Transcript Highlights:

• If we could please read all the items under the first block of votes for consent items.
• Please call, please read out the next five items for our second block of voting.
• Please read out the next five items for our second block of voting.
• Second block, the motion is to accept the staff recommendation for items 5, 16, 32, 47, 60, 86, 87, 98
• On our final voting block, please read the final items and the motion.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've decided to go ahead and do a block vote on them at our last committee meeting.
• We've heard from each appointee, and we'll be taking up the entire group in a block vote unless someone
• Is there a motion to recommend confirmation by a block vote? Is there an objection?
• Seeing no objection, we will vote, then in a block.
• Seeing no objection, we will vote then in a block vote on all individuals in tabs 2 through 13.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education opened by noting it would not present its budget that day, explaining the budget rollout would be delayed until the following week to align with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a roll call confirmed a quorum, the chair explained that because of the large number of gubernatorial appointments, the committee would hear only a subset individually and consider reappointments in a block unless members requested otherwise. The committee then heard testimony from appointees and reappointees to several university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to their alma mater, support for leadership, student success, entrepreneurship, scholarships, and maintaining FAMU’s status as a leading HBCU. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh highlighted FAU’s growth, R1 research designation, quantum computing, servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and expanded research opportunities. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins focused on UCF’s preeminence, workforce needs, nursing and engineering, and keeping graduates in Florida. Florida Gulf Coast University nominees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointee Joseph Fogg discussed workforce development, affordability, student success, water and environmental programs, business and entrepreneurship, nursing outcomes, and FGCU’s regional role. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly cited USF’s AAU status, research growth, and focus on student success, health care, cybersecurity, and AI. Committee members generally praised each nominee’s background and the universities’ achievements. At the end of the hearing, the committee approved all nominees in a single block vote for confirmation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Presentation by the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
• Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce. of Commerce on the Community Development Block
• Today, I'm going to share with you an overview of our Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
• This reconstructed home is in Lee County, a concrete block single-family home, and also includes impact
• larger community system, it just made sense; we needed more storage, water storage on a neighborhood block

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Presentation by the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
• and Rebuilder. [00:08:20.000] The Department of Commerce presentation on the Community Development Block
• Today I’m going to share with you an overview of our Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
• homes across 47 eligible counties. [00:12:30.000] This reconstructed home is in Lee County, a concrete block
• larger community system, it just made sense; we needed more storage, water storage on a neighborhood block

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum and heard two bills, a confirmation, and two agency presentations. SB 48 by Senator Gates would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead exemption for the owner-occupied portion, limit parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum leases, extend density bonuses for military-family housing, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call. SB 34 by Senator Sharief would expand the Historic Cemetery Program, particularly to help historic African-American cemeteries preserve and maintain themselves by allowing sale of excess vacant land only if proceeds are used for long-term upkeep; it also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors by unanimous vote. In addition, the Department of Commerce presented on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida, describing more than $4.3 billion in HUD disaster recovery funds since 2017, housing repair and replacement efforts that have completed more than 5,200 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects across the state. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and clawbacks from a prior vendor; Commerce said it had ended the earlier vendor relationship, imposed about $3.6 million in financial consequences, and now uses stronger oversight and competitive procurement for contractors. The Division of Emergency Management then presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds used. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is intended to reduce repetitive flood losses, keep homeowners in their communities, and serve as a national model; he reported more than 12,000 applications, about 1,500 prioritized for review, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about assistance for seniors who cannot meet the 25% match, the wait-list process, contractor selection, and the mix of project types, and Guthrie said contractors were selected through competitive procurement and that most projects are elevations, though some may become reconstructions or acquisitions depending on inspection results. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you look up above and it has the base level and then the FTE block grant pool... ...just looks
• So if you look up above and it has the base level and then the FTE block grant pool, it's just a total
• And so we adjusted those up, but it's all taken out and moved into the FTE block grant, minus those 95
• Yes, and, I mean, did you want me—I can talk about the FTE block grant tomorrow.
• I think we're all spent today, or you can have me... ...talk about the FTE block grant tomorrow.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The HR division continued work on the behavioral health budget, with members revisiting several funding items and generally agreeing to hold provider inflation increases until the full division picture is clearer. They tentatively supported additional funding for Community Connect and Free Through Recovery, as well as increases for the drug court program and peer support, while clarifying that some items were already in the House version and others were one-time or grant-related expenditures. The committee spent considerable time on a proposed $2 million behavioral health services program for nursing homes and basic care facilities. Senator Mathern brought revised language to describe a capitated payment model for training, consultation, and direct patient care for residents with medically based behavioral disorders and disruptive behaviors. Some members remained skeptical and wanted to see the amendment before deciding, but the discussion centered on whether the funding would help nursing homes accept patients who otherwise end up in state hospitals or acute care settings. Members also discussed several one-time funding items, including electronic health record and legacy system upgrades, network redundancy for the state hospital, partial hospitalization/intensive day treatment expansion, and a bathroom remodel at the Southeast Human Service Center. The committee restored the bathroom project to the original $972,000 estimate after concerns that the House reduction would not cover the needed ADA and plumbing work. They also debated a $12.96 million behavioral health facility grant for Altru in Grand Forks, with some members opposing it and others supporting it as a regional service expansion, but ultimately set it aside for later consideration. The meeting ended with staff flagging other sections of the bill, including the opioid settlement advisory language, the state hospital steering committee, behavioral health education grants, and the system of care grant. The chair announced that medical services would be taken up the next day, and members agreed to adjourn after planning to revisit unresolved behavioral health items and vote on the held bill later.

Transcript Highlights:

• MADE TO OUR DERELICT VESSEL GRANT PROGRAM THAT MAKE THINGS EASIER IS THIS MOST RECENT ONE IS OUR DV BLOCK
• HERE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM WHERE APPLICANTS WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE IN REMOVING
• DERELICT VESSELS CAN APPLY FOR A BLOCK ON SUNDAY WHERE THEY RECEIVE THAT FUNDING IN ADVANCE AND ARE ALLOWED
• AGAIN ONE OF THE MOST RECENT CHANGES WAS THAT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM BUT WE'VE LOST MANY CHANGES OVER THE
• WHICH IS TO SAY IF YOU HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT LEASES ON A BLOCK, 10 DIFFERENT LANDLORDS IS THERE ONE UNIFORM

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Ramirez was murdered during a traffic stop while doing what law enforcement officers across this
• But it blocks new people's ability to bring those forward.
• He arbitrarily blocked the development of affordable energy sources while forcing more expensive coal
• Well, if there's a permitting problem that's blocking our ability to produce and distribute oil and gas
• <03:39:51.680> our permitting problem that's blocking our permitting problem that's blocking

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school meals, $1.7 million in discretionary block funding, the $90.7 million for universal school meals
• In addition, we are supportive of the COLA, as well as the discretionary block grant, though ask that
• inclusion of the following proposals: funding for LCFF and COLA, $1.7 billion for the discretionary block
• Funding for LCFF and COLA. $1.7 billion for the discretionary block ramp. 2.1 billion for UTK to lower
• discretionary. billion one time for the student support and professional development discretionary block

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• These very real building blocks of our electric grid have a reality. attached to them.
• What we're discussing here is something called neutral blocking devices.
• So that blocks the ground current from doing two things: the damage that it causes by thermal.
• The neutral ground blocking device has been developed and has been tested.
• That's the sole vendor and only makes 12 a year of these neutral blocking devices.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the other thing we would support would be a student support block grant that would go towards
• And then the other thing we would support would be a student support block grant that would go towards
• And then also we would also encourage support for a block grant because of what's happening since January
• And then we'd love to see a discretionary block grant for the community colleges. Thank you.
• benefits of those proposals and possibly can suggest better use of the funds, including a flexible block

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• One recent change that we've made that has just taken effect as our new block grant program, where local
• most removals in the state had which have the most experience that removals are allowed to receive a block
• Monroe County is one of those ones that where they do enough for me was that they would qualify for a block
• Recycle engine blocks lead in the bottom of the kill stainless material, aluminum asked kind of stuff

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's in vehicle traffic. Move by Senator Popov.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The transcript appears to be a committee vote session on many bills across a range of subject areas, including media rules, highway law, education, health, social services, business, insurance, real property, arts and culture, banking, navigation, and vehicle traffic. For each item, a senator moved the bill, another seconded it, and the chair repeatedly announced that the motion carried, with bills being reported out of committee. The transcript is heavily garbled, so many bill titles and bill numbers are unclear, but the overall pattern is consistent: sequential consideration and reporting of numerous measures. Most items were approved without recorded opposition, though the transcript occasionally notes “all in favor” or “all in favor, opposed,” suggesting routine voice votes or unanimous consent. A few specific references are legible, such as the highway law, education law, health law, insurance law, social services law, business law, and arts and cultural affairs law, indicating the committee was processing amendments or related bills in those areas. The session also includes repeated references to particular sponsors or bill numbers, but the text is too distorted to reliably identify them all. No substantive debate, testimony, or amendments are clearly described in the transcript. The main action was procedural: motions, seconds, and repeated announcements that bills were reported out. The meeting ends with additional garbled references to later bills, again suggesting continued routine reporting of measures rather than extended discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive Law, the Judiciary Law, the Social Services Law, the General Obligations Law, the Vehicle and Traffic

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on March 18 for its third meeting of the year and considered a series of bills, mostly reporting them to the floor. Early measures included a bill by Senator Gernardis on releasing certain claims by employees, a bill by Senator Brooke barring people convicted of elder abuse from inheriting from the elder’s estate, and a bill by Senator Mayer requiring the Chief Administrator to report court data, including information on town and village courts. Members also advanced a bill on notice requirements for self-storage lien enforcement and a bill by Senator Sepulveda concerning mercantile establishments and collections after a finding of not guilty in a larceny case. The elder-abuse inheritance bill drew supportive comments, with one member noting a related gap in the law involving parental abandonment and inheritance rights. The most extended discussion centered on the mercantile-establishment bill, where some members raised concerns that a criminal acquittal or dismissal on technical grounds could unfairly limit a business’s ability to pursue civil recovery, while supporters argued that a not-guilty finding should prevent further collection efforts tied to the alleged crime. After debate, the bill was moved and reported to the floor, with at least one member voting no or without recommendation. The committee also advanced a bill on judicial staffing levels, with no substantive discussion noted. Later, the committee approved a bill prohibiting undisclosed reporting of mediation and court-annexed alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and a broad bill by Senator Sepúlveda replacing references to paternity and affiliation with parentage across multiple laws. Most measures were reported to the floor, and one bill on court data reporting was sent to finance. The meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the city police force eligibility for retirement and pension based on previous service as traffic

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The State Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee met on February 10, 2026, with a quorum present and several members attending in person or by voting sheet. Chair Robert Jackson opened the meeting, welcomed a new committee member and visiting members of the Uzbekistan parliament, and noted that the committee would consider 11 bills. The discussion was procedural and focused on moving each bill through committee. The committee advanced a series of civil service, retirement, and benefits measures, including bills on compensation for employees with foreign language skills, health insurance and dental coverage for state employees, mental health care access for emergency dispatchers and correction officers, and several retirement-related proposals affecting correction officers, sheriffs, Nassau County members, and service credit transfers. Jackson also advanced his own bills on health disease presumptions for certain law enforcement and correction titles, retirement benefits, accidental disability retirement for sheriffs, and eligibility for city police retirement based on prior traffic enforcement service. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously, with reported votes of 7 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions/without recommendation. All 11 bills were ordered reported to the Finance Committee. The meeting concluded without further discussion or additional actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• proponent of the bill and support of where this is going, looking at the uniform approach as well as the traffic

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard two member bills. The first, CS for HB 243 on electric bicycles, was presented as a safety and data-collection measure prompted by fatalities and serious injuries involving e-bikes and similar devices. The sponsor said the bill would create a task force, require law enforcement crash data collection, and focus on education and enforcement rather than licensing changes. Testimony in support came from law enforcement, AARP, and local officials, who said statewide data is inconsistent and current classifications do not reflect the speed and use of newer devices. Members discussed the need for better reporting and bike safety, and the bill passed favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up CS for HB 679, which would modernize Florida’s trademark registration system by aligning it more closely with federal standards, requiring clearer identification of goods and services, proof of use in commerce, and allowing streamlined online filing and renewal. The only public testimony was a supportive appearance from the Florida Bar’s business law section. There were no questions or debate, and the bill also passed favorably by roll call vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Block, thank you for that question. Let me start globally.
• Madam Chair, Representative Block, thank you for that question.
• And thank you, Representative Block, for bringing that up, or the team over here.
• Representative Block. I have no questions at this time, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Representative Block. Vice Chair Lopez shared with us today.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Representative Block, you might want to listen up here.
• I hope, and I was hoping that Representative Block might say this, and I hope others will, I want to
• Representative block. And with that, I'll have our.
• OK, I think, I think John Block should wear a crown today, some sort of a crown.
• north of Saint Michael's and about 2 blocks west of Saint Francis.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can vote on the entire block at one time, but we will pull out and We can vote on the entire block
• If there's no objection, then we will vote as a block.
• If there's no objection, then we will vote as a block.
• Is there a motion to recommend for confirmation for a block vote?
• If there's no objection, then we will vote as a block.

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 270, which would extend Bright Futures eligibility by 12 months for certain students whose parent was serving overseas in public service and then retired, giving military and diplomatic families more time to return to Florida without losing scholarship eligibility. Senator Burgess also explained a late-filed amendment to set the bill’s effective implementation for the 2025-26 school year, and the committee adopted the amendment without objection. The bill received supportive testimony, including from Senator Smith, and was reported favorably by a roll call vote. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmation hearings for appointees to state college boards of trustees, with the chair emphasizing a new process of hearing from each nominee individually rather than taking a blanket vote. Nominees from Tallahassee State College, St. Johns River State College, South Florida State College, Broward College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Valencia College described their backgrounds and priorities, which largely centered on workforce development, nursing and health sciences, dual enrollment, fiscal responsibility, student retention, and partnerships with local employers and communities. Several nominees highlighted their own educational or professional ties to the colleges, and some noted the importance of serving rural or military-connected communities. One nominee, John Aloko for Pasco-Hernando State College, was not present because he was attending a conference in Hawaii and was deferred to a later hearing. After hearing all other nominees, the committee voted to recommend confirmation of the remaining appointees in a block vote, covering Tabs 2 through 22 except Tab 8, and the motion passed. Two members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have block grants that we get biannually, and then we have three discretionary grants, so we are not
• There are sometimes changes in both of those block grant amounts, but they are formula grants, and we
• And again, you know, with our mental health block grant...
• I believe it's a formula for the block grant that's applied to all 50 states.
• It is driven by a block grant, and it is distributed.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, we provided funding to public television through matching grants, equipment grants, and block
• But these block grants have not been increased since 2013, and this bill does include an increase in
• grants, and through grants, and block grants, and through this<00:02:31.520> committee,<00:02
• the Block grants have been supported by the committee<00:02:48.160> as<00:02:48.280> well.
• Matching and block grants are the backbone of our operations.

Bills: HF1458, HF2063, HF2164, HF1377, HF927, HF1059, HF1910, HF2232

Keywords: CPA, certified public accountant, public accounting, accountancy, licensure, license mobility, substantial equivalency, interstate practice, out-of-state accountant, NASBA, Uniform CPA Examination, board of accountancy, attest services, audit, tax preparation, financial advisory, consulting, accounting education, master's degree, bachelor's degree