Transcript Highlights:

• One, it creates a baseline for where their house is prior to construction.
• We're doing the two inspections, the pre-construction and the post-construction.
• So, just like the other program, you start with an initial inspection prior to construction.
• I will tell you, to give you a construct of size, there's over 300 employees working on this project
• who have done coding in PeopleSoft their entire career.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services on the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot, and the Florida PALM financial system replacement project. For My Safe Florida Home, Stephen Fielder explained the wind-mitigation grant program, including its inspection-first process, two-to-one matching grants for most homeowners, low-income exemptions from the match, and eligible improvements such as roofs, clips/straps, water barriers, and opening protection. He reported roughly 109,000 initial inspections, nearly 59,000 grants approved, 31,000 final inspections, 25,000 reimbursements, and about $240 million paid out through the end of 2024. Members asked about premium savings, contractor pricing, fraud, owner-builder eligibility, reimbursement timing, and whether the program should have a dedicated funding source; Fielder said the program is currently closed, more than 40,000 people have signed up for updates, and the office has seen some price-gouging and impersonation issues but no major fraud trend. The committee also discussed the new prioritization rules that took effect July 1, 2024, which direct grant awards by age and income. Fielder said the program used a survey of existing applicants to implement the new priority groups and that the first group was over age 60 and low-income. Members raised questions about how premium reductions are measured, whether insurance company changes or rising insured values affect the data, and whether the program can track long-term outcomes after reimbursement. Fielder said the office reports raw premium changes based on declarations pages, knows the insurer for participants, and has validated results with multiple insurers, but does not track homeowners after they leave the program or enforce continued insurance coverage. For the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, Fielder said the program is modeled on the home program but uses association-level applications, a maximum grant of $175,000 per association, and a similar two-to-one match. He said the application window opened briefly in November and was closed quickly because available funding could be exhausted and the department is prohibited from creating a waiting list. He identified several needed statutory changes, including better distinguishing condos from single-family homes, adjusting roof requirements for flat concrete roofs, and revisiting the unanimous unit-owner vote requirement, which he said has been a major obstacle. Chair Lopez noted the pilot is intended to be a learning process and thanked DFS staff for identifying implementation issues. The final presentation covered Florida PALM, the state’s effort to replace the 40-year-old FLAIR accounting system with a PeopleSoft-based financial management system. Fielder and PALM Director Jimmy Cox said the project began in 2014, the state contracted with Accenture in 2018, cash management went live in 2021, and the project was paused in 2022 for legislative review and remediation. They said the system is expected to go live in 2026, possibly in July rather than January, and that the project has spent about $225 million to date, with a current-year budget of about $60.9 million and a projected next-year request of about $64 million. Members asked about cybersecurity, cloud hosting, project scope, and whether the system is unique to Florida; staff said the system is not Florida-specific, access is credentialed through agency identity management, and the cloud host location is confidential. After the presentations, Chair Lopez assigned members to work with specific agencies on budget review meetings, asked them to discuss agency structure, priorities, staffing, waste reduction, and other budget issues, and set a deadline to report findings in the first week of regular session. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• application of the internal revenue code application of the internal revenue code to<03:12:09.040
• And we're currently, my Revenue Code.
• <03:13:23.680> of<03:13:23.920> 2018 code of 2018 code of 2018 um um um at<03:13:27.520
• that it's used of the uh construction that it's used for. for. for.
• So it was um constructed of the weight.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A1.
• The amendment is coded A6.
• coded coded A6<00:14:16.839> I<00:14:17.000> recognize<00:14:17.480> the<00:14:
• The amendment is coded DE1.
• He's a construction worker, so what did he do?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A31.
• The amendment is coded A22.
• The amendment is coded A26.
• The amendment is coded A38. The amendment is coded A38.
• amendment is coded A9. amendment is coded A9.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a bill right now that organized labor is trying to kill that would streamline construction—modest
• One is that the rainy day fund is not a construct of the Legislature.
• It's a construct of the voters.
• It requires standardized itemization of all lien-based medical bills so that you have the same codes
• for the same treatment, i.e., like a chiropractor will be X code or Y code.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:01.120> Child construction uh and many others.
• Child construction uh and many others.
• This past January, two tables of ICE agents came into a restaurant without uniforms.
• <01:20:23.040> This construction and major renovations.
• This construction and major renovations.

