Transcript Highlights:

• Now, why is it important for providers or vendors to be pre-approved?
• That's a misuse of funds rate of 0.001% compared to the federal government-wide misuse of funds rate
• Students in our program graduate at a 99% rate. Their college entrance exams are high.
• However, the state of Texas is proving to have higher rates.
• However, the state of Texas is proving to have higher rates.

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Comprehensive resource center and access to rate filing information.
• Which means that it is taxed at the highest capital gains tax rate.
• , capital gains tax rate.
• So if you're wealthy, you can borrow money at very low interest rates.
• If you're wealthy, you can borrow money at very low interest rates.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> cannabis</c><00:07:13.199><c> encourages</c> higher tax rate on cannabis encourages higher tax rate
• </c><00:07:27.919><c> only</c> A higher tax rate only encourages the black market.
• A lower tax rate puts us in a much better position.
• A lower tax rate puts us impacts of it.
• </c><00:23:49.919><c> allowance</c> closely together on a vendor allowance closely together on a vendor

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rate setting team<00:13:32.399><c> before</c><00:13:32.839><c> rate</c><00:13:33.160><c> setting</c><
• , comparing the Medicare rates and Medicaid rates.
• </c><00:15:12.320><c> when</c> what can be shared with our vendors when what can be shared with our vendors
• they're a vendor of of ours not of the they're a vendor of of ours not of the Managed<01:38:46.560><c
• How's your vacancy rate? We're full.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: House Finance Division III convened a work session on the DHHS budget, with the chair noting there would be no votes and that the committee would spend the day hearing from the commissioner’s office. Nathan White, DHHS Chief Financial Officer, opened with the Division of Finance/Office of Business Operations, explaining that the unit supports the department through daily financial management, AP/AR, audit work, expense projections, transfers, and procurement functions such as contracts, amendments, RFPs/RFAs, and grants management. He also described the division’s revenue and reporting work, including federal draws, CMS-64 reporting, and the public assistance cost allocation plan, and said the department had centralized rate-setting work and a small team handling Medicaid rate analysis and nursing facility rebase work. Members asked about vacancies, turnover, and budget changes. White said the division had 18 positions unfunded in the governor’s budget, reducing personal services from about $10.8 million to $9.9 million, and estimated the division’s vacancy rate at about 11 percent, below the department average. He said turnover was relatively low, with one retirement at the manager level and higher turnover mainly at lower AP-level positions. He also explained that some budget lines reflected reallocations rather than new spending, including fringe benefits centralized elsewhere and an EBT card contract moved into this unit because the staff member overseeing it works in Finance. When asked about a rent/lease increase, he said it was due to higher copier leasing costs under a statewide DAS contract. White highlighted several management and technology improvements. He said a business intelligence tool procured in 2022, using Salesforce and Excel-based data, helped DHHS better track federal revenue and maintenance-of-effort spending, reducing FY24 General Fund lapse by about 70 percent and federal/other revenue lapse by 88 percent compared with FY23; he warned that the tool is not funded in the current budget. He also described Lean Six Sigma efforts in the contracts team, training for vendors and nonprofits on procurement and indirect cost rules, and a Finance Academy to standardize policies and procedures. On the contracts side, he said the department uses Smartsheet for project management and DocuSign for electronic signatures, which cut contract execution time dramatically, but noted DocuSign is also not funded in the governor’s budget. The session ended as the committee prepared to move on to the Employee Assistance Program presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's a about the error rate.
• Poverty rates, county agency practice.
• I don't know that the with the vendor.
• ,</c> share, linked to the payment error rate, share, linked to the payment error rate, to<02:27:20.840
• the payment error rate.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at what the SMR vendors across the board are suggesting will be the required nth-of-a-kind
• The rule of thumb, once we started to look at what SMR vendors were putting out in their materials, is
• And now it's more of a technical exercise with the regulator and the vendor.
• It depends on the vendor you’re talking to, and yes or no.
• There are some SMR vendors that suggest their fueling could last 20 years. Others, two.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SOMETHING I WAS ASKED TO DO, KEVIN, CAP THE RATE FOR WHAT IS CUSTOMARY FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL.
• ONE RATE ACROSS THE STATE EVERYONE HAS THE SAME RATE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE JUMPING WEREEVER THE
• HIGHER RATE IS AT.
• SO IF ONE VENDOR HAS A CONTRACT AT $12 A CUBIC YARD AND ANOTHER VENDOR HAS A CONTRACT THAT A DOG CUBIC
• SO THEN HOW DO ASSIGN VENDORS TO CERTAIN AREAS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to Act 634, we have increased that administration rate to match the Vaccines for Children rate
• Pursuant to Act 634, we have increased that administration rate to match the Vaccines for Children rate
• Okay, so what rates are you increasing? All pediatric rates.
• The orthodonic rates actually dropped.
• Okay, so what rates are you increasing? All pediatric rates. Okay.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At that rate, I mean, we're training people for industry.
• The vendor would, you know, we'd work with the vendor, and we would deploy those based on. on sales level
• Your procurement, the vendor is under, is there a procurement right now for your vendor?
• The current Lottery Operator Services vendor has been our vendor since the beginning.
• Again, the vendor just follows the rules, correct?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:14.480><c> not</c> current vendor the new vendor did not current vendor the new vendor did
• His hourly rate is That's his specialty. His hourly rate is $1,500. $1,500. $1,500.
• </c> rate. Thank you. rate. Thank you.
• It probably is a going rate, but I don't know that it's a going rate.
• It probably is a going rate, but I don't know that it's a going rate.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 13 minutes and then turned to a large agenda of contracts. Chairman Douglas said there were 52 contracts totaling about $369.3 million, and noted that most vendors were registered with the Secretary of State except for item 118 on the routine personal services green list and item 19 involving Morehead State University and Kentucky State University. The committee voted to defer item 118 to the June 26 meeting and later also deferred the Kentucky State University contract on the deferred list to the June 26 meeting. The main discussion centered on a deferred personal services contract for the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, involving outside legal counsel. Senator Meredith raised concerns about KRS 320 and whether the board had authority to hire outside counsel when the statute says the Attorney General shall provide legal services to the board. Dr. Mary Beth Morris, the board president, and Christopher Thacker of the Attorney General’s office testified after being sworn in. Thacker explained that the statute and related law allow both Attorney General assistance and independent counsel, and argued that outside counsel is appropriate for day-to-day legal work because it avoids conflicts, especially on open records issues, regulatory advice, and disciplinary hearings. Senator Meredith said he agreed with approving the contract but questioned how the board had reached this point and whether the current statutes reflect modern practice. He raised concerns about transparency and accountability, referencing a prior advisory opinion involving the board’s handling of exam requirements during COVID and saying the board should have consulted the Attorney General before acting. Thacker responded that the Attorney General’s office serves the Commonwealth as a whole, not as counsel to one board, and that the board’s use of outside counsel is a reasonable and economical arrangement. The exchange ended with Meredith suggesting that broader legislative action may be needed to clarify reporting relationships and oversight for the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I wonder how you determine how you select such vendors.
• If you specify those categories, based upon that requirement, the potential vendors will bid to that.
• And the responsive and responsible vendor is enforced throughout the RFP cycle of the awarded providers
• Are you specifying a certain percentage to be built in if existing law does not have a specified rate
• , such as 3% or California CPI rate, whichever is publicly announced?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• just a year or two, and we're well on our way to better supporting entrepreneurs and decreasing the rate
• of new business failures in West Virginia. ...the rate of new business failures in West Virginia.
• This isn't a vendor pricing issue either. For some items, we can find cheaper alternatives.
• The vendor checked it with Treasury. They ran the checks. It looked to be okay.
• The third-party vendor that programmed these splits programmed it right, but it wasn't working right.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services. Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000. The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have questions for the vendors.
• Don't if you're asking a vendor, I was just mentioned a great example of the vendor communities here
• You're going to go to 12 vendors.
• This is for the vendors unit. This is for the vendors unit.
• They know our vendors. talking about an evaluation. Got you. They know our vendors.

Transcript Highlights:

• capitation rate.
• So the contribution rates... The contribution rates would increase for both of us.
• contribution rate.
• And we are starting in Mississippi. 75% graduation rate, 70% placement rate.
• The unemployment rate or underemployment rate of people with disabilities is 80%. Sure.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1630, which would direct AHCCCS to seek federal approval for a home- and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with quarterly implementation updates, a stakeholder work group, and a cap on enrollment. The sponsor and advocates from Arizona Mad Moms argued the bill would create a Medicaid-funded long-term care option for the most disabled SMI patients, reduce costly hospital and state-only care, and improve continuity of care. A committee amendment narrowed eligibility to individuals needing a long-term SMI level of care, changed reporting to semiannual, reduced the initial cap to 250 members with possible growth tied to savings, and required AHCCCS to keep pursuing approval if CMS denies it. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1630 as amended passed 10-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1131, which originally required every school district and charter school to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan and appropriated $1 million for implementation. A Warner amendment replaced the mandate with a reporting requirement on AED counts, CPR/AED-trained staff, and whether a plan exists, while shifting the appropriation toward AED grants and limiting school spending to purchasing and maintaining AEDs. The American Heart Association supported the amendment as a way to gather baseline data and target resources, while some members questioned the funding split and the rural-school priority. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1131 as amended passed 9-1. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 1582, dealing with the school safety interoperability fund. The amendment changed the appropriation from ADE to ADOA and allocated funds to specific county sheriff’s offices to continue existing interoperable communication systems linking schools and first responders; supporters said the systems had been used in drills and some real incidents, and were important for school safety. One member raised concerns about the auditor general’s report and whether the program should continue, but sheriffs and school officials described it as a useful communication tool. The amendment was adopted, and SB 1582 as amended passed 6-4. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1504, which would change retirement rules for Tier 2 and Tier 3 public safety personnel and reduce the waiting period for cost-of-living adjustments. The sponsor, police and fire representatives, and pension consultants argued the bill would improve recruitment and retention and align benefits more closely with what employees were promised, while cities, counties, and taxpayer groups warned it would add substantial unfunded liabilities and undermine the 2016 pension reforms. The committee spent extensive time on actuarial costs, funding status, and the effect of the amendment exempting the bill from statutory pre-funding requirements; the transcript ends during that discussion before a final vote on SB 1504 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then that's why I was asking for the pre-approved vendor list, to see if there is a list out there
• Just to make sure that we have oversight on the vendors who are applying for them and if they're the
• I'm not aware of whether Parks has a pre-approved vendor list for this type of work, but we're happy
• to follow up. ...not aware of whether Parks has a pre-approved vendor list for this type of work, but
• Revenues and the interest rate is tied to the state’s investment earnings.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on two early-action budget bills. AB 107 would make mostly technical corrections to prior budget acts, including extending deadlines, fixing fiscal language, moving $20 million for California travel and tourism promotion from Visit California to GoBiz, and making changes related to Proposition 4 climate bond funding. A key provision would exempt development of program guidelines and selection criteria for certain 2025 climate bond appropriations from the Administrative Procedure Act, which supporters said would speed implementation of wildfire prevention and other projects. Members raised concerns about oversight, competitive bidding, and whether vendors and safeguards were sufficient, while public commenters from water, climate, and conservation groups strongly supported the APA exemption and urged similar treatment for future allocations. AB 117 would authorize up to $590 million in short-term loans for four Bay Area transit agencies: BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit. Finance explained that the loan would be administered through MTC using Bay Area TIRCP funds that have been awarded but not yet allocated, making the structure cost-neutral to the state. The loan would run 12 years, with the first two years interest-only, and repayment would be secured through state transit assistance funds if needed. Several members questioned whether the proposal amounted to a bailout, whether it was fair to prioritize the Bay Area, and whether the structure adequately protected other projects, especially BART to Silicon Valley Phase 2; Finance and committee staff said safeguards and monitoring provisions were included and that no state funds were at risk. Public testimony was largely supportive of both bills. Transit agencies and local officials said the loan would provide bridge financing as ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels, while allowing service improvements and major events to continue. San Jose representatives and some members asked for possible cleanup language to better protect large regional capital projects. The chair said the committee anticipated hearing the bills on the floor later in the week, and the hearing was adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then that's why I was asking for the pre-approved vendor list to see if there is a list out there
• Just to make sure that we have oversight on the vendors who are applying for them and if they're the
• I'm not aware of whether Parks has a pre-approved vendor list for this type of work, but we're happy
• to follow up. ...not aware of whether Parks has a pre-approved vendor list for this type of work, but
• is tied to the state's investment earnings. ...revenues and the interest rate is tied to the state's

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At this rate, expenditures will outgrow our revenues. This is simply not going to be sustainable.
• In terms of the vacancy rate, I would have to pull that.
• The trip to Paris also gave us the opportunity for myself to engage with many of our vendors and these
• Another thing that we're looking at with the technology that we have and working with these vendors is
• What is the salary rate that you need?

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for budget day, heard agency follow-up questions, and then presented its recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chair Lopez opened with remarks about reducing spending, emphasizing vacancy reductions and recurring savings across agencies. The recommendation eliminated 452.5 vacant positions and produced recurring savings of $57.2 million overall, while still funding selected priorities. Notable funded items included $500,000 for a new DBPR website for condominium complaints and document filing, $481.3 million for the MICEF Florida Home Program in DFS, funding for Florida PALM implementation, $330,000 for a Tampa office in the Office of Insurance Regulation, $835,000 for warehouse space for confiscated gambling machines, $821,000 for the Lottery gaming system contract, and major DMS capital and facilities funding. Lopez also criticized DMS leadership and said the secretary’s salary would be held in reserve pending answers on fleet management, remote workers, SUNCOM billing, and other issues. The committee then questioned DBPR Secretary Griffin about condominium records, structural integrity reserve studies, and milestone-inspection compliance. Members focused on how the division tracks condominiums, whether it can identify buildings with three habitable stories, and whether the current filing system can be improved to better capture building height and story count. Griffin said the division relies heavily on self-reporting and complaint-driven checks, but has updated forms to capture whether a condominium has buildings three stories or higher and has received additional submissions. Members also asked about staffing and the Miami-area office; Griffin said DBPR now has two Fort Lauderdale offices and a Doral office, with about 82% of new positions filled. Secretary Davis of the Florida Lottery also testified, defending travel to Paris and other conferences as part of industry engagement, technology research, and best-practice sharing. He said the travel was reimbursed through lottery-related organizations, described the Lottery as an enterprise fund that receives no general tax revenue, and said the agency has remained a top revenue generator nationally. Members questioned Orlando travel reimbursements and dues to the Multi-State Lottery Association, and asked for more information on how increased revenue translates into more Bright Futures scholarships. Davis said he would provide additional details. The subcommittee then unanimously passed two conforming bills. PCB SAB 25-01 removed statutory references to the legacy FLAIR accounting system in preparation for Florida PALM and was reported favorably. PCB SAB 25-02 addressed Capitol Center space after the planned House lease cancellation, declaring the governor, cabinet, and legislature permanent tenants, protecting existing space and parking allocations, giving the legislature first right of refusal on vacant space, and giving legislative leaders control over utilities in their space; it also passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned after the bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> corresponding rate increase if approved. corresponding rate increase if approved.
• </c> providers are taxed at a higher rate providers are taxed at a higher rate than<00:28:19.279><c>
• Um this healthcare rate increases.
• </c><00:29:32.399><c> in</c> up to the average commercial rate. in up to the average commercial rate.
• </c> match rate, which is just over 50%. match rate, which is just over 50%.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We had 53 vendors respond to the invitation to negotiate.
• So this is a big shift in the way that vendor partners traditionally contract for services.
• But there's no cost for the value of the contract with the vendor partner.
• You get the training from the vendor partner. You get that ongoing support.
• So they earn an hourly rate for doing that.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to put a capitation rate on a particular service.
• When you look at that national rate of Here's the good news in Arizona.
• And then for graduation rates, so on and so forth.
• The reimbursement rate is not what drives me to continue fostering.
• DCS can say that it doesn't control vendor selection or payment.

Keywords: 1182, all