Transcript Highlights:

• These premier facilities welcome world-class performances, ranging from concerts and comedy to symphony
• City is a world-class destination. Thank you. Open to any questions. Members, any questions for Ms.
• First, the substitute will include prioritization based on the mentioned class as a prohibited method
• of hotel occupancy tax dollars based on mentioned classes as a prohibited method.
• You just can't prioritize it by class.

Bills: SB1071, SB1444, SB1483, SB1556, SB1703, SB1756, SB1854, SB2036, SB2133, SB2297, SB2622, SB2779, SB2955, SB2979

Keywords: municipality, tax revenue, hotel project, convention center, economic development, hotel tax, municipal authority, local governments, local authority, convention centers, hotel occupancy tax, municipal finance, local tax revenue, tourism, hotel and convention center project, Tax Code Chapter 351, city revenue, special district, Texas municipalities, venue financing

Transcript Highlights:

• What class is it these days? Sorry? What class? Is it like class one?
• It used to be class 10, which was a low class number.
• Now it is level one, class 100, and it went to class 10. Level one, maybe.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Each leg of our triad is undergoing a generational modernization. includes the Columbia-class submarine
• to replace the Ohio-class, the B-21 bomber to replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers, and the Sentinel ICBM
• could impact plan transition. from Ohio class submarines.
• If Columbia class submarines are not available in general, what plans have we taken in that regard to
• And you're right, right now we're anticipating a 12 to 16 month delay for the first Columbia class.

Keywords: military strategy, nuclear triad, deterrence, STRATCOM, SPACECOM, SLICOM, B-21, hypersonic defense, spectrum auction

Summary: The meeting focused on the strategic posture of U.S. military capabilities with an emphasis on deterrence amid growing global threats. General Cotton from STRATCOM and General Whiting from SPACECOM provided insights into the modernization efforts of the nuclear triad. Key discussions involved the importance of maintaining control over specific frequency spectrums critical for military operations and the implications of potential auctioning of these bands. Members expressed concerns regarding the evolving landscape with adversaries like China and Russia, emphasizing that swift action is needed to adapt and preserve U.S. national security. Various proposals and existing programs, including the B-21 bomber and the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLICOM), were debated, alongside the necessity of increasing military investment in hypersonic defense systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, 70% of the university's freshman class are first-generation college students and not the traditional
• We have some students from the fourth grade class of St. Paul's Christian Day School.
• When I was at UT, I was always late for class.
• I'm class of 80, he's class of 79.
• there are students enrolled in the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine and 22 students in the inaugural class

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB26, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of class load sizes, as well as requirements that once class loads exceed a certain amount, you
• And so a kindergarten class, for instance, with 18 students has a teacher and an educational assistant
• As class sizes are allowed to get a little bit bigger, you don't have those requirements for educational
• at the high school level, where a homeschool student might want to come in and take your calculus class
• or your physics class or AP physics.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:26.960> that technology uh and the asset class that technology uh and the asset class
• Uh I have been in the the asset class.
• When you have a new asset class emerge, particularly, you know, the easiest example here is Bitcoin,
• You know, again, if you think of digital assets in the asset class side of things, the point largely
• <00:46:03.760> side the uh in the sort of asset class side the uh in the sort of asset class

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review stable tokens, real-world asset tokenization, and blockchain-based trust, approved the agenda and December 12 minutes, and heard a presentation from Anchorage Digital after postponing a planned Bitco presentation because of its IPO quiet period. Anchorage’s Melinda Delos, Joe Mioli, and Kevin Wasaki introduced the firm, describing it as a global digital assets platform and the first crypto-native institution in the U.S. to receive a federal banking charter. They said their approach emphasizes security, regulated custody and trading services, and responsible innovation for institutional clients, banks, states, and sovereigns. The presentation focused on post-Genius Act momentum in the stablecoin market. Anchorage said the law provided regulatory clarity and helped spur activity with major clients, including Athena, Tether, and Western Union. The speakers highlighted Western Union’s planned stablecoin as especially significant because it reflects adoption by a long-established traditional payments company, and they said the project illustrates how stablecoins can support programmable, real-time, interoperable payments. They also noted that Anchorage is providing issuance infrastructure for the Western Union project. The commission and presenters also discussed government uses of tokenized assets, including reserve legislation, digital assets for tax collection and fees, and a Marshall Islands initiative to use a tokenized sovereign bond for direct citizen payments. In response to a question, Anchorage said it would follow up on which states are using digital assets for revenue collection, mentioning Louisiana and Pennsylvania as examples. The banking discussion centered on remittances, instant payments, and interbank settlement, with Anchorage arguing that stablecoins can reduce settlement time, fees, and foreign exchange risk while improving traceability and auditability.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, if you want students to have their classes done before... 26.
• I mean, if you want students to have their classes done before.
• If a professional student takes one master's degree class, one upper-level class, that, according to
• It's a fair discussion than to dismiss randomly; it's a higher class.
• It's not individual classes and courses that we pay based on multipliers now.

Summary: The committee met to discuss higher education funding and capital building policy. Members first heard an update from NDUS Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson on low-producing academic programs. She described a proposed board policy using a five-year rolling window and thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, with programs flagged for three consecutive review periods going to the board. Possible outcomes would include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the review would account for program costs, service to other students, workforce demand, and the difference between inactivation and termination. Johnson said the board would consider broader factors and that campuses already do detailed program analysis. Several members also asked about cost savings and staffing impacts from program terminations, and Johnson said the board would try to provide more information later. The committee then received a report on the Capital Building Fund from Jamie Wilkie. He reviewed the program’s history, matching requirements, and recent uses, noting that about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with most going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Members discussed whether the program is reducing deferred maintenance and requested updated systemwide data on deferred maintenance and campus space utilization. Wilkie said the board is considering a new study to update deferred maintenance figures, which are based on information more than 12 years old. He also reported that several institutions have used current biennium funds for projects such as residence hall renovations, health sciences housing, generators, and building repairs. Later, the committee began a detailed walkthrough of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and also revise the capital building fund structure. The draft would use fall enrollment FTEs, add completion incentives for degrees in in-demand fields, and create a separate research funding component for UND and NDSU tied to doctoral completions and external research expenditures. Members raised concerns about the use of older data in the formula, the treatment of waivers, the weighting of professional and health sciences programs, and the use of CIP codes to define CTE and education incentives. The bill draft would also combine capital building fund tiers, broaden eligible uses for deferred maintenance and legislatively authorized projects, change matching requirements, repeal the old formula chapter and the capital pool, and transfer funds from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund into the capital building fund. No final votes were taken during the portion provided; the meeting was primarily discussion and review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and in that capacity, I trained all the rookie classes that I trained all the rookie classes that
• Uh with this bill, resisting arrest goes from a class B resisting arrest goes from a class B resisting
• arrest goes from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor. misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor
• D felony. and resisting arrest class D felony. and resisting arrest class D felony. and resisting arrest
• C another individual becomes a class C another individual becomes a class C felony. felony. felony.

Bills: HB265, HB146, SB254, HB202, HB3, HB42, SB18

Keywords: resisting arrest, penalties, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, youthful offender, capital murder, victims' rights, SB254, Alabama, statute of limitations, civil procedure, civil action, sex offense, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, survivor rights, tolling, disability, minor plaintiff

Transcript Highlights:

• or the right mathematics class in order to uh.
• In particular, at our flagship, most know that we enroll one of the largest freshman classes each year
• And also, can you tell me what percentage of your classes are online versus in person?
• The vast majority of our classes are offered in person, um, but we can certainly get that to you.
• And offers experiential learning and industry engagement through class projects in all industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• accounting unit 9010 uh class 103 accounting unit 9010 uh class 103 because<00:49:24.960> the<
• Historically, we also used classes 505 and 529, but those have been wrapped up into class 506, which
• Historically, we also used classes 505 and 529, but those have been wrapped up into class 506, which
• So there’s two class lines there.
• <01:28:24.760> lines 7013 so there there's two class lines 7013 so there there's two class

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer approximately 9,600 customized training, specialty, and professional classes.
• > this<00:05:16.919> is<00:05:17.039> a<00:05:17.199> fluid professional classes
• this is a fluid professional classes this is a fluid process<00:05:18.639> as<00:05:18.800>
• The importance of allowing high school students to take college-level classes because, uh, when they
• <01:35:16.440> since largest Freshman Class since largest Freshman Class since 1965<01:35:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:52:10.199> breakout used for inservice classes breakout used for inservice classes breakout
• c> fill<04:05:38.319> the full-time if all the classes fill the full-time if all the classes
• <04:05:50.080> it's<04:05:50.279> going next class a very big class it's going next
• class a very big class it's going to<04:05:50.600> be<04:05:50.800> around<04:05:51.120
• The witness responded, yes, if the classes fill, that is the beginning of the classes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• the board took a position to remove Algebra I as one of the components or, you know, as a mandatory class
• , not a mandatory, but a class that... ...being a mandatory class, not a mandatory, but a class that
• interest when they get to the middle school level, which then allows them to maybe take an eligible class
• That if he had not taken that class, it would be more difficult for him to get into a STEM career, which
• Gonzalez's second grade class is still watching, they should be very proud of their teacher.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Arthur Krantz to the Public Employment Relations Board and Christopher Ferguson, Brian Haynes, Anna Marie de Mars, and Ronald Fiore to the Student Aid and Student Athletic commissions. The committee also approved references of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. It then heard testimony from Julia Montgomery, nominated as General Counsel to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, who described her long career serving agricultural workers and said the ALRB’s mission is to protect workers’ rights, support fair bargaining, and ensure access to information and resources. Questions to Montgomery focused on card-check unionization procedures, signature authenticity, outreach to farmworkers, and enforcement of make-whole orders. Senator Grove raised concerns about workers being pressured or not knowing what they signed, while Montgomery said objections and unfair labor practice charges can be filed and investigated, though the office does not independently verify signatures unless there is an allegation. Senator Reyes pressed on delays in collecting make-whole awards, including the Tri-Fanucchi case; Montgomery said appeals, bankruptcies, and employer closures often delay relief, but the agency seeks settlements and enforcement when possible. The committee voted 3-2 to advance Montgomery’s appointment to the full Senate. The committee then considered three State Board of Education nominees: Cynthia Glover Woods, Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez. In their testimony, all three emphasized long careers in education, support for students and teachers, and the importance of early learning, community schools, professional development, and aligning instructional materials with standards. Members questioned them about math achievement, the 2023 mathematics framework and Algebra I access, the state’s low national rankings, transitional kindergarten access, and a proposed change to education governance. The nominees said they support flexibility for students ready for Algebra I, believe recent instructional materials and professional learning will help improve outcomes, and had not been involved in governance-structure discussions. Public witnesses from school and child-serving organizations spoke in strong support. The committee then advanced Glover Woods and Gonzalez on 3-1 votes and Lewis on a 4-1 vote for full Senate confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, they can't make it because they're in class, but this measure really reflects what students
• Unfortunately, they can't make it because they're in class, but this measure really reflects what students
• 00:19:33.400> in they can't make it because they're in they can't make it because they're in class
• c> this<00:19:35.159> measure<00:19:35.600> really<00:19:35.840> reflects class
• , but this measure really reflects class, but this measure really reflects what<00:19:37.040> students

Bills: HCR122

Keywords: Olelo Hawaii, micro-credentials, Hawaiian language, Niihau dialect, language revitalization, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Hawaiian Affairs first took up HCR 122, which requests the University of Hawaii to allow an ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi E Pathway under the Niʻihau dialect. Testimony was generally supportive, and the chair noted agreement with the House author to mirror amendments already made in the Senate version, including technical, non-substantive changes and a micro-credential reference. Both committees voted to pass HCR 122 with amendments. The committee then heard HCR 181, affirming the legislative intent of HRS 302A-1116 regarding the Department of Education’s authority to create temporary positions. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi testified that the department follows statutory requirements and consults with the Attorney General, while several members expressed concern that the department’s interpretation could allow repeated annual renewals and undermine the budget process. Members discussed the need to make the bill more explicit that temporary positions may not exceed one year. The committee ultimately adopted the proposed SD1 and passed HCR 181 with amendments. The committee also considered HCR 42 on recognizing cheerleading as a title sport, HCR 53 on a UH associate degree completion audit, HCR 110 on refining campus roles within the UH system, HCR 111 on clarifying UH system and campus responsibilities, and HCR 118 HD1 on strengthening menstrual health education and adopting a comprehensive menstrual cycle curriculum. HCR 42 and HCR 53 were passed with technical/non-substantive amendments, HCR 110 and HCR 111 were passed unamended, and HCR 118 HD1 was passed with amendments reflecting the Senate version. Testimony on HCR 118 strongly supported standardized menstrual health education, with speakers emphasizing student demand and existing school infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution Number 1, Command Terry High School boys Class 6A track and field team for winning
• <00:36:51.760> 2 teams amend upon captain 2025 class 2 teams amend upon captain 2025 class
• 6A track and field team for class 6A track and field team for winning<00:37:04.800> 2025<00:37
• Senate Resolution Number 12, commend Brookhaven High School Panthers football team for Class 5A state
• Senate Resolution Number 12, commend Brookhaven High School Panthers football team for Class 5A state

