Transcript Highlights:

• Um policy and an implementation plan.
• </c> Department of Revenue has business plan Department of Revenue has business plan on<00:49:26.760>
• And I have little transportation.
• </c> um and then transportation. um and then transportation.
• </c> office, transportation, what have you. office, transportation, what have you.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Transportation. And then you're here now because of the dual referral. Yes, sir.
• So just to be clear, I’ve been told by staff there was an amendment put on in the Senate Transportation
• Yeah, I'm looking at the amendment in Transportation and what you did. And I'm Representative Owen.
• Yeah, I'm looking at the amendment in Transportation.
• So through careful planning and improved operational efficiencies—oh, there it is. Oh, thank you.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs met on May 11, 2026, approved the April 27 minutes, and then took up several House bills. HB 618, by Rep. McMakin, would update Louisiana Economic Development fees and filing charges by indexing them to inflation and allowing some discretion to waive or reduce fees for small businesses; it was reported favorable. HB 732, by Rep. Owen, drew extensive discussion because it combined two issues: temporary OMV relief for a hospice-related ID problem and a suspension of the new hybrid vehicle road usage fee. Members and the OMV commissioner raised constitutional and drafting concerns about waiving or eliminating obligations, and the committee discussed how newer vehicle classifications blur the line between electric, hybrid, and gas-powered vehicles. The committee ultimately reported HB 732 favorable, with the understanding that amendments and further work would be needed before floor action. The committee also reported favorable on HB 217 and HB 214 by Rep. Henry, which would authorize local governments to grant property tax exemptions for the rehabilitation of blighted property and place the related constitutional amendment before voters. Testimony emphasized that the measure is permissive for local governments, applies only after a property is formally blighted and rehabilitated, and is intended to encourage redevelopment while preserving some tax revenue. Members discussed the exemption level, duration, and the need for clearer definitions of blight, but no objections were raised. HB 593, also by Rep. Henry, would raise the maximum service fee for OMV public tag agent offices statewide; the commissioner explained that many offices are locally operated and that the increase would help cover costs, and the bill was reported favorable. Later, HB 514 and HB 961, by Rep. Foreman, were reported favorable. HB 514 would allow local governments, by referendum, to provide additional property tax relief for seniors who meet income and freeze requirements, with phased age-based eligibility steps; HB 961 would extend a similar concept to certain homesteads held in trust. Members discussed the optional local nature of the program and the need to avoid overly broad rules. HB 908, by Rep. Mina, would increase certain Secretary of State business services fees to support operations and system upgrades; agency officials said the fees had not been comprehensively adjusted since 2013 and remained below regional averages, and the bill was reported favorable. The committee then heard an informational update on the capital outlay bill from the Division of Administration, including the use of bundled projects for universities and DOTD, the status of P1/P2/P5 funding, and available cash capacity. Finally, HB 1010, by Rep. Deshotel, was reported favorable after brief discussion; it would require assessors to report property tax collections to the Louisiana Tax Commission for centralized public reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commissions and the regional planning commissions and the regional planning groups<00:18:52.480>
• </c> uh planning and conservation activities. uh planning and conservation activities. uh<00:19:03.679
• Uh it would include planning.
• and regional planning efforts.
• </c> in case uh we we need a a plan B option. in case uh we we need a a plan B option.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• The Hudson River was a military highway, transporting troops, artillery, food, and information for the
• The Hudson River was a military highway, transporting troops, artillery, food, and information for the
• His plans for the future are to graduate as a cyber officer, attend rigorous Army schools... 3,000 MEETLE
• HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE TO GRADUATE AS A CYBER OFFICER, ATTEND RIGOROUS ARMY SCHOOLS, Such as Ranger
• His future plans relate to branch field artillery and attending school and going into the medical field

