Video & Transcript Research : 'test year'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 26th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I was also here years ago, two years ago, when we stopped the criminalization of just driving around
- I was also here years ago, two years ago, when we stopped the criminalization of just driving around
- Hopefully only two years, hopefully not three years. Caden, I hope you're listening.
- This year could be one of the worst fire years, not only in American history, but around the world, because
- I bring that up because the bill works with AB 130, which we all passed last year, which imposed a six-year
Summary:
The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and proceeded through a large House of Origin floor file, with the Speaker repeatedly urging members to be at their desks and keep support bills brief. Early actions included dispensing with the journal, re-referring AB 2285 to the Banking and Finance Committee, and then taking up dozens of third-reading items, with many bills passed by voice or recorded vote and others passed temporarily or retained on file.
The floor debated and passed a wide range of measures on land use, housing, labor, public safety, health care, utilities, taxation, and consumer protection. Among the bills approved were measures on land surveyor review (AB 1933), nurse midwife access for pregnant and postpartum patients (AB 1696), historic-district transit zoning flexibility (AB 2415), EV charging infrastructure fees and timelines (AB 1820), foreclosure bidding protections (AB 1957), tribal cannabis commerce (AB 2506), outdoor advertising permitting (AB 2024), commercial building permit timelines and third-party plan checkers (AB 2418), DUI penalties (AB 1685 and AB 1687), utility rate transparency (AB 1715), CalWORKs work-penalty changes (AB 1755), dynamic electricity rates (AB 1787), interior designer licensure (AB 1796), compost labeling and contamination rules (AB 1812), modular housing standardization (AB 1815), small claims limits for businesses (AB 1827), Native American Day as a paid state holiday (AB 1841), hospital staffing and maternity access bills (AB 1868 and AB 1882), protective orders tied to release dates (AB 1889), and a series of public health, missing persons, and teacher credentialing measures later in the file.
Several high-profile bills drew extended debate. AB 2624, expanding Safe at Home privacy protections to immigrant service providers, prompted sharp disagreement over free speech and alleged limits on online posting, but supporters said it protected workers facing threats and doxing; it ultimately passed 49-19. AB 2023, creating a framework for regulating AI chatbots used by children, was framed as a child-safety measure after testimony about chatbot-related harms and suicide risks, and passed 58-8. Other notable votes included AB 2208 on Medi-Cal protections against federal cuts, AB 2299 on CalFresh/SNAP losses, AB 2115 apologizing to California Native peoples for historic state harms, and AB 2311 on public hospital physician employment; the transcript ends as the Assembly continues working through the remaining file.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- years while being paid just $32,000 a year too often forces them out of the program.
- tough for two years.
- to one year.
- You've heard it year after year, different bills where our... My name is Frank Fredrickson.
- years ago.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill.
The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45.
A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct - Part 2 - 03/13/25
Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
Transcript Highlights:
- It has to really boil down to assets, so it does not meet that test.
- It has to really boil down to assets, so it does not meet that test.
- does<00:25:23.200>
not <00:25:23.360>meet <00:25:23.640>that <00:25:24.000>test - <00:25:26.159>
um <00:25:27.159>you <00:25:27.279>know does not meet that test - also um you know does not meet that test also um you know and<00:25:27.600>
I'm <00:25:27.720>
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Response to resident emergencies 3/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Larry, who was a 79-year-old, fell off of his electric scooter.
- Michelle was recognized and asked to keep it brief before the committee moved to the test.
- Make it brief and then we'll get<00:18:59.760>
to <00:18:59.840>the <00:19:00.000>test - get to the test. get to the test.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 06:00 pm
Massachusetts Joint Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This year... This year, America celebrates a milestone: 250 years since our founding.
- We have a president who throws temper tantrums like a two-year-old. No disrespect to two-year-olds.
- You know what used to take a year, over a year, to get an environmental approval for a housing project
- This year, we're going to do more. This year, we're going to But we're going to do more.
- This year, this year, we're also going to have the best statewide high school...
Summary:
The joint convention of the Massachusetts Legislature convened to receive the Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address. The session began with procedural motions to appoint committees to notify the lieutenant governor, constitutional officers, Executive Council, and Governor, followed by an invocation from Archbishop Richard G. Henning, the posting and retiring of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. The Governor was then formally admitted to the chamber and delivered the address, with a benediction afterward by Rabbi Elaine Zacker.
Governor Maura Healey’s address focused on affordability and public services. She highlighted actions and proposals on housing, including faster permitting, use of state land for housing, accessory dwelling units, down payment assistance, and expanded programs to help first-time buyers. She also discussed energy affordability, saying she would oppose utility rate hikes, pursue an energy affordability bill, and temporarily reduce electric and gas bills. On health care, she described efforts to cap costs, prevent prior authorization for insulin, ban medical debt reporting to credit agencies, and form a health care affordability working group. She also proposed making subscription cancellations easier, improving transportation through bridge repairs and transit investments, and strengthening protections for children on social media.
The Governor also emphasized education, workforce development, and economic competitiveness, citing the state’s top national education ranking, expanded pre-K and child care, literacy and tutoring investments, early college opportunities, and a goal of 100,000 apprentices over 10 years. She praised Massachusetts’ response to federal actions, including support for vaccines, food assistance, abortion access, and research funding, and she criticized the Trump administration on tariffs, health care cuts, and immigration enforcement. She also noted public safety and veterans’ issues, including new assisted-living protections after the Gabriel House fire and the rebuilding of veterans’ homes. No substantive votes on legislation were taken beyond adoption of the ceremonial orders and the final adjournment motion.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 15, 2025 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- along with the year to year percentage change in total appropriations since 2021. 22 overall workforce
- The largest year-over-year increase occur between 22. 23 23. 24 which coincides with the only year the
- So it's nearly a 12% increase in just one year.
- our total completions increased from 76,000, 106 in 23. 24 to 80,972 in. 24, 25 representing a 5% year-over-year
- That is a 6.7 increase over the prior year.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/09/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill would cost about $4.2 million to the Petro Fund per year, starting in 2027 for 10 years.
- , starting in 2027 for 10 years.
- This bill would cost about $4.2 million to the Petro Fund per year, starting in 2027 for 10 years.
- Years ago, we had PVC piping in heating oil systems.
- ACTUALLY 70 YEARS AGO. PRETTY MUCH SEEN IT ALL.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Oct 7th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- For FY 2025, we closed out the year second, and I think in 2024, third.
- Last year we began a three-year, $480 million construction project to support a level two garrison training
- This year is our largest gain in probably 10 years in force structure. And that's 1,000.
- We have a base that helps to test and calibrate sonars for the Navy.
- Fiscal Year 23 and Fiscal Year 24—so, FY 23-24 and FY 24-25—these are the grants and the very generic
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, and Domestic Security met for its first meeting of the 2025-26 session and heard presentations from Major General John Haas, Adjutant General of Florida, and Tim McGregor, executive director of the Florida Defense Support Commission. General Haas reviewed the Florida National Guard’s missions, statewide footprint, domestic disaster response, and federal deployments, emphasizing the Guard’s role in hurricanes, border-related support, and other state operations. He also discussed recruiting and retention, noting that recruiting remains strong but retention is challenged by the Guard’s high operational tempo, and he outlined efforts to expand force structure, improve facilities, and modernize units, including Camp Blanding upgrades, new armories, additional infantry, engineer, military police, and aviation assets, and the Air National Guard’s F-35 conversion.
Members asked questions about recruiting methods, typical brigade size, and how many personnel would be needed to reduce the average duty burden back toward the statutory 39 days. Haas explained that Florida’s large population helps recruiting, especially through community and school outreach, but that the state’s frequent domestic missions make the current 12,000-member force too small for its workload. He said the Guard’s high tempo is the main reason members leave for the reserves and argued that more force structure is needed to reduce strain. Committee members also discussed prior efforts to influence National Guard stationing decisions based on population shifts and domestic mission demands.
McGregor then described the Florida Defense Support Commission’s work to protect military installations, prevent encroachment, support workforce and economic development, and improve the military-friendly environment for service members and families. He highlighted the commission’s grant programs, the military benefits guide, and a spouse license reciprocity matrix, as well as site visits to installations and defense-related facilities across the state. Members asked about Lockheed Martin’s innovation and simulation work in Orlando and discussed the value of military spouse reciprocity compacts. No bills were heard, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Omnibus tax finance and policy bill, HF9, passed in Minnesota House 6/9/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- years. Uh the department supported that. years. Uh the department supported that.
- Um I think it was a good choice year.
- I want government to be years.
- /c><00:38:17.920>
had <00:38:18.240>total two years ago, Democrats had total two years - And this year they expected deficit.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- their aggressive test fuel.
- their aggressive test fuel. their aggressive test fuel.
- She was here last year.
- She was here last year. Um, I really She was here last year.
- old which is over 80 since I was 3 years old which is over 80 years. years. years.
Keywords:
fireworks, public safety, regulation, tax revenue, local government, sale, safety standards, fire safety, ethanol, fuel equipment, compatibility standards, law enforcement, peace officer, unauthorized practice, criminal justice, civics education, jail medication, correctional facility, detention, incarcerated persons
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development - 03/31/2026
Housing, Construction, and Community Development
Transcript Highlights:
- It was pending last year. This is the first time it's coming in. This bill was pending last year.
- to regulate buildings that were built 15 or more years ago.
- later, you could only do it for housing that was a year old.
- And then 10 years later, you can only do it for housing that's 10 years old.
- They said a legal increase for the coming year. It's currently 3% for a one-year lease in New York.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development met on March 31, 2026, with a quorum present and noted that the Legislature was in budget negotiations and approaching a scheduled break. The committee took up several housing-related bills, with most being reported to Finance after discussion. The first bill, S.3742A, would require information to be provided in new and renewal leases for certain housing accommodations, and it was reported without opposition. S.4659B, the Rental Emergency Stabilization for Tenants Act, generated the longest debate; supporters said it would give local governments outside New York City a more flexible way to determine a housing emergency and opt into rent stabilization, while opponents argued it lacked a clear vacancy-rate standard, could discourage development, and would benefit higher-income tenants. The bill was ultimately reported, with some negative votes and one or more votes without recommendation.
The committee then discussed S.8168, which would create a deconstruction and salvage framework for building materials, including local options, technical assistance, grants, and related code updates. Supporters said it could reduce landfill use, lower disposal costs, and encourage reuse markets, while opponents questioned costs, market demand, and whether the program would raise housing and demolition expenses. The bill was reported, again with some negative or without-recommendation votes. S.8595, dealing with how certain valuations and amounts due are calculated in foreclosure actions, was also reported. S.8672, the Employer-Assisted Housing Matching Grant Act, would provide a state match for employer housing assistance for certain nonprofit human services employers; members raised concerns about scope, possible double-dipping, and whether the program should be expanded to other workers, but the bill was reported with some negative and without-recommendation votes.
The final bill, S.94A, made a minor amendment to the Housing Access Voucher Pilot Program regarding priority applicants and unit inspections, and it was reported as well. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly emphasized that several proposals were optional for local governments or employers rather than mandates, and many of the exchanges focused on affordability, housing supply, local control, and the fiscal effects of the bills. No floor votes were taken; the committee’s actions were limited to reporting the bills to Finance, with some reported favorably and others reported with negative or without-recommendation votes.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 12 (1-22-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They get paid up to about $25,000 a year, and at the end of two years they have all their requirements
- all<00:30:41.600>
their end of two years they have all their end of two years they have all - To be eligible, you must be 18 years To be eligible, you must be 18 years old,<00:41:49.440>
- Friday, January 23rd, Year of Our Lord 2026. January 23rd, Year of Our Lord 2026.
- January 23rd, Year of Our Lord 2026.
Summary:
The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. During second reading, several bills and a joint resolution were reported to the Rules Committee, including measures on trauma center provider coverage, cremation, public library trustees, local occupational license fees and taxes, and a food-is-medicine resolution. The House also communicated passage of House Bills 176, 178, and 280 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced Senate Bill 39, Senate Bill 181 with a committee substitute, Senate Bill 17 with a committee substitute and title amendment, and Senate Bill 34.
The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 13, which would allow military installations to have ex officio representation on nearby planning and zoning bodies to improve communication about land use near bases. It passed 37-0. Senate Bill 46, concerning school transportation, was amended by committee substitute to require background checks and drug testing for drivers of school vans and to extend van use to 10-passenger vehicles; it passed 37-0 after a brief clarification about the amendment’s display in the system. Senate Bill 22, expanding the dual credit scholarship program to support a teacher apprenticeship pathway, was amended to require a 2.75 GPA and then passed 36-1 after questions about employment status and liability; the sponsor explained it would help address teacher shortages and reduce student debt.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 90, which extends the behavioral health conditional dismissal pilot program from 2027 to 2031 to continue offering treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for eligible low-level offenders; it passed 37-0. Senate Bill 51, a proposed constitutional change to freeze property tax assessment increases for homeowners age 65 and older on their primary residence, also passed 37-0. Senate Bill 30 was passed over but retained its place in the orders of the day. The rules committee later posted Senate Bills 27, 40, and 76 for the next day, and the Committee on Committees referred Senate Bill 109 to Licensing and Occupations, Senate Bill 68 to State and Local Government, and Senate Resolutions 45 and 46 to the Senate floor.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Conference Committee on HF2431 5/12/25
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:20:28.400>
the test the test the credibility<00:20:30.159>of <00:20:30.400>the< - I've been at Hamlin for about 20 years and have fulfilled this Title IX role for about 12 years.
- I've been at Hamlin for about 20 years and have fulfilled this Title IX role for about 12 years.
- Um, is that 39 in one year? No, that was over a four-year period prior to 2020.
- Um, and during that four-year period, we had 358 cases that we reported over that year.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Mar 4th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- An example I can give you: Dry years, you have to lose a little more water, but wet years, not as much
- I believe last year, the state of Oklahoma, we're harvesting approximately, I think, of I think the five-year
- Keep an eye on it and watch it next year and the following year, and let's make sure that we don't get
- over the past five years.
- , a minimum of 10 years.
Bills:
HB4246, HB4230, HB3617, HB3657, HB2976, HB3391, HB4459, HB4128, HB3989, HB2989, HB4060, HB3145, HB2992, HB3464, HB4246, HB4230, HB3617, HB3657, HB2976, HB3391, HB4459, HB4128, HB3989, HB2989, HB4060, HB3145, HB2992, HB3464
Keywords:
water rights, rural water districts, board members, training requirements, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, right to repair, agriculture, OEM, repair providers, documentation, farm equipment, parts availability, maintenance, labor, employment definitions, agricultural services, Oklahoma Workforce Commission, confidentiality, data access, environmental protection
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- years. 66 years. years. 66 years.
- and this is my 35th year. and this is my 35th year.
- Year after year they get killed. At least mine do. So, and I know many of you do.
- And do you know we end up in the same situation like every year? Every single year.
- These rules were not set last year, not this year. Okay, let's have a listen.
MN
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And then $250,000 every year thereafter.
- So a million dollars and then $250,000 every year thereafter...
- It has tremendous support this year.
- We've been working on this bill for like six years, and I think this year we're going to get it pushed
- We've been working on this bill for like six years, and I think this year we're going to get it pushed
Bills:
SB227, SB269, SB407, SB463, SB527, SB547, SB1283, SB1380, SB1383, SB1511, SB1640, SB1784, SB2069
Keywords:
school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with several members initially absent, then later established a quorum. The committee heard multiple bills, with most testimony focusing on access to care, insurance practices, senior safety, and health care worker protections. Several bills were laid out with committee substitutes, and public testimony was limited to two minutes per witness. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with no final votes taken in the portion provided.
Senate Bill 2069 would create a work group to study the feasibility of a statewide acute psychiatric bed registry; the substitute shifts appointment authority to the Health and Human Services Commissioner and extends reporting and sunset dates. Senate Bill 463 would expand workplace violence protections to additional hospice, home and community support, intermediate care, and state-supported living center settings. Senate Bill 1283 would require background checks and transparency measures for senior retirement communities after testimony about the Dallas-area serial killings of elderly residents. Senate Bill 1784 would require 60 days’ written notice before medical debt is sent to collections. Senate Bill 527 would require medical insurance coverage for general anesthesia for medically necessary pediatric dental procedures for children under 13 with qualifying conditions; pediatric dentists testified that denials delay needed care.
A major portion of the meeting centered on prior authorization. Senate Bill 1380 would eliminate prior authorization for a broad list of services, including emergency, primary, mental health, substance use, chemotherapy, preventive, pediatric hospice, and certain chronic-condition care. Physicians and hospice advocates supported the bill, describing delays, administrative burden, and patient harm, while health plans opposed blanket exemptions and argued prior authorization helps prevent unnecessary care and control costs. Relatedly, Senate Bill 547 would require insurers to report gold-card prior authorization exemptions to TDI and create a centralized database and annual report; TMA supported better tracking, while health plans warned of duplicative reporting and administrative cost. Senate Bill 407 would require health care facilities to honor conscience- and religion-based vaccine exemptions for employees, with testimony from a physician and vaccine-choice advocate supporting the bill.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 1383, which would regulate senior living referral agencies, allow more flexible compensation structures, and add disclosure and consumer protections; an out-of-state referral company and A Place for Mom supported it. Senate Bill 1511 would allow freestanding emergency centers to provide outpatient services in addition to emergency care, with consumer protections such as estimates, limits on facility fees, and restrictions on balance billing. The chair repeatedly announced that bills were being left pending after testimony, and no final committee action or recorded votes were taken in the transcript provided.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Four - Wednesday, May 6
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Public, public four years, public two years, public private, four years.
- Public four years, public two years, public, private, four years.
- That's now in the formula this year and last year.
- That's now in the formula this year and last year.
- This year, last year.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 107-1 roll call vote. Members then spent a substantial portion of the morning introducing guests, including family members, students, interns, nonprofit representatives, a park ranger recognized for life-saving work, and legislative staff being honored for service or graduation. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate refusals to concur on several amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on House Bill 2818.
The main floor debate centered on the conference committee report for House Bill 2002, the K-12 education budget. The budget chair explained that the report maintained record-level overall funding for the foundation formula but changed the mix of funding sources, including a reduction in capital commission dollars and use of blind pension funds, with possible later ARPA dollars to offset shortfalls. Several members argued the bill still underfunded schools by about $190 million and raised concerns about relying on projected or one-time funds; others defended the budget as meeting or exceeding constitutional requirements and noted record spending per pupil and recent increases in education funding. A substitute motion to send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report was then adopted 83-68; the bill was subsequently third read and passed 83-68.
The House then adopted and passed House Bill 2003, the higher education budget, by 119-28 on adoption and 109-32 on third reading. Debate there focused on restoring the governor’s recommended funding while directing higher education institutions to develop a new performance-based funding formula by the end of the year. Members generally described the compromise as a step toward a more sustainable model while preserving current funding levels. Next, House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27; discussion highlighted transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety appropriation that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The House then began debate on House Bill 2005, the Office of Administration budget, with members emphasizing IT accountability, state employee functions, and ongoing technology consolidation/deconsolidation issues.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Regarding the test.
- Every year.
- I think there was about a two-year backlog of complaints, at least 1,400 in at least two years.
- I think there was about a two-year backlog of complaints.
- We conduct approximately 40,000 background checks per year.
Bills:
SB1
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings.
The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors.
The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Agriculture Feb 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- THEY HAVE BEEN HERE ROUGHLY 200 YEARS.
- I'VE BEEN A BEEKEEPER SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD.
- WE HAVE INVASIVE THREATS FROM GEORGIA LAST YEAR. TWO YEARS AGO THEY HAD THE YELLOW BELLY HORNET.
- SINCERELY IT'S VERY INTERESTING. 400 YEARS.
- LAST YEAR IN 2024 THEY FOUND ANOTHER 40 TO 50 NESTS.