Transcript Highlights:

• That means tax relief is not just flowing to homeowners. It's also flowing to corporations.
• It's flowing to investment properties. It's flowing to commercial interests.
• That means tax relief is not just flowing to homeowners. It's also flowing to corporations.
• It's flowing to investment properties. It's flowing to commercial interests.
• It's flowing to investment properties. It's flowing to commercial interests.

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• They can help manage and flow those facilities.
• And maybe that flow might have been closer to what was seen in 1987.
• Yes, that would flow into the Guadalupe that affects Comfort.
• Down the flow of water in terms that would potentially impact the flow into the rivers.
• in behind those flood flows coming from the Llano River system.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But that always ebbs and flows.
• By this bill, that money has to flow through; any increase the commissioner does has to flow through
• Like I said, when the $19 million came in at the start of this year, it all flowed to GR.
• So that would still flow to GR. So we should have no general revenue impact.
• They would flow to the restitution fund.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1087 from Senator Joe Nicola, which would update limited driving privileges and create a process to suspend licenses after repeated failures to appear or pay for minor moving traffic violations. Nicola said the bill was intended to improve public safety and municipal court compliance without restoring the pre-2015 system of fines and fees. Supporters, including officials from Independence, O’Fallon, and the Missouri Municipal League, argued that municipal court reform had sharply reduced citations and increased failure-to-appear rates, leaving courts with too little leverage to ensure compliance and creating safety problems for repeat offenders. They said the bill would preserve discretion, protect work and basic travel needs, and help law enforcement and courts address chronic noncompliance. Opponents, including the State Public Advocate, argued the bill would restore a cash-cow system, burden low-income residents, and create harsh consequences for missed notices or address problems. The hearing closed without a vote on SB 1087. The committee then moved into executive session and reconsidered House Bill 2288, ultimately voting to reconsider and then voting the bill due pass by a 10-5 margin. The committee also adopted a substitute and passed House Bill 3006 due pass by 13-1, passed House Bill 2289 due pass by 10-3 with one present, and passed House Bill 2906 due pass by 13-1 after adopting an amendment and rolling it into a substitute. Members discussed procedural issues about quorum and the reconsideration motion during the HB 2288 vote. Later, the committee heard House Bill 3491 from Representative Don Mayhew, which would codify English-language proficiency requirements for commercial driver’s license holders and impose penalties on drivers and motor carriers when those requirements are violated. Mayhew and a Lincoln County prosecutor described a recent Highway 61 incident involving a Minnesota CDL holder who could not communicate in English, could not identify his location, and was taken out of service after a Highway Patrol proficiency test. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal rules in state statute, improve safety, and hold both drivers and carriers accountable. Some members questioned whether the bill was redundant with federal law, whether it would be enforceable before an accident, and whether the language was too broad, especially the phrase about conversing with the general public. The prosecutor said the current tools are mostly reactive and that the bill would help remove dangerous drivers and penalize carriers, but no final action was taken on HB 3491 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• that creates situations where agencies, as we saw with the prepayment review, don't have the cash flow
• that creates situations where agencies, as we saw with the prepayment review, don't have the cash flow
• Chairman, I'm just about done, but I mean, I don't know how losing 2 weeks of cash flow like forever
• </c><01:45:18.680><c> sufficient</c> agencies that had cash flow sufficient agencies that had cash flow
• like forever when 2 weeks of cash flow like forever when they<01:45:46.400><c> go</c><01:45:46.520><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:36.800><c> in</c> there's funds going to start flowing in there's funds going to start flowing
• in or coming in hopefully be flowing in or coming in January<00:37:30.079><c> or</c><00:37:30.320><c
• federally to the institutions, or will they flow through statewide agencies down to the institutions
• ><01:03:36.880><c> flow</c><01:03:37.119><c> through</c><01:03:37.440><c> statewide</c> will they flow
• through</c><01:03:42.319><c> the</c> I believe it'll flow through the I believe it'll flow through the