Bills: HF3477, HF3480, HF3781, HF3357, HF3737, HF3664, HF3621

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, immigration enforcement, economic impact, Operation Metro Surge, study, appropriation, local government, Legislative Commission on Legislative Security, legislator security, elected official security, staff security, statehouse security, capitol security, legislative district safety, political violence prevention, threat assessment

Summary: The committee first attempted to approve minutes from February 24 and March 3, but members identified multiple spelling errors in names, so approval was held and the motion withdrawn. The committee then took up House File 3477, a bill by Representative Long proposing a civil remedy for constitutional violations by government actors, including federal actors. An author’s amendment (A4) was adopted to remove a subdivision and clarify retroactivity. In discussion, members raised concerns about Supremacy Clause and immigration-related issues; the author responded that the bill applies evenly to state and federal actors and is meant to enforce constitutional rights, not immigration law. After debate, the motion to re-refer the bill to the general register failed on a 6-7 vote, with one member excused. The committee next heard House File 3480, authored by Representative Howard, which would commission an independent economic impact study of Operation Metro Surge. An A2 amendment was adopted to add a dollar amount for the study and clarify timing. Representative Howard said the study would help the legislature understand statewide impacts and noted reported harm to businesses, child care, schools, and local governments. Testimony in support came from Laura Santiago, reading a statement from Christopher Gomez of Willmar, who described ICE agents entering his family’s restaurant, the detention and deportation of family members, and resulting business losses. Rachel Ser, Minneapolis emergency management director, cited a preliminary city assessment estimating major impacts including food insecurity, lost wages, business revenue losses, hotel cancellations, and rental assistance needs. Some members questioned the cost and usefulness of the study, while others said suburban and greater Minnesota communities also wanted the data. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT SHOWED A TREND ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT WAS REQUIRED.
• DEPENDING ON THE CONSTRUCTION, FIND OUT, AS MS. STONE SAID, THERE WAS SOME INDICATIONS FOR OSB.
• MOST OF THEM HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
• IS HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE CODE APPROACH.
• HOW DO WE MAKE THE CODE BETTER? REMEMBERING THAT THE CODE IS MINIMUM NOT MAXIMUM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to include the latest energy code.
• that then they've been updating the code that then they've been updating the code in<04:21:22.800
• So, am I not correct that this code impacts new construction primarily?
• and construction. Thank you. and construction. Thank you.
• The state of New Hampshire does have an energy code. It's just the 2018 energy code.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• eliminate language that had existed for many years and is no longer applicable, such as the use of SIC codes
• The second element is the uniform public expression protection. This is Senate Bill 1067.
• I did have some questions around the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, and then I am very thankful

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:33.280> which also enforcement of the code which also enforcement of the code which
• can only find violations of the legislative code.
• can only find violations of the legislative code.
• construction job. construction job.
• Phase D is the construction administration for three of those locations for their full development construction

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• that sales of those metals above $500 are already exempt from sales tax, so we're just providing uniformity
• In the corporate income tax space, the bill adopts the current Internal Revenue Code for state corporate
• Representative Miller offered the following amendment with title amendment bar code 28937: Remove lines
• Representative Miller offered the following amendment with title amendment bar code 107497: Between line
• On a construction site, the least you can do is make sure they're able to be compensated properly and

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed. On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• and then to impact on the state tax code and then to route<01:15:15.199> those<01:15:15.440><
• They're wearing body-worn cameras attached to their uniforms.
• They're wearing body-worn cameras attached to their uniforms.
• They're wearing body-worn cameras attached to their uniforms.
• They're wearing body-worn cameras attached to their uniforms.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That this act will have all of the contracts and agreements not subject to the procurement code.
• OK, so we are now subject to the procurement code. Is that accurate? Mr.
• Expenditures not subject to the procurement code?
• I added in there for a new section D, not been convicted of any violation of the Children's Code.
• If they don't violate the Children's Code, they get the amendment. Thank you, Mr. President.

Transcript Highlights:

• to serve as schools to be constructed to serve as shelters<01:01:00.680> if<01:01:01.119>
• um so it it basically Building Code um so it it basically gives<01:44:11.880> a<01:44:12.119>
• I haven't set codes or anything like that.
• <01:46:31.199> that<01:46:31.480> the<01:46:31.880> fire Statewide Fire code
• , and we lack a section of the fire code, which is the Wildland Urban Interface fire code, which dictates

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held its first hearing of the 2025 session and began with housekeeping on testimony deadlines, hybrid participation rules, time management, and expectations for civility. The chair said testimony posted at least 24 hours in advance would be available to members and the public at the same time, late testimony would still be processed, and decision-making would generally be deferred to later in the day so morning hearings could adjourn before the noon floor session. The first bill heard was HB 673 on emergency management. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency administrator James Barros testified in opposition, saying the bill could undermine the executive’s unity of command during emergencies and objecting to provisions allowing the legislature to terminate a state of emergency by a two-thirds vote. Members asked about the difference between an emergency order and a state of emergency, whether other states use legislative checks and balances, and whether long-running emergencies such as COVID-19 or homelessness should have clearer end conditions. Barros said the agency, along with the Attorney General’s office and the governor’s office, would review the language and that the issue is setting conditions for when an emergency ends. The committee then heard HB 596, also on emergency management, which would clarify types of events that count as dangers and emergencies. Barros opposed the bill, saying the current list covers known hazards but should remain open-ended for future threats; he cited COVID-19 as an example of an unforeseen event and said the bill could limit flexibility. Members asked whether the list could be expanded, and Barros said the agency would look at that possibility. Testimony included support from the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and concerns from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii about the bill’s special fund provisions; the committee also corrected testimony that had been submitted for the wrong bill. The final measure discussed was HB 1060 on emergency preparedness and the Community Readiness Center Program. Barros explained the proposal as part of HEMA’s effort to build local readiness centers and community hubs, with an initial target of 10 communities through a federal grant and a longer-term concept of roughly 100 statewide. The Climate Advisory Team supported the bill’s intent but urged that centers be developed with strong community and nonprofit involvement through the HARRP program. The Department of Taxation offered comments on the special fund, and members raised questions about cost, size, use of existing school facilities, public messaging, and equity across communities. Barros said the centers would provide backup communications, power, water, and food for a community group, would not function as general shelters, and would be designed to help communities hunker down and recover after a disaster.

Transcript Highlights:

