Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution 247, a resolution confirming the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the University
• Senate Resolution 248, a resolution confirming the appointment of James P.
• Todd Case to the reappointment of Paul Todd Case to the<00:13:44.280><c> University</c><00:13:44.960
• <00:13:52.720><c> Gray</c><00:13:53.080><c> II</c><00:13:54.240><c> to</c> the appointment of James P.
• Gray II to the appointment of James P.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the Assistant Vice Chair, Senator Paul Feeney [member_11144].
• Governor Driscoll, my Vice Chair, Senator Joanne Comerford [member_11729], my Assistant Vice Chair, Paul
• Chairman, and I'll take this opportunity to introduce Senator Paul Mark, who joined us since my opening
• incorporate economic projections that were provided by our economic vendors, Moody's Analytics and S&P
• So this year, we're right about 15.5% for the S&P. Last year, we were up 23%.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate. Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing. Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing. Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Minnesota.
• ><00:23:59.960><c> University</c><00:24:00.480><c> in</c><00:24:00.600><c> St</c><00:24:00.880><c> Paul
• </c> Metropolitan State University in St Paul Metropolitan State University in St Paul Minnesota<00:24
• and</c><00:53:46.920><c> they</c><00:53:47.079><c> have</c><00:53:47.200><c> to</c><00:53:47.520><c> P<
• /c> Federal Reserve Bank and they have to P Federal Reserve Bank and they have to P play<00:53:48.040

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul and Minneapolis, was much more organized than today.
• and Ramsey County than Minneapolis Paul and Ramsey County than Minneapolis does<00:54:00.359><c> um<
• </c><01:00:13.839><c> police</c> street many nights the St Paul police street many nights the St Paul
• </c><01:03:43.960><c> you</c><01:03:44.039><c> make</c><01:03:44.279><c> these</c><01:03:44.559><c> p<
• uh uh the times when you make these p uh uh the Pursuits<01:03:47.279><c> um</c><01:03:47.599><c> it<

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Guessing. He's known here no longer. Rihanna, Samuel.
• They feel that the current structure of how the county P&Z works is...
• The current structure of how the county P&Z works is, they don't always agree, but they think it's fair
• It's easy for the constituents that I had as a commissioner at the time to come to the P&Z meetings and
• Just a quick update of kind of where we are with the P-25 radio.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 211, which would appropriate $5 million for the Las Vegas Rodriguez Park. Senator Campos said the money would help continue upgrades to baseball, softball, and little league fields and address fencing, flooding, and other park improvements as part of a larger regional park plan. There was no public opposition, and the bill received a unanimous do pass recommendation, 7-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 131, a broad housing and zoning reform measure sponsored by Senator Maestas. The bill would allow more housing types by right, including accessory dwelling units, duplexes, townhomes, apartments in commercial zones, small-scale commercial uses in neighborhoods, and would eliminate minimum parking mandates; an amendment to remove height restrictions was adopted unanimously. Supporters, including Pew, housing advocates, chambers of commerce, builders, and some local officials, argued the bill would increase supply, lower costs, and modernize outdated zoning. Opponents, including the Realtors, Municipal League, neighborhood representatives, and several senators, argued it would preempt local control, ignore community differences, and could create infrastructure and neighborhood impacts. After extended debate, the committee tabled SB 131 by a recorded vote. Senate Bill 183 was next, proposing a feasibility study for a regional urgent care or emergency facility in Torrance County. The sponsor and local officials described long ambulance transports, heavy use of I-40, and the need for quicker access to care for rural residents and travelers. The bill drew support from a former hospital administrator and no opposition, and it passed 9-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 222, which would appropriate $20 million for physician residency programs outside the federal system to help retain doctors in New Mexico. The sponsor and supporters said the state loses many medical graduates because of limited residency slots, while one witness urged accountability for large hospital systems. Some senators questioned the premise and feasibility, but the bill advanced on a 6-4 do pass vote to Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Paul, you're recognized so we can. >> Pass a bill that says that one particular agencies responsible
• That would all be as part of the plan for the presidential library, the P l a and so a federally these
• Thank you, Madam President. >> S P 3.56 would designate January 27th is Holocaust Remembrance Day here

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, R&P absorbed a 20% cut, and communities statewide are still stabilizing.
• Last session, lead and R&P absorbed a 20% cut.
• Paul Waddington. Hello, my name is Paul Waddington.
• Paul Waddington. Hello, my name is Paul Waddington. I'm an administrator for Bainbridge.
• Hello, my name is Paul Waddington.

