Transcript Highlights:

• He has been an advocate for the protection of Eevee Capuna, having participated in the repatriation and
• <00:05:28.160> in of Eevee Capuna, having participated in of Eevee Capuna, having participated
• <00:30:27.039> like housing or other rental program like housing or other rental program like
• which we are also converting thereby issuing homestead leases to the people that are participating in
• which we are also converting thereby issuing homestead leases to the people that are participating in

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard nominations for several members of the Burial Council and the Hawaiian Homes Commission. For Burial Council nominations, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Historic Preservation Division testified in support of Leimana Abunes, Cyrus Sito, Chantel Freeman, and Chadley Shiml Fenig, emphasizing their genealogical ties, cultural knowledge, experience with iwi kupuna, and commitment to preservation and reinterment. Each nominee also briefly introduced themselves and described their background and motivation to serve. Committee members said they had favorable conversations with the nominees and indicated votes would be taken at the end of the agenda. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 773, Shaylin Ornellas, for the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Testimony in support was strong, including 45 written supports and no opposition, along with oral testimony from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and community supporters. Supporters highlighted Ornellas’ education, real estate and development experience, public service, and connection to Kauaʻi and homestead communities. Ornellas said she was answering a call to serve and discussed her background and commitment to the community. Members questioned Ornellas closely about Act 279, the DHHL waitlist, beneficiary consultation, housing options, and the department’s “paper lease” practice. She said Act 279 was intended to help reduce the waitlist, supported broader housing options and beneficiary input, and acknowledged limited familiarity with the technical details of paper leases. One senator raised concerns that paper leases may not guarantee actual lots and urged further research. The discussion also touched on policy issues such as beneficiaries maintaining their waitlist positions after declining offers or taking rentals, with committee members noting these are commission policy choices rather than statutory mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• infants and the babies we have a program infants and the babies we have a program called<00:03:40.159
• choir and then we have another program choir and then we have another program called<00:04:53.919
• Over 30 schools participate in the River Watch program.
• And this program sounds great.
• This program sounds great.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then thirdly here, this program would pay for itself ultimately, meaning revenues from the program
• And then thirdly here, this program would pay for itself ultimately, meaning revenues from the program
• or to the state parks program.
• or to the state critical habitat program or to the state parks<00:56:59.599> program.
• parks program. parks program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But, uh, really appreciate your participation in this program.
• <00:29:14.320> I<00:29:14.559> I participation in this this program I I participation
• Thank you for all the hard work, the superintendent and principals and, um, participants in the program
• Thank you for all the hard work, the superintendent and principals and, um, participants in the program
• Thank you for all the hard work, the superintendent and principals and, um, participants in the program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of affordability, making sure that all companies can participate in an affordability program
• So a number of companies participated in that bidding. We awarded around 30 projects.
• So a number of companies participated in that bidding. We awarded around 30 projects.
• We also awarded funds to Acoma Pueblo and Jemez Pueblo as part of that program.
• So this would be a neutral program. Technology neutral is now our policy.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• participating remotely uh, from Duth. participating remotely uh, from Duth.
• serving program.
• These participants are serving program.
• launched last year for a similar program launched last year for a similar program with<01:11:05.120
• <01:13:09.520> to with local artists on a program to with local artists on a program to install

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, could you talk to us about the Canadian prescription drug importation program, the program that
• Senator, could you talk to us about the Canadian prescription drug importation program, program that
• The program has since grown to a $4 billion program over the years.
• programming, waiver programs, why are we not including... ...including the Medicaid managed care pilot
• programming, waiver programs, why are we not including... ...programming waiver programs, why are we

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program would stand up an affordability program subsidizing monthly rates for low-income households
• So making sure that the companies that are participating in this program have facilities in New Mexico
• , are dedicated to New Mexico, and willing to serve the... households that participate in this program
• So we are directly supporting both our program and the Navajo Nation's program for those last mile customers
• Chair, Representative Dow, are you referring to the New Mexico Care Program or a different program?