• Associated with those construction zones, commercial vehicle operations utilize data and information
• Is there a construction zone? Is there potholes or whatever it may be?
• Is there a construction zone? Is there potholes or whatever it may be?
• So I know there was some construction because I was paying attention on the road and I saw it.
• We do construction. We've got quite a few semis, and it ends up being to the owner's cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Internal Revenue Code as amended and in effect on January 1, 2025.
• We adopt the federal income tax code as our corporate income tax code rather than coming up with our
• Our corporate income tax code rather than coming up with our own. So we do that every year.
• This is the exemption created by the Live Local Act for newly constructed properties.
• This is the exemption created by the Live Local Act for newly constructed properties.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 16, 2025, with one agenda item: PCB WMC-2502, the committee’s tax package. Chair Duggan presented the bill as a broad tax measure covering sales tax, tourist development taxes, ad valorem/VAB procedures, affordable housing property tax changes, tangible personal property, special assessments, fuel taxes, communication services taxes, corporate income tax updates, pari-mutuel/card room taxes, local incentives, and a redistribution of horse industry trust fund money. He also noted emergency rulemaking authority for the Department of Revenue and estimated a recurring state impact of $34.6 million in FY 2025-26. Members questioned several provisions, including the aviation fuel tax repeal, the delay of the natural gas fuel tax, the extension of the local communication services tax freeze, the charitable trust corporate income tax clarification, the reduction in card room taxes, and the affordable housing changes tied to the Live Local Act. Public testimony included support from airlines, UPS, child care management, and others, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association opposed the lifeguard/TDT change, the Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities opposed the missing-middle exemption changes, and local government representatives raised concerns about revenue impacts and the loss of local opt-out authority. The committee also adopted Amendment 1 by Representative Rizzo, which limits certain special assessments on RV parks when based on square footage. During debate, members split on some provisions but generally supported the package, with comments focused on aviation competitiveness, preschool assessment relief, lifeguard funding, affordable housing, and the horse industry funding shift. Representative Duggan closed by emphasizing that the bill was only the beginning of the process and would continue through conference and floor consideration. The committee then voted 16-1 to report PCB WMC-2502 favorably, with Representative Alvarez voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of those projects are in construction now.
• how many acres is this problem with this siphon affecting, and why are we trying to change the tax code
• And so, it is currently, you're absolutely right, for years, this tax code was not. interpreted this
• one of the things that makes us special here, and so we want to clarify what is already in the tax code
• I just don't feel comfortable changing the tax code across the board for farmers across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• for new facilities capital construction for new facilities or<00:23:16.480> new<00:23:16.720>
• Uh, during the interim we reviewed Chapter 9 U.S. bankruptcy codes to make sure that this bill aligns
• There has to be a plan and following all the bankruptcy codes.
• <00:43:34.480> Then<00:43:34.720> we again all the bankruptcy codes.
• Then we again all the bankruptcy codes.

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what the uniform is on the board.
• Uniform Law Commission. If anybody has a question, can ask him any questions.
• Uniform Law Commission. If anybody has a question, can ask him any questions.
• Uniform Law Commission. If anybody has a question, can ask him any questions.
• Uniform Law Commission. If anybody has a question, can ask him any questions.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2893, a municipalities bill on zoning notice requirements. The committee substitute would require notice of proposed zoning changes to be posted on Facebook, Instagram, and X 30 and 15 days before the hearing, while also continuing newspaper publication, posting on a local website if available, making the proposal available at a government office or library, and extending the appeal period for landowners from 10 to 20 days. Members raised concerns about relying on social media for accurate notice and whether local governments would need accounts on those platforms, but the sponsor said the bill was meant to supplement, not replace, newspaper notice. The bill was described as supported by municipal interests, and the committee adopted a motion for a title sufficient, due pass committee substitute. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2027, which creates a rebuttable presumption that joint physical custody is in the best interest of a child. The sponsor and other senators said the bill is intended to add a tool to existing custody law, not replace the Albright factors or other custody standards, and would apply even where the parents were never married. Questions focused on paternity, how the presumption could be rebutted, and whether distance between parents would defeat equal time; the sponsors said paternity rules would remain unchanged and courts could deviate when joint custody is not feasible, such as when parents live far apart. Senators also asked about chancellors’ reactions, and the sponsor said he had discussed the measure with many of them and had revised the bill in response to prior concerns. The committee then passed the bill on a motion for title sufficient, due pass. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2747, a consumer legal funding bill. The sponsor and a representative of the industry described the measure as regulating consumer legal funding, which provides small advances to injured plaintiffs for household expenses while litigation is pending, and distinguishing it from litigation financing, which pays litigation costs. They said the bill would impose consumer protections, require attorney review, prohibit quid pro quo arrangements between funders and law firms, bar law firms from operating side funding businesses, and block foreign money from entering the market. The discussion was informational at this stage, with the witness explaining that the bill is intended to regulate an existing practice and protect consumers and the legal system.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it brings it into uniformity.
• So, it brings it into uniformity.
• So, it brings it into uniformity.
• So, it brings it into uniformity.
• So, it brings it into uniformity.

Keywords: 927, senate, all