Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes a crisis service telecommunication surcharge, and it creates a 988 license plate.
• It establishes a crisis service telecommunication surcharge, and it creates a 988 license plate.
• A telecommunication surcharge makes sense for New Hampshire.
• five states will be considering implementing a surcharge.
• <03:22:54.560> on may not impose a tax Fe or surcharge on may not impose a tax Fe or surcharge

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to DE, where we've listed all the exemptions from the county surcharge. >> Great.
• Uh, the surcharge will also directly impact workforce housing, including multifamily units and walkups
• The repercussions of any surcharge on property tax could be passed on to renters, thus affecting our
• Page seven, lines 18 and 19, I want to define surcharge clearly, that a surcharge is an additional amount
• Page seven, lines 18 and 19, I want to define surcharge clearly, that a surcharge is an additional amount

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• had included in Lester's incrementing bill and removes the sunset date on the $3 traffic violation surcharge
• INCREMENTING BILL AND REMOVES THE SUNSET DATE ON   194 THE 3 DOLLAR TRAFFIC VIOLATION SURCHARGE
• nbsp; GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION AND HELPS   195 THE 3 DOLLAR TRAFFIC VIOLATION SURCHARGE

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met to consider four conforming committee bills tied to the proposed 2026-27 House General Appropriations Act. Rep. Maggard presented PCB SAB 26-04, the annual retirement bill, which updates Florida Retirement System contribution rates based on the annual actuarial study and was said to produce a $31.7 million state savings. He also presented PCB SAB 26-02, which addresses collective bargaining impasses for state employees by tying resolution to spending decisions in the appropriations act or implementing legislation. Both bills drew brief questions, mainly from Rep. Gantt, and both passed favorably on roll call. Rep. Miller presented PCB SAB 26-03, which reorganizes state audit functions and creates the Florida Accountability Office, consolidating legislative audit work into four divisions and adding whistleblower protections and reporting requirements. Rep. Gantt asked whether the bill changed the use of outside auditors and whether it had a fiscal impact; Miller said the work would be absorbed within existing resources and that the Legislature would retain responsibility. A taxpayer witness supported the bill and urged stronger local-government audit standards and broader whistleblower coverage. The bill passed favorably. Rep. Abbott presented PCB SAB 26-01, a broader appropriations conforming bill focused on the State Employee Health Insurance Trust Fund, prescription drug formulary changes, a health insurance assessment on agencies and vacant positions, the $3 traffic violation surcharge for the State Law Enforcement Radio System, Capitol complex space management, and changes to the Office of Supplier Diversity. Much of the discussion centered on whether a closed formulary would make medications harder to obtain, with Abbott saying prior authorization would still allow access and that the change was needed to control costs and protect the trust fund. Rep. Gantt and Rep. Robinson raised concerns about employee health benefits and the repeal of supplier diversity provisions, arguing the committee lacked data on the impact to minority- and women-owned businesses; Abbott said the changes would still allow small businesses to compete and that the bill was intended to save money and modernize procurement. PCB SAB 26-01 also passed favorably, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, there is an allowable 50% surcharge on water for those that are beyond the municipal boundary
• So the section of the bill that is addressing the surcharges, the current law, it's a pretty difficult
• Is that it is eliminating the automatic surcharge.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you stated, this is Senate Bill 254 by Senator Mizell, relative to debit card surcharges.
• And as you stated, this is Senate Bill 254 by Senator Mizell, relative to debit card surcharges, to prohibit
• certain excess surcharges, to provide for liability, to provide for reporting requirements, to provide
• For some reason, in Louisiana, very often you go into a place of business and there is a surcharge on
• Even if you know you're being charged an illegal surcharge, you have no option on who to call or what's

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Court got it wrong was when they found that the constitutional amendment to allow real property surcharges
• constitutional amendment to allow real constitutional amendment to allow real property<00:17:20.679> surcharges
• > to<00:17:21.839> be<00:17:22.160> used<00:17:22.439> for property surcharges
• to be used for property surcharges to be used for education<00:17:23.160> funding<00:17:23.600

