Transcript Highlights:

• With me today are Instanziaita, COO, Amber Miller, Director of Finance, Lennors, Chief Data officer,
• So, while we can't wave a magic wand and help on the finance side over here, what we can do is ensure
• They provided $30 million to help close the gap and limit the amount of debt that needs to be taken on
• those contracts, and maybe we if if we were able to have those as FTE state employees, kind of what the gap
• I have Marco Young, he's our director of finance, and Megan Hanen, our chief of staff.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That will be done this fall, and then we will start working in early 2026 with the Mortgage Finance Authority
• (MFA) and others, including the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA).
• looking at how we can partner to bring in some of that multi-family housing here and start to bridge that gap
• Contest to go to Orlando, and the culinary group out of Gadsden, we help finance a trip, uniform donations
• there's sometimes a lag Months before we get that data, and that probably is what's reflected in that gap

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not filling a gap; it's creating a different regime that's sort of a hybrid of both public prompt-pay
• Realistically, there has been one revitalization district financing done in the state.
• I'm with Launch Development Finance Advisors.
• It's a private developer using a public financing tool in order to build.
• Thank you. ...big projects, and if it's going to jeopardize bond financing, I have a real concern, because

Bills: HB2174, HB2496, HB2744, HB2863, HB2910, HB2938

Keywords: insurance regulation, modeling organizations, financial disclosure, rate-making, predictive models, revitalization districts, construction contracts, infrastructure, municipal services, intergovernmental agreements, user fees, landowner agreements, overtime, wages, employee rights, industrial commission, complaints, adjudication, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• Democrats, and the Senate were getting stuck and instead of taking the bill away, we added uh our finance
• 04:22.880> our taking the bill away, we added uh our taking the bill away, we added uh our finance
• 24.000> So,<00:04:24.160> Zach<00:04:24.479> Stevenson,<00:04:24.960> Paul finance
• So, Zach Stevenson, Paul finance chairs.
• I think you got a sense of how difficult it is to close the gaps between the Senate DFL, House GOP, and

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Legislative leaders said budget negotiations were still underway in working groups, with public meetings planned or already held for several committees, including Environment, Education, Transportation, and Jobs. They said the remaining major issues were health and human services and taxes, while bonding was also still unresolved. One speaker said Republicans were not engaging on bonding, though another later said House Republicans were interested and that the target remained $700 million. The governor was expected to review completed bills and then call a special session, likely early to mid next week if the remaining work could be finished in time. A major point of discussion was whether coverage for undocumented immigrants would move separately from the larger health bill. One participant said the undocumented healthcare measure would travel separately, while another said that had not yet been fully decided because the health package was not locked down. The speakers also discussed layoff notices tied to the budget delay, saying nurses and some staff at MState and Minstate would receive notices first, with the rest following on June 9, and that leaders were trying to minimize stress by getting a date for the special session and final bill drafts posted quickly. The speakers emphasized that the negotiations were still active and not broken down, though they acknowledged a few sticking points and said some work had been slowed by the need to bring together House and Senate dynamics in a closely divided legislature. They said the process remained transparent because the same committee chairs and working groups were still involved, and that public meetings were being requested for Senate chairs. One speaker also noted that Senator Mark Johnson had been invited into the talks earlier but was not currently in the meetings because he had not signed the deal being implemented.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, some of the reforms that were passed based on OIR's analysis left gaps in their ability
• CCRCs like Fleet Landing are financed by publicly issued debt or loans from banks.
• look at the proposed structure of the debt and see very clearly that they have a first lien on the finances
• they adjust the interest rates appropriately, or they tell us we're not going to have access to the financing
• When my wife and I moved to Fleet Landing, we looked at the finances of Fleet Landing with the benefit

