Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:10.360><c> that</c> and this was an excellent program that and this was an excellent program
• </c> the original $1.9 million federal grant? the original $1.9 million federal grant?
• are governed by a grant agreement executed by the granting authority and the recipient.
• . program. program.
• program? program?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to acknowledge the Spay and Neuter Action Program, Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, Action Programs
• So I'm sure I think you've heard that in October of 2025, there were grants issued out of this program
• The money is there for more grants.
• So this grant program is also accessible to a municipality, so municipalities, the tribes that work,
• And I would expect that the study would compare urban composting programs with rural composting programs

Bills: SB38, SB46, SB18

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, SB46, organic waste, solid waste, waste diversion, composting, compost feedstock, waste characterization study

Transcript Highlights:

• for competitive grants.
• We have agencies for grants because we also provide them funding to give grants to other organizations
• So the idea is to do grants.
• This bill is a community festival grant. This will establish community festival grants.
• A few years ago, the Minnesota Poet Laureate Program was established, and this is a program where we're

Transcript Highlights:

• Their PA program has always been called a physician associate program.
• There's talk of block grants. There are two problems with block grants.
• One is that historically block grants go from specific categories of programs over to general spending
• The other problem with block grants is that they can end up leading to backdoor cuts to the general program
• Grant thank you grant bony Deputy Chief Grant thank you grant bony Deputy Chief of<02:26:36.040><c> Staff

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Going back to the ETS program, I know it is a pilot program. I've heard great things about it.
• But we also coordinate grants within the division, grants from appropriations from the legislature, as
• But for both of those grants, we are about 30 grants per year for both of those.
• No, those are grants that are in process.
• It grants us expanded authority, for example, to impose criminal penalties for severe It grants us expanded

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• One thing that is done in House Bill 1960 is to make that budget-created grant program a permanent creature
• This program would provide grants to counties in proportion to the state portion of the excise tax that's
• In order for a county, however, to be eligible for this new Commerce grant program, they would need to
• In order for a county, however, to be eligible for this new Commerce grant program, they would need to
• So, yeah, Section 204 deals with the tribal capacity grant program, which I mentioned at the beginning

Bills: HB1960, HB2194, HB2089

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant Program. $50 million in the Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Professional Learning Grant
• Grant B allocates 1.5 million to schools offering DLI programs in California.
• In the spirit of unity and opportunity, this grant program is more than just an investment education.
• The JPAs who receive these grants are required to show demonstrated success in the programs they have
• It puts programs at risk when these grants expire.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Beckle, is around reducing the Grow Your Own grant program.
• This program is our grants program to participants to be able to increase the teacher workforce and really
• Uh this program is our grants program.
• program by $8 grow your own grant program by $8 million<00:58:39.440><c> annually</c><00:58:39.920><
• Um this would uh result program grants.

Bills: HF2430, HF2433

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The grant program is now named for the late Representative Mary C. Murphy.
• The grant program is now named grants.
• The grant program is now named for<00:53:44.240><c> the</c><00:53:44.400><c> late</c><00:53:44.720><c
• ><c> strategic</c> grant program demonstrates how strategic grant program demonstrates how strategic
• </c><01:46:49.920><c> program</c> library construction grant program library construction grant program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with those grants and gifts, and you know sometimes they give the grants and there’s—you have to use
• So with those grants and gifts, and you know sometimes they give the grants and there’s—you have to use
• So with those grants and gifts, and you know sometimes they give the grants and there’s—you have to use
• Were you familiar with the ADOA grant program? Yes, sir.
• Would you, and were you familiar with the ADOA grant program? Yes, sir.

Summary: The committee began with brief announcements, including an invitation from Chad Heinrich of the University of Phoenix to an upcoming lunch-and-learn on artificial intelligence and education, and then members and staff exchanged end-of-session धन्यवाद and appreciation. The committee then took up several education-related bills, hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions before voting on each measure. SB 1497 would require larger school districts that operate self-insurance programs to obtain quotes for coverage and services at least every four years and to receive certain information from providers in advance. Supporters said the bill would increase competition, transparency, and cost savings for school employee health benefits; it passed 10-0. SB 1711 would direct the State Board of Education and ADE to compile and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, and to make those resources available to schools and families. Supporters framed it as a voluntary, parent-facing safety tool, while opponents argued it should include stronger evidence-based and trauma-informed requirements; it passed 7-3. SB 1798 would create a FAFSA awareness program recognizing schools that designate a FAFSA point person and promote financial aid completion. Supporters said it would help students access postsecondary funding, especially given Arizona’s low FAFSA completion rate and unclaimed federal aid; it passed 8-2. SB 1143 would require schools and districts to submit federal civil rights data to ADE and would require ADE to publish an annual school safety report. Supporters said it would improve transparency for parents, while opponents called it duplicative and raised privacy and scope concerns; it passed 7-3. SB 1684, as amended, would create a private cause of action against public schools for serious physical injury caused by bullying after a prior report and school negligence, with an amendment limiting the claim to bullying on school property or at school events and requiring written reports. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 6-3, after debate over litigation risk, school discipline, and whether the bill should also cover private schools. The committee also passed SB 1754, which would require ADE’s special education division to help complete incomplete complaints, post redacted complaint reports, and adopt related procedures; members emphasized transparency and privacy protections, and the bill passed 9-0 after an amendment extending the posting timeline and clarifying report contents. SB 1423, continuing the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education until 2036, passed 8-1, with one member objecting to the long sunset extension. Finally, SB 1763, dealing with school district “additional monies” funds and financial reporting, was discussed with an amendment to remove unemployment-compensation transfers and require board approval for expenditures, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the sunset on the aggregate supply chain grant program.
• Is there a current program under Commerce that gives grants for this?
• We don't have a program that gives grants currently under the department.
• programs.
• programs.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to consider a full agenda of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 1662, the Department of Transportation agency bill. Senator Collins presented a strike-all amendment that retained creation of the Florida Transportation Academy, clarified the Florida Transportation Research Institute, restored legislative budget commission review for certain work program amendments, adjusted small-business and supply-chain grant provisions, added airport and seaport accountability measures, and allowed special blanket permits for oversized cranes to travel at night under FDOT safety protocols. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 574, allowing Florida Purple Heart license plate holders to pass tolls free, and CS/SB 824, creating a specialty plate supporting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and scholarships. The committee then took up CS/SB 324, which creates a revolving low-interest loan program at the Department of Commerce for small businesses harmed by significant public works construction. Senator Smith described a local example involving prolonged sewer work in Orlando that hurt businesses in the Lake Ivanhoe district. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, eligibility standards, proof of loss, business age, and whether financial records should be protected from public disclosure. The bill was amended to remove a hotline, add a webpage, and refine liability language, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 1714, requiring local housing assistance plans to include support for mobile home owners, including lot-rent assistance; CS/SB 766, revising registration requirements for agents and organizations tied to foreign countries of concern; and CS/SB 1024, creating specialty plates for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Additional measures approved included CS/SB 1246, authorizing a Save Coastal Wildlife specialty plate with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation; CS/SB 1644, expanding warning light use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and organ transport vehicles, with discussion focused on Hatzalah emergency services; SB 1152, increasing the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee to support conservation, research, and native seed industry development; and CS/SB 532, exempting 100% disabled veterans from tolls. An amendment to SB 532 also added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Several members requested to be recorded voting in the affirmative on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our second recommendation is to increase grant program resources in line with rising costs.
• We know that state grant programs like TIB and WSDOT active transportation are essential to cities.
• So we recommend increased grant program resources to allow the grant award amounts to just keep pace
• Ecology oversees an electric school bus grant program, as well as the performance monitoring for the
• us a grant to explore a program to do an emergency streets treatment.

Summary: The committee began with member introductions, then heard a presentation on a draft final report studying alternative funding mechanisms for sidewalks and related pedestrian infrastructure. Consultants said current local funding sources are insufficient, with most jurisdictions unable to complete planned sidewalk networks within 50 years. They evaluated four options: a sidewalk utility fee, a modified transportation benefit district sales tax, a new real estate excise tax option, and expanded stormwater fee use for ADA sidewalk ramps. The consultants recommended authorizing the modified TBD sales tax and new REET option, considering a sidewalk utility despite legal uncertainty, broadening any authorization to all pedestrian improvements, and not pursuing the stormwater fee option. Members asked about legal authority, fairness, revenue adequacy, and whether jurisdictions had been consulted; the presenters said state enabling legislation would likely be needed for a sidewalk utility and that fairness could be defined either by direct benefit or by need. The committee then received an update on the 2025 assessment of city transportation funding needs. The consultants reported that city transportation revenues have grown in some local and federal categories since 2019, but state revenues have remained relatively flat and smaller cities are especially affected by declining fuel tax revenues and limited tax bases. They estimated annual city transportation needs at $4.25 billion, average annual spending at $1.89 billion, and a funding gap of $2.37 billion, larger than in the prior study because of updated data, inclusion of system improvements, and higher preservation costs. Draft recommendations focused on reducing costs and improving efficiency, preserving and increasing state support, and expanding local funding options, including preservation-first spending, a permanent federal fund exchange program, streamlined review processes, better coordination with WSDOT, possible property tax flexibility, and exploration of new local tools. Members raised questions about design standards, the role of density and transit, federal compliance, and whether the report would identify specific consolidation or process changes. The committee also heard a project update on evaluating zero-emission vehicle and electrification programs funded by the Climate Commitment Act. Consultants said they had reviewed roughly 23 programs and projects across seven agencies and were now evaluating options to improve delivery, including process improvements, reorganizing programs, or consolidating governance and administrative functions. Early findings highlighted staffing shortages, duplication and variation across agencies, differing levels of risk, and the challenge of coordinating climate priorities across agencies with other core missions. Members asked about program outcomes, administrative costs, whether some programs should have exit strategies, and how to strengthen the EV Coordinating Council. Finally, WSDOT provided an implementation update on its new public-private partnership authority under SB 5801, saying work is underway to prepare governance, legal, policy, and organizational structures ahead of the January 1, 2027 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• :03.680><c> for</c><00:42:03.920><c> the</c> grant program funding for the grant program funding for
• Uh, because one of the grant program.
• programs and seeing significant grant programs and seeing how<00:51:59.040><c> local</c><00:51:59.440
• </c><00:57:18.799><c> program,</c><00:57:19.200><c> it's</c> awardee under the grant program, it's awardee
• under the grant program, it's worth<00:57:19.680><c> recognizing.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from Secretary Jeff Noel of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, joined by Matt Wingate and Terry Bradshaw of the Kentucky Association of Economic Developers, on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) and the closing fund. The presentation focused on how KPDI helps communities develop shovel-ready industrial sites by funding infrastructure, engineering, geotechnical work, and other site-preparation costs. Noel emphasized that the program is designed to reduce uncertainty for companies, improve speed to market, and support statewide job creation and investment, especially in rural and eastern Kentucky where development costs are often higher. Testimony highlighted the complexity and expense of preparing sites, with examples of road, water, power, and rock-removal costs, and the importance of third-party evaluation in scoring applications. Noel said the program has 116 total projects statewide, with 20 active projects stemming from pilot efforts and 35 projects already resulting in about 6,381 jobs and $4.4 billion in investment. He cited examples including Crown Holdings, Flash Metals, Phoenix Paper, Pratt Paper, AESC, Sound Elements, Kitchen Foods, Latte, Krueger, Biomass, and Anna Munsman. Bradshaw added that even communities that have not yet landed a project have benefited by building spec buildings or improving access to industrial property. The speakers said the last KPDI round drew $81 million in requests but only $35 million in available funding, and they urged lawmakers to consider whether additional funding or program adjustments are needed. Suggested changes included modestly increasing eligibility or funding flexibility for rural and eastern Kentucky, while maintaining third-party performance metrics, and continuing to prioritize finishing existing parks and creating strong regional sites. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Representative, NMMI is not a part of that program and has never been a part of that program
• Chairman, is did any communities apply for this grant program?
• towards evidence-based programming, as well as the outcomes of those evidence-based programs.
• programs are listed.
• nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars In agency-run grant programs in capital outlay.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Commerce, grant program rules. Thank you.
• Rules, Department of Commerce, grant program rules. Good afternoon. How are you today?
• There are no new grant programs created, no eligibility expansions beyond existing statutory authority
• With the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission IGM grant program that was removed from statute by the
• These changes were made to reduce confusion across Department of Commerce grant programs and to ensure

