Transcript Highlights:

• But adding to the operational, the real expenses of operations, is about a $29 million expense.
• The majority of the $11.4 million budget is operating services.
• They have to do three hours of work each week.
• of community service hours in order to graduate high school.
• Also, there's an increased operational cost of about $157,000.

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, an example that we give a lot is we have 131 miles of rail that we maintain and operate
• So we calculated it in terms of our farebox return on operations.
• We've worked closely with the Utah Trucking Association, and most of their members are responsible operators
• recoveries, with the recovery operator to receive payment within 30 days of the incident, and then require
• ... ...recovery operator to receive payment within 30 days of the incident, and then require the recovery

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You worked long, hard hours in a tough environment of reduced funding.
• where the Seminole Tribe of Florida operates at least two casinos.
• to alleviate the financial hardship of those same casino operators.
• We're doing this to alleviate the financial hardship of those same casino operators.
• These operators actually need help to keep these same tens of thousands of people employed.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reflects a combination of of things. reflects a combination of of things.
• But the A3 just proposes consolidating the funding into the operating line because all of this work is
• of of article<00:20:49.919><c> 2.
• And so my amounts of of funding.
• </c> first time of of putting that together. first time of of putting that together.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of our children—about 85%—we find within 24 hours.
• You don't see that in a lot of states, but here we use a large portion of our TANF dollars for the operation
• You don't see that in a lot of states, but here we use a large portion of our TANF dollars for the operation
• You have a certain number of hours before things can happen.
• Who could pay for that at my rate of $450 an hour? Who can pay for that?

Summary: The Committee on Government met for a presentation-only hearing focused on the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and related child welfare system issues; no bills were heard or voted on. Chair Blackman opened by stressing that the hearing was for fact-finding and data, not personal attacks, and Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, extended foster care, and placement patterns. She said DCS investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home population relatively steady, and emphasized that Arizona places a high share of children with kin. She also highlighted a mismatch between the age of children entering care and the availability of foster homes willing to take older youth, and said behavioral health capacity, not DCS alone, is a major constraint. Patak discussed kinship supports, foster care reimbursement increases, the Family First Prevention Services Act, missing youth, congregate care reduction, and the department’s procurement process for group home beds. Members asked about kinship caregiver support, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental-rights terminations, Auditor General findings on notices and documentation, licensing and reimbursement rates, and why some relatives are not approved as placements. Patak said DCS is working on policy guidance, supervisor training, and improved supports, but that provider capacity and other system partners limit what DCS can do. Representative Gillette then gave a lengthy presentation focused on system design, procurement, funding flows, and congregate care. He argued that DCS, DES, and Access are structurally intertwined, that DCS’s procurement carve-out and capitated funding model create incentives tied to bed space and volume, and that fragmented oversight diffuses accountability. He cited budget figures, contract amendments, and audit concerns to argue that the system is overreliant on congregate care and that decision-making, medical referrals, and placement processes are too vague or too centralized in ways that can harm children and families. Gillette said his findings were based on contracts, interviews, and public records, and he indicated some material would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about placement decisions, due process, and demographic disparities in congregate care outcomes. The chair cut off further questioning of Gillette for time and announced the committee would move on to the next presenter, Vice Chair Fink, with attorneys and other speakers to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I guess my first question was: are there 6,000 hours worth of audits, triple the audit hours, that
• Our multi-year audits are the area that we believe most of these hours would be spent.
• I wonder if part of this rationale is to support the refinery operations in-state production.
• versus something that's more strictly sort of operational?
• I am the Senior Director of Operations at the Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you guys provide for employers is provided to their employees during work hours, or some of it off of
• It's such an important issue, making sure that we're... ...outside of work hours if eligible.
• Of the raids? Of some of the raids.
• We are a statewide trade association of approximately 4,000 member companies operating all across the
• Seventy-six percent reported that the cost of operations had risen at a faster rate than their sales

