Transcript Highlights:

• However, they're required to bring their loans into good standing in order to continue schooling.
• this funding, we would not be able to have the capacity because it is specialized counseling that requires
• this funding, we would not be able to have the capacity because it is specialized counseling that requires
• So, you know, as originally drafted, this bill would require higher ed institutions to just provide an
• and things like that requirements and things like that members<00:46:53.400><c> I</c><00:46:53.440><

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This does require statute.
• We have decreased the equipment requirements for birth centers.
• That was abrupt and required a very regional, well-organized response.
• In terms of open enrollment waivers, there were over 1,300 for 2025.
• There's initial progress that doesn't require big operational change.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• :16.080><c> department</c><01:21:16.480><c> of</c> we also required the department of we also required
• ,</c><01:39:22.080><c> the</c> years, unlike school enrollment, the years, unlike school enrollment,
• School enrollment<01:39:24.800><c> goes</c><01:39:25.040><c> like</c> enrollment goes like enrollment
• </c> The New Hampshire Constitution requires The New Hampshire Constitution requires that<01:54:12.080
• </c> this requires this requires well<02:31:20.479><c> thank</c><02:31:20.560><c> you</c><02:31:20.720

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest one will be the child care voucher program and how much enrollment to assume in next year's
• The The number of kids that are enrolled and receive the vouchers has also rebounded significantly coming
• Basically Going back to requiring co-pays or allowing states to do a higher percentage of people's income
• Out of the 74,000 kids that are enrolled in licensed child care or an after-school or a school-based
• There are over 10,000 kids enrolled in childcare assistance, but you can see that potential liability

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• program also, part of the goal of that program is to increase the number of students not only who are enrolled
• As a part of that statewide model, they're focusing on enrollment in our advanced courses.
• Part of that statewide model, they're focusing on enrollment in our advanced courses.
• It does require that we have to have someone to rely on, and I can't stress enough...
• That was a school that was in declining enrollment that we thought might close.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism. The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts. Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• > multif family um which doesn't which multif family um which doesn't which does<00:07:24.120><c> require
• Our School of Nursing has, as of today, enrolled 2,756 students, so it’s an extremely large school.
• does require them to address<00:58:27.799><c> certain</c><00:58:28.200><c> questions</c><00:58:28.640
• </c> however they did have members enrolled however they did have members enrolled for<01:21:52.920><
• Why does it require two? These are two separate studies.

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires voter approval.
• Advance authorization is required.
• Texas requires sheriffs to be certified and also requires at least five years full-time experience as
• No type of required experience or even a minimum age requirement.
• No type of required experience or even a minimum age requirement. 5974 strengthens qualifications and

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it would take any employee that's got 14 hours or more and require us to pay 95% of their single
• He said House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• He said House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.
• House File 2904 requires employer contributions of 95% and 85% for family and individuals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, again, there is a very specific amount that they are required to have.
• </c> bill uh or those that are just enrolled? bill uh or those that are just enrolled?
• <01:30:37.679><c> has</c><01:30:38.159><c> an</c> statutoily required that Kimmy has an statutoily required
• </c><01:42:26.719><c> As</c><01:42:27.040><c> a</c> enrollment starting July 1st.
• As a enrollment starting July 1st.

Summary: The Government Contract Committee met with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for Representative McCool after the death of his sister, and approved the April 14 minutes. The committee then reviewed a large agenda of contracts and amendments, beginning with a deferred Office of the Controller procurement involving broker services. Members questioned why a contract that had previously been handled for about $300,000 annually was now priced at about $1 million, and why the procurement was limited to one year. Office of the Controller staff said the prior vendor had held the work for more than 20 years, the work had previously been treated as not practical to bid, and the new RFP was intended to increase competition. They said the technical evaluation was scored before cost was considered, that past performance was not scored because it was seen as unreliable, and that AON received the highest technical score despite not being the lowest bidder. After discussion, the committee voted to take no action and let the contract proceed to the Finance Cabinet, with members noting continuing concerns about the pricing and process. The committee next considered a DCBS memorandum of agreement amendment for language services. DCBS representatives said the additional funding did not come from a new cut elsewhere, but from reduced spending on interpreter services because commonly used forms had been translated into other languages, freeing up funds for the contract. The committee approved the item unanimously. The final major item discussed was an initial contract for the Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists for legal services. Board staff said the board had been without a permanent general counsel since March 2024 and had relied on special and conflict counsel because of unusually heavy litigation, including 11 active cases, plus broader disciplinary and licensing changes tied to recent legislation and an oversight report. They said the contract was a not-to-exceed amount funded entirely by agency fees and that the board was currently running a surplus. Senator Thomas urged support, citing prior legislation and oversight findings about problems at the board and saying the contract was needed to help the board address ongoing litigation and corrective work. The committee approved the contract and then approved the remaining agenda items without objection, sending them forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> open enrollment. open enrollment.
• </c> enrollment letter. enrollment letter.
• </c> the change to the reporting requirement the change to the reporting requirement in<00:20:43.080>
• </c> their income and still require their income and still require additional<00:50:30.200><c> out-of-pocket
• </c> that realm, this idea that requiring that realm, this idea that requiring everybody<01:34:08.680

Bills: HF3119

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: teacher compensation, educational staff, unlicensed staff, minimum wage, inflation adjustment, education finance

Transcript Highlights:

• while enrolled in an inpatient facility.
• overly burdensome requirements.
• plan, so they're required to do it by contract.
• These programmatic and fiscal audits require site visits.
• It creates a pathway to enrollment, not a mandate.

Committee: House Health

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a special order of bills focused largely on utilization management and prior authorization in health care. Chair Bonta opened by explaining the committee’s rules and noting several consent items, then moved into bills aimed at reducing delays and barriers in coverage decisions for mental health, substance use disorder treatment, chronic care, and rehabilitation services. The committee also noted AB 1429 had been pulled from the agenda. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and for physician care delivered during those inpatient stays. Supporters, including behavioral health groups, hospitals, emergency physicians, and patient advocates, argued that prior authorization delays crisis care and can worsen outcomes. Opponents, including health plans and insurers, warned about fraud, waste, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities and review processes. The bill passed the committee on a do pass as amended vote and was sent to Appropriations, though it was placed on call. AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis would require health plans to provide a peer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization decision. Supporters said this would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the specialty-matching requirement and timelines were unworkable and could strain the system. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the prescribed treatment, with supporters citing chronic illness and cancer care delays and opponents arguing the bill was too broad. AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney would bar certain utilization reviews for the first 28 days of in-network substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications; it drew strong emotional support from a parent who lost her son after treatment was cut short, while insurers and health plans opposed it as too restrictive. AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization turnaround times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests, and AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark González would allow up to 12 physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization. Across these bills, supporters emphasized timely access and patient harm from delays, while opponents repeatedly raised concerns about oversight, medical necessity review, and cost. Several measures were voted out on call or held on call for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The university students enrolled in military programs often face challenges when registering for classes
• during the standard enrollment.
• This challenge is particularly daunting for those whose careers require a state occupational license.
• In our License to Work report, we found that 63 of the 102 low-to-moderate-income jobs often require
• We have Chapter 55, which lays out all the requirements for the states.

Bills: HB 102 , HB300 , SB2255 , HB102 , HB300

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard three measures focused on military-connected students, service members, veterans, and their families. House Bill 102 would give eligible students in military-related university programs early registration privileges, similar to existing accommodations for expectant mothers and student athletes. House Bill 300 would modernize the Texas Armed Services Scholar program by increasing scholarship funding, clarifying the student employment agreement, and creating a scholarship coordinator at THECB to help students and families navigate the program. Senate Bill 2255 drew the most discussion and testimony. The bill would streamline occupational licensing for military members, spouses, and veterans by allowing Texas licensure based on an out-of-state license in good standing with a similar scope of practice, removing the Texas residency requirement, and shortening agency processing time from 30 days to 10 days in the committee substitute. Supporters from the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations, the Texas Association of Business, the Institute for Justice, TDLR, and the VFW said the bill would reduce bureaucratic delays, improve employment opportunities, and help military families maintain income during relocations. TDLR also described current licensing confusion between state and federal rules and said the bill would improve alignment and data collection. No witnesses testified against any of the bills. After public testimony closed on each measure, HB 102, HB 300, and SB 2255 were left pending in committee. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The information required under this amendment is redundant and unnecessary.
• The information required under this amendment is redundant and unnecessary.
• And if we're going to require our hospitals, FQCs, that are already under audit...
• This policy is somewhat complicated and a lot of engagement was required.
• This policy is somewhat complicated and a lot of engagement was required.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 518, 25, 31, and 85 correctly enrolled. Senate Bill 10. Committee reports.
• 00:31:12.000><c> and</c><00:31:12.159><c> 85</c><00:31:12.480><c> correctly</c><00:31:12.720><c> enrolled
• </c><00:31:13.120><c> Senate</c> 31 and 85 correctly enrolled. Senate 31 and 85 correctly enrolled.
• But what this amendment does is it requires..." committee, but we knew that we would be committee, but
• </c> ...amendment does is it requires that the Division of Property Taxation prepare and publish standard

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the February 23, 2026 journal, and received several committee reports. Education recommended Senate Bill 67 be amended and sent to Appropriations, and Judiciary recommended Senate Bill 70 be amended and sent to Appropriations. The Education Committee also recommended confirmation of several Institute of Cannabis Research Governing Board appointments, and later the chamber confirmed a consent calendar of governor’s appointments, including members of the GOCO Trust Fund board, the Colorado Agriculture Development Authority, and the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee. On the floor, the Senate passed several bills. Senate Bill 85 and Senate Bill 25, both on the consent calendar, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 5, concerning state court remedies for violations of federal constitutional rights during immigration enforcement, passed on a 20-11 vote after a brief reconsideration mix-up and was then repassed. Senate Bill 18, concerning legal protections for a minor and sealing a related name-change record, passed 20-11. Senate Bill 31, concerning lawful use of a prescription drug product containing a Schedule I controlled substance, passed 29-2. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole and took up Senate Bill 46, a property tax administration cleanup bill. After a Finance Committee report and adoption of amendment L003, the bill passed second reading and was ordered engrossed. The committee also laid over Senate Bills 53, 43, and 84 until February 25. Later, the Senate concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 52, concerning coal transition communities and just transition money, and then repassed it. The Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole report and recessed until 11:00 a.m. after announcements and personal privilege remarks recognizing the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District and Musical Therapist Day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> modifications to the report requirement. modifications to the report requirement.
• Um and and not require that.
• </c> that is required of. that is required of.
• </c><01:01:11.880><c> But</c> recipient is enrolled. It goes on. But recipient is enrolled.
• </c> matching as required by law. matching as required by law. Chair<01:02:43.560><c> Noor.

Bills: HF4110 , HF4101 , HF4144 , HF3546

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements requirements uh<01:17:37.520><c> shall</c><01:17:37.800><c> be</c><01:17:37.920><c> guilty
• Chair recognizes the gentleman from Bullitt 49, the chair of the Enrollment Committee, for the Enrollment
• The Enrollment Committee has Speaker.
• on the Enrollment Committee.
• The Enrollment Committee has Speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:12.559><c> for</c> 566 requiring permit applications for 566 requiring permit applications
• 17.920><c> to</c><00:45:18.160><c> allow</c> does not require towns to allow does not require towns to
• The enrolled bill report is adopted.
• </c> enrolled bill report is adopted. Okay. enrolled bill report is adopted. Okay.
• </c> practical because it wouldn't require practical because it wouldn't require every<01:59:43.920><

Transcript Highlights:

