Transcript Highlights:

• Local board staff and navigators use the tool in career planning conversations and help participants
• For the period of July 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, local board staff administered the CLIFF tool to
• Both participants and staff have expressed that the program feels more supportive, motivational, and
• So that's the staff that works with those focused reviews of the eligibility staff's determinations to
• Yes, we do have an LBR, and we've been working with House and Senate budget staff on that.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you'll give me a few minutes, I'll ask my staff.
• President, I'm glad to take a 30-second, one-minute, or two-minute break so he can ask his staff.
• Um, well, who in your staff, your chief of... Have talked to Adam at any time, to your knowledge?
• Anybody in your staff talked to Adam Kincaid or his staff? Not that I'm aware.
• Your chief of staff on the 18th? I don't think they sent it.

Bills: SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB4 , HB1 , HB3 , HB20 , HB22 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , HB4 , SB2 , SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want you all to know that our commissioner and our drainage district director and all their staff
• And finally, CAP staff provides disaster recovery support in the days and months following disasters
• Texas has significant flood mitigation needs, and we have a very capable TWDB staff administering this
• Texas has significant flood mitigation needs, and we have a very capable TWDB staff administering this
• Will you get with my office staff to give me a briefing on that? Yes, sir. All right, thank you.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The House Committee on Natural Resources met to focus on flooding issues across Texas, with particular attention to South Texas and the recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. Chair Harris and Vice Chair Martinez emphasized that flooding is a statewide problem requiring continued legislative attention. The committee heard invited testimony from Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes and Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 General Manager Raul Sassine, who described the March flood event in Hidalgo County, including more than 20 inches of rain, six deaths, over $100 million in local damage, widespread road flooding, and repeated shutdowns of Interstate 2 and its frontage roads. They argued that existing drainage systems are under capacity, that TxDOT projects must account for downstream drainage impacts, and that local governments have already invested heavily in mitigation through bonds and partnerships. Fuentes and Sassine also described the county’s long-term flood mitigation and water-reuse efforts, including the Delta region water management project, which would capture stormwater, runoff, and treated effluent, reduce flooding, and create potable water supply. They said the drainage district manages about 780 miles of channels and 1,100 acres of detention facilities, has used prior Flood Infrastructure Fund and GLO grants, and has ongoing applications for additional state and federal assistance. Members discussed the need for TxDOT coordination, emergency access on frontage roads, local “skin in the game,” and the possibility of combining flood control with aquifer recharge and water supply projects. Texas Water Development Board Executive Administrator Brian McMath then presented an overview of the state’s flood planning and funding framework, including the post-Harvey legislative changes that created the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund, and the regional/state flood planning process. He summarized the first state flood plan adopted in 2024, noting that about one in six Texans live or work in known flood hazard areas and that regional plans identified 4,609 flood risk reduction solutions with an estimated cost of $54.5 billion. He also reviewed TWDB programs for flood grants, community assistance, flood insurance compliance, stream gauges, TexMesonet, flood mapping, and the TexasFlood.org viewer. Members asked about drainage fees, technical assistance, gauge placement, the relationship between flood maps and FEMA FIRMs, and whether flood mitigation funds could support aquifer storage and recovery or recharge projects; TWDB staff said such projects can be eligible if they include flood mitigation components, but direct technical assistance cannot be paid from Flood Infrastructure Fund dollars. The committee concluded by expressing interest in further study of combining flood mitigation with aquifer recharge, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we have the following staff from the CPUC joining us. We have S.
• She oversees the staff that supports both policymaking, program oversight, as well as enforcement in
• That reporting will allow the commission staff to monitor implementation of these rules and outcomes
• It's a staff at the commission.
• So one of the core responsibilities we have with staff is to advise the Commission on policymaking.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, uh, please, uh, contact the committee staff.
• This bill would formalize the state, uh, the staff and grant the board chairman employment decisions
• We have our staff, even though they're employed by the House of Representatives, they tend to work for
• I'm a retired educator and president of Alliance AFT representing teachers and staff in Dallas ISD.
• A faculty staff person at the school.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• IN THE LEGAL DEFINITION THAT THE PERSON THAT DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME OR DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME OR THEIR STAFF
• MY STAFF CALENDARS MEETINGS AS I KNOW YOUR STAFF DO TO EVERYBODY.
• MY STAFF CALENDARS MEETINGS AS I KNOW YOUR STAFF DO AS WELL.
• WE TRIED TO LOOK AT A CREATIVE WAY TO DO THAT AND I APPRECIATE STAFF UP ON THAT AS WELL.
• SHE DIED BECAUSE HER DOCTOR AND STAFF IGNORED AT LEAST 10 SIGNS OF A SURGICAL SITE INFECTION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, our training and education staff conducted 760 courses statewide for approximately 10,350 first
• In 2024, our training and education staff conducted 760 courses statewide for approximately 10,350 150
• Additionally, any questions on their budget, I will defer to you, Director Thiemi and his staff.
• And then executive direction consists of the staff members that are responsible for providing command
• And, you know, if there is funding one year and no funding the next year, they can't retain staff.

Summary: The committee met to review agency program funding as it prepared to build the budget, hearing brief presentations from six agencies and then taking member questions. Florida Division of Emergency Management highlighted its role in response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, describing a largely federal pass-through budget, major technology investments, and large disaster and preparedness grant activity. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, Florida State Guard, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also summarized their budgets, staffing, and major programs, including workforce and economic development, elections and arts funding, housing assistance, transportation work programs, military readiness, state guard expansion, and highway safety and motorist services. Members focused questions on several issues: arts and library grant funding and whether award criteria had changed; Commerce’s rural infrastructure and job growth grants and why funds were not being disbursed faster; Florida Housing’s use of SAIL, Live Local, Hometown Heroes, and SHIP funds and how smaller agencies learn about and access funding; and DOT’s work program gap between agency and governor proposals. The most extensive questioning was directed to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about long DMV lines, vacancies, overtime, staffing shortages, and the ability to shift funds between divisions. The department said staffing and pay constraints, especially in South Florida, were driving service delays and vacancy rates, and that overtime was being used because troopers were leaving for better-paying jobs. The Florida State Guard was also questioned about its spending and procurement pace, including aircraft purchases and facilities. Its director said long procurement timelines explained the low initial spending and that obligations had risen sharply as contracts matured. Members also asked about the department’s public opposition to Amendment 3 and whether agency resources were used in that effort; the director said no contracts or purchases were made to influence the vote and said the colonel’s comments were made off the clock. The meeting ended with the chair asking agencies to respond promptly to unanswered questions, and the committee adjourned without any recorded votes or formal actions beyond receiving the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• You will be, uh, well served by getting to know her well, and my chief of staff, Lauren Young is over
• Members, if there's anything we can do for you or your staffs, um, this session, uh, please let us know
• Yes, we are so happy to have Clarissa on our staff.
• I am glad you're looking at older, uh, or more experienced attorneys to serve on your, uh, staff.
• We have 5 investigators, uh, and support staff of the, um, legal staff, we are the, the approximately

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, staff, please open the vote.
• Seeing no debate, staff, please open the vote. Will there be discussion or debate?
• Seeing no debate, staff, please open the vote.
• Seeing none, staff, please open the vote.
• Seeing no debate, staff please open the vote.

Summary: The Postsecondary Education Committee met and adopted PCS working drafts for several bills before hearing them. House Bill 2210, by Representative Lay, would modernize Oklahoma’s youth apprenticeship system by allowing earlier entry, expanding eligibility to ages 16-25, assigning implementation to CareerTech, and adding paid-work protections and statewide ROI reporting; it passed 9-0. House Bill 4363, by Pro Tem Moore, would update outdated statutory references to reflect current operations and governance; it also passed 9-0. House Bill 2398, by Representative Hill, would create a “credential of value” framework to align higher education, CareerTech, and workforce systems, with safeguards for high-need fields and regional wage considerations. Supporters said it would help students understand the earning value of programs before enrolling, while concerns were raised about possible effects on humanities and other lower-paying fields; the bill passed 8-1. House Bill 3557, by Representative Danny Williams, would clarify that 4-H and county extension fundraising money remains locally controlled and protected rather than being swept into a state-level account. Members discussed how the funds are currently handled and who would control them under the proposal; the bill passed 6-2. House Bill 3701, by Representative Caldwell, would codify the State Regents’ existing process for reviewing and potentially consolidating low-producing higher education programs, including mandatory action after repeated low-producing status while preserving exemption authority. Questions focused on whether the bill merely formalized current practice and whether reporting back to the legislature should be added; the chair offered to include a reporting requirement if desired. The bill passed 6-2, and the chair announced this was the committee’s last House bill meeting for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We lift up every staff member, team member, who supports the work that's done here.
• I wasn't going to debate, but I got an elephant memory, so my chief of staff and I—Maggie—spent 302 days
• And all of her staff—just, just, just—an incredible moment when everybody was really terrified.
• committee chairs who have spent many hours, including weekends and nights, with the appropriations staff
• in this Capitol many hours this weekend, finalizing budget projects along with the appropriations staff

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Doctors of the Day. Members then offered several gallery introductions and Capitol Day recognitions, including St. Johns County Day, Florida Space Day, Florida State Parks Day, AMIkids Day, Manatee County Days, New College of Florida Day, and Florida Keys Day. The chamber received and adopted a committee report on 65 executive appointments. Debate focused on the confirmation of Tina Vidal-Douart, with one senator opposing her appointment over concerns about contracts tied to detention facilities and political contributions, while another senator spoke in support based on her assistance during COVID testing efforts. The report was adopted by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays. On the special order calendar, the Senate passed Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 48 on housing, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units under specified conditions and extends certain density bonus incentives for military families. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 578, creating a statewide Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Initiative through the Department of Elder Affairs. Both bills passed 38-0. Appropriations Chair Hooper gave a budget update, saying the Senate budget rollout would move to February 12 in committee and February 18 in full appropriations. The Senate then waived rules to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, and adjourned until Wednesday, February 11, for committee meetings and other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• settled in before we jump into our bill analysis that we're going to be hearing from our wonderful staff
• Yeah, I'll staff this bill today. It's Audrey Basic, staff to the committee.
• We'll first see if anybody has questions for staff. No questions? No questions.
• This has led to substantial increases in staff time, administrative processing, and direct costs.
• This has led to substantial increases in staff time, administrative processing, and direct costs.

Bills: HB2664

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: HB 2664, unlawful detainer, eviction notice, landlord-tenant, tenant rights, service of process, certified mail, notice by mail, notice posting, possession action, vacate notice, Washington RCW 59.12, housing law, rental housing, forcible entry and detainer, proof of service, property possession, occupants, lodging house, hotel guest

Transcript Highlights:

• settled in before we jump into our bill analysis that we're going to be hearing from our wonderful staff
• Yeah, I'll staff this bill today. It's Audrey Basic, staff to the committee. House Bill 2664.
• We'll first see if anybody has questions for staff. No questions? No questions.
• This has led to substantial increases in staff time, administrative processing, and direct costs.
• This has led to substantial increases in staff time, administrative processing, and direct costs.

Summary: The Housing Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2664, which would remove the certified-mail requirement for serving unlawful detainer and related notices under landlord-tenant law. Committee staff explained that the bill would instead deem service complete when notices are mailed from within the state with proper postage, and would keep other service methods such as personal delivery or posting plus mailing when the recipient is not on the premises. Representative April Connors, the bill sponsor, said the measure is intended to clean up notice provisions affected by prior legislation and reduce the burden on renters who currently must retrieve certified mail from the post office; she also noted a question from Representative Zahn about whether lease renewals are included and said she would follow up on that issue. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. Housing providers, property managers, landlord associations, and business groups said certified mail has created high costs, administrative burden, and many undelivered notices, with several witnesses reporting large percentages of notices returned unclaimed. Supporters argued the bill would improve the likelihood that tenants actually receive notices, reduce confusion, and lower costs for housing providers. One witness also said the current process can be inconvenient or inaccessible for tenants, while another raised privacy and safety concerns about posting notices on doors. No one testified in opposition. Committee members asked very few questions, and the chair reminded testifiers that props are not allowed. The hearing concluded without a vote or other action on the bill, and the committee adjourned after a brief congratulatory comment to Vice Chair Hill on chairing her first Housing Committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to thank the chair and the committee staff for their work on this bill.
• I first wanted to thank the author, her staff, as well as the committee for the work that's been done
• I first wanted to thank the author her staff as well as the committee for the I first wanted to thank
• the author, her staff, as well as the committee for the work that's been done on AB 59.
• Those are city and county staff primarily, but also private sector and nonprofit organizations that work

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 26 and heard four bills, beginning as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The chair opened with housekeeping rules, including that testimony would be in person only and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. AB 59 by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry was heard first; it would remove the sunset on Reclamation District 108’s authority to participate in hydropower projects. The author, Colusa County representatives, and water district officials said the change would support long-term financing, lower energy costs, and help the district continue water stewardship. No opposition was presented, and the bill was later reported out 7-0. AB 417 by Assembly Member Carrillo was then presented as a measure to streamline and clarify laws governing enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EIFDs) and community revitalization and investment authorities (CRIAs). Supporters, including the sponsor and planning, city, and flood control representatives, said the bill would improve local governments’ ability to fund affordable housing, climate adaptation, transit, fire mitigation, and other infrastructure without raising taxes. One opponent objected to the CRIA provisions, arguing that CRIAs retain eminent domain authority and asked for an amendment to remove that authority. The bill was passed after quorum was established, with the chair noting it would improve functionality while preserving transparency and public participation. AB 533 by Assembly Member Flora reauthorized health care districts that own or operate hospitals or clinics to use the design-build process for construction projects after the prior authority sunset on January 1, 2025. The author and supporters from the Association of California Health Care Districts, the Design-Build Institute of America, and engineering and hospital groups said the measure would restore a useful financing and construction tool without changing public contracting requirements. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0. The committee also approved AB 1030 on the consent calendar, and after roll calls on the remaining items, all measures were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no call for questions or debate, I'll ask staff, please open the queue, staff. Second.
• Seeing no call for questions or debate, I'll ask staff, please open the queue. Moore, aye.
• OPCN has dedicated compliance staff who reviews every invoice daily before payment.
• Seeing no call for debate, I'll ask the staff to please open the queue for voting. Moore, aye.

Bills: HB2786 , HB2787 , HB2786 , HB2787

Committee: House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: mental health, substance abuse, appropriation, state funding, emergency declaration, healthcare, State Department of Health, childbirth program, emergency funding, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But it’s a staff function that was not being met.
• So there just are more people in staff.
• It was a governor's residence staff.
• </c> governor's um the governor's staff governor's um the governor's staff rather<01:58:08.800><c> than
• the governor's staff rather than the governor's staff reporting<01:58:10.880><c> directly</c><01:58:11.280

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• on to serve in several roles for me, joining me lastly here in the General Assembly as my chief of staff
• on to serve in several roles for me, joining me lastly here in the General Assembly as my chief of staff
• Earlier today, staff and I had an opportunity to share... Mr.
• Speaker, earlier today, staff and I had an opportunity to share the conference report with both caucuses
• Speaker, let me just first applaud our staff and our conferees for the hard work that they’ve done on

Keywords: June 22, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I feel, have felt that there's not a lot of clear direction and engagement provided to the staff
• They have larger staffs that are here during the interim that can handle things as well and keep, you
• missing, but presumably that'd be done in the interim, so I'm not sure that it'd take any additional staff
• I want to thank him for working with myself, working with the senator's staff so closely.
• I think, you know, all staff does a really good job of making, of presenting us information while not

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that is expected to yield extensive public comment, so we will be accepting presentation from his staff
• So we will be accepting presentation from his staff.
• that is expected to yield extensive public comment, so we will be accepting presentation from his staff
• I want to thank the chair and committee staff for their work on the bill and for allowing me to stand
• That's my own staff time. I'm happy to do.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions heard two bills. SB 1131, presented by Senator Jones’s staff, would update the Debt Collection Licensing Act by requiring DFPI to conduct examinations remotely unless an on-site review is needed for consumer protection, and allowing the department to rely on recent audits or examinations by other regulators or approved third parties to avoid duplicative work. Supporters from the California Association of Collectors and Receivables Management Association International said the bill would reduce examination costs and improve administrative efficiency while preserving consumer protections. A representative of the California Low-Income Consumer Coalition expressed concerns. Committee members noted the need to avoid unintended consequences for the consumer protection goals of the licensing program. The bill was moved on a due pass and re-refer motion to Appropriations and later received enough votes on call to pass out of committee. The committee also heard SB 1291, the “Shine Act,” by Senator Gonzalez, which would increase transparency and accountability for mutual water company boards by eliminating the 24-hour written notice requirement for board meetings, requiring websites with basic information and consumer confidence reports, and directing a comparative analysis of mutual water companies serving disadvantaged communities. Supporters, including community and public health advocates, described problems with water quality, inaccessible meetings, poor notice practices, and lack of information in communities such as Cudahy and Maywood. The California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill unless amended, arguing it imposes costly, one-size-fits-all requirements on small systems without dedicated funding and could be difficult for remote or low-capacity mutuals to meet. Committee members generally supported the transparency goals but raised concerns about scale and compliance burdens; the author said he would continue working with opponents. SB 1291 was moved on a due pass and re-refer motion to Environmental Quality and later passed out of committee on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will be accepting the committee amendments, and I want to thank the committee and the committee staff
• We'd like to thank the author and her staff for their responsiveness to our concerns, and we appreciate
• We appreciate the time the author and staff have provided us to talk through the bill and our concerns
• the amendments outlined in the analysis, we'll be moving to neutral, and thank the author and her staff
• I want to thank again the committee staff and also the health committee staff on this bill.

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard SB 1094 by Senator Weber Pearson, which would expand pharmacist and health plan authority to substitute biosimilars for reference biologic drugs in order to lower prescription drug costs. The author and supporters, including Blue Shield of California, Sharp HealthCare, and several business and health groups, argued that biologics are a major driver of rising health care spending and that biosimilars can provide substantial savings while maintaining safety and efficacy. The bill also included transparency provisions and committee amendments, including notice requirements and clarifications around substitution and exceptions. Opposition came from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the California Rheumatology Alliance, and Biocom, who said the bill was not scientifically justified, could undermine FDA standards, and might lead to unwanted switching, side effects, or delays in care for patients with chronic conditions. They emphasized that pharmacists can already substitute interchangeable biosimilars and that non-interchangeable products can be changed with prescriber contact. Committee discussion focused on patient safety, the meaning of “do not substitute,” the 30-day notice provisions, and the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. After debate, the committee adopted a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Health Committee. The bill passed the committee on a 10-0 roll call vote and was sent onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• For tax savings, the staff estimates that the bill reduces general revenue by $77 million in fiscal year
• Overall, the bill is estimated by staff to reduce revenues in fiscal year 26-27 by $34.1 million.
• Madam Chair, I have consulted with our staff director and with your permission I would like to ask him
• Staff Director: That is correct. We have not had a chance to analyze the language.
• Senator: I want to thank staff for working so hard on this tax package. This is a labor of love.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Keywords: 999, senate, all