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• This would not be a program that I would want to participate in because of the fact that the part of
• c><00:15:08.160> want<00:15:08.280> to<00:15:08.360> participate program that I
• would want to participate program that I would want to participate in<00:15:09.080> because<00
• <00:15:18.760> But<00:15:18.880> again, participate in this program.
• But again, participate in this program.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Manitoba, and North Dakota participate Manitoba, and North Dakota participate in<00:07:47.039>
• <00:59:42.960> to prevention and education programs to prevention and education programs to
• programs, and also support services. programs, and also support services.
• Cities to participate in the decision.
• <01:31:54.800> by the city of Otaban um participating by the city of Otaban um participating

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2395 establishes the Arizona School Fitness Program and directs the
• The school participating in the program may include the program designation in its school report card
• and the Arizona Department of Education to recognize public schools that choose to participate in a
• The school participating in the program may include the program designation and its school report card
• I also pray a bit as male, female, or co-educational based on the sex of the participating athletes.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so cities who are participating in a co-op whether whatever it is.
• Robert, do you know of other programs that y'all participate in that are... cooperative type programs
• We call it the RSB program, which can be found on page 10 of your packet.
• Rather than creating separate departments for each program, we integrate the 38 licensing programs into
• In other programs we recommend lowering barriers for out-of-state licenses. holders and in one program

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you want more people to participate in elections Z Spicer: or not?
• People want to participate in democracy.
• Este: to them, it's almost impossible for them to participate.
• Do we believe participation should be encouraged?
• And who we want to participate.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we have a statewide, very robust drug court program now.
• We have a growing number of participants. We're at, I think, 2,700 within drug court.
• number of participants we're at growing number of participants we're at I<00:24:52.960> think
• And we see program for all 120 counties.
• participant level for those courts. participant level for those courts.

Keywords: 00:10 Call to order and Roll Call 01:06 Information Items and Introduction of Kentucky Court of Justice 03:02 Discussion of Interpreter State and National Contractor Rates 06:35 Discussion of Certifications 08:44 Discussion of AI use in Interpretation 13:56 Software Service Initiatives 16:47 Data Security and AV system Upgrades 24:38 Drug Court Issues 28:43 Discussion of Jefferson County Record Storage 35:33 Boyle County Courthouse Construction 39.26 KY State Police Driver Testing 45:22 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard a budget overview from the Kentucky Court of Justice focused on mandated services and several growth items in the judicial branch budget. Court officials said the requests were driven by legal and contractual obligations, including higher contractor rates for court interpreters and IT support, annual software-as-a-service costs, and upgrades to the court’s audiovisual record system (JAVS). They also discussed local facilities needs tied to Jefferson County lease space and the Boyle County Courthouse, though the bulk of the presentation centered on the court’s technology and service-delivery costs. Members asked detailed questions about interpreter services, including whether services are provided in person, by phone, or by Zoom, and whether Kentucky could train and certify more local interpreters instead of relying on contractors from around the country. Court officials said the certification process is rigorous, that the branch is working with the National Center for State Courts on an apprenticeship program, and that they believe Kentucky may have flexibility to develop state-level certification if it meets court needs. They also said they are exploring technology and AI tools for translation, but have not found a solution that reliably handles complex courtroom context. Representative Sharp asked whether cases had been delayed for lack of interpreters; officials said they could provide aggregated data later. The court also described its major IT modernization effort, including a statewide case management system, e-filing, and maintenance of many legacy applications. Officials said contractor rates need to be raised to compete for skilled labor during the implementation phase, but that those costs should decline once the new systems are fully built and only maintained. They explained that part of the request covers three SaaS initiatives: ongoing subscription costs for existing systems, annual fees for the CaseWorks system used in pretrial and specialty courts after federal grant funding ends, and adoption of DocuSign to streamline invoicing, procurement, and contract execution. In response to questions from Representative KC Carney, they said cybersecurity is taken seriously, that they recently conducted a tabletop exercise, and that some risk shifts to cloud vendors under contract, though no separate cybersecurity line item was included. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the JAVS audiovisual court-record system. Court officials said not all courtrooms are on the same version, and they want funding to bring all locations up to the current version and prepare for version 9, which they said would standardize the system statewide and support the official court record. When asked about costs, they said each upgrade can cost about $70,000 to $80,000 per system, that they aim to upgrade about 50 per year, and that the request reflects the need to keep pace with a four-year refresh cycle. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• known as the IDD pilot program, that was established in 2023.
• Participation in the pilot program is completely voluntary.
• They would return to a comparable waiver program.
• liaison provides the voice and direction of the program.
• I think it is a good program that we're setting up.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, most of them receiving favorable reports. SB 132, as amended, would require the Department of Financial Services to contract for a study on whether Florida should recognize gold and silver as legal tender; an amendment advanced the report deadline to December 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1050, also amended, expands the intellectual and developmental disabilities managed care pilot program statewide, emphasizes that enrollment is voluntary, adds transparency and reporting requirements for APD, creates a statewide family care council, and requires related studies and coordination; it was reported favorably after supportive testimony about reducing the APD wait list. SB 820 codifies the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s office, and the bill drew extended debate over church-state separation and concerns about political activity by the office; despite opposition from several senators, it was reported favorably. SB 1060 creates a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid financing and operations, with supporters citing the size of the program and the need for stronger legislative review; it passed favorably. SB 7032 presumes Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals receiving certain long-term services during redetermination, to prevent gaps in care, and was reported favorably with broad support. SB 12, a claim bill for a minor injured in a DCF-related case, was also reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved several infrastructure and tax-related measures. SJR 318 proposes an ad valorem exemption for certain tangible personal property used in agriculture or agritourism, such as equipment and tractors, and was reported favorably with support from agricultural and business groups. SB 818, as amended, revises utility relocation funding for public road and rail projects, shifting the financing structure after constitutional concerns were raised and adding a $50 million grant program; it passed after discussion of the impact on local governments and utilities. SB 1348 modernizes DMV services through tax collectors, adds a distracted driving course option, bans appointment scalping, and extends certain disabled parking permit terms; it was reported favorably. SB 1664 requires voter reapproval of local taxes, including tourist development taxes and local option sales taxes, when they expire, with special rules for taxes tied to revenue bonds; it drew significant debate over impacts on tourism-dependent counties and was reported favorably despite opposition from some members and local government groups. SB 1050, SB 820, SB 1060, SB 7032, SB 12, SJR 318, SB 818, SB 1348, and SB 1664 all received favorable committee votes, and the meeting ended with final missed-vote requests and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• > in<00:42:33.599> the clarify that participation in the clarify that participation in
• > the<01:49:23.199> largest program starting with the largest program starting with the
• they do have do not have to participate. they do have do not have to participate.
• We have the program, and I'm just miffed that all the work that's been done to stand this program up.
• employer does not enroll in the program employer does not enroll in the program and<02:14:46.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program and include at least three options for restructuring the program moving forward.
• programs?
• can be enrolled in the program.
• So there's still a cushion in the program of about 4,000 Floridians that could still participate that
• The bill amends the petroleum cleanup participation program to remove program deductibles, co-pays, and

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they kept the PERS pilot program intact. So that process remains the same. They did.
• It did remain as a two-year pilot program.
• So we'll still do the report at the end of the pilot program as far as the cost and impact to PERS.
• The other. pilot program detail as part of that.
• So at the start of the pilot program, there's a cost-benefit analysis done.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on HB 1248 met to review differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, which concerns the PERS pilot program and insurance mandate process. Rebecca Frickie, executive director of PERS, explained that the Senate version removed the House provisions repealing the insurance mandate process, kept the two-year PERS pilot intact, and preserved the requirement for a report at the end of the pilot while removing language that would have required PERS to submit a bill to expand coverage to the commercial market. Members discussed the bill’s cost-benefit analysis requirements. Frickie said the current law triggers a cost-benefit analysis at the start of the pilot and again when a bill is introduced to roll coverage out commercially, but the Senate draft would change that to only one analysis at the end of the pilot if a rollout bill is introduced. Legislative Council indicated that if the committee wants that simplified approach, additional conforming changes are needed elsewhere in the code. Senators also asked about the purpose of the initial analysis and whether it is used beyond being attached to the bill packet; Frickie said PERS relies primarily on its own actuary and was not aware of broader use. The committee discussed whether the revised process would still require legislative sponsorship for any future rollout, and Frickie confirmed that a legislator or other sponsor would need to introduce such a bill. Examples mentioned included insulin caps and breast exams as possible future pilot items. The committee agreed to request Legislative Council draft the needed language changes and planned to reconvene after receiving the updated draft; no final vote was taken and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• And then those students actually have a chance to work and to participate in the VPK Summer Bridge program
• And then those students actually have a chance to work and to participate in the VPK Summer Bridge program
• I do not know the exact number, but roughly, I think 58 districts participate in the Guardian program
• And as we added a few years ago, Districts participate in the Guardian program.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism. St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing. The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2. Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe that apprenticeship programs work.
• They should have been part of the program all along.
• Let me give you an example: if I elect to create my own program, I'm a contractor creating my own. program
• Programs or training through the state or get well with one of the unions and their certified programs
• And we chose those programs because they are the programs where often a taxpayer won't have taxable receipts

Keywords: 996, all