Transcript Highlights:

• All right, just as an administrative reminder, please silence all electronic devices.
• All right, just as an administrative reminder, please silence all electronic devices, and anybody wishing

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met and first received an update from FDOT on the Sun Trail shared-use nonmotorized trail program. FDOT said the program, created in 2015 and expanded by 2023 legislation, now includes connections to the Florida Wildlife Corridor and received a one-time $200 million appropriation plus increased annual funding. The department reported programming about $180 million of that funding, completing 42 construction projects totaling nearly 95 miles in 21 counties, and installing trail counters and QR-code surveys to measure usage and economic impact. Members expressed support for the program and asked no substantive questions. The committee then heard a presentation on FDOT’s locally administered state transportation funding programs, including SCOP, SCOPM, SCRAP, SIGP, and TRIP. FDOT explained these programs support local roadway resurfacing, bridge repair, drainage, paving unpaved roads, and safety or capacity improvements, with varying state match levels depending on the program and eligibility. FDOT said its adopted five-year work program includes more than $1.4 billion for local transportation improvement projects. A member asked whether toll revenues from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties fund these programs; FDOT said it would research the funding source and follow up. The committee’s main discussion was a panel on advanced air mobility (AAM), including FDOT and industry representatives from Supernal, Joby, Atlantic Aviation, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, and Eve Air Mobility. FDOT described its AAM planning work, advisory committee, local government guidebook, and upcoming training, while panelists emphasized Florida’s leadership, the likely use of existing airport and heliport infrastructure first, and the expectation that private investment will fund much of the early vertiport buildout. Members raised concerns about community acceptance, privacy, zoning, airspace congestion, security, and lessons from scooters and drones. Panelists repeatedly stressed a “crawl, walk, run” rollout, local government coordination, multimodal connectivity, and public outreach. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the panel.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices.
• Please silence all electronic devices.

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee met to hear an overview of Florida career and technical education (CTE) from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell and presentations from Big Bend Technical College and Santa Fe College. O’Farrell described Florida’s CTE structure, including career clusters, postsecondary program types, enrollment and completion growth, apprenticeship expansion, and the state’s credentials review process. He said postsecondary CTE enrollment is near 480,000 students and completions reached a record 76,806, with strong growth in nursing, law enforcement, EMT, and other public-safety credentials. He also discussed the CTE audit, which uses retention/success, employment or continued education, and labor-market demand metrics; programs not meeting thresholds would eventually require phase-out plans beginning in 2026. He highlighted the workforce development capitalization grant as a major driver of program expansion and facility renovation, and answered questions about business outreach, construction trades, apprenticeships, and space-industry training. Shelby McCall of Big Bend Technical College described how the college responded to hurricanes, mill closures, and regional economic disruption by expanding rural workforce training. She highlighted aluminum welding, millwright, welding technology, health sciences, and a new advanced manufacturing facility funded by state grants and local partnerships, along with a new LPN-to-RN bridge program. She said the college has strong placement and certification results and is working with employers such as Lippert, NAMO, and others to align training with local demand. Senator Simon praised the college’s role in Taylor County’s recovery and workforce development. Dr. Paul Brody of Santa Fe College said state workforce grants have helped the college expand nursing, skilled trades, apprenticeship, automotive, diesel, and manufacturing programs, including partnerships with Bradford County Technical College, UF Health, Habitat for Humanity, and local employers. He reported growth in CTE enrollment, nursing credentials, apprenticeship enrollment, and job placement rates, and described new efforts in semiconductor training, CDL training, and a charter school model that combines high school, an AS degree, and industry credentials. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentations and adjourned after Senator Berman moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make sure that your electronic devices are on silent.
• Electronic devices are on silent.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs held its first meeting and heard presentations focused on affordable housing implementation under the Live Local Act. Florida Housing Finance Corporation described its role in administering rental and homeownership programs, including SAIL, SHIP, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, disaster recovery efforts, supportive housing, and the Live Local funding and tax incentives. Officials said the first year’s $150 million Live Local rental allocation was fully committed to 23 developments producing 3,171 units with mixed-income set-asides, and they outlined how projects were selected through competitive solicitations tied to statutory priorities such as mixed-use development, publicly owned land, foster youth, rural areas of opportunity, redevelopment, and housing near military installations. They also discussed the tax credit contribution program, the missing-middle property tax exemption, sales tax rebates, and the year-one ad valorem exemption for qualifying affordable projects. Members asked detailed questions about the data and program design, including the use of area median income figures, per-unit subsidy levels, county targeting, tenant relocation during redevelopment, and whether the programs were helping lower-income households. Florida Housing said it uses competitive scoring and data from the Schimberg Center and that redevelopment projects are supposed to include tenant relocation plans. The homeownership portion of the presentation covered the Hometown Heroes program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers, with exceptions for active-duty military and veterans. Staff said the program has assisted more than 21,000 families and leveraged over $6.5 billion in first mortgages, and members asked about repayment rates, credit scores, and whether participants were staying in homes long enough to show the program was serving intended buyers. The committee then heard from OPAGA on two required Live Local evaluations: affordable housing strategies in other states and affordable housing policies in Florida. OPAGA reported that Florida has a high share of cost-burdened households, with 1.5 million households cost burdened and 1.4 million severely cost burdened, and that Florida’s counties and municipalities reported more than $1.4 billion in affordable housing expenditures in fiscal year 2023-24. The report identified 13 innovative out-of-state programs, with three considered high-potential for Florida implementation, and summarized Florida local government practices such as SHIP-funded homeownership and rental assistance, expedited permitting, mixed-income zoning, rehabilitation programs, and interlocal cooperation. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housekeeping: please silence all electronic devices.

