Video & Transcript Research : 'fee simple'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Interstate teacher mobility compact established 3/3/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Section five would allow Pelby to add forfeiture fees to our operations budget.
- And so the licensing fee portion goes back to the general fund, but the background fee, which is about
- We get forefeiter fees each year need.
- These are non-refundable fees. notified. These are non-refundable fees.
- And so the licensing fee portion them.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3635, the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, and House File 3638, which would make several changes to teacher licensing and related agency operations. Dr. Yolena Bailey walked through the compact, explaining that it would let teachers move more easily among member states while preserving Minnesota’s authority over licensing, data, discipline, and rulemaking. She emphasized that the compact must be adopted without changes to be effective and that it would still require eligible teachers to hold a qualifying license, pass a state background check, and meet any compensation-related documentation requirements.
Testifiers from school administrator groups and Western Governors University supported both bills. They said Minnesota’s teacher shortages, especially in special education, make it difficult to fill classrooms and often force districts to rely on substitutes or leave positions vacant. Supporters said the compact would speed licensing for qualified out-of-state teachers without lowering standards, and that the Tier 2 change in HF 3638 would help candidates enrolled in out-of-state teacher prep programs, including working adults and rural students, access Minnesota licensure pathways. WGU said the Tier 2 barrier affects its students and partnerships, including special education pipeline efforts and Teach For America collaborations.
For HF 3638, Bailey described operational changes that would move the voluntary pair professional credential to MDE, allow a data-sharing agreement with the Board of School Administrators, let the agency use forfeiture fees for IT needs, update mental health training language and rulemaking, expand Tier 2 eligibility to some out-of-state teacher prep students, and extend the timeline for an online licensing system project by two years. Members asked whether the compact would add requirements for Minnesota educators or reduce licensure quality; Bailey and Representative Hill said it would not add classroom requirements and would mainly reduce paperwork while maintaining standards. The bills were laid over for further consideration, with no vote taken in the excerpt.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-03-19 - 11:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, creates a fee of $40 for that non-domiciled CDL.
- Just a simple question: why is there no fees for prisoners? Thank you, Mr.
- Just a simple question: why is there no fees for prisoners? Thank you, Mr.
- Just a simple question: why is there no fees for prisoners? Thank you, Mr.
- Just a simple question: why is there no fees for prisoners? Thank you, Mr.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not a simple solution.
- We know that there are attorney fees involved, as well as fees related to the documentation.
- So what I'm hearing you say is if we just don't charge a fee at all rather than charging a fee and then
- In terms of what would happen with that service fee if we were to make fee-waived services available
- It sounds really interesting and simple, right?
Bills:
HB2510, HB3589, HB4611, HB4655, HB4665, HB4666, HB4670, HB4700, HB4730, HB4798, HB4838, HB5136, HB5243, HB5302, HB5539
Keywords:
assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Is it a simple trust or both a simple or... what I see in my in my practice is um what I see in my in
- /c><00:27:39.440>
or Is it a simple trust or both a simple or complex trust? - and adjust the fee amounts.
- Uh these fees are for three fund.
- , and adjusting the fee amounts.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Transportation (2-18-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have held off on pursuing that route for the simple fact that Kentucky is our home and we want to
- fact that Kentucky is our for the simple fact that Kentucky is our home<00:09:42.880>
and <00: - material endorsement threat security assessment fee.
- result of a change in the federal fee result of a change in the federal fee through<00:13:14.600
- uh the reason it was assessment uh fee uh the reason it was an<00:13:21.639>
e- <00:13:22.160>
Keywords:
Roll Call 00:32
Approval of Minutes 01:38
HB 20 Discussion 02:08
HB 20 Vote 06:00
HB 188 Discussion 07:07
HB 188 Vote 10:10
Administrative Regs 11:09, 958, all
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting’s minutes, and heard two House bills plus several Transportation Cabinet regulations. House Bill 20, sponsored by Rep. Hodson, would restrict the retention and sale of automated license plate reader data, limit storage to 60 days, and prohibit nonconsensual tracking devices such as micro-trackers and subcutaneous trackers. Hodson said the bill was aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy and noted it had passed the House previously; members asked about enforcement and deletion responsibility, and one member suggested criminal penalties might be worth considering in the future. The committee voted to report HB 20 favorably.
House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Duvall, addressed driveaway plate businesses that transport vehicles for others. Duvall said Kentucky law had created confusion about how many vehicles could be on the road and had driven up insurance costs, hurting a Warren County business; the bill would let such companies purchase the exact number of plates needed, which he said would reduce exposure and premiums. He emphasized the bill would not affect dealer tags or trailer transport and said he was working on a floor amendment to make that clear. The committee reported HB 188 favorably as well.
The committee then reviewed five administrative regulations, including Transportation Cabinet rules allowing technology to be used in title examinations, extending an off-road vehicle pilot program to July 2026 and updating the definition of local government, aligning truck weight-mass rules with statute, adopting the MUTCD traffic control manual, and an emergency Kentucky State Police regulation adjusting a TSA-related hazardous materials endorsement fee because the federal change came too quickly for the normal regulatory process. Members asked whether the title rule covered rebuild titles, and staff said it applied to all titles. The committee noted the regulations had been reviewed and then adjourned, with the next meeting tentatively set for the following Tuesday.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/28/2026 - House Transportation & Infrastructure
Transportation & Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this is a pretty simple bill.
- The bill further stipulates that of the $20 fee, $8 is an administration fee and $12 is an annual donation
- have to pay the permit fees, whatever those are, insurance fees of at least a million dollars in insurance
- Chair, one last very simple question, and I want a simple answer, because it's going to be a simple question
- So, simple bill. Mr.
Bills:
HB2003, HB2057, HB2109, HB2111, HB2112, HB2114, HB2256, HB2259, HB2317, HB2323, HB2398, HB2443, HB2446, HB2574
Keywords:
driver education, instruction permit, underage drivers, motorcycle licenses, traffic regulations, special plates, centennial, Arizona Department of Transportation, vehicle registration, commercial discounts, Arizona Centennial, distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from New Core Steel on its Arizona operations, emphasizing its Kingman facility, recycled-scrap steel production, high-paying jobs, safety improvements, veteran hiring, community investments, and support for infrastructure projects. Members asked about safety gains, expansion plans, scrap sources, and average pay. The company said it has invested heavily in Arizona and asked legislators to consider local steel and manufacturing when funding transportation and infrastructure projects.
The committee then took up several bills. HB 2574 would delay ADOT enforcement of a traffic judgment while an appeal is pending; the sponsor and a witness said it would close a due-process gap, and it passed 7-0. HB 2057 would lower the fee for Arizona Centennial special plates for fleet vehicles to encourage more purchases supporting the Arizona Mining, Mineral, Natural Resource Education Museum; it also passed 7-0 after discussion about possibly expanding the concept to other specialty plates.
HB 2109 would raise penalties for repeat distracted-driving violations and add an enhanced penalty when a violation results in a motorcycle crash. The sponsor and motorcycle advocates argued stronger fines are needed, but several members also wanted an education component; the committee agreed to work on a COW amendment and the bill passed 7-0. HB 2317, which would bar local governments from prohibiting cruising, drew strong testimony both for and against: supporters framed cruising as cultural and historical, while opponents from neighborhoods and law enforcement described congestion, blocked streets, sanitation issues, and safety concerns. The chair held the bill for further work. The committee also heard HB 2003, which would lower the age to get an instruction permit to 15 and extend permit periods and supervised-driving requirements; the sponsor and a motorcycle advocate said more supervised time would improve teen safety, while some members expressed concern about lowering the age and wanted to discuss changes before moving it forward.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/27/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Um that's a really simple fix, switched. Um that's a really simple fix, right?
- But the attorney fees would more than exceed the cost of the original facility fee.
