Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think the commercial vehicle amount changes based on the passenger, does it? It does.
• It is an additional amount of insurance to cover 50 and 100,000, yeah.
• Blockchain systems are distributed ledger systems that replicate all of the data across every node in
• It's just that, you know, you wouldn't be able to use a distributed ledger. ...And you wouldn't be using
• What amount are they, just offhand, do you know?

Bills: HB111

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the end, 306 continuing education units were distributed through that effort.
• This report will be distributed in the 2026 Interim Committees.
• I don't know how the amount was calculated or where it came from, but we have just been doing it these
• So, what funding is distributed for this type of program?
• It is phenomenal to me the amount of growth that has happened despite the hardships.

Transcript Highlights:

• our subcommittee jurisdiction is only behind health care and education, as far as the total dollar amount
• operations, distributed logistics and resupply with a fleet of heavy and lightweight trailers, amphibious
• We've gotten additional access to almost the same amount to help those communities that were impacted
• Since 2022 until today, the amount of non-immigrant traffic that has entered our Miami-Dade and Broward
• Over the last six years, our division has distributed nearly $11.5 billion in disaster funding.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can reduce the amount of Prop. 4 that's necessary.
• If it is just an 'up to,' she said, there will be a race to that amount.
• This amount would be inadequate to fully support Tier 2 programs within SB 840.
• We basically take the amount of allowances that we intend to distribute and pick around. take the amount
• There have been distributions of this funding.

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill reduces the taxable income by the amount paid by parents for child care, less any amount covered
• paid by parents for child care, amount paid by parents for child care, less<00:05:20.920> any
• <00:05:21.240> amount<00:05:21.600> covered<00:05:21.960> by<00:05:22.080> a<
• amounts that have out there the 7,500. amounts that have out there the 7,500.
• And so, spending this amount of people.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentation on HF 495, a bill intended to help families with rising child care costs by allowing a subtraction from taxable income for licensed child care expenses. The author said the measure would provide immediate relief to families while broader child care supply and affordability problems are addressed, citing a revenue analysis estimating about 81,700 returns affected and an average tax decrease of $639. The bill was described as applying only to licensed child care centers, family child care, or group family child care under chapter 142B. A virtual testifier, Annel Velasco of St. Paul, opposed the bill. She said child care is indeed expensive but argued the proposal is only a small patch that does not address structural problems such as provider closures, low teacher pay, and lack of available slots. She also said the subtraction would disproportionately benefit higher-income families and would not help providers or teachers. Members debated whether the bill should be more targeted. Representative Smith and Representative Lee argued the proposal is uncapped, expensive, and structured as a subtraction rather than a refundable credit, meaning it would mainly help higher-income households and could divert resources from other credits such as the working family tax credit or child tax credit. Representative Swedzinski supported the bill as allowing families to keep their own money and said child care costs are high across income levels. Chair Gomez and others emphasized that the child care system has broader structural failures, including low pay and lack of slots, and said this bill would address only one part of the problem. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have varying different rental amounts.
• . amounts. amounts.
• So, I'm not tied to the funding amount So, I'm not tied to the funding amount in<01:17:28.640>
• each community and distribute the food. each community and distribute the food.
• report for a small amount of money. report for a small amount of money.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, in that way, we support the work to try and reduce the amount of two-lined spittlebug that is
• So, uh, in that way, we support the work to try and reduce the amount of two-lined spittlebug that is
• So, uh, in that way, we support the work to try and reduce the amount of two-lined spittlebug that is
• The amount of two-lined spittlebug that is going to be out there.
• reflect the distribution of agricultural operations<00:40:18.520> in<00:40:18.600> the

Bills: SB2319, SB2407, SB2489, SB2153, SB2321, SB2805, SB3010, SB2892, SB2595, SB2781

Keywords: agriculture, biosecurity, grant funding, food security, climate resiliency, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, agribusiness, state employment, invasive species, lease provisions, environment, food safety, farmers, local food systems, rural development, livestock, forage grasses, pest management

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been distributed, and I move for its adoption. And it ends in .01H. Thank you, sir.
• It has been distributed, and I move for its adoption. And it ends I have an amendment.
• It has been distributed, and I move for its adoption. And it ends in .02H.
• Chairman, you want me to provide that to your office and then you can distribute it to your members?
• This contributes massively to air pollution and generates the largest amount of greenhouse gases.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disposition be used to determine 1, whether he violated the law, and 2, if so, the civil penalty amount
• The committee's primary function is to select charities that can be distributed to.
• McDermott, what was the amount of the reduced fine again?
• It was not paid and reverted to the full amount.
• Change the base amount to make adjustments to those elected pensions, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like any idea of amounts?"
• Like any idea of amounts?"
• uh to allow uh the uh distribution uh to allow uh the uh distribution utility<05:15:16.560> to
• <05:19:40.958> will and when that underreovery amount will and when that underreovery amount
• fixed distribution costs.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second one was actually a movement as well about kind of a $5,000 sell-by aggregate amount that was
• because you can take the same amount of money and impact a higher percentage of people to influence
• There's some of those companies that also manufacture and distribute those things.
• They're state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution facilities, and that a...
• selling, distributing and selling of a Frito-Lay-type snack food.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment. The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh once again, distribution. Okay.
• <01:08:14.319> right all the food we're distributing right all the food we're distributing
• So, um, we are now distributing again close to the same volume of food we were distributing during the
• distributions live on all the bases here distributions live on all the bases here on<01:28:40.719>
• :03.440> military, distributions both for military, distributions both for military, national<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing focused on how federal policy changes, tariffs, funding cuts, the federal shutdown, and delays in the farm bill are affecting Hawaii agriculture and food access. Opening remarks emphasized Hawaii’s heavy dependence on imported food and farm inputs, the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in USDA services, and the need for stronger state, county, and community coordination. Speakers also noted that immigration enforcement and broader global supply-chain pressures can affect local farm labor, production, and food availability. Sharon Herd, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, described both positive and negative federal impacts. She said Hawaii has benefited from some recurring grants and a large new $8.8 million federal grant, but also reported about $22 million in losses from suspended or terminated grants, including farm-to-school and water-related projects. She said some USDA programs, such as microgrants for food security and FISMIP, are currently suspended, while the specialty crop block grant remains active. She also said Hawaii farms declined from 7,328 to 6,569 between the 2017 and 2022 censuses and argued the state cannot rely on imports alone to feed its people. Amanda Shaw of Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii presented findings from federal funding cut reports. She said the first report, in March, identified about $88 million in potential cuts, and the newer report found $64.7 million in confirmed cuts and about $175 million in potential cuts. She said federal shifts are creating uncertainty for farmers, food-system organizations, and school and community food programs, and noted that 4,000 to 5,000 Hawaii farmers could receive less money because of changes to payment-factor provisions for socially disadvantaged farmers. She also said Hawaii has lost 18% of local USDA staff since September 2024, with possible further national reductions expected. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair noted that any legal questions, including the reported SNAP changes, would be for the Judiciary Committee to assess later.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would continue on with that same amount.
• That program has been funded wildly varying amounts over the years.
• And we have a tremendous amount of paper records.
• You can distribute this letter. Yes, sir. Thank you.
• I provided three handouts, which I understand haven't been distributed yet.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the total amount that can be grown.
• So there isn't an analysis that results in an amount per year or anything like that.
• The amount they deducted was correct. They just picked the wrong code.
• That's the Metropolitan Redevelopment Act GRT distribution to MRAs.
• What What is different is the way we've earmarked the distribution of the revenue.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That seems like... ...a fairly low amount.
• You have to address a certain amount of fraud. Can you quantify that? Mr.
• But in my community, there are still lines for food distribution.
• So that form is a record of the amount that they received, not necessarily the amount that they were
• I'm just curious about how, if county, if it's kind of a fair distribution.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amount of alcoholic beverage beverages or the amount of alcohol level and all that, none of that's
• Uh, is it an insignificant amount.
• that you pay the rep, you also pay the 2% on the amount of sales tax that you pay, and on the amount
• No, they, they can pay the uncontested amount or they can pay the full amount and then receive a refund
• In, in previous years, we've had industry that do pay their unprotested amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 50 is a provision that provides the city of Stewart with $888,000, which is the amount of their
• c> on On line 50 is a provision that provides the city of Stewart with $888,000, which is the amount
• <00:31:39.159> which<00:31:39.279> is<00:31:39.480> the<00:31:39.600> amount
• uh which is the amount of their foregone<00:31:40.919> local<00:31:41.279> government<
• systems are exempt from distribution systems are exempt from property property property taxes<00:37:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Smaller amounts, but similar, for the tobacco tax and real estate transfer.
• Uh, BTLA—oh, sorry—Treasury meals and rooms distribution cap.
• Uh, BTLA—oh, sorry—Treasury meals and rooms distribution cap.
• Meals and rooms distribution cap: you remember that the House capped the meals and rooms distribution
• <00:43:31.040> down appropriation of an equal amount down appropriation of an equal amount

Keywords: LBA Briefing on Budget, 928, house, all

Summary: The presentation was an LBA overview of Senate changes to the House-passed state budget, with Michael Kane explaining how Senate Finance updated revenue and spending estimates after April revenue figures and agency discussions. He said the Senate’s revenue outlook was higher than the House’s in some areas, but lower in others, especially video lottery terminal revenue, and that the biggest differences also came from changes to revenue splits between the general fund and education trust fund, lapse estimates, and several policy changes in House Bill 1 and House Bill 2. Kane highlighted several major revenue and policy differences: the Senate changed the business tax, tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax splits; adjusted liquor revenue dedication; removed the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap; delayed the Lakes Region facility proceeds plan; altered the PECARD fund treatment; added a granite patron of the arts tax credit; and changed the treatment of unique funds and video lottery terminal revenue. On spending, he noted Senate changes to judicial, corrections, HHS, human rights commission, and other budgets, including additional settlement costs, higher lapse assumptions, and a different approach to Medicaid premium revenue and retirement savings. He also described Senate additions such as a nursing home bed fee, Hampstead Hospital transition funding, and changes to the YDC claims settlement fund. The presentation focused on comparing House and Senate surplus statements across fiscal years 2025 through 2027, including projected ending balances and rainy day fund transfers. Kane repeatedly emphasized that the numbers were still dependent on final revenues and lapse amounts, and that some balances would be carried forward and trued up later in the biennium. No committee vote or final action was described in the excerpt; it was an informational budget briefing and comparison of the two chambers’ proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Giftedness is equally distributed among all populations of children.
• What is not equally distributed is a child's opportunity or resources to develop those strengths, and
• Giftedness is equally distributed among all populations of children.
• Yeah, I mean, you can't just say a substantial amount. Right, because that number is...
• And the carrot on the end of that— And for a minimum amount of supplies.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this also exempts pharmacists from using or distributing expired Narcan. Is that correct?
• A pharmacist should not be distributing expired medication. That's their whole job, so.
• A pharmacist should not be distributing expired medication. That's their whole job, so.
• Okay, I still just have a problem with a pharmacist distributing drugs that have an expiration date and
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 4026, public infrastructure improvements distribution limits, changes

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills and resolutions, with staff giving brief descriptions and members flagging which items were on consent, had unanimous committee votes, or should be pulled for further discussion. Topics included education, health care, public safety, labor, water, taxation, housing, and elections. Several measures were noted as party-line or mixed votes, while many others were reported as unanimous and placed on third-read or consent calendars. Among the more discussed items were bills on school and labor policy, including a proposal to prohibit teacher strikes, a measure restricting school district bond actions, a bill requiring school safety protocols and assigning felony penalties for noncompliance, and a resolution limiting public money for labor organization activities. Members also raised concerns or requested further review on bills involving pharmacist testing authority, expired opioid antagonists, a county sheriff-related measure, a housing affordability district proposal, and a tobacco/vape regulation bill. Some measures were explicitly pulled from consent, including a Medicaid audit resolution, a budget-related pay-withholding resolution, and several education and public safety bills. The caucus also heard multiple health and human services measures, such as genetic counselor licensing, nursing board and pharmacy board continuations, foster care rights, psychiatry access funding, and free school meals. In addition, there were water and energy bills on Colorado River management, groundwater, transmission-line review, and renewable energy valuation, plus election and campaign-related proposals. The meeting ended with announcements, including an upcoming Colorado River breakfast briefing and an internal award recognizing Representative Brian Garcia, followed by adjournment.