Transcript Highlights:

• uh and down the road because we care<00:10:29.680><c> and</c><00:10:29.920><c> love</c><00:10:30.160
• on the<00:10:46.399><c> side</c><00:10:46.480><c> of</c><00:10:46.640><c> the</c><00:10:46.720><c> road
• who</c><00:10:47.120><c> has</c><00:10:47.200><c> made</c><00:10:47.360><c> it</c> the side of the road
• who has made it the side of the road who has made it more<00:10:47.680><c> dangerous</c><00:10:47.920
• when we're talking about down the road when we're talking about just<00:41:41.200><c> whether</c><00

Bills: HB88 , HB314 , SB46 , HB332 , HB86 , HB363 , HB88 , HB314 , SB46 , HB332 , HB86 , HB363

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: driver license, English examinations, language requirement, immigration, testing standards, motor vehicles, window tint, law enforcement, prosecutors, vehicle regulations, medical condition, communication, first responder, invisible disabilities, anaphylaxis, day care centers, training, child safety, healthcare, parole

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then we also have Lake Texana in Colorado River, uh, with the Merry Roads pipeline, which is
• And so, um, we also have the Merry Roads pipeline, which I had mentioned earlier, and the Merry Roads
• we've done some forensic calculations to look at some of the other projects in the past, like Merry Roads
• You need road base. We're going to have I-69 going right by us, and I-45 is expanding even now.
• Chairman, what I'm, what I'm getting at is that when you're worried about roads, when you're worried

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Here are two identical properties on McDowell Road that were built, both of them very similar apartment
• built I don't have time to go into you can stare at that here are two identical properties on McDowell Road
• that were built both of at that here are two identical properties on McDowell Road that were built both
• Could they waive additional construction of roads in that area instead? Mr. Chair, Mr.
• waive city sales tax could they waive development fees could they waive additional construction of roads

Bills: SB1221 , SB1293 , SB1294 , SB1430

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: taxpayer protection, law interpretation, transparency, public hearings, tax policies, GPLET, abatement, tax incentives, local government, property improvement, central business district, property tax, assessment, destruction, proration, Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona tax corrections act, transaction privilege tax, sales tax, use tax

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a little scared of heights, but I love anything that keeps people off our roads.
• There are a million two EVs on the road today in Florida, and Senator Martin, more understand this, this
• want to penalize people who went out of their way, took a driver's test, and learned the rules of the road
• I would hold out to you that city streets and county roads are not the state transportation system.
• If it is strictly to control impacts... ...on the state road system, state bridges, that's covered in

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are really concerning to me that these continue to get kicked down the road.
• sort of thing we did go ahead and have them bid on in case we end up having money available down the road
• I think just about 12 miles down the road, something like that, in Springer.
• So yes, we have some more work to do, but I believe we're going down the right road to get there and
• financial plans and bond sales, these items keep shifting down and kind of kicking the can down the road

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• This easement will extend from Eastman Road to connect with an existing water line further north on and
• c><00:16:53.040><c> uh</c><00:16:53.199><c> from</c><00:16:53.600><c> Eastman</c><00:16:54.560><c> Road
• </c><00:16:54.959><c> to</c> will extend uh from Eastman Road to will extend uh from Eastman Road to
• small portion of its property consisting of 37 acres of land located on the north side of Beanie Hill Road
• small portion of its property consisting of 37 acres of land located on the north side of Beanie Hill Road

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee approved the April 14, 2025 minutes and then considered several capital items, mostly Department of Transportation property dispositions and one Department of Business and Economic Affairs lease amendment. BEA requested approval to amend its Granite Center LLC lease to absorb space used by Gopher, explaining that the arrangement would keep both agencies in the same building, allow flexible space allocation, and produce a modest net savings while using federal funds reimbursed through an interagency arrangement. The committee asked about Gopher’s role, the floor layout, and whether federal money was indirectly subsidizing the lease; the item was approved. DOT items approved included sale of a former maintenance parcel in Raymond, vacant land in Dover, a permanent utility easement in Conway for the Conway Water Precinct, and a direct sale of limited access right-of-way in Seabrook to C&J Seabrook LLC for parking expansion. Members asked about environmental liability on the Raymond parcel, the size and location of the Conway easement, and whether C&J would charge for parking; C&J said the expansion would support a successful facility and that parking revenues help fund improvements such as paving, lighting, and security cameras. The committee also approved a small Salem parcel sale to Brooks Property LLC. The Department of Environmental Services received approval to transfer 37 acres near a New Ipswich flood control site to the town as part of a long-running settlement involving cemetery encroachment onto state land. DES said the agreement, reached with the town in 2023, reflects prior legislation and includes payment to the state; members asked whether there was any current dam damage, and DES said there was none. In miscellaneous business, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission said the governor had directed cancellation of the planned RFP sale and that the matter would instead proceed as a ground lease through a new RFP process. The committee also noted informational items on Council on Resources and Development minutes and surplus land reviews, set the next meeting for September 29 at 9:30, and adjourned by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• prioritize the development and planning of the northern terminus of the Kihei North-South Collector Road
• prioritize the development and planning of the northern terminus of the Kihei North-South Collector Road
• House Concurrent Resolution 203 is regarding the Kihei North-South Collector Road.
• This is regarding the Kihei north south<00:25:34.080><c> collector</c><00:25:34.559><c> road</c><00:25
• </c><00:25:36.159><c> The</c> south collector road members. The south collector road members.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and then voted on several concurrent resolutions. HCR 71, asking the Coalina Golf Club to work with the Department of Transportation to prevent golf balls from reaching Fington Highway, drew no opposition in testimony; a member thanked the golf club for cooperating after a constituent’s windshield was struck, and the measure was passed unamended. HCR 19 HD1, supporting Taiwan’s international participation and a U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, received only DBED testimony in support and was passed with technical amendments. HCR 163, urging the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish an annual Pacific Island culture and arts festival, was supported by DBEDT and the foundation itself, which said it would welcome such a festival subject to funding and staff resources; it was passed unamended. In the later joint session, HCR 70 on accelerating sustainable aviation fuels received support from the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, while DOT said it is already working on clean fuels through its greenhouse-gas reduction efforts and that the resolution would mainly require a more targeted progress report; the measure passed, with one no vote in the joint committee vote. HCR 123, on a restricted parking zone pilot program in West Oahu neighborhoods, had no oral testimony and was passed with technical amendments. HCR 57, on a traffic mitigation and calming study in Waipahu, also had no testimony and was passed unamended. HCR 112, urging Honolulu to adopt a pedestrian-first policy, drew broad support from public health, planning, bicycling, and student witnesses, though one testifier urged coordination with existing county plans; it passed unamended. HCR 177, encouraging a summer streets pilot program, also passed unamended. For HCR 203, urging Maui County to prioritize planning for the Kihei North-South Collector Road, the chairs proposed technical amendments to correct the responsible agency from the Planning Department to the Public Works Department, and the measure passed with those amendments. Across the meetings, the committee repeatedly noted when there were no further questions or testimony, and each resolution was adopted by the committee after the stated recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• here. bad is a child coming in there, us getting an indictment, six months, eight months down the road
• the problem we're running into is we're getting these cases indicted and then three months down the road
• . . . road, defense attorney comes up to me and says, hey, you know what, CPS investigator investigated
• any Oh representative de Razio Um, you know, I'm trying to I look at this thing 15 years down the road
• . road whenever definition changes.

Bills: HB741 , HB 1199 , HB2070 , HB2402 , HB2542 , HB2665 , HB2789 , HB3096 , HB3396 , HB3595 , HB3747 , HB4116 , HB4127

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing is our roads here on the reservation.
• Our tribal roads does their best to take care of the roads the best that they can, but when you get into
• the city side of the roads, there's a lack of funding there too.
• Especially in the city side of the, of our tribal roads, does their best to take care of the roads the
• And so we'll pass them on that road more.

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock with tribal council members, state legislators, and agency representatives to discuss state-tribal coordination and local priorities. Early discussion focused on process concerns, including the short agenda time and the need for better communication, more advance notice, and more relevant state department staff at future meetings. Tribal leaders asked for lists of state tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes, and state members said they would follow up, share grant and deadline information, and plan another meeting in Bismarck with program experts and agency staff. A major portion of the meeting centered on health, child welfare, law enforcement, housing, infrastructure, and sovereignty issues. Tribal speakers said rural health transformation funding and other state programs often do not fit direct-service tribes or IHS-funded systems, and they raised concerns about Medicaid, ICWA, foster care delays, human service zones, housing shortages, and the placement of Native children off-reservation. They also discussed missing and murdered Indigenous people, search-and-rescue cooperation, cross-deputization, extradition and banishment ordinances, and the need for stronger law enforcement partnerships that respect tribal sovereignty. Other concerns included poor roads, water and sewer needs in Sioux County communities, census accuracy, and the impact of data centers and other development on water and health. Economic development and regulatory issues were also discussed. Standing Rock representatives raised concerns about charitable gaming and e-pull tabs, saying the machines function like Class III gaming and have harmed tribal revenue while spreading into local businesses. They also described problems with county-issued fireworks permits and state/county liquor licensing rules that they said undermine tribal authority within reservation boundaries. In response, legislators said the committee would continue to look at these issues, and one member suggested possible legislation such as limiting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also heard from Joseph McNeil of Sage Development Authority about a 235-megawatt wind project on tribal, allotted, and fee land; he said federal permitting delays have stalled the project and asked for state support to help move it forward. The meeting concluded with a presentation from Dave Archambo of Wojou, a nonprofit focused on land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, cultural programming, and youth wellness. He described the organization’s work on buffalo processing, gardening, fishing, hunting, language, and arts programs, and framed it as a response to historical trauma and community healing. The committee then broke for lunch and planned to resume with the Wojou presentation after the recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Highway 45 that spans the BN Railroad between Sportslex Road and Belg Grayson Road and Mingo as the Fred
• Road and<00:22:09.360><c> Belg</c><00:22:09.600><c> Grayson</c><00:22:10.000><c> Road</c><00:22:10.159
• President, Senator Wagner moves adoption of the report from the committee on roads.
• President, Senator Wagner moves adoption of the report from the committee on roads using the previous
• We are adjourned. then be careful on the road and happy then be careful on the road and happy Easter.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber then received House messages referring House Bill 614 on supplemental appropriations and House Bill 224 on the distribution and use of tax funds to the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee. Committee reports followed on several bills, including favorable reports for House Bills 169, 542, 593, and 13, with HB 542 amended in committee. The Senate also referred Senator Orr’s proposed rules change to the Rules Committee. A series of resolutions were taken up and adopted, including Senate Resolution 109 creating the Alabama Boating Safety Task Force, Senate Joint Resolutions 102 and 103, House Joint Resolutions 237, 215, 216, 218, and 235, Senate Joint Resolution 88 supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear life cycle innovation effort, Senate Joint Resolution 93 creating a rural EMS and volunteer fire department study commission, Senate Joint Resolution 94 commending Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa Officer of the Year honorees, and Senate Joint Resolution 110 commending William Riley Hawkins Jr. on his retirement from AARP Alabama. The Senate also recognized several guests in the gallery, including local school superintendents and a student visitor. The chamber then moved through local legislation, adopting BRs and passing numerous local bills and constitutional amendments, including measures for Mobile, Prichard, Class 2 municipalities, Mingo County, Talladega County, Perry County, Wilcox County, Clay County, Washington County, and Madison County. Senate Bill 376 on Mobile County and Senate Bill 379 on Madison County were both passed and transmitted. Most local bills passed on unanimous or near-unanimous votes using the previous roll. The Senate also adopted Special Order Calendar Resolution 111, setting a special order calendar for the 27th legislative day that prioritized a long list of appropriations, education, retirement, dam safety, and higher education bills. On that calendar, House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, and Senate Bill 380 were taken up. HB 235’s committee substitute was tabled, a floor substitute was adopted restoring funding to the McQuain Center and removing some arts grants, and the bill passed. HB 236 passed after a language amendment. HB 237 passed as the Education Opportunities Reserve Fund bill. HB 238 passed after a floor substitute that shifted arts grants, added Voices for Alabama’s Children, adjusted RAISE Act weights, and increased funding for poverty, special education, and gifted students, along with a small amendment. HB 239 passed as the public education employee pay raise bill, with a substitute adding a retiree bonus and members discussing that the bonus would also be carried through SB 380. HB 240, HB 241, HB 242, and HB 565 all passed. SB 380 on the teachers retirement system received committee amendments and was being advanced as the vehicle for the retiree bonus, with Senator Orr explaining the bonus would be about $33 million and based on $1 per month of service for eligible retirees with at least 10 years of service.

