Transcript Highlights:

• Military Affairs, after consideration on the merits, recommends the following: Senate Bill 30 be postponed
• Senate<00:20:32.880><c> Bill</c><00:20:33.200><c> 30</c><00:20:33.440><c> be</c><00:20:33.679><c> postponed
• </c> Senate Bill 30 be postponed Senate Bill 30 be postponed indefinitely. indefinitely. indefinitely

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill is temporarily postponed.
• That bill is temporarily postponed.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed.
• So that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• So that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and included several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate measures before final passage. The first major bill, health care patient protection, required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, a pediatric emergency care coordinator, and readiness assessments; it passed 36-0. A public records bill protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim also passed after questions about access for victims of police misconduct, with a 33-4 vote. The Senate next approved a local government cybersecurity bill creating a state-administered program through Florida Digital Service to help counties and cities strengthen cyber defenses, with priority for rural and fiscally constrained governments; after amendments, it passed 37-0. A clerks of court bill allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and, through a House amendment, revising legal notice and traffic citation distribution provisions, passed 38-0 despite debate over impacts on municipalities and law enforcement. The chamber also passed a trademark modernization bill and a septic system permit bill intended to reduce delays for builders; the septic bill was amended to align the House and Senate versions and passed 38-0. The longest and most contested item was the elections bill, which updated citizenship verification procedures using REAL ID and state databases, changed candidate qualification rules, and altered election administration provisions. Numerous amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to exempt certain seniors, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, allow attestations in place of documentary proof of citizenship, and require human review over automated systems. One amendment to delay implementation until July 1, 2027, was also debated. The transcript ends while debate is still underway on the elections measure, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is temporarily postponed.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• That bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• So that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.

Summary: The Senate first handled a large batch of executive appointments reported by the Ethics and Elections Committee. Senators debated several nominees, with some members objecting to particular appointees over their views or past conduct. The report on the first group of appointments was adopted 31-0, and Jeffrey Aaron’s separate confirmation to the Public Employee Relations Commission was approved 26-10 after extended debate centered on his role as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and allegations that he helped facilitate the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds into political activity. The chamber then considered Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. Supporters praised her work on Medicaid directed payments and hospital funding, while opponents criticized her prior tenure at the Department of Children and Families, citing problems with Medicaid redeterminations, postpartum coverage, Hope Florida oversight, and a women’s shelter case. The Senate adopted her confirmation report 32-5. Next, Taylor Hatch’s confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families was taken up; the committee report noted ongoing concerns about SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, audits, and Hope Florida, but recommended confirmation based on her stated commitments to reform. After debate over DCF’s performance and accountability, the Senate adopted her confirmation report 33-4. After a brief recess, the Senate held a recognition ceremony for outgoing President Kathleen Passidomo. Senators from both parties offered lengthy remarks praising her leadership, diligence, humor, and support for members, often recalling personal interactions and her role in shaping legislation and mentoring newer senators. The ceremony emphasized her service as Senate President and continued leadership as Rules Chair, and included a presentation of a handmade keepsake box filled with letters and mementos from staff and colleagues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show the bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• That bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• So that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Let's get ready to temporarily postpone. Show that bill temporarily postponed.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eight percent for a mortgage. Who can afford that?
• Proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed.
• Pursuant to clause 8 of Rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
• Proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed.
• Votes will be previously postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair Brodeur: OHHH HIGH DRAMA SHOW THAT TEMPORARILY POSTPONED. >> CAN I OBJECT? COME ON!
• [CROSSTALK] >> Chair Brodeur: SHOW THAT BILL TEMPORARILY POSTPONED. >> SEN.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill. Senate Bill 6.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Senate bill one bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing visitors, students, local officials, and professional groups in the gallery. The chamber then took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee confirming 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted by a vote of 36-0. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and funding. The bulk of the meeting was spent on special-order bills, many of them open-government sunset review measures and policy bills. The Senate passed bills preserving or updating public records exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; a commercial driving schools bill; a human trafficking training requirement for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; a nature-based coastal resiliency bill with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve; a chiropractic patient-funds bill; specialty license plate legislation; a one-time waiver for late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation changes; the Florida Farm Bill with amendments protecting Everglades lands and technical corrections; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders; disability presumption clarifications for firefighters and law enforcement; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity changes; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and a blue envelope program; public post-secondary safety policy requirements; and a bill allowing licensed agents to market health care sharing ministries. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. Members debated a number of measures, especially the health care sharing ministries bill, where opponents raised consumer-protection and commission concerns and supporters argued for free speech, religious liberty, and expanded consumer choice; it passed 32-5. Other debated bills included the autism law enforcement bill, the school athletics bill addressing coach support for student-athletes, and the Farm Bill, where senators discussed surplus land safeguards and biosolids timing. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 37-0 or 38-0, with a few closer votes such as the patriotic displays bill (36-2) and the health care sharing ministries bill (32-5).

Transcript Highlights:

• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Senate bill one bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.
• Show the bill temporarily postponed. Senators, that's the end of our business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time.
• Pursuant to clause 8 of Rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
• PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
• Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
• Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• from Starksboro moves that we postpone action on House Bill 648 for one legislative day.
• And you have postponed action on House Bill 648.
• Member from Starksboro. >> Madam Speaker, I move that we postpone action on H. 639 for one legislative
• The eyes do have it and you have postponed action on House Bill 639 until tomorrow.
• </c><01:26:13.920><c> action</c><01:26:14.239><c> on</c> have it and you have postponed action on have

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam, yes, show that bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. That bill is temporarily postponed. Read the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I move to postpone further consideration of House Bill 16 until 1 p.m. today.
• Chair lays out House Bill 16 as a matter of postponement of business on second reading.
• Members, I move to postpone further consideration of House Bill 16 until 2:30 p.m. today.
• Members, I move to postpone further consideration of House Bill 16 until 2:30 p.m. today.
• The chair lays out House Bill 16 as a matter of postponed business on second reading.

Bills: HB17 , HB16 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB 15 , SB 18 , HB17 , HB16 , SB10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB15 , SB18

Transcript Highlights:

• It would take you 48 years to recoup that money as a residential ratepayer from your mortgage.
• It would take you 48 years to recoup that money as a residential ratepayer from your mortgage.
• It would take you 48 years to recoup that money as a residential ratepayer from your mortgage.
• It would take you 48 years to recoup that money as a residential ratepayer from your mortgage.
• Of course they would, but not in exchange for a $211 increase to your rent and mortgage.

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill is temporarily postponed.
• That bill is temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed.
• Show the bill temporarily postponed. Senators, if I could have your attention.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill replaces the 1% cap of the Property Tax Postponement Program with a fixed annual allocation
• of up to 300,000 for manufactured home postponements.
• This bill replaces the 1% cap of the Property Tax Postponement Program with a fixed annual allocation
• of up to 300,000 for manufactured home postponements.
• of up to 300,000 for manufactured home postponements.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. That's it, members. That's it, members.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. Please read the next bill.
• Show that bill temporarily postponed. That's it, members. That's it, members.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time.
• Further proceedings on this question will be postponed. &gt;&gt; I ASK.
• Further proceedings on this question will be postponed. STANDING UNTIL COUNTED A SUFFICIENT NUMBER.
• FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
• Proceedings will resume on motions to suspend the rules previously postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It isn't like, you know, I've got a mortgage and expenses and taxes and insurance, and you're going to
• have a Capital Program Committee that doesn't take a vote because they're frustrated, and you don't postpone

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Summary: The committee met to review MassDOT’s failed service plaza procurement and the Inspector General’s findings. Chair Montigny opened with a broad critique of procurement culture, conflict-of-interest risks, and the need for stronger oversight, saying the committee’s role is bipartisan and investigative and that subpoenas would be used if necessary. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro then summarized his investigatory letter, saying MassDOT had created procedures that could have supported a fair process but did not follow them. He identified eight major problems, including inadequate conflict-of-interest disclosures, undisclosed relationships and communications with Applegreen and Suffolk Construction, violations of contact rules, inconsistent weighting of evaluation subfactors, weak documentation of scoring, unclear information-sharing with subject matter experts, live roll-call scoring that increased perceived bias, and insufficient board/committee review before approval. He recommended clearer disclosure forms, stronger training, better documentation, sealed scoring, clearer rules for internal communications, and more public board involvement. Committee members pressed the Inspector General on whether the conduct violated law, how to define and police “appearance” of conflicts, whether employees should be held accountable, and whether prior evaluators should be excluded from the new process. Shapiro said his report did not conclude that laws were violated, but that the process was seriously flawed and that accountability should be handled within agencies. He also said he would provide additional written recommendations on broader procurement standards and noted that some oversight functions may need clearer definitions and better recordkeeping across agencies and quasi-public entities. The chair and members emphasized that the problems appeared systemic rather than limited to one administration or one contract. MassDOT Interim Secretary Phil Ting and Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver then described the new procurement approach. They said the prior process had been a failure, but that the new effort is a complete reset with no one from the prior evaluation participating. MassDOT plans to split the plazas into three geographic packages, use a design-build/public-private partnership framework, and create a P3 Commission with appointments from the governor, legislative leaders, and treasurer, plus review by the Inspector General and Attorney General. They said the new scoring will be more objective, with financial scoring set at 60% and based on a guaranteed maximum price and other mathematical measures rather than projected revenues, and that technical and financial evaluations will be separated in a double-blind process. Members signaled cautious support for the changes but continued to question whether the new structure and oversight will be enough to prevent a repeat of the earlier procurement failures.