Video & Transcript : 'agronomic rate' :

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NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (01/16/2026)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> disability rating. disability rating.
  • The standard tax rate that we tax rates.
  • We have the town tax rate. We have the school tax rate.
  • </c> you calculate two separate rates? you calculate two separate rates?
  • In our two separate tax rates.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Feb 2nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • DCYF sets these base rates.
  • rates in regions and age ranges for infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age child care.
  • Currently, the rates are differentiated into six different regions and Spokane County.
  • But we're seeing the rates right across the river in Benton County with a full infant day rate of $77
  • County more because of the reimbursement rate.
Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2073, which would require nonprofit health carriers with surplus above 600% of risk-based capital to pay 3% of the excess to support the Cascade Care Savings premium assistance program. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $80 million in FY 2027 based on 2024 surplus data, while carriers and business groups argued their reserves are needed to pay claims, manage risk, and avoid premium increases. Supporters said the bill would redirect consumer-funded surplus to help Washingtonians afford coverage, especially as federal subsidies expire. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information in WASFA applications. Staff explained the bill would exempt WASFA records from public disclosure, restrict sharing to narrow purposes, and shorten retention periods, with significant fiscal impacts tied to purging records and updating data-sharing practices. Student and advocacy testimony strongly supported the bill as a privacy and safety measure for immigrant and mixed-status students. The committee also heard House Bill 2403, which lowers the penalty for failure to register as a sex offender and adds community custody and DOC supervision; public defense supported it as a cost-saving, consensus reform, and staff projected DOC savings. House Bill 2587 was also heard, creating a Commerce pilot to provide limited advance grant funding to eligible nonprofits; supporters said it would help smaller nonprofits manage reimbursement-based contracts, while staff estimated indeterminate but potentially significant administrative costs. The committee heard House Bill 2607, which would require DCYF to periodically rebase child care subsidy rate regions to better reflect local cost differences. Supporters from Benton and Franklin counties said current regional rates are outdated and unfairly low in fast-growing areas; staff said the fiscal impact was indeterminate. The committee then moved into possible executive session on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 1170, dealing with generative AI disclosures and provenance tools, was amended and ultimately passed out of committee on an 18-9 vote after all proposed amendments were rejected. Substitute House Bill 1570 was amended to narrow its scope to Western Washington University and then passed out of committee on a 17-9 vote. The committee also began action on proposed Third Substitute House Bill 1710, which would create a state pre-clearance requirement under the Washington Voting Rights Act, but the transcript cuts off during consideration of amendments to that bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Capital Investment - 03/25/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • In November, our future interest rate assumption for 2025 was just over 4%.
  • In November, our future interest rate assumption for 2025 was just over 4%.
  • </c> what what were those interest rate what what were those interest rate increases?
  • </c> nation with the submitt rate that high. nation with the submitt rate that high.
  • </c> would um require a lower interest rate would um require a lower interest rate than<00:38:53.760>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Finance May 27th, 2026

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the only way you would get that lower rate or that $1.13 rate that you see on the actual sign that
  • The Medicaid rate paid The Medicaid rate paid in an ambulatory surgery center is a loss for those centers
  • It increases the rates, so the impact should be an increase in the cost.
  • , and after that, repriced the same claims at the proposed rate, the increased rate, and they compare
  • Because if you were to compare, if you were to raise the rates for ASCs up to those hospital rates, the
Committee: Senate Finance
Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Five times the rate of everybody else.
  • There's no success rates.
  • nearly an 80% college-going rate.
  • They have higher retention rates, higher graduation rates. They're faster to graduate.
  • We know that prisons don't have a success rate.
Summary: The Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held its second hearing, focused on cradle-to-college-and-career pipelines and education. Members opened with remarks emphasizing bipartisan support, the need to address opportunity gaps, and the committee’s prior hearing in Los Angeles, which helped generate legislation. The chair framed the day around school safety and discipline, community schools, and college/career pathways, and noted that public comment would be included at the end. In the first panel, witnesses described persistent disparities in school discipline and policing, even as suspension rates have declined statewide. Dr. David Turner cited reductions in suspensions tied to reforms such as bans on willful defiance suspensions, but warned that Black and Native boys remain disproportionately suspended and that “ghost suspensions” and police referrals still push students out of class. Other advocates called for stronger accountability, more restorative and culturally rooted practices, and greater investment in community-based supports. Members asked about the role of state and local policy, rural versus urban differences, and how to measure which interventions work best. The second panel centered on community schools. Advocates from Californians for Justice, Reclaim Our Schools LA, MILE, and the Sierra Health Foundation argued for the governor’s proposed $1 billion ongoing investment in the California Community Schools Partnership Act. They said community schools improve attendance, reduce suspensions, strengthen belonging, and create shared decision-making with families and students. Panelists described the role of community school coordinators, the importance of authentic partnerships, and the need to track informal discipline practices. Committee members pressed for a plain explanation of community schools and heard that the model is intended to be a high-return equity strategy that can save the state money over time. The final panel addressed college and career pathways. Speakers from the California Faculty Association, UC Student Association, Brotherhood Crusade, A Men, and Improve Your Tomorrow highlighted barriers facing Black, Latino, Native, and other boys and men of color in higher education, including financial aid gaps, weak transfer pathways, underinvestment in student support, and low campus belonging. They urged continued funding for community schools, expanded dual enrollment and ELOP access, and support for mentorship and culturally responsive programs. Public commenters echoed support for community schools and youth investment, including calls to redirect prison spending toward education and prevention. The chair closed by thanking the panelists, reflecting on his own school struggles and the role of mentorship, and adjourned the committee.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • You raised the tax rate from 1.22% to 7.5%.
  • If you uncap it, the rate will be 7.5%.
  • If you uncap it, the rate will be 7.5%.
  • My sense is that they raised the rate so that everyone in that category would pay $75 million.
  • I would say this: the 7.5% rate on advanced computing businesses would be by far the highest tax rate
Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing enhanced supervision with supervisor attestation in place of the exam for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers testified that the exam is a poor measure of clinical competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while opponents warned that removing the exam could affect public protection and Washington’s participation in the social work compact. Members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and accreditation requirements, but no action was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy license applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to the new licensure system, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient supported the bill as a way to avoid delays in hiring newly trained therapists while maintaining supervision and patient safety. The bill drew strong support in written testimony and no opposition in the hearing. HB 2324 would change tuition waiver rules for children of eligible veterans and National Guard members by giving eligible children eight years from the date of a parent’s disability determination to use the waiver when that determination occurs after the child turns 18. The sponsor said the bill is meant to align state law with federal dependency education benefits and prevent families from losing access because disability determinations can take years. The committee asked for clarification on how the new timing would work, and the hearing closed without a vote. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three years starting in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the surcharge would be economically harmful, that the state already has substantial WEA funding, and that the bill would reduce tuition revenue without adequately backfilling institutional budgets. The committee heard extensive testimony and members raised questions about the surcharge cap, WEA spending, and the compacted funding structure, but no final action was taken.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> different changes we've had to our rate different changes we've had to our rate of<03:53:24.359>
  • </c> benefit um they look at mortality rates benefit um they look at mortality rates they<04:02:52.159
  • </c> recommended keeping our our annual rate recommended keeping our our annual rate of<04:03:14.920>
  • This rate is used to calculate the unfunded liability and affects the employer contribution rate, and
  • </c> effects the employer contribution rate effects the employer contribution rate and<04:29:38.640><
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held an orientation for new and returning members of the House committee on agencies and administration, with introductions from members and staff. Chair Carol Maguire outlined her expectations for hearings: keep questions focused on the bill, be respectful to witnesses, and use the committee’s orientation opportunities to learn about the jail staff, retirement system, and Office of Professional Licensure. Members also discussed related assignments on other bodies, including the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules and the Joint Committee on Employee Classification, and noted that some members already serve on those panels. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the State Building Code and the committee’s upcoming workload. Members explained how the state code is intended to provide a common baseline while allowing limited local options, and why municipalities must formally adopt and publish any local amendments. They reviewed several anticipated bills: a consolidation bill to gather building-code enforcement materials in one place, a bill to update the state energy code, a bill to restrict municipal adoption of building-code changes, and a bill to update the electrical code. Members also discussed how building codes apply to older homes and commercial buildings, and why code updates are important for safety and clarity. The chair said the committee had 36 bills currently scheduled, including many early bills that must move by March 6 because they will be heard by two committees. She said the committee would use subcommittees for harder bills, with three subcommittees this year: pensions, licensing, and likely state building code. She also outlined the hearing schedule, including lighter bills on February 12 and the expectation of executive sessions later in the month. No votes were taken during the orientation, but members were told that public hearings do not require a quorum and that hard copies of bills would be distributed by committee staff.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 19th, 2026

ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this contract, again, Attachment A has the hourly rates that Kyle's group will charge.
  • So this contract, again, Attachment A has the hourly rates that Kyle's group will charge.
  • The hourly rates are attached in Attachment A. It also includes the full scope of services.
  • The Bureau only pays the actual hourly rates that are utilized and charged, plus travel expenses, and
  • And I haven't compared their rates, but the overlap, I would say, doesn't exist in that they're doing
Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered a waiver request from the Stuttgart School District to use the TIPS interlocal purchasing system for a turf replacement project instead of a traditional competitive bid. Superintendent Jeff McKinney explained that three bids were received but none fully met the RFP specifications, including warranty and insurance requirements. After review by the district’s architect, the committee approved the waiver request by voice vote. The committee then approved a consultant services agreement between the Bureau of Legislative Research and Work Ed Consulting to support the Hospital Medicaid Developmental Disability Subcommittee’s study under Act 145. Legislators said the consultant would help develop workforce-system reform legislation for the 2027 session, and noted the firm’s experience in other states. The contract runs through June 30, 2027, with a maximum amount of $158,000, and was approved without opposition. Next, the committee approved an actuarial and consultant services agreement with Perrin Knight to provide ongoing actuarial support for the state property insurance captive and related legislative oversight work. Bureau staff said the contract would run from April 1 through December 31, 2027, with a maximum amount of $475,000, though only actual hours and travel would be billed. Members asked about budgeting, invoice timing, and overlap with other insurance consultants, and the agreement was approved. Finally, the committee approved using Bureau committee room funds to renovate Committee Room C in the Big Mac Building, citing outdated audiovisual equipment and the need to update the room to match other recent renovations before adjourning.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Mar 31st, 2025

