Transcript Highlights:

• me to say we will pay you X for the property, and you're factoring in what the court cost and legal fees
• /c><00:26:23.440> cost<00:26:24.159> and<00:26:24.480> legal<00:26:24.799> fees
• <00:26:25.120> would<00:26:25.279> be the court cost and legal fees would be the court
• cost and legal fees would be so<00:26:25.919> you<00:26:26.159> still<00:26:26.320>
• They just don't want any of that fee on the over. >> I wouldn't think it would be. >> Well, no.

Bills: SB274, HB586

Keywords: cannabis, psychoactive cannabinoids, CBD, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, criminal penalties, youth protection, medical cannabis, HB586, Cullman, Cullman County, City of Cullman, annexation, municipal boundaries, corporate limits, local legislation, boundary adjustment, city limits, municipal expansion

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the first bill did have a distinctive license plate and it had a fee.
• So, the first bill did have a distinctive license plate and it had a fee.
• "On the tag itself." distinctive license plate and it had a distinctive license plate and it had a fee
• 00:36:15.440> free<00:36:16.000> just<00:36:16.240> like<00:36:16.400> a fee
• This one is free just like a fee.

Bills: HB303, SB360, SB325, HB477, SB329, HB381, SB330

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to select with an X for fee act, which is the manual override function.
• I select fee to the manual override.
• I'm going to select with an X for fee act, which is the manual override function.
• I select fee to the manual override.
• My first map results iselect fee to the manual override.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It talks about fees for architect, engineers, environmental consultants, attorneys, advisors, consultants
• And then it also removes some fees and updates some language on their Practice Act that they have asked
• <00:25:23.120> also<00:25:23.400> removes<00:25:23.800> some<00:25:23.960> fees
• <00:25:24.360> and And then it also removes some fees and And then it also removes some fees

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled a series of introductions and announcements. Members welcomed guests in the gallery, recognized the doctor of the day, and later made several announcements about memorials, committee meeting times, and calendar deadlines. The chamber also agreed to dispense with the reading of the journal and the titles of bills and resolutions. The body then took up multiple measures, mostly on the appropriations, rules, and general bills calendars. Among the bills discussed and passed were House Bill 941 on the Mississippi Healthcare Industry Zone Act, with an amendment changing the repealer date to 2028; House Bill 1633 on the Site Development Grant Program, with a strike-all clarifying eligible utility and site-improvement expenditures; House Bill 1404 on fraudulent utility conversion, with a substitute strike-all adding protections and criminal penalties related to landlords failing to pay tenant-funded utilities; House Bill 907 revising the timing for sample ballots from the Secretary of State; House Bill 867 allowing Ross Barnett Reservoir funds to be used for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention; House Bill 1558 revising compensation and reimbursement for the Tishomingo County Water District; and House Bill 514 revising the Veterinary Practice Act to protect certified veterinary technicians and update board membership and fees. Several other measures were also addressed, including Senate Bill 2648, which would let the MSU Extension Service assist poultry farmers with comprehensive nutrient management plans and was amended by the House to add Alcorn State University; Senate Bill 2637, on flexibility for the Northeast District livestock show location, on which the Senate voted not to concur and invite conference; House Bill 1069, the Mississippi Agriculture and Farmland Wind Tower Protection Act of 2026, which was amended to shift review of a waterfowl impact assessment to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and impose a one-year moratorium with a study committee; House Bill 1073, a consumer choice bill restricting bans on gas-powered farm equipment and lawn tools; House Bill 942 extending the chiropractic licensure repealer and allowing certain animal chiropractic work under veterinarian supervision; and House Bill 479, which extended temporary licensing timeframes for psychology and marriage and family therapy and added safeguards tied to background checks and qualifications. Most of these measures were adopted and passed by voice vote or by afternoon or morning roll call, with a few items retained on the calendar and several motions to reconsider or hold bills for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• There would be no points assessed uh because it's, I think, it was a $40 flat fee.
• was<00:47:09.839> a<00:47:10.079> $40<00:47:10.960> flat<00:47:11.280> fee
• I<00:47:13.599> look<00:47:13.680> at<00:47:13.839> this it was a $40 flat fee
• Um I look at this it was a $40 flat fee.
• We ran a bill last year that was opt in for credit card fees.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements recognizing visiting groups and advocacy days, including the Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented Students, Colorado Mad Moms, and a hidden-figure tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson. Members also announced upcoming committee meetings and special orders, and the majority leader moved several bills to special order, which was adopted without objection. The chamber then sat as the Committee of the Whole and considered four bills. House Bill 1071, concerning local governments locating automated vehicle identification systems on interstate highways, was adopted after a technical amendment removing counties from the bill language; supporters framed it as a local-control and safety measure, while opponents argued it functioned as a revenue-generating camera program. House Bill 1034, a technical fix to irrigation equipment standards, was adopted after committee amendments requested by CDPHE to clarify the bill and avoid unintended regulatory consequences; supporters said it corrected unintended effects from prior legislation while preserving water-efficiency goals. House Bill 1070, dealing with third-party network lease agreements for dental services, was adopted after testimony emphasizing transparency, provider consent, and consumer choice; supporters said it would protect small dental practices and require explicit opt-in for network leasing. House Bill 1136, creating a pathways to public service program in the Department of Personnel and Administration, was also adopted after an education committee amendment clarifying data and reporting requirements; supporters described it as a skills-based hiring and workforce pipeline bill, while an opponent argued the program was already functioning and did not need to be codified. The Committee of the Whole report was then adopted 41-20, with the four bills advanced on second reading and ordered engrossed, and the House laid over the remainder of the calendar until the next day before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why are we increasing that fee or you are Watch this debate. They could read the Senate analysis.
• Why are we increasing that fee or you are If they violate the no-strike requirement, why are we increasing
• that fee, or you are increasing that fee, from $20,000 to $40,000?
• do their job, and the unions do a good job in many of those cases of making sure that their legal fees

Summary: The committee took up several bills and confirmations. It reported favorably SB 332, as amended, on a narrow public-meetings/public-records exemption for legal strategy and settlement communications during the pre-suit period in Burt Harris claims; SB 464, requiring K-12 schools to formally observe Veterans Day; SB 984, clarifying firefighter cancer/death-benefit provisions and related prevention language; SB 576, expanding and codifying the local government cybersecurity protection program under Florida Digital Service; SB 964, revising how certain gifts and honoraria are reported to the Commission on Ethics; SB 1612, requiring local governments to accept electronic payments with exceptions and a delayed effective date; SB 830, creating public-records exemptions for certain local government administrators and their families; SB 1096, clarifying the filing deadline for Florida Civil Rights Act complaints; and SB 1656, designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship. The committee also considered a large confirmation package. Jeffrey Aaron’s appointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission was discussed separately after Senator Polsky raised concerns about his political connections and prior work; the committee still recommended him favorably. The remaining appointees on tabs 12 through 30 were also recommended favorably in one vote. The longest and most contentious item was SB 1296, with a committee substitute, on the Public Employees Relations Commission and public-sector unions. The PCS would change union certification/recertification rules, require a recent showing-of-interest form, create different voting thresholds for public safety and non-public safety employee organizations, limit paid union leave for non-public safety unions unless reimbursed, require equal access to certain employer communication spaces, and speed up impasse procedures for legislatively funded salary increases. Senators raised constitutional concerns, especially about the single-subject rule and collective-bargaining rights, and many speakers opposed the bill as union-busting and harmful to teachers, bus drivers, nurses, utility workers, and other public employees. Supporters argued it would improve accountability, ensure genuine member support, and prevent taxpayer-funded union activity. The committee continued debate on SB 1296 after extensive testimony, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The result is that trust assets are unnecessarily consumed by legal and accounting fees even when no
• educational setting in which the student was enrolled prohibits schools from imposing participation fees
• This amendment allows public schools to charge an activity fee based on the pro rata cost to the district
• And you're threatening them by leading them down with legal fees, too. Thank you for being with us.
• And you're threatening them by leading them down with legal fees, too. Thank you for being with us.

Bills: S0002, S0006, S0018, S0026, S0028, S0050, S0178, S0326, S0538, S0786, S1004, S1096, S1178, S1366, S1632, S1634

Keywords: negligence, settlement, appropriation, highway safety, damages, law enforcement, child welfare, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, compensation, law enforcement accountability, personal injury, motorcycle accident, Department of Transportation, legal claim, police negligence, monetary compensation, civil rights, city liability, veterans

