Transcript Highlights:

• I understand the complexity and the scope of the existing data systems that DEES is currently managing
• 00:08:32.880><c> the</c><00:08:33.200><c> existing</c><00:08:33.680><c> data</c><00:08:34.000><c> systems
• </c><00:08:34.479><c> that</c> scope of the existing data systems that scope of the existing data systems
• I'll look forward to getting those reports so I can enter them in this new system.
• </c><00:25:15.600><c> if</c> I can enter them in this new system if I can enter them in this new system

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But our goal, obviously, is to prevent youth from getting further into the system, right?
• Getting further into the adult correction system and try to get them back out into the community in a
• So really, DJC just represents about 5% of kids in the juvenile justice system in the state.
• And also any sort of further Kids from entering into the juvenile justice system to begin with and also
• any sort of further involvement into the system.

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s three programs, funding sources, recent expenditure trends, and proposed FY 2027 requests, including replacement items, IT upgrades, a clinician services transfer from Health and Welfare, and endowment-funded facility and vehicle needs. Director Ashley Dowell described the department’s mission, declining juvenile census, and the role of county partnerships, youth assessment centers, and prevention/diversion services. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, vehicle replacements, staffing, and whether any juveniles were under mandatory minimums; Dowell said the holdback was managed through contract reductions, travel/training savings, and internal efficiencies, and that the staffing analysis found the department was understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies already reclassified into direct care roles. The committee then heard the budget review for the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Analyst Peterson explained that the office is mostly federally funded, with several dedicated funds and large reappropriated balances tied to energy resilience projects; he also noted a home energy rebates request that was not recommended by the governor because of uncertainty at the federal level. Administrator Calli Younger said the office uses federal and state funds to support rural energy efficiency, wildfire prevention, permitting coordination, and policy work on hydropower, geothermal, mining, and nuclear energy. She emphasized the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for flexibility to support nuclear policy work, and efforts to improve permitting efficiency through a one-stop-shop approach and participation in FAST-41 processes. Members asked about nuclear fuel recycling, workforce needs, incentives, and a possible merger with the Office of Species Conservation; Younger said Idaho’s lab and regulatory certainty make it well positioned for nuclear growth, but workforce development and policy clarity remain key, and she described the merger idea as a way to consolidate overlapping permitting functions and reduce costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporting them saves money to the system, strengthens families, and keeps people at home where they
• Supporting them saves money to the system, strengthens families, and keeps people at home where they
• And hopefully that also deters and mitigates future cases of fraud and abuse specifically in the system
• Today, that is within the Luma system, which you all know feeds into Transparent Idaho.
• We also have a number of pieces that we're working on with SCO and the Luma system.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• personnel, as well as Public Safety Communications, which manages consolidated emergency communication systems
• The bureau houses StateComm, the state's emergency communications and coordination center, a systems-of-care
• So it's maintaining pay parity with the federal pay system.
• The last agency that we'll be reviewing this morning is PERSI, the Public Employee Retirement System
• As I like to frequently say, the PERSI Trust is not just a state system. It is a statewide system.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations for the Idaho Military Division, the Division of Veterans Services, and the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). For the Military Division, analysts and Major General Tim Donnellan reviewed the division’s structure, recent transfer of emergency medical services into the division, and the fiscal year 2027 request. The request included a small general fund amount for hazardous materials response, a pay-parity adjustment for state employees tied to federal military pay scales, and a dedicated-fund enhancement for overhead recovery, offset by rescissions including vacant positions and reduced tuition assistance. Members asked about the 3% rescission, EMS transition costs, and why certain CEC-related positions appeared in and out of the budget; the general said the division had absorbed the cut but that further reductions could affect education assistance for Guardsmen. He also described the EMS transition as smooth and said the division was modernizing its Army and Air components. The committee then reviewed the Division of Veterans Services budget and heard from Administrator Mark Champal. The analyst outlined the division’s homes, cemeteries, veteran assistance programs, and fiscal year 2027 requests, including one-time equipment and replacement items, an ongoing reduction for expiring software fees, and reductions for long-vacant positions. Questions focused on nursing shortages, contract labor, the miscellaneous revenue fund, and memory-care capacity. Champal said the division is using a temporary nursing pool to reduce reliance on contract nurses and expects to save nearly half a million dollars, while continuing to struggle with staffing. He said the Boise home currently meets memory-care needs and that the new Boise facility could expand if needed. He also highlighted outreach efforts, claims assistance, cemetery services, and the division’s efforts to connect veterans with outside support. Finally, PERSI’s budget was presented and discussed with Director Mike Hampton. The analyst described the retirement system’s defined benefit and defined contribution plans, the ongoing pension software upgrade, and one-time requests for the final software phase, disaster recovery planning, and IT replacements. Committee members asked about administrative growth, who participates in PERSI, software maintenance costs, and why there was no general fund rescission. Hampton explained that PERSI is fully funded by employer and employee contributions, that the software project is nearing completion, and that the annual maintenance increase reflects licensing costs. He also discussed post-retirement allowance adjustments, saying the board recommended a retroactive catch-up through 2022 and that future increases depend on fund performance and legislative action. The committee also discussed the merits and risks of defined benefit versus defined contribution plans, and Hampton said PERSI remains well funded, with strong investment returns and broad participation across Idaho public employers. The meeting ended with adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The system is now open. Please proceed to vote. Please proceed to vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
• works differently from the federal system on business expensing.
• works differently from the federal system on business expensing.
• SB 1119, radiation protection system installation requirement. Health and Human Services.
• SB 1120, radiation protection system medical procedures. Health and Human Services.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the prior journal, and made temporary committee appointments. It then resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider SB 1106, a tax conformity bill tied to federal tax changes. Senators debated the measure at length, with supporters arguing it would provide tax relief, certainty for taxpayers and businesses, and conformity with federal filing rules, while opponents said it would reduce state revenue, favor wealthier taxpayers and corporations, and should be handled in budget negotiations or a special session. The bill advanced from Committee of the Whole and, on third reading, passed the Senate 17-12 with one not voting, then was transmitted to the House and later to the governor. During the floor debate, senators focused on the bill’s effects on child care deductions, senior deductions, overtime and tip income, business expensing, and a provision related to federal school voucher tax credits. Democrats argued the bill would worsen budget pressures, undermine funding for education, roads, public safety, and human services, and do little for families on child care waitlists or seniors still working. Republicans countered that the bill would keep more money in taxpayers’ pockets, support working families and small businesses, and align Arizona’s tax code with federal changes to avoid confusion for filers. After the tax vote, Senator Bolick read a proclamation honoring Arizona and U.S. law enforcement, citing fallen officers, officer assaults, and the need for training, equipment, mental health support, and tougher penalties for attacks on officers. The Senate then received and referred a large number of new bills to committees, announced upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• SCHOOL YEAR WAS WET WITH A MYRIAD OF ACCOUNTABILITY CHALLENGES THAT LED TO A SHORTFALL WHERE THE SYSTEM
• FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AND THE SUCCESSFUL AND ACCURATE FUNDING OF THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE OVERALL SYSTEM
• WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENROLLMENT AND MOBILITY ACROSS THE STATE SYSTEM IN
• FEFP IS LIVING OFF A SYSTEM WE CHECK ATTENDANCE IN FEBRUARY, WE CHECK IN OCTOBER, WE TRUE EVERYTHING
• OUR OFFICE OVERSEES OR PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON OPTIONS OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SYSTEM SO

Transcript Highlights:

• The current system is insufficient because visual verification alone led to tragedy.
• Senate Bill 50 is a needed change because electronic verification systems can more reliably detect fake
• by regular audits, with technology that makes sure that only adults can order lottery tickets and systems
• Can't go over uh a specified threshold and absolutely can't use the system to create any sort of bulk
• I've worked with couriers, as I've worked for a courier, I've come to respect the processes, the systems

Bills: SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: groundwater, groundwater conservation district, Water Code, Water Development Board, modeled available groundwater, aquifer, water permit, groundwater transfer, export groundwater, out-of-district transfer, management area, desired future conditions, well permit, retail public utility, potable water, emergency interconnect, subsidiary, controlled entity, aquifer management, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• rural and failing utilities by explicitly stating the fund can be used to provide grants to those systems
• And second, we need to address the problem of aging, deteriorating drinking water and wastewater systems
• If Texas is going to contemplate a statewide conveyance system to deliver water.
• In a manner that mirrors our highway system and transmission of electricity.
• So what's the low hanging fruit in that canal system that could, that could be looked upon and say this

Bills: SB 7

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a House-conforming bill relating to the state's accounting and financial management system, and
• focuses on enhancing partnerships with small business in Florida, ensures a uniform transportation system
• Sydney Holmes was arrested for a robbery he did not commit and spent 34 years in our state prison system
• Having waived close, Alicia, please call the roll. 34 years in our state prison system.
• I think the grant system is already in place. We're not changing really how that works in the bill.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up a long agenda of House and Senate bills, many of them conforming or “orphan” measures that were amended with delete-all or strike-all amendments to place them in conference posture. Among those reported favorably were HB 5015 on the State Group Insurance Program, HB 5009 creating the Florida Accountability Office, HB 5013 on state-funded property reinsurance, HB 5201 on state financial accounting, HB 5203 on the Capitol Center, and HB 5501 on documentary stamp tax distributions. The committee also approved SB 1292 on public records exemptions for certain email addresses, SB 1290 on highway safety and motor vehicle agency changes, SB 26 on an uncontested claims settlement, SB 176 and SJR 174 on homestead property assessment for flood-mitigation improvements, and SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School procedures. Several substantive bills drew discussion. SB 924, covering fertility preservation services for cancer patients under the state health plan, received supportive comments from members and was reported favorably. SB 1160 expanded health insurance premium coverage for law enforcement officers and their families when catastrophic injury or death occurs in the line of duty or during official training, and it also passed. HB 1662, the Department of Transportation package, established or revised programs involving the Florida Transportation Academy, transportation research, rural transit, airport and seaport accountability, advanced air mobility, landscaping, and HOV lane changes; it was amended after testimony from the Florida Airports Council about landing-fee language and questions from members about AAM and HOV lane implementation, then reported favorably. The committee also heard and approved SB 600, which codifies a statewide manufacturing office and creates a Florida manufacturing promotional campaign and grant framework, and SB 602, the fee bill tied to that campaign. That pair prompted the most extensive debate, with members asking about grant structure, eligibility, oversight, and whether the program could become a “slush fund”; the sponsor and Florida Makes said the program is aimed at small manufacturers, would be subject to rulemaking, and is intended to support training and modernization. SB 602 passed on a mostly party-line vote with Senator Pizzo voting no. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• They hold a unique and trusted position within our health care system.
• AB 447 reminds us that our health care systems should serve people, not stand in their way.
• AB447 allows us to do better by reducing those unnecessary spending, straining the health care system
• AB447 is the prescription for a better healthcare system and it's just what the doctor ordered.
• Black Caucus for continuing to do the challenging but important work to address the systemic barriers

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What tells me that this was effective was the response by systems within other neighboring states, as
• I had mentioned something about the MNSCU pay system, and I was so grateful that everything was fixed
• our full four-year load of students on board and have that full load of tuition flowing through the system
• As a whole, we are a larger system in rural Minnesota, and we made sure that we were establishing the
• same type of controls for our academic affiliation that we use in our system.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• language specifying epinephrine injectors or EpiPens and replaces it. with an epinephrine delivery system
• This allows the law to be nimble and accommodate current and future delivery systems.
• The other thing is that the requests that are abandoned right now also strain the school system, anonymous
• These students were entering the K-12 system as bright-eyed five-year-olds at the Woodson Kindergarten
• And now we're reaching the final experience in their K-12 system.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the Kentucky teachers also members of the Kentucky teachers retirement<00:16:41.319><c> system
• the first four pages retirement system the first four pages of<00:16:43.360><c> House</c><00:16:43.600
• While We Lead CS is in the Teachers' Retirement System, they are not allowed to directly administer the
• what the committee sub added to House Bill 73 deals with it would direct the Teachers' Retirement System
• what the committee sub added to House Bill 73 deals with it would direct the Teachers' Retirement System

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:25 Attendance Roll Call: 00:31 HJR 15 (Rep. Baker): 01:15 HB 462 (Sen. Nemes for Rep. Dietz): 09:01 HB 6 (Rep. Williams): 10:18 HB 73 (Rep. Johnson): 15:21 Adjournment: 18:48, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first considered HJR 15, a resolution to return a Ten Commandments monument to the new state Capitol grounds. Representative Shane Baker described the monument’s history, its removal to storage in the 1980s, and a prior 2000 effort that was blocked by the courts. He argued recent Supreme Court decisions, including Van Orden and Kennedy, support a history-and-tradition approach and said the resolution would direct the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to retrieve and reinstall the monument in Monument Park. Senator Herron raised concerns about religious neutrality and whether other faiths would also be represented at the Capitol. Baker and Chair Petrie responded that the resolution was limited to restoring a specific historical monument and did not bar future proposals for other displays. Senator Armstrong voted no, saying the legal landscape remained uncertain and the state could face costly litigation. The committee approved HJR 15 on an 8-1 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 6, which would limit administrative agencies from issuing regulations with an economic impact of more than $500,000 over two years, with exceptions for imminent public health or safety threats, protection of federal or state funds, and compliance with certain court orders. Representative Wade Williams said the bill would rein in costly agency rulemaking and cited LRC data showing only about a dozen regulations in 2024 would have met the threshold, with roughly six after closer review. Senator Chambers Armstrong expressed concern that the bill could tie the government’s hands in emergencies, but the bill passed 8-1. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 73, which had a committee substitute. Representatives Johnson and Tipton explained that one part would add We Lead CS to the list of educational service providers allowed to administer their own retirement program participation, and the other would require the Teachers’ Retirement System actuary to provide additional information on each employer’s share of unfunded liability. The committee approved HB 73 unanimously, 10-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , it would address everything from housing to health care to food and security to make sure these systems
• our population ages, and places an unsustainable financial and emotional burden on our healthcare system
• . system, our citizens, and their families.
• Thanks to THC GME, our system has multiple family medicine residency programs.
• Patrick, our healthcare system is broken. It's reacting. Not preventative.

Committee: Senate Aging (Special) Committee

Keywords: health policy, lifespan, quality of life, community health, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting was marked by discussions surrounding health policies aimed at enhancing the lifespan and quality of life for the community members. The chairperson initiated the session with personal reflections on the importance of extending not just the years of life but also the quality of those years, especially from the perspective of parents and grandparents. Members engaged in thoughtful dialogue regarding potential legislative measures that could address public health in a more holistic manner, emphasizing the need for community outreach and effective health education programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• As demand continues to kind of put more and more stress on the system, we've got plenty of capacity.
• But on the spaceport side, we approach it as a system across the entire state.
• automation systems, and they're really focused on precision.
• and a water deluge system supports us, but supports industry up and down the entire Cape.
• It's really about matching the orbit to what the system needs.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard first from Space Florida President and CEO Robert Long, who described the agency’s role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority and spaceport authority. He reported a pipeline of about 187 projects, nearly $7 billion in potential private investment, and roughly 8,000 potential jobs, with 161 projects in the fiscal-year pipeline, up about 30% from the prior year. Long said Space Florida is focusing on workforce development through its Space Florida Academy with 23 school districts, and on target markets including advanced air mobility/eVTOL, flight simulation, and satellite manufacturing. Members asked about infrastructure, federal-state coordination, LNG planning, environmental mitigation, workforce, and how the Legislature’s recent $5 million recurring increase is being used; Long said the funds are mainly supporting staffing, contracted services, and IT improvements to handle growth and move projects through faster. The panel then heard from Blue Origin, Leonardo (through LSN Partners), and Lone Star Data Holdings. Blue Origin said its Florida manufacturing and launch operations have grown far beyond initial commitments, with more than $3 billion invested and over 3,000 employees in the state, and emphasized the need for roads, water, wastewater, and other launch-site infrastructure as launch cadence increases. Leonardo highlighted its TH-73A Navy helicopter program in Milton and a new 70,000-square-foot maintenance facility at Whiting Aviation Park, crediting state, local, and federal partners and noting future potential for its AW-609 tiltrotor aircraft. Lone Star Data Holdings described its satellite-based data storage and disaster-recovery business, said Florida was its first customer, and urged the state to use Florida as a pilot project for protecting data and expanding space-based data infrastructure. Members repeatedly focused on what the state should do next, and the panel’s main answer was continued investment in infrastructure and long-term planning. Specific needs mentioned included road widening, traffic signals, fire suppression, water pressure, wastewater capacity, power, transportation links, environmental mitigation, and LNG-related planning at the spaceport. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the meeting, and the session ended after member questions and comments with a motion to rise and adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The witness explained that each facility has an inmate account within the offender management system,
• The system is programmed to deduct that before the inmate actually receives the money in their account
• it it is within our offender account so it it is within our offender management<00:14:04.680><c> system
• and it manages and management system and it manages and keeps<00:14:06.120><c> up</c><00:14:06.399><
• is programmed to deduct that system is programmed to deduct that before<00:14:38.920><c> the</c><00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary heard an update from the Department of Corrections on Kentucky Correctional Industries (KCI), sentence-credit payments for program completion, and the expansion of the Little Sandy Correctional Complex. Department officials said KCI, the department’s long-running re-entry program, operates 15 industries in 11 institutions, employs more than 400 inmates and 37 staff, and had $5.8 million in expenditures against $6.8 million in revenues through January 31. Members asked about inmate pay, the role of the Prison Industries Enhancement Certification (PIE) program, and whether KCI generates profit; the department said it aims to break even while supporting state government, with PIE participants earning prevailing wages and some programs offering certificates tied to post-release employment opportunities. The subcommittee also reviewed the budget-authorized sentence-credit program for county jails. Officials reported 37,300 program completions in fiscal year 2024 and, through January, $6.128 million paid for 90-day sentence credits and $1.6548 million for 60-day credits, with total county jail expenditures of $8.1 million and 67 jails participating. They said additional participation would require more funding and that they do not expect many more jails to join, though attendance and population levels can affect costs. Members asked how jails opt in, whether there are added costs, how inmate earnings are handled, and whether deductions are made for child support or victim compensation; the department said jails apply through an approved program matrix, inmate earnings are tracked in individual accounts, and required deductions are made when ordered. Questions from members focused on re-entry outcomes and program structure. Officials said evidence-based programming and employment opportunities are major contributors to lowering recidivism, and they cited a recent recidivism rate of 30.8 percent, down about 1 percentage point, while noting they would provide additional trend and savings data later. The department also clarified that adult education and GED programming are separate from KCI and are handled by a different education division. For the Little Sandy expansion, officials said the project remains on schedule for completion on June 25, 2025, with inmate transfers expected to begin at about 50 per week and roughly 200 additional staff eventually needed; they said hiring is being phased in as inmate population increases. The committee asked for the total construction cost of the expansion, which the witnesses said they did not have at the meeting and would report back. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for February 18.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clint Grumman, CEO and co-founder of Newview, on the commercial satellite LiDAR mapping system.
• And the intent is to build out the spaceport system just as it sounds, as a network, as a system that
• Artemis II crew test flight with four astronauts is targeting April 2026 to test the Space Launch System
• So we welcome the Space Launch System core stage to the center this past July, marking a major milestone
• For example, our exploration ground systems program at Kennedy has created more than 7,600 jobs, has

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on Florida’s space economy and related infrastructure. SpaceX Vice President Kiko Donchev described the company’s Florida operations, launch cadence, reusable rocket program, Starlink service, and plans for future Starship activity at the Cape. Senators asked about Florida employment, expansion plans, satellite lifetimes, disaster-relief uses of Starlink, and recreational connectivity; members also praised SpaceX’s hurricane response and broader public benefits. Donchev said SpaceX’s Florida workforce has grown to about 1,600 and that the company hopes to add Starship pads and continue expanding in the state. The committee then recognized Commander Dennis Baker for his military service and veteran advocacy, including his leadership of the Florida Veterans Foundation, grant work, the Walk of Honor, and the Gadsden Flag license plate program. Members highlighted that revenue from the plate helps fund veterans’ dental care and noted upcoming dental services for veterans in Volusia County. Baker received a flag flown over the Capitol and a framed gubernatorial proclamation. Newview CEO Clint Grumman presented the company’s commercial satellite LiDAR mapping system, describing its Lake Nona headquarters, Florida ownership, planned jobs, and applications for infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. He said the company’s satellite data could improve accuracy and lower costs, and noted partnerships including a Department of Defense contract and a European Space Agency moon-mapping effort. Space Florida then outlined its role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority, emphasizing its pipeline of projects, spaceport improvement program, workforce academy, and efforts to address infrastructure constraints and seek tax-exempt bond authority for spaceports. NASA’s Kelvin Manning closed with an update on Kennedy Space Center, highlighting Artemis progress, rising launch demand, commercial partnerships, economic impact, and the Florida University Space Research Consortium. No bills were voted on, and the meeting adjourned after comments from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll tell you that's no better or no worse than the system that we've got.
• all know there's a couple of the investments that the governor's proposed to benefit our judicial system
• This includes system funding for ongoing capital projects and deferred maintenance, along with funding
• Local burden on the local systems, so anytime we can push into that, it frees up local funds.
• The focus will be on expanding school-based mental health services to four new systems, as well as funding

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . systems. systems.
• </c> developed a hazard classification system developed a hazard classification system for<03:07:24.200
• </c> systems and VT Alert. systems and VT Alert.
• </c> administration of the redemption system. administration of the redemption system.
• </c><03:41:44.960><c> that</c> amount of alcohol in their system that amount of alcohol in their system

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ability now to add salmon as part of the ecosystem has been really incredible, because what we've... ...system
• work that you're doing on the Commission and also for farmers because it's created this synergistic system
• work that you're doing on the Commission and also for farmers because it's created this synergistic system
• And our system is frankly outdated. CDFA's C3PA study that was just released...
• And our system is, frankly, outdated.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: 987, senate, all