Transcript Highlights:

• Schools.
• schools, I don’t think you all really understand that because, what’s your school district?
• He said the way Hancock works, with regard to new construction improvements, is as a way for school districts—specifically
• Louis City public schools and our largest state school district, the Springfield Public School District
• . ...city public schools and our largest state school district, the Springfield Public School District

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The committee met in executive session and first took up House Bill 2709, including a substitute that combined language from HB 2709 and HB 2671. Members debated an amendment that would have separated the Hancock-by-subclass portion from a personal property tax provision; supporters said it would make the bill cleaner and preserve a separate property tax issue already addressed elsewhere, while opponents argued it would create inconsistency. The amendment failed, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 2709 and HB 2671 was voted do pass by a roll call of 14 yes and 5 no. The committee then passed HB 1759 do pass by a vote of 12 yes and 7 no, with one member noting that additional tweaks were expected on the floor. Next, the committee considered HB 2925, where Representative Fowler offered Amendment 04H to remove the requirement that property tax elections be held in November and replace it with an affirmative-consent standard requiring both a majority of votes cast and at least 25% of registered voters voting yes. Supporters said the change would avoid forcing local tax elections into a narrow election window and would require broader voter buy-in for long-term tax obligations; opponents argued it would be a major change that should receive more public review and could distort local election participation. The amendment failed 5 yes to 14 no, and HB 2925 was then voted do pass 11 yes to 8 no. In public testimony, Representative Van Schoiack presented HB 2415, which would require assessors to use a cost approach rather than a market approach for valuing buildings, while still valuing land through the market approach. He said the bill was intended to address over-assessment in larger counties and under-assessment in rural counties, and to make valuations more objective. Testimony was mixed: a public advocate supported the idea as a way to address rising taxes and tax sales, while county assessors and other witnesses said assessors already use multiple approaches, that cost approach works best for new or rural properties but can be subjective for older buildings, and that forcing one method statewide could create inaccuracies and large valuation swings. No action was taken on HB 2415 during the hearing. The committee also heard HJR 148 and HJR 111, presented by Representatives Coleman and Taylor, to bring Kansas City Public Schools under Hancock limits like other districts. Sponsors said KCPS is the only district still operating under a special court-imposed arrangement from desegregation-era orders and that the proposal would keep the district at its current levy while requiring voter approval for future increases. KCPS Superintendent Jennifer Collier opposed the measure as written, saying the district does want to come under Hancock but needs to do so on its own timeline and with a planned April 2027 levy proposal that would maintain the current rate; she said the district is now fiscally stronger and has community support, including passage of an 85% bond issue. Committee members questioned the legal basis, the effect on KCPS and charter schools, and whether the proposal would interfere with the district’s planned ballot strategy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mexico has constructed nine major reservoirs in the watershed.
• and while that planning program does help, it really doesn't cover my cost for the year.
• Of course, hopefully it gets some assistance from the state level. So just in a nutshell, the hub.
• Manufacturing, energy production, construction, food processing.
• or the fifth program by the Texas Water Development Board for funding.

Bills: SCR13 , SB1248

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Transcript Highlights:

• We think these changes will help make this program much more effective.
• We think these changes will help make this program much more effective.
• , both through this program and the Farm and Ranch Cleanup Program.
• The VTC program operates an 18-month residential program that is rigorous and comprehensive.
• The VTC program operates an 18th, 18-month residential program that is vigorous and comprehensive.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of natural resources and related bills, with several measures taken up as the committee reached quorum and many others moving on consent or with due-pass recommendations. Early items included AB 80 on carpet recycling, AB 452 creating a local process for state surf reserves, and AB 823 restricting microplastics in personal care and cleaning products. AB 80 drew broad support from recycling, labor, and environmental groups and was described as a follow-up to earlier carpet recycling reforms. AB 452 was backed by surf, tourism, environmental, and local government interests as a voluntary, community-driven way to recognize and protect surf breaks. AB 823 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters citing public health and environmental harms from microplastics and opponents warning the bill’s language could sweep in products such as sunscreens, cosmetics, and fragrance-encapsulation materials; the committee discussed possible ambiguity and EU comparisons before voting the bill out on a due-pass-as-amended basis to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. The committee also advanced AB 1046, which would create a narrow exemption from SB 1383 organic-waste requirements for certain crop preparers and tree nut processors that do not send organic waste to landfills. Agricultural witnesses said the bill would clarify that their operations already reuse byproducts and should not face duplicative reporting, and the measure passed with support from agricultural and rural county representatives. AB 252, the “Stop Laying Off Firefighters Act,” proposed year-round Cal Fire staffing; the author and Cal Fire supporters argued that wildfire conditions are now year-round and that maintaining trained crews would improve response and prevention, and the bill was sent to Appropriations. AB 571, a targeted CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Anaheim, drew strong bipartisan and veterans’ support and also passed out. Later, the committee approved AB 1455, which would authorize emergency rulemaking and streamline future updates for ember-resistant building regulations after recent wildfire emergencies, and AB 687, which would let public agencies use forest-practice rules and timber-harvest plans for certain publicly funded fuel-reduction projects; AB 687 drew some opposition over scope and enforceability concerns but was still advanced. The committee also moved AB 652, allowing alternate members on the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District board to prevent quorum problems, and AB 317, a first-time homebuyer housing bill that would exempt certain small, lower-cost homes from CEQA and defer some property taxes; AB 317 prompted discussion about guardrails to avoid unintended use on larger subdivisions. Finally, AB 900, requiring the Natural Resources Agency to develop a stewardship plan for 30-by-30 lands, was heard with broad support from land trusts and conservation groups and advanced on a due-pass recommendation, and AB 738, a wildfire-rebuild bill easing solar requirements for certain disaster survivors, was introduced and discussed with questions about its narrow scope and the number of homes affected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our program officers—we have four program officers—keep in touch.
• and high school students.
• school students.
• But I wanted to give you some data from the operating support program, the one program that we've had
• programming.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , or counseling is necessary for the successful completion of the program.
• The commissioner's office administers local pesticide use enforcement programs.
• Assembly Bill 1860 by Assembly Member McKinner relates to school facilities. Senator Perez.
• AB 2660 codifies the CalBridge Program and the InLACE Program.
• Together, these programs create a structured pathway for high school, California community colleges,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long consent and floor agenda. Early business included several motions to remove bills from consent or inactive files, followed by a series of gubernatorial appointments to regional water boards and the Medical Board of California. Those appointments were generally approved on unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls, with the Senate confirming Lewis Portillo, Alex Rodriguez, Dominic Roke, Nora Camacho, Betty Olson, Sexto Al Lopez, John Gandura, Arthur Baggett, Elena Lee Reeder, Nancy Wright, Gregory Justi, and Mark Rasmussen, among others. The Senate also concurred in Assembly amendments on several measures, including SJR 7 on tariffs, SB 799 on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, SB 881 on the farmer-food bank tax credit, SB 941 on commissary pricing in private detention facilities, SB 1115 on public cemetery districts, and a number of Assembly bills dealing with juvenile justice, energy efficiency, retirement stipends, public contracting, transit camera enforcement, pest control fees, emergency medical reimbursement, elder fraud reporting, private detention facility notice requirements, foster youth housing, child marriage, historic preservation, and other topics. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support or unanimous roll calls; SB 941 and SB 1115 drew some no votes but still passed. In Assembly third reading, the Senate passed bills on a wide range of subjects, including juvenile firearm possession and deferred entry of judgment (AB 2636), appliance efficiency standards for rented or leased equipment (AB 2458), retirement board stipend limits (AB 1619), best-value contracting for local governments (AB 1786), CPUC post-employment lobbying restrictions (AB 2618), transit lane camera enforcement and privacy rules (AB 1837), county agricultural commissioner fee authority (AB 2380), school district job order contracting (AB 1809), the Maddy EMS Fund sunset (AB 1607), elder fraud reporting to the FBI IC3 (AB 871), private immigration detention contract transparency (AB 1801), self-defense under the California Endangered Species Act (AB 1722), foster youth and homeless student housing supports (AB 2766), county office of education design-build authority (AB 1860), home cooling system protections in HOAs (AB 1684), veterinary workforce and telemedicine changes (AB 1999), campaign finance disclosure (AB 2255), Homekey Plus changes (AB 2320), a ban on child marriage (AB 1267), historic resource protections and SB 79-related land use changes (AB 2576 and AB 2415), building permit streamlining (AB 2418), outdoor advertising permitting (AB 2024), tribal gaming compact amendments (AB 1579), forestry fire-liability standards (AB 2075), family reunification services in child welfare cases (AB 1201), tax treatment of future reparations benefits (AB 2186), STEM pipeline programs (AB 2660), jury service exemptions for older adults (AB 1359), fairground funding timing (AB 1711), pregnancy-impacted undergraduate student protections (AB 1784), and gene synthesis screening (AB 1864). Most of these measures passed on unanimous or strong majority votes, though AB 1201 and AB 2186 drew notable opposition and passed on narrower margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program.
• Added here is the State Guardsman Education Assistance Program. It's something we put in.
• This is the piece that's being added back in: the education assistance program.
• This is a program that we put in place in 2021 to assist guardsmen in getting their additional education
• program.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee began with recognition of two outgoing pages, who described their experiences working at the Capitol and their plans for college and law school. The committee then received a general fund budget update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who explained the green sheet, noted that the governor’s enhancement requests are effectively larger because of prior cuts, and highlighted policy bills tied to budget reductions, including House Bill 622 for IDLA and Senate Bill 1312 for Medicaid. Senator Wintrow asked about how agencies already filled out on the budget sheet could still be adjusted, and LaHosette said an agency would need to be added to the agenda before a motion could be made. The committee then acted on several budgets. It approved a $17,800 reimbursement to the Military Division for hazardous materials costs, but rejected a larger Military Division enhancement package after debate over restoring the State Education Assistance Program for guardsmen and concerns about budget process and ending balances. The committee approved Percy’s $2.6 million dedicated-funds request for pension software, continuity planning, and replacement items. It also approved the Division of Veterans Services budget, including new equipment, replacement items, federal IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for veterans’ home construction and renovation funds. A proposed intent language item for the Division of Veterans Services, directing the legislature to add $36,200 ongoing in fiscal year 2028 for cemetery maintenance, failed after members said it could not bind a future legislature and that the intent was only to signal future attention. The committee then approved the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired enhancement request and accepted language directing the agency to prioritize site restoration services. It also approved a small Vocational Rehabilitation lease increase for the Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and later approved the State Tax Commission’s $765,300 supplemental for federal tax conformity implementation, along with a larger enhancement package for property tax education, GenTax automation, personnel, replacement items, seasonal employees, and OITS hardware. The committee accepted language restricting one Tax Commission item to fast tax collection vendor payments and requiring any unused amount to revert to the general fund. Finally, the committee adopted technical corrections to previously approved maintenance bill language for the Legislature and the State Board of Education, including fixes to transfer authority and year references. The chair announced that the committee would hear budget presentations for the Department of Water Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on Monday, with no votes scheduled, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe we support certain job apprenticeship programs, whatever it is.
• I'm Catherine Crump from Berkeley Law School. Thanks for the chance to testify.
• Catherine Crump again from Berkeley Law School. We can agree on two things.
• School Police, L.A.
• School Police Management, California Coalition of School Safety Professionals, and the California School

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the program itself is great, but...
• It's a magnet school. It's a 50/50 homeschool... And traditional school setting.
• And the program that is proposed or prescribed in the bill is basically a mirror or the same program
• But it is a one-time, three-year pilot program.
• The requirements of the first component of the pilot program are similar to a program recently developed

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the first meeting of the Budget Subcommittee on General Government and Local Assistance.
• Our conference has advanced proposals to lower taxes, freeze property taxes, reduce housing construction
• Right now, in talking to constituents, which also affects our schools, our towns, our industrial lands
• At the same time, the Assembly proposes $1.5 billion in additional temporary assistance over three years
• We see miscellaneous financial assistance at $573.8 million while the Senate moves to $679.3 million,

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on General Government and Local Assistance held its first meeting on the 2026/2027 state budget, with opening remarks from Senate Co-Chair Senator James Skoufis and Assembly Co-Chair Assembly Member Michaelle Solages. They introduced members, designated secretaries, and identified the agencies and budget areas under the subcommittee’s purview, including tax and finance, the Division of Budget, ethics and lobbying, financial services, general services, state charges, inspector general, state, audit and control, tax appeals, IT services, aid to localities, statewide financial systems, the Board of Elections, alcohol beverage control, and miscellaneous general government. Discussion focused on affordability, local government aid, and the strain on municipalities from rising costs, aging infrastructure, and state mandates. Senator Walczyk emphasized lowering taxes, reducing regulations, and increasing support for local governments, including AIM and CHIPS funding, while criticizing high housing, energy, and insurance costs. Assembly Minority members echoed concerns about the 2 percent property tax cap, utility bills, mandated costs, and the need for more permanent aid rather than temporary assistance. Assembly Member Ari Brown argued that the proposals did not provide enough long-term certainty, noting differences among the Governor’s, Assembly’s, and Senate’s funding levels for municipal aid and related programs. Assembly Member Burdick also supported stronger funding for municipalities, drawing on his local government experience. The co-chairs noted that no table target had yet been received and that negotiations would continue on open issues in general government. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after brief closing remarks about ongoing budget talks among the Senate, Assembly, and Governor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those 10, 9, local effort towards schools.
• So these are many school districts Thanks. ...schools grant.
• schools with this, but I feel like we're also letting lots of schools have more of a pass on that local
• schools with this, but I feel like we're also letting lots of schools have more of a pass on that local
• county to take advantage of that program.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means we went from about 41% of all high school students being in a K-12 career tech program to
• to then provide arts programming in the school day.
• We have our Poetry Out Loud program, which is a partnership with Oklahoma A+ schools.
• We have completed academic program reviews on our charter schools.
• online supplemental program with the Lawton school district.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At USDA, you will be responsible for leading 16 nutrition programs that assist one in four Americans.
• The goal of these programs is to provide temporary assistance.
• The average Georgian participating... ...and SNAP, a food assistance program that provides critical nutrition
• Programs.
• Very locally-led conservation programs and conservation technical assistance are essential to implement

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• They were forced to go on to medical assistance.
• Program that said they could get that coverage under the power of law. I am kind of...
• Limmer said, I will pledge my assistance any way, shape, or form to Sen. Boldon.
• It on DEI programs? If Sen. Wiklund would yield. Sen. Wiklund will yield, and Sen.
• File 719, a bill relating to capital investment, appropriating money for the Safe Routes to School program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• safety programs.
• We're reforming entitlement programs to get people who are ineligible off of those programs.
• We're cutting health care, we're cutting food assistance, we're cutting housing assistance.
• meals from school when they go to school daily.
• The schools for the Deaf and Blind made a difficult yet financially wise decision to shift their programming

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest recognitions, including a student honored for a national Mandarin speech contest, a Ms. Black Arizona candidate, and a Madison Elementary School reusable-tray pilot program. The body also recognized interns and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted committee reports recommending passage of a series of budget-related bills. The main legislative business centered on the 2026-27 budget package and related omnibus measures, including appropriations, budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, K-12 education, state property, revenue/taxation, and transportation bills. Most of these measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, with repeated debate focused on the tax omnibus and the overall budget’s policy choices. Supporters argued the package provided affordability, tax relief, conformity with federal tax changes, reduced government spending, and reforms to entitlement and other programs; opponents argued it favored corporations and wealthy taxpayers, cut health care, food assistance, housing, tourism, wildfire response, and education, and would forfeit federal matching funds. Several members specifically criticized the failure to close the data center tax exemption and to raise sports betting taxes, while supporters defended those provisions as pro-business and pro-growth. There was also discussion of fund sweeps, including university research funds, housing trust funds, and other agency balances, with opponents saying the sweeps targeted encumbered or already-committed money. After debate, the Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and advanced the bills, and later took up House bills introduced and placed on third reading, with members explaining their votes on HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act, largely along party lines. At the end of the session, the Senate processed messages from the House requesting the return of SB 1160 and SB 1786 for reconsideration, and the Senate requested the House return HB 2415 for reconsideration. The chamber also introduced and placed several House budget bills on third reading, including HB 4138 through HB 4153, continuing the budget process.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Commissioner Keith Nyan assistant Commissioner Keith Nyan assistant commissioner<00:28:23.760><c
• </c><03:37:33.920><c> living</c> include senior assisted living include senior assisted living facilities
• </c> Brandon Gad I am a senior Assistant Brandon Gad I am a senior Assistant Attorney<03:48:50.880><c
• Page 44 talks about our programs.
• We have an abundance of education programs, a very robust education program for teaching our managers

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• So LTA was formed to promote development, construction, improvement, expansion, and maintenance.
• So LTA was formed to promote development, construction, improvement, expansion, and maintenance of an
• The route is vital to these energy development programs, which supply the world with natural gas from
• The route is vital to these energy development programs, which supply the world with natural gas from
• Okay, so it would be a multi-year phase-in of the construction. Okay, that's it. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Louisiana Transportation Authority met on March 26 with a quorum present and approved the September 10, 2025 minutes. The main item was the Cameron Ferry privatization proposal from Labmar Ferry Services. Staff explained the ferry’s current operational problems, including reliability issues with the aging Cameron No. 2 vessel, limited backup capacity, and staffing challenges. They also reviewed the competitive solicitation process that followed Labmar’s unsolicited proposal, noting that Labmar was the only proposer and that local entities, including the Cameron Parish Police Jury and Cameron Port Harbor and Terminal District, had no objection to the concept. Staff and counsel outlined the statutory public-purpose factors the board had to consider and described the scope of a potential agreement, which would cover vessel operations, maintenance, facilities, communications, dry docking, and emergency response. Board members praised DOTD staff and the Cameron ferry workers for their long service and emphasized the need for more reliable service and better contingency planning. Senator Abraham asked procedural questions about the unsolicited proposal and the solicitation process. The board first voted that the privatization proposal would serve a public purpose, then voted to approve the proposal contingent on execution of a comprehensive agreement; both motions passed without objection. The meeting also covered next steps. DOTD said negotiations would continue through spring and early summer, with a possible transition to Labmar in late summer 2026 if an agreement and funding are secured. Staff reported that two new hybrid ferries, the Holly Beach and the Cameron, are expected in May and August 2026, and that temporary docking and site improvements are underway. A feasibility study for terminal expansion estimated costs between $30 million and $50 million, with permitting and design likely taking at least a year and a half to two years. Members discussed the need for a multi-year funding plan, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs does not constitute discrimination based on source of income.
• , the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
• Thank you. program.
• School Police, L.A.
• School Police Officer Association, California Coalition of School Safety Professionals, and L.A.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 2, which would create enhanced civil penalties for large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to address addictive algorithms and harmful content, while opponents warned it was vague, could chill speech, and might be preempted by federal law. Members largely focused on whether the bill changed the standard of care or burden of proof; the bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with some members noting concerns but supporting it to continue the discussion. AB 282, dealing with housing vouchers and source-of-income discrimination, would clarify that housing providers may prioritize applicants who qualify for rental assistance without violating fair housing law. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, and advocacy groups said it would help voucher holders find units and improve use of housing funds. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote, with two no votes. The committee also considered AB 882 on court reporter availability and electronic recording in certain cases when a court reporter is unavailable. Supporters said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage of reporters and would preserve access to accurate records, while opponents argued it was too narrow, raised access-to-justice concerns, and should be broadened. Members from both sides emphasized the importance of court reporters and electronic recording as a backup; the bill passed with an urgency clause and was sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, AB 935 on civil rights data clarity, AB 1414 on tenant choice of internet service provider, and AB 67 on Attorney General enforcement of the Reproductive Privacy Act; each drew support from sponsors and advocacy groups, opposition centered on overbreadth or policy concerns, and each advanced on committee votes, with several members requesting further amendments or clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Keith Dunn, here on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council.
• SB 661 recognizes that principle and takes a constructive step to ensure aviation-generated revenues
• To support critical public services, these airports require financial assistance and funding.
• SB 661 recognizes that principle and takes a constructive step to ensure aviation generated revenues
• public services, these airports require financial assistance and funding.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , new construction.
• Schools.
• they are the same as every other school district in the state, because Kansas City School District is
• He explained that Hancock works so that, in regard to new construction improvements, school districts
• Louis City public schools and our largest state school district, the Springfield Public School District

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and then our river community assistance program.
• which is a program that the district works with our communities to try to support which is a program
• and then our river community assistance program as addressed by our ag cost share program and then our
• river community assistance program we have a number of water storage and enhancements relative to our
• So it's a very important program.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from all five water management districts for FY 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year largely because major projects were completed or because grant/appropriation funding is not yet fully reflected in preliminary budgets. Committee members repeatedly asked how districts project operations and maintenance costs, how projects are selected, and what share of staff and spending is devoted to core missions versus administration or regulatory work. Northwest Florida Water Management District said its preliminary budget is $93.4 million, down about 15%, with 97% of spending tied to core responsibilities and a request for additional regulatory services funding. Suwannee River Water Management District presented a $70.4 million budget, emphasized its rural/agricultural character and spring protection work, and highlighted the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water recharge project; members also discussed its need for an additional FTE to handle consumptive use permit reviews tied to a new lower Santa Fe rule. St. Johns River Water Management District presented a $181 million budget, highlighted major water supply, water quality, flood protection, and land management projects such as Taylor Creek Reservoir, Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Lake Jessup restoration, and said about 93% of its budget supports core missions. Southwest Florida Water Management District presented a $227.6 million budget, with major spending on alternative water supply, water control structure repairs, watershed projects, and land management; officials said 93.4% of the budget supports core missions and discussed rising construction costs for aging infrastructure. South Florida Water Management District presented the largest budget at $1.05 billion, focused on Everglades restoration, flood control, water supply, and ecosystem recovery; the director described major reservoirs and treatment projects, the EAA Reservoir, and ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The committee took no formal votes on the district budgets and adjourned after the presentations and questions.