Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, reports of standing committees listed on the calendar will not be read, and the reports
• Reader, read the report. Mr.
• Reader, read the report. Mr.
• Reader, read the report. Mr.
• Reader, read the report. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars. On Calendar 1, HB 2192 (employment/video content matters of public concern) was amended and given a do pass recommendation. HB 2592 (government information technology) was amended to remove legislative approval of certain emergency or temporary AI-related rules and received a do pass recommendation. HB 2752 (Commerce Authority trade office) received a do pass recommendation after a Mesnard amendment and an Epstein amendment was debated; the Epstein amendment failed on division, and the bill was retained on the calendar. HB 2916 (traffic schools and instructors fingerprint clearance) was amended to allow work to begin while fingerprint clearance is pending and received a do pass recommendation. HB 2946 (development fees) was amended to address municipal distinctions based on dwelling size/bedrooms and received a do pass recommendation. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 2, HB 2918, HB 2999, HB 1418, and HCR 2059 were considered. HB 2999 (special taxing districts/infrastructure finance districts) drew the most discussion; a Mesnard floor amendment made several changes to tax-rate, bond, and infrastructure provisions, and the bill was ultimately amended and given a do pass recommendation. HB 1418 (sheriff auxiliary authority) and HCR 2059 (county services) also received do pass recommendations. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 3, HB 2035 (DCS kinship care placement requirements) was amended to change a reporting deadline and received a do pass recommendation. HB 241 (child neglect financial resources exception), HB 2594 (child confidentiality), and HB 2932 (groundwater transportation fee/withdrawal-related provisions) were also considered; HB 2594 and HB 2932 were amended and received do pass recommendations. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 4, HB 2109 (portable wireless communication devices/distracted driving penalties for motorcycles), HB 2118 (mobile food vendors’ licenses), HB 2244 (eviction satisfaction of judgment), and HB 4011 (HOA duties) were all advanced, with committee or floor amendments adopted where offered, and the report was adopted. The Senate also took up an additional Committee of the Whole for HB 2440 (transition program), adopted a technical floor amendment, and advanced the bill. Later, the chamber adopted a proclamation recognizing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on its centennial and welcomed guests from the university. The Senate received a House request to return SB 1113 for further amendment and appointed free conference committees for HB 2133 and HB 2010. On third reading, HB 2592 passed 16-9-1, HB 2916 passed 26-1-3, HB 2946 passed 27-0-3, and HB 2999 passed 21-6-3, with Senator Epstein explaining her no vote on HB 2999 due to concerns about homeowner cost uncertainty. The Senate then adjourned until April 15, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<04:55:00.798> and<04:55:00.958> promotes public reporting, and promotes public reporting
• > will<06:36:33.760> be The first electronic vote will be The first electronic vote will
• 36:40.958> conducted<06:36:41.360> as electronic votes will be conducted as electronic
• The clerk will report the are ordered.
• The clerk will report the title.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Report of select committees. >> We have none, Mr. Speaker. Report of standing committees.
• Questions on the report. Questions on the report. I see none, gentlemen.
• Questions on the report. I see none, gentlemen. Move to adopt the report. He moves adoption.
• Questions on the report. I see none, gentlemen. Adopt the conference report. He moves adoption.
• Speaker, that's my explanation of the report. >> Questions on the report.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :45.199> oversee these reports, Congress can oversee these reports, Congress can oversee these
• clerk will report the title of the bill. clerk will report the title of the bill.
• The clerk will report the title.
• The Clerk will report the title.
• their votes by electronic device. their votes by electronic device.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All senators and guests in the gallery, please silence all electronic devices.
• Other reports of committees? None on the desk, Mr. President.
• It also makes clear that rounding applies only to cash, non-electronic or card payments, and provides
• It allows for electronic notification in many aspects relating to the bond process and provides that
• Foster families have reported the current statutory definition of visitor leads to an excessive number

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

Transcript Highlights:

• All senators and guests in the gallery, please silence all electronic devices.
• Other reports of committees? None on the desk, Mr. President.
• It also makes clear that rounding applies only to cash, non-electronic or card payments, and provides
• It allows for electronic notification in many aspects relating to the bond process and provides that
• Foster families have reported the current statutory definition of visitor leads to an excessive number

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there reports of standing committees and subcommittees? None on the desk, Mr. Speaker.
• It delayed the effective date of a provision that applied to the governor's reporting for emergencies
• Care Act to students of accredited dental and dental hygiene programs, expands exceptions to the electronic
• Speaker, but this one still has the, no, the only electronic prescribing.
• I heard you say something about electronic prescribing? I believe that's been asked and answered.

