Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, permission granted.
• Without objection, permission is granted.
• And through our deeds. It is indeed a great idea, but it only is great if we make it so.
• Without objection, permission granted.
• Without objection, seeing none, permission granted.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several floor recognitions, including St. Mary’s High School football team for its first state championship and Black-owned businesses honored by the Legislative Black Caucus and Black Chamber of Commerce. The Rules Committee also reported Senate Resolution 77 to third reading. The chamber then confirmed Tyler Sadwith as Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services and State Medicaid Director by a 33-0 vote. The main floor debate centered on SR 77, a resolution condemning racist and dehumanizing imagery posted by President Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Supporters from multiple caucuses, including the Black, Latino, Jewish, LGBTQ, and API caucuses, described the post as racist, harmful, and part of a broader pattern of dehumanization and urged a public apology. A few Republicans objected to the resolution’s language and process, saying it was overly partisan or not collaborative, but the resolution was adopted on a 28-0 vote. The Senate also took up SB 106, a budget bill to provide $90 million in state funding for family planning providers, especially Planned Parenthood, after federal cuts under H.R. 1. Supporters argued the bill would preserve essential reproductive and preventive health services, especially in rural and underserved communities, and backfill lost reimbursements. Opponents criticized the bill’s transparency, no-bid contracting structure, and priorities compared with other needs such as distressed hospitals and developmental disability services. After debate, the Senate concurred in the Assembly amendments to SB 106 by a 26-9 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, permission granted.
• Without objection, permission is granted.
• And through our deeds. It is indeed a great idea, but it only is great if we make it so.
• Without objection, permission granted.
• Without objection, seeing none, permission granted.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike agreements, a JPA has the legal authority to manage funds, enter contracts, pursue grants, and
• Recently, the Legislature granted Up front to prevent that from happening again.
• The Legislature has granted this authority to other special districts.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, ineligible to receive a state-funded loan or grant.
• It makes any private entity that contracts with ICE ineligible for state-funded grants and loans.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every deed that comes through requires updating.
• They're going to look at that deed and, based on that deed examination, what has the property appraiser
• And they're just going to do that basic examination of the deed.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:02.840><c> um</c> portions of federal one-time grants um portions of federal one-time grants
• </c> there and then there's several Grant there and then there's several Grant programs<00:35:27.720>
• </c> climate pollution reduction grants climate pollution reduction grants through<00:37:43.599><c> the
• </c><00:51:02.960><c> went</c> processing that 75% of the grants went processing that 75% of the grants
• </c> space in the mpca building at least deed space in the mpca building at least deed is<01:26:59.679

Bills: HF276 , HF413 , HF411

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:29:53.320><c> was</c> what were the challenges that deed was what were the challenges that deed
• I think DEED was shut out for about five hours from having access to that program, which put a lot of
• administers now it's program that deed administers now it's one<00:50:47.960><c> of</c><00:50:48.040
• And my question is if DEED feels it was appropriate that the result of those studies were released to
• </c><01:03:25.880><c> feels</c><01:03:26.319><c> it</c><01:03:26.839><c> was</c> question is if deed

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sure that and you heard this from Grants sure that and you heard this from Grants management<00:
• Some of them are 70% government grants.
• Some of them are 70% government grants.
• Some of them are 70% government grants.
• grant grant with a they got a$2 billion grant grant with a b<01:03:56.400><c> and</c><01:03:56.960><

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the SB 610 without amendment be Board, if I believe the full House with a recommendation that the deed
• SB 378 corrects this oversight by granting TDLR the authority to disobey. and cosmetologists who violate

Bills: HB2450 , SB378 , SB764 , SB917 , SB1254 , SB1255

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Please give your respect and attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on their adjournment
• Hunter. was a caring and compassionate leader whose good deeds earned her the respect and admiration

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• effort that is underway to grant-funded effort that is underway to establish<01:07:46.800><c> uniform
• And this is allowing for grants to implement the PRO stewardship plan.
• </c><03:30:15.760><c> to</c> And this is allowing for grants to And this is allowing for grants to implement
• </c> to the interpretation of all deeds to the interpretation of all deeds whenever<03:53:03.760><c>
• Deeds no longer require that kind of requirement, so the language is outdated.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that you grant us wisdom beyond ourselves, clarity in moments of uncertainty, and courage when
• We recognize that while words can be meaningful, it is deeds that are ultimately the most powerful.
• Seven years ago, many took for granted that education was held captive by the ideological fads championed

Summary: The transcript is of a Florida Legislature joint session convened to receive the Governor’s annual message. After the House and Senate were received, a committee was appointed to notify the Governor that the joint session was ready, and the Governor and First Lady were introduced. The Senate President presided, a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were offered, and the joint session then recessed to await the Governor’s arrival. Governor Ron DeSantis delivered a lengthy address reviewing his administration’s record over the past seven years. He highlighted fiscal restraint, larger reserves and rainy-day funds, debt reduction, tax cuts, business and job growth, school choice expansion, education reforms, higher teacher pay, civics initiatives, environmental restoration efforts in the Everglades, hurricane response improvements, public safety and immigration enforcement, and opposition to DEI and other ideological policies. He also urged lawmakers to send him bills on issues such as eliminating DEI in local governments, further restricting illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and addressing what he described as the creep of Sharia law. The Governor additionally called for property tax relief through the constitutional amendment process and for legislation emphasizing informed consent in medical decision-making. He warned about risks posed by artificial intelligence and said new technologies should align with American values. No substantive votes were taken on policy matters during the session; after the Governor’s remarks, the joint session adopted a motion to dissolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask that you grant us wisdom beyond ourselves, clarity in moments of uncertainty, and courage when
• We recognize that while words can be meaningful, it is deeds that are ultimately the most powerful.
• Seven years ago, many took for granted that education was held captive by the ideological fads championed

Summary: The House and Senate met in joint session to receive the Governor’s annual message. After the customary opening, prayer, pledge, and motions to notify the Governor, the Governor and First Lady were received and the Governor delivered a lengthy address reviewing his administration’s record and outlining priorities for the coming session. The Governor highlighted what he described as major accomplishments over the past seven years, including stronger state reserves, debt reduction, tax relief, economic growth, school choice expansion, higher teacher pay, civics education, higher education reforms, Everglades restoration, hurricane response improvements, public safety measures, and immigration enforcement. He also discussed affordability concerns, especially rising local property taxes, and urged lawmakers to pursue a ballot measure for property tax relief. He called for legislation on informed consent in medical decisions, regulation of artificial intelligence, and bills already filed on issues such as eliminating DEI in local governments, further restricting illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and blocking Sharia law. No substantive votes were taken on legislation during the address. After the Governor concluded, the joint session approved a motion to dissolve, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• program that would be competitive grant program that would be allow<01:02:53.200><c> multiple</c><01
• The RFP for the grant opened in early September and closed at the end of that same month.
• , and grant awards were announced in January. related instruction, securing the related instruction,
• </c><01:03:40.960><c> the</c> three grant applications during the three grant applications during the
• in funding and grant awards were announced<01:03:46.079><c> in</c><01:03:46.319><c> January.

Bills: HF3650 , HF2238

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, please grant your full attention to the President Pro Tem as we take up this matter.
• So we cannot honor a man of deeds with words. In 1973, John Burton authored AB 134.
• our amplified inspiration in our commitment to, as Senator Drozdo said, honor Senator Burton with deeds

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, the amendment applies the B&O tax exemption to consideration received by an insurer for the granting
• tax on interest income received on interest investments or loans secured by first mortgages or trust deeds
• it makes the following change: amounts received as interest on loans secured by first mortgages or deeds

Summary: House Finance held a bill briefing and executive session on a large set of tax and revenue measures, with staff outlining proposed substitutes and amendments for bills affecting grocery store incentives, insurance premium/B&O tax treatment, tobacco taxes, financial institutions, lodging taxes, fire district levy rules, local tax increment financing, limited equity cooperatives, tourism assessments, and sustainable aviation fuel credits. Members also heard brief summaries of bills on nonprofit assembly hall property tax exemptions and a city levy adjustment related to fire protection districts. Two bills scheduled for public hearing were not reached and may be rescheduled after House of Origin cutoff. In executive session, the committee adopted or rejected several amendments before voting bills out. HB 2297 on grocery stores in underserved communities advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove the property tax exemption; the bill was reported out 9-5-1. HB 2487 on insurance tax treatment advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove retroactivity and clarify annuity treatment; it was reported out 8-6-1. HB 2382, which raises cigarette and other tobacco taxes and changes tobacco tax structures, adopted amendments redirecting some revenue to health accounts, excluding nicotine-free vapor products, and restoring current-law treatment for modified-risk tobacco products before passing 8-6-1. HB 2451 on tax increment financing, HB 2590 on limited equity cooperatives, HB 2325 on a tourism self-supported assessment program with a tribal opt-in amendment, HB 2278 extending a lodging tax charge, HB 2224 adjusting levy rules for fire protection districts, and HB 2322 on sustainable aviation fuel tax credits all advanced, with some by voice vote. During debate, supporters generally framed the bills as targeted incentives or clarifications to support food access, wildfire mitigation, tourism promotion, housing affordability, or clean fuel investment, while opponents raised concerns about tax shifts, affordability, retroactivity, and whether dedicated revenues should instead come from the general fund. Several members noted that some measures still needed further work before floor action, especially HB 2487 and HB 2382. The committee adjourned after reporting the listed bills out with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a tax on the sale, granting, or transfer of real property or an interest in real property.
• register of deeds in the county where the property is located for doing that work.
• The register of deeds retains 4% of the face value of the stamps that are sold in the county.
• 01:53:30.079><c> where</c> register of deeds in the county where register of deeds in the county where
• </c><02:37:33.560><c> with</c><02:37:33.760><c> no</c> automatically granted with no automatically granted

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an overview from Chris of the Legislative Budget Assistance Office on how it will estimate unrestricted revenues for the General Fund, Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund. He explained that the committee’s work is based on current law, not pending bills, and that the estimates will feed into a House resolution and an amendment to House Bill 1, the operating budget. He also described the broader budget process, including how House and Senate estimates are reconciled, how surplus statements account for revenue changes from enacted bills, and how a committee of conference could resolve differences later in the session. No votes were taken. Members then asked about why the Education Trust Fund was running below plan. Chris said the shortfall appeared to be driven largely by business taxes, including differences in the BET/BPT split and improved tax-processing systems that better track where business tax payments belong. Representative Orr also asked about tobacco tax collections and out-of-state sales; Chris said tobacco revenue was likely overestimated in 2023 based on COVID-era patterns, with more people smoking at home, and noted that e-cigarette tax revenue goes to the General Fund while cigarette taxes are split between the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. He said he did not have a specific estimate for cross-border sales. Commissioner Lindsay St. Pierre of the Department of Revenue then began a deeper dive into the department’s role and the taxes it administers. She reviewed the department’s mission, organizational structure, taxpayer services, and the tax policy and legislative analysis staff who prepare fiscal notes and testify on bills. She noted that the department administers about $2.9 billion in revenue across major taxes such as business taxes, meals and rooms, and utility property tax, and that the figures being discussed were preliminary because the annual report had not yet been issued. The discussion was informational only, with no formal action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• military designated by a concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily... ...performs a deed
• The medal shall be awarded on incontestable proof of performance of the deed and may only be awarded
• of Honor recognizes a member of the state or federal military forces who performs a distinguished deed

Transcript Highlights:

• of the military designated by a concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily performs a deed
• The medal shall be awarded on incontestable proof of performance of the deed and may only be awarded
• of Honor recognizes a member of the state or federal military forces who performs a distinguished deed

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll also note that the committee had a hearing after the bill was referred out where they brought in DEED
• to ask about Paid Family and Medical Leave implementation, and DEED confirmed that Paid Family and Medical

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Permission granted, can you repeat that?
• A record vote has been requested, a record vote is granted. The clerk will ring the bell.
• All those in favor say a record vote. vote has been requested, a record vote is granted.
• I move that the House grant permission for the Committee on Calendars.
• Would you like to grant access? Do you see... This opens the door to that.

Bills: HJR34 , HB 113 , HB184 , HB198 , HB247 , HB367 , HB449 , HB1778 , HB514 , HB576 , HB632 , HB1395 , HB2225 , HB2582 , HB2494 , HB766 , HB2715 , HB2712 , HB3069 , HB3505 , HB 1269 , HB4224 , HB3609 , HB5032 , HB2240 , HB5180 , HB3348 , HB4668 , HB4909 , HB4665 , HB4895 , HB3395 , HB3157 , HB4762 , HB4395 , HB4325 , HB4952 , HB4386 , HB4273 , HB2760 , HB2697 , HB2820 , HB1828 , HB1768 , HB1579 , HB1773 , HB1871 , HB2035 , HB2448 , HB2492 , HB1411 , HB4753 , HB4666 , HB4529 , HB1499 , HB1610 , HB2028 , HB1506 , HB886 , HB3546 , HB796 , HB223 , HB1475 , HB3556 , HB4638 , HCR126 , HB38 , HB 104 , SB1008 , SB1106 , SB1172 , SB2629 , SB2964 , SB616 , HB2214 , SB552 , HB3181 , HB3628 , HB589 , HB3529 , HB3354 , HB333 , HB2914 , HB4130 , HB4131 , HB24 , HB 1160 , HB3962 , HB4115 , HB2295 , HB5398 , HB1407 , HB3800 , HB2613 , HJR138 , HB42 , HJR34 , HB 129 , HB677 , HB426 , HB668 , HB1699 , HB2017 , HB2128 , HB2038 , HB3783 , HB3717 , HB2316 , HB3686 , HB2563 , HB3883 , HB4021 , HB2788 , HB2663 , HB3305 , HB3173 , HB3474 , HB 1105 , HB3531 , HB3490 , HB3597 , HB 1295 , HB3512 , HB3010 , HB3112 , HB4215 , HB3223 , HB3464 , HB3120 , HB4214 , HB4511 , HB3704 , HB4081 , HB4783 , HB4063 , HB2783 , HB4937 , HB5085 , HB2510 , HB3426 , HB4361 , HB 1169 , HB2516 , HB2347 , HB4034 , HB4700 , HB3560 , HB5150 , HB3860 , HB3146 , HB3924 , HB 113 , HB184 , HB198 , HB247 , HB367 , HB449 , HB1778 , HB514 , HB576 , HB632 , HB1395 , HB2225 , HB2582 , HB2494 , HB766 , HB2715 , HB2712 , HB3069 , HB3505 , HB 1269 , HB4224 , HB3609 , HB5032 , HB2240 , HB5180 , HB3348 , HB4668 , HB4909 , HB4665 , HB4895 , HB3395 , HB3157 , HB4762 , HB4395 , HB4325 , HB4952 , HB4386 , HB4273 , HB2760 , HB2697 , HB2820 , HB1828 , HB1768 , HB1579 , HB1773 , HB1871 , HB2035 , HB2448 , HB2492 , HB1411 , HB4753 , HB4666 , HB4529 , HB1499 , HB1610 , HB2028 , HB1506 , HB886 , HB3546 , HB796 , HB223 , HB1475 , HB3556 , HB4638 , HCR98 , HCR92 , HCR126

Keywords: HJR 34, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, real property, border counties, U.S.-Mexico border, United Mexican States, border security, border security infrastructure, landowner, county tax base, local government, tax relief, property value increase, infrastructure improvements, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, statutory construction