Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the fiscal changes in the tax conference committee report relate to federal conformity.
• There were major changes made to the Internal Revenue Code last year by the federal government, and we
• The parts of federal conformity, if you have any specific questions, Representative Daudt would be happy
• It includes sustainable aviation and 27.
• It includes sustainable aviation fuel<00:02:21.280><c> bill</c><00:02:21.440><c> that</c><00:02:21.560

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of it relates to federal policy. Some of it relates to federal policies.
• And that is now becoming a talking point with our federal friends at the Pentagon and other federal agencies
• And in the aviation industry, it's even more difficult because— Trevor Woods: ...in the aviation industry
• Trevor Woods: The Federal Aviation Administration, we're on the cusp of seeing new rules issued.
• The federal aviation administration, we're on the cusp of seeing new rules issued.

Committee: Joint Government Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Michael Burroughs, Assistant Director of Aviation, DOTD.
• And then followed by the general aviation funded list for 26-27, which consists of 99 general aviation
• And then followed by the general aviation funded list for 26-27, which consists of 99 general aviation
• I looked up the Federal Highway side and see where we stand compared to other states.
• However... ...Commission are not allowed through our federal funding to support that.

Summary: The Senate Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee received updates from the Department of Transportation and Development on its transformation efforts, including a new project delivery dashboard, key performance indicators, and litter abatement work. DOTD said the dashboard is now live and tied to daily field updates, and reported progress on its T4LA initiatives, including improved project transparency, customer service, and a new highway sponsorship litter program. Members praised the department’s work and asked about litter funding, with DOTD saying last year’s $14.7 million litter pickup effort included the legislature’s supplemental appropriation. The committee also heard detailed progress reports on LTIF 1.0 and 2.0, the Office of Highway Construction’s bridge bundling and roadway projects, the Calcasieu River Bridge project, and the Cameron Ferry. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 is about 80% complete and that LTIF 2.0 has encumbered nearly $150 million, with several projects ahead of schedule and some under budget. The Office of Highway Construction said 62 bridge projects are in the bundle, 11 are under construction, and emergency procurement has helped accelerate delivery. DOTD said the Calcasieu River Bridge remains on track for a mid-to-late April groundbreaking, with all federal permits in hand and right-of-way acquisition underway; it also reported that new Cameron Ferry boats are under construction and that a privatization proposal from Labmar Ferry Services will go to the Louisiana Transportation Authority. Members then reviewed the draft 2026-2027 highway priority program, which DOTD said includes $913 million for construction across 302 projects and about $1.2 billion total investment. The committee also received public comment on the statewide flood control program, which recommended six projects expected to reduce flood damage by more than $289 million, and on the airport construction and development priority program, which includes 31 air carrier projects and 99 general aviation projects. DOTD also noted no current projects for the rail infrastructure program but said it expects to request $13 million and has 19 projects in the queue, and it presented three port projects that are not yet funded but will be considered by the Louisiana Transportation Authority. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research presented data on impaired driving, saying impaired driving remains a major factor in fatalities and injuries, with alcohol and drugs together contributing to a large share of crashes and about $700 million in annual economic costs. Members discussed youth driving, marijuana, ignition interlock, DWI courts, and enforcement challenges on waterways; the presenters emphasized education, enforcement, and treatment as part of a broader safety strategy. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after receiving the presentations and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we learned was that 11 of those calls were for administrators and social workers.
• When he’s talking, he’s using the federal data, which is a couple—it’s two years old.
• Madam Chair, Representative Blackman, each state reports their AFCARS data to the federal government
• So we looked at other safety-critical industries: aviation, ... We haven't done before.
• This is what aviation does so well: they learn from their near misses.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> green</c> federal requirements around green federal requirements around green energy,<01:17:18.560
• So, one, we're talking to the federal government that if they do more federal funding, it needs to be
• aviation? aviation?
• </c> the Trump administration puts those out. the Trump administration puts those out.
• </c> consumer of aviation fuel in the world. consumer of aviation fuel in the world.

Summary: The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products. Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December. Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal pass-through over the last six years, I'm sorry, the federal pass-through is nearly $15 billion
• funds that we receive from the Federal Highway Administration.
• FHP Administrative Services provides the administrative services necessary to support the operations
• FHP Administrative Services provides the administrative services necessary to support the operations
• FHP Administrative Services provides the administrative services necessary to support the operations

Summary: The committee met to review agency program funding as it prepared to build the budget, hearing brief presentations from six agencies and then taking member questions. Florida Division of Emergency Management highlighted its role in response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, describing a largely federal pass-through budget, major technology investments, and large disaster and preparedness grant activity. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, Florida State Guard, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also summarized their budgets, staffing, and major programs, including workforce and economic development, elections and arts funding, housing assistance, transportation work programs, military readiness, state guard expansion, and highway safety and motorist services. Members focused questions on several issues: arts and library grant funding and whether award criteria had changed; Commerce’s rural infrastructure and job growth grants and why funds were not being disbursed faster; Florida Housing’s use of SAIL, Live Local, Hometown Heroes, and SHIP funds and how smaller agencies learn about and access funding; and DOT’s work program gap between agency and governor proposals. The most extensive questioning was directed to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about long DMV lines, vacancies, overtime, staffing shortages, and the ability to shift funds between divisions. The department said staffing and pay constraints, especially in South Florida, were driving service delays and vacancy rates, and that overtime was being used because troopers were leaving for better-paying jobs. The Florida State Guard was also questioned about its spending and procurement pace, including aircraft purchases and facilities. Its director said long procurement timelines explained the low initial spending and that obligations had risen sharply as contracts matured. Members also asked about the department’s public opposition to Amendment 3 and whether agency resources were used in that effort; the director said no contracts or purchases were made to influence the vote and said the colonel’s comments were made off the clock. The meeting ended with the chair asking agencies to respond promptly to unanswered questions, and the committee adjourned without any recorded votes or formal actions beyond receiving the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Major commercial service airports is identified in the bill as an airport which the Federal Aviation
• Trump International Airport is subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and execution
• It will require rebranding across global aviation systems, changes to federal and international aviation
• It will require rebranding across global aviation systems, changes to federal and international aviation
• systems, changes to federal and international aviation databases, signage replacement, marketing material

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is the future of aviation.
• Personal Insurance Federation of Florida. Yes, hi. Thank you, Chair.
• And again, I represent the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida.
• They must set an administrative fee for electric vehicles.
• Secondly, we have federal deadlines. We have to meet.

Bills: S0260 , S1220 , S1352 , S1362 , S1370

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as a framework for vertiports and eVTOL aircraft, but an amendment removed the sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity provisions to vertiports co-located at airports. Supporters said the bill would help Florida lead in emerging aviation technology, while opponents and some members raised concerns about safety, local control, and extending immunity to unproven facilities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 260 on storage of damaged electric vehicles. The bill, as amended, would allow local governments to set a daily administrative fee of up to three times the normal rate for storing EVs with visible battery damage or saltwater intrusion, reflecting fire-safety spacing requirements. Testimony from insurers, towing interests, and fleet operators focused on whether the fee was justified, whether cleanup language could lead to cost shifting, and whether more data reporting should be required. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizures and related DMV functions, preserves disabled veterans’ plate designations, prohibits license plate covers that obscure plates, and routes online license and ID renewals through county tax collectors. SB 1370 was also reported favorably; it closes a loophole so drivers who never obtained a license can still face habitual traffic offender penalties after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee took up SB 1220, a broad FDOT transportation package. After amendment, it retained provisions on trails, SunTrail, seaports, airports, drone delivery, autonomous vehicle protections, and FDOT coordination on federal funding, while removing the digital driver’s license provision and the rapid rail compact language. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government decimate all these critical infrastructure for a particular reason, and really
• And the death of America federal... we got state bill changing it. Um, James Blunt in here still?
• The Secretary of AIA shall adopt rules providing for a hearing procedure and an administrative resolution
• The hearing shall not be a contested case under the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.
• The hearing shall not be a contested case under the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.

Bills: SB222 , HB560 , HB475 , HB484 , HB583 , HB542 , HB566 , SB222 , HB560 , HB475 , HB484 , HB583 , HB542 , HB566

Committee: House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Keywords: medical clinic board, clinic board, hospital bankruptcy, Chapter 11, bankruptcy, debt restructuring, municipal indebtedness, municipal bankruptcy, health care provider, acute care hospital, lease property, board immunity, director liability, civil liability, healthcare finance, insolvency, debt readjustment, federal bankruptcy law, Alabama Code 11-58-5.2, library materials

Transcript Highlights:

• And we believe that without having to go up on license fees, a simple administrative fee to each funeral
• 00:14:57.839><c> simple</c> up on license fees that a simple up on license fees that a simple administrative
• 59.680><c> um</c><00:14:59.760><c> to</c><00:15:00.000><c> each</c><00:15:00.240><c> funeral</c> administrative
• fee um to each funeral administrative fee um to each funeral service<00:15:00.959><c> is</c><00:15:01.199

Bills: SB7 , SB22 , SB39 , SB40 , SB45 , SB46 , SB86 , SB95 , SB107 , SB7 , SB22 , SB39 , SB40 , SB45 , SB46 , SB86 , SB95 , SB107

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: voting rights, absentee ballot, protected classes, Alabama Voting Rights Act, felony conviction, election integrity, preclearance, Alabama Jobs Act, incentives, job creation, economic development, recapture provisions, capital investment, employment, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply eliminating the administrative prohibition on elections.
• No other Texas Lottery draw games rules had similar administrative positions.
• So when we can take action, obviously they have their rights of administrative process.
• There's an administrative process involving the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
• The corporation is under a federal document preservation order.

Bills: SB28 , SB687 , SJR34 , SCR9 , SB523 , SB62 , SB847 , SB706 , SB869 , SB890 , SB992 , SB 28

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts

Summary: The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are managing today a total of $23.7 billion in federal grants.
• General revenue, there's no match on federal funds, nothing.
• There are three different federal accounting software systems that manage the federal funds.
• Forest Service and the federal government.
• We expect to have classes in the fall for an aviation minor.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:34.960><c> Economic</c> Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Air Mobility and Aviation Economic
• Economic Development Task the Aviation Economic Development Task Force.
• </c> applicable statutes, administrative applicable statutes, administrative regulations,<00:08:14.080
• To Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations, House Bills 565 and 566.
• </c><00:46:58.960><c> Bills</c> Administrative Regulations, House Bills Administrative Regulations, House

Summary: The House convened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum present, and approval of the prior day’s journal. Committee reports were read for a range of bills and resolutions, including measures on privacy protection, theft by deception, social work, licensed occupations, an adult workforce diploma pilot program, parole board changes, alternative high school diplomas, campaign finance, child care, mental health treatment, gubernatorial transitions, unclaimed property, and state contracts. Those items received first reading and were placed on the calendar. The chamber then considered House Bill 253, relating to reading and language arts instruction. Supporters said the bill follows the earlier Read to Succeed law by requiring instruction grounded in the science of reading and phasing out the three-cueing system, which they argued encourages memorization rather than phonics. A member from House District 93 opposed the prohibition, saying teachers need flexibility and that some district-approved methods remain useful in classrooms. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 94-1, then laid a motion to reconsider on the table. House Bill 508, relating to the protection of veterans benefits, was also debated and passed unanimously 93-0. The sponsor said the bill regulates paid veterans-claims services, requires clear disclosures about free services, limits fees, bars certain practices, and adds annual reporting, while exempting attorneys and law firms. Several members spoke in support, citing personal experiences and the need to protect veterans from bad actors, though some also expressed concern about access to help and urged future federal accreditation language. House Concurrent Resolution 44, urging Congress to create a VA accreditation pathway for private claims companies, was adopted 95-0, and House Bill 436, creating a PGA HOPE-related state parks benefit for veterans and active-duty military participants, passed 94-0. At the end of the session, the House received Senate Bill 172, relating to utility fuel adjustments and declaring an emergency, for first reading and return to committee. Members also made announcements about upcoming breakfasts, meetings, guest groups, and other events.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is the future of aviation.
• Personal Insurance Federation of Florida. Yes, hi. Thank you, Chair.
• They must set an administrative fee for electric vehicles.
• Secondly, we have federal deadlines we have to meet.
• Secondly, we have federal deadlines. We have to meet.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met with a quorum and first took up SB 1362 on advanced air mobility. Senator Harrell described the bill as creating a framework for vertiports and eVTOL operations, including DOT oversight, vertiport licensing, preemption of local design and operational regulation, and limited liability protections. An amendment was adopted that removed the bill’s sales tax exemptions and narrowed the sovereign immunity language so it would apply only to vertiports co-located at airports, aligning the bill more closely with the House companion. Supporters from eVTOL companies praised Florida’s leadership and the regulatory clarity, while the Florida Justice Association urged caution about extending immunity to unproven entities. The committee then reported the bill favorably. The committee next considered SB 260 on storage and cleanup of electric vehicles after crashes. An amendment narrowed the bill to EVs with visible battery or battery-compartment damage or saltwater submersion, clarified that the fee applies to storage rather than towing, and tied the proposal to existing fire marshal rules requiring damaged EVs to be stored away from structures. Insurance and rental-car industry representatives supported the narrowed approach but asked for more data reporting, clearer limits on cleanup language, and safeguards against overcharging or cost shifting. The bill was debated as a response to the space and safety burdens placed on tow operators, and it was reported favorably after amendment. The committee also approved SB 1352, which creates a secure online portal for license plate seizure/confiscation processing, allows disabled veterans to retain their DV plate alphanumeric designation, authorizes immediate issuance of DV plates by tax collectors, bans license plate covers/overlays that obscure plates, and routes online driver license/ID renewals to the customer’s county tax collector with service fees remitted accordingly. SB 1370 was reported favorably as well; it closes a loophole so drivers who never had a license can still be treated similarly to suspended-license offenders for habitual traffic offender purposes after repeated offenses. Finally, the committee considered SB 1220, FDOT’s transportation package, which included updates to trail prioritization, SunTrail materials and sponsorships, seaport and airport resilience planning, drone delivery and personnel delivery device provisions, LiDAR coordination, turnpike toll programming changes, and felony penalties for damaging autonomous vehicles. An amendment removed some provisions, including digital driver license authorization and the rapid rail transit compact, and added advanced air mobility corridor language and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel revenue impacts; after support from several stakeholders, the committee reported the bill favorably and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government, the Federal Railroad Administration owns the regulation for railroads.
• In accordance with the operating laws that are set forth by the federal government.
• Districts already operate under state and federal partnerships.
• Now, federally, states can act as the non-federal sponsor and make projects happen so we can time markets
• Labor resources and administrative efforts to address the issue.

Bills: HB341 , HB791 , HB1564 , HB1695 , HB1722 , HB1729 , HB1772 , HB2003 , HB2954 , HB2989 , HB3084 , HB3134 , HB3135 , HB3309 , HB3611 , HB3679 , HB3727 , HB3832

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's an honor today to have Westmore aviation students here.
• And this is the inaugural state champion aviation team for the state of Oklahoma, Mr.
• Whereas the Westmore High School aviation program for Moore Public School District won the inaugural
• Oklahoma high school aviation state championship.
• program on being named the inaugural high school aviation state champions.

Bills: SCR17 , SB2104 , SB2155 , SB1428 , SB1250 , SB1651 , SB1794 , SB444 , SB1061 , SB1327 , SB1425 , SB1455 , SB1458 , SB1460 , SB1480 , SB1530 , SB1543 , SB1555 , SB1593 , SB1209 , SB1730 , SB1733 , SB1769 , SB1805 , SB2069 , SB2095 , SB1503

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> President Trump and EPA administrator President Trump and EPA administrator Lee<00:06:31.039><c>
• harm a federal police animal.
• </c><00:26:48.159><c> In</c> harm a federal police animal. In harm a federal police animal.
• After the Veterans Benefits Administration shortfall crisis manufactured by the Biden administration
• of aviator cancers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Duggan: French Brown, Florida Retail Federation wishes to... waving in support, thank you.
• Spencer: workforce growth and making sure Florida leads in this next phase of aviation.
• Committee Administrative Assistant: 18 yea, zero nay.
• Committee Administrative Assistant: 18 yea, 0 nay.
• Committee Administrative Assistant: 18 yea, 0 nay.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this, we were asked to adopt the federal ones.
• Chairman, members of the committee, Michael Rossi, on behalf of Ascent Aviation.
• We are in firm support of this bill that brings parity and equity to the aviation segment.
• Arizona has a very long and rich legacy in the aviation area and in aircraft manufacturing and parts
• industry are still subject to this tax Arizona has a very long and rich legacy in the aviation area

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee considered a lengthy agenda of bills covering consumer lending, insurance coverage, professional scope of practice, property tax administration, digital assets, and aviation tax policy. The committee first approved prior committee amendments, then heard SB 1689 on consumer loan thresholds and rates. After sponsor testimony that the bill modernizes outdated lending caps and lowers rates on larger loans, the committee adopted an amendment but the bill failed on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Epstein arguing the structure would shift costs onto smaller borrowers. The committee then passed several health-related measures. SB 1347, requiring insurance coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, was amended and passed 4-2 after testimony from the sponsor and cancer survivors; Senator Epstein opposed the religious-employer definition. SB 1165, eliminating cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams, passed 5-1 after testimony from Senator Angus and Susan G. Komen, with supporters saying it would reduce barriers to follow-up screening. SB 1212, barring insurers from reimbursing providers differently based on vaccination status, also passed 4-2 despite concerns that it could undermine vaccination incentive programs. Other bills advanced or failed after similar debate. SB 1206, addressing contractor and public adjuster conduct after property losses, passed 5-1 with an amendment and support from State Farm. SB 1291, limiting county reassessment and inspections of agricultural property for four years after a successful appeal, passed 5-1 over assessor opposition and farm group support. SB 1649, creating a digital assets strategic reserve fund, passed 4-2 after debate over civil asset forfeiture and whether crypto should be treated as a strategic reserve. SB 1516, expanding an aviation-related tax exemption to aircraft maintenance and repair property, passed 4-1 amid sharp disagreement over whether it was economic development or a tax break for private jets. SB 1554, changing chiropractic statutory language from x-rays to diagnostic imaging, initially failed 3-3 but was reconsidered and later passed 3-2 after additional discussion about its practical effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if anyone can help us with that, Senator Wobam, you know aviation people.
• Aviation maintenance. Last fall, last August, we started aviation maintenance.
• We got a million dollars through the WEF funding to help aviation maintenance.
• I think UND was doing some aviation.
• There's operations costs, administrative costs. Is this right totally fair?

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee