Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, quite frankly, I wasn't even on my radar screen and I was reminded this week that I would be interested
• even</c><06:05:01.280><c> on</c><06:05:01.520><c> my</c><06:05:01.760><c> radar</c><06:05:02.160><c> screen
• <06:05:02.718><c> and</c><06:05:02.958><c> I</c><06:05:03.200><c> was</c> wasn't even on my radar screen
• and I was wasn't even on my radar screen and I was reminded<06:05:03.920><c> this</c><06:05:04.240><
• um</c><06:05:19.600><c> on</c><06:05:19.840><c> my</c><06:05:20.000><c> radar</c><06:05:20.400><c> screen

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that know sometimes you have people that know sometimes you have people that would go to take a drug screen
• and they would go to take a drug screen and they would go to take a drug screen and they may use someone
• substitute someone else's urine for that substitute someone else's urine for theirs during a drug screen
• , theirs during a drug screen, theirs during a drug screen, we just want to make sure that we clear we

Bills: HB 1500 , HJR 7 , HJR 112 , HB 34 , HB 133 , HB 112 , HB 119 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB 132 , HB 2756 , HB 166 , HB 406 , HB 186 , HB 271 , HB 331 , HB 380 , HB 1583 , HB 1584 , HB 1819 , HB 621 , HB 303 , HB 552 , HB 366 , HB 463 , HB 1211 , HB 1327 , HB 1461 , HB 923 , HB 1760 , HB 2043 , HB 2467 , HB 5333 , HB 5265 , HB 1592 , HB 1576 , HB 1552 , HB 2018 , HB 3511 , HB 1781 , HB 2013 , HB 2340 , HB 2349 , HB 2508 , HB 2970 , HB 2520 , HB 865 , HB 2851 , HB 3385 , HB 3336 , HB 3529 , HB 3309 , HB 1127 , HB 1232 , HB 1397 , HB 4236 , HB 1804 , HB 1926 , HB 4041 , HB 1965 , HB 1964 , HB 2679 , HB 2730 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HCR 77 , HB 3354 , HB 163 , HB 201 , HB 272 , HB 333 , HB 405 , HB 519 , HB 569 , HB 654 , HB 694 , HB 791 , HB 1006 , HB 1136 , HB 1240 , HB 1266 , HB 1275 , HB 1437 , HB 1532 , HB 1675 , HB 1842 , HB 1868 , HB 1888 , HB 1894 , HB 1943 , HB 1990 , HB 2029 , HB 2061 , HB 2286 , HB 2523 , HB 2622 , HB 2626 , HB 2652 , HB 2692 , HB 2842 , HB 2885 , HB 2914 , HB 3016 , HB 3096 , HB 3129 , HB 3248 , HB 3251 , HB 3255 , HB 3479 , HB 3611 , HB 3623 , HB 3701 , HB 3724 , HB 3803 , HB 3804 , HB 3805 , HB 3806 , HB 3810 , HB 3816 , HB 3832 , HB 3887 , HB 4127 , HB 4129 , HB 4130 , HB 4131 , HB 4163 , HB 4187 , HB 4229 , HB 4238 , HB 4454 , HB 4588 , HB 4643 , HB 4736 , HB 4738 , HB 4739 , HB 4945 , HB 5015 , HB 5616 , SB 767 , SB 1619 , SB 1738 , HJR 5 , HJR 2 , HB 1399 , HB 388 , HB 114 , HB 205 , HB 2789 , HB 2791 , HB 499 , HB 2960 , HB 3163 , HB 3135 , HB 2427 , HB 1672 , HB 1722 , HB 2618 , HB 879 , HB 1126 , HB 4134 , HB 3513 , HB 1445 , HB 1893 , HB 1734 , HB 3229 , HB 3306 , HB 1276 , HB 3516 , HB 4145 , HB 1585 , HB 4810 , HB 2558 , HB 2742 , HB 1695 , HB 33 , HB 144 , HB 109 , HB 103 , HB 148 , HB 3809 , HB 2217 , HB 220 , HB 2421 , HB 2363 , HB 421 , HB 2455 , HB 3711 , HB 2559 , HB 2775 , HB 3126 , HB 3666 , HB 3595 , HB 3260 , HB 3376 , HB 3826 , HB 3770 , HB 1831 , HB 2614 , HB 3113 , HB 322 , HB 431 , HB 869 , HB 1203 , HB 1244 , HB 1875 , HB 1950 , HB 2152 , HB 2341 , HB 2809 , HB 2856 , HB 3012 , SB 1415 , SB 1058 , SB 487 , SB 1499 , SB 513 , SB 1697 , SB 1197 , SB 1437 , SB 1809 , SB 836 , SB 1879 , SB 1145 , SB 963 , SB 1038 , SB 1147 , SB 914 , SB 711 , SB 1409 , HB 3707 , HB 589 , HB 1360 , HB 2337 , HB 2391 , HB 718 , HB 23 , HB 2436 , HB 1500 , HJR 7 , HJR 112 , HB 34 , HB 133 , HB 112 , HB 119 , HB 128 , HB 130 , HB 132 , HB 2756 , HB 166 , HB 406 , HB 186 , HB 271 , HB 331 , HB 380 , HB 1583 , HB 1584 , HB 1819 , HB 621 , HB 303 , HB 552 , HB 366 , HB 463 , HB 1211 , HB 1327 , HB 1461 , HB 923 , HB 1760 , HB 2043 , HB 2467 , HB 5333 , HB 5265 , HB 1592 , HB 1576 , HB 1552 , HB 2018 , HB 3511 , HB 1781 , HB 2013 , HB 2340 , HB 2349 , HB 2508 , HB 2970 , HB 2520 , HB 865 , HB 2851 , HB 3385 , HB 3336 , HB 3529 , HB 3309 , HB 1127 , HB 1232 , HB 1397 , HB 4236 , HB 1804 , HB 1926 , HB 4041 , HB 1965 , HB 1964 , HB 2679 , HB 2730 , HB 3698 , HB 3699 , HB 3354 , HB 163 , HB 201 , HB 272 , HB 333 , HB 405 , HB 519 , HB 569 , HB 654 , HB 694 , HB 791 , HB 1006 , HB 1136 , HB 1240 , HB 1266 , HB 1275 , HB 1437 , HB 1532 , HB 1675 , HB 1842 , HB 1868 , HB 1888 , HB 1894 , HB 1943 , HB 1990 , HB 2029 , HB 2061 , HB 2286 , HB 2523 , HB 2622 , HB 2626 , HB 2652 , HB 2692 , HB 2842 , HB 2885 , HB 2914 , HB 3016 , HB 3096 , HB 3129 , HB 3248 , HB 3251 , HB 3255 , HB 3479 , HB 3611 , HB 3623 , HB 3701 , HB 3724 , HB 3803 , HB 3804 , HB 3805 , HB 3806 , HB 3810 , HB 3816 , HB 3832 , HB 3887 , HB 4127 , HB 4129 , HB 4130 , HB 4131 , HB 4163 , HB 4187 , HB 4229 , HB 4238 , HB 4454 , HB 4588 , HB 4643 , HB 4736 , HB 4738 , HB 4739 , HB 4945 , HB 5015 , HB 5616 , SB 767 , SB 1619 , SB 1738 , HCR 77

Keywords: Information Resources, Department governance, cybersecurity, state assistance, procurement training, technology resources, advisory committees, water fund, Texas water supply, constitutional amendment, state revenue, infrastructure, parental rights, child upbringing, government interference, Texas legislation, science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the environmental assessment. the environmental assessment.
• trigger this assessment, whether it's a bottling company or some other massive... or who knows what
• else might happen in the next 10 years, but there is an assessment of whether this is something that
• Third, the bill implements a 2003 legislative audit recommendation requiring environmental assessment
• </c> requiring environmental assessment requiring environmental assessment worksheets<01:20:07.680><c

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> association assessments. association assessments.
• What happens if they don't have the medical assessment?
• </c> don't have you the medical assessment? don't have you the medical assessment?
• ,</c><01:08:59.560><c> I</c> requirement for medical uh assessment, I requirement for medical uh assessment
• </c> Staffing and Capability Assessment Staffing and Capability Assessment Independent<01:23:21.920><

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Historically, these filings had significant engagement by intervening parties while risk assessment and
• If you'd want to come before the committee here, introduce yourself. risk assessment and performance
• </c><00:08:32.719><c> and</c> parties while risk assessment and parties while risk assessment and performance
• </c> in 2002 and had um assessment in 2002 and had um assessment requirements<00:34:38.320><c> that</
• through 2012 and baseline assessments through 2012 and then<00:34:42.639><c> it</c><00:34:42.879><c>

Bills: HF3830 , HF3688

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it'll really be doing those triages and identifying, you know, the risk assessments and where we're
• </c><01:19:08.080><c> and</c> know, the um the risk assessments and know, the um the risk assessments
• doing an assessment um throughout the<01:21:02.000><c> the</c><01:21:02.400><c> state</c><01:21:02.719
• of the DLE um to include uh a assessment of the DLE um to include uh a period<01:27:23.840><c> when<
• services assessments payments as CSA<01:39:28.480><c> paid</c><01:39:28.800><c> out</c><01:39:29.040

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each quarter our students have key assessments.
• </c><00:20:43.919><c> There</c><00:20:44.080><c> are</c> have uh key assessments.
• There are have uh key assessments.
• So our postsecary partner assessments.
• and outcomes for our assessments and outcomes for our students.<00:25:28.400><c> So,</c><00:25:28.640

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:55 26RS SB 22 – 04:52 26RS SB 46 – 0:34:36, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the Census Bureau itself has tools that they use in order to assess how accurate a census is, and
• basis for making other judgments well the census bureau itself has tools that they use in order to assess
• Standard, again, high, medium, low, the gold standard for assessing the census.
• So when you assess or look toward 2030, you need to think in these terms, because if the Bureau ends
• I think that would be helpful to our work and assessment, if you can.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4020, insurance fraud unit assessment increase — Finance.
• HB 2825, fines, fees, assessments, restitution nonpayment.
• an act amending Title 17, Section 26, and 15-24-02, Arizona Revised Statutes, building academic assessment
• Academic assessments.
• Judiciary and Elections, having had under consideration SB 1585 relating to sex offender funds assessment

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :14:41.839><c> Vermonters</c><00:14:42.480><c> and</c><00:14:42.639><c> help</c><00:14:42.800><c> assess
• </c><00:14:43.199><c> their</c> with Vermonters and help assess their with Vermonters and help assess
• food, shelter, utilities, tax prep, domestic violence resources, transportation, mental health assessment
• </c><00:25:01.840><c> and</c><00:25:02.080><c> treatment,</c> mental health assessment and treatment,
• mental health assessment and treatment, veteran<00:25:02.799><c> services,</c><00:25:03.279><c> parenting

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ecosystem services work group and the trust land performance assessment, both funded previously by
• The ecosystem services work group and the trust land performance assessment, both funded previously by
• In 2021, Deloitte published a report that was funded by the legislature that did an assessment of how
• Who owns a certain amount of acre-feet of water in a groundwater system is really difficult to assess
• , but before you can is really difficult to assess.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2170, which would authorize DNR to enter ecosystem service and carbon contracts on state trust lands, and House Bill 2578, which would add tribal members and alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. For HB 2170, the Department of Natural Resources and supporters said the bill would diversify revenue, help meet climate goals, and allow DNR to participate in emerging carbon and ecosystem markets without necessarily eliminating timber harvest. Opponents, including counties, school districts, timber companies, loggers, and forest industry groups, argued the bill could reduce harvest levels, harm rural jobs and mill supply, and lower revenues for schools and other trust beneficiaries; several said any new authority should be limited to additive projects with stronger safeguards. Supporters included environmental groups and some local officials who said the bill would provide a more stable revenue stream and better align land management with climate and watershed benefits. The chair noted there are two related vehicles in committee, HB 1508 as the negotiated version and HB 2170 as the department version, and the public hearing on HB 2170 was closed after extensive testimony. For HB 2578, staff explained that the bill would add four tribal commissioner positions and four alternates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with representation from federally recognized tribes on both sides of the Cascades and staggered terms. Prime sponsor Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the measure would strengthen co-management and the state’s government-to-government relationship with tribes, while acknowledging there are other related bills and ongoing legal issues involving WDFW. The chair asked whether the bill would affect existing tribal consultation obligations, and Lekanoff said it would not replace government-to-government consultation; she also said she would follow up on how the governor would make appointments. The hearing on HB 2578 was then suspended so the committee could return to HB 2170 testimony. The committee also heard staff briefing and sponsor testimony on House Bill 2544, which would create a pilot process for the Upper Columbia River water rights adjudication. Staff said the bill would require Ecology to run the adjudication in two phases, starting with tribal and federal claimants and allowing time for settlement before bringing in other claims, with a report due by June 2035. Rep. Larry Springer said the bill is intended to establish a baseline of water use more efficiently in a process that can otherwise take decades. After the briefing and sponsor remarks, the committee began public testimony on the bill, with tribal representatives and other stakeholders queued to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those that are receiving home-delivered meals are assessed once a year, determining that they are in
• Older adults aged 60 plus that are receiving the congregate and home-delivered meals are assessed on
• It's a needs assessment, and there are three parts to that assessment.
• One of them is the nutritional assessment that's done. And those that are nutritionally at risk.
• Scoring high, nutritionally high, of what we are scoring six plus on that needs assessment.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• served on the Western Civ with Representative Monica Church, and I'm currently serving on the Civics Assessment
• things in conversations with the Department of Education, section 16, they asked that the civics assessment
• 26-27, and that was a kind of unanimous, you know, spirit of the committee serving on the civics assessment
• And that was what all the stakeholders that are on the civics assessment committee thought, and the Department

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Thayer for appointment as Director for the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
• serving the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Director of the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment
• Chris Thayer for appointment as director for the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
• serving the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Director of Chemical and Pollutant Assessment

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several floor recognitions and ceremonial presentations. Senator Perez presented SR 81, declaring March 2, 2026, as Read Across America Day. Senators Choi and Rubio spoke in support, emphasizing literacy, libraries, volunteer reading programs, and the importance of diverse books and student engagement. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call vote, 37-0, and Perez introduced guests from the California Teachers Association. The chamber then honored the 50th anniversary of the California Conservation Corps, with Senator Laird leading the recognition and several senators praising the Corps’ service, conservation work, disaster response, and job-training role for young adults and veterans. The Senate also welcomed the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Agriculture Leadership Class and the College of San Mateo Bulldogs, including the 2025 state championship football team and a coach from the women’s softball team. Later, the Senate confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Senator Wahab presented SCR 125 recognizing the beginning of Ramadan, with Senator Becker offering supportive remarks about an iftar dinner and the meaning of the holiday. The resolution was adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate then took up several adjournments in memory, including Stephen Cassidy, John Joseph Zoria, Crystal Schoenfelder, and Belinda Baraghani, with multiple senators sharing personal tributes to their public service, community leadership, and mentorship. The session concluded with remarks on Ramadan and the Senate entering recess, with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Thayer for appointment as director for the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
• serving the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Director of the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment
• Chris Thayer for appointment as director for the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
• serving the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Director of the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor recognitions and resolutions. Senators also welcomed guests including California Conservation Corps members, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agriculture leadership students, and College of San Mateo championship athletes. The chamber approved the journals, stricken items from the daily file, and referred SCR 112 back to the Assembly floor. The main legislative actions were on two resolutions and two gubernatorial appointments. SR 81 by Senator Pérez, designating March 2, 2026 as Read Across America Day, was supported by Senators Choi and Rubio, emphasizing literacy, libraries, and reading access; it passed 37-0. SCR 125 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Ramadan, was supported by Senator Becker and adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate also confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Much of the remainder of the session consisted of adjournments in memory. Senators honored Stephen Cassidy, former San Leandro school board member and mayor; John Joseph Zoria, a San Jose farmer and community figure; Crystal Schoenfelder, a workers’ compensation attorney and advocate; and Belinda Baraghani, a prominent Latina political strategist and community leader. The session ended with remarks about Ramadan’s themes of empathy and community, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Park Presbyterian Church roof and stabilization of the Old State House Museum roof studies and assessments
• Park Presbyterian Church roof and stabilization of the old state house museum roof studies and assessments
• communication, and transportation property and to provide advice and assistance in appeals of ad valorem assessments
• This is a new $5 million contract for security and privacy assessment services for the Medicaid enterprise

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee first considered an $88,000 used tire program contract for District 4 with LTR Intermediate Holdings. Senators raised concerns that the tire district’s revised business plan had not yet been approved and that the contract could worsen cash flow before funding was confirmed. Questions were also raised about procurement language in the RFP that excluded bidders under corrective action plans. After discussion, a motion was made and approved to hold the contract until next month so the tire board could appear and answer questions. Members then reviewed a large slate of methods of finance, alternative delivery projects, and discretionary grants. These included capital projects at ASU Mid-South, Arkansas Tech, Ozarka, UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UAMS, and UCA; a new UCA multi-purpose arena project estimated at $75.5 million; and DHS and Department of Health grants for aging services, substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition, hearing-loss follow-up, HIV services, and rural hospital quality improvement. All of these items were reviewed without objection. The committee also heard a ratification request from UAMS for a Family and Medical Leave Act outsourcing contract with FMLA Source. UAMS said an amendment had been prepared but never submitted for review, and payments continued after expiration; members expressed frustration and asked UAMS to review whether other contracts had similarly lapsed. The committee then reviewed numerous construction-related, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including airport economic impact study work, parking guidance technology at the University of Arkansas, veteran nursing services, and multiple DHS service contracts. Most items were reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after reports of routine contract amendments and minor contracts were presented for information.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment Thirteen to an existing contract, and this is to increase this contract for studies and assessments
• communication, and transportation property, and to provide advice and assistance in appeals of ad valorem assessments
• communication, and transportation property, and to provide advice and assistance in appeals of ad valorem assessments
• This is a new $5 million contract for security and privacy assessment services for the Medicaid Enterprise

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students throughout the United States with an empirically validated tool to enhance their ability to assess
• Is that something that, let's pretend a bill gets out of the house without such an assessment and it's
• over in the Senate and they request that assessment.
• Does that become a house because it's a house bill type assessment, or is it who requests the actuarial

Bills: HB2975 , HB3405 , HB3406 , HB3728 , HB3902 , HB3977 , SB397 , HB1161 , HB2938 , HB2939 , HB3306 , HB3722 , HB4113 , HB4123 , HB2293 , HB3176 , HB3545 , HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• around clarifying that the 30-day timeline for a citation begins when the department issues its assessment
• And it repeals the statute requiring L&I to assess civil penalties against repeat and willful violators
• And it repeals the statute requiring L&I to assess civil penalties against repeat and willful violators
• Requiring L&I to assess civil penalties against repeat and willful violators and requires L&I to consider

Bills: HB2355 , HB2405 , HB2406 , HB2471 , HB2472 , HB2478 , HB2479 , HB2492

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations

Transcript Highlights:

• special districts are unique because they can levy an ad valorem tax, or they can levy a special assessment
• So both of those, whether they levy millage or whether they levy an assessment, which is a charge for
• a service provided, both of those levy an assessment, which is a charge for a service provided, both
• So there's a lot going on in terms of taxing authorities, millages, special assessments, all of those

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met for its first meeting of the session, with a quorum present and several members excused. Chair Avila opened by framing the committee’s main focus as property tax relief and housing affordability, noting the complexity of any changes to Florida’s long-standing property tax structure and emphasizing the need to preserve funding for schools and local public safety. He also introduced new committee staff member Tamisha Black and thanked staff for summer work supporting analysis of potential proposals, including constitutional amendment concepts and other property tax relief ideas. Staff director Azar Khan then presented an update on the General Revenue forecast, explaining that collections remained above estimate but at a slower pace than the prior year, with recent economic indicators slightly weaker than earlier forecasts. He said the new forecast mostly reflected modest adjustments, with a notable share of the increase coming from earnings on investment rather than the usual drivers such as sales tax or corporate income tax. Khan also gave a detailed presentation on ad valorem millages, explaining the different millage types used by school districts, counties, municipalities, special districts, and water management districts; the rollback rate; TRIM notice and hearing timelines; voting thresholds for adopting higher millages; and long-term trends showing millage rates declining over time even as total taxes levied have increased. Members used the presentations to discuss property tax relief options and the relationship between local property taxes and state revenue. President Passidomo praised staff and Senator Bernard’s summer work on proposals. President Gaetz asked about converting homestead property tax revenue to sales tax and was told the rough equivalent could be around a 2.8-cent sales tax increase, though with important behavioral and distributional caveats. Senator Rouson asked about the decline in corporate income tax estimates, and Khan said it likely reflected changes in national corporate profit expectations and collection patterns, promising a follow-up. The Department of Revenue’s Lizette Kelly confirmed that TRIM data, including adopted millages, rollback rates, and maximum millage calculations, are collected by jurisdiction and can be provided to the committee. No bills were taken up and no votes occurred beyond adjournment, which was adopted by motion.