Video & Transcript : 'culvert replacement' :
Page 58 of 500
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Committee - Room 1510 Jun 30th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- It's going to require water main replacement, sewer main replacement, fire panel replacement, about $2.6
- We also are needing to replace gas lines.
- We are having to replace roofs, and air conditioner replacement is also another change that we need to
- You need to replace it at that point. It talks about some HVAC repairs.
- “It’s more than six decades old and is in need of repair or replacement, and that’s high.
Summary:
The Health and Human Services Committee held an invited-testimony hearing on LR 425, which examines the Whitehall campus in Lincoln and possible long-term options for youth currently served there. Chair Brian Hardin explained that Whitehall houses two separate programs for adolescent males: a substance use program and a youth-who-sexually-harm program. Testimony from DHHS officials described Whitehall as a Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) that provides about 40 hours of weekly programming, family involvement, school services, and community reintegration activities. Officials said the department is evaluating whether the programs should remain at Whitehall or move to another state-owned facility, with Hastings described as the department’s preferred alternative because it is more residential in design than a youth rehabilitation treatment center (YRTC).
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- To meet a 1% holdback this year, we would forego all of our one-time enhancement: vehicle replacement
- , flow meter replacement, and development of a software application.
- , flow meter replacement, and then development of a software application. to meet a 2% hold back this
- It doesn't come in and fully fund replacement... ...maintenance issues.
- In many cases, once... ...with repairing and replacing existing infrastructure.
Summary:
The House Resources and Conservation Committee met to introduce several RS drafts and hear agency updates. The committee introduced RS 33151, a bill Representative Boyle described as a federalism measure intended to clarify in state code that state and federal governments should stay within their constitutional lanes. It also introduced RS 33217, dealing with the big game depredation fund; Representative Schurz said it would clarify that remaining fund balances above the legislature’s 10% cap should still be paid out pro rata to farmers and ranchers for elk-related crop damage. RS 33284 was introduced as a proposal to designate hunting as Idaho’s state sport, based on a Twin Falls fourth grader’s research. RS 33287 C1, a revised version of a prior bill, was also introduced after Representative Pickett explained an editing correction and said the bill reflected changes requested by Fish and Game and committee members. RS 313185 was removed from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. The committee later approved the February 3 minutes.
The committee then approved Rule Docket 24-3501-2501 for the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board after John Price said the board completed a full chapter review, held multiple public meetings and a hearing, and incorporated input from agencies and industry groups. Ryan Bernard of DOPL gave a broad update on the division’s consolidation efforts, licensing workload, same-day licensure goals, board mergers, fee reductions, disciplinary procedure standardization, and code cleanup work. He said DOPL oversees more than 259,000 licenses across 44 boards and three safety programs, and highlighted ongoing efforts to align board cash balances with statutory requirements.
Director Matt Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould provided extensive water-related updates. Weaver reviewed IDWR’s budget holdbacks, the new water administration bureau, groundwater management in the Eastern Snake Plain and tributary basins, delivery call enforcement, Treasure Valley groundwater conditions, and the ongoing evaluation of merging the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into IDWR. Raybould discussed amendments to the State Water Plan raising the recharge target to 350,000 acre-feet, major funding for water infrastructure, recharge and cloud seeding programs, canal efficiency and groundwater-to-surface-water conversion grants, and the Bear River Compact. Members asked about aquifer management, canal lining and recharge impacts, Bear River depletion estimates, and the costs and timelines of projects such as Anderson Ranch and recharge infrastructure. The meeting also included an invitation for committee members to tour the Veolia water treatment plant on February 19.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Education Policy Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Education Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So you could replace one math or one science, and now one career tech class as well, and so trying to
- If you just keep on going to lines 133 through 137, it can actually replace one of those. >> Yeah.
- </c><00:13:45.120><c> so</c><00:13:45.360><c> you</c><00:13:45.519><c> could</c><00:13:45.760><c> replace
- one math or or and so you could replace one math or one<00:13:47.120><c> science</c><00:13:47.760><c
- </c> can actually replace one of those. can actually replace one of those.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. (1-29-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- That's one of the goals of Senate Bill 4, is that you identify specifically the replacement power that
- you're going to be bringing online to replace it.
- asset, but they're also replacement asset, but they're also paying<00:12:30.480><c> for</c><00:12:30.560
- <00:19:33.039><c> power</c><00:19:34.160><c> and</c><00:19:34.640><c> we've</c><00:19:35.360><c> replaced
- </c><00:19:35.760><c> that</c> base load power and we've replaced that base load power and we've replaced
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Health Jan 27th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- During my total knee replacement, I was told to discontinue my menopause hormone therapy.
