Transcript Highlights:

• She probably one of the jail because you don't have the money to pay that fi.
• If I'm going to award my teachers, the state of Florida's unique in how we pay our teachers, we leave
• But guess who had to pay for that special election? Why am I paying $5,000 for the unity recertify?
• Thank the union pay that they're the ones that want to be there.
• And it's like Christmas cause we're paying for our claims, you know, as we go.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to make it easier for folks to get access, and we need to make sure we're paying for it.
• And there was nothing looked at to see whether or not it was reasonable that one CBC is paying $400 a
• day for something and another one's paying $1,000 a day for something.
• $1,000 for group care, how many of them are in this field and how many are paying less than $700 or
• Are in this field and how many are paying less than $700 or whatever that may be, right?

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• who are concerned that are involved in private schools that with the tax credit voucher program that pays
• I really think we need to find a way in the state to help our charters pay for brick and mortar expenses
• Funds may only be withdrawn to pay deductibles for the taxpayer's primary residents or up to 3 vehicles
• and then I could go raise my deductible up to $5,000 dollars and I could use that $5,000 dollars to pay
• for any damages that insurance does not pay for.

Bills: HB1590 , HB1242 , HB3818 , HB4305

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: education funding, linked deposits, education infrastructure, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Program, HB1242, cervidae, deer, elk, sales tax exemption, agricultural exemption, livestock, ranching, farm tax, agricultural sales tax, Oklahoma Tax Commission, agriculture, producer sales, private treaty

Transcript Highlights:

• Who pays for those?
• And to be honest, I'm not sure if students pay for their own cords or not.
• So I don't know who actually pays for those cords.
• , I have no doubt that there would be dozens of people in any school district that would be glad to pay
• for having this kind of recognition for something that would be glad to pay for having this kind of

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Really bad government pay up. Signed, Donald J. Trump. The White House. billion and going higher.
• Really bad government pay<00:11:25.440><c> up.
• It is not the federal government's responsibility to pay to fix problems in an area that the tribe has
• the federal government's responsibility the federal government's responsibility to<00:14:12.880><c> pay
• to fix problems in an area that to pay to fix problems in an area that the<00:14:15.519><c> tribe</c

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, January 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When a man or woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, they go to the first diagnosis, and the state pays
• Not go back, they would not go in for recommended follow-up imaging if they have to pay the deductible
• And so, as you know, with inflation and obviously us not paying our state employees a whole lot, them
• having to come out of pocket for cancer... ...obviously us not paying our state employees a whole lot
• Sometimes we forget about you all, but, you know, it's a blessing that you're paying attention.

Summary: The Health Care Facilities and Systems Subcommittee met and heard two bills. HB 141, by Rep. Woodson, would require the state group insurance program to cover out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations for covered employees, with the goal of improving early detection and reducing the chance that patients skip follow-up imaging because of cost. Woodson described her personal experience with breast cancer screening and emphasized that the bill would help state employees get recommended mammograms, MRIs, ultrasounds, and related tests without financial barriers. The American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network supported the bill, and several members spoke in strong support, citing the importance of early detection and employee retention. The committee voted 15-0 to report HB 141 favorably. The committee then heard CS for HB 839, by Rep. Booth, which would shorten the period for health insurers to seek overpayment claims against participating psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, aligning psychologists with other health care providers and applying to claims on or after January 1, 2026. Booth said the change would improve access to mental health care by encouraging more psychologists to participate in insurance networks. The Florida Psychological Association appeared in support, and there was no debate. The committee voted 15-0 to report the bill favorably. At the end of the meeting, the vice chair, ranking member, and chair each offered brief remarks thanking members and staff for their work during the session. The chair noted the committee had focused on implementation and oversight issues and described the process as member-driven. The meeting then adjourned by motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, counties are required to pay for the cost of the traveling judge.
• of these services have a free path for a large part of these cases, but yet they're being asked to pay
• All the committee substitute would do is make clear that it can be the estate that pays.
• This bill as filed states that the estate has to pay it.
• It clarifies that the parties and representatives of the state can also pay that cost, which significantly

Bills: SB302 , SB1335 , SB1734 , SB1760 , SB1975 , SB2127

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• afford to accept poor educational outcomes for our students while near the top of the nation in teacher pay
• Taxes on cell phones, storage units, fuel—you name it—hit hardest on the least able to pay.
• proposing what's effectively a tax on jobs, new burdens on employers that punish them for hiring and paying
• Taxes on cell phones, storage units, fuel, you name it, hit hardest on the least able to pay.
• proposing what's effectively a tax on jobs, new burdens on employers that punish them for hiring and paying

Summary: This was a Republican response to the Governor’s State of the State address, delivered by Sen. Keith Wagoner. The speaker argued that Washington is facing an affordability crisis driven by recent tax increases, high living costs, and what he described as unsustainable state spending. He cited inflation in housing, fuel, food, and other essentials, along with concerns about crime, homelessness, drug overdoses, and declining student outcomes, as evidence that the state is failing residents. A major focus was the state budget and tax policy. The speaker criticized Governor Ferguson and the Democratic majority for signing a budget he said included the largest tax increase in state history, followed by a projected revenue shortfall. He also objected to proposed new taxes on items like fuel, cell phones, storage units, and employers, warning that these measures would be regressive and could pave the way for a state income tax. He said Republicans support property tax relief and a spending limit, and he accused Democrats of rejecting those ideas. The response also highlighted cuts to Medicaid in the 2025 budget, saying reductions disproportionately affected people with disabilities, seniors, and long-term care services. The speaker framed this as inconsistent with claims of compassion and said the state should not raise taxes while cutting care for vulnerable residents. He urged viewers to testify on legislation, contact lawmakers and the governor, and support what he called fiscally responsible, common-sense policies during the short legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance Fund must pay to an insurance Insurance Fund must pay to an insurance producer<00:42:02.720
• </c><01:48:02.560><c> your</c> that as long as you pay your that as long as you pay your indebtedness
• And in light of the fact that we are paying, that the churches are paying you to stay here.
• And in light of the fact that we are paying, that the churches are paying you to stay here.
• And in light of the fact that we are paying, that the churches are paying you to stay here.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to pay it. They're going to pay it. No, is there reimbursement on it?
• They have to pay is this going to pay?
• They're going to pay it. No, is it. They're going to pay it.
• </c> happy we're paying.
• Um, are we paying happy we're paying.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR, would restrict a teacher's ability as an employee to say, 'Please deduct this membership from my pay
• And that is their right because as soon as that money becomes their pay, it is their... ...their right
• And the state should not tell any employee how to use their pay. And that's what this bill does.
• We were working on a new pay system, a compensation system. Best communicators.
• We were working on a new pay system, a compensation system, and the administration threw an idea out

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and routine journal and appointment actions. Members also made brief announcements about caucus meetings and recognized guests from AIM Youth Mental Health, including a proclamation by Senator Epstein designating May 31, 2026, as Youth Mental Health Day in Arizona. The chamber then met as the Committee of the Whole to consider House Bill 2995, relating to legal decision-making and parenting time in domestic relations cases. A committee amendment and a Mesnard floor amendment were adopted; the floor amendment emphasized child and victim safety in domestic violence cases, tightened standards for rebutting presumptions, and added an emergency clause. The bill was then reported out of Committee of the Whole with a do pass as amended recommendation. Members next considered House Concurrent Resolution 2040, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning labor organization use of public resources in school districts. Supporters argued it would restrict use of district communication systems and public resources for union-related materials and work stoppages, while opponents raised constitutional, due process, contract, pension, and free speech concerns, and argued it would harm teachers and union communication. The Government Committee amendment was adopted, and after debate the resolution was reported out of Committee of the Whole with a do pass as amended recommendation by a 12-11 division. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and adjourned until May 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR, would restrict a teacher's ability as an employee to say, please deduct this membership from my pay
• And that is their right because as soon as that money becomes their pay, it is their...
• And the state should not tell any employee how to use their pay. And that's what this bill does.
• We were working on a new pay system, a compensation system. ...best communicators.
• We were working on a new pay system, a compensation system, and the administration threw an idea out

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state would be paying out about $180 million a year.
• Is the treasurer in demand that much that we need to pay his scheduler more than the governor’s scheduler
• I will say that when we came to you all in the last session, it was to adopt...” “...to adopt the pay
• We asked to be included on the governor’s pay plan.
• So that money is going to pay for that.”

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first heard a Special Language Committee report from Senator McKee, who reported that the subcommittee adopted nine amendments related to Governor’s Letter 7 and 30, including amendments to HB 1005 and one sponsored by Senator Dismang. The committee then adopted the report and approved several items on the special language agenda, including HB 101 (Department of Corrections), HB 1017 (Department of Agriculture promotion boards), HB 1009 (Department of Public Safety), and SB 10 (Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Services). During discussion of SB 10, members questioned a $10 million unemployment insurance modernization item, and Commerce/DFA explained it was a continuation of existing funding rather than a new increase. The meeting then turned to the Treasurer’s budget, where members raised concerns about prior and proposed salary increases in the office, especially the size of raises for senior staff compared with lower-paid employees. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the new appropriation would be directed to the investment team rather than top administrators, and whether special language could cap raises or otherwise limit how the money could be used. The Treasurer’s representative said the office was willing to discuss caps and that no final decisions on raises had been made, but several members remained dissatisfied and emphasized the need for the Treasurer himself to appear. Representative Lundstrum moved to hold the Treasurer’s budget, and the committee approved the hold. After that, the committee referred items with special language to the special language process and then batch-approved a series of supplemental and reappropriation bills, followed by individual due-pass actions on multiple bills, including HB 1006, HB 1013, HB 1016, HB 1033, HB 1048, HB 1050, HB 1053, HB 1065, HB 1078, and several Senate bills such as SB 2, SB 14, SB 19, SB 26, SB 32, SB 42, SB 52, SB 53, and SB 74. Near the end, members discussed filing deadlines and the need to suspend rules for late special-language items, and Senator Irvin released a hold on HB 1064 before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language says if you have a balance at the end of the year, which we will have, then you'll pay it
• it out of that and that will you'll pay it out of that and that will affect<00:10:01.200><c> what</c
• raise,<00:10:11.680><c> the</c><00:10:11.920><c> 2%</c><00:10:12.399><c> teacher</c><00:10:12.720><c> pay
• </c><00:10:12.959><c> raise,</c><00:10:13.519><c> we're</c> raise, the 2% teacher pay raise, we're raise
• , the 2% teacher pay raise, we're add<00:10:14.079><c> an</c><00:10:14.240><c> amendment</c><00:10:14.640

Bills: SB342 , SB342 , SB159

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarando, we look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra...
• We look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra attention to CalPERS' report on
• but but when you compare that to the interest you paid over the lifetime of a mortgage you end up paying
• increases short-term cost and creates a lot of volatility in terms of contributions that employers pay
• calculate all that, and then we factor in those variances into the contribution rates that the state pays

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement and the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement held a joint hearing required by law to receive an independent report from the California Actuarial Advisory Panel on CalPERS. Chair McKinnor and Senator Smallwood-Cuevas opened by emphasizing CalPERS’ importance to retirement security for public employees and to the state budget. Scott Tarando, CalPERS Chief Actuary and a CAP member, presented on the statutory disclosure requirements in Government Code Section 2029, including the use of CalPERS’ 6.8% discount rate and the need to show how changes in investment return assumptions and amortization periods affect liabilities, contribution rates, and budgets. Tarando explained that lower investment returns increase contribution rates and unfunded liabilities, while higher returns reduce them. He also described CalPERS’ 20-year amortization period for new unfunded liabilities, comparing it to a mortgage and noting that shorter periods raise near-term costs but reduce long-term interest costs. He said the CAP has recommended a 15- to 20-year range and that CalPERS’ current approach is intended to smooth volatility for a large, ongoing plan. Members asked about the meaning of average service lifetime, the timing of valuation data, whether more current data could be used, the effect of AI and workforce changes on assumptions, and whether contribution changes affect retiree benefits. Tarando said retiree benefits do not change with annual valuations, that CalPERS uses audited year-end data because it is the most reliable basis for rates, and that AI impacts are being monitored but are too early to quantify. Committee members also discussed CalPERS’ funded status, with Tarando saying it had improved from the mid-60% range about 10 years ago to around 79% at fiscal year-end and over 80% more recently, reducing pressure on employers and the state budget. Michael Cohen, CalPERS’ investment operations chief, said CalPERS had complied with federal information requests and that its annual audits are publicly available, but no formal federal review had been released. In public comment, a representative of the California State Association of Counties praised the improved funded status and the role of PEPRA reforms. The chairs closed by reaffirming CalPERS’ fiduciary duty and the goal of protecting retirement security for public workers; no votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarando, we look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra...
• We look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra attention to CalPERS' report on
• What is the period that we use to pay off the unfunded liability?
• increases short-term cost, and it creates a lot of volatility in terms of contributions that employers pay
• , where... ...of contributions that employers pay, where a lot of the volatility is transferred down

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tarando, we look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra...
• We look forward to the presentation and particularly want to pay extra attention to CalPERS' report on
• The role played by the amortization period is like a house mortgage: it is the period we use to pay off
• The 15-year mortgage has higher payments, but when you compare that to the interest you pay over the
• lifetime of the mortgage, you end up paying about half the interest charges.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to a lack of clarity in current law, these counties are sometimes required to pay taxes on transit
• These counties have never budgeted for this tax because historically, they haven't had to consistently pay
• Due to a lack of clarity in current law, these counties are sometimes required to pay taxes on transit
• The small rural counties in particular Haven't had to consistently pay for it.
• A year after they have to keep on the reporting and keep on paying the tax upon the tax already that

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met after several delays while waiting for the Senate to finish its floor session, and the chair announced the committee would begin once a quorum was established. The committee then heard a series of tax-related bills, with most measures being held for suspense except SB 87, which was voted out. The chair also welcomed newly appointed committee member Assembly Member Juan Carrillo. SB 359 would clarify that county-run transit systems qualify for existing sales and use tax exemptions on transit fuels such as diesel and compressed natural gas. Senator Nilo and Placer County testified that the bill would correct an inequity affecting counties operating their own transit services, especially rural counties, and would not create a new state revenue loss because the tax had not been consistently collected. Support came from the California Transit Association and the California State Association of Counties; the bill was sent to suspense. SB 603 would allow county boards of supervisors in disaster-affected counties to extend by up to three years the five-year deadline for transferring a property tax base-year value to replacement property. The author and supporters, including the California Assessors Association and the California Association of Realtors, said the measure would give local governments flexibility to address post-disaster rebuilding delays. SB 293 would extend the deadline for filing intergenerational property transfer claims from six months to three years for disaster-impacted homeowners, with testimony focused on helping families in Altadena and preserving generational homes after the Eaton Fire; the committee discussed possible refinements and the bill was held in suspense. SB 353 would extend the farm-to-food-bank tax credit through 2032, with support emphasizing food security, waste reduction, and the program’s documented results; it too was sent to suspense. SB 723 would raise the threshold for property tax exemptions on low-value properties, with the author arguing it would reduce administrative costs and ease burdens on small businesses, and the committee asked for technical work before the bill was held in suspense. SB 785 would create a $5,000 tax credit for durable medical equipment used by children with complex medical conditions, with supporters saying it could prevent hospitalizations and help families keep medically fragile children at home; it was also sent to suspense. SB 87, which would extend the sales tax exemption for volunteer fire department fundraising activities for five more years, passed the committee on a 5-0 vote and was sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should be paying attention to this important information.
• , and we're hoping to potentially bring it out of conference is really looking at the rates that we pay
• more, allowing residential customers to pay less.
• We all use energy, and we all pay utility bills—or maybe some of you are off-grid.
• So it's not a tax; it's a fee that they are paying because they are allowed to store nuclear waste at

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, we pay for the equalization.
• Just as a reminder, none of your districts have had to pay for unemployment; the fund has covered it
• So for the four years of runway right now, the schools still have the money to pay for this.
• Is that we’re going to UI, the schools will still pay for that.
• But if Lionel Lakes went out for $1, their taxpayers might have to pay $1.50.

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility