Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:51.919> that indicated there are the facilities that indicated there are the facilities
• facility in the state and our facilities facility in the state and our facilities are<00:21:29.640
• <01:59:20.159> is prosecutions because the facility is prosecutions because the facility is
• voting that occurs within that facility voting that occurs within that facility uh<01:59:32.400>
• MSOP is a treatment facility.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for a certification and civil penalties for unlawful acts by the provider and for preparing or distributing
• Also, to intentionally fail to prepare or distribute a written description of the services, the first
• We're in 246 public stores throughout the state, so that's how we distribute.
• And thank you, Chair, for... that's how we distribute uh direct to consumers another outlet that we use
• And then they're going to distribute the milk into Florida into their stores.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture convened, took roll, and heard Senate Bill 58 by Senator Harrow, which would create regulation for companion animal cremation. Harrow described a case involving mishandled pet remains and said the bill would require written service descriptions, prohibit false or misleading statements, require certification with returned remains, authorize Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services rulemaking, and impose civil penalties for violations. With no questions or public opposition, the committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then heard presentations on robotics in agriculture and aquaculture. Dr. Nathan Boyd of UF/IFAS discussed the rapid growth of agricultural robotics, including AI-driven weed detection, targeted spraying, autonomous tractors, and harvesting technology, emphasizing reduced pesticide use, lower input costs, and labor-saving automation. Dr. Nicole Kirchoff of Live Advantage Bait and Adrian Johnson of the Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association highlighted aquaculture’s economic and environmental value, Florida’s strong position in the industry, and challenges including hurricane losses, lack of insurance, land-use instability, capital access, and water quality. They urged support for working waterfronts, risk mitigation, and policies to help the sector commercialize and expand. The committee also heard from dairy producers Kevin Lusher and Jacob Larson. Lusher described his family’s dairy and artisan cheese business, noting reliance on USDA grants, rising costs, labor shortages, and regulatory burdens, and asked for more grant support, marketing for Fresh From Florida products, and permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida. Larson discussed the broader dairy market, declining herd sizes due to efficiency gains, high production costs in Florida, and competition from out-of-state processing, suggesting incentives for local processing and supply management. Finally, FDOT Chief Planner Wayway Schen presented on arterial and local road funding programs, including ART, ARTW, SCOP, SCRAP, CIGP, and TRIP, and said rural road needs remain significant, with more than $16 billion in unfunded or partially funded project needs. The committee adjourned after brief discussion and thanks to the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we will have the bill distributed.
• <00:02:10.599> 260,000 insecurity they distribute 260,000 insecurity they distribute 260,000
• immediate need uh this typee of facility immediate need uh this typee of facility is<00:03:03.760
• obtaining and preparing the facility obtaining and preparing the facility there<00:05:31.360>
• We also distributed goods last year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also ensure that there's boiler safety in all of our assembly facilities.
• That's where all those employees are down there in that facility.
• And we distribute available assets to the claimants.
• of distributions in Chapter 631.
• This question, this Idaho facility, what kind of stress testing goes on there?

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2506E revises the distributions of the fuel sales tax proceeds and caps the distribution
• Senate Bill 2506E revises the distributions of the fuel sales tax proceeds and caps the distribution
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation rather than a distribution appropriation rather than a distribution a<00:17:59.520
• facilities that uh are now in steady facilities that uh are now in steady decline<01:00:16.559> and
• financially hurt or a facility. financially hurt or a facility.
• where licensed facilities are located. where licensed facilities are located.
• the ongoing issues with the facility the ongoing issues with the facility down<04:00:43.520>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 63, which concerns funding for the division of travel and tourism and its relationship to the meals-and-rooms tax calculation. Members asked for confirmation that the bill would not affect municipal distributions under RSA 78-A:26. Jennifer Ramsey of the Department of Revenue Administration explained that the amendment does not change meals-and-rooms distributions, but instead corrects the calculation for the travel and tourism appropriation by adding back the municipal fund transfer before applying the 3.15% floor. Chris Shay of the Office of the Attorney General agreed with that explanation. The committee also discussed the complexity of the meals-and-rooms statutes and the possibility of a future cleanup effort. The committee then voted 19-0 to recommend SB 63 ought to pass; it will not go on consent because it has a fiscal note. The committee next considered SB 60, relative to advanced deposit account wagering. Rep. Murphy moved ought to pass, explaining that the bill would regulate advanced deposit wagering on horse racing and impose a 1.25% revenue share on wagers from New Hampshire residents, generating roughly a quarter-million dollars in new lottery revenue in the first year. The motion passed 19-0, and the bill will not go on consent because of its fiscal note. The committee then voted 19-0 to recommend SB 147 ITL, with members noting that live racing facilities are in decline and the market is shrinking. SB 160, which updates raffle ticket pricing and prize limits for bingo-related gaming, also passed ought to pass 19-0 and will not go on consent. The committee then took up SB 73, which revises coverall bingo rules and increases prize limits. An amendment, 2025-1470H, was offered to raise the total prize amount to $5,000; members supported it as a reasonable compromise, and the amendment was adopted unanimously. The bill as amended then passed ought to pass 19-0, again with a fiscal note preventing consent placement. After those votes, the committee moved into a work session on SB 83, where members began discussing the bill’s video lottery terminal provisions, including the meaning of “maximum wager,” the absence of a cumulative betting cap, and concerns that the bill combines several distinct policy changes—tax treatment, VLT rules, renaming, and a self-exclusion database—into one measure. No vote was taken on SB 83 during the work session, and members indicated they would continue discussion later after reviewing side-by-side materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• to explicitly include electric energy storage facilities like battery systems and other technologies
• The cost of the equipment to build the facility is the valuation on day one, and that is depreciated
• I think we'll see these in many counties and geographically distributed across the state.
• it's not only going to have to be retired, but it's going to have to be handled maybe at a waste facility
• Retired, but it's going to have to be handled maybe at a waste facility or something like that.

