Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, in reading, number three in math.
• I mean, in is number two MCA in math.
• <00:37:46.480> Um<00:37:47.520> but reading, number three in math.
• Um but reading, number three in math.
• If you do the math, for a student who receives $10,000 of speech supports, the state picks up roughly

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to try to recognize everybody in my limited view screen here.
• In addition to surgery, I undergo regular screenings for pancreatic, skin, and colon cancers.
• You mentioned that you undergo quite extensive genetic testing and screenings for cancer and so forth
• The average person starts colorectal cancer screening at 45.
• Look through our screens. Okay, I don't see anybody with any questions.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a fully virtual public hearing after a blizzard and state emergency closed the State House and created travel and cleanup concerns. Chairs Senator Paul Feeney and Representative James Murphy opened by thanking first responders and committee staff for making the hearing possible and noted that several members attended remotely. The committee heard testimony on three bills: H.5112, An Act Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination; H.4914, An Act Relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code; and S.2921, An Act Relative to Travel Insurance. Most of the testimony focused on H.5112. Representative Dave Rogers and his constituent Robin Biggs testified in support of H.5112, describing gaps in federal genetic nondiscrimination law that do not cover life, long-term care, or disability insurance. Biggs shared her experience as a BRCA2 mutation carrier and said genetic knowledge helped her take preventive steps, but that people fear testing because insurers may use results against them. Lindsay Jack of the ALS Association and Lisa Schlager of FORCE also supported the bill, arguing that it would encourage preventive care, research participation, and fairer underwriting without harming insurance markets. They said insurers could still use medical history and diagnoses, but not genetic test results alone. Committee members asked questions about whether insurers currently request genetic testing and how such information is used in underwriting. Testifiers said the information is routinely asked for or found in medical records, but the bill would prohibit its use in coverage decisions and would prevent insurers from requiring testing. No votes were taken. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the chairs closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting by unanimous voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• in Native Americans so cancer screening in Native Americans so Native<00:38:12.880> Americans
• to 20% of the outreach group completed screening.
• to 20% of the outreach group completed screening.
• to 20% of the outreach group completed screening.
• this slide, but it's closer to 20% of the outreach group completed screening.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• at select locations across our state where the institutions are prepared for that level of screening
• So now, being on the newborn screening, you would be able to start that medication...
• So now, being on the newborn screening, you would be able to start that medication immediately.
• I'm a total believer in newborn screening.
• In fact, I have a bill before your committee on newborn screening that I would love to have heard.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and first considered CS/SB 1356, relating to the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases. Senator Burton explained a delete-all amendment that would create the institute at Florida State University, establish the Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program for newborn screening at select sites, and form a Sunshine Genetics Consortium to coordinate researchers and clinicians. The amendment also included $5 million in recurring funding for the institute and $2 million in nonrecurring funding for the pilot program. The committee heard supportive testimony from Gavin Lambert and his mother, who described the benefits of earlier diagnosis for Friedreich’s ataxia, along with support from representatives of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, FSU, BioFlorida, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Senators Berman and Harrell spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing early detection and collaboration. The amendment was adopted, and CS/SB 1356 was reported favorably on a roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 892, which would codify the Florida State University Election Law Center in statute and make it eligible for recurring funding. Senator Simon said the center was created in 2023 with a $1 million nonrecurring appropriation and that the bill would help sustain its work and attract talent in election law and related fields. Senator Berman asked about current funding and whether the center would be supported through recurring General Appropriations Act funding in the future; Senator Simon responded that the bill would allow it to compete for recurring dollars. Jack Rowan, an FSU law student, testified in support and highlighted the center’s work, including a Bush v. Gore 25th anniversary conference. Professor Michael Morley and Lena Rojas also supported the bill. No opposition was presented, and SB 892 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 584 is an extension of the original screen time bill that was from birth to kindergarten.
• Number six, screen-based instruction, including work done in classroom and assigned to be completed at
• . scheduling of regular vision breaks scheduling of regular vision breaks during<00:03:00.000> screen
• <00:03:00.319> bracing<00:03:01.040> screenbased during screen bracing screenbased
• during screen bracing screenbased instruction<00:03:03.360> which<00:03:03.599> requires

