Transcript Highlights:

• COLA was largely based on trying to figure out a way of stepping in the closure of the unfunded liability
• , and of course the bill that will be passed basically froze contributions on the unfunded... ...liability
• It seems like when we raised the contribution rates on the unfunded liability too, we basically weren't
• making any contributions on the unfunded liabilities.
• And the fact is the bill basically stopped funding that unfunded liability. Correct.

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy Executive Committee approved the June minutes and received a brief update from Assistant Attorney General Jesse Yoder, who had no litigation updates but offered to answer questions. Actuary Michael Harbour then previewed the September full committee meeting, which will include a report on the financial condition of the DRS-administered pension plans and the state actuary’s recommended economic assumptions. He also cautioned that any actuarial pricing done over the summer could change if assumptions are updated, and suggested taking votes on potential legislation later in the interim, possibly in November or December. A discussion followed about the Left 1 benefit improvement and where the funding came from. Harbour said the benefit tied to SSB 5791 (2022) was paid from the Left 1 trust fund, while a separate Left 2 benefit improvement was in SHB 1701, and he agreed to double-check the issue with DRS after members raised conflicting information. Members then discussed the broader Left 1 study, including whether IRS approval is a key barrier and whether options are limited to merger or closure. Several members asked to hear from Ice Miller, which has been advising on the tax issues, and staff said the committee should receive a written response in the next couple of weeks and could have Ice Miller appear in October. The committee reviewed and adjusted its interim work plan. September will include the actuarial presentations, a more detailed Left 1 study update, and a presentation on PERS and TERS Plan 1 COLAs, including a recap of the bill recommended this year and initial considerations for an ad hoc COLA. October is expected to include DRS administrative and performance updates, with November reserved for the State Investment Board update and a final Left 1 study update, and December may include an educational presentation on excess compensation. Members also requested a future briefing on the month-of-death benefit discussion. The September agenda was adopted, correspondence materials were noted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• much are we actually using the rainy day fund to invest in infrastructure, to pay for long-term liabilities
• one of those that they look at, but they do want to see the state making progress on long-term liabilities
• Ongoing liabilities versus one-time expenditures to where I say, oh my gosh, you know, we're falling
• At the same time, we have these long-term liabilities that.
• So I view these things as long-term liabilities.

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, faith-based providers accept responsibility and liability and should conduct background checks.
• One is: Who is going to bear liability? And... ...that: Who is going to bear liability?
• Who is going to bear liability for the kid that drives himself to an offsite program?
• So, all I'm saying is that it has to be framed in such a way that you deal with the liability aspect
• You know, the sponsor and entities assume all liabilities in this case, but hey, if you want to tighten

Bills: SB278, HB459, HB61

Keywords: SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education, local board of education, attendance credit, core curriculum, religious education, Bible class

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the majority of our tax liability is based on that.
• I believe that data is available because, you know, the 5.5% corporate tax rate applies to liability
• sir, I believe that data is available because, you know, the 5.5% corporate tax rate applies to liability
• And so it's only for those people that have liability beyond that, that you apply.
• And so it's only for those people that have liability beyond that, that you apply the rate to.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if you have no tax liability, maybe a small business owner, I think, well, I don't have to
• Because obviously some business owners have tremendous income swings in liability and non-liability,
• And liability and non-liability, and I think it's fortunate that all of the year those returns are filed
• Certainly, folks can request a waiver of penalty, and most... and liability and non-liability and I think
• I mean, I don't think there's that many businesses that have zero tax liability that also pay a fine

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2288, HB2289

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires that a third-party liquor delivery license obtain liability insurance. Mr.
• 00:02:17.280> license<00:02:18.120> obtain<00:02:19.080> um<00:02:19.760> liability
• liy delivery license obtain um liability liy delivery license obtain um liability insurance<00:02
• They have to have the same kind of liability insurance that the owner of a bar has, and what it—uh—drram
• <00:27:31.880> insurance degree of uh liquor liability insurance degree of uh liquor liability

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• This provision applies to vendors that have a sales tax liability between 20,000 and 250,000.
• vendors that have a sales tax liability vendors that have a sales tax liability between<00:32:34.519
• to offset their property tax liability to offset their property tax liability to<01:04:30.960>

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• It confirms that liability for infractions attaches to the vehicle owner, clarifying that liability for
• Confirms<00:16:35.839> that<00:16:36.000> liability<00:16:36.399> for<00:16:36.560
• > infractions Confirms that liability for infractions Confirms that liability for infractions
• /c><00:16:39.920> for<00:16:40.079> infractions<00:16:40.560> attached that liability
• for infractions attached that liability for infractions attached to<00:16:40.880> the<00:16:41.040

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met several times on April 25, 2025, to resolve a number of bills, often delaying items until later in the day because of missing FIN/WAM releases or lack of quorum. Early in the day, SB 382 was discussed briefly but not advanced because finance would not release it. HB 1064, relating to the state fire marshal, was taken up and approved after conferees confirmed a $2,212,000 appropriation for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund eight positions in the Department of Law Enforcement. Members thanked the many agencies, staff, and advocates involved, and the bill passed by unanimous votes of those present. Several other measures were rolled over to later conference-room meetings, including HB 423 on workers’ compensation, HB 214 on government, HB 1036, HB 1037, and HB 1039 on public employment cost items, SB 828 on workers’ compensation medical benefits, SB 717 on collective bargaining, and HB 286 on the individual housing account program, all pending FIN/WAM release or further agreement. A larger housing agenda was also postponed to 4:30 p.m. in Room 225, including bills on housing, transportation, transient accommodations development, rental housing revolving funds, dwelling unit revolving funds, and low-income housing credit. At the later transportation and housing sessions, HB 1231 was adopted as a conference draft establishing a $5 county motor vehicle registration surcharge for the Safe Routes to School special fund and clarifying rules for automated enforcement citations and liability. HB 4209 on transit-oriented development also passed; it defined transit-oriented development, created a mixed-income subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund, and authorized HCDA to use the definition in planning. HB 1298 on housing passed with amendments to support a government employee housing program tied to a transit-oriented development site, including funding for planning and an HHFC position. HB 830 on historic preservation reviews also passed with amendments limiting third-party review to residential or mixed-use development and setting staggered effective dates. Later, SB 662 on transportation passed with amendments authorizing county police officers to enforce the statewide traffic code on public streets, roadways, and highways. Several other bills remained pending and were recessed for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• burn managers and the largest single risk to active burn managers is the lack or loss of general liability
• The pool also meets the state standards of, uh, financial, uh, occurrence liability as stipulated in
• It also requires that funds from the pool may only cover liability from prescribed burns and may not
• cover liability related to workers' comp, automobile liability, errors in emissions or professional liability
• We have a system where you cannot be a certified burner in Texas without general liability insurance.

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• The limited liability company bill. Representative Vee, you want to speak to that.
• And then domestic limited liability companies.
• Domestic limited liability companies provides that an LLC...
• Domestic limited liability companies provides that an LLC, but with a subchapter S now, if the party

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first considered a House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1067, which concerns civil actions based on public expression. The substitute was presented as an omnibus measure incorporating several House bills: HB 1711 on the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, HB 2666 on anti-SLAPP protections, HB 3116 on civil jurisprudence changes including workers’ compensation attorney substitution and domestic LLC deadlock procedures, and HB 3289 on court operations and statewide automation funding. Members briefly explained each component, emphasizing reduced litigation costs, streamlined procedures, and improved court administration. The committee also discussed adding a treatment court administrator position for circuits that lack a commissioner or administrator, intended to support circuits where judges currently handle those duties without staff. After discussion, the committee adopted the House Committee Substitute. The committee then voted on the substitute for Senate Bill 1067 and approved it do pass by a vote of 11 ayes and 0 noes. The hearing then concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• To invest in infrastructure, to pay for long term liabilities, to pay for public education.
• of those that they look at, um, but they do want to see the state making progress on long-term liabilities
• You know, costs of what we expected ongoing liabilities versus one-time expenditures to where I say,
• At the same time, we have these long-term liabilities that we're, we're talking about when it comes to
• So I view these things as long-term liabilities.

Bills: SJR 4

Keywords: term limits, state offices, constitutional amendment, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform

Transcript Highlights:

• It's fundamentally wrong with the premise that they're wasting money.
• It's fundamentally wrong with the premise that they're wasting money.
• So the premise of your question is that you would have to post services that would be eliminated, which

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recognize that there are lots of reasons why someone may remove a shopping cart from the retail premises
• ” “The other option that they have is also to enforce a locking mechanism whenever it leaves the premises
• Senator Kavanaugh has over three years introduced legislation on the exact same premises.

Bills: HB2015, HB2060, HB2062, HB2100, HB2118, HB2165, HB2258, HB2327, HB2397, HB2445, HB2460, HB2641, HB2745, HB2876, HB2917, HB4011, HB4049, HB4056, HB4087, HCR2013, HCR2016, HCR2040, HCR2044, HCR2048, HCR2056

Keywords: budget procedures, late filing penalty, accounting standards, financial reporting, state appropriations, abortion, educational institutions, health education, state aid, public schools, Buffalo Soldiers, monument, commemoration, Arizona, public funding, Wesley Bolin Plaza, military history, historical memorial, small land subdivision, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to introduce Senate Bill 669 FN relative to on-premises licenses for licensed barber shops and
• training seminar, they would be designated as the person in charge and required to, uh, be on the premises
• training seminar, they would be designated as the person in charge and required to, uh, be on the premises

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I reject the premise of this amendment.
• So I reject the premise of this amendment.
• I reject the premise of this amendment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• three-year review cycle where we can review and see how the program is performing because, again, with the premise
• three-year review cycle where we can review and see how the program is performing because, again, with the premise
• three-year review cycle where we can review and see how the program is performing because, again, with the premise

Keywords: 958, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• We're doing a bunch of stuff on housing innovation construction this year, construction defect liability
• So we could actually just be asking a park owner to bear that liability potentially.
• So we could actually just be asking a park owner to bear that liability potentially.
• The liability waivers and HCD’s processing time, right?
• The liability waivers in HDD's processing time, right?

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.

Transcript Highlights:

• additional funding does is allow TRS to implement its funding plan to pay off its legacy unfunded liability
• the end of that 20 years, if we continue to get full funding and we pay off that legacy unfunded liability
• <00:14:52.959> and off that legacy unfunded liability and off that legacy unfunded liability
• thankful that additional funding to implement TRS's funding plan to pay off the legacy unfunded liability
• funding plan to pay off the legacy funding plan to pay off the legacy unfunded<00:18:12.559> liability

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance heard testimony from Bo Barnes, deputy executive secretary and general counsel for the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), on the TRS budget request for the upcoming biennium and how it compares with House Bill 500 as introduced. Barnes emphasized that the bill fully funds the system’s additional funding request to pay down TRS’s legacy unfunded pension liability, which he described as critical to the system’s long-term funding plan. He also explained that the pension and health insurance requests are broken into several line items, including legacy benefit items, state shared-responsibility payments for retiree health insurance, and reconciliation items that adjust for prior over- or underpayments. Barnes said the state portion of shared responsibility for retiree health insurance was funded below the request in House Bill 500, but he described the health insurance trust as a success story under the post-2010 shared-responsibility model. He said the trust is projected to be fully funded in about two years if medical inflation and federal subsidies remain stable, and he noted that any shortfall in the current budget would be reconciled later and could reduce investment income. In response to questions, he explained that the legacy benefit items are treated as part of the total actuarially determined employer contribution and that unpaid legacy benefits would have the same impact on the retirement trust as unpaid ADC amounts. Barnes also addressed questions about whether the $47.2 million SEEK-related teacher contribution reconciliation could be split between fiscal years, saying it could be done but would reduce investment income and potentially increase future contribution needs. He said the pension fund is currently about 61% funded and that TRS has received full funding for the pension for 10 straight years, with the state having provided full additional funding and more in recent budgets. He concluded by asking the committee to consider TRS’s original budget request, warning that underfunding now would be reflected in future actuarial calculations and could cost the Commonwealth more over time.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so the concern that I have, again, is that there's nothing when it comes to liability.
• It says that if you are a pharmacist and you decide to advertise Ivermectin, the protective liability
• So there is nothing; it doesn't go to... ...this extent that Texas is proposing in terms of liability
• would restore consumer rights and liability protections.
• It goes towards the liability of the doctor, is that correct? Your amendment?

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192, HCR3, HCR4, HCR5, HCR6, HCR8, HCR14, HCR16, HR1, HR2, HR3, HR4, HR6, HR7, HR8, HR9, HR12, HR11, HR13, HR14, HR15, HR16, HR20, HR22, HR23, HR24, HR25, HR26, HR27, HR28, HR29, HR30, HR31, HR32, HR33, HR45, HR48, HR49, HR51, HR52, HR55, HR56, HR57, HR59, HR60, HR61, HR62, HR63, HR64, HR65, HR66, HR70, HR71, HR72, HR74, HCR2, HCR7, HR10, HR21, HR35, HR36, HR37, HR38, HR39, HR40, HR42, HR43, HR44, HR46, HR47, HR50, HR53, HR54, HR67, HR69, HR75, HCR 5, HCR 6, HCR 8, HCR 14, HCR 16, HR 1, HR 3, HR 4, HR 6, HR 7, HR 8, HR 9, HR 12, HR 11, HR 13, HR 14, HR 15, HR 16, HR 20, HR 22, HR 23, HR 24, HR 25, HR 26, HR 27, HR 28, HR 29, HR 30, HR 31, HR 32, HR 33, HR 45, HR 48, HR 49, HR 51, HR 52, HR 55, HR 56, HR 57, HR 59, HR 60, HR 61, HR 62, HR 63, HR 64, HR 65, HR 66, HR 70, HR 71, HR 72, HR 74, HCR 7, HR 10, HR 21, HR 35, HR 36, HR 37, HR 38, HR 39, HR 40, HR 42, HR 43, HR 44, HR 46, HR 47, HR 50, HR 53, HR 54, HR 67, HR 69, HB 25, HB 48, HB 149, HB 254, HB 26, HB 192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• The limited liability company bill. Representative Veit, you want to speak to that.
• And then domestic limited liability companies.
• Domestic limited liability companies provides that an LLC...
• Domestic limited liability companies provides that an LLC, but with a subchapter S now, if the party

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first considered a House committee substitute for Senate Bill 1067, a jurisprudence omnibus measure. The substitute combined several bills: House Bill 1711 on the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which streamlines out-of-state subpoena and deposition procedures; House Bill 2666, an anti-SLAPP bill intended to protect speech by allowing early dismissal of certain lawsuits; House Bill 3116, which included changes related to workers’ compensation attorney substitutions and domestic LLC deadlock procedures to reduce litigation and court costs; and House Bill 3289, which addressed court operations, including a statewide automation fund and a treatment court administrator position for circuits lacking a commissioner or administrator. Members discussed each component briefly, with sponsors or other members explaining that the package was designed to eliminate unnecessary litigation, reduce attorney fees, and improve court administration. The committee adopted the House committee substitute by voice vote. The committee then voted on House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1067 and approved it do pass by a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 noes. The hearing then concluded.