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 FY 2025 Budget Close Out 00:02:55 Impressions of H.R. – 119th Congress 00:28:15 SNAP Payment Error Rates 00:37:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the July minutes, and recognized Jennifer Hayes of the Department of State Budget Director for her retirement and long service. Secretary Hicks then presented a review of fiscal year 2025 closeout for the general fund and road fund, explaining that the general fund ended with a $313 million surplus and the road fund with a $61 million surplus. He attributed the general fund result to strong corporate income and LLC tax receipts, investment income, and lower-than-budgeted spending, while noting that individual income tax and sales tax underperformed estimates. He also described how the general fund surplus was allocated, with $62 million used for necessary government expenses and $251 million deposited into the budget reserve trust fund, which remained at historically strong levels. For the road fund, he said the surplus would be deposited into the Department of Highways construction account, and he highlighted record motor vehicle usage tax receipts despite lower motor fuels tax revenue due to a rate decline. Members asked questions about the pass-through entity tax, delayed filing deadlines, THC beverage sales, and income tax collection from undocumented workers. Hicks said the pass-through entity tax remains difficult to model because of timing issues and the first year’s unusual filing pattern, and that staff are still working with the Department of Revenue and other states to improve forecasting. He said the delayed filing deadline likely would not require a major restatement and that any related receipts would still be counted in fiscal 2026. On THC beverages, he said the issue would be considered in the next forecasting cycle. On the undocumented-worker question, he said withholding may capture some of the revenue but referred broader collection efforts to the Department of Revenue. The committee then shifted to an overview of the federal reconciliation act’s potential impact on the next biennial budget, with Hicks and Commissioner Lisa Dennis focusing on Medicaid and SNAP. Hicks said the Congressional Budget Office estimated roughly $900 billion in federal savings over 10 years, driven in part by work or community engagement requirements for the Medicaid expansion population and limits on state-directed payments. He emphasized that CMS still must issue regulations to define how the state-directed payment reductions will be calculated, making the exact fiscal impact uncertain. He referred members to a prior Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board presentation for more detail, and the discussion remained informational with no votes or formal actions taken on the federal changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• is an enormously important economic driver for Val Verde County, providing about 30% of the water flow
• Lake Amistad, in turn, hosts over 200 fishing tournaments a year and then flows into the Rio Grande.
• The Devil's River in Val Verde County is one of the last truly wild, free-flowing rivers in Texas.
• Its clear waters are sustained by spring-fed flows and it is almost untouched by contaminants.
• When pristine streams are impacted by nutrient pollution, sedimentation, or altered flows, the cost of

Bills: HB1730, HB1823, HB2048, HB2266, HB2440, HB3333, HB4086, HB4271, HB4413, HB4839, HB4841, HB5151

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:20.080><c> into</c> Construction dollars do also flow into Construction dollars do also flow
• If you traffic flow. US 60, two-lane road, it's pretty tight through there.
• If you traffic flow. US 60, two-lane road, it's pretty tight through there.
• Money flows or follows based on the child.
• </c> dollars flow. dollars flow.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Budget Process 00:02:28 Allotment Process 00:10:30 School Facilities Construction Commission 00:29:10 Role of KDE in School Facilities Funding 00:47:00 Kentucky School Boards Association 01:13:25 Elementary and Secondary School Construction 01:20:40 Perkins V Funding 01:35:32, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This really is compounded by high water tables in the area, resulting in 200% to 300% flow increases
• So to your bill on House File 800, Representative Joy. fire flow, it represents a significant fire flow
• </c><00:45:31.280><c> The</c><00:45:31.520><c> sanitary</c> provide insignificant flow.
• The sanitary provide insignificant flow.
• </c> area resulting in two to 300% flow area resulting in two to 300% flow increases<00:45:52.160><c>

Bills: HF568, HF433, HF1689, HF3135, HF3137, HF3145, HF2887, HF2819, HF2802, HF2664, HF2267, HF799, HF800, HF3049, HF296, HF580, HF1438, HF1237

Keywords: special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a great tool that we have to make affordable housing projects cash flow, but it needs a lot of changes
• I want to say is the reason that we need these exemptions so desperately is that our property cash flows
• And so our properties are starting negatively cash flow.
• And we also have to bring the subject matter experts of how do we flow an infrastructure bond to deal
• And we also have to bring the subject matter experts of how do we flow an infrastructure bond to deal

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• South of the mine, the San Juan River flows to the west.
• On-site arroyos flow during storm events and drain toward the San Juan River.
• This was done to determine the groundwater flow direction.
• Generally speaking, the alluvium or the alluvial groundwater flows from north to south toward the San
• Water flows downhill.

Transcript Highlights:

• a protection to say, "Look, we're going to get you fixed and we can resolve the blame and the cash flow
• a protection to say, "Look, we're going to get you fixed and we can resolve the blame and the cash flow
• a protection to say, "Look, we're going to get you fixed and we can resolve the blame and the cash flow
• a protection to say, "Look, we're going to get you fixed and we can resolve the blame and the cash flow
• a protection to say, "Look, we're going to get you fixed and we can resolve the blame and the cash flow

Bills: HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296, HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296

Keywords: HB300, Choctaw County, probate court, probate judge, recording fee, filing fee, deed tax, mortgage tax, deeds, mortgages, property records, recordation, county local act, local legislation, technology upgrades, digitalization of records, recordkeeping, county treasury, special fund, court administration

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see the Missouri by far has our greatest resource for surface water flow in North Dakota.
• The Missouri River, by far, has our greatest resource for surface water flow in North Dakota.
• Our flows this year are somewhere between 17,000 and... ...in a drought year.
• It would still use less than 0.15% of the flows out of the Missouri River in that driest year.
• Regarding the data center buildout... ...being based on earnings and free cash flow.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we really want to see a working group where the information will flow beyond the dispatch center
• dispatchers, but we don't oversee the communication component of it. >> And that's the way the data flows
• will flow beyond the dispatch<00:10:21.440><c> center</c><00:10:21.760><c> all</c><00:10:21.920><c>
• </c> &gt;&gt; And that's the way the data flows. &gt;&gt; And that's the way the data flows.
• </c> liability flowing from that as well. liability flowing from that as well.

