Transcript Highlights:

• I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis.
• And I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis.
• We were, we were based on the acceptance of the committee amendments.
• The motion is do pass as amended to the Assembly Floor.
• The technical amendments are clarifying amendments, as spelled out in comment J of the bill analysis.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so the A1 is um just, like I said, largely technical amendments and also incorporates amendments
• Um, added section 31 in the amendment.
• <00:04:31.040> section amendment section amendment section 19.<00:04:34.320> Uh<00:04:34.639
• Uh so I will added in the amendment.
• It was a pretty lengthy that amendment.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions on the amendment? Seeing none, public testimony on the amendment? Amendment.
• Show the amendment adopted. We're back on the bill as amended.
• Are there questions on the bill as amended? Amendment.
• Show the amendment adopted. We're back on the bill as amended.
• Are there questions on the bill as amended? On the bill as amended?

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 13, 2025, for its first meeting of the session, with member and staff introductions followed by consideration of several tax-related bills. The committee first heard HJR 163 and its implementing bill HB 165, which would extend the homestead property tax exemption for quadriplegics to surviving spouses, similar to the treatment for surviving spouses of certain disabled veterans. Sponsor Rep. Tant and constituent J.R. Harding described the financial and caregiving burdens faced by spouses of quadriplegics. The committee heard supportive testimony from the Florida Association of Property Appraisers and members voted both measures favorably without opposition. The committee then considered HB 785 on heated tobacco products. Rep. Tramont said the bill would create a new tax/regulatory category for the product, and an amendment clarifying the definition was adopted. The James Madison Institute offered a resource on the issue, the Florida Retail Federation waived in support, and Ranking Member Eskamani said she had concerns about the excise tax treatment and would vote no. The bill passed 16-1. Next, HB 321, a property tax exemption clarification for homes for the aged, was presented by Rep. Smith as a technical “glitch bill” to align state law with IRS tax code and ease development of low-income senior housing. It drew supportive testimony and passed unanimously. The final bill, HB 503 by Rep. Botana, would cap local government revenue from local business taxes and require refunds if collections exceed the cap, with carve-outs for fiscally constrained areas. Local government and economic development groups, including the Florida League of Cities, the City of Winter Haven, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and the Florida Association of Counties, opposed the bill, arguing it would limit funding for public safety, inspections, economic development, and other services and create administrative refund problems. Several members supported the bill as a tax-cutting measure, while others warned of impacts on local services and revenue flexibility. The committee reported HB 503 favorably on a 14-5 vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment, please say I. amendment, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> I.
• Any other<01:08:13.039> amendments? other amendments? other amendments?
• ,<01:11:14.080> adopted reports, House amended, adopted reports, House amended, adopted amendments
• and further amend each of those items. and further amend each of those items.
• amendments that did change that. amendments that did change that.

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment? amendment?
• amendment number one? amendment number one?
• amendment number one in favor, favorable amendment, say I. >> Opposed?
• <00:23:27.280> Amendment explain amendment number two?
• Amendment explain amendment number two?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Four amendments are not permitted on conference committee reports pursuant to Rule 7.22(c).
• One, that the Senate received from its Amendment 629710.
• The Sixth Amendment says that we all have the right to counsel.
• It is a U.S. constitutional right under the Sixth Amendment. And the Gideon v.
• This amendment authorizes the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to amend the list of

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• with Senate Committee Amendment 1. with Senate Committee Amendment 1.
• 65 as amended. 65 as amended.
• floor amendment. floor amendment.
• Bill 66 as amended is passed. Bill 66 as amended is passed.
• Clark, do we have any new floor amendments? amendments? amendments?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think he does have a amendment. amendment. amendment.
• > amendment?
• explain the amendment? explain the amendment?
• The bill is amended. We're now on the bill as amended.
• So, I amendments.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that is my amendment. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Any discussion on the amendment?
• This is a revisor amendment.
• And I believe there's an amendment. And I believe there's an amendment.
• amendment? amendment?
• House File 4478 as amended? House File 4478 as amended?

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE IS A STRIKE ALL AMENDMENT. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS. WE WILL MOVE TO THE AMENDMENT.
• REPRESENTATIVE YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
• A PROPONENT OF THE BILL OR OF THE AMENDMENT? OF THE AMENDMENT.
• SO HAVING JUST SEEN THE AMENDMENT THIS MORNING AND GIVEN OUR HISTORY SO HAVING JUST SEEN THE AMENDMENT
• WITHOUT OBJECTION WE WILL SHOW THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED.

Transcript Highlights:

• Barcode 535388, delete all amendment. You're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you, Mr.
• Is there any debate on the amendment?
• Having waived close, all in favor of the amendment say aye? Yes.
• The amendment is adopted. Back on the bill as amended. Are there questions on the bill as amended?
• Is there debate on the bill as amended?

