Transcript Highlights:

• He said the Florida National Guard is always ready and always there, whether responding to hurricanes
• Whether responding to hurricanes, supporting law enforcement, or defending national interests overseas
• That was unique because of the three hurricanes.
• That was unique because of the three hurricanes, obviously, and some of the deployments and extended
• You have to think about hurricanes. I know your area was impacted not too long ago.

Summary: The committee met to hear the Governor’s proposed budget for the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development silo and to consider one bill. The Governor’s Office outlined a $117.4 billion state budget, including $18.3 billion for the TED area, with major allocations for the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, State, Military Affairs, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard. Agency heads then presented their priorities, including housing and disaster recovery funds at Commerce; pay, vehicles, aviation, and data systems at Highway Safety; facility modernization, recruitment, retention, and maintenance at Military Affairs; election audit, conservation lab, and historic preservation funding at State; transportation, aviation, seaport, and safety investments at DOT; and emergency response, flood mitigation, grant systems, and alerting at Emergency Management. Members asked questions about Visit Florida’s private match, FHP’s role in immigration enforcement and body cameras, National Guard deployment tempo and staffing, State Guard staffing and facilities, arts grant rules, rail funding, and the number of detainees at the Everglades detention site. Several notable positions were expressed during questioning. Visit Florida said it met and exceeded its private match requirement and described the match as important to ensuring value from public dollars. The Highway Patrol said its aviation assets have been used more heavily in immigration enforcement and that in-vehicle camera systems were a higher priority than body cameras at present. The National Guard and State Guard both emphasized heavy operational demands, readiness needs, and the importance of additional funding for facilities, personnel, and equipment. The Department of State said its audit funding would help counties move to automated post-election audits and that its arts grant rule changes were intended to create more consistent scoring rather than reduce access. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units. The bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, preserves homestead treatment for the primary residence portion, limits parking restrictions, and extends density bonus incentives to housing for military families receiving basic housing allowance. An amendment was adopted removing reusable tenant screening reports and clarifying that compliant ADUs are allowed by right without a separate hearing or permit. Testimony from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, especially the long-term rental requirement, as a tool to help workforce housing. The committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but in the same vein, during power outages, seniors and multi-families face serious risk after Hurricane
• After Hurricane Beryl was devastating, there was a loss of electricity.
• And during Hurricane Beryl, or after Hurricane Beryl, at these facilities, we had residents, as council
• And a bill that's so important, not only from Hurricane Beryl, but then also going through Winter Storm
• I'm proud to say that during Hurricane Beryl, the derecho, and other emergency situations.

Bills: SB502 , SB513 , SB622 , SB670 , SB731 , SB732 , SB916 , SB961 , SB1122

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And Trump's ill-considered war is driving gas costs up with no relief in sight.
• costs<00:21:33.760><c> up</c><00:21:34.000><c> with</c><00:21:34.120><c> no</c><00:21:34.600><c> relief
• </c> costs up with no relief in sight. costs up with no relief in sight.
• When<01:08:48.440><c> the</c><01:08:48.839><c> hur-</c><01:08:49.200><c> the</c><01:08:49.279><c> hurricane
• ,</c><01:08:49.880><c> the</c> When the hur- the hurricane, the When the hur- the hurricane, the earthquake

Bills: HF3373 , HF4449 , HF3486 , HF4180 , HF4227 , HF2505

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation, interchange, funding, bonds, St. Paul Park, transit, Metropolitan Council, Twin Cities, metro area, high-frequency transit, bus rapid transit, busway, guideway, transportation policy plan, transit performance measures, regional transit benchmarks, transit-oriented development, TOD, zoning, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• TRUTH TAG AND THAT IS A SHARK GOING DOWN BAYSHORE BOULEVARD WHEN BAYSHORE IS FLOODED OUT AFTER A HURRICANE
• AS INFLATION IN FLORIDA SOARS, IT DOESN'T OFFER RELIEF.

Transcript Highlights:

• non-attorneys offering immigration-related services and setting a process for civil action for injunctive relief
• Tab 1, SB 96 on relief of Jacob Rogers by the City of Gainesville.
• Next, we're going to take up Tab 23, CS for CS for SB 1652 on public records, pleading requests for relief
• I come from Hurricane Alley, so whenever anybody says the word roof, all the eyebrows go up.
• And so, certainly most insurers would like roof-to-wall connections, and, you know, for hurricane purposes

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they do get some relief, is what it sounds like.
• they</c><00:32:40.960><c> do</c><00:32:41.120><c> get</c><00:32:41.279><c> some</c><00:32:41.519><c> relief
• We did this after Hurricane Katrina similarly, and those bonds were paid off by the collections of the
• We did this after Hurricane Katrina similarly, and those bonds were paid off by the collections of the
• We did this after Hurricane Katrina similarly, and those bonds were paid off by the collections of the

Transcript Highlights:

• natural disaster declarations that have been rolled over in this calendar year for things like Hurricanes
• 161 DISASTER DECLARATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ROLLED OVER&nbsp; IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR FOR THINGS LIKE HURRICANES
• In 2018, my community was hit by Hurricane Michael. I know you want immediate response.

Summary: The Transportation Economic Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four measures. First, the committee considered PCS for HB 1177, which originally addressed ad valorem tax exemptions for defense and aerospace operations and contract procedures for Space Florida. An amendment removed the tax exemption portion for later consideration in the tax package, and the bill then passed favorably after brief discussion about Florida’s competitiveness in the space industry. The committee next took up a conforming budget bill on documentary stamp taxes, which redirects a portion of doc stamp revenue from general revenue to the State Transportation Trust Fund. The sponsor said the change restores a $60 million transportation funding stream with a corresponding general revenue reduction, while maintaining a net zero fiscal impact overall. Members asked about why the funding was being restored and how the money would be used, and the bill passed favorably. Members then heard PCB 26-02, which re-creates the Emergency Preparedness Response Fund and adds restrictions and oversight. The proposal limits the fund to state appropriations for natural emergencies, requires legislative consultation for extended emergencies, keeps revenue in the fund, sends federal reimbursements to general revenue, adds quarterly reporting and inventory/accounting requirements, and sunsets the fund in 2030 unless reenacted. Testimony and debate focused on accountability, disaster response readiness, and concerns about prior uses of the fund; the PCB passed favorably. Finally, the committee considered HB 953, which strengthens oversight of commercial driving schools by authorizing county tax collectors to enforce related statutes and inspections. The sponsor said the bill responds to fraud and misrepresentation in the industry and would help protect driver licensing integrity, especially in South Florida. After supportive testimony from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office and a lobbyist, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• IS THE TURNOVER DUE TO THE STORM ACTIVITY, THE HURRICANE THEY HAD? >> SOME OF IT WAS.
• CONFLICTS AND MANAGEMENT AFFECTED OFFICIALS ON ADDITIONAL WORK RESPONSIBILITIES RESULTING FROM THE HURRICANE
• THAT WENT BACK TO THE HURRICANE.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is from Hurricane Ian.
• Two years later, we had two hurricanes.
• </c><01:10:12.880><c> Um</c> later we had two hurricanes. Um later we had two hurricanes.
• </c> and this is preparation for Hurricane and this is preparation for Hurricane Helen<01:10:28.400><
• which hurricane caused which damage?

Transcript Highlights:

• On my side of the state, when the hurricanes hit and when storms hit, a significantly high percentage
• And, you know, I've seen some data on the average claim for Hurricane Laura as opposed to the average
• claim for Hurricane Ida.
• extensive when you've got fallen trees and a lot more trees on that path that Laura took as opposed to Hurricane

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• EXAMPLE OF THAT, WE WERE JUST GIVING A PRESENTATION THIS WEEK ON ONE OF OUR CLIENTS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE
• IT GOT DEMOLISHED BY HURRICANE MICHAEL SO WE ONLY USE THE FACILITY FOR STORAGE NOW, IT'S DOWN BY SHELL
• BECAUSE OF HURRICANE KELLY WE LOST 400,000 MATURE OYSTERS AND LEFT NO SALES FOR TWO QUARTERS IN A ROW
• SURVIVED THROUGH COVID, MADE $.40 AN OYSTER DURING COVID WHICH MEANS WE WERE LOSING MONEY BUT AFTER HURRICANE

Transcript Highlights:

• I FEEL LIKE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE HAD NASTY HURRICANES COMING THROUGH FLORIDA THE LAST FEW YEARS.
• HURRICANES ARE INSTANT DAMAGE TO HONEYBEE COLONIES THEY BLOW THEM OVER. THEY CAUSE DAMAGE.
• BUT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AFTERMATH DAMAGED HONEYBEE COLONIES WHEN A HURRICANE GOES THROUGH IT'S LIKE
• POST HURRICANE BEEKEEPERS PICK OF THE PIECES AND THEN THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE

Transcript Highlights:

• governmental entities annually inspect the infrastructure that is most at risk of flooding before hurricane
• The rainfall that we saw last year from Hurricane Milton was a 1-in-200-year flood event, but these permits
• bit of a different perspective in the sense of I've been on either four or five activations for hurricanes
• I don't believe we had a hurricane per se, but I know we had a week where it was constant raining and
• We're not going to just see one hurricane a year. We're going to see multiple hurricanes a year.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The committee first heard CS for CS for SB 344, which would modernize the Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 based on Public Service Commission recommendations. The bill drew no opposition and was reported favorably. Members then took up several Senator Burton measures: CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, which was amended to create a Department of Health website access point for a voluntary form allowing patients to notify providers they do not want opioid medications; CS for SB 738 on child care and early learning providers, which streamlines and updates child care regulation and was supported by industry and business groups; CS for SB 756 on health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, which removes the age-8 diagnosis limit and age cap for mandated autism-related coverage; and CS for CS for SB 1356, creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot, later amended to add FIU and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to the board and remove specific appropriations. All of these bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 1624 on higher education, a broad bill affecting tuition policies, workforce programs, institutional governance, and naming changes. The bill generated extended discussion over replacing references to “minority” with “underrepresented,” with the sponsor explaining the intent was to focus on low-income access and student support, while members raised concerns about impacts on majority-minority institutions and preeminence pathways. An amendment added guardrails for private religious postsecondary institutions by requiring public review of affidavits of compliance and giving the Commission for Independent Education enforcement authority. After debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then passed CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, which addresses military-family investigations, emergency shelter certification, children’s services council appointments, criminal-background exemptions, group-home rates, licensing extensions, small residential group homes, missing-children procedures, and psychotropic medication refills; it was amended to adjust council board composition and then reported favorably. Additional bills approved included SB 178, directing Florida A&M University to conduct an agronomic study on emerging crops for land taken out of production; SB 1162, expanding boating improvement funding for trailer parking and offering lease incentives for clean marine manufacturers; CS for CS for SB 958, creating a type 1 diabetes early detection information program for parents and schools; CS for CS for CS for SB 1070, requiring ECGs for student athletes with phased implementation and exemptions, after extensive testimony from parents and advocates about sudden cardiac arrest; CS for SB 774, requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders to sheriffs within six hours; SB 1516, creating an International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida; SB 994, revising driver education requirements and prompting a commitment to add distracted-driving instruction; and CS for CS for SB 1402, expanding eligibility for dropout retrieval programs. The committee also took up SB 810 on stormwater management systems, amending it to focus annual inspections on vulnerable MS4 infrastructure. That bill drew significant opposition from the Florida League of Cities, counties, and stormwater groups, who argued the mandate would duplicate existing permit requirements and impose major costs, but supporters said it was a basic flood-prevention measure. The transcript ends during debate on SB 810, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, this is this year's tax relief package.
• This is a broad-based tax relief package that positively impacts taxpayers, homestead property owners
• in temporary relief measures.
• Senators, that is this year's tax relief package. Questions on the package. Senator Polsky.
• My question is, why are we giving relief?

Transcript Highlights:

• As a New Yorker, I saw the flooding in Texas and immediately thought of hurricane season on the East
• Extreme heat, wildfire, smoke, hurricanes, floods, and the spread of disease.
• </c><07:26:13.520><c> It's</c> hurricane season on the East Coast.
• It's hurricane season on the East Coast.
• ><c> and</c><07:27:19.600><c> the</c> smoke, hurricanes, floods, and the smoke, hurricanes, floods, and

Bills: HB1522 , HB1917 , HB3937 , HR600

Keywords: Federal Retirement Fairness Act, FERS, federal retirement, creditable service, temporary employees, temporary federal service, Postal Service, USPS, Office of Personnel Management, OPM, retirement buyback, annuity, pension, civil service retirement, federal workforce, government employees, Members of Congress, retirement benefits, Great Lakes, fishery management

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona doesn't have many of those, like hurricanes, et cetera, but in 2010 did have a major storm.
• Arizona doesn't have many of those like hurricanes, et cetera, but in 2010 did have a major storm.
• amendment in Representative Volk's name would repeal a statute relating to the computer data center tax relief

Bills: SB1206 , SB1254 , SB1290 , SB1421 , SB1432 , SB1515 , SB1563 , SB1641 , SB1649 , SB1670 , SB1671 , SB1747

Committees: House Commerce , House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Keywords: storm damage, catastrophic storm, hail damage, wind damage, roof repair, roof replacement, post-storm repairs, insurance claim, property and casualty insurance, adjuster, public adjuster, contractor licensing, homeowner protections, deductible waiver, insurance fraud prevention, storm chaser, residential construction contract, workers' compensation, joint check, claim solicitation

Transcript Highlights:

• Several years ago, the Lafitte area lost a grocery store due to the hurricane.
• municipalities and parishes, to exempt certain facilities from the code, to provide for injunctive relief
• for code violations, to provide for it. ...facilities from the code, to provide for injunctive relief

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on Wednesday, April 22, with a quorum present and heard several bills. HB 1195, relating to the Louisiana State Athletic Commission, was amended with technical changes and a fee-related amendment tied to student athlete agents, then reported favorably. Members asked about criminal penalties and whether the bill would affect prison athletic events; the author said he would follow up on those questions. HB 798, the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act, was amended to clarify definitions, federal compliance, notice requirements, and severability, then reported favorably after extensive debate over whether providers already give adequate notice, whether a separate notice is necessary, and whether the bill would be preempted by federal law. Charter Communications testified in opposition, saying the bill was duplicative and would add costs, while the author argued it was needed to ensure clear, conspicuous notice of price increases and cancellation rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several years ago, the Lafitte area lost a grocery store due to the hurricane.
• municipalities and parishes, to exempt certain facilities from the code, to provide for injunctive relief
• for code violations, to provide for it. ...facilities from the code, to provide for injunctive relief

Bills: HB471 , HB798 , HB947 , HB1140 , HB1186 , HB1195 , HB1222

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, consumer protection, automated decision systems, data privacy, broadband, cable service, price increase, notification, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, telecommunications, spoofing, call authentication

Transcript Highlights:

• Tab 1, CS for SB 10 on relief of Sidney Holmes by the State of Florida.
• maintaining power, water, gas, and communication services, and they are especially important during hurricanes
• CS for SB 1652, public records: pleading requests for relief or other documents stricken by a court.

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, and civil justice bills. Among the measures reported favorably were SB 984, which adds aggravating factors for capital sentencing when a murder occurs during religious, school, or public government gatherings; SB 1140, creating a Hillsborough County pilot program to address substance abuse among offenders on probation; SB 1180, expanding child pornography laws to cover lewd altered or filtered images and solicitation; SB 10, providing compensation to Sidney Holmes for a wrongful conviction; SB 500, creating a Spectrum Alert system and training for missing children with autism; SB 1054, increasing penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; SB 1072, establishing an expedited DNA testing grant program; and SB 240, the Haven Act, which aligns domestic and dating violence protections and creates a feasibility study for a discreet emergency contact system for victims. Several bills were amended before passage, including funding for the Spectrum Alert program and technical changes to the DNA, juvenile justice, and other proposals. Members also advanced SB 494, creating a statewide FDLE animal abuse database and increasing sentencing consequences for aggravated animal cruelty, with strong support from animal welfare groups and county officials. SB 1422 was reported favorably to strengthen penalties for unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones, though members raised concerns about the bill’s “reasonable force” language. SB 1268 updated FDLE statutes and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. SB 1252 was amended into a feasibility study for a statewide pawn data database, and SB 1386 increased penalties for assaults and batteries on utility workers, drawing support from utility and industry groups. The committee also approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, which criminalizes dissemination of intimate images and digitally forged intimate images, and SB 1654, which revises sexual offender and predator registration rules, including online reporting for certain in-state travel residences. SB 1650 expanded the vexatious litigant law, and SB 1652 created a public records exemption for stricken non-criminal court filings. Finally, SB 1284, expanding Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow civil claims for the death of an unborn child, drew extensive testimony both for and against; supporters called it a life-affirming measure, while opponents warned it could increase litigation, affect abortion-related care, and discourage physicians from practicing in Florida. The bill was heard with multiple public comments, but the transcript excerpt does not show a final vote on SB 1284.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that anybody that dealt with Katrina will realize that the way we respond to hurricanes changed
• available to the the adequate assets available to respond<00:10:13.040><c> to</c><00:10:13.440><c> hurricanes
• ,</c><00:10:14.000><c> tornadoes,</c><00:10:14.560><c> ice</c> respond to hurricanes, tornadoes, ice
• respond to hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms,<00:10:15.200><c> what</c><00:10:15.360><c> have</c><00:
• funded deal, but all agencies in a prepared state that this state funds, whether it be tornado, hurricane

Committee: Joint Highways and Transportation