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, so we're, you know, talking about things like headlight screenings, the vision screening
• You know, as a child, I got screening and got glasses because there was a routine screening that determined
• the uh vision headlight screenings the uh vision screening<01:21:04.639> you<01:21:04.760>
• The vision screening, um, I'm not sure either.
• Gilman in regards to vision screening Gilman in regards to vision screening the<01:23:37.880>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so my question is again, when I do some basic math, it's four even if all 450 people were at the
• <00:23:49.200> do<00:23:49.360> some<00:23:49.520> basic<00:23:49.840> math
• , it's four even I I do some basic math, it's four even if<00:23:51.600> all<00:23:51.919>
• <00:38:22.240> Do<00:38:22.400> you I'm not always right on math.
• Do you I'm not always right on math.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on December 19, with Senators Long and Lang serving as replacements. The committee approved the November 21 minutes and adopted the consent calendar after removing two Department of Health and Human Services items for separate discussion. It then took up an HHS request involving nursing facility rates, where Nathan White explained that $2.2 million would be transferred from a long-term care Medicaid eligibility contract to the nursing facilities budget. He said the funds would offset an otherwise projected 3.9% average rate decrease and bring the overall average change to zero for the next six months, with rates reset again in July under state law. Members asked about the budget adjustment factor, bed counts, and whether additional funds could raise rates further; White said the factor is statutory, capped at 28.76%, and that more money would lower the factor and increase rates. The committee also corrected a date in the request from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and approved the item. The committee next approved another HHS item related to rural health transformation grants. Members confirmed the request covered the full amount applied for this biennium, and asked about the technology component. HHS said the grant is not solely about AI, but about broader technology improvements such as electronic medical records, back-end systems, and tools to improve access and sustainability in underserved areas. The committee approved that item as well. The Judicial Council then requested funds for contract attorneys providing indigent defense on a fixed-fee basis. The council said current funds had already been exhausted and that the new appropriation would be used immediately. Members questioned the size of the request and the number of people awaiting counsel; the council reported about 150 incarcerated people and about 300 non-incarcerated people waiting for counsel, more than in recent years. It attributed the increase to competition for attorneys, public defender offices closing intake in some locations because of caseload limits, and broader case and court-system changes. One member raised constitutional concerns about delays in counsel for incarcerated defendants. The committee ultimately amended the request downward to $1 million, approved it, and then approved a motion to place several annual financial reports on file and release them to the public when available. The committee also discussed dashboard reporting from HHS, asking for more detail on community mental health center caseloads and budget-reduction information, and HHS agreed to provide more useful monthly detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• community members and the school administrators, their regular attendance, language arts proficiency, math
• 05.359> proficiency attendance language arts proficiency attendance language arts proficiency math
• 00:52:43.160> and increasing from thir 133% to 32% and increasing from thir 133% to 32% and math
• 00:52:43.680> went<00:52:43.960> from<00:52:44.240> 6%<00:52:44.920> to math
• went from 6% to math went from 6% to 32%<00:52:46.960> the<00:52:47.119> last<00:52:47.359

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, are literacy rates and scores on math and science tests, and the more we sit here and listen to
• Chair, are literacy rates and scores on math and science tests, and the more we sit here and listen to
• Chair, are literacy rates and scores on math and science tests, and the more we sit here and listen to
• Chair, are literacy rates and scores on math and science tests, and the more we sit here and listen to
• and science uh tests and the on math and science uh tests and the more<00:45:01.760> we<00:45

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're merely talking about putting a screen, and like most homes have screens.
• And your typical screen will prevent, you know, a two-and-a-half- or three-year-old child from falling
• than a month ago in Southbridge, a young 12-year-old child fell out of a window where there was no screen
• We're merely talking, you're putting a screen, and like most homes have screens.
• And your typical screen will prevent, you know, a two and a half or three-year-old child from falling

