Transcript Highlights:

• that supporting the transportation fund with the gas tax would eventually lead to shortfalls as fuel mileage
• 45.760><c> and</c> And we need to restore accountability for 19- to 22-year-olds because our system allows

Transcript Highlights:

• It's unsustainable to allow people to It's unsustainable to allow people to ship in to avert births.
• at about 13.1 average gas mileage?
• It does keep the status quo to allow an option for online schools to Allow an option for online schools
• This bill will allow... ...allow a financing mechanism through Health Care Policy and Financing for helping
• It is just updates and technology and allows for electronic filing allows for electronic filing capability

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this allows us to use some of that money for those purposes.
• We're allowed to spend the interest that's generated by that corpus.
• It dealt with mileage increases.
• Moving on to page 11, we have the core for the senators' mileage.
• Page 39, we have the core for the representatives' mileage.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> Gambridge</c><00:15:45.040><c> to</c> Bottom line, PUC allowed Gambridge to Bottom line, PUC allowed
• </c><00:19:54.559><c> for</c> federal government does allow for federal government does allow for abandoning
• Uh, how much is for mileage?
• And so I'm not asking you for mileage?
• them to go farther down the... that would allow an electric utility to that would allow an electric

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> installing this as time allows. installing this as time allows.
• So we're looking at mileage, we're looking at odometer readings.
• </c> and so we do allow for that. and so we do allow for that.
• </c><01:19:02.840><c> allowed</c><01:19:03.240><c> to</c><01:19:03.320><c> do</c> you know, being allowed
• allowed to do you know, being allowed allowed to do the<01:19:03.560><c> stall</c><01:19:03.880><c>

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• because the law requires it to reach a certain cap before the money can be spent, and the investment allows
• But it allowed school districts to develop salary schedules on their own.
• But what we have done, and what this budget allows, is the districts to come up with a compensation plan
• We can do special language that allows us to do two reallocation resources a year.
• we do have the review for the content standards to come in, the expenses to reimburse teachers for mileage

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's cash and treasury, so it looks like it's donations and interest in parking meters... direct or allow
• And so the excess appropriation allows us that bandwidth to be able to infuse those funds.
• But it allowed school districts to develop salary schedules on their own.
• But what we have done, and what this budget allows, is the districts to come up with a compensation plan
• We can do special language that allows us to do two reallocations of resources a year.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the bill appears to require us to allow the bill appears to require us to allow them<00:12:49.600
• </c> to allow for all those comments to be? to allow for all those comments to be?
• </c> And I don't know of anywhere that allows And I don't know of anywhere that allows volunteers<04:
• </c><04:17:34.319><c> people</c> can do to help which would allow people can do to help which would allow
• I'd have to allow it for this.

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Kosnick and members of this committee, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to testify.
• </c><00:04:33.120><c> me</c> committee, thank you for allowing me committee, thank you for allowing me
• It actually allows the state patrol to use them as a partner if they need be.
• It actually allows the state patrol to use them as a partner if they need be.
• So the A1 amendment allows them to reimburse chaplains for some of the work that they do.

Bills: HF3169 , HF3749 , HF2605 , HF3541 , HF4102 , HF3513 , HF268

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted you to identify yourself so you can put in for mileage that you were here.
• I just wanted you to identify yourself so you can put in for mileage that you were here.
• I just wanted you to identify yourself so you can put in for mileage that you were here.
• </c> opportunity to speak uh the bill allows opportunity to speak uh the bill allows an<00:25:15.399>
• He says the 15% federal allowance was part of those changes to address the double-tax problem.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The law allows for it. We're simply trying to define in statute what salary means.
• And say for three years, the law allows for them to... ...and say for three years, the law allows for
• The law right now only allows a five-year span of time.
• Let me debate, and then I'll allow you to close, Senator Goodwin.
• So with that, Senator Goodwin, you are allowed to close. Mr.

Bills: SB134 , SB1356 , SB1407 , SB1611 , SB1639 , SB169 , SB1722 , SB182 , SB1870 , SB2039 , SB432 , SB609 , SB715 , SB716

