Transcript Highlights:

• is Senate Bill 6011, relating to the authority of Court of Appeals bailiffs to conduct a threat assessment
• was a change that was made back in 2024 that allows bailiffs of the Supreme Court to do threat assessments
• was a change that was made back in 2024 that allows bailiffs of the Supreme Court to do threat assessments
• What this bill does is allow bailiffs of the Court of Appeals to conduct threat assessments on behalf
• are under-resourced according to the most recent judicial needs estimate, which is the tool for assessing

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5855 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, face coverings, law enforcement, public safety, civil liberties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• Our deferred maintenance program was developed to analyze the magnitude of the issues, assess the risks
• We use several tools to assess and prioritize these projects.
• data, classroom and lab utilization reports, and critical infrastructure assessments.
• So our facility condition assessment.
• Master plan and a condition assessment. I worked on that myself as board president.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many associations had not budgeted for early replacements, forcing boards to levy special assessments
• Okay, and that predates any kind of requirements as it relates to assessments following SIRS or milestone
• And so for an individual who has to pay both an assessment and an increased HOA fee in order to sort
• And they've just gone through an assessment or a rate increase, I guess.
• Because as the SERs come online and funding schedules are said, special assessments are made, those are

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met for a panel discussion on current issues affecting Florida condominiums. DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin highlighted the department’s expanded condo education, complaint, and ombudsman services under HB 1021, including new online resources, board member certification, increased outreach, and broader complaint jurisdiction. She said the division has filled most of its new positions and that the new condo website is intended to improve transparency and access to records and information. Other panelists focused on insurance, inspections, and market impacts. Insurance agent Mike Clarkson said the condo insurance market remains difficult, especially for older buildings, and raised concerns about roof replacement demands, Citizens’ depopulation practices, and the mismatch between reserve studies and insurer timelines. Building officials representative Ron Laceca described challenges with phase one and phase two inspections, including incomplete databases, limited contractor capacity, and the need for local flexibility and better recordkeeping. University of Florida researcher Bill Hughes said his data show the condo market has not suffered a major overall decline from the new laws; he argued the rules have made costs more transparent and may strengthen the market over time. Community association manager Jamie Ballard said the biggest pressures on associations are rising insurance costs and early roof replacement requirements, and she supported board certification while opposing the continuing education exemption for long-tenured CAMs. In committee discussion, members pressed witnesses on whether recent condo laws caused insurance and roof-cost problems, and witnesses generally said those issues are driven more by the market than by the legislation. Senators also discussed possible reforms, including better data collection, clearer reporting duties for managers, and possible changes to insurance and reserve practices. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• National Climate Assessment.
• as an example, when NMED did an illustrative projection of how we could meet the 2030 goals, they assessed
• So it is, there is a convention that states use In assessing the greenhouse gas, the greenhouse direct
• The one exception to that is that we assess emissions from imported electricity. Madam Chair, Mr.
• So it assesses all the directly emitted greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• companies for services that they're already providing, such as performing necessary health status assessments
• We'll be awaiting that assessment. That's the explanation of the bill. >> That's correct.
• We'll be awaiting that assessment. That's the explanation of the bill. >> That's correct.

Committee: Joint Insurance

Keywords: Insurance - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court to assess whether or not the various components of that
• Your, Senator, my assessment or my analysis was that partisan intent can be taken into account.
• Your, Senator, my assessment or my analysis was that partisan intent can be taken into account.
• So you assess both those things and...
• And then you have the courts assessing whether or not all the various provisions are valid.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then even after their assessments are done, and they're completed, and their recommendations for
• Um, the assessments, IED assessments, you're not, you guys don't do that.
• You, the assessments and so. The IED? IEP? IEP assessments? IEP assessments.
• We advocate to stop, wait, and assess the desirability of- of these proposed large facilities in the
• Making funds available to support assessment centers and emergency.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill continues to set the regulatory racing assessment at 0.5% for fiscal year 2027.
• It extends by four years, until 2030, the moratorium on assessing and collecting annual groundwater withdrawal
• It extends by four years, until 2030, the moratorium on assessing and collecting annual groundwater withdrawal
• recalculate Alhambra Elementary School District's fiscal year 2025 state aid due to a change in the assessed
• general reading proficiency levels, the state is at about 30% proficiency, according to the statewide assessment

