Transcript Highlights:

• In 2011, the Legislature passed HB 5405, which redirected filing fees from the mediation and arbitration
• It's a late file amendment bar code 229782 by Senator DeSigley.
• Barcode 119-286, timely filed by Senator Leake.
• This is a public records exemption that exempts from the public the records of investigation, investigatory
• It is a late-file amendment, barcode 808-108 by Senator Pizzo.

Bills: S2500, S2502, S2504, S7028, S2506, S2508, S2510, S2512, S2514, S2516, S2518, S0482, S0678, S0984, S1016, S1074, S1706, S7030

Keywords: budget, appropriation, education funding, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, local government, Appropriations Act, funding, education, rural development, economic assistance, collective bargaining, state employees, labor relations, impasse resolution, negotiations, retirement, elected officials, Deferred Retirement Option Program

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, SPB 2500, with chairs outlining major spending in K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Highlights included a $115 billion overall budget, pay raises for state employees and public safety workers, major K-12 funding increases and enrollment supplements, higher education workforce and nursing investments, expanded Medicaid/KidCare and behavioral health funding, corrections and law enforcement operational funding, transportation and housing investments, and significant environmental and water quality spending. Members asked about civic education funding, declining enrollment, professor retention, APD waiver waitlists, cultural grant allocations, and other line items. Public testimony also addressed HIV/AIDS drug assistance funding and prison air conditioning. SPB 2500 was adopted as a committee bill after amendment consideration and a roll call vote. The committee then took up implementing and related budget bills, including SPB 2502 (implementing the General Appropriations Act), SPB 2504 (state employee bargaining placeholder), SB 7028 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and related retirement changes), SPB 2506 (fuel tax distributions), SPB 2508 (state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge), SPB 2510 (termination of an unused court trust fund), SPB 2512 (new judgeships), SPB 2514 (K-12 conforming changes), SPB 2516 (higher education conforming changes), and SPB 2518 (health conforming changes). Most were explained as technical or conforming measures tied to the budget, and all were reported favorably as committee bills, with SB 7028 amended to direct a portion of increased contributions to disability and line-of-duty death benefits in the FRS investment plan. The committee also heard and passed several member bills, including CS for SB 1074 on rounding rules for cash transactions in a world without pennies, CS for SB 678 restoring the alcohol loss deduction framework for distributors, and SB 964 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention. SB 964 drew the most discussion, with questions about the one-year death-benefit window, the separate $25,000 cancer diagnosis payment, and whether the bill could create gaps in coverage for firefighters diagnosed or dying just outside the new time limits. Firefighter representatives testified in support, saying the bill would provide clearer protections for members and families. All of these measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• expected that the decisions made by this committee today will be formatted into legislation and pre-filed
• The commission $240,000, and as well as some associated epilogue with that, are intended to be for fees
• state aid, and local law enforcement, and adds the Emergency Illegal Drug Enforcement Fund to be exempted
• It's intended to pay the service fee charged by Identico.
• would not allow the University of Delaware to make payments for utility bills and building permit fees

Summary: The Joint Finance Committee met to review and vote on the fiscal year 2027 Grants and Aid Act, which was expected to be pre-filed as Senate Bill 337. Members first reviewed Section 1, covering county seat payments, paramedic operations, senior center allocations, senior center transportation, and Homeland Security grants. They approved Section 1 after discussion of how senior center transportation is being moved from DART to grant-in-aid and how some organizations can appear in both the senior center formula and the general aging category. The committee then worked through Section 2, which included one-time appropriations and the various grant categories for aging, arts/historical/recreation, economic housing or labor services, family and youth services, health or disability services, and neighborhood and community services. Members discussed several specific items, including New Castle County reassessment-related funding, Friends of Cooch’s Bridge, Slaughter Neck Community Action Organization, Plastic-Free Delaware, Love, Inc. of the Delmarva, and the Southern Delaware Horse Retirement Association. One aging line for Slaughter Neck was reduced back to flat funding after members questioned a large increase, and the revised category total was adjusted accordingly. Each of the Section 2 subcategories was then adopted. Section 3, covering fire companies and public service ambulance companies, was approved with increases across apparatus, ambulance, rescue truck, aerial truck, rescue boat, substation, and insurance rebate equalization funding. Section 4, for veterans organizations and youth programs such as Boys State, Girls State, and Trooper Youth Week, was also adopted. The committee then approved the epilogue sections, which included eligibility, audit, payment, and reporting rules; special provisions for the Wilmington Senior Center contingency; conditions tied to several one-time appropriations; withholding funding from Merri-Dell Volunteer Fire Company pending a corrective report; and reprogramming $1,485,000 from a prior SMART food program appropriation toward SNAP/WIC-related food access initiatives. The meeting ended with remarks thanking staff and noting that it was likely the last JFC meeting for two members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have to find out about that out-of-state fee waiver.
• I have to find out about that out-of-state fee waiver.
• Can you just explain to me the homeless student fee waiver?
• And I would say, as one of my colleagues here on the committee has said before, file a bill.
• If you want to address concerns, file a bill, and I will help you.

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for CS for HB 1279, a higher education bill focused on Florida’s preeminent universities. The sponsor said the measure would increase access for Florida students, strengthen accountability and transparency, update accreditation references, adjust performance metrics, and address issues such as GPA weighting, engineering credit-hour differences, and certain fee-waiver and dental-program provisions. Members raised questions about the 95% Florida-resident enrollment target, possible funding impacts, Pell Grant metrics, and whether the bill would affect community college pathways; the sponsor said the bill was aimed at first-time-in-college students and that the 95% standard would be measured on a three-year rolling average. After an amendment removing an adjustment to the four-year graduation metric was adopted, the bill was reported favorably by a 17-2 vote. The committee then heard PCS for CS for HB 1059, which would strengthen speech and debate education by designating the Florida Debate Initiative as the statewide organization, supporting coach and judge training, statewide data collection, tournaments, and a Florida Speech and Debate Week. The sponsor and several students and advocates testified that speech and debate builds confidence, civics knowledge, leadership, and opportunities for English learners and other students, with multiple speakers describing how the program changed their lives. Members from both parties spoke strongly in support, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition. Finally, the committee considered PCS for HB 725 on political activity at public institutions of higher education. The sponsor said the bill would standardize campus policies, require notice to students and employees about free-expression and political-campaign rules, and align state practice with federal guidelines while preserving free speech and nonpartisan voter engagement. An opponent argued the bill could create barriers to civic engagement and student organizing, while supporters said it would clarify existing rules and prevent institutions from favoring one viewpoint over another. The sponsor closed by emphasizing that the bill was about information and neutrality rather than restricting speech.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 52 is ordered to the general file.
• AB 76 is ordered to the general file.
• Order of Business 13, General File.
• AB 123 is ordered to the general file. Assembly Bill 123 is ordered to the general file.
• Order of Business 13, General File.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reading file items 1 through 7 the clerk will read.
• This bill authorizes CARB to assess annual fees.
• Their request for a broad fee authority through the budget with no public rulemaking, fee schedules,
• Moving on to business on file, items on concurrence. File item eight, we're going to pass.
• File items 9 through 14, that's going to bring us to file item number 15, AB 470 by Assemblymember McKenna

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have with them, if we can advance them and give them money because of delays in the quality assurance fee
• Each year, during the budget cycle, Covered California conducts a participation fee rate study.
• And if we hold our participation fee constant, that will drive in more revenue.
• And if we hold our participation fee constant, that will drive in more revenue.
• We'll review health plan filings and monitor compliance through our routine medical surveys.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the representatives again for filing this important bill for our industry.
• The bill is filed.
• Any idea what the fee would be? I would imagine it would be relatively low.
• The only security I have on... ...those $37 million is the ability to file a lien.
• MCI WorldCom, the very large company, filed bankruptcy. Dodged a bullet there.

Bills: HB2963, HB3005, HB3287, HB3288, HB3289, HB3290, HB3344, HB3712, HB3862, HB3874, HB4196, HB4308, HB4901, HB4984

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Transcript Highlights:

• uh, the bill before you, House File uh, the bill before you, House File 3919,<00:13:35.440> is
• <00:27:42.400> schedule affairs shall establish a fee schedule affairs shall establish a fee
• Um we have an estimate on these fees Um we have an estimate on these fees that<00:52:26.319>
• They asked that we try to get some just easy, uh, House File 3467 is a policy bill uh, House File 3467
• Next is House File 3741, bill back.

Bills: HF3919, HF3467, HF3741

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, veterans affairs, food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, state resources, reporting requirements, agency initiatives, veterans, educational assistance, tuition waiver, spouses, children, military service, benefits

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes, then heard an update from Metro Meals on Wheels on a veterans home-delivered meals grant funded by the committee in 2023. Testifiers said the program has served more than 82,000 meals to over 500 veterans, but funding is running short; enrollment was stopped in July 2025 and meal service was reduced to five per week to stretch dollars. They said the program is serving 168 veterans as of January 31 and will likely run out of funds in July unless additional money is provided. Members asked about eligibility and how the program ensures the grant is used only for veterans who do not qualify for other services; the organization said referrals come through county veteran service officers, MACV, hospitals, and other partners, and that it can provide confidential tracking information. No vote was taken on funding, but members expressed support and interest in more documentation. The committee then took up House File 3919, which implements recommendations from a task force on benefits for SGU veterans and irregular forces who served in the secret war in Laos from 1961 to 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs said the bill largely reflects the task force report and technical recommendations, including adding SGU veterans to the burial fee statute so burial costs in state cemeteries can be covered, while noting there is still an unresolved issue about headstone costs for spouses and dependents. A testifier from the task force supported the bill but objected to creating a separate SGU veteran designation on driver’s licenses, arguing it could create two classes of veterans and add administrative costs; he urged using a single veteran designation instead. Other public testimony emphasized the service of Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and other allies in Laos and urged the legislature to adopt the recommendations broadly. The committee discussed the burial fee language and the purpose of the designation, but no final action or vote on HF 3919 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, municipalities collect separate fees for municipal security and technology, and these
• efficiently and enhance court security and modernization of the court technology without an increase in the fees
• clarifies the county's authority to initiate and execute tax abatements for leasehold interest in tax-exempt
• property and tangible personal property improvements located on tax-exempt land within a reinvestment
• And the bill as filed, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the substitute adds a waiver provision exempting school districts from open enrollment charter
• Section 3 indicates that TEA may charge a fee for the course, which is already implied but was not advised
• Finally, the substitute cleans up the existing language. ...exempts the commission from standard procurement
• Members, the committee substitute for House Bill 2911 allows TRS to impose a risk stabilization fee on
• When did you file this, or when did you share this amendment with us?

Bills: HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381, HB178

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Health Bill 47 that was passed last year, the tax exemptions.
• By severance tax bonds, and by statute, they do not allow a fiscal agent fee.
• They can't get a fiscal agent fee. So they basically, from the state, not long ago, it was $14,000.
• And so that's what's happening, and we're seeing the incidence of these requests, these exemptions.
• I believe the agency will be paying for the licensing fees for your employees, is that correct?

Transcript Highlights:

• So my question is, The case filing fee is still $400.
• assist if we raised the filing fee from $400 up?
• We have not gotten into raising the filing fees.
• The clerks do not receive a filing fee for any of those.
• Those are, again, cases that are filed that we do not receive any sort of filing fee for.

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to file the form.
• I'm not going to file Please keep it. I'm not going to file the<00:50:53.280> form.
• with business filings. with business filings.
• not yet assess the storm water fee not yet assess the storm water fee structure<03:47:41.359>
• funds for maintenance maintenance fee funds for maintenance maintenance fee increase<03:49:20.399

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 3852. Senate File 3852.
• Senate file Senate file 1245.
• committee approval of Senate file committee approval of Senate file Senate<01:56:32.080> file
• Senate file 1245. Thank you. Senate file 1245. Thank you.
• I'm a retired of Senate file 1245.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, I also want to thank Representative Woodson [ID: member_1373], who's been filing bills for the
• It's a class action. been filed. You know, Rep, if you ask me, does methadone work? Does MAT work?
• I understand you're trying to seek the religious exemption, but this is pretty broad, so I'm concerned
• It extends the deadline for ALFs to file preliminary adverse incident reports from 1 to 5 days.
• Public Records Exemption for Parkinson's Disease Registry. You're recognized. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's some exemptions to this, but this bill clearly lays out exactly what those are.
• It updates the filing obligations for security issuers under Florida Invest Local Exemption Law, aiming
• Local governments missing deadlines must reduce permit fees unless an exception applies.
• Certainly don't want to be the freshman senator who files a bill to do... ...the installation of ELSS
• Certainly, you don't want to be the freshman senator who files a bill to delay it and an eight-year-old

Summary: The committee heard and acted on six bills. SB 480, by Senator DeSigley, would allow a narrowly tailored nonprofit agricultural organization to offer health coverage to its members, especially farmers and ranchers, outside the Florida Insurance Code; supporters said it would improve affordable access in rural areas, while the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network warned the plans would not have to cover preexisting conditions or comply with ACA protections. An amendment aligning the bill with the statute for nonprofit religious organizations was adopted, and the bill passed as amended. SB 1226, also by Senator DeSigley, would create a regulatory framework for pet insurance and wellness programs; it drew no opposition and was reported favorably. SB 988, by Senator Truenow, would revise securities exemption and filing requirements under Florida’s Invest Local exemption law; a strike-all amendment clarifying terms, fingerprinting, and related compliance provisions was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably with the committee substitute. SB 944, by Senator Davis, would correct an omission in the law governing insurance overpayment claims so the 12-month limit applies to psychologists and HMO claims, with an effective date tied to January 1, 2026; the Florida Psychological Association supported the measure, and it was reported favorably with committee substitute after an amendment. SB 756, by Senator Burton, would remove the age-8 diagnosis cutoff and age cap for mandated insurance coverage for autism services, update the autism definition to the current DSM, and also repeal age caps for Down syndrome diagnosis; disability advocates and provider groups supported the bill, and it passed as amended. SB 1078, introduced on behalf of Senator McLean, would streamline permitting and inspection procedures for certain fire alarm and sprinkler projects, set deadlines for local agencies, limit extra documentation demands, and restrict enforcement of local ordinances not properly submitted; fire industry representatives supported the compromise amendment, some senators questioned local flexibility and permitting delays, and the bill was reported favorably after the amendment was adopted. The committee also approved a motion allowing staff to make technical and conforming changes and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the chair moves that Senate file So, the chair moves that Senate file 1750<00:01:59.160> be
• and the attorney fees. and the attorney fees.
• The legal fees section speaks to charging attorney fees for homeowners.
• House File 3658.
• House<01:34:59.400> File<01:34:59.840> 3658. House File 3658. House File 3658.