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources considered a series of retirement, pension, and state employee bills. Senate Bill 1870 would let small municipalities in OPERS with populations of 2,000 or less opt out for new employees; members questioned the fiscal impact and the bill passed 8-0 after the chair struck the title to get a clearer actuarial analysis. Senate Bill 1722 passed 9-0 and would require OMES construction contract fees to be based only on construction costs, not interior design and furnishings, with members discussing how to define those terms and whether historical or specialized projects could still be accommodated. Senate Bill 1639 passed 9-0 after an amendment removed provisions affecting the Indian Education Act commission, leaving a bill to repeal several dormant boards and commissions. The committee also passed Senate Bills 715 and 716, which would increase municipal contributions to firefighter and police pensions, respectively; members raised concerns about city budgets, and the sponsor said he was open to phasing in the increases. Senate Bill 182 passed 5-2 to add certain DHS Inspector General officers and OJA residential care specialists to hazardous duty retirement, and Senate Bill 609 passed 7-0 to allow police recruits to buy up to five years of prior out-of-state service credit as a recruitment tool. The committee then passed Senate Bill 169 5-2 to increase state employee longevity pay by 50%, with supporters citing high turnover and opponents warning about budget pressure and the need for broader raises. Senate Bill 134 passed 7-0 to shorten the waiting period for county employees to return to work from one year to six months. Senate Bill 432 passed 6-0 to raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits, and because it was double-assigned it would next go to Appropriations. Senate Bill 1407 passed 7-0 after an amendment requiring OMES to provide the Commission on the Status of Women an itemized accounting of funds; the bill generally clarifies staffing and financial reporting authority for the commission. Finally, Senate Bill 2039 passed 8-0 after an amendment narrowing the bill to military personnel who are also teachers and defining salary for buyback purposes; the sponsor said the measure would help service members return to teaching and buy back up to five years of credit. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1356 7-0, a broader OMES cleanup bill moving certain functions elsewhere, though members flagged concerns about relocating the state use program and the pay-for-success fund and suggested further study on those sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the city of San Diego, our DROP program allowed for retirement at age 50.
• But then we're going to give you your retirement allowance.
• But then we're going to give you your retirement allowance.
• So like during COVID, we weren't allowed to go home.
• Members, before we allow Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the city of San Diego, our DROP program allowed for retirement at age 50.
• But then we're going to give you your retirement allowance.
• So, like during COVID, we weren't allowed to go home.
• I wasn't allowed to put people in jail over a phone or a Zoom call, right? So that helped us.
• Members, before we allow Mr.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, offered a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the session on guest introductions recognizing visitors, community college delegations, students, caregivers, a retired Assembly staff member, and a championship high school football team. Members also observed an adjournment in memory for Alex Preddy, a VA nurse killed in Minnesota, and later for Kathy Wooten and Rowena Ramos. The chamber then moved through the daily file and third reading file, with several items passed, retained, or continued. Among the bills taken up, AB 34 on renewable portfolio standard exemptions for publicly owned utilities passed 55-0; AB 35 to accelerate implementation of Proposition 4 climate resilience funds passed 62-0; AB 52 on food and agriculture equity passed 50-6; AB 72 creating an EV economic opportunity zone passed 58-0; AB 96 removing a diploma requirement for Medi-Cal peer support specialists passed 55-0; AB 230 extending Pierce’s disease control programs passed 64-0; AB 277 requiring background checks for behavioral health employees passed 59-0; AB 647 clarifying a county RV disposal pilot passed 54-0; AB 664 authorizing limited bachelor’s programs at Southwestern Community College passed 60-1; AB 673 creating a support grant for unaccompanied homeless youth passed 55-1; AB 710 on dynamic electricity pricing passed 54-0; AB 748 streamlining pre-approved housing plans passed 65-0; AB 767 expanding protections around sexually violent predator placements near schools and daycares passed 65-0; AB 883 protecting officials’ personal information from data brokers passed 66-0; AB 946 expanding 30x30 conservation efforts to urban areas passed 65-0; AB 1054 creating a deferred retirement option program for CHP and Cal Fire passed 61-1; AB 1070 on missing middle housing code simplification passed 66-0; AB 1159 strengthening student data privacy passed 54-4; AB 1204 revising the Local Control Funding Formula passed 54-1; AB 1265 extending the historic building tax credit passed 64-0; AB 1349 banning speculative ticketing passed 61-0; AB 1359 allowing seniors 80+ to opt out of jury service without a doctor’s note passed 67-1; AB 643 on organic waste procurement credits passed 48-4; AB 685 creating a small business resiliency fund passed 63-0; AB 714 tightening oversight of commercial driving programs passed 65-1; and AB 805 establishing a youth apprenticeship bridge program passed 66-0. Several other items were passed and retained or continued without debate. Debate on AB 1054 drew the sharpest disagreement, with opponents warning about pension costs and supporters arguing it would help retain experienced CHP officers and firefighters. AB 767 also prompted strong comments about public safety and placement of sexually violent predators in rural communities. On AB 1349, supporters from both parties backed the anti-speculative ticketing bill as consumer protection, while AB 664 drew support from members emphasizing access to higher education in underserved regions. The Assembly then adjourned until January 29, 2026, after announcing upcoming session dates and recording a few vote changes from the dais.

