Transcript Highlights:

• And when they do, they come down in the analysis. We do prior-year sales.
• Driven the cost of the property values up.
• The Save Our Homes—how much did that cost the state property tax value?
• cost to replace that particular property given today's cost.
• And so it's a population-based analysis to get those in the play.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Permitting costs, inspection costs, and owner contingencies.
• And our analysis would indicate that that is a surge, a temporary surge that occurred in February and
• But under guidance from the Legislature through your Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
• But probably the biggest one is the cost for indigent cases.
• How does your caseload analysis deal with that kind of different reporting? And you're recognized.

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• You do part of that is recognizing as people age. >> There are trends are analysis has shown in all the
• We do the annual type of analysis and start to work through those and a lot of times that's like that's
• Let them pay the cost of it.
• That to me is just a recipe for a cause or but a cost. And and you know, no, I'm sorry.
• But we're costs and improvement.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• comparable to an Eis it impact analysis comparable to an Eis it involves<00:14:08.160> state<
• <00:25:30.520> Minnesota that has already cost Minnesota that has already cost Minnesota taxpayers
• not require the same level of analysis not require the same level of analysis as<00:34:50.599>
• I'm not familiar if it actual analysis I'm not familiar if it exactly<00:40:36.160> lines<00:
• to the bill so CQB that there's no cost to the bill so uh<00:50:38.079> rather<00:50:38.400><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:15.479> centers<00:08:16.039> a<00:08:16.360> power<00:08:16.879> analysis
• studies quote centers a power analysis studies quote centers a power analysis of<00:08:17.639>
• <00:08:20.159> how Kirsten continues quoting the framework, saying it centers a power analysis
• There is also the cost associated with creating new standalone ethnic studies courses and eventually
• saving down the road on the it's cost saving down the road on the entire<01:37:06.239> system

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:28.799> of Um so first around our kind of cost of Um so first around our kind of cost
• <00:22:28.559> of<00:22:28.960> cost because of this overall cost of cost because of
• , um other other operating care costs, um other other operating costs<00:22:45.520> like<00:22
• And more recently, costs like that.
• Uh from that costs essentially.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They have high startup costs and overhead. ...startup costs and overhead.
• And the cost of compliance remains quite high.
• They do drive up the cost of production.
• They're just as focused on cost savings as we are.
• fixed overhead costs over a larger aggregated revenue.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its first hearing of the 194th session to take public testimony on 21 cannabis-related bills. Chairs Donahue and Gómez outlined hearing procedures and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Much of the hearing focused on the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), with Senator Mike Moore urging support for S. 90 to create an inspector general unit within the CCC. He argued the commission has suffered from dysfunction, workplace harassment allegations, delayed governance reforms, missed fee collections, and high legal costs, and said stronger legislative oversight is needed. Committee members largely agreed the CCC needs reform, though some expressed hope that new leadership would improve operations. A major theme was market structure and business viability. Representative Tyler testified for H. 183 to raise adult-use purchase limits from one ounce to two ounces, saying the change would reduce confusion and help retailers compete with neighboring states. Senator Payano supported S. 100, which would require a study of cannabis supply and demand to guide cultivation licensing, warning that oversupply is driving down prices and threatening cultivators. The Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, represented by Ryan Dominguez, backed a package of bills aimed at increasing revenue, reducing regulatory burdens, attracting investment, and stabilizing the market, including higher purchase limits, simpler badge and testing rules, and a phased increase in the retail license cap. Attorneys Kevin Conroy and Mike Ross also supported raising the cap, arguing that the industry lacks capital and that more investment and exit opportunities are needed for provisional and distressed licensees. The most contentious issue was whether to raise the retail license cap from three to six. Supporters, including several business owners and industry advocates such as Peyton Shubrick, Tito Jackson, Armani White, Sean Burt, and others, said the current cap traps owners in declining businesses, prevents exits, and limits access to capital. They argued that many social equity and economic empowerment operators are struggling, that oversupply has pushed prices down, and that allowing more ownership could help businesses scale or sell. Opponents, including Senator Liz Miranda and several social equity operators, warned that lifting the cap now would let larger operators and multi-state companies dominate the market and harm equity-owned businesses. Miranda’s S. 88 would instead strengthen enforcement of ownership limits through audits, whistleblower protections, an anonymous tip line, and greater transparency. Another major topic was worker and consumer safety: Laura Bruno, Danny Carson, Al Vega, and others supported H. 194 after the death of Lorna McMurray, arguing for a CCC workplace and consumer safety department, better ventilation and PPE standards, stronger testing oversight, and retaliation protections for workers. The hearing ended without votes, with members thanking testifiers and indicating the committee would continue reviewing the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, insurers are paying more in claims costs because of inflation.
• But the cost of home and auto insurance remains high.
• does affect the cost.
• of labor, cost of materials, cost of everything.
• , the cost of materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it maybe costs five cents.
• Probably costs a radiology center $25.
• The bill would do away with cost sharing for certain tests and drugs, but it Does not eliminate the cost
• So the cost of getting the test is pretty Minimal. The cost of the lipid profile is pretty minimal.
• One is training, and the other one is what is the cost here. Thank you. Let me start with the cost.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The LFC recommendation is below the executive in personnel costs.
• So we're basically splitting the costs there.
• Grant cost share. And then other 500s which we talked about.
• So that was largely, I think, some of the unknowns in how much auditing costs, contractual costs for
• And so we do shift some of the costs. around.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This creates unnecessary social and economic costs, slowing down court proceedings by requiring defense
• As noted in the committee analysis, these 995 motions effectively require re-litigating the preliminary
• Again, as stated in the excellently written committee analysis, this is likely to have a positive impact
• legal system, but will also fortify judicial economy and resource utilization to address unnecessary costs
• This simple amendment to the court process will make courts more efficient, reduce state costs, and increase

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 15, 2026, for a regular order hearing on 38 bills. The chair announced that AB 2457 was pulled to a later hearing, reviewed public testimony rules, established a quorum, and approved the consent calendar in two motions. Bills on the consent calendar were moved either to the Assembly floor consent calendar or to the floor non-consent calendar, and the suspense calendar was deemed approved as read. The committee then heard AB 1917 by Assemblymember Schultz, which would require prosecutors to file an 871.5 motion to reinstate felony charges dismissed at a preliminary hearing for lack of probable cause, rather than simply adding the charges back. The author and supporters, including the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Californians for Safety and Justice, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and several advocacy groups, argued the bill would improve due process, transparency, and court efficiency by reducing unnecessary litigation and costs. No opposition testimony was presented. After questions and a motion, the committee took a roll call vote on AB 1917. Members voting were recorded as aye, and the bill passed out of committee. The hearing then concluded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, they own those to keep the cost down.
• It's the most cost effective.
• It's going to cost a little bit more.
• It's going to cost a little bit more.
• The cost of that was going to be over $2,500.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:08.480> 50,000<00:33:09.039> or table and whether it costs 50,000 or table and
• of the West an independent analysis of the West Hawaii<01:12:10.640> fishery<01:12:11.120>
• the permits and then the value of the extraction and then the costs of the regulation.
• Those licenses cost $100.
• No, I'm saying it's like $700 that's adding, and it's going to cost you so much to regulate.

Bills: HB2101

Keywords: aquatic life, commercial aquarium purposes, Hawaii, environmental protection, sustainability, Native Hawaiian values, marine resources, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water and Land heard testimony on House Bill 21101, which would ban or otherwise end commercial aquarium collection. Chairs opened the hearing with a short time limit for testimony and noted they would move to decision-making before the next committee meeting. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it appreciated the bill’s intent and stood on written testimony, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported the measure as part of its legislative package, citing community calls to ban the practice. Many other organizations and individuals also testified in support, including environmental, Native Hawaiian, and community groups, with arguments focused on reef protection, public trust, cultural concerns, and the view that the trade is extractive and not sustainable. Supporters repeatedly cited declines in yellow tang and other reef fish, especially on West Hawaii and Oahu, and argued that reef recovery has not occurred where collection pressure existed. Several testified that legal aquarium collection has not occurred in West Hawaii since 2017 or on Oahu since 2021, and that the state should not reopen an industry that has been effectively shut down for years. Others said the program is fiscally inefficient because permits generate little revenue compared with the cost of administering and enforcing the program, and that aquaculture or other alternatives could provide jobs without removing wild fish. Native Hawaiian speakers and civic club representatives emphasized traditional and customary practices, community stewardship, and the need to protect resources for future generations. Opposition testimony came from aquarium fishers and related advocates who argued the fishery has been shown sustainable, that the EIS process was completed, and that the bill would unfairly target one user group over another. They said the trade provides livelihoods for local families, that management is solid, and that the legislature should not ban a fishery after requiring compliance with environmental review. Some opponents also argued that fish populations have increased in recent years and that the issue reflects broader user conflict rather than science. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair continued taking testimony, including on Zoom, as time allowed.

Transcript Highlights:

• To inform this development, we conducted an analysis aimed at estimating the impact of AI on working
• <00:05:08.199> aimed<00:05:08.479> at conducted an analysis aimed at conducted an analysis
• Our analysis further examines differences across the state in terms of AI's impact.
• Indeed, there are reasons to believe that our analysis is already outdated within its first month in
• Indeed, there are reasons to believe that our analysis is already outdated within its first month in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the climate crisis and the costs of climate disasters, we're doing so in a way that is most cost-effective
• So the cost of inaction is not zero. The cost of inaction is, in fact, enormous.
• costs.
• Ask the general impact on consumer costs, such as household energy bills and transportation costs.
• And we don't know the costs. We don't know the costs on consumers.

Summary: The chamber reconvened after a late-night session and first adopted the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range, by a 48-0 vote. Members then took up several Senate bills and Assembly measures, with repeated remarks about the long hours and the need to respect staff and keep proceedings moving. A vote change was also announced for Assembly Member Patel on SB 414, changing from aye to not voting. The main policy debate centered on energy, climate, and affordability. SB 237, dealing with oil and gas policy, refinery closures, pipeline safety, Kern County permitting, gasoline blend flexibility, and regional fuel coordination, drew strong support from members who framed it as a managed transition to stabilize fuel supply and protect jobs, and strong opposition from members who called it a giveaway to oil interests and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package, included wildfire mitigation financing, a successor wildfire fund, transmission cost reductions, clean energy permitting changes, and energization timelines; members raised some concerns about local control, but the bill passed 58-0. SB 840 and AB 1207 advanced the cap-and-invest reauthorization package, with supporters emphasizing emissions reductions, housing, transit, wildfire prevention, and community air programs, while opponents argued it would raise costs and function as a tax-and-spend scheme. SB 840 passed 54-15 and AB 1207 passed 55-10, both with urgency and immediate transmittal. Members also approved SB 352, which makes the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and requires air quality monitoring and reporting on AB 617 implementation, by 43-19. AB 825, authorizing California to help establish a Westwide electricity market, was presented as a way to lower bills, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; it passed 67-2 and was sent to the Governor. Additional actions included concurrence in Senate amendments to AB 8 on cannabinoids and AB 383 on firearms cleanup, and the chamber began consideration of AB 764 on wildlife as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• What will the operating cost be?
• Those leases include the one-time up-front cost.
• It's, you know, again, a capital cost, but there's ongoing maintenance and operation costs, just like
• What will the operating cost be?
• It's, you know, again, a capital cost, but there's ongoing maintenance and operation costs, just like

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on several GovOps-related budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding for the California Education Learning Lab. The Learning Lab described its intersegmental grants to UC, CSU, and community college faculty, including AI-related work and a math alignment project, and said the Governor’s proposal would move the program’s home agency to GovOps and restore $4 million annually. The Department of Finance supported the proposal as a way to improve coordination, while the LAO recommended rejecting it, arguing the projects are hard to scale, similar professional development already exists in the segments, and the state should consider saving General Fund dollars. Senators split on the value of the program, with some emphasizing innovation and intersegmental collaboration and others questioning its measurable long-term impact; the item was held open. The committee then reviewed the Office of Civil Rights proposal to implement AB 715 and SB 48 with $3.5 million in 2026-27 and $2.8 million ongoing. GovOps said the office had been set up administratively, positions were being recruited, and it would provide training, technical assistance, and complaint review related to anti-Semitism and other discrimination in TK-12 schools. The LAO had no concerns, but senators raised substantial questions about the office’s placement in GovOps, the lack of guidance while the laws are being implemented, the use of gubernatorial appointees, and whether the staffing structure matches the likely workload across different discrimination categories. GovOps said it would develop guidance, coordinate with CDE, and shift resources as needed once staff are hired, but several members said they were not prepared to support the item as presented; it was also held open. After public comment supporting the California Education Interagency Council, the subcommittee approved vote-only items 11 through 17 and 6 through 10. It then heard from the Office of Data and Innovation on a request for five positions and $1.25 million in reimbursement authority to expand digital service delivery work. ODI described projects such as reducing unauthorized EBT theft and forecasting community water system outages, and said it uses guardrails and contracts to protect sensitive data when working with vendor AI services. The LAO had no concerns, and members generally praised ODI’s small, high-impact role; the item was held open. Finally, the Department of Technology presented on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, reporting that 423 miles are complete, more than 70% of the network has been permitted, and about 5,300 miles are expected to be completed by December 2026, with some work potentially slipping into 2027. CDT said Skyline Technology Solutions had been selected to operate the network and that the third-party administrator, Golden State Net, would continue to support development and later help oversee operations and sales. The LAO noted the project’s progress but raised concerns about the novel three-party structure, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability. Senators questioned the legal basis for the operator arrangement, the revenue outlook, reporting to the Legislature, and whether the network will be self-sustaining; CDT said it expects revenues to cover operations over time and will continue annual and quarterly reporting. The item was left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial performance LSS is very cost financial performance LSS is very cost conscious<00:02:57.760
• training program that only costs training program that only costs $2,000<00:53:34.559> the
• <01:04:17.480> at program recognizes the higher cost at program recognizes the higher cost
• The federal needs analysis doesn't strictly have an income cutoff.
• The federal needs analysis doesn't strictly have an income cutoff.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to clear up any cost concerns because previously it was an issue.
• People are worried that there's going to be a lot of cost to this. But that's not the idea.
• But that's not be a lot of cost to this. But that's not the<00:07:42.960> idea.
• Poisonous tree analysis here.
• I'm not as fluent in criminal as my—I may not be right with my analysis either. >> Okay.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the information back from our loft report, it reported that there was approximately a $10 million cost
• The agency did not follow the correct process, and the inconsistencies in the agency's analysis and paperwork
• The agency failed to initially provide a comprehensive economic analysis by not soliciting information
• having to do with the statutory authority, legislative intent, proper process, and then the fiscal analysis

Bills: HJR1090, HJR1091, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1094, HJR1095, SJR49

Keywords: administrative rules, rule approval, joint resolution, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Liquified Petroleum Gas Board, water resources, wildlife conservation, tourism, zoning commission, energy regulation, agricultural regulation, agency rules, permanent rules, state agencies, Oklahoma Legislature, business and commerce, professional licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• These clinics are not low-cost, approximately $43,000 for a three-day event, requiring 12 to 14 local
• To address the pet overpopulation crisis, it's critical that low-cost services reach communities that
• That said, I also read in the analysis, and there's some evidence out there that in allowing people to
• We had done our analysis. We had done our assessments with all of the bill. We were prepared.
• We had done our analysis. We had done our assessments with all the different parties involved.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with extensive testimony on each and repeated reminders that no quorum was present for much of the hearing. AB 1693 would speed local permitting for retail tenant improvements by requiring review by a qualified professional certifier and imposing 20-business-day approval/denial deadlines; the author and California Retailers Association said the bill would reduce costly delays, and there was no opposition testimony. AB 2010, the SNIP Act, would expand access to high-volume spay/neuter and mobile sterilization clinics by exempting them from certain surgical-room requirements; supporters cited California’s pet overpopulation crisis and rural access barriers, while opponents and the Veterinary Medical Board raised safety, oversight, and implementation concerns and sought amendments. The author said the bill was needed now and not after years of rulemaking, and the committee indicated it would support the measure when a quorum was available. AB 2195 would bar automatic suspension of occupational licenses for low-income parents behind on child support, arguing that keeping people employed is more effective than punitive suspension. Supporters said the bill would help parents pay support and cited evidence that similar driver’s-license reforms did not reduce collections, while the California Child Support Association and others argued license suspension is an important enforcement tool that brings obligors to the table. AB 2311 would allow public health care district hospitals to directly employ physicians, with supporters saying it would improve recruitment and retention and opponents warning about physician autonomy, institutional pressure, and the need to narrow the bill to financially vulnerable hospitals; the author said the bill would level the playing field with other public hospitals. AB 1796 would create a licensure pathway for professional interior designers and add a designer seat on the California Architects Board; supporters framed it as a public-safety and professional-equity measure, while opponents argued it would create confusion, duplicate existing certification, and lacked evidence of consumer harm. After a quorum was established, the committee voted AB 1796 out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill left on call. AB 1739 would make it a crime for clergy providing therapeutic services to engage in sexual contact with a current or former counselee within two years, aligning clergy counseling with existing rules for other licensed professionals. Supporters described personal experiences of abuse and said the bill closes a gap in the law without regulating religious doctrine, while no opposition testimony was heard; the committee moved the bill due pass as amended to Appropriations, with some members not voting and the bill left on call. The committee also began hearing AB 2497, which would modernize the Physical Therapy Practice Act by expanding direct access and other practice authorities, but the transcript cuts off before the full testimony and any action on that bill.