Video & Transcript : 'beach closure' :
Page 65 of 252
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 20, 2025 - 11:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- On behalf of the City of Flagler Beach, waiving and support, members were in debate.
- Casey Denny with Palm Beach County is waving in opposition. And you're recognized? You're correct.
- Casey Denny with Palm Beach County is waiving in opposition. And you're recognized? You're correct.
- Casey Denny with Palm Beach County is waving in opposition.
Summary:
The Budget Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. HB 677, relating to state-covered fertility preservation for employees undergoing cancer treatment, was introduced as coverage for egg and sperm preservation for up to three years, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $813,000. After brief questions and no public testimony or amendments, the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/HB 59, which would reform Florida’s wrongful incarceration compensation process by extending the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, removing the clean-hands requirement, and allowing exonerees to choose between the state compensation process and a civil lawsuit; it was supported by the City of Flagler Beach and passed unanimously. CS/HB 1313, which recreates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund in the Department of Environmental Protection before its scheduled termination in 2025, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from advocacy groups.
The committee received a lengthy presentation from the Department of Management Services on the State Group Insurance Program and the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. The presentation covered enrollment, revenues and expenditures, rising medical and pharmacy costs, emergency room utilization, GLP-1 drug spending, and options for tighter formulary and utilization management. Members asked about ER cost growth, GLP-1 coverage and copays, PBM oversight and potential conflicts, avoidable ER visits, cancer screening claims, dental and vision costs, specialty drug biosimilars, and possible savings from more restrictive pharmacy models. DMS said it would follow up on several questions and noted ongoing work on cancer coordination, preventive screening, biomarker testing, and a proposed member-facing benefits platform.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 301, which would raise sovereign immunity caps from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $1 million and $3 million, align limitations periods with private claims, and allow government entities to settle above the caps without a claims bill. Local governments, school-related entities, and county and city associations opposed the bill, warning of major fiscal impacts, higher insurance costs, and pressure on services; several speakers urged smaller increases or a tiered approach. Proponents, including families affected by catastrophic injury or death, argued the current caps are too low and the claims bill process is inefficient and unfair. After debate, the bill passed on a recorded vote, with some members voting no, and was reported favorably.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- There was a case study done on DUI drug cases in Palm Beach County.
- There was a case study done on DUI drug cases in Palm Beach County. drivers.
- There was a case study done on DUI drug cases in Palm Beach County from 2007 to 2018.
- On June 23, 2021, Daytona Beach Officer Jason Raynor was shot in the head by Othal Wallace.
Committee:
Senate Fiscal Policy
Summary:
The committee heard and approved several bills. CS for CS for CS SB 138, Trenton’s Law, would broaden DUI and boating-under-the-influence laws to cover any impairing substance, increase penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing, allow blood warrants in misdemeanor DUI/BUI cases, enhance penalties for DUI with death or vehicular homicide involving prior convictions, and authorize DUI diversion programs. Supporters included law enforcement and prosecutors, who said the bill addresses gaps involving over-the-counter drugs and refusal cases; the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about the breadth of the “any impairing substance” language and record consequences for first refusals. The bill was reported favorably.
The committee also reported favorably SB 400, which removes the repeal date from Florida’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, and CS for SB 102, which creates a workforce credentialing program for exceptional student education students, especially those with autism, to earn badges for job skills and safety-related competencies. SB 102 drew questions about fiscal impact and teacher training, with supporters emphasizing workforce readiness and parent involvement while some members raised concerns about costs and implementation. SB 130, which updates compensation for wrongfully incarcerated people found factually innocent, was also reported favorably after supporters argued Florida’s current law is too restrictive and too few exonerees have been compensated.
The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 296, which repeals the statewide mandate for later middle and high school start times and returns the decision to local districts, while requiring districts to document their analysis of sleep, safety, transportation, and other impacts. An amendment added a reporting requirement to show how districts considered later start times and any unintended consequences. The bill drew broad support from school officials and education groups, with members noting transportation and extracurricular challenges. Finally, SB 234, dealing with criminal offenses against law enforcement officers, was reported favorably after debate over whether the bill should retain “good faith” language and how it would affect defenses and officer accountability. The committee also passed CS for SB 274, designating a portion of International Drive as Harris Rosen Way and adding a memorial designation for the late Senator Geraldine Thompson near the Wells Built Museum; members praised both honorees and the bill was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after recording one member’s request to be shown voting yes on the first bill.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Commerce and Tourism Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a student at the Max Planck Institute in Palm Beach County a few months ago and I'm at a high school
- And and and we said, you know, how many life sciences companies there are in Palm Beach County, your
- She didn't know there's about 300 in Palm Beach County and she was blown away.
