Transcript Highlights:

• certain costs associated with the installation of low-pressure pumps on private property in future sewer
• certain costs associated with the installation of low-pressure pumps on private property in future sewer
• certain costs associated with the installation of low-pressure pumps on private property in future sewer
• certain costs associated with the installation of low-pressure pumps on private property in future sewer

Summary: The House took up several local bills after suspending procedural rules and Joint Rule 12 for a petition from Mark J. Cusack concerning military creditable service for judges, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The House also considered four local measures: a Harwich affordable housing trust bill, a Charlemont commercial recreation tax bill, a Millis senior property tax exemption bill, and a Falmouth sewer-related funding bill. All were advanced through second reading and ordered to a third reading. The chamber then passed to engrossment a series of additional local bills, including a Hopkinton bridge designation bill, a Nantucket charter amendment, a Swampscott disability property tax exemption bill, an Arlington senior tax exemption amendment, and a Reading home rule charter bill. Each was approved without recorded opposition. The House later recessed and returned to consider a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, House Bill 5348, reported out of Ways and Means with a total appropriation of $300 million. House Bill 5348 was taken up by suspension of the rules, read a third time, passed to be engrossed, and then passed to be enacted after the constitutionally required separate vote, with no votes in opposition recorded. The House adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill establishes that no city, town, code city, county, or water sewer district may prohibit the
• valve or backflow preventer and if the sewage grinder pump is consistent with the utility provider's sewer
• maintenance and repairs of a sewage grinder pump are the responsibility of the homeowner unless the sewer
• Additionally, if a homeowner fails to make repairs to the sewage grinder pump after receiving notice, the sewer

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held its last Senate bill hearing before cutoff and then moved into executive session. The chair announced several bills were being removed from the executive calendar, including SB 6181, SB 6154, SB 6242, and SB 6279. Staff then summarized the remaining bills: SB 6211 would create uniformity for how GMA-planning cities implement real estate excise tax, with no amendments; SB 6234 would regulate sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings, with a proposed substitute narrowing the bill to single-family residences, adding public utility districts, clarifying conditions for installation, and assigning maintenance responsibilities; SB 5633 would change subdivision and preliminary plat procedures, with a proposed substitute and a large Commerce fiscal note; SB 6291 would extend from two to four years the period a non-certified person may work on on-site wastewater treatment systems under supervision; SB 6274 would require housing and transportation planning to identify infrastructure barriers and review street and frontage standards; and SB 6309 would allow regional transit authorities more flexibility to apply for permits and construct facilities, with a proposed substitute expanding permit application authority and adjusting subdivision exemptions. In executive session, the committee adopted the proposed substitutes for SB 6234, SB 5633, and SB 6309. SB 5633 drew a no vote from one member, who cited concerns about the fiscal note and public input. The committee then voted do pass on SB 6211, SB 6234, SB 6291, and SB 6274, sending them to Rules. SB 5633 and SB 6309 were sent to Ways and Means after adoption of their substitutes. All measures were reported as passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of our industries we own the whole electrical grid and the transformers and water lines and sewer
• and sewer lines, wells and that type of stuff.
• <00:42:45.320><c> and</c><00:42:45.440><c> sewer</c><00:42:45.760><c> lines,</c><00:42:46.200><c> wells
• </c><00:42:46.680><c> and</c><00:42:46.800><c> that</c> lines and sewer lines, wells and that lines and
• sewer lines, wells and that type<00:42:47.320><c> of</c><00:42:47.400><c> stuff.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Funding will help establish sewer and water services, build streets, and manage storm water.
• The bottom line is in order for us to build infrastructure, the water and sewer lines, Grand Marais is
• the only location in the county, rather, that does have water and sewer.
• The bottom line is in order for us to build infrastructure, the water and sewer lines, Grand Marais is
• the only location in the county, rather, that does have water and sewer.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Line five is the project sponsor. On line seven we have the purpose.
• Down on line 14 of page three is the total project budget. On line 17 is the project grant.
• Line five is the project sponsor. On line seven we have the purpose.
• On line 12, page two, it's rates, and so we move down to line 15, it's water, right?
• On line 12, page two, it's rates, and so we move down to line 15, it's water, right?

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows cities to assess needs and abilities to accommodate parking, water, sewer, storm sewer infrastructure
• ,</c><00:27:42.320><c> storm</c> accommodate parking, water, sewer, storm accommodate parking, water,
• sewer, storm sewer<00:27:42.960><c> infrastructure,</c><00:27:43.600><c> as</c><00:27:43.760><c> well
• </c><00:27:43.919><c> as</c><00:27:44.080><c> the</c> sewer infrastructure, as well as the sewer infrastructure
• The bottom line why we need this issue.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• agreements and ensures no local government rule or regulation can prohibit the installation of public sewer
• transmission lines placed and maintained within and under publicly dedicated rights of way as part of
• a septic-to-sewer conversion when the associated permits have been issued by FDOT and FDEP, and that

Summary: The Transportation Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up two bills. First, Rep. Owens presented HB 1165, which would allow FDOT to issue a special blinking permit for mobile cranes and accessory support vehicles to travel on and off interstate highways at all hours, subject to local curfews and FDOT conditions such as size limits, mapping, signage, and warning lights. Supporters argued the change would improve flexibility for infrastructure and emergency work and could be safer at night because of lighter traffic and required visibility measures. After one proponent testified, the bill passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. The committee then heard CS for HB 1397, presented by Rep. Abbott, a broader transportation-related bill addressing the aggregate supply chain grant program, small business partnerships, airport and seaport transparency, maintenance priorities, the Florida Transportation Academy, and the Florida Transportation Research Institute. An amendment was adopted to clarify authority for transportation and parking authorities and to protect septic-to-sewer conversion projects from local rules when permits are issued by FDOT and FDEP. During debate, several members raised concerns that proposed repeals could reduce outreach and opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and rural businesses in DOT procurement, and the sponsor said he was willing to work on restoring or clarifying notification language. Despite those concerns, the committee reported the bill favorably, with some members voting no and others indicating support pending further changes before the next stop or floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• FREEMAN AND WE WILL GO DOWN THE LINE. >> MY NAME IS BILL FREEMAN, IN THE CITY ENGINEER FOR FLAGLER BEACH
• A LOT OF THE WATER THAT GOES BACK TO OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY FROM THE SEWERS IS HIGH IN SALINITY
• LEVELS AND WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH INFILTRATION SLIP LINING OUR SEWER LINES.
• THERE ARE A FEW PARAGRAPHS HERE ON LINES 240, MAYBE ENDING AROUND TO 65.
• PROJECTS OR IS IT LIMITING THEM TO FUND CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT ONLY TO THAT REFERENDUM ALL THE RICE IN THESE LINES

Transcript Highlights:

• The city may have extended their sewer lines years ago, and one of the contracts between the property
• What I'm trying to avoid is those septic to sewer conversions in the future Thank you. sewer conversions
• And my last question is on lines 83 through 87, but this is the pre-amendment line because the bill,
• And in fact, if you—line 90, I'm beginning at line 90, I just want to be really, really clear—and 206
• Bottom line, let's get along, if you want to get along.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of retained bills and several new measures, with most receiving favorable reports after amendments. Major debate centered on CS/SB 706, which preempts airport naming to the state and designates Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA and trademark-related conditions. Senator Jones offered amendments to avoid private royalty benefits, but both failed. Senators Berman, Osgood, Jones, and Pizzo spoke against the bill, raising concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and ethical issues; Senator Mayfield defended the bill as cost-free to the airport and noted the naming agreement. The committee ultimately voted the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements and CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, both with amendments and some opposition from the Florida League of Cities on the utility bill. Several other bills were heard and reported favorably with little controversy. CS/SB 1500 would streamline uncontested probate proceedings; SB 962 would exclude farms and farm operations from certain zoning definitions tied to affordable housing preemption; CS/SB 820 would strengthen reporting for problem-solving courts; SB 840 would revise portions of last year’s hurricane-related land-use law to narrow its scope and sunset temporary restrictions; and SB 856 would require online property listings to show estimated ad valorem taxes, with an amendment excluding social media platforms and broadening liability protections. SB 110 would clarify homestead exemption eligibility for 98-year or longer residential leases. SB 394 would exempt certain underwriting managers handling limited facultative reinsurance from licensure requirements, and SB 434 would prevent wind-hardening improvements from increasing assessed value for residential property tax purposes. The committee also advanced several public-safety and transparency measures. CS/CS/SB 658 and 608, a combined water-safety bill, would require safety features for rental properties with pools or nearby water bodies and authorize DBPR enforcement; supporters framed it as a response to Florida’s high child-drowning rates, and Airbnb waived in support. SB 748 would place constitutional language on restoration of voting rights on sentencing score sheets, with broad support from voting-rights and civil-rights groups. CS/SB 824 would require annual reporting of unimproved school-district land inventories, and CS/SB 848 would create a framework for off-site stormwater treatment and related credits, with support from builders and mitigation bankers. The committee also heard CS/SB 1036 on school counselors, which clarifies certification requirements and performance criteria after a delete-all amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would mirror and line up this camera policy with ...would mirror and line up this camera policy
• And my last two questions is I'm looking at lines 264 to 266.
• Going back to line 100... Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair.
• Going back to line 100 and looking at, as far as the environmental preservation on lines 1202 to 1.5,
• And if you need the line area, Senator McClain, I am specifically looking at lines 100 to 105, talking

