Transcript Highlights:

• And then just a concern I have about the Department of Revenue files.
• I'm a little hesitant about getting those records from the Department of Revenue.
• And I am wondering the report Revenue.
• The A4 is before us. committing fraud would not essentially committing fraud would not essentially receive
• this kind of fraud are people who commit this kind of fraud are foul. foul. foul.

Bills: HF3874, HF3875, HF3378

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch, judiciary, court notices, restitution, child protection, publication process, human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the March 3 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Minnesota Judicial Branch on House File 3874, which was laid over for possible inclusion in a finance bill. State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba and Chief Judge Michael Fritz testified in support of a supplemental funding request focused on judicial branch safety and security, along with funding to cover the employer share of Minnesota Paid Leave costs. Shorba said the branch is seeking help because it did not receive funding for paid leave in the last session and is having to hold positions open to absorb the cost. The safety and security request included five parts: personal data protection for judges and court administrators, home security, two additional staff positions for threat assessment and coordination, security for the chief justice at public events, and a revived courthouse security grant program for counties. Testimony emphasized rising threats and incidents involving judges and court staff, including examples of doxing, home surveillance, and threats involving litigants, and cited increases in reported incidents, threats, and disturbances. Fritz said the branch’s current response system is stretched and that more law-enforcement-trained staff would improve coordination and response. Members questioned why the judicial branch should receive state funding for paid leave when private employers must absorb the cost, and Shorba responded that the branch was excluded from end-of-session funding decisions and that the mandate should be funded for all branches of government. Members also asked about the threat-response process and whether local law enforcement should be used more directly. Another concern raised was whether State Patrol troopers assigned to judicial security would have the training needed for criminal-code enforcement, and Shorba said the branch is discussing that issue with the State Patrol. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But yes, there's absolutely a commitment to get there.
• But the, but yes, there's absolutely a commitment to get there.
• I make that commitment. Thank you.
• If you study their revenue models, which are subscription-based revenue models, the only way these IPOs
• If you study their revenue models, which are subscription-based revenue models, the only way these IPOs

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on artificial intelligence, child safety, mental health, and privacy. SB 574 by Senator Umberg would require transparency and human oversight when attorneys, judges, and court neutrals use AI; it drew support from privacy advocates and committee members, with no opposition. SB 1276, the End Child Exploitation Act, would update child sexual exploitation laws to cover live-streamed and AI-generated abuse material and clarify that viewing such content can be criminally punishable; prosecutors, child advocacy groups, and others supported it, while no one appeared in opposition despite opposition on file. SB 813 would create a California AI standards and safety commission and a voluntary two-tier certification framework for AI safety standards; supporters said it would create scalable, independent oversight, while TechNet and CalChamber opposed it as duplicative, under-defined, and likely to create a de facto mandate. The committee discussed market pressure, federal preemption concerns, and the role of voluntary standards, but no final vote was taken in the excerpt. Senator Padilla also presented SB 300, which would strengthen protections for minors from sexually explicit chatbot content by moving from a reasonableness standard to an affirmative duty to prevent such exposure and to prohibit facilitation. Supporters said new evidence showed greater risks and that companies can and should build stronger safeguards; opponents, including TechNet and CCIA, argued the bill was premature because SB 243 had only recently taken effect and warned it could create strict-liability-like exposure. Padilla then presented SB 903, which would bar AI chatbots from being advertised as therapists, require licensed clinician oversight and informed consent for AI use in psychotherapy, and protect patient confidentiality; it received broad support from mental health professionals and labor groups, while industry and health associations were opposed unless amended over triage and crisis-detection language. The committee members emphasized the need for human judgment in mental health care and noted ongoing negotiations on amendments. The committee also heard SB 1119, a companion to AB 2020, which would require annual risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, default child settings, parental controls, limits on data use, public incident reporting, and third-party audits for chatbots used by children. Supporters argued the bill would address documented harms and improve transparency, while industry groups objected to ambiguous standards, liability exposure, and the private right of action. A roll call vote was taken on SB 1119 after quorum was established; the motion to pass to Appropriations succeeded on a 5-1 vote, with one no vote and the measure left on call for absent members. Finally, SB 354, a privacy bill for insurance consumers, would modernize outdated insurance privacy rules, bar sale of personal information, and expand consumer rights to know, correct, and delete data. Supporters said it would implement Proposition 24’s privacy mandate, while a large coalition of insurers, agents, brokers, and related businesses opposed unless amended, mainly seeking a small-business exemption and narrower treatment of publicly available information; members and the author said negotiations were ongoing and the bill had already been substantially revised.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Recorder's Association of Missouri supports increasing the criminal penalties for those committing
• And also, should this amount generate more revenue than is needed for oversight, the said fees would
• Our revenue comes from three different streams: bank assessments, mortgage licensing fees, and fees from
• What else will this increase in revenue do for your division?
• So there's no impact on net general revenue, nothing on...

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LAST POINT, COURT REVENUES REMITTING TO ALMOST 40 DIFFERENT STATE TRUST FUNDS.
• IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CHANGING THE REVENUE STREAMS AND A CHANGING SOME THINGS AROUND AND MAKING SOME
• CLEARLY THE FEE BASED REVENUE PROVIDED TO THE CLERKS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE NECESSARY
• AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS THE LEGISLATURE HAS SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO HELPING
• THE COST OF LIVING AND THE RESTRICTED REVENUE STREAMS AND THE CONSTANT UNFUNDED MANDATES HAVE PUSHED

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Similarly, when you're looking at the general revenue budget statewide, it's about Similarly, when you're
• looking at the general revenue budget statewide, it's about $53 billion, of which education, a much
• interrupt you, I just think it's important to note that when you look at it just in terms of general revenue
• And thank you for your commitment and your investments in the education system.
• This budget represents the governor's commitment to Florida's families, students, and educators, his

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 education budget. Shelby Salmons outlined the overall budget framework, and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis highlighted major education investments, including $486 million for VPK, $30.6 billion for K-12 education, a $761.1 million increase in FEFP funding, the highest per-student funding level to date, and $201 million more for teacher pay flexibility. The presentation also emphasized school safety, mental health, civics education, and the Guardian Program, along with continued funding for TEACH, HIPPY, Help Me Grow, and civics debate and literacy initiatives. Members asked about how the mental health allocation would be used, counselor staffing ratios, school closures and whether the department intervenes, oversight of school choice and voucher-funded schools, and the Guardian Program’s pay structure and effectiveness. Senators also raised concerns about the FISH school capacity report, data collection, teacher pay, professional development, AI and tutoring technology, and whether the budget adequately supports mental health services and school safety. The Commissioner said many funding decisions are left to districts, that the department stands ready to assist, and that the Guardian Program has been successful and expanded over time. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding, and urged the committee to consider full-day VPK funding, arguing it has improved third-grade reading outcomes in Pinellas. Senators followed up on district flexibility and local spending choices. The committee took no substantive vote on the budget presentation and adjourned after thanking the department for its recommendations and partnership.

Transcript Highlights:

• Similarly, when you're looking at the general revenue budget statewide, it's about...
• Similarly, when you're looking at the general revenue budget statewide, it's about $53 billion, of which
• interrupt you, I just think it's important to note that when you look at it just in terms of general revenue
• And thank you for your commitment and your investments in the education system.
• This budget represents the governor's commitment to Florida's families, students, and educators, his

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to hear the governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget recommendations for education from the Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education. Shelby Salmons and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis outlined the governor’s proposed $117.4 billion state budget, including about $32.5 billion for education, with major emphasis on public schools and early learning. The presentation highlighted a $30.6 billion K-12 budget, a $486 million VPK program, continued funding for VPK Summer Bridge, TEACH, HIPPY, and Help Me Grow, as well as increases for teacher pay, base student allocation, mental health, school safety, civics education, and school hardening initiatives. The commissioner also cited a 92.2% statewide graduation rate and Florida’s national rankings in education and education freedom. Senators used the question period to raise concerns about counselor staffing, mental health services, school closures, school choice oversight, the Guardian Program, data reporting, and school capacity. Senator Jones asked about counselor ratios, school closures in historically Black communities, and whether school choice schools are properly monitored for safety and instructional quality. Senator Osgood argued that mental health funding should support more clinical services on campuses, not just academic counselors, and Senator Bradley asked whether the centralized data repository includes scholarship students. Senator Gates praised the civics and debate funding and asked for more detail on the Guardian Program’s performance; the commissioner said 53 of 67 districts participate and described it as a successful safety option with sheriffs approving training. Senators Simon and Osgood also pressed for better use of the FISH report and more accurate space data to understand school capacity and right-sizing. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district is an A-rated district with no D or F schools, but spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding. She said Florida’s mental health staffing ratio is about one counselor per 2,203 students, compared with a recommended one per 1,106, and urged the committee to consider funding full-day VPK statewide, estimating it would cost about $375 million. Committee members followed up on her comments about local flexibility and whether districts can shift funds to meet needs. The meeting ended after members thanked DOE and executive branch staff for the presentation, and the committee adjourned without taking any substantive vote on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of $1.8 billion, creating 7,500 jobs and generating $3.2 billion in revenue, along with $43.4 million
• in county revenues.
• It's going to take understanding, commitment, and resources to ensure we're addressing a range of issues
• I'm committed to expanding the untapped potential of geothermal energy production.
• shows $0 cost to the state, but in fact, it's anticipated that it will generate $1.2 million in revenues

Bills: HB1647, HB2612, HB3125, HB3158, HB3240, HB3506, HB3516, HB3707

Keywords: carbon sequestration, environmental policy, Texas, energy, climate change, regulatory council, geothermal energy, workforce development, education and training, energy industry, apprenticeship, energy production, energy policy, renewable energy, state council, administrative law, public information, transparency, government accountability, judicial process

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, Texas Mutual really started 34 years ago and it's been committed to providing stable, competitive
• So the state loaned this fund $5 million, and they also issued $300 million in. revenue bonds, meaning
• that, of course, that the revenue from the insurance premium would pay off the bonds.
• As we look to the future, future we remain committed to adapting and innovating the changing needs of
• The council receives no general revenue because state law specifies that funds to support the council's

Bills: HB406

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• developed my passion for school safety after I had worked with several potential individuals who would commit
• I've worked with several potential individuals who would commit an act of mass violence.
• /c><00:12:30.800> uh looking at different uh funding uh looking at different uh funding uh Revenue
• 12:32.040> to<00:12:32.160> get<00:12:32.320> this<00:12:32.480> done Revenue
• sources to try to get this done Revenue sources to try to get this done um<00:12:33.639> long-term

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon and welcome to the hearing for the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
• Just want to remind you, please remember... ...the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
• Our members are committed to safeguarding small businesses, ensuring that patrons feel safe and owners
• pay higher prices to make up for the businesses' losses, and state and local governments lose tax revenue
• Okay, Revenue and Taxation Committee stands adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met and announced that, under its suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense because each had a fiscal impact. The chair also reminded attendees to submit position letters in advance for inclusion in the bill analysis. A quorum was established and the committee then heard six bills, all of which drew support testimony and no opposition testimony in the room. AB 814 would exempt law enforcement pensions from state income tax to encourage retired peace officers to remain in California and support recruitment and retention. AB 918 would create a targeted income tax exemption for pay earned by local first responders deployed under mutual aid during declared emergencies, with supporters saying it would help sustain disaster response and reward extraordinary service. Both bills were backed by police and public safety organizations and were referred to suspense. AB 976 would create a nonrefundable tax credit for small retailers in disadvantaged communities to help pay for security equipment in response to retail theft and violence; members discussed whether the bill should be broader and how it related to Proposition 36 and crime policy. AB 984 would allow state tax deductions for contributions to CalABLE accounts, with testimony from CalABLE representatives and families describing the program as an essential savings tool for people with disabilities. AB 1282 would create a deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $5,000 through 2030, and AB 838 would raise California’s renter’s tax credit from $60/$120 to $2,000 for eligible filers. Each of these bills was also referred to the suspense file, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to reaffirm my commitment to the chair and this committee to take future amendments that would
• an industry that has been long overlooked, one that has not been fully invested in, and it's my commitment
• And with that commitment, we'll be happy to support the bill today.
• And with that commitment, we'll be happy to support the bill today.
• I'm committed to continuing to engage and craft the most effective piece of legislation that hopefully

