Bills: SSB3030 , SSB3045 , SF2068 , SF2078 , SF2037

Committee: Joint State Government

Keywords: state contracts, vendor agreements, public policy, liability, procurement, voter registration, citizenship verification, elections, immigration, appeal process, massage therapy, licensure, establishment license, sanitary inspection, criminal background checks, public safety, regulation, campaign finance, foreign nationals, ballot issues

Bills: SSB1069

Committee: Joint Local Government

Keywords: gambling, casino, gaming license, license moratorium, Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, excursion gambling boat, racetrack casino, pari-mutuel, internet gaming, online gambling, sports betting, problem gambling, gaming revenue, market saturation, rural counties, border counties, sponsoring organization, nonprofit distributions, adjusted gross receipts, public safety

Bills: SF626 , HF873 , HF908 , SF620 , SF621 , SF622

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: federal funding, block grants, substance abuse, mental health, community services, energy assistance, city regulations, foster care, adoption services, chemical dependency, reimbursement, human trafficking, juvenile protection, child exploitation, restitution, stakeholder meeting, victim support, legal reform, health services, dependent adult abuse

Bills: SF24 , SF27 , SF51 , SSB1045

Committee: Joint Transportation

Keywords: railway, crossing, repairs, upgrades, penalties, public safety, transportation, driver improvement, remedial driver improvement action, driver improvement course, driver education, traffic safety, DOT database, Iowa Department of Transportation, district court clerk, driver license records, registration records, titling records, law enforcement database, moving violation

Bills: HSB675 , HSB683 , HF2034 , HSB717 , SF176

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: education reform, Iowa community colleges, career and technical education, CTE, workforce development, transfer pathways, common course numbering, course equivalency, general education framework, lower division general education, corequisite remediation, developmental education, remedial education, math remediation, English remediation, student transfer, community college transcripts, career pathways, high-demand occupations, high-skill occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• Government Code stipulates that limited-term staff are for temporary staffing needs and can't exceed
• The request is for $96.5 million, Again, we have safety and accessibility at the park.
• The request is for $96.5 million in addition to some operational adjustments.
• The request is for $96.5 million, Again, we have safety and accessibility at the park.
• The request is for $96.5 million in addition to some operational adjustments.

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are focused today on bringing up to code and in compliance and really, again, the safety for all of
• And for any of you, you have for your ...consideration a request for $96.5 million for utility replacement
• I was referring to that we do need at Exposition Park and that would very specifically target the code
• So with both of those at $96.5 million, that's our first request.
• a bridge where we have some of our most vulnerable communities, some of our most impoverished zip codes

Transcript Highlights:

• We are focused today on bringing things up to code and in compliance and, again, on the safety for all
• And for any of you, you have for your consideration a request for $96.5 million for utility replacement
• This would very specifically target the code compliance and accessibility projects that we need at Exposition
• So with both of those at $96.5 million, that's our first request.
• .a bridge where we have some of our most vulnerable communities, some of our most impoverished zip codes

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget proposals for Exposition Park, the California Science Center, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), the Debt Collection Licensing Act program, and the Board of Registered Nursing. For Exposition Park, the administration requested $96.5 million for utility replacement, site improvements, code compliance, accessibility, and safety upgrades, plus $1.698 million for operational sustainability funded from the park’s improvement fund. The LAO said the proposals had merit but noted the first item could be downscaled if needed because of the state’s budget condition. Members emphasized the park’s deferred maintenance, major upcoming events, and the need to protect a statewide asset; both Exposition Park items were held open. The Science Center requested funding to open and operate the new Air and Space Center, including staffing for the facility that will display the Space Shuttle Endeavour and expand exhibit space. The LAO supported the proposal but suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as admission fees, parking fees, or private funds. Members discussed the Science Center’s public-private funding model, the importance of keeping access affordable for disadvantaged communities, and the tradeoff between free admission and long-term operating support. The item was also held open. DFPI sought continuation of expenditure authority for the California Consumer Financial Protection Law, debt collection licensing, and broker-dealer/investment adviser workloads, and the LAO recommended limited-term funding with more cumulative reporting before permanent funding is considered. Members pressed the department on whether its workload and spending are tied to measurable outcomes rather than just activity counts, and DFPI cited complaint resolution, enforcement actions, and restitution recovered as examples of impact. The Debt Collection Licensing Act item drew similar LAO comments, but members raised stronger concerns about the financing model, the gap between projected and actual licensee counts, and whether spending levels are justified; that item was held open. The Board of Registered Nursing requested $1.4 million for eight special investigators to address rising complaints, and the board said most complaints are resolved through investigation, referral, probation, or rehabilitation rather than discipline. Members asked about complaint backlogs, viral and potentially automated complaints, bias in care, and the lack of broader inspection authority; the item was also held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are focused today on bringing [it] up to code and in compliance and, again, on the safety for all
• And for any of you, you have for your consideration a request for $96.5 million for utility replacement
• I was referring to that we do need at Exposition Park, and that would very specifically target the code
• So with both of those at $96.5 million, that's our first request.
• a bridge where we have some of our most vulnerable communities, some of our most impoverished zip codes

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget proposals, beginning with Exposition Park. Park leadership described the 160-acre state property’s historic role, growing visitation, and major upcoming events, including the FIFA World Cup fan fest and the 2028 Olympics. The governor’s proposal sought $96.5 million for utility replacement, site improvements, code compliance, accessibility, and public safety/traffic systems, plus $1.698 million for operational sustainability. The LAO said the proposals had merit but suggested the Legislature could consider downscaling some work given the budget condition. Members generally supported the requests, emphasizing deferred maintenance, public access, and the park’s statewide importance; both Exposition Park items were held open. The California Science Center requested funding to open and operate the new Air and Space Center, a major expansion featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The LAO supported the proposal but suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as admission fees, higher parking fees, or private funds. Members debated whether the state should continue to fund operations without charging admission, with the Science Center explaining its public-private funding model and warning that fees could sharply reduce attendance, especially for underserved communities. The item was held open. The committee also reviewed continuation funding for the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s consumer protection and debt collection programs. DFPI and Finance said the requests would extend existing expenditure authority and were not General Fund asks. The LAO supported limited-term funding but urged cumulative reporting or a sunset-style review before permanent funding. Members pressed DFPI on outcomes, workload, and the high cost of the debt collection licensing program, noting that the number of licensees was far below early estimates and that assessments on the industry were substantial. Public commenters from the debt collection industry echoed those concerns, while others supported DFPI’s consumer protection work. The committee then heard a Board of Registered Nursing request for $1.4 million to fund eight special investigators. The board said complaint volume has risen with licensee growth and more complex cases, and members asked about complaint outcomes, regional caseloads, med spa oversight, viral complaints, and bias-related complaints. The board explained its investigation, probation, and intervention processes and said most cases reaching the Attorney General result in discipline. That item was also held open. After public comment on additional agenda items, the committee voted on several vote-only items. Items 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17 were approved 4-0. Items 7, 9, and 14 were also approved, with the chair correcting the tally to 4-0. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• SINCE THEN WE'VE FALLEN OFF TO FOR EXAMPLE IN MAY 2025 WE WERE ONLY 96.5% OF THE NATIONAL MEDIAN PRICE
• AS IT HAS INCREASED IN VALUE AND DENSITY SINCE THEN, WE WANTED TO ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE BUILDING CODES
• BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT VARIOUS STUDIES THAT FLORIDA HAS A VERY STRONG BUILDING CODE.
• AND THAT BUILDING CODE IS MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF EXPECTED DAMAGES WE WOULD FIND.
• WE WORKED WITH THE BUILDING CODE AND IMPROVEMENTS THREE 2002 AND POST 2002 AND CAME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE

Transcript Highlights:

• Title 67, Section 412, Idaho Code. I have designated Randolph J.
• Title 67, Idaho Code, relating to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, amending Section 63-2552A, Idaho
• Code, to revise a provision regarding cigarette and tobacco products taxes.
• It amends Section 67-607, Idaho Code, to require certain additional reporting for political committees
• It amends Chapter 66, Title 67, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section, 67-6610E, Idaho Code, to

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, we've fallen off to, for example, in May 2025, we were only 96.5% of the national median
• We wanted to also take account of the building codes because we know, we know, Then we wanted to also
• take account of the building codes because we know when you look at various studies that Florida has
• a very strong building code, variously considered first or second in the nation.
• And that building code is making a big difference in terms of the expected damages we would find.