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • You adjust the rates. Yeah, you would adjust the rate. Somebody could be in charge.
  • You're saying, well, there's your base rate.
  • You're going to have to pay more because when you talk about the rate rates going up, and I'm off my
  • Our rental rates are down 10% from last year.
  • Our rental rates are down 10% from last year.
Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Working Group on Omnibus Human Services Appropriations - 05/22/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, this rate on a specific facility.
  • </c> include the night supervision sleep rate include the night supervision sleep rate uh<00:16:30.639
  • </c><00:18:26.000><c> Uh</c> county share for rate exceptions. Uh county share for rate exceptions.
  • So, residential services rate increase.
  • </c><00:36:04.000><c> for</c> So, this would modify payment rates for So, this would modify payment rates
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/03/26

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> screen um was uh the managed care rate screen um was uh the managed care rate adjustments.<00:16
  • Interim rate adjustments that we did last year to ensure that the rates were actuarially sound, and on
  • This is a denial rate going forward.
  • rate is also included.
  • </c><01:08:17.359><c> rate.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • What's the formula for determining reimbursement rates?
  • Should we look at poverty rate requirements and expanding it and open up Reimbursement rates.
  • So we actually have more providers now with the new rates than we did under the old rates.
  • That has impacted our reimbursement rates in this grant and will also impact reimbursement rates in a
  • The rate change was their reason for closing.
Summary: The committee met to review the minutes and then held a workshop-style discussion with Arkansas Department of Education early childhood officials about the state’s early learning programs, funding, and access. Officials explained that the state-funded ABC program has been largely flat for years, rising from $11 million to about $14 million in 2018, while the federally funded SRA/CCDF side is much larger. They described differences between the programs, including ABC’s 10-month school-year structure, current enrollment of about 23,000 children in ABC and about 14,871 in SRA, and a SRA wait list that has grown to roughly 2,971 children. Members raised concerns about rural access, school-based versus community-based providers, reimbursement rates, and the need to align early childhood funding with K-12 and kindergarten readiness goals. A major topic was the recent $14.741 million PDG B-5 competitive grant. Officials said it is a one-year systems-building grant, not a direct services grant, and will support local leads, CLASS observations, workforce efforts, and data systems while helping offset some costs that otherwise would have been paid through CCDF. Members also discussed the end of a federal pre-K funding stream in June, with children either moving into ABC slots or requalifying for SRA, and the state’s new enrollment-based payment approach, which officials said saved about $576,000. The committee also heard that the current cost-of-care study is about three years old and that a new market-rate survey is being planned. Several members questioned dual enrollment in home visiting/HIPPY and ABC, with officials saying about 1,200 children are enrolled in both and that limiting double enrollment could save about $2.4 million and affect roughly 470 children. Members also asked about provider closures after rate changes; officials said eight providers cited funding as a reason for closing, while 26 new providers have been added under the new rates. The discussion ended with broad agreement that the committee should continue regular updates, keep providers and families informed, and explore policy changes, waivers, and possible state investments to improve stability, access, and quality in early childhood education.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Energy Committee Meeting - 2025-04-01

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And particularly for accepting suggested languages from CUB in order to protect electric rate payers
  • has listened with cautious optimism about the potential benefits that data centers could bring to rate
  • payers in terms of reduced rates for everyone because of the additional electricity sales.
  • However, if there are going to be rate payer benefits, those benefits aren't going to be automatic.
  • Dufferin talked about, you know, over a hundred years at the current rate.
Bills: HF2928 , HF2912 , HF2297
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Taxation and Revenue Mar 5th, 2025

House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • can be a little bit lower than... sales tax rates.
  • We've got a labor participation rate problem.
  • Madam Chair, Representative, the lowest maximum rate is $524.
  • happen to know how often those rates are updated?
  • Only Massachusetts lost at a higher rate than we did.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our redemption rate is currently just under 35%.
  • Our redemption rate is currently just under 35%.
  • So why do higher redemption rates matter?
  • a one-third drop in our return rate.
  • a one-third drop in our return rate.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing focused mainly on two subjects: expansion of the Massachusetts bottle bill and bills to remove woody biomass from state clean-energy and greenhouse-gas programs. On the bottle bill, supporters from municipal, environmental, public health, and local government groups argued that the 5-cent deposit is outdated, redemption rates have fallen, and expanding coverage to more beverage containers—especially water, sports drinks, and small alcohol bottles—would reduce litter, cut plastic waste and microplastics, and save cities and towns money. Several speakers also backed raising handling fees for retailers and redemption centers, and some supported restoring a Clean Environment Fund so unclaimed deposits would support recycling-related purposes. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Beverage Association and the National Waste and Recycling Association, argued that curbside recycling and transfer-station systems are more convenient, that the targeted containers