Video & Transcript Research : 'TOPS'
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AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Apr 1st, 2026
Ways and Means Education
Transcript Highlights:
- President Trump's made that top priority.
- President Trump's made that top priority.
- That 3% you just described, that's on top of the 3% that the— >> Yes, sir. >> Unfortunately, it is.
- there's an additional fee tacked on top there's an additional fee tacked on top of<00:19:30.320>
- <00:20:21.960>
of “Collect tax or tax be remitted on top of that?”
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 2nd, 2025 at 01:00 pm
Nevada Assembly Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- move that Senate Bills 104, 434, and 478 be taken from the Chief Clerk's desk and be placed at the top
- be placed... ...bills with amendment be taken from their place on general file and be placed at the top
- I move that the following bills be taken from their place on General File and be placed at the top of
- Senate Bills No. 460, 63, and 393 be taken from their place on general file and be placed at the top
- Be taken from its place on General File and be placed at the top of General File.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Apr 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We continue to be the number one public HBCU in the country and last year broke into the top 100 of our
- North Florida will continue its upward trajectory with one of its key focus is on being one of the top
- It is a top 10 University for best Colleges for veterans in the southern region. It is.
- We rose the top 5 and University by U.S. News World Report.
- We rose the top 5 and currently sit at 7.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2025-04-01
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Day-to-Day Top Workplace awards.
- Those continue through all of page 3 and on to the top of page 4.
- Then on page 9, at the top of that page, Section 17.
- Moving on to page 19 and then the top of that page.
- On to page 24, the top of that page, the insulin repayment account.
Keywords:
HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 4, 2025 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- But I'm just trying to think off the top of my head.
- Off the top of my head, I cannot remember us doing it sooner. Any follow-up? One last one.
- I don't have an example off the top of my head, but I do think that they do look at our reports.
- I do not know that off the top of my head. Follow up. Representative Franklin, you're recognized.
- As far as budgeting, I'm not sure off the top of my head if they were budgeted or not. Follow up.
Summary:
The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear a presentation from the Florida Auditor General’s office on recent operational audits of four universities and to discuss how audit findings are handled. The Auditor General explained that financial audits occur annually and operational audits at least every three years, with universities required to respond in writing to findings; the office generally follows up in the next audit cycle, though it can audit sooner if needed. Members asked about accountability, whether findings are referred to other bodies, and how internal university audit functions interact with the state audit process. The chair emphasized the committee’s oversight role in ensuring public funds are used appropriately.
The audit findings highlighted issues at New College of Florida, Florida A&M University, the University of Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. At New College, auditors cited invoice/payment errors, delinquent student account collection delays, prohibited extra compensation, exceeding state remuneration limits for certain employees, weak purchasing card controls, construction management cost documentation issues, and subcontractor licensing documentation gaps. At FAMU, auditors found investment accounting classification issues, delayed bank reconciliations, late vendor payments, and incomplete annual employee evaluations. At UF, auditors reported concerns over a $6.4 million consulting contract, event and catering spending, president’s office hiring and salary practices, bonus and relocation payments, continued high compensation after the president transitioned to another role, travel expenses including charter flights, and remote work agreements. At FAU, auditors found distance learning fee revenue exceeded allowable costs by about $2.8 million, carry forward funds were underreported by about $77 million, and credit card controls needed improvement.
Members pressed the Auditor General on whether overpayments were refunded, whether any findings involved statutory violations, and what enforcement exists beyond the audit report. The auditor said some issues were corrected by the universities, such as New College recovering excess compensation from foundation funds, but others would be revisited in future audits; if potential fraud were identified, it would be referred to the state attorney’s office. The chair closed by noting that accountability for public spending rests with the Legislature and the committee, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action beyond receiving the presentation.
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 1st, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Nevada Assembly Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- move that Senate Bills 466, 494, and 192 be taken from the Chief Clerk's desk and be placed at the top
- Senate Bill 494 and Senate Bill 192 be taken from the Chief Clerk's desk and be placed at the top of
- I move that Assembly Bill 500 be taken from the Chief Clerk's desk and be placed at the top of general
- I move that Senate Bill 172 be taken from the Chief Clerk's desk and be placed at the top of general
- I move that Senate Bill 316 be placed at the top of general file for the purposes of amendment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House tables bill to delay implementation of paid family/medical leave, HF11 3/10/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- this thing out with their benefit set that they already have have to know how this is going to work on top
of <00:04:32.039>what <00:04:32.160>they <00:04:32.280>already work on top- of what they already work on top of what they already have<00:04:34.320>
for <00:04:34.479> - They don't always want this benefit on top of what they have and then get a tax to go along with it.
- of what they have and benefit on top of what they have and then<00:08:55.440>
get <00:08:55.560
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/14/26
Health and Human Services
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight committee (6-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- So now we're going to go to Bill and Brandon's top picks.
- And then stacked on top of that is the Fresh Rx incentives.
- And then stacked on top of that is the Fresh Rx incentives.
- And then stacked on top of that is the Fresh Rx incentives.
- And then stacked on top of that is the Fresh Rx incentives.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:50
Approval of Minutes 00:01:21
KOAP Report 00:01:42
Community Farm Alliance and KY Double Dollars 00:20:25
Feeding Kentucky 00:40:55, 958, all
Summary:
The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs.
A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations.
The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House energy panel approves HF249 2/25/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- significant investments in converting coal-fired power plants to instead use forest residues like tops
- The tops and limbs we're talking about are currently on the forest floor already decaying, emitting all
- The biomass my company produces is mainly tops and limbs that are the result of a timber harvest.
- Clarifying woody biomass as carbon-free and adding sources such as tops, limbs, and branches to this
- Limbs and branches to this tops Limbs and branches to this definition<00:08:56.560>
as <00:08:
Summary:
House File 249 was moved toward the General Register after Representative Igo offered and the committee adopted an author’s amendment that removed a 50% line and clarified the bill’s language. Igo described the bill as a change to Minnesota’s carbon-free definition to include woody biomass from timber harvesting residues and discarded wood products, arguing it would support an all-of-the-above energy strategy, reduce landfill use, and create markets for forest byproducts while avoiding clear-cutting or use of good cordwood for energy.
Several industry witnesses testified in support. Ray Higgins of the Minnesota Timber Producers Association said the bill would help utilities convert coal plants to use forest residues and dead or dying timber, and argued Minnesota forests are significant carbon sinks with annual growth exceeding mortality. Tom McCabe, a logger and trucker from Duluth, said biomass markets are critical to his business, help reduce fire danger, and support rural economies, while Rod Enberg described past waste of low-value timber and said biomass markets have helped businesses and local economies, including a successful chip-burning system at American Peat Technology. Rick Horton of Minnesota Forest Industries said woody biomass can provide reliable baseload power, help manage dead and dying forests affected by spruce budworm, emerald ash borer, and eastern larch beetle, and keep industrial energy costs competitive.
Opposition came from Sarah Meridian of CURE, who argued the bill conflicts with Minnesota’s 100% carbon-free law because burning biomass emits carbon dioxide and other pollutants, and said the bill’s broad reference to discarded wood products could allow combustion of treated or contaminated wood. In committee discussion, Representative Craft questioned whether biomass can truly be called carbon neutral on the time scales discussed, noting that decay and regrowth can take decades and warning against overstating the climate benefits. The bill was advanced despite those concerns, with supporters emphasizing forest management, rural jobs, and energy reliability.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Feb 13, 2025, 12:00PM HST - Day 19
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Turning to the top of page seven, standing committee report number 554 through 563.
- Top of page 10. Standing Committee Report Number 567. Standing Committee Report Number 568.
- Top of page 15. Standing Committee Report Number 587. Representative Perck: Reservations.
- of page 10 standing ordered top of page 10 standing committee<00:26:29.120>
report committee - Okay, top of page 23. Standing Committee Report 621. Standing Committee Report 622.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Fiscal Committee (06/20/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- White and the whole staff for staying on top of these things.
- <00:11:53.440>
I <00:11:53.600>mean, staying on top of these things. - I mean, staying on top of these things.
- <00:19:17.280>
through <00:19:17.520>the on top of those increases through the on top - costly, more expensive medication on top costly, more expensive medication on top of<00:36:35.760
Summary:
The Fiscal Committee met on June 20, 2025 and first approved the May 16 minutes and the non-removed items on the consent calendar. It then took up a Health and Human Services item for $5 million in additional nursing facility payments (FIS 25158). HHS explained the transfer was for private and county nursing facilities and was the third and final transfer in FY25, funded through federal matching dollars, county cap funds, and general funds. Members asked about the size of the transfer, whether it signaled future shortfalls, and how projections were developed; HHS said the request reflected updated estimates and that they did not expect similarly large transfers going forward. The committee adopted the item.
The committee also considered an ARPA-related item to remove a line from a funding request because the issue had been resolved and the positions/funds were no longer needed. Members approved the item with that line removed. Commissioner Caswell then answered questions about ARPA spending authority, saying remaining projects must be expended by December 31, 2026 and that the item was intended to preserve authority for ongoing capital projects; any unspent funds would revert to the federal government. Members noted the recurring nature of these ARPA adjustments and the need to keep tracking deadlines.
The Department of Corrections presented several items, including a $10 million request tied to staffing shortages and overtime costs, plus additional corrections-related funding items. Interim commissioner John Skipa said 18 employees had received preliminary layoff notices pending final budget approval. He and staff said the overtime need was driven by staffing shortages, later collective bargaining pay increases, and double-time compensation for uniform officers forced into overtime; they also said one housing unit section had been closed to reduce staffing pressure. In response to questions about morale and operational risk, Skipa said the department was under strain, that leadership was in transition, and that staffing or budget reductions could create litigation risk. The committee also heard about the Site Evaluation Committee’s budget shortfall, which was attributed to fewer new facility applications but continued casework and public engagement, and approved that item. Finally, members discussed a YDC claims administration item, questioning the role and cost of the Verald Dana consultant; staff said the firm handles intake and processing of claims for the Attorney General’s office and had been involved since the claims process was created. Several items were adopted after brief discussion.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Oct 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- At the top, how would the federal government balance this?
- The big dollar amounts are paid by the very top earners.
- So you have at the top, that's your GRT, you have income, severance.
- We don't charge them any administrative fee on top of that.
- We are now in a position to work with top tier venture capital groups and to Demand and expect top-tier
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- But this will give you this kind of top-level... Forward.
- We're on a path to get to the top 10 in the country. We're in the top 20 now.
- We're in the top 20 now, depending on which rating you look at, we've already made it to the top 10.
- I want to be top 10 in at least every rating so that there's no question.
- We should have at least two universities in the top 10.
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.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Finance Budget Briefing (06/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- On top of that, in the upcoming pages.
- That became one of their top priorities.
- <01:08:36.719>
Um reduce that by 5 million on top. Um reduce that by 5 million on top. - On top of that one part as far as VTs.
- You could have an entities on top.
Summary:
The Legislative Budget Assistant staff presented an overview of the Senate changes to the House-passed budget, focusing on revenue estimates, appropriations, and ending balances across the general fund and education trust fund. The presentation emphasized that the Senate’s budget reflected higher revenue assumptions than the House, driven in part by updated April revenue figures, changes to business, tobacco, and real estate transfer tax splits, and different assumptions about video lottery terminal revenue. The Senate also adjusted lapse estimates upward, especially for HHS, after receiving updated information that lapses could be much larger than originally assumed.
