states received came from the federal government.[3]
Percentage of Florida budget funded by the federal government
In fiscal year 2023, 37.8% of Florida’s total state revenue came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—compared to 36.7% for state governments nationwide.[1] Florida had the 25th-highest percentage of state revenue funded by the federal government.
Intergovernmental revenue by state
This table shows the percentage and amount of each state's total revenue that came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—in fiscal year 2023. It lists states in descending order by the share of revenue from these sources and includes total state revenue, intergovernmental revenue, and the percentage for each state. The data highlights how dependent each state is on federal funding as a portion of its overall budget.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances
Florida statutes on federal grant oversight
Many states have statutory provisions that govern the oversight, approval, transparency, and auditing of federal grants received within the state. These laws typically assign responsibilities to executive agencies, the governor’s office, and the legislature to ensure proper management and accountability of federal funds. This research was last updated in September 2025.
Executive oversight of federal grants
Executive oversight of federal grants refers to statutes that assign responsibility to the governor’s office to review, approve, coordinate, or manage federal grants across the state.
Florida Statute § 216.212 required state agencies to submit federal grant requests to the Executive Office of the Governor for review and approval, authorized the governor to approve the receipt and expenditure of federal funds, and established a clearinghouse within the governor’s office to coordinate and track federal grant activity.[5]
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"216.212 Budgets for federal funds; restrictions on expenditure of federal funds.—
(1) The Executive Office of the Governor and the office of the Chief Financial Officer shall develop and implement procedures for accelerating the drawdown of, and minimizing the payment of interest on, federal funds. The Executive Office of the Governor shall establish a clearinghouse for federal programs and activities. The clearinghouse shall develop the capacity to respond to federal grant opportunities and to coordinate the use of federal funds in the state.
(a) Every state agency, when making a request or preparing a budget to be submitted to the Federal Government for funds, equipment, material, or services, shall submit such request or budget to the Executive Office of the Governor for review before submitting it to the proper federal authority. However, the Executive Office of the Governor may specifically authorize any agency to submit specific types of grant proposals directly to the Federal Government.
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(2) When such federal authority has approved the request or budget, the state agency or the judicial branch shall submit to the Executive Office of the Governor such documentation showing approval as that office prescribes. The Executive Office of the Governor must acknowledge each approved request or budget by entering that approval into an Automated Grant Management System developed in consultation with the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committees.
(3) Federal money appropriated by Congress or received from court settlements to be used for state purposes, whether by itself or in conjunction with moneys appropriated by the Legislature, may not be expended unless appropriated by the Legislature. However, the Executive Office of the Governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may, after consultation with the legislative appropriations committees, approve the receipt and expenditure of funds from federal sources by state agencies or by the judicial branch. Any federal programs requiring state matching funds which funds were eliminated, or were requested and were not approved, by the Legislature may not be implemented during the interim. However, federal and other fund sources for the State University System which do not carry a continuing commitment on future appropriations are hereby appropriated for the purpose received."[6]
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Legislative oversight and transparency
Legislative oversight and transparency refers to statutes requiring reports to or involvement from the legislature in managing or approving federal grants.
Florida Statute § 216.212 required legislative appropriation for the expenditure of federal funds and directed the Executive Office of the Governor to consult with the House and Senate appropriations committees before approving the receipt or expenditure of such funds outside the regular budget process.[7]
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"216.212 Budgets for federal funds; restrictions on expenditure of federal funds.—
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(2) When such federal authority has approved the request or budget, the state agency or the judicial branch shall submit to the Executive Office of the Governor such documentation showing approval as that office prescribes. The Executive Office of the Governor must acknowledge each approved request or budget by entering that approval into an Automated Grant Management System developed in consultation with the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committees.
(3) Federal money appropriated by Congress or received from court settlements to be used for state purposes, whether by itself or in conjunction with moneys appropriated by the Legislature, may not be expended unless appropriated by the Legislature. However, the Executive Office of the Governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may, after consultation with the legislative appropriations committees, approve the receipt and expenditure of funds from federal sources by state agencies or by the judicial branch. Any federal programs requiring state matching funds which funds were eliminated, or were requested and were not approved, by the Legislature may not be implemented during the interim. However, federal and other fund sources for the State University System which do not carry a continuing commitment on future appropriations are hereby appropriated for the purpose received."[6]
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Audit and financial oversight
Audit and financial oversight refers to statutes related to auditing, financial tracking, or compliance for federal funds.
Florida Statute § 216.103 assigned the Chief Financial Officer responsibility for tracking and reporting federal funds, verifying agency compliance through the state accounting system, and withholding funds or salaries from noncompliant agencies.[8]
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"216.102 Filing of financial information; handling by Chief Financial Officer; penalty for noncompliance.—
(1) By September 30 of each year, each agency supported by any form of taxation, licenses, fees, imposts, or exactions, the judicial branch, and, for financial reporting purposes, each component unit of the state as determined by the Chief Financial Officer shall prepare, using generally accepted accounting principles, and file with the Chief Financial Officer the financial and other information necessary for the preparation of annual financial statements for the State of Florida as of June 30. In addition, each such agency and the judicial branch shall prepare financial statements showing the financial position and results of agency or branch operations as of June 30 for internal management purposes.
(a) Each state agency and the judicial branch shall record the receipt and disbursement of funds from federal sources in a form and format prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer. The access to federal funds by the administering agencies or the judicial branch may not be authorized until:
1. The deposit has been recorded in the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem using proper, consistent codes that designate deposits as federal funds.
2. The deposit and appropriate recording required by this paragraph have been verified by the office of the Chief Financial Officer.
(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall publish a statewide policy detailing the requirements for recording receipt and disbursement of federal funds into the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem and provide technical assistance to the agencies and the judicial branch to implement the policy.
(2) Financial information must be contained within the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem. Other information must be submitted in the form and format prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer.
(a) Each component unit shall file financial information and other information necessary for the preparation of annual financial statements with the agency or branch designated by the Chief Financial Officer by the date specified by the Chief Financial Officer.
(b) The state agency or branch designated by the Chief Financial Officer to receive financial information and other information from component units shall include the financial information in the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem and shall include the component units’ other information in its submission to the Chief Financial Officer.
(3) The Chief Financial Officer shall:
(a) Prepare and furnish to the Auditor General annual financial statements for the state on or before December 31 of each year, using generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) Prepare and publish an annual comprehensive financial report for the state in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on or before February 28 of each year.
(c) Furnish the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives with a copy of the annual comprehensive financial report prepared pursuant to paragraph (b).
(d) Notify each agency and the judicial branch of the data that is required to be recorded to enhance accountability for tracking federal financial assistance.
(e) Provide reports, as requested, to executive or judicial branch entities, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, detailing the federal financial assistance received and disbursed by state agencies and the judicial branch.
(f) Consult with and elicit comments from the Executive Office of the Governor on changes to the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem which clearly affect the accounting of federal funds, so as to ensure consistency of information entered into the Federal Aid Tracking System by state executive and judicial branch entities. While efforts shall be made to ensure the compatibility of the Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem and the Federal Aid Tracking System, any successive systems serving identical or similar functions shall preserve such compatibility.
The Chief Financial Officer may furnish and publish in electronic form the financial statements and the annual comprehensive financial report required under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c).
(4) If any agency or the judicial branch fails to comply with subsection (1) or subsection (2), the Chief Financial Officer may refuse to honor salary claims for agency or branch fiscal and executive staff until the agency or branch corrects its deficiency.
(5) The Chief Financial Officer may withhold any funds payable to a component unit that does not comply with subsection (1) or subsection (2) until the component unit corrects its deficiency."[6]
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Agency oversight of federal grants
Agency oversight of federal grant applications refers to statutes that establish procedures or requirements for how state agencies request or acknowledge federal funding.
Florida Statute § 216.103 required each state agency receiving federal funds to appoint a senior official to coordinate federal funding efforts, maintain an inventory of federally funded programs, report grant activity to the Governor’s office, and establish internal processes to track, evaluate, and maximize federal funding opportunities.[9]
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"216.103 Agencies receiving federal funds; designation of coordinating official; duties.—
(1) The intent of the Legislature is that state agencies which receive federal funds take appropriate steps to enhance their level of readiness in preparing for anticipated changes in the Federal Government’s continually changing relationship with the state.
(2) Each state agency receiving any federal funds shall:
(a) Designate a senior official having a direct reporting relationship to the agency head to be responsible for the internal coordination of the agency’s efforts to maximize the amount of federally derived dollars the agency receives. Such designee shall serve as a point of contact on federal funds issues for the Executive Office of the Governor and shall oversee and coordinate the individual agency’s efforts in acquiring federal funds. When requested, such designee shall notify the Executive Office of the Governor of the award or denial of federal grants to the agency, including reasons for denial if readily discernible.
(b) Create and maintain an inventory of all programs which are partially or fully funded from federal sources and provide reports to the Executive Office of the Governor or legislative committees, as requested. Reports based on said inventory shall be consistent with and complement the Federal Aid Tracking System.
(c) Develop, document, and implement, in a manner prescribed by the Executive Office of the Governor, an internal process whereby information on all federal funds received, as well as the impact of congressional initiatives on the state, can be collected, assimilated, and evaluated rapidly.
(d) Establish and maintain a process to identify and monitor specific opportunities to preserve or enhance the state’s share of federal grant-in-aid programs, improve the delivery of services utilizing federal funds, and realize the benefits of additional flexibility given to the state in federal programs. Such a process should include provisions for interagency cooperation and coordination, which may be required in the event of federal program consolidations or changes in federal funding formulas in any given year."[6]
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Program-specific federal grant oversight
States often adopt program-specific statutes to oversee federal grants in areas like education, health, or transportation, but the following examples highlight particularly noteworthy cases.
Florida Statute § 409.913 required the Agency for Health Care Administration to oversee Medicaid program integrity by auditing providers, detecting and preventing fraud and abuse, recovering overpayments, and reporting annually to the legislature on enforcement outcomes and recommendations.[10]
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409.913 Oversight of the integrity of the Medicaid program.—The agency shall operate a program to oversee the activities of Florida Medicaid recipients, and providers and their representatives, to ensure that fraudulent and abusive behavior and neglect of recipients occur to the minimum extent possible, and to recover overpayments and impose sanctions as appropriate. Each January 15, the agency and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Department of Legal Affairs shall submit a report to the Legislature documenting the effectiveness of the state’s efforts to control Medicaid fraud and abuse and to recover Medicaid overpayments during the previous fiscal year. The report must describe the number of cases opened and investigated each year; the sources of the cases opened; the disposition of the cases closed each year; the amount of overpayments alleged in preliminary and final audit letters; the number and amount of fines or penalties imposed; any reductions in overpayment amounts negotiated in settlement agreements or by other means; the amount of final agency determinations of overpayments; the amount deducted from federal claiming as a result of overpayments; the amount of overpayments recovered each year; the amount of cost of investigation recovered each year; the average length of time to collect from the time the case was opened until the overpayment is paid in full; the amount determined as uncollectible and the portion of the uncollectible amount subsequently reclaimed from the Federal Government; the number of providers, by type, that are terminated from participation in the Medicaid program as a result of fraud and abuse; and all costs associated with discovering and prosecuting cases of Medicaid overpayments and making recoveries in such cases. The report must also document actions taken to prevent overpayments and the number of providers prevented from enrolling in or reenrolling in the Medicaid program as a result of documented Medicaid fraud and abuse and must include policy recommendations necessary to prevent or recover overpayments and changes necessary to prevent and detect Medicaid fraud. All policy recommendations in the report must include a detailed fiscal analysis, including, but not limited to, implementation costs, estimated savings to the Medicaid program, and the return on investment. The agency must submit the policy recommendations and fiscal analyses in the report to the appropriate estimating conference, pursuant to s. 216.137, by February 15 of each year. The agency and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Department of Legal Affairs each must include detailed unit-specific performance standards, benchmarks, and metrics in the report, including projected cost savings to the state Medicaid program during the following fiscal year. ...[6]
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Other state oversight of federal grants
Click on a state to find out its oversight of federal grants, including how it reviews, approves, and manages federal funding through statutes, executive procedures, and legislative reporting.
See also
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 U.S. Census Bureau, "2023 Annual Survey of State Government Finances: Historical Tables", accessed July 11, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Every CRS Report, "Impacts of Federal Grants and Other Funds on State and Local Budgets", accessed August 12, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "2022 Census of Governments, State and Local Government Finance Tables", accessed July 11, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Government Publishing Office, "Budget FY 2025 – Table 12.3 – Total Outlays for Grants to State and Local Governments by Function, Agency, and Program: 1940–2024", accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Florida Statutes § 216.212 "
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Justia, "Florida Statutes § 216.212"
- ↑ Justia, "Florida Statutes § 216.212"
- ↑ Justia, "Florida Statutes § 216.103", accessed September 15, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Florida Statutes § 409.913"
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