Transcript Highlights:

• since your last hearing. Oh, Mr. Chairman, Representative, yeah, I believe we have.
• And if I can't know in an open hearing, tell me in a private hearing because I really need to know what
• And you'll hear if you feel like tuning in on Friday a Little bit more about.
• And this may be the similar answer, but I'd like to hear what you have to say.
• I think what you're hearing is some potential frustration.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's u we introduced the amendment at the public hearing earlier, and there have been some changes to
• Uh, if you'll remember from the joint hearing held with the Senate Education Funding Committee, members
• uh held with the Senate hearing uh held with the Senate Education<00:11:02.640><c> Funding</c><00:11
• And if you're, if I heard you correctly, so here's my question: if you're, and maybe I'm not hearing
• </c> Did I hear an ITL on it? Did I hear an ITL on it?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But hear me, members, integrity doesn't have to come at the expense of an act of, of, of, But hear me
• No hearings. No conversation. 57% of Floridians told us...
• No hearings.
• after public hearing after public hearing about what they thought we ought to do to improve our state
• After public hearing after public hearing.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Comments are open until the end of the hearing and are posted upon adjournment of our hearing.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• The chair hears none. The substitute is adopted.
• If y'all need to hear from them.

Bills: HB2385 , HB3349 , HB3962 , HB3883 , HB4396 , HB4811 , HB5088 , HB4588 , HB4867 , HB4895 , HB5398 , HB5616

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we'd all have been hearing about issues with having difficulty recruiting and retaining corrections
• I think we'd all have been hearing about issues with having difficulty recruiting and retaining corrections
• I think we'd all have been hearing about issues with having difficulty recruiting and retaining corrections
• So what I'm hearing you say is that you don't think there will be additional costs for their returning
• </c><00:04:06.720><c> you</c><00:04:06.879><c> say</c> there will So what I'm hearing you say there will

Bills: HF3006 , HF2130 , HF1290

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• The Joint Committee on Housing hearing is now in order. Good morning, everyone.
• We want to call this hearing to order.
• hearing from everybody here who's prepared to testify.
• Today's probably going to be a quick hearing.
• Welcome, and looking forward to our 12th hearing together. Thank you, Senator.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its 12th hearing of the session, chaired by Representative Richard Haggerty and Senator Julian Cyr, and heard testimony on two bills: H. 5317, concerning condominium conversion of co-owned two-unit buildings, and H. 5447, a home rule petition for an affordable housing trust fund in West Tisbury. The chair outlined a hybrid hearing format, three-minute testimony limits for individuals, and a July 31 deadline for written testimony. Peter Harrington testified in support of H. 5317, arguing that the partition law is outdated and should be updated so courts can use the condominium statute when dividing co-owned property. He said the change would help preserve middle-class housing, especially two-family homes that might otherwise be sold, torn down, or redeveloped into more expensive housing. Committee members asked about how common the issue is and whether it is more case-specific; Harrington said it arises at the lower end of Chapter 241 cases but is not unusual. Laura Silber testified in support of H. 5447 on behalf of West Tisbury’s Affordable Housing Committee and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. She said the bill would let the town’s affordable housing trust serve households up to 180% of area median income and better support seasonal communities tools, including housing for essential public-sector workers and acquisition of year-round deed restrictions. Senator Cyr questioned whether the home rule petition was necessary if technical fixes to the seasonal communities law are enacted, and Silber said the petition was a short-term measure while the towns await statutory changes and work toward a pooled year-round housing trust. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so with that, I'll open it up for any discussion prior to hearing the voting on the bill.
• We'll now go into public hearing. We'll open the hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000.
• The public hearing will open on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, sponsored by Senator Hudson.
• That will conclude the hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000 with no further business for
• That will conclude the hearing on Senate substitute for Senate Bill 1000 with no further visits for the

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session with a quorum present and first took up House Concurrent Resolution 52, which concerns Missouri’s participation in America’s 250th birthday celebration. After a brief procedural discussion about whether the resolution could go to consent, the committee voted 11-0 to give HCR 52 a do pass recommendation. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson. Hudson said the bill would reestablish the tourism supplemental revenue fund in statute after it was inadvertently sunset, and he described the measure as a continuation of previously discussed policy that had already passed the House companion committee unanimously. Members from both parties voiced support for tourism as an important statewide economic driver and asked for continued advocacy to move the bill through the process. During questioning and comments, members discussed the importance of tourism funding for regions across Missouri, including Branson, the lake area, St. Charles, Texas County, and the 138th District. The chair emphasized that the bill should move cleanly and quickly, noting tourism’s major economic impact. No witnesses testified in opposition or for informational purposes, and the hearing on SB 1000 concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing a do pass in second. Will there be discussion or debate? There will be debate.
• Hearing a do pass in second. Will there be discussion or debate?
• Do I hear a motion? Hearing a do pass in second. Will there be discussion or debate?
• Hearing a do pass in second. Will there be discussion or debate?
• Hearing a do pass in second. Will there be discussion or debate?

