Transcript Highlights:

• The letter says the division will utilize savings in this incentive program to make more funding available
• to educators through the Merit Teacher Incentive Program.
• to educators through the Merit Teacher Incentive Program.
• lawn the letter says the division will utilize savings in this incentive program to make for funding
• available to educators through the merit teacher incentive program.

Summary: The committee reviewed a large slate of appropriation, transfer, and continuation requests across multiple sections. In Section B, members considered temporary FY27 appropriations for agencies including Health, DHS, Education, Treasury, Public Safety, State Police, Emergency Management, Aeronautics, Military, Economic Development, Game and Fish, and others, covering items such as maternal health outreach, LIHEAP overpayment returns, Wynne High School tornado rebuilding, senior food services, cybersecurity, crime victim claims, airport grants, conservation incentives, and emergency tower maintenance. Questions focused on the DHS senior services carry-forward and Treasury custodial banking fees tied to lower balances after COVID funds were spent down. All Section B items were approved. The committee then approved continuation requests, ARPA reallocations, and federal grant-related items in Sections B2, C1A, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1A, G1, H1A, I1A, J1/J2, K1/K2/K3, L1/L2, M1/M2, N1/N2, O1A, and P1A. These included university nursing and workforce programs, environmental and recycling grants, highway safety and emergency management grants, a transfer to the Merit Teacher Incentive Program, restricted reserve transfers for military, agriculture, UAPB, Game and Fish, and AETN, and various cash-fund and budget classification transfers. Several members asked for more detail on the State Police highway safety grant, VOCA victim compensation funding, the NSGP nonprofit security grant, and the Office of State Technology’s E-Rate-related transfer; agency officials explained the uses and noted that some funding levels depend on federal awards and collections. A notable discussion occurred on the Department of Commerce reallocation, which shifts 68 positions and $3 million among divisions to support an organizational realignment and avoid shortfalls. The committee also reviewed a state central services deduction request to keep the rate at 2%, a DHS overtime request for child protection caseloads, and a year-end adjustments request authorizing up to $1 million in temporary actions to close FY26 books without disrupting payroll or vendor payments. Most items were approved or, in some sections, simply reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1602 and 1604 after this bill, which will follow in an attempt to provide landlords with an incentive
• Senate Bill 1602 creates the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program within the
• Bill 1602 and 1604 after this bill, which will follow in an attempt to provide landlords with an incentive
• Senate Bill 1602 creates the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program within the
• may appropriate funds for the purpose of implementing the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive

Bills: S1512, S1602, S1604, S1656

Keywords: Space Florida, tax exemption, governmental purpose, aviation, defense industry, space exploration, semiconductor technology, veterans, housing, property management, incentives, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, vacancy relief, risk mitigation, housing finance, trust fund, Homes for Veterans, S1656, SB 1656, official state flagship

Summary: The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum and considered several memorials and bills. It first passed Senate Memorial 1714, urging Congress to support the “No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Acts” measure to prevent U.S. funds from benefiting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The committee then favorably reported SB 1512, which expands tax exemptions and procurement flexibility for Space Florida, and SB 1656, which designates the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship in place of the Western Union. The committee also favorably reported SM 1186, which urges Congress to increase the Florida National Guard’s force structure, with supporters citing Florida’s large population and disaster response needs. Senator Sharif voiced support for the effort. Next, the committee took up SB 1602, creating a Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in selected counties to help landlords house veterans through vacancy relief and risk mitigation funds; two amendments were adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as committee substitute. SB 1604, which creates the associated trust funds within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, also received one technical amendment and was reported favorably as committee substitute. Throughout the meeting, several measures drew supportive testimony or comments, including representatives from Space Florida and the Florida Chamber on SB 1512 and a supporter on SB 1602. Multiple members offered to co-sponsor or support veterans-related measures. No bills were opposed in debate, all amendments were adopted without objection, and each item was reported favorably before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That tax credit creates a strong incentive to make SAF in Minnesota out of Minnesota feedstocks.
• <00:37:19.599> to credit creates a strong incentive to credit creates a strong incentive to
• Farmers and fuel producers need effective, durable, and long-term incentives.
• Farmers and fuel producers need effective, durable, and long-term incentives.
• Farmers and fuel producers need effective, durable, and long-term incentives.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would provide a clear and more transparent total cost of providing the incentive. Thank you.
• We've done that with our photovoltaic tax incentive, and that would just give people more of an incentive
• We've done that with our photovoltaic tax incentive, and that would just give people more of an incentive
• > help<00:09:43.360> be people more of an incentive to help be people more of an incentive
• In the State of Florida, they have tax incentives for this type of technology.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing began on SP 547, which would create incentives for graywater recycling systems and atmospheric water generators through an income tax credit, a Department of Health rebate program, and building code standards. The Department of Health and Department of Taxation offered written comments; Taxation said it had seven proposed amendments to improve administration. Testimony was largely supportive, with advocates and local users describing water-supply benefits, emergency use during the Maui fires, and potential help for drought conditions and Red Hill concerns. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii suggested only the rebate program should move forward for clearer cost transparency, and the Department of Health said it needed more time to study the bill. Members questioned the fiscal impact and whether combining a tax credit and rebate was typical, but staff did not have cost estimates. Decision-making on SP 547 was deferred to February 12, 2025. The committee then took up SP 242 on foreign ownership of agricultural lands. The chair recommended passage with amendments, including deleting a reference to the Attorney General in one section and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. Supporters argued the bill was a first step to limit foreign ownership of farmland, citing other states with similar restrictions, while several members said they supported the intent but had reservations about possible unintended harm to farmers and agriculture investment. After discussion, the measure passed with amendments on a 5-0 vote, with some members voting with reservations. The committee also discussed SP 1633, which would create a green building tax credit for structures using at least 30% Hawaii-grown hemp material. The chair said the bill was close but needed more work, and decision-making was deferred to February 12, 2025. Later, the committee heard several environmental measures: SB 683, which would ban intentionally added PFAS in certain products starting in 2028; SB 1109, which would replace the “finding of no significant impact” with a “finding of completion of environmental disclosure process”; SB 391, which would expand recycling requirements to certain lithium-ion batteries; and SB 12, which would classify neonic pesticides as restricted-use pesticides and limit certain seed treatments. Testimony on these bills included support from environmental and advocacy groups, comments from state agencies, and requests for amendments or further study, but no final votes were taken on those measures in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is through incentives and the other is through policy work.
• Seeing none, let's go ahead and go on to incentives. Mr.
• Seeing none, let's go ahead and go on to incentives. All righty. Uh, Mr.
• Seeing none, let's go ahead and go on to incentives. All righty. Uh, Mr.
• go on to incentives. go on to incentives. >> All<00:15:41.040> righty.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to item. which starts on page 14 for an update on the future incentive allotments.
• The first one allows us to, as more districts come on to the teacher incentive allotment.
• The increased load of districts on the teacher incentive allotment right 11 is There's an itemization
• Because inherently, in order to qualify for a teacher incentive allotment within a district, you just
• The second item offers additional detail on performance incentive compensation at the corporation.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That shows that the performance of our students has increased because we have aligned our incentives,
• The incentives have been aligned.
• I think there are very strong and thoughtful incentives within the performance-based funding component
• We want to align incentives with instruction, research, and public service, but then we also want to
• I think there are very strong and thoughtful incentives. though, is the flexibility of the model.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on higher education funding, focusing on how Florida’s university system should be financed and whether a new funding model is needed. University system financial officers and Chancellor Ray Rodriguez discussed major cost drivers, including wages and benefits, utilities, maintenance, financial aid, research, and the effects of geography, institutional mission, and student mix. UF highlighted the cost of research and graduate programs; UCF and FAU pointed to growth, location, and cost of living; FAMU emphasized recruiting top-tier talent while relying on other revenue sources; and UNF noted the challenges of growth and long-term planning. Members also discussed the role of internal controls and audits in addressing excessive spending and questioned whether out-of-state tuition should be adjusted to help offset costs. On revenue sources beyond state appropriations and tuition, the panel described auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. Several universities noted that some revenues are restricted to specific purposes and cannot be used for general operations. FAMU explained that a large share of its capital project funding reflected active campus construction, while UF said its component-unit revenue is largely tied to UF Health. The Chancellor emphasized that the system’s low tuition and strong state support are central to Florida’s national standing, but also noted that some auxiliary revenues are pledged to debt and must be managed carefully. When discussing the current funding process, witnesses praised Florida’s performance-based funding model for aligning incentives with student success, transparency, and accountability. They also raised concerns about non-recurring appropriations, rising employee benefit costs, unfunded mandates, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of multi-year planning. Suggestions for improvement included more recurring funding, better coverage of mandated costs, greater flexibility in fee-setting, and possible weighting for mission, geography, and institutional type. The Chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a “version 3.0” of performance-based funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications, but any changes would require legislative action. On out-of-state tuition, most universities said they would prefer local board flexibility, while the Chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or fees could affect future state support and should be balanced carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you're talking about building housing at this scale, these incentives do in fact matter.
• And so that question of opting out of some of these incentives, I do see that as a pressure point for
• We want those incentives to spur private development, but that means we collect less.
• , the tax abatement incentive, but it is also a source of revenue for their large projects.
• Let's change that and provide an incentive to do that.

