Transcript Highlights:

• police, create documentation so that there is filed, so that we can have that data and that we can utilize
• police, create documentation so that there is filed, so that we can have that data and that we can utilize
• that we can have that data and that we that we can have that data and that we can<00:26:57.919> utilize
• 58.559> data<00:26:59.279> to<00:26:59.600> continue<00:26:59.919> to can utilize
• that data to continue to can utilize that data to continue to protect<00:27:00.559> our<00:27

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: State Rep. Samakab Hussein and other Minnesota lawmakers held a press event focused on allegations of ICE misconduct in St. Paul and surrounding communities, using the case of Nasra Ahmed, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, as the central example. Hussein and others said Ahmed was detained for two days, denied clear explanation and legal representation, and suffered trauma and injuries; Ahmed described being taken from a predominantly Somali neighborhood, called a racial slur, and physically restrained, while her father said the experience was unacceptable for any citizen or resident. Several lawmakers, including Reps. María Isa Pérez-Vega, Mahmud Nur, Dave Pinto, and St. Paul City Council Member Anika Buouie, said they were drafting or supporting legislation and local responses to provide behavioral health, mental health, and emergency assistance for affected families and businesses. They also said they were hearing from teachers, faith leaders, and community members about fear, disrupted work and school attendance, and broader economic harm, and that St. Paul’s city council would pursue a letter to Gov. Walz seeking an eviction moratorium. The speakers alleged that ICE actions were unlawful, racially targeted, and in some cases in violation of a recent federal court order limiting certain tactics. They urged people to document incidents, call 911, and use an attorney general portal to report constitutional-rights violations so data could be collected. No formal vote was taken at the event, but the lawmakers said they were working with county and state officials and referenced ongoing lawsuits and possible future court orders.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you look at that, we're looking at an increase in facility utilities cost of total $262,000 in
• FY24, that rose 22% in FY25 to $336,0298 dollars just for our utilities cost.
• As you see, website design, we utilize $70,000. We're not asking for that again.
• implementation of the marijuana enforcement teams, met OBn has continued a comprehensive approach utilizing
• administrative, civil, and criminal investigative abilities to combat the drug trafficking organizations utilizing

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Utility on a regular basis, whether it's five years, ten years, or whatever, that it at least will resurface
• So, as we know, our two big utilities in New Mexico wouldn't have had the capacity.
• They're building out towards two gigawatts, so it's bigger and more power than our utility currently
• So while our local rural electric co-ops and our public utilities have to get to net zero, these folks
• that are making their own power never do unless they intend to send back to utilities.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• she's currently working on an adult makerspace in the library for small business owners to be able to utilize
• currently working on an adult maker space in the library for small business owners to be able to utilize
• . adult maker space in the library for small business owners to be able to utilize.
• And these are really called tradeoffs: rent, utilities, transportation, clothing, health care, all of
• And if they utilize a portion of their properties for these types of tax deductions, it's a great benefit

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• published report in January 2025, copyright issues and high implementation costs prevent the state from utilizing
• published report in January 2025, copyright issues and high implementation costs prevent the state from utilizing
• And so that does include several different metrics that are within the FIPSA guidelines that we utilize
• And so that does include several different metrics that are within the FIPSA guidelines that we utilize
• We utilize a certification process to make sure that they're meeting those standards, that they're able