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several Senate bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker training, public safety, and consumer protection. SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would expand training and de-escalation requirements for private security officers. Supporters, including security workers and labor groups, said the bill would better prepare officers who often respond first to mental health crises and violent incidents. Opponents, including security industry representatives and business groups, argued it would impose major costs, create training bottlenecks, and could reduce licensed security coverage. The committee ultimately voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Labor and Employment, with some members noting future amendments to address training capacity and employer-provided training. The committee also approved SB 936 by Senator Blakespear, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Support came from county officials, public health groups, waste management organizations, law enforcement, and local governments, who described rising misuse, impaired driving, and recycling hazards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1271 by Senator Reyes, aimed at strengthening California’s midwifery training pipeline by requiring data collection on licensed midwife preceptor capacity, also passed unanimously to Health. Supporters said the bill would help address shortages in rural birth care and improve access to training for aspiring midwives. SB 903 by Senator Padilla, which would place guardrails on the use of AI in mental health and psychotherapy settings and prohibit AI from being marketed as a therapist, drew emotional testimony from a mother whose son died by suicide after extensive chatbot interactions. Health and behavioral health groups supported the measure, while several industry and health organizations were opposed unless amended; the committee nevertheless sent it to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 1165 on consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to reaffirm my commitment to the chair and this committee to take future amendments that would
• an industry that has been long overlooked, one that has not been fully invested in, and it's my commitment
• And with that commitment, we'll be happy to support the bill today.
• I'm committed to continuing to engage and craft the most effective piece of legislation that hopefully
• the consent calendar, file item 3, SB 1165, Caballero, the motion is due pass to the Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And working on fire-related challenges and your commitment, of course, to working on expediting housing
• I think is a thoughtful approach and appreciate your leadership and commitment to it.
• And again, Senator, as you've heard, we really, really appreciate your commitment on this effort.
• Now, we engaged in a lot of dialogue last year, and I made a commitment to Louie that we would get a
• I wanted to honor my commitment to the HOA community, you know, during last year's discussions.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:01.039> um a three-fold increase in revenues um a three-fold increase in revenues um
• But the other for your revenues.
• <00:55:49.200> sharing budget also included um revenue sharing budget also included um revenue
• revenue information management system. revenue information management system.
• transfer into the municipal revenue transfer into the municipal revenue transfer<01:45:33.440>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, come, we will come to order for the tobacco Settlement Revenue and Oversight Committee. uh, the tobacco
• Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee have come to order.
• area for me, Madam Chair, and also as far as, you know, with the settlement and its role into the revenue
• I would like to suggest August 15th to be in Albuquerque, um, because, um, we have another commitment

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3459 by Bond, relating to the distribution of state traffic fine revenues received by the Comptroller
• HB 3483 by Combs, relating to the authority of a special utility district to issue revenue bonds, referred
• Means, HB HB 3488 by Diala, relating to the representation of a indigent person subject to civil commitment
• Additional tax revenue derived from the hotel and convention center project, referred to the Committee

