Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government will now come to order
• And that does include septic sewer when it's appropriate and available.
• And that does include subject to sewer when it's appropriate and available.
• It turns out those are appropriate, even though it's technically... Secretary Berger works. Okay.
• The Florida Legislature appropriated $280 million in the current budget.

Summary: The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably. Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage. The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, committee, if you look at Section 2 of the bill, that's where the appropriation is.
• ...interested parties and also the Chair of Appropriations was involved in that conversation.
• It's not an appropriation; it's a revenue reduction of about $20 million.
• So then those appropriation totals match Section 4 of the bill.
• I think maybe it would be appropriate to ask him what the results were. Sure. Levi. Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider four policy bills and discussed a possible later return to handle DOCR amendments and budget work. They first took up HB 1327, funding for the Agricultural Diversification and Development Fund, and adopted an amendment striking language that would have capped up to $10 million for agricultural infrastructure grants to political subdivisions. The bill was then passed as amended on a 22-0 vote, with Rep. Belts assigned as carrier. Next, the committee considered SB 2256, the Research Technology Park grant. Rep. Stemen offered an amendment reducing the appropriation amounts from the original figures to $10 million and $5 million levels, citing available funding; the amendment passed 19-3. The bill then passed as amended 22-0, and Rep. Stemen agreed to carry it. The committee then debated SB 2093, which combined a retired peace officers/surviving spouses benefit with an added income tax reduction. Rep. Munson moved to remove the income tax portion, and the committee agreed 17-4. The remaining peace officer benefit portion was then passed as amended 21-0, with Rep. Kempenich carrying it. Finally, the committee considered HB 2160, changing the state health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status. Members discussed cost shifting, employee retention, out-of-pocket exposure, and the updated fiscal note; the committee adopted an amendment updating the appropriation figures to match the current PERS/Deloitte analysis, then passed the bill as amended 15-7-1, with Rep. Worry originally the carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of it's going to provider payments, which otherwise we would have to appropriate general funds
• Chair, is a motion appropriate at this point, or you want to handle this? So, Mr.
• Chair, is a motion appropriate at this point, or do you want to handle this?
• So, the fiscal approach may be appropriate.
• fiscal approach uh may be appropriate. fiscal approach uh may be appropriate. um<01:32:28.719>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there are appropriate times when that's needs to be done.
• This was originally appropriated in 2023 and is an ongoing appropriation to help make these low-income
• Thomas microgrid research relates to an RDA appropriation from the 2023 budget year.
• So it's not anything new that we're appropriated.
• <01:03:10.920> now is uh as the money is appropriated now is uh as the money is appropriated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:48.319> public provide a free appropriate public provide a free appropriate public
• <01:03:36.760> and<01:03:36.920> maybe that are appropriate and maybe that are appropriate
• Going down the left-hand side of the page, you will see names of grant appropriations, and these appropriations
• Appropriations um and these Appropriations<01:40:01.599> had<01:40:01.719> been<01:40:
• <01:44:15.560> by or in part through funds appropriated by or in part through funds appropriated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that some of these appropriations were already appropriated once, and I think this is just adding
• <00:07:27.680> were<00:07:27.840> already<00:07:28.160> appropriated appropriations
• were already appropriated appropriations were already appropriated once<00:07:29.160> and<00:
• And then section 20 has an appropriation And then section 20 has an appropriation for<00:20:38.960
• appropriate location is. appropriate location is.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They passed the money through to the appropriate weed and pest districts.
• that if you looked joint appropriations that if you looked at<00:23:47.360> the<00:23:47.520>
• appropriate weed and pest districts. appropriate weed and pest districts.
• It would be appropriate, at least in the near term, to do something like that.
• <00:53:08.079> committee members of the appropriations committee members of the appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is administrative appropriation appropriation appropriation um<00:36:07.280> administrative
• <00:36:12.320> that administrative uh appropriation that administrative uh appropriation that
• These are the actual appropriations. Okay. Thank you, Representative.
• have a breakdown of that appropriation have a breakdown of that appropriation so<00:50:47.119>
• Did you say Medicaid appropriations.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 Introduction of Board Members – 00:02:04 Overview of the Purpose and Goals of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board – 00:12:46 Medicaid Legislative Update - 00:20:26 Discussion of Next Steps and Future Meeting Dates – 01:04:06 Adjournment – 01:06:37, 958, all

