Transcript Highlights:

• This financing partnership helped the state appropriation go farther and serve more households.
• Column A includes the agencies and their specific appropriations.
• uh the uh the legislature appropriated uh the uh the legislature appropriated $1.14<01:23:29.760
• c> the appropriation appropriated budget so the appropriation appropriated budget so the Statewide
• <01:48:01.480> um last couple years with appropriated um last couple years with appropriated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Committee on Appropriations, which will now come to order.
• This amendment adds a $4 million appropriation to this bill, bringing long-overdue compensation to the
• Yes, when I amended it, it has $500,000 of recurring funding in the General Appropriations Act.
• It has $500,000 of recurring funding in the General Appropriations Act, yes. Please follow up.
• the Ocklawaha River, but that appropriation was vetoed by the governor.

Bills: S0330, S0474, S0694, S1120, S1216, S1366, S1442, S7018

Keywords: firefighter disability, law enforcement disability, correctional officer disability, correctional probation officer, presumptive disability, workers' compensation, line of duty presumption, heart disease presumption, hypertension presumption, tuberculosis presumption, public safety employees, first responders, physical examination, preemployment exam, medical specialist, Medicare reimbursement, employing agency, Florida Statutes 112.18, Florida Statutes 943.13, occupational disease

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with SB 694 on compensation for the descendants of the Groveland Four. Senator Bracey Davis described the wrongful accusations, convictions, deaths, and long-term harm to the families, and an amendment added a $4 million appropriation and updated the recipient for Ernest Thomas’s family. Multiple family members, advocates, clergy, and supporters testified in favor, emphasizing the decades-long delay in justice and the need for accountability and repair. Senators from both parties spoke in support, and the committee reported the bill favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then approved SB 330 on disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers; SB 474 on military affairs leave and related benefits; and SB 96 on the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program. SB 96 drew the most discussion, with Senator Sharief explaining that the bill raises eligibility to 400% of the federal poverty level and moves $500,000 in recurring funding to the General Appropriations Act. Senator Wright and Senator Harrell raised concerns about whether expanding eligibility could worsen the existing waitlist, while supporters argued the change would help more veterans access needed dental care. The bill was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 7018 on child welfare, making the Step Into Success pilot program permanent and statewide, adjusting visitor/background-check rules for foster homes, and creating a best-practices program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. SB 480 on information technology was reported favorably after amendments creating a central IT governance structure under the Governor’s office, adding vendor performance metrics and a preferred vendor list, and restoring criminal justice information security provisions. SB 1066 on the Ocklawaha River and Rodman Dam also advanced after extensive testimony from supporters and historians about partial restoration, recreation, and economic benefits; the sponsor said he would continue working through permitting questions before floor consideration. Later, the committee approved SB 1216 on educator compensation, which gives districts more flexibility on cost-of-living adjustments, advanced degrees, and performance pay caps, and SB 1120 on water management district oversight and reporting. The committee also reported favorably SB 1366 on sovereign immunity and claims against government, which would raise damages caps, index them to CPI, shorten claim deadlines, and cap attorney fees at 25%. That bill drew testimony from hospitals, cities, counties, school districts, and others, with some supporting the Senate’s compromise approach and others raising concerns about impacts on self-insured law enforcement agencies and attorney incentives. The meeting concluded with the favorable report on the bill after debate continued over those issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• When appropriate, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
• The motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations.
• File item 4, SB 334, the motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations.
• File item 7, SB 472, the motion is due pass to Appropriations. Hoover, aye. Addis, aye.
• The motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations. Hoover.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on school safety, immigrant student protections, Holocaust and genocide education, civic engagement, and workforce pathways. SB 631 would expand the charter school revolving loan fund by increasing loan amounts and broadening eligibility, including for charter schools affected by natural disasters; it drew support from the Treasurer’s Office and the California Charter Schools Association and was advanced on a 4-0 vote, with the bill held on call. SB 472 would reinforce Holocaust, slavery, and genocide education requirements and create or expand teacher training and grants; it received strong support from survivors, educators, and Jewish organizations and passed 6-0, with several members asking to be added as coauthors. The committee also took up a package of immigration-related school bills. SB 48 would bar school officials from allowing immigration enforcement access to campuses without a judicial warrant and protect student records; it was backed by Superintendent Tony Thurmond, teachers, school districts, and many advocacy groups, and passed 5-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 98 would require K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify campus communities when immigration enforcement is present; it also drew broad support from student groups, colleges, and education organizations and passed 3-0 to Higher Education, with the bill held on call. Both measures were presented as responses to recent immigration enforcement activity near schools and the chilling effect on attendance and student well-being. Other measures advanced included SB 848, which would strengthen protections against employee sexual misconduct in schools by updating safety plans, training, reporting, and misconduct tracking; it was supported by education groups and a survivor who described grooming at her high school, and passed 6-0 to Public Safety. SB 638 would create a statewide coordinating entity for education and workforce programs and support career pathways, with testimony emphasizing the need to align fragmented funding and improve access for underserved communities; it passed 7-0 to Higher Education. SB 316, on high school voter registration and pre-registration, passed 8-0 to Elections after testimony from students and civic engagement advocates, and SB 334, which would add sexual harassment prevention content and a Sexual Harassment Safety Week to school curriculum, was presented with support from student advocates and AAUW, with no opposition noted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would be adopting the Senate language, making technical corrections to 2023 appropriations to the
• Uh, on the appropriation side by side page R41 section two they had it uh in the policy it is R29 House
• :05:12.960> page<00:05:13.199> R41 appropriation side by side page R41 appropriation side
• This is House-only language keeping a 2023 appropriation to the city of Minneapolis available.
• an appropriation of 163,000 per<00:26:06.480> fiscal<00:26:06.880> year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need appropriate guardrails in place as this technology grows.
• That is the reality we're heading toward without appropriate guardrails.
• At the appropriate time, we will move forward.
• The motion is due pass to Appropriations. We have a motion and a second.
• To protect workers, we need to consider appropriate guardrails. Technology.

Summary: The committee heard a series of labor-related bills, with most measures focused on worker training, privacy, wages, and safety. AB 296 would require schools or districts to host apprenticeship fairs at least once a year, with flexibility on how they are run and whether programs outside the county can participate. Supporters said it would help connect students to skilled trades and address workforce shortages; school administrators opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate that could be impractical for elementary schools. The bill was later moved on call, with the committee noting it could not vote until quorum was established. AB 1221 and AB 1331 both addressed workplace surveillance. AB 1221 would restrict invasive monitoring tools, require notice to workers, limit the use and sharing of worker data, and require human review before discipline based on surveillance outputs. Labor groups supported the bill as a response to AI-driven monitoring, while business groups raised concerns about broad definitions, security cameras, investigations, and data-access provisions. AB 1331 focused more narrowly on privacy in off-duty and private spaces, limiting surveillance in places like restrooms, break areas, vehicles, and homes; hospitals and business groups opposed it as too broad and potentially disruptive to safety, cybersecurity, and facility monitoring. Both bills were advanced by committee vote. The committee also heard AB 1181, which would require firefighter turnout gear to be free of cancer-causing chemicals such as PFAS by 2027, and AB 1198, which would require prevailing wage rates on public works to reflect the wage in effect when the work is performed rather than when the project was first advertised. Firefighter representatives strongly supported AB 1181, while the chemical industry asked to continue working on scope and timelines. AB 1198 drew support from labor and contractor groups but opposition from local governments and housing groups concerned about mid-project cost increases; it was passed to Appropriations after a roll-call vote. Other measures approved included AB 1235 on skilled-and-trained workers for CSU construction, AB 1251 on ghost job postings, AB 552 on locating the Agricultural Labor Relations Board office outside Sacramento, AB 1110 on updating Cal/OSHA workplace posters, AB 1136 on expanding high road training partnerships, and AB 1234 on wage claim enforcement. AB 692, which would ban employer debt agreements that require workers to repay training or other costs if they leave a job, drew strong support from nurses and labor advocates and opposition from business and health care groups; it was also passed on a roll-call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of that, uh, front yard gardens, backyard chickens are not appropriate for every community
• Direct administration of agency programs is budgeted at another 10%. 88.5% of all appropriated funds
• We have been in discussions with Representative Hayes on a rider to appropriations, uh, based on the,
• With all that in mind, the state board's pending legislative appropriation request is for another 150
• As we have previously testified to the Article 3 appropriations Subcommittee.