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard an overview from OFM Director Katie Chapman See on Governor Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal. She said the budget was built in response to higher caseloads and inflation, a roughly $390 million revenue forecast drop, new federal costs tied to H.R. 1, and a relatively small ending fund balance. The proposal would increase near general fund spending by about $1.1 billion and solve an estimated $2.3 billion two-year gap through about $800 million in reductions, revenue shifts and tax preference changes, use of other funds, and about $1 billion from the budget stabilization account. She also noted the budget is balanced over two years but not fully over four years under the state’s outlook rules. Chapman See highlighted reductions in Working Connections Child Care, including a soft cap on enrollment and holding subsidy rates at the 75th percentile, delays to long-term care and developmental disability-related changes, and across-the-board reductions to higher education and administrative spending. She also described investments in wildfire suppression and preparedness, affordability programs like utility rebates and home energy assistance, housing-related planning and permitting support, One Washington IT replacement, behavioral health workforce programs, and continued support for some K-12 initiatives such as ninth grade success and homeless student stability. In response to questions, she said some proposed cuts were based on the governor’s subjective judgment about what was critically necessary, that current child care enrollees would not be cut off immediately, and that the budget would maintain services for about 500 highest-acuity Medicaid clients who lost eligibility under federal changes. Public testimony was largely critical of the proposed cuts in K-12, early learning, and higher education. School officials, educators, nurses, and advocacy groups opposed reductions to Transition to Kindergarten, Local Effort Assistance, Running Start, MSOC, school leadership and support grants, and higher education funding, arguing the cuts would worsen existing funding gaps and harm student outcomes. Several witnesses supported restoring or maintaining funding for ninth grade success, Treehouse’s foster youth graduation program, homeless student stability, and Science on Wheels. In early learning, child care providers and advocates opposed the Working Connections cap and subsidy-rate reduction, warning it would reduce access and destabilize providers. In higher education, campus leaders and labor representatives opposed across-the-board cuts and fund shifts, while some institutions and advocates supported targeted investments such as behavioral health workforce programs and DigiPen aid restoration. In human services, Planned Parenthood advocates praised restored abortion access funding and Medicaid reimbursements. The committee took no votes or final action in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, and it's on the compensatory aid.
• Paul, and Okehennepin, which have huge student enrollments. South St.
• Paul. We have a lot of old buildings; we have a very old school.
• Paul are strangling local schools.
• Paul and not bureaucrats sitting in an office hundreds of miles away.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul just go through a pretty significant attack.
• a</c><00:04:40.639><c> a</c><00:04:40.960><c> pretty</c> Paul just go through a a pretty Paul just go
• Paul?"
• </c><00:42:36.560><c> Paul?"
• Paul?" And so we have before us and St. Paul?"

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Smith, with my eyes closed, I'm being told: A-N-A-P-H-Y-L-X-I-S, anaphylaxis.
• scope of work, requires local safety amendments to be properly registered with the state fire marshal, mends

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for Pope Francis. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to the special order calendar and took up a long series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills before final passage. Among the measures approved were bills creating an expedited DNA testing grant program for local law enforcement, adding aggravating factors in capital cases involving gatherings for religious, school, or government activities, requiring state health coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, authorizing indemnification for commuter rail providers, prohibiting abandonment of migrant vessels in Florida waters, and creating new specialty license plates. The Senate also passed bills on Alzheimer’s awareness, relocating the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter schools, sex offender registration, utility worker protections, juvenile justice, student mental health reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School, school readiness, sexual images involving children, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county property appraiser employees. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and Brownfields. Debate was especially extensive on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered but failed 13-23 after arguments over election-related communications and the scope of existing law. The certified recovery residences bill also drew notable debate, with supporters emphasizing housing as essential to recovery and opponents raising concerns about implementation and local control. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes, including the capital aggravating factors bill, charter schools, and the Office of Faith and Community measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul when he was four years old and today is one of the youth coaches. I'll turn it over to Mr.
• Paul when he was four years old and today is one of the youth coaches. I'll turn it over to Mr.
• Paul through Conway Rec Center is wonderful.
• Paul through Conway Rec Center is wonderful.
• Senator Paul, thank you, Chair Muhammad.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Paul Hollage.
• P-T... just P-T-E-T, P-T, P-T, pass-through credit? Okay, thank you.
• and get through the budget process, consider removal or extension of those expiration dates on those P-T-E-T
• P-T. Just. P-T-E-T, P-T, P-T, PASTH credit. Okay. Thank you. They're very well-first on that.

Transcript Highlights:

• I show Representative Paul is here. Okay, I think that's everybody.
• Representative Paul. Thank you. Good seeing you today.
• Representative Paul. HB2841? Yes. All right, thank you. Mr.
• I think Representative Paul captured this bill well.
• Paul. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul public schools.
• Paul.
• Paul. So, anything final?
• </c><00:59:24.480><c> Paul.
• Paul. So, anything final Minneapolis St. Paul.

Bills: HF3650 , HF2238

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Transcript Highlights:

• In the East Gallery, a young man named Paul Haas, who is going to stand up now, a constituent of mine
• Paul, thank you for being here, my friend. Welcome to the Florida Senate.
• We mend fences. We repair equipment that breaks at the worst possible time.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, visiting groups, and special honorees in the galleries. The chamber then took up committee and executive appointment business, adopting a report confirming 42 gubernatorial appointments by a vote of 36-0. The Senate next considered a long special-order calendar of bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Measures included public-records sunset reviews and trade secret/cybersecurity exemptions; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; commercial driving school oversight; human trafficking training for nurses; a new injunction for protection against serious violence and its related public-records exemption; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove protection; a chiropractic trust-funds cap repeal; specialty license plates; a waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill with multiple agriculture, biosolids, and enforcement provisions; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety reporting procedures for public postsecondary institutions; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary critical-need practice certificates, and domestic animals. The floor debate featured the most discussion on the farm bill, the HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill, the autism law-enforcement bill, and the school athletics bill. The HCSM bill drew extended debate over whether licensed insurance agents should be allowed to market faith-based health care sharing ministries, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free speech, and religious liberty, and opponents warning about unregulated products and commissions; it passed 32-5. The athletics bill, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater/Miami Northwestern situation, would let coaches provide good-faith support to student-athletes while requiring reporting and FHSAA oversight; it passed 38-0. Most other measures passed overwhelmingly, including the autism bill 38-0, the campus safety bill 37-0, the public school patriotic displays bill 36-2, and the farm bill 38-0 after amendments addressing Everglades lands and biosolids timing were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the East Gallery, a young man named Paul Haas, who is going to stand up now.
• Paul, thank you for being here, my friend. Welcome to the Florida Senate.
• We mend fences. We repair equipment that breaks at the worst possible time.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of member and guest introductions recognizing visitors, local delegations, and honorees. The chamber then took up a report from the Committee on Ethics and Elections on 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted and the appointments were confirmed by a 36-0 vote. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and fundraising. The body then moved through a long special-order calendar of bills, largely focused on public records exemptions, public safety, education, agriculture, health care, and licensing. Measures passed included bills to extend or consolidate exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute-of-limitations bill; regulation of commercial driving schools; human trafficking training for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove infrastructure; chiropractic patient trust funds; specialty license plates; waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill/Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services package; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills drew debate or amendments. The Farm Bill received amendments protecting Everglades restoration lands from surplus sale and clarifying biosolids timing, and it passed 38-0 after extensive discussion. The HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill prompted debate over whether allowing licensed insurance agents to market faith-based health care sharing ministries would create consumer confusion or free-speech concerns; it passed 32-5. The patriotic displays bill also drew discussion and passed 36-2. The athletics bill allowing coaches to provide good-faith support to student-athletes, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater situation, passed 38-0. The affordable housing bill clarifying Live Local Act definitions to exclude farms from certain commercial/mixed-use/industrial categories passed 38-0 after a technical amendment. Several other measures were temporarily postponed, and the session concluded with the Senate continuing through the remaining calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the East Gallery, a young man named Paul Haas, who is going to stand up now, a constituent of mine
• Paul, thank you for being here, my friend. Welcome to the Florida Senate.