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion on Florida’s domestic violence system, focusing on the roles of the state, the federally designated coalition, direct-service providers, and law enforcement. Members reviewed the history of the system after the dissolution of the former coalition in 2020, the creation of the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, DCF’s Office of Domestic Violence, and the current contract structure involving Women in Distress and its subcontractors for hotline and legal services. Panelists also discussed the 2024 lethality assessment law, the workgroup’s conclusion that the evidence-based Maryland tool could not be used because of copyright and cost issues, and the state’s current use of statutory questions instead. DCF and FDLE described the statewide certification and funding framework, including more than $60 million in domestic violence funding for fiscal year 2025-26 and the requirement that law enforcement complete lethality-assessment training by October 1, 2026. Testimony highlighted both collaboration and conflict. Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence and Women in Distress described overlapping training and technical-assistance roles, but disagreed sharply about the quality of their relationship with DCF and whether the current structure is duplicative. DCF said it maintains communication with both the coalition and the centers and emphasized that the coalition is federally required, while the coalition argued that the department has obstructed its work. Women in Distress and Hope Villages stressed direct services, prevention, and the need for more housing, staffing, and funding, especially in rural areas. They also described programs in schools, hospitals, and child welfare settings, and noted that children exposed to domestic violence often need specialized services. Members asked about funding flows, certification, rural coverage, the number of centers, and the lethality assessment rollout. DCF said the 41 certified centers serve all 67 counties and that no new applications have been received in about 15 years. FDLE reported that 46 of roughly 400 law enforcement agencies had completed the lethality-assessment training and attestation, with the statutory deadline still ahead. Panelists said domestic violence appears to be increasing, citing higher hotline demand, shelter occupancy, and local case numbers, while also noting that statewide crime data remains outdated. The discussion ended with calls for better coordination, clearer implementation of statutes, more funding, and possible legislative fixes to improve data collection, training, and service delivery.

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibit Oklahoma airports from contracting with a company such as Clear if that company's members also utilize
• This is like a private paid service that, if I want to utilize it, I can opt in to utilize it if I want
• Do you know what the error rate is on the system you utilize?
• Do you know what the error rate is on the system you utilize?

Summary: The committee held an interim study on airport security vendors, prompted by Representative Hayes’s earlier House Bill 1271, which would have restricted Oklahoma airports from contracting with third-party identity verification companies such as Clear. Hayes explained the bill stemmed from concerns raised after a December 2022 TSA letter and broader questions about whether these vendors create security risks or bypass TSA screening. The committee heard first from Clear, then Idemia, and then Tulsa International Airport, with members focusing on how identity verification works, whether it differs from TSA screening, and whether the state should regulate these services. Clear’s representative said the company provides an opt-in biometric identity verification service at airports, not physical screening, and that every passenger still goes through TSA screening. He said Clear operates in about 60 airports in roughly 40 states, has about 40,000 members in Oklahoma, and has paid more than $1.1 million to Oklahoma airports since launching in the state. Members questioned how Clear verifies IDs, whether Real ID is required, whether the company can manually override biometric checks, whether it shares data, and whether it has had security issues. Clear said it uses source corroboration with state DMV systems, does not sell data, has no manual override, and has worked with TSA on security upgrades after earlier concerns. Idemia’s representative described the company’s broader biometrics work for Oklahoma and the federal government, including fingerprint systems for the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, civilian background-check enrollment, TSA checkpoint credential authentication technology, and TSA PreCheck enrollment. She said Idemia’s role stops at identity verification and that TSA retains responsibility for screening and for decisions about who enters trusted traveler programs. Tulsa International’s COO said Clear does not replace TSA, that TSA retains exclusive authority over screening, and that the airport leases space to Clear and receives revenue from the arrangement. No vote was taken, and the meeting ended after questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• cannabis-use-related public health and safety outcomes, such as traffic safety and health care utilization
• of course, there's increased use for tracking increased use because we're now actually tracking utilization
• I don't see reflected here is relative to cultural perceptions or perspectives relative to the utilization
• Some communities utilize cannabis for a variety of reasons.
• wondering if you were able to split the demographic population in your sample based on access and utilization

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it going to be an in-state or out-of-state benefit that they'll be utilizing?
• This is going to be the latest quarterly report that we did receive from the SIC, who utilizes RVK for
• Once they become eligible, they can start utilizing the benefits we provide for their retirees.
• That's where we're able to leverage this through the RFP and utilize the size that we need.
• However, it's the opportunity that we get to utilize their networks, their discounts, and those administrative

Transcript Highlights:

• We're empowering small cities programs to help smaller communities utilize more grant programs and do
• The question is, are we using this as a savings account or are we trying to responsibly utilize transportation
• Is that a responsible utilization of transportation dollars?
• I think that the work that went through this negotiation is an appropriate utilization of those dollars
• happen, or we can just throw that out and throw the beginning out because it's not responsible utilization

Transcript Highlights:

• like last session to now and So I, I think what's the behind the scenes, I think when you look at utilization
• When, when we're talking about utilization review, which is, you know, reviewing the chart after the
• other stuff that was really not indicated or not necessary, then that's an appropriate time for utilization
• I mean that's, that is utilization review. I mean that that is what that process is designed for.
• Uh, the only thing I wanted to get up and say is there are about 900,000 Texans right now who utilize

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilize those facilities for you ask us to do it.
• They're utilizing Railroad Commission records...
• They're utilizing Railroad Commission records to falsify those records in order to launder it on paper
• that we are seeing jeopardizes the state's essential infrastructure, including water systems and utilities
• is the type of brass and copper material that are things like power inverters and copper used by utility

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on several bills dealing with criminal discovery, crime lab access, controlled substances, community supervision, interference with officers, oilfield theft, and copper theft. On SB 1124, witnesses split over whether the bill clarified discovery law after the Heath decision or rolled back the Michael Morton Act; opponents argued it narrowed disclosure and shifted responsibility away from prosecutors, while supporters said it restored balance, limited harsh sanctions, and preserved exculpatory-disclosure duties. The committee later voted 4-0 to report SB 1124 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard and later reported favorably SB 1372, which resolves a statutory conflict over access to the DPS crime lab portal, and SB 1936, which changes how LSD “abuse units” are defined for testing and charging purposes; both were sent to the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1937, which would require a subject-matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence, was also reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 552, which would make people defined in the bill as “illegal aliens” ineligible for judge-ordered or jury-recommended community supervision, including deferred adjudication. Supporters said the bill would prevent state-funded early release of people who entered or remained in the country unlawfully, while county officials and immigration advocates warned it would be overbroad, difficult to administer, and costly to local jails and taxpayers. Despite those concerns, the committee voted to report SB 552 favorably, and Senator Huffman requested it be taken to the floor. On SB 1208, which increases interference with a peace officer or public official from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, law enforcement witnesses said repeat “auditors” and similar actors were creating dangerous confrontations and needed stronger deterrence; opponents argued the bill would chill protected filming and protest activity. The committee voted to report SB 1208 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also took testimony on SB 1806, a committee substitute addressing oilfield theft and related crimes. Supporters from law enforcement and the oil and gas industry said organized theft of crude, equipment, and related materials is a growing problem and that the bill would strengthen penalties, allow seizure and sale of stolen product, and improve inspection and forensic tools. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with placement on the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 1646, which targets copper theft and fiber vandalism by increasing penalties, requiring reporting and recordkeeping for certain purchases, and adding training and enforcement tools. Telecommunications, law enforcement, and emergency-network witnesses supported the bill as necessary to protect 9-1-1 and critical infrastructure, while metal recyclers warned the bill could overregulate legitimate businesses and sweep too broadly. The committee later voted to report the committee substitute for SB 1646 favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• and municipalities, counties, and so on is better, and let them, from a discretionary standpoint, Utilize
• In previous testimony, this miscellaneous gross receipts tax is a tax that the utilities charge their
• Because, much like the previous bill that was considered regarding utility codes, all of these representatives
• , but you also pay the 2% on the amount of sales tax that you pay and on the amount of the Public Utility
• Commission assessment, which is also... charged on people's utility bills.

Bills: HB511, HB972, HB 1035, HB2481, HB2723, HB2742, HB2894, HB2962, HB3077, HB3093, HB3307, HB3684, HJR67, HJR72

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, caregiver exemption, Medicaid, long-term services, tax relief, assisted living, housing support, property tax exemption, caregiver support, residence homestead, tax exemption, unpaid caregiver, state tax code, property tax, caregiver, waiting list, intellectual disability, developmental disability, ad valorem tax, family support

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, whenever possible, we utilize informal recommendations to inform policy changes.
• and so we focus on ensuring that our team has many different areas of background and expertise and utilizes
• for anybody that's up there, and this comes with the increased appropriation for more training to utilize
• The FBI's database does not allow us to utilize that data significantly to uncover trends or identify
• reporting and understanding of who's missing in Minnesota, what the patterns are, and how we can better utilize

