Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><01:25:48.000><c> including</c> investigatory powers, including investigatory powers, including
• Um, doesn't the Executive Council already have the power of the purse?
• >> Technically, the legislature is the one with the power of the purse.
• Uh, they with the power of the purse.
• </c> executive council would have veto power executive council would have veto power over<03:36:13.439

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill: An act exempting Nick Santos from the maximum age requirement for the position
• Third reading of the bill: An act exempting Anthony Morales from the maximum age requirement for the
• Two matters come before the Senate for their final passage: House No. 4718, an act relative to the maximum
• But at the same time, understanding what these constitutional concerns and separation of powers are,
• And separation of powers are, how do we make sure that we're not approaching that no-fly zone?

Summary: The Senate first took up several local bills and resolutions. It amended and passed to be engrossed Senate No. 1831, providing line-of-duty death benefits for the surviving spouse of Detective John DeSongy of Rutland, and passed to be engrossed House bills concerning police officer age requirements in Haverhill, Newton, and Stoneham, including exemptions for named individuals and a local age-waiver measure. The chamber also adopted congratulatory resolutions for the Florence Community Band’s 25th anniversary and for the Italian Consulate in Boston on Italian National Day. The Senate then considered House No. 5501, the fiscal year 2027 state budget, after the House nonconcurred in the Senate’s amendment and appointed conferees. On motion, the Senate insisted on its amendment and appointed a committee of conference. The chamber also referred a House petition on a temporary liquor-license/public-consumption pilot to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technology after suspending Joint Rule 12. A major floor debate centered on Senate No. 3104, a resolution responding to the Supreme Judicial Court’s May 7, 2026 order regarding the State Auditor’s request for Senate financial records. Supporters said the resolution would provide records in the clarified scope while preserving constitutional objections to broader requests; opponents argued the Senate should comply more fully and seek the court’s guidance earlier. After a roll call, the resolution was adopted 33-6. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of William F. “Bill” Howard of Beverly and adjourned until the following Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say, you know, we've had a lot of powerful testimonies today, and this was incredibly
• powerful.
• San Diego Food Bank is about 52 to 54 million pounds of output.

Summary: The committee first adopted a 4-0 consent calendar for SB 1345, SB 1410, and SB 1421. It then heard SB 1200 on child care, which would redefine infant and toddler age categories so providers could count 18- to 24-month-olds as toddlers without changing ratios. The author and family child care providers said the bill would better reflect child development, improve reimbursement, increase capacity, and help keep family child care businesses open; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee next approved SB 971, a permissive framework for counties to offer senior education and technology training through local public health systems and community partners. Supporters said it would help older adults with digital literacy, fraud awareness, health, and social connection, while remaining optional and locally tailored. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 4-0 to the floor. The committee also passed SB 1234, which requires fentanyl to be included in court-ordered drug testing in dependency cases when drug testing is already ordered. The author, an angel family member, and a sheriff’s office witness described child deaths and fentanyl exposure risks; the bill passed 4-0 to the floor. SB 1109, dealing with oversight of short-term residential therapeutic programs in small rural counties, drew substantial testimony. Supporters from Alpine County argued that two facilities there strain local emergency response and that annual review should be triggered by repeated serious citations or placement in counties lacking basic infrastructure. Opponents said the bill was too broad and could destabilize needed placement capacity. After discussion, the author accepted committee amendments, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations as amended. The committee also passed SB 961, which would notify financial aid applicants that they may be eligible for CalFresh; students and advocates said it would reduce food insecurity and improve college success, with no opposition, and it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. Later, SB 1099, clarifying local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under federal PRWORA exemptions, was heard and supported by local government attorneys; it was held on call after a 2-0 roll. SB 1190, creating licensing and safety rules for youth transport companies used in out-of-state residential placements, was supported by survivors and advocacy groups, with some support-if-amended testimony; it passed 4-0 to the Public Safety Committee. Finally, SB 1325, a narrow San Diego County measure to allow Feeding San Diego to participate in Cal Food under specific conditions, drew support from the author and Feeding San Diego but opposition from the California Association of Food Banks, which argued it would shift limited resources and add administrative burden. The transcript ends during committee discussion on SB 1325, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason that Expo became so powerful, Madam Chair, is it became not just, again, an Albuquerque
• It really might, it's when we're looking at some of the outputs that we're targeting—the number of trainings
• That inherently is one of the most powerful ways that we can teach our youth that nonviolence is, you

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, the commissioner's powers under the program are added to or revised.
• And also, as mentioned in the staff briefing, the office has given more investigative powers to look
• And also, as mentioned in the staff briefing, the office has given more investigative powers to look
• The bill directly increases the maximum amount to $1,200 and indexes it to inflation.
• There's a 30% GMI restrictor, so the maximum loan amount is $700, or 30% of GMI, whichever is less.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2542 would require drug developers to use validated non-animal testing methods when available, unless federal regulators request animal testing. The sponsor said the bill builds on prior Washington action on cosmetics testing and is intended to move toward more humane and modern science. Supporters, including students, animal welfare advocates, and biotech-related witnesses, argued that animal tests often fail to predict human outcomes and that alternatives are more accurate. A biotech industry representative said animal testing is still necessary for some research and warned the bill could deter local innovation, but said the industry was open to amendments. The sponsor said she was open to discussing changes to the enforcement mechanism. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 2629 would address theft and vandalism of critical communications infrastructure, including copper and fiber lines. The bill would ban cash payments for nonferrous metal transactions, require electronic or stored-value payment methods, impose civil penalties for stolen copper used in telecommunications cable, and create a new Class C felony for destruction of critical communications infrastructure. The sponsor and industry witnesses described repeated outages affecting 911, hospitals, schools, and first responders, and said Washington has a high rate of these incidents. Recycling industry representatives supported the bill after negotiations, but a prosecutor and some others said the bill should focus more on law enforcement tools such as searchable transaction databases and holding periods rather than new penalties. No final action was taken in the hearing. House Bill 2394 would expand the Insurance Commissioner’s insurance fraud program and create a Class B felony for insurance fraud, including fraudulent billing, misrepresentation of repair costs, and misuse of coding systems. The bill also broadens who can be considered a victim for restitution and gives the commissioner additional investigative tools, while the substitute removed a reporting duty for certified public accountants. The sponsor and the Insurance Commissioner’s office said the measure responds to more sophisticated, technology-driven fraud schemes that harm both insurers and consumers. Insurance industry and fraud bureau witnesses supported the bill as a consumer protection measure. No vote was taken. House Bill 2361 would raise the maximum principal amount for small loans from $700 to $1,200, with annual inflation adjustments, while keeping the existing 30% of monthly income cap and other safeguards. The sponsor said the change would better reflect emergency costs and help borrowers avoid illegal lenders. DFI raised implementation questions about inflation adjustments and publication requirements, and opponents from AARP, SEIU 775, poverty advocates, and consumer attorneys argued the bill would increase debt traps and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. MoneyTree supported the bill, saying the current cap is outdated and that the product remains a flat-fee, regulated credit option with existing consumer protections. The hearing also included testimony on House Bill 2294, which would prohibit negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies; staff described a proposed amendment adding notice and changing enforcement, and the committee then moved the bill out with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• weekly benefit amount is your maximum weekly benefit amount is $427<01:52:58.079><c> that</c><01:52:
• It's input-output, so I mean I guess the good news is both DHS and Social Security do deal with names
• so I mean I guess the good news output so I mean I guess the good news is<03:12:30.600><c> both</c><
• In fact, some of your Apple Music and your iPhones now have a limit of 80 dB as their maximum loudness
• loudness and they're starting to maximum loudness and they're starting to work<04:11:24.680><c> with

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first change I'll discuss is it adds a policy around local effort assistance, lowering the maximum
• It sunsets the Running Start reduction to 1.2 FTE in terms of the maximum enrollment that may count towards
• The amendment MAC-445, offered by Representative Fitzgibbon, changes the combined maximum enrollment
• transmission corridor, start developing a transmission project, acquire property, or exercise its power
• transmission corridor, start developing a transmission project, acquire property, or exercise its power

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, these devices go at least twice as fast as the people-powered versions of them.
• Why does a gasoline-powered motor restrict something from being a micromobility device?
• Peer pressure is a powerful thing for young people.
• So, you know, we don't want, as a cyclist on the path, I don't want gas-powered motorcycles.
• Because the maximum kinetic energy is not high enough.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hearing on the governor’s Ride Safe Act (S 3077), a micromobility bill based on recommendations from last year’s Special Commission on Micromobility. Administration witnesses from MassDOT and the MBTA said the bill is needed because current laws are outdated and inconsistent, and they emphasized a new speed-based framework that would classify devices by maximum speed rather than by device name. They said the bill would set statewide rules, clarify enforcement, require safety equipment and age limits, restrict unsafe modifications, improve crash-data collection, and create a working group to address future issues such as registration, licensure, insurance, and emerging technologies. Committee members asked about crash reporting, battery safety, enforcement on shared-use paths, commuter rail access, and how the bill would apply to off-road vehicles. Several witnesses and legislators supported the bill’s general approach but raised concerns about whether the speed tiers should be tied more directly to actual operating speed on paths, whether higher-speed devices should be registered, and how police would distinguish between similar-looking devices. Representative and commission witnesses also urged more funding for Complete Streets and Shared Streets and Spaces, and some suggested adding default speed limits on shared-use paths and automated enforcement tools. Public testimony was mixed. Pediatric emergency physicians strongly supported the bill but urged amendments for a minimum age to operate powered devices and a universal helmet requirement, citing rising severe injuries and deaths among children. A police chief and other safety advocates backed clearer rules and better data collection, while some moped riders objected that the bill would treat low-speed gas mopeds too harshly and should better account for mopeds as vulnerable road users. UL Standards and AAA supported the bill’s safety and clarity goals, with UL recommending tighter language on battery certification and equivalent standards. No vote was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House No. 4390, third reading of the bill: an act exempting Nick Santos from the maximum age requirement
• Third reading of the bill: an act to exempt Anthony Morales from the maximum age requirement for the
• Requests that seek to overstep the powers of the legislature to organize and conduct its business are
• But at the same time, understanding what these constitutional concerns and separation of powers are,
• And separation of powers are, how do we make sure that we're not approaching that no-fly zone?

Transcript Highlights:

• The next amendment is Lange 171, sponsored by Representative Davis, and this amendment modifies the maximum
• But the maximum sanction for DOC supervision was 15 days.
• It's now back to the statutory maximum of 30 days, which is very little.
• But the maximum sentence is 22 years.
• But the maximum sentence is 22 years.

Bills: HB1239 , HB2310 , HB2490 , HB2508 , HB2510 , HB2532 , HB2539

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: reentry, reentry readiness, recidivism, earned release time, good time credits, graduated reentry, community custody, partial confinement, home detention, work release, electronic monitoring, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, corrections, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, sentencing, release date recalculation, transition services

Transcript Highlights:

• The next amendment is Lange 171, sponsored by Representative Davis, and this amendment modifies the maximum
• But the maximum sanction for DOC supervision was 15 days.
• It's now back to the statutory maximum of 30 days, which is very little.
• But the maximum sentence, 22 years.
• But the maximum sentence, 22 years.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met in executive session on February 2, 2026, to consider several bills. Staff summarized bills on reentry and earned release time (HB 1239), assault with sexual motivation (HB 2310), extraordinary medical placement (HB 2490), Office of Independent Investigations reporting rules (HB 2508), stalking supervision (HB 2510), nitrous oxide restrictions (HB 2532), and inmate funds/indigency thresholds (HB 2539). HB 2220 was bumped to the next day, and the committee later deferred action on HB 2490. On HB 1239, the committee considered multiple amendments. Amendments to require additional community custody supervision, reduce the earned release increase for serious violent and Class A sex offenses to 20%, and bar earned release from being used if parole is later established were all rejected. Amendments excluding sexual motivation enhancements from earned release calculations and adding a second DOC pilot program for incarcerated survivors at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton were adopted. The committee then reported out the amended substitute bill on a 5-4 vote, with members debating public safety, victim impacts, sentencing fairness, and DOC workload. HB 2310, which elevates fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation to a Class C felony for offenders with specified criminal history, was reported out unanimously. HB 2508 was amended to narrow immediate reporting requirements for non-deadly force incidents and in-custody deaths, then passed unanimously. HB 2510, requiring DOC supervision for people convicted of stalking in community custody, also passed unanimously. HB 2532 passed unanimously after an amendment adding a veterinary-care exception to the nitrous oxide offense. HB 2539, which raises the inmate indigency threshold to $100 and, in the substitute, removes the telephone-services deduction exemption, passed on a 6-3 vote. The committee adjourned after stating it would return the next day to act on the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• This, in my view, is the perfect example of what should be executive power with legislative power. ..
• .example of what should be executive power, with legislative power having the ability to come in and
• This, in my view, is the perfect example of what should be executive power with legislative power. ..
• .of what should be executive power, with legislative power having the ability to come in and refuse to
• But that's writ power. I'm talking about rulings or such.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, received a House message that H.B. 422 had passed the House, and heard gubernatorial nominations for the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups and adopted a resolution designating June 20, 2025, as Texas Nuclear Legislative Day. Members then considered and passed several bills and resolutions, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. SB 311 passed to final passage on the Texas Supreme Court’s writ power. SB 883, on off-label prescription access for COVID-19 treatment, passed to engrossment. SB 1706, creating an Open Meetings Act exception for certain defense, military, and aerospace deliberations, passed despite concerns from Sen. Eckhardt that the bill’s use of “deliberate” could weaken open-government protections. CS SB 1677, directing a study on diabetes-related amputations, passed with support from Sen. Menendez. SB 1967 expanded flood infrastructure fund eligibility to certain multipurpose projects, and SB 1255, a cleanup bill on mold assessor and remediator regulation, passed unanimously. The Senate also approved CS SJR 40 and CS SB 871, which would change emergency and disaster law to require legislative involvement after prolonged or widespread emergencies and to limit gubernatorial suspension powers, with Sen. Eckhardt questioning whether the bill could slow urgent business closures during a disaster. Additional measures passed included SB 1426 transferring management of the First Capital State Historic Site to the Texas Historical Commission, SB 249 requiring TxDOT to fund memorial markers for fallen peace officers, SB 1592 centralizing collection of hotel occupancy taxes from accommodation intermediaries, SB 1271 allowing concurrent jurisdiction on military installations for certain juvenile matters, SB 745 creating a higher penalty for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, SB 365 shortening the academic fresh start waiting period at public colleges, and SB 1171 adjusting compensation and standards for certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspector general employees. CS SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, passed after questions about its relationship to federal homeland security and its focus on border security and critical infrastructure. The latter part of the session focused heavily on CS SB 38, a major eviction and squatter-related bill. Sen. Bettencourt described widespread squatter cases and argued the bill, with a Moody amendment, would clarify notice and eviction procedures while balancing property-owner and tenant rights. Sen. West said he supported addressing squatters but worried the broader eviction changes could harm vulnerable renters, especially single mothers, and said he would vote present not voting. The discussion continued with additional testimony from Sen. Kolkhorst about the need for a balanced eviction process.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the or adjusting when the five years statute of limitations begins, it strengthens the deterrent power
• Next up is HB 1548 relating to sentencing limits, the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors or
• What it does in practice is reduce the maximum sentence to 364 days and specifies that as a one-year
• And it does so by increasing the maximum amount of public funds available, including significantly To
• Correspondingly, we'll increase the maximum amount of public funds available in section three to 20%

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and acted on several nominations and bills. It first recommended advise and consent for Governor’s Message 573, confirming Luann Blake to the Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee after she described her experience as a blind voter and her goals of improving outreach and accessibility for voters with print disabilities. The committee then took up the judiciary supplemental budget bill, HB 2095, with testimony from the courts and several supportive organizations. The courts requested funding for security, cybersecurity, substance use treatment contracts, public guardian services, staffing, and capital projects; members questioned the lump-sum CIP request, the substance use contract funding, and the Kamanu Hale elevator project. The committee later voted to pass HB 2095 with amendments, including changes to cybersecurity funding, security-related report language, and other committee-report notes. The committee also heard HB 1520, which changes the five-year statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of campaign finance violations to begin upon discovery by the Campaign Spending Commission. The commission supported the bill, saying it would prevent delayed reporting from avoiding prosecution, while one senator raised concerns about due diligence, tolling, and the difference between administrative and criminal enforcement. The bill drew broad support from advocacy groups and was advanced with an amendment clarifying “criminal prosecution.” HB 1548, which reduces the maximum sentence for misdemeanors and other offenses punishable by up to one year to 364 days, received strong support from the Public Defender, immigrant-rights groups, OHA, and others, who said the change would reduce immigration consequences for noncitizens. The committee later amended and passed the bill, limiting it to non-violent offenses. HB 2050, increasing partial public financing limits and available public funds, was supported by the Campaign Spending Commission and good-government groups, while OHA asked for parity with lieutenant governor races. The committee passed it with amendments increasing the public-fund match and funding levels, and requested additional appropriations in the committee report. HB 2494, which would set factors for warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations and require documentation of the justification, drew strong support from the Public Defender and civil-liberties advocates but opposition from the Attorney General’s office, prosecutors, police, and some business groups, who warned it would restrict officer discretion and trigger litigation. The committee nevertheless passed it with amendments. In a final decision-making agenda, the committee also passed HB 2250 with amendments, adding blank appropriations and committee-report language related to claims against the state, including claims involving exonerees and a disputed USEPA-related claim.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were primarily driven off of electric power and battery power.
• It is gas-powered.
• The way I read the bill is you're putting a maximum of up to 75% and you're putting a maximum duration
• The way I read the bill is you're putting a maximum of up to 75% and you're putting a maximum duration
• They choose not to go up to the maximum allowed $4.50.

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB514 , HB593 , HB618 , HB732 , HB908 , HB961 , HB1010

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, senior citizens, homestead exemption, Louisiana Constitution, motor vehicles, local fees, transaction fees, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are regulating the output, not the input.
• has really said how we're going to fund or anything else to do the same thing to measure the same output

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We think a focus on outcomes is warranted, in addition to the outputs that the department is statutorily
• recommendations at this time, but moving forward as we continue to collect information regarding outputs

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is great stuff because it's still low cost and high output for what we're looking to do.
• their boards and commissions that they work with, and this bill does nothing to diminish or reduce the power
• They will still have all their current power. They'll be able to set budgets.
• There was an abuse of that political power to create roads.
• But when we have a power over the appointment process, we have more skin in the game and the ability,

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to one uh does not increase maximum to one uh does not increase maximum amount<01:10:56.320><c>
• </c><01:27:01.760><c> contribution</c> actually just the maximum contribution actually just the maximum
• and people who have access to money and power.
• and people who have access to money and power.
• There are three minority members on the floor, so the power in charge would, in essence, have veto power

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• General Ellison's office's ability to investigate Medicaid fraud by expanding the office's subpoena powers
• to bring it on par with the same powers that county attorneys have when investigating these sorts of
• brings the penalties for medical assistance fraud in line with other theft penalties, including a maximum
• to bring it on par with the same powers to bring it on par with the same powers<00:01:54.840><c> that
• </c> theft penalties including a maximum theft penalties including a maximum penalty<00:02:06.000><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Some basic power plant types: You'll hear some natural gas-fired combustion turbines.
• They can ramp up to maximum load pretty quickly.
• So we do have some ties there that import power into the state.
• But a lot of people don't like power plants in their backyards.
• They also look at purchasing power from a neighbor.

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from Chair LaMarca and members, then received presentations on electric utility planning, transportation infrastructure, and broadband deployment. Public Service Commission staff explained how Florida’s utilities plan for reliability and cost through 10-year site plans, demand forecasting, and economic dispatch. The presentation emphasized Florida’s residential-heavy load, growing EV demand, expanding solar and battery storage, continued reliance on natural gas combined-cycle plants, and the role of nuclear power. Members asked about energy efficiency, rates, renewable options beyond solar, cybersecurity, grid resilience, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactors; the witness said efficiency programs are reviewed every five years, utilities must balance reliability and affordability, and large new loads like data centers generally must pay for their own infrastructure needs. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue described FDOT’s five-year work program, decentralized district structure, and funding mix, noting that the agency is predominantly state-funded and prioritizes maintenance and preservation before expansion. He highlighted record investment levels, major congestion-relief projects, toll-road revenues, seaport and airport partnerships, spaceport investments, workforce and equipment needs, and emerging technology such as advanced air mobility. Members asked about project timing, MPO planning, rail and ferry funding, airport governance, winter storm preparedness, and flooding/sea-level rise; Perdue said faster delivery depends on resources, local governments lead transit operations with FDOT as a capital partner, and coastal and drainage projects are designed around storm surge and resiliency. The Office of Broadband reported on six grant programs supporting infrastructure, community facilities, digital connectivity, and future digital capacity and broadband expansion. Director Leo Garcia said the office has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars across most counties, leveraged significant private investment, and focused heavily on rural areas. He noted that broadband efforts are intended to support telehealth, education, workforce development, and economic growth, and said the state has reduced the number of unserved locations from more than 400,000 to a projected 170,000 after current awards are completed. He also said the office needs additional budget authority for the upcoming digital capacity program and that the larger federal/state broadband deployment program will be used to reach remaining unserved and underserved areas.