Transcript Highlights:

• Third, the bill lowers the advanced computing surcharge for an affiliated group from $75 million to $25
• And I think Gene actually did So the advanced computing surcharge potentially on top of that.
• How many insurance companies pay the ACS surcharge?
• I will say the original WEA bill says that you have to rule in favor of applying the surcharge.
• So they would have a broad interpretation moving forward, and they would get hit with this surcharge.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its last scheduled public hearing of the year on March 9, 2026, taking testimony on House Bill 2487, Substitute House Bill 2689, and Engrossed House Bill 2681. For HB 2487, staff and the Department of Revenue explained that the bill would narrow a B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses after a 2024 Supreme Court decision, make several related changes including annuity and assigned risk plan exemptions, adjust the advanced computing surcharge threshold for certain affiliated groups, and allow a penalties-and-interest waiver with a repayment plan. DOR supported the bill as clarifying the original intent and preventing double taxation, while insurers and health plan groups opposed it, arguing it would create higher costs, retroactive tax liability, and uncertainty; consumer and policy groups testified in support, saying it closes a loophole and restores the intended tax structure. Committee members questioned the retroactivity, the number of affected businesses, and the fiscal estimates, and the chair reminded members that amendment requests were due by noon for the next day’s executive session. For Substitute HB 2689, staff described changes to the Working Connections Child Care program that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, reduce future rate-setting from the 85th to the 75th percentile, block enhanced rates for certain cross-region providers, cancel the planned move to enrollment-based prospective payments, revise attendance-based reimbursement to a full month for absences of 10 days or fewer and half-month for longer absences, and require a 65% market survey response rate for validity. The fiscal note projected substantial savings, offset by implementation and staffing costs. SEIU 925 and Head Start representatives supported the simpler House approach to attendance billing but raised concerns about the new survey threshold and the risk of increased audits and provider burden; they also noted an amendment under discussion to address the 2026 survey issue. Committee questions focused on how a full month is defined under the attendance rules. For HB 2681, staff said the bill would raise annual issuance and renewal fees for cannabis producer, processor, and retail licenses by $400, generating about $866,000 per year for the dedicated cannabis account with minimal administrative cost. No one signed up to testify, and the chair closed the hearing without a vote on any of the bills. The chair also thanked committee staff for their work and reiterated that amendments for the heard bills were due by noon that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging. Thank you.
• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging.
• Rennie talked about surcharging.
• whatever percentage that surcharge is, right?
• And the surcharging issue has come up.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Business held a public hearing focused on credit card interchange fees, cashless transactions, chargebacks, fraud, and possible reforms affecting small businesses in Massachusetts. Chair Paul Feeney opened the meeting, outlined the commission’s charge, and noted that the hearing would hear from small business owners, industry representatives, and others on the effects of payment trends and proposed policy changes. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that universal card acceptance and the current interchange system are important to Massachusetts tourism and should not be disrupted ahead of a busy summer season. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates, who said processing fees are especially burdensome because restaurants operate on very thin margins and are charged fees on sales tax and tips that are not retained as revenue. Testifiers including Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, and Kerry Colzer described rising operating costs and gave examples of annual or monthly fee totals, urging relief from fees on tax and gratuity amounts. Ryan Lotz also asked for chargeback reforms, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, proportional fees, and safeguards against repeat abuse. Several witnesses, including Dan Swanson, argued that states have authority to regulate aspects of the payment system and cited the Illinois litigation and federal court rulings as support for state action. Opposing testimony came from credit unions, banks, payment industry representatives, and policy groups, who warned that changing interchange rules could create compliance burdens, reduce rewards, raise account fees, and shift costs elsewhere. Witnesses such as Alex Vereen, Brad Popolado, Keely McEwen, David Montero, Hunter Hamburlin, and Luke Bondar emphasized fraud prevention, network security, consumer protections, and the need for a stable, uniform payment system. Some suggested alternatives such as vendor compensation, surcharging, instant payments, or QR pay code standards, while others argued that sales tax and tip amounts cannot easily be separated within current card-network architecture. The chairs said the commission is still exploring options, discussed possible state-level solutions, and announced plans for one more public hearing before moving toward recommendations and a report. The commission then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Diving into the assessments, first in surcharges, first a Citizens policyholder surcharge.
• If policyholders are hit with a surcharge and that still does not...
• That is charged if a deficit remains after the surcharge is applied.
• The first phase is that surcharge, and it's a 15% surcharge on every Citizens policyholder.
• So, again, a $2,000 policy, maximum $300 surcharge.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• filed it in the House and Senator Lewis has filed it in the Senate that would establish a 65-cent surcharge
• Same way that 911 is funded on cell phones. Right, right.
• Services Fund, which is, again, proposed to receive revenues through the establishment of a monthly 988 surcharge