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• And for FY25, the Legislature appropriated $4.17 billion to the state.
• And so they all wait while you're deciding on that appropriation.
• So when you appropriate money for teacher pay, school districts spend that money on teacher pay.
• We have stopped doing that appropriation and that intervention, but it was something that there was a
• As you said, Madam Secretary, these decisions can appropriate the money, but to...

Transcript Highlights:

• ICE has lacked, of course, the appropriate transparency.
• Senator Reyes made an appropriate outfit change.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations. Wahab? Second. Motion is do pass to Appropriations. Kalra?
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations. Motion is do pass to Appropriations. Kalra? Aye. Macedo?
• Motion do pass to Appropriations. Kalra? Aye. Kalra, aye.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also want to make sure there's an appropriate timeline for remediation.
• The motion is do pass to Appropriations. Bauer-Kahan. Aye.
• Valencia, the motion is do pass to Appropriations. Bauer-Kahan. Aye. Masito, aye.
• I'm happy to answer any questions that the committee may have at the appropriate time.
• AB 2169 by Assembly Member Lowenthal, the motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:48.640> $163,000 would appropriate $163,000 would appropriate $163,000 from<01:03:51.680
• <01:21:43.640> are the details of the appropriations are the details of the appropriations
• <01:21:57.920> for, general fund direct appropriation for, general fund direct appropriation
• This is an one-time appropriation.
• ongoing appropriation for continued ongoing appropriation for continued full-time<01:24:45.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's going to be appropriations.
• appropriation amount. appropriation amount. technical<00:39:03.040> non-s<00:39:03.440>
• >> not return for further appropriation. >> not return for further appropriation.
• program blank appropriation program blank appropriation um<01:21:38.080> committee<01:21:
• We're going to pass this with blank<01:22:32.400> appropriation blank appropriation blank appropriation

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• the general an appropriation by the general assembly,<00:07:16.080> there's<00:07:16.319>
• uh appropriations for each banial<00:09:53.600> budget<00:09:53.920> process.
• . appropriate. appropriate.
• General fund appropriation.
• <00:24:23.760> law report them to the appropriate law report them to the appropriate law enforcement

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an appropriate time.
• First reading of bills: HB 454; appropriations; HB 4156; appropriations; HB 4158, criminal justice; HB
• 4159, environment; appropriations; HB 4161; HB 4162; HB 4163; appropriations; HB 4164, local government
• ; appropriations; HB 4165; appropriations; HB 4167; appropriations; HB 4168; appropriations; HB 4169;
• appropriations.

