Transcript Highlights:

• We're excited for this upcoming budget season.
• care silo of the budget.
• But it's something that I know that during budget, we're budgeting, and as we're cutting, we're going
• In the 2027 budget, this would be in next year's budget to do core. Mr. Chair, for me.
• In the 2027 budget, this would be in next year's budget to do core. Mr. Chair, for me.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard presentations on the governor’s proposed FY 26-27 budget for the health and human services silo, which totals $48.5 billion within a $117.4 billion state budget. Agency leaders outlined major spending priorities, including AHCA’s behavioral health redesign, APD waiver enrollment and facility needs, DCF’s integrity and self-sufficiency systems, opioid response, community-based care and mental health bed expansion, DOEA’s Alzheimer’s, home care, and community care programs, DOH’s cancer research, public health, EMS blood-transfusion initiative, and lab feasibility study, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ facility, cybersecurity, and medication-management investments. Members generally praised several proposals, especially increased reimbursement for private duty nursing, behavioral health funding, Alzheimer’s support, and the EMS blood program. Senator Sharief raised concerns about the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), warning that changes could leave many Floridians without coverage for HIV medications and asking whether manufacturers could provide rebates directly to patients. Surgeon General Ladapo said the issue was driven largely by funding and federal changes, not a legal barrier, and said the department had explored alternatives but could not fill the gap with current resources. Senator Rouson asked about the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, and DCF said its budget includes about $7 million for the substance abuse and mental health data dashboard required by prior legislation. Public testimony focused heavily on ADAP. Former program leaders and advocates said the proposed changes would reduce enrollment and remove key drugs and insurance-premium support, calling the situation a crisis and criticizing the department for lack of transparency and stakeholder engagement. They urged a pause and collaborative review of the program’s finances. The committee also discussed KidsCare implementation, with AHCA saying federal conditions and litigation have delayed the expansion. The meeting ended after the chair noted the budget would still need to be adjusted for updated Medicaid caseload estimates, and the committee adjourned without taking any formal votes or other action on the budget items.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the impact statement, because here's what happens in the budget: they budget for an increase in property
• on the impact statement, because here's what happens in the budget: they budget for an increase in property
• </c><00:09:53.920><c> the</c><00:09:54.200><c> FIS</c> budget what what the budget the FIS budget what
• c><00:09:58.800><c> increase</c><00:09:59.640><c> in</c> budget they budget for an increase in budget
• for</c><00:10:31.760><c> every</c> budget because they budget for every budget because they budget for

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, with testimony from McDaniel and Deputy Secretary Robert Long of the Personnel Cabinet. They described the bill as a cleanup measure for personnel law that would, among other things, add interns to the definition of employee while excluding them from full-time employee status, remove the Personnel Cabinet secretary as an ex officio member of the KERS Board, clarify personnel board membership and grievance rights, limit appeals of satisfactory-or-above evaluations, address layoffs and reemployment rights, allow leave donation in certain resignations or retirements, restrict remote work from outside Kentucky without approval, permit deductions for unreturned state equipment, and make DJJ facility supervisors non-merit positions. The committee voted on SB 79 and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 67, presented by Chair Nemes, an elder property tax bill. The bill would freeze the assessed value of a primary residence for homeowners age 65 or older until the property is no longer their primary residence, while still taxing at the current rate. Nemes said the measure was intended to help seniors on fixed incomes and noted a fiscal analysis showing little to no direct revenue loss, though it could reduce projected budgeted growth in property tax revenue. Committee discussion noted a local impact and a statewide budget impact estimate of about $4 million for the first two fiscal years. SB 67 also passed with favorable expression, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> long-term services support budget? long-term services support budget?
• </c> necessarily reflected in the budget. necessarily reflected in the budget.
• </c> the last budget was uh developed. the last budget was uh developed.
• </c><00:28:39.200><c> Thank</c> huge item in your budget. Okay. Thank huge item in your budget.
• The deficit in the state senate budget budget budget was<00:29:53.919><c> closer</c><00:29:54.320><c>

