Transcript Highlights:

• that's what everybody's here for, the exciting part: presentation of the Governor's environmental fiscal
• Governor's environmental fiscal year 2026-2027 budget recommendations.
• The number of cases filed at PERC in the 2022-23 fiscal year was 329.
• Currently, the state has 29 fiscally constrained counties. And 2024.
• Currently, the state has 29 fiscally constrained counties.

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum, welcomed new member Senator Ralph Massullo, and first took up confirmation of five appointees to water management district and basin board positions. Senator McLean moved favorable confirmation of Ted Everett, Jerome Pate, Michael Romano, Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns, and the motion passed by roll call. The main agenda item was the Governor’s Florida First budget presentation for the environmental agencies. Kim Kramer and DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert outlined proposed environmental funding of about $5.8 billion, including more than $1.4 billion for water resources, $810 million for Everglades restoration, $408 million for water quality, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $75 million for beach renourishment, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state park infrastructure, and $221 million for hazardous waste cleanup. They also highlighted proposed funding for FWC operations, manatee care, python removal, oyster reef restoration, forestry and wildfire equipment, and citrus research and disease response. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and how beach renourishment is handled after storms. The committee then heard the general government budget presentation. Agencies highlighted included DBPR, Gaming Control, the Lottery, DMS, PERC, DFS, OIR, and Revenue. DBPR discussed funding for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, vehicle replacement, and IT recruitment; Gaming Control requested new law enforcement squads and a licensing/enforcement IT system; the Lottery emphasized marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding; DMS proposed building, fleet, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and local government grant investments; PERC described workload growth after SB 256 and requested staffing, operations, and pay increases; OIR sought more staff for consumer protection and market oversight plus building renovations; DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home funding, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation; and Revenue requested operational, IT, and fiscally constrained county funding. Members questioned DBPR about unfunded HOA fraud and condo transparency items, DMS about cybersecurity grants, and DFS about My Safe Florida Home funding levels, abandoned grants, and reduced program uptake. No further action was taken, and the committee adjourned without additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our fiscal note still expenditure.
• Not fiscal note dated today, May 1st.
• while I believe at this point our fiscal while I believe at this point our fiscal analyst<00:19:
• The analysis that was 1st fiscal note.
• Our first fiscal note was 140 million, I believe.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• million in fiscal year 2028 and 2029.
• year 26 and an addition of $4,000 in fiscal year 26 and $7,000 in fiscal year 27.
• In fiscal year 26, and $336,000 in fiscal year 27.
• And on line 69, we add to that $18,000 in fiscal year 26 and $35,000 in fiscal year 27 for an operating
• That carries tails beginning in fiscal year 2020. And ongoing funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, Madam Chair, just to oversimplify: for fiscal years 2026, $565,000; fiscal year 2027, $3.365 million
• > for<00:25:09.279> the $565,000 for fiscal year 27 for the $565,000 for fiscal year 27
• appropriates $2.8 $8 million for fiscal appropriates $2.8 $8 million for fiscal year<00:25:20.360
• <00:25:41.440> years<00:25:41.840> 26 for fiscal years 26 for fiscal years 26 565k<
• /c><00:25:46.720> in<00:25:46.880> the 565k fiscal year 27 3.365 in the 565k fiscal year

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state fiscal year. state fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 56304 million in resources for fiscal 56304 million in resources for fiscal year year year 26<00
• If we focus on fiscal year 26, ...
• If we focus on fiscal year 26, the story is a little different because in fiscal year 26 State Grant
• two fiscal years.
• two fiscal years.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to talk about the fiscal impact, but...
• I do want to talk about the fiscal impact, but if you don't mind, Mr.
• it's common with fiscal notes that there often is a bit of a range.
• It just says provide a fiscal impact.
• part of the fiscal note.

Summary: The Legislative Management Committee met to fill a vacancy created by Representative Jared Hagert’s resignation, and the House majority recommended Representative Berg to replace him on the committee. The motion to appoint Berg was approved unanimously. The committee then took up its assigned task of estimating the fiscal impact of Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 3, the school meals measure, which would require public schools, and optionally nonpublic and tribal schools, to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to students and reimburse schools through state funds after federal reimbursements are maximized. Legislative Council’s Liz Fordall summarized the measure’s requirements and answered questions about implementation, including the 2027-28 start date, the measure’s interaction with the Legacy Earnings Fund, and the fact that the Legislature would still control the funding source. DPI’s Linnell Johnson then testified at length on current school meal programs, direct certification, CEP and Provision 2 participation, and likely behavioral changes if the measure passed. She estimated the biennial fiscal impact at $124 million to $134 million, with an additional roughly $300,000 in administrative costs, and explained that the estimate assumed higher participation and some schools shifting to CEP/Provision 2 to preserve federal reimbursements. She also noted that if no new applications were filed in non-CEP schools, the cost could be substantially higher. After discussion, Senator Sorvaag moved to report a fiscal impact range of $124,300,000 to $134,300,000 per biennium to the Secretary of State, and the motion carried. The committee also received an informational update from Legislative Council attorney Dustin Richard on the ongoing redistricting litigation, explaining that the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Eighth Circuit’s prior ruling and remanded the case for further consideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais, leaving the court-imposed map in effect for now. No action was required on that item, and the meeting adjourned after a brief note that the prior minutes would be brought back at a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eason fiscal year 2030. 31 so outright decline.
• They're growing from 488,000, almost 489,000 in fiscal year, 26, 27 to 616,000 in fiscal year, 2030.
• districts receiving less fefp funds than in prior fiscal years.
• year 18, 19 and fiscal year. 25 26 as a point of clarification.
• And when we look at the column for fiscal year, 25 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• Endo has also brought me many other comorbidities that have triggered my anxiety, and also my heart.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures and time limits, then heard testimony on House 2499, a bill to create a public awareness campaign on menopause and related midlife health issues. Supporters, including a nurse, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and other advocates, said menopause is widely misunderstood by patients and providers, leading to delayed care, unnecessary suffering, workplace impacts, and inequities in women’s health. Several speakers shared personal experiences with symptoms being dismissed or misdiagnosed and urged the committee to advance the bill. The committee then took testimony on a package of endometriosis bills, including House 2527 and Senate 1564, calling for a task force and broader awareness efforts. Patients, a physician, and advocates described long diagnostic delays, severe pain, infertility, medical gaslighting, and limited access to specialists and effective treatment. They argued for more research, provider education, and a coordinated state strategy, and several asked for favorable reports. The chair also noted the hearing was running behind and extended time to allow more testimony. Later, the committee heard Senate 1579, which would eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass requirements for abortion access for minors under 16. Planned Parenthood representatives, physicians, legal advocates, and students argued the current law creates unnecessary delays and harms vulnerable youth, especially those in unsafe homes or foster care, while supporters said minors can already consent to other reproductive health care. A pro-life witness opposed the bill and emphasized parental involvement and support services. The committee also heard House 2403 and Senate 1560, which would create a Human Service Transportation Consumer Advisory Board; disability advocates and riders described past safety problems and current service gaps, and supported the board as a low-cost way to improve accountability, rider input, and reliability. No votes or final actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trigger, you had a comment. I believe I skipped over you, and I apologize. >> No, that's fine.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's like a semi-automatic trigger. I don't reload shotguns.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you have electives; you just haven't pulled the trigger to make it part of the overall.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 110, HD1, which would clarify local food purchase goals for the Department of Education. DOE said it supports the measure and will work toward the 30% local food mandate by 2030. The Department of Agriculture also supported the bill, and outside advocates from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network strongly backed it as consistent with prior farm-to-school laws and helpful for measuring progress toward the goal. The committee then took up House Bill 293, which would exempt certain DOE purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products from electronic procurement rules and allow written-quote purchasing thresholds, including a lower quote requirement for some rural schools. DOE, the Department of Agriculture, the State Procurement Office, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported the measure, describing it as a tool to help the department test and add local products and meet the 30% goal. However, members pressed DOE on the bill’s purpose and mechanics, questioning why the department could not simply add products to vendor lists or use existing procurement flexibility. DOE explained it was trying to test new local products, including products not yet on the USDA-approved list, and said the bill would allow limited pilot purchases while it works through USDA approval and vendor-list updates. Members also raised concerns about whether the bill was being used to bypass procurement and whether small farmers or aggregators could realistically supply the needed volume. House Bill 1069, which would add two voting members representing DOE and the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority, also drew support from DOE and the Board of Education. Supporters said the change would improve accountability, strategic input, and communication on school facilities matters. SFA testified that it has already increased coordination with DOE through regular meetings and that recent discussions have been more robust. Committee members questioned whether voting seats were necessary given that DOE and BOE could already attend meetings and receive updates, and they raised concerns about how a voting representative would report back and whether the measure would actually solve communication problems. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the fiscal note or impact of this? It's just shy of $8 million. Okay.
• The local fiscal body may terminate the contract at any time upon 30 days' notice, and local fiscal bodies
• documentation of material fiscal savings to the body.
• The fiscal note, Mr.
• The fiscal note, Mr.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second. fiscal and request for more winter fiscal and request for more winter maintenance<00:32:07.200
• be asking for more money in fiscal. be asking for more money in fiscal.
• fiscal fiscal this<00:32:32.399> winter<00:32:33.200> time,<00:32:34.080> we<00
• It's committee to close fiscal year 25.
• <01:06:49.920> year a dollar appropriation in fiscal year a dollar appropriation in fiscal

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• James Malone, LCB Fiscal, for the record.
• year 2026 to fiscal year 2027.
• year 2026 would be reduced to $4 million in fiscal year 2026, but then an additional $5 million in fiscal
• million each fiscal year over the next biennium.
• year 2026 to $400,000 in fiscal year 2026.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, this particular fiscal year is a full year of project execution.
• is, because most people don't know what fiscal is.
• migrated to Fiscal.
• With that, is anybody from the public that wants to speak on Fiscal?
• I'm a fiscal analyst there.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 heard updates from the Secretary of State, EDD, the State Controller’s Office, CalHR, and DGS on a range of budget proposals and federal policy impacts. Secretary of State Shirley Weber opened with remarks about California’s election system, emphasizing its safety, transparency, high voter registration and vote-by-mail participation, and the office’s response to bomb threats and other election threats. Her staff then presented funding requests for the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS) and Help America Vote Act/VoteCal activities, describing them as needed to modernize campaign finance and lobbying disclosure systems and maintain election security and voter services. A major portion of the hearing focused on federal election policy, especially the potential effects of a presidential executive order and the SAVE Act. Secretary of State staff said California would face significant, potentially unquantifiable costs if forced to comply, including new burdens on county recorders, county election offices, and the Secretary of State’s office, and warned of voter disenfranchisement, especially for students, seniors, disabled voters, military and overseas voters, rural residents, and people with limited transportation. Members and public commenters strongly opposed the federal proposals and argued California’s current system is functioning well. The committee also heard that federal HAVA funds were not expected to be at risk because the state draws them down into an interest-bearing account. EDD reported on paid family leave, explaining that recent delays were tied to a system transition and increased claim volume, and said it was simplifying applications and adding staff and automation. Public testimony supported expanding paid family leave to chosen family. EDD also said it is prepared for possible unemployment spikes, citing a recession plan, a command center, and recent hiring. The State Controller’s Office requested funding to continue the Fiscal migration project, which would move the state’s accounting book of record to the new system by July 1, 2026; Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee expressed support for the project’s progress. CalHR presented a proposal for a statewide recruitment, outreach, and education paid media campaign under AB 1511, saying its current advertising budget is too small to reach diverse communities effectively. The final item addressed Governor Newsom’s executive order requiring a return to office on a four-day schedule. CalHR and DGS said they were working department-by-department to assess space, parking, transit, and other logistics, but had not completed a statewide cost analysis. Members and many public commenters criticized the order, arguing it was rushed, costly, harmful to telework benefits, and potentially disruptive to workers, especially those with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or long commutes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a fiscal and policy issue about staffing and retention.
• So we are still administratively attached to TDLR until the end of fiscal year 2027. the end of the fiscal
• been collected in the past three fiscal years combined.
• They have requested unexpended balance authority between fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026 for these
• Moving to page three, Selected Fiscal and Policy Issues.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the majority of the members of Fiscal. the majority of the members of Fiscal.
• As I just mentioned, uh the Fiscal<00:39:10.560> Committee Fiscal Committee Fiscal Committee can
• I'm a member of the Fiscal<00:39:21.040> Committee. Fiscal Committee. Fiscal Committee.
• Fiscal Committee. Fiscal Committee.
• Fiscal Committee, I would imagine. Fiscal Committee, I would imagine.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: Division Three of the Finance Committee met in work session on April 20, 2026, to consider Senate Bills 481, 603, and 663, with the discussion focused primarily on SB 481, relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property. The chair explained that the bill was advisory only and that the committee’s recommendations would go to full Finance on April 27. For SB 481, members reviewed conflicting provisions in the prior budget law about whether sale proceeds should go to the general fund or the Youth Development Center Claims and Administration Settlement Fund, and the bill was described as a compromise that would direct proceeds to the general fund before June 30, 2027, and to the settlement fund after that date. It was noted that the settlement fund had originally received about $20 million and had roughly $10 million remaining. The committee also received an extensive update from DCYF Director Marie Noonan on the new Youth Development Center in Hampstead. She reported that construction remained on schedule, with major structural and interior work complete, substantial completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026, and occupancy anticipated in early 2027. The presentation highlighted the facility’s design features, including single-occupancy bedrooms, sensory rooms, an education wing, medical and clinical suites, visitation space, a gym, and multiple outdoor courtyards, all intended to support a trauma-informed setting. Members asked about the facility’s funding, square footage, fencing, and scanner; staff said the building is about 34,000 square feet, funded entirely with federal ARPA state recovery funds to date, and that the scanner is on site but not yet operational pending policy and staff training. Committee members also raised concerns about the facility’s design and security. In response, DCYF said some concrete walls are required for structural and safety reasons, but they are being painted to maintain a brighter environment, and that the fencing will be about 15 feet high with privacy netting because the campus is shared with Hampstead. Officials said the new facility is legislatively limited to a maximum of 12 youth, while the current center can house 12 to 18, and emphasized that courts ultimately determine placements. No votes or final actions were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we move closer to adopting a budget for the fiscal year, which will begin very, very shortly.
• Today, we will be considering the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 budget.
• year for which this budget covers, fiscal year 2026.
• year for which this budget covers, fiscal year 2026.
• I know how much he focuses on these issues and how much he focuses on fiscal discipline.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:39.640> note couldn't get an updated fiscal note couldn't get an updated fiscal note
• fiscal note. Is that correct? fiscal note. Is that correct?
• So, in looking at the fiscal note, the fiscal note does no longer matches the bill.
• It has a fiscal note from OHE.
• OHE cuz it's about the fiscal note. OHE cuz it's about the fiscal note.

Bills: HF1323, HF4266, HF4413, HF3101, HF4572, HF4698, HF3650, HF2634

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium