Transcript Highlights:

• This is the one that has increases for MA provider rates and related direction to increase managed care
• </c><00:24:13.840><c> for</c> is the one that um has increases for is the one that um has increases for
• </c> can pass those provider rate increases can pass those provider rate increases um<00:24:31.760><c
• </c><00:42:20.839><c> and</c> here including I um fee increases and here including I um fee increases
• </c><00:42:37.119><c> For</c> adjustment and a fee increase. For adjustment and a fee increase.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We all voted yes to a $6 increase. I stress that again: only a $6 increase.
• We all voted yes to a $6 increase. I stress that again: only a $6 increase.
• They're coming from property tax increases, utility rate increases, increases in street repairs, asphalt
• Most of these increases are uncontrolled. Most of these increases are uncontrolled.
• They're coming from property tax increases, utility rate increases, increases in street repairs, asphalt

Bills: HF1143 , HF1548 , HF1340 , HF2549 , HF2559 , HF1673 , HF2740 , HF2507 , HF2461 , HF2381 , HF2695

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, we have seen a significant increase in the number of students on the autism spectrum in
• Actually, it's been a 40% increase in the number of students who are somewhere on the autism spectrum
• And so she actually ended up retiring without getting her pay increases.
• I don't know why my parents let me negotiate on my own, but I negotiated an hourly wage.
• Do we need to increase benefits? Do we have a surplus? Can we spend the money in other places?

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a brief introduction of the doctor of the day before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up several claims bills, including SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which was described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents; the House bill was substituted and passed 34-0. SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence, was also substituted with the House version and passed 35-0. SB 42/HB 47 on specific medical diagnoses and child protective investigations passed 34-0 after supporters said it would require child protection teams to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse. Later, SB 1002 on child welfare passed 37-0 after sponsors said it clarifies that parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow earlier court intervention and services, while not changing parental rights law. The Senate then considered education and health-related measures. SB 206/HB 851 on students with autism spectrum disorder was amended to the House bill and passed 35-0; the sponsor said it expands teacher preparation, requires autism-related training, creates a loan forgiveness program, and adds salary supplements for teachers with autism endorsements. SB 556/HB 453 on high school diploma requirements passed 36-0 and would allow students with disabilities to use Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements, while also fixing a marching band credit issue. SB 688 on naturopathic medicine passed 33-3, reestablishing licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors. SB 878/HB 1347 on clinical laboratory personnel passed 37-0 to address staffing shortages by aligning Florida more closely with federal CLIA standards. SB 914/HB 867 on dry needling by occupational therapists passed 37-0, clarifying authority for that treatment. SB 530 on state lotteries passed 36-0 with updates to operations, security, and retailer rules. SB 964/HB 6011 on financial disclosures and gifts/honoraria passed 36-0 after an amendment restored a percentage-based reporting option. The chamber also approved several government-administration and public-records measures. SB 326/HB 131 on curators of estates passed 36-0, updating probate rules for temporary court-appointed curators. SB 758/HB 625 on the Justice Administrative Commission passed 37-0 after an amendment broadened the judicial member to a judge or senior judge rather than only a circuit judge. SB 830 on public records passed 31-5, creating exemptions for the personal information of county and city managers and certain family members. The Senate also passed SB 21/HB 218 on land use regulations, which preserves hurricane-recovery restrictions in affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties, and the sponsor thanked colleagues for helping address unintended consequences from prior law. SB 354 on Blue Ribbon Projects was debated extensively over concerns about local control, conservation protections, and vague standards; after a late amendment excluding data centers from commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than passed. Finally, SB 1632/HB 1471 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and domestic terrorist designations drew significant debate over references to Sharia law, religious freedom, notice, and due process; one amendment striking Sharia references failed, and a second amendment with broader revisions was under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a 288.2% increase from 2019.
• This is a 288.2% increase from 2019.
• This is a 288.2% increase from 2019.
• This is a 288.2% increase from 2019.
• This is a 288.2% increase from 2019.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're increasing the total funds per FTE by $135.26, over a 1.5% increase, and we're also increasing
• This is a $700 million increase.
• , 5% increase, and then a 2.75% increase, when you average all that out, that is in fact averaging to
• Last year, the legislature passed an 11% and almost an 11% increase for pay increases for these folks
• It's increased by like 24.85 percent.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no increase to their core amount.
• It dealt with mileage increases.
• Agencies are required to absorb these rising wages and benefits, but the increased costs are becoming
• We see increased homelessness of families.
• And even you're seeing, I'm assuming you're seeing increased numbers, increases in demand.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• casinos, and that particularly starts with increased robbery after the first year, increased aggravated
• robbery after the first year increased robbery after the first year increase<01:20:01.360><c> aggravated
• and burglary and larly increases three and burglary and larly increases after<01:20:07.199><c> years
• </c><01:31:51.119><c> the</c> should we recommend increasing the should we recommend increasing the current
• </c> last several years which has increased last several years which has increased their<01:49:25.400

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on HB 650, a housekeeping-style bill from the Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds. Testimony explained that the bill would remove references to two already-repealed dedicated funds, split the state parks dedicated fund so Cannon Mountain winter activities would be tracked separately from the rest of the parks system, and place a $1 million cap on the robotics education fund so excess money would revert to the general fund. Supporters said the changes were mainly administrative but would improve accounting and avoid timing issues; committee members asked about a typographical error in the bill text and whether the measure was more than housekeeping. The committee later voted 16-0 to recommend HB 650 ought to pass, and then placed it on the consent calendar. The committee also opened a public hearing on HB 585, which would revise the property tax exemption for religious organizations. Representative John Janigian, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to help small churches and other religious groups that own parsonages or worship buildings but no longer have a resident pastor, allowing them to rent space or use property for church purposes without losing the exemption so long as the money is used for church operations, maintenance, or outreach. He described his Salem church’s parsonage being taxed after it was no longer occupied by a pastor, and said the bill would prevent similar burdens on small congregations. Former Representative Betty Gay testified in support, describing prior assessor actions in Salem that taxed church land and buildings very aggressively, while a Municipal Association representative testified in opposition. Committee members raised questions about how terms such as “regularly recognized and constituted denomination” would be defined, whether the bill could be applied consistently to larger denominations with multiple parishes, and whether legislative research should review past treatment of similar cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:35.839><c> in</c> and how that is significant increase in and how that is significant increase
• </c><00:31:07.080><c> it</c><00:31:07.360><c> from</c> by increasing it from by increasing it from 7538
• </c> opposite I would in in I would increase opposite I would in in I would increase the<00:40:25.079
• </c> and you know average rent increase and you know average rent increase because<00:47:45.000><c> of
• </c><00:47:52.520><c> has</c><00:47:52.640><c> been</c> average rent increase has been average rent increase

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• We may be increases in efficiency.
• Um, Xcel is showing that national pattern of increased dramatically increased distribution costs.
• <00:18:01.200><c> dramatically</c><00:18:01.919><c> increased</c> increased dramatically increased increased
• </c> increases um, versus the the the co-op. increases um, versus the the the co-op.
• of the commission, such as supply chain and wage inflation, increased wholesale commodity costs, loss

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Decades of research show that increasing punishment does not deter crime.
• And extreme heat increases the symptoms from vertigo.
• And while they appreciate the increase in the fee reduction program, I appreciate the increase in the
• In addition, expanding authority increases liability exposure.
• This increase is unique to us in California.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• But make no mistake, every one of these proposals is a tax increase. And it's a sales tax increase.
• We can shield ourselves from thinking of these as tax increases, but they're tax increases.
• , but they're tax these as tax increases, but they're tax increases.<00:30:58.880><c> Thank</c><00:30
• </c> increases. Thank you, Mr. Chair. increases. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• . increase. increase.

Bills: HF4094 , HF3390 , HF3813 , HF3583 , HF3751 , HF4324 , HF4789 , HF3596 , HF4033 , HF4424 , HF4053

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Decades of research show that increasing punishment does not deter crime.
• And extreme heat increases the symptoms from vertigo.
• And while they appreciate the increase in the fee reduction program, I appreciate the increase in the
• In addition, expanding authority increases liability exposure.
• This increase is unique to us in California.

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee heard a long agenda of bills, with several authors presenting measures focused on probation, prison conditions, public safety, diversion, and infrastructure theft. Early in the hearing, AB 1816 by Assembly Member Davies proposed allowing courts to extend probation for up to one additional year for people convicted of registrable sex offenses who have not completed required treatment. Supporters, including the Chief Probation Officers of California, argued the bill would improve rehabilitation and public safety by allowing treatment to be completed; opponents, including public defenders and civil liberties groups, said existing revocation tools already address noncompliance and warned the bill was vague and would prolong supervision. The bill was later moved on call with an aye recommendation. The committee also heard AB 2593, which would prohibit non-medical staff from interfering with prescribed care for incarcerated patients; it drew broad support from medical, disability, public defender, and justice reform groups and passed to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including AB 1927 and AB 2502, was adopted without controversy. The committee then considered AB 1538 by Assembly Member Krell, which would bar elected or appointed officials from using political power for retaliation. Support came from a student activist and the California News Publishers Association, with additional support from education, law enforcement, and civil liberties groups; no opposition testimony was offered, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2584 by Assembly Member Flora, as amended, would narrow civil liability for lawful defensive force; supporters framed it as protecting self-defense, while one opposition witness objected on behalf of labor and justice groups. The chair noted concerns about eliminating civil liability but still recommended aye, and the bill passed to Judiciary. AB 2217 by Assembly Member Zbur would rename and expand the LEAD diversion program as “Alternatives to Arrest,” broaden eligible offenses, and continue grant funding for local diversion efforts. Supporters emphasized reduced recidivism and service connections, and the bill was moved on call to Appropriations. Later, the committee took up AB 1941 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez, which would create an organized metal theft offense and a statewide data-sharing system to address copper theft and damage to public infrastructure. Supporters from utilities, cities, transit, telecom, and law enforcement described widespread outages, costly repairs, and public safety risks; opponents argued the bill would deepen criminalization and racial disparities and that non-carceral solutions were preferable. The author and supporters responded that the bill was needed to address repeated thefts that leave communities without lights, power, or 911 service, and the measure passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2499 by Assembly Member Gibson sought stronger protections for incarcerated people and workers from extreme heat and inadequate ventilation in state prisons. The bill was backed by incarcerated workers, family members of a woman who died from heat-related causes, and a wide coalition of public defender, civil rights, and prisoner advocacy groups. Members spoke emotionally about prison conditions and the need for humane treatment, and the bill passed to Labor and Employment with strong support.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate of 78% in the first year and reduced premium fluctuations in the first five years, and also increased
• rate of 78% in the first year and reduced premium fluctuations in the first five years, and also increased
• rate of 78% in the first year and reduced premium fluctuations in the first five years, and also increased
• second year and onward, the premium rate was established using a formula with a 1.2% cap of taxable wages
• Mingi, were you aware that the commissioner of DEED had increased the premium on the paid leave program