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on June 20, 2025 and first approved the May 16 minutes and the non-removed items on the consent calendar. It then took up a Health and Human Services item for $5 million in additional nursing facility payments (FIS 25158). HHS explained the transfer was for private and county nursing facilities and was the third and final transfer in FY25, funded through federal matching dollars, county cap funds, and general funds. Members asked about the size of the transfer, whether it signaled future shortfalls, and how projections were developed; HHS said the request reflected updated estimates and that they did not expect similarly large transfers going forward. The committee adopted the item. The committee also considered an ARPA-related item to remove a line from a funding request because the issue had been resolved and the positions/funds were no longer needed. Members approved the item with that line removed. Commissioner Caswell then answered questions about ARPA spending authority, saying remaining projects must be expended by December 31, 2026 and that the item was intended to preserve authority for ongoing capital projects; any unspent funds would revert to the federal government. Members noted the recurring nature of these ARPA adjustments and the need to keep tracking deadlines. The Department of Corrections presented several items, including a $10 million request tied to staffing shortages and overtime costs, plus additional corrections-related funding items. Interim commissioner John Skipa said 18 employees had received preliminary layoff notices pending final budget approval. He and staff said the overtime need was driven by staffing shortages, later collective bargaining pay increases, and double-time compensation for uniform officers forced into overtime; they also said one housing unit section had been closed to reduce staffing pressure. In response to questions about morale and operational risk, Skipa said the department was under strain, that leadership was in transition, and that staffing or budget reductions could create litigation risk. The committee also heard about the Site Evaluation Committee’s budget shortfall, which was attributed to fewer new facility applications but continued casework and public engagement, and approved that item. Finally, members discussed a YDC claims administration item, questioning the role and cost of the Verald Dana consultant; staff said the firm handles intake and processing of claims for the Attorney General’s office and had been involved since the claims process was created. Several items were adopted after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a fiscally responsible budget that reduces overall spending compared to last year's budget.
• It's a fiscally responsible budget that reduces overall spending compared to last year's budget.
• away all the budget authority.
• the current base budget.
• , but not in the House budget.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, once the state budget condition improved, the Legislature and the 2018-19 budget provided $1.3
• Governor's proposed budget.
• Its total budget is $86.7 million. We are on time. We are on budget.
• Its total budget is $86.7 million. We are on time. We are on budget.
• finance budget analyst.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, once the state budget condition improved, the Legislature and the 2018-19 budget provided $1.3
• Governor's proposed budget.
• Governor's proposed budget.
• Its total budget is $86.7 million. We are on time. We are on budget.
• finance budget analyst.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to Washington State's four-year balanced budget requirement and state operating budget
• This is related to Washington State's four-year balanced budget requirement and state operating budget
• and legislative enacted budgets.
• the budget.
• For budgets covering these two biennia, the official revenue forecast would be used for both the budget

Bills: HB2747

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: budget sustainability, state finance, fiscal policy, economic growth, government spending

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget committee, this is not JFAC. So we're not having a debate or hearing on budgets.
• So, green and blue budgets: left side, the executive branch budget; right side, the purple changes, so
• balanced budget, a positive ending budget, projected balance at the end.
• state budget.
• Budget and other concerns and other areas of our state budget.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• make any changes to our budget.
• In 26, our base<00:35:21.599><c> budget</c><00:35:22.160><c> was</c> base budget was base budget was
• </c> budget went down to $322 million. budget went down to $322 million.
• </c> appropriation from three budgets ago. appropriation from three budgets ago.
• </c><01:31:06.000><c> The</c> budget proposal. The budget proposal.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Bybee show you where we are on the budget and where the revenues are for the budget and the trend line
• This is a 10-year growth trend by kind of budgeted category.
• The governor did budget for conformity, and that's that hundred and... ...budget in that governor's rec
• Our budgets are growing too fast.
• goes to specific areas of the budget.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> wal's budget wal's budget proposal<00:03:29.519><c> I</c><00:03:29.840><c> will</c><00:03:30.000
• </c> outlined in the governor's budget outlined in the governor's budget specifically<00:03:39.159><c
• :19.519><c> budget</c><00:09:20.240><c> by</c> individual Cy's budget by individual Cy's budget by 120%
• </c><00:58:19.280><c> will</c> proposals included in the budget will proposals included in the budget
• This budget proposal uses nursing homes to balance a budget and puts nursing homes at further risk of

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• As I mentioned, our budget comes mostly, 54% of our budget, from federal funds.
• As I mentioned, our budget comes mostly, 54% of our budget, from federal funds.
• As I mentioned, our budget comes mostly, 54% of our budget, from federal funds.
• As I mentioned, our budget comes mostly, 54% of our budget, from federal funds.
• As I mentioned, our budget comes mostly, 54% of our budget, from federal funds.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh it includes the the budget bill.
• </c> into the budget bill. into the budget bill.
• </c> If it's not a standalone and that budget If it's not a standalone and that budget doesn't<00:32:
• </c> particular piece of the budget bill." particular piece of the budget bill."
• And so I'm actually very budget.

Summary: The House Environment and Agriculture Committee met in executive session on SB 302, a bill requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners. The chair announced a staffing change, noting Representative Comtois was no longer vice chair and Representative Barber would serve in that role. The chair then explained that the committee had before it an amendment incorporating Senator Pearl’s updated language and additional technical changes requested by DEES Director Whimsat for FBI background-check requirements, and a separate amendment offered by Representative Patenza that would add language from the budget bill relating to a site evaluation committee, moratorium provisions, and harms-and-benefits language. Representative Patenza argued that the governor’s solid waste and site evaluation language had been developed over years with the committee, the governor’s office, and DEES, and should be moved into a standalone bill so it would not be lost if the budget failed. She said she had been told by Senator Roseford that the budget language would be placed into a separate House bill, and several members supported having a standalone vehicle as a backup. Representative Bixby, Haskins, Gruber, and others said they favored keeping the work alive in a separate bill, while Representative Scully said he disliked non-germane amendments and would vote only for the base bill and the chair’s amendment. Representative Barber asked for clarification on why the amendment was considered non-germane, and the chair and Representative Patenza explained that the budget-related policy had not had a separate public hearing. Members discussed legislative procedure, including whether the committee should recess to allow a hearing on the non-germane amendment and then return to act on SB 302. After discussion, the committee took a show of hands and overwhelmingly favored recessing the executive session to Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. in LOB room 301-303, so a separate hearing could be held on Representative Patenza’s amendment before further action on SB 302.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> balanced the budget. Uh it's complete. balanced the budget. Uh it's complete.
• :35.280><c> and</c><00:03:35.519><c> difficult</c> budget full of hard and difficult budget full of hard
• We've cut more than $1.3 billion in this budget in order to bring this budget into balance, and that
• We've cut more than $1.3 billion in this budget in order to bring this budget into balance, and that
• And the result of this budget out.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the current budget year, you're projecting revenues that you then true-up in the next budget year
• In response to a governor's budget proposal to make some changes to the budget stabilization account
• The first is saving for future emergencies, budget emergencies.
• So, our first point is that improving the budget stabilization.
• a budget problem in the first place.

Transcript Highlights:

• We enact the budget every year.
• and a balanced budget.
• Those are budget decisions.
• It's not currently in the budget at all, as in the proposed budget.
• So it was in the budget prior. It's in the budget right now. It currently is.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to plan a budget.
• city operating budget.
• And this is a budget that is tied to the rest of our city's budget.
• And this is a budget that is tied to the rest of our city's budget.
• And this is a budget that is tied to the rest of our city's budget.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> took all the money for the budget. took all the money for the budget.
• </c> the previous budget. They were 30. the previous budget. They were 30.
• </c><01:32:55.760><c> Our</c><01:32:56.239><c> budget,</c> care system is my budget.
• Our budget, care system is my budget.
• <c> budget.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's proposed budget offers $32.5 billion, or 27% of the total state budget, to be spent on
• The Governor's proposed budget offers $32.5 billion, or 27% of the total state budget, to be spent on
• The department's total budget includes a reduction of approximately $419,000 in budget authority for
• With this budget, Mr.
• our operating budget.

Bills: S0048

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard presentations on the Governor’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and then considered one bill, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, with transportation and economic development receiving about $18 billion statewide and $601 million in general revenue. Agency heads then presented priorities for Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, State, Transportation, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard, emphasizing workforce development, housing, tourism marketing, aviation and space infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, emergency preparedness, and military readiness. In the Commerce presentation, Secretary Kelly highlighted funding for housing programs, the Hometown Heroes program, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, rural infrastructure and workforce grants, Reconnect and Florida WINS systems, law enforcement and firefighter recruitment bonuses, defense support, Visit Florida, Space Florida, and SelectFlorida. Senators asked about Visit Florida’s private match requirements and whether the agency fully leveraged prior appropriations; Visit Florida’s CEO said the match was met and exceeded, though it is difficult but important. The Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles presentation focused on trooper pay, pursuit vehicles, aviation assets, and enterprise data systems, with questions about immigration enforcement and body cameras. Military Affairs requested funding for readiness centers, training facilities, education and health benefits for Guardsmen, and maintenance of existing armories; members discussed Guard deployments, staffing levels, and a proposed firing range project. The Department of State requested funds for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and defended its arts grant process and rule changes. Transportation’s budget emphasized a $14.3 billion work program, road and bridge maintenance, aviation and aerospace, safety initiatives, and seaport investments, while Emergency Management requested funding for preparedness, flood mitigation, WebEOC, grants management, and alert systems; senators also asked about the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility. For CS/SB 48, Senator Gates explained that the bill would require local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs would be allowed by right without a separate hearing. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, saying ADUs could help provide long-term housing for service workers. After questions about local government and HOA authority, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 48 favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• stability of our budget.
• The second document is the actual budget recommendation for recurring budgets.
• . budget.
• You've grown the budget 61% before you adopt a budget this session.
• Based budget 5.7%.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance