Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we could easily spend that, we could spend north of that building up. here in Texas.
• We will spend all of this, and then we will spend more if it's available.
• spend more money.
• And I'm Bill Rice.
• Thank you so much, Bill.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• Before final action on the General Appropriations Bill.
• The bill has passed to be engrossed. The bill is passed to be engrossed.
• the General Appropriations Bill.
• the General Appropriations Bill.
• and shifted that $450 million in Chapter 70 spending from the general funds to surtax spending.

Summary: The House met in a floor session that began with routine procedural motions, including quorum checks, roll calls, and brief recesses. Members also welcomed guests and observed a moment of silent tribute for Frederick Pat Waller of Dracut, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and longtime farmer, before taking up the day’s major budget business. The principal item was the FY2026 appropriations legislation. House leaders described the conference report as a roughly $61 billion budget that reduces spending from earlier proposals while increasing Fair Share spending to $2.4 billion. They highlighted funding for education, including Chapter 70 aid, universal school meals, higher education financial aid, MassReconnect, and school clean energy projects; transportation, including MBTA and regional transit authority support; housing and homelessness programs; food assistance; and a new $5 million immigration legal assistance fund. Supporters emphasized fiscal stability, timely passage, and aid to cities and towns, while noting uncertainty from the federal government. The House first passed the supplemental appropriations bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 142-0, then later passed it on final enactment by 143-1. The House then accepted the conference report on the main FY2026 budget by a roll call vote of 139-6, adopted the emergency preamble by a recorded vote, and finally enacted the budget by another 139-6 vote. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn to the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and the House adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The average city tax bill is $1,804, and the median tax bill is $1,265.
• Spending the taxpayer dollars.
• Billing was bad. That was a point of consternation. Probably about 11 years ago, billing was bad.
• That bill comes to us from the chief judge.
• They've managed to spend every bit of it.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes heard first from city representatives through the Florida League of Cities, who argued that property taxes are a stable local revenue source that funds core services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and stormwater work. Casey Cook emphasized that cities are optional governments with widely different tax bases and service levels, that exemptions shift the burden to fewer taxpayers, and that transparency already exists through TRIM notices, public budgets, and local hearings. Sarah Campbell of Fernandina Beach, T. Michael Stavris of Winter Haven, and Stephen O’Kee of Port St. Lucie described their budget processes, the share of general-fund revenue coming from property taxes, reserve policies, debt and capital planning, and the impact of inflation, minimum wage increases, and personnel costs. They all said local governments need predictable revenue and that any property tax changes would require careful consideration of replacement funding or service reductions. Members questioned the city panel about whether homebuyers are clearly informed about city versus county taxes and services, the role of HOAs, how many lobbyists cities employ, reserve levels, average salaries, and whether utility revenues are used only for utility purposes. The panel said TRIM notices, realtor listings, and city websites provide tax information; HOAs generally do not provide emergency services; lobbyists help local governments track Tallahassee legislation; reserves vary by city and fund; and utility revenues are generally restricted, though some cities use limited transfers. Members also asked about revenue replacement if ad valorem taxes were reduced or eliminated, and the panel said options would likely include user fees, service cuts, or other local revenue shifts. The chair also asked about public safety consolidation, and the response was that such decisions are local and may shift costs rather than create true savings. The committee then heard from county representatives after an overview by the Florida Association of Counties’ Davin Suggs, who framed counties as shared partners with the state and emphasized the gap between rising market values and the shrinking share of taxable value after exemptions and assessment limits. He said counties face a mismatch between revenue based on taxable value and expenses driven by real-world costs, and noted that most counties either held millage steady or lowered it without reaching rollback rates. He also highlighted that property taxes are only one part of county revenue, with charges for services and intergovernmental revenue often larger in some counties, and that public safety at the county level includes more than law enforcement, such as EMS, emergency management, inspections, and corrections. Deborah Manzo of Okeechobee County described a fiscally constrained rural county with limited staff, a county-supported airport, heavy reliance on property taxes for the general fund, and major cost pressures from inflation, insurance, retirement, and state and federal mandates. She said the county lowered millage slightly over recent years but still depends on multiple revenue sources and special assessments, and she flagged Medicaid, medical examiner costs, and possible firefighter workweek changes as significant concerns. Bay County Administrator Mark McQueen said his county’s budget is shaped by Hurricane Michael recovery, non-discretionary obligations, and rapid growth; he described ongoing FEMA reimbursement delays, substantial borrowing to cover disaster costs, and continuing interest expenses while the county waits for reimbursement. The county panel was still in progress when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have a bill, House Bill 746, and that's going to be presented by Representative Boyle.
• House Bill 746 is a good thing for Idaho and our citizens.
• This bill only addresses reimbursable expenses.
• Anyway, that's the purpose of the bill. Vice Chairman Shepherd: Yes.
• The committee: House Bill 746 is properly before the committee.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2596 began as a carefully considered bill.
• They spend it. They spend it in your local economy.
• They'd spend it. They'd spend it in the local economy.
• They'd spend it. They'd spend it in the local economy.
• This is a very simple bill, and it's a very good bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• deposits from the state spending limit.
• And over the last decade, we have passed bill after bill after bill around zoning, around permitting,
• And over the last decade, we have passed bill after bill after bill around zoning, around permitting,
• A Sunday bill 20. Assembly Bills 2595, 1542, 2058, 1537, and 1646.
• Assembly Bill 2655, 21, 47, Assembly Joint Resolution 27, Assembly Bill 2090, 2331, 1651, 34, 35, 1587

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session honoring Sister Michelle Gorman, the Senate chaplain, on her final day after 11 years of service. Members from both parties praised her prayers, compassion, humor, and steady presence, and several noted her long career in education and religious service. The chamber also welcomed delegations from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and the Japanese Business Association of Southern California, as well as a delegation from Morelia, Mexico, in connection with Sacramento’s sister-city relationship. The Senate then handled several procedural items, including Assembly messages and motions to remove or withdraw certain bills from consent or committee. The chamber adopted a motion to move Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures to third reading, and later approved author’s and floor amendments. The main floor action was on ACA 20, the Save for California Futures Act, which would expand the state Rainy Day Fund target from 10% to 20% of general fund taxes, change how reserve deposits count under the Gann limit, and extend and broaden debt repayment provisions, including federal unemployment insurance debt. Supporters argued it would strengthen fiscal stability and reduce volatility; opponents said it was too complicated, still allowed too much borrowing, and did not sufficiently prioritize paying down existing debt. The measure passed 29-2. The Senate also took up SB 623, a compromise measure addressing transportation network company accident cases and medical lien practices. The bill would cap certain lien-based medical charges, restrict attorney referrals and kickbacks tied to lien providers, require more standardized billing, and add rideshare safety requirements such as background checks and additional disqualifying offenses; it passed 36-0. The chamber then considered SB 417, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, an $11.25 billion housing bond with $10 billion in general obligation bonds and $1.25 billion for veterans home loan assistance. Supporters said it would fund shovel-ready affordable housing, preservation, homeownership, youth housing, infrastructure, and veterans’ housing; opponents criticized it as a “bait-and-switch” that used veterans to justify broader housing debt and argued the state should focus on existing programs and private financing. Despite the opposition, the measure passed 29-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• to explain the bill.
• If a district spends at least 80% of the allowable expenditure, this bill requires the district superintendent
• This committee substitute would remove the restriction on spending and simply make this bill a reporting
• And so your bill is...
• Our curriculum bill. Yeah. House Bill 1605. 1605. 1605.

Bills: SB205 , SB582 , SB625 , SB1884 , SB1903 , SB2600 , SB2617 , SB2751 , SB111 , SB3061 , SB1908

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> bill</c><01:04:17.880><c> that</c><01:04:18.520><c> bill</c> Reform Bill and that that bill that
• If I know that this bill dictates to local school districts not just how much they can spend, but also
• And if I know that despite claims of fairness, this bill merely incentivizes those donor towns to spend
• And if I know that despite claims of fairness, this bill merely incentivizes those donor towns to spend
• If I know that the bill would therefore raise educational spending in the donor towns and fail to provide

Transcript Highlights:

• This is something that we spend a lot of time focusing on.
• And then I won't spend a lot of time on this chart, but just mention it to you.
• , which started working on the revenue components of the bill or the tax-related pieces of the bill.
• We started working on the revenue components of the bill or the tax-related pieces of the bill.
• Even in the out years, you wouldn't view that as a potential spend.

Summary: The committee met to hear Amy Baker’s presentation on Florida’s constitutionally required long-range financial outlook for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29. Baker said the forecast reflects slower but still positive economic growth, continued above-average personal income growth, rising wages, and population growth that is increasingly driven by in-migration as Florida’s senior population expands. She highlighted weakening housing-related revenue, especially documentary stamp taxes, softer consumer sentiment, and the expectation that Florida will pass 25 million residents by 2030, with nearly a quarter of the population age 65 or older. Baker said the outlook largely retained the March 2025 general revenue forecast, but the Legislature’s 2025 session actions significantly improved near-term funds available by redirecting or freeing up money, including contingency appropriations and reversions. She noted total state reserves are just under $15 billion, or about 30% of general revenue, and that the budget stabilization fund is at its constitutional maximum. The main spending pressures in the outlook were critical needs, led by a new emergency preparedness and response fund transfer and Medicaid growth driven mainly by medical inflation and behavioral analysis costs in managed care, not by caseload growth. Other high-priority needs were also identified, and Baker said the first year shows a projected surplus, but years two and three show shortfalls, meaning fiscal strategies will still be needed. Members questioned Baker about the accuracy of the forecast, Medicaid managed care costs, the emergency preparedness fund, federal funding assumptions, and whether recent federal legislation was reflected in the numbers. Baker said the outlook is a good representation of the total picture, though the Legislature will likely adjust it as conditions change, and that more information on federal changes would come in later estimating conferences. Senator Trumbull asked about the governor’s veto of $750 million, and Baker said it simply returned to unallocated general revenue rather than being spent or added to the budget stabilization fund. The chair closed by warning members to expect a difficult budgeting process and noting that the committee would adjourn without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is something that we spend a lot of time focusing on.
• And then I won't spend a lot of time on this chart, but just mention it to you.
• , which started working on the revenue components of the bill or the tax-related pieces of the bill.
• We started working on the revenue components of the bill or the tax-related pieces of the bill.
• Even in the out years, you wouldn't view that as a potential spend.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee met to receive Amy Baker’s presentation on Florida’s long-range financial outlook for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29. Baker said the forecast assumes continued but moderating economic growth, with Florida GDP slowing from recent highs, personal income remaining above average, wages continuing to rise faster than job growth, and population growth eventually slowing as the state approaches 2030 and the baby-boomer cohort fully ages into retirement. She also highlighted weakening housing and real-estate-related revenue, especially documentary stamp collections, along with low consumer sentiment as signs of caution in the outlook. Baker explained that the state’s near-term general revenue picture improved largely because of legislative actions taken in the prior session, including contingency releases, reversions, and other budget adjustments, rather than from major new revenue growth. She said reserves remain strong at nearly $15 billion, or just under 30% of general revenue, with the budget stabilization fund at its constitutional maximum. The main spending pressures identified were critical needs and other high-priority needs, led by a new recurring transfer to the emergency preparedness and response fund and by Medicaid, where rising service costs and medical inflation—especially behavioral analysis costs in managed care—are driving higher expenditures despite lower caseloads and a slightly better federal match. Members questioned the accuracy of the forecast, the Medicaid cost drivers, the treatment of the governor’s emergency fund, federal funding assumptions, and whether recent federal legislation was reflected in the numbers. Baker said the outlook assumes current federal funding paths continue, that the new federal tax/revenue law had not yet been fully incorporated because agencies were still reviewing it, and that the emergency fund line was calculated from recent appropriations without distinguishing specific uses. She also said the vetoed $750 million did not affect the budget stabilization fund because it reverted to unallocated general revenue. No bills were heard, no votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill.
• Bill.
• </c> explain the bill. explain the bill.
• </c> bill itself. bill itself.
• . bill. bill.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• , the gas bills, the property tax bills, the cost of fines and regulations, permits.
• We can spend that in our own county.
• We can spend that in our own county.
• We can spend that in our own county.
• We can spend that in our own county.

Summary: The joint Economic Development budget subcommittee meeting opened with introductions, review of subcommittee rules, and identification of the agencies to be discussed, including the Department of Economic Development, Urban Development Corporation, Alcohol and Beverage Control, Cannabis Management, and the Gaming Commission. The chairs also outlined broad budget priorities, including support for innovation hotspots, incubators, minority- and women-owned businesses, biomedical research, centers of excellence, advanced technology, workforce development, and grants tied to tourism, cultural institutions, public safety equipment, and food retail subsidies. Most member comments focused on small business conditions and economic development policy. Senators Borrello and Chan emphasized that small businesses are the backbone of the economy and argued for reducing taxes, utility costs, fines, permits, and regulations; Chan suggested a possible one-year utility tax holiday. Assembly Member Slater similarly criticized New York’s tax and regulatory climate and promoted legislation to create a Department of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth. Assembly Member Buttenschon discussed one-house proposals such as changes to small business stock ownership rules and a hardship savings account, while Assembly Member Bendett said county infrastructure funding should be increased substantially. Several members highlighted sector-specific investments. Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Woerner stressed the importance of racing and gaming, including addiction treatment and recovery, integrity in racing, and stronger drug testing. Assembly Member Otis pointed to science and technology initiatives such as Micron, Empire AI, quantum research at Stony Brook, and broadband/digital inclusion through ConnectALL. Assembly Member Cashman supported investment in the Cornell Center for Food and Agriculture, and Senator Hinchey praised tourism matching grants, restaurant and farm food donation tax credits, and incentives for heat pumps and clean energy retrofits. No formal votes were taken. The meeting ended with staff continuing consultations with members and the chairs concluding the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was looking for it in the bill. I was looking for it in the bill. Oh, in the bill.
• We spend, we don't know quite how much we spend, because the bill will put in place that mechanism to
• Senators, we are in debate on the bill. Any debate on the bill?
• Senators, we are in debate on the bill. Any debate on the bill?
• That is the bill. Are there questions on the bill?

Bills: S0330 , S0474 , S0694 , S1120 , S1216 , S1366 , S1442 , S7018

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: firefighter disability, law enforcement disability, correctional officer disability, correctional probation officer, presumptive disability, workers' compensation, line of duty presumption, heart disease presumption, hypertension presumption, tuberculosis presumption, public safety employees, first responders, physical examination, preemployment exam, medical specialist, Medicare reimbursement, employing agency, Florida Statutes 112.18, Florida Statutes 943.13, occupational disease

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll spend a little bit of time on the expenditures here. 65% of it spent, and I'll spend a little
• With regard to our request, we have two bills: House Bill 139 and House Bill 140.
• I don't think that we can not pass a bill.
• There is a bill to increase the distributions for that.
• And what that bill does is summarized on this...

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Do members have a chance now to review Senate Bill 77 and House Bill 1052?
• I think it should be Senate Bill 4. It was a Senate bill, not a House bill.
• All that spending is determined by DHS. It's historical spending.
• This is a motion to spend the rules to take up Senate Bill 4 that was referred today from the Joint Budget
• We passed the bill last year, Senate Bill 575.

Committee: All JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE

Transcript Highlights:

• , and that would be the Keathley bill and the Taylor bill.
• those tax bills.
• those tax bills.
• , you get a telephone bill or a cell phone bill, a water bill, and you're responsible for paying those
• They do not mail out the tax bills. They say it costs $40,000. They don't want to spend the money.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• The higher education bill is 99% general fund appropriations.
• </c><00:05:16.520><c> education</c><00:05:16.960><c> bill</c> session law the higher education bill session
• The next several pie charts reference spending, historical spending from a general fund perspective,
• spending from a spending um historical spending from a general<00:13:55.680><c> fund</c><00:13:56.000
• 00:21:10.000><c> projected</c> 25 and by spending I mean projected 25 and by spending I mean projected

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• citywide and needed spending.
• On the spending side, we grouped spending into three categories: first, administration and operations
• On the spending side, we grouped spending into three categories: first, administration and operations
• increased, and so the 2024 spending surpassed the level of spending in 2020 when we account for inflation
• I also just want to mention that another bill that you passed, the Shared Streets bill, is something

Committees: Joint Transportation , Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and we allow—we had that bill and we passed that bill knowing that we had passed that bill and knowing
• It's not a fraud bill. Right.
• </c> in the bill. in the bill.
• I have three points to this bill, which is why I submitted this bill.
• a full blown spending cap.

Summary: The committee of conference first resolved House Bill 158, which concerns public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained a revised approach that removed the broader bill language and instead directed the Secretary of State to review absentee ballot data after each general election for patterns such as common addresses and to report findings to the committees of jurisdiction. The House agreed to the Senate position, and the conference committee voted unanimously to concur. The committee then took up House Bill 281, dealing with a sortable electronic voter checklist. Members debated the Senate’s removal of language that would have included the absentee ballot mailing address when different from the voter’s registration address. Concerns were raised that releasing mailing addresses could expose where voters are not home and could affect overseas and military voters. The committee also discussed a related form for election officials who personally know a voter, including how long the form would be retained and whether it would be subject to public records law. After further discussion, the House agreed to the Senate changes with an additional requirement that the form be signed, and the committee voted to proceed with the amended Senate position. House Bill 317, concerning verification of a person’s identity by a supervisor of the checklist without identification, was also discussed at length. The Senate’s version preserved the ability for election officials to identify people they know, but required a signed form under penalty of perjury and added a nursing home-related provision. Members described the measure as balancing community-based identification with tighter documentation, and a House witness described local problems with inconsistent ID checks and concerns about voting in nursing homes. The House sought one additional change requiring the nursing home verification form to be signed, and the Senate accepted that addition; the committee then voted to move the bill forward on the consent calendar. The conference committee next considered House Bill 340 on electioneering by public employees. The chair presented a replace-all amendment that tied the definition of electioneering to existing law, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty of up to $1,000 alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Members discussed clarifying when the misdemeanor versus civil penalty would apply and which categories of public employees were covered. After caucus, the Senate agreed to the House’s replace-all approach with the clarifying changes, and the bill was closed. The committee also resolved House Bill 1062 by agreeing to strike a sunset clause from the Senate version authorizing random audits of citizenship qualifications, and it began discussion of House Bill 1187 on the filing window for special-election candidates, where the House proposed requiring local election officials to arrange a filing time on the same day or next business day after being contacted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, today we are hearing House Bill 1001. It's a pretty simple bill.
• It's a pretty simple bill.
• Madam Clerk, read the bills. Senate Bill 1. Without objection, read the bill. Big Mac B.
• Madam Clerk, read the bills. Senate Bill 1. Without objection, read the bill second time.
• Madam Clerk, read the bills. Senate Bill 1. Out objection, read the bill second time.