Transcript Highlights:

• federal monies to account for them in separate accounts or funds as necessary to meet accounting, budgetary

Summary: The caucus began with introductions from pages and interns, followed by a procedural reminder on consent calendars and how bills can be pulled for floor debate or amendment. Members were told that third-read consent bills bypass caucus debate, while caucus consent bills may have committee amendments adopted together unless pulled. The meeting then moved into Minority Caucus Calendar No. 2. A large number of bills were briefly presented, with several members pulling measures from consent or voicing opposition. Topics included appropriations and federal monies accounting (HB 2148), a Buffalo Soldiers memorial (HB 2062), school library funding restrictions (HB 2008), prayer at school governing body meetings (HB 2110), school safety center administration (HB 2142), parental rights and social transitioning disclosures (HB 2249), insurer assessments (HB 2091), agricultural property classification and inspection rules (HB 2104 and HB 2105), firefighter workers’ compensation definitions (HB 2138), truth-in-taxation bond notices (HB 2289), late tax filing penalties (HB 2016), engineering and professional licensing reciprocity (HB 2122), felony murder involving an unborn child (HB 2043), body concealment and mutilation penalties (HB 2044), domestic violence order-of-protection service rules (HB 2048), mandatory reporting of partial-birth abortions (HB 2074), unlawful flight sentencing enhancements (HB 2108), weapons trafficking and fentanyl sentencing changes (HB 2131 and HB 2132), drive-by shooting forfeiture rules (HB 2045), probation review notice changes (HB 2046), venue changes for cases involving court employees (HB 2126), and child support for pre-born children (HB 2144). Members repeatedly criticized several abortion-related bills, the library bill, and the tax and agriculture measures as harmful, unnecessary, or unfunded mandates. The latter part of the meeting focused on water and election legislation. Water bills included snowpack augmentation funding (HB 2024), water conservation grant disclosures (HB 2029), removal of education/research as an eligible water grant use (HB 2030), stormwater recharge mapping with an appropriation (HB 253), cesspool remediation assistance (HB 2096), groundwater pumping limits in INAs (HB 2097), Colorado River litigation funding (HB 2116), and natural resource conservation board changes (HB 2117). Election-related items included moving the primary date earlier and changing signature cure timelines and observer rules (HB 2022), a memorial urging designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization (HCM 2001), a memorial urging review of CAIR for terrorist designation (HCM 2002), and a constitutional amendment on citizenship, voter ID, foreign contributions, and early voting limits (HCR 2001). Members raised concerns about voter access, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the practical effects of the election changes. The caucus concluded with birthday acknowledgments and an announcement for Muslim Day at the Capitol before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll say publicly what I told you privately over here: you guys, from a budgetary standpoint, are boring

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• supports strong schools and just sees the use of impact fees to address some of the operational budgetary

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills. SB 5841 would require students’ high school and beyond plans to show completion of at least one FAFSA or WASFA application, or a parent/guardian opt-out. The sponsor and supporters said it would reduce barriers to postsecondary education, improve financial aid completion, and bring more students and federal dollars into the state. School groups opposed it, warning it would add an unfunded administrative burden and create verification challenges, especially for small districts and families with undocumented students. Senators discussed data-sharing from the Washington Student Achievement Council and noted the bill’s connection to existing FAFSA outreach efforts. The committee then took testimony on SB 5922, which would let districts petition OSPI to transfer money from transportation vehicle funds to other district uses if they reduce their fleet because of enrollment declines. The sponsor said the bill would free up unused bus funds for other pressing needs. Members asked about whether districts could shift to smaller vehicles and how the funds could be used. The committee also heard SB 5858, which would move the pupil transportation safety net for special passengers into statute. Supporters from OSPI, districts, school directors, and PTA said the program is essential for transporting students with disabilities, homelessness, or foster care needs, and that current funding is far below demonstrated need. No votes were taken on these bills. Finally, the committee heard SB 5943, which would allow limited use of school impact fees for modernization and, in districts under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight, for up to 25% of operations and maintenance. The sponsor and one superintendent argued it would help districts with aging buildings and new state mandates like safety and energy-efficiency requirements. Builders, business groups, and school coalition representatives opposed the bill, saying impact fees should remain tied to growth-related capital costs and warning it could worsen housing affordability and weaken the nexus required for impact fees. The chair closed by noting the session’s budget constraints and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also budgetary oversight by the Department of Revenue, and this is something that some folks

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Particularly when making difficult budgetary decisions that need to survive political and economic shifts

Transcript Highlights:

• It also addresses budgetary concerns for the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we have before us really the first budgetary decision as a body of this biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it could be... ...with your future growth, future mission, and it could be budgetary or it could

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard first from Space Florida President and CEO Robert Long, who described the agency’s role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority and spaceport authority. He reported a pipeline of about 187 projects, nearly $7 billion in potential private investment, and roughly 8,000 potential jobs, with 161 projects in the fiscal-year pipeline, up about 30% from the prior year. Long said Space Florida is focusing on workforce development through its Space Florida Academy with 23 school districts, and on target markets including advanced air mobility/eVTOL, flight simulation, and satellite manufacturing. Members asked about infrastructure, federal-state coordination, LNG planning, environmental mitigation, workforce, and how the Legislature’s recent $5 million recurring increase is being used; Long said the funds are mainly supporting staffing, contracted services, and IT improvements to handle growth and move projects through faster. The panel then heard from Blue Origin, Leonardo (through LSN Partners), and Lone Star Data Holdings. Blue Origin said its Florida manufacturing and launch operations have grown far beyond initial commitments, with more than $3 billion invested and over 3,000 employees in the state, and emphasized the need for roads, water, wastewater, and other launch-site infrastructure as launch cadence increases. Leonardo highlighted its TH-73A Navy helicopter program in Milton and a new 70,000-square-foot maintenance facility at Whiting Aviation Park, crediting state, local, and federal partners and noting future potential for its AW-609 tiltrotor aircraft. Lone Star Data Holdings described its satellite-based data storage and disaster-recovery business, said Florida was its first customer, and urged the state to use Florida as a pilot project for protecting data and expanding space-based data infrastructure. Members repeatedly focused on what the state should do next, and the panel’s main answer was continued investment in infrastructure and long-term planning. Specific needs mentioned included road widening, traffic signals, fire suppression, water pressure, wastewater capacity, power, transportation links, environmental mitigation, and LNG-related planning at the spaceport. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the meeting, and the session ended after member questions and comments with a motion to rise and adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• This really originated from a reform in the telehealth package during the public health emergency.
• During the 2021 session, there was an authorization of a package of telehealth reforms that allowed for
• uh in the tah health package reform uh in the tah health package during<01:42:10.520><c> the</c><01:
• that allowed for of tah Health reforms that allowed for Audio<01:42:18.920><c> Only</c><01:42:19.199
• So that's really the budgetary import of this, in addition to kind of the public transparency piece and

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It says the forecast must estimate the budgetary impacts of fraud committed against state programs.
• It says the forecast must<00:36:36.480><c> estimate</c><00:36:36.880><c> the</c><00:36:37.200><c> budgetary
• </c><00:36:37.760><c> impacts</c><00:36:38.079><c> of</c> must estimate the budgetary impacts of must
• estimate the budgetary impacts of fraud<00:36:38.560><c> committed</c><00:36:38.960><c> against</c><

Bills: HF3676 , HF3683 , HF3395

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kunesh, uh, considering, and not to be a stick in the mud with budgetary, but uh considering
• not to be a stick in the mud<01:51:36.719><c> with</c><01:51:36.800><c> with</c><01:51:37.119><c> budgetary
• </c><01:51:37.760><c> but</c><01:51:38.239><c> uh</c> mud with with budgetary but uh mud with with budgetary

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• budget process the budget session and give parks a real look because what we do with parks from a budgetary
• budget process the budget session and give parks a real look because what we do with parks from a budgetary
• budget process, the budget session, and give parks a real look because what we do with parks from a budgetary
• budget process, the budget session, and give parks a real look because what we do with parks from a budgetary

Summary: The committee met jointly for State Government, State and Local Government, and Elections and Constitutional Amendments, approved the minutes from the September 23 meeting, and then took up discussion of Senate Bill 126, a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the governor’s pardon power. Senator Chris McDaniel said the measure was prompted by concerns over pardons issued in 2019 and would bar pardons for 60 days before a gubernatorial election through the swearing-in of a new governor, leaving the power otherwise intact. Members who spoke generally supported the proposal as a way to increase accountability, and McDaniel said he intended to place it on the 2026 ballot. No vote was taken on the bill during the discussion. The committee then moved to House Bill 16 on water fluoridation. Representative Hart and Senator Greg Elkins said the bill would remove Kentucky’s fluoridation mandate and give local water districts the choice to add fluoride or not. They emphasized that the revised draft also adds immunity language to protect districts from civil litigation regardless of their decision. Dr. Jack Call, a Louisville dentist, presented against fluoridation, arguing that the main dental benefit is topical rather than from drinking water and citing studies and reports he said linked fluoride exposure to reduced IQ in children and other health concerns. Cindy Batson, a nurse and parent, also supported the bill and said she had testified on the issue for years. During questions, Senator Rollins raised concerns about fluoride being an industrial byproduct and described fluoridation as forced medication. The discussion remained focused on the bill’s local-control and immunity provisions, with sponsors saying they were not trying to relitigate the broader science but wanted to remove the mandate. The transcript ends while questions and testimony on HB 16 were still underway, and no final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's big enough and important enough that we account for it and show you and get into it from a budgetary
• ><01:02:20.359><c> a</c> and show you and get into it from a and show you and get into it from a budgetary
• :21.960><c> a</c><01:02:22.079><c> budget</c><01:02:22.359><c> Point</c><01:02:22.559><c> of</c> budgetary
• uh crafting a budget Point of budgetary uh crafting a budget Point of View<01:02:23.119><c> kind</c>

Summary: The committee first heard Representative Sweeney present and defend the budget amendment legalizing video lottery terminals (VLTs) and setting a 30% tax rate, with 65% of the tax going to the state and 35% to charities. He argued the lower rate was needed to encourage operators of historic horse racing (HHR) machines to convert to VLTs, saying the higher 45% rate would discourage adoption. He walked through revenue projections for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, estimating significant increases in state and charity revenue as machines transition over time, and said the amendment was designed to expand charitable gaming revenue overall. Several members questioned the assumptions behind his projections and the basis for his analysis, including why his independent research differed from the governor’s and Lottery Commission’s estimates. Sweeney said his figures were based on research into other states and conversations over many years, and he maintained that a 45% tax would likely result in no VLT adoption. Members also debated whether the transition costs for operators would be quickly recouped and whether the state’s share should be larger. One member emphasized that the committee was effectively choosing between a lower operator share and a higher state share, while Sweeney argued the 30% structure would produce revenue for everyone. The committee then moved to other revenue items on the tracking sheet. It voted 7-0 to accept the Lottery Commission’s revised base revenue estimates. Members also discussed an amendment to repeal the local option requirement for Kino games, which would expand Kino availability and was estimated to generate additional lottery profit in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. That amendment drew opposition from members who said local control was an important part of the original Kino policy and that removing it would override municipal decisions. The committee also noted that the VLT/HHR revenue item had already been adopted and was being revisited only to confirm the associated revenue estimates.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be overall not a huge budgetary impact, so I think that that's one of the many reasons that
• not</c><00:48:48.839><c> a</c><00:48:49.040><c> huge</c><00:48:49.760><c> U</c><00:48:49.880><c> budgetary
• </c> would be overall not a huge U budgetary would be overall not a huge U budgetary impact<00:48:50.760

Bills: HF1698 , HF632 , HF1352 , HF2197 , HF618 , HF1248 , HF1697

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• contemplated using that, which is unspent and unencumbered, for other priorities and to help us address the budgetary
• help us other priorities and um and to help us address<00:34:33.919><c> the</c><00:34:34.159><c> budgetary
• c><00:34:34.720><c> challenges</c><00:34:35.119><c> that</c><00:34:35.359><c> we</c> address the budgetary
• challenges that we address the budgetary challenges that we have?

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• past, and we have to, you know, throw out a quick accolade to him for his making this an ongoing budgetary
• c><00:55:23.680><c> an</c><00:55:24.000><c> ongoing</c><00:55:24.800><c> uh</c><00:55:24.960><c> budgetary
• </c> making this an ongoing uh budgetary making this an ongoing uh budgetary review.<00:55:26.160><c>

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• big disruption of what could be provided in schools, and also I think a second reason is, from a budgetary
• big disruption of what could be provided in schools, and also I think a second reason is, from a budgetary
• big disruption of what could be provided in schools, and also I think a second reason is, from a budgetary
• behind the language: the pandemic disrupted what could be provided in schools, and there was also a budgetary

Summary: The committee first recessed briefly, then took up HB 570, the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB). The chair and several members discussed the House amendment to repeal the board, which removed the fiscal note. The main concern raised was that the PDAB had not yet produced a clear business case showing value for the taxpayer investment, despite several years of work and four annual reports. Supporters of the repeal said the board’s recent report was largely redundant and that the board should either demonstrate a strong return on investment or be shut down; others cautioned against discarding the program too quickly and urged more time to refine the mission and legislative language. No vote was taken, and the committee appeared to agree to retain the bill for further work, with the possibility of revisiting it in a formal executive session on Tuesday. Members also shifted into discussion of HB 2, beginning with Section 85 on opioid abatement trust fund dollars for shelter programs. Department of Health and Human Services officials explained that the provision would provide $10 million from the opioid abatement trust fund, replacing general funds in the governor’s budget, while also noting an additional $2.5 million prioritized needs request for shelter care that was already fully funded. Committee members asked about shelter bed capacity, job placement efforts, and the remaining balance in the opioid fund; DHHS said there are 934 contracted beds and that case management includes help with housing and employment. Officials also said the current proposed budget includes another $1 million later in HB 2 from the opioid fund. The committee then began discussion of Sections 86 through 87, which would preserve the department’s ability to transfer funds between personnel lines. DHHS said the provision is operationally critical and that losing it would make it extremely difficult to manage the department, though it would not have a direct fiscal impact. The next item introduced was Section 88, extending a suspension related to eligibility for services until July 1, 2027; DHHS indicated that if the suspension were not continued, it would likely increase expenditures for Community Mental Health Centers and potentially others. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the schools, thanks to our partnership with all of you and industry partners, has been no negative budgetary
• Industry Partners there has been<01:29:15.400><c> no</c><01:29:15.800><c> negative</c><01:29:16.199><c> budgetary
• </c><01:29:16.719><c> impact</c><01:29:17.080><c> to</c> been no negative budgetary impact to been no
• negative budgetary impact to local<01:29:17.560><c> school</c><01:29:17.880><c> districts</c><01:29:

Bills: HF339 , HF1272 , HF2121 , HF2122 , HF1216 , HF1003 , HF2319

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Management and Budget, but just to review: for fiscal years 26 and 27, the anticipated budgetary
• for fiscal years 26 and 27 the review for fiscal years 26 and 27 the anticipated<00:03:21.879><c> budgetary
• </c><00:03:22.519><c> balance</c><00:03:23.200><c> is</c> anticipated budgetary balance is anticipated
• budgetary balance is 45.7<00:03:26.519><c> se7</c><00:03:27.519><c> million</c><00:03:28.319><c> remaining

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about some of the budgetary pressures that you
• about<01:37:20.520><c> some</c><01:37:20.639><c> of</c><01:37:20.760><c> the</c><01:37:20.840><c> budgetary
• </c><01:37:21.320><c> pressures</c> about some of the budgetary pressures about some of the budgetary

Committee: Senate Higher Education