Bills: HF2432

Keywords: HF2432, judiciary finance bill, public safety finance bill, corrections policy, crime victims, victim services, Minnesota victims of crime account, court fees, marriage license fee, financial crimes, fraud investigations, insurance fraud, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Commerce Fraud Bureau, wage theft, automobile theft prevention, nonprofit security grants, 911 funding, POST Board

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay. 1784 allows municipalities to utilize revenue generated from the operation of their municipal central
• So the fact is that most of these boats are going to be making a back-and-forth trip and have to utilize—it's
• based on a lot of what Senator Broder said, but we do have resources available that are not being utilized
• It predates us, and we need to be able to utilize it for its best purpose when it's done being utilized

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of environmental and natural resources bills. It reported favorably SB 1784 on sewer collection systems, allowing municipal sewer revenues to be used for expansion; SB 1388 on vessels, which prohibits random vessel inspections without probable cause, creates a five-year safety decal, bars local fuel-type boat bans, and expands funding options for boat ramps and marinas; and SB 880, which designates the American flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the Florida scrub jay as the state songbird. SB 946, as amended, was also reported favorably; it restricts certain waste facilities and incinerators near the Everglades, with the amendment narrowing the focus to the Broward/Miami-Dade area near the C-9 impoundment project. SB 1792 on dry sandy beaches was reported favorably after amendment, creating a pilot and process to inventory beaches and explore voluntary public access or conservation arrangements with private owners. SB 866 on anchoring limitation areas was reported favorably despite opposition from cruisers and boaters who argued existing law should be used instead of new county-specific restrictions. SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably with amendments that removed language about the necessity of phosphate mining and clarified that landowners requesting a radiation study must pay for it. The committee also reported favorably SB 1326 on hurricane evacuation clearance times and permit allocations in the Keys, and SB 1580, after a delete-all amendment, which authorizes DEP to use public-private partnerships for coastal resiliency projects. Finally, SB 1300 on oil and gas drilling permits was introduced to require DEP to consider potential harm from accidents or blowouts to natural resources when reviewing drilling permits, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill. The committee also took up confirmations, temporarily postponing the vote on Rodney Barreto’s FWC reappointment after public criticism of his leadership, while recommending favorably the other listed appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• calculation, which has been referenced at other education-related hearings as a potential tool to utilize
• How to utilize those systems or implement new systems as they age definitely varies depending upon where
• So you would be utilizing the vendor that is being utilized in the pilot? Demonstration projects?
• We need to find and utilize every dollar.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to plan a tabletop event, and it especially It takes weeks for us to plan an event where we are utilizing
• for the vast majority of Americans. majority of the folks living in this country, in this state, to utilize
• Those persons who are lawfully in the country utilizing a student visa work visa, et cetera, can obtain
• And so without that tool that they have, this is is another tool that can be utilized and just bypass
• post these notices of seized or unclaimed property on the internet. and social network websites utilized

Bills: HB33, HB298, HB 1024, HB 1234, HB 1261, HB1696, HB298

Keywords: electronic monitoring, parole supervision, law enforcement, warrant execution, public safety, handgun license, judgment evaluation, medical advisory board, application denial, gun law procedures, abandoned property, unclaimed property, disposition, handgun, driver's license, commercial driver's license, weapon carry, gun rights, Texas legislature, legislative attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida certify to the chief financial officer that's such a vendor or receipt of the grant will not utilize
• We we just do not want them to utilize dei.
• So I think as as as the utilize the procurement process, clearly, there should be some due diligence
• to make sure that these vendors are not utilizing dei when it comes to, you know, one comes to these
• We're a medical institutions of higher education, have utilized dei within their programs.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only time that taxation money is utilized is when a municipality hires us to cover their local patrol
• it's agreed upon by the delegation what the money is going to be spent on and what it's going to be utilized
• c><00:56:23.000> be spent on and what it's going to be spent on and what it's going to be utilized
• then<00:56:24.680> anything<00:56:25.000> beyond<00:56:25.359> that utilized
• for then anything beyond that utilized for then anything beyond that goes<00:56:25.680> into<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First on our testifiers list we have Leoon from the Public Utilities Commission. thank<00:18:00.880><
• I'm Ashley Norman, on behalf of Leo Ascension from the Public Utilities Commission.
• Hawaii State Energy Office an important member of this particular task force because there are several utility-scale
• Hawaii State Energy Office an important member of this particular task force because there are several utility-scale
• Hawaii State Energy Office an important member of this particular task force because there are several utility-scale

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several energy- and environment-related measures. HB 242 HD1 on electric vehicle batteries drew support from the Department of Health, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, SERFCO, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation; the Energy Office suggested a broader working group covering all lithium-ion batteries, and members later adopted amendments including a date change and revised timing language. HB 751 HD2 on statewide organic waste reduction and diversion received mixed testimony, with the Department of Health opposing it over concerns about compostable food packaging and incomplete testing data; the committee nonetheless moved the bill forward with amendments removing compostable food packaging from the definition of organic waste and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committees also considered HB 1020 HD1 on a statewide program to characterize carbon sequestration potential and underground water resources. The Hawaiʻi State Energy Office and Ulupono supported the measure as part of a broader geothermal and energy security effort, while members raised concerns about overlapping roles between agencies and the need for a single coordinated voice. The committee ultimately amended the bill to place DBEDT in charge, with technical changes, and passed it. In a separate portion of the hearing, HB 350 HD2 on energy was heard with support from the State Energy Office, industry, and advocacy groups; opponents argued the existing solar water heater law is working and that variances already allow flexibility. The committee passed HB 350 unamended. Later, the committee heard HB 977 HD1 on energy financing, HB 1017 HD1 on the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, and HB 1406 HD1 on government procedures. HB 977 received support from the Public Utilities Commission, DCCA, and others and was advanced with technical, non-substantive amendments. HB 1017, which would repeal the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, and HB 1051, which sets energy efficiency benchmarks, were both passed unamended. HB 1406, a task force bill aimed at improving permitting and regulatory processes, was amended to add a Senate representative, include the State Energy Office, make the bill effective on approval, and note prior funding requests in the committee report; it was then adopted. Votes were recorded on each measure, with some members excused and HB 751 drawing one no vote from Senator Rhoads.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to choose my utility bill because they only need one document.
• I'm going to choose my utility bill because they only need one document if I have a utility bill.
• to say, I'll get off my soapbox, but thank you again for your help, and we are so excited to be utilizing
• check in and make sure their kids are still intending to go to a private school or be homeschooled or utilize

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to continue reviewing how Family Empowerment Scholarship students are funded through the FEFP and the role of scholarship funding organizations. Staff gave a statutory overview of parent, SFO, and Department of Education responsibilities, including application deadlines, eligibility verification, quarterly payment timing, cross-checks to prevent duplicate funding, and the 99% district FEFP limitation for certain awards. The committee then heard demonstrations from Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation showing their parent portals, application workflows, reimbursement systems, school enrollment/invoice processes, and marketplace tools for tuition, tutoring, and approved goods and services. Step Up reported major growth since HB 1, saying its scholarship population expanded from about 260,000 to more than 440,000 students, with application processing averaging about 10 days. It also highlighted faster tuition, provider, and reimbursement payments, multilingual support in English and Spanish, and resources such as videos and a call center. Members asked about support for Creole speakers, optional Florida ID numbers, student identifiers, marketplace pricing, tutor qualifications, background screening, and how awards differ from funded status. Step Up said it does not currently support Creole, does not do background screenings for tutors, sets no marketplace prices itself, and uses a unique internal student ID separate from the state ID. AAA demonstrated its revised software for the 2025-26 school year, including an eligibility screener, household and student application steps, messaging with staff, reimbursement requests, and administrative review and payment batching. AAA said the new system is custom-built, more transparent about award value versus available balance, and designed to better handle quarterly funding for UA students. Members questioned AAA and Step Up about student ID numbers, public-school cross-checks, fraud controls, school fee schedules, whether schools must participate, and reimbursement timing. Both organizations said they report quarterly to DOE, receive public-school cross-checks, and recover funds when students return to public school; AAA said its average reimbursement turnaround is about 14 business days, while Step Up said its reimbursement approvals have improved significantly. The committee also requested follow-up information, including one-pagers, data on income levels and demographics, and additional details on forecasting and system costs.