Transcript Highlights:

• Alrighty, uh, today, uh, we'll hear from agencies and associations under the committee's jurisdiction
• The agency is primarily funded by maintenance taxes and fees paid by insurance companies.
• Some of these things we don't control.
• So we don't really control that. We don't really control inflation. At least not in this committee.
• TWIA is not a state agency. We are a not for profit insurance association.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:39.799> agreements or that those inter agency agreements or that those inter agency
• <00:24:31.440> is I don't see where the agency is I don't see where the agency is encouraged
• agencies Senator thank you Mr chair yeah agencies Senator thank you Mr chair yeah I<01:27:53.840>
• those after we're separate agency those after we're separate agency starting<01:37:31.960> July
• effectively creating a um rent control effectively creating a um rent control mechanism<03:12:04.160>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, not only can state government agencies get to it, but local government agencies, federal government
• get to it, but local government agencies get to it, but local government agencies,<00:03:24.959>
• federal<00:03:25.280> government<00:03:25.599> agencies, agencies, federal government
• agencies, agencies, federal government agencies, and<00:03:26.480> anybody<00:03:26.879> in
• We received with agency partners.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings after a motion and second, then heard a presentation from Kent Annis and Boyd Sheerer of the Kentucky Division of Geographic Information on the state’s “KY from Above” aerial imagery and elevation program. The presenters described the program’s goals of creating openly accessible statewide imagery and elevation basemaps, reducing duplicative local and state spending, and supporting uses such as transportation, emergency response, utilities, broadband planning, property taxation, economic development, and education. They said the data is owned by the Commonwealth, distributed in the public domain, and has strong return on investment, with statewide ortho imagery coverage completed in 2022 and elevation phases completed or underway in multiple stages. The witnesses emphasized that the program relies on cost-sharing among state, local, and federal partners and that a small state “seed” appropriation is needed to leverage larger federal contributions. They said about $300,000 a year in seed money could help secure additional federal funds, while a three-year imagery refresh cycle would cost about $5.7 million annually and storage/processing about $150,000 a year. They also noted that no subscription fee is charged for access, opposed charging for use of the data even by for-profit users, and said the program is intended as an economic development tool that avoids multiple entities paying for the same geography. Members asked about the funding request, the potential federal match, and whether the state should charge private companies for access. The witnesses explained that the requested amount was for aerial photography and LAR seed money, that federal funds would not cover aerial photography directly, and that the program already uses a cost-share model with 28 partners rather than subscriptions. They also clarified that imagery is refreshed every three years and elevation data on a longer cycle, with elevation prioritized because it supports accuracy for roads, water lines, and broadband planning. The presentation concluded with no formal vote on the program itself; after questions ended, the chair thanked the witnesses and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just recently started overseeing the Standing Rock Law Enforcement Agency, as of my third week.
• This year, Standing Rock Agency has a school resource officer.
• This is my third week overseeing this agency again.
• So we have three tribally controlled schools, one in North Dakota and two in South Dakota.
• We have the Turtle Mountain High School, which is a tribally controlled grant school.

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock and heard extensive comments from tribal council members, state legislators, and tribal program leaders about ongoing state-tribal coordination issues. Early discussion focused on the committee’s purpose, the need for better communication, and frustration that the meeting agenda and time allotted did not include enough state department heads or program experts to address child welfare, ICWA, Medicaid, and other human services concerns. Tribal leaders emphasized that Standing Rock wants more direct, regular communication and more practical follow-through from prior meetings. A major theme was health and human services, including concerns that the state’s rural health transformation efforts and human service zone structure do not fit tribal needs, especially for a direct-service tribe that relies on federal funding and Indian Health Service. Members also raised foster care delays, housing shortages that force children off-reservation, substance abuse treatment capacity, and the need for cultural competency in child welfare and education. Other issues included missing and murdered Indigenous people, law enforcement cooperation, extradition and banishment ordinances, cross-deputization, roads, water and sewer infrastructure, census accuracy, and the need for updated lists of tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes. Economic development and sovereignty issues were also discussed. Standing Rock leaders raised concerns about e-pull-tabs and charitable gaming, saying state regulation has reduced tribal gaming revenue and that e-tabs should be treated as Class III gaming. They also objected to county-issued fireworks and liquor permits that affect reservation communities, arguing that state and county authority often conflicts with tribal sovereignty. In response, legislators said e-tabs and charitable gaming were likely to return as legislative issues and suggested possible solutions such as restricting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also discussed the need for more information on tribal-related bills and for legislators to receive cultural and treaty training. Several tribal projects and programs were presented. Joseph McNeil described Sage Development Authority’s 235-megawatt wind project, which is paused because of federal permitting delays, and asked for state support to move it forward. Dave Arshambo described Wojou’s land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, youth, and wellness programs. Later, Cheryl Carey of Sacred Pipe Resource Center introduced the needs of the urban Native population in Bismarck-Mandan and statewide, noting that many Native people live off-reservation and often fall through the cracks in state-tribal discussions. The committee adjourned for lunch and planned to continue with additional presentations afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh through the agency and our partners. uh through the agency and our partners.
• the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency represent<00:05:24.600
• what we do as an agency. what we do as an agency.
• But some of the things you agencies.
• problem and focus what's in our control. problem and focus what's in our control.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:20.480> to payments from one government agency to payments from one government agency
• This removed those the agency model.
• <01:41:22.560> That's idea who controls the entity. That's idea who controls the entity.
• <01:43:50.239> So, ownership or control. That's it. So, ownership or control. That's it.
• <02:49:31.920> has<02:49:32.240> given agency has given agency has given it<02:49:34.160

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1699, empowerment scholarship accounts distribution controls.
• SB 1772, state agencies tribal liaison. Education. SB 1692, ESA's tutor safety rules.
• SB 1699 empowerment scholarship by accounts distribution controls. Education.
• SB 1772, state agencies, tribal liaison. Government.
• SB 1772, state agencies; tribal liaison. SB 1774, voting rights restoration.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also the chair of the new Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee in the House, and I'm here to
• Are most of those whistleblowers coming from one particular agency, like DHS, or what does that look
• So far, it's been a fairly broad representation across a broad number of agencies of government.
• Certainly DHS has—we've been in contact with people there—but it's not only state agencies.
• I'll tell you what they've told us is that you would have control of the oversight committee for the

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Kristin Robbins, chair of the new House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee, said the committee’s first public hearing was canceled and used the meeting to outline its planned work. She said the committee had invited DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead to discuss fraud during her tenure, but Harpstead declined, and the committee instead planned to hear from Bill Glan of the Center of the American Experiment about his fraud and waste tracker. Robbins framed the committee’s mission as oversight of state government fraud, citing the Feeding Our Future case and other ongoing investigations, and said the work was not partisan. Robbins said the committee would also hold hearings on specific areas such as CCAP and medical transportation, along with other issues raised by whistleblowers. She said she had heard from at least two dozen whistleblowers in the prior week, including people from multiple state agencies and private-sector grant administrators, and described efforts to protect their confidentiality. She also said she is authoring a bill to expand whistleblower protections and that the committee is setting up a whistleblower portal. In response to questions, Robbins said she had a private meeting scheduled with Harpstead before her departure from office and said the committee could schedule another hearing if the House is able to meet with a quorum. She said she hoped for bipartisan participation, emphasized that neither party wants taxpayer money wasted, and said the committee would continue meeting and organizing hearings as soon as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• options in a controlled options in a controlled environment<00:16:50.839> again<00:16:51.079
• So you'd have five or six from one agency and five or six from a different agency going to this regional
• or six from a agency and uh five or six from a different<00:21:43.120> agency<00:21:43.520>
• In 2023, there were 2,262 agency-initiated pursuits.
• Some individual agencies, law enforcement agencies, some county attorney's offices, they classify it

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Under this bill, they can still showcase dogs and cats that come from an animal control agency or a non-profit
• I'm speaking on what I can control. by two stores. OK.
• We don't want to be forced into buying a dog or a cat sourced from a government animal control agency
• That regulation is going to fall to animal control officers.
• The Texas Animal Control Association, so is that a government entity, city agency, or non-profit?

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• We were assisted the primary agency.
• <01:41:00.400> to local law enforcement agency to local law enforcement agency to intervene
• permit issuing law enforcement agencies. permit issuing law enforcement agencies.
• gun control advocacy organizations. gun control advocacy organizations.
• coordinating more with gun control coordinating more with gun control advocacy<03:49:33.680>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This display shows the comp ratio comparisons by agency. Not every agency is listed.
• years of service, again, for those agencies.
• There have been smaller programs on an agency-specific basis.
• PERS or TFFR, typically, are the agencies impacted.
• The bill allows eligible volunteer agencies, which includes fire departments and EMS agencies that meet

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts. After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at our agency on slide 4, we're a large agency. Uh, we have more than 32,000 employees.
• and a lot of programming to the agency.
• You've got another roughly 20,000 that are going through the other programs in the agency.
• You don't have that control to control your actions.
• We're a very small agency. We've got 41 people.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think and increasing agency funding.
• And I get that agency their increase.
• If you're interested in any of control.
• The bill put teachers and classrooms over bureaucrats and agencies.
• I wish I could say the same agencies.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Joseph Salana is intelligence agencies.
• what your private key is that controls what your private key is that controls your<01:02:40.799>
• I spent a lot of time working on our agency structuring as a new agency in the state of Wyoming, and
• structuring as a working on our agency structuring as a new<01:13:10.480> agency<01:13:10.880
• There was a lot of work to be agency.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Stable Token Study Commission held its first regular meeting, welcomed all remaining appointed members, and completed brief introductions from legislators and agency designees. The chair outlined the commission’s plan to use the first part of the enabling legislation as a “level-setting” discussion, focusing this meeting on the basics of blockchain, the current landscape for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, and leaving blockchain-based trust for a later meeting. No votes were taken. The main presentation came from Deanna Bario Zales of the Global Blockchain Business Council, who described stablecoins as increasingly converging toward fiat-backed or asset-backed models, with algorithmic designs viewed more cautiously. She said stablecoins are being used for payments, remittances, DeFi activity, cross-border transfers, retail use in high-inflation markets, and treasury functions, while noting risks such as peg instability, reserve transparency, counterparty and network risk, and possible capital flight from weaker banking systems. She cited growth in supply, wallet activity, and transfer volume, and said U.S.-pegged stablecoins dominate the market, with USDT and USDC leading. Zales also discussed tokenized real-world assets, describing them as digital representations of physical assets that can enable fractional ownership, liquidity, and faster settlement. She said the market is growing quickly, with institutional participation from firms such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, and projected continued expansion. She closed with an overview of regulatory developments, emphasizing the new U.S. stablecoin framework under the Genius Act, the proposed Clarity Act, OCC guidance, and similar regimes in the EU, UK, UAE, Singapore, Japan, and elsewhere, all of which she said are shaping compliance requirements and market development.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my question is, with regard to the agencies for person, for, for, Is with regard to the agencies
• All agencies will be under ASSET, including cabinet agencies, as I said.
• And assist each agency with the production And assist each agency with the production of a phased roadmap
• And also help us with agency assessments.
• state agency needs assessment.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects. Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:49.120> line the underground injection control line the underground injection control
• <00:02:53.120> line<00:02:53.400> to underground injection control line to underground
• injection control line to effectuate<00:02:54.120> the<00:02:54.239> bill<00:02:55.040
• <00:09:37.480> and their findings on how agencies and their findings on how agencies and departments
• <00:43:57.119> to Transportation or County agencies to Transportation or County agencies to

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in decision-making on a long list of Senate bills and adopted most measures with amendments or unamended, often with members voting aye and some recording reservations. Among the measures acted on were SB 40, SB 411, SB 436, SB 443, SB 447, SB 572, SB 583, SB 739, SB 742, SB 746, SB 816, SB 826, SB 830, SB 841, SB 850, SB 865, SB 952, SB 955, SB 1040, SB 1042, SB 1083, SB 1229, SB 1359, SB 1469, SB 1553, SB 1578, SB 1609, SB 1610, SB 1619, and SB 1641. Common amendments included deferring effective dates to 2050, adding sunset dates, adopting LRB technical changes, and narrowing or clarifying program language. Several bills drew brief discussion on policy details. SB 583 was amended to remove references to selling naming rights, leaving only leasing. SB 739 was discussed for its land exchange provisions and concerns about ceded lands and OHA revenue, but it was still adopted with reservations. SB 830 was amended based on DNR testimony to address reconstruction after disasters, excluding certain coastal hazards. SB 850 added State Council on Developmental Disabilities recommendations to address health disparities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. SB 952 shifted administration of a pilot program to the Department of Human Services in partnership with the Office of Wellness and Resiliency, and SB 1610 added requirements for utility connections and capped spending on the Ohana Zones/Cales-related program. The committee also heard substantial discussion on SB 442, which concerned returning retirees to state employment. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Attorney General focused on whether the bill should allow a shorter waiting period and how it would interact with current 89-day hiring practices, succession planning, and law enforcement retirement rules. After debate, the committee moved to decision-making and adopted amendments to include investigators, expand eligibility to hard-to-fill or succession-planning positions, and set a term limit for returning retirees with director approval for extensions. In a separate joint Ways and Means/Judiciary hearing, SB 716, SB 763, and SB 804 were also advanced with amendments, including organizational placement changes for DLE programs and Attorney General amendments to avoid retroactivity and contract-impairment issues. Several items were deferred, including SB 983, SB 1220, and SB 828.

Transcript Highlights:

• ING, Instruction in General Purposes, Research and Genomics. and Environmental Health, the Poison Control
• That's the last column is what the agencies have requested for FY 27.
• It looks like Carries Consulting and Rescue Agency bear a lot of that brunt.
• Pulling from the 2024 report from NUPAC, Category 6 focused on capacity development for tobacco control
• I'm just saying, collaborate among the different agencies to better utilize those funds where they're

Transcript Highlights:

• So this goes to all these agencies to create innovation within the agencies.
• How do we ensure that we're not reinventing wheels from one agency to another agency.
• similar in most ways to a different agency.
• this bill that says how one agency will work with the other agency.
• to develop those master plans within each of those agencies that Will, you know, and those agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• The ability to help control that cost for an employer creates those protections.
• both the agency and the senior living facility.
• VAERS is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Control, or CDC, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA.
• We cared that they wore gloves, masked appropriately, and followed infection control protocols.

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