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Wednesday, February 11, by voice vote. It then heard House Bill 543 from Representative Ben Furman, which would update Percy Choice language to comply with the federal SECURE Act 2.0 by allowing after-tax Roth contributions in the 401(k)-type plan. The bill was described as a conformity update, and the committee moved it to the floor with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. Next, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services presented a pending rule docket removing obsolete rules related to domiciliary care, which the agency no longer provides. The administrator explained that assisted-living-type care is available elsewhere, but not through the division. The committee approved the rule docket by voice vote. Finally, the Department of Commerce presented its grant program rules under the governor’s zero-based regulation initiative, describing the rewrite as non-substantive housekeeping to remove redundant or outdated language, align with statute, and clarify definitions and funding limits. Members asked about a change allowing the department to require matching funds, and staff explained that the language gives flexibility to reduce or waive match requirements in hardship or disaster situations, or potentially require more in some cases. The committee approved the docket by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is a grant, we also say that a grant doesn't excuse and doesn't forget.
• And he ended up with a grant.
• And he ended up with a grant. But so I think that And he ended up with a grant.
• The fact that you have already granted, that the parole board has granted parole, and now this person
• Where they are granted parole.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, a $3 million SGC grant to a developer could leverage $70
• Department of Energy's loan programs office, a $3 million SGC grant to a developer could leverage $70
• Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, a $3 million SGC grant to a developer could leverage $70
• So we have two grant types in that program: there’s a catalyst grant that is up to $500,000, that’s for
• But it’s a small program, as I mentioned; the total budget is only $10 million for the grants.

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on housing construction innovation, focusing on factory-built and modular housing as a way to lower costs, speed delivery, and expand housing supply. The chair framed the effort as a search for practical innovation paired with land use, financing, and regulatory changes that could make housing more affordable for working families. Government witnesses from HCD, the Strategic Growth Council, and the tax credit and bond allocation agencies explained how factory-built housing is regulated, how California standards and third-party approvals work, and how state programs are trying to build regional demand and financing pipelines for modular production. Testimony from investors and developers emphasized both the promise and the risks of modular construction. JP Morgan Chase and the Housing Accelerator Fund described projects that achieved meaningful time and cost savings, but said lenders still see elevated risk because of manufacturer solvency, upfront deposits, transportation and installation issues, and the need for standardized designs and experienced teams. They urged more standardization, more local factories, better alignment between financing timelines and construction schedules, and state support such as backstops, top-loss capital, and scoring preferences in tax credit and bond programs. Several speakers noted that recent federal changes to the 4% tax credit program increased production capacity, but warned that without continued state investment the pipeline could face a future funding cliff. The workforce panel, including union contractors, factory supervisors, and labor representatives, said modular construction can support good jobs if it is paired with union labor, training, and fair standards. They described benefits for workers such as steadier schedules, less commuting, improved safety, and better work-life balance, while also stressing the need for wages, health coverage, retirement benefits, and apprenticeship opportunities. Union representatives supported a model that keeps both factory and on-site work unionized and said the industry could create more jobs overall if California builds more factories and develops a stable, long-term demand pipeline. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:49.040><c> virtually</c> cutting every other program virtually cutting every other program
• </c> states and and applies to this program states and and applies to this program too<00:18:25.360><
• And this program does not do that.
• , the grant ceiling, the max grant.
• Grants, and those grants have really been used on the hardening of schools.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee work session focused primarily on House Bill 115 and a proposed amendment, 114H, which would carry over language from HB 2 into HB 115 and place limits on Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). Representative Murray described the amendment as a way to keep the 350% federal poverty eligibility cap, require students to have attended a charter public school in grades K-12 for the preceding year before entering the voucher system, and add guardrails against universal eligibility. She argued the state was facing a severe budget crisis, that expanding EFAs would divert money from other programs, and that public testimony and local votes showed widespread opposition to expansion. She also cited a letter from former Finance chair Neil Kirk opposing expansion. Other members responded that the committee should not revisit policy already decided by the House, though some said the amendment was fair to discuss because of its fiscal implications and supported it on that basis. The discussion then broadened into a debate over the fiscal impact of universal vouchers and the reliability of enrollment and cost estimates. Representative Luno argued that prior EFA projections had relied on assumptions that could badly underestimate state exposure, pointing to Arizona as a cautionary example and saying New Hampshire should not expand the program without better analysis. Representative Papovich similarly warned that universal eligibility could create a large, unexpected cost, estimating a potential exposure of about $285 million based on school-age children not currently in public, charter, or EFA programs. In contrast, Representative Weyler said EFAs can save money because public school spending is already high and parents using EFAs still pay taxes and take on more responsibility for their children’s education. After discussion, Representative Murray moved to accept the amendment, and Representative Bean seconded it. There was some procedural clarification about voting on the original bill and the amendment. The transcript ends before a final recorded vote on the amendment or on HB 115 itself, though the committee had also been told it would likely reconsider several retained bills later in the week, including HB 129, HB 133, HB 671, and HB 781.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for us, with our block grant, our block grant has a 20% set-aside for crisis.
• our managed care program.
• So we administer the program. We apply for grants. We apply for funding. We establish them.
• So we administer the program. We apply for grants. We apply for funding.
• We create programs.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee held a panel discussion on Florida’s mental health and substance abuse system, with representatives from DCF, AHCA, two managing entities, and two providers describing how the state’s behavioral health network is funded and operated. Members focused on the implementation of prior legislative investments, especially the $50 million in recurring funding from Representative Maney’s bill and the earlier $126 million community behavioral health appropriation. Witnesses said the newer funds were used mainly for crisis beds, discharge planning, outpatient services, regional collaboratives, and a USF Marchman Act report, while the larger behavioral health appropriation supported CAT, FACT, FIT, forensic teams, residential and outpatient services, and crisis care, with most dollars going directly to services and only a small share to administration. A major theme was access to crisis care and the role of mobile response teams, 988, and central receiving facilities in diverting people from Baker Act admissions and reducing readmissions. DCF and providers said mobile response teams have expanded, are being used to de-escalate crises and connect people to care, and have shown strong diversion results and reductions in Baker Acts in some regions. Members also asked about waitlists, children in crisis, and how to handle people without housing or support; providers said discharge planning is individualized but often constrained by homelessness, transportation, and a lack of safe placements, and several witnesses identified housing as one of the biggest barriers to recovery and stability. The committee also examined provider sustainability, reimbursement, and funding gaps. Witnesses described delays caused by contract timing, cost allocation rules, and Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not always keep pace with labor and operating costs, especially for smaller providers and rural networks. DCF and AHCA said managing entities can provide advances, retroactive rate adjustments, and technical assistance, and that Medicaid managed care plans have network standards and complaint/dispute processes. Members raised concerns about a reported $7 million loss in federal non-sustainable funds, provider closures, and whether there is a formal ombudsman process for disputes; DCF said the federal reductions were known and tied to one-time funds, and that the department generally handles provider issues informally while working with managing entities to preserve continuity of care.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Job Growth Grant Fund—this Legislature, two years ago in 2023, allowed the Job Growth Grant Fund to
• fund housing programs.
• And so we do fund a number of housing grants through our Small Cities Program.
• Yeah. job growth grant fund this legislature two years ago in 2023 allowed the job with grant fund can
• Between our bureaus, we manage 21 federal grants. Those grants are divided among our bureaus.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.