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Victim services are critical to each of our operations.
• That's why we're asking for that funding. >> How many of your public defenders work a 40-hour week?
• take it because $75 an hour is a ridiculous amount of money for an attorney?
• Yes, I'm also here on behalf of the clerks, the Court Operations Corporation to share with you their
• They work a minimum of 40 hours a week, but certainly, just like Ms.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OPERATIONS PROGRAMS OF THE AGENCIES OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
• I AM SUSAN NIPPER AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS
• AVERAGE OF SIX HOURS PER DAY.
• I KNOW THAT YOU WENT OVER THE HOURS BUT, WHAT SPECIFIC COSTS ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE COST OF REIMBURSEMENT
• OPERATE AS APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE CBC OPERATION.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're taking the amount of accounts that they have and then search charging the 1000 kilowatt hour
• Kevin was regional manager of operations for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation.
• That's electric utility really response the tail end of the evening after about a 16 hour shift.
• some of our hardening measures that about 97%. of our customers were restored in a 16 hour shift.
• And so instead of the separate very strong and capable utilities operating more or less independently

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hoping that on the four-hour drive home, a lot of it going through your... Years.
• That's the operative part of the sentence, and Chairman, I'll present the City Attorney's question as
• eight just kind of set the environment that was operating and might explain why some of these other
• Town hall hours were not always accessible to members of the public during normal business hours.
• Town hall hours were not always accessible to members of the public during normal business hours. hours

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee first heard a long-running audit finding involving Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit funds, which have exceeded the statutory limit for several years and were reported at $10.8 million in the most recent audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city has analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees over several periods, and used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation and a proposed City Hall expansion. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, raised concerns about the legality and necessity of proposed expenditures, and asked about interest earnings, truck purchases, and the lack of detailed tracking for training-facility use. The city said an Attorney General opinion allows construction of a new building for building-code functions but not purchase of an existing building, and that if the city cannot comply through permissible construction it would have to return the funds. No vote was taken, but members expressed strong frustration and urged the city to resolve the issue quickly and lawfully. The committee then received the Auditor General’s presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings covered elections and quorum issues, conflicts of interest, late or missing financial disclosure forms, related-party transactions, poor meeting notices and minutes, council involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget and accounting deficiencies, weak bank reconciliations, improper utility billing and rates, grant compliance problems tied to a grocery store project, personnel and compensation issues involving the town manager, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control problems, public records issues, and IT/fraud-policy weaknesses. The auditor said the review focused mainly on October 2022 through February 2024 but went back further for some grant-related matters. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit reflected actions of a previous administration and that the current council and staff have already adopted seven new policies to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics. They said the town has a new manager and clerk, that the former manager was terminated, and that the town referred matters to FDLE, which is investigating. Committee members asked about the manager’s salary increase, severance, P-card use, and whether the town should consider consolidation or dissolution. The mayor said the town is on a better path, that most of the prior leadership has been voted out, and that the town is working with auditors and an outside accounting firm to correct the problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the current automation that we have for our operation of the CFAP program.
• That is the current automation that we have for our operation of the CFAP program.
• That is the current automation that we have for our operation of the CFAP program.
• The current phase relaunched and is currently operational as of November 17, 2025.
• The current phase relaunched and is currently operational as of November 17, 2025.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services opened its first hearing of the year with a discussion centered on CalFresh, the Department of Social Services, and related anti-poverty and immigrant services programs. Chair Jackson framed the hearing as a response to the “historic and enormous challenges” created by H.R. 1, emphasizing that the committee’s goal was to minimize harm to vulnerable Californians. No votes were taken in the hearing. The first major topic was the impact of H.R. 1 on CalFresh eligibility and administration. CDSS estimated major federal funding reductions, with hundreds of thousands of Californians potentially losing benefits under new time limits and work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, and additional losses among certain non-citizen groups. County welfare directors, eligibility workers, SEIU, and other advocates argued that counties are underfunded and understaffed to implement the new rules, and urged release of the previously authorized $20 million General Fund, a county match waiver, and an additional ongoing workforce investment. LAO and the Department of Finance said they were reviewing the administration’s proposals and emphasized the need to use existing data, automation, and statutory direction to reduce administrative burden and improve implementation. A second panel addressed county administrative backfill and the broader fiscal effects of H.R. 1. CDSS explained that the law shifts more administrative costs to the state and counties beginning in federal fiscal year 2027 and could also create future state benefit costs tied to payment error rates. County and food bank representatives warned that many counties will struggle to absorb the higher match and that penalties tied to payment error rates could worsen budget pressure. Members pressed Finance and CDSS for clearer timelines, written responses, and more detailed workload assumptions, while Finance said it was still analyzing the federal guidance and county resource needs. The final major topic was the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and possible state responses for people losing federal CalFresh eligibility. CDSS said CFAP remains limited by statute and by the federal structure it currently uses, but that the planned expansion to Californians age 55 and older regardless of immigration status remains on track for October 1, 2027, subject to funding. Immigrant advocates urged the state to fold newly excluded humanitarian immigrants into CFAP and to invest in outreach and administration, while Western Center on Law and Poverty proposed a broader state-funded anti-hunger response for people cut off by H.R. 1. LAO noted that the CFAP expansion is difficult to estimate and that further policy and technical work would be needed to assess costs and implementation options.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the 40-hour TCC course, with 628 of those completing the course.
• 39,915 hours of training through Virtual Academy.
• 39,915 hours of training on Virtual Academy since we launched it in May 2024. 988 updates.
• completed a total of 39,915 hours of training through virtual academy.
• 39,915 hours of training on Virtual Academy since we launched it in May of 2024. 988 updates.