Bills: S0100, S0102, S0104

Keywords: Florida Statutes, codification, revisers bill, statutory adoption, official law, general laws, repeal by omission, statutory compilation, Florida Legislature, legal code update, session law, statute revision, F.S., codified laws, legislative services, pending civil remedies, accrued rights, reviser bill, statutory cleanup, technical corrections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and heard three housekeeping/statutory revision bills. Chair Passidomo introduced the committee’s new staff director, and the committee proceeded quickly through the agenda with no public appearance forms, questions, or debate on any of the bills. SB 100, the Adoption Act, prospectively adopts the 2026 Florida Statutes as an official document and adopts the statute materials passed by the 2025 regular session as official state statute law. SB 102 deletes statutory provisions that were previously repealed or expired and are now without effect. SB 104 is the General Reviser's Bill, which removes obsolete language, updates cross-references, and corrects grammatical and typographical errors in the Florida Statutes. Each bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. After the votes, several senators asked to be recorded as voting favorably on tabs 1 and 2, and the committee adopted that request without objection. The meeting then adjourned, with members reminded that the committee would meet again on Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we proceed, let me briefly mention: witnesses, please be sure to register using the electronic

Bills: HCR98, HB180, HB180

Keywords: counter-unmanned aircraft systems, C-UAS, counter-drone, drone mitigation, unmanned aircraft systems, UAS, border security, U.S.-Mexico border, aviation safety, airspace regulation, federal preemption, Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, FBI, state-local coordination, tribal and territorial partners, border patrol, cartels

Transcript Highlights:

• Calatayud: PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair: PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tentarelli said her written testimony was basically copied from the Electronic Registration Information
• They did it electronically.
• They did it electronically.
• They did it electronically.
• Electronically.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is Senator West bill relating to requiring the use of electronically readable information

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is Senator West's bill relating to requiring the use of electronically readable information

Bills: SB1346, SB1376, SB2075, SB2167, SB2864

Keywords: lottery, prohibited sales, winning tickets, sales agents, license revocation, code enforcement, training requirements, supervision, registered officer, occupations code, advisory boards, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, public members, occupational regulations, professional standards, massage therapy, licensing, human trafficking, regulation, Occupations Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Reminder to silence all electronic devices, if you have any.

Summary: The Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard one item: confirmation of Lieutenant Governor Jeanette M. Nunes as chair of the Board of Directors of Space Florida. Nunes was not present, and there were no questions from members. One appearance form was filed by Ellsworth Williams, who spoke about veterans’ issues, especially the rising suicide risk among older veterans, and described his organization’s counseling, referral, advocacy, and support services for elderly veterans and caregivers. After brief discussion, Senator Truenow moved to recommend confirmation of Lieutenant Governor Nunes. The committee adopted the motion without objection and then took a roll call vote, which resulted in a favorable recommendation for confirmation. Members then exchanged closing remarks thanking one another for service and noting the committee’s work on veterans and military issues. The meeting concluded with no further business and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair Wright: REMINDER TO TURN OFF ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR PUT THEM ON SILENT MODE AND ANYONE WISHING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY PLEASE SILENCE'S ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment specifically allows the use of electronic mail to provide written notice while also giving
• towns the option to opt out of electronic mail.
• The amendment specifically allows the use of electronic mail to provide written notice while also giving
• towns the option to opt out of electronic mail.
• option to opt out of electronic mail. option to opt out of electronic mail.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the bills and how we'll get those and that process in order to have a hard copy as well as the electronic
• , and how to access the electronics?
• There's an electronic version, and I half apologize to Attorney Ricard that I didn't have time.
• It's the same exact document, so there is an electronic version coming to you as well.
• <01:08:16.120> version<01:08:17.120> and email there's an electronic version and email

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure all your cell phones and electronic communication devices are either on silent or turned

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first took up SB 1376, a bill by Senator Burgess to create an education grant program to help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors. Burgess explained that the program would support students pursuing genetics-related careers at state universities, noting the growing need in clinical areas such as oncology, prenatal care, and rare diseases. An amendment was adopted requiring graduate genetic counseling programs to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and to show sufficient clinical training capacity. Members speaking in support said genetic counseling is an important and underrecognized field and that the bill would help expand access to services in Florida. After the amendment, CS for SB 1376 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 1570 by President Gates, which would restore a previously sunsetted statewide program, Project Leo, to help locate missing persons with special needs who are at high risk of wandering, using voluntary tracking devices through CARD centers and local sheriff’s offices, with $1 million in nonrecurring funding. Senators Berman and Harrell strongly supported the bill, citing the dangers of wandering, especially for individuals with autism or developmental disabilities, and the potential for the program to save lives. SB 1570 was also reported favorably by roll call vote. No other business was raised, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices.

Bills: S1376, S1570

Keywords: genetic counseling, education grants, state universities, faculty recruitment, student financial assistance, missing persons, special needs, autism, search-and-rescue, Florida, voluntary program, funding

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first considered SB 1376, which would create an education grant program to help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors by supporting students in genetics programs at state universities. Senator Burgess described genetic counselors’ roles in oncology, prenatal care, rare diseases, and other clinical settings, and noted Florida’s limited number of licensed counselors. The committee adopted an amendment requiring graduate programs to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling and to show sufficient clinical training capacity. Members spoke in support, and CS/SB 1376 was reported favorably by roll call vote. After a brief recess, the committee took up SB 1570, which would revive Project Leo, a prior Florida program that helped locate missing persons with special needs who are at high risk of wandering or elopement. President Gates explained that the bill would allow participating CARD centers to work with local sheriff’s offices to provide voluntary tracking devices and included $1 million in nonrecurring funding. Senators Berman and Harrell supported the measure, citing the dangers of wandering, especially for individuals with developmental disabilities or autism, and the importance of preventing drownings and other tragedies. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. No other business was raised, no senators requested to be recorded on the bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• $644 million worth of Minnesota goods exported to Taiwan, including top exports of medical and electronic