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 20 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Mississippi Senate convened with a quorum present and began the day with an invocation by Dr. Ben Bernett of William Carey University, followed by the pledge and national anthem performed by William Carey students. The chamber then handled routine motions to dispense with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and welcomed numerous guests, including youth court judges, medical professionals, and representatives from Women for Progress of Mississippi, which was recognized for its 48th anniversary and its work in civic leadership, education, advocacy, and community empowerment. Angela Stewart spoke about the organization’s founder, Dorothy May Thompson Stewart Samuel, and the group’s mission to promote informed citizenship, strong education, and economic opportunity. The Senate also confirmed Senate Nomination 74, Michael Barry Nelson of Madison, to the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women for a four-year at-large term beginning July 1, 2025, after Senator Kirby explained that the commission-repeal bill had not yet become law. The chamber then suspended the rules to take up items 2 through 9 in block and adopted a series of resolutions honoring Warren Central High School’s swim team, recognizing the cultural connection between Quebec and Mississippi, commending the Terry High School boys track and field team, expressing support for Beth Israel congregation after an arson attack, recognizing Dr. Charles McLullen’s impact on the SWAC, commemorating Mississippi College’s bicentennial, honoring Alexander and Friends of Mississippi Veterans, and congratulating Brookhaven High School’s football team. All of these items passed by voice vote or use of the morning roll call. Later, senators announced committee meetings and other events, including Finance, Appropriations subcommittees, a Rules Committee meeting, and a government structure meeting. Senator Turner Ford also moved to hold Senate Bill 2017, the “Various Obsolete Commissions Repeal,” on a motion to reconsider. The session ended with the Senate entering recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal to reflect a return at 10:00 a.m. the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• this is what got me involved in politics, and I think for many members, both sophomore and freshman class
• this is what got me involved in politics, and I think for many members, both sophomore and freshman class
• this is what got me involved in politics, and I think for many members, both sophomore and freshman class
• 13:15.240> sophomore<00:13:16.240> uh<00:13:16.360> freshman<00:13:16.959> class
• both sophomore uh freshman class both sophomore uh freshman class representatives<00:13:18.839><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It begins the moment they set foot on campus with their first biology class. So we have wraparound.
• And our focus is on the student and the experience in making sure they achieve a world-class education
• achieve award. the student on the student and the experience and making sure they achieve a world-class
• We have small classes, and they get a lot of individual attention.
• Typically our classes are 24 students, and we start typically three times a year.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to focus on nursing education funding, workforce supply, and Florida’s low NCLEX pass rates. The chair emphasized that Florida ranks last nationally in nursing exam pass rates and said the committee wants to use budget decisions and a forthcoming nursing bill to improve outcomes. The Florida Center for Nursing at USF presented preliminary workforce and education data showing RN supply is moving toward equilibrium with demand through 2037, while LPN shortages are projected to worsen, especially in some regions. The center also reported on enrollment, retention, faculty vacancies, and NCLEX trends, noting Florida still underperforms the national average but has shown some recent improvement, including higher RN pass rates in 2024 despite fewer test takers. The center highlighted that students who test sooner after graduation tend to pass at higher rates. A panel of nursing education leaders from public universities, state colleges, technical colleges, and private institutions described how prior state pipeline and line-item funding helped expand enrollment, simulation labs, faculty hiring, student support services, and partnerships with hospitals. UNF, Galen College, College of Central Florida, Keiser University, and Lorenzo Walker Technical College each reported strategies such as expanded simulation, mental health and social work support, test-prep and remediation, and efforts to grow faculty pipelines. Several speakers said faculty recruitment and retention remain major barriers because of salary competition with hospitals, faculty debt, and aging faculty. Technical college representatives also stressed the need to strengthen LPN pathways, English-language support, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Members asked for ideas to improve NCLEX outcomes and discussed possible policy options, including student loan forgiveness, critical shortage supplements for faculty, incentives for students to test soon after graduation, and possible changes to timing or regulation around NCLEX eligibility. Several witnesses supported more flexible or recurring funding, while noting that one-time line funding has been useful for simulation, scholarships, and faculty support but is harder to sustain. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with the chair saying the ideas would be considered in future funding and policy decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• A misdemeanor to a Class D felony.
• A misdemeanor to a Class D felony.
• Um, the first conviction would be a Class A misdemeanor. from a class A misdemeanor to a class D from
• a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony.<00:23:11.039> And<00:23:11.280> then<00:23:
• <00:29:42.000> B don't want that to turn into a class B don't want that to turn into a class

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This gives them the option of what I see to offer some of their classes as such and not all of them on
• They're the ones that kind of dictate how that class goes and how it's how this all this gives them the
• the ones that kind of dictate<00:04:58.400> how<00:04:58.639> that<00:04:58.800> class
• goes<00:04:59.360> and<00:04:59.520> how<00:04:59.680> it's dictate how that class
• goes and how it's dictate how that class goes and how it's how how how this<00:05:02.800> all

Bills: HB462, HB477, SB210, HB462, HB477, SB210

Keywords: emergency medical services, military training, licensure, public health, veterans, health benefits, nonprofit organization, agriculture, insurance regulation, taxation, hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, HB462, chiropractic, chiropractor, State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, professional licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• rates paid by employers for each class of the employee participating in the Florida retirement system
• I think 130,000 students in Broward County, sorry, 193,000 Florida students took AP classes.
• So for the accelerated students, we want them to be able to take these classes.
• For students who maybe would aspire to be accelerated students, we want these classes available so they
• For students who maybe would aspire to be accelerated students, we want these classes available so they

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.