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Budget Committee heard a Department of Mental Health budget presentation for FY 2027, with no public testimony taken. Director Valerie Hoon outlined the department’s $4.4 billion budget request and explained major changes in behavioral health and developmental disabilities funding, including Medicaid growth, provider tax adjustments, mental health reinvestment funds tied to cannabis revenue, and several offsets. The committee also reviewed funding for youth mental health services, outpatient competency restoration, crisis services, substance use treatment, and nursing facility supports for people with mental health conditions. A major focus of the meeting was the department’s response to the backlog of people awaiting competency restoration while held in county jails. Members pressed the department on the cost, effectiveness, and legal implications of outpatient competency restoration, jail-based restoration, and long-term state hospital beds. Hoon said the department currently has eight outpatient beds operating through University Health, is working to expand to 50, and is also building a Kansas City hospital that would add 150 beds, including 100 for competency restoration and 50 for long-term supports. Members raised concerns about long jail waits, the 60-day statutory timeline, the six-month court update requirement, and the high cost of state hospital care compared with outpatient alternatives. The committee also discussed developmental disability funding changes, especially proposed reductions to self-directed services rates and community specialist services. Several members objected to the proposed rate cuts, saying they had received significant constituent concern and questioning whether reducing provider rates was the right approach. The director said the department had presented multiple options to the governor, that the selected reductions were part of a broader effort to align rates and manage growth, and that some services would be eliminated or reduced while others would see wait lists if not fully funded. The meeting ended before the committee finished the full budget review, with members planning to continue questions later and the department agreeing to provide additional data by email.

Transcript Highlights:

• filed it in the House and Senator Lewis has filed it in the Senate that would establish a 65-cent surcharge
• So this gives us an opportunity to talk about the same way that 911 is funded on cell phones.
• Services Fund, which is, again, proposed to receive revenues through the establishment of a monthly 988 surcharge

Summary: The Budget Committee heard the Department of Mental Health’s FY 2027 budget presentation, with Director Valerie Hoon outlining a $4.4 billion department budget, including $1.7 billion in general revenue, and describing the department’s roles in substance use, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities services. Early questioning focused on marijuana-related mental health impacts, but the main discussion centered on the department’s new decision items, funding sources, and expected wait lists. The director explained several increases tied to Medicaid growth, mental health youth services, outpatient competency restoration, crisis residential services, developmental disability waivers, and provider tax adjustments, along with offsets such as reduced wraparound funding at the Kansas City Assessment and Triage Center and cuts to some youth and self-directed DD services. A major portion of the hearing focused on competency restoration for people found unfit to stand trial and currently held in county jails. Members pressed the department on the cost, effectiveness, and legal implications of keeping people in jail while awaiting services, noting a reported wait list of roughly 524 to 538 individuals and average holds of about 14 months. The department said it currently has eight outpatient competency restoration beds in the community, is seeking funding for 50 additional outpatient slots, and also operates jail-based restoration for about 40 people at a time. Members repeatedly asked for breakdowns of violent versus nonviolent cases, success rates, cost per person, and the split between state and federal funding, while the department explained that Medicaid can cover only the treatment portion, not residential housing or other non-billable costs. The committee also discussed broader capacity constraints in state hospitals and developmental disability services. Hoon said Fulton, Center for Behavioral Medicine, and FTC North are full, with 183 vacancies across the department, and that the department is working on a new Kansas City hospital that would add 150 beds, though completion is now expected closer to 2029 or 2030. In the developmental disabilities section, the department warned that the governor’s recommendation would create wait lists for in-home waiver services and crisis residential services, and members questioned proposed reductions to self-directed services rates and other provider payments. No votes were taken, and the committee recessed before finishing the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging. Thank you.
• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging.
• Rennie talked about surcharging.
• whatever percentage that surcharge is, right?
• And the surcharging issue has come up.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging. Thank you.
• Another easy issue for us to deal with on the surcharging.
• Rennie talked about surcharging.
• whatever percentage that surcharge is, right?
• And the surcharging issue has come up.