- I've got to resolve to myself that not everyone is going to drive 15 minutes to the beach right around
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- As you know, the Still Water Correctional Facility is scheduled for full closure by June 30th of 2029
- This is the first adult prison closure in DOC history.
- As part of the phase closure, we already reduced staffing and incarcerated capacity of that facility
- in by June scheduled for full closure in by June 30th<00:32:30.559><c> of</c><00:32:30.799><c> 2029.
- </c> This is the first adult prison closure This is the first adult prison closure in<00:32:34.480><c
Committee:
House Capital Investment
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Local Government (10-21-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And do other volunteer departments pick up when there's a closure? Typically, how's that working?
- Are some of these um closures<00:13:55.760><c> or</c><00:13:56.160><c> reductions</c><00:13:57.040><c
- > are</c> closures or reductions are closures or reductions are they<00:13:59.199><c> contained</c><00
- Typically, how how's that closure?
- So it's not really a closure, per se.
Summary:
The committee received reports on special purpose governmental entities from the Department for Local Government and the Fire Commission. DLG staff described SPGEs as limited-jurisdiction political subdivisions and reviewed the department’s registry, reporting portal, compliance monitoring, and planned system upgrades such as a two-way message center, automated noncompliance notices, and tracking for new entities and board expirations. They reported that, as of October 10, 2025, 69% of SPGEs were active and discussed compliance data by cycle, fiscal year, and district type. The Fire Commission reported that fire department mergers have reduced the number of departments by 16 since last year, largely because of volunteer staffing shortages, while financial disclosure compliance had risen to 94%. The commission also noted 509 compliance reviews, 19 in-house inquiries, seven referrals to outside agencies, and one recent federal prison sentence in a theft case.
Members asked whether DLG advises SPGEs on tax rates; staff said it only performs calculations and the entities set their own rates. Questions to the Fire Commission focused on whether department reductions meant station closures; officials explained that most changes were mergers that keep physical buildings in place while combining personnel and finances to meet minimum staffing requirements. They said the trend is spread across the state but is especially pronounced in rural areas.
The Kentucky League of Cities then presented its 2026 legislative agenda. Its priorities included modernizing city revenue options, increasing equity in road funding, fixing tax increment financing issues, addressing transient room tax collection from web-based platforms, strengthening emergency response coordination, clarifying massage parlor regulation preemption, correcting unintended consequences of House Bill 606, improving newspaper publication rules, and modernizing procurement statutes. KLC also said it supports allowing all cities to collect restaurant tax revenue, wants cities to receive a larger share of road funds and EV-related revenues, and seeks state collection and remittance of any future local sales tax to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Members asked about best-value bidding, road-fund equity, Airbnb tax litigation, EV prevalence, and disaster funding applications; KLC said cities currently must accept the lowest bid, the road split should better reflect city street costs, the Airbnb tax case remains pending, EV data by locality has not been studied, and allowing cities to apply directly for disaster funds would reduce reliance on county officials. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the September meeting minutes.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Fiscal Committee (06/19/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- So that sets one major pressure on our ability to achieve a case closure by The ability to achieve a
- case closure by the end of that individual's six-month period.
- So, that just sets us into a situation where their closure Us into a situation where their closure date
- allowed for 30 days for someone if we Allowed for 30 days for someone if we sent them a notice of closure
- at least at the beginning, would seem to be if someone is just not going to follow it, leads to a closure
Summary:
The Fiscal Committee opened by approving the May 15 minutes and then recognized Pam Ellis for her long service with the Legislative Budget Assistant’s office and upcoming retirement. The committee adopted the consent calendar with two items removed for separate consideration, then approved transfers for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Environmental Services after questions about court benefit costs and dam project funding. The Department of Health and Human Services also received approval for a general fund transfer item.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the Youth Development Center settlement fund. New administrator Jared Boyle, joined by the Attorney General, described the fund’s remaining caseload, the payment matrix, and the need for additional funding to begin hearings in August. Members raised concerns about administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, payday loans, structured settlements, and the long-term fiscal impact on the state. Boyle requested $55 million, but the committee ultimately approved a reduced appropriation of $20 million, with members noting the possibility of returning for more funding later depending on revenues and the October revenue review.
The Department of Corrections then received approval for a smaller shortfall transfer and a larger overtime-related transfer, with officials citing a 52% corrections officer vacancy rate, ongoing recruitment, academy classes, and efforts to use civilian staff in some non-security roles. A late item from the Veterans Home was also approved to cover overtime, holiday pay, and indirect cost shortfalls within its existing budget.
The committee then heard an informational presentation on implementation of Senate Bill 134 and the new federal Medicaid work-requirement rule. DHHS said it plans to submit a state plan amendment, seek approval for hardship exceptions, start with one eligibility check cycle, and use existing federal grant funding to make system changes. Finally, the committee received a performance audit of the Doorway opioid treatment program, which found weak written procedures, incomplete data use, reimbursement delays, and problems with the Governor’s Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention. Members discussed follow-up reporting, and the next Fiscal Committee meeting was scheduled for August 21 at 11:00 a.m.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- by imposing contracts that may not reflect agricultural realities, raising the likelihood of more closures
- by imposing contracts that may not reflect agricultural realities, raising the likelihood of more closures
- of the economic impacts here that could affect, particularly in an industry that's faced so many closures
- There were 3,700 farm closures, and we're concerned with whether this bill could further take that...
- There were 3,700 farm closures, and we're concerned with whether this bill could further take that.
Committee:
Senate Labor & Commerce
Keywords:
agriculture, collective bargaining, labor relations, public employment, agricultural employees, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training, asbestos certification, asbestos worker, asbestos supervisor, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, rulemaking authority, occupational safety, workplace safety, hazardous materials, abatement, encapsulation, removal
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Professional Registration and Licensing Feb 11th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Professional Registration and Licensing
Transcript Highlights:
- that, you know, if we do expand emergency physician coverage, that we're going to have a lot of closures
- similar bills have been passed in Indiana, Virginia, and South Carolina, and there have been no closures
- the fact that in the states that have expanded this type of legislation, there have not been any closures
- site physically 24-7 seems to be a problem that is hard to fix at this time and includes risk of closures
- site physically 24-7 seems to be a problem that is hard to fix at this time and includes risk of closures
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression Apr 2nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I know there's been a lot of work done at the state level around closure of maternity hospitals.
- There's lots of reasons, multifactorial, that lead to these closures.
- some of the finances, right, are leading, there's lots of reasons, multifactorial that lead to this closures
- And you look at the reason for some of these closures—workforce and having OB-GYNs as part of it.
Summary:
The meeting was an organizational and planning session of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression. After roll call and housekeeping, the co-chairs thanked Senator Liz Miranda for her service and announced Senator Adam Gomez as the new Senate co-chair. Senator Miranda explained her transition off the leadership role due to other responsibilities and personal losses, while Senator Gomez said he was honored to join, would listen and learn, and would bring a Western Massachusetts perspective to the statewide commission.
Members discussed current maternal health developments, including a new Department of Public Health regulation implementing the 2024 midwifery law and allowing temporary licenses for licensed certified professional midwives. The commission also reviewed open seats and possible future appointees, with an emphasis on adding regional, clinical, and lived-experience diversity. Several commissioners raised concerns about birthing hospital and inpatient obstetric unit closures, workforce shortages in OB-GYN and midwifery, reimbursement changes, and the need to expand training slots and funding for perinatal care.
A major theme was how the commission should focus its work in the coming year. Members suggested more attention to parent-child relational health, pediatric screening for postpartum mood disorders, coordination across OB-GYN, pediatrics, infant mental health, and home visiting systems, and stronger involvement from clinicians and organizations such as PSI of Massachusetts. The Division of Public Health and the Division of Insurance shared updates on community midwifery reimbursement, a payer learning community, insurance coverage for mental health examinations, and the need for better education about birthing centers and doulas. Commissioners also discussed substance use and maternal mental health supports, noting that current funding for community-based organizations is limited compared with demand.
The group reviewed upcoming maternal health events in April, including Black Maternal Health Week activities, and agreed there was not enough time to plan a new commission event for May. Instead, members favored using the commission’s communication channels to share relevant events and information. The commission approved a motion to create a biweekly digest for information sharing, with urgent items still able to be sent directly to commissioners, and then adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We had two closures, a closure and a reduction in shift from Tyson recently.
- We had two closures, a closure and a reduction in shift from Tyson recently.
Committee:
House Agricultural Affairs
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representitives Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- House Concurrent Resolution 12 by Representative Zeringue to commend the American Shore and Beach Preservation
- House Concurrent Resolution 12 by Representative Zeringue to commend the American Shore and Beach Preservation
Summary:
The House convened with 96 members present, opened in prayer and pledge, and introduced several resolutions and bills. Among the measures laid over were resolutions recognizing Funeral Directors’ Day, the crew of Eve’s anniversary, Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans, Nurse Practitioner Day, and condolences resolutions for several individuals. Bills introduced included appropriations measures to pay consent judgments, a property tax exemption bill for certain trusts involving seniors, and a nursing practice bill on administering reconstituted medication. Committee reports were also received, including favorable reports and amendments on multiple House bills from Civil Law and Transportation.
The chamber adopted several resolutions without objection, including condolences for former Speaker Joe R. Salter, Derek Scott, and Leroy Cavalier, recognition of Bernardo de Gálvez and Hispanic contributions to the American Revolution, Codafield Day, Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame election, and support for continued National Guard operations at Camp Beauregard. Other resolutions were referred to committees, including measures on DOJ transparency regarding Epstein-related records, a housing rental assistance feasibility study, LHSAA recognition of dance and cheer as sports, and a study of disinheritance procedures for intestate successors.
During personal privilege remarks, Representative McCormick discussed PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes), citing legislative auditor findings about limited reporting and local entities’ authority to approve PILOTs, and questioned their economic development impact. Representatives also recognized a visiting 7th grade class from Trinity Episcopal School and held a moment of silence honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson. Announcements included upcoming committee meetings, a rescheduled Transportation Committee meeting with additional bills added, an ethics training after adjournment, and a Bible study meeting the next morning. The House then adjourned until 2:00 p.m. the following day.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 13th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 1974, against the advice of friends who thought the concept on Cedros Avenue and sleepy little Solana Beach
- goods district was decades ahead of his time and nothing short of transformative to the city of Solana Beach
Summary:
The Assembly met for a floor session marked largely by ceremonial and procedural business. After a quorum call, the body opened with Valentine’s Day remarks, a prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by guest introductions recognizing California YMCA Youth and Government participants from several delegations, including Glendora High School, Crenshaw YMCA, Wilmington YMCA, and Mid Valley YMCA.
On the daily file, most items were passed, retained, or continued without controversy. The only recorded vote was on the consent calendar, which included Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; it was adopted 63-0. The chamber also approved a request to allow certain members to speak on adjournments in memory.
Several members then offered adjournment tributes: Assembly Member Gibson honored James Armstrong, a veteran and community leader in Carson and Watts; Assembly Member Rubio remembered actor-comedian Thomas Kent Carter (TK Carter); and Assembly Member Boerner honored Dave Hodges, founder of the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. The Assembly then announced there would be no session on President’s Day, with the next floor session scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 at 1 p.m., and adjourned accordingly.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 13th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 1974, against the advice of friends who thought the concept on Cedros Avenue in sleepy little Solana Beach
- goods district was decades ahead of his time and nothing short of transformative to the city of Solana Beach
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Jan 13th, 2026
Water, Parks and Wildlife
Transcript Highlights:
- and you talk to the kids in the school, when you ask them, when was the last time you went to the beach
- Many of them will tell you, I've never been to the beach.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- plan, while we might have a traffic light or something, would not at this point require the total closure
- Now, with any project, there may be a short-duration closure, sure, to hang some beams or things like
- that, but no, there's no long-term closure plan.
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from ARDOT Director Jared Wiley, who introduced Highway Commission members and reported that the agency has completed the final five recommendations from its long-running efficiency review. He highlighted new public-facing maintenance and construction dashboards on the agency website, and noted quarterly reports on land conveyances, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, annual revenue expenditures, and major projects were provided with no major questions or objections.
Members asked about ARDOT’s budget priorities, project delivery, and specific corridors. Wiley said roughly 75% of construction dollars go to maintaining the existing system, with additional maintenance and operations funding also directed to upkeep; he said Arkansas has about 16,300 centerline miles, nearly 40,000 lane miles, and about 73,700 bridges. He gave updates on Interstate 57 and Highway 5 work in Lonoke County, Interstate 49 public meetings in northwest Arkansas, passing-lane projects on Highway 412/62 in north central Arkansas, widening plans for Interstate 40, the Toad Suck Bridge flood mitigation project, and Highway 82 improvements in south Arkansas.
The director also discussed ARDOT’s litter control efforts, saying the agency spends about $8 million annually on litter pickup and is exploring future legislation. He said work-zone safety tools such as cameras and mobile work-zone enforcement are helping reduce dangerous driving, though distracted driving remains a problem. Wiley also announced new agency initiatives on human trafficking awareness training for staff, a “Street Smart” traffic-safety education program for students, and a spring cleanup effort in which ARDOT crews and some office staff will collect litter statewide. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- plan, while we might have a traffic light or something, would not at this point require the total closure
- Now, with any project, there may be a short-duration closure, just to hang some beams or things like
- that, but no, there's no long-term closure plan.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Human Services Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It clarifies that a foster home closure due to inactivity is not considered an enforcement action.