Bills: HB1577, HB1870

Keywords: Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP, next-generation 911, NG911, dispatch, dispatcher, emergency profile, safety profile, medical information, disability access, access needs, functional needs, kupuna, aging, developmental disabilities, communication access

Summary: The committee reconvened on March 19, 2026, for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week. It first took up HB 812 on agriculture, agreeing to move it forward with amendments and a Senate draft, and then HB 2388 on public notice, which was also passed with amendments after concerns about transparency and the need for local newspaper notice on Maui were discussed. HB 1414 on procurement and HB 2469 on a regular session review working group were both deferred to March 24 for further work with the author, while HB 322 on voter registration was deferred indefinitely in favor of a Senate vehicle. The committee then heard HB 1577, which would create a statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program and working group for 911. Testimony from disability advocates, emergency medical services, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing benefits for people without smartphones, better sharing of medical and emergency information, and improved response in the field. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the 911 Board already had the authority to implement the system without legislation, and the bill was not immediately acted on in the portion of the transcript provided. The final major item was HB 1870 on protected community locations. Testimony in support came from the University of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, immigrant-rights groups, public health advocates, and many individuals, while the Department of Education supported the measure but requested clarity on federal compliance and raised concerns about a 1,000-foot perimeter beyond campus. Supporters said the bill would protect sensitive locations and help immigrant families feel safe accessing schools, health care, and other services. No final vote on HB 1870 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, other concerns that we have with TRS, they've experienced annual negative cash flows.
• . experienced annual negative cash flows.
• </c><00:33:52.399><c> was</c> In 2023, that negative cash flow was In 2023, that negative cash flow was
• And that same approval rating flows among different racial demographics as well.
• ><c> racial</c> flows among different racial flows among different racial demographics<00:43:29.520><

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:05 Attendance Roll Call: 00:10 SB 70 Discussion: 00:58 SB 70 Vote: 04:36 SB 80 Discussion: 05:16 SB 80 Vote: 31:45 SB 127 Discussion: 32:30 SB 127 Vote: 39:38 SB 154 Discussion: 41:25 SB 154 Vote: Adjournment: 47:14, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through MDE uh for um healthcare flowing through MDE uh for um healthcare entities<00:51:57.440><c>
• that would either flow directly through some<00:56:09.359><c> of</c><00:56:09.440><c> our</c><00:56:
• through economic part sort of flowing through economic part sort<01:02:03.760><c> of</c><01:02:03.839
• into the state specific funds flowing into the state budget.<01:08:01.599><c> But</c><01:08:01.920><
• ><c> state</c> things flowing through state things flowing through state administered<01:21:46.480><c

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that could provide water directly to the Pecos River, which could flow down. to the Rio Grande.
• Dots are red and orange and yellow, indicating low flows over the history of those.
• of fresh water into the Pecos which could flow down. and benefit the Rio Grande as well.
• With significant flow volumes in both produced water and brackish groundwater desalination, really.
• We have other treatment plants that help, that'll provide a additional flow as we go forward.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another issue arose regarding how excess generation from a balcony solar system flowing into the grid
• There are some utilities that have equipment that only registers flow in one way.
• So if excess energy is flowing back into the grid from the balcony solar system, it could be registered
• That clearly isn't right, as excess flow should be credited to the customer's account.
• should be able to charge for the agreement and for the equipment to capture and record the energy flowing