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows you to give education benefits to your dependents.
• For our vouchers, I can tell you, they are only allowed in our community, so...
• We won't use our VA funds for that because they're not allowed.
• We can allow up to 50 people to shelter at Camp Hope.
• Camp Hope is low-barrier; I say that because we allow for animals.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are allowing that the sales tax on natural gas sold for residential use—you're not paying sales
• </c> 5.14 and so we uh we just we're allowing 5.14 and so we uh we just we're allowing that<00:04:49.160
• The bill we passed in 2023 allows these survivors to go to court and have a court declare that they do
• </c> report the bill we passed in 2023 allows report the bill we passed in 2023 allows these<00:17:47.640
• </c> you to get paid your mileage you to get paid your mileage so<00:19:14.679><c> uh</c><00:19:15.000

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• If I may allow her to introduce herself, and then from there, make me a brief statement.
• If I may allow her to introduce yourself, and then from there, make me a brief statement.
• So, renewable portfolio standard just says it allows this technology to be part of the mix.
• What it means is: what technologies are you allowed to use?
• SB 78 would allow nuclear generation to count toward the RPS compliance.

Bills: SB47 , SB195 , SB196 , SB197 , SB198 , SB78

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• increase in OPS pilots that have become very important to the footprint of our agency, and then to allow
• Ladies and gentlemen, the governor's budget recommendation will allow the Florida State Guard to resume
• So this would allow us to resume recruiting, resume our initial entry training camps, and allow us to
• This bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create accessory dwelling
• And the bill, of course, is prospective, so the bill is not going to reach back and prohibit or allow

Summary: The committee met to hear the Governor’s proposed budget for the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development silo and to consider one bill. The Governor’s Office outlined a $117.4 billion state budget, including $18.3 billion for the TED area, with major allocations for the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, State, Military Affairs, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard. Agency heads then presented their priorities, including housing and disaster recovery funds at Commerce; pay, vehicles, aviation, and data systems at Highway Safety; facility modernization, recruitment, retention, and maintenance at Military Affairs; election audit, conservation lab, and historic preservation funding at State; transportation, aviation, seaport, and safety investments at DOT; and emergency response, flood mitigation, grant systems, and alerting at Emergency Management. Members asked questions about Visit Florida’s private match, FHP’s role in immigration enforcement and body cameras, National Guard deployment tempo and staffing, State Guard staffing and facilities, arts grant rules, rail funding, and the number of detainees at the Everglades detention site. Several notable positions were expressed during questioning. Visit Florida said it met and exceeded its private match requirement and described the match as important to ensuring value from public dollars. The Highway Patrol said its aviation assets have been used more heavily in immigration enforcement and that in-vehicle camera systems were a higher priority than body cameras at present. The National Guard and State Guard both emphasized heavy operational demands, readiness needs, and the importance of additional funding for facilities, personnel, and equipment. The Department of State said its audit funding would help counties move to automated post-election audits and that its arts grant rule changes were intended to create more consistent scoring rather than reduce access. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units. The bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, preserves homestead treatment for the primary residence portion, limits parking restrictions, and extends density bonus incentives to housing for military families receiving basic housing allowance. An amendment was adopted removing reusable tenant screening reports and clarifying that compliant ADUs are allowed by right without a separate hearing or permit. Testimony from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, especially the long-term rental requirement, as a tool to help workforce housing. The committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That has come really at an important timing because that's been able to allow us to not only bridge loan
• This would allow us to have money there. If we do end up getting reimbursement, then great.
• My question is, there's a statute out there that allows certain agencies to have vehicles.
• So that money will allow us to establish or reestablish, excuse me, the Oklahoma State Guard.
• This will allow that area to be covered. It's a great program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why are we allowing people to go through?
• They're not going to think, 'Oh, the law allows them to go through stop signs and red lights.'
• Shorter time periods to allow these businesses to continue to lease that space out.
• In our facilities where we don't have larger units, we don't allow vehicles to be stored.
• Receive, I think, my allowing them to go on to receive higher honors in the troop.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• For advanced estheticians, this would allow licensed estheticians and cosmetologists the opportunity
• to expand their businesses by offering additional services that are not currently allowed within their
• The change did not increase the hourly wage or mileage.
• You know, how much do we want to allow these new technologies to help law enforcement, but at the same
• You know, how much do we want to allow these new technologies to help law enforcement, but at the same

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.