Transcript Highlights:

• Another example, since you all know my love for tax, is your previous tax attorney.
• You can see we have alcohol tax, coal tax, fuel tax, income tax.
• You can see we have alcohol tax, coal tax, fuel tax, income tax.
• If you're looking at fuel tax, fuel tax, income tax.
• For instance, fuel tax rate changes. Do you I don't know. For instance, fuel tax rate changes.

Summary: The Legislative Arrangements and Procedure Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up several follow-up items related to legislative security, public records, and the impacts of term limits. The Secretary of State’s office presented draft language to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records, with discussion of who would be covered, how the protection would work, and whether it should expire when a candidate’s term ends. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and whether the public should still be able to see enough information to evaluate residency requirements. Rather than act immediately, the committee set the draft aside for a future meeting and asked for an amendment reflecting the Secretary of State’s suggested changes. The committee also reviewed a security best-practices memo and NCSL materials on capitol security. The memo encouraged legislators to be aware of their surroundings, avoid real-time vacation posting, vary routines, report threats, and follow security alerts. Members discussed a recent incident and the need to improve alert distribution and update contact information so legislators and staff receive notices consistently. The Secretary of State and committee members noted that the alert system may need refinement, including a separate legislative notification channel. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on how to mitigate the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized interviews, surveys, and focus groups with legislators, the public, and stakeholders, identifying major themes such as loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, staffing pressures, and the need for stronger onboarding and training. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session, making interim committees more consistent with regular committees, adding office hours, formalizing mentorship and leadership succession planning, expanding staff and professional development resources, creating public-facing educational tools, and improving communication and virtual testimony options. Members generally appreciated the report and its phased implementation roadmap, while also debating the practicality of some recommendations and the tension between making service more demanding and keeping the legislature accessible to new candidates.

Transcript Highlights:

• But tax-free debt and a tax-free entity does have consequences.
• A tax, you know, a tax-free entity is not going to be paying those taxes, which effectively means less
• The taxes in our economic analysis are federal and state taxes, not local.
• The taxes in our economic analysis are federal and state taxes, not local.
• Okay, you had mentioned property tax. So is property tax also then? Oh, yes. Yeah.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 13, which would restructure the CPUC to increase legislative oversight, add legislative liaisons, require more detailed and timely reporting on rate-setting decisions, and add a public advocate member. The author and supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and geographic diversity in CPUC decision-making amid rising utility rates. Witnesses from TURN, San Joaquin County, SDG&E, and former CPUC Commissioner Loretta Lynch offered support or support-in-principle, while no opposition testimony was presented. Members generally praised the bill’s transparency goals, and AB 13 passed 10-0 to Appropriations, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then adopted the 2025-2026 committee rules and approved three consent items: AB 61, AB 365, and AB 406. The next bill, AB 99, would cap investor-owned utility rate increases above inflation except for specified costs such as safety, modernization, and fuel/commodity costs. The author and supporters, including a representative of the California Senior Legislature, said the bill was needed to protect ratepayers, especially seniors and low-income customers, from repeated rate hikes. Opposition came from utility labor, utilities, the Chamber of Commerce, and others, who argued the bill was too simplistic, could suppress labor costs, and did not account for major cost drivers such as wildfire mitigation, mandates, and net metering. Several members supported moving the bill forward as a starting point on affordability, while others criticized it as overly blunt. AB 99 passed 11-0 to Appropriations, with the roll left open. The hearing then shifted to an informational panel on strategies to reduce California transmission costs. A Public Advocates Office staffer described a growing backlog of approved-but-unbuilt transmission projects, rising transmission access charges, and long project timelines driven largely by utility pre-application and construction periods. Panelists from Net Zero California and consulting firms presented research suggesting that public financing or public-private partnership lease models could reduce transmission costs by lowering financing, tax, and capital costs, with estimated savings of up to 57% and as much as $123 billion over 40 years. PG&E’s representative said the utility is already pursuing federal loan guarantees, grants, and a public-private partnership with Citizens Energy, but warned that state ownership could create tax, wildfire-liability, and governance risks. Members asked about the CPUC’s role, the causes of delays, and whether public financing could complement existing competitive solicitation processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:52.720> and tolls and tax and and fuel taxes and tolls and tax and and fuel taxes and
• Code.
• Code.
• Code.
• Code.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:03.920> are are increasing, when their taxes are are increasing, when their taxes are
• They get to read in the news how this department told companies a different code to bill where they're
• Members of the advisory committee to the property tax administrator, for a term expiring September 1,
• Members of the advisory committee to the property tax administrator, for a term expiring September 1,
• Advisory Committee on the property tax Advisory Committee on the property tax administrator. administrator

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And unanimous consent to allow for a relaxed dress code to allow jeans for our guests, not our members
• There's been a request for a relaxed dress code only for our guests who are joining us today in the chamber
• Senate Bill 189 do not pass, but that Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee substitute for
• Senate Bill 189 do not pass, but that Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee substitute for
• Committee, then to the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the sweeping impacts that HR1, new federal marketplace rules, and the expiration of enhanced premium tax
• We have long been planning for the possible expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, which unfortunately
• add new administrative burdens on consumers, limit eligibility, and increase... of enhanced premium tax
• We have long been planning for the possible expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, which unfortunately
• There are other provisions in the Business and Professions Code related to increased continuing medical

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard updates on five health-related budget items. First, members reviewed state support for distressed hospitals and health facilities. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority and HCAI described the Distressed Hospital Loan Program as a lifeline for 16 hospitals, many of which remain financially strained and are expected to seek loan forgiveness rather than repayment. Speakers cited reduced contract labor, new service lines, strategic partnerships, and the reopening of Madera Hospital as signs of progress, but also warned that federal policy changes under H.R. 1 will likely increase uncompensated care and pressure emergency departments. Public commenters from hospital, dental, and consumer groups supported additional funding, including a request to refresh the program with another $300 million. The committee then heard HCAI’s update on the California Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded at $233.6 million for California. HCAI said the program will focus on rural care models, workforce development, and health technology, with grants to be rolled out on a fast timeline and all funds obligated by October 30, 2026. Members raised concerns about rural provider capacity to apply for grants, and HCAI said it will use a third-party administrator, a technical assistance center, webinars, and other supports to help applicants. HCAI also presented its budget request for the health care payments database, seeking ongoing non-General Fund support to continue operations and expand data, including pharmacy benefit manager data. The Emergency Medical Services Authority presented three budget change proposals: funding to replace disaster medical services fleet vehicles, funding for IT security work, and additional positions for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. A member also raised concern that EMSA has not yet completed the annual ambulance rate reporting required by AB 716, and EMSA said it remains committed to the requirement but lost prior funding through later budget reductions. Covered California reported that it is still finalizing its own budget, but expects a lower operating budget due to efforts to reduce baseline costs and align spending with actual expenditures; it also projected enrollment declines tied to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and federal rule changes, while noting that revenues may still rise because premiums are expected to increase. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined budget proposals tied to menopause coverage and education, PBM licensure and enforcement under AB 116 and SB 41, credentialing reforms under AB 1041, and prior authorization reporting under SB 306. Public testimony generally supported the menopause and PBM proposals, while also urging clearer language and attention to Medi-Cal parity. The hearing concluded after public comment, including additional advocacy for sickle cell services and rural health workforce funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mentioned this is a school safety building code management. We provide direct support to them.
• So they're building safe schools there and in line with code.
• Tax millage is 1.5 million dollars.
• Oh, by the way, I think in the second most about tax dollars from that 1.5 union County is lower than
• Walton County, you know, they had a lot of advantages over their tax base, but because they they did

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um if the provision in the provider tax um if the provision in the provider tax is<00:04:14.840>
• <00:10:09.200> um, I would say coding um, I would say coding um, errors<00:10:10.480> that
• This bill strain local property taxes.
• multiple options, and passing a tax multiple options, and passing a tax provision<01:25:32.880><
• Benson, tax idea is just going nowhere. So thank tax idea is just going nowhere.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Appears on page 20, Unit 102, Streamline Sales Tax Project. >> Are there any amendments on Unit
• Next unit. >> Appears on page 55, Unit 303, Property Tax Refund Program.
• > refund >> Yes. 303 property tax refund >> Yes. 303 property tax refund >>
• The unit code or the object code 223 should be 233.
• The hardware should be object code 242 per page 69.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that they'd raised through ad valorem taxes.
• It said code read called Edward Eastland's phone.
• In some of our daycares, in some of the codes in the health and safety codes, if they have one death,
• Explain Code Red. Great question. Code Red is a trade name. Code Red is a reverse telephone system.
• Isn't that required by the Texas Administrative Code?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cut in Alabama history, a $300 million reduction in the state sales tax on groceries.
• Code of Alabama providing for financial statements for stockholders and members, respectively.
• Three mills available taxes for a school in Headland, Alabama.
• Then it adds another code section, and that additional code section establishes a private cause of action
• Then it adds another code section, and that additional code section establishes a private cause of action

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Senators then adopted the prior day’s journal and excused absent members. A lengthy point of personal privilege followed, in which Senator Smith criticized the prior day’s handling of the special order calendar and argued that minority-party senators were denied the chance to speak, while Senator Coleman said Senate Bill 318 had been removed from the calendar and tied that to Child Abuse Prevention Month; she also noted Senate Bill 43, which would provide civil recourse for child sex assault survivors, had not advanced. The presiding officer also recognized guests in the gallery, including staff from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Senate then received multiple committee reports, largely on a unanimous or near-unanimous basis. Finance and Taxation Education reported favorably on House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, 517, and 98, and Senate Bill 380, with some substitutes or amendments; Finance and Taxation General Fund reported Senate Bill 378 favorably; County and Municipal Government reported House Bills 568, 499, and 433; Education Policy reported House Bills 8 and 380; Banking and Insurance reported House Bill 545; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported House Bill 586 with two nays; Healthcare reported House Bills 533 and 605; Tourism and Marketing reported House Bills 513 and 626 and Senate Bill 357; and local legislation committees reported several Mobile County and Madison County bills, including Senate Bill 379 relating to Madison County and various House bills, all advancing to the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate agreed to allow committee reports to be received at any time during the day. Several resolutions were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee, including Senate Joint Resolution 100 honoring Presley Skelton, SJR 101 commending Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, SJR 102 establishing the Alabama Forest Products Retention and Pulp and Paper Mill Stability Study Commission, SJR 103 mourning Norman Wendell Arnold, and SJR 104 designating Alabama as the river state. The chamber also suspended the rules to take up Senate Joint Resolution 105, commending Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for his service; the resolution included a lengthy recitation of his background and accomplishments and was read for immediate consideration with all senators added as sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the code of administrative rules prohibits use of drones for fishing and hunting activities
• And then the code of administrative rules prohibits use of drones for fishing and hunting activities
• And then the code of administrative rules prohibits use of drones for fishing and hunting activities
• You know, they're doing property tax assessment. They're looking at my roof for insurance.
• <00:24:42.240> and property appraisal for taxes and property appraisal for taxes and environmental

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, bring them in alignment with the state building code.
• Um, and I'm sorry, bring them in alignment with the state building code.
• Uh I familiar with local building codes?
• This would cause us to now need to get in and look at zoning code, and it wouldn't be local zoning code
• That is They do tax them. I get that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 27FN, which would change how improvements to dwellings over water are handled and align those projects more closely with the state building code. The bill was presented by Trisha Milo on behalf of Senator Lang, and attorney John Cronin explained that it arose from a specific New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving the Newcombs’ lakeside property, but that it could affect a small number of older waterfront homes statewide. He said the intent was to give the Department of Environmental Services (DES) limited waiver authority for improvements that do not harm water quality, plant life, or fish, while still requiring DES review and local permits. Committee members asked several questions about the scope of the bill, including whether it was tied to one case, how many properties might be affected, what counts as “living space,” and whether the language could allow larger decks or other expansions. Cronin said the bill was meant to be narrow, focused on access and egress and not on creating new living space, and that DES would still be able to deny unreasonable requests. He also described the Newcombs’ project as a rehabilitation of an older structure that had been approved locally and later challenged by DES, leading to the current dispute. Darlene Forst, the Wetlands Bureau administrator at DES, testified in opposition. She said the department was surprised the bill was being heard because it believed the Senate had sent it to interim study, and she argued the language was unclear and could have broader statewide effects than intended. Forst also said the underlying case was still active and should not be effectively re-litigated through this bill. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• environment in this state and maintain that tax environment in this state, we knew that long-term, we're
• we do as a legislature as well in passing business friendly policies and passing business friendly tax
• And then that individuals also learning from the person who's actually coding.
• And continuing to encourage, obviously, And continuing to encourage, obviously, tax incentives are there
• our size, but then also, too, for smaller businesses, and whether that's through some type of, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A3. I recognize the member from Hennepin, Representative Falconer.
• Amendment is coded A5. I recognize the author of the amendment, Representative Freiberg.
• same time is using those savings to give themselves and their billionaire owner donors trillions in tax
• Culture war issue meant only to divide and distract so they can put our tax dollars in their pockets,
• But it's not bringing any more funding for girls' sports now that federal tax cuts...

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, Madam Speaker, yes, gentlemen, that's the piece that ties back to the procurement code. in maybe
• I would be remiss if I didn't bring up at least one tax question.
• So, could this possibly burden our constituency with any kind of taxes on this?
• House Bill 199 allows the Taxation and Revenue Department to share certain tax data with the Legislative
• an aggregate of the personal taxation data. on a statewide basis, as well as some business tax data.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax credit I do support.
• It is a fully refundable tax credit. It is not a voucher.
• Before we go any further, I just want to remind everybody about our code of conduct.
• It is it is a fully refundable tax It is it is a fully refundable tax credit.<01:15:26.640> It
• <01:16:30.280> of to remind everybody about our code of to remind everybody about our code

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to Budget and Tax Report number 16. Clerk, read the bill.
• And the current code would be restored.
• And the current law the current code.
• And the current code<01:59:48.440> would<01:59:48.640> be<01:59:48.960> restored.
• But under the code would be restored.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation, and welcomed guests including the doctor of the day, a Johns Hopkins student, and visiting scouts. The chamber then moved through first-reading introductions of several House bills, including measures on bullying and harassment reporting, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, Baltimore County nuisance actions, parole hearing commission procedures, a blockchain technology task force, and a task force on deed fraud, all of which were referred to standing committees. The main floor action centered on layover bills. Senate Bill 932, concerning social media platforms displaying a user’s usual location, was amended to broaden the protected location reference and to protect participants in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program; after discussion about whether minors and child-abuse victims were covered, the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, drew multiple county-specific amendments. Howard County and Baltimore County amendments sought to give priority to existing local tobacco businesses for the new licenses. Supporters said the changes would protect established local shops from out-of-state entities, while opponents argued the bill should remain statewide and not be amended county by county. A motion to special order the bill failed, and the amendments were adopted before the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 84, on collective bargaining for graduate assistants, also advanced after a committee amendment was adopted. A District 2 amendment was offered to clarify that graduate assistants are employed as teaching, administrative, or research assistants, but the floor leader opposed it, saying the bill’s definition was already clear and the change would create confusion. The minority leader questioned the definition and the relationship between graduate assistants and employees, prompting discussion of collective bargaining as bargaining by employees through representatives. The transcript cuts off before final disposition of that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in our code.
• It's in our code.
• It's in our code.
• uh evaluation and management code uh evaluation and management code but<00:45:54.000> upcoding
• I our taxes and renewals um come due.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum with 33 members present. The chamber approved the prior journal, excused absent senators, welcomed viewers, and received House messages announcing passage of House Bill 253, House Bill 436508, and House Concurrent Resolution 44 for concurrence. New filings were also reported: Senate Bill 197 on economic development and Senate Joint Resolution 99 designating the Destiny Brewer Memorial Highway in Martin County. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 72, a measure on recruitment and retention of health care professionals and declaring an emergency. The bill’s sponsor argued it would protect health care workers’ conscience rights, improve recruitment and retention, and address provider shortages and corporate pressures in medicine, while emphasizing that emergency care would still be required under federal law. Supporters said the bill would protect providers from being forced to participate in procedures that violate their moral or religious beliefs and cited examples from other states and physicians who had left practices over conscience concerns. Opponents argued the bill’s language was too broad and could allow denial of non-emergency care based on vague moral, ethical, or religious objections, potentially harming patients in health care deserts and sending the wrong message about caring for all people. One senator raised a hypothetical about racial discrimination under the bill’s definitions, while supporters responded that the bill was intended to protect providers and patients and that existing professional ethics and hospital policies would prevent abuse. Additional supporters said the measure would not deny basic care and would help keep physicians in the state. The bill was still under debate at the end of the excerpt, with questions and responses continuing; no final vote or disposition on Senate Bill 72 is shown in the transcript provided. Other bills reported from second reading were referred to the Rules Committee for further action, and Senate Bill 69 was passed over and retained its place on the orders of the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We regularly hear feedback from the tax collector community about Orion.
• It was a technology very specific to the tax collectors.
• It was distributed at each tax collector site.
• The second part of this is a fuel tax decal.
• The second part of this is a fuel tax decal.

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.