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, most of them claims or civil-law measures, and reported each favorably. Among the bills approved were SB 326 on curators of estates, SB 1096 clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, SB 28 and SB 26 on claims against the City of Lakeland and the estate of Mark Legata, SB 6 involving a DCF-related claim for Layla Estrada/Sapphire Williams, SB 786 creating a nonjudicial process for closing trusts, SB 18 and SB 2 on claims involving the estate of McKenzie Navarre and Daniel Mosley, and SB 50 expanding veterans’ courts statewide. The committee also approved SB 538 on extracurricular activities, SB 1004 on pet sales and financing disclosures, and SB 1366, the sovereign immunity bill, which was presented as a starting point for negotiations with the House over higher claims caps and related provisions. Most of these bills were explained by sponsors as clarifying existing law, modernizing procedures, or resolving uncontested claims, and several had support from affected organizations or individuals; some also drew opposition or concerns from speakers, especially on trust notice issues, sovereign immunity, and the scope of the extracurricular and pet-sale bills. Several bills were amended before passage. SB 326 was narrowed by removing a section and changing reporting language for curators. SB 786 received a technical clarification amendment, while SB 18 removed an unneeded Medicaid-related section. SB 50 on veterans’ courts drew broad support from veterans’ groups and criminal-justice organizations. SB 538 on extracurricular activities was amended multiple times to address home education eligibility, activity fees for homeschool participants, technical cross-references, and compensation for extracurricular sponsors. SB 1004 was supported by animal-welfare advocates and consumer-protection interests. SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools was amended to limit the bill to head coaches, require personal funds, and allow similar bylaws by other athletic associations; it passed after discussion of a Miami Northwestern coaching controversy. The committee also took up two major policy bills with substantial testimony and questions. SB 1178 on foreign influence would create a state framework for foreign-agent registration, restrict gifts and contracts tied to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, limit certain sister-city and university linkage activities, and increase penalties for crimes committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist groups; supporters framed it as a national-security and transparency measure, while the sponsor withdrew one amendment before passage. SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles generated the most extended questioning, especially about its domestic-terrorism designation process, references to Sharia law, notice and due-process protections, and potential effects on students and speech; supporters argued it targets conduct, not belief, while opponents warned it could chill protected activity and unfairly target Muslim communities. The committee heard many public speakers on both sides, but no floor debate followed before the bill was moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• CCBHC is that the array of services is based on a community needs assessment, not just the generalized fee
• the prospective payment system, allowing us to cover costs that may not be traditionally covered in fee-for-service
• It's also one that's very difficult to bring up on a fee-for-service model, and so the CCBHC really enabled
• There’s a whole fee schedule that the state pays for non-Medicaid services.
• These rates and this fee schedule have not changed. They have not changed for at least four years.

Transcript Highlights:

• many families today face the impossible task of sending their child to college as tuition and other fees
• education for family members of disabled veterans by allowing them to receive the California College Fee
• UCs and community colleges can continue to charge you campus based fees, which are exorbitant.
• Sometimes it's the cost of tuition is just the campus-based fees, and so we need to be able to give veterans
• But our university system here has huge campus-based fees, this measure's going to help ensure that they

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• direct services and outreach to victims and survivors of human trafficking, and all of the fines and fees
• I just went over, all of those are directly ...of human trafficking, and all of the fines and fees I
• AB 1142 updates the maximum entry fees allowed for small public horse events that have not been updated
• This will allow smaller shows to charge the fees required to continue supporting themselves and local
• Providers consistently face barriers like restrictive zoning, site limitations, and costly permitting fees

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a long Daily File with several major policy bills and multiple commemorative resolutions. The most debated measure was AB 379 on human trafficking and child exploitation. The bill was presented as a stronger, more comprehensive version that increases penalties for adults soliciting minors, adds a loitering offense tied to purchasing commercial sex, raises fines for businesses that facilitate trafficking, creates a Survivor Support Fund, and establishes grants for victim services and vertical prosecution. Several members spoke in support, while Assemblymember Sharp-Collins raised concerns that the loitering provision could be vague and disproportionately enforced against Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ people. The bill passed after debate, with the clerk reporting 72 noes and the measure still passing. The Assembly also passed AB 1415, which expands the Office of Health Care Affordability’s authority to review more health systems, private equity and hedge fund acquisitions, and managed service organizations in order to better track cost drivers and medical debt. Other policy bills approved included AB 711 on coordinating court reporters for motion hearings, AB 1142 on horse event entry fees, AB 309 on preserving access to sterile syringes for HIV and hepatitis prevention, AB 358 on allowing victims to consent to searches of hidden surveillance devices like AirTags and spy cameras, AB 592 on outdoor dining for restaurants, AB 1341 on clarifying contractor licensing violations, AB 752 on easing child care center siting, AB 1166 on extending debt-settlement rules to commercial financing, AB 806 on mobile home resident cooling rights, AB 972 on explicit sex discrimination protections in higher education, AB 416 on emergency room 5150 authority, AB 632 on expedited collection of penalties for serious local code violations, AB 672 on PERB notification and intervention rights, AB 876 on CRNA scope of practice, and AB 760 on temporary mobile home housing after disasters. Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though AB 672 drew sharp opposition from Assemblymember DeMaio over concerns about PERB and state bureaucracy. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing May observances and public service groups. These included ACR 63 designating May as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month, ACR 69 for California Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Month, ACR 76 for California Small Business Month, ACR 77 for Drowning Awareness and Prevention Month, HR 36 for Lung Cancer Action Week, HR 39 for National Public Works Week, and HR 41 for National Hospital Week. Members used the resolutions to highlight local institutions, public health, and community services, and each was adopted after co-author rolls and voice votes. The session ended after the Assembly completed the day’s file and moved through a series of routine procedural motions and adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• platforms would pay nothing, whereas platforms with more than 1 million monthly users could face a base fee
• million monthly motan users could face<00:10:29.360> a<00:10:29.600> base<00:10:29.920> fee
• <00:10:30.240> of face a base fee of face a base fee of $165,000<00:10:32.320> a<00
• <00:21:55.919> Uh There’s one that’s kind of pay for performance or fee for service.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This small portion of user-generated fees to Houston makes sense for the public safety response provided
• that established the process, that did the building, that did the construction, and you've had user fees
• System, that have used that construction, that have used this system, and have paid their user fees to
• wants to, or you're going to facilitate another governmental entity to come in and take those user fees
• In 2022, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to divert $53 million in driver's fees away from

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote. The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• more travel increase transportation revenues such as our motor fuels tax and the vehicle registration fees
• there was a long and serious discussion about whether tolls were really a new financing mechanism, a fee
• Oil and gas severance taxes are not road user fees.
• From 2018 to 2022, the state of Texas spent over $42.6 billion in non-user fees to subsidize driving.
• Local governments spent another $37 billion in non-user fees to subsidize driving.

Bills: HJR58, HJR63, HB263, HB542, HB905, HB 1288, HB1402, HB2003, HB2262, HB2323, HB2429, HB2876, HB3019, HB263

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• Two, obviously, really looking at our special funded departments, which obviously relies on fee structures
• , fee schedules, and how do we – making sure that this reorg was not going to cause any additional financial
• We have a number of recommendations for a modernized fee structure. I'm not...
• And I'll just note that our program is specially funded using application fees and compliance monitoring
• fees from the program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the contingencies on that is you actually have to pay a $5,000 reservation fee to the satellite
• Is that fee per BSL, or is that just a one-time fee? That is correct.
• The fact that New Mexico is now going to raise those fees to 150% of Medicare, that's where the state
• Fees. Is that correct? Yes. Yeah.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there are a lot of, uh, fees and penalties that have been placed on the system, and so they're
• I think there are a lot of, uh, fees and penalties that have been placed on the system, and so they're
• I think there are a lot of, uh, fees and penalties that have been placed on the system, and so they're
• I think there are a lot of, uh, fees and penalties that have been placed on the system, and so they're
• I think there are a lot of, uh, fees and penalties that have been placed on the system, and so they're

