Transcript Highlights:

• I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE NOTE ON THE FEES WHICH ARE NORMALLY REGARDING GOVERNMENT SERVICES
• YOU WILL SEE THAT IF THE TAX STRUCTURE WAS SIMILAR ACROSS THE STATE THAT THE DARKER BLUE LINE WHICH IS
• AUTO TITLE AND THE LIEN FEES SHOW A DOWNWARD TREND BUT THIS IS DUE TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT MOVE FUNDS
• Bernard: 12 ON YOURS. >> Azhar Khan: TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CORPORATE PLANNING FEES, >> Sen.
• THERE ARE OTHER TAXES AND FEES WHICH ARE SMALL FEES THAT COME THROUGH DIFFERENT TRUST FUNDS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been clarified to the original intent of the retail delivery fee.
• And let me be specific on this $75 annual registration fee.
• So, user fees do not fully cover the costs of our roads.
• I'm going to say that again: user fees do not fully cover the cost of our roads.
• And user fees, sure, they don't cover the entire cost of our road network.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, it's illegal to charge a fee on an initial claim.
• licensing fees.
• So while we could benefit from greater support for enforcement, it would come from increased fees to
• And so in looking at the licensed market that. increased fees to licensees.
• On the headwind side, I think the big issues are higher taxes and fees.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held an informational hearing on budget issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California Arts Council. The chair noted there would be no votes. CalVet gave an overview of its programs serving veterans and families, including transition assistance, county veterans service officers, education approvals, housing and homelessness programs, home loans, long-term care homes, and state veterans cemeteries. Members asked about future long-term care needs for aging veterans, staffing and recruitment challenges at veterans homes, and the Yountville steam infrastructure replacement project, for which CalVet sought a $38.8 million reappropriation and said federal reimbursement was expected. CalVet also discussed the role of county veterans service officers in helping veterans file claims and avoid predatory unaccredited representatives. The Department of Cannabis Control described its regulatory role from seed to sale and requested one position to implement SB 1064’s combined activities license. Members and public witnesses focused heavily on the illicit cannabis market, enforcement staffing, and the impact of taxes and fees on the legal market. DCC said it had roughly 87 enforcement positions with about a 15% vacancy rate and more than 200 compliance staff. Its economist presented the 2024 cannabis market report, which found licensed production and retail quantity were up, but retail value and prices were down, with an estimated 11.4 million pounds of illicit production and about 60% of California consumption still coming from the illicit market. Industry witnesses argued the legal market is in crisis, urged repeal of the scheduled excise tax increase, stronger enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicants, and expanded retail access. The Department of Consumer Affairs briefly presented nine budget proposals, including a $2.6 million ongoing request to maintain a business modernization system for several boards and bureaus. The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls described its work on economic and educational equity, health care, violence prevention, student rights, and archival and outreach projects, and said its budget request would convert limited-term positions to permanent. A member urged the commission to narrow its priorities toward current issues such as affordability, child care, and women’s health. The California Arts Council outlined its role as the state’s only statewide arts funder and requested restoration of $5 million in local assistance; supporters testified that the funding would leverage additional local investment and help sustain arts access, especially in rural communities. The hearing ended after the non-presentation items were noted and no further public comment was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, unfortunately, today, structural changes in the capital markets coupled with rising interest rates
• In this case, the developers will pay the bonding company a fee or premium to issue the bond much like
• Um, the bill goes into more detail, allowing the sheriff, the constable to collect compensation fees
• Actual damages, exemplary damages, and court costs and attorneys' fees from whoever had them removed.
• Reforms, expedited filing fees authorize Secretary of State to set and collect a fee up to $5000 for

Transcript Highlights:

• I've given over a million dollars towards parkland dedication. fees, a half million dollars towards the
• Unfortunately, today structural changes in the capital markets, coupled with rising interest rates...
• The bill goes into more detail, allowing the sheriff or constable to collect compensation fees if they
• Other states have made expedited filings and charge a fee for this specialized service.
• Reforms expedited filing fees and authorizes the Secretary of State to set and collect a fee up to $5,000

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1022 builds on existing efforts to create structure. complicated.
• SB 1022 builds on existing efforts to create structure for collaboration.
• systems. ...policies, command structures, and accountability systems.
• But also, I know that they were talking about toll fees and storage fees and all of that.
• and also storage fees as well.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills and took testimony on each, with members often noting amendments and continuing negotiations. SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require juvenile courts to find that less restrictive alternatives are unsuitable before ordering detention, and would require periodic review of continued detention and consideration of alternatives at disposition. Supporters argued it would reduce unnecessary youth detention and improve transparency; probation, judges, and police groups opposed it as an undue limit on judicial discretion and potentially unsafe in serious cases. The chair said he would recommend an aye with amendments, but the bill was held pending quorum and later remained on call. SB 1130 by Senator Gomez Reyes would update privacy law for wearable recording devices such as smart glasses, requiring consent before recording in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and banning devices or accessories designed to defeat recording indicators. Supporters said the bill addresses secret recording and invasive surveillance; opponents from tech and hospitality groups sought clarification to avoid unintended liability for businesses and exempt workplace communication devices. Members discussed those exemptions, and the chair recommended an aye, but the measure also remained on call. Senator Blake Spear presented SB 99, which would let courts consider military protective orders in domestic violence proceedings and require better communication between civilian law enforcement and military authorities. Supporters from the Department of Defense, local officials, and military representatives said it would close protection gaps for military families; the ACLU opposed it on due process grounds because MPOs are issued without judicial process. The chair and author emphasized that the bill only allows consideration of MPOs and does not require civilian enforcement of them. The bill passed out on a vote, though it remained on call for additional members. The committee also heard SB 937 by Senator Gonzalez, restricting flashbang use for crowd control and banning flashbangs and explosive breaching charges in immigration enforcement, and SB 1022, creating a statewide anti-trafficking task force. SB 937 drew support from civil rights and community groups and opposition from police and sheriffs over the use-of-force standard and limits on tactics; it passed out on a vote but remained on call. SB 1022 was supported by survivor and faith groups and opposed by public defenders and sex worker advocates who raised concerns about racial disparities and enforcement harms; it also passed out on a vote. Later, SB 1395, extending criminal protective orders for certain felony sex offenses against minors up to 20 years, and SB 1230, increasing penalties for repeat illegal dumping, were both heard with mixed testimony and were held on call after committee votes. The committee also adopted a consent calendar and several bills were moved forward with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So, but they will have a yearly license fee. Is that correct?
• I believe the biennial fee was 285 originally.
• Typically, though, the fees of the board would cover the costs.
• 00:46:45.440> was<00:46:45.920> 285 a bianial uh fee was 285 a bianial uh fee was 285 originally
• It's a different licensing fee, different thing like all that different regulation.

Bills: HF362, HF2590, HF2760, HF3444

Keywords: massage therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, massage therapist, Asian bodywork therapist, licensure, professional licensing, health occupations, Department of Health, commissioner of health, advisory council, protected title, unlicensed practice, scope of practice, consumer protection, background check, professional liability insurance, continuing education, credentialing examination, state preemption, municipal regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill includes standard guardrails, including a 25% cap on attorney's fees.
• Fees paid back to them if the designation is overturned or invalidated by a court. Senator Doral.
• There is not anything that gets fees reinstated.
• But that exemption does not apply to electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work, which
• I was negotiating what my pay structure and my benefits would be.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a brief introduction of the doctor of the day before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up several claims bills, including SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which was described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents; the House bill was substituted and passed 34-0. SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence, was also substituted with the House version and passed 35-0. SB 42/HB 47 on specific medical diagnoses and child protective investigations passed 34-0 after supporters said it would require child protection teams to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse. Later, SB 1002 on child welfare passed 37-0 after sponsors said it clarifies that parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow earlier court intervention and services, while not changing parental rights law. The Senate then considered education and health-related measures. SB 206/HB 851 on students with autism spectrum disorder was amended to the House bill and passed 35-0; the sponsor said it expands teacher preparation, requires autism-related training, creates a loan forgiveness program, and adds salary supplements for teachers with autism endorsements. SB 556/HB 453 on high school diploma requirements passed 36-0 and would allow students with disabilities to use Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements, while also fixing a marching band credit issue. SB 688 on naturopathic medicine passed 33-3, reestablishing licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors. SB 878/HB 1347 on clinical laboratory personnel passed 37-0 to address staffing shortages by aligning Florida more closely with federal CLIA standards. SB 914/HB 867 on dry needling by occupational therapists passed 37-0, clarifying authority for that treatment. SB 530 on state lotteries passed 36-0 with updates to operations, security, and retailer rules. SB 964/HB 6011 on financial disclosures and gifts/honoraria passed 36-0 after an amendment restored a percentage-based reporting option. The chamber also approved several government-administration and public-records measures. SB 326/HB 131 on curators of estates passed 36-0, updating probate rules for temporary court-appointed curators. SB 758/HB 625 on the Justice Administrative Commission passed 37-0 after an amendment broadened the judicial member to a judge or senior judge rather than only a circuit judge. SB 830 on public records passed 31-5, creating exemptions for the personal information of county and city managers and certain family members. The Senate also passed SB 21/HB 218 on land use regulations, which preserves hurricane-recovery restrictions in affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties, and the sponsor thanked colleagues for helping address unintended consequences from prior law. SB 354 on Blue Ribbon Projects was debated extensively over concerns about local control, conservation protections, and vague standards; after a late amendment excluding data centers from commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than passed. Finally, SB 1632/HB 1471 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and domestic terrorist designations drew significant debate over references to Sharia law, religious freedom, notice, and due process; one amendment striking Sharia references failed, and a second amendment with broader revisions was under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then I know your president is like a specialist in like hurricane structure y'all there are Super smart
• So how these payments were structured and by from what booster? I'm just not advised.
• It's gonna advantage all the other states who have been first movers in this regulatory structure, so
• HB number 290 by Lopez-Auberre relating to assistance for tuition and fees at post-secondary educational
• District number one providing authority to issue bonds, providing authority to impose assessments, fees

Bills: HJR5, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB1330, HB2110, HB2143, HCR64, HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• court will pay a private attorney's fee court will pay a private attorney's fee for<00:09:55.200
• Taxpayers are still paying these fees.
• <01:08:33.839> for are using MAPD can stay on um fee for are using MAPD can stay on um fee
• So I assume they'll follow the same process that we did with parental fees when we had parental fees.
• did with parental fees when we had<01:14:07.120> parental<01:14:07.440> fees<01:14:07.679

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This exposed a structural once.
• Administrative fees are one, two, possibly maybe 5%, but 10% is a really high administrative fee.
• administrative fee? administrative fee?
• fees? fees?
• add more testing, add more structure. add more testing, add more structure.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've had several structures.
• You're not seeing any issues whatsoever with structural integrity?
• For the structural integrity reserve study, it's just for that set of structural integrity items, and
• For the reserve study, it's just for that set of structural integrity items.
• What is that beginning balance of the structural integrity of that reserve fund?

Summary: The committee on Regulated Industries convened with a quorum and began a panel discussion focused on condominium milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS), with members framing the topic as part of Florida’s post-Surfside condo safety reforms. The chair and panelists reviewed how the state got here, emphasizing that the problems predated Surfside and were driven by long-term deferred maintenance, underfunded reserves, and aging buildings. Panelists included representatives from Florida Realtors, engineering and reserve-study firms, a CPA, a community association attorney, and Broward County’s building safety official, all of whom described their roles in inspections, reserve planning, and code enforcement. Testimony centered on what inspectors are finding in the field. Panelists said the most common problems are not subsidence but wear-and-tear and maintenance failures, especially in stairways, balconies, roofs, parapet walls, waterproofing, and corrosion. They described examples of buildings with hidden deterioration, hurricane-exposed damage, and associations that were underfunded despite prior inspection regimes in Miami-Dade and Broward. Dr. Barbosa explained that Miami-Dade’s recertification program began in the 1970s and Broward’s in 2005, with current timelines generally requiring notice, a first milestone review, and then time to begin substantial repairs; she said the program has improved compliance but that SIRS has added confusion. Members also raised concerns about the cost and implementation of SIRS, including whether reports are being used to generate unnecessary work, whether contractors or firms have conflicts of interest, and whether the law’s use of “fully funded” is being misunderstood. Panelists said the statutory reserve requirement is better understood as baseline funding, not having all money in the bank immediately, and suggested clearer definitions and possibly changing the terminology to “adequately funded.” They also discussed the need to separate required structural items from optional or cosmetic items in reserve reports, improve transparency for buyers and lenders, and ensure associations provide documents through websites and other portals. No votes were taken. The committee used the meeting as an information-gathering session and signaled that more panels and discussion would follow, with members and witnesses agreeing that the state may need further clarification, education, and possible statutory adjustments to reduce confusion while preserving building safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a fee increase here. So the plate production fee would go from $4 per plate to $6.
• There is a fee increase here. So the plate production fee would go from $4 per plate to $6.
• There is a fee increase here. So the plate production fee would go from $4 per plate to $6.
• There is a fee department of safety. There is a fee increase<00:44:06.800> here.
• fee would go from $4 per plate to $6. fee would go from $4 per plate to $6.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California Jobs did not lose as much land as west Virginia by 2012. eliminating that fee will create
• , where those fees are in fact.
• to prime lands, and we urge the committee to reject the repeal of solar use easement cancellation fees
• That has been addressed in amendments offered by the author and the sponsors. fees, I think, you know
• interested in funds that go to preserve ag land and mitigate the loss of ag land, but cancellation fees

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a fee.
• need an expanded fee. need an expanded fee.
• fee has a purpose. fee has a purpose.
• <02:27:51.439> in<02:27:51.680> order fee, now you're renaming fees in order fee, now
• The Senate structure<04:23:24.319> changed. structure changed. structure changed.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be individual anatomical structures.
• It's a $200 initial fee, and I think the renewal fee is $200, which is every two years or something on
• And so those fees can run into the thousands.
• So we charge a fee; our fee is $94.50 per year, so it's $1.89 for every two years.
• From the state licensing fee to the Texas Medical Board.

Bills: SB2024, SB227, SB268, SB1467, SB1580, HB5537, SB1313, SB1677, SB918, SB331, SB2207, SB2721

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• fees fees those<00:13:29.920> payments<00:13:30.399> exceeded<00:13:31.120> the
• <00:32:30.120> 1515 fee uh P Tabs are calculated at 1. 1515 fee uh P Tabs are calculated at
• Louisiana has a state fee of $75, but it is taxed and supervised at the city or parish level.
• But we paid $57,000 in taxes and in fees.
• 28% while license and Regulatory fees 28% while license and Regulatory fees were were were 1%<00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 169, which would change the tax structure for charitable gambling. Representative Robbins offered and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, described as a technical correction to ensure sports-themed tip boards are not inadvertently taxed under the bill. Robbins then presented the bill as a way to replace the current tiered combined net receipts tax on charitable gambling with a flat 5% rate, arguing charities were being overtaxed and that prior promises of relief had not been fully delivered. Chair Stevenson pushed back on several of Robbins’ factual claims, correcting the record on the status of E-pull tabs, the share of charitable gambling revenue they represent, and the amount of tax relief already enacted in 2023 and 2024. He said E-tabs were not eliminated, that the revenue split between paper pull tabs and E-tabs is closer to 45/55, and that charities had already received a $15 million tax cut plus savings from reduced developer fees. Robbins responded that the changes still significantly reduced revenue and that the bill was intended as a middle-ground approach. Testimony largely came from charitable gambling and veterans groups in support of the bill. Rachel Jenner of Allied Charities of Minnesota said nearly 1,000 charities depend on charitable gambling, cited high taxes and fees, and said many organizations were seeing revenue declines after the new E-pull tab rules took effect. Dr. Christy Jano of the American Legion Department of Minnesota said charitable gambling funds support veterans, youth, and community programs, and that a flat 5% tax would help posts continue those efforts. Members asked about the size of the revenue drops and how much gambling proceeds go to overhead and operating costs; Jenner said the losses varied by organization and that it was too early to know the long-term effect, while Jano said some expenses are used for property taxes and building upkeep. The committee then moved on to additional testimony, including Tim Angstrom, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• have to pay the fee.
• It just said that if there's a fee, say there's a material fee or something like that.
• fee.
• fees.
• Yes ma'am, we call it a fee. There’s a response... Yes, we call it a fee.

Bills: HB61, HB327, HB253, HB297

Keywords: home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, parental leave, state employees, adoption, employee benefits, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, lease tax, rental tax, commercial aircraft, air carrier, airline, aircraft parts, maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• We collect that through premium taxes, licensing fees, and administrative fines.
• penalties and fees we've got a<00:47:51.720> a<00:47:52.079> a<00:47:52.240> tax
• Both of the units are structured basically in the same format in that each unit oversees a compliance
• Both of the units are structured basically in the same format in that each unit oversees a compliance
• divisions the organizational structure divisions the organizational structure we<04:50:46.600>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, and so then how would that then affect the structure, the tax structure for the counties?
• really salient point, there are so many little discounts and provisions for all types of taxes and fees
• really salient point, there are so many little discounts and provisions for all types of taxes and fees
• What issue are we taking up with those viewpoints that have differed from that agreed-upon structure?
• Okay, it provides a definition of extraordinary circumstances for the purpose of raising impact fees

Summary: The committee took up several claims bills and tax-related measures. It reported favorably SB 20, providing $400,000 in relief to J.N., a minor injured on a Hillsborough County sidewalk, and SB 14, providing $1.7 million to the estate of Pineal Januier after a drowning at a Miami Beach youth center pool. It also approved SB 674, which would let property appraisers, like tax collectors, budget for hiring and retention bonuses with Department of Revenue approval. In each claims bill, the sponsor described the underlying incident, the settlement amount, and the remaining payment sought under sovereign immunity limits; there was no opposition on the claims bills. The bonus bill drew support from property appraisers who said it would help them compete for specialized staff without requiring new appropriations. The committee then considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, which would create a new homestead-like property tax benefit for owners who lease a non-homestead property for more than six months as residential rental housing. Supporters said it was intended to encourage more affordable rental housing by extending a $50,000 exemption and Save Our Homes-style assessment cap to qualifying properties. County and city representatives, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties opposed the proposal, warning of major revenue losses, reduced public safety funding, and tax shifts to other property owners and businesses. Several senators also raised concerns about density, parking, and whether landlords would actually pass savings on to renters. Despite the opposition, both the constitutional amendment and the implementing bill were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS SB 268, as amended to include congressional members, creating a public-records exemption related to certain residential information for elected officials. The First Amendment Foundation opposed it, arguing the bill lacked a sufficient public purpose and could hinder transparency, while senators supporting it cited real threats and harassment against themselves and their families. SB 100, which bans government display of flags representing political viewpoints and allows active or retired military members to use reasonable force to stop desecration of the U.S. flag, also passed after extensive debate. Opponents argued it was vague, unconstitutional, and aimed at pride and other identity-related flags; supporters said government buildings should not display political messages and that the bill protects neutrality. Finally, the committee approved CS/SB 1664, which would require voter reapproval every eight years for local discretionary taxes such as tourist development taxes and local option taxes, with exceptions for pledged bond revenues. Cities, counties, tourism groups, and the restaurant/lodging industry opposed it, saying it would create uncertainty, threaten tourism and infrastructure funding, and complicate long-term planning; Senator Sharief and others said the measure would disrupt existing surtax-backed projects and revenue streams.