Transcript Highlights:

• Want to govern how that money is spent.
• spent by reviewing what they will be spent on first in advance, scrutinizing that, deliberating.
• We oversee how that money is spent.
• We spent like sailors. We're not spending on our people.
• We spent like sailors. We're not spending on our people.

Bills: S7040, S0110, S0434, S0856

Keywords: property assessment, wind damage, home improvements, real estate, tax exemption, Florida statutes, ad valorem taxes, property listings, tax estimation, disclosure, Florida, residential property

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up three property-tax related bills before turning to a broader discussion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund. SB 434, which would prohibit counties from increasing a residential property’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation measures, was presented by Senator Lee and reported favorably. CS for SB 110, which clarifies that holders of 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends at death, was also reported favorably. SB 856, requiring online residential listing platforms to display estimated property taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew support from property appraisers, Zillow representatives, and others and was reported favorably after questions about transparency and realtor obligations. The committee then considered SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Senator DiCeglie and Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie argued the fund is needed for hurricane response, other natural and man-made emergencies, and reimbursement-based spending; they said the extension preserves legislative oversight that would otherwise lapse. Several senators questioned the use of the fund for immigration-related operations, detention facilities, and other non-disaster activities, as well as the lack of additional guardrails, reimbursement timing, and transparency. Guthrie said the division has used the fund for hurricanes, flooding, civil unrest, security operations, and other incidents, and that some reimbursements are still pending from the federal government. Public testimony on SPB 7040 was largely opposed. Speakers from the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida for All, and others argued the fund has been repurposed for immigration enforcement and detention-related spending rather than true emergencies, and raised concerns about deaths in detention and the absence of competitive bidding and oversight. Guthrie answered extensive questions about the South Florida and North Florida detention facilities, Operation Vigilant Sentry, State Guard support, reimbursement requests, equipment purchases, and legislative access to facilities. The committee did not take a final vote on SPB 7040 within the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few years ago, we spent $6 million on a study for Reconnect Rondo.
• This money is better spent on critical services.
• </c> wethink 94 menot has spent wethink 94 menot has spent $19.2 $19.2 $19.2 million<00:04:34.800><c>
• </c><00:05:17.680><c> on</c> folks that every dollar spent on folks that every dollar spent on benefits
• Why not actually look at where the majority of the budget is spent?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Want to govern how that money is spent.
• What's the value of the stuff that we own for the $6.5 billion we've spent?
• We approve all of the dollars that are spent by reviewing what they will... ...be spent on first in advance
• We oversee how that money is spent.
• We spent like sailors. We're not spending on our people.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Appropriations met with a quorum present and took up four bills. SB 434, relating to assessment of residential property, was presented as a measure to prohibit counties from increasing a home’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation improvements; it was reported favorably. CS for SB 110, concerning homestead exemption eligibility for 98-year or longer residential leases that terminate at death, was described as a clarifying, remedial change for long-term leaseholders and was also reported favorably. SB 856, which requires online residential listing platforms to display estimated property taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew supportive testimony from property appraisers, Zillow representatives, and local government groups. Senators emphasized consumer transparency and the problem of buyers being surprised by post-sale tax increases. The bill was reported favorably after discussion about where the estimates would appear and whether realtors already have disclosure duties. The committee then spent most of the meeting on SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund through December 31, 2027. Supporters, including the Executive Office of the Governor and Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, argued the fund is needed for hurricanes, other disasters, and emergency response operations, and that reimbursements from federal or other sources are returned to the fund. Opponents, including the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, SPLC, Florida for All, and others, argued the fund has been used too broadly for immigration enforcement and detention-related activities, lacks sufficient oversight, and should be narrowed to true disasters. Senators questioned spending levels, reimbursements, detention facilities, State Guard involvement, and oversight; no final action on SPB 7040 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, perhaps reining in... ...be spent.
• spent by reviewing what they will be spent on first, in advance, scrutinizing that, deliberating.
• We oversee how that money is spent.
• We spent like sailors. We're not spending on our people.
• We spent like sailors. We're not spending on our people.