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Homeland Security Joint Committee heard testimony on several bills focused on accessibility, fire safety, and transportation safety. House 2569, expanding adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors, drew broad support from Rep. Christine Barber, disability advocates, and members of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. Witnesses said the bill would close gaps in the Architectural Access Board’s authority, require more adaptable housing in rehabs and older conversions, and extend accessibility requirements to employee-only work areas. They emphasized the shortage and cost of accessible housing, the benefits for aging in place, and the risk of institutionalization when accessible units are unavailable. The committee also heard strong support for House 2577, which would allow local fire departments to inspect and enforce fire code compliance in state-owned buildings. Rep. Robert Cataldo and Boston Fire Chief Pat Ellis described this as closing a long-standing loophole that leaves state properties outside local fire-code enforcement, despite the hazards posed by aging state buildings and life-safety systems. Fire service representatives also supported bills to create a statewide technical rescue system under the Department of Fire Services, standardizing training, equipment, funding, and coordination across regional rescue teams, and they backed related fire-safety measures including sprinkler-related legislation and professionalism measures. Rep. James O’Day testified for House 2676, which would require window screens to prevent child falls, arguing it is a common-sense safety measure and noting recent fatal incidents. Ann Shuey and John Kalura testified for House 2601, which would require motor coach passengers to wear seat belts, citing a family tragedy, low seat-belt use, and research showing signage can improve compliance. Steven Poglisi of NAGE supported House 2568, requiring carbon monoxide alarms in public buildings, describing a past CO exposure incident involving a union member. The committee took no votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Six percent, even though my Aggie math says if you're growing three percent and you're spending six percent
• And it's sort of like we can do the math, but I think it'll be helpful to see that in order to do 4 Yes
• But we could do that math.
• that the for every one unemployed person, there would be at least two employed people based on that math
• Based on my quick in my head math Okay, all right. Well, I was curious about that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, different stool-based screening tests.
• <00:36:25.200> rates their uh um colon cancer screening rates their uh um colon cancer screening
• Uh different<00:36:42.720> stoolbased<00:36:43.280> screening<00:36:43.680> tests.
• <00:36:44.400> So different stoolbased screening tests.
• So different stoolbased screening tests.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under subdivision 1, the current language says television screen.
• He said he drives a Lincoln and it has a big screen; the new one has a screen all the way around the
• The new Lincoln and it has a big screen.
• Is there this or my screen till I stop.
• . screen. screen.

Bills: HF3131, HF3436, HF3106, HF3241, HF3531

Keywords: cancer, disability, parking certificates, transportation, state law, school bus, schoolchildren, student safety, traffic safety, stop arm, flashing red lights, amber lights, passing a school bus, 20 feet, vehicle stopping distance, driver duties, school transportation, Minnesota traffic law, school bus law, bus stop signal

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you're doing the math correctly based on what I am sharing.
• I'm not very good at math. Wink, wink. Okay.
• <00:24:25.600> With<00:24:25.880> 11 at math. Wink, wink. Okay. With 11 at math.
• <00:24:39.280> All >> Yeah, we don't do math so well.
• All >> Yeah, we don't do math so well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was not actually on this high school math team, but I know Senator San Buenaventura is a math major
• is a math is a math major.<00:25:21.640> So<00:25:22.640> from<00:25:22.880> 1985
• So, uh, I also do appreciate that you have shared with us your background because math is not the only
• People can do the math like that. Okay. Um, let's see. There was something else.
• People can do the math like 175,000. People can do the math like that.<01:25:57.280> Okay.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Message 790, the nomination of Karen T. Nakasone to serve as chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10-year term. The chair announced that no vote would be taken that day and that the committee would vote on Thursday. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with the chair reading that there were 103 supporters, zero opposed, and one comment. Supporters included current and retired judges, public defenders, bar association representatives, former elected officials, and community members. They described Nakasone as intelligent, fair, hardworking, well respected, and a strong leader with deep legal experience. Several speakers emphasized her judicial temperament, her work as an advocate and judge, and her community involvement, including leadership in civic and civil rights organizations. One pro se litigant also testified that she had been treated kindly and respectfully by Nakasone in prior interactions. The Hawaii State Bar Association reported that it had conducted an interview and review process and found her qualified for the position. In her own remarks, Nakasone introduced family and colleagues, described her 30-year legal career, and said her first job after law school was as an ICA law clerk. She highlighted the court’s backlog reduction efforts under Acting Chief Judge Katherine Leonard, saying the number of older pending appeals had dropped significantly through team-based reforms, and stated that she would continue that work if confirmed. The hearing ended without questions from the committee and with the nomination held for a later vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:31:22.320> Now,<01:31:22.639> this to be able to use the screen?
• Now, this to be able to use the screen?
• I mean, I got control of those screens.
• him off that screen. him off that screen. >> Correct. >> Correct.
• This is the breast cancer screening. It's already passed the Senate.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 29 members present. The chamber adopted routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with reading the prior journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be taken up throughout the day. The Committee on Banking and Insurance reported Senate Bill 269 favorably with a substitute, and the bill was placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. The Senate also welcomed several guest groups in the gallery, including homeschool families, Blount County leaders, and the Alabama Iron and Steel Council. A series of resolutions were introduced and adopted immediately. Senator Stewart’s Joint Resolution 64 honored Joanne Blackman Bland, recognizing her role as a young freedom fighter on Bloody Sunday and later work in voting rights and economic development. The Senate also adopted Joint Resolution 65 congratulating Maplesville High School on its 2025 Class 1A state football championship and Joint Resolution 66 honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Alabama. The Senate then took up local legislation and several calendar bills. Senate Bill 319 for Shelby County, House Bill 460 and House Bill 459 for Henry County, and House Bill 467 regarding the city of Tuscumbia were all advanced and passed, with certification motions adopted where required. The Rules Committee reported Senate Resolution 67, setting the special order calendar, which the Senate adopted. The special order calendar included bills on corrections, services evaluation, retirement benefits, the Growing Alabama Act, health, vessels, homestead exemption, the National Guard, the state port, early childhood education, tourism investment, pardons and paroles, and health-related matters. Under the special order calendar, the Senate passed House Bill 274 on Department of Corrections unmanned aircraft systems, Senate Bill 317 creating the Commission on the Evaluation of Services, House Bill 159 cleaning up retirement provisions for certain circuit clerks, Senate Bill 289 revising the Growing Alabama Act, and House Bill 182 requiring military education to count toward EMS licensure. The chamber also considered House Bill 254 on vessel inspections, with discussion focused on limiting law enforcement stops and boarding of vessels for safety or marine sanitation inspections absent another reason; the transcript cuts off before final disposition of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But as it relates to voter list maintenance, the key section is section 20507, which is on your screen
• Uh, call your attention to section 20507, which is on your screen.
• <00:13:38.480> right website, which is on your screen right website, which is on your screen
• an an increase in in cancer screenings an an increase in in cancer screenings across<00:48:34.960
• We also, at those events, offer biometric screenings, information booths from various vendors.

