Transcript Highlights:

• board may submit a request for an Auditor General audit.
• This number will go up as late audits are filed and reviewed by the Auditor General.
• If they don't do that, those off the auditor general and a If they don't do that, the auditor general
• State law provides that the Auditor General perform duties independently, but under the general policies
• We generally examine approximately a third of the school districts for compliance with FEFP We generally

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive annual overviews of its oversight responsibilities and the work of the Auditor General and OPAGA. Committee staff reviewed the committee’s authority over state and local governments, enforcement of audit-report filing requirements, repeated audit findings, Transparency Florida reporting, and lobbying compensation audits. Auditor General Cheryl Norman described her office’s independence, audit standards, quality control, and major audit areas, including the state’s annual financial and single audits, school district and university audits, operational and performance audits, and attestation work. She also noted staffing shortages, recruitment efforts, and a request for carry-forward funds to study salaries. Members asked about whether audits can quantify recoverable dollars, how school district spending comparisons are handled, and how to raise concerns about DCF-related audits or a local city audit that has been pending for years. Norman said her office can quantify findings when possible, sometimes compares costs across districts in operational audits, and that members can bring specific concerns to the appropriate deputy auditor general or the committee. She also explained that citizen or local-government audit requests may require payment of audit costs. OPAGA Coordinator Kara Collins-Gomez outlined OPAGA’s role as a legislative research unit that conducts studies directed by law, the presiding officers, or the committee, and described its policy areas, methodologies, contract monitoring, and recurring statutory reports. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy explained how to read operational audit reports, including findings, criteria, condition, cause, effect, recommendations, and management responses. Deputy Auditor General Greg Senators explained financial audit reports, including audit opinions, required supplementary information, internal control and compliance findings, federal program compliance, and management letters. The meeting concluded with thanks to the presenters and a motion to adjourn, which passed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second is power generation: data centers are willing to pay for and invest in additional generation,
• </c><01:13:10.800><c> and</c> existing carbon free generation and existing carbon free generation and
• Each of these decisions affect the general public in the communities in which generation is placed.
• Each of these decisions affect the general public in the communities in which generation is placed.
• I'm here with Generation Atomic.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:57.920><c> non-911</c> of statewide next generation non-911 of statewide next generation non
• </c> generating plants. generating plants.
• </c> the General Assembly. the General Assembly.
• General admin and support: the House appropriated $6 million of general fund in each year for general
• </c> expressly authorized by the General expressly authorized by the General Assembly.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• is one time, by $3,950 in general fund, of which $3,900 general fund is one time, leaving $7,900 general
• </c> of general fund of which 330 general of general fund of which 330 general fund<03:23:29.840><c>
• </c><03:24:49.920><c> fund</c> general fund of which 3,90 general fund general fund of which 3,90 general
• </c><03:32:48.160><c> fund</c> general fund of which 7,220 general fund general fund of which 7,220 general
• which 15,497 of general general funds of which 15,497 of general funds<03:46:35.040><c> is</c><03:46

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from renewable resources or non-emitting electric generation.
• We could build a lot of other types of generation.
• We could build distributed generation, as Chair Doglio is fond of.
• General Matter is in the uranium enrichment business.
• nuclear power generation?

Bills: HB2090, HB2215, HB2245, HB2272

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, energy strategy, sustainable development, state energy policy, climate change, fuel regulations, compliance obligations, sustainability, environmental policy, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the generation side, we own and can generate about 7.5 gigawatts of power, or 7,500 megawatts
• Uh so we are fully generation.
• 12</c> we own and can generate about 7 12 we own and can generate about 7 12 gawatts<00:04:14.239><c
• One power generation total power.
• <00:31:32.880><c> capacity</c> generally speaking, again, the capacity generally speaking, again, the

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force held its third meeting and adopted the prior minutes after a motion and second. The main presentation came from John Bevington of LG&E and KU, who described the utility’s Kentucky service territory, its vertically integrated operations, and its role in economic development. He said the company supported 76 projects in 2024, representing about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, and noted that about 45% of statewide investment announcements were in its service area. He also outlined a large project pipeline of about 8.5 gigawatts, with data centers making up roughly two-thirds of that interest. Bevington explained that data center siting differs from traditional manufacturing site selection because it is driven primarily by transmission access and grid capacity rather than a process of eliminating locations. He said large data centers must locate near transmission lines, that utilities must conduct formal studies to ensure existing customers are not harmed, and that the buildout timeline for utility infrastructure is much longer than for data centers. He cited a Deloitte study and other industry data to argue that power constraints and timeline mismatches are the biggest challenges, while also emphasizing that data centers can generate significant construction activity, indirect jobs, and tax revenue. He said Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers was a key enabler that increased interest in the state. Members asked about the number and size of potential data center projects, how Kentucky compares with other states, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects in Kentucky reflect current interest, that other states such as Ohio have had similar incentives for years, and that Kentucky is still early in the market. He also said data centers can vary in size, from 200 to 600 megawatts or more, and that they can be located anywhere with sufficient transmission capacity and, in some cases, access to workforce and roads. In response to concerns about energy supply, he said LG&E and KU are pursuing an “all of the above” strategy, including solar, batteries, and new natural gas combined-cycle units, and noted ongoing and proposed projects totaling additional capacity if approved by the Public Service Commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• This generates state revenue, which is deposited into the general fund.
• This generates state revenue, which is deposited into the general fund.
• Just a little historic information about the state general levy: the state general levy generated about
• This generates state revenue, which is deposited into the general fund.
• Just a little historic information about the state general levy: the state general levy generated about

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> president um through the agitant general president um through the agitant general of<00:20:53.440
• January 21, Amale Bove was the deputy attorney general, acting deputy attorney general at the time.
• January 21, Amale Bove was the deputy attorney general, acting deputy attorney general at the time.
• </c><00:25:46.559><c> has</c> department of the attorney general has department of the attorney general
• </c><00:44:05.280><c> of</c> General Steven Logan, agitant general of General Steven Logan, agitant general

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on federal and state authority over National Guard deployment in response to civil protest or unrest, prompted by recent federal actions and the California litigation in Newsom v. Trump. The chair explained the purpose was to help lawmakers and the public understand the legal background, the status of the California case, and possible Hawaii policy responses. David Day of the Attorney General’s office outlined several recent federal immigration-related executive actions and enforcement directives, then described Hawaii’s participation in multiple lawsuits challenging federal funding conditions, data-sharing demands, and the birthright citizenship order. A major portion of the briefing focused on Newsom v. Trump. Day summarized the June 2025 Los Angeles protests and the president’s memorandum federalizing National Guard units under 10 U.S.C. 12406, which California challenged as ultra vires, procedurally improper, and violative of the Posse Comitatus Act, the Tenth Amendment, and the APA. He said the district court initially granted relief, but the Ninth Circuit stayed the TRO and held, in a published decision, that review under section 12406 is highly deferential and that the president lawfully exercised authority under paragraph 3. He also noted California-law issues about orders being issued through the governor, and said Hawaii had supported California through amicus briefs and would continue to do so; the bench trial was scheduled for August 11-13. Members then asked how Hawaii law differs from California’s and whether the Ninth Circuit ruling would control here. Day said the standard-of-review aspects would likely apply, but the California-specific procedural language about orders issued in the governor’s name does not appear in Hawaii law. The committee also heard from Colonel Lloyd C. Phelps of the Hawaii Department of Defense, who explained that National Guard activations generally occur under Title 10 federal orders, state orders, or other statuses, and said the June 2025 federalization mechanism was a Title 10 call-up. He began addressing the president’s authority, the Posse Comitatus Act, and Hawaii’s own preparedness, but the discussion was cut short and members indicated they would return to the topic later. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Chapter 66 of the General Laws, hereinafter it refers...
• law, to the General Court and the Office of the Governor.
• And whereas by extending the application of the public records law to the General Court, the petition
• General authority to oversee and direct the General Court's compliance with the public records law.
• Court in such matters. ...made by the General Court concerning the management and maintenance of its