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the property tax assessment rule for microgrids and data centers.
• Operating property is property used for public utility purposes and is assessed by the State Board of
• Public Works, with an initial assessment by the Tax Division to serve as a guide, as opposed to the
• This is the property tax assessment rule for microgrids and data centers.
• Operating property is property used for public utility purposes and is assessed by the State Board of

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• individual projects that are being conducted by the utilities so that we can follow the costs and assess
• It allows us to track the projects and assess applying the statutory criteria about whether the utility
• So, well, these are assessing, literally, I mean, President Gates is asking for a CPA and a financial
• The commission has to weigh in every proceeding where it assesses return on equity.
• The commission has to weigh in every proceeding where it assesses return on equity.

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and considered four bills, all of which were reported favorably. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives was presented as a negotiated “glitch bill” to narrow statutory language so co-ops can choose generation and power purchases based on cost and reliability without exposure to lawsuits aimed at banning fuel sources; it was supported by the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association and passed without debate. SB 364 on public accountancy was described as a modernization and licensure-efficiency bill to increase the supply of CPAs; an amendment correcting a drafting error and restoring automatic mobility language was adopted without objection, and the bill as amended was reported favorably. A public comment on the bill was briefly redirected after it appeared to address a different subject. The committee then took up SB 200 on utilities, which addresses solar decommissioning and storm protection plans. Chair Bradley said the bill would authorize counties to require decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar facilities at the end of their useful life, direct DEP to develop best management practices, and require the Public Service Commission to consider whether storm protection plan costs are reasonable relative to expected customer benefits. County and consumer groups spoke in support, and the Small County Coalition said the bill was a needed step that did not restrict solar development; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 126 on the Florida Public Service Commission, which was presented as a reform and “glitch” bill and amended to add CPA and financial analyst expertise, require stronger PSC order explanations, tighten intervention requirements, cap returns on equity at the national average for comparable utilities, set periodic ROE review schedules, and require affordability to be considered in rate-related proceedings. The PSC staff deputy executive director answered extensive questions about storm hardening, cost recovery, risk, and affordability. Several members and public speakers supported the bill’s goals but raised concerns about the affordability standard, the ROE cap, and comparisons to other states; others said the bill would improve transparency and accountability. The amendment was adopted, and CS for SB 126 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would let Adam touch on the assessments that they hit, the changes that have been made there, as
• Just regarding, I think when we were talking about the assessment piece, the one concern that I had was
• we're posting these tests on our website, that we're doing all schools that are taking the state assessment
• I think we can just, however we're doing comparing, putting the state assessment publicized now, we would
• I don't do the assessment portfolio again.

Bills: HB1329

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: government spending database, public expenditure transparency, open data, government transparency, school district spending, state spending, local government finance, education finance, budget database, expenditure reporting, salary transparency, benefits data, public records, Legislative Management study, North Dakota, school board training, superintendent, principal, business manager, higher education spending

