Transcript Highlights:

• These bills, in tandem with House Bill 1267's innovative case management and forecasting tools...
• House Bill 1267's innovative case management and forecasting tools, as well as other budgetary investments
• More globally, we utilize the data out of these reviews to make statewide training adjustments.
• More globally, we utilize the data out of these reviews to make statewide training adjustment.
• Policy adjustments have also been made to strengthen the integrity of the program.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• already uh exceeded our annual forecast. already uh exceeded our annual forecast.
• We had not made any adjustment to our sales and use tax forecast, and none was warranted at this time
• We had not made any adjustment to our sales and use tax forecast, and none was warranted at this time
• We had not made any adjustment to our sales and use tax forecast, and none was warranted at this time
• adjusted now because of the adjustments adjusted now because of the adjustments to<01:39:28.400>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wait to give the probability of that new load coming here to its longer range forecasts.
• Vegas was giving us the load forecast, I asked if he believed that we could meet the projected load forecast
• This should help ERCOT's load forecast.
• Then Sections 2 and 4 deal with load standards. forecast, load shed, and reliability.
• load growth and, in fact, would distort the forecast to the detriment of grid operations.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not forecasting that the fund will get there, but we're forecasting out through the end of 2027
• :44:16.000> will<00:44:16.319> get forecasting that the fund will get forecasting that
• which<00:54:02.000> right seasonally adjusted rate, which right seasonally adjusted rate,
• adjusted. We do those monthly. adjusted. We do those monthly.
• <01:45:34.719> There are not seasonally adjusted. There are not seasonally adjusted.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That facility was a long process working with the adjusters which are consortium handled.
• It's actually about 2 years out are forecasting starts 18 to 24 months at a time.
• It's very interesting that right now is the deadline to do forecast for next year.
• And they don't even have the software for us to do that because the forecast model doesn't take into
• Build a budget last year based on a forecast of 3200 students in my district.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilize the load forecast etc.
• First, the solution for poor load forecasting.
• Number one, we're shooting for transparency and credibility to the load forecast.
• . adjust it based upon technology that's occurred that allows for.
• The forecasting that we do now, and we're trying to tighten up things so we can do better forecasting

Bills: SB 6, SB6, SB504, SB765, SB815, SB929

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Transcript Highlights:

• adjustment by $40,000. adjustment by $40,000.
• You know, you mentioned that there was some kind of monthly adjustment.
• Prior to that, you were seeing forecast.
• , so they do not count speculative load as part of the demand forecast.
• <01:23:46.080> um forecasts that we are very aware of. um forecasts that we are very aware

Bills: HF3296, HF3802

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Residential and small commercial consumers will benefit from more accurate load growth forecasting and
• To that end, a mechanisms to determine whether forecasted load growth is real and sustainable may be
• The load went up and down with, with, with, uh, with the forecast.
• We have House Bill 5066, which is driving that forecast.
• And so, um, a market adjustment that would encourage more dispatchable generation, I think, would be

Transcript Highlights:

• YEARS FROM THE FORECAST WE HAD BEFORE.
• IT IS A GOOD SIGN FOR OUR FORECAST.
• WE WERE CHASING THE FORECAST UP.
• WHAT WE LOOK AT IS THE LAST FORECAST.
• AND WHAT YOU'RE FORECAST IS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, when the revenue forecast was done, there was no real adjustment for loss of revenue in the forecast
• of there was no real adjustment for loss of there was no real adjustment for loss of revenue<
• doing less, we would adjust the fees. doing less, we would adjust the fees.
• no ability to adjust no ability to adjust for<00:56:01.320> that<00:56:01.760> change<
• to adjust for that change. to adjust for that change.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A couple of little tinkering adjustments to that in the calculation.
• And then we're making adjustments for the assessment differentials.
• And then we're making adjustments for the assessment differentials.
• They may file a value adjustment board petition to be heard at the value adjustment board about their
• So, conference every time we do a new property tax forecast.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Bills: HB517, HB98, HB235, HB236, HB237, HB238, HB239, HB240, HB241, HB242, HB565, HB517, HB98, HB235, HB236, HB237, HB238, HB239, HB240, HB241, HB242, HB565, SB380

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response

Transcript Highlights:

• Do the cost-share percentages need to be adjusted?
• Earlier in the biennium, we were below forecast.
• above forecast to date this biennium.
• That's what we're showing here is what the legislative forecast was.
• But since the OMB forecast has been updated as of April, I just wanted to show you here what OMB's forecast