Bills: SF1750, HF2700, HF1606, HF3356, HF3946, HF3970, HF3658, HF3875, HF2627, SF856, HF1268, HF1338

Keywords: common interest community, CIC, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, planned community, cooperative, unit owner, association board, declarant, declarant control, special declarant rights, assessment lien, foreclosure, late fees, fines, attorney fees, resale disclosure, annual report, maintenance plan

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of times, this is not just trying to have a sales tax exemption at the... ...have a sales tax exemption
• Going forward, any tax exemption bills would only be for the state sales tax exemptions, but allowing
• We put a tag fee on in a governing count.
• So they get half of the fee... proactive, so they get half of the fee now.
• That's right, no fees of... they get off the... That's right, no fees changed whatsoever.

Bills: HB191, HB196, HB134, HB14, HB14

Keywords: juvenile detention, county management, legal procedures, juvenile justice, county commission, supervision, administration, vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, interim police chief, public safety, municipalities, state authority, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are seven of them: file item 6, which is SB 1389, Dolly; file item 7, which is SCA 4, Archiletta
• ; file item 9, SB 1418, Cervantes; file item 10, SB 1429, a committee bill; file item 11...
• Item 10, SB 1429, a committee bill; file item 11, SB 1430, committee bill; file item 12, SB 1431, a committee
• bill; and file item 13, SB 1432, a committee bill.
• For example, we would become responsible for receiving initiatives and processing the fees.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related measures. SB 884 by Senator Umberg proposed expanding polling-place buffer zones, limiting certain law enforcement activity near polling sites, increasing ballot drop boxes and vote center access, and extending the vote-by-mail receipt deadline; supporters said it would protect voters from intimidation, while county election officials opposed it as operationally difficult and costly. The bill was amended in committee to allow county supervisors discretion over expanding the buffer zone and to permit law enforcement entry for crimes against persons or property. It was ultimately passed out of committee on a 4-1 vote after members’ roll calls were completed later in the day. SB 1164 by Senator Cervantes would expand California voting-rights protections by codifying and broadening anti-dilution and anti-suppression rules, adding preclearance for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to favor voting access; it drew strong support from civil rights and voting-rights groups, while one city raised concerns about effects on pending litigation. The committee advanced the bill to Judiciary on a 4-1 vote after later roll call completion. The committee also considered SB 900 by Senator McNerney, which would streamline political advertisement disclosures by shortening required disclaimer language, allowing standard abbreviations, and increasing the number of top funders disclosed on political mailers from three to five. Supporters from the outdoor advertising industry and campaign finance reform groups said the bill would preserve transparency while making disclosures more readable; it passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations. In contrast, SB 1225 and its companion SCA 3 by Senator Niello would transfer responsibility for drafting ballot titles and summaries for initiatives and referenda from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Supporters argued this would improve neutrality and public trust, while opponents said the current elected Attorney General system is accountable and efficient; both measures were advanced on narrow votes after roll calls were completed later. Finally, SB 1360 by Senator Cervantes, part of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 package, would expand language-access requirements for election materials by lowering the threshold for coverage, adding a petition process, and extending protections beyond current federal language categories. Voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups strongly supported the bill, while county election officials opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about the precinct-based determination model and implementation details. The committee passed SB 1360 to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote after the later roll call. The committee also approved a consent calendar of seven measures at the start of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• File item 6, which is SB 1389, Dolly. File item 7, which is SCA 4, Archiletta.
• File item 9, SB 1418, Cervantes. File item 10, SB 1429, a committee bill. File item 11...
• Item 10, SB 1429, a committee bill; file item 11, SB 1430, committee bill; file item 12, SB 1431, a committee
• bill; and file item 13, SB 1432, a committee bill.
• For example, we would become responsible for receiving initiatives and processing the fees...

Keywords: 987, senate, all