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 725, the nomination of Daniel M. Gluck to serve as associate judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10-year term. The chair announced a two-minute testimony limit, said the committee would not vote that day, and scheduled decision-making for the next day at 10:45 a.m. in Room 016. Testimony in support came from the Governor’s Office, judges and legal professionals, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and members of the public, including a child who described Gluck’s kindness and help in Girl Scouts. The committee reported 72 supporters, zero opposition, and one comment from the West Side Bar Association. Gluck thanked the committee and outlined his background in private practice, nonprofit work, and government service, including work in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. He emphasized access to justice, pro bono representation, and his commitment to reducing the ICA backlog. In response to questions, he said he would focus on fuller staffing, shorter and more concise opinions, possible use of AI for limited administrative tasks, and process improvements to speed appeals. He also discussed appellate timelines, briefing schedules, and the value of oral argument for transparency and clarification. Members questioned him about impartiality, especially in cases involving tension between Hawaii and federal precedent. Gluck said judges must follow controlling law, including U.S. Supreme Court precedent on federal questions and Hawaii Supreme Court precedent on state-law issues, and that the judiciary should not make policy. He also described his current work as deputy corporation counsel, including HART, firearms licensing after Bruen, appeals, and pending state cases. No vote was taken, and the hearing was adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• an appellate filing fee on a criminal defendant, and the courts may not adopt any new fee, fine, surcharge
• it, JAN is encouraged that this conversation is happening around bureaucratic fines, fees, and surcharges
• It simply acknowledges that fines, fees, and surcharges are not an efficient way to fund the system.
• We hope this leads to broader conversations on these bureaucratic surcharges and how to ensure the system

Bills: HB2043, HB2046, HB2126, HB2131, HB2132, HB2133, HB2223, HB2265, HB2411, HB2666

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform, venue, employee conflict, superior court, legal proceedings, workplace disputes, weapons, explosives, trafficking, firearm regulations

Summary: The committee heard several criminal justice and victims’ rights bills. HB 2131 would remove the financial-gain element from weapons/explosives trafficking and impose stricter sentencing, including no early release for trafficking three or more weapons; it received a due pass recommendation on a 6-1 vote. HB 2132 would lower the fentanyl trafficking threshold from 200 grams to 100 grams and adjust related motor-vehicle language; supporters said it would help prosecutors and law enforcement, while opponents warned it would sweep in heavy users and lacked data on current prosecutions. It passed 4-3. HB 2223 would require sex offenders seeking a name change to notify prosecutors and victims, and to register under the new name with the old name as an alias; it passed 6-1. The committee also considered HB 2411, creating the crime of coerced abortion for secretly or forcibly administering abortion-inducing drugs without a pregnant woman’s knowledge or consent. Supporters argued existing laws do not clearly cover situations where the drug is given but no death occurs; opponents said assault, manslaughter, homicide, and food-contamination statutes already address the conduct and warned the bill was unnecessary and aimed at abortion access. The bill passed 4-3. HB 2043 would add unborn children to the felony-murder statute; supporters called it a cleanup measure closing a loophole, while opponents said it was an abortion/personhood measure with broader implications. It passed 4-3. HB 2046 would require victims of sex offenses to be notified of pre-hearings in probation review matters involving young sex offenders; victims and prosecutors said the change would ensure meaningful participation, and it passed unanimously 7-0. HB 2666 would increase penalties for sexual extortion involving 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds when committed by an adult, and it passed unanimously 7-0. HB 2265 would eliminate court fees and assessments tied to public defenders, jury trials, appeals, and related criminal-case charges; supporters framed it as protecting constitutional rights, while counties warned of lost revenue, and it passed 7-0. Finally, HB 2133 would require commercial websites hosting sexual material to verify consent and age of depicted persons, retain records, and treat synthetic depictions as images; the sponsor said it was meant to curb CSAM and revenge porn, while testifiers raised concerns about breadth, record retention, and constitutional issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2508 removes the scheduled expiration date of July 1, 2026, on a $3 surcharge imposed on
• The surcharge annually provides approximately $4 million in revenues to support the administrative functions
• Senate Bill 2508 removes the scheduled expiration date of July 1, 2026, on a $3 surcharge imposed on
• The surcharge annually provides approximately $4 million in revenues to support the administrative functions

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kraft and Zalessnikar and others have introduced legislation for electric vehicle surcharges
• more generally than equivalent fossil fuel vehicles, and the existing $75 annual registration fee surcharge
• Raising the EV surcharge to $200 would put us tied for third place of all of the states in the country
• should someone who drives a Nissan LEAF 6,500 miles a year, you know, be penalized by paying an EV surcharge

Transcript Highlights:

• serving another municipality water or utility, that you can charge that other municipality up to a 25% surcharge
• And they're charging my residents 25% surcharge.
• I do believe that the surcharge was put in place so that if you did have to extend.
• I actually get my water from a different utility in a different city and pay a surcharge, but that facility