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several ceremonial items, including introductions of championship Tri-County High School football and boys’ cross-country teams and adoption of a resolution honoring Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. The chamber then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting Wellesley’s senior property tax deferral income threshold, amending the Hopedinton/Hopkinton town charter regarding library trustees, and other local matters, all of which were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and took up several local bills from the Orders of the Day. These included bills enhancing the powers of the Cotuit Fire District’s Board of Water Commissioners, authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise money for the Historical Society of Santuit and Cotuit, further regulating the Salem licensing board, and validating the results of Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. Each was advanced by unanimous consent, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed. A major portion of the session focused on two orders from Senator Friedman requesting advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on initiative petitions. One concerned a public records proposal that would extend public records law to the General Court and Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends proposal that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney argued the requests were needed to clarify constitutional issues before the Legislature acts on the initiatives, and both orders were adopted. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on Senate Bill 2720, a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft, Senate No. 3014, recommended. The chamber adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026, with amendments in order, and then adopted a separate order to adjourn until Monday at 11 a.m., dispensing with the printing of a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Top candidates generally, the top candidate for each party.
• So generally speaking, turnout is lower in a primary than a general, about 20% on average relative to
• what happens in the general election.
• Percent on average relative to what happens in the general election.
• That's who I have to talk to to win a primary and a general.