- it: Would they have advised me to stop my birth control by default or removed my ovaries before replacing
- It is very important that HRT, hormone replacement therapy, is not a myth.
- I've had friends who clearly needed hormone replacement therapy, and I told them to call their doctors
- My formerly sunny self was replaced by a highly anxious, depressed person.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing during a snowstorm, with members participating both in person and via Teams, and the chairs said testimony would be kept open for an additional week. The first bill heard was H.4796, an act relative to organ transplant vehicles. NORA New England testified in support, arguing that dedicated organ transport vehicles need authority to use lights and sirens so time-sensitive organs can be moved more quickly and safely without relying on EMS systems already stretched by 9-1-1 calls. No opposition was heard and the bill was then set aside as the committee moved to the next item.
The bulk of the hearing focused on H.4838, an act expanding access to perimenopause and menopause care. Chair Decker, who filed the bill, said it was the product of a year of meetings with dozens of individuals and organizations and was intended as a starting point to identify gaps in care, training, access, and coverage. Testimony overwhelmingly supported the bill and described widespread misdiagnosis, dismissal of symptoms, limited clinician training, insurance barriers, medication access problems, and workplace impacts. Speakers included patients, clinicians, advocates, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and out-of-state and international experts, many of whom urged better education, public awareness, research, and workplace accommodations.
Several witnesses emphasized that menopause affects whole-body health, including cardiovascular, bone, mental health, and work outcomes, and that Black women and other marginalized groups face greater barriers and worse outcomes. Some speakers noted the bill is important but largely a framework that will need further work to address coverage and access more directly. Blue Cross Blue Shield said it supports the bill and already covers menopause-related care and training, though the chair used the exchange to criticize broader insurer and state decisions on GLP-1 coverage for obesity. The committee took no vote during the hearing, and the chairs closed by thanking witnesses and stating that additional written testimony would be accepted.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Health Jan 27th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- During my total knee replacement, I was told to discontinue my menopause hormone therapy.
- it: Would they have advised me to stop my birth control by default or removed my ovaries before replacing
- that time, and still today, there is little research on whether pre- or post-operative hormonal replacement
- It is very important that HRT, hormone replacement therapy, is not a myth.
- My formerly sunny self was replaced by a highly anxious, depressed person.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- There's also IT hardware recommended for replacement by the Office of Information Technology Services
- Replacement items were one-time at $5.7 million. These are the enhancement outcomes.
- They are requesting one-time replacement items.
- They did receive $12,600,000 for replacement laptops that were recommended for replacement by the Office
- They did receive $12,600,000 for replacement laptops that were recommended for replacement by the Office
Summary:
The committee met jointly with Senate Finance and House Appropriations to review the Idaho Department of Correction budget, beginning with an agency overview from Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson and then testimony from Director Bree Derrick. Discussion focused on the department’s overall funding mix, declining balances in dedicated funds such as inmate labor and probation/parole receipts, vacancy management, and the impact of the governor’s holdback exemption. Members also asked about software and technology costs, the Hepatitis C Fund, replacement items, and why some positions remain vacant or are held open as a budget strategy.
A substantial portion of the meeting covered the department’s major divisions and cost drivers. In state prisons, county/out-of-state placement, community corrections, community-based substance use disorder treatment, and medical services, the analyst and director explained enhancement requests, supplemental needs, and rising operating costs tied to inflation, population growth, and contract rates. Members questioned the inmate labor fund’s decline, the loss of work contracts, the cost and effectiveness of recidivism and transparency software, the Pocatello reentry center, body-worn cameras, RFID and drone detection technology, and the medical contract with Centurion. The department said some cuts were made or planned in response to budget pressure, including reduced spending on Recidivis and other contracts, while body-worn cameras and some public-safety tools were retained.
The committee also discussed prison population pressures, county jail and out-of-state placement costs, mandatory minimum sentences, and the use of county jails as overflow. Director Derrick said the department is seeing more admissions than releases and that Idaho’s incarceration rate remains high relative to neighboring states. She also said the department is working to expand county and out-of-state options and to pursue more inmate labor contracts. Several members asked for follow-up information on staffing, contract counts, program impacts, and fund balances. The meeting then moved to the Commission of Pardons and Parole budget, where Director Christine Starr testified that commissioners are part-time but effectively work full-time, are not paid for training or all preparation time, and that turnover remains a concern. No votes were taken; the committee adjourned to resume the next day after work groups.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Oct 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- The Supreme Court has one issue, which is non-recurring dollars: $1 million non-recurring to replace
- So this request would be to replace those three elevators.
- And then, let's see, here we go, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, vehicle replacement.
- We are running into an issue of needing to replace our vehicles, so we're just trying to kind of look
- Replacement of motor vehicles: $10 million in motor vehicles.
Summary:
The committee met to hear fiscal year 2026-2027 legislative budget requests from several justice-related agencies. The Florida Commission on Offender Review requested funding for investigator and revocation staff salary increases to address turnover, plus nonrecurring funds for Wi-Fi, seven vehicles, technology support, and commissioner salary adjustments. The State Courts Administrator presented a broad judicial branch request focused on trial court case-management technology, additional case managers, trust fund authority for child support hearing officers, courthouse furnishings, district court flexibility in staffing, a future courthouse for the Sixth District Court of Appeal, Supreme Court elevator replacement, POM accounting implementation support, judicial security liaison positions tied to the Florida Fusion Center, expanded senior management service authority, and judicial salary adjustments. The Office of the Attorney General outlined pay and operating requests for consumer protection, citizen services, ethics, crime compensation, victim services, vehicle replacement, IT and cybersecurity, lease and operating costs, and PALM-related expenses, while several senators questioned the office about outside counsel contracts, contingency-fee arrangements, transparency, and the use of private law firms.
The Department of Corrections made the largest presentation, describing severe staffing shortages, high turnover, rising inmate populations, increased assaults, and heavy overtime use. Secretary Ricky Dixon said the agency’s request was driven by constitutional and public safety needs and included funding for operations, security equipment, inflationary costs, vehicle replacement, offender information system modernization, technology restoration, inmate health services, drug and food cost increases, staffing pilots, maintenance, security infrastructure, Florida PALM, recruitment and retention, and $56 million for new correctional housing units. Members asked about inmate labor, prison safety, overtime, vehicle breakdowns, and whether more National Guard support was needed; Dixon said the agency needed more staffing and pay competitiveness rather than a long-term military presence. A correctional officers’ union representative also urged support for pay raises, citing low pay and staffing concerns.
No votes were taken on the budget requests. The chair allowed extended questioning, especially for the Department of Corrections, but noted time constraints and asked agencies to return in a later committee meeting, including FDLE, which was deferred because of a House site visit.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Commerce and Economic Development Mar 5th, 2025
House Commerce & Economic Development Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Requiring GRT revenue to be used solely for bond replacement.
- And so that seems pretty consequential and doesn't really necessarily replace it with any other funds
- So again, I'm just kind of curious, does it replace With some other funding in some other way?
- It would replace that with a blank check for employers to fill out regarding what workers have to do
- We will do the best to find a replacement for you with that advance notice.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- “Notably, the proposed progressive wage replacement in this bill is the same as what we have in our paid
- family medical leave act, so that lower-wage workers receive a higher percentage of their wages replaced
- In addition, according to... ...according to the latest data available, UI benefits on average replace
- We cannot be replaced, nor should we ever be replaced.
- We cannot be replaced, nor should we ever be replaced.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on legislation concerning unemployment insurance, non-compete agreements, prevailing wage, and minimum wage issues. Committee leaders outlined the hearing process, asked witnesses to keep oral testimony to three minutes, and invited written testimony through November 20. No votes were taken during the hearing; it ended with a motion to adjourn and notice of the next hearing on November 20.
Much of the testimony focused on bills to expand unemployment insurance for striking workers, including H. 2168 and S. 1319. Labor leaders, union members, and legal advocates argued that workers who are out on strike for more than 30 days should be able to receive UI benefits, saying the policy would help workers and families meet basic expenses, reduce employers’ ability to “wait out” strikes, and encourage good-faith bargaining. Speakers cited recent strikes, including the Republic Services strike, and said the proposal would not meaningfully increase strike activity or strain the UI trust fund.
Another major topic was minimum wage legislation, especially H. 2107/S. 1349 to raise the minimum wage to $20 by 2029 and index it to inflation, and H. 2191 to create a $25 enhanced care worker minimum wage. Supporters said current wages are not keeping pace with housing, food, and childcare costs, and that care workers, direct support staff, and human service employees face chronic vacancies, burnout, and turnover. Testimony also supported H. 2126 on prevailing wage by adding apprenticeship and training contributions to the wage calculation, and H. 2159 and S. 1363 on prevailing wage-related issues. One witness, Russell Beck, testified against S. 1336, which would ban non-competes, and against H. 2118, arguing Massachusetts’ current non-compete law is a balanced compromise that should not be disrupted.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I wish to announce that Representative Wilmeth temporarily replaced Representative Keshel on the Committee
- the holiday. ...proposal put forward by our Senate Democratic colleagues to replace the holiday with
- I think that moving quickly on this bill, but not taking into consideration a replacement day, isn't
- I think that moving quickly on this bill, but not taking into consideration a replacement day, isn't
- I echo the calls to replace this holiday with something else, honoring the farm worker movement.
Summary:
The House convened, took attendance, approved the prior journal, and recognized a number of guests and proclamations, including a proclamation supporting freedom, life, and liberty for the people of Iran. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several Senate bills. SB 1166 and SB 1252 were reported do pass without controversy. SB 1184 drew debate over a floor amendment that would have added the pride flag to the list of flags HOAs and condo associations could not prohibit; the amendment was rejected on a 21-32 division vote, and the bill was then reported do pass. The House also entered an additional Committee of the Whole to amend SB 1092, adopted a floor amendment setting an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027, and reported the bill do pass as amended.
On third reading, SB 1020, a special license plate bill benefiting the Arizona Space Commission and related space education efforts, passed 35-21 with several members explaining votes in support of space industry development and in opposition because a proposed community college scholarship plate was not included. SB 1247, an emergency measure relating to health care institutions, passed 55-1 and cleared the two-thirds threshold for its emergency clause. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to HB 2307, then later passed HB 2307 unanimously as an emergency measure relating to dangerous and incompetent defendants.
The chamber also considered a bill repealing Cesar Chavez Day and replacing it with a different observance tied to the farm worker movement. Members on both sides spoke at length about sexual abuse allegations involving Cesar Chavez, the importance of standing with survivors, and the need to honor farm workers and the broader movement rather than one individual. The bill ultimately passed 48-8 with the two-thirds emergency requirement. The House then received announcements, including caucus and committee meeting notices, a remembrance of Christian Petillo, and a congratulatory note for the University of Arizona men’s basketball team, before adjourning until March 31, 2026.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Section one updates the framework by replacing expungement with sealing throughout the statute.
- Similarly, replacing expungement with sealing and applying the same statutory standards and procedures
- with sealing replacing expungement with sealing throughout<00:21:20.799><c> the</c><00:21:20.960><c>
- Similarly,<00:21:40.559><c> replacing</c><00:21:41.039><c> expungement</c><00:21:41.679><c> with</c>
- Similarly, replacing expungement with Similarly, replacing expungement with ceiling<00:21:42.720><c>
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Add $227,300 for enhancement two for a continuity of operations plan, and add $372,100 for replacement
- Add $702,700 from the dedicated funds for replacement items, and add $220,000 from the federal funds
- $912,600, and to provide reappropriation authority for the federal construction grant funding to replace
- The fourth enhancement request is for replacement items.
- The fifth and last enhancement request is for OIT hardware replacement items.
Summary:
The committee began by recognizing two pages, Conrad and Easton Chandler, thanking them for their service and presenting letters and gifts before moving into budget work. Christopher LaHosette then gave a general fund budget update, explaining how the green sheet reflected JFAC’s prior base and maintenance actions and highlighting two policy bills tied to budget reductions: House Bill 622, which would reduce the IDLA appropriation by about $9 million, and Senate Bill 1312, which would reduce Medicaid general fund spending by about $21 million through a residential habilitation rate change.
The committee then considered several budget-setting items. It approved a $17,800 reimbursement for the military division’s hazardous materials deficiency warrants, but a larger military division enhancement request to restore funding for the State Guardsman Education Assistance Program was debated at length and ultimately failed on the original motion; a substitute motion to hold the item at the call of the chair passed. The committee also approved enhancements for PERSI, the Division of Veteran Services, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the State Tax Commission’s supplemental request for federal tax conformity implementation costs. The Tax Commission’s larger FY 2027 enhancement package also passed, with language directing that one appropriation be used only for fast tax collection vendor payments and any unused amount revert to the general fund.
The committee then took up language for the Division of Veteran Services intended to signal future funding for cemetery maintenance, but that language failed after members objected that it could not bind a future legislature. Additional cleanup language was later adopted to correct previously approved maintenance bill language, including clarifying transfer authority and fixing year references and agency names. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would hold budget hearings for the Department of Water Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on the following Monday, with no votes scheduled.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This included $371,000 for nine replacement vehicles and $162,700 for IT hardware.
- the needs of its inspectors, and has therefore adjusted its request to $310,000 for the vehicle replacements
- Are you having severe maintenance issues with any of these vehicles you're trying to replace, or are
- we just trying to replace them for the mileage that they're running at?
- However, the legislature did authorize $176,700 one-time for IT hardware replacements.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present and first heard the Joint Millennium Fund Committee’s report. The co-chairs recommended one-time or ongoing funding for several programs: $692,200 for the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, $1 million for juvenile safety assessment centers, $3 million for child advocacy centers, $150,000 ongoing for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation, noting prior language against using Millennium Fund dollars to offset Medicaid; the co-chairs said the current recommendation was tied to the governor’s request and intended as one-time funding, with any unused money returned to the fund. The report was accepted by unanimous consent.
The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses budget. Legislative staff outlined the division’s structure, growth, fund balances, and fee-setting framework, including the requirement to keep board balances within a range tied to a five-year rolling average of expenditures. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced costs, consolidated boards, and used fee increases, fee reductions, and fee holidays to bring boards into range; he also said the division had improved retention after inspector pay increases. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for DEA license reimbursements, the request to remove a 10% transfer limitation, and whether cash balances should be redistributed among boards. Barron said the transfer exemption was largely a holdover and that cross-subsidizing boards would be possible but unpopular. He also explained that complaints drive enforcement, that a universal discipline bill could improve consistency, and that vehicle replacements were still needed because the fleet is aging despite possible future legislation.
Finally, the committee heard the State Lottery budget. Staff reported that the lottery continues to generate dividends for schools and public buildings, with most expenditures tied to prizes and commissions. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts, and expects significant savings beginning in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; the director said detectives investigate theft and other crimes involving lottery inventory, advertising effectiveness depends heavily on jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design and artwork. The meeting ended with adjournment and a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work groups and future hearings.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 11th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They're also IT hardware and replacement items.
- there is a $939,000 request from the State Juvenile Corrections Center Endowment Income Fund for replacement
- This is for laptops and desktops that are on the four-year replacement schedule, as well as switches,
- On the replacement items and the public works, are they covering some of the same stuff, you know, upgrades
- On the replacement items and the public works, are they covering some of the same stuff, you know, upgrades
Summary:
The committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s funding sources, staffing, recent expenditure patterns, and several FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget requests, including substance use disorder treatment, youth assessment center funding, replacement items, IT upgrades, and a clinician services transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, public works projects, vehicle replacements, and staffing. Director Ashley Dowell said the department’s census has declined due to strong county partnerships, prevention and diversion efforts, and youth assessment centers, and she explained that a staffing analysis found the agency understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies converted to direct care roles. She also described the holdback impacts as coming from contract reductions, internal efficiencies, travel and training cuts, and substance use disorder funding adjustments. The committee adjourned after the department discussion.
The committee then reviewed the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources budget. Peterson described the office’s mostly federal funding, small staff, dedicated funds, prior energy resilience appropriations, and FY 2027 requests for personnel realignment, Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) support, and home energy rebates. Administrator Callie Younger said the office is focused on energy resilience, permitting coordination, hydropower relicensing, geothermal and mining projects, and a growing nuclear policy portfolio. She highlighted the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for information to industry, and work on a federal request related to a nuclear lifecycle campus. Members asked about nuclear development, spent fuel, modular reactors, permitting efficiency, and whether the office might merge with the Office of Species Conservation. Younger said the office is exploring a merger because of overlapping permitting functions and could reduce positions and save some general funds, while also improving its ability to handle nuclear and mining work. The chair closed by noting the committee’s alignment with several governor’s office recommendations and adjourned the meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Transportation and Public Works Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:04 am
Transcript Highlights:
- I just feel like we're not really doing as much as we should be to replace Equipment.
- And so I was able to replace my tires and go back on the road safely.
- So the bond, the way it's set Up, the bond revenues will replace the road funds in the identified STIP
- it was My understanding, as somebody who just signed on that bill, is that the bond revenue would replace
- To be able to replace those roles, the campus says they're not a part of those roles, technically not
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government (1-22-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- An electronic poll book is a digital system that replaces traditional paper poll books at voting locations
- Hardware replacement is at portion of this work and ongoing support portion of this work and ongoing
- Hardware replacement is at the top.
- These devices have a recommended useful life of approximately five years, which means hardware replacement
- Currently, there is no designated funding for this replacement.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:14
Approval of Minutes 00:00:40
State Board of Elections 00:00:56, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met to hear an update from the State Board of Elections on its Bluegrass Books electronic poll book system. Rachel Pointer and Richard House described the project as an in-house modernization effort intended to improve security, customization, integration with the voter registration system, reduce voter wait times, streamline supplemental and provisional ballot processing, and provide year-round local support to county clerks and poll workers. They emphasized that the system is already a working product, not just a concept, and showed a workflow demonstration of voter lookup, signature capture, ballot issuance, manual lookup, and handling voters who have already voted.
The agency also outlined the financial rationale for the project, saying the state currently lacks dedicated funding for replacing the iPads used for election-day poll books and that counties now bear vendor maintenance and support costs. Under Bluegrass Books, the state would seek to cover hardware replacement, maintenance, and on-site support through future appropriations, potentially using bulk purchasing to lower costs. When asked about the size of the appropriation request, the presenters said it was not yet finalized but noted roughly 7,000 devices are deployed statewide and replacement would likely be phased rather than done all at once.
Members asked about security and whether the e-poll book could affect vote totals. The Board explained that the e-poll book is separate from ballot casting, that voting machines themselves are not connected to the internet, and that the poll book is networked only to update check-ins and prevent double voting. They said the device is locked down to the poll book application and can operate offline until connectivity returns. A member also asked how to recruit more poll workers; the response suggested higher pay is the main incentive, along with outreach to schools, community colleges, and possible pilot programs involving professionals. The meeting concluded without any votes or formal action beyond approval of minutes, and the next meeting was announced for January 29, weather permitting.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining Jan 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We believe that the agency currently has procedures for repairing and replacing uniforms.
- We believe that the agency currently has procedures for repairing and replacing uniforms.
- Does the state contend that replacing a septic tank and drain fields is minor maintenance?
- The stress on the frame and other working parts of the car, you just can't replace those.
- The way you do is you replace the car.
Summary:
The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met to hear informational presentations on several state employee bargaining units at impasse. The Department of Management Services outlined the status of negotiations for FDLE special agents, correctional/security services, sworn law enforcement officers, Florida Highway Patrol troopers, and Florida State Fire Service employees. In each case, most contract articles had been resolved, but key disputes remained over wages and several non-economic provisions such as hours of work, grievance language, safety, grooming, seniority, equipment, travel, and on-call pay. DMS emphasized that the state had offered competitive pay increases, special pay, recruitment/retention funds in some units, and that insurance costs would remain unchanged for employees.
Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association argued that the state was requiring firefighters to perform work far outside their job descriptions, including major construction and renovation, and that wildland firefighters were being undercompensated for long hours, on-call duty, and callback work. They also pressed for higher wages, an incentive-based pay plan, additional compensation for firefighter-EMTs, more protective clothing, and stronger decontamination and cancer-prevention measures. The Police Benevolent Association’s Florida Highway Patrol unit sought a larger career development plan, veteran stipends, broader grooming/tattoo allowances, improved vehicle safety, and more pay, while the law enforcement unit raised concerns about vehicle safety, performance evaluation quotas, and a $7,000 across-the-board raise. The security services unit representing correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers focused on a substantial wage increase, retention pay, special pay for death row and close management assignments, and overtime treatment for lieutenants and captains.
Committee members asked only a few clarifying questions, including whether correctional officers receive overtime, which DMS confirmed they do. No votes were taken and no formal action was scheduled; the meeting was expressly for information only. The committee thanked the presenters, noted that the materials and testimony would be taken under advisement, and adjourned without objection.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 14th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Specifically, $4 million to replace trees and timber in areas impacted by hurricanes and natural disasters
- wildfire management equipment, replacement of the forestry center and the state hangar, and enhancements
- This provides a replacement for old and aging vehicles within the department's fleet.
- So a lot of times if they get a grant and they want to do a roof replacement, the max grant is $10,000
- So a lot of times if they get a grant and they want to do a roof replacement, the max grant is $10,000
Summary:
The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably.
Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage.
The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Only then were we told that they expected a full roof replacement, which would have cost over $30,000
- practices, requires insurance policies to pay restitution of policyholders, mandates offers of extended replacement
- practices, requires insurance policies to pay restitution of policyholders, mandates offers of extended replacement
- SB 876 does this by establishing the following: accurate real-world replacement cost estimates.
- SB 876 requires insurers to offer sufficient extended replacement costs.