Video & Transcript Research : 'mobility program'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 24th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have three children who all went through the program.
  • Thank you, and thank you especially for growing the nursing program.
  • Thank you, and thank you especially for growing the nursing program.
  • So upward mobility.
  • and teacher preparation program supports.
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education first took up a block of confirmation hearings for trustees and board members at several public universities and state colleges. Appointees from Florida A&M University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, South Florida State College, Valencia College, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida described their backgrounds and emphasized themes such as governance, student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, research growth, and institutional reputation. Members asked a few questions, but most nominees received no substantive opposition. The committee then voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of the group of appointees on tabs 3 through 18 and forwarded them to Ethics and Elections. The committee next heard Senate Bill 114 by Senator Trumbull, which would create the Florida Center of Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at Florida State University, move the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide funding for the effort. Trumbull said the bill is intended to strengthen the state’s insurance research capacity and broaden study of insurance lines beyond wind risk. Senators asked about the impact on FIU and the distinction between the new center and existing FIU work; Trumbull said FIU’s Wall of Wind would remain and that the state-owned model would simply be contracted to FSU instead of FIU. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1624 by Senator Calatayud, a wide-ranging higher education bill addressing tuition, workforce programs, institutional operations, and naming changes. Amendments were adopted to create state college regional consortium service organizations for rural colleges, remove a proposed out-of-state fee change for nonresident online students, extend university master plan update cycles from five to 10 years, and rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough College. The bill also changed several references from specific minority categories to “underrepresented,” revised aid and waiver provisions, adjusted adult education and career program rules, and made other technical changes. Senators Smith and Davis questioned the shift away from enumerated categories, arguing it could obscure disparities affecting groups such as Black students, women in STEM, and students with disabilities; Calatayud said the intent was to focus on socioeconomic access and flexibility for institutions. After debate, the committee voted 6-2 to report the bill favorably, with Senators Davis and Smith voting no, and then adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Transit operation consolidation 3/11/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • regionally mandated Metro Mobility regionally mandated Metro Mobility service,<00:04:18.560>
  • <00:05:18.080> service Mobility service Mobility service >> [snorts] >> [snorts] &
  • That relates specifically to the general fund forecast appropriation for Metro Mobility.
  • That relates specifically to the general fund forecast appropriation for Metro Mobility.
  • There is nothing in Mobility service.
Keywords: 1183, house
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee Apr 23rd, 2025

Commerce and Small Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mobile County. But you also have flooding inland.
  • So if Mobile is under that 140 mph threshold and that's in the code, why is Mobile not excluded when
  • Why is Mobile not above 140? It looks like it to me.
  • No, it's not adopted yet by Mobile. Why did we exclude...
  • Have you talked to the representative from Mobile County?
Bills: SB186, SB212, HB566, SB186, SB212
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Feb 20th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • He is doing meditation He is doing meditation On an upward mobilization On an upward mobilization That's
  • tension On an upward mobilization On an upward mobilization That's tension 154 155 156 157 158 159 160
  • Tarleton offers a hundred and thirty degree programs spanning an array of disciplines.
  • Burke and representatives from two of Beijing. town's largest employers, a small company named Exxon Mobil
  • Over the past decade, more than 5,000 students have participated. in teen PACs programs in Texas.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • It removes sunset on aggregate supply chain Grant program.
  • The is there a current program. I was trying to understand the analysis and the language.
  • Is there a current program 100 commerce that gives grants for this?
  • So we don't have a program that gives grants currently under the program Ridge.
  • Partnership program must include a strategy for providing program funds to mobile home owners including
Keywords: 999, senate, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

February 5, 2025 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • Talking again about program offerings within the FDC, and so when we're talking about programs, we're
  • If one program is not proven effective, then we'll try to develop a new program.
  • access to programs.
  • Then in 2012, we started a program called the Alternative Sanctioning Program.
  • The program we started was modeled after a program called the Hawaii HOPE Model.
Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard an informational presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections on how the prison and community supervision systems operate after sentencing. Assistant Deputy Secretary Hope Gartman described the reception process for new inmates, including intake, medical and mental health screening, classification, custody and housing levels, gain time, and the department’s academic, vocational, substance abuse, chaplaincy, visitation, and communication programs. She emphasized that reentry begins on day one and that program placement is driven by risk and needs assessments, with facilities matched to inmates’ medical, mental health, and security requirements. Members also asked about family contact, visitor applications, inmate welfare trust funds, tablet access, private prison placement, staffing shortages, overtime, contraband interdiction, and waiting lists for programs; several follow-up materials were requested for distribution to all members. Mr. Winkler then outlined community corrections, explaining the different supervision types under Florida law, including probation, drug offender probation, community control, sex offender supervision, conditional release, and addiction recovery supervision. He described the department’s monitoring tools, such as office and field visits, warrantless searches, alternative sanctioning for technical violations, telephone reporting for low-risk offenders, employment assistance, and mobile probation and reentry units. He said the department’s supervision success rate is about 62%, with more than 91% of successful completers not returning to custody within three years. Members questioned officer workloads, the use of radios and GPS check-ins, the rollout of uniforms and firearms, how violations are handled, and whether all circuits participate in alternative sanctioning; Winkler said the program is statewide and that the department is seeking funding for radios. During public comment, Florida Cares Charity urged the committee to consider evidence on deterrence, parole, and recidivism, arguing that community supervision is less costly than incarceration and can be effective. James Beardy of the Florida PBA emphasized the dangers faced by correctional and probation officers, including long shifts, field searches, and working alone, and argued for higher pay and better support comparable to other law enforcement. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking the presenters and public speakers, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any legislative votes or formal actions.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Feb 5th, 2025

Veterans and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • as part of a guard or reserve mobilization.
  • One is lowering the disability rating for entrance into the scholarship program back to 20%, which is
  • The last thing is a pilot program to explore broadening...
  • Today, this program is largely taken advantage of by...
  • On the right, that's at the Coast Guard Station, with a Mobile radio operator. Next slide.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Wendy Woodward, Director of the IBC program at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
  • , it allows EMS clinicians in other states to have mobility into your state.
  • I am the interim program director of the Westfield State University Physician Assistant Program.
  • We are the only public PA program in the Commonwealth.
  • I've been a participant in the Massachusetts PCA program since 2007.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills involving professional licensure, clinical practice, and public health-related workforce issues. The chair explained that no votes would be taken at the hearing and that the purpose was to gather public input. Early testimony focused on Marnie’s Law, with supporters describing the bill as a no-cost, preventive measure to require nursing education on inflammatory breast cancer after a family tragedy and arguing it could reduce misdiagnosis and save lives. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills affecting clinical decision-making and licensure compacts. Supporters of the physician ownership/clinical autonomy bills argued they would protect independent practices from corporate interference after the Steward collapse, while supporters of EMS, dental, psychology, physical therapy, and physician assistant compacts said the measures would improve workforce mobility, reduce delays, and expand access to care, especially for rural patients, military families, and telehealth users. Several witnesses emphasized that the compacts would not reduce standards and would strengthen public protection through shared disciplinary databases and streamlined credentialing. There was also testimony on bills to ensure safe medication administration and to protect the independence of complementary and alternative health care practitioners. Nursing representatives urged that only licensed professionals administer medications in hospitals, hospices, and home care settings, warning that delegation to unlicensed staff could endanger patients and nurses’ licenses. A complementary and alternative care witness supported consumer access with mandatory disclosures and limits on reserved medical acts. On the dental compact, witnesses were split: some supported portability and workforce flexibility, while others warned the compact lacked a hands-on skills exam and could weaken Massachusetts’ regulatory authority and patient safety. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on the psychology compact, physical therapy compact, and physician assistant bills, with most speakers favoring expanded interstate practice and reduced administrative barriers.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

October 15, 2025 - 11:30 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • an overview of that program.
  • Remember, I said the program was Re re funded in May of 22.
  • We've go through the program.
  • So what is the program doing to mitigate?
  • , but also be a lot of places, mobile homes.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we do have a Celebrate 28 program.
  • Our program will be called Celebrate 28. Okay. Thank you.
  • The mayor mentioned the Clean Corridors Program.
  • The mayor mentioned our Kick It in the Park program.
  • We will have composting programs.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The hearing focused on Los Angeles’ preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with an emphasis on infrastructure, transportation, sustainability, community benefits, and legacy planning. Members and witnesses discussed venue readiness, state and local coordination, public safety, accessibility, and how the Games can leave behind lasting improvements such as transit upgrades, streetscape work, energy and utility improvements, and potentially permanent community assets. LA28 also highlighted its broader planning goals, including a transit-first, no-new-permanent-build approach and the use of temporary venues that could later serve communities. LA28’s Joey Freeman reported on ticket sales, volunteer interest, sponsorships, and recent legislative wins, including laws to support the games route network, temporary infrastructure, medical staffing, and out-of-state EMS deployment. He said LA28 has reached $2.5 billion in corporate sponsorships, sold more than 4 million tickets in the first drop, and launched a local presale with roughly half a million $28 tickets and a community ticketing program. However, several senators sharply criticized the ticketing rollout, saying low-cost tickets were too limited and that the committee lacked basic data on how many tickets were available, sold, or priced affordably. Members also raised concerns about ensuring access for low-income residents, schools, nonprofits, and the broader Los Angeles community. Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s theme is “Games for All” and described efforts to prepare small businesses, improve infrastructure, and create a citywide Cultural Olympiad and fan-fest style viewing sites modeled partly on Paris. She asked for state help with permitting, mutual aid for law enforcement, and cleanup of state-owned corridors and highways, and said the city wants local businesses prioritized over a broader Southern California definition of “local.” Other witnesses from Exposition Park and the Rose Bowl described major venue-specific needs, including accessibility, traffic and safety upgrades, utility replacement, site improvements, and legacy investments. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, but members requested follow-up meetings and additional information on ticketing, community access, procurement, cultural programming, and infrastructure plans.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • Act, and it creates competitive grant programs.
  • So I don't want to say that these programs don't work.
  • There's another program that I think is very useful.
  • We're talking about in one program, the program that oversees the field offices, we're talking about
  • So how can these programs?
Summary: The committee meeting focused on addressing the significant issue of affordable housing in America. Members expressed concern over the persistent barriers faced in the housing sector, despite substantial government investment aimed at alleviating these issues. It was highlighted that government interference plays a critical role in complicating the housing landscape, and discussions revolved around potential legislative approaches to mitigate these challenges. Several witnesses provided testimony, contributing to a thorough exploration of the topic.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 091 Apr 15th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Also, Senators Cutter and Roberts, concerning financial protections for mobile home park residents.
  • Also, Senators Cutter and Roberts, concerning financial protections for mobile home park residents.
  • home park oversight program.
  • home park oversight program.
  • Back to the bill. park oversight program. Um it's a park oversight program.
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and made several announcements, including recognition of Liberty Common High School seniors and Canyon Creek Elementary students visiting the Capitol. Committee meeting notices were also given for Judiciary and Transportation, Housing, and Local Government. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1027, a Holocaust remembrance resolution sponsored by Representatives Weinberg and Woodrow and Senators Weissman and Ball. The resolution emphasized the history of the Holocaust, the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Colorado and nationally, the importance of Holocaust and genocide education, and the need to combat bias and hate. Several members spoke in support, including personal reflections from Representatives Woodrow, Weinberg, Goldstein, and others about family history, survivor testimony, and the importance of remembrance and prevention. The House adopted HJR 1027 by vote, and Representatives Rutnell and Lindsay were added as co-sponsors. The chamber then set a slate of bills as special orders for April 14, 2026. In committee-of-the-whole action, House Bill 1288 on jury selection was amended and passed; the amended bill creates a jury selection working group to study voir dire, juror questionnaires, and related issues, with a public report and Supreme Court review of any proposed rule changes. House Bill 1224 on financial protections for mobile home park residents was also taken up, with committee reports adopted and discussion focused on transparency in park sales, resident purchase opportunities, disclosures, and due diligence protections. Representative Richardson offered amendment L006 to adjust how a state registration fee is allocated, describing it as a flexibility and transparency measure, while the sponsor responded that the bill was keeping the fee structure stable and that the existing split had been negotiated with stakeholders.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/27/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:01:10.960> crisis Um it also would fund mobile crisis Um it also would fund mobile crisis
  • It would increase capacity of mobile It would increase capacity of mobile crisis<00:02:08.119>
  • Mobile crisis units do just that.
  • This program is important. Mental health is important. I think this program does a lot of good.
  • fraud in public programs. fraud in public programs.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Finance and Taxation Apr 16th, 2025 at 09:00 am

Finance and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The programming time and the difficulty of programming that is, we'll never make the schedule that we
  • How do you intend to program that?
  • And that was the programming challenge. It's going to have to be programmed.
  • And that was the programming challenge. It's going to have to be programmed.
  • Chair Weber, members of the committee, yeah, mobile homes are fine with us.
Bills: SB2397
Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 4/23/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • The mobile broader area of the region.
  • The mobile possible response outcomes.
  • In the room, I also have Dave Magnuson, our Dakota County Program Supervisor.
  • strengthen mobility and transit strengthen mobility and transit connectivity,<01:15:38.880> allow
  • result in increased density and mobility result in increased density and mobility through<01:16:
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • So even though the state has a lot of programming, a lot of money for programs like through public education
  • The Hatch Library during their summer reading program has a children's entrepreneurship program where
  • The Hatch Library during their summer reading program has a children's entrepreneurship program where
  • Where is the funding for the mobile library? Is it part of your program or not?
  • . ...big programs like SNAP or WIC or the Farmers Market programs or New Mexico grown.
Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division III (02/27/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • What is the Fast Forward program?
  • A lot of people think this is just mobile crisis, but they're all part of that program that is to address
  • A lot of people think this is just mobile crisis, but they're all part of that program that is to address
  • A lot of people think this is just mobile crisis, but they're all part of that program that is to address
  • And then, if needed, mobile crisis is deployed. If needed, mobile crisis is deployed.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The House Finance Committee’s Division 3 held a public work session on the Behavioral Health budget on February 27, 2025. The chair opened by explaining the schedule, materials, and deadlines for the budget process, and noted there would be no motions or votes in the division that day. Division of Behavioral Health Director Ktia Fox and DHHS CFO Nathan White then walked the committee through the division’s mission, structure, and budget materials, describing the division’s four bureaus: Mental Health Services, Children’s Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homeless Services, along with the policy unit. They emphasized the division’s role in oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, contracting, and the continuum of care from prevention and early intervention through crisis and residential services. Much of the discussion focused on major programs and funding lines, including the 988 Lifeline contract with Headrest, a technical assistance contract with UNH, Medicaid pass-through payments to New Hampshire Hospital and Glencliff, crisis response services, cold-weather homeless responses, housing supports, and the children’s system of care. Members asked about the UNH contract, the 988 program, crisis stabilization centers, and the peer certification program; Fox explained that the peer certification is a training-and-credentialing pathway for people with lived experience to enter community-based behavioral health work, not a volunteer program. The committee also discussed the “Choose Love” program, which Fox said was created after the Sandy Hook tragedy to build resilience and strength-based emotional regulation in schools and communities. On the children’s side, Fox described the system of care account as the place where many contracted services are budgeted, including community mental health centers, care management entities, rapid response services, and residential programs. Members asked about temporary staffing, and Fox said roughly $500,000 in temporary staff costs shown in the current year would not be spent next year because the money came from a nonlapsing appropriation in HB 1573 for oversight of children’s residential services. She also said provider rate increases were a prioritized need but were not funded in the governor’s current budget, and that the Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was not funded, resulting in about a $1 million reduction. The session ended while the division was still moving through the children’s behavioral health slides, including questions about the Fast Forward high-fidelity wraparound program and medication management.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Is this program a federal program? That is every state.
  • So we're pressuring our programs unit to add more programs constantly, but not just add more programs
  • for the KPI of having a ton of programs.
  • Programs were eventually, we are pushing for more and more programs that eventually we're going to run
  • That program there.
Keywords: 914, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 11th, 2025

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're at the center of the human space flight program here in this country.
  • So we're full steam ahead on our Mars program, too.
  • Most of our toolkit can support... ...take advantage of several programs.
  • We have our accelerator programs.
  • And I'm excited about this program and what it offers for the state and for the industry.
Summary: The committee met to hear presentations on Florida’s space economy and related infrastructure. SpaceX Vice President Kiko Donchev described the company’s Florida operations, launch cadence, reusable rocket program, Starlink service, and plans for future Starship activity at the Cape. Senators asked about Florida employment, expansion plans, satellite lifetimes, disaster-relief uses of Starlink, and recreational connectivity; members also praised SpaceX’s hurricane response and broader public benefits. Donchev said SpaceX’s Florida workforce has grown to about 1,600 and that the company hopes to add Starship pads and continue expanding in the state. The committee then recognized Commander Dennis Baker for his military service and veteran advocacy, including his leadership of the Florida Veterans Foundation, grant work, the Walk of Honor, and the Gadsden Flag license plate program. Members highlighted that revenue from the plate helps fund veterans’ dental care and noted upcoming dental services for veterans in Volusia County. Baker received a flag flown over the Capitol and a framed gubernatorial proclamation. Newview CEO Clint Grumman presented the company’s commercial satellite LiDAR mapping system, describing its Lake Nona headquarters, Florida ownership, planned jobs, and applications for infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. He said the company’s satellite data could improve accuracy and lower costs, and noted partnerships including a Department of Defense contract and a European Space Agency moon-mapping effort. Space Florida then outlined its role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority, emphasizing its pipeline of projects, spaceport improvement program, workforce academy, and efforts to address infrastructure constraints and seek tax-exempt bond authority for spaceports. NASA’s Kelvin Manning closed with an update on Kennedy Space Center, highlighting Artemis progress, rising launch demand, commercial partnerships, economic impact, and the Florida University Space Research Consortium. No bills were voted on, and the meeting adjourned after comments from members.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Apr 10th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • It removes the sunset on the aggregate supply chain grant program.
  • detailing program details for interested businesses.
  • Is there a current program under Commerce that gives grants for this?
  • must include a strategy for providing program funds to mobile home owners, including lot rental assistance
  • Your constituents who own their homes and live in mobile home parks.
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to consider a full agenda of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 1662, the Department of Transportation agency bill. Senator Collins presented a strike-all amendment that retained creation of the Florida Transportation Academy, clarified the Florida Transportation Research Institute, restored legislative budget commission review for certain work program amendments, adjusted small-business and supply-chain grant provisions, added airport and seaport accountability measures, and allowed special blanket permits for oversized cranes to travel at night under FDOT safety protocols. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 574, allowing Florida Purple Heart license plate holders to pass tolls free, and CS/SB 824, creating a specialty plate supporting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and scholarships. The committee then took up CS/SB 324, which creates a revolving low-interest loan program at the Department of Commerce for small businesses harmed by significant public works construction. Senator Smith described a local example involving prolonged sewer work in Orlando that hurt businesses in the Lake Ivanhoe district. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, eligibility standards, proof of loss, business age, and whether financial records should be protected from public disclosure. The bill was amended to remove a hotline, add a webpage, and refine liability language, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 1714, requiring local housing assistance plans to include support for mobile home owners, including lot-rent assistance; CS/SB 766, revising registration requirements for agents and organizations tied to foreign countries of concern; and CS/SB 1024, creating specialty plates for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Additional measures approved included CS/SB 1246, authorizing a Save Coastal Wildlife specialty plate with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation; CS/SB 1644, expanding warning light use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and organ transport vehicles, with discussion focused on Hatzalah emergency services; SB 1152, increasing the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee to support conservation, research, and native seed industry development; and CS/SB 532, exempting 100% disabled veterans from tolls. An amendment to SB 532 also added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Several members requested to be recorded voting in the affirmative on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.