- with impacted groups, to define what is inactive and a process to assess with exception, and that closure
- with impacted groups, to define what is inactive and a process to assess with exception, and that closure
Summary:
The Senate Human Services Committee met on February 25 and received staff briefings on three bills. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2253, the DCYF licensing bill, was described as affecting foster care licensing, crisis residential center staffing ratios, and child care licensing. Staff reviewed multiple proposed amendments, including changes related to immediate threats to children’s safety, substance use, subsidy fraud, reporting channels, and DUI-related ineligibility, as well as a Wilson striking amendment that would remove many of those floor changes. After caucus, the chair announced she would pull ESHB 2253 from executive action for further work over the interim, and no vote was taken on the bill.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2319, which renames certain residential habilitation centers, had one amendment to rename Yakima Valley School as the Yakima Valley Residential Habilitation Center. The committee adopted the amendment despite opposition from Senators Warnick and Christian, who said constituents in Yakima did not support the change. The bill then received a do-pass recommendation and was sent to Rules, with Senators Warnick and Christian voting no.
House Bill 2464, concerning incident reporting by private detention facilities to the Department of Health and local law enforcement, was also considered. Senator Christian offered six amendments, including a JLARC study, public posting and legislative sharing of reports, expanded reporting requirements, food-safety consistency, and reimbursement for compliance costs; all six amendments failed. The committee then approved the bill on a do-pass recommendation and sent it to Rules, with Senator Christian opposing and Senator Orwall supporting the measure as a human-rights and safety bill. The chair closed the meeting after noting the committee had reached the policy cutoff and thanking staff for their work.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/28/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> special events uh like the UKare closure special events uh like the UKare closure and<00:20:51.120
- To avoid another closure, the state must build a more sustainable Medicaid program by partnering more
- </c><00:46:11.359><c> at</c> the reasons for UKare's closure at the reasons for UKare's closure at today's
- </c><00:54:26.319><c> The</c> closure by the end December of 2025.
- The closure by the end December of 2025.
Committee:
House Health Finance and Policy
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-05-29 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Childers, who represented Palm Beach County for over 15 years.
- Childers, who represented Palm Beach County for over 15 years.
- Funding for state parks and beaches in this budget includes $64.1 million for beach restoration and $46.5
- $2.75 million is going to rebrand Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J.
- Representative Nixon: Rebrand Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill.
On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11.
The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-04-29 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- long from its northern and southern border, stretching from Orlando as far south as where Riviera Beach
- currently is in Palm Beach County, although it doesn't include Palm Beach County?
- It is as far south as Riviera Beach. Senator Gaetz: Thank you, Mr. President.
- What is it the data have to do with making a sea from Palm Beach County from the Atlantic Ocean to the
- compactness, I'm thinking of a district that was drawn that goes from Miami through Broward up to Palm Beach
Summary:
The Senate convened in special session with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the special order calendar to consider congressional redistricting legislation, beginning with Senate Bill 8D and then substituting the identical House Bill 1D. The bill would establish Florida’s congressional districts. Senator Gaetz, presenting the measure, said the Governor had proposed the map to address population growth and to draw race-neutral districts, and argued that mid-decade redistricting is legally permissible and has occurred before in Florida and other states. He repeatedly said the Legislature could accept, reject, or amend the proposal, but that the Governor had the prerogative to propose it.
The floor debate focused heavily on the legality and timing of the map, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Louisiana redistricting decision was announced during the session. Several senators, including Rouson, Sharief, Smith, Polsky, Arrington, Bracy Davis, Bernard, Nathan, and Berman, questioned whether the map complied with the Florida Constitution’s Fair Districts Amendment, the Voting Rights Act, and equal protection principles. They raised concerns about the short notice, lack of statewide public hearings, the use of partisan data, the absence of sworn testimony from the Governor’s representatives, the claimed severability of the Fair Districts Amendment, and the impact on minority communities and communities of interest. Gaetz generally declined to offer legal opinions, saying those issues would ultimately be for the courts, but he relayed the Governor’s position that race-based provisions in the Fair Districts Amendment are unconstitutional and that the proposed map is race-neutral and compact.
Members also debated whether the map’s population data and compactness scores justified the district lines, with critics arguing that the plan cracked and split communities in places such as Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and South Florida. Gaetz said the Governor’s office relied on 2020 census data plus updated population estimates from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the American Community Survey, and that the mapmaker said he drew the map himself without outside consultants. After questions concluded, the Senate adopted a motion to substitute HB 1D for SB 8D, read the bill a third time, and proceeded to debate the House bill. The transcript ends during debate, with no final vote on passage shown.