Video & Transcript Research : 'regional program'

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CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Act was a response to the deindustrialization and automation that devastated entire communities and regions
  • Act was a response to the deindustrialization and automation that devastated entire communities and regions
  • Entire communities and regions of this country starting in the 1980s.
  • Hello, I'm Chris Henning with United Auto Workers, Region 6, in support.
  • Let me begin by saying that AGC absolutely supports the development of apprenticeship programs and safe
Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on worker protections, AI in the workplace, bereavement leave, and construction labor standards. SB 909 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would increase public works contractor registration fees, raise prevailing wage and related penalties, and direct half of collected penalties back into the Public Works Enforcement Fund. Supporters said the bill would help combat wage theft and misclassification and strengthen enforcement; opponents argued the higher fees and penalties would burden contractors without fixing enforcement backlogs. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to Appropriations. The committee also approved SB 951 by Senator Reyes, which would require 60-day notice when 25 or more workers are displaced by technology and require reporting on AI-related job impacts. Supporters framed it as a response to rapid AI-driven layoffs and a way to gather real-time data; opponents raised concerns about small employers, proprietary information, and litigation. SB 947 by Senator McNerney, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” would require human review of automated discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and restrict predictive behavior analysis. Supporters said it would prevent biased or mistaken automated decisions; opponents objected to the inclusion of independent contractors, private rights of action, and other provisions. Both bills were advanced to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also passed SB 1149 by Senator Durazo, which would expand bereavement leave to cover a “designated person,” including chosen family relationships. Supporters, including AARP and a witness who described losing a long-term partner, said the bill reflects modern family structures; there was no opposition. In addition, SB 1185 by Senator Cortese, applying skilled and trained workforce standards to pharmaceutical facility construction, was approved despite opposition from business and construction groups who said there was no demonstrated safety problem and that the mandate could raise costs and reduce competition. Several other bills on the consent calendar were also approved, and all measures were reported out of committee.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Feb 19th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, at a time when concerns about fraud and abuse are surfacing across state programs, we must be
  • So again, I know that this is a regional issue.
  • They are facing a fiscal cliff, and it threatens transit-dependent riders across the region, and maintaining
  • At the same time, Across the region, and maintaining the service is critical.
  • Under his guidance, SCE developed the largest portfolio of renewable energy programs in the United States
Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and pledge that reflected on Japanese American incarceration during World War II and recent storm-related losses in California. The chamber then handled routine procedural matters, guest introductions, and several consent and file items before moving to floor debate on a series of resolutions and budget measures. The main policy item was HR 82, declaring February 19, 2026, a day of remembrance for the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Members from both parties and several caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing the injustice of Executive Order 9066, the importance of remembering civil liberties failures, and the need to guard against similar abuses today. The resolution drew some criticism of its rhetoric toward federal law enforcement, but after debate the Assembly added 72 coauthors and adopted HR 82 by voice vote. The chamber also adopted ACR 128, a resolution recognizing solidarity with Ukraine, and later passed ACA 7, a constitutional amendment related to government preferences, after a partisan debate over whether it would restore or prohibit discrimination. The Assembly also took up two budget-related concurrence items. AB 107, described as technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and adjustments related to Proposition 4 projects, passed concurrence 59-3 and was sent immediately to the Governor. AB 117 authorized the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to borrow up to $590 million from already awarded transit capital funds to support operating costs for BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain; supporters called it a bridge loan to stabilize transit, while opponents called it a bailout lacking accountability. The measure passed concurrence 52-16 and was also transmitted to the Governor. The session ended with adjournments in memory of former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, with members praising his leadership in city government, energy policy, and clean energy development. The Speaker then announced the bill introduction deadline and the next floor session date before adjourning the Assembly until Monday, February 23, 2026.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 Apr 29th, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • Amanda Coffey, and I own and run a non-public program in Collin County.
  • So we see them getting left in our programs with no transition.
  • I've had, I've got a gentleman that In our programs with no transition.
  • They weren't aware of a non-public program.
  • how the ESA program is initially administered.
Summary: The Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills focused largely on special education transparency, school safety, and student support services. Senate Bill 1908, by Senator Zaffirini, would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Board to study the feasibility of a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements, including regional portals for healthcare clinical slots, with a report due by December 1, 2026. A representative of the Texas Nurses Association and the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition testified in support. The bill was left pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then took up Senate Bill 111, by Senator Hall, which in its committee substitute was narrowed to a reporting bill requiring school districts to disclose legal proceedings involving special education due process complaints when legal fees exceed $10,000, rather than capping spending. Several parents and advocates testified that districts spend large sums on litigation against families of children with disabilities and that greater transparency is needed; some senators raised concerns about unintended consequences, including possible pressure to settle cases. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1551 on automated external defibrillators in public schools, Senate Bill 865 on CPR instruction requirements for certain volunteers, Senate Bill 1032 on the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and Senate Bill 571 on school employee misconduct reporting and access to the Do Not Hire Registry; each was reported favorably after committee substitute adoption and roll-call votes. Additional bills discussed included Senate Bill 1884, which would formalize and expand dedicated staff support for the State Board of Education and give the board chair hiring authority over that staff; members questioned whether it duplicated TEA functions, while a witness argued the workload increase justified the change, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 625 would replace the current half-credit economics requirement with a half-credit in personal financial literacy; educators and advocates strongly supported making the course required, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 582 would make TEA settlement agreements in special investigations publicly available when sanctions are imposed, and Senate Bill 2600 would bar transportation fees for students living within two miles of campus unless districts do not receive state transportation funding; both were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2751, which would require TEA inspections of non-public special education programs to consider medical standards of care and crisis-prevention training; testimony from a program operator described severe student behaviors and the need for more flexibility, and the bill was left pending after the substitute was adopted.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • And administer their Medicaid programs.
  • administer the Medicaid program. administer the Medicaid program.
  • You have organized your state by region. I think you have eight or nine regions in Kentucky.
  • They are among our highest cost drivers in the Medicaid program.
  • in the Medicaid program. in the Medicaid program.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs Mar 31st, 2025

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • , our homeless veteran program, our rural community and faith-based partnerships, provider training program
  • , and our suicide prevention program.
  • Uh, the cost for operating these programs has gone up.
  • So we're really trying to grow this program.
  • Hospital 1819, uh, the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant Program is an invaluable program that
Bills: HB101
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Ways and Means (01/29/2025)

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • behind the tax credit program.
  • behind the tax credit program.
  • If we have programs to support them, and this program does that, we use it regularly.
  • If we have programs to support them, and this program does that, we use it regularly.
  • If we have programs to support them, and this program does that, we use it regularly.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the California Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife.
  • Thank you. needs and maintain stability in a high-cost region.
  • In the Governor's budget has been our arts and culture programs.
  • This program is growing.
  • Texas, for example, has 50 cultural districts and allocates $12 million to their program.
Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee heard several bills, mostly related to Proposition 19, voluntary tax checkoffs, and local tax authority. SB 288 would clarify that the one-year residency and exemption deadline for inherited homes held in probate begins when legal ownership is established; it received support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and others, no opposition, and was referred to suspense. SB 974 would explicitly include special needs trusts in Prop. 19-related inheritance rules; it had support from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. The committee also heard SB 575, which would restore the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund for voluntary tax return donations to sea otter conservation. Supporters cited sea otter recovery, research, and habitat protection needs; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 999 would delay the Franchise Tax Board’s annual report on the health care individual mandate from March 1 to June 1 to allow more complete data; Health Access California supported it, and it passed 5-1 to Appropriations. SB 762 would authorize certain cities and counties, including Hercules, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara, to seek voter approval for local transaction and use taxes to address budget pressures, public safety, infrastructure, and safety-net service cuts. Local officials, labor groups, and health advocates supported it, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposed it; the committee adopted the urgency clause and then passed the bill to Local Government with urgency, with some no votes. SB 1073 would create a voluntary tax contribution fund to support the Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District; arts advocates and community supporters backed it, and the bill passed unanimously to the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee as amended.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/25

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • is a big hole in the state grant program is a big hole in the state grant program so<00:35:37.119
  • and train and those training programs and train and those training programs will<00:52:26.000>
  • Just wanted to ask, the proposed cuts to some of the programs that includes the residency program at
  • to your program?
  • state Soldier assistance program state Soldier assistance program becoming<01:37:13.040> a
Bills: HF2090, HF982, HF2229
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • In that case, they'll entertain a motion to approve the training program. A motion from Aarrin.
  • This is actually the first hardship request we have had in the history of the grants program.
  • Please visit our website under the programs tab. Ok.g go/91.
  • So, it's it's a really great program.
  • So, Cowdoll County will meet the new director on April 7th in the regional Meeting.
Keywords: 914, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (02/25/2026)

Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Similar programs to this exist program.
  • Similar programs to this exist in<02:11:09.119> other<02:11:09.360> regions<02:11:09.679
  • program through end of season program program through end of season program evaluations. evaluations
  • Thank you for... programs? programs?
  • . program. program.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Legislative Session Day 25 (2-11-26)

Kentucky House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our students should have more access to pathways and programs that provide firsthand experiences with
  • Our students should have more access to pathways and programs that provide firsthand experiences with
  • Our students should have more access to pathways and programs that provide firsthand experiences with
  • <00:38:11.119> of<00:38:11.280> this seen it in every region of this seen it in every
  • region of this Commonwealth.<00:38:12.800> 2024<00:38:13.520> alone,<00:38:13.839>
Summary: The House convened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 94 members present. The chamber excused absent members, suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 136 and 183 and requested concurrence. The journal was approved, and several bills were reported for second reading, including measures on vehicle wheels, proactive post-secondary admission, choking prevention in schools, state parks, background checks, public post-secondary employment, tuition waivers, veterans benefits, and a resolution urging a federal accreditation pathway for veterans-benefits assistance companies. Committee reports advanced a number of bills, including measures on privacy protection, theft by deception, social work, licensed occupations, members of the bar, and alternative high school diplomas. The House then adopted House Joint Resolution 25, which declares Kentucky a “food is medicine” state and directs agencies to coordinate pilot studies and partnerships around nutrition, public health, and Kentucky-grown products; the resolution passed 95-0. The chamber also passed House Bill 66, as amended, on video teleconference meetings for agencies and boards. The bill requires posting board member contact information, permits video-only meetings for informational or routine matters, requires a physical quorum for final actions on law, regulation, taxation, and large grants, and allows agencies to set their own video-meeting procedures; it passed 95-0 after adoption of a committee substitute, floor amendment, and title amendment. House Bill 305, the grand jury service bill renamed the Crystal Rogers Act, was amended by committee substitute and floor amendment after a successful motion to suspend the rules for a technical correction. The bill strengthens grand jury confidentiality rules, prohibits knowing recording or disclosure by those present, and extends the statute of limitations for violations; supporters cited the Crystal Rogers case as the reason for closing a gap in the law. It passed 93-0. House Bill 432 on local purchasing also passed, 82-7, after committee substitute changes clarified the 75% threshold for used vehicles and equipment and updated rules for noncompetitive purchasing and local government flexibility. The House then passed House Bill 313, reducing the notice period for city utility franchise agreements from 18 months to 6 months, by a vote of 93-0, and House Bill 44, which creates a robotics program trust fund and grant program for grades 7-12 to support STEM and workforce training, by a vote of 91-0. The session concluded with motions and announcements, including the bringing up of House Resolution 60 from committee and a resolution recognizing February 11, 2026 as Recovery Advocacy Day in Kentucky, with remarks on overdose deaths, recovery efforts, and the importance of prevention and services. Members also announced upcoming receptions and meetings, and one bill, House Bill 372, was withdrawn.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 20, 2026 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • Management District, and I served as Assistant Director of the Department of Resources overseeing regional
  • ecosystem restoration programs such as Lake Apopka and headwaters of the St.
  • This bill includes an economic development program for Putnam and Marion Counties which almost equally
  • on state-funded lands from the reservoir to Silver Springs, and second: a local government grant program
  • This is at a minimum a regional issue.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Education Feb 11th, 2026 at 08:39 am

House Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Students in bilingual or dual-language programs.
  • Programs. That includes American Sign Language.
  • Chair, and our ASL programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and our ESL programs. That is wonderful.
  • We have robust language programs.
  • licensure,' that is the licensure program.
Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:34:04.440> in location of their exploration program in location of their exploration program
  • <00:35:43.280> with oversee their exploration program with oversee their exploration program
  • <00:36:06.839> and in their citing their program and in their citing their program and through
  • in the way we thought this um program in the way we thought this um program would<00:52:00.040><
  • <01:21:31.760> inspiring a bill for a grant program inspiring a bill for a grant program inspiring
Keywords: 1183, house
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/01/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And Alina Dosamantes, program coordinator with the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance.
  • designated 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists; and whereas national, regional
  • And whereas national, regional, provincial, and local governments around the world will celebrate the
  • He fostered the newly established Arizona State Partnership program between the Arizona National Guard
  • And whereas motorcycle organizations, safety advocates, veterans groups, rider education programs, and
Keywords: 1182, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/02/2026 - Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Military Affairs and Border Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • Gonzales's question, we have already started applications for this program.
  • We are already, as a state, not capitalizing on federal funding programs.
  • There's a federal program.
  • You're voted in to come and be a voice for that region, for those people.
  • Region for those people.
Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee met and approved the January 26, 2026 minutes, then took up several bills related to veterans, immigration, and border security. SB 1268 was described as an emergency cleanup measure clarifying that a 100% service-connected disabled veteran’s primary residence is fully exempt from property tax, including when jointly owned with a spouse; county assessors supported it as needed to fix ambiguous language before the 2026 tax year, and it passed 7-0. SB 1152 would make people with pending asylum applications eligible for state or local public benefits until asylum is granted; supporters framed it as limiting state spending on pending cases, while opponents argued it was redundant, could encourage racial profiling, and conflicted with humanitarian and economic considerations. It passed 4-3. SB 1156 would appropriate $20 million to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention costs involving unauthorized persons; supporters said local governments were bearing an unfair burden, while opponents said the money should go elsewhere and that the state was already spending heavily on border issues. It passed 4-3.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jul 2nd, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We run a legislator program, a young assembly member program, and this is my third year doing the Young
  • Assembly Member Program.
  • This is why I am supportive of many of the programs in this bill.
  • This is why I am supportive of many of the programs in this bill.
  • by Which would help reduce the delay of implementing all of these important programs by anywhere from
Summary: The Assembly met with an initial quorum call, then proceeded through routine floor business, guest introductions, and several procedural motions. Members approved requests to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, removed some bills from the consent calendar, and re-referred or withdrew several measures. The chamber also took up a number of second-reading and concurrence items later in the day. Two major bills drew floor debate. SB 762, a tax measure allowing eligible local governments to seek voter approval for transactions and use tax rates above the statutory cap, was presented as a response to local fiscal pressures and was described by supporters as giving voters local choice rather than imposing a tax increase. It passed with an urgency vote of 54-13 and was sent immediately to the Senate. AB 126, the education budget trailer bill, was presented as a major investment in TK-12 education, special education, community schools, and educator leave; one member supported many provisions but objected to policy changes affecting charter schools being included in a budget bill. The Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments on AB 126 by a vote of 56-1. The Assembly also concurred in AB 35, an urgency environmental protection bill intended to speed implementation of Proposition 4-funded projects by narrowing administrative delay; supporters said it would accelerate wildfire prevention, water, and other environmental projects. The measure passed unanimously, 66-0. The consent calendar was then adopted, including AB 2796 on criminal history information, which passed 67-0. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remarks honoring victims of a B-52 test flight crash at Edwards Air Force Base, former West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, civil rights leader Harold Brown, educator and activist Kiyoko Nancy Oda, and Auburn Mayor John Mike Holmes, followed by announcements of summer recess and adjournment until August 3.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAM-GVO, WAM-WLA Informational Briefings 01-13-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . programmed. programmed.
  • Program. Program.
  • So, huge interest for that<01:48:15.240> program. that program. that program.
  • in the REPI program. in the REPI program.
  • Which<02:42:08.400> program? Which program? Which program? It's<02:42:09.720> open.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, there's a Indian Scholars Program.
  • <00:04:44.960> That's program management companies. That's program management companies.
  • the priority for work study programs the priority for work study programs given<00:08:14.400>
  • program to cover these fees? program to cover these fees?
  • So the program is now uh in the program.
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Apr 9th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Bridge Program. $1.4 million for the VPK program, $4.1 million for the VPK Summer Bridge Program, $3.3
  • program, and $182.6 million for the SHIP program.
  • I saw that on the My Safe Florida Home program, we put $100 million into the regular program.
  • programs that we’re just providing?
  • Scholarship programs.
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.