Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, it also requires comprehensive plans amendments to be done by a majority vote by a local
• This local bill amends the existing assessment formula for the Pace Fire District to provide tax relief
• If Section 4 passes, would the locally approved charter amendment be prevented from taking effect?
• So it's my understanding that the voters approved a local amendment regarding the governance of GRU.
• That is the amendment. Any questions on the amendment? Any amendments to the amendment?

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Chester Clem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum confirmation. Members then adopted the special order report for the day and approved a Rules and Ethics Committee report amending House Rule 15.3 to allow fundraising under certain circumstances during extended or special sessions. The chamber then took up several bills. HB 1405 on a statewide project for missing persons with special needs passed unanimously. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, passed 94-10 after debate focused on conservation land surplus procedures and agricultural use of state lands. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the “Fire Act” on foreign influence, foreign gifts, critical infrastructure, sister city agreements, and related restrictions, passed 80-20 after the House adopted an amendment adding a prohibition on certain surrogacy contracts involving citizens or residents of foreign countries of concern. CS/CS/HB 1197, dealing with information technology procurement and contracting, passed 109-0. HB 1103 on local administration of vessel restrictions passed unanimously. The House also debated CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations. Supporters said it would limit development fees, standardize compatibility rules, allow manufactured homes in RV parks, and lower voting thresholds for comprehensive plan changes to address housing affordability; opponents argued it would preempt local control, weaken voter-approved urban boundary protections, and risk conservation lands. An amendment to preserve Orange County’s boundary rules failed, while a technical amendment on manufactured homes passed. The bill then passed 71-38. The House also passed several local bills, including measures for the Pace Fire Rescue District, Avalon Beach/Mulat Fire Protection District, East Point Water and Sewer District, Fellsmere Water Control District, and Headwaters Water Control District, with votes ranging from 83-27 to unanimous approval. The transcript also included farewell remarks from Representative Angie Nixon before the House returned to remaining business.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few other short amendments. If you A few other short amendments.
• Amendment 45 is adopted. Madam Majority Amendment 45 is adopted.
• Um, amendment I move... Members, um, amendment—I move...
• Madam Chair, I do have one amendment, and so I move amendment L12 and ask for it to be... ...move amendment
• To the amendment. >> Oh, to the amendment. Sure. Sure. To the amendment. >> Yeah.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendments to local bills: Local bills can be amended, but the substance of the amendment must be consistent
• A substantive amendment to a local bill requires the completion of the local bill amendment form.
• An amendment must be approved by the majority of the local legislative delegation but does not require
• An amendment must be approved by the majority of the local legislative delegation, but does not require
• The local bill amendment form must be reviewed by staff before submission.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard and passed two measures before receiving a staff presentation on the local bill process and local delegation meetings. HB 4007, by Rep. Snyder, would cap reimbursement for certain inmate emergency medical services in Martin County at 110% of the Medicare rate, with a higher cap if a provider shows it is operating at a loss. Snyder said the bill is intended to create predictability and save taxpayer dollars; members asked about fiscal effects and whether other counties could adopt similar language. Public testimony came in support from Martin County and related local officials, and the bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee also passed HM 4005, by Rep. Daly, which urges Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Daly argued Florida’s troop allocation is outdated and inadequate for the state’s population and disaster demands, contributing to burnout and recruiting problems. Members asked about the basis for the current allocation, possible budget and infrastructure impacts, and the National Guard’s needs; there was no opposition or public testimony, and the memorial was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. After the votes, Reps. Holcomb and Kendall gave a detailed presentation explaining how local bills differ from general laws, constitutional limits on local legislation, required local delegation meetings and notice, certification and economic impact forms, and amendment procedures. Members asked several process questions, including about multi-county delegations and Miami-Dade’s special status. The meeting ended with a few recognitions and adjournment before session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You move the floor amendments? I’d like to move the floor amendments.
• I move that the House accept the Senate amendments. Shall the Senate amendment be adopted?
• The Senate with amendments. The Senate amendments to House Bill 967 are before you.
• I move that we accept the Senate amendments. Shall the Senate amendments be adopted?
• I ask that we agree to the Senate amendment. The Senate amendment is adopted.

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to you as amended. to you as amended.
• report as amended? report as amended?
• >> on a local level? >> on a local level?
• law enforcement and Aaliyah and local law enforcement and Aaliyah and took<00:40:17.359> amendments
• c><00:40:37.839> law amendments to work with local law amendments to work with local law enforcement

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We made one minor amendment there, where we say existing or amended ordinances.
• No local amendment shall be enforced if it has not been submitted to the BCRB within 60 days of the effective
• trouble with these dates no local trouble with these dates no local Amendment<00:22:18.440> shall
• amendments.
• That has a very similar thing to restrict local amendments.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up HB 428, with Philip Sherman of the Building Code Review Board presenting a detailed amendment intended to reorganize building-code statutes and limit local changes. He said the proposal would move code-related provisions into RSA 155-A, preserve municipalities’ ability to adopt and administer local enforcement mechanisms and additional non-state codes such as housing or property maintenance codes, but prohibit technical amendments to the State Building Code. He also explained that local administrative functions like permits, fees, certificates of occupancy, plan review, and staffing would remain local, while any local ordinance would still need BCRB confirmation. Members discussed the distinction between administrative and technical amendments, the need to keep fire-code provisions separate, and a date error in the draft’s submission deadline; Sherman suggested the effective-date language should be corrected to reference July 1, 2024. The committee did not vote on the amendment and instead agreed to circulate the draft and revisit it in a later subcommittee meeting before bringing it to the full committee. The discussion then shifted to fire-code issues, with State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi explaining that fire-code-related provisions should be cleaned up in the fire-code statutes and that the state should restrict technical local amendments while possibly allowing limited administrative local standards for transparency and operational consistency. He gave examples such as driveway access, sprinkler connections, key boxes, and other fire-system details that could benefit from local standardization if clearly disclosed. He noted that a separate Senate bill, SB 94, may be a more appropriate vehicle for some of the fire-code language. The chair again emphasized the need for further review and scheduled another subcommittee meeting before the matter would go to the full committee. The committee then began HB 244, and Sherman introduced it as a cleanup of the older municipal-building-code provisions scattered through the RSA 67X series. He said the bill would consolidate and update those references, continuing the effort to align municipal enforcement and appeals provisions with the statewide building-code structure. The transcript cuts off before any further action or vote on HB 244.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Is<00:42:55.520> amendment. >> Is amendment. >> Is amendment.
• <01:13:51.840> local government, for example, my local government, for example, my local government
• control, this is local control because this is local to us.
• amendment to be a bill. amendment to be a bill.
• House bills 1263 is amended. 1314 is House bills 1263 is amended. 1314 is amended.<02:51:34.000> 1336

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal. Members then made several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Appropriations, Agriculture/Water/Natural Resources, State/Civic/Military/Veterans Affairs, and Finance. The chamber also observed a moment of silence honoring the 13 victims of the Columbine High School shooting on its anniversary, with names read into the record. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 19, which celebrates Colorado’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, supports stronger trade and academic ties, supports the double-taxation agreement, and endorses Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Supporters highlighted Colorado exports, especially beef, and the long-standing economic and democratic ties between Colorado and Taiwan. The resolution passed on a 60-yes vote with five excused. The House then moved into special orders, including House Bill 1346, which would allow the Department of the Treasury to use a third-party purchaser to sell remaining insurance premium tax credits. Supporters argued the bill would help fully place the credits and avoid a revenue shortfall, while opponents criticized it as a form of borrowing against future revenue and market gaming. After debate, House Bill 1346 passed. The chamber also began consideration of Senate Bill 40, a Prop 123 cleanup bill related to affordable home ownership and land banking. Amendments L16 and L17 passed, while amendment L18, which would have required more reporting on project costs and outcomes, failed. Debate on the bill centered on housing affordability, program flexibility, and whether the state is effectively measuring results.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show the amendment to the amendment has failed. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• So the amendment to the amendment is withdrawn. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• Please read the next amendment to the amendment. Late-file amendment to the amendment, barcode...
• Amendment withdrawn. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• So that amendment to the amendment is not adopted. Read the next amendment to the amendment.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Keep it local. The only thing beautiful. Keep it local.
• amendment amendment 20005?
• and amendment. Your best. and amendment. Your best.
• If this motion is overturned, I have a floor amendment that would add slot machines to the local decision
• of floor amendment 1972. of floor amendment 1972.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Show the amendment to the amendment has failed. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• So the amendment to the amendment is withdrawn. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• Please read the next amendment to the amendment. Late-file amendment to the amendment barcode...
• Amendment withdrawn. Please read the next amendment to the amendment.