- to charge that fee.
- Um they're not junk fees. But costs. Um they're not junk fees.
- that this fee would be fluctuating. that this fee would be fluctuating.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Local Government (3-17-26)
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- So the bill, I think, is really simple.
- So the bill, I think, is really simple.
- So the bill, I think, is really simple.
- <00:16:21.560>
And could they could charge the fee. And could they could charge the fee. - simple fix to help the fiscal courts. simple fix to help the fiscal courts.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:01
Roll Call 00:00:21
SB 141 Discussion 00:03:21
SB 141 Vote 00:10:57
HB 755 Discussion 00:13:08
HB 755 Vote 00:17:55
SB 20 Discussion 00:19:36
SB 20 Vote 00:21:53
SB 40 Discussion 00:23:31
SB 40 Vote 00:26:25
HB 851 Discussion 00:28:53
HB 851 Vote 00:31:53
Adjournment 00:33:26, 958, all
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 23rd, 2025 at 10:04 am
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Transcript Highlights:
- Fees.
- He paid a flat fee.
- Instead of replacing the current attorney's fees section, awarding fees...
- fees for a frivolous motion.
- Pretty simple, as Ms.
Bills:
HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387
Keywords:
constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 4961, which would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision. The author said the bill is intended to create incentives to maintain insurance and to address what he described as an unfair system for insured drivers. Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Texas Eagle Forum testified in support, while the Texas Trial Lawyers Association opposed it, warning the bill could also affect pedestrians, passengers, children, and others who did not choose whether a vehicle was insured. The bill author clarified that passengers would be included in the bill’s coverage. No vote was taken and the bill was left pending.
House Bill 5570 would extend a legislative attorney CLE exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate to boards or commissions. The author said the measure is meant to ease time burdens and encourage service, and a witness supported it as a modest incentive for public service. A committee member noted a discrepancy in the number of affected attorneys, and the author agreed to verify the correct figure. The bill was left pending.
The committee also heard House Bill 2969, which would restrict the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech based on sincerely held beliefs. The author and several witnesses from Texas Values, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Cecilia Wood argued the bill protects lawyers of faith from an ABA model rule they described as a speech code. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 4260, which would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction, drew opposition from the County Judges and Commissioners Association, which argued existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would burden rural officials. The author said the bill was prompted by concerns about judges using their office to pressure others. The bill was left pending.
House Bill 5134 would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect actual damages and would allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill is aimed at preventing harassment and fishing expeditions, especially in family-law disputes. Questions focused on how the standard would work and how it differs from current law; the author said the main change is fee-shifting and a clearer legislative directive. The bill was left pending. House Bill 3095, a committee substitute version of a similar uninsured-motorist bill, would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages and limit economic recovery, with several exceptions. Trial lawyers argued it was unconstitutional because it capped economic damages and could unfairly affect innocent drivers, pedestrians, and older people who no longer drive. The author acknowledged constitutional concerns and said the bill would need further work; the committee withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending.
Finally, House Bill 4388 would require all judges, including county judges who perform administrative duties, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Supporters said some elected judges avoid accountability by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents argued the bill is too rigid and unnecessary because existing remedies already exist. House Bill 3964 would limit public nuisance claims to their historical role and bar such claims against lawful conduct, conduct already covered by other remedies, and products. The author and supporters said the bill is meant to prevent courts from using public nuisance to make policy, while opponents argued it would eliminate useful remedies and could affect local actions against environmental or product-related harms. The author said the bill would not affect statutory nuisance claims, private nuisance claims, or other causes of action, and would be amended to clarify some provisions. The bill was left pending.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Transportation committee hears bill to increase MN fees on electric vehicles 2/17/25
Transcript Highlights:
- at is the tax title and Licensing fees at is the tax title and Licensing fees that<00:08:26.639>
- people money let's talk about tab fees people money let's talk about tab fees let's<00:08:36.000
- the the fees the the fees are<00:12:45.720>
Equitable <00:12:46.240>to <00:12:47.320 - annual electric vehicle registration fee annual electric vehicle registration fee uh<00:14:32.120
- <00:14:46.000>
will years Instead The increased fee will years Instead The increased fee will
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Jul 21st, 2025
Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- all the permit fees.