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Closer to home, Bloomington has spent roughly $1 million on utility relocations of sanitary sewer and
• With our bonding request for sustain-<01:12:05.320><c> sanitary</c><01:12:06.080><c> sewer,</c><01:12
• , you can see the sustain- sanitary sewer, you can see the city<01:12:07.760><c> has</c><01:12:08.120
• The sanitary sewer and the water and sanitary sewer mains were originally constructed in 1979 and 1998
• Maybe even more to the point, two municipal electric lines will be relocated as a result of the project

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee was updated on the status of December 31, 2022, delinquent private water and sewer audits
• The committee was updated on the status of December 31, 2022, delinquent private water and sewer audits
• The committee was updated on the status of December 31, 22, delinquent private water and sewer audits
• The 28 entities term back funds were reinstated, Delinquent private water and sewer audits.
• The committee was also updated on the status of December 31, 2023, delinquent private water and sewer

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee met to adopt prior minutes and reports from its executive and standing committees, including counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. Those reports covered routine audit activity, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, and several state agency audit items. The committee also reviewed and adopted the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 and the related single audit report, both presented by Legislative Audit staff. The state financial report showed unmodified opinions on the state’s financial statements and described total assets of about $41.9 billion and liabilities of about $11.1 billion, along with retirement system assets of $39.9 billion and a net pension liability of $9 billion. Two material weaknesses were identified: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and a Division of Workforce Services methodology change for unemployment-related estimates that was not properly documented or approved. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; it resulted in 33 findings, 14 with questioned costs totaling $16.6 million, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Members questioned agency officials in detail about the Summer EBT questioned costs, DHS unresolved findings, broadband grant documentation, cyber security controls, workers’ compensation liabilities, and child care funding and reporting. DHS explained that the Summer EBT issue involved drawing federal funds in advance rather than as benefits were redeemed, and said the process has been corrected. Broadband officials said the questioned $6.6 million reflected documentation-detail disagreements across many invoices rather than missing payments. OST officials described new logging, endpoint detection, and phishing-training efforts, and DFA and Education officials addressed specific audit findings and corrective actions. The committee ultimately moved to hold the two large statewide reports over until the August meeting for further review, with discussion continuing on whether to release some agency staff in the meantime.

Transcript Highlights:

• a two-inch main, fire hydrants where there had never been any, repaving the streets, building new sewer
• mains and lift stations to all neighborhoods, removing aging septic tanks, and supplying sanitary sewer
• That's when we, you know, that's when the line has been crossed.
• They cut grass, they read meters, if the water break, the one guy, he does the water plant and the sewer
• I am from a long line of relatives that served on the council.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 8, 2025, and first took up several local bills that were presented briefly and then approved without public opposition. HB 4035 would merge the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District and the Lee County Mosquito Control District, contingent on approval by voters in both districts at the 2026 election; it passed 15-0. HB 307 would extend to county property appraisers the same authority tax collectors already have to use salary savings for employee bonuses or incentives, and it passed 17-0 after testimony from property appraisers and their associations in support. HB 4047 and HB 4049 would adjust assessment caps for the Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District and the North St. Lucie River Water Control District, respectively, with inflation indexing, annual increase limits, and referendum approval requirements; both passed unanimously. The committee also adopted an amendment to the committee substitute for HB 1169, a broader water management district bill covering quorum and meeting rules, lobbying restrictions, ad valorem taxing authority for certain capital projects by referendum, budget reporting, bidding preferences, and additional oversight and funding information; the amended bill passed 16-0 and was reported favorably with committee substitute. The final and most heavily debated item was HB 4079, which would dissolve the Town of White Springs and return it to unincorporated Hamilton County. The sponsor argued the town had a pattern of mismanagement, including financial problems, audit findings, canceled elections, and public safety concerns, and said dissolution would lower taxes and preserve services through the county. Committee members asked about the town’s finances, audits, law enforcement, fire protection, debt, and whether the county could absorb services and liabilities. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of dissolution cited audit findings, alleged illegal gambling operations, double taxation for law enforcement, high administrative costs, and intimidation at meetings. Opponents, including current and former town officials and residents, said the town had made progress, had corrected audit issues, maintained reserves, and was working to restore services and governance; they asked for more time and pointed to an upcoming election. No vote was taken on HB 4079 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are tax-exempt and cannot be repurposed, even for critical infrastructure like water lines, highways
• They are tax-exempt and cannot be repurposed, even for critical infrastructure like water lines, highways
• Currently, the process we have followed is in line with a typical real estate rezoning use change or
• As I said before, I know we had to deal with things like sewer treatment plants, service centers where
• for water, sewer, drainage, and road infrastructure.

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 13. Is this the amended bill or the original? Yes, sir. On line 13.
• So that could be moving from septic to sewer or even cesspools to septic or cesspools to sewer.
• So that could be moving from septic to sewer or even cesspools to septic or cesspools to sewer.
• That's the bottom line for me. I'm a bottom-line gal, so. For sure.
• those lines.

Bills: HB2024 , HB2053 , HB2097 , HB2116 , HB2117

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: water infrastructure finance authority, WIFA, water supply development, snowpack augmentation, cloud seeding, water augmentation, water financing, water infrastructure, Arizona water law, water conservation, groundwater recharge, stormwater recharge, reclamation and reuse, water rights, water supply projects, public-private partnership, long-term water augmentation fund, water provider, desalination, drought mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• The $25 that the bid has come back at, is there any of that water and sewer or anything?
• </c> water and sewer water and sewer &gt;&gt; or<00:18:39.039><c> anything.
• So this price includes water and utilities and sewer. Did that—was that partial?
• The current lease, we do not pay water and sewer for.
• </c> sewer for. We do pay electric and gas. sewer for. We do pay electric and gas.

Summary: The committee first approved the December meeting minutes and received several information items, including quarterly capital project status reports, University of Kentucky medical and equipment purchases, school district bond issue notices, and a University of Kentucky RFP for an enterprise services partner. Members also briefly discussed a University of Kentucky public-private partnership for student housing and dining, with comments that such arrangements may improve efficiency and use of taxpayer dollars during a difficult budget year. The main substantive discussion centered on a new CHFS lease in Harlan County for the Department for Community Based Services. Members questioned the proposed annual cost of $25.62 per square foot, which was far above the county average cited in the meeting, and raised concerns about the one responsive bid, the long lease term through 2033, and whether a nearby hospital or other entity might have been interested. CHFS staff said the current office space is in poor condition, that the new lease includes needed construction and 60 parking spaces, and that the office is limited to considering only actual bidders. After debate over whether to rebid or negotiate, the committee voted to approve the lease, with some members supporting it because of the current facility’s condition and others recording reservations. The committee then approved the remaining 10 lease renewals as a group. These included one renewal for the Commonwealth’s prosecutorial system and renewals for several CHFS offices, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Natural Resources. One member noted that seven of the 10 renewals were at or below the county average rate and said the overall package was substantially in line with local market conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have here another one: it is the Pacacho Sewer Company. That was 950.
• Now that's—hold on, I didn't bring my glasses—oh, there was sewer and water for Paco.
• I think in line with the chair’s earlier comments, can you clarify, so you mentioned that this bill would
• I did want to add just one thing about Pacacho Sewer and Water Company.
• Paco Sewer and Water Company.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 27 and March 3, 2026, then heard House Bill 2013, which would require ADEQ to submit an exceptional event demonstration to EPA when a wildfire on federally managed land affects Arizona air quality. The sponsor said the bill would help Arizona’s ozone/nonattainment situation by ensuring wildfire-related exceedances are excluded from official counts. Sierra Club opposed the mandate as duplicative and costly, and ADEQ said it was neutral but concerned about requiring submissions that may not meet EPA’s regulatory-significance standard and could take about 200 staff hours each. HB 2013 received a do-pass recommendation by a 5-3 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, after testimony from opponents raising transparency, conflict-of-interest, and funding concerns; supporters argued ranchers need help with depredation losses. HB 2156 passed 5-3. House Bill 2113, which would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when a proposed residential rate increase is 100% or more, drew testimony from the sponsor about rural customers facing large increases and from RUCO saying it lacked the staff and budget to take on the added workload. The chair and sponsor discussed adding an appropriation or lowering the threshold, but no amendment was ready. Opponents argued the bill would divert RUCO from larger cases, while supporters emphasized protecting rural ratepayers. The committee gave HB 2113 a do-pass recommendation, 6-2. House Concurrent Memorial 2011, urging Congress to delist the Mexican gray wolf and return management to states and local authorities, was supported by the sponsor and ranching-focused testimony citing livestock losses, while opponents said the species remains endangered and recovery should stay science-based. HCM 2011 passed 5-3. The committee then considered House Bill 2026, which would let ADWR evaluate water availability for certain developments by looking only at the proposed source or sources, even if water is commingled in a delivery system. ADWR was neutral but warned that commingled systems make it difficult to track actual water use and could weaken groundwater safeguards; opponents said the bill could enable double counting or more pumping. HB 2026 received a do-pass recommendation, 5-3. House Bill 2056, which appropriates $100,000 for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites, was supported by the sponsor as a way to explore additional water supplies; ADWR was neutral but said the study would be new for the agency and that brackish water is still regulated as groundwater. HB 2056 passed 5-3. House Bill 2098, modernizing Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority bonding and financing authority, drew support from Pinal County representatives and passed unanimously, 8-0. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 2057, supporting a geothermal permitting roadmap and coordination among agencies, was backed by industry advocates as a way to unlock Arizona’s geothermal potential and also passed unanimously, 8-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• changes to federally adjusted gross income, and the below-the-line stuff is not going to be put into
• Can you explain again above and below line and conformity and what Department of Revenue did this year
• And therefore, you know, there are a lot of line items, but the line item that is pretty significant
• We have 120-year-old sewer pipes. We had one that was leaking significantly.
• So we received a $2 million grant from WIFA to replace that sewer line, and we just wrapped that project