Summary: The House convened, approved the prior journal, received gubernatorial communications, and then moved into an additional Committee of the Whole to consider Senate bills on two calendars. In that committee, members adopted floor and committee amendments and reported SB 1100, SB 1160, and SB 1178 out as amended. On the second calendar, the committee considered SB 1200, SB 1560, SB 1627, and SB 1723, adopting amendments on SB 1200, SB 1627, and SB 1723 and reporting all four measures out, while SB 1725 was retained on the calendar. The House then adopted the committee reports and sent the amended bills to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. The chamber then took up a long series of third-reading votes. Several bills passed with recorded votes and some member explanations focused on public safety, parental rights, school safety, health care, local control, property rights, and wildlife management. Among the measures that passed were SB 1013, SB 1015, SB 1046, SB 1094, SB 1095, SB 1124, SB 1186, SB 1214, SB 1275, SB 1280, SB 1315, SB 1318, SB 1205 on reconsideration, SB 1327, SB 1416, SB 1418, SB 1582, SB 1613, SB 1662, SB 1664, SB 1670, SB 1711, SB 1741, SB 1821, and several concurrent memorials. A number of bills failed, including SB 1052, SB 1170, SB 1457, SB 1074, SB 1540, SB 1649, and SB 1663. Debate on several bills drew pointed partisan and policy disagreements. Members opposing health-related bills argued they targeted LGBTQ people or medical decision-making, while supporters framed them as protecting children or bodily autonomy. On SB 1170, members said the bill contained a drafting error that would create extreme penalties and strain prison capacity. On SB 1280, supporters and opponents split over Mexican gray wolf management and federal conservation efforts. On SB 1199, the Salt River horse herd bill, members discussed herd management, heritage, property impacts, and a required emergency clause; it passed with the needed two-thirds majority. The House also adopted a group concurrence motion on numerous House bills and passed several House bills on final reading, including HB 2013, HB 2016, HB 2028, HB 2086, HB 2118, HB 2140, HB 2170, HB 2226, HB 2244, HB 2248, HB 2249, HB 2327, HB 2379, HB 2380, and others, forwarding them to the Governor.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, Madam Chair, to add on to your question again, Governor, was the funding appropriated but
• You had the president's budget come out, and then the House is working on their appropriations bill.
• And so I've been looking at the appropriation bills, but once they leave the House, they jump over to
• they still had another 400 million that they hadn't appropriated.
• Advanced appropriation will be the elimination of critical funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is what is dealt with through the annual appropriations process, and that's the discretionary
• So, for example, some uh early childhood appropriations for infant and maternal care come from uh that
• Congress usually takes the lead on really doing the appropriations and the budgeting, but definitely
• So, a long road to hoe on the appropriations, annual appropriations process and what changes will happen
• It's been appropriated. We just have to get the technical assistance to help.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is do pass and be re-referred to the committee on appropriations.
• That would not be appropriate. But every... 501c3 has some world view.
• The motion is do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Pellerin?
• The motion is do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Pellerin?
• The motion is due pass and be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Bennett. Bennett. Aye.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now this appropriated for such purposes.
• continuously appropriated authority. continuously appropriated authority.
• And let's have it go appropriately through the appropriations committee so we can make sure that we are
• shall be appropriate for such purposes. shall be appropriate for such purposes. because<01:24:48.719
• because we can appropriate additional because we can appropriate additional funds<01:24:51.760> when

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:28:45.480> to that you think it's appropriate to that you think it's appropriate to embody
• up unspent but previously appropriated up unspent but previously appropriated funds<00:31:29.000
• unspent but previously appropriated unspent but previously appropriated funds<00:31:34.399> um
• is a very small very basic appropriation is a very small very basic appropriation uh<00:53:40.280
• Uh, should we set this precedent and appropriate money for this purpose?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your staff should be monitoring this hearing to assist you with coming at the appropriate time.
• Your staff should be monitoring this hearing to assist you with coming at the appropriate time.
• It enforces collective bargaining laws and provides appropriate remedies.
• The motion is due pass and re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. McKinner. Aye.
• Item number four, SB 1207, the motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations, with

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several bills, beginning with SB 1166 by Senator Arreguín, which would allow AC Transit and its employees to use the Public Employment Relations Board to resolve unfair labor practice charges instead of the courts. The author and union supporters said PERB would provide a faster, fairer, and more specialized process, while no opposition testified. The committee members expressed support, and SB 1166 was approved on a due pass motion and re-referred to Appropriations. The committee also took up consent items SB 1024, SB 1207, and SB 1444, which were moved on consent and placed on hold for absent members. Later, SB 1083 by Senator Perez was heard; it would refine last year’s school misconduct database law by adding an administrative law judge review process for classified employees, requiring stronger employer notification and record-sharing procedures, and extending vetting requirements to certain contracted workers. Supporters, including classified employees and labor groups, argued the bill adds due process and fairness while preserving student safety. Opponents, including school administrators, school districts, and liability organizations, argued it could create gaps in misconduct records, increase liability, and weaken protections for students. After discussion, the author said he was continuing to work with opponents on amendments and emphasized the bill’s goal of balancing due process with child safety, referencing his own experience with grooming as a student. SB 1083 was passed on a due pass motion and re-referred to the Committee on Education. The chair then announced that all bills had passed and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your staff should be monitoring this hearing to assist you with coming at the appropriate time.
• It enforces collective bargaining laws and provides appropriate remedies.
• The motion is do pass and re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. McKinner. Aye.
• Item number four, SB 1207, the motion is do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations, with
• Item number five, SB 1444, the motion is do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations, with

Keywords: 988, house, all