Transcript Highlights:

• We are putting $26.2 million to support the community school grant program, which has been so successful
• , $64 million for beach restoration, $125 million for water quality grant programs, and another $125
• million for Resilient Florida grant programs.
• for Resilient Florida grant programs, $25 million for Florida Keys and Appalachicola areas of critical
• So the $4.5 million is for a sub-grant program. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and environmental/agricultural programs. Major items discussed included school funding increases, workforce and university investments, Medicaid and child welfare funding, corrections operating deficits, housing and hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and state employee compensation. Members asked detailed questions about several budget items. In education, senators discussed teacher salaries, declining enrollment supplements, scholarship funding growth, and charter school capital outlay. In higher education, they asked about Bright Futures, New College funding, and the EASE grant program. In health and human services, senators focused on the iBudget waiver, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, the ADAP HIV drug program, and the use of opioid settlement funds. In criminal justice, questions centered on DOC deficits, inmate health care and food service costs, public defender and state attorney funding, and whether the budget would prevent the need for National Guard support. In environmental and state agency budgets, senators discussed Florida Forever land acquisition, conservation easements, cultural grants, the Emergency Management Trust Fund, and election security funding. After the budget presentations and questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments to place Senate language onto the House vehicles for conference. The chamber passed HB 5001, the appropriations bill, by a 36-0 vote and agreed to conference. It also passed the implementing bill, collective bargaining and state employee bills, retirement legislation, fuel tax and SLERS bills, the court trust fund bill, judicial certification bill, K-12 and higher education conforming bills, and other related measures, generally by unanimous votes. Several motions were adopted to request the House to pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to go through some of our grant programs that we've had.
• or grant that we fund apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the state of Florida.
• I do also want to touch briefly on our Open Door grant program.
• So adding cybersecurity and adding cloud computing and adding these programs and using the grant programs
• So adding cybersecurity and adding cloud computing and adding these programs and using the grant programs

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system. Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit. South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• five-year grants.
• Sort of a blizzard of programs, but we have seen in these schools methods to integrate both those programs
• Nine schools receive grant money from the CCSPP program, with the other four funded through other means
• The first bullet point on that grant award notification for county coordination grant funding is for
• and Targeted Assistance Program.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing on the Governor’s proposal to convert the California Community Schools Partnership Program from a one-time grant model into an ongoing $1 billion Proposition 98 program. Finance and CDE described the expansion as a way to sustain existing community schools and add thousands more, with county offices, regional/state technical assistance centers, annual self-certification, and a future accreditation process intended to support fidelity to the state framework. The LAO opposed shifting to an ongoing categorical program and recommended continuing one-time grants, while suggesting longer-term funding for technical assistance and, if ongoing funding is adopted, stronger planning, reporting, phased expansion, and clearer accreditation timelines. Committee members pressed the administration on how the new proposal could fund far more schools with less money than the original $4.1 billion program, how much of the funding would go to existing cohorts versus new schools, and whether the proposal sufficiently requires planning and implementation before funds are received. Testimony from practitioners and advocates largely supported ongoing funding but emphasized that money alone is not enough. Speakers from LPI, CTA, San Diego Unified, Fresno County, the Partnership for the Future of Learning, and Sacramento County urged stronger requirements for shared governance, explicit commitment to the community schools framework, annual reporting beginning in year one, and continued or expanded support for coordinators and technical assistance. Several witnesses said the proposal should better protect county office coordination roles, maintain preferences for partnerships in the technical assistance structure, and ensure the system can support more than 6,000 schools. Others highlighted the need for specialized supports for middle and high schools, better integration with other state programs such as ELOP, universal meals, TK, and the LCFF equity multiplier, and more detailed accountability and accreditation processes. No formal vote was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript. The chair indicated that the committee wanted additional information on the funding breakdown, the use of reverted funds, and the proposed support structure before taking action, and administration witnesses said a more detailed proposal would be brought forward in the May Revise.

Transcript Highlights:

• $33.2 billion that's going for implementation grants, and those are five-year grants.
• Nine schools receive grant money from the CCSPP program, with the other four funded through other means
• The first bullet point on that grant award notification for county coordination grant funding is for
• Community schools are not a side program.
• and Targeted Assistance Program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program provides funding for competitive grants for urban greening, which includes projects that
• And then the final program is the nature, climate, education, and research facilities grant.
• And for the State Park revitalization program, you're going to be opening a new round for the grant program
• And the demand for the various grant programs under CBCI, is it? There's a high demand, yes.
• For example, the SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Programs, the Organics Grant Programs, and the Community

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A1 amendment will put the bill in a shape that I want, and also it tightens the grant program.
• </c> want and also it's it tightens the grant want and also it's it tightens the grant program<00:02:
• Finally, Section N of the bill establishes a one-time grant program focused on recruiting new home care
• said</c> well with the grant programs I have said well with the grant programs I have said it<00:18:04.159
• </c><00:21:48.400><c> program</c> appropriation for the grant program appropriation for the grant program

Bills: HF729, HF728

Keywords: human services, provider enrollment, medical assistance, healthcare, housing stabilization, substance use disorder, vulnerable adults, fraud prevention, respite care, children, licensed settings, home and community-based services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:02.880><c> program</c><00:15:03.600><c> and</c> biofuel infrastructure grant program and biofuel
• infrastructure grant program and open<00:15:04.240><c> eligibility</c><00:15:04.880><c> to</c><00:15
• has provided 60 years this program has provided 60 grants<00:15:30.199><c> totaling</c><00:15:30.720
• </c><00:20:29.799><c> program</c> biof Fu infrastructure grant program biof Fu infrastructure grant program
• </c><00:35:25.079><c> program</c> livestock investment grant program livestock investment grant program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This grant also provided a base salary for these teachers going through this mentorship residency program
• A specific program was the Right to Succeed program.
• Slide 9 here, grants and at-risk programs.
• There are conversations about moving certain grant programs to other agencies, as we kind of saw in the
• that grant.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> up</c> community grant programs being stood up community grant programs being stood up by<00:41:
• > updating</c><00:46:40.880><c> our</c> grant management program uh updating our grant management program
• </c> grants for the Trail Ambassador program grants for the Trail Ambassador program for<00:46:55.359
• , but in all our grant programs.
• under $50,000 in the community grants program.

Bills: HF3564

Keywords: Greater Minnesota, regional parks, trails, grants, local government, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Were you with the program then? Have you been with the program since its inception?
• We have a program. This is one of several programs, but probably...
• 80 growers who've been part of this program, and the program is growing.
• The second program, the supply chain grant through the MTA, has been and will be equally important in
• The second program that supply chain grant through the MTA has been and will be equally important in

Bills: HF3692

Keywords: Farmer-Lender Mediation Act, mediation, agriculture finance, debt relief, civil law, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Number thirteen is $25,000 to Arkansas FFA for a grant for the Future program.
• These are federal grants.
• Could you just, I see that these are federal grants, but I'm confused by the grants for this RSVP program
• The RSVP program, retired senior volunteer program, is a program for retired seniors.
• I'm confused by the grants for this RSVP program. So, Senator, thank you.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant Central is our main portal for community grant programs that supplements the Chapter 90 resources
• Also last year we incorporated two new programs into Grant Central that I know a number of folks here
• To give an indication of the demand for this program, we received 102 grant applications this past grant
• We also just awarded microtransit and last-mile grants, a new program that increases transit options
• legislature's support of our grant programs.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we don't have the specifics of what the grant program would be.
• So we don't have the specifics of what the grant program would be. It would detail what those were.
• So we don't have the specifics of what the grant program would be, but this is pretty consistent with
• going toward a grant program.
• And we have approved a loan program for some struggling hospitals in California—loans, not grants.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 106, an early-action budget bill providing $90 million one-time General Fund to support reproductive health providers affected by the federal H.R. 1 prohibition on Medicaid funding. Department of Finance staff explained that the money would be administered as grants through the Department of Health Care Access and Information because affected providers can no longer bill Medi-Cal during the federal restriction, which lasts through July 4, 2026. Members also discussed why the amount increased from an earlier $60 million estimate, with Finance saying the figure was updated based on additional claims data and provider information. The committee debate focused heavily on the policy implications of the funding. Supporters argued the bill is an emergency response to a targeted federal attack on Planned Parenthood and related family planning services, emphasizing that the funding would backfill non-abortion services such as cancer screenings, contraception, STI testing, mammograms, and prenatal care. Opponents questioned the use of General Fund dollars, the grant structure versus loans for other distressed providers, the Public Records Act exemption, and the bill’s priority compared with rural hospitals, developmental services, public safety, and other budget needs. Finance clarified that the federal funds at issue do not pay for abortion services and that the grant program would be open to eligible providers meeting criteria set by the department. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support from Planned Parenthood affiliates, Essential Access Health, Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Medical Association, family physicians, OBGYN groups, and others, while some commenters used the opportunity to raise unrelated budget concerns such as Medi-Cal dental cuts, IHSS, and CalHome funding. After discussion, the committee approved AB 106 on a 12-4 vote and reported it out. The chair also noted that a later hearing would examine broader H.R. 1 impacts in more detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, if the Wood Innovation Grant program, which is a federal grant program, continues, that
• Our Trails Plus program provides $94,000 grants, and this grant helped provide funding for, excuse me
• We often give out grants with respect to a rural infrastructure program, for example.
• Okay, so current grant programs we have from the...
• Moving on to other grant programs, Solar for All is a federal grant, $156 million again for low-income

Transcript Highlights:

• Contaminant Grant Program, and the Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Program.
• Replacement Grant Program.
• Contaminant Grant Program, and the Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Program.
• Replacement Grant Program.
• Contaminant Grant Program, and the Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state aid grant program is a general fund program, and the wastewater is the largest active program
• The state aid grant program is a general fund program, and the wastewater is the largest active program
• The state aid grant program is a general fund program, and the wastewater is the largest active program
• The state aid grant program is a general fund program, and the wastewater is the largest active program
• The state aid grant program is a general fund program, and the wastewater is the largest active program

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this program. this program.
• It eliminates the program. This program. It eliminates the program.
• </c><00:38:34.800><c> programs</c> chapters and in uh grant programs chapters and in uh grant programs
• I also want to raise concerns about eliminating the early childhood teacher shortage grant program.
• </c><01:46:40.080><c> We</c> and recovery program grants. We and recovery program grants.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill specifies that participation in the grant program and receipt of grant monies does not limit
• You're ineligible for the grant program.
• The upfront is, such as like a grant, similar to a grant program, to stand up the program, and then depending
• This bill concerns an artificial intelligence grant program.
• The grant program for AI technology will provide a benefit to the state. The program is permissive.

Bills: HB2521, HB2249, HB1796

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• program called the Library Construction Grants on line 50.
• And you can see a number of other grant programs. mitigation program uh that is Grants to mitigation
• I'll mention the inflow and infiltration grant program.
• And then point source implementation grant program.
• And then point source implementation grant program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• policing program.
• programmed into our STIP.
• DOT funding for competitive grant programs.
• programs.
• We did receive that bridge investment program grant. Uh, 71.2 million.