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met with a quorum present to hear the constitutionally required Long-Range Financial Outlook and consider a series of budget amendments. Amy Baker of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research presented the outlook, describing Florida’s continued population growth, strong wage growth, an aging population, housing-market softening, and low consumer sentiment. She said the general revenue forecast was largely unchanged from March, but the state’s funds available had improved because of legislative actions in 2025 that increased the balance forward. She also noted strong reserves, a projected current-year Medicaid deficit of about $125 million, and a three-year outlook that remains positive in the first year but turns negative in years two and three. She highlighted the risk of co-occurring catastrophic events, using a normalized Great Miami Hurricane scenario to illustrate potential state losses. The outlook was adopted after brief comments from House and Senate members emphasizing fiscal restraint and efficiency. The commission then approved multiple budget amendments, mostly without objection. The Agency for Health Care Administration received amendments to realign funding for Florida KidCare based on estimating conference results, to provide $85 million in budget authority for disproportionate share hospital payments, and to adjust Medicaid and long-term care appropriations, including placing surplus funds into reserve. The Department of Health received $6.3 million in additional authority for newborn screening. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Management Services each received $2.2 million in Private Inmate Welfare Trust Fund authority for repair invoices and pending projects. The Department of State was authorized to release $2.5 million in nonrecurring general revenue for cultural and museum grants and America 250 commemorative grants. The Department of Transportation received approval for a project roll-forward and for work program changes, including advancing I-95 widening in Duval County and the I-4 corridor in Polk and Osceola counties. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Government Code stipulates that limited-term staff are for temporary staffing needs and can’t exceed
• as well as higher limited term there is a challenge to hire in limited term staff though government code
• The request is for $96.5 million... Again, we have safety and accessibility at the park.
• The request is for $96.5 million in addition to some operational adjustments.
• The proposal that you have in front of you for the $96.5 million will focus on high-trafficked areas

Transcript Highlights:

• accessed high-quality information through statewide online resources administered by OdeO more than 96.5

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• We had $1 million greater, 29 procurements of $96.5 million, and less than $1.2 million.
• We had some code that was being delivered that, you know, wasn't quite meeting the expectations—it kind
• Only 2% of all the code ever developed was deployed and then used... by users in the fashion that it
• Ever clap eyes on the software; heaven forbid, look at the code, you wouldn't want to do that.
• These are the standards that you're going to use to define code quality.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount of money going to ECECD to meet the exec's request for childcare assistance, which is 96.5

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amendment to our preemption section of the code.
• It states that except as otherwise authorized by code, so it preserves the existing code section.
• The return value should be around the idea of 96.5%.
• So SNAP is codified in the Idaho Code 56-205.
• Their requirements stand in federal code.

Transcript Highlights:

• implemented by increasing the basic allotment further and adding a provision to the Texas Education Code
• Section 48.051 of the Education Code now requires, under this bill, that 40% of income increases and
• Approximately 96.5 thousand students, almost 18.5 thousand of which are students who are also served
• special education staff, and administrators will be responsible for making decisions about how to code
• Right, because some of that is dependent on your zip code too. Sure.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud that we were named by Realtor.com the hottest zip code in the country, which reflects both
• I'm proud that we were named by Realtor.com the hottest zip code in the country, which reflects both
• At the same time, the share of sales paid by credit cards increased from 94.4% to 96.5%.

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud that we were named by Realtor.com the hottest zip code in the country, which reflects both
• I'm proud that we were named by Realtor.com the hottest zip code in the country, which reflects both
• At the same time, the share of sales paid by credit cards increased from 94.4% to 96.5%.

Summary: The commission met to hear testimony on the future of credit card payments and swipe fees, with a focus on impacts to small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members and witnesses discussed interchange fees, processing fees, chargebacks, fraud risk, rewards programs, and the growing use of card-not-present and digital wallet transactions. Several witnesses urged the commission to support legislation that would prohibit fees on the tax and tip portions of transactions and allow businesses to pass credit card fees on to customers if they choose, while others warned that state regulation of interchange could reduce fraud protections and harm consumer rewards programs. Small business owners and trade groups described rising costs and thin margins, saying card fees are now among their largest expenses and are often charged on money that is merely passing through the business, such as sales tax and gratuities. Restaurant representatives said the current system shifts fraud and chargeback losses onto merchants, with little ability to negotiate rates or recover disputed funds, and argued that transparency and fee relief would help keep independent businesses open. Retailers gave similar testimony, citing rising swipe fees, complex statements, and the burden of online and phone transactions. A representative from the airline industry opposed interchange reform, arguing that airline credit card rewards are popular with consumers and support travel and jobs in Massachusetts. Credit union representatives cautioned that state-level interchange limits could weaken fraud prevention and force higher rates or reduced services, while the National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that banks and networks already operate under fee caps in other contexts and that interchange rates are fixed rather than competitive. Commission members asked questions about how chargebacks work, how fees are broken down, whether businesses can negotiate with processors or POS providers, and how consumer behavior has shifted toward cards, online ordering, and delivery since the pandemic. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.