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2780, a technical cleanup measure related to Arizona’s judicial tax lien foreclosure process. The sponsor and a witness explained that it would clarify when a foreclosure should proceed as a public sale, standardize how excess proceeds are distributed, and resolve inconsistencies left from prior reforms. Members asked about the intent to protect lienholders while ensuring former property owners can receive excess funds; the bill was then returned with a due pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 4029, as amended, which would require the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to evaluate the revenue impact of federal tax conformity changes earlier in the year, and would require the Department of Revenue to issue tax forms consistent with current statute. The amendment added reporting deadlines and a trigger for the governor to assess whether a special session is needed if the revenue impact is at least $100 million. Supporters argued the bill would force earlier action on conformity and prevent tax forms from being issued based on changes not yet enacted; opponents said it added bureaucracy and could delay the long-standing practice of preparing forms based on expected conformity. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill as amended on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4030 and the related HCR 2052, which would impose a moratorium from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 on local increases in municipal and county fees, transaction privilege tax rates, and utility rates. Supporters said the measure would protect taxpayers from higher costs of living and prevent local governments from using utility rates or fees to offset other revenue needs. Opponents from cities, counties, and advocacy groups warned it could limit funding for water, wastewater, roads, public safety, and other infrastructure, especially for fast-growing or rural communities that rely on rate studies, grants, and enterprise funds. After extensive testimony and debate over municipal revenue growth, utility financing, and local control, the committee moved the bill forward; the transcript ends during the roll call and does not clearly state the final vote on HB 4030 or HCR 2052.

Transcript Highlights:

• undertake a transformational legacy project where the entire town will be converted from septic to sewer
• undertake a transformational legacy project where the entire town will be converted from septic to sewer
• This project is in the final phase of construction, and they are currently slated. sewer services.
• program pre-application portal so that the folks who applied in the pre-app portal would be first in line

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm testifying in support of House Bill 2420 on behalf of the Washington Association of Water and Sewer
• into more complex bidding processes for routine projects that used to be manageable and efficient. sewer
• This helps ensure that the projects are supported by the community and are in line with the planning
• our staff work to get project agreements in place with those projects that fall above the funding line
• our staff work to get project agreements in place with those projects that fall above the funding line

Bills: HB2470 , HB2353 , HB2420 , HB2338

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: HB2470, school construction assistance, capital budget, school facilities, on-base schools, military base schools, military installations, public school construction, school plant projects, state funding assistance, superintendent of public instruction, OSPI, school capital funding, instructional space, school district construction, alternative learning experience, ALE, free and reduced-price meals, special housing burden, district growth