• So that amendment to the amendment is not adopted. Read the next amendment to the amendment.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a good amendment amendment amendment and<02:27:48.800> it<02:27:49.040> should<
• at the local level governments uh local at the local level governments uh local municipalities<02
• I think it's a bad idea for the locals. Whatever local it is, the local areas have disability.
• > local<02:43:35.680> areas<02:43:36.720> have local it is, the local areas have
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and heard several announcements about committee schedules and Capitol events, including Faith and Justice Lobby Day, Agriculture Week activities, and a tribute presentation for Sergeant Benjamin Pennington. The tribute honored Pennington’s Army service, his time at Fort Carson, and his death from injuries sustained in an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base; he was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant. A member also offered remarks recognizing the sacrifice of service members, and taps was played. The chamber then took up third reading and final passage on multiple bills. Senate Bill 39, concerning Fire and Police Pension Association disability and survivor benefits, passed 63-1. House Bill 1311, regarding use of a bond in lieu of retainage in construction contracts, passed 55-1 after a brief explanation of support from a member. House Bill 1184, continuing the Colorado Forest Health Council, passed 50-1; House Bill 1305, on inpatient behavioral health access, passed 64-0; and House Bill 1234, on access to child abuse or neglect records, passed 64-0. Senate Bill 50, requiring certain child care center policy disclosures to caregivers, passed 56-8. Senate Bill 84, preserving privileges for certain state entities in connection with information provided to the state auditor and fraud hotline duties, passed 42-12. House Bill 1186, continuing regulation of bail bonding agents by the Division of Insurance, passed 61-13. House Bill 1181, continuing the Barber and Cosmetologist Act, passed 51-13 after a member requested removal of their name as a co-sponsor. The House also moved Senate Bill 21 back to the general orders calendar and set several bills as special orders. In the House Special Committee on Legislative Interim Activities, House Bill 1331 was heard; the appropriations committee report was adopted after members noted a roughly $400,000 general fund reduction and a 3.3 FTE staffing reduction. The bill itself would suspend 10 interim committees, repeal two committees, and limit travel and per diem reimbursements to help address the budget gap. Supporters said the measure was similar to last year’s bill and encouraged continued policy work outside formal interim committees, while opponents argued that some committees, especially those related to water, behavioral health, and youth, should be preserved and questioned the prioritization of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council and related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions on the amendment to the amendment?
• Is there a debate on the amendment to the amendment?
• The amendment to the amendment is adopted.
• Waves closed on the amendment to the amendment.
• The amendment to the amendment is adopted.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I know we filed it as a local bill.
• We can add that to apply locally only. I don't know. To apply locally only.
• But this is not a local bill, right? It's not a local bill now, no.
• We've adopted the amendment of October 1st. We've adopted the amendment of October 1st, 2019, so...
• We do have an amendment by Representative Farnum. Has any objections to that amendment?

Summary: The Municipal Program of Cultural Affairs Committee met with a quorum and took up three Senate bills by Senator Edmonds, all related to the new City of St. George. The first bill, SB 348, would allow a local enforcement agency to contract with third-party vendors for administrative support in motor vehicle liability enforcement, such as plate processing, insurance verification, and notices, while making clear the vendors would not have police powers. Members raised concerns that the bill as drafted appeared statewide rather than local to St. George, and discussed how to limit it properly. After debate, the committee adopted amendments to narrow SB 348 to cities incorporated after October 1, 2019 and to sunset the authority on July 31, 2028, with the understanding that St. George could return later with a properly advertised local bill. The bill then received favorable action. The committee then considered SB 485, which transfers authority to levy and collect the insurance premium tax within St. George to the city beginning January 1, 2027; it was reported favorably without objection. Finally, the committee heard SB 444, which gives St. George expropriation authority for public infrastructure projects such as roads, drainage, flood protection, water, sewer, and utilities, using procedures similar to other Louisiana municipalities and DOTD. Members asked about the process and confirmed it was standard municipal authority and not related to private industry. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and members and a reminder that this was the committee’s last meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• building board of appeals to hearing decisions made under local amendments to those codes.
• Limiting to only local appeals on local amendments to the building code cuts out key stakeholders, including
• local appeals on local limiting to only local appeals on local amendments<01:21:30.679> to<01
• Okay, seeing none, the motion before us is to accept Amendment 2025-652 to House Bill 247 local.
• Madam Chair, I'd like to move ought to pass as amended on HB 247 local.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee held public hearings on House Bill 471 and House Bill 373. HB 471 would create a temporary commission to study growth, traffic, planning, and land use issues in a group of southern New Hampshire towns, with possible recommendations on regional planning commission boundaries or coordination. Representative Perez said the bill was requested by Londonderry residents and local officials, and Eric Power of Brookline testified in support, saying the towns share corridor and development issues that cross regional planning commission lines. Several members questioned whether existing law already allows towns to form regional planning commissions under RSA 364:6, whether the bill should be broader, and whether the town list should include additional communities. The hearing closed with testimony counts reported as two in support and three opposed on remote sign-in, plus one opposed and one in support on the blue sheet. HB 373, sponsored by Representative Diane Powers, would revise RSA 41:11-a on town property leases. Powers said current law is too restrictive because leases over five years require repeated town votes, which she argued is impractical for long-term arrangements. She cited examples from Hampton and Brookline, including long-term road and property leases, and said she had found multiple similar cases. The bill would keep select board authority for leases under one year, allow a legislative body to authorize a specific longer lease by a three-fifths ballot vote, and preserve the existing five-year blanket leasing authority with a three-fifths vote, while keeping existing leases valid if authority is later rescinded. Eric Power testified in support, describing recurring lease renewals in Brookline and saying longer terms are needed for projects such as housing, cell towers, and solar arrays. Members asked about the change from a simple town vote to a three-fifths threshold and whether the bill duplicates existing mechanisms; Powers said the higher threshold was intended because the leases involve long-term commitments. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE US SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO CONVEY MESSAGES INCLUDING
• THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
• QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? >> I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE BILL IS AMENDED.
• AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
• ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SAY YEA. THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there is an amendment. Please read the first amendment.
• amendment?
• I withdraw the amendment. Show that amendment withdrawn. Please read the next amendment.
• I withdraw the amendment. Show that amendment withdrawn. Please read the next amendment.
• I withdraw the amendment. Show that amendment withdrawn. Please read the next amendment.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, visiting groups, and special honorees in the galleries. The chamber then took up committee and executive appointment business, adopting a report confirming 42 gubernatorial appointments by a vote of 36-0. The Senate next considered a long special-order calendar of bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Measures included public-records sunset reviews and trade secret/cybersecurity exemptions; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; commercial driving school oversight; human trafficking training for nurses; a new injunction for protection against serious violence and its related public-records exemption; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove protection; a chiropractic trust-funds cap repeal; specialty license plates; a waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill with multiple agriculture, biosolids, and enforcement provisions; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety reporting procedures for public postsecondary institutions; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary critical-need practice certificates, and domestic animals. The floor debate featured the most discussion on the farm bill, the HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill, the autism law-enforcement bill, and the school athletics bill. The HCSM bill drew extended debate over whether licensed insurance agents should be allowed to market faith-based health care sharing ministries, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free speech, and religious liberty, and opponents warning about unregulated products and commissions; it passed 32-5. The athletics bill, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater/Miami Northwestern situation, would let coaches provide good-faith support to student-athletes while requiring reporting and FHSAA oversight; it passed 38-0. Most other measures passed overwhelmingly, including the autism bill 38-0, the campus safety bill 37-0, the public school patriotic displays bill 36-2, and the farm bill 38-0 after amendments addressing Everglades lands and biosolids timing were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a local bill.
• I see you have an amendment.
• Chair: Any questions on the amendment? Any public testimony on the amendment?
• That is the amendment. Chair Robinson: Questions on the amendment?
• amendment itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions on the amendment to the amendment?
• All in favor of the amendment to the amendment, say aye. The amendment to the amendment is adopted.
• Waves closed on the amendment to the amendment.
• The amendment to the amendment is adopted.
• That is the amendment. Questions on the amendment?

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. Please read the next amendment. Are there amendments? On the desk, Mr.
• amendment.
• Please read the first amendment to the amendment.
• Show the amendment to the amendment adopted. Please read the next amendment.
• No further amendments to the amendment, Mr. President. Back on the amendment as amended.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• AMENDMENT BAR CODE 197591 YOU ARE RECOGNIZED INTRODUCE THE AMENDMENT. >> Rep.
• SHOULD THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED. ARE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY CHANGE A SHOUT TO A MAY AND ALLOW THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE
• CHAIR IS THE AMENDMENT. >> Chair: QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? PUBLIC TESTIMONY?
• THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WE’RE BACK ON THE BILL IS AMENDED. WE ARE IN DEBATE.