Bills: HB248, HB309, HB332, SB48

Keywords: general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:18:27.400> rather the renewable energy facilities rather the renewable energy facilities
• > place<01:38:24.080> in facility in champ place in facility in champ place in Rochester
• they had another manufacturing facility they had another manufacturing facility that<02:02:01.639
• <02:07:01.960> transmission<02:07:02.520> distribution distribution transmission distribution
• distribution transmission distribution utility<02:07:04.119> and<02:07:04.280> then<02

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , changing the distribution methodology results in a 55% increase to the safe schools allocation.
• Allocation is the assignment of at least one safe school officer per school facility.
• The facility does not change. The staff do not change. The safety requirements do not change.
• There are many rural communities that are miles from private child care facilities.
• What market is this for working families who live 30 minutes away from private facilities?

Transcript Highlights:

• statutory distributions. statutory distributions.
• <01:13:09.120> there distributions are set by statute. there distributions are set by statute
• , going to be collected and distributed, going to be collected and distributed, the<01:25:34.639>
• ,<02:07:53.280> everything's or the use of a facility, everything's or the use of a facility
• Virginia uh that can be the distribution Virginia uh that can be the distribution can<02:59:54.080

Keywords: 916, all

Bills: HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114, HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• So they'd have to contract with a facility that has that service available.
• So 86% general fund, 14% highway tax distribution fund originally.
• So when they're now sent... ...are reimbursed to the facility.
• Okay, so that's the side of things, what they're tasked with for all of our facilities.
• So the public hearing would be held with the department and the facilities.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee began with roll call and a brief update on remaining work, then took up Senate Bill 2213, the “science of math” bill. Members clarified that the appropriation for the program was not included in the DPI budget and would remain attached to the policy bill for now. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave the bill a do pass recommendation, 21-2. The committee next considered Senate Bills 2036 and 2037, both juvenile justice/Human Services bills involving mental health and criminal responsibility evaluations for minors. Testimony explained that the bills create new processes and require DHS to contract with specialized providers, with appropriations of $500,000 in 2036 and $300,000 in 2037. Members debated whether the funding should come from existing DHS resources or remain as separate appropriations, and whether the programs were one-time or ongoing. The committee adopted amendments on both bills and then recommended both do pass, with 2036 passing 14-6 and 2037 passing 17-4. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget. Representative Bosch outlined major themes in the budget, including migration from PeopleSoft and the mainframe, onboarding/off-boarding automation, double-counting of IT spending, and the transition of education technology from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Members also discussed a study amendment related to a statewide enterprise resource planning system, and added language on grant management and compliance management. The committee adopted the amendments and gave the budget a do pass recommendation, 20-0-3. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2011, the Highway Patrol budget. Representative Pyle explained the House changes, including shifting some one-time costs to the motor carrier electronic permit fund, funding for body armor, breath tests, road course resurfacing, fleet costs, handgun replacement, and carryover authority for federal technology funds. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the budget 21-0-2. The committee then began Senate Bill 2399, a Human Services bill on Medicaid reimbursement for psychiatric residential treatment facilities, but deferred action after testimony from a facility representative and committee discussion about therapeutic leave days, reimbursement rates, and whether a cap on reimbursable days should be set in statute or rule. The chair said the committee would seek more information from DHS and take the bill up the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• HERE IS A SHORT OVERVIEW OF WHERE THERE ARE LEGAL GAMING FACILITIES IN THE STATE.
• THEY MIGHT SEE IT IN A TRIBAL GAMING FACILITY.
• THOSE ARE NOT IN LAWFUL FACILITIES. NOT IN ANY STATE'S LAWFUL FACILITY.
• COMPARE THAT TO A STATE LICENSED FACILITY OR A TRIBAL GAMING FACILITY AND THESE MACHINES ARE REGULATED
• THERE IS A ILLEGAL HORSE RACING THAT IS OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF LICENSE FACILITIES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have workforce facilities. important. We have workforce facilities.
• Um, you can, uh, it is knowable what the distribution of trips from that facility is.
• <02:19:33.280> Um facilities for any existing facility.
• Um facilities for any existing facility.
• distribution of trips from that facility distribution of trips from that facility is.<02:19:40.080

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2506E revises the distribution of the fuel sales tax proceeds and caps the distribution of
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled, an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled, an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled, an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.
• House Bill 5501E, a bill to be entitled, an act relating to documentary stamp tax distributions.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed moments of silence for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget, implementing, collective bargaining, retirement, education, health, taxation, corrections, fuel tax, and related conference-report legislation. Chair Hooper then outlined the process for taking up Senate conforming bills first, followed by House bills once received, in preparation for budget conference. The chamber passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after delete-all amendments were adopted to place the measures in proper posture for conference. Measures taken up included fuel taxes (SB 2506E), the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge (SB 2508E), judges (SB 2512E), pre-K-12 education (SB 2514E), retirement (SB 2E/HB 5205E), higher education (SB 2516E/HB 5601E), health care (SB 2518E/HB 5301E), collective bargaining/state employees (SB 2504E/HB 5201E), government administration (HB 5203E), correctional facilities financing and capital improvements (HB 5403E), documentary stamp tax distributions (HB 5501E), petroleum cleanup programs (HB 5701E), and the general appropriations and implementing bills (SB 2500E/HB 5001E and SB 2502E/HB 5003E). In each case, the Senate either passed the bill as amended or, after failing to pass the House version as received, requested conference with the House. During debate on the tax package, Leader Berman urged lawmakers to consider suspending the motor fuel tax for the summer, citing high gas prices and the need for immediate relief at the pump. The Senate ultimately passed HB 7031E as a blank vehicle for conference and then requested conference with the House after failing to pass it as received. No substantive amendments were adopted beyond the conference-posture delete-all amendments, and no recorded opposition votes were cast on the measures considered. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair announced the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet that day or the next, and the Senate adopted a motion to establish the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session by website publication and secretary announcement. The Senate then adjourned upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of that has to do with the transportation formula and how money is distributed. Our committee.
• So, 90% of the transportation distribution is covering existing expenditures.
• Summit, and a capital distribution. LFC also has 51.2 million.
• The other problem with that is that the money was not distributed until late in the school term.
• They're in a small, dilapidated facility, and they could do so much more.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:50.400> owned, school buildings include facility owned, school buildings include facility
• Um, I have distributed an amendment. Um, so I will move amendment 2026-1013H.
• Um, I have distributed an amendment.
• Um, I have distributed an amendment. Um, so I will move amendment 2026-1013H.
• And were you distributed to everybody. And were you seconding<00:11:19.200> that?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities for Minnesota State.
• The other portions of the model, facilities, by definition, we use square footage of the facilities we
• The way the funds are to be distributed is specified in statute.
• based on square feet of facility space available for students.
• based on square would be distributed based on square feet<01:32:04.400> of<01:32:04.600> facility

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• these facilities. these facilities.
• Additionally, um the these facilities Additionally, um the these facilities are<00:09:26.240>
• and correctional facilities and correctional facilities all<00:12:49.519> over<00:12:49.839
• 25.839> that<00:15:26.079> could 2010, the facility uh that could 2010, the facility uh
• government is to have 24 facilities government is to have 24 facilities running<00:24:41.840>

Bills: HF3611, HF3659, HF3909

Keywords: taxation, income tax, damage awards, sexual harassment, abuse claims, immigration enforcement, taxpayers, file income tax return, Minnesota-source income, tax regulations, detention facilities, gross revenues, private prisons, Minnesota law, 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the March 3, 2026 minutes and then laid over House File 3611 for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Finke described HF 3611 as creating a state income tax withholding deduction for damages awarded to individuals in lawsuits against federal agents such as ICE or CBP, including emotional and financial awards. There was no public testimony or member discussion on the bill before it was laid over. The committee then took up House File 3909, which Representative Hansen said would impose a 50% tax on the gross receipts of detention centers operated by private nongovernmental entities. Hansen argued the measure would recapture public money, deter what he characterized as misuse of taxpayer dollars, and target profits made by private detention contractors such as GEO Group and CoreCivic. He also cited projected revenues and profits for those companies and said the bill was a response to human rights and civil rights concerns tied to private detention operations. Testimony on HF 3909 included support from Nancy Fitz Simmons, a Minnesota State University, Mankato social work professor, who said social workers see the effects of these issues across the state and that the bill could return money to Minnesotans in need. Representative Swedzinski opposed the bill’s impact on the Appleton facility and emphasized local jobs and economic opportunity, while Representative Lee said Minnesota should seek better economic options than jail-related work. Representative Holland supported the bill as a way to offset costs to families and the state from detentions and deportations. Representative Weiner questioned the bill’s revenue potential and criticized the 50% gross-receipts tax as politicizing taxes. Representative Hansen responded that similar proposals were being explored in Washington and California and that the bill was intended to stand up to large corporate interests. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.