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing chaired by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jamie Murphy. The commission reviewed its charge to gather input on payment trends, cashless transactions, credit card fees, mobile payments, buy now/pay later, and related issues affecting small businesses. Representative Sean Garballey testified in support of maintaining the current card system, emphasizing tourism’s importance to Massachusetts and arguing that universal card acceptance and interchange stability are especially important with major upcoming events and visitors. A large portion of the hearing focused on independent restaurants and small businesses arguing that credit card processing fees are burdensome and unfair when applied to sales tax and gratuities that are not business revenue. Testifiers including Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others described razor-thin margins and said restaurants pay fees on money passed through to the state or employees. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses first, and making fees proportional. In response, credit union and banking representatives, including Alex Vereen, Brad Popolado, Deb Peters, and Keely McEwen, argued that interchange funds fraud protection, card infrastructure, and consumer protections, and warned that state-specific changes could create compliance burdens, higher costs, or reduced access to services. Several witnesses addressed legal and policy questions. Dan Swanson and David Montero said states have authority to regulate aspects of the payment system, but Montero warned that state-specific rules could create uncertainty and conflict with federal banking law. Julian Morris and other industry witnesses argued that card payments benefit consumers and merchants by reducing cash-handling costs and increasing spending, while critics of reform said changes could shift costs into bank fees or reduced rewards. Commission members questioned whether sales tax could be separated from card transactions, whether surcharging should be considered, and whether vendor compensation or other state-level relief might be more workable. The chairs said they were exploring a narrower, targeted approach rather than a broad overhaul, and announced plans for one additional public hearing to allow further testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• that this requirement could result in a loss of important services provided by data centers, such as 911
• This would reduce the surcharge that is required to be imposed on the recording of most documents with
• The reduction would come from the elimination of the portion of the surcharge that is currently directed
• The percentages for the distribution of the remainder of the surcharge would be adjusted to account for
• Adjustments made to the percentages of the surcharge that is allotted to other purposes vary between

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is a surcharge that directly impacts the library.
• The surcharge has been fixed at $15, as the Senator mentioned, since 1996.
• So criminal defendants do not pay this surcharge. Indigent persons do not pay this surcharge.
• Any parties represented by legal aid services do not pay this surcharge.
• Louis County and Jackson County, which already have a $20 surcharge.

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your state financing is repaid through catastrophe hurricane surcharges.
• It'll be disclosed as this is a separate surcharge.
• And is it going to say this is a surcharge for wind insurance? It's called a catastrophe surcharge.
• So essentially surcharges would start right away. Is that the idea? Yes, ma'am.
• A surcharges to pay it back.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, curious: does your organization have a position on surcharging, or surcharging laws in other states
• You know, there was a brief discussion about surcharging.
• You know, there was a brief discussion about surcharging.
• EPC, I don't think, has an official position on surcharge.
• No, no, I'm not talking about the top-line surcharge.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is a surcharge that directly impacts the library.
• The surcharge has been fixed at $15, as the senator mentioned, and operating the free library.
• So criminal defendants do not pay this surcharge. Indigent persons do not pay this surcharge.
• Any parties represented by legal aid services do not pay this surcharge.
• Louis County and Jackson County, which already have a $20 surcharge.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 890 in executive session. Members explained a House committee substitute that combined provisions from related bills, including changes to eliminate or modify certain boards and councils and other unused statutory sections. House Committee Amendment 1 was adopted after discussion about restoring language that had been unintentionally repealed and about the Department of Corrections’ request to remove lines related to an advisory board that had not met in some time. The committee then adopted the substitute and voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 890 do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The hearing portion began with Senate Bill 945, sponsored by Senator Carla May, which would allow the circuit court in the City of St. Louis to raise a civil filing surcharge for the law library from $15 to $20. Senator May and supporters said the increase would help fund law library operations, digital resources, and related court services, and noted the surcharge had not been raised since 1996. Testimony in support came from the Law Library Association of St. Louis, which said the library serves attorneys, judges, students, the public, and incarcerated people requesting materials, and that costs have risen while filings have declined. Questions focused on whether the increase would be enough and how the surcharge compares with other jurisdictions; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. Representative Elliott and several supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that current voluntary labeling is insufficient, and that mandatory labeling would help independent cattle producers compete against large packers and imported beef. Supporters included the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, the Missouri Independent Cattlemen, and individual producers and consumers, who said the current system is confusing and that the supply chain already tracks cattle. Opponents, including Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and the Missouri Pork Association, argued that mandatory COOL would add regulatory burden and costs, that prior versions were not profitable for producers, and that voluntary labeling is preferable. No final action on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• eligible for a discount on sovereign submerged land leases and a waiver of extended-term lease surcharges
• scope of Florida schools so that everybody's in the same system network and communicating similar to 911

Summary: The committee first heard CS for CS for SB 344, which would modernize the Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 based on Public Service Commission recommendations. The bill drew no opposition and was reported favorably. Members then took up several Senator Burton measures: CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, which was amended to create a Department of Health website access point for a voluntary form allowing patients to notify providers they do not want opioid medications; CS for SB 738 on child care and early learning providers, which streamlines and updates child care regulation and was supported by industry and business groups; CS for SB 756 on health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, which removes the age-8 diagnosis limit and age cap for mandated autism-related coverage; and CS for CS for SB 1356, creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot, later amended to add FIU and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to the board and remove specific appropriations. All of these bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 1624 on higher education, a broad bill affecting tuition policies, workforce programs, institutional governance, and naming changes. The bill generated extended discussion over replacing references to “minority” with “underrepresented,” with the sponsor explaining the intent was to focus on low-income access and student support, while members raised concerns about impacts on majority-minority institutions and preeminence pathways. An amendment added guardrails for private religious postsecondary institutions by requiring public review of affidavits of compliance and giving the Commission for Independent Education enforcement authority. After debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then passed CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, which addresses military-family investigations, emergency shelter certification, children’s services council appointments, criminal-background exemptions, group-home rates, licensing extensions, small residential group homes, missing-children procedures, and psychotropic medication refills; it was amended to adjust council board composition and then reported favorably. Additional bills approved included SB 178, directing Florida A&M University to conduct an agronomic study on emerging crops for land taken out of production; SB 1162, expanding boating improvement funding for trailer parking and offering lease incentives for clean marine manufacturers; CS for CS for SB 958, creating a type 1 diabetes early detection information program for parents and schools; CS for CS for CS for SB 1070, requiring ECGs for student athletes with phased implementation and exemptions, after extensive testimony from parents and advocates about sudden cardiac arrest; CS for SB 774, requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders to sheriffs within six hours; SB 1516, creating an International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida; SB 994, revising driver education requirements and prompting a commitment to add distracted-driving instruction; and CS for CS for SB 1402, expanding eligibility for dropout retrieval programs. The committee also took up SB 810 on stormwater management systems, amending it to focus annual inspections on vulnerable MS4 infrastructure. That bill drew significant opposition from the Florida League of Cities, counties, and stormwater groups, who argued the mandate would duplicate existing permit requirements and impose major costs, but supporters said it was a basic flood-prevention measure. The transcript ends during debate on SB 810, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it is a smaller surcharge on that next 5%.
• So, surcharges are applying to roughly the top 6%, with a 6% surcharge on the top 1% and a 2% surcharge
• So, surcharges are applying to roughly the top 6%, with a 6% surcharge on the top 1% and a 2% surcharge
• Those folks would also face these surcharges.
• Those folks would also face these surcharges.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• North Miami Beach also supports the statutory 25% outside city surcharge limit.
• North Miami Beach also supports the statutory 25% outside city surcharge limit.
• Any discussion of affordability must consider the full cost stack, not just the utility surcharge.
• It operates within the existing infrastructure surcharge tax framework and does not create a new revenue
• You can do also a 25% surcharge. The additional 50 is if you held a public meeting, right?