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate messages and concurred in several amendments before passing multiple bills. Early actions included unanimous passage of CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after removing a Senate-added trust-account provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties in business ownership after trimming registration requirements. The chamber also insisted on its housing amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 after the Senate refused to concur. A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation. The House adopted an amendment restoring two teacher-prep courses, preserving the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College in partnership with USF, and modifying the teacher candidate testing framework and mentor qualifications. Supporters said it reduced barriers while keeping standards; opponents raised concerns about the remaining “identity politics” language and other provisions. The bill then passed 91-22. The House also passed HB 1101 on out-of-network providers after adopting a House amendment that kept the original bill’s notice and referral provisions with a good-cause exemption, despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors. Later, the chamber approved CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, with members highlighting debris management, emergency planning, crane safety, and hurricane recovery provisions; it passed unanimously. The House then rejected concurrence in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration, and later spent substantial time debating CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, especially Schools of Hope, expanded co-location authority, funding, transportation, and school-district agreement terms. Critics argued the language was added late and could disadvantage traditional public schools, while supporters said it would expand options for students; the debate continued with the bill still under consideration at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Electronic health records, of course, bring operational efficiency.
• We will come out with our first baseline report in June of this year.
• Were they investments in electronic health records?
• To date, HCAI has published four such reports available online.
• Hospitals to report balance sheet data, expanding the quarterly hospital financial and utilization reporting

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Attendant to not be recorded by electronic roll call. ...by electronic roll call.
• Without objection, reports of standing committees listed on the calendar will not be read, and the report
• your committee recommends the bill due pass and wendy rogers chairman Very good. reporting report your
• Reader, read the report. Mr.
• Read the report. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed guests from the Arizona Psychiatric Society and Brigadier General John Connolly, and adopted a lighthearted April Fool’s proclamation directing the sergeant-at-arms to wear a silk top hat. The chamber also approved a House request to adjourn from April 2 to April 7, and transmitted Senate Bills 1181 and 1473 to the Governor. Later, the Senate observed a moment of silence for Passion Swartz after a personal privilege statement about her disappearance and death, and discussed the need to improve turquoise alert practices. The Senate then considered two Committee of the Whole calendars. On the first, it advanced HB 2120 on property tax exemptions and disability determinations, HB 2174 on insurance modeling/data organizations, HB 2289 on truth-in-taxation bond notices, HB 2861 on marital/postnuptial agreements, and HB 2903 on banks and financial institutions, all receiving do-pass recommendations and later passing the Senate. On the second calendar, it advanced HB 208 on school libraries and professional associations, HB 2040 on public educational institutions and adoption information, HB 2075 on school employee contracts, HB 2203 on Department of Education reporting requirements, HB 2255 on school employee training, HB 2383 on school district leases and housing development, and HB 257 on a special plate tied to the mining museum; all were adopted from committee and passed the Senate, with HB 2255 requiring and receiving a three-quarters vote. Several bills drew floor debate and recorded opposition. Senators argued that HB 2075 unfairly applied transparency rules only to school districts, HB 2174 weakened insurance consumer protections, HB 2289 could bias voters on bond measures, HB 2903 used vague “social credit score” language, HB 2008 attacked school librarians, and HB 2040 imposed adoption messaging in health settings. Despite these objections, the Senate passed each measure by recorded vote, with HB 2223 and HB 2203 passing unanimously or near-unanimously, and the remaining bills passing by varying margins before being transmitted to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've done reports with The Wall Street Journal, where we have shown that...
• Seeing no opposition, that bill is reported with amendments. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen.
• I'll make a motion to report House Bill 1154 favorable, seeing no opposition; that bill is reported favorable
• I’ll make a motion to report House Bill 909 with amendments.
• Seeing no opposition, that bill has been reported favorable. Thank you, Representative.

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 13, 2026, adopted the May 6 minutes, and then took up several bills dealing with pharmacy benefit managers, prescription access, behavioral health coverage, and Citizens Property Insurance. HB 938, as amended, was the main PBM reform measure. After the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill, members heard extensive testimony in support from Mark Bloom, Justin Joseph of Capital Rx, and Kathy Ue of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, all emphasizing transparency, pass-through pricing, reverse auctions, and patient access. Supporters described savings from reverse auctions and administrative models, while the cancer center testified that PBM-owned specialty pharmacy requirements can delay cancer medications and create financial hardship. The committee reported HB 938 favorably with amendments. The committee also heard HB 1154, which prohibits prior authorization for certain generic medications prescribed by qualified physicians, with a $250 cap discussed as a safeguard against higher-cost generics. The bill was supported by representatives from Ochsner Health and the Louisiana State Medical Society and was reported favorably. HB 909, which requires commercial coverage for behavioral health crisis services, was amended to clarify the insurers covered and then reported favorably with support from the Office of Behavioral Health and several outside groups. Testimony on HB 909 focused on reducing emergency room and law enforcement burdens and expanding crisis response capacity across the state. HB 1187, dealing with excess emergency assessment funds from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, was explained by the Insurance Commissioner as a way to transfer remaining Katrina-era assessment funds to the Fortified Roof Program. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, SB 511 and SB 512 were deferred and converted into a study resolution approach because there was not yet consensus on the underlying issue. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
• Garcia: YES. >> Chair Martin: BY YOUR VOTE IS 7014 IS FAVORABLY REPORTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL.
• CS FOR SB 422 IS REPORTING FAVORABLY.
• SENATE BILL IS REPORTED FAVORABLY.
• BY YOUR VOTE SB 234 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. THANK YOU SENATOR LEEK. IS THAT IT?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
• THE MEMBER WILL REQUIRE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO OFFER AN ELECTRONIC PERMITTING
• Ingoglia: WE SHOW SENATE BILL 164 REPORTED FAVORABLY.
• SENATORS, SHOW IT IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. I WILL YIELD THE CHAIR BACK TO CHAIR RODRIGUEZ. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on uh sales tax if you saw the reports on uh sales tax if you saw the reports that<00:30:15.399>
• Records were not necessarily electronic back that far.
• Records were not necessarily electronic back that far.
• Records were not necessarily electronic back that far.
• Records were not necessarily electronic back that far.

Bills: HF4, HF173

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to the progress we made through legislative appropriations, I'm proud to report that this
• Our court reporters are represented by Teamsters.
• Our court reporters are represented by Teamsters.
• <00:30:00.880> are represented in the court reporters are represented in the court reporters
• You've ever not only sat in on an exam but also looked at the reports, these are very voluminous reports

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee heard a presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on the Minnesota judicial branch’s 2026-27 budget request. He outlined the courts’ structure and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court cases annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. Shorba emphasized the courts’ constitutional role, the fact that court fines and fees are deposited into the general fund rather than retained by the branch, and recent legislative investments that helped reduce pandemic-era backlogs, improve technology, sustain treatment courts, and raise interpreter and examiner pay. The budget request focused on several areas: a 6% judicial salary increase to address recruitment and retention problems, including a 15% rise in turnover and a 27% drop in applicants since 2020; funding for health care and office lease cost increases; digital accessibility compliance work required by new federal ADA rules; a modernized justice partner access system for court records; higher pay for forensic psychological examiners, whose workload has risen sharply; increased juror compensation from $20 to $100 per day and mileage adjustments; and ongoing funding for interpreters, jury services, and cybersecurity. Shorba said the total request would be a 12% increase over the FY 2026-27 base budget. Members asked follow-up questions about funding for newly launched treatment courts and how those courts are financed after federal grants expire. Shorba said he would provide more detail later and noted the branch generally starts treatment courts with federal funding before seeking state support. Representative Ric also asked about labor negotiations, and Shorba explained that the judicial branch negotiates its own contracts rather than using the executive branch, with three unions involved and many unrepresented employees. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any reports of committees? None on the desk, Mr. President.
• Despite this overwhelming evidence that the child was on prior abuse reports.
• During the implementation of the electronic filing for financial disclosures, that option to report based
• One of those, you would agree with me, is electronic voting.
• Because electronic voters could vote yes or no. Senator Martin: Thank you.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions before moving into a long special-order calendar. The chamber first considered two claims bills: SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents, and SB 26/HB 6509 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence. Both bills were substituted with their House companions and passed overwhelmingly. Members then approved several policy bills focused on child welfare, education, and professional regulation. CS/CS/SB 42/HB 47 required child protective investigators to consider certain medical diagnoses before proceeding in abuse cases; CS/SB 206/HB 851 expanded autism-related training and incentives for teacher preparation programs; SB 556/HB 453 allowed Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements for students with disabilities and clarified marching band credit; SB 688 reestablished licensure and regulation for naturopathic doctors; SB 878/HB 1347 addressed clinical laboratory personnel shortages by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards; and SB 914/HB 867 clarified that licensed occupational therapists may perform dry needling. Each of these measures passed, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The chamber also approved bills on court administration, public records, financial disclosure, and child welfare. SB 326/HB 131 modernized rules for curators of estates; SB 758/HB 625 updated the composition of the Justice Administrative Commission, with an amendment broadening the judicial member to a judge or senior judge; SB 830 created a public records exemption for certain local government executives and their families; SB 964/HB 6011 revised how gifts and honoraria are reported and, via amendment, restored a percentage-based reporting option for financial disclosures; and SB 1002 clarified that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow courts to order assessment and services. These bills all passed, with SB 830 drawing the most opposition among them. The most contentious debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a framework for very large planned communities with substantial conservation set-asides. Supporters argued it would provide a new growth-management tool and economic opportunity, while opponents warned it was too broad, lacked specificity, weakened local control, and could be exploited by large developers. After extensive debate and an amendment limiting data centers in commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than brought to a final vote. The Senate also passed SB 530 on lottery operations, SB 1632/HB 1471 on foreign law and domestic terrorist designations after a lengthy and divisive amendment debate over references to Sharia law, and SB 21/HB 218 on land-use regulations tied to hurricane recovery, which preserves SB 180 restrictions in storm-affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• For background studies reporting on shelter and supportive housing.
• House File 2187 is funding for the DCT electronic health record system and IT projects.
• It expands topics to be included in a Waiver Reimagined report to the legislature and establishes an
• Section 46 in Article 2 delays the supported decision-making grants report to the legislature by two
• for supporting direct care and treatment's operational budget and the critical funding for our electronic

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• If you don't have it in, it report.
• <00:04:03.840> That's won't go in report. So that's it. That's won't go in report.
• <00:04:56.320> and going to the floor uh with reports and going to the floor uh with reports
• and electronic electronic filing and electronic timekeeping.<04:15:50.000> Those<04:15:50.319
• right reports?" And things like that. right reports?" And things like that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1150, which would require disclosure of complaints to public employees within five business days. Members said the sponsor was still working on an amendment, so the bill was held for another week with the understanding it would be executed next week if no amendment was ready. The chair also outlined the committee’s schedule, including upcoming floor reports and the goal of finishing the remaining committee bills on time. The committee then took up House Bill 1168, concerning employer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the bill would give employers more time to gather payroll records, especially when claims arise years later, and said the current system should be adjusted for fairness to businesses. Opponents, including several members, said payroll records are usually electronic and should be produced quickly so workers waiting on wages are not delayed. The Department of Labor deputy commissioner testified that employers can already request extensions and that further extensions could still be requested under the current process. The committee voted 11-9 to ought to pass HB 1168. Next, House Bill 1250, dealing with notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements for leave related to childbirth, postpartum care, and pediatric appointments, was considered. Members said the statute was newly enacted, had been carefully negotiated, and should be allowed to work before being revised. The committee voted 20-0 to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1043, which would allow private employers to adopt their own minimum pay policies for report-to-work situations instead of being bound by the current two-hour minimum, so long as the policy is established in advance. The sponsor said the bill would modernize an outdated law and preserve the current default if no policy is adopted. Members raised questions about collective bargaining agreements and whether the bill could weaken existing worker protections, while the sponsor and supporters said it was intended to provide flexibility rather than a mandate. The hearing continued with questions and discussion, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted.
• Please report back to the chamber at 1.30. Gavel? Do I gavel this suit? All right.
• A tier three report, also known as a multimedia risk assessment report, was circulated. related to relevant
• AB 653 the Child Abuse Mandated Entertainment Report Act reporter Act, also known as CAMRA, is a bipartisan
• Assembly Bill 882 by Assemblymember Pappin, an act relating to Court reporting.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices. Thank you. Please silence all electronic devices.
• Senators, by your vote, Senate Bill 856 is reported favorably.
• And, Senators, by your vote, C.S. for Senate Bill 110 is reported favorably.
• And Senators, by your vote, C.S for Senate Bill 110 is reported favorably. Thank you.
• And, Senators, by your vote, Senate Bill 434 is reported favorably. Yes.

