Transcript Highlights:

• And so, while they may have failed on a lot of different levels, I believe the arbitrator's office, from
• No, and I have not had a single response from CYFD for basic budgetary questions as a legislator.
• the problem that we have in our state, but it's a problem we have very egregiously at the national level

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• level level um<00:50:50.839><c> sorry</c><00:50:51.079><c> let</c><00:50:51.200><c> me</c><00:50:51.319
• For my level, it's 990,000 constituents.
• votes um for commissioner level 30,000 for<00:52:28.799><c> my</c><00:52:29.000><c> level</c><00:52:
• </c><03:52:41.439><c> the</c> manage them on the county level the manage them on the county level the
• </c><04:35:07.600><c> and</c> an income tax at the federal level and an income tax at the federal level

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing Action Coalition is a statewide pro-housing nonprofit that advocates for more homes at all levels
• , there is no next level.
• , there is no next level.
• It is about saving taxpayer money at the local level.
• But I think the in-custody death level that has existed in Riverside County really mitigates for this

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Some are direct grants to teacher candidates, and some are district-level supports.
• During the same period, education specialist credential issuance reached its second-highest level.
• So additional policies may be needed to really stimulate more preparation at the undergraduate level.
• So there's a joint committee that oversees the registered apprenticeship at the local level.
• We are concerned that the Golden State Teacher Grant Program is funded below prior-year levels.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the the hospitals then the next level the the hospitals then the next level would<00:15:57.680><
• But when my staff budgetary in nature.
• So I to this highest level facility.
• </c> level and some mental health providers. level and some mental health providers.
• </c> not a assault two level offense. not a assault two level offense.

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on February 6, 2026, took roll, approved a motion to convene, and heard agency updates from materials in the packet. The council then took up Senate Bill 125 out of order because Senator Carol was present. The bill was presented as a collaborative effort focused on creating a secure, state-run high-acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth who need specialized psychiatric care and cannot be appropriately served in detention or by private hospitals. Speakers said the facility would fill a gap in services, improve safety and treatment outcomes, and be designed with trauma-informed, medically equipped spaces rather than a jail-like setting. The presenters also outlined other parts of the bill, including a placement process in which DJJ and CHFS would evaluate youth and provide recommendations before the judge makes the final decision, with certain hospital-declination provisions to be delayed until the new facility is operating. They described payment incentives for hospitals treating high-acuity youth, confidentiality and escape-related disclosure provisions, and contracts with a public teaching university for clinical services. The proposed facility was described as a 24-bed center at Central State, with staffing to include mental health professionals and juvenile detention staff receiving enhanced training. Dr. Clark Lester said staffing needs would vary by youth and could include one-to-one supervision for some patients. The bill also addressed female juvenile detention capacity. Speakers said the number of detained girls has risen sharply since 2024, peaking at 51 in 2025, and that current facilities cannot meet the separation requirements for boys and girls or high- and low-level youth. The proposal would build two female detention centers, with possible locations discussed in central Kentucky and western Kentucky, and a third or fourth center could be added if population data show the need. Members asked about hospital placement authority, staffing, and average length of stay for girls; the presenters said the current court-order process would remain until the new facility is built and that they would provide additional data later. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• supports strong schools and just sees the use of impact fees to address some of the operational budgetary

Bills: SB5841 , SB5922 , SB5858 , SB5943

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: financial aid, postsecondary education, student support, application process, higher education access, school transportation, school buses, pupil transportation, transportation vehicle fund, school district finance, fund transfer, reimbursement schedule, depreciation schedule, zero-emission buses, electric school buses, bus electrification, charging stations, fueling stations, vehicle replacement, major repairs

Transcript Highlights:

• From a budgetary point of view, my personal opinion, based on everyone I've talked with, is that it's

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want to make sure that we're really not just having Veterans Florida tied through the budgetary
• ability to protect the lives and property of Floridians on their darkest days and to maintain the high levels
• You do wonderful things at the federal level, at the state level, and your leaders in our community.
• The state level and your leaders in our community. We appreciate you for what you're doing.