Summary: The Senate received a large number of House communications and committee reports, including several nominations and many bills and resolutions returned from House committees or passed by the House. Committee reports covered a wide range of topics, including education, health, judiciary, finance, housing, transportation, emergency management, and business/technology. The Senate also assigned several measures to committees for further consideration and noted upcoming committee meetings. The chamber confirmed three nominations by roll call: Michael T. Scuse to the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, J. Eric Firewold to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, and Joan F. Coker to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees. The Senate also passed Consent Calendar 66, which included Senate Concurrent Resolution 223 on DIA broadcast access for playoff and championship games and House Concurrent Resolution 149 designating June 12, 2026, as Loving Day in Delaware. Members discussed Loving Day and the importance of recognizing interracial marriage rights, with Senator Huxstable, Senator Buckson, and Senator Townsend offering remarks. On the floor, the Senate passed House Bill 141, requiring a firearm responsibilities notice for gun purchasers, after debate over gun safety and industry burden; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 200, as amended, expanding insurance coverage for HIV prevention medications PrEP and PEP; House Bill 426, modernizing municipal street-aid reporting; and Senate Resolution 21, directing a study of portable solar generation devices and related safety and utility issues. The Senate also passed Consent Agenda O, a large package of bills covering topics such as money transmission and stablecoins, nursing advancement, pilot licenses, commerce and trade, subaqueous lands, driver’s license loss due to medical issues, residential speed limits, electronic bidding, family court jurisdiction, agency regulations, technical corrections to multiple local charters, and other measures. The Senate then recessed until June 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The speaker said the FMAP is used for expenditures and becomes part of the cash flow discussion for the
• I think it's a good reminder, talking about just kind of the schedule and the flow.
• If you don't mind just repeating, like refreshing us about the flow of those revenues and the value of
• So there is some ebb and flow every quarter of those funds, and we try to match those funds and spend
• So on a quarterly basis, it does ebb and flow quite a bit. Thank you for that.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee met to consider several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing’s enterprise licensing platform, followed by large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests from the Department of Transportation and the State Broadband Office. The broadband item drew the most discussion, with members asking about contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, and the cost per location for some awards. Agency officials said awards would be monitored through milestone-based payments and a risk-rated system, that 15 providers were ready for grant execution, and that the program would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with about $126.1 million in grants. The committee approved the B, C1, and C2 items. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction for the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to support declining enrollment, teacher incentives, school recognition, and Easter Seals, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services’ project management office. Education officials explained that declining enrollment aid is calculated by law using changes in average daily membership, that 152 of 260 traditional and charter districts are receiving such funds, and that the amount is expected to rise this year. The committee also approved a $4.7 million loan request for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT management and cybersecurity tools; members questioned how the loan would be repaid, and officials said it would be recovered through agency rates over a five-year period, replacing an existing loan with no expected rate increase. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage program grant, and reviewed a federal grant for career and technical education coaches and pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The final discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund report, where senators raised concerns about the fund’s decline from about $660 million in 2022 to $394 million after seven months of the current fiscal year. DHS and DFA officials said the fund experiences normal quarterly ebb and flow, but acknowledged the balance is being drawn down and that additional capital will likely be needed as budget discussions continue, including unresolved rules from prior legislation and the impact of changing federal match rates. No further action was taken on the report, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're already having problems establishing minimum in-stream flows to support our ecosystem, and this
• You mentioned fish minimum flows. It's really important to me in my district. Me too.
• consideration all of the needs in the state and doesn't pick winners or losers in terms of adjusting flows
• Obviously, we see that with managing fish populations and when they need that minimum flows in those
• And something that we all talk about, especially in the valley, is where water flows, life grows.

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• the language for some of the local communities who have put ordinances in place to deal with traffic flow
• And I'm speaking... ...who have put ordinances in place to deal with traffic flow.
• is, or within the school district, are they not surveying that particular community to see traffic flow
• ... ...to see traffic flow and everything, so they are going through some type of approval of traffic
• flow, even if the school is looking to make sure that traffic won't be impeded upon, right?

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several bills and amendments related to traffic safety, utilities, schools, and motor vehicle administration. Senator Pizzo’s SB 1782, as amended, expanded reckless driving per se to include certain high-speed behaviors; the late amendment removed impound language but kept mandatory court appearance, and the bill was reported favorably. Senator McLean’s SB 818 on utility relocation was amended to include an important state interest finding; after testimony from county groups opposing the cost shift to local governments and Charter Communications supporting the bill, it was also reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1644 on emergency vehicles, after a delete-all amendment broadened warning-signal use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and related vehicles. Senator Trumbull’s SB 1348 on DHSMV services was amended to streamline local delivery of motor vehicle services and remove certain fines, waiting periods, and CDL retesting provisions; it passed favorably with support from Florida Tax Collectors. Senator McLean’s SB 1188 on local governing authorities and charter schools drew the most debate, with supporters arguing local governments were using traffic and site-plan rules to block charter schools and opponents warning the bill would tie the hands of local governments and create a blanket preemption; it was reported favorably. The committee then passed SB 636, which limits use of the far-left lane on high-speed roads except for passing, exiting, move-over compliance, or traffic conditions, and requires FDOT signage. Senator Arrington’s SB 1152 increased the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee from $15 to $25 to raise more money for wildflower research and habitat programs; it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of multiple appointments to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and Florida Transportation Commission, and then adjourned.