Bills: S0110, S0434, S0856

Keywords: property assessment, wind damage, home improvements, real estate, tax exemption, Florida statutes, ad valorem taxes, property listings, tax estimation, disclosure, Florida, residential property

Summary: The committee heard and passed three bills before moving to a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSantis? [sic], would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes for residential properties using prescribed methods and DOR-developed formulas rather than the current owner’s tax bill. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency and help homebuyers avoid surprise tax and escrow increases. The bill was reported favorably after debate about making sure the estimate appears on realtor and platform sites for first-time buyers. SB 110, by Senator Arrington, was amended and then reported favorably. The bill clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead tax exemption even if the lease ends upon the tenant’s death, aligning those leaseholds with life estates for estate-planning purposes. The amendment, supported by the Florida Bar’s real property, probate and trust law section, clarified that lease provisions terminating at death are valid under current law. SB 434, by Senator Leak, was also reported favorably; it would prevent property tax assessments from reflecting increased just value attributable to wind-hardening improvements such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and roof-to-wall reinforcements. The committee then received an update from staff director Azar Khan on the new general revenue forecast. He said collections had been running slightly above estimate overall, but the Revenue Estimating Conference reduced corporate income tax projections because of weaker recent collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while increasing some other revenue sources. Members then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which staff said would significantly reduce Florida corporate income tax revenue, with a large first-year impact driven by retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation, research expensing, and business interest deductions. Senators and the appropriations chair said the forecast and federal changes would affect budget planning, and the committee adjourned after noting the bills had been favorably reported and the meeting was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these rounding rules, it's important to note, would not apply to payments made electronically or with
• Small restaurant operators regularly report difficulty managing adequate coin inventory, which can create
• consumer-friendly approach, and the bill only applies when consumers choose to pay with cash, ensuring that electronic

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing on two bills: House Bill 5138, concerning consumer protections for cash transactions amid penny scarcity, and House Bill 5036, concerning consumer information related to tariffs. Chairs Tackey Chan and Senator Payano opened the hearing, noted the committee’s one-year anniversary, reviewed procedures, and explained that the Senate and House were both in session, with Senator Payano prepared to take over if needed. The committee heard from several industry and legislative witnesses, and the hearing was eventually closed by motion and voice vote. Supporters of H. 5138, including Senator Paul Feeney, the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, said the bill would create a clear statewide rounding standard for cash transactions if pennies become scarce. They argued it would improve operational efficiency, reduce confusion, provide legal clarity, and protect businesses and consumers by requiring notice and limiting the rule to cash payments. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts also supported the concept but suggested amendments, including changing mandatory rounding language to allow flexibility and clarifying that taxes and fees would not be affected. Witnesses were largely opposed to H. 5036. The Retailers Association, the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, and the Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association said tariff-related shelf or price disclosures would be difficult or impossible to implement because tariff costs change frequently and are hard to trace through complex supply chains. Auto dealers emphasized the challenge of calculating tariff impacts across thousands of vehicle parts and models, while retailers said the proposal would add burdens and could increase costs. No votes on the bills were taken during the hearing; the only formal action was adjournment of the hearing after testimony concluded.