Transcript Highlights:

• It often means... replacing road and rail crossings, widening channels, and building detention basins
• called Park Road 4.
• It would be a travesty to turn Park Road 4 into Fairland. A little more data. Texas is big.
• For those of you who know Spanish, the biggest one, the main road is called Sal Si Puedes.
• We want you to come in and pave the road. We can't. We can't go in there. Period. You know?

Bills: HB1520 , HB1525 , HB1530 , HB1535 , HB2068 , HB2091 , HB2347 , HB2372 , HB2805 , HB2815 , HB2867 , HB3154 , HB3482 , HB3483 , HB3663 , HB3781 , HB3901 , HB3915 , HB4135 , HB4153 , HB4158 , HB4329 , HB4331

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• have little choice but to pay increasing rents imposed by oftentimes corporate landlords, even when roads
• Many manufactured home communities rely on aging, privately owned infrastructure: water, sewer, roads
• ,</c> corporate landlords, even when roads, corporate landlords, even when roads, water,<00:04:31.480
• ,</c> infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, electrical<00:05:13.680
• Major infrastructure improvements were completed in late 2024, beginning with a full road and drainage

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Justin Fanzlaw, on behalf of the Safe California Roads Coalition, I'd like to thank the Assembly
• You all California Roads Coalition.
• Now, in noting low-income or vulnerable populations, tracking potentially dangerous drivers on the road
• [member_20234] Chair Schultz: Continuing points on the DMV record can help improve safety on our roads
• Justin Fans on behalf of the Safe California Roads Coalition.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A long road, but we have finally arrived at the final week of our final regular session together.
• For some, the help was simple: a road or a schoolhouse gate.
• Representative Valdez, you have had a unique and memorable road throughout the last eight years.
• side roads.
• and road information for Florida's then 52 counties.

Summary: The House convened with a prayer, pledge, quorum call, and recognition of Officer Cody Popple of the FSU Police Department for his actions during the April campus shooting. Members also observed a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker outlined the final week of session, noting that budget negotiations were still ongoing and that the House would continue taking up Senate bills and returning messages. The chamber then considered a series of mostly technical or sunset-review bills, including SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes, all of which passed unanimously. Several Open Government Sunset Review bills were also approved, extending or preserving public records and meeting exemptions for the Public Service Commission, the Department of Military Affairs, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, cybersecurity records, emergency shelter information, conviction integrity units, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, and school testing materials; most passed with little opposition, though SB 7006, SB 7026, and SB 7022 drew some dissenting votes. The House also passed SB 7016 on small business loan records, SB 7008 on gaming commission records, SB 7000 on emergency shelter information, and SB 7004 on conviction integrity unit records. Members then moved into farewell remarks and recognitions, including an extended farewell speech by Representative Hart-Lowman reflecting on her service, family, district, and policy priorities such as criminal justice, housing, health care, and labor issues. The House also recognized visiting students from Osceola County and other guests in the galleries. Later, the House took up more substantive measures. SB 7040 recreated the emergency preparedness and response trust fund; after a lengthy debate over an amendment to let the fund expire and a strike-all restoring the House position, the bill passed 82-25. The chamber then passed CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, and CS/SB 474 on military affairs, all with broad support. The final portion of the transcript shifted to SB 488 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, where members debated vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and related amendments, including provisions for disabled veterans and dealer allocation rules, before the transcript ended mid-debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome you to the ninth week of session, and it's been a long road, but we have finally arrived
• For some, the help was simple: a road or a schoolhouse gate.
• Representative Valdés, you have had a unique and memorable road throughout the last eight years.
• side roads.
• and road information for Florida's then 52 counties.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for his actions during the April campus shooting. The Speaker also outlined the final week of session, noting the House would focus on Senate bills and returning messages, and that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed by the end of the week. The chamber then adopted the special order calendar for the day. The House passed several technical and open-government bills, mostly on strong bipartisan votes. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and reviser changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public records or meeting exemptions involving the Public Service Commission, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety investigations, cybersecurity, small business loan records, trade secrets, emergency shelter locations, and conviction integrity units. Members asked questions on several of these bills, especially about the scope and purpose of the exemptions, but the bills generally advanced with little opposition. The chamber also took up more substantive measures. SB 7040 recreated the emergency preparedness and response trust fund and drew extended debate over whether the fund had been misused for the Everglades detention facility; an Escamani amendment to let the fund expire failed, while a Griffiths amendment adding limits and oversight was adopted, and the bill ultimately passed 82-25. CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency passed unanimously after supporters highlighted nature-based shoreline protection and a Biscayne Bay provision. CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits passed after a House amendment aligned it with the House version. CS/SB 474 on military affairs passed unanimously after an amendment allowing local governments to extend Guard leave. SB 488 on the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles was debated extensively over vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and I-94 documentation, with amendments including one for disabled veterans and another on dealer allocation; the transcript cuts off before final disposition of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome you to the ninth week of session, and it's been a long road, but we have finally arrived
• For some, the help was simple: a road or a schoolhouse gate.
• Representative Valdés, you have had a unique and memorable road throughout the last eight years.
• side roads.
• and road information for Florida's then 52 counties.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for stopping the April campus shooter. The Speaker then outlined the final week of session, noting the House had passed 253 House bills and 149 Senate bills to date, but that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed this week. The chamber also adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report for the day. The House took up several Senate bills on special order, largely technical or open-government measures, and passed them with little or no opposition. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and revisor’s changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public-records and meeting exemptions for matters such as Public Service Commission proprietary information, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety records, cybersecurity, emergency shelter contact information, conviction integrity units, and trade secrets. Most passed overwhelmingly, though SB 7006 drew 99-8, SB 7022 on public records for exam integrity passed 101-8 after questions about testing materials and scoring rubrics, and SB 7026 on trade secrets passed 106-3. The most substantive floor debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the emergency preparedness and response trust fund in the Executive Office of the Governor. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment to let the fund expire, arguing the money had become a “slush fund” and had been used for the Everglades detention facility rather than emergencies; several members supported her on fiscal and separation-of-powers grounds, while others said the fund is needed for rapid disaster response. The House rejected Eskamani’s amendment and then adopted a Griffiths strike-all amendment adding accountability measures, including spending limits, quarterly reporting, asset tracking, and a sunset/review provision. SB 7040 then passed 82-25. The chamber also passed CS/CS SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, CS SB 474 on military affairs, and SB 488 on Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which prompted extended questions about vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and foreign passport/I-94 documentation; the bill was still under amendment and debate when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome you to the ninth week of session, and it's been a long road, but we have finally arrived
• For some, the help was simple: a road or a schoolhouse gate.
• Representative Valdés, you have had a unique and memorable road throughout the last eight years.
• side roads.
• and road information for Florida's then 52 counties.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, they keep the roads clean.
• The roads are getting swept, and you say, well, why do we need street sweepers?
• We've also invested heavily in roads, water, drainage, and public safety.
• I want that the roads are fixed so I don't have a flat tire because of holes.
• paver to pave your dirt roads?

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes heard first from city representatives through the Florida League of Cities, who argued that property taxes are a stable local revenue source that funds core services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and stormwater work. Casey Cook emphasized that cities are optional governments with widely different tax bases and service levels, that exemptions shift the burden to fewer taxpayers, and that transparency already exists through TRIM notices, public budgets, and local hearings. Sarah Campbell of Fernandina Beach, T. Michael Stavris of Winter Haven, and Stephen O’Kee of Port St. Lucie described their budget processes, the share of general-fund revenue coming from property taxes, reserve policies, debt and capital planning, and the impact of inflation, minimum wage increases, and personnel costs. They all said local governments need predictable revenue and that any property tax changes would require careful consideration of replacement funding or service reductions. Members questioned the city panel about whether homebuyers are clearly informed about city versus county taxes and services, the role of HOAs, how many lobbyists cities employ, reserve levels, average salaries, and whether utility revenues are used only for utility purposes. The panel said TRIM notices, realtor listings, and city websites provide tax information; HOAs generally do not provide emergency services; lobbyists help local governments track Tallahassee legislation; reserves vary by city and fund; and utility revenues are generally restricted, though some cities use limited transfers. Members also asked about revenue replacement if ad valorem taxes were reduced or eliminated, and the panel said options would likely include user fees, service cuts, or other local revenue shifts. The chair also asked about public safety consolidation, and the response was that such decisions are local and may shift costs rather than create true savings. The committee then heard from county representatives after an overview by the Florida Association of Counties’ Davin Suggs, who framed counties as shared partners with the state and emphasized the gap between rising market values and the shrinking share of taxable value after exemptions and assessment limits. He said counties face a mismatch between revenue based on taxable value and expenses driven by real-world costs, and noted that most counties either held millage steady or lowered it without reaching rollback rates. He also highlighted that property taxes are only one part of county revenue, with charges for services and intergovernmental revenue often larger in some counties, and that public safety at the county level includes more than law enforcement, such as EMS, emergency management, inspections, and corrections. Deborah Manzo of Okeechobee County described a fiscally constrained rural county with limited staff, a county-supported airport, heavy reliance on property taxes for the general fund, and major cost pressures from inflation, insurance, retirement, and state and federal mandates. She said the county lowered millage slightly over recent years but still depends on multiple revenue sources and special assessments, and she flagged Medicaid, medical examiner costs, and possible firefighter workweek changes as significant concerns. Bay County Administrator Mark McQueen said his county’s budget is shaped by Hurricane Michael recovery, non-discretionary obligations, and rapid growth; he described ongoing FEMA reimbursement delays, substantial borrowing to cover disaster costs, and continuing interest expenses while the county waits for reimbursement. The county panel was still in progress when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• railway, the </font> <font color="aaaaaa">railroad overpass on state </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Road
• the city of </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Starke in Bradford County as </font> <font color="aaaaaa">Road
• Coast Guard rules of the </font> <font color="aaaaaa">road as they are often called </font> <font color
• ="aaaaaa">is the Bible for all seafaring </font> <font color="aaaaaa">road as they are often called <
• ">don't you need to rest a </font> <font color="aaaaaa">on a road trip for awhile, </font> <font color

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:52.880><c> The</c> done for the roads and streets. The done for the roads and streets.
• , perhaps after the break or something down the road.
• , perhaps after the break or something down the road.
• , perhaps after the break or something down the road.
• </c><01:06:31.120><c> Thank</c> break or something down the road.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all