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from the Twins and that has increased from the Twins and that has increased now<00:49:21.520><c>
• </c><00:54:27.120><c> in</c> share of public payers increases in share of public payers increases in
• ><c> costs</c> inflationary increases on costs inflationary increases on costs typically<00:57:45.480
• The challenges and increasing costs.
• </c> the rate isn't going to increase much. the rate isn't going to increase much.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> scien for leading the effort to increase scien for leading the effort to increase the<00:04:30.000
• I enthusiastically support an increase in the state’s R&D tax credit, which hasn’t seen an increase in
• in New Hampshire wages.
• He said it increases supply.
• He said it increases supply.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is going to not only bring jobs, but bring good-paying wages.
• These additional requirements increase administrative complexity and reduce...
• It's also going to increase access to care for patients.
• This bill increases the time of supervised driving that a permit holder has to have from the current
• This increased... ...hours of 30 hours, 20 daytime and 10 nighttime before you're allowed to get your

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I believe that it increases costs for small law firms that they cannot afford upfront.
• Um, I believe that it increases costs for small law firms that they cannot afford upfront.
• Um, I believe that it increases costs for small law firms that they cannot afford upfront.
• Um, I believe that it increases costs for small law firms that they cannot afford upfront.
• Um, I believe that it increases costs for small law firms that they cannot afford upfront.

Transcript Highlights:

• allows the Department of Taxation to provide the University of Hawaiʻi and other state agencies certain wage

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on January 31 and heard six bills. The chair opened by outlining committee practices, including giving at least 72 hours’ notice for hearings, releasing testimony by 5:00 p.m. the day before hearings, and deferring bills needing substantive HT1 changes so members would not vote “blind.” Members briefly thanked the chair for the transparency approach before moving to the agenda. HB 223 would create a Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy special fund and workforce assessment fee to support a pharmacy center. Testimony from the Board of Pharmacy, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo College of Pharmacy, Mokai Drugs, and others generally supported the measure, emphasizing workforce data, rural access, student loan repayment, and retention. The committee later advanced HB 223 with amendments, including leaving fee amounts blank for further discussion and inserting a defective date, and the motion passed unanimously. HB 940 would appropriate funds for the rat lungworm lab at UH Hilo; HB 546 would establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute at UH to advance AI; HB 549 would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program; HB 1172 would add the Department of Taxation to the Statewide Longitudinal Data System for wage-data sharing; and HB 1320 would require UH to collect and publicly report graduate outcome data and create a dashboard. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with some privacy concerns raised on HB 1172 and a request to protect taxpayer confidentiality. In decision-making, the committee passed all five bills with amendments, generally deleting or blanking appropriations and FTEs for Finance Committee review, adding defective dates for further discussion, and in HB 549 adding a statement that the program is a matter of statewide concern. The committee recessed briefly for decision-making and then adopted the chair’s recommendations on each bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you only fix this one by reducing the cost or increasing the wage base.
• Increases in workloads have continued to impact our timelines.
• And so I would like to see increased power generation in the Permian.
• Increased power generation in the Permian. So, just a follow-up there.
• Environmental damage, energy burdens, increased costs, utilities.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I have great respect for increase.
• So, the bottom line is yes, it will increase the number of animal... it could increase that number, okay
• </c><02:37:40.640><c> our</c> we have a chance to uh increase our we have a chance to uh increase our
• By giving them the increase.
• Now, if you're getting the increase and I'm not getting the increase, I can't buy any more than what