Summary: The committee took up four bills before moving to a broader discussion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund. SB 434, which would prohibit counties from increasing a home’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation measures, was presented as a homeowner protection measure and reported favorably. CS/SB 110, clarifying that certain 98-year-or-longer residential leaseholders remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends at death, was also reported favorably without opposition. SB 856, requiring online real estate listing platforms to display estimated ad valorem taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew supportive testimony from property appraisers, Zillow, and local government groups; members emphasized transparency for buyers, especially first-time homebuyers, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then spent most of the meeting on SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Supporters, including the Division of Emergency Management, argued the fund is needed for hurricanes, flooding, other disasters, and rapid response operations, and said the extension preserves legislative oversight that would otherwise lapse. Opponents from advocacy and policy groups argued the fund has been used too broadly, especially for immigration-related detention and enforcement activities, and criticized the lack of tighter guardrails and transparency. They cited deaths in detention facilities, the use of emergency dollars for non-disaster purposes, and concerns about political favoritism and public accountability. Director Kevin Guthrie testified at length in support of the extension, explaining that the fund is used for natural, man-made, and technological emergencies, that reimbursements from federal and other sources are returned to the fund, and that the state has used it for hurricanes, flooding, civil unrest, international evacuations, and immigration-related operations under Operation Vigilant Sentry. He said the division has sought federal reimbursement for some expenses and that the fund helps the state respond quickly when emergencies arise. Members questioned the size of the fund, the amount spent on immigration-related activities, the status of federal reimbursements, and whether lawmakers should have more oversight or unannounced access to detention facilities. The bill discussion remained ongoing in the portion provided, with no final vote on SPB 7040 shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that just being in place allows more money to be spent.
• You spent about $2,000 of it.
• You spent about $2,000 of it.
• About $155 million has been spent so far in this area.
• About $155 has been spent so far. in this area because of worth of work, about 155 has been spent so

Summary: The committee met for an informational hearing focused largely on the state capital outlay process and House Bill 2. Roger Husser and Matt Baker of the Division of Administration/Facility Planning and Control described how the office prepares and administers the capital outlay bill, said the bill has grown substantially over five years, and argued that recent changes in culture, staffing, project management, cash-flow analysis, and use of third-party support have more than doubled project expenditures and improved delivery. Members asked about the use and cost of third-party project managers, delegation of smaller projects to agencies, hiring difficulties, and whether the changes represented better interpretation of existing law versus statutory changes. Husser said some statutes were amended, some internal customs were removed, and the office would provide a list of those changes. He also explained that the office is trying to move away from overly rigid practices and toward faster project completion while still following public-bid and oversight rules. A major portion of the discussion centered on the size and structure of the capital outlay bill, especially the gap between Priority 1 cash capacity and the much larger Priority 5 backlog. Husser said the current annual Priority 1 limit is tied to construction inflation and is about $574 million, with additional surplus funds also available, but that the bill contains far more Priority 5 funding than can realistically move in a five-year plan. He and members discussed dormant projects, scope creep, legacy projects that have sat in the bill for years, and the problem of false expectations for non-state entities. Proposed solutions included limiting Priority 5 to five times Priority 1, requiring annual re-endorsement by members, setting district or project caps for non-state projects, requiring time limits and reporting for grant-like non-state projects, placing matches in escrow, requiring design readiness before submission, and consolidating the many existing reporting requirements into one clearer report. Members also discussed bundling multiple projects under one agency project, which the House had begun piloting for LSU, UL Lafayette, Southern, and DOTD, and which Husser said could improve flexibility, reduce overappropriation, and better reflect actual spending. Baker then explained cash-flow management and the commitment process, saying FPC now analyzes projects annually to estimate what can actually be spent in the next fiscal year and uses commitments to allow projects to proceed when future-year funding is expected. He said overappropriations can result from poor cash-flow estimates, delays, dormant projects, or projects coming in under budget, and that the office is already reworking cash-flow assumptions and reappropriating savings where possible. Members also raised concerns about change orders and low bids; staff said project managers review change orders closely, require concurrence on non-state projects, and sometimes reduce scope to keep projects within budget. After FPC’s presentation, the committee heard the beginning of Louisiana Economic Development’s capital outlay discussion, where LED explained that its projects generally fall into three categories, including the Economic Development Awards Program and Site Readiness Program, both used to support targeted economic development and job creation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are often spent locally. are often spent locally.
• also spent for curb and gutter and aggregate and sheet metal.
• also spent for curb and gutter and aggregate and sheet metal.
• also spent for curb and gutter and aggregate and sheet metal.
• </c> bonding project, that dollar is spent bonding project, that dollar is spent for<00:07:29.440><c>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate leaders and supporters held a press availability focused on passing a state capital investment, or bonding, bill this session. Chair Sandy Pappas said the state has received more than $7 billion in project requests and is pushing for a $1.4 billion bonding package to address infrastructure needs such as clean water, state parks and trails, college and university repairs, sewer capacity for housing growth, and other public facilities. She and other speakers stressed that delaying projects raises costs and that they do not expect a special session, making action before adjournment especially important. Testimony from labor and legislative leaders emphasized the economic benefits of bonding. Anthony Wilkie of SMART Local 10 said public bonding projects create work hours for skilled trades and cited Fraser Hall at the University of Minnesota as an example of a project that employed union members. Senator Nick Frentz argued that bonding supports jobs, especially in greater Minnesota, and highlighted water infrastructure needs, including communities facing manganese contamination and high water rates if they must finance treatment plants alone. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart pointed to PFAS-related water treatment costs in Minnetonka Beach and said she would support higher education and water projects. Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the Senate is working toward the $1.4 billion target, noting the state’s AAA bond rating and the need to keep borrowing costs low. She also said the recent Metro Surge period led to about 4,000 lost construction jobs, strengthening the case for a bill this year. In response to questions, Pappas said negotiations with Senator Housley and House leaders were underway but still early, with no final target set yet; she said staff are preparing project lists and language, and that some items, such as HCMC, may move separately. No formal vote was taken in the exchange, but the speakers expressed optimism about reaching a bipartisan agreement before session end.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the last six months, including half a million spent on private jets and thousands spent at restaurants
• and that it is not being spent frivolously.
• We've already spent $93 million on porta-potties that did not need to be spent.
• We've already spent $93 million on porta-potties that did not need to be spent.
• I'm not, again, I'm not condemning, criticizing dollars being spent.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• months, including half a million spent on private jets and thousands spent at restaurants.
• and that it is not being spent frivolously.
• We've already spent $93 million on porta-potties that did not need to be spent.
• We've already spent $93 million on porta-potties that did not need to be spent.
• I'm not, again, I'm not condemning, criticizing dollars being spent.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that just, in place, allows more money to be spent.
• Would have been spent in this fiscal year. It would lag.
• You spent about $2,000 of it.
• And we've spent three, and we have committed $380,000.
• About $155 million has been spent so far.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bottom gray part of these bars shows what they spent prior to 2022.
• The money spent on those things had a much bigger effect than the money spent on other things.
• and the blue part is the effect that was spent on academic recovery efforts.
• Even though only 20% was spent on academic recovery in a typical district in fact less was spent.
• scores than the money not spent on academic efforts, but we can't say that the money not spent on academic

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, it must be spent by December 31st, 2025.
• </c><00:05:42.320><c> by</c> Under current law, it must be spent by Under current law, it must be spent
• </c><00:07:37.039><c> on</c> increment generated must be spent on increment generated must be spent on
• </c><00:08:00.319><c> on</c> of increment generated be spent on of increment generated be spent on blight
• </c><00:10:07.600><c> on</c> generated from the district be spent on generated from the district be spent

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• months, including half a million spent on private jets and thousands spent at restaurants.
• and that it is not being spent frivolously.
• Our money intended to be spent as part of a state of emergency response.
• We've already spent $93 million on porta-potties that did not need to be spent.
• I'm not, again, I'm not condemning or criticizing dollars being spent.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• of what that money was spent for and to whom?
• From MMB, I don't know what it was spent for, but you're correct. $400,000 was spent.
• what that money was spent for and to<00:09:49.680><c> whom?
• Um spent for, but you're you're correct.
• Um um u I'm sure as $400,000 was spent.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The money was spent and it was spent on wildfire risk mitigation. All right. That's really helpful.
• The money was spent and it was spent on wildfire risk mitigation. All right.
• But again, there's oversight of that spend to ensure that it's being spent to reduce risk and it's spent
• The money was spent and it was spent on wildfire risk mitigation. All right.
• That's really helpful. the money was spent and it was spent on wildfire risk mitigation. All right.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have spent over 100 millions of dollars on legal fees for unconstitutional law.
• We have spent over 100 millions of dollars on legal fees for unconstitutional law.
• We have spent over 100 millions of dollars on legal fees for unconstitutional law.
• We have spent over 100 millions of dollars on legal fees for unconstitutional law.
• We have spent over 100 millions of dollars on legal fees for unconstitutional law.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There wasn't a lot spent. We took it way down last year.
• Nothing spent on Mississippi levee stabilization. That was put in FY24, never a dollar spent.
• The Housing Trust Fund, $25 million, that money's already been spent.
• And you can see the other explanations there are just pretty much already spent.
• And they haven’t really had anything spent.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee took up a series of capital and reappropriation bills, focusing on whether to continue, reduce, or remove funding for projects that had little or no spending to date. The chair explained several cuts or transfers, including railroad grade crossing funds that MoDOT did not expect to spend in FY26, unspent Mississippi levee stabilization and strategic mining items, a Missouri Housing Trust Fund transfer that no longer needed authority, and the decision to forego the Camp Avery project because costs had risen significantly before construction began. Members asked for clarification on several projects, including a Columbia-area highway/interchange item and a Fredericktown strategic mining line item, and the chair emphasized that projects appropriated in 2023 or earlier with little activity were being reviewed more aggressively. The committee also discussed larger reappropriations and project overruns. Members raised concerns about moving $186 million in storm-related funding out of the operating budget into reappropriations, with one member noting discomfort about shifting money out of House Bill 8, while the chair said the move avoided double-counting previously appropriated funds. House Bill 2019 drew questions about a $10.7 million increase for a DSS youth services facility in the St. Louis area, described as a new treatment-oriented youth center in Belfontaine that had originally been estimated at about $7 million. The chair said the cost increase was frustrating but recommended proceeding because the facility was needed. The committee adopted House Committee Substitutes and gave do-pass recommendations to House Bills 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. House Bill 2017 passed 28-0, House Bill 2018 passed 28-0, House Bill 2019 passed 29-0, and House Bill 2020 passed 28-0. House Bill 2020 was described as the final use of ARPA dollars, with any remaining state-level funds expected to be rolled into the foundation formula before the federal deadline. The chair closed by thanking members and noting there would likely be one or two more hearings, then adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, CYFD spent about $30 million on prevention, $25 million of which was spent on protective services
• Is it being spent wisely, and how important is that?
• We spent a great deal more than that on RDAP as a whole.
• Money is being spent currently, though we don't... we know what is being spent.
• We know what is being spent, and then come...

Transcript Highlights:

• There wasn't a lot spent. We took it way down last year.
• Nothing's spent on Mississippi Levy stabilization. That was put in FY24, never a dollar spent.
• The Housing Trust Fund, $25 million, that money's already been spent.
• And you can see the other explanations there are just pretty much already spent.
• And they haven’t really had anything spent.

Summary: The committee took up a series of capital and reappropriation bills, with the chair explaining proposed reductions or removals of funding that had not been spent or were no longer expected to be needed. Discussion focused on projects such as railroad grade crossing work, Mississippi levee stabilization, strategic mining, the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, tornado-related reappropriations, the Kansas City Behavioral Health Hospital, Camp Avery, and a Columbia-area highway/interchange project. Members asked for clarification on several items, including the strategic mining line item, the Columbia/Highway 63 project, and the treatment of older projects that had been appropriated in 2023 but had little or no expenditure. The chair said his general approach was to pull back funds that had not been used unless there was a clear, imminent need, and noted that some projects had grown significantly beyond original estimates. House Bill 2017 was amended and advanced after discussion of moving storm-related funding into reappropriations and concerns about taking large amounts out of the operating budget. The committee then adopted substitutes and voted House Bill 2017 do pass by a 28-1 vote, House Bill 2018 do pass by a 28-0 vote, House Bill 2019 do pass by a 29-0 vote, and House Bill 2020 do pass by a 28-0 vote. House Bill 2019 included a $10.7 million increase for a DSS youth services facility in the St. Louis area, described as a new treatment-oriented youth center in Bellefontaine, with members noting the project had risen from an earlier estimate of about $7 million to roughly $18 million total. House Bill 2020 involved final ARPA-related adjustments, including a small reduction and moving FTE language back to another bill, with the chair explaining that remaining unspent ARPA dollars would ultimately be directed to the foundation formula if not otherwise obligated and spent before the deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; much of it is spent on bricks and mortar or administrative costs, so more money could be spent on training
• For tech jobs, we spent about $10,000.
• $1.9 million spent training people. That is absolutely ridiculous.
• on training, so that means the rest is being spent on overhead.
• on training, so that means the rest is being spent on overhead.

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s proposed workforce system overhaul, including a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan and a package of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate workforce governance, reduce administrative costs, and redirect more funding to training and supportive services. Commerce officials said the plan would replace the current structure of 10 local workforce boards and more than 200 board members with a single statewide board and one administrative entity, while keeping local offices open and using regional business councils to preserve employer and local input. They said the state has already reduced Commerce headcount and operating costs, and that the changes would improve coordination with higher education, adult education, vocational rehabilitation, DHS, and Arkansas Industry Connect. Much of the discussion centered on the waiver package, especially the proposal to make the state board function as the local board, allow more flexible movement of funds across regions, eliminate the WIOA “last dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, create affiliate sites instead of requiring every area to maintain a comprehensive center, and relax the 14 youth program element requirement. Officials said the State Board of Workforce Development approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, and that implementation would begin only after federal approval and a closeout process, likely taking up to a year. They also described plans to streamline referrals and data sharing, expand mobile and virtual services, and use a more centralized model to improve customer service and employer engagement. Members raised repeated concerns about rural representation, local control, board composition, and whether jobs and relationships would be lost if local boards were eliminated. Commerce officials responded that local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired by the state, and regional business councils would help ensure local employer voice. Several members also questioned how the funding was being used, citing audit findings that only about $1.8 million to $1.9 million of roughly $14 million to $15 million in federal workforce funds had gone to training and supportive services. Officials said the reorganization could increase annual training spending to roughly $6 million to $7 million by reducing overhead, one-stop operator contracts, and board administration. The committee also discussed how the changes might support workforce training facilities, apprenticeships, child care and transportation assistance, and employer-driven training in fields such as manufacturing, health care, technology, and welding. The Division of Higher Education also briefed members on Workforce Pell. Officials explained that the new federal program would extend Pell eligibility to short-term programs, but only within narrow limits, such as 150 to 599 clock hours and 8 to 15 weeks of instruction, with additional completion and employment benchmarks. They said Arkansas is working with colleges and universities to identify programs that fit the criteria and that the governor has designated the Division of Higher Education to lead implementation. No votes were taken by the committee during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• For tech jobs, we spent about $10,000.
• $1.9 million spent training people. That is absolutely ridiculous.
• $1.9 million spent training people. That is absolutely ridiculous.
• spent, but the same number of $1.9 million is all that was going to... ...million being spent, but the
• on training, so that means the rest is being spent on overhead.

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s workforce development reorganization and a set of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate and streamline the state’s WIOA system. Commerce officials said the department has already centralized shared services, split the old workforce agency into reemployment and Arkansas Workforce Connections, and submitted a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan. They described nine waiver requests, including replacing local workforce boards with a single statewide board, creating one planning and accountability structure, allowing more flexible movement of funds across regions, easing the “last-dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, reducing required youth program elements, and allowing affiliate sites instead of mandatory comprehensive centers. Officials said the goal is to reduce administrative costs and redirect more money to training, supportive services, and employer-driven programs. Legislators raised concerns about rural representation, local employer relationships, and whether local offices would close. Commerce officials said local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired, and regional business councils would preserve local employer input. They said the current system is fragmented and expensive, with roughly $14 million in federal workforce funds flowing through local boards but only about $1.9 million spent on training and supportive services last year; they argued the reorganization could raise training spending to about $6 million to $7 million annually. Questions also addressed board composition, performance accountability, and how funds could be shifted between regions when needs change. The State Board of Workforce Development had approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. Members also discussed workforce access for people with disabilities, child care and transportation supports, and the role of Arkansas Launch, apprenticeships, and career and technical education. Officials said vocational rehabilitation now has better access to the state job board and that referrals and data-sharing with DHS and other partners still need improvement. Several legislators emphasized the need for training to align more closely with employer demand, especially in manufacturing, technology, health care, and rural areas. The committee also heard a brief overview of Workforce Pell, with staff explaining that the new federal short-term Pell option has narrow eligibility rules and may not fit many existing programs, including some CDL and CNA programs.