Summary: The House met briefly to read a large number of first-reading bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and refer them to the appropriate committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public health, education, criminal justice, taxation, transportation, water and natural resources, elections, housing, veterans issues, local government, and constitutional amendments. Several bills focused on school policy, health care regulation, property tax and sales tax changes, criminal penalties, and local or state agency authority. Among the notable items were proposals on name and sex changes on birth records, college admissions inquiries into criminal history, foster care contractor liability, school nutrition and assessment policy, election procedures, homestead and franchise tax exemptions, public retirement system reporting, and numerous transportation and infrastructure measures. The House also received resolutions designating local honors and observances, including Brownsville as the bicycling capital of the Rio Grande Valley, Port Aransas as the fishing capital of Texas, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Day. Some measures proposed constitutional amendments on legislative procedure, homestead taxation, and election-law enforcement authority. No debate or testimony occurred in this segment; the action was limited to first reading and referral. The session also referred several resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars. At the end of the proceedings, the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• new rider that directs the Comptroller to make a transfer to the fund of $5 billion from general revenue
• Recommendations include maintaining the $19.9 million in general revenue and general revenue dedicated
• Recommendations include an additional $0.4 million in general revenue for the upcoming biennium to align
• I'd like to begin by thanking you for your ongoing commitment to ensuring the PUC has the resources needed

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephanie Scharden Clark, again, the Secretary of the Taxation and Revenue Department.
• It also diverts tax revenues to pay attorney and collection fees, meaning taxpayer...
• It's in Chapter 9 in the Taxation and Revenue Department's Enabling Act.
• It's in Chapter 9 in the Taxation and Revenue Department's Enabling Act.
• You only pay the Taxation and Revenue Department once.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have so much to do in such very little time, and so I am grateful that all of you have made a commitment
• The Florida Department of Revenue has oversight responsibility for the property tax system and provides
• So. committee where we will talk about ways to replace that revenue, certainly.
• So I know we kind of see these rising revenues of property tax, but everything else is rising too.
• And that is that we will need to look at giving our communities flexibility and revenue generation.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken. The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are important because they provided a base level of recurring revenue.
• Many of the districts had no revenue sources at all. They had very little funding.
• Some of the districts also had recurring revenue streams from local government.
• Another area that they were able to do was to utilize grant revenue, grant funding.
• We also noted that without these revenue sources... ...we also noted that without these revenue sources

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture heard an update on the Florida citrus industry from Matt Joyner of Florida Citrus Mutual and Shannon Shepp of the Department of Citrus. Both described the industry’s steep decline over the past two decades due to citrus greening (HLB), hurricanes, freezes, and aging groves, but emphasized ongoing recovery efforts through research, replanting, and new therapies. They highlighted promising tools such as plant growth regulators, protective screens and covers, direct oxytetracycline application, CRISPR-based breeding, and the CRAFT program, which has expanded to more than 10,000 acres of solid-set plantings and over 20,000 acres including resets. Members discussed disaster relief, property tax pressures, grower participation, and the need for assessment relief and other state support. No votes were taken on the citrus presentation. Shepp also outlined the Department of Citrus’s marketing and research role, noting strong consumer demand for Florida orange juice, global advertising efforts, and clinical research tied to health messaging. She said the industry remains a major economic contributor, with thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact, and that the department is working to maintain demand while growers replant and reset groves. Senators asked about the CRAFT program, new grower participation, and how advertising and state policy could help sustain the industry. The committee then received a performance review of the Opa-locka Soil and Water Conservation Districts from David Jahossky of Malden and Jenkins. The review found wide variation among the 49 districts studied, with many lacking recurring revenue, staffing, proper meeting notices, records retention, formal performance goals, and timely financial reports. The report identified nearly 400 recommendations and noted that some districts had already dissolved or were considering dissolution. Senators questioned whether the districts were duplicative of other agencies and whether they still served a useful purpose; the presenter said there was overlap and collaboration but no duplication. A public commenter from Jefferson County argued that local boards still provide trusted, community-based support for producers and help connect them to cost-share and best management practice programs. The chair indicated the review would inform possible legislation to improve or restructure the districts, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.