Transcript Highlights:

• earmarked for the region to support transit operations as they analyze their long-term operational plans
• earmarked for the region to support transit operations as they analyze their long-term operational plans
• Act there was a control section that required Finance to work with the entities to come up with a plan
• Our structure creates a regional plan that is cost-neutral to the state, so this is using dollars that
• here that will receive the loan from MTC is unable to make payments from accounts that they are planning

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:

• earmarked for the region to support transit operations as they analyze their long-term operational plans
• Act, there was a control section that required Finance to work with the entities to come up with a plan
• Our structure... ...with the entities to come up with a plan.
• Our structure creates a regional plan that is cost neutral to the state, so this is using dollars that
• here that will receive the loan from MTC is unable to make payments from accounts that they are planning

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• funded health care agency shall enter into a cooperative consolidated purchasing effort to provide plans
• The request for a scratch-off proposal to proposals shall set forth one or more plans of health care
• the way I understand it, it would open up the door for other companies to come in and give better plans
• Career, which has been running hospitals, health systems, health plans, and so forth.
• I will say there are plans—I mean Presbyterian and maybe Molina.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, did they have a feasibility plan?
• Do they have a plan to build all these major things for $100 million? Oh, they...
• I don't think they do have some plans.
• And so you're trying to plan if something happens.
• I think the plan that has been worked out locally I think the plan that has been worked out locally with

Bills: SB190 , HB247 , HB8

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Number two is our fleet modernization plan. When we Look at what we've done every year.
• So when we look at it, what I would like to do is implement a plan where we're turning over our fleet
• DPS, my understanding, does have a plan.
• But for now, this is our request to be able to have a rolling plan for our vehicles across the state.
• We are still in the planning phases, so any input is available.

Transcript Highlights:

• of aeronautics supports over 60 community airports across the state and helps them with aviation planning
• We actively manage the construction program for our highway system with the planning, the design, the
• We actively manage the construction program for our highway system with the planning, the design, the
• ITD is initiating increased planning efforts because of the growing community.
• It's not something that we can do in isolation as it comes to long-term planning.

Committee: House Transportation and Defense

Transcript Highlights:

• It means discipline and not excess, planning, not wishful spending, and respect for every dollar Missouri
• to working with the General Assembly next session to carry out the will of the people and put this plan
• Our plan pairs tax relief with closing loopholes.
• Our plan does include safeguards to ensure fiscal responsibility and protect against economic downturns
• This plan is about This plan is about aligning our tax code with today's economy, and not yesterday's

Transcript Highlights:

• Franklin: MY NEXT QUESTION IS AROUND SOME OF THE LOCAL TECHNOLOGY PLANNING TEAMS AND MY CURIOSITY AROUND
• BUT WE ENGAGE LOCALLY WITH THOSE GOVERNMENTS AND PLANNING TEAMS, THE NONPROFITS IN THE AREA TO STRENGTHEN
• FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND I'VE HEARD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PLANS
• ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND THINGS WERE RUNNING INTO IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS WE GROW BUT THAT'S THE PLAN
• FOR INTO IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS WE GROW BUT THAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE WEEK OF THE THIRD AND IN THE

Transcript Highlights:

• value, landscape context, and the condition of the property, as well as additional natural resource planning
• and strategic criteria, which also includes a resource planning and strategic criteria, which also includes
• annual approval of the Florida Forever priority list and work plan by the governor and the cabinet each
• For fiscal year 2025-26, there are 60 projects on the Florida Forever work plan, with a vast majority
• Well, we plan on helping with that as well as best we can, for sure. So thanks.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met to hear updates on land conservation and agricultural preservation programs. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, explaining that it protects active agricultural lands through conservation easements while keeping land in private ownership and on the tax rolls. The director said the program requires participants to use agricultural best management practices, noted strong demand with 428 ranked projects for 2025, and reported that consistent legislative funding and partnerships with USDA, DOD, local governments, land trusts, and water management districts have expanded acreage protected, much of it within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Committee members asked about eligibility, ranking, local government involvement, and how many projects are typically funded each year. Conservation Florida’s president and CEO testified that both Rural and Family Lands and Florida Forever are critical and complementary tools for preserving working lands, wildlife habitat, water resources, and public access to nature. She warned that uncertainty or cuts in state funding can stall projects, raise land prices, and reduce conservation momentum. In discussion with senators, she said public access is often negotiated case by case and is more common on lands acquired for parks, forests, and other public green space than on conservation easements. The Department of Environmental Protection then updated the committee on Florida Forever, describing it as the state’s premier conservation and recreation land acquisition program. DEP said Florida Forever uses both conservation easements and fee-simple purchases, with about half of acquisitions done through easements, and emphasized that steady funding is needed to keep projects moving. The deputy secretary reported 60 projects on the current work plan, more than $1.4 billion invested since 2019, and recent acquisitions including new state forest, park, and preserve expansions. Members also raised concerns about payment in lieu of taxes for fiscally constrained counties, local notification of acquisitions, and the need for continued support for agriculture, citrus, roads, and conservation funding. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after member comments and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Substantially comply means they must have multi-factor authentication, have disaster recovery plans,
• They have to have disaster recovery plans and have all the policies and procedures in place in order
• So they all require disaster recovery plans. They all require multi-factor authentication.
• But as we turn our attention to developing a strategic plan for legislative...
• What issues require additional research to lay the groundwork for crucial long-term planning?

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1183, by Rep. G. Lombardo, as amended by a strike-all. The bill would provide liability protection for local governments and private-sector entities that substantially comply with certain cybersecurity practices, including multi-factor authentication, disaster recovery plans, and related policies and procedures. Rep. Lombardo said the measure is intended to create incentives for better cybersecurity and to limit class-action exposure after incidents, while still allowing suits where negligence can be shown. Supporters included TechNet, the Florida Justice Reform Institute, the Florida League of Cities, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, and Dr. Edward Long of the James Madison Institute; Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Blanco, and Rep. McFarland also spoke in favor. Ranking Member Bracy Davis opposed the bill, saying she was not comfortable granting liability protections to entities that may have contributed to breaches and questioning whether substantial compliance would be self-attested. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably by a 14-2 vote. After the vote, the committee shifted into an extended discussion about Florida’s state IT governance structure, procurement, and project management. Members criticized the current federated model as fragmented and lacking clear accountability, with repeated references to long-running problems such as cost overruns, weak vendor oversight, workforce shortages, and the troubled I-Connect system. Several members argued that the state needs a single accountable leader or stronger enterprise authority over agency technology decisions. Ranking Member Bracy Davis raised concerns about the impact of broken systems on vulnerable populations and asked about the role of advisory councils. Rep. G. Lombardo, Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Miller, and Rep. Groh all emphasized the need for centralized leadership, better alignment of authority and budget, and more disciplined procurement and integration practices. A public witness, Victoria Zep of Team 180, testified in support of a more enterprise-wide approach and said the private sector also wants more organization and transparency. She criticized short procurement timelines, limited competition, and poorly written scopes, and urged the state to post procurements more openly and seek broader vendor input. She also discussed the need to respect agency-specific federal requirements while still improving statewide coordination. The chair closed by asking members to bring forward ideas for immediate and long-term reforms, including review of Senate Bill 7026, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have really timely data, more than the health plans, about who is disenrolled from Medi-Cal and
• Analysis prepared in partnership with our county's managed care plan shows that the number of residents
• The Department of Health Care Services, we're all planning to collect emergency room utilization data
• There was a very good discussion about how important it is to understand what's happening to plan for
• the medium and the long term, and to plan for how we maintain the coverage gains the state has seen

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you look, for example, Amendment 6, the planning process shall require meaningful...
• Amendment number 12 adds language to the strategic plan provision.
• And again, I wasn't in the planning process.
• And again, I wasn't in the planning process, so please bear with me with my questions.
• It’s not like, and we came up with a plan working with the secretary.

Committee: House Labor & Industrial Relations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 680 by Representative Weibel, which would modernize Louisiana’s workforce development system by consolidating strategy and administrative functions at the state level while preserving local input. After adopting two sets of technical amendments and a larger amendment package that added a transition advisory team, consultation requirements with local workforce partners, and other planning and governance changes, the committee heard extensive testimony from the author, the Secretary of Louisiana Works, parish and local workforce representatives, and a witness from Utah describing that state’s consolidation experience. Supporters said the bill would reduce overhead, direct more money to training and services, improve coordination, and better align workforce programs with regional labor needs, while several members pressed for assurances that local boards, parishes, cities, and small businesses would remain involved. The committee ultimately adopted the amendments and reported HB 680 favorably with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 780 by Representative Furman, a workers’ compensation bill aimed at reducing litigation and speeding dispute resolution. After adopting technical amendments and a separate amendment set allowing authorized agents or attorneys to prepare certain notices, members also adopted a committee amendment deleting a statutory definition of “arbitrary and capricious” after concerns were raised that the language could create confusion or conflict with existing jurisprudence. The author and supporting attorneys argued the bill would restore an expedited preliminary determination process, create a single standard for attorney fees, and reduce costs for employers by limiting unnecessary litigation and delays. They said the changes would not affect an injured worker’s choice of physician or existing penalty provisions, and that the bill mainly addressed notice and dispute procedures. Opponents, including attorneys representing injured workers, argued the bill would make it harder for workers to recover penalties and attorney’s fees when benefits are delayed or denied, and said the new standard could favor insurers that are understaffed or slow to process claims. They also criticized the shift from reasonableness to a more restrictive standard and raised concerns about delayed payments and the lack of transparency around defense costs. After hearing testimony from both sides, the committee continued discussion of the bill with these issues still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• next requirement for us to turn one in is for the 2028 to 2030 Child Care and Development Fund State Plan
• a contract with a vendor to support that update to the alternative methodology for the next state plan
• What we're able to do is have some initial planning conversations.
• That plan has been modified in some years, but as of the 2024-25 budget, 129,800 additional slots have
• And so we really just got to stick with the plan and fund the spaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt predicts I'm the economist for the Office of Planning and Budget with the division.
• And so while we did get that plan and it is aspirational and visionary and meaningful, it was equally
• as important to me to make sure that the department had a work plan that was achievable in the four
• So we took that strategic plan and immediately turned it into what we call our 9 by 90 work plan, because
• But you all know, frankly, far better than I do, the process of planning roads, timing, funding, and

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met on March 10, 2026, for a series of informational presentations rather than bill hearings. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the state’s tax structure, the 2024 third special session tax reform package, and the Revenue Estimating Conference process. They explained the move to a 3% flat individual income tax, a 5.5% flat corporate income tax, the higher standard deduction and retirement-income exclusion, the repeal of several deductions and credits, the repeal of the corporate franchise tax, and the expansion of the sales tax base to certain digital goods. Staff also walked through tax exemption data, showing the size of exemptions relative to collections, and discussed forecasted revenue gaps in the out years, including the effect of the scheduled sales tax rate reduction and the return of transportation-related revenues to their prior dedication. Members asked about declining mineral revenues, digital sales tax collections, corporate collections, and the impact of tax credits and exemptions. Division of Administration and Legislative Fiscal Office staff said lower oil and gas prices, long-term production declines, and the timing of corporate payments were major factors in revenue trends, and that it will take at least another year or two of tax returns to fully understand the reform’s effects. They emphasized that corporate collections are still below the $600 million threshold that affects the state general fund and Revenue Stabilization Fund, though the forecast remains $900 million. The committee also discussed surplus and excess revenues, the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending, and how current-year and prior-year balances are allocated under the constitution. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the relationship between Ways and Means and Appropriations. Chairman McFarland stressed that new fiscal-note bills can force cuts elsewhere if revenue is not available, and urged members to coordinate early with fiscal staff before advancing costly legislation. Members also asked how pending constitutional amendments on teacher pay and inventory tax might affect the budget; staff said the teacher stipend proposal is not currently funded in the executive budget and that the inventory tax proposal would mainly affect local governments and any reimbursements from the Revenue Stabilization Fund if approved. The committee then heard from Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bouchoux, who reported strong results from recent reforms, including $92 billion in capital investment, 37,000 new jobs, a record year of announcements, a top-10 corporate tax climate ranking, and a pipeline of 189 active projects representing nearly 42,000 potential jobs and $280 billion in potential investment. Members praised LED’s work and discussed the need to pair economic development with workforce training, infrastructure, and predictable tax policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt predicts I'm the economist for the Office of Planning and Budget with the division.
• So while we did get that plan and it is aspirational and visionary and meaningful, it was equally as
• So we took that strategic... ...work plan that was achievable in the four years that we knew we would
• So we took that strategic plan, and we immediately turned it into what we call our 9 by 90 work plan,
• But you all know, frankly, far better than I do, the process of planning roads, timing, funding, and

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So it didn't include Medicare Advantage Plan members or commercial insurance.
• Only 35% currently planned to stay.
• So it didn't include Medicare Advantage Plan members, commercial. didn't include Medicare Advantage Plan
• Only 35% currently plan to stay in Missouri.
• They shall have responsible charge over the plans that they are stamping.

Summary: The committee first continued the public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ authority to perform certain office-based procedures. Supporters, including an optometrist from rural Missouri, argued the bill would improve access to care in counties without resident ophthalmologists, reduce wait times and travel burdens, and better align scope of practice with optometry training. Opponents, including representatives of osteopathic physicians, raised concerns about patient safety, the lack of live-human-eye training in Missouri, and whether the bill would actually direct services to rural areas. The hearing then closed on HB 2897 without a vote. The committee next heard House Bill 2353 on interior designers’ licensure and sign-and-seal authority. The sponsor and supporters said the bill modernizes the profession, moves oversight under the state’s architecture/engineering board, and would let licensed interior designers stamp their own non-structural work after education, testing, and experience requirements. Supporters emphasized workforce retention, consumer savings, and that interior designers are trained in fire/life safety, ADA, and code compliance. Opponents from engineering groups said they were still negotiating language but objected to provisions that could be read to require interior designers for broad categories of buildings or blur boundaries with architecture and engineering; they asked for clearer scope language and continued collaboration. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate outside the standard foster care licensing system under a new oversight board. The sponsor said the bill is intended to address a shortage of foster placements while allowing Christian homes to maintain their religious mission, with background checks, inspections, and reporting still required. Supporters from Christian child care agencies said the bill would preserve religious freedom and expand placement capacity. Opponents, including child advocacy and child abuse prevention groups and several legislators, argued the proposal would create a separate, less accountable system for vulnerable children, weaken state oversight, and risk repeating past abuse scandals; they said existing licensing rules already allow faith-based providers to participate. The discussion was extensive, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• is and how a certain rate plan might benefit you, or if there's an outage, getting in touch with the
• and applied it to... ...did last year for planned communities and applied it to condominiums.
• Last year, I asked that you simply apply the bill that Senator Mazzard offered to planned communities
• They are planning entities.
• They are planning entities. So we draft the The laws and their jobs are to implement the laws.

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered SB 1825, which would shift the precinct committeeman vacancy application and nomination process from county party chairs to legislative district chairs where established, and require applicants to submit to the authorized chair within five days. Supporters said the change would streamline appointments, reduce bottlenecks in large counties, and strengthen grassroots, bottom-up party organization. County supervisors’ association staff said they had no objection to the district-chair process but raised concern that the five-day deadline for boards to act was too short. The committee adopted a do pass recommendation on SB 1825, with members noting the five-day issue should be worked out later. The committee then heard SB 1566, as amended, which targets malicious delays by municipalities, counties, the state, or state agencies in licensing and permit decisions, with a civil penalty and Attorney General enforcement. The amendment narrowed the bill to statutory licensing timeframes for single-family residential construction and clarified definitions and certificate-of-occupancy authority. The sponsor and home builders argued the bill would deter intentional delays that add to housing costs, while questions focused on how malice would be proven and whether the language was too broad. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1566 a do pass as amended recommendation. Next, SB 1571, as amended, would bar monopoly utilities from passing marketing, sponsorship, community relations, and similar costs through to ratepayers, require annual reporting and attestation, and define the covered utilities. Supporters said ratepayers should not fund utility advertising or sponsorships, especially amid rising rates, while opponents from municipal and public-power utilities warned the language could sweep too broadly and interfere with legitimate customer communications, especially for smaller not-for-profit systems. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a do pass as amended recommendation. The committee also advanced SB 1501, expanding Administrative Rules Oversight Committee review to include whether agency actions exceed statutory authority, and SB 1805, requiring county recorders to verify the notary status on quitclaim deeds before recording them; both received do pass recommendations despite some concerns about scope and administrative burden.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:48.440><c> Five-Year</c><00:24:48.799><c> Plan</c><00:24:49.000><c> to</c><00:24:49.120><c
• > deliver</c> vetted a bold Five-Year Plan to deliver vetted a bold Five-Year Plan to deliver more<00
• A year ago, we announced the Maui interim housing plan.
• The Maui interim housing plan was a $500 million initiative from emergency funds to create a pool of
• </c><00:46:47.040><c> Statewide</c> mapped out evacuation plans Statewide mapped out evacuation plans

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is not a plan.
• Um, this does not include a plan to transport water across New Mexico or any, any area.
• The, the, the idea and there is no plan to transport, so let me just stop there.
• But it does nothing if we don't put together a master plan.
• Um, but there is no plan to sell this water.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:22.480><c> do</c> Did reflect that many of the plans do cover hearing aids.
• </c> Health Care insurers on um health plans Health Care insurers on um health plans and<00:55:06.240
• So what are your folks' plans if we got past this?
• What are your folks' plans about trying to get the money back from the contractor?
• So, so you guys are planning on it, okay? Okay, any questions? Yeah, I have a question.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 1419, SB 1494, and SB 1495, which were taken out of order to accommodate ASL/Death Blind Task Force testimony. SB 1419, relating to Act 253 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2023), drew support from the Department of Human Services and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, with testimony emphasizing use of the term “low vision” and support for the program timeline. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and updated appropriation fiscal years, and the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present. SB 1494, concerning hearing aids, drew broad support from disability advocates and others who argued that hearing aids improve health, reduce accidents, and may help reduce dementia risk. Testifiers also urged that the bill define hearing aids as prescription hearing aids rather than including over-the-counter devices, and the Department of the Auditor and Insurance Division raised cost and coverage questions. The committee recommended passage with amendments, changing the coverage approach to optional coverage similar to vision and dental and requesting a sunrise analysis for prescription hearing aids; that recommendation was adopted. SB 1495, which exempts hearing aids from the general excise tax, also received support, while the Attorney General flagged a possible single-subject issue and the Tax Department estimated a potential $1.1 million revenue impact. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including deletion of the challenged language, technical fixes, and noting the revenue estimate; that recommendation was adopted. The committee then moved through additional measures with mostly supportive testimony. SB 1421 on medical records prompted questions about what happens when a solo practitioner dies or closes practice, and the discussion centered on ensuring patients can obtain records, including a proposed amendment requiring a successor provider to send records to the patient’s last known address. SB 1422, dealing with a special fund and vital statistics funding, was supported by the Department of Health, which said the special fund did not meet criteria and that deposits should instead go to the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. SB 1423 on certificate of need exemptions for Department of Health facilities drew support, with discussion of possibly extending exemptions to dialysis and behavioral health/psychiatric services; the Department indicated it would not oppose that change. SB 1424 on credentialing of health care providers also received support, and SB 1425 on the State Emergency Medical Services Committee focused on reducing quorum requirements because many members are active first responders and cannot always attend meetings. The committee also heard support for SB 1426 on emergency medical services, SB 1431 on viral hepatitis, and SB 1433 on harm reduction, with testimony on hepatitis outreach funding and syringe access best practices; for SB 1433, the Department of Health identified a blank in the bill and recommended a six-month period for the syringe-possession exception.