Summary: The committee met to hear a panel on workforce and attainable housing, with presentations from Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, Wendover Housing Partners, the City of Tallahassee, and Escambia County. Speakers described how state and local tools such as SHIP, the Live Local Act, land trusts, accessory dwelling units, infill development, and public-private partnerships are being used to expand housing supply and preserve long-term affordability. Several panelists emphasized that housing demand is rising across income levels, that workforce households often need subsidy to buy or rent, and that housing location, transportation access, and proximity to jobs and services are critical. They also highlighted challenges including rising construction costs, limited land, insurance, NIMBY opposition, and the need for more flexible financing tools and employer participation. Members asked about area median income thresholds, whether current programs are reaching the households most in need, and what additional tools might help. Florida Housing said its traditional rental programs generally serve households at or below 60% AMI, while need is increasingly reaching up to 80% AMI statewide and higher in some regions; staff also provided examples of AMI levels by county. Other discussion focused on the impact of local government opt-outs, tax abatements, corporate ownership of single-family homes, insurance costs, Fortified construction standards, and whether bonuses or other income calculations can unintentionally disqualify applicants. Panelists urged more political will, more local flexibility, and additional incentives for employers and landowners to support housing near jobs. The committee also used an anonymous interactive polling exercise, and members identified partnerships, SHIP funding, local government action, cost, and insurance as key issues. In closing, the chair said the committee would continue a member-driven process and likely hold a workshop on housing-related topics. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the meeting, and the session adjourned after the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• ranking Member Nixon Representative Al Work here, Representative Alvarez here representing their incentive
• There are incentives that are available. 2 businesses.
• There's a person with a discipline that some incentives that are there.
• But as far as incentive, there is a tax incentive project. 10 does have a job development training that
• And so she would take those tax incentives and share that information with employers.

Transcript Highlights:

• They sell drugs to wholesalers who have poor incentives to compete by lowering prices, and they sell
• drugs to pharmacies who have poor incentives to lower their prices.
• They do an excellent job of trying to curb some of those perverse incentives and move PBMs to what they
• In so doing, drug companies faced diminishing incentives to compete by lowering prices.
• The problem that we have is that pharmacies, wholesalers, and drug companies have poor incentives to

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 13, 2026, adopted the May 6 minutes, and then took up several bills dealing with pharmacy benefit managers, prescription access, behavioral health coverage, and Citizens Property Insurance. HB 938, as amended, was the main PBM reform measure. After the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill, members heard extensive testimony in support from Mark Bloom, Justin Joseph of Capital Rx, and Kathy Ue of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, all emphasizing transparency, pass-through pricing, reverse auctions, and patient access. Supporters described savings from reverse auctions and administrative models, while the cancer center testified that PBM-owned specialty pharmacy requirements can delay cancer medications and create financial hardship. The committee reported HB 938 favorably with amendments. The committee also heard HB 1154, which prohibits prior authorization for certain generic medications prescribed by qualified physicians, with a $250 cap discussed as a safeguard against higher-cost generics. The bill was supported by representatives from Ochsner Health and the Louisiana State Medical Society and was reported favorably. HB 909, which requires commercial coverage for behavioral health crisis services, was amended to clarify the insurers covered and then reported favorably with support from the Office of Behavioral Health and several outside groups. Testimony on HB 909 focused on reducing emergency room and law enforcement burdens and expanding crisis response capacity across the state. HB 1187, dealing with excess emergency assessment funds from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, was explained by the Insurance Commissioner as a way to transfer remaining Katrina-era assessment funds to the Fortified Roof Program. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, SB 511 and SB 512 were deferred and converted into a study resolution approach because there was not yet consensus on the underlying issue. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• DID THE NEW THING WAS SOME OF THE TAX INCENTIVES THAT CAME THROUGH THE LIVE LOCAL ACT WHICH WERE EXCITING
• THE FIRST ONE IS THE CONNECTICUT INCENTIVE HOUSING ZONE PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE
• INCENTIVE HOUSING ZONES IN ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS INCLUDING NEAR TRANSIT FACILITIES.
• SHIP LAW REQUIRES SHIP ENTITIES AMEND THEIR LOCAL PLANS TO INCORPORATE INCENTIVE STRATEGIES.
• THESE INCENTIVE STRATEGIES ARE A LOCAL REGULATORY REFORM OR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE OR FACILITATE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this but just for the benefit of the committee I think there could be a broad agreement on tax incentives
• That's quite an incentive, but in addition to that a tax break, maybe eliminating sales... implementation
• 00:04:52.680> on a broad agreement on a broad agreement on uh uh uh tax<00:04:55.160> incentives
• for those that use tax incentives for those that use materials<00:04:58.560> that<00:04:58.800
• but in addition to quite an incentive but in addition to that<00:05:19.360> a<00:05:20.040>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 4223 was presented as an appropriation to implement and jump-start the Strengthening Our Homes program enacted in 2023. Rep. Elkins said the goal is to help homeowners strengthen roofs using standards promoted by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, citing other states such as Alabama as examples where hardened homes performed better in major storms. He emphasized rising homeowners insurance costs, especially for affordable apartments, older condo buildings, and seniors on fixed or limited incomes, and said the grants would help people who may not have the upfront cash to make improvements. Committee members generally supported the concept, describing it as a way to reduce storm damage and lower insurance premiums. One member highlighted that the income threshold for grant eligibility could reach a large share of Minnesota homeowners and potentially harden nearly a million homes, while another noted the program’s focus on lower-income households. A Commerce Committee discussion was referenced in which an alternative approach was raised: tax incentives, including possible sales tax relief, for materials and labor used to harden homes against hail and other weather risks. Rep. Elkins responded that labor is an important part of the cost and that many potential beneficiaries are seniors with little taxable income, making a grant program more practical than a tax-based incentive. Another member agreed the upfront cost is a major barrier and said the grant design appears thoughtful. No vote was taken; the bill was laid over for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will remain an important incentive to incentivize investment in microgrids.
• I think in terms of aligning the incentives, you know, he mentioned performance metrics.
• And then from there, if you want to create incentives, the energy efficiency framework has an incentive
• And do you create some incentive on top of that?
• I at least am made whole and do you create some incentive on top of that?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, again, the incentives are there for health care organizations to want to try things with AI,
• I think, again, the incentives are there for health care organizations. market to do or not do.
• I think, again, the incentives are there for health care organizations to want to try things with AI,
• They need financial incentives to do this governance.
• So the incentive structure is not quite where it needs to be for robust governance.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Health and Privacy Committees focused on generative AI in health care, with opening remarks emphasizing both its potential to improve care and its risks around privacy, bias, liability, workforce impacts, and unequal access. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Chair Bonta framed the discussion around how California can encourage beneficial innovation while protecting patients, especially given the sensitivity of health data and the possibility that AI could worsen existing disparities if not carefully governed. The first panel featured representatives from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Penguin AI, and Google, who described current uses of AI such as ambient clinical scribes, nursing documentation tools, imaging triage, maternal-fetal risk prediction, and administrative automation. Speakers said these tools can reduce clinician burden, improve patient experience, speed treatment, and in some cases improve outcomes, including a reported mortality benefit from a Kaiser predictive model and faster thrombectomy times at Cedars-Sinai. Members raised concerns about accuracy with accents and multilingual visits, whether predictive tools could reinforce bias or lead to more interventions such as C-sections, and how to ensure a human remains in the loop for important decisions. The second panel, including representatives from the California Health Care Foundation, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, focused on policy and governance challenges. Testimony highlighted examples of AI supporting homelessness outreach and community health work, but also warned that biased algorithms can encode inequities, especially when trained on data that reflect under-treatment of Black, rural, or low-income patients. Witnesses urged clearer standards for trustworthy AI, stronger monitoring and governance structures, better data access for accountability, and attention to the safety net’s limited resources. Several speakers argued that states should require health systems to have AI governance processes, clarify liability between developers and deployers, and regulate downstream uses of AI while preserving access to data for lifesaving research and oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly applaud the expansion of the teacher incentive allotment.
• We strongly applaud the expansion of the teacher incentive allotment and the additional incentives included
• We strongly applaud the expansion of the teacher incentive allotment and the teacher incentive allotment
• and the We strongly applaud the expansion of the teacher incentive allotment and the additional incentives
• Programs like the teacher incentive allotment are helping to change that.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a result, that... person has no incentive to save, and they really don't get the benefits that
• It allows... the patient to have an incentive to save money, it provides the insurance companies an incentive
• You definitely are creating incentives, but we're concerned that you may be creating bad incentives.
• , a cash incentive, to go get something that they may not have gotten before.
• It is essentially blocked by state law for us to tier your benefits. and give you those incentives by

Bills: SB437, SB528, SB626, SB636, SB884, SB968, SB1044, SB1608, SB2336

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority

Transcript Highlights:

• New incentives are permitted.
• substitute clarifies that a health maintenance organization or health plan may provide cost-sharing incentives
• So there are different ways to share the incentives.
• shared savings cap: the substitute clarifies that enrollee eligibility to receive shared savings incentives
• Senator Hancock to explain the changes: This substitute simply clarifies that incentives may not be offered

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New incentives permitted.
• substitute clarifies that a health maintenance organization Or health plan may provide cost sharing incentives
• So there are different ways that you can share the incentives. Shared savings cap.
• The substitute clarifies that an enrollment eligibility to receive shared savings incentives Is limited
• Members, this substitute simply clarifies that incentives may not be offered by the enrolling visit to

Transcript Highlights:

• It's IMS's own incentives warrant scrutiny, not a free pass.
• It's IMS's own incentives warrant scrutiny, not a free pass.
• It's IMS's own incentives warrant scrutiny, not a free pass.
• It's IMS's own incentives warrant scrutiny, not a free pass.
• Uh incentive to to to deny any payment.

Bills: HCR92, HCR46, HCR172, HCR147, HCR112, HCR100, HR84, HR42, HR139, HR104, HR92

Keywords: automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to provide some sort of incentive for folks who don't need their parking every day by providing
• them a financial incentive to opt out of that employee parking.
• sort<00:04:38.360> of we want to provide some sort of we want to provide some sort of incentive
• for folks who don't need their incentive for folks who don't need their parking<00:04:40.680> every
• to opt out of that financial incentive to opt out of that employee<00:04:45.280> parking<00:04

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Government Operations and Transportation, Culture and the Arts committees considered three bills. SB 1092 would establish a transportation demand management program for state employees, including a parking cash-out option. Testimony was largely in support, including from state planning, energy, labor, and several individuals, while committee members raised concerns about whether the program was mandatory and whether there was a full implementation plan. The bill’s proponents said it was voluntary and intended to reduce long parking waitlists by incentivizing employees to opt out of parking. The committees ultimately recommended SB 1092 be passed with amendments, and the measure was adopted in both committees. SB 1093 would create a parking demand management program and require DAGS to transition state employees from monthly parking to daily-rate parking. Testimony included strong opposition from most individuals and several agencies, with one supporter. A committee question focused on the loss of pre-tax payroll deductions under a daily-rate system, and the Deputy Attorney General explained that the current monthly arrangement allows deductions from gross pay, which would not work the same way with daily payments. Given the opposition and concerns, the committees recommended deferral indefinitely. SB 1121 would establish a procurement preference, beginning in 2027, for construction companies with electric vehicles. Testimony included comments from DAGS, the Department of Transportation, and others, with opposition noted from DOT. Committee members questioned charging infrastructure and battery disposal for electric vehicles used in construction. After discussion, the committees concluded it was in the best interest to defer the measure.