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to announce for the notice for today that we have several bills that we will not be hearing
• We will not be hearing those three bills today.
• We'll now move into the witness portion of this hearing.
• Seeing no further witnesses, this will conclude the public hearing on House Bill 3443.
• Okay, this will conclude the hearing on House Bill 2865. Thank you, and we're adjourned.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met with a quorum, announced that House Bills 3304, 2777, and 3054 would not be heard that day, and then moved into executive session. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 1910, which concerns child maintenance/child support obligations for certain persons convicted of DWIs. Representative Davis offered an amendment changing mandatory language from “shall” to “may” to preserve judicial discretion; the amendment was adopted 5-2 with one present. The committee then adopted a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute for HB 1910 do pass 7-0 with one present. The committee next took up House Bill 3116, a civil jurisprudence bill. An amendment was adopted to incorporate provisions from three previously heard bills: HB 1711 (Uniform Deposition Act), HB 1713 (allowing circuit courts to dissolve LLCs), and HB 3072 (workers’ compensation changes). The committee rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute for HB 3116 do pass 8-0. The committee also considered House Bill 3289 on court operations. An amendment was adopted to add treatment court administrators in certain circuits, subject to appropriations, then rolled into a substitute. The House Committee substitute for HB 3289 was voted do pass 8-0. In public hearing, Representative Dolan presented House Bill 3443, which would raise the court automation fee from $7 to $10 and add a CPI-based annual adjustment. Supporters from the Judicial Conference of Missouri said the fee has not been updated since the 1990s, that court automation costs continue to rise, and that the surcharge covers only a portion of the system’s expenses; they also noted that salaries are generally funded through general revenue rather than fees. Committee members asked about the new fee amount, what the revenue would support, and the collection-rate assumptions in the fiscal note. No opposition testimony was offered. Representative Parker then presented House Bill 2865, which would remove the statutory cap of $75 per hour for attorney’s fees in certain agency/licensure proceedings and replace it with “reasonable” fees. He and supporters said the current rate has not been updated since 1989 and is too low to attract attorneys for cases involving licensed professionals defending their licenses. Testimony in favor came from a private attorney who practices in this area, the Missouri Bar, and another supporter who said the bill would improve representation for Missouri licensees. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing on HB 2865 was concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, I'll in favor indicate... ...by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. Any opposed? All right, motion carries.
• Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye.
• Hearing none all in favor indicate by saying aye. I, any opposed?
• Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye, aye, any opposed?

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now transition into our open hearing, and we're going to hear House Bill 3279.
• We are now in our open hearing, and we're going to hear House Bill 3279, which is sponsored by Representative
• Okay, we will go to the witness section of the hearing.
• I agree. go to the witness section of the hearing.
• Seeing no further witnesses, that will conclude the hearing on House Bill 3279. We are adjourned.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, the motion is adopted. I want to welcome everyone in the gallery.
• The chair hears none. The resolution is adopted.
• The chair hears none. The resolutions are adopted.
• The Finance Committee will reconvene its hearing at 12:45 p.m. in E1.03.
• The chair hears none. The Senate stands in recess until 10 a.m.

Bills: SJR36 , SB2

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and dispensed with the reading of the previous day’s journal. The chamber then spent much of the session on recognitions, including a visit from the Texas Police Chiefs Association and the introduction of Dr. Joshua Splinter as Doctor of the Day. Senators offered remarks honoring the chiefs’ service and welcoming Dr. Splinter and Dr. Sarah Jethro to the chamber. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 16, sponsored by Senators Miles, West, Alvarado, and Cook, designating January 29, 2025 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day at the State Capitol. Senators Miles and West highlighted the sorority’s history, service work, and Texas members, and the resolution was adopted without objection. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 9 by Senator Perry recognizing American Public Works Association Day, and Senate Resolution 10 congratulating Heather Keister on being named Engineer of the Year by the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Senator Perry emphasized the importance of public works and infrastructure, and praised Keister’s engineering work and contributions to West Texas. The Senate also recognized a Brownsville delegation and celebrated Brownsville Day at the Capitol, with Senator Hinojosa of Nueces speaking about the city’s history and community spirit. Additional resolutions, including Senate Resolution 13 and Senate Resolution 18, were adopted without objection. The chamber then approved a motion to suspend Senate Rule 11.13 so committees could meet during the reading and referral of bills. Announcements followed, including a Finance Committee hearing and a Senate Democratic Caucus meeting, and the Senate recessed until Monday, February 3, for bill reading and referral, then adjourned until Tuesday, February 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none.
• The chair hears none.
• The chair hears none.
• The chair hears none.
• The chair hears none.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution congratulating Jean M. Bubon on her retirement after 21 years of service to the town of Sturbridge. The chamber then took up several House bills and a House amendment to Senate No. 2916 on campaign finance reporting for statewide ballot questions; the Senate voted not to concur in the House amendment and requested a committee of conference, with conferees appointed. The Senate passed to be engrossed a series of local bills, including measures concerning police civil service exemptions in Leicester, town administrator powers in Carlisle, transfer of land in Marion, property tax classifications in Watertown, and a disability pension matter for Ms. Rodriguez in Springfield, which was amended on the floor before passage. It also adopted an amendment to a Belmont alcohol licensing bill to clarify seating requirements as otherwise permitted by law, then passed that bill to be engrossed. The Senate recognized the Seekonk High School Varsity Baseball Team for winning the Division 4 state championship, with remarks praising the team, coaches, and families. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a Plymouth lease petition to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Finally, the Senate enacted two bills—one dedicating park and field space in South Boston and another allowing the Dalton Fire District to continue employing an interim fire chief—and then adopted an order to meet again in formal session the following Wednesday at 1 p.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to today's informational hearing.
• Today's hearing is for the committee to be briefed on the content of the compact, as it cannot be amended
• Today's hearing is for the committee to be briefed on the content of the compact, as it cannot be amended
• to be here today on behalf of the citizens of the Yurok Tribe to participate in this informational hearing
• Okay, hearing none. Any questions by the members? Okay, hearing that. Any questions by the members?

Summary: The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee held an informational hearing on the Tribal-State Gaming Compact extension between the State of California and the Yurok Tribe. Chair Blanca Rubio explained that the hearing was for briefing only, with no formal vote, and that the Legislature cannot amend the compact; AB 1389 is the ratification bill that will later come before the Assembly floor. The extension preserves the existing compact’s terms and extends it through December 31, 2026, to maintain the tribe’s economic stability while a new compact is negotiated. Governor Newsom’s senior advisor for tribal negotiations, Matthew Lee, said the extension simply preserves the status quo while negotiations continue on a new compact expected to come before the Legislature later this year. Yurok Tribe Chairman Joseph James testified that the amendment does not change any substantive terms, but gives the tribe time to negotiate a new agreement and continue operating its existing gaming and hospitality operations under the current framework. Chris Lundstrom of the California Tribal Business Alliance spoke in support. There was no opposition, no member questions, and no vote taken. The chair then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, what I hear from my county is if you try to get a guardianship, the family member will
• And by the time they have that guardianship all lined up for a hearing, the mental health facility is
• notorious for letting the person out before the hearing, and all of that effort goes to waste.
• Seeing none, that ends the hearing on House Bill 2516.
• That concludes our hearing for House Joint Resolution 171. We will now go.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Other committees are handling overlapping hearings.
• Food and drink are prohibited in the hearing room.
• Seeing or hearing none, the chair will call Chairman Anchia back to close on this bill.
• Hearing none, Senate Bill 1370 is left pending.
• Hearing none, the committee stands adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: SB1370

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair hears none.
• Chair hears none. Members, the Chair is pleased to recognize Dr.
• Chair hears none. The rule is suspended.
• Chair hears none. It's ordered. The resolution is unanimously passed.
• Chair hears none, and the House stands adjourned. 69 70 71

Transcript Highlights:

• I am appalled that we're hearing this again.
• I mean, it's just incredible what I'm hearing here.
• Thank you to the chair for hearing the bill.
• So I'm surprised to hear that the goalposts have...
• I hear you. But guess what?

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we hear this and then we hear this, and we hear a lot of anxiety from our constituents about
• Um and uh what we hear a lot about it.
• </c> hear um is the direct opposite of thing. hear um is the direct opposite of thing.
• </c> You know, we hear this and then we hear You know, we hear this and then we hear this<01:04:57.359
• It's really we hear everything's fine.

Summary: The Legislative Audit Commission Evaluation Subcommittee met on October 6, 2025, to choose additional program evaluation topics for the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jody Mson Rodriguez explained that the commission had previously selected seven topics from an initial list of 11, with background papers already prepared on five of those items, and that the subcommittee was now being asked to select five more topics for background papers before narrowing the full set to four recommendations later in the fall or early spring. Members discussed several possible topics, especially emergency medical services, non-emergency medical transportation, MinnesotaCare eligibility, child care assistance, medical assistance fraud prevention, and U.S. Bank Stadium. David Kersner of OLA said emergency medical services and non-emergency medical transportation are distinct programs, and noted the EMS topic was evaluated in 2022 while non-emergency medical transportation had not been reviewed since 2011. Auditor Judy Randall said MinnesotaCare eligibility, child care assistance, and medical assistance fraud prevention are better suited to OLA’s financial audit division or special review unit rather than program evaluation, and that financial audits and special reviews do not require Legislative Audit Commission nomination. On process, Mson Rodriguez said the subcommittee had already met its minimum required selections under the commission’s policy and was free to choose additional topics. The discussion also covered whether to broaden the stadium topic beyond U.S. Bank Stadium; staff said the U.S. Bank financing structure alone would be a major undertaking, but they could help craft a future topic focused on maintenance across multiple facilities. No final vote or motion was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue nominations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two public hearings are held in September.
• So that's always what I hear. Transparency to them is an issue.
• That's what we all hear about when we go home.
• I wanted to hear what they thought.
• And one of the things I did hear was: don't do it in sales tax.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes heard first from city representatives through the Florida League of Cities, who argued that property taxes are a stable local revenue source that funds core services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and stormwater work. Casey Cook emphasized that cities are optional governments with widely different tax bases and service levels, that exemptions shift the burden to fewer taxpayers, and that transparency already exists through TRIM notices, public budgets, and local hearings. Sarah Campbell of Fernandina Beach, T. Michael Stavris of Winter Haven, and Stephen O’Kee of Port St. Lucie described their budget processes, the share of general-fund revenue coming from property taxes, reserve policies, debt and capital planning, and the impact of inflation, minimum wage increases, and personnel costs. They all said local governments need predictable revenue and that any property tax changes would require careful consideration of replacement funding or service reductions. Members questioned the city panel about whether homebuyers are clearly informed about city versus county taxes and services, the role of HOAs, how many lobbyists cities employ, reserve levels, average salaries, and whether utility revenues are used only for utility purposes. The panel said TRIM notices, realtor listings, and city websites provide tax information; HOAs generally do not provide emergency services; lobbyists help local governments track Tallahassee legislation; reserves vary by city and fund; and utility revenues are generally restricted, though some cities use limited transfers. Members also asked about revenue replacement if ad valorem taxes were reduced or eliminated, and the panel said options would likely include user fees, service cuts, or other local revenue shifts. The chair also asked about public safety consolidation, and the response was that such decisions are local and may shift costs rather than create true savings. The committee then heard from county representatives after an overview by the Florida Association of Counties’ Davin Suggs, who framed counties as shared partners with the state and emphasized the gap between rising market values and the shrinking share of taxable value after exemptions and assessment limits. He said counties face a mismatch between revenue based on taxable value and expenses driven by real-world costs, and noted that most counties either held millage steady or lowered it without reaching rollback rates. He also highlighted that property taxes are only one part of county revenue, with charges for services and intergovernmental revenue often larger in some counties, and that public safety at the county level includes more than law enforcement, such as EMS, emergency management, inspections, and corrections. Deborah Manzo of Okeechobee County described a fiscally constrained rural county with limited staff, a county-supported airport, heavy reliance on property taxes for the general fund, and major cost pressures from inflation, insurance, retirement, and state and federal mandates. She said the county lowered millage slightly over recent years but still depends on multiple revenue sources and special assessments, and she flagged Medicaid, medical examiner costs, and possible firefighter workweek changes as significant concerns. Bay County Administrator Mark McQueen said his county’s budget is shaped by Hurricane Michael recovery, non-discretionary obligations, and rapid growth; he described ongoing FEMA reimbursement delays, substantial borrowing to cover disaster costs, and continuing interest expenses while the county waits for reimbursement. The county panel was still in progress when the transcript ended.