Transcript Highlights:

• I've been a board member on the executive board for the College of Business, and have served on various
• I want to lend all of my background along with the new board members.
• Prior to living in Florida, I was twice elected as a school board member in South Carolina.
• Prior to living in Florida, I was twice elected as a school board member in South Carolina.
• You know, being a board member is a complicated job.

Summary: The committee first took up a confirmation for UCF trustee reappointment candidate Mr. Christie, who described his long service on the board, his UCF business-school background, and his focus on strengthening UCF’s financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology programs. Members praised his service and asked about UCF’s future direction, including its role in Florida’s space and engineering sectors. He was allowed to leave early for a meeting with the governor. The committee then heard the Higher Education Appropriations budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26. The chair outlined a proposed $11.5 billion higher education budget emphasizing workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education, the GATE program, nursing education through the Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS agriculture technology, tutoring, autism and neurodevelopment services, student financial aid, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and the chair said a conforming bill would address details. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical corrections and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for university boards, especially the University of West Florida, where several nominees were questioned about Title IX compliance, free speech, workforce readiness, military/veteran ties, and prior statements about privatization and higher education. Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, and Adam Kessel each described their backgrounds and goals for UWF; Kessel faced extensive questioning about his past writings on privatization, the GI Bill, and speech suppression, and said he would not recommend privatizing Florida universities and supported veterans’ education benefits. Public testimony on UWF was largely opposed, with speakers arguing the nominees lacked local ties and warning the slate would harm the university and community. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment nominee Judge Belvin Perry, who emphasized student success, workforce quality, and FAMU’s continued rise, and from UCF nominee Mark Philburn and FSU nominee Peter Jones, both of whom highlighted their professional experience and commitment to student success and prudent stewardship. The meeting extended its time to 6:30 p.m. to continue hearing nominees and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been a board member on the executive board for the College of Business and have served on various
• I want to lend all of my background along with the new board members.
• Prior to living in Florida, I was twice elected as a school board member in South Carolina.
• Prior to living in Florida, I was twice elected as a school board member in South Carolina.
• You know, being a board member is a complicated job.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members.
• Good afternoon, Chair Gaetz, Vice Chair Bernard, and members of the committee.
• claim that a person seeking to qualify as a candidate did not comply with the party affiliation qualification
• create a substantive requirement in addition to the existing requirement that a person seeking qualification
• claim that a person seeking to qualify as a candidate did not comply with the party affiliation qualification

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Ethics and Elections Committee met with a quorum and considered two bills. Senate Bill 588, relating to campaign communications and repeated political text messages or calls, was introduced by Senator Leake. He explained it would create a cause of action to stop unwanted campaign communications and recover attorney’s fees, but said the bill may be too broad and asked to temporarily postpone it while he works with stakeholders to narrow it. The committee agreed, and a pending amendment by Senator Polsky became moot. The committee then took up Senate Bill 280, which would create a private right of action to enforce party-affiliation qualification requirements for candidates seeking partisan office. Senator Arrington said the bill would allow political parties or others with standing to challenge a candidate who did not meet the 365-day party affiliation requirement before qualifying, and that a court could disqualify the candidate from the ballot. She offered a strike-all amendment clarifying that the 365 days must be the consecutive days immediately preceding qualifying and narrowing who may bring suit to political parties and other candidates for the same office. After brief questions, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted on the bill as amended. The roll call was unanimous in favor, and SB 280 was reported favorably. The committee then moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Qualifications for those providers, or can they have the same qualifications to do a competency exam
• Chair and members of the committee, I might have to disappoint you.
• It's comprised of Three Republican members, three Democratic members, and one declined a state member
• Thank you, committee members, for allowing me to critique.
• I'm going to ask members to grab a box lunch and come back here.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will ensure HOA board members and homeowners have summarized information on the fees charged
• Thank you, Assembly Member. Great. Thank you. Any other Assembly Member?
• Thank you, Assembly Member. Great. Thank you. Any other Assembly Member, Tengipa?
• Thank you, members, Chair.
• Chair and members.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development met first as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, then later established quorum and heard five housing-related bills. AB 748 would require local governments to create preapproved housing plan programs for single-family and small multifamily projects under 10 units, expanding a model already used for ADUs; the author and Habitat for Humanity argued it would save time and money, and there was no opposition. The committee later passed AB 748 unanimously to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. AB 739 would require managing agents for common interest developments to provide HOAs a summary of fees charged and paid to management companies. Realtors and community managers supported the bill as a transparency measure, while the California Association of Community Managers initially opposed it but said it would remove opposition if committee amendments were adopted to avoid blanket mailings and cost increases. The committee adopted the amendments and passed AB 739 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 939 would remove the 180-day resale restriction for certain income-restricted for-sale units when a developer is under contract with a qualified nonprofit affordable housing organization, allowing units to be sold sooner to low-income buyers. Habitat for Humanity, the California Building Industry Association, and several housing groups supported the measure as a no-cost fix to reduce vacancy and carrying costs, while the California Association of Realtors opposed it, warning it could create a right of first refusal and set a precedent affecting property rights and competition. After discussion about the narrow scope and committee amendments, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. AB 1070 would direct the state to study and potentially modernize building code treatment for small, middle-housing projects so that low-rise buildings with three to ten units could be regulated more like residential structures rather than commercial ones. Supporters said the current code makes small multifamily projects unnecessarily expensive and that other states have adopted similar approaches; there was no opposition. The committee passed AB 1070 unanimously to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1184, by the vice chair, would increase HOA transparency and resident access to records, including recordings of HOA meetings; it had no witnesses in opposition and passed 8-0 as amended to Appropriations. After the meeting, absent members later added votes, and the final recorded votes were 10-1 for AB 939, 11-0 for AB 1070 and AB 1184, and unanimous support for AB 739 and AB 748.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and committee members. I'm Mark Dahlquist. I'm the current mayor of the city of Pocatello.
• The larger the group is, the easier it is to contain a consistent rate across the board.
• So we had several school districts with two to ten members that joined the plan, and we look at them
• Knowlton: In the past, we've always charged all of the groups equally across the board.
• Idaho Falls area near INL or whether it's in the Boise area at Micron, who do not have these qualifications