• We mend fences. We repair equipment that breaks at the worst possible time.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of gallery introductions recognizing visitors, local officials, students, and public safety personnel. The chamber first took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee on 42 executive appointments; after Senator Gaetz explained that the committee had reviewed the appointees’ qualifications and suitability, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a 36-0 vote. The Senate then moved through a long special-order calendar focused largely on open-government sunset reviews and other policy bills. It passed measures to continue or consolidate public records and meeting exemptions for aquaculture records, agency-held trade secrets, and cybersecurity information, with one technical amendment adopted on the cybersecurity bill. The chamber also approved bills extending the statute of limitations for failure to report child abuse, strengthening regulation of commercial driving schools, requiring human trafficking education for nursing graduates, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and making the related public-records exemption. Additional bills passed included a nature-based coastal resiliency measure with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a chiropractic trust-funds bill, specialty license plates, a one-time waiver of late financial disclosure fines, public school personnel compensation changes, the annual Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “Farm Bill,” homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders, disability-presumption clarifications for first responders, reinsurance intermediary manager changes, patriotic displays in public schools, ADS-B fee restrictions, autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope program, campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities, and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. The Senate also debated and passed a bill allowing licensed insurance agents to market health care sharing ministries, despite concerns raised by Senator Polsky about consumer confusion, commissions, and the sale of non-insurance products; supporters argued it restored free speech, religious liberty, and consumer choice. The chamber approved the bill 32-5 after debate. Most other measures passed with strong bipartisan support, often by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several companion House bills were substituted in place of Senate bills before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the East Gallery, a young man named Paul Haas, who is going to stand up now, a constituent of mine
• Paul, thank you for being here, my friend. Welcome to the Florida Senate.
• We mend fences. We repair equipment that breaks at the worst possible time.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're well qualified: Paul Bailey, Adam Casell, and Christopher Young. I just ask, Mr.
• Paul Bailey. Mr. Bailey, would you come forward, please? Mr.
• Paul Bailey, would you come forward, please? Mr.
• Next, Donald P-A-S-T-I-N-G—I'm sorry, I apologize, and sir, you have two minutes.
• Next Donald P-A-S-T-I-N-G I'm sorry.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider a large slate of gubernatorial appointees, with 127 nominees on the agenda. The committee first approved the grouped nominees in Tabs 1 through 54 by unanimous roll call vote after brief public testimony in support of several appointees. The committee then took up individual University of West Florida and Pensacola State College-related nominations, including noting that Dr. Joel Rudman had resigned from the Pensacola State College board before appearing, leaving no action to take on that tab. Several UWF trustees were confirmed after testimony focused on their qualifications and priorities for the university. Paul Bailey emphasized his local ties, legal background, and interest in UWF’s military connections and pre-law program; Rebecca Matthews highlighted her education and public service background, current role as UWF board chair, enrollment growth, fundraising, and alignment with state directives; Rachel Moyah discussed her education leadership experience, finance role, and positive enrollment and fundraising trends; Ashley Ross described her fundraising and higher education background and stressed workforce, advancement, cyber, and military partnerships; and Christopher Young spoke about his Panhandle roots, business experience, audit and compliance work, and support for military and student opportunity. Each of these nominees was confirmed by roll call and forwarded to the full Senate. The most contentious nomination was Adam Kissel for the UWF Board of Trustees. Kissel described his background in higher education policy, free speech, philanthropy, and federal education work, and said he would focus on free speech, accreditation, military/veteran support, honors programming, and graduation rates. Committee members questioned him closely about prior writings on privatizing public higher education, his views on free speech versus Senate Bill 266, Project 2025, AI in administration, and his fit for UWF. Public testimony was split, with supporters praising his free-speech credentials and reform views, while opponents, including former UWF leaders, warned he was too ideological and not sufficiently grounded in the university community. After debate, the committee voted 5-4 not to confirm Kissel, so his name will not be forwarded to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are ways Sabrina Davis waives in support barn agent support Mayor John Paul O'Connor waives
• Alyssa Fearon, he's against Mayor John Paul O'Connor waves against okay.
• Back in the day when this came up 20 years ago, your state senator, my friend, Dr 2 rail P done.
• Medical Association waves against. >> George Joe, the Florida Insurance Council waves against Mayor John Paul
• So imagine a hypothetical where thousands of people, e-mail pictures of clouds to D P and then the state