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee met with a quorum present and first heard HB 11 from Representative Robinson. The bill would address an unintended consequence in Florida’s municipal utility surcharge law by requiring the same water/utility rate for residents when a utility facility is physically located within one municipality but owned by another, rather than allowing the owning municipality to impose a 25% surcharge. The sponsor and several members described it as a fairness issue affecting residents who do not receive local tax support for the facility but still bear the surcharge. Public testimony included support from AARP and Miami-Dade County and opposition from North Miami Beach. The bill was reported favorably on an 18-0 vote. The committee then held a panel discussion on utility use of public rights-of-way and utility relocation. Panelists from FDOT, county government, gas, water, electric, and communications sectors described the permitting process, noting that FDOT uses a detailed utility accommodation manual and that local governments may use permits, franchise agreements, or ordinances depending on the utility type. They emphasized that utilities often must coordinate early with agencies using long-range work programs and project plans, and that the process differs by utility and jurisdiction. Communications witnesses discussed Chapter 337 and the 60-day local permitting shot clock, while others noted the role of Sunshine State One Call in locating facilities before excavation. A major focus was who pays for relocations when road or infrastructure projects require utilities to move. FDOT and several panelists said utilities generally bear the cost when they are in public right-of-way, with exceptions such as certain interstate/interchange projects and easement impacts. Utility representatives said relocations are often effectively new builds, can be costly, and are ultimately reflected in rates or customer costs. Members also asked about easements versus right-of-way, damage and disputes during construction, broadband workforce needs, and whether legislation could improve coordination. Panelists largely said the existing process works best when agencies, contractors, and utilities communicate early and continuously, and that more legislation may not be necessary compared with better planning, staffing, and use of technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the first is to add a surcharge to the applicant's assigned family responsibility.
• Um, adding a surcharge would bring that up to 80%.
• , they would bump up each bucket of students at the same with the same surcharge.
• , the same surcharge has to be applied.
• At that time, the rationing language was interpreted to mean that this AFR surcharge was a percentage

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Higher Education Conference Committee reviewed differences among the Governor’s, House, and Senate proposals for state grant parameter changes and their effects on state grant spending, North Star Promise spending, and average student awards. Nonpartisan staff explained that the proposals use different combinations of parameter changes, with the Governor’s and Senate plans modeled to avoid or minimize rationing, while the House plan would require rationing to balance the program. Staff reported projected biennium balances of a positive $29.836 million for the Governor’s proposal, a negative $60.758 million for the House proposal without rationing, a positive $994,000 for the House proposal with rationing, and a positive $3.623 million for the Senate proposal; North Star Promise balances also varied, with the Senate showing a positive balance and the Governor and House with rationing showing negative balances. Staff also said the Senate proposal would extend availability of the state grant appropriation and suspend surplus procedures through fiscal year 2029, allowing the balance to carry forward. The committee then focused on the House-only tuition and fee cap provision, which would limit the tuition recognized for state grant purposes for four-year programs to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities level, with 1% annual increases in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. House members said the cap was intended to address rising tuition, especially at the University of Minnesota, and to produce savings in the state grant program. The governor’s office confirmed the provision was not included in the Governor’s bill. Representatives from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Private College Council opposed the cap, arguing it would reduce awards for low-income students and shift costs to students rather than address underlying tuition pressures; they also said it could discourage enrollment at higher-cost institutions. Supporters from Minnesota State argued the cap would improve fairness because students at lower-tuition institutions are effectively capped lower, while students at more expensive institutions receive larger awards, and they said the legislature should intervene in a variable that has grown substantially over time. Committee members questioned how the cap would work and whether it was tied to the Twin Cities campus rate. Testifiers clarified that the state grant formula is tied to the University of Minnesota level, but because Minnesota State institutions are below that level, the cap effectively limits their students to their own lower tuition while allowing higher awards at the University of Minnesota and private colleges. No formal vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated the committee would continue with item-by-item review of the remaining parameter changes and hear additional testimony from agencies and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• there has been testimony from city and county of Honolulu regarding the use of the half percent surcharge
• The other counties may choose to use the half percent surcharge if it is not already earmarked for their
• <01:50:40.840> because<01:50:41.320> they're half percent surcharge because they're
• half percent surcharge because they're earmarked<01:50:42.360> for<01:50:42.560> rail.
• choose to use the half percent surcharge choose to use the half percent surcharge if<01:51:02.240