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard three measures focused on state finances. SB 1906 by Senator Brodeur would add a ninth element to the state debt reduction strategy report and create a program to transfer $250 million annually from the General Revenue Fund to accelerate retirement of outstanding state debt, while exempting the Department of Transportation and Florida Turnpike Enterprise. Members questioned the fiscal tradeoffs and flexibility, but the bill was supported in debate and reported favorably. The committee then considered SJR 1908 by Chair Hooper, which would amend the Constitution to raise the Budget Stabilization Fund cap from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections, require $750 million annual deposits until the cap is reached, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by separate bill with a two-thirds vote, while keeping existing rules for emergencies and revenue shortfalls. Testimony and debate centered on whether Florida already has sufficient reserves, how “critical state need” would be defined, and whether the new requirement would reduce flexibility during recessions or federal funding cuts. Despite opposition from advocacy groups and several senators, the resolution was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 7031 as the vehicle for the tax package and adopted a delete-everything amendment to place it in the proper posture for conference. As amended, the bill was described as reducing the state sales tax by 0.75%, lowering the commercial rent tax from 2% to 1.25%, eliminating the business rent tax, and creating permanent sales tax exemptions while preserving sales tax holidays. The amended bill was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is an amendment. Okay, let's go back. Who's got the amendment?
• Any further discussion on the bill as amended? So moved. The bill is amended, so moved.
• Is there any opposition to the bill as amended?
• We've got an amendment, I think, on HB250.
• We've got an amendment. Senator Madison, do you want to explain what that amendment is?

Bills: HB2, HB43, HB49, HB94, HB137, HB156, HB200, HB250, HB3, HB42

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, HB49, Alabama criminal code, capital offense, capital punishment, death penalty, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, child sexual abuse

Transcript Highlights:

• I have an amendment to this house bill, as soon as we get to BR. Clerk, say amendment.
• Okay, you've heard the explanation of the amendment. The explanation of the amendment.
• Please explain your amendment. We are amending their meeting.
• Okay, you've heard the amendment. The amendment is a friendly amendment. Clerk...
• The amendment is a friendly amendment. Clerk, lock the machine. Members will vote.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an amendment on the bill. There's an amendment on the bill, correct?
• Yes, we'd like to take up the amendment. Staff, could you read that amendment, please? Mr.
• Amendment submitted by Tedford. Thank you, sir. Without objection, we'll adopt the amendment.
• There is an amendment on the bill. There is an amendment on the bill.
• Amendment submitted by Sterling. Without objection, we will adopt that amendment.

Bills: HB3443, HB2123, HB3757, HB2445

Keywords: transportation, oversize permit, overweight permit, permit fees, motor carrier, commercial trucking, heavy haul, wide load, special combination vehicle, manufactured home transport, portable building transport, utility poles, rural electric cooperative, farm equipment, agricultural hauling, bridge formula, load limits, weight limits, road funding, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to the amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment?
• All in favor of the amendment, say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. The amendment is adopted.
• So back on the bill as amended, are there any questions on the bill as amended?
• Is there any debate on the bill as amended? Seeing none.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and considered two bills. SB 1594, by Senator Gates, would require veterans’ benefits accessed on behalf of foster youth to be preserved for the minor’s future use, specifically for post-secondary education or aftercare services when the youth leaves foster care rather than being used to reimburse care costs. The bill had no amendments, received one supportive appearance from Victoria Zep, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 1182, by Senator Jones, which creates the Florida Veterans and Military Spouses Business Development Act to provide fee relief and tax incentives for veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses. A strike-all amendment was adopted that added limited information-sharing between agencies, changed verification procedures, converted part of the tax benefit into a capped $100,000 annual exemption for five years, broadened fee waivers to some existing businesses, and kept annual reporting requirements. The amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee also held a confirmation hearing for three appointees: Matthew Bacchano, Tim Thomas, and Belinda Kaiser. No one requested separate votes, and the committee recommended confirmation of all three by a single roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members offered extended praise and thanks to Chair Wright for his long service and leadership, and the chair announced the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendments.
• amendments.
• with amendments, Senate Bill 742 with amendments, Senate Bill 929 with amendments, Senate Bill 943 with
• amendments, Senate Bill 1138 with amendments, and Senate Bill 925 with amendments. 1138 with amendments
• The 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendments—those were DEI.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do have an amendment, and I think we're going to try to do that amendment in concept.
• Chairman, I'll offer up that amendment. Is anybody got an objection to the amendment? Thank you.
• I'll offer up that amendment. Anybody got an objection to the amendment?
• I have an amendment, Mr. Chairman. We could read it in. You got the amendment.
• The amendment. Okay. All right. Can we accept the amendment and then move to the bill?

Bills: HR217, HB66, HB204, HB208, HB326, HB472, HB483, HB484, HB793, HB1051, HB1080, HB1087, HB1111, HB1215, SB78, SB148

Keywords: rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government

Summary: The committee met on April 29 and heard a series of local bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, planning boards, and other local issues. Early actions included adopting a three-minute rule due to the late hour and deferring several bills that were not to be heard that day. House Bill 483 was voluntarily deferred, while House Bill 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 78 on the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority was amended to correct a district reference and then reported favorably. House Bill 66, expanding Alexandria’s administrative adjudication authority for ordinance violations, was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief to reside in the village, was also reported favorably. The committee then took up several Shreveport blight-related bills. House Bill 1051, dealing with demolition of dilapidated residential property, was amended to allow the city to rely on reports from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and was reported favorably. House Bill 1080, a similar measure for condemned commercial property, was also reported favorably, with the sponsor noting he would consult the city attorney before floor debate. Senate Bill 148, allowing Lake Charles to pay a modest per diem to planning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably. House Bill 208, which would let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members, drew opposition from the police jury and failed on a recorded vote, 3-10. The committee also considered House Bill 1215 on the disposition of historical statues and monuments, adopting an amendment to prevent transferred monuments from being placed back in the parish where they were removed, and then reporting the bill favorably as amended. House Bill 793, a contested bill addressing subdivision plats filed without parish approval and the running of prescription, generated extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, the McCormicks, and a former appellate judge; the committee ultimately reported it favorably, with the author saying he would keep working on the language and send it to the Law Institute. Finally, House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization measures during declared emergencies, was amended to limit any local ordinance to the duration of a governor-declared emergency, tie increases to CPI, and cap the measure at 365 days; the bill remained under discussion with questions about its relationship to existing price-gouging laws and whether the committee should wait for a broader study.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Representative Bets has that amendment and also a technical amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment? Mr. Tillman has offered that amendment.
• Are there any questions on the amendment? And Mr. Bets has offered that amendment?
• it and a second to amend number to amend it and a second to amend number to amend it as<00:37:24.680
• Amendment. Is there a second to that amendment? Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Tillman.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• revisit the statute next year to amend revisit the statute next year to amend the<00:23:00.400><
• But with that amendment with that<00:43:48.240> amendment<00:43:48.800> as<00:43:49.040
• Um and the amendments after amendments.
• No amendment to that one. Um, resources. No amendment to that one.
• Any comments, my um amendments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety heard several resolutions, including HCR 944/HR 90 to request a gubernatorial proclamation designating Hawaii as a Purple Heart state on August 7, 2025; HCR 205/HR 197 urging Maui County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a permanent replacement for the Kulani Hakoi Bridge; and HCR 164/HR 159 urging counties to maintain an electronically accessible list of hurricane refuge shelters. No one testified on the first two measures. On the hurricane shelter resolution, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent and requested a wording change from “special needs” to “access and functional needs.” The committee then heard HCR 70, which asks the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand personal and professional development programs to include community service programs. Director Tommy Johnson said DCR supports the intent and described existing community service work lines at Kulani, the women’s correctional facility, and Wawa, including tasks such as pothole repair, tree trimming, and school grounds work. In response to questions, he said participation depends on inmate eligibility, volunteer status, and whether the work would interfere with programming; inmates must have no serious misconducts in the prior year and no escape attempts. He also explained that some work lines are tied to security classifications and facility type. The committee spent the most time on HCR 153/HR 148, which requests DCR to incrementally reduce the number of inmates housed in private out-of-state facilities. The ACLU of Hawaii strongly supported the resolution, arguing that private prisons are unsafe and that Hawaii should bring incarcerated people home. The ACLU cited federal findings and actions against private prison contractors, conditions at the Saguaro facility in Arizona, and the need for in-state rehabilitation and oversight. Director Johnson also supported the measure in principle but said population levels, security classifications, and available in-state facilities limit how quickly people can be returned. He said DCR provides annual reports on inmates eligible to return and suggested more frequent reporting could be considered. Committee members discussed benchmarks, quarterly reporting, parole, and reintegration services, and the ACLU argued that other states have reduced or phased out private prison use through sentencing reform, parole changes, and reintegration programs. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, I am bringing House File 1051 as amended, and the key point is, as amended, this is
• Chair. as amended so this um is a update to the as amended so this um is a update to the bill<00:01:51.360
• bringing this bill and this amendment bringing this bill and this amendment and<00:02:22.360>
• All in favor of the amendment? I... opposed? It has been amended.
• <00:21:55.440> to for as amended um it's been amended to for as amended um it's been amended

Keywords: 1183, house