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

Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some serious budgetary issues.
• There are different types of levels of criminals.
• </c> >> Thank you. >> Just to level set, let me—I just want to level set.
• </c> who's in charge at the federal level. who's in charge at the federal level.
• </c> health services at the local level. health services at the local level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Guarantee level of $125.1 billion.
• Because we're at a fixed budget level, a fixed appropriation level, if there is an increase, it does
• Because we're at a fixed budget level, a fixed appropriation level, if there is an increase, it does
• sufficient level.
• sufficient level.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is necessary to understand not only at the state level, but at the school district level, where
• </c> understand not only at the state level understand not only at the state level but<00:09:22.800><
• </c><00:09:24.640><c> where</c> but at the school district level where but at the school district level
• </c> said 350% of the federal poverty level said 350% of the federal poverty level is<00:31:40.360><c
• <02:24:38.720><c> um</c> level um level um so<02:24:41.120><c> it</c><02:24:41.520><c> you</c><02:24:

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Some are direct grants to teacher candidates, and some are district-level supports.
• During the same period, education specialist credential issuance reached its second-highest level.
• Teacher assignment monitoring helps illuminate this problem at the state, county, and school-site levels
• So additional policies may be needed to really stimulate more preparation at the undergraduate level.
• So there's a joint committee that oversees the registered apprenticeship at the local level.

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm just trying to understand like at the high level what is the the budgetary impact says how much
• This is a decrease of $858.4 million from 24-25 spending levels. levels, the agency will expend all COVID-related
• returning to their pre-COVID-19 spending levels in the future biennium.
• This is a $6.3 million decrease from the 24-25 spinning level.
• We make sure that younger people maintain a certain level of stability.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we're lower than we were in pre-pandemic levels.
• You know, we're lower than we were in pre-pandemic levels.
• We account, as current law at the federal level allows, for a full reimbursement according to H.R. 1
• He specifically said we do not look at budget levels from the Great Recession.
• But to only look at one year-over-year change... ...levels from the Great Recession.

Summary: The joint House-Senate appropriations committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation from Ben Henderson, director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting. Early discussion focused on the state economy and revenue outlook, with Henderson describing strong GDP growth and low unemployment but also fragility for working families. Members questioned the executive’s revenue assumptions, which were said to be about $100 million per year higher than the JLBC baseline, and the committee chair asked for a written comparison of the revenue differences. Henderson also said the governor’s budget is structurally balanced and includes both ongoing spending and proposed revenue changes. A major portion of the hearing centered on data centers, AI investment, and water policy. Henderson argued Arizona’s data center tax incentive should be eliminated because it had already succeeded in attracting investment, while lawmakers questioned whether repealing the incentive and imposing a new water-related fee would discourage future growth. The executive said the water proposal would create a Colorado River Protection Fund and give the Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority, with the aim of encouraging more modern air-cooled facilities. Members also raised concerns about whether the data center changes would require a supermajority vote and whether the fee was effectively a new tax. The committee then reviewed major “critical spending” items, including correctional officer pay, prison health care compliance, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl enforcement, cyber readiness, and border-related costs. Henderson said the budget includes $24.4 million ongoing for correctional officer pay and $118.3 million one-time for prison health care staffing, plus other public safety and homeland security items. He also defended the governor’s assumption of $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border expenses, saying the governor had met with federal officials and that the state would seek the full amount. Members expressed skepticism about relying on that reimbursement and asked what would be cut if it does not materialize. Education and health and human services were also discussed. The governor’s budget includes K-12 funding, Prop. 123-related school facility bonding, and a proposal to shift some school facilities funding to bond financing, which several members criticized as inappropriate for short-term maintenance needs. The committee also reviewed AHCCCS/Medicaid costs, Division of Developmental Disabilities funding, and the expected impacts of federal HR1 changes on eligibility, provider funding, and rural hospitals. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly limited debate and directed members to keep questions brief while the presentation continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, at the site level, it's not showing.
• at the system level and then the site level where care is being provided.
• premium support at various income levels.
• federal poverty level beginning in the 2027 coverage year.
• poverty level.

Summary: The committee heard opening budget remarks from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office on the May Revision for Health and Human Services. Finance said the proposal significantly reduces projected out-year operating deficits through a mix of revenue increases and program cost reductions, while the LAO warned that even with booming revenues the state still faces a structural deficit and should prioritize reserves and avoid new ongoing commitments. The chair and members echoed concern about cuts to vulnerable populations, but also noted the need to maintain the overall level of budget solutions and add to reserves. The hearing then moved through a series of CalHHS and HCAI proposals, mostly held open after presentation. CalHHS requested additional legal support to respond to federal H.R. 1-related issues and a net-zero transfer of positions for a shared eligibility/data-sharing platform. Other items included ongoing funding for the 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Service Fund and a request for EMSA to fund maintenance of its enterprise data management system. HCAI presented proposals for hospital fair pricing implementation, the data exchange framework, the all-payer claims database, CalRx insulin development, the diaper access initiative, distressed hospital grants, opioid settlement fund reversion, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Members questioned funding sources, special fund use, contracting exemptions, timelines, and whether some proposals should be more targeted or supported by alternative funding. A major discussion centered on HCAI’s diaper access initiative and the use of a Public Contract Code exemption to continue contracting for free diapers distributed through hospitals. The chair and some members criticized the optics of the selected vendor and questioned the lack of an income threshold, while HCAI said the program was designed to be universal and administratively simple, with future phase-two direct-to-consumer purchasing to be handled by a different vendor. Another extended exchange focused on distressed hospital funding, where HCAI said the May Revision would provide up to $50 million for hospitals at immediate risk of closure, but members argued the repeated annual need shows a structural problem and asked for broader reforms to hospital payment and care transitions. The final major topic was the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s budget. The Commission opposed the May Revision’s reduction of the Innovation Partnership Fund from $20 million to $10 million and a $6.7 million cut to community advocacy contracts, arguing both are core Proposition 1 tools for statewide innovation and community engagement. Finance responded that the proposal is within Proposition 1’s allowable maximums and that prior unspent appropriations could be redirected if the Legislature wanted to restore the full amount. No votes were taken; items were generally held open for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re lower than we were in pre-pandemic levels.
• We account, as current law at the federal level allows, for a full reimbursement according to H.R. 1
• We do not, he specifically said, we do not look at budget levels from the Great Recession.
• We do not, he specifically said we do not look at budget levels from the Great Recession.
• But to only look at one year over year change, Levels from the Great Recession.

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:12.640><c> itself</c> people play it kind of levels itself people play it kind of levels itself
• level of the<00:38:04.880><c> takeout.
• </c><02:46:22.800><c> with</c> what happens at a federal level with what happens at a federal level with
• Um they're at the federal level.
• </c> generally not subject to state level generally not subject to state level regulations,<03:08:28.240

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Gaming

Transcript Highlights:

• We advocate for public policies that help prevent cancer at all levels of government.
• So I think that we, at the federal level, when the age of sale was raised to 21, wanted to make sure
• There's enforcement at the local level from many communities.
• I don't think anybody here wants us to have to, because of budgetary authority, delay somebody's tax
• Right now, there is no longer parking allowed on the first level, and so we are going to have to lease

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; My program is we start the entry level &gt;&gt; My program is we start the entry level
• We're blessed to goes up to level 12.
• You levels become much more burdensome.
• </c><01:05:02.960><c> as</c><01:05:03.119><c> a</c> a regional level uh as well as a a regional level
• So we can higher level individuals.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also put some additional security funding toward the courts at all levels, the Supreme Court,
• And we also put some additional security funding toward the courts at all levels, the Supreme Court,
• </c><02:07:28.239><c> It's</c><02:07:28.560><c> all</c><02:07:28.880><c> levels</c><02:07:29.280><c>
• It's all levels of not just gun crime.
• </c> that the schools have huge budgetary that the schools have huge budgetary items<02:45:17.920><c>