Keywords: Voter List Maintenance - State Board of Elections -- 05:38 State Employee Health Insurance Plan – 44:18 Discussion of HB 622 (2025 RS) – 01:01:43, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Committee on State Government met on July 29, established a quorum, approved the June 24 minutes unanimously, and heard an update from the State Board of Elections on voter list maintenance. Taylor Brown, the board’s general counsel, explained the federal NVRA requirements and Kentucky’s statutory process for maintaining voter rolls, including use of USPS change-of-address data, ERIC reports, and agreements with non-ERIC states. He said Kentucky has entered or discussed agreements with several states, and that the board sends postcards to voters believed to have moved; if a voter does not respond to an 8D2 postcard and does not vote over two federal election cycles, the registration may be removed. He also described other removal categories such as death, felony conviction, incompetency, duplicate registrations, and self-requested cancellations. Brown reported that between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the board removed 284,381 registrations from the rolls, including 42,675 for death, 5,940 for felony conviction, 5,527 for registration in another state, 578 for incompetency, 223 based on jury questionnaires indicating non-citizenship, 746 self-removals, and 3,381 duplicates, along with 225,311 removals through the address-maintenance program. He said Kentucky’s total registrations decreased by roughly 169,000 over the year and are now below the Census Bureau’s estimate of the state’s voting-age population. Brown emphasized that receiving a postcard does not mean a voter has been purged and that failure to vote alone does not trigger removal. Members asked about the 223 non-citizen-related removals, the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to ERIC, the partisan criticism of ERIC, and how duplicate registrations are identified. Brown said the non-citizen jury questionnaire cases had been referred to the Attorney General for further review, that Kentucky currently has no organized alternative to ERIC but is pursuing reciprocal agreements with states such as Florida, and that ERIC recently changed bylaws to remove a postcard requirement that had been costly for member states. On duplicates, he said the board uses multiple data points, not just name and address, and noted that fuller Social Security data could improve accuracy. Committee leaders praised the board’s work and said they wanted to meet before session to discuss possible statutory changes to improve voter list maintenance.

Transcript Highlights:

• bills on for today, so if you can keep your testimony to three minutes, there'll be a clock on the screen
• Our nursing team provides medical screenings for all individuals in the core clinic, phlebotomy, urine
• Screenings occur today at pediatric appointments.
• If the screenings occur at pediatric appointments, what happens with those people?
• And by the time I had my second son, the screening had really come online.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on a large group of behavioral health and insurance-related bills. Topics included expanding access to mental health services by allowing physician assistants to authorize Section 12 emergency holds and be recognized as licensed mental health professionals (H. 1131/S. 773); improving coverage for community behavioral health centers so commercial insurance matches MassHealth’s bundled outpatient and crisis services (H. 1276/S. 703); eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services (S. 718); extending detox and clinical stabilization coverage from 14 to 30 days and adding transitional support services (H. 1319/S. 772); requiring coverage for dual-diagnosis treatment in psychiatric facilities (H. 1277/S. 771); and preserving access to treatment for serious mental illness through coverage of coordinated specialty care and assertive community treatment (H. 1135/S. 709). The committee also heard bills on preventive behavioral health services for children (H. 1228/S. 802) and post-pregnancy mental health care, including postpartum depression and pregnancy loss-related care (H. 1314/S. 823).

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we do have you on the screen now. Thank you. Would you please raise your right hand?
• We don't have you yet on the screen. Can you see me now? There you are. We are seeing you now.
• Tillman, let's see if we can get you on the screen. Can we get Mr. Tillman there, please?
• Tillman, let's see if we can get you on the screen. Can we get Mr. Tillman there, please?
• Hopefully you come on the screen. Go ahead and begin. Am I there? All right.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear confirmation testimony for a large slate of university and state college trustees. Most of the discussion centered on the nominees’ backgrounds, ties to their institutions, and priorities such as student success, workforce development, financial sustainability, research growth, housing, and maintaining or improving university rankings. Several University of Florida trustees emphasized campus improvements, “One UF” integration, institutional neutrality, and ambitions to move UF into the top tier nationally. Other nominees highlighted goals for Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, UCF, Florida State, Florida Poly, the Florida Prepaid College Board, and several state colleges, with recurring themes of affordability, economic mobility, cybersecurity, and keeping Florida students in-state for college and careers. Public testimony was heard on the Florida A&M appointment, where Elijah Hooks spoke in opposition to the current administration and described his expulsion, arrest, and trespass from the university after protesting the selection of President Marva Johnson. During questioning of FAU nominee Tina Vidal-Duart, senators asked about her prior service on the Hope Florida Foundation board and about reports concerning CDR Health’s contracting practices; she said she was not aware of the foundation issues at the time and noted that CDR’s state contract was a flat daily rate, so subcontractor pricing affected only the company’s internal margins. Other nominees received little or no questioning. At the end of the meeting, the committee voted to confirm all nominees except Tina Vidal-Duart separately. Senator Bracy Davis requested the separate vote and opposed her confirmation, citing concerns related to her Hope Florida Foundation board service. Despite that objection, the committee ultimately voted to report Vidal-Duart favorably as well. The committee also noted that one University of West Florida nominee would be taken up at a later hearing because he was unable to attend.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we do have you on the screen now. Thank you. Would you please raise your right hand?
• We don't have you yet on the screen. Can you see me now? There you are. We are seeing you now.
• Tillman, let's see if we can get you on the screen. Can we get Mr. Tillman there, please?
• And I think we’ll go ahead and, as you speak, you’ll come back on the screen.
• Hopefully you come on the screen. Go ahead and begin.” “Am I there? All right.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear confirmations for 19 appointees and reappointees to university and state college boards, with most of the agenda focused on the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, Florida State University, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Pensacola State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, North Florida College, South Florida State College, and the Florida Prepaid College Board. Testimony from the nominees generally emphasized their educational backgrounds, professional experience, and priorities such as student success, workforce development, financial sustainability, research growth, housing, and maintaining or improving institutional rankings. Several UF trustees highlighted the university’s “One UF” vision, institutional neutrality, and goals of reaching top-three or top-one national status. Other nominees stressed the role of state colleges in workforce pipelines, and Florida Poly witnesses focused on STEM growth, housing, and strong graduate outcomes. One in-person public testimony came from Elijah Hooks, who spoke in opposition to the current FAMU administration and described his expulsion, arrest, and trespass from campus after protesting the appointment of President Marva Johnson. For FAMU, Jocelyn Dobson Rodriguez testified in support of her appointment, emphasizing her legal background, alumni ties, and goals of strengthening leadership, alumni engagement, and the connection between the main campus and the College of Law in Orlando. For Florida Atlantic University, Tina Vidal-Duart was questioned closely about her prior service on the Hope Florida Foundation board and about CDR Health’s involvement in state contracts; she said she was not aware of the foundation’s governance problems at the time and that CDR’s state contract was a flat daily rate. The committee then voted to report all appointees favorably except for Tina Vidal-Duart, whose confirmation was held for a separate vote at the request of Senator Bracy Davis. After discussion, the committee voted 5-1 to report her confirmation favorably as well. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.