Bills: H5001

Keywords: election day registration, voter registration, proof of residency, provisional ballot, party affiliation, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The fiscal note shows an estimated impact to the Attorney General of $158,000 general fund state and
• The fiscal note shows an estimated impact to the Attorney General of 158,000 general fund state and 189,000
• year general fund over the outlook period. in fiscal of 2027 and 533,000 near general fund over the
• The fiscal note saves $282,000 general fund state in 2027 and $564,000 general fund state in 2029.
• The fiscal note saves $282,000 general fund state in 2027 and $564,000 general fund state in 2029.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and worked through two large groups of bills, hearing staff briefings, caucusing, and then voting each measure out to the Rules Committee. In the first group, the committee advanced bills on state accounts (HB 2675, with an amendment creating an adult day service facilities account), immigrant worker protections (2SHB 2105, after adopting a striker and Amendment 8 while rejecting amendments that would have changed enforcement and private rights of action), voting rights compliance (E3SHB 1710, with all proposed amendments rejected), AI content provenance and notices (E2SHB 1170, with Amendment 19 adopted to exempt state/local/tribal governments and certain video-game and technical uses), public official protections (2SHB 233, with a technical amendment adopted), WOTEC civil service coverage (HB 2249), JLARC work plan changes (HB 2120), LEOFF Plan 1 termination/restatement (E2SHB 2034, with several amendments adopted including creation of a pension surplus holding account and study directives, while proposals to redirect funds to the Climate Commitment Act or provide a lump-sum payment were rejected or withdrawn), supplemental retirement bargaining (HB 1069, with a striker adopted), port employee retirement exclusions (EHB 2179, with a striker adopted), local government revenue flexibility (ESHB 2442, with Amendment 72 adopted to remove a county public utility tax and other amendments rejected), wildfire mitigation funding (SHB 2089), and timberland REET changes (HB 1983). The committee also noted that it would not take action on some items in the packet, including SHB 1833. In the second group, the committee advanced bills on local housing tax remittance programs (ESHB 1717), renewable energy tax incentives and grants (E3SHB 1960, with a striking amendment adopted that adjusted rates, timing, and related provisions), nonprofit fundraising hall property tax relief (HB 2431), food bank sales tax relief (SB 6006), local tax increment financing (E2SHB 2451), temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities (SB 6297), school and child care-related sales tax exemptions (SSB 6351, with a substitute adopted and the competing amendment made out of order), behavioral health work group extension and leadership council creation (2SHB 2429), Working Connections Child Care changes (SB 6353, with Amendment 43 adopted), language access guidelines for state agencies (SHB 2475), unpaid wage recovery (2SHB 2479), firearms background check fee authority (HB 2521, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), public employee information sharing (HB 2091, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction changes (ESHB 2508, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided). Throughout the meeting, members and staff discussed fiscal notes, implementation costs, and whether amendments would increase or reduce state impacts, with several amendments aimed at narrowing scope, delaying implementation, or shifting enforcement and funding responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a bill that establishes an office of inspector general.
• </c><00:05:20.000><c> to</c> new office of inspector general to new office of inspector general to investigate
• So, we made the general to do that.
• </c> inspector general himself or herself? inspector general himself or herself?
• Should it go forward general right now.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> into the general fund. into the general fund. &gt;&gt; Yes,<00:14:06.560><c> ma'am.
• And remember, the general fund funds Medicaid. >> Yes. >> The general fund funds corrections.
• </c> &gt;&gt; that's total general fund and ETF. &gt;&gt; that's total general fund and ETF.
• We have a general exemption or general deduction for interest paid on debt.
• </c> 2027 general fund budget in a sentence. 2027 general fund budget in a sentence.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is expected to generate about $1.5 million in revenue.
• Now the general fund gets a little bit less in general because part of our 50% is actually POST as well
• So the state general fund is about 48.5%.
• If the revenue projection for 2026, this is the General Fund Daily Update, For 2026, this is the General
• And so last year it generated about $35 million of interest.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance and Corporation Committee met with a quorum from both chambers and first approved a $6.5 million federal supplemental appropriation for the Military Division to replace failing climate control systems in Idaho Air National Guard buildings at Gowen Field. The committee then considered Idaho State Police funding tied to three revenue measures: a beer excise tax distribution change, a new specialty license plate, and a liquor account distribution change. Members discussed the impact on cities and counties, with several noting the shift away from local governments, but the motion to appropriate $6.695 million in dedicated and federal funds for ISP personnel costs passed and received a do-pass recommendation. The committee next took up two pieces of language related to Idaho Digital Learning Academy. One trailer language item tied to House Bill 940, which would change course fee limits for non-graduation and graduation-required courses, was adopted by unanimous consent. A second proposal to restore IDLA’s access to PSIF after a large appropriation reduction failed after members raised concerns about allowing access before the academy spent down its cash balance and about weakening the budget cap. Members then approved language redirecting about $12 million from the Strategic Initiatives Fund to the local highway distribution formula instead of LTAC grants, after debate over whether formula-based distribution or competitive grants better served local needs. Finally, the committee adopted language preventing an automatic transfer from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Fund when the fund exceeds its 15% cap, preserving the fund balance unless the legislature acts otherwise. The meeting adjourned after the final do-pass recommendation was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> such as a large electric generation such as a large electric generation facility<00:03:47.640><c
• </c><00:36:21.880><c> are</c> is not available these generators are is not available these generators
• </c> proposed 250 diesel backup generators proposed 250 diesel backup generators these<00:48:04.800><
• :48:06.880><c> could</c> these generators at maximum output could these generators at maximum output
• The A6 amendment has to do with the emergency backup generators. Generators.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in General Child Care in future years.
• cap than in general child care in future years.
• So the tax generates $2.3 billion in revenue.
• It's just to balance the General Fund.
• Issue number eight, General Fund solutions.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to be hearing their general fund estimate and we have folks.
• funds to the general fund.
• Dollars go to the general fund in blue.
• The investment earnings in the general fund are growing faster than other revenues in the general fund
• That's the general fund amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> likely to be impacted by generative AI. likely to be impacted by generative AI.
• </c> generally does in their job, generative generally does in their job, generative AI<00:38:43.760>
• </c><00:40:54.160><c> AI,</c> there is AI, there is generative AI, there is AI, there is generative AI
• </c> generative AI and and of AI in general generative AI and and of AI in general and<00:49:54.880><
• </c> itself, but for profit generation itself, but for profit generation because<00:50:06.720><c> at<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• General lady from Santa Fe. Mr.
• Speaker, General lady. Mr.
• Speaker, General lady? Mr.
• Speaker, General Lydia.
• Speaker, General lady.

Transcript Highlights:

• He previously served as Deputy General Counsel, Principal Deputy General Counsel, and Acting General
• As General Counsel, Mr.
• General Counsel.
• He previously served as Acting General Counsel, Principal Deputy General Counsel, and Deputy General
• And absolutely, it's been in his family for generation after generation after generation and they love

Keywords: USDA, nominations, Judge Vaden, Tyler Clarkson, agriculture policy, rural America, tariffs, farmer advocacy

Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Mr. Tyler Clarkson for General Counsel at the USDA. Members expressed concerns regarding the challenges farmers and ranchers face, especially in navigating the impacts of recent tariffs imposed by the President. Significant attention was given to how these nominations could influence agriculture policy and support rural communities amidst economic uncertainty. The committee emphasized the necessity for strong leadership in the USDA to advocate for farmer needs and ensure the proper implementation of assistance programs.