Transcript Highlights:

• So we are going to spend the rainy day fund, whether we spend it this year or that $2.6 billion in spending
• We are not spending $50.8 billion. We're not.
• We are spending the money. We're just not spending it in the next few months, in the next year.
• We are spending the money. We're just not spending it in the next few months, in the next year.
• The truth of this budget is we are spending far more than we are admitting to spending.

Summary: The House met in extended session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and a series of journal, committee, and Senate bill reports. Members also received several referrals and Senate messages, and the Speaker signed multiple bills already prepared for the Governor. The chamber then took up a long slate of measures, largely budget-related and conference/concurrence items, with repeated roll-call votes and several brief floor remarks for and against the bills. Among the major actions, the House passed or concurred in a number of Senate bills addressing fiscal code and budget implementation, abusive towing practices, telemarketing robocalls and caller ID spoofing, prostitution penalty changes, veteran notification procedures, the cosmetology licensure compact, solar decommissioning, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, E85 flex fuel definitions, local road transfers, civil penalties for unlicensed commercial driving schools, and trailer sales. The House also adopted House Resolution 580 designating July 18, 2026, as Piping Plover Day. Most of these measures passed overwhelmingly, many by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The most significant debate centered on House Bill 2400, the General Appropriations budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, and House Bill 1505, the education-related budget implementation bill. Supporters described the budget as a bipartisan compromise that funds adequacy and tax equity for schools, public safety, mental health, roads and bridges, veterans, seniors, and workforce programs while avoiding broad-based tax increases. Opponents argued the budget used accounting maneuvers, deferred spending, and was structurally unbalanced. After extended debate, the House concurred in the Senate amendments to HB 2400 by a 167-35 vote and to HB 1505 by a 172-30 vote. The House also considered House Bill 2559, which included Commonwealth property conveyances and a controversial provision affecting Penn State branch campus properties. A motion to recommit the bill failed, and the House ultimately concurred in the Senate amendments by a 105-97 vote after members debated property rights, labor effects, and the future use of the campuses. The session concluded with the Senate later concurring in several House amendments, the Speaker signing the final bills, and the House adjourning until September 9, 2026, unless recalled sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• and spend without any sort of concern that you'll ever hit this spending limit.
• ACA-20 eviscerates the voter-approved spending limit in our state. eviscerates the voter-approved spending
• and spend without any sort of concern that you'll ever hit this spending limit. spend without any sort
• The spending problem is real. Now, how do you get around the spending limit?
• The spending limit is there so that when the politicians hit the spending limit, any revenue that's collected

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to the creation of this trust fund, the Governor was authorized to spend funds appropriated for
• Prior to the creation of this trust fund, the Governor was authorized to spend funds appropriated for
• So, yes, my local government is going to spend a lot more. When I brought home 35.
• You spend the money on as long as you take care and raise your own children first.
• I certainly don't think the governor needs permission every time he wants to spend money, or she.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would just allow them to spend up to 75%. More flexibility.
• It would just allow them to spend up to 75%. More flexibility. >> Yes. Okay.
• Perfect. would just allow them to spend up to would just allow them to spend up to 75%.<00:24:20.320>
• campaign spending commission amounts but campaign spending commission amounts but we<00:24:52.880>
• So I'll ask the campaign spending So I'll ask the campaign spending commission<00:27:30.240>

Bills: HB389, HB469, HB1510, HB1573, HB1705, HB1858, HB1875, HB1946, HB1961, HB1962, HB2001, HB2093, HB2096, HB2097

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• It's $371,582 in spending authority.
• It's for $6.4 million of spending authority.
• It's for $2 million in spending authority. This is to spend senior citizen carry-forward funds.
• It's $1.5 million in spending authority.
• It's for $6,000 of spending authority.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Talk me through that statement: how much are we spending, what are we spending it on, and where might
• The challenge is spending all that money, and well over 100,000 people who need our care would really
• We spend a half a billion dollars assessing people sometimes.
• a lot um the disabilities and we spend a lot um the general<00:01:08.840> fund<00:01:09.320><
• and the sad thing is for all we spend and the sad thing is for all we spend almost<00:01:40.799>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were looking at programmatic spending. Yes, not overall spending.
• of fact, they were one of the best at spending their money.
• To HR 1, we're looking at about an $84 million reduction in spending, in general fund spending, because
• I'll start by giving you a trend of the summaries we're seeing with spending.
• Then for fiscal year 26, however, the spending data is looking more promising.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every $100 we spend could have been a gift for a family's college fund.
• You're going to oversee spending at the Department of State.
• But at the same time, it's not just a matter of spending money, and we do need dramatic more spending
• The way to review and reform spending is in this building.
• Do you know what we spend now in terms of GDP?

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to get our actual spending or using that reserve.
• We have to get our actual spending under control. We have to get our actual spending under control.
• reduction in the spending so that we can reduction in the spending so that we can go<00:12:05.519>
• But right now, we have to rein in the spending that we saw with out-of-control Democrats spending taxpayer
• Minnesota because of Democrats spending. Minnesota because of Democrats spending.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to spend more spend more money.
• the previous bill by reducing spending the previous bill by reducing spending overall.<00:33:10.080
• <00:36:08.320> $100 spending and we might be spending $100 spending and we might be spending
• education funding total we're spending education funding total we're spending about<00:57:27.440
• compared to the billions that we spend compared to the billions that we spend on<01:11:39.640>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee first took up Senate Bill 63, which Representative Maguire described as a straightforward bill setting funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism. He said it was not controversial. The committee voted to retain the bill by roll call, with one no vote and one member absent, and the motion passed 23-1-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 74, dealing with annual reporting requirements for state departments that issue permits. Representative Maguire explained Amendment 2282 would shorten the reporting burden by requiring summary data on delayed permits rather than listing every permit, and would delay the first report until 2027 so agencies would not have to reconstruct old data. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then approved as amended by a 24-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 241 on construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Representative Sweeney moved inexpedient to legislate, saying the project was ambitious and lacked public support. The motion passed unanimously 25-0, sending the bill to consent. Division Two then took up Senate Bill 145, a replace-all amendment to the education freedom account bill. Supporters said the amendment clarified the bill, kept the policy intact, removed a reimbursement program and an open-ended appropriation, and established a cap of 10,000 students with priority for current students and certain other groups. Opponents argued the measure was still a major expansion, would increase spending after crossover, and that the cap was not meaningful. After discussion, Amendment 2301H was adopted and the bill was approved as amended by a 25-0 vote, with members noting it could go on consent because no money remained in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we not here today to spend legal fees on unconstitutional laws?
• Are we not here today to spend legal fees on unconstitutional laws?
• Why are we spending three times the cost of Why are we spending three times the cost of hotels so we
• Are we not here today to spend legal fees on unconstitutional laws?
• Are we not here today to spend legal fees on unconstitutional laws?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Recurring spending levels. We would, Mr.
• Chairman, perhaps have to look at reducing non-recurring spending levels.
• How much money do we spend through the tax code? What are our tax expenditures?
• And are we going to spend it in the budget, or are we going to spend it in the tax code, not taking into
• Are we not spending money on the programs that research says should work?

Transcript Highlights:

• So today we are hearing House Bill 55 for the governor's proposal on how to spend the more than $1.3
• It's hard to spend those dollars in the amount of time that was allocated.
• But it's also important that we have an opportunity to spend resources on innovative uses.
• , is that the spending is growing by more than 3% or 4% a year.
• And so if you generate more revenue, can you spend more revenue?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 55, the governor’s FY25 supplemental budget proposal to spend about $1.3 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue. House and Senate chairs framed the bill as a one-time opportunity to invest fairly in education and transportation, while also noting the need to protect the state’s long-term fiscal balance. Administration officials said the proposal should be considered alongside the FY26 budget and related bills, since the governor’s broader Fair Share plan aims for roughly an even split between education and transportation over time. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler outlined the administration’s priorities. Transportation funding would go mainly to the MBTA and related reserves, including money for the Federal Transit Administration reserve, MBTA stabilization reserve, low-income fares, winter resilience, RTA workforce support, MassDOT workforce and project delivery, and micro-transit grants. Education funding would support universal preschool expansion, early education and care capacity, early literacy tutoring, adult basic education and ESOL, early college and career technical education, MyCAP expansion, and special education circuit breaker funding. The administration emphasized that many of these investments are one-time or multi-year measures designed to address current needs without creating unsustainable recurring costs. Committee members raised concerns about regional equity, especially the large share of transportation money going to the MBTA versus regional transit authorities and rural areas. Several members asked for more detail on how the proposal would benefit Western Massachusetts and other non-MBTA regions, and whether micro-transit and Chapter 90-related investments would be sufficient. Education questions focused on special education reimbursement shortfalls, federal funding cuts to school districts, and how CTE and vocational investments would align students with workforce needs. The administration said it would provide additional data on MBTA versus RTA investment and explained that the special education circuit breaker and transportation reimbursement changes were intended to improve predictability and relief for districts. After the administration panel, Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts testified in support of using Fair Share funds to protect public education amid federal uncertainty and cuts. She argued that schools are facing a fiscal cliff, that vulnerable students would be hit hardest by funding losses, and that the Fair Share revenue should be used to preserve services and support students’ needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:44.320> spree, spending spree, spending spree, which<00:03:45.640> they<00:03:45.760
• filled between spending and and revenue? filled between spending and and revenue?
• Cut<00:21:20.120> spending.
• So, what what we're Cut spending.
• I mean, Minnesota spending, right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press conference unveiling a package of affordability and tax-relief bills aimed at property taxes, taxes on tips and overtime, and vehicle registration costs. Leader Mark Johnson said the proposals were meant to counter rising costs for wages, homeownership, and driving, and argued that Democrats’ policies had made life more expensive. Several senators echoed that theme, saying Minnesotans need immediate relief and that the state has room to act because of a reported surplus. Senator Michael Kunesh described a property-tax cap bill that would limit increases for cities and counties to inflation plus 50% of population growth, with higher increases requiring voter approval. He said constituents, including seniors, a disabled veteran, and young people, are seeing unsustainable property-tax hikes, and he argued that state and federal mandates have driven local costs. In response to a question about added county workload from federal SNAP and Medicaid changes, he said the solution is both to pause new mandates and to cap property-tax growth. Senator Karin Housley outlined a proposal to end state taxes on tips and overtime, with deductions up to $25,000 for tips and $12,500 for overtime, phased out at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for families. She said the measure would help workers keep more of what they earn and would not cost small businesses directly. Senator John Jasinski proposed rolling back vehicle registration tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are far higher than neighboring states and that the change would save drivers money over time. Senator Julia Coleman also supported the package, saying the bills would provide practical relief for families facing high housing, driving, and work-related costs. No votes were taken; the event ended with questions from reporters about fiscal impacts, offsets, and whether the proposals would worsen the state’s structural budget imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:30.479> is horizon, state general fund spending is horizon, state general fund spending
• This is partially this was spending.
• So the future statements will reflect the pace at which they spend or if they don't spend when those
• or if they pace at which they spend or if they don't<00:53:50.800> spend<00:53:51.119> when
• . spending. spending.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to spend the 203.4. going to spend the 203.4.
• you possibly can spend, but if you spend you possibly can spend, but if you spend it<00:40:23.359
• You're spending the secondary spending limit in 27.
• spending limit.
• 42:33.520> spending You're spending the secondary spending You're spending the secondary spending

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , spend, spend, and then they went, "Oh, wow, we spent too much.
• ,<00:02:27.959> spend,<00:02:28.320> spend,<00:02:28.680> and<00:02:28.760> then
• <00:02:28.920> they<00:02:29.000> went, spend, spend, spend, and then they went, spend
• , spend, spend, and then they went, "Oh,<00:02:29.440> wow,<00:02:29.680> we<00:02:29.800
• I've gosh, I'm spending way too much.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused on affordability concerns in Minnesota, especially housing costs for first-time homebuyers, rising license tab fees, and property taxes. The senator said many constituents are struggling with everyday costs and argued that recent state spending and tax increases, along with mandates on local governments, have worsened the situation. She also cited waste, fraud, and abuse in state government as a reason to rein in spending and keep more money in taxpayers’ pockets. A major topic was her support for bills to conform Minnesota tax law to federal policy on no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. She said these measures would help workers, including service employees and hairdressers, by letting them keep more of their earnings, and would also benefit small businesses by making them more competitive in hiring. She noted that other states have adopted similar policies and said Minnesota had not yet held a hearing on the bills in committee. The senator also discussed a proposal to roll back vehicle license tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are higher than neighboring states and can exceed car payments. She expressed hope that the legislature could act on affordability measures before the end of session, and said she expected these tax-relief ideas to be a priority if her party gains more power in the next election.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll spend the rest of my time doing that.
• I won't spend too much time on this.
• spending.
• can spend and use.
• Now on to the spend.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've added excess spending.
• So we are going to be spending money, but where we want to be spending that money is a big key to this
• <00:07:24.960> The that we're going to be spending. The that we're going to be spending.
• to spend somewhere around $66<00:07:27.120> billion.
• money, but where we want to be spending money, but where we want to be spending<00:07:30.639> that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In January of 2020, spending on Ozempic type 2 diabetes indicated GLP-1 was just $4.6 million.
• In January of 2020, spending on Ozempic type 2 diabetes indicated GLP-1 was just $4.6 million.
• In January of 2020, spending on Ozempic type 2 diabetes indicated GLP-1 was just $4.6 million.
• In January of 2020, spending on Ozempic type 2 diabetes indicated GLP-1 was just $4.6 million.
• I could spend 90 minutes talking about them. I won't.

Keywords: 1183, house