Summary: The first meeting of the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board opened with Chair Ken Fleming and Co-Chair Rocky Adams welcoming members, explaining the board’s purpose, and introducing the diverse membership of legislators, providers, advocates, and state officials. Fleming said the board would meet monthly, allow public comment at the end of meetings, and operate transparently with materials posted online and distributed in advance. Both chairs emphasized that the board’s work would focus on improving Medicaid outcomes, efficiency, and oversight, while preparing for possible federal changes and avoiding premature assumptions about what Congress may do. Members then gave brief introductions describing their backgrounds in medicine, nursing, hospital administration, behavioral health, insurance, budgeting, pharmacy, and Medicaid administration. Several noted direct experience with Medicaid populations or managed care, including the Department for Medicaid Services commissioner, health plan representatives, hospital and clinic leaders, and legislators with health care backgrounds. The board also heard from Stephanie Bates of the LRC Office of Health Data Analytics, who said her office supports the General Assembly with health-related data, policy, and research and would serve as a resource to the board. Bates then began a presentation on Medicaid basics, explaining that House Bill 695 created the board and that the presentation would cover eligibility, enrollment, covered benefits, waivers, managed care, the budget, and the federal reconciliation bill. She described Medicaid eligibility as complex, noted that Kentucky had more than 1.4 million enrollees, and explained enrollment churn and the unwinding of pandemic-era continuous coverage. She also outlined mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits, the requirement that services be medically necessary and provided by enrolled providers, and the main waiver types used in Kentucky, including 1115, 1915(b), and 1915(c) waivers. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting beyond organizational setup and receiving the initial informational presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's still under the same appropriation.
• Witness: Appropriation. Questioner: Okay.
• The appropriations for this bill says it includes amount appropriated above elsewhere in the act relating
• Because that is what this bill refers to the appropriations and the appropriations language says LBB
• That is what the language in Appropriations says.

Bills: HB 3

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• And each of those were faced with investigation by the appropriate authorities.
• So what we're going to do is amend it back and put all our policy back in, and then do it as appropriated
• And just for the benefit of the chamber, I wanted to explain what happened in appropriations: an entirely
• So that is definitely much better than it was when we had an appropriations.
• I'm going to be a no since I was in Appropriations.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored retiring Senate staffer Susan Miller and recognized a veteran injured in combat. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to returning messages from the House and began taking up bills and amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed SB 118 on RV park assessments and SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, both by 38-0 votes. It then took up the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which drew extensive debate. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity by tightening citizenship verification and ID rules; opponents argued it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled voters, and others without the newly required documents. The bill passed 27-12. The chamber also passed the education package SB 182 after adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, and approved SB 474 on military affairs, SB 425 on historic cemeteries, HB 929 on local regulation of chickees, and HB 35/SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation, all with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Senate then considered SB 902/ HB 733, the Department of Health package. Members adopted an amendment and amendment-to-amendment that preserved most Senate provisions while modifying or removing several House additions, including some early steps and medical marijuana-related changes, and the bill passed 37-0. The chamber also began work on HB 905, the foreign influence bill, with a strike-all amendment offered to expand restrictions on foreign influence, sister-city agreements, linkage institutes, and related activities, but the debate on that measure was still underway when the transcript ended. Several other returning messages and bills were temporarily postponed, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grade-level appropriateness is determined and established in the grade-level benchmarks, as you heard
• Grade-level appropriateness is determined and established in the grade-level benchmarks, as you heard
• implement this law, most appropriately implement this law, particularly<00:09:39.279> when<00
• Article 3, section 6 relocates a chapter of authorizer law to a more appropriate home.
• made where it is not appropriately made where it is not appropriately<00:17:49.360> housed,<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:08:29.199> has appropriations and revenue committee has appropriations and revenue committee
• And had children been appropriately.
• <00:14:00.560> Uh, they're appropriately inspected. Uh, they're appropriately inspected.
• <00:34:47.599> and 25th, 2026 to appropriations and 25th, 2026 to appropriations and revenue
• Have the appropriate paperwork. >> Record will reflect that.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, called the roll, excused absent members, and approved the prior day’s journal. The chamber then received House messages noting passage of House Bills 1, 422, 568, and 627, and heard second-reading reports for several measures, including bills on the state dog breed, mortgage loan income limits, virtual currency kiosks, agriculture, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Committee reports also advanced a number of bills from Appropriations and Revenue, Health and Services, Natural Resources and Energy, and State and Local Government, with many sent to the Rules Committee for further action. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on transportation, tobacco/nicotine/vapor products, Public Schools Week, and honoring Joseph H. Mattingley Jr.; the Rules Committee later posted several bills for the next day and committee referrals were announced. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 98, relating to welding safety. The sponsor explained that the bill requires inspections by American Welding Society-certified personnel on certain projects where those standards apply, citing a prior school structure collapse in Kentucky as the public-safety rationale. After debate, the bill passed by a vote of 33-4. The chamber next considered Senate Bill 122, which updates alternative sentencing law to allow judges to consider caregiving responsibilities when sentencing defendants. A floor amendment, developed with input from judges, broadened and clarified the caretaker definition and moved the language into the existing sentencing statute while preserving judicial discretion. Supporters said the bill is intended to help keep families together without mandating probation or reducing penalties; after the amendment was adopted, the bill passed 35-2. Later, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 57 honoring Father Patrick McDow on his ordination, and Senate Resolution 60 was read in full to honor the YMCA on its 175th anniversary in the United States, highlighting the organization’s history and Kentucky service. Members also announced upcoming committee meetings, including a special Health Services Committee meeting on artificial intelligence in rural health, and other committee schedules. The session concluded with the Senate in recess for committee meetings and then returning to report additional committee referrals and announcements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Until we Lawmakers budget appropriately?
• I'm unaware of that appropriation. Can you just briefly tell us where that is in the budget?
• I don't know if it's appropriate, Mr.
• That was not vetoed, so that is the appropriation remains.
• For FY 27, these were appropriations in Section 9 in the Grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is due pass to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Lee, Castillo not voting.
• The motion is due pass to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Lee? Castillo. Calderon.
• The motion is due passed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Lee? Kistillo. Calderon.
• The motion is do pass to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Lee? Aye. Lee, aye.
• The motion is do pass as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:10.160> the get done if we do not appropriate the get done if we do not appropriate
• on appropriations or the respective<02:30:37.520> design.
• This appropriations national security.
• One fake appropriations bill that they know will never pass.
• Because appropriations bill here today.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Appropriations. Ransom? Aye. Hadwick? Aye. Arambula?
• The motion is due pass as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.
• The motion is due pass as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.
• This type of safety measure may be appropriate for some types of reactive chemical hazards.
• Other safety measures may be more appropriate for other situations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also important to remember that seclusion is only appropriate to be used when it's an emergency.
• And, of course, it's not appropriate to be used with a student who will experience more trauma.
• It's not appropriate to use it as a disciplinary tool.
• <00:02:37.120> to And of course, it's not appropriate to And of course, it's not appropriate
• appropriate to use it as a disciplinary tool.<00:02:43.840> There<00:02:44.000> are<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• board, which was established in 2016, does not have any dedicated FTEs or administrative budget appropriated
• The purpose of this board is, as quoted here, I pulled this from JLBC's Appropriations Report when it
• There's no exchange of funds between states and no Arizona appropriation to offset the costs.
• As you know, the state legislature appropriates those dollars directly so that the students benefit,
• Desk reviews, I would maintain, at my current staffing, are appropriate.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the chair of education appropriations, you have my full commitment, and I'm going to be working on
• funding along with Chair Simon and our amazing team in appropriations to make sure that we are not just
• It's not new to do this, but I think, again, in our 250th birthday, it's 100% appropriate and I think
• I think those are all appropriate concerns, and I share those.
• We want to make sure every child gets the appropriate education that they need and that the teachers

Bills: S0206, S0420, S0556

Keywords: autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment, teacher stipend, salary supplement, professional development, inclusive education, developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, behavioral disabilities, school district compensation, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee first heard SB 420, which would require portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to be prominently displayed in classrooms used for social studies and in all K-5 classrooms, with the Department of Education selecting the portraits. Senator Burgess framed the bill as a patriotic and educational measure tied to America’s 250th anniversary, while Senator Davis raised concerns about exclusivity, political precedent, and state intrusion into local classroom decisions. Senator Osgood and others asked about sensitivity to diverse student populations and whether additional figures such as Harriet Tubman could also be displayed. Burgess said the bill would not prevent other displays, emphasized the two presidents’ historical significance, and committed to funding support so the mandate would not burden districts. The committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 206 on autism education and teacher preparation. Senator Harrell’s strike-all amendment required teacher preparation programs to include autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, required ESE-certified teachers to complete an autism microcredential, created an autism loan forgiveness program and salary supplement provisions, and directed district professional development to include autism-specific training with local CARD centers. A second amendment removed a proposed change to the legal definition of autism so that issue could be handled separately. Senators Davis and Osgood asked about implementation timelines, grandfathering current teachers, and how the bill would affect educators already working in autism classrooms; Harrell said he was open to further discussion and wanted to ensure flexibility while still requiring the credential. Public testimony included support from Orange County Public Schools, a parent of children with autism, and others. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 556, which allows students with disabilities to satisfy the high school physical education requirement by participating in Special Olympics for one year if included in the student’s IEP. An amendment also clarified that two years of marching band satisfies both the PE credit and a fine or performing arts credit. Supporters said the bill expands inclusive options and reduces administrative burdens, and Senator Yarborough praised the change as giving students more flexibility. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also took up confirmation votes for appointments in tabs 4 through 7 and recommended all of them favorably by a single roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• OVER 57 MILLION HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED TO DFS IN THIS PROJECT.
• SO JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE HERE THIS IS THE APPROPRIATION.
• APPROPRIATION WOULD EXPIRE JUNE 30 UNLESS REAPPROPRIATED AGAIN WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS UNDER YOUR CONTROL.
• HERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THE APPROPRIATION.
• OUT THE DOOR AND THE THIRD IS APPROPRIATION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.