• this committee, for allowing me to be here in person to speak on this bill regarding residency requirements
• You see, the guidance requires documentation that many long-term incarcerated individuals no longer have
• an additional 12 months after their release from prison to establish residency so that they could enroll
• They need to be able to enroll in college immediately.
• ... ...policies on emergency management, conduct, and workplace violence, there is currently no requirement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and considered several bills and one appointment. SB 720, by Senator Osgood, would allow formerly incarcerated Florida residents to retain their residency status for tuition purposes so they can qualify for in-state rates after release. Senator Osgood and supporter Eddie Fordham testified that the bill addresses documentation barriers faced by long-term incarcerated people and supports reentry and rehabilitation; several organizations waved in support. Senators Jones and Rodriguez spoke in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 372, by Senator Trumbull, which would extend the state employee tuition waiver program to sheriff’s office employees on a space-available basis. The Florida Sheriffs Association supported the measure, and it was reported favorably. SB 176, by Senator Berman, would require public postsecondary institutions to provide clearer, publicly available procedures for reporting threats to physical safety and identifying responsible contacts and protective steps. Support came from several education and faculty groups, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous roll call. Members then recommended confirmation of Douglas Broxton to the State University System Board of Governors. Finally, SB 816, by Senator Bradley, would establish the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to advance diabetes research, education, prevention, and outreach. Senators emphasized the institute’s potential to improve outcomes and attract grant funding, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• this committee, for allowing me to be here in person to speak on this bill regarding residency requirements
• You see, the guidance requires documentation that many long-term incarcerated individuals no longer have
• an additional 12 months after their release from prison to establish residency so that they could enroll
• They need to be able to enroll in college immediately.
• Policies on emergency management, conduct, and workplace violence, there is currently no requirement

Bills: S0176 , S0372 , S0720 , S0816

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and considered several bills and one confirmation. Senate Bill 720, relating to resident status for tuition purposes for previously incarcerated Floridians, was presented by Senator Osgood and supported by testimony from Eddie Fordham, who described his own reentry and college experience and the difficulty of proving residency after long incarceration. Senators Jones and Rodriguez spoke in favor, emphasizing rehabilitation and access to education. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then approved Senate Bill 372, which would extend the state employee tuition waiver program to sheriff’s office employees on a space-available basis, with support noted from the Florida Sheriffs Association. Senate Bill 176, dealing with campus emergency management, conduct, and workplace violence policies, was also reported favorably after discussion focused on clearer reporting protocols, protective measures, and timely updates for students, faculty, and staff; several groups waved in support. Members also voted to recommend confirmation of Douglas Broxton to the Board of Governors of the State University System. Finally, Senate Bill 816, establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to advance research, prevention, care, education, collaboration, and outreach on diabetes, received supportive testimony from medical and university representatives and favorable comments from senators, including remarks about research, federal funding, and improved outcomes. The bill was reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• local entities are required to comply with.
• local entities are required to comply with.
• We're required to annually audit those located in counties with 150,000 or less.
• Most of these audits are required at least once every three years.
• certain required supplementary information.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive annual overviews of its oversight responsibilities and the work of the Auditor General and OPAGA. Committee staff reviewed the committee’s authority over state and local governments, enforcement of audit-report filing requirements, repeated audit findings, Transparency Florida reporting, and lobbying compensation audits. Auditor General Cheryl Norman described her office’s independence, audit standards, quality control, and major audit areas, including the state’s annual financial and single audits, school district and university audits, operational and performance audits, and attestation work. She also noted staffing shortages, recruitment efforts, and a request for carry-forward funds to study salaries. Members asked about whether audits can quantify recoverable dollars, how school district spending comparisons are handled, and how to raise concerns about DCF-related audits or a local city audit that has been pending for years. Norman said her office can quantify findings when possible, sometimes compares costs across districts in operational audits, and that members can bring specific concerns to the appropriate deputy auditor general or the committee. She also explained that citizen or local-government audit requests may require payment of audit costs. OPAGA Coordinator Kara Collins-Gomez outlined OPAGA’s role as a legislative research unit that conducts studies directed by law, the presiding officers, or the committee, and described its policy areas, methodologies, contract monitoring, and recurring statutory reports. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy explained how to read operational audit reports, including findings, criteria, condition, cause, effect, recommendations, and management responses. Deputy Auditor General Greg Senators explained financial audit reports, including audit opinions, required supplementary information, internal control and compliance findings, federal program compliance, and management letters. The meeting concluded with thanks to the presenters and a motion to adjourn, which passed without objection.