The presenter walked through the major differences in the surplus statements for fiscal years 2025 through 2027. Compared with the House, the Senate budget generally showed higher revenues, lower or different appropriations in some areas, and larger balances carried forward, including a larger education trust fund balance and a different rainy day fund transfer. The Senate’s approach also changed several policy assumptions, such as maintaining liquor revenue dedication, removing the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap, changing the treatment of unique revenue, and altering the process for meeting a targeted revenue amount by giving the governor more flexibility.
On the appropriations side, the Senate removed or modified several House reductions and added funding or adjustments in areas including the judicial branch, corrections, HHS, the Human Rights Commission, and certain settlement costs. The presenter also highlighted Senate changes in House Bill 2 and related budget provisions, including a new arts tax credit, a nursing home bed fee, changes to Medicaid premium assumptions, and differences in how motor vehicle inspection repeal and BLT-related revenue are handled. No votes were taken in the portion shown; the discussion was informational and comparative, aimed at explaining the Senate budget changes before conference committee negotiations.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Commerce and Legal Service Division Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- I realize not all charities are making bank like a lot of these top 10, top 15 ones are.
- And then on top of that, there is a program called IPAWS.
- You'll see the top 10 victims served.
- So that is kind of a quick overview of our top topics.
- So that is kind of a quick overview of our top topics.
Summary:
The committee met to hear the Attorney General’s budget and related agency presentations. Legislative Council first reviewed the compliance with legislative intent report and the base budget worksheet, highlighting current and ongoing appropriations, FTE changes, one-time funding items, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked about items such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding, and staff explained the funding sources and status of those programs.
Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then outlined the Attorney General’s office structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal and investigative work for state and local governments, and concerns about attorney salary competitiveness, the new and vacant FTE pool, and the impact of the 3% operating budget reduction on BCI, IT, and the crime lab. Members also discussed AG opinions, boards and commissions training, and the office’s litigation and settlement recoveries. Ness and committee members raised the possibility of broader attorney salary benchmarking across state government.
The crime lab director described severe space and infrastructure constraints, including overcrowding, shared workspaces, glycol leaks, air handling limits, and aging fire and burglar alarm systems. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that a new building on the current health department site would best address the lab’s needs. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, drug, fingerprint, and firearms work, though toxicology had a recent delay after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director described the unit’s fraud, abuse, and neglect work, noted federal-state funding and recent federal scrutiny, and said the unit needs more staff. The gaming division reviewed charitable gaming growth, e-tabs, trust accounts, and compliance issues, while BCI covered its caseload, cybercrime and child sexual abuse material investigations, the missing indigenous person task force, and the use of lottery funds for drug task forces. No formal votes or budget actions were taken during the meeting.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP/AEN Joint Info Briefing - Tue Jan 7, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You might expect piles of trash blowing around and lots of tractors moving on top of that and birds,
- <00:15:43.839>
of and uh lots of tractors moving on top of and uh lots of tractors moving - on top of that<00:15:44.279>
and that and that and Birds<00:15:46.560>um <00:15:47.199> - This is a water layer, leachate collection geomembrane that goes on top of that, and then below that
- This is a water layer, leachate collection geomembrane that goes on top of that, and then below that
Summary:
The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before the Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Chair Nicole Lowen and other legislators opened the meeting by framing the issue as important statewide and encouraging recycling, composting, and proper use of the curbside bins. The city’s Department of Environmental Services, led by Director Roger Babcock and Deputy Director Mike O’Keefe, then presented the background and siting process.
ENV explained the legal and technical constraints that shaped the search, including the 2019 Land Use Commission decision requiring closure of Waimanalo Gulch by March 2, 2028, and the 2020 Act 73 restrictions on landfill siting near residences, schools, hospitals, conservation districts, airports, and tsunami inundation areas. They said a landfill advisory committee reviewed six candidate sites in 2021-2022 and rejected them because they fell within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. After further evaluation and an extension of the naming deadline, the city selected a site in central Oahu near Wahiawa, on agricultural land currently used as a Dole pineapple field.
City officials said the selected site was chosen as the best of the evaluated options and, in their view, could be permitted under state and federal law. They described planned environmental protections, including a modern sanitary landfill design with double liners, leachate collection systems, monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring, and said the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill has operated for 35 years without leachate leaks. They also emphasized that the site would still require a special use permit, Department of Health approvals, an environmental impact statement, and other public permitting processes, and that public engagement would continue over the next several years.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 22nd, 2025
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Spending is already being taken off the top and not being budgeted.
- Moving on to page 8, the chart at the top here reflects just how much more...
- At the top, it says 'other services.'
- I don't remember off the top of my head what the fiscal impact was.
- Or is that going to come off the top of the $892 million that we must fund?
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Apr 23, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 50
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- On the top of page one, House Bill 389. With reservations. So ordered.
- On the top of page two, House Bill 469. House Bill 1510. Representative Garcia. In opposition.
- On the top of Representative Euromoto. On the top of Representative Euromoto.
- , House Bill On the top of page two, House Bill number<00:37:13.040>
469. - On the top of page three, House Bill 1875. House Bill 1946. House Bill 1961.
Bills:
SCR96, SCR164, SCR172, SCR166, SCR182, SCR7, SCR59, SCR58, SCR60, SCR89, SCR184, SCR11, HB2296, HB2315, HB2343
Keywords:
electric reliability, renewable energy, interconnection, Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, Public Utilities Commission, capacity shortfalls, energy policies, critical infrastructure, foreign influence, local control, energy dependence, economic resilience, energy analysis, cost reduction, financial risk, Hawaii PUC, energy self-sufficiency, natural gas, energy transition, ratepayer protection
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Apr 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- She said FAMU broke into the top 100 of all universities last year.
- It is a top 10 university for best colleges for veterans in the southern region.
- It is a top 10 military-friendly school in Florida and a Florida Collegiate Purple Star campus.
- On top of that, too, I am full-time practicing as an attorney here.
- We rose to top five and currently sit at seven.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard and approved two bills before moving into confirmation hearings for several university and college board nominees. CS/SB 1458 on apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships was presented as a measure to improve consistency and transparency in local education agency partnerships, cap LEA administrative funding at 10% when applicable, and require public meetings and work papers for workforce funding model decisions. Support was noted from Associated Builders and Contractors, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Foundations for Florida Futures, and Independent Electrical Contractors. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably.
The committee then considered CS/CS/SB 1726 on higher education governance and presidential searches after adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment defining the final group of presidential applicants as no fewer than three. The amended bill added provisions on trustee citizenship and residency/alumni eligibility, interim president succession planning, longer presidential contract renewals, limits on candidate polling by universities, syllabus posting, textbook/open-access material lists, and other governance and academic policy changes. Senators raised concerns about the minimum-three finalist requirement, interim president selection, trustee eligibility, and polling restrictions, while supporters said the bill would depoliticize leadership selection and improve transparency. The bill was reported favorably after the amendments were adopted.
The committee then heard confirmation testimony from multiple appointees and reappointees, including nominees for FAMU, UNF, Pensacola State College, UWF, and UF. Most nominees emphasized ties to their institutions, student success, workforce development, military connections, and institutional growth. Several UWF nominees were questioned extensively about their votes for former chair Scott Yenner and his controversial comments about women and other groups; some said they were unaware of those remarks at the time of the vote and would not have supported him with that knowledge. Public testimony on UWF expressed concern about the nominees’ lack of higher education experience, their ties to the region, and the impact of Yenner’s views. The committee later voted to recommend a block of non-UWF nominees favorably, and it agreed to vote on the UWF nominees individually, with some remaining nominees deferred to a later hearing due to time.