Bills: SB2908, SB2671, SB3085, SB2907, SB2353, SB2074, SB2360, SB2057, SB3251, SB2354, SB3001

Keywords: permit processing, permitting reform, county permits, development permits, building permits, land use, construction delays, housing development, infrastructure development, county workforce, differential pay, salary incentive, performance bonus, recruitment and retention, expedited hiring, vacancy rates, permit backlog, government modernization, county mayor, county council

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills, with most measures drawing broad support and a few generating significant opposition or policy questions. SB 2908 SD1 and SB 2671 SD1 were taken up first; both appeared to have majority support, with SB 2908 receiving seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, and SB 2671 receiving five in support and two comments. SB 3085 SD2, related to film industry operations, drew 11 supporters and no opposition. Georgia Skinner explained that the bill would streamline the approval timeline for productions by reducing delays tied to Land Board review, and she said DLNR supported the effort. Committee members asked about the need for the change and the relationship between the film studio, DLNR, and the approval process. The committee then discussed SB 2907 SD1, which would create an Office of Marine Affairs. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, HTDC, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, ocean industry representatives, and others. The governor’s office supported the bill’s intent but objected to placing the office within the Office of the Governor, urging instead that it be housed at HTDC. HTDC said it was willing and excited to take on the work and described ongoing stakeholder engagement. Members asked about the rationale for the placement and the long-term structure of the office. SB 2353 SD2, concerning the Aloha Stadium district and billboard/naming-rights issues, drew strong opposition overall, with four in support, 23 in opposition, and one comment. Andrew Pereira of the Stadium Authority argued the measure could generate revenue to help maintain and operate the stadium and said the district would remain self-contained; he also emphasized that the development would respect the character of the area. The committee then heard SB 2074 SD1, which had five in support and 26 in opposition; only one support testimony from the Carpenters was heard before the discussion moved on. Finally, SB 2360 SD1, an enterprise zones measure, received 14 supportive testimonies and two comments. Testimony focused on updating the program for modern business models, especially e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales, while committee members questioned whether the program overlaps with higher tax burdens and whether businesses receiving subsidies should be monitored for job retention after graduation from the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, last year we ran a piece of legislation that capped the surcharge at 2% on the customer for
• So this bill just allows them to charge that surcharge to be more than that 2%.

Bills: HB3041, HB4428, HB4429, HB1064, HB3265, HB3721, HB3028, HB3313, HB3588, HB3020

Keywords: credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, public finance, pension, pension fund, retirement system, board of trustees, proxy voting, proxy proposal, shareholder vote, shareholder activism, fiduciary duty, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, ESG, environmental social governance, social goals

Transcript Highlights:

• Aquatic invasive species, or AIS, surcharge increases are necessary.
• The AIS surcharge was last increased in 2019 for the first time in 25 years.

Bills: HF2439

Keywords: environmental protection, pollution reduction, waste management, climate change, funding allocations

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the last lever that we would be creating would be establishing an electric vehicle surcharge
• going to impose a national electric vehicle registration fee, meaning that that registration fee surcharge
• have to be mindful that what we do here in New Mexico could be compounded with an eventual federal surcharge
• The other point I want to make about the surcharge for electric vehicles is that it isn't aimed at being

Transcript Highlights:

• The second big change is the HMO surcharge in our original proposal.
• For the HMO surcharge, however, when we increase that, we also invest it back into the rates for the
• We're also making... ...updates to errors we've had in the original language, such as the surcharge changes

Transcript Highlights:

• So a home at $500,000 would pay $3,750 in this additional surcharge tax.
• And so that wouldn't be taxed under this surcharge.
• If you put a 0.75 surcharge, you're going to reduce my net income by 30%.
• Also, this surcharge is based on the assessed value of the property.
• Also, this surcharge is based on the assessed value of the property.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill protects everyday ratepayers by requiring a surcharge on large-load data centers during
• A surcharge on large-load data centers during peak demand periods.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first of which is a proposal to increase the aquatic invasive species surcharge.
• So what we are proposing here is to increase the current flat fee of $10.60, which is the surcharge that
• The larger your watercraft, the more you will pay in AIS surcharge charge.
• that AIS fee surcharge that AIS fee surcharge increase<00:30:40.919> this<00:30:41.039>
• Chair, Senator Green, that $5.7 million would be the revenue generated off of that AIS fee surcharge

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THE EMPLOYER, FOR THE EMPLOYER OR THE ASSOCIATED OUT OF POCKET COST AND WILL THE CORPORATIONS SURCHARGE
• I'M SORRY. >> WILL THE CORPORATION SEARCH – WILL THE SURCHARGE BE ASSESSED – WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
• SURCHARGE?