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several insurance, financial regulation, and public safety bills. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1656, a major Office of Insurance Regulation bill covering reciprocal insurers, rate transparency, data calls, cybersecurity notification, and stronger oversight of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). The sponsor and OIR described the bill as aimed at transparency and preventing insolvencies, especially after recent CCRC failures. CCRC residents and industry representatives testified both in support and in opposition, with supporters emphasizing resident protection and opponents warning about liens, reserve requirements, management-company regulation, and higher costs. After debate and assurances that problematic provisions would be refined, the committee adopted a delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1658, which creates a public records framework for the uniform mitigation verification of inspection form database while protecting policyholders’ personal information; a clarifying amendment was adopted before the bill was reported favorably. SB 1612 on financial institutions was approved after a substitute amendment restored current limits on credit union investments and kept only reimbursement, not salary, authority for certain board members and officers. SB 1740, an insurance bill intended to reduce premiums and insurer insolvency risk, was amended to prioritize rate-decrease filings and prohibit claim denials based solely on AI, then reported favorably. Two public-safety bills also moved forward. SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety would update OSHA-related protections, address toxic exposure in gear, encourage safer replacement equipment, and support best practices and mental health resources; an amendment refined terminology and added related provisions, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1184 on residual market insurers was amended to preserve existing consumer protections and disclosure rules for excess and surplus lines and to clarify Citizens-related appointment requirements before being reported favorably. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly noted ongoing stakeholder negotiations and intent to refine several bills further in later committee stops.

Transcript Highlights:

• June of 2024 but has not yet been heard in either the House Education Policy Committee or the House Finance
• <00:01:12.560> committee committee or the house finance committee committee or the house finance
• <00:18:38.559> and our future managed its finances and our future managed its finances and
• Knowing this is a policy committee, I will delve a little bit into kind of agency finance space.
• Knowing this is a policy committee, I will delve a little bit into kind of agency finance space.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met to hear a delayed presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future, a report released in June 2024. The chair framed the hearing as an oversight review of how the Minnesota Department of Education handled the nonprofit’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, emphasizing that the hearing was not about criminal charges against agency staff. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Tyson explained that their review focused on state oversight, not the underlying federal fraud case, which involved an alleged $250 million scheme and ongoing criminal proceedings. The auditors concluded that MDE’s oversight was inadequate and created opportunities for fraud. They said MDE failed to act on warning signs before the pandemic, did not effectively use its authority to hold Feeding Our Future accountable, and was ill prepared to respond to problems. Examples included approving applications despite concerns about internal controls and staffing, failing to follow up on earlier review findings, not adequately investigating at least 30 complaints, and in one case referring a complaint back to Feeding Our Future for resolution rather than conducting an independent investigation. They also said MDE deferred serious deficiencies without enough evidence that problems had been fully corrected and approved meal claims despite records showing major inconsistencies. Tyson said MDE had made progress on all eight recommendations in the report, though one recommendation to the legislature had not yet been addressed because the session had not convened since the report’s release. The auditors recommended that the legislature establish clearer statutory criteria or give MDE rulemaking authority for sponsor applications, and that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint procedures, and emphasize program integrity if waivers reduce oversight in the future. In response to member questions, the auditors said MDE’s reported progress was partial in some areas and that further review would be needed to fully confirm implementation. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know who SC finance, but we're going to go to the finance, but we're going to go to the floor
• So, if the staff thinks this belongs in the finance committee... >> If it stays here or goes to finance
• So, it's a hope that we move this bill into finance, which it does have to go to finance, and then we
• move this bill into finance. move this bill into finance.
• <01:52:46.920> and which it does have to go to finance and which it does have to go to finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephen Benson, Department of Finance.
• Andrew March with the Department of Finance.
• Sorry, Andrew March with the Department of Finance.
• James Moore with the Department of Finance.
• Recognize there's a $45 million gap there.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So uh they just resources and finances.
• section 205, education, school finance. section 205, education, school finance.
• This is about our state finances.
• We do this all the time and finances.
• <02:58:47.840> and closing that gap carefully and closing that gap carefully and responsibly

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for the next part is one of my favorite topics: special education finance.
• finance because all of the policies, all of the requirements, come with costs for districts.
• I know this is not the education Finance I know this is not the finance<00:29:14.240> committee
• Chair, I know that you're on the Ed Finance Committee, and a number of other members.
• It was before we had the personal finance class that we passed last year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This meeting of the Senate Finance Committee for March 5th, 2026 will come to order.
• 00:52:24.000> the other housing programs to fill in the other housing programs to fill in the gap
• . gap. gap.
• So, I hope as the<01:03:19.599> finance<01:03:19.920> committee<01:03:20.240> we
• <01:03:20.480> see<01:03:20.559> our the finance committee we see our the finance committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > this<00:06:15.400> um<00:06:15.720> this This is something that we noticed as a gap
• There was nothing offered to these families, so it was a major gap identified here. these children have
• c><00:29:30.519> identified<00:29:31.039> here<00:29:31.159> in It was a major gap
• a<01:16:14.400> LBA You said the chief operating officer is deleted and a Director of Finance
• <01:18:01.440> and deleted and a Director of Finance and deleted and a Director of Finance

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 493, a proposal to require physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to complete child abuse and neglect training as part of licensure and continuing education. The bill’s sponsor and supporters said the measure addresses a gap in provider training, especially because abuse can be difficult to recognize and voluntary training has had low participation. They described a free Dartmouth online course and argued that mandatory, repeated education would help providers identify signs of abuse, know when to involve specialists or DCYF, and improve child safety. Supporters also noted the bill was amended to clarify coverage for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nursing hours, and to address language concerns raised by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Committee members and OPLC counsel raised implementation questions, including whether the bill would apply to all physicians regardless of specialty, whether it created a new licensure condition rather than only a continuing education requirement, how often the training would need to be repeated, and whether the accreditation language fit nursing rules. OPLC also noted that psychiatrists would be covered as physicians, while psychologists would not. A child abuse pediatrician testified that in his experience, children were sometimes seen by providers who missed early signs of abuse, leading to worse outcomes, and that mandatory education was needed because voluntary programs had poor uptake. The New Hampshire Hospital Association opposed the bill, saying health care professionals already have reporting duties and that the legislature should not single out one training mandate when similar requirements are generally left to licensing boards. The Office of the Child Advocate supported the bill, citing cases from 2023 involving non-ambulatory infants with fractures, conflicting medical testimony in court, and a low completion rate for the existing free online course. The Child Advocate said the bill should be mandatory and recurring so providers stay current on evolving science and law. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Families then face a choice between finances and their child's quality of life.
• This bill helps fix that gap. It treats activity limbs as medical needs, not add-ons.
• It addresses a gap in our newborn screening system by adding screening for biliary atresia, a rare but
• Finally, it requires a review of gaps in access to services geographically throughout Florida.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum present and took up several health-related bills. CS/SB 1110, covering Medicaid and insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including activity-specific devices without lifetime or continuous-use caps, received emotional testimony from families and athletes describing high costs and the importance of access for children and adults with disabilities. Members voiced strong support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1574, which would add biliary atresia screening to the newborn screening program using the existing birth blood specimen. The sponsor and a parent testified that earlier detection could prevent severe liver damage, transplants, and deaths, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 794, dealing with background screening for employees at residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities and a review of waiver support coordination, was amended to align with the House companion and then reported favorably after testimony emphasizing the importance of strong support coordinators for APD waiver families. Members then considered SB 162, requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. Nurses and other supporters described surgical smoke as a serious occupational hazard, while the Florida Hospital Association said hospitals are already regulated in this area and the bill was somewhat prescriptive; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 254, which tightens oversight of nursing education programs, adds preceptorship and provisional licensure pathways for graduates awaiting NCLEX results, and increases transparency and accountability for low-performing programs, drew support from nursing advocates and opposition from private nursing schools concerned about workforce impacts; after amendment, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 688 to reestablish licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors in Florida was heard with testimony both supporting expanded health care choices and opposing the bill over safety and scope concerns, and it too was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We identify and recognize the gap in care and accessibility for Medi-Cal patients.
• Have you ever considered declawing the Department of Finance or the Third House?
• having one of the largest dentist workforces in the country, California continues to face major access gaps
• I respectfully ask for an aye vote to help close the dental care gap in the most vulnerable communities