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Major Brittany Wooten, then took up Senate Resolution No. 1749 designating March 19, 2026, as West Point Day in New York State. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Skoufis, Minority Leader Ortt, and several other senators spoke in support of West Point, its cadets, and the academy’s history and role in national service. Colonel Daniel R. Stuewe, commander of U.S. Army Garrison West Point, also addressed the chamber, emphasizing the long-standing partnership between West Point and New York and the academy’s mission to develop leaders of character. The resolution was adopted, and the West Point Day observance included recognition of cadets and academy staff. The Senate then moved through a calendar of bills, passing measures including amendments to the Public Health Law, Election Law, Executive Law, Penal Law, Elder Law, Real Property Tax Law, General Municipal Law, and Public Authorities Law. Several bills drew brief explanations of vote or debate. Senator Mayer spoke in support of a bill establishing Fred Korematsu Day, framing it as a reminder of the injustice of Japanese American internment and the need to defend civil rights. Senator Ryan supported a bill streamlining the senior citizen property tax exemption process, calling it a way to reduce burdens on older residents. Senator Helming opposed a local government planning mandate as an unfunded mandate, while Senators Walczyk and Martins criticized a housing-related reporting bill as burdensome and ineffective. The most debated item was Calendar 457, a housing-data and reporting bill sponsored by Senator May. Supporters argued it would improve transparency and help the state understand zoning and housing capacity, while opponents said it imposed new reporting burdens on municipalities and could penalize poorer communities by threatening CDBG funding. After debate, the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar and ultimately passed by a vote of 37-23. The Senate then adjourned until the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• A local government must negotiate a mitigation plan with a public hospital district, fire protection
• The list should also reflect the capital plans and related provisions.
• Transport, especially jet planes, is the major source of global warming, greenhouse gases, and carbon
• Exempting LECs by lenders, budgets, reserves, audits, and long-term planning.
• Hydrogen is the clean, reliable fuel of the future for semi-trucks, public transportation, fleets for

Bills: HB1983 , HB1974 , HB2334 , HB2367 , HB2650 , HB2655

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: timberland, real estate, excise tax, governmental entities, property taxation, land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation

Transcript Highlights:

• Those waivers include the managed care organizations and the non-emergency medical transportation benefit
• :35.880><c> or</c><00:03:36.160><c> for</c><00:03:36.360><c> a</c><00:03:36.440><c> new,</c> state plan
• amendment, or for a new, state plan amendment, or for a new, amended,<00:03:37.400><c> or</c><00:03:
• transportation transportation benefit.<00:04:56.760><c> We</c><00:04:56.919><c> also</c><00:04:57.200
• is what A trip is is a improvement plan is what A trip is is a directed<00:09:46.960><c> payment.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee for Health and Family Services met for its first meeting, established quorum, and heard a presentation from Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Becktold. The department reviewed its compliance with House Bill 695, which requires legislative approval before certain Medicaid eligibility, service, benefit, or waiver changes, along with fiscal impact reporting to the Legislative Research Commission. They described current waivers, including home and community-based waivers, managed care and transportation waivers, and the 1115 re-entry waiver, and said the community engagement waiver is in public comment and on track for submission to CMS. They also said required reports and other HB 695 tasks, including a pharmacy rebate fund, budget analyses, expenditure reports, and a behavioral health scorecard, are underway or completed as required. The CFO outlined Medicaid’s budget, saying the department has two appropriation units and projecting near-full use of state funds while leaving some federal funds unspent because of matching-rate differences. They reported roughly 211 filled positions and 11 vacancies. Members asked about the vacancy makeup, the behavioral health scorecard, and whether a provider involved in quality metrics could have a conflict if used in the scorecard process; the department said it would follow up. Members also asked about the community engagement waiver and its interaction with federal policy, and the department said CMS guidance is still pending and that it will proceed under HB 695. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on federal Medicaid policy changes under a reconciliation bill, including possible limits on provider taxes, directed payments, cost-sharing, and community engagement requirements. Department officials said the final federal impact is still uncertain because the Senate bill is not finalized, but they have modeled several scenarios and warned that any reduction in federal support or benefits would be harmful, especially for hospitals and rural hospitals. They estimated Medicaid benefits are funded about 80% federal and 20% state overall, with expansion populations closer to 90% federal funding, and said administrative costs would also rise if federal requirements change. Members also asked about work requirements and eligibility. The department said the community engagement waiver would mainly affect the expansion population, which they estimated at about 450,000 people out of roughly 1.5 million total Medicaid enrollees, and that many groups are exempt, including children, the aged, blind, disabled, and people in substance use disorder treatment. Officials said they can provide data on how many enrollees are working or work-ready and explained that their eligibility system is designed to prevent duplication by automatically placing people in the correct category and correcting errors quickly. They also noted a federal proposal to require expansion eligibility reviews every six months, compared with current annual renewals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before I start calling these out, I'll draw an anecdote. to our transportation formula.
• Our transportation formula is a categorical program that you all make an appropriation to every year,
• All of them are guided by the four-year Perkins state plan.
• I think that's the better plan.
• And so, figuring out transportation, close relationships.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we tell people that have been planning, we tell seniors in high school that have been planning
• this and planning this and planning this and planning this, "Oh, I'm sorry.
• this and planning this and planning this and planning this,<00:56:22.319><c> "Oh,</c><00:56:22.640><
• </c> Information that allows self-paid plans Information that allows self-paid plans to<02:54:23.920>
• ,</c><04:48:56.560><c> housing,</c> I sit in the transportation, housing, I sit in the transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, the plan for the day will be going into the 10th order of business and taking up just about
• She has a bachelor's in public policy, planning, and management, and a master's in public health.
• Around that same time, she moved to another job at the University of Arizona Health Plans.
• House Bills 576 and 577 will both be referred to the Transportation Committee.
• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 533, by the Transportation and Defense Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, the plan for the day is that we're going to go through the orders of business.
• Schedule changes that I'll make note of as we get into the 15th order, but we've had some change in the plan
• House Bills 532 and 629 will be referred to the Transportation Committee.
• And then just a quick announcement, Senators, we were tentatively planning on going into the 14th order
• We're tentatively planning on going into the 14th order on Wednesday, possibly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oftentimes they would make big plans or dream at the supper table.
• And so unfortunately, parts of this bill would erode that local planning and bypass the original planning
• And so unfortunately, parts this bill, I would erode that local planning and bypass the original planning
• Harrison were planning to attend the ceremony today.
• I was never one of those individuals who had planned to run for office.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar. The chamber then took up several Senate bills on special order, with members offering questions and debate before final votes. The first major measure, CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Rayner Act, would reclassify certain offenses against law enforcement officers and add manslaughter of an officer to the life-sentence reclassification statute. Supporters said it honored Officer Rayner and clarified that resistance to officers with violence is unlawful; opponents argued it reduced judicial discretion and could sweep in unintended cases. The bill passed 100-8. The House next passed CS/SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, which creates a regulatory framework and licensure standards for naturopathic physicians, defines scope limits, and establishes a board under the Department of Health. Supporters framed it as a consumer protection and medical freedom bill, while opponents called it an expansion of scope and criticized the low penalty for unlicensed practice. It passed 85-22. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, creating a Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, a Speech and Debate Week, and a statewide debate initiative, by a unanimous 112-0 vote. Members then approved CS/CS/SB 1220, a broad transportation bill covering FDOT authority, airports and seaports, drone and delivery devices, autonomous vehicle crimes, tolls, and other transportation issues; an amendment added provisions on Space Florida, golf carts, automated license plate recognition, and related matters while removing digital driver’s license repeal language. The bill passed 87-23. SB 962 on affordable housing, which clarifies that Live Local Act zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture working farms and farm operations, passed 109-2. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1580 on aiding illegal gaming was introduced and discussed; it would strengthen penalties for illegal slot machines and unregulated gaming arcades, clarify reporting and enforcement, and preempt local regulation, with questions focused on VFWs, sweepstakes, fantasy sports, and online betting. The transcript then shifted into lengthy farewell remarks and recognitions, including tributes from members leaving the House and acknowledgments of guests in the galleries.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial plans, cash flow management<00:42:50.560><c> plans</c><00:42:51.359><c> for</c><00:42:51.599
• But to financial planning in the future.
• We have things like balance plan.
• We have a new three-year plan. We have a new five-year plan.
• We've been through multiple three-year plans and five-year plans.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Protect our state and nation from any evil plans of the enemy.
• Folks, Senate Bill 488 updates Florida's transportation laws.
• We align the state law with some federal laws in the transportation world.
• We were not trying to keep anything in place for long-range planning.
• Transportation and Senator Trunow and others.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of FSU Police Officer Cody Popple for stopping the April campus shooter. The Speaker then outlined the final week of session, noting the House had passed 253 House bills and 149 Senate bills to date, but that the 2026-27 budget would not be completed this week. The chamber also adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report for the day. The House took up several Senate bills on special order, largely technical or open-government measures, and passed them with little or no opposition. These included SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes and revisor’s changes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004, which extended or preserved various public-records and meeting exemptions for matters such as Public Service Commission proprietary information, social media investigations, military affairs, highway safety records, cybersecurity, emergency shelter contact information, conviction integrity units, and trade secrets. Most passed overwhelmingly, though SB 7006 drew 99-8, SB 7022 on public records for exam integrity passed 101-8 after questions about testing materials and scoring rubrics, and SB 7026 on trade secrets passed 106-3. The most substantive floor debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the emergency preparedness and response trust fund in the Executive Office of the Governor. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment to let the fund expire, arguing the money had become a “slush fund” and had been used for the Everglades detention facility rather than emergencies; several members supported her on fiscal and separation-of-powers grounds, while others said the fund is needed for rapid disaster response. The House rejected Eskamani’s amendment and then adopted a Griffiths strike-all amendment adding accountability measures, including spending limits, quarterly reporting, asset tracking, and a sunset/review provision. SB 7040 then passed 82-25. The chamber also passed CS/CS SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, CS SB 474 on military affairs, and SB 488 on Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which prompted extended questions about vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and foreign passport/I-94 documentation; the bill was still under amendment and debate when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tammy Lee, Deputy Director for the Department of Transportation.
• The Department of Transportation is in support. Thank you.
• We have the Department of Transportation in support.
• They have to do the planning.
• They have to do the planning.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And have you all done the plan for it already in design?
• And the planning, yes, we would need money for that.
• You have to have something put aside, and that's where your planning comes in.
• My responsibility is to plan the meeting.
• The Navajo Nation also has an incredible climate adaptation plan.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• member or patient or the plan member or pharmacy or pharmacist.
• What's unique about this language is it also applies to the plan.
• for that cost... ...you couldn't directly invoice the plan for that cost, but at the next plan year,
• Charges to the insurer or to the health plan.
• Without reliable transportation, it's difficult to get to work.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with eight members present and deferred HB 127. It then considered a series of bills, most of which were reported favorably without opposition. HB 22 revised COLA rules for the clerks of court retirement system, allowing more frequent COLAs when the system is better funded; HB 324 made judicial stipends permanent and added future COLAs subject to available funding; HB 233 increased jury mileage reimbursement; HB 47 reorganized assessor retirement COLA statutes; HB 533 allowed St. Tammany Parish to transfer unused witness-fee account balances to the 22nd Judicial District Court; HB 980 adjusted eligibility for the Firemen’s Supplemental Pay Board; HCR 45 urged Congress to clarify ARPA deadlines for water projects; HB 559 increased court costs in the 4th Judicial District; HB 290 recreated the Department of Treasury and related entities in statute; and HB 382 addressed Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget review authority over Group Benefits plans. The committee also reported HB 1157 favorably, creating a financing bank mechanism for infrastructure projects, and HB 575 favorably, giving youth aging out of foster care preferred access to surplus state vehicles through the Louisiana Property Assistance Agency. Several measures drew more discussion. HB 1236, dealing with pharmacy benefit managers and professional dispensing fees, prompted extensive testimony from the sponsor, the Legislative Fiscal Office, the Department of Insurance, independent pharmacies, and PBM representatives. Supporters said it clarifies and strengthens enforcement of existing PBM law and protects independent pharmacies; opponents argued the bill’s requirement that PBMs bear dispensing-fee costs would be difficult to implement and could raise premiums. The sponsor said he would work on amendments, including clarifying language and a delayed effective date, and the bill was nevertheless moved favorably. SB 25, on registrar of voters compensation, was amended to a revised pay structure and then reported favorably. HB 47 and HB 533 were also presented as funding and administrative cleanups for retirement and court-related accounts, with local support noted. The committee also heard HB 233 on jury duty mileage reimbursement, which the sponsor said updates a 1961 rate and would be funded locally at an estimated average increase of about $4,000 per judicial district. HB 324 on judicial salaries was described as self-funded by the judiciary and subject to available funding, with no budget impact. HB 575 on foster youth transportation was presented as a non-appropriation measure aimed at helping youth aging out of foster care by giving them preferred access to surplus vehicles. HB 382, which concerns the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget’s role in approving Group Benefits plans, was reported favorably with little discussion. The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, I move a do not pass on Senate Bill 283, and I move the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation
• Transportation Committee subs two percent of Bill 283 for discussion. Thank you very much.
• In that plan will come all of the details about where, how, and that plan will come all of the details
• is that it's going to take over a year once this bill gets adopted just to get close to a workable plan
• we've done has really enshrined that to be along transportation corridors and where services are—not

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We are awaiting some uh transportation.
• Our plans our plan calls for inhouse.
• Our plans our plan calls for how<00:10:44.959><c> do</c><00:10:45.040><c> we</c><00:10:45.279><c> layer
• Not HTA is not Transportation, right?
• </c><00:59:04.960><c> back</c><00:59:05.280><c> then</c> strategic plan back then strategic plan back

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> urging the Department of Transportation urging the Department of Transportation Services<00:10:16.120
• Okay, the Committee on Transportation has a quorum.
• Okay, the Committee on Transportation has a quorum.
• Okay, the Committee on Transportation has a quorum.
• on Transportation, we do have a<00:15:12.079><c> quorum.

Bills: HCR202

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The joint committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Consumer Commerce and Consumer Protection heard HCR 202 HD2, a resolution creating a task force to study Hawaii’s electric generation mix and related costs. Testimony from the Hawaii State Energy Office was neutral and stood on written comments, while another testifier supported the resolution, emphasizing affordability, reliability, and the need to understand the right balance of thermal generation and renewables as the state moves toward its 2045 renewable goals. The chairs said they had conferred on the measure and outlined recommended amendments, including adding study of the separation of ownership and control of generation versus transmission and distribution, and adding Senate committee representation to the task force. The Consumer Commerce and Consumer Protection committee voted to pass HCR 202 HD2 with amendments; the chair, vice chair, and another member voted aye, with one senator excused, and the recommendation was adopted. The Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee did not have quorum at that time and said it would take its vote later. The Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also heard HCR 165, concerning pickleball courts in Hawaii Kai. One resident testified in opposition, citing concerns about permanent lights, permanent nets, noise, light pollution, safety, maintenance, and the loss of multi-use flexibility. After discussion, the chair recommended passing the measure as is, and the committee said it would vote the next day because it lacked quorum. The committee also heard HCR 154 and HCR 43 with the Transportation Committee; HCR 154 was passed unamended, and HCR 43, which urged raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary School for pedestrian safety, was also passed unamended. Supporters of HCR 43 described heavy pedestrian traffic, schoolchildren crossing, and unsafe vehicle turning patterns at the intersections. The Transportation Committee adopted both recommendations, while the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee scheduled its votes for the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• DHCS has also issued various all-plan letters to managed care plans in the last few years to reinforce
• We have seen this in the California State Plan on Aging and the Master Plan for Aging.
• for the Master Plan for Aging.
• So that's just one example of one of the area plans.
• Kelly de Rue here on behalf of Alignment Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage plan serving over 200,000