Transcript Highlights:

• Also, providing adequate outpatient services is cheaper than residential services at a residential hospital
• As we talk about high-cost services, a day in a psychiatric residential treatment facility is $500.
• This is our first residential substance use disorder treatment.
• psychiatric hospitals, including the state hospital, or psychiatric hospitals across the state, or residential
• Our residential units for substance use disorder, we cannot pay for those with Medicaid dollars, but

Committee: All PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a bunch of contracts with DCF and DYS for residential programs, group homes, semi-independent
• We have a bunch of contracts with DCF and DYS for residential programs, group homes, semi-independent
• If he had more structure, say, case management available or daily structure for him or residential overseer
• If he had more structure, say, case management available or daily structure for him or residential overseer
• Or daily structure for him or residential overseer, he would not need Abilify.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing focused on accessibility-related legislation, with the chairs emphasizing ASL and CART accessibility and asking testifiers to speak slowly and clearly. The committee heard testimony first on H.223/S.130, a bill to establish a livable wage for community-based human service workers by reducing the pay gap with state employees. Providers’ Council, Communities for People, the Key Program, and BAMSI all supported the bill, describing persistent wage disparities, high vacancy and turnover rates, and the impact on continuity of care for children, youth, and families. Witnesses said the bill would help recruitment and retention and stabilize services across the Commonwealth. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.224/S.160, the ACE Act, which would create a dedicated funding source to improve accessibility in the creative economy. Arts organizations and advocates, including Community Access to the Arts, Abilities Dance Boston, Jacob’s Pillow, the Multicultural Arts Center, Northampton Community Music Center, Mass Creative, Open Door Arts, and Monkey House, described barriers such as inaccessible buildings, lack of ASL interpretation and captioning, inadequate lifts and backstage access, and the high cost of renovations. Testifiers said the bill would help smaller and historic institutions make physical and programmatic improvements and allow people with disabilities to participate as artists, workers, and audiences. The committee also heard testimony on H.4180, which would require DDS to consider neuropsychological evaluations when determining eligibility for intellectual disability services. Parents and advocates argued that IQ cutoffs alone can miss significant functional needs, especially for autistic adults and others with complex developmental profiles, and urged broader access to DDS supports. Additional testimony supported S.101 on closed captioning and telecommunications in public areas, and S.158 on requiring restaurants to have some chairs with arms to better accommodate physically disabled and older patrons. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after hearing from the scheduled witnesses and noting a few signups that were not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• taxes have increased significantly due to a systematic shift from the commercial property tax to residential
• The residential property tax assessment ratio has stayed at 10%.
• taxes has increased significantly due to a systematic shift from the commercial property tax to residential
• The residential property tax assessment ratio has stayed at 10%.
• billion dollars has been shifted from commercial property tax cuts made by this chamber over to residential

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and several proclamations and recognitions, including Arizona’s hosting of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, Autism Awareness Day, Farm Worker Day, and Passover observances. Members also welcomed guests from the Arizona Psychiatric Society, Tucson International Airport, Autism Bringing Change, and others. No substantive debate occurred during these ceremonial items, and the House later noted the Doctor of the Day and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole consideration of several Senate bills. SB 1024, SB 1078, SB 1123, SB 1164, SB 1232, SB 1293, SB 1493 as amended, SB 1520, SB 1572, and SB 1160 as amended all received do-pass recommendations, while SB 1665 was retained on the calendar. Debate centered most heavily on SB 1142, a federal scholarship tax credit conformity bill, with supporters arguing it would allow Arizona students to benefit from an existing federal tax credit and opponents warning it would divert public resources to private schools and expand voucher-like programs without accountability. SB 1293 drew debate over GPLET property tax abatements and whether the bill would protect school district revenues or hinder housing and economic development. SB 1572 also prompted discussion over civics instruction and whether it imposed an unfunded mandate on schools. On third reading, the House passed SB 1097, SB 1166, SB 1216, and SB 1787. SB 1787 passed on a 31-24 vote after debate over municipal and county development and due process. The House also adopted a floor amendment to SB 1160 before passing it as amended, with supporters framing it as a public safety measure for drone restrictions near venues and opponents raising constitutional and drafting concerns. The House then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, properly engrossed the measures, and adjourned until Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• taxes have increased significantly due to a systematic shift from the commercial property tax to residential
• The residential property tax assessment ratio has stayed at 10%.
• taxes has increased significantly due to a systematic shift from the commercial property tax to residential
• The residential property tax assessment ratio has stayed at 10%.
• billion dollars has been shifted from commercial property tax cuts made by this chamber over to residential

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms for detention staff and youth, sustained contract of residential
• just to recap what the Florida Scholars Academy is, it is the unified school district in 39 of our residential
• facilities, providing continuity of education to juvenile justice-involved youth in a residential facility
• The number of students in our residential commitment programs is growing.
• This funding request will increase per diem by 17% for all non-secure and secure residential commitment

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $117.4 billion overall and includes $8.2 billion for the public safety silo. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office outlined proposed funding and reductions across FDLE, DJJ, DOC, and related justice agencies. Agency heads then presented major budget requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, a career offender registry unit, a missing persons alert system upgrade, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and illegal immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested funds for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility repairs; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications technology, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about the scope of immigration-related enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, inmate health care, substance use treatment, prison capacity, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. A public commenter also urged attention to basic conditions in prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and facility maintenance. The committee then considered several bills. CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, was presented as a response to the killing of Daytona Beach Officer Jason Rayner and would clarify that a person may not use violence against an officer performing official duties, while also increasing penalties related to manslaughter involving law enforcement. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. CS/SB 54, dealing with substances affecting cognitive function and law enforcement access to certain medical records, also received an amendment clarifying that only records relevant to an investigation of a violent offender may be furnished; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next heard CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from advocates and survivors strongly supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, a public records exemption for victims of domestic and dating violence in the Address Confidentiality Program, was also reported favorably. The meeting concluded after the committee approved all four bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• An additional $1.4 million maintenance pool project supports facility and infrastructure needs in this
• > project</c><00:26:59.200><c> supports</c><00:26:59.840><c> facility</c><00:27:00.480><c> and</c> pool
• project supports facility and pool project supports facility and infrastructure<00:27:01.440><c> needs
• 48.400><c> maintenance</c> the state fair uh board maintenance the state fair uh board maintenance pool
• , and 35.5 million in restricted pool, and 35.5 million in restricted funds,<00:40:52.560><c> and</c>

Keywords: Several minutes after the convene vote and before the introduction failed to properly steam. This version was pulled from a local back up., 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 97 members present, declared a quorum, approved excusing absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The journal for February 25, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 98 and 122 and requested concurrence. The House then received second-reading reports on a range of bills, including measures on prison educational programs, respiratory care, dietitians, wildlife depredation, temporary structures, military families, civil rights, local boards of education, light pollution, controlled-substance prescribing licenses, youth health services, class sizes for exceptional children, the athletic trainer compact, limited commercial driver’s licenses, and Senate Bill 145 relating to the Department of Agriculture and Alcohol Beverage Control. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including the main budget bills House Bill 500 and House Bill 504, along with measures on workforce investment, data centers, domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations, health delivery and “food is medicine” initiatives, state personnel, open records, and fish and wildlife resources. House Bill 500 and House Bill 504 were taken from the Rules Committee and placed on the orders of the day. House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, was then taken up for third reading and explanation. Members presented extensive floor explanations of House Bill 500 and House Committee Substitute 1, describing it as a “good first draft” of the executive budget. Supporters said the proposal emphasizes restrained spending growth, base reductions with exemptions for key areas, employee salary increments, and deposits to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future one-time investments. They highlighted funding for K-12 education, postsecondary aid and workforce training, Medicaid and behavioral health, public health infrastructure, pensions, veterans, public safety, economic development, tourism, and state technology and facility maintenance. The budget substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the discussion continued with detailed descriptions of the bill’s provisions; no final passage vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The biggest second sector was buildings, specifically residential, and that's where our SEED program
• And this really aligns with again our climate action goals under our residential goals that we have.
• We offer rebates to residential customers for electric bicycles and home charging station installation
• Our current growth trends for 2024, both in the residential and the commercial permits, both of which
• Also, the cost of residential solar without the tax rebates will be passed on...

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 90% of the people that we're evaluating for this program are eligible for residential inpatient
• The problem is there aren't enough residential inpatient drug treatment beds in the area.
• And so what that means is there's oftentimes a wait to get them into residential programs.
• We have some short-term options with the residential treatment, which again, there's a wait for oftentimes
• , and with a short three-month bridge housing after residential, but beyond that, there's very few options

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Proposition 36 and its implementation, with judicial and budget officials describing it as a major shift from misdemeanor to felony processing for repeat drug possession and certain theft offenses. Witnesses explained that the law creates a treatment-mandated felony process that can lead to dismissal if a defendant completes treatment, but also requires evaluations, court monitoring, and potentially long, open-ended supervision. Judicial representatives said the new law is already generating large numbers of filings, creating workload, staffing, courtroom, and facility pressures, and that access to treatment beds, housing, and evaluation capacity is limiting participation. Several speakers emphasized that collaborative courts are effective but are not a perfect fit for Prop. 36 because those programs are typically probation-based and serve different risk/need populations. Court officials from San Bernardino and Orange counties said the impacts vary by county but are severe, with some counties seeing hundreds or more filings in a short period and others moving more slowly to build treatment infrastructure first. They argued that Prop. 36 is effectively an unfunded mandate unless the state provides more resources for judges, staff, facilities, treatment, housing, and supervision. The Legislative Analyst’s Office noted that Prop. 36 will reduce the Proposition 47 savings that fund mental health and substance use treatment grants, but said the near-term reduction is relatively modest and that the full effect will take time to appear because of the way those savings are calculated. Members of the committee repeatedly raised concerns that the state is underfunding the courts and counties needed to carry out the new law. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s proposed trial court operations budget, including a partial restoration of a prior $97 million cut and additional ongoing funding. Judicial branch officials said the restoration helped avoid furloughs, hiring freezes, and service reductions, and supported cybersecurity, technology, staffing, and records management. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more detail on how midyear restorations are handled and consider clarifying language for transferring unspent trial court trust fund monies to the General Fund. Finance said the flexibility in the ongoing funding was intentional and would be taken back for consideration. In a separate item, the committee heard testimony on a $6.3 million increase for Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal appointed counsel programs. Judicial officials and appellate project representatives said the system is facing a crisis because indigent appeals have risen sharply while the number of panel attorneys has fallen, leaving many cases waiting months for counsel. They argued the proposed increase would help but is still below what is needed to recruit and retain attorneys and prevent delays that affect criminal, juvenile, and child welfare cases. The committee also discussed the Tracy courthouse project in San Joaquin County, where local officials said reopening a courthouse closed since 2011 is necessary to serve a growing population and relieve overcrowding elsewhere. The LAO and Finance both noted the project is next in line under the facilities plan, though LAO suggested the Legislature could consider whether other facility priorities should come first.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> what the term multi-family residential what the term multi-family residential development<00:15:
• </c><01:34:35.720><c> Code</c> the 2021 International Residential Code the 2021 International Residential
• Given the increased pressure on residential property taxpayers in our community.
• ,</c> are residential communities, obviously, are residential communities, obviously, for<02:10:55.160
• </c> when you look at the small residential when you look at the small residential facilities<02:40:49.600

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• can be found everywhere from heavy industrial settings, maybe a biofuels plant, all the way to residential
• </c><00:57:02.240><c> warehousing</c><00:57:02.920><c> light</c> like residential warehousing light like
• residential warehousing light industrial<00:57:04.000><c> and</c><00:57:04.280><c> cannot</c><00:57:
• </c><01:47:14.880><c> areas</c><01:47:15.440><c> are</c> of Becker's residential areas are of Becker's
• residential areas are completely<01:47:17.119><c> opposite</c><01:47:17.719><c> side</c><01:47:18.480

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• talking on the school safety, talking on door locks, talking on the separation of business from residential
• talking on the school safety, talking on door locks, talking on the separation of business from residential
• road from a personal experience, and it's hard because we've been, as you know, building swimming pools
• </c><02:09:39.679><c> adding</c><02:09:39.920><c> on</c><02:09:40.159><c> to</c> building swimming pools
• and adding on to building swimming pools and adding on to businesses<02:09:40.880><c> and</c><02:09:

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually added to the judge pool two judges to make up for some cuts in smaller agencies that I'll
• added<00:31:31.919><c> to</c><00:31:32.799><c> the</c><00:31:33.120><c> judge</c><00:31:33.679><c> pool
• /c><00:31:34.640><c> judges</c><00:31:36.080><c> um</c><00:31:36.240><c> to</c> added to the judge pool
• two judges um to added to the judge pool two judges um to make<00:31:36.720><c> up</c><00:31:36.960>
• facilities that only in our residential facilities that only we<01:30:46.800><c> are</c><01:30:47.040

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:36.399><c> setting,</c> a community residential setting, a community residential setting,
• Um, if you're a residential provider, you don't need a number.
• Um, if you're a residential provider, you don't need a number.
• Um, if you're a residential provider, you don't need a number.
• Um if you're a residential about this.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committees resumed discussion of amendments to a bill dealing with licensing moratoria, change-of-ownership rules, and related provider oversight issues. Amendment A8 would prevent a licensing moratorium for certain intermediate care service settings from blocking a new license when the change is due to a change of ownership, including temporary licenses and transitional licenses. Department of Human Services staff said they were still reviewing the language but explained the department’s concern was maintaining program integrity and ensuring owners go through full change-of-ownership review so the agency can see who owns a provider and check compliance history. Senators supporting the amendment argued it would keep legitimate businesses from being harmed by a moratorium and could help preserve providers when ownership changes or family members take over after a death. A8 was adopted on a roll call, with both committees voting in support. Amendment A9, also on the moratorium topic, would exempt a change of ownership from the moratorium so long as it does not increase license capacity or service scope. The department said it needed more analysis to avoid unintended consequences, but the amendment was added to the working bill. Amendment A10 proposed a more detailed, data-driven framework for the moratorium and included a provision about refunds after implementation; department staff said the language would add cost and would require technical assistance, while senators emphasized the need to address licensure backlogs and avoid making provider delays worse. A10 was approved by the committees, though not unanimously. Amendment A11 would have set standards for how the commissioner designates provider types or program areas as moderate or high risk, with added transparency criteria. The department said the commissioner already has that authority and raised concerns about federal requirements and the state’s corrective action plan, and Senator Hoffman withdrew the amendment. Amendment A12, offered by Senator Fateh, would preserve remote supports by removing bill language that repealed the service and would add safeguards for remote overnight supervision, including staffing ratios to ensure emergency response times can be met. Several senators supported keeping remote services as an important, cost-effective option amid workforce shortages, while the department said it had program integrity concerns and supported the governor’s proposal to remove the service. The committee nevertheless advanced A12, with members noting the need to balance safety and integrity with access to services.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're not in a residential zone. So, um, that addresses that concern.
• </c><01:35:08.480><c> That's</c> about commercial and residential.
• That's about commercial and residential.
• </c> complexes and single family residential complexes and single family residential zones,<01:38:47.920
• </c> zoning district that allows residential zoning district that allows residential housing.<01:52:05.440

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill allows HCBS to be delivered in any authorized residential setting for eligible individuals,
• facility, ...require services to avoid placement in a behavioral health residential facility, have an
• It can also pay for short-term step-down programs or residential treatment.
• Even the step-down programs and residential placements are short-term by design.
• When Stephen has been hospitalized in residential treatment, he does very well.

Bills: SB1086 , SB1193 , SB1318 , SB1345 , SB1346 , SB1451 , SB1496 , SB1611 , SB1630 , SB1631 , SB1632 , SB1672

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: reimbursement, healthcare, laboratory services, noncontracting providers, Arizona health care cost containment, personal identifying information, PII, privacy, confidential records, public records exemption, commercial disclosure, data privacy, licensure, certification, health professions, health care licensing, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, emergency medical care technician, EMCT

Transcript Highlights:

• Just yesterday in the town of Plymouth, they had a bad residential house fire.
• With those new technologies, you carry that forward now into residential homes that are installing energy
• just to suppress that same car fire with those new technologies you carry that forward now into residential
• So typically for a residential home... ...or if somebody's doing solar, or a facility that has storage
• So typically for a residential home, we may have the awareness through mobile data reporting and the

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on late-filed matters, chaired by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jamie Murphy. The committee heard testimony on several bills, including S. 2738 on rising insurance costs for manufactured home residents, S. 2739 on creating a fire cistern program, and S. 2732 on direct primary care. Members were reminded to keep testimony brief, and several legislators and local officials testified out of turn as they arrived. The hearing ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously. On S. 2738, Senator Kelly Dooner, Representative Lisa Field, Taunton Mayor Sean O’Connell, Taunton City Council President Barry Sanders, and several residents and local officials described sharp premium increases, limited carrier options, and confusion over coverage for manufactured home communities. Testifiers said many residents are seniors, veterans, or low-income households on fixed incomes, and urged creation of a special commission to study the market and recommend solutions. Some asked that residents themselves be included on the commission and suggested more immediate relief if possible. On S. 2739, fire chiefs from Hopkinton and East Hampton supported a state fund for fire cisterns, saying many communities lack municipal water or hydrants and need reliable year-round water sources for structure fires, wildfires, and newer hazards such as lithium-ion battery fires. They said cisterns improve response and can affect insurance ratings, but maintenance and installation costs are difficult for local departments to cover. The Massachusetts Insurance Federation opposed the funding mechanism, arguing that insurance assessments are being used as revenue generators and warning that the proposal would add to policy costs and trigger retaliatory taxes. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2732 from physicians and specialty groups, including Dr. Jenny Labonte, Dr. Wendy Cohen, Dr. Rica Nair, and the Massachusetts GI Association. They said the bill would allow direct primary care physicians to make referrals for HMO patients and permit in-office dispensing of medications, which they argued would improve access, continuity of care, medication adherence, and affordability. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just yesterday in the town of Plymouth, they had a bad residential house fire.
• With those new technologies, you carry that forward now into residential homes that are installing energy
• just to suppress that same car fire with those new technologies you carry that forward now into residential
• So, typically for a residential home... ...or if somebody's doing solar or a facility that has storage
• So, typically for a residential home, we may have the awareness through mobile data reporting, and the

Bills: S2732 , S2738 , S2739

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance, referrals, network providers, payment denial, insurance costs, manufactured homes, homeowners insurance, affordability, state regulations, insurance market, consumer protection, mobile homes, firefighting, water supply, cistern program, rural areas, urban interface, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• requirements, which again are for pre-manufactured wastewater treatment facilities often constructed in residential
• The bill addresses significant concerns about the growing trend of utilizing package plants in residential
• are being implemented for efficiency and cost in various small geographic regions when you have a residential
• The residential neighbors that would be directly affected by the... as... as a resort, or as...
• Are these four developments residential-type settings or one-acre lots? What are they?

Bills: SB243 , SB1586 , SB1891 , SB1959 , SB2159 , SB2568

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires residential care facilities for the elderly, also known as RCFEs, to provide essential staffing
• father, Francis Xavier Mondragon, passed away at the age of 85 with dementia while living in a residential
• We represent residential care facilities for the elderly and continuing care retirement communities across
• Chief Financial Officer of Six-Beds Inc., a statewide organization representing small licensed residential
• California, representing nonprofit providers of care services and housing for older adults, including residential

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on April 22, established a quorum, and adopted its 2023-24 committee rules. The hearing then considered five bills focused on aging, long-term care, immigrant seniors, nutrition, and emergency preparedness. AB 450 would create a task force to study the needs of undocumented Californians age 55 and older; supporters from CHIRLA and other advocates described barriers to housing, health care, retirement, and digital access, while members raised questions about eligibility and process. The bill was approved on a due pass motion and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services. AB 508 would require residential care facilities for the elderly to disclose staffing information upon request at admission and when rates increase. The author and supporters argued that staffing levels are closely tied to quality of care and that families need transparency to make informed choices; a witness described her father’s death in an understaffed facility. Assisted living industry representatives opposed the bill as burdensome but said they were continuing discussions with the author. The committee adopted amendments and passed the bill to Appropriations. AB 1476 would allow senior congregate meal programs to continue offering to-go meals, a practice expanded during the pandemic. Supporters said the option improved access for homebound and food-insecure seniors and helped bring people into senior centers; there was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1068 would create a working group on evacuation and sheltering needs for older adults and people with disabilities in long-term care during disasters, and AB 1069 would ensure area agencies on aging and aging/disability resource programs have access to emergency shelters to provide services. Both measures drew broad support from aging, disability, and advocacy groups, with testimony citing recent fires and evacuations, and both were approved and re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. The committee also left rolls open for additional members to add votes before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• to talk about was an aspect of the bill requiring the department to create signs and have both residential
• Because residential treatment facilities and children's safe homes are governed by two different sets
• rule was finalized, the signs were created and distributed not only to safe homes but to relevant residential
• The signs were created and distributed not only to safe homes but to relevant residential treatment facilities
• The certification process seeks to ensure they receive therapeutic services and support in a safe residential

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.