Transcript Highlights:

• And that includes snow plowing, fixing roads, utilities, whatever is included in that fee.
• And that includes snow plowing, fixing roads, utilities, whatever is included in that fee.
• , whatever is included in that utilities, whatever is included in that fee,<00:42:09.120> I<00
• That's fees.
• <00:47:52.440> Um that fee schedule. Um that fee schedule.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:32.399> and there were what other other fees and there were what other other fees and
• Uh, there's been plenty of nice Aprils where people want to go out and utilize this as well.
• Those get utilized.
• Those get utilized.
• Those get utilized.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Greenhouse gas reduction fund versus utility benefits and so on.
• I think the second question is how effectively are they being utilized?
• This fee is a relatively, well, it's not.
• And so I wouldn't think of this fee as a fee that is the folks in SRA paying for their own fire protection
• But we passed some of those costs on when we instituted this fee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have all the fees of the airports. There's a specific term... Gate fees, landing fees.
• So gate fees, landing fees, are they not paid now? You recognize? Thank you, Chair.
• We do pay a lot of fees to keep up with our airport.
• Raise landing fees higher, and then we're going to continue to raise different other fees because normally
• When you use that, the only type of fees are transactional.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up four bills. The committee first heard HB 4041, which would create the Corkscrew Grove Stewardship District in Collier County to finance and maintain infrastructure such as transportation, utilities, and stormwater systems without changing county regulatory authority. The bill drew no opposition, was reported favorably, and passed 14-0. The committee then considered HB 1485, which repeals Florida’s aviation fuel tax provisions. The sponsor argued the change would simplify the tax code, attract airline investment, and support lower fares and more routes. Members raised concerns about the estimated recurring $22.8 million impact on the State Transportation Trust Fund and $2 million on general revenue, and airport representatives warned of reduced grant and development funding, especially for general aviation and municipal airports. Supporters said the change would increase competition and fuel sales in Florida. The bill was reported favorably on a 12-5 vote. Next, the committee heard HB 999, which would recognize gold and silver as legal tender, allow electronic debit access to bullion accounts, and remove tax burdens on transactions involving precious metals. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a way to protect purchasing power and provide an alternative parallel to the dollar, while opponents and some members raised concerns about consumer protections, predatory practices, privacy, and the role of the Office of Financial Regulation in rulemaking. After extensive testimony, the bill was reported favorably 19-0. Finally, the committee considered PCB WMC 25-01, which would reduce the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lower several related taxes, including the business rent tax, nonresidential electricity tax, mobile home sales tax, and coin-operated amusement machine tax. The proposal was estimated to reduce revenue by about $5.5 billion annually. Members discussed impacts on the budget, education funding, and whether savings would reach consumers, while supporters emphasized relief for Floridians and business competitiveness. The bill passed unanimously 19-0 and was reported favorably. The chair then noted a prior procedural apology on the record, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• our fees for that program in 2020.
• So, in January of 2020, we used to have an underwriting fee.
• And an ongoing administration fee, and we cut all of those fees. May I ask why?
• And our fees always were more than our expenses.
• So right now, we just charged the program for its actual fees, actual costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1015 by Zaffirini, relating to excess contributions and fees allocated to statutory probate
• Senate Bill 1016 by Blanco, relating to student union building fees at the University of Texas at El
• by Kolkhorst et al., relating to the recovery of vegetation management costs caused by electric utilities
• Senate Bill 1034 by Sparks and Perry, relating to cybersecurity for retail public utilities that provide
• Senate Bill 1034 by Sparks and Perry relating to cybersecurity for retail public utilities that provide

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is now a nominal 1-cent fee.
• That is now a nominal 1-cent fee.
• That is now a nominal 1-cent fee.
• That is now a nominal 1-cent fee.
• the entire fee amount.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They remove the absence and util utilization<00:23:22.559> factor<00:23:22.960> that<00
• These sections increase DHS licensing fees and add fees for satellite facilities.
• fees and add<00:32:09.519> fees<00:32:09.840> for<00:32:10.000> satellite<00:32
• <00:32:14.720> amounts and then also deposit the fee amounts and then also deposit the fee
• department licensing fee by 25%.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The actual utilization rate is 15% currently.
• It's going to result in a net increase in fees.
• It's going to result in a net increase in fees.
• that it's covered with those management fees.
• Among states that charge fees, only seven states had lower 911 state fees than California.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes. Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing. Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to the rising costs of utilities, it has been enormous.
• Utility costs are hurting families right now, and we need to introduce that security.
• So it allows a municipality to increase fees and utility rates, but only by the increase in inflation
• Increased their utility rates by no more than 12% over the last four years.
• But what they can't do is significantly increase their utility rates or fees without getting approval

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions and proclamations, including recognition of Dr. Eric Osowski as Doctor of the Day, Donate Life Day participants, State Farm Day guests, and proclamations honoring Ganado Unified School District and Chinle Unified School District for academic and cultural achievements. The chamber also handled routine business such as committee assignments, Senate messages, and motions to adjourn and to refer bills to additional Committee of the Whole consideration. The main floor action centered on several bills and a concurrent resolution. HB 2093 was amended to restore mental health instruction while removing social-emotional learning, and HB 2229 was amended after debate over abortion-related language and public funding restrictions; both received do-pass recommendations. HB 2429, HB 2950, and HB 4136 also received do-pass recommendations after floor amendments, with HB 2950 amended to make tourism improvement areas voluntary and add notice requirements. HB 4001 advanced after extensive debate over regulating alternative nicotine products, with supporters arguing it would help curb youth vaping and opponents urging taxation and stronger public-health provisions. HB 4030 and HCR 2052, both focused on limiting municipal tax and fee increases tied to affordability, inflation, and utility costs, were heavily amended and advanced after debate over local control, data centers, water costs, and the scope of the amendments. The House also took up procedural challenges, including a failed appeal of the chair’s ruling that a health-care claims amendment to HCR 2052 was out of order under the single-subject rule. On final adoption of the Committee of the Whole report, the House ordered HB 4001 and HB 4030 and HCR 2052, as amended, to engrossing and signing. In third reading, HB 2170 passed 36-16, HB 2380 passed 31-21, HB 2389 passed 31-21, HB 2784 passed 31-21, and HB 2902 passed 31-21, while HB 2388 failed 23-29. The transcript ends as the House was moving on to HB 294.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utility services. You're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you.
• This could turn a small rural utility into a major regional utility without the consent of its taxpayers
• want the trouble of starting or expanding its utility.
• county's utility improvements on county property located in a city.
• Electric cooperatives are member-owned monopoly utilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 254 Becker, electrical utilities do pass out on a B roll call.
• Do pass with author amendments to among other things modify regulatory fee and enforcement provisions
• SB345, Hurtado, fire training fees do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 24 McNerney, utility cost recovery do pass with author's amendments regarding.
• SB 54 Umberg, Court Fee Waivers. Do pass out on an a-roll call.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is an activity fee being charged to their students.
• for. utilized for.
• I I have donated to my local public school utilizing this program.
• And so, they utilize this program to build tennis courts.
• The lawyer and legal fees are only provided or only compensated one way.

Bills: HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, this bill simply allows for counties with over 1 million residents... to utilize their own
• This ensures that utility rate information is centralized, accessible, and easy to find.
• that can be charged because there are different fee structures in different counties.
• Senator Middleton's bill consolidates fees, but it only applies to counties over a million.
• Therefore, we set the standards and conduct the inspections for a fee.

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Utility Commission. Public Utility Commission.
• And they charge fees, and usually these fees are adopted by rule.
• fees are charge fees and usually these fees are adopted<00:37:38.600> by<00:37:38.840> rule
• fee.
• The handling fee.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's that's always been a utilities.
• Um quite frankly, uh fees and taxes.
• And hopefully manage to bring these costs of these fees down.
• for this kind of these kind of fees for this kind of development?"
• bring these costs of these fees down. bring these costs of these fees down.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the one tax that does apply, and that is the fee.
• Never, ever, because one is lease fee and one is fee simple. They ask for financing documents. Why?
• and return that fee back to their city or their county.
• and return that fee back to their city or their county.
• In the earlier theme, taxes are fees, and fees are taxes, and some taxes are user fees.

Bills: SB467, SB325, SB867, SB994, SB1052, SB1237, SB1449, SB1531, SB2063, SB2172, SB2173, SB2520, SB2529, SB2538, SB2541, SJR46, SJR84

Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property

Summary: The committee heard several local government and property tax bills, with most testimony focused on appraisal disputes, tax administration, and development rules. Senate Bill 1052 by Senator Hinojosa would address coastal county appraisal litigation by requiring property owners in certain large-value disputes to report an uncontested taxable value while appeals are pending, so taxing units can base truth-in-taxation calculations on more realistic revenue. Nueces County, Del Mar College, and Corpus Christi ISD testified in support, describing major budget shortfalls caused by refinery valuation disputes; the committee substitute narrowed and clarified the bill’s scope. No opposition was heard, public testimony closed, and SB 1052 was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1531, which would require local tax collectors to accept common electronic property tax payments such as credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. Witnesses supported modernizing payment options and the committee substitute removed ACH/electronic funds transfer language to avoid bank-account disclosure concerns. Public testimony closed and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 325, by Senator Perry, would restore platting and groundwater-certification requirements that were unintentionally weakened by prior legislation; supporters from county government, water groups, and builders’ representatives debated whether the real issue was groundwater protection or road standards for private roads. The bill was left pending after extensive testimony and no vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 994 and SJR 46, which would exempt certain livestock feed inventory from property tax and provide the constitutional amendment needed for that change. Feed store and Farm Bureau witnesses supported the measure as relief for seasonal inventory taxes, and the bills were left pending. Senator Paxton presented SB 467 and SJR 84 to create a temporary property tax exemption for homes completely destroyed by fire, with refunds or corrected bills based on the date of loss; both were left pending. SB 1237 would clarify charitable property tax exemptions for senior housing and retirement communities, with testimony from Catholic and Baptist retirement organizations and a resident describing rising costs and exemption revocations; it was also left pending. The committee later voted 6-0 to report SB 2073, a pending bill on appraisal district authority to purchase or finance real property, and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 2172, SB 2173, and SB 2063, all related to property tax administration. SB 2172 would limit when appraisal districts can require homeowners to reapply for homestead exemptions, requiring a specific reason and written notice; SB 2173 would protect new homeowners from surprise tax liabilities caused by prior owners’ erroneous homestead exemptions, with testimony describing large back-assessment bills; both were left pending. SB 2063 would bar appraisal districts from using market-value evidence in unequal appraisal protests, and testimony sharply divided between taxpayer advocates, who said market data improperly overwhelms equity claims, and appraisal district representatives, who argued market value is inherently tied to equal-and-uniform taxation and cited a recent Texas Supreme Court decision; the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they’re very specific impact fees. They’re very specific impact fees under that NRS.
• fees under 278B. 278B is impact fees for new development, and now you just say impact fees.
• Senate Bill 103 does define, I believe, building fees and sewer fees, for example.
• fees.
• We've been waiving sewer connection fees and building permit fees.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to make sure that all LEAs in the state can fund the necessary infrastructure to stand up the CYBHI fee
• the total grant funds for that program must be used by LEAs and county offices of education to make fee
• They also utilize clinically validated assessment tools.
• So, for example, with Bright Life Kids, they utilize the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist tool, which is
• Source: the multi-payer fee schedule.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority District, providing authority to issue bonds, providing authority to impose assessments, fees
• HB 45's 83 by Slawson relating to the dissolution of Public Utility Agency referred to the Committee
• proceedings affecting electric utilities and consumers and for the committee on state affairs.
• Issue 4819 by Flores relating to the fundable adoption fee of sterilization of dogs and cats are for
• HB 4967 by Canales relating to the renewal fee for a dealer's temporary license plate referred to the