Bills: S0018, S0028, S0260, S0848, S0934, S1014, S1102, S1264, S1566, S1622, S1724

Keywords: negligence, compensation, child welfare, law enforcement accountability, personal injury, police negligence, law enforcement, monetary compensation, civil rights, city liability, electric vehicle, EV, battery fire, lithium-ion battery, towing, wrecker service, vehicle storage, submerged vehicle, saltwater damage, fire marshal

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• called the advanced computing surcharge.
• The amount of the surcharge that an advanced computing business or an affiliated group owes is capped
• The amount of the surcharge that an advanced computing business or an affiliated group owes is capped
• It is fair to ask whether new commitments are responsible and whether increasing a surcharge on large
• So it's hard to tell exactly if those companies are... ...paying this surcharge.

Bills: HB2286, HB2324, HB2363, HB2098

Keywords: social work, licensure, alternative routes, education requirements, professional regulation, tuition waivers, veterans, education, children of veterans, higher education, military families, music therapy, temporary exemptions, healthcare, therapy practice, funding, tuition, financial aid, state budget, 904

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard public testimony on four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing an enhanced supervised practice pathway for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers argued the exam is a poor measure of competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, warning it could weaken uniform standards and create issues with Washington’s social work compact. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and related accreditation issues; no vote was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification and licensure processing. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to help newly trained therapists enter the workforce sooner, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient was strongly supportive, emphasizing workforce shortages and the need for supervised practice during administrative delays. There was no opposition testimony and no action taken. HB 2324 would change tuition-waiver eligibility for children of certain disabled or deceased veterans so that, when a disability determination occurs after a child turns 18, the child would have eight years from that determination to use the waiver. The sponsor said the bill is meant to address delays in federal disability determinations that can otherwise cause students to age out of state benefits. The committee heard no opposition, and public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three academic years beginning in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said it would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the bill would sharply increase taxes, create uncertainty, and reduce tuition revenue without backfilling institutional budgets. Members questioned the existing cap, the use of WEA funds, and the impact on universities; no vote was taken. At the end of the meeting, staff noted amendment requests would be due Monday at 10 a.m. and amendments approved by 6 p.m. Monday if executive action is planned for Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll use the specific number in terms of this conversation about surcharges.
• The flat-rate surcharge that was put in place in 2023 led to a 300 percent increase in what wireless
• And I'll use the specific number in terms of this conversation about surcharges.
• Approximately 80 percent, I believe the number is, of the surcharge that exists right now is assessed
• Approximately 80 percent, I believe the number is, of the surcharge that exists right now is assessed

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee held an informational hearing on broadband affordability in California. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine rising broadband costs, the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, and possible state policy responses. She also referenced her prior AB 353, which would have required affordable home internet as a condition of doing business in California, and said it had been held because of federal policy concerns. The committee heard two panels: industry representatives from U.S. Telecom and CTIA, and consumer/public-interest witnesses from the California Emerging Technology Fund and the CPUC Public Advocates Office. Industry witnesses argued that broadband and wireless prices have fallen in real terms over time, citing competition and capital investment as the main drivers of lower prices and faster speeds. They said California’s higher costs are tied to permitting, taxes, copper-theft, and rules such as collocation obligations that require providers to maintain older networks. They also warned against new surcharges or fees on wireless consumers, saying those charges disproportionately affect low-income households, and urged policies that preserve competition and reduce regulatory burdens. Committee members questioned them about small-cell siting, infrastructure costs, BEAD funding, and whether more capital would actually be reinvested if certain obligations were relaxed. Consumer advocates presented a different picture, saying affordability remains a major barrier even as adoption has increased. CETF said California’s online household rate has risen to 93%, but that many low-income households still pay more than the affordability benchmark and that outreach is difficult without direct assistance. The CPUC Public Advocates Office said California’s market is losing its competitive edge, with prices higher than in other states and meaningful price reductions coming mainly when fiber competition enters gigabit markets. They recommended more transparency in pricing, stronger competition policy, continued low-income subsidies, and extending the CPUC broadband Lifeline pilot. Public commenters, including nonprofit and community broadband groups, largely supported SB 716 and urged a permanent broadband affordability solution, expanded Lifeline support, and removal of a cap on the program. No formal vote or committee action was taken; the hearing was informational and adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the second time we've brought this bill, and it is called An Act relative to surcharges on moving
• An Act relative to surcharges on local insurance premiums.
• And that would have a surcharge for seven years. And so that's why we're here today.
• How many accidents do you cover that doesn't involve surcharges, because as we keep on hearing, costs
• And so how many of these accidents are without surcharges? I see people paying out of pocket.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on a wide range of auto insurance and vehicle-related bills. Testimony focused heavily on autonomous vehicle regulation, auto insurance rating by ZIP code, rental car liability coverage, and surcharge thresholds for minor accidents. Representative Polito supported a bill to regulate autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, arguing for school-zone restrictions, slower speeds, a remote kill switch, and minimum insurance requirements to protect the public. Representative Mendez and Senator Payano testified for legislation to reduce racial and socioeconomic inequities in auto insurance pricing by limiting the weight insurers may place on territorial loss costs, while the Mass Insurance Federation and Consumer Federation of America offered opposing and supporting views, respectively, on the fairness and actuarial impact of geographic rating. The committee also heard support for a bill to remove inspection-sticker violations from license-point calculations, and for a bill to raise the damage threshold for insurance surcharges and minor/major accident classifications. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed House Bill 1301 on rental car liability. Enterprise Mobility, the American Car Rental Association, and a small Massachusetts rental company supported the bill, saying personal auto insurers should be primary when their insureds drive rental cars, that Massachusetts is an outlier compared with most other states, and that the change would reduce costs and simplify claims handling. The Mass Insurance Federation opposed the bill, arguing that current Massachusetts law already clearly makes the vehicle owner’s policy primary and that shifting liability would raise costs for private-passenger policyholders. Committee members asked detailed questions about how rental coverage works, whether premiums or rental rates would change, and how other states handle the issue. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to adjust surcharge rules for at-fault accidents, with sponsors arguing that repair costs and vehicle values have risen sharply and that the current thresholds are outdated. Members discussed how the point system affects drivers, whether the proposal should apply cumulatively or per incident, and how Carfax and out-of-pocket repairs factor into consumer costs. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted written testimony could still be submitted and, during a brief personal privilege, recorded support for two underinsurance bills, H. 1109 and S. 748. The committee then moved and seconded a motion to adjourn, and the hearing ended without any votes on the bills themselves.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the OSI should have to set those surcharges at the minimum rate.
• Two, they make up a lot of the surcharges over how...
• Two, they make up a lot of the surcharges—over half the surcharges—that are paid in.
• This would require the superintendent to set those surcharges.
• That's why there's a more accurate process to assess surcharges against the hospitals.

Bills: SB38, SB17, SB41, SB264

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, sexual crimes, statute of limitations

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 99, a proposed reform of the Medical Malpractice Act. Representative Chandler said the bill is intended to address physician shortages, rising malpractice premiums, and litigation pressures by changing punitive damages rules, including a higher standard of proof, a requirement that punitive damages not be pleaded in the initial complaint, and limits tied to the type of provider. Supporters, including physicians, business leaders, and some patients, said the bill would help retain doctors, improve access to care, and create more predictable liability exposure. Several supporters also said current malpractice conditions are driving doctors out of the state and harming rural access to services. Opponents argued the bill would reduce patient recovery, create unequal treatment based on insurance status through the bill-versus-paid provision, and raise constitutional concerns involving equal protection, collateral source rules, and separation of powers. They also criticized the bill for not addressing other drivers of malpractice, such as hospital practices, prior authorization, staffing, and background checks for out-of-state doctors. Some witnesses urged amendments to protect the Patient Compensation Fund, ensure future medical expenses are covered, require minimum surcharge settings, and improve oversight of providers entering the state. Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses about whether the bill would actually lower premiums, whether it would improve access to care, and how it would affect hospitals, independent providers, and the Patient Compensation Fund. The sponsor said the bill was based on negotiations and comparisons with other states, and that it should help premiums over time. Members raised concerns about the fund’s solvency, the role of hospitals in the fund, and whether some provisions would survive legal challenge. No final vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated amendments would be discussed later and the committee would continue the hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It eliminates the 25% surcharge on customers outside city limits and reduces the rate differential cap
• With the terms of bond covenants that are in effect as of July 1, 2024, and then those surcharges must
• To comply with the new changes to the extraterritorial surcharge statute.
• Cities are allowed to collect a utility surcharge, which we just talked about, on these properties, and
• That you just heard would eliminate authority to impose that surcharge.

Bills: S0936, S1724, S1014, S1498

Keywords: temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, utility services, municipal agreements, public meetings, rates and fees, public service commission, municipal utility, water service, wastewater service, property owners, annexation, civil action, community associations, condominium, homeowners associations, structural integrity

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and took up four bills. First, it considered SB 1724 on municipal utility services. Senator Martin offered a late-filed delete-everything amendment that would require annual customer meetings for extraterritorial utility customers, cap use of gross utility revenues for general government at 10%, eliminate a 25% surcharge on customers outside city limits, reduce the rate differential cap from 50% to 25%, remove municipal natural gas utilities from the bill, and preserve certain existing bond-related surcharges until debt is retired or refinanced. The League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the need for rate studies and budget adjustments. The amendment was adopted and the committee reported CS/SB 1724 favorably. The committee then heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices from Senator McLean. The bill would define temporary door locking devices, allow them to be installed at any height, require the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or amendments, SB 936 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 1014 by Senator Mayfield, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water or wastewater service solely because a property owner will not annex, and would require service expansion when a property is near a municipal main line, not served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. A committee amendment narrowed the bill to properties near a main line and reduced the distance threshold from 2,000 meters to one-half mile. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about property size, annexation conflicts, enclave creation, and possible revenue impacts, but the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1498 on community associations from Chair Bradley. A strike-all amendment revised technical provisions on video conference recordings, turnover inspection reports, SIRS references, and electronic voting, and added two major policy changes: requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors and creating a second-degree misdemeanor for willful refusal, and prohibiting mandatory club or amenity fee schemes controlled by developers or third parties that generate profit beyond proportional expenses. Testimony in support described homeowner disputes involving concentrated board control, lack of transparency, and mandatory fees in communities such as Rosedale. The amendment was adopted and CS/SB 1498 was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Bracey Davis asked to be recorded voting in the affirmative on tabs 1, 2, and 3, and the committee adjourned.