Keywords: 00:13 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:00 Election of Co-Chairs 03:38 Approval of Minutes 04:09 Information Items 05:55 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cab 12:13 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cab 17:48 Ky Infrastructure Authority 28:50 Economic Development - EDF Grants 32:50 Ofc of Financial Mgmt 36:30 SFCC Debt Issues 40:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing new co-chairs for the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee: Senator Fanny Fromom? as Senate co-chair and Representative McPherson as House co-chair, both by acclamation. The committee then approved the minutes from the prior meeting and received quarterly capital project status reports from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Finance and Administration Cabinet, and postsecondary institutions. Those reports noted University of Kentucky equipment purchases, several school districts planning general obligation and revenue bond issues, a notification of non-approval for PR 3567, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System asset preservation projects. Kevin Cardwell of the Finance and Administration Cabinet reported two action items: a $5,100 federal-funded Transportation Cabinet renovation of the Rowan County east and westbound rest areas, and a $1 million federal fund increase for the Capitol City Airport terminal building project, bringing the total federal support to $10 million and reducing the need for restricted funds. The committee also received a no-action report on a $1,363,000 Kentucky State University exterior repairs project funded through the 2024 asset preservation pool. Both action items were approved unanimously after roll call votes. The committee approved four lease renewals presented by Natalie Bronner for Cabinet for Health and Family Services locations in Bell, Lee, and Clay counties, plus a parking lease for the Department of Corrections in Jefferson County. Members asked about lease pricing and were told renewals must remain at existing terms and conditions. The committee then approved a $57,000 Kentucky WATS emergency grant for Wood Creek Water District to cover part of arrears tied to the City of Livingston; members discussed the city’s audit delinquency, possible regional water/sewer solutions, and concerns about rates and private involvement, but the grant was approved. Finally, the committee approved a $1 million line-item water grant to the City of Williamsburg with no action required, three Economic Development Fund grants for Bell, Franklin, and Shelby counties totaling $8 million in state support for site acquisition and infrastructure work, and five SFCC-supported school debt issues for Elizabethtown Independent, Erlanger Independent, Boyd County, Henderson County, and Union County. The school projects included middle school, high school, and vocational school renovations or new construction, and members requested a breakdown of the space funded by the debt. All action items were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Following abductions, families are hit with inaccessible legal systems, egregious legal fees, and for-profit
• It makes it unlawful for an attorney representing a person under a contingency fee agreement to refer
• It also makes it unlawful for an attorney to receive a kickback or a fee split for referring a client
• It also prohibits attorneys from charging an additional contingency fee, administrative fee, management
• fee, or other fee based on reducing or resolving a client’s medical lien.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination of a licensing fee
• 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination of a licensing fee
• Almost every part of our life has evolved to a subscription fee-based technology.
• split and make sure that at least 50% of those are easements and that the remainder will go toward fee
• Florida International University, and it preserves the Board of Governors' approval of non-resident fee

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination of a licensing fee
• 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination of a licensing fee
• Almost every part of our life has evolved to a subscription fee-based technology.
• split and make sure that at least 50% of those are easements and that the remainder will go toward fee
• Florida International University, and it preserves the Board of Governors' approval of non-resident fee

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• on insurance policies that was then spent I think would be a fee on insurance policies that was then
• I would note we didn't get into fire fees today, but there is pending legislation. Thank you.
• I would note we didn't get into fire fees today, but there is pending legislation that I'm authoring
• Happy to have more discussions on the SRA fee as someone who helped negotiate that deal back with the
• Happy to have more discussions on the SRA fee as someone who helped negotiate that deal back with the

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate hearing of the Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Emergency Management Committee focused on wildfire resilience, with members discussing the SB 254 report on enhancing California’s response to natural catastrophes. Opening remarks emphasized the scale of wildfire damage, the need for prevention and preparedness, and concerns about the affordability and insurability crisis. Senators repeatedly contrasted the relatively small share of funding going to community hardening with the much larger amounts spent on utility wildfire mitigation and landscape-scale projects, and several members raised concerns about CEQA delays, one-time funding, and the need for more sustainable, ongoing financing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office presented an overview showing about $4.7 billion in state wildfire resilience appropriations from 2018-19 through 2025-26, with funding shifting from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund and then to Proposition 4. LAO noted that only about $65 million had been specifically targeted to community hardening, while most funding went to forest health, fuels, research, and related programs. LAO also said one-time funding will decline in coming years and that future GGRF support is uncertain, though General Fund use is not legally precluded. Members asked about maintenance costs, polluter-pays ideas, and whether performance metrics should focus more on property and community risk reduction than acres treated. Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal described the state’s community wildfire preparedness strategy, centered on home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation. He said roughly 4 million homes are in the wildland-urban interface, most built before modern fire-resistant standards, and argued that the state must move from response to prevention. He said Cal Fire is incorporating the SB 254 recommendations into its updated action plan, has streamlined some fuel-reduction projects under a recent executive proclamation, and is shifting some grant funding toward maintenance of existing treatments. Cal OES described the AB 38 pilot and FEMA hazard mitigation work, saying the pilot helped build tools and standards for home hardening but that federal approval delays remain a major barrier; the agency reported 155 hardened properties, 19 under construction, and 370 assessed and waiting. The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force said it has coordinated more than $6 billion in state and federal investments, is moving toward regional block grants and better data-driven prioritization, and is developing separate community and landscape strategies. The hearing ended with discussion of modeling, data gaps, utility coordination, contractor capacity, and possible legislative or budget changes to better align funding and metrics with community safety outcomes.