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And it'd be for any of the members. Thank you. Well, I appreciate that question, Jerry.
• But we should have some level of qualification.
• But we should have some level of qualification.
• It doesn't sound like, I think there was maybe one... qualification.
• So I guess this is for any member to respond to. So I'll take a stab at that, Carleen.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a press availability focused on the late-session legislative agenda, with repeated criticism of Democratic proposals they said would raise costs and expand state control. Their main targets were a proposed state income tax on high earners, which they described as an unconstitutional income tax likely to expand over time, and an anti-initiative bill they said would make it harder for voters to use direct democracy. They also objected to bills they said would restrict local authority over camping bans and housing permits, and to a series of tax and fee increases affecting bottles, tires, groceries, food, health care, energy, labor, and licensing costs. The Republicans said the income tax proposal drew more than 60,000 opposition sign-ins and argued that the level of opposition showed Washingtonians broadly reject it. They said any legal challenge would likely come from outside the Legislature, not from caucuses, and cited former Attorney General Rob McKenna’s testimony as support for their view that the measure violates the state constitution. They also discussed capital flight and said prior tax increases, including the estate tax and capital gains tax, were already prompting businesses and wealthy residents to leave the state. The caucus highlighted several Republican-backed affordability bills they said remain alive, including a diaper tax exemption, a prepared-food tax exemption, repeal of last year’s services tax, and sales tax exemptions for certain continuing education and licensing fees. They also said they had helped block or weaken several Democratic bills, including proposals involving grocery stores, wildfire utility costs, college encampments, plastic bag fees, and a juvenile justice bill they said would have allowed earlier release of violent offenders. On child welfare, members criticized a bill addressing the Keeping Families Together Act as insufficient and said they would keep pushing to change the “imminent harm” standard, while also supporting a separate bill to add fentanyl exposure to the child endangerment statute. No formal votes were taken in the press event itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are just broadening the qualifications to get on the board and that is the amendment.
• Chair Chaney: Thank you members. One more. Ranking Member in debate.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, Vice Chair, Ranking Member and members.
• Members, this is the bill. Chair Chaney: Questions, members?
• Good afternoon Madam Chair, Vice Chair, Ranking Member and members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, sadly, Aaron Hennessy, who was a former member of the Senate that came on board as deputy, decided
• Uh, sadly, Aaron Hennessy, who was a former member of the Senate that came on board as deputy, decided
• Uh, sadly, Aaron Hennessy, who was a former member of the Senate that came on board as deputy, decided
• Uh, sadly, Aaron Hennessy, who was a former member of the Senate that came on board as deputy, decided
• of the Senate that came on former member of the Senate that came on board<01:11:22.400><c> as</c><01

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, there's about 3,000 members drawing benefits, beneficiaries, members out there drawing benefits
• So that would be about a $30,000 benefit per member.
• So that would be about a $30,000 benefit per member.
• board will consider this distribution to them.
• The only way these retirees will be able to, they will be, when the last member retires or last member

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate considered Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, a measure to terminate and restate the LEOFF 1 pension plan and use surplus funds for other state purposes if federal approval is obtained. During debate, senators discussed whether the plan should remain funded at 110% or 120% of actuarial value, whether surplus dollars should instead go to transportation or the budget stabilization account, whether members should receive an additional distribution, and whether local governments should be reimbursed for retiree health care costs. Several amendments were offered: a Gildon amendment to raise the funding target to 120% failed; a technical Robinson amendment adding a date passed; Holy, King, Harris, Schessler, and Conway amendments addressing member distributions, transportation, budget stabilization, local government health care costs, and a reconstituted board distribution all failed; and Robinson’s amendment removing Climate Commitment Act repayment language passed. The Ways and Means striking amendment, as amended, was then adopted. On final passage, supporters argued the bill was actuarially sound, had been reviewed by attorneys, actuaries, the State Investment Board, and the Department of Retirement Systems, and would allow use of excess funding for other state needs. Opponents warned it left too little in the pension fund, should dedicate surplus dollars only to one-time uses, and did not adequately reimburse cities and counties for retiree medical obligations. After debate, the Senate passed E2SHB 2034 by a vote of 25 yeas, 22 nays, with one absent and one excused. Afterward, the Senate returned to Substitute House Bill 2178, which was also passed on final passage by a vote of 39 yeas and 9 nays, with one excused. The chamber then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, Saldaña, Ranking Member King, and members of the committee.
• As a member of the Governor's Plumbing Advisory Board, I can tell you the most frequent infractions we
• Good morning, Chair Saldaña, Ranking Member King, and members of the committee.
• Good morning, Chair Saldaña, Ranking Member King, and members of the committee.
• Thank you, Chair Saldaña, Ranking Member King, members of the committee.

Bills: SB6197 , SB6158 , SB6302 , SB5437 , SB6117 , SB5852 , SB5847 , SB6067 , SB6152 , SB6136

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement, infractions, administrative penalties, license suspension, certificate suspension, endorsement suspension, registration suspension, Department of Labor and Industries, advisory board of plumbers, penalty schedule, repeat violations, workplace standards, construction trades, professional licensing, Washington state, factory built housing

Bills: SB5223 , SB5067 , SJM8002 , SB5855 , SB5865 , SB5272 , SCR8406 , SB5000 , SB5500 , SJM8006 , SB5325 , SB5286 , SB5937

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, impaired driving, driving safety, alcohol regulation, public health, transportation, Medicare, healthcare, insurance, elderly, budget impact, face coverings, civil liberties, garnishment, debt, form standardization

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Chair, members of the committee.
• Chair and members of the committee.
• They also consider language boards.
• Chair, members of the committee...
• Harris, members of the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, members, that is the bill. Thank you. Members, are there any questions on the bill?
• It is a problem in Lee County, as you just heard, but it's also I've been talking to other board members
• It is a problem in Lee County, as you just heard, but it's also I've been talking to other board members
• I am a school board member for Broward County, but more importantly for this bill, I'm also a former
• I am a school board member for Broward County, but more importantly for this bill, I'm also a former

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee heard three bills. HB 919 on nursing education programs would tighten accountability for nursing schools with low NCLEX pass rates by shortening the probation period, requiring remediation plans, mandating free remediation for students who fail, and requiring tuition reimbursement for programs with very low pass rates. The sponsor argued Florida’s nursing pass rates are unacceptably low and that stronger consequences are needed; opponents warned the bill could shut down programs, worsen the nursing shortage, and unfairly target private schools, while supporters said it would protect students and improve outcomes. After debate, the bill was reported favorably by a vote of 18-0. The committee then heard PCS for HB 1261, the “Smart Living Act,” a student-driven proposal from Jefferson High School in Hillsborough County to expand personal financial literacy and practical life-skills instruction in high school. Students and school officials testified that the bill would better prepare graduates for adulthood by covering topics such as budgeting, credit, loans, FAFSA, resumes, interviews, and basic household skills. Members praised the students’ work and the bill’s practical focus, and the PCS was reported favorably 18-0. Finally, the committee considered HB 809, which would exempt school social workers from educator certification requirements for general and subject-area knowledge. Supporters from Lee and Broward counties said the current testing requirement is unrelated to social work, creates financial and recruitment barriers, and has contributed to staffing shortages. Members from both parties supported the measure as a simple way to remove an obstacle to hiring and retaining school social workers. HB 809 was also reported favorably by a vote of 18-0, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the members will recall, it's about $3 billion.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will ring the bell and open the board. The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
• And so what we're doing now is just giving the board of directors who are elected to that board the option
• And I sit as the ranking member for that committee, and I'm proud to sit as the ranking member for that

Transcript Highlights:

• MEMBERS.
• YOU WILL NOTICE 1,001.6423 EACH BOARD MEMBER, EACH BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS THE AUTHORITY FOR RISK MANAGEMENT
• THOSE OF THE REQUIRED MEMBERS. BUT YOU CAN ADD ANY AD HOC MEMBER YOU LIKE.
• OF EDUCATION, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND ALL OF THE DISTRICTS BOARD MEMBERS DEMANDING ACTION AND REQUIRING
• BOARD OF GOVERNORS OVERSEES THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL

Transcript Highlights:

• So one of the other ones that we considered was recommending that each CCRC's board have a resident member
• who may be a voting or a non-voting member.
• We need to have a voting member. It's as simple as that.
• So my suggestion would be that it say, recommend that each CCRC board have a resident voting member,
• I think it should be up to the boards. I think residents should be pushing their boards.

Summary: The commission met to review its draft final report on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with most of the discussion focused on whether recommendations required unanimous consensus and how to handle disagreements in the report. Members agreed that consensus meant no stated opposition, and several participants argued that unresolved issues should still be described in the report rather than omitted. The chairs said the report would include agreed-upon recommendations, note areas without consensus, and preserve written comments or dissent letters submitted by members. The draft report’s findings and slides were reviewed charge by charge, including CCRC definitions, financial condition, entrance fee refunds, regulatory oversight, advertising practices, and closure/change-of-ownership procedures. Members suggested several factual and wording edits, including clarifying financial data sources, correcting a presenter’s name, refining language about entrance fee use and refund timing, and revising statements about Attorney General authority and CCRC advertising. There was also discussion about the need to distinguish nonprofit and for-profit CCRCs and to better explain how different care levels and licensing structures are described. On recommendations, the commission kept the proposal to advance the disclosure bill (S. 478) and update the consumer guide, but removed a recommendation for annual open board meetings after objections that it was inadequate. The group spent considerable time debating whether to recommend resident representation on CCRC boards, timely refund requirements for entrance fees, and possible state registration or definition changes for CCRCs, but no consensus was reached on those items. The chairs said the final report would be completed by the statutory August 1 deadline, with final written comments due before then and the report and meeting materials posted on the legislature website.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any member discussion? >> Okay. Thank you. Any member discussion?
• We will move to member questions. Are there member questions?
• We will move to member questions. Are there member questions? >> Okay.
• We will move to member questions. Are there member questions? >> Okay. Okay.
• </c> members, and that's what they told him. members, and that's what they told him.

Bills: HF3560 , HF3295 , HF2937 , HF3540

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c><00:03:48.959><c> committee,</c> Madam Chair, members of the committee, Madam Chair, members
• </c> good for the state authorizing board. good for the state authorizing board.
• Uh we have state authorizing board.
• Uh members of the committee. Chairman. Uh members of the committee.
• </c><00:35:46.800><c> the</c> members. My name is Clark Fairbanks. the members.

Bills: HB0023 , HB0024 , HB0025

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• President, as possible for all of the people that I serve, including the many Muslim community members
• And it was an unfortunate coincidence that we had several of our members who are down with the flu.
• President, and with your indulgence, I'm just going to rip the Band-Aid off, letting members know we'll
• But you're going to have to add those members, Mr.
• President, and as a member of the State Government Committee, I want to add my voice of support.

Bills: SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB6016 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB6190 , SB5574 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5609 , SB5943 , SJM8016 , SB5907 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB5909 , SB6045 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5762 , SB6032 , SB6082 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6319 , SB6308 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB5046 , SB5387 , SB5637 , SB5647 , SB5839 , SB5888 , SB5962 , SB6018 , SB6037 , SB6047 , SB6078 , SB6130 , SB6147 , SB6256 , HB2155 , HB2304 , HB2367 , HB2606 , SB5998 , SB6005

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development