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a forecasted appropriation.
• But, Miss Hoffer, we're taking a cut to the forecast.
• But, Miss Hoffer, we're taking a cut to the forecast.
• And in the next forecast, I presume ed.
• I know they forecasted this number, that this is going to be where it's at.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill adjusts fiscal years 26-27 appropriation for the Department of Human Services, Department of
• So, similarly to the previous bill that we just heard, this is the forecast bill for education.
• This is forecast article for education.
• This will get us through some of the adjustments that's needed.
• get us through some of the adjustments get us through some of the adjustments that's<00:09:44.480

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been flat the last three years, and it's forecast to be flat for the next three years.
• It's been flat the last three years, and it's forecast to be flat for the next three years.
• There's an adjusted score ultimately to determine that.
• And we had to be very flexible and adjust how we did business.
• So we had to begin forecasting and doing all that research.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details. The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress. Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just did our forecast. People think, "Oh yeah, you guys do forecast."
• forecast. We just did our forecast. forecast. We just did our forecast.
• And that makes you like forecast."
• Basically, we finished a forecast, so we released a forecast in May.
• so we released a forecast in May. so we released a forecast in May.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, you know, next week, or later this week, we will have the updated forecast, so um part of the reason
• so um part of the updated forecast so um part of the reason<00:05:14.280> why<00:05:14.400>
• And between 2019 and 2024, Minnesota's state government spending per person, adjusted for inflation,
• In November 2024, Minnesota Management and Budget forecast a state government budget deficit of $3.5
• Minnesota management and budget forecast Minnesota management and budget forecast a<00:14:26.839

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• executive budget was introduced, the Revenue Estimating Conference met and increased the official forecast
• bill will fund state government for the remainder of the year and balance the budget to the May REC forecast
• These amendments to HB 312 also include adjustments to the fund, projected expenditures in certain agencies
• We'll likely make some additional adjustments there.
• The amendment removes adjustments to the staff pay plan and salary increases for justices of the Supreme

Summary: Senate Finance met on May 21, 2026, with nine members present. The committee first recognized Mother Pearl Porter during a personal privilege presentation by Senator Boudreaux. It then took up the major budget measures for fiscal year 2026-27, beginning with HB 1, the general appropriation bill. The committee heard that the state budget was about $46.6 billion and that recent Revenue Estimating Conference revisions required reductions in recurring spending. Amendments removed new funding for GATOR and increased MFP amounts, while also directing Revenue Stabilization Fund dollars toward infrastructure, economic development, and local government needs. The committee adopted amendment set 4238 and reported HB 1 as amended, with authority for technical changes. The committee next considered HB 312, the supplemental appropriations bill for the current fiscal year. Members were told the amendments balanced the budget to the May REC forecast through a net reduction in state general fund spending, including savings in Medicaid and other agencies, while covering updated costs such as medical vendor administration, DCFS operations, DOC offender medical expenses, and disaster-related costs. Amendment set 4239 was adopted, and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended. HB 2, the capital outlay/infrastructure bill, was then amended with set 4230 and reported as amended. HB 3, the omnibus bond act authorizing bond usage for HB 2, had no amendments and was reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 313, the funds bill, which includes the constitutionally required deposit of $144.3 million of FY 2025 surplus into the Budget Stabilization Fund and various transfers and fund adjustments. Amendments expanded or created several funds and mechanisms, including infrastructure and economic development-related funds, and HB 313 was reported favorably as amended. HB 314, the revenue sharing bill distributing the constitutionally mandated $90 million to local governments, was reported favorably without amendment. HB 383, the ancillary appropriations bill for fee-supported agencies, received amendment 3138 and was reported favorably as amended. HB 983, funding the judiciary, was amended to remove judicial pay adjustments and instead fund a possible transfer of the integrated criminal justice information system to the Supreme Court if SB 141 becomes law; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1126, the legislative branch appropriations bill, was amended and reported favorably as amended. Finally, HCR 3, the hospital stabilization resolution used to support Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was amended to give LDH more flexibility on the timing of directed payments and preprint submissions, then reported as amended. The committee adjourned after a motion to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• executive budget was introduced, the Revenue Estimating Conference met and increased the official forecast
• These amendments to HB 312 also include adjustments to projected expenditures in certain agencies through
• We'll likely make some additional adjustments there.
• It makes adjustments to the self-insured fund allocation caps and the fiscal responsibility measures.
• The amendment removes adjustments to the staff pay plan and salary increases for justices of the Supreme

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year