Fifty million dollars for a new Second District Court of Appeal courthouse, funds for 15 new judgeships, and money to help the courts cope with the expected surge of post-COVID-19 pandemic cases are in the final budget pending before the Florida Legislature.

The final 2021-22 fiscal year budget hit lawmakers’ desks around noon on April 27, starting the 72-hour waiting period before it can be finally passed on April 30, the scheduled last day of the session.

The budget funds 10 new judgeships approved by the Legislature last year but were left unfunded when Gov. Ron DeSantis cut the budget because of the pandemic. It funds three judgeships requested by the court last December and two county judgeships not requested by the court.