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee held its first regular bill hearing of 2025 and considered a wide range of measures on health care access, professional regulation, animal welfare, and consumer protection. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted its rules and then approved a consent calendar of several bills, including measures by Chen, Caloza, Carrillo, Arreguín, Berman, and Flora. The committee also took up AB 1082, which would allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state programs to complete clinical training in California; supporters said it would help address the nursing shortage and keep students closer to home, while opponents warned it could worsen already limited clinical placement capacity and reduce oversight. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations after a quorum was established. The committee then heard and advanced several health-related bills. AB 50, by Assembly Member Bonta, would ease Medi-Cal access to over-the-counter hormonal contraception by removing the need for a prescription for coverage purposes; pharmacists, reproductive health advocates, and medical groups supported the bill, and it passed unanimously to the Committee on Health. AB 489, also by Bonta, would prohibit AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals; supporters from medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other professional groups said the bill would protect patients from misleading chatbot advice, and it passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 481, by Assembly Member Rubio, would expand the tasks that federally qualified lab personnel can perform under CLIA supervision to help address lab staffing shortages; labor groups raised concerns about training, certification, and supervision, but the bill passed to Appropriations with an amended do pass recommendation. The committee also considered animal welfare and access-to-care measures. AB 631, by Assembly Member Lee, would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; supporters said the reporting would improve policy and resource allocation, while members discussed how the requirement would work for shelters without websites, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 867, also by Lee, would prohibit cat declawing except when medically necessary for the animal; animal welfare groups strongly supported the bill, while the veterinary association opposed it as an improper legislative regulation of veterinary surgery, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing a limited number of qualified dentists trained in Mexico to practice in underserved California areas; supporters framed it as a cost-neutral way to address major dental access gaps, the California Dental Association remained opposed unless amended, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Several members later added their votes on the various items after the hearing, and the committee kept the hearing open briefly to allow additional add-ons.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are responsible for the financing of the network and making sure the network is properly maintained
• So what can you do to bridge that gap or how do you do it?
• So what can you do to bridge that gap or how do you do it?
• So what can you do to bridge that gap or how do you do it?
• So what can you do to bridge that gap or how do you do it?

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Discussion of the KentuckyWired Network 00:00:55 Discussion of the Water Resource Information System 00:35.40 Discussion of Geographic Information Systems 00:52:30 Discussion of Committee Report to LRC 01:15:05, 958, all

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date. Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward. The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.

Transcript Highlights:

• :27.480> anguage<00:38:27.760> of<00:38:27.880> the<00:38:28.000> bill gaps
• in the Lang anguage of the bill gaps in the Lang anguage of the bill then<00:38:28.720> we'll
• committee in addition go to the finance committee in addition to<01:33:41.119> Commerce<01:33
• I would be fine taking this to the Finance Committee.
• taking this to the finance taking this to the finance committee<01:34:56.480> um<01:34:56.719

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to bridge the gap from students.
• c> programs<00:49:52.880> and president for finance programs and president for finance programs
• Uh as you'll see have around finance.
• Those are all related to the finance modules, the finance objectives that we had.
• So I finances university being managed.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a full quorum and approved the prior minutes. Members offered introductions of guests and family members, then heard a presentation from University of Louisville President Thomas Jared Bradley, who was sworn in before testifying. He described his background and outlined U of L’s strategic priorities: student success, access and affordability, workforce development, community engagement, and research. Bradley highlighted enrollment growth, increases in first-generation and Pell-eligible students, strong transfer pathways with KCTCS, and support programs such as the Cardinal Commitment Grant, 15-to-Finish, Comeback Cards, tutoring, mentoring, and mental health services. Bradley also emphasized U of L’s statewide and regional impact through UofL Health, rural outreach, the Bullitt County rural cancer education and research center, nursing expansion, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He noted major institutional distinctions, including R1 status, a new Carnegie Opportunity College and University designation, and community-engaged classification. He said the university is one of only 10 public universities nationwide with all three designations and reported record enrollment, improved retention, and strong research expenditures. He also thanked lawmakers for significant capital and operating support, including funding for the simulation center, health science center, asset preservation, and the MEP program. During questions, members praised the university’s public service role and asked about first-generation enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. Bradley said the university is working to improve completion by expanding academic support, early alerts, incentives for tutoring, and faculty/advisor mentoring, especially for first-generation and high-need students. He acknowledged that post-graduation employment data is difficult to collect but said the new Carnegie classification reflects positive outcomes. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and no formal actions were taken on legislation in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 1, House File 6, which is the Higher Education Finance and Policy Bill.
• Myron Franz, who was the last SVP of Finance, made $436,000 in his role as an SVP.
• The salary of the new EVP of Finance is just their budget increase.
• They were really, really successful for many years in finance, law, and other areas.
• This bill closes the huge gap that is really affecting students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there was a gap prior to that, but there were contracts even prior to that.
• Uh, there was a gap prior to that, but there were contracts even prior to that.
• Barbara Dickens, general counsel of the Finance Cabinet.
• Charles Bush, interim commissioner, Finance Facilities. Raise your right hand, please.
• Barbara Dickens, general counsel of the Finance Cabinet.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then further to the right is Stephen O'Kee, who is the finance director from the city of Port St.
• Our finances are independently audited and posted online for full accountability.
• So I think it widens the gap of winners and losers in that at the end of the day.
• And I agree that financing for projects...
• And I agree that financing for projects can be a good thing.

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