- Even if it's not simple. Consistency.
- So I put together some real simple things.
- I must preface, I am a simple home builder, so I put together a pretty simple PowerPoint here.
- Keep it simple.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/22/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- It happened in Brooklyn, simple bill.
- fees.
- We went through our impact fee fees.
- <01:21:38.239>
majority the local tax cap by a simple majority the local tax cap by a simple - a three-fifths majority, not a simple a three-fifths majority, not a simple majority. majority.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPN, CPN Public Hearings 02-13-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the 25% fee cap that's proposed.
- When fees owners to compliant ones.
- fees. You know that they're abusing it. fees. You know that they're abusing it.
- It restores balance, attorneys fees.
- ,<01:04:22.960>
any whole with the maintenance fees, any whole with the maintenance fees,
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on SB 2294, which would require condominium associations, boards, and managing agents to comply with declarations, bylaws, county ordinances, and state and federal laws, including mortgage lending requirements. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill as redundant, arguing existing law already requires compliance and provides penalties. Supporters, including condominium owners and board members, said the measure would clarify that associations are not “self-governing” in a way that exempts them from outside laws, and cited examples where local officials or police told residents to take issues back to their boards. Several supporters said the bill would reinforce board responsibility for permits, safety, and legal compliance. The committee noted 27 pieces of testimony, with 10 in support and 17 in opposition, and then moved on without taking a vote on the measure in the transcript provided.
The committee also took up SB 2298, which would require common interest community proxy forms to include additional language explaining proxy selection options. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying the proposed language was inaccurate and would not improve consumer clarity unless significantly revised. Supporters argued that proxy forms are confusing and that clearer instructions would help homeowners understand how their votes are being used. Opponents said the added language would make the forms longer and more confusing, and suggested a separate instruction sheet or other educational material instead. Testimony also raised broader concerns about proxy voting being misused in some associations, with one witness urging that proxy voting be eliminated altogether. The committee reported 29 written testimonies, including seven in support, 19 in opposition, and three with comments, and again did not record a final vote in the excerpt.
For SB 2300, which would shorten condominium reserve cash-flow projections from 30 years to 25 years, the Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying it would not make housing more affordable, would reduce transparency, and would increase the annual burden by giving associations less time to save for long-life components. The group suggested that if affordability is the goal, lawmakers should consider allowing future loans or special assessments with guardrails. Supporters of the bill said the shorter projection period would better reflect practical budgeting and help associations plan more realistically, though some supporters also warned against relying too heavily on loans and emphasized accountability and fiduciary responsibility. Other testimony stressed that the impact of changing the projection period would vary by association and that many owners are already struggling with rising fees. The discussion remained focused on testimony and policy concerns, with no final action on SB 2300 shown in the transcript.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Without burdensome fees and redundancy.
- Impact fees, I think we've heard some of these on this list already today, but impact fees.
- Impact fees, especially those around traffic impact fees specifically, can make costs rise dramatically
- Impact fee waivers: I mentioned already waiving impact fees in Mountlake Terrace for child care facilities
- And it would be as simple as, and I beg Seattle for this, that it's simple as a waiver requirement.
Summary:
The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best.
The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers.
In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Everyone else is very simple.
- He's pretty simple. I think I thought it might be pretty simple. No, this one is.
- This is simple, too. We're good. Most all of these are very simple bills. Yeah. And very good ones.
- He's pretty simple. I think, I thought it might be pretty simple. No, this one is.
- This is simple, too. We're good. Most all of these are very simple bills. Yeah. And very good ones.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 and approved the minutes from the prior week before taking up a series of House bills, many of them with testimony from sponsors, agency officials, and stakeholders. Early action included HB 971, which would direct LDH to equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent rural health clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; the sponsor described a significant payment disparity and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also deferred HB 1030 and HB 796 until the following week before moving to other items on the agenda.
Several bills dealing with Medicaid and provider regulation were advanced. HB 414, as amended, closes a loophole so health care providers cannot hire unlicensed workers with certain serious out-of-state convictions; amendments addressed effective dates, FBI background-check issues for therapeutic group homes, and delays for direct support professional applicants caused by minor record issues. HB 740, as amended, creates an independent review process for Medicaid claims disputes in the coordinated system of care for behavioral health providers, with amendments clarifying applicability dates and program definitions. HB 786, which prohibits extrapolation in managed care claims recoupments and requires recovery to be based on actual overpayments or underpayments, was also reported favorably. HB 915 set timelines and accountability standards for prior authorization and utilization management in Medicaid managed care and was reported favorably after testimony about delays in care.
The committee also heard and passed several bills affecting health professions and facilities. HB 405 simply updates the name of the national acupuncture certification body. HB 1095 allows nursing homes to use alternative power sources while keeping existing generator and fuel requirements. HB 557 defines long-term care pharmacies for policy purposes. HB 779 authorizes expedited partner therapy prescriptions for certain sexually transmitted diseases. HB 933 creates an optional commemorative birth certificate, with part of the fee going to the Office of Women’s Health. HB 796, carried by another representative for the author, establishes a chiropractic preceptorship program with on-site supervision requirements and was reported favorably after questions about student training and patient safety.
The committee also heard emotionally charged testimony on HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation and patient communication. Several witnesses described the distress caused by current coding language, and supporters said the change would make records more compassionate and understandable; the bill was reported favorably. HB 403 increased the cottage food gross-sales cap, and after testimony from small producers and the committee’s discussion of other states’ higher limits, an amendment raised the cap to $150,000 before the bill was reported favorably. HB 930 modernizes cosmetic-product regulation and creates a small home-based producer exemption under a wholesale-sales threshold; it was also reported favorably. Finally, HB 1041, a no-mandate bill restricting discrimination based on medical intervention status, prompted extended debate over exemptions for schools, hospitals, and other entities, with one amendment failing on a roll-call vote and the discussion continuing over the scope of the bill and federal funding concerns.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Too often, they're blindsided by hidden fees or unexpected.
- What some of these fees are, we know that there's attorney fees involved.
- that oftentimes, these fees are not itemized.
- birth certificates, for instance, under certain situations, we actually only make those fee waiver fee
- if we were to make fee waive services available online.
Bills:
HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539
Keywords:
assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House HB 150 Public Discussion Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- In Mobile, they have a storm water fee. They have volunteer fire department fees.
- In Mobile, they have a storm water fee. They have volunteer fire department fees.
- Whether that be a weed fee, a demo fee, a storm water fee, or a volunteer firefighters fee, we have had
- :21:15.919>
fee, weed fee, a demo fee, a storm water fee, weed fee, a demo fee, a storm water - Yeah, but the fees well we collect fees.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a very simple bill, and with that, Mr.
- It's a very simple bill, and with that, Mr.
- The uh commission collects license fees The uh commission collects license fees from<00:08:49.480>
- >
a <00:08:53.600>restricted fees are deposited into a restricted fees are deposited into - It's a very simple bill and every year.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- and charges do not reset the clock. is simple.
- This is a simple bill. We're trying to fix a complex problem. ...back home. This is a simple bill.
- This is a simple overdue fix.
- This is a simple overdue fix.
- And employers pay no fees, and they're not fiduciaries.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 18, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- A&E fees are architectural and engineering fees.
- So as the construction price increases, so do those fees.
- So my question is, The case filing fee is still $400.
- We have not gotten into raising the filing fees.
- The clerks do not receive a filing fee for any of those.
Summary:
The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026.
Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity.
The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management.
In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.