Summary: The Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority met in special session, confirmed a quorum, welcomed new member Josh Huffines, approved the prior meeting minutes, and accepted financial reports for September through December 2025. The chair and staff also presented recognition awards, including thanks to former legal counsel Austin and outgoing chair Mark Sharpton, and honored Leachin Lockwood of Tulsa 911 as the state’s third-quarter Emergency Telecommunicator of the Quarter. The board addressed compliance and funding issues for several PSAPs. It authorized notice and a public-hearing process for Chokota Police Department and Pawnee Police Department if they did not complete required annual audit/reporting documents by the stated deadline. It also approved a recruitment campaign for the 9-1-1 profession, including a website landing page and media outreach, and transferred $150,000 from reserves to support that effort. In addition, the board approved a technology roadmap outlining statewide priorities such as mapping, GIS integration, satellite emergency communications, push-to-talk interoperability, and CAD sharing. Several grants were approved, including GIS remediation and maintenance for Drumright and Love County, a Next Gen 9-1-1 call-handling solution for Muskogee 911, and CAD integration for Sand Springs and Mercy EMS. A Love County public hearing on GIS noncompliance was rendered moot after the grant approval, and the board voted to take no action on escrowing Love County funds. Staff reports highlighted boundary verification letters, the upcoming 911 Day at the Capitol, cybersecurity training, 911/988 integration progress, Virtual Academy training totals, and ongoing work on NG911 RFPs, coordinator workshops, and county-level implementation projects. The meeting also included legislative updates on HB 4092 and HB 2710, with the latter described as creating a parallel state radio/911 structure, and the session adjourned with no public comments or new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• An operator may not operate the electric bicycle at speeds greater than 10 miles per hour if a pedestrian
• Connor's scooter was capable of going 35 miles per hour.
• At the point of impact, he was only going 23 miles per hour.
• At the point of impact, he was only going 23 miles per hour, which is well below the current statutes
• of 28 miles per hour.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and advanced a series of bills covering transportation, unemployment benefits, public records, education, law enforcement, and health. Senator Massullo’s SB 488, the DHSMV agency package, would update fuel tax and motor carrier definitions, raise the crash-reporting damage threshold from $500 to $2,000, expand email use for certain DHSMV transactions, and align tank vehicle definitions with federal rules; SB 490 would create a related public records exemption for certain email records. Both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 892, revising enhanced sentencing procedures for repeat offenders, and SB 124, which cleans up and clarifies Florida Virtual School statutes without changing day-to-day operations. The most debated measure was SB 216, which would tighten reemployment assistance eligibility by adding work-search and interview requirements, requiring more frequent identity and eligibility verification, and expanding fraud reporting and information sharing. Supporters said the bill targets fraud and improves program integrity; opponents, including labor advocates and several senators, argued it would create burdens for legitimate claimants, especially rural residents, seniors, and workers facing layoffs, and could sharply reduce access to benefits. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 382 on e-bike safety, requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, sound an audible signal before passing, and limit speed near pedestrians, while creating a task force to study broader regulation. Testimony from a parent who lost her son in an e-scooter crash prompted discussion about whether scooters should be included in the bill. Additional bills advanced included SB 584, strengthening oversight of commercial driving schools and giving DHSMV and county tax collectors more enforcement tools; CS/SB 656, formally codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force within FDLE and renaming the related grant program; and SB 816, establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to support research, treatment, education, and outreach. All were reported favorably with support from law enforcement, advocacy groups, and institutional representatives. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• SO MOST OF THE 6.4 OR MOST OF THE 7.4 BILLION, 6.4 OF IT IS GR.
• TWO THIRDS OF THAT BUDGET IS SECURITY AND INSTITUTIONAL OPERATIONS WHICH IS ALL THE PRISONS AND ANNEXES
• THIS INFRASTRUCTURE SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL SIX MONTHS HIM AND WHERE WE ARE.
• THIS IS NOT ONLY OF THE POLICY ISSUE, IT'S A BIG OPERATION ISSUE WHICH IS WHY I CHOOSE TO COME HERE TODAY
• THAT COST A HECK OF A LOT OF MONEY, THAT MAY COME OF YOUR BUDGET BUT IT'S COMING OUT OF SOMEBODY'S BUDGET

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of them in California require significant human babysitting in the form of remote operations.
• All of them in California require significant human babysitting in the form of remote operations.
• So instead of thinking remote operations are bad, we need to think that remote operations are good.
• I spend a majority of my time and waking hours on the road.
• I spend a majority of my time and waking hours on the road.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on autonomous vehicle technology in California, focusing on safety, regulation, first responder impacts, and the state’s evolving oversight framework. The chair said the committee would hear all panels before public comment, with witnesses limited to five minutes and public commenters to one minute. The first panel featured an industry representative, a safety academic, and victims/advocates who described sharply different views of AV safety and accountability. Ariel Wolf of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that fully autonomous vehicles are distinct from driver-assist systems, said AVs are already reducing crashes and fatalities, and urged clear, uniform standards. Dr. Missy Cummings countered that remote operations and computer-vision failures show the technology still depends on human intervention and can be unsafe, especially when remote assistance is done from abroad. Robert O’Dowd and Dylan Angulo, both tied to Tesla crash cases, described fatal and serious injuries involving Autopilot/Full Self-Driving, criticized limited transparency and data access, and called for stronger disclosure, preservation of crash data, and mandatory fixes or disabling of defective software. Committee members questioned witnesses about data comparing AVs to human drivers, the role of remote operators, liability, and whether California should create clearer standards for the human element behind AV systems. Several members and witnesses discussed the need for “guardrails,” black-box-style data access, and accountability for the remaining crash risk. The hearing then shifted to first responders and road users: a San Francisco Fire Department representative described AVs blocking fire scenes, ambulances, and apparatus access during emergencies and urged a public safety manual override; a San Jose police representative said officers need clear enforcement authority, training, and reliable ways to stop or redirect AVs; a rideshare driver described near-collisions and congestion caused by robo-taxis; and a Teamsters representative opposed proposed heavy-duty AV truck rules as too reliant on manufacturer self-certification and lacking independent validation. In the final panel, DMV and CPUC officials defended California’s regulatory structure. DMV said it has regulated AVs since 2014, has issued multiple rulemakings and permit types, and is developing a fourth package that would add reporting, enforcement tools, emergency-response requirements, and rules for heavy-duty AVs. DMV said it has revoked or suspended permits when needed, including Cruise and Pony.ai actions. CPUC said its authority covers passenger service only, requires safety plans and ongoing reporting, and continues oversight after permits are issued. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hoping that on the four-hour drive home, a lot of it going through your years.
• Because my guys, not only are building inspectors— In a couple of hours today, or I can do this, or I
• Town hall hours were not always accessible to members of the public during normal business hours.
• Town hall hours were not always accessible to members of the public during normal business hours.
• The town hall hours were not always accessible to members of the public during normal business hours,

Summary: The committee first took up a long-running audit finding involving the City of Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit fund balance, which has exceeded the statutory cap for several years and was reported at $10.8 million in the latest audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city had analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees, used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation, and is pursuing a $9.4 million City Hall expansion that they say is allowed under a November 2024 Attorney General opinion permitting construction of a building to house the building code enforcement function. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, whether the proposed uses were truly lawful, why the balance kept growing despite fee waivers, and where the interest earnings were going. The mayor and deputy city manager said the city’s growth and staffing needs justified the plan, but several members expressed frustration and skepticism. A public commenter also urged accountability and raised concerns about the city’s spending plans and the size of the remaining balance. The committee then received an Auditor General presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 operational audit findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings included election paperwork problems that left a council seat vacant, conflicts of interest, late financial disclosure filings, related-party transactions, inadequate meeting notices and minutes, quorum and voting documentation problems, council members’ involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget adoption and monitoring deficiencies, inaccurate accounting records and bank reconciliations, utility billing and rate issues, grant compliance problems tied to an unfinished grocery store project, weak personnel and contracting controls, improper severance and compensation issues, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control weaknesses, poor public records access, and IT access and fraud-policy gaps. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit largely reflected the prior administration and that the current council and staff are taking corrective action. They said the town terminated the former manager, adopted seven new policies since the audit began, and is working with the Auditor General to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics compliance. The town attorney said he had alerted federal authorities earlier about concerns, and committee members noted that FDLE has received a criminal referral and is investigating. Several members praised the new leadership’s cooperation but also suggested the town consider consolidation or dissolution if problems persist.

Transcript Highlights:

• The hours worked for most of our students, it’s been right around 20 hours that they are working.
• you saw, it’s 20 hours most of them work.
• She learned remote working capabilities, which was the need of the hour.
• And one of the most exciting things that, if I had an hour, I would sit and talk about it for an hour
• And one of the most exciting things that, if I had an hour, I would sit and talk about it for an hour

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session and received an overview of the Higher Education Appropriations budget from staff director Tim Elwell. He explained the committee’s broad jurisdiction over universities, state colleges, district workforce programs, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, student financial aid, private colleges, and the Board of Governors, and reviewed key budget concepts such as local funds, funds per FTE, performance funding, and the distinction between the total appropriation and the recurring base budget. He noted that higher education is funded largely through state and local sources, with substantial flexibility compared with other state budgets, and that the base budget is heavily weighted toward lump-sum allocations to the public systems. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of South Florida’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida), led by retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie and USF representative Mark Walsh. They described Cyber Florida as a statewide cybersecurity platform created by the Legislature in 2014 to support education, research, workforce development, public policy, and community engagement. McKenzie emphasized the growing cyber threat environment, Florida’s leadership role, and several funded initiatives, including K-12 outreach, workforce training, a cyber range for county governments, critical infrastructure assessments, grant development, and public conferences and outreach. Members asked about public cyber awareness, the lack of a national cyber defense strategy, school district participation in Cyber Launch, and which counties are most at risk; McKenzie said smaller counties with limited cybersecurity staffing are generally more vulnerable and offered to provide follow-up information. Finally, the committee heard from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Drew Andrews, along with program and parent representatives from participating institutions. Andrews explained the center’s role in coordinating Florida’s postsecondary comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities, supporting program development, distributing grants and scholarships, and monitoring outcomes. He reported that the state now has 33 approved programs at 35 institutions, including universities, state colleges, and technical colleges, and that scholarship and grant funding has grown significantly. He said student retention is about 88 percent, many graduates are employed, and median hourly earnings have increased over time. A representative from Southeastern University described how the center’s support helped build and sustain SEU Link, including a new third-year employment-focused option for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• $798.4 million and the current operating budget of $987.5 million.
• How many hours is that? Before and after, there are a certain number of hours.
• We call it non-traditional hour care, and we do pay 10-15% on top of the rate for hours, depending on
• Chair, Representative Benson, it depends on how many hours of care.
• She may be actually working full-time outside of the hours that the child's going to preschool.

Bills: SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
• Representative Carbone, the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Sinners now at the hour of our death.
• That's close to eight hours of driving. Eight hours.
• This has been one interesting day since it started 16 hours ago because of this lovely bill.
• Not use public money's public resources to support the operations of a labor organization.

Keywords: 1182, all