Summary: The Education Division met with all members present and first took up House Bill 1329, which would create a transparency database and website for school spending information. Senator Schaible offered Amendment 0204 to turn the bill into a study, citing concerns that the proposal would impose major data-collection burdens on 168 school districts, require new data standards and privacy protections, and likely cost far more than the $500,000 in the bill. Several members supported transparency but agreed the implementation costs and technical feasibility were unclear. The committee adopted the amendment 4-1, then passed HB 1329 as amended on a 5-0 vote, with Senator Shively to carry the bill. The committee then discussed House Bill 1540, the education savings account/voucher bill. Representatives from the Bank of North Dakota and the Department of Public Instruction explained that they had not been consulted on the original drafting and outlined needed administrative changes, including clarifying the Bank as administrator, using a third-party program manager, involving DPI in rulemaking, adding audit and appeal procedures, and adjusting language on eligible purchases and school disqualification. They also said the current timeline was likely too aggressive to launch by the 2026-27 school year and estimated the program would require about 15 months to implement, with a fiscal note now around $5.1 million. Members also discussed policy-related amendments on means testing and application timing. Senator Shively proposed a 300% of poverty-level means test and a sign-up period to reduce costs and limit open-ended enrollment, while Senator Axman proposed a tiered approach that would keep all students technically eligible but phase in funding levels by income, preserving access for students who qualify for other federal supports. DPI said it could not currently disaggregate some data by family income and that the appeal process and procurement timeline still needed work. The committee did not move HB 1540 out that morning and instead recessed to continue discussion later after members had time to review the administrative and fiscal issues separately from the means-testing proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of the assessment phase to gather our information on the buildings. >> So we're in that assessment
• Part of the assessment phase to gather our information on the buildings. >> So we're in that assessment
• Part of the assessment >> Correct, yes.
• right >> So we're in that assessment phase right now. now. now.
• So, um, we’re still in that assessment phase to be sure the data is good.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there assessment under this section.
• </c> year in which the alternative assessment year in which the alternative assessment is<00:42:56.560
• </c> when we're talking um about assessments. when we're talking um about assessments.
• </c><04:32:07.760><c> The</c> assessed at $1.5 million in value.
• The assessed at $1.5 million in value.

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My guess is probably not all the members know here what the previous system was of how we assessed Value
• Am I right that the assessment or is I don't know if there's a fiscal impact statement.
• that geolocation data is used, and what's that chain of events for some sort of fee or tax to be assessed
• does not bridge from landing to property and paying what the state deserves so that would be my assessment
• If we continue in this direction of moving more towards a mileage-based assessment for road funding.

Bills: SB1312 , SB1323 , SB1599 , SB1863 , SB1932 , SB1950 , SB1956 , SB1958 , SB1966 , SB1970 , SB2052

Committee: Senate Aeronautics and Transportation

Keywords: vehicle registration, automatic payments, Service Oklahoma, taxes, motor vehicle, prepayment program, memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial bridge, dedication, Oklahoma, commemoration, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 257, an act relating to the education assessment and accountability system.
• House Bill 257, an act relating to the education assessment and accountability system.
• Bill 257, an act relating to the House Bill 257, an act relating to the education<00:20:10.080><c> assessment
• </c><00:20:10.480><c> and</c><00:20:10.720><c> accountability</c> education assessment and accountability
• education assessment and accountability system.<00:20:12.000><c> Representative</c><00:20:12.559><c>

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 06:39 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 13:20 Introductions of New Bills and Resolutions 17:05 Adjournment 23:56, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you assess that vote?
• Um, how would you assess overall the working in this really unique situation?
• /c><00:04:18.479><c> how</c><00:04:18.639><c> would</c><00:04:18.880><c> you</c><00:04:19.040><c> assess
• Um how would you assess a sour note.
• Um how would you assess overall<00:04:20.400><c> the</c><00:04:20.720><c> working</c><00:04:21.120><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The medication-assisted treatment needs assessment program is a critical component in helping combat
• The department cannot issue licenses outside of the annual needs assessment, which limits providers'
• The annual needs assessment is an unnecessary barrier to providing care.
• Within the MAT needs assessment, this bill repeals this needed assessment, which allows providers statewide

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up several bills. SB 894, relating to faith-based content in batterers’ intervention programs, was explained as allowing certified programs to offer voluntary faith-based components alongside existing models. Members raised questions about how faith would be defined, whether participation would be optional, and how all faiths would be included. An amendment was adopted clarifying that faith-based activities may be offered but not required and removing language directing DCF to repeal a rule. After supportive testimony from faith-based advocates and some debate, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senators Harrell and Garcia later recording affirmative votes. The committee then considered SB 1240 on substance abuse and mental health care, which would assign state oversight of the 988 Lifeline, remove the annual needs assessment barrier for medication-assisted treatment licensing, and require annual continuing education for forensic evaluators. An amendment with technical conforming changes and two substantive clarifications was adopted. Members expressed support for expanded access to behavioral health services, and the bill was reported favorably. Later, the chair presented SB 1736, which would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities. After an amendment clarifying sliding scale insulin and related medication administration, the committee heard testimony from family advocates describing how the bill would prevent unnecessary institutionalization and reduce costs. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 1286, which clarifies that allowing children to engage in unsupervised activities such as biking or playing outside does not by itself constitute neglect unless reckless or dangerous. After brief support testimony, that bill was also reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• coached on the process, and once they get into a port of entry, the first thing they go through is a screening
• coached on the process, and once they get into a port of entry, the first thing they go through is a screening
• the first thing they go through<01:49:07.360><c> is</c><01:49:07.480><c> a</c><01:49:07.599><c> screening
• and</c><01:49:08.760><c> they</c><01:49:08.880><c> have</c><01:49:09.000><c> to</c> through is a screening
• and they have to through is a screening and they have to answer<01:49:09.440><c> some</c><01:49:09.599

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 758, which would establish a study committee on airport operation hours and possible noise abatement measures, including whether New Hampshire should prohibit departures between midnight and 6 a.m. The sponsor said the committee would examine the pros and cons and consult stakeholders. The Bureau of Aeronautics testified neutrally, noting that New Hampshire has 25 public airports, 12 with federal funding and grant assurances that may require them to remain open during those hours, and that cargo operations, including at Manchester, commonly occur overnight. Members also discussed existing noise abatement programs and how mitigation is determined by noise contours and FAA funding decisions. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing after testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 489, allowing voluntary emergency workers to use rear-facing blue lights on private vehicles when responding to emergencies. The sponsor said the bill corrects an oversight in existing law, would not cost the state or towns money, and would improve visibility and safety, especially in rural areas. Supportive testimony from a volunteer responder emphasized that blue lights help cut through fog, snow, and nighttime conditions, and that the bill would only add a single rear-facing blue light to existing red, amber, and white emergency lighting. The New Hampshire State Police opposed the bill, arguing that expanding blue lights to private vehicles would confuse the public and desensitize drivers to blue lights, which are associated with law enforcement. The hearing closed without action. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 533, which the sponsor and State Police clarified is actually two separate changes: one authorizing civilian automotive equipment inspectors to assist with vehicle inspection work, and another expanding language in motor carrier enforcement to include new entrant safety audits and compliance reviews. The State Police explained that civilian inspectors are hired and trained through the department and that any findings of state-law violations would be referred to troopers; they also said the new motor carrier language was requested to satisfy federal audit concerns about right of entry. The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association said it had no position if the civilian inspectors were not doing commercial truck inspections, but would oppose the bill if they were. Members asked about the difference between audits and compliance reviews, and the State Police said audits are for newer carriers and are non-enforcement, while compliance reviews look for violations. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 533. After a brief reset, the committee opened House Bill 594, which would repeal an alternate definition of “way” for the driving-after-suspension statute. The sponsor said the change was requested by the Department of Justice. Representative Erica Leon opposed the repeal, explaining that the prior language was intended to avoid criminalizing people who mow lawns or perform similar work near property edges while suspended, but she worried the repeal could create a loophole allowing driving on places like highway medians. Members questioned whether the issue was limited to mowing or broader vehicle use on property edges, and Leon said she would work with agencies to clarify the language so it protects lawful mowing without allowing misuse. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the impact assessment?
• So that's the assessment.
• So I just want to say I do think, you know, I appreciate the assessment.
• I appreciate that and I would also add that there wasn't data on the impact assessment.
• Is there provisions if the $217 or so is assessed, you said, to the park owner, or do they...

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• These hearings typically lasted only a few minutes with no real assessment of whether the person could
• of whether the person no real assessment of whether the person could<00:10:14.000><c> safely</c><00:
• 00:10:31.519><c> to</c> allows judges to rely on evidence to allows judges to rely on evidence to assess
• </c><00:16:52.959><c> of</c> system lacks substantive assessment of system lacks substantive assessment
• And this moving away from the cash bail system into one in which it assesses risk, it looks at safety

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house