Transcript Highlights:

• > has The Committee of Conference has The Committee of Conference has submitted<01:16:02.120><
• Conference on H. 660? Conference on H. 660?
• Conference on H816? Conference on H816?
• of Conference on H816. of Conference on H816.
• <01:26:58.040> Thank Conference? Senator from Windham. Thank Conference?

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows medical into conference.
• including this bill in conference including this bill in conference committee<00:31:10.799> and
• see come back after conference see come back after conference committee.<00:34:26.240> I<
• <00:54:13.280> committee this issue um in conference committee this issue um in conference
• get discussed in conference committee. get discussed in conference committee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget drivers are, unless they come straight from an estimating conference, based on past legislative
• So this summer when we did our forecast, everybody is including, or every conference is including, a
• The estimating conference works with the same actuary that's used by the agency.
• Conference would assume, and therefore the plan assumes that you continue on the same path that we've
• There's—we asked that question at several of the estimating conferences this summer.

Summary: The committee met to hear Amy Baker’s presentation on Florida’s constitutionally required long-range financial outlook for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29. Baker said the forecast reflects slower but still positive economic growth, continued above-average personal income growth, rising wages, and population growth that is increasingly driven by in-migration as Florida’s senior population expands. She highlighted weakening housing-related revenue, especially documentary stamp taxes, softer consumer sentiment, and the expectation that Florida will pass 25 million residents by 2030, with nearly a quarter of the population age 65 or older. Baker said the outlook largely retained the March 2025 general revenue forecast, but the Legislature’s 2025 session actions significantly improved near-term funds available by redirecting or freeing up money, including contingency appropriations and reversions. She noted total state reserves are just under $15 billion, or about 30% of general revenue, and that the budget stabilization fund is at its constitutional maximum. The main spending pressures in the outlook were critical needs, led by a new emergency preparedness and response fund transfer and Medicaid growth driven mainly by medical inflation and behavioral analysis costs in managed care, not by caseload growth. Other high-priority needs were also identified, and Baker said the first year shows a projected surplus, but years two and three show shortfalls, meaning fiscal strategies will still be needed. Members questioned Baker about the accuracy of the forecast, Medicaid managed care costs, the emergency preparedness fund, federal funding assumptions, and whether recent federal legislation was reflected in the numbers. Baker said the outlook is a good representation of the total picture, though the Legislature will likely adjust it as conditions change, and that more information on federal changes would come in later estimating conferences. Senator Trumbull asked about the governor’s veto of $750 million, and Baker said it simply returned to unallocated general revenue rather than being spent or added to the budget stabilization fund. The chair closed by warning members to expect a difficult budgeting process and noting that the committee would adjourn without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Address it in conference committee.
• And so I think in conference committee, we put it in last session.
• So we might consider increasing that in conference committee.
• But either way, we'll have to discuss it in a conference committee.
• I mean, it's time to move it on to conference committee.

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met with all members present and took up several bills, focusing most of the discussion on SB 1577 and SB 1619, along with a detailed review of the HHS budget bill draft. On SB 1577, Senator Magrum explained that the bill was being revised to focus on wastewater rather than raw water, possibly shifting the Washburn project to the Department of Water Resources so it could access matching funds, and potentially converting the bill into a line of credit if federal money is restored later. Members discussed whether to keep an emergency clause or instead use a date-based approach, and agreed the bill would likely be handled through the full committee and possibly reconsidered later. On SB 1619, Senator Davison said amendments were still being worked on, including changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota, and the committee planned to hold it for possible amendment before full committee consideration. The bulk of the meeting was a section-by-section review of the HHS appropriations bill draft. Members discussed one-time funding items such as technology projects, child care programs, housing programs, behavioral health facility grants, infant and toddler care provider support, juvenile justice diversion, medical housing, and other public health and human services projects. Several adjustments were noted, including reductions or changes to IMD-related funding, incarcerated-person treatment funding, the child welfare technology project, and the provider rate increase. The committee also discussed the FTE block grant structure at length, with staff explaining that the apparent increase in positions reflected budgeting mechanics, zero-dollar “phantom” positions, and positions approved previously but not counted in the FTE total. Members raised concerns about transparency and whether the bill should list FTE numbers, but staff said the block grant was intended to give the department flexibility while quarterly reporting would provide oversight. Other topics included Medicaid expansion funding and provider reimbursement rules, the move toward certifying human service centers as certified community behavioral health clinics, a moratorium on new ICF beds, and studies or reports on Medicaid, obesity, disability services, truancy, and behavioral health facility grants. The committee also discussed removing or revising broad intent language in Section 31 so the department would report findings rather than implement changes without further legislative action. No final votes were taken in the transcript; instead, members agreed to make a few technical adjustments, continue reviewing the bill, and likely revisit it the next day before moving it to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• House request conference committee.
• Uh, I request that the conference committee on HP 1206 That the conference committee on HB 1206 be given
• Conference committee report. First report of the first conference committee on House Bill 1206.
• What happened in conference committee is they changed the words and said they They said shall confer
• Conference Committee report. First report of the first conference committee on Senate Bill 193.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is an item that, personally, I think we should conference on. Senator Davison?
• And then add it in conference committee. If we remember to do that. I'll remember.
• So we need to conference on all of them together.
• It's all, that's what you're conference about. That's what you conference about.
• We agreed on that in the conference committee.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met with all members present to review the medical services portion of the HHS budget. Sarah Aker, Executive Director of Medical Services, walked the committee through several budget items, including HCBS cost-to-continue adjustments, the DD bed assessment, expansion of value-based purchasing, targeted rate increases for home health and QSP services, and the cross-disability waiver. Members generally supported the targeted increases for home health and QSP, and Aker explained that the cross-disability waiver funding would support startup work, service design, and infrastructure ahead of a planned July 1, 2028 implementation. The committee spent significant time on rate-setting and provider payment issues. Members discussed ambulance rate rebasing, with several senators expressing concern that the proposed increase was too high relative to peer states; the committee ultimately moved toward reducing that item to $1 million rather than zero so it could be revisited in conference committee. They also discussed a House-added critical access hospital networking grant and similarly leaned toward reducing it to $1 million. Aker explained the department’s value-based purchasing plans, including use of a vendor selected through RFP, and clarified how the department’s existing Medicaid managed care and hospital value-based programs work. A major portion of the meeting focused on long-term care and basic care payments, including a House-added extension of the $5 per day basic care add-on and a proposed shift in nursing facility incentive grants toward a withhold-based model. Senator Mathern indicated he would bring an amendment to delay or modify the withhold change, and Aker said the department would prefer language that directly addresses whether a withhold may be implemented. Members also discussed 1915(i) services, FMAP changes, the Medicaid legacy system modernization carryover, and a House-added legislative intent section on medical assistance. The committee adjourned for the morning with plans to return later to continue Human Services budget work and revisit unresolved items in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The members of the House conference committee and the Senate conference committee agreed unanimously
• committee and the Senate conference committee and the Senate conference<01:54:48.000> committee
• We agreed to that in conference We agreed to that in conference committee.<01:57:04.159> Um
• report from the committee of conference. report from the committee of conference.
• of the committee of conference. of the committee of conference.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up S. 190, a health care cost-containment bill relating to the Green Mountain Care Board, reference-based pricing, and a study of a public employee health benefit authority. The House first suspended rules to take the bill from the notice calendar, then heard committee reports from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations. The Health Care committee chair described the bill as a strike-all amendment intended to carry out Act 68’s hospital reference-based pricing timeline, saying it would let the Green Mountain Care Board begin implementation for fiscal year 2027, expand reference-based pricing to qualified health plans and the Vermont Education Health Insurance program, and address hospital pricing transparency, outsourcing, and critical access hospital Medicare outpatient cost-sharing issues. Supporters argued the bill would lower insurance costs, help reduce property taxes, and improve hospital sustainability by reducing the need for hospitals to limit access as they approach revenue caps. The Ways and Means committee said the bill could reduce education spending by lowering health care costs for school employees and reported the bill favorably on a 7-4 vote. The Appropriations committee said it reviewed the bill and an amendment, and noted that much of the detailed language would be changed by the appropriations amendment; it also discussed a possible state innovation waiver under the Affordable Care Act. The Health Care committee reported its strike-all amendment favorably on a 10-0 vote. The bill’s provisions were described in detail, including requiring hospitals and insurers to express rates as a percentage of Medicare, setting a path toward national median hospital prices by 2030, limiting certain reimbursements for QHP and VHI plans, requiring a report on hospital outsourcing and provider tax impacts, and creating a public health system performance tool if funding is available. The speaker also noted that the bill would not affect critical access hospitals or Vermont’s Medicare-dependent hospital in the reimbursement cap provisions, and that critical access hospitals were already working with the Green Mountain Care Board on solutions to Medicare outpatient cost-sharing concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to the 24th Annual Legislative and Leadership Conference.
• The 24th Annual Legislative and Leadership Conference, looking out at all of you today, I am reminded
• This year's conference theme... ...to obtain our objectives.
• It does not stop here with this conference.
• Legislative and Leadership Conference. Thank you, Mr. McPherson.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona House and Senate held a joint protocol session for African American Legislative Day, opening with prayer, presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and performances of the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” A representative from the Buffalo Soldiers of America also used the occasion to correct the program name and ask lawmakers for help securing a vacant building for a museum to preserve and display its historical exhibits and community work. Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen welcomed attendees and said the event was an opportunity to hear directly from community leaders on priorities such as opportunity, public safety, education, affordability, and economic security. Representative Quante Cruz, chair of the African-American Legislative Conference, read a Black History Month proclamation and emphasized the importance of recognizing African American contributions and history. Ashley Anderson and Jerry McPherson of the Governor’s Office of African American Affairs highlighted the conference theme, “Made for This Moment,” and urged continued civic engagement, policy advocacy, and year-round collaboration with the office and community organizations. Senator Keiana Maria Sears delivered the main remarks, focusing on Black history, legacy, and the need to keep pushing for equality, economic parity, food security, and housing access. She spoke about the experiences of Black veterans, South Phoenix history, and the importance of teaching Black history and encouraging voting and civic participation. Representative Blackman also offered brief remarks about courage, faith, and the contributions of Black Americans to the country. The session ended with closing remarks and a benediction by Representative Cruz, who stressed building connections across districts and communities, followed by adjournment of the joint protocol session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is 10:25 a.m., and we're in Conference Room 224.
• Um, so, um, having conferred, we've drafted a CD1 with a clean date. Okay.
• And Confer Shimizu. Hi. And Confer Shimizu. Hi.
• Great. and Senate confer myself as chair, and Senate confer myself as chair, co-chair<00:04:40.000>
• We are on the 10:30 agenda, and we are in Conference Room 224.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• public hearing on Senate Bill Nos. 2969 and 2657 tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11th, at 1 p.m. in Conference
• <00:07:17.840> in<00:07:18.160> conference<00:07:18.639> room<00:07:18.960><
• <00:07:20.080> The 3 p.m. in conference room 016. The 3 p.m. in conference room 016.
• <00:08:04.479> The<00:08:04.720> notice p.m. in conference room 229.
• The notice p.m. in conference room 229.

Bills: SB2060, SB2342, SB2577, SB2580, SB2809, SB2397, SB2315, SB2442, SB2152, SB2380, SB2462, SB2055, SB2438, SB2533, SB2203, SB2087, SB768, SB877, SB1139, SB787, HB963, SB277, SB2663, SB2555, SB2140, SB2115, SB2761, SB2198, SB2032, SB2579, SB2671, SB2835, SB2356, SB2095, SB2093, SB2318, SB2323, SB2485, SB2309, SB2321, SB2405, SB2153, SB2129, SB2170, SB2259, SB2578, SB2544, SB2701, SB2861, SB2108, SB2089, SB2106, SB847, SB3326, SB2047, SB2695, SB2667, SB2919, SB2446, SB2146, SB2723, SB2210, SB2527, SB2645, SB3331

Keywords: rental housing revolving fund, HHFDC, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, mixed-income housing, mixed-income rental project, affordable housing, low-income housing, housing finance, housing development, preservation, rehabilitation, pre-development, construction financing, equity investment, credit enhancement, collateral, gap financing, area median income, AMI, perpetual affordability

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some other bills that are being printed for the conference committees.
• These are the conference committee bills that we're going to do. There are five on here.
• The conference committee adopted an amendment that stated the prorated refund only for digital goods
• The conference committee adopted an amendment that stated the prorated refund only for digital goods
• The conference committee adopted an amendment to the Senate engrossed version of House Bill 2003, which

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we may consider that in conference committee.
• We think we need to have conversation with the House and Conference Committee.
• I suggested in the conference committee that we have a 2% increase each year.
• And as you said, we will have conference time.
• We all still get to choose whether we accept the conference committee report or the bill.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1012, the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Senator Dever walked through the amended budget, highlighting a roughly $5.85 billion all-funds total, major one-time items for IT, child care, housing, behavioral health, juvenile justice, rural EMS, and supportive housing, along with funding for Medicaid expansion, CCBHCs, opioid settlement uses, and several studies and reporting requirements. Members discussed the provider inflation increase, with Senator Mathern urging a 2%/2% rate instead of 2%/1.5%, but the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment and then passed the amended bill 15-0 with a do-pass recommendation. Senator Dever was named as carrier. The committee then considered House Bill 1540, a school choice/education savings account-style bill. Senator Shibley explained the subcommittee amendments, including clarifying the Bank of North Dakota as administrator, adding a means test at 400% of the federal poverty guideline, and adjusting the fiscal note to about $21.7 million for the second year. In debate, members raised concerns about the bank being assigned duties outside its normal role, the lack of DPI involvement, and whether the means test should be tiered rather than a hard cutoff. The committee rejected a do-not-pass motion 5-10-1, then approved a do-pass motion on the amended bill 9-6-1, with Senator Wobama noted as the likely carrier. The meeting ended with the chair announcing the committee would adjourn and reconvene the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee will now come to order.
• I'd like to first welcome Senator Brodeur, Senate members, and House members to the Conference Committee
• To chair the Conference Committee on Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government and House
• Is there any public comment or anyone wishing to address the conference committee? All right.
• Seeing no further business at the conference committee, Senator Trumbull moves, 'We adjourn.'

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee convened and was formally organized by adopting motions naming Representative Snyder as chair and Senator Brodeur as vice chair. Members were provided original side-by-side documents showing the starting positions for the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bills. Senator Brodeur presented the Senate’s offer to the House on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, projects, and the Senate conforming bill, SB 2506E, which concerns fuel taxes. He noted that highlighted figures in the budget spreadsheet reflected Senate movement. The House said it would review the offer and return with a response, and both chambers expressed a willingness to continue working through the budget issues. There was no public comment. Members were told to watch for notice of the next meeting, likely the following day, with a one-hour notice requirement. The committee then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee will now come to order.
• I'd like to first welcome Senator Brodeur, Senate members, and House members to the Conference Committee
• To chair the Conference Committee on Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government and House
• Is there any public comment or anyone wishing to address the conference committee? All right.
• Seeing no further business at the conference committee, Senator Truenow moves that we adjourn.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee convened and was formally organized by adopting motions naming Representative Snyder as chair and Senator Brodeur as vice chair. Members were told that an original side-by-side packet had been provided showing the starting positions for the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bills. Senator Brodeur then presented the Senate’s offer to the House on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, projects, and the Senate conforming bill, SB 2506E, which relates to fuel taxes. He noted that highlighted figures in the budget spreadsheet showed where the Senate had moved. The House said it would review the offer and return with a response, and both sides expressed a willingness to continue working through the budget issues. There was no public comment. Members were advised to watch for notice of the next meeting, likely the following day, with one-hour notice. Senator Truenow moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care is called to order.
• I'd like to welcome Representative Andrade, House members, and Senate members to the conference committee
• I move to nominate Senator Trumbull to chair the Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human
• Anyone wishing to speak before the conference committee? I'm seeing none.
• Anyone wishing to speak before the conference committee? I'm seeing none.

Summary: The Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care convened, organized itself, and adopted motions naming Senator Trumbull as chair and Representative Andrade as vice chair. The chair explained that conference starting-point documents for the budget spreadsheet, projects, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bills were posted for reference, showing each chamber’s positions as they came off the floor. The Senate presented an offer to the House on the budget spreadsheet, projects, proviso, and back of the bill. The chair said blue rows reflected items already agreed to, while yellow-highlighted rows showed the Senate’s offer, and described the proposal as a good-faith effort to move toward the House position. Representative Andrade said the House would review the offer and respond within a few hours. There was no public comment. Members were reminded to watch for notice of the next meeting, with one-hour notice expected, and the committee adjourned without further business or votes beyond the organizational motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
• I move to nominate Representative Schof to chair the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference
• I move to nominate Representative Schof to chair the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference
• We look forward to working with you and the rest of the conference committee over the next few days to
• Anyone wishing to address the conference committee? All right, seeing none.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome everyone to the Conference Committee on House State Administration Budget.
• I want to welcome Senator Broder, Senate members, and House members to the Conference Committee.
• The Conference Committee on House State Administration Budget and Senate Agriculture, Environment, and
• Is there any public comment or anyone wishing to address the conference committee?
• Is there any public comment or anyone wishing to address the conference committee? I like it.

Summary: The Conference Committee on the House State Administration Budget and the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations met to organize the committee and begin budget negotiations. Representative Maggard was nominated and approved as chair, and Senator Broder was nominated and approved as vice chair. Members were given the initial side-by-side budget materials, including the starting positions, the House offer, and related proviso, back-of-the-bill, implementing, and conforming bill documents. The House presented its first offer to the Senate on the budget, proviso projects, and back-of-the-bill items, saying it had moved closer to the Senate on several issues and identifying changes in the highlighted budget figures. Senator Broder said the Senate would review the offer and respond later, likely not that evening. The Senate then presented an offer to the House on its conforming bill, SB 2508E, concerning the State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System, and the House said it would review and follow up. There was no public comment. Members were told to watch for notice of the next meeting, possibly the following day, and were reminded they were on one-hour notice. The committee then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic
• I move to nominate Representative Schof to chair the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference
• I move to nominate Representative Schof to chair the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference
• We look forward to working with you and the rest of the conference committee over the next few days to
• Anyone wishing to address the conference committee? All right, seeing none.

Summary: The House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to organize the conference and begin budget negotiations. Members unanimously adopted motions naming Representative Schof as chair and Senator DeSigley as vice chair. Staff then presented the initial side-by-side comparison of the TED conference budget materials, including spreadsheets, projects, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bill, along with a House offer to the Senate. The House noted that gray rows reflected items already agreed to and black-highlighted rows showed changes in the House offer, which was described as a good-faith effort to move toward Senate positions. Senator Hooper said the Senate would review the offer and respond after working through the first proposal, noting that initial offers typically take time to evaluate. No public comment was offered. The committee announced it was on one-hour notice for the next meeting and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• hold that through in the conference hold that through in the conference committee,<00:15:47.760>
• That'll go through in conference That'll go through in conference committee<00:15:56.480> and
• That will go to conference. That bill will not come back from conference.
• We want to keep conference committee.
• <00:33:32.720> later there is that press conference later there is that press conference later

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Their work will enable the impact conferences to score proposals in a timely manner.
• Their work will enable the impact conferences to score proposals in a timely manner.
• Tab 3, which is the GR Revenue, or the presentation on the GR Revenue Conference.
• So when we go into a conference cycle, we look at a couple of things.
• So when we met last time for the General Revenue Conference in August, we had data General Revenue Conference

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met for its first meeting of the session, with a quorum present and several members excused. Chair Avila opened by framing the committee’s main focus as property tax relief and housing affordability, noting the complexity of any changes to Florida’s long-standing property tax structure and emphasizing the need to preserve funding for schools and local public safety. He also introduced new committee staff member Tamisha Black and thanked staff for summer work supporting analysis of potential proposals, including constitutional amendment concepts and other property tax relief ideas. Staff director Azar Khan then presented an update on the General Revenue forecast, explaining that collections remained above estimate but at a slower pace than the prior year, with recent economic indicators slightly weaker than earlier forecasts. He said the new forecast mostly reflected modest adjustments, with a notable share of the increase coming from earnings on investment rather than the usual drivers such as sales tax or corporate income tax. Khan also gave a detailed presentation on ad valorem millages, explaining the different millage types used by school districts, counties, municipalities, special districts, and water management districts; the rollback rate; TRIM notice and hearing timelines; voting thresholds for adopting higher millages; and long-term trends showing millage rates declining over time even as total taxes levied have increased. Members used the presentations to discuss property tax relief options and the relationship between local property taxes and state revenue. President Passidomo praised staff and Senator Bernard’s summer work on proposals. President Gaetz asked about converting homestead property tax revenue to sales tax and was told the rough equivalent could be around a 2.8-cent sales tax increase, though with important behavioral and distributional caveats. Senator Rouson asked about the decline in corporate income tax estimates, and Khan said it likely reflected changes in national corporate profit expectations and collection patterns, promising a follow-up. The Department of Revenue’s Lizette Kelly confirmed that TRIM data, including adopted millages, rollback rates, and maximum millage calculations, are collected by jurisdiction and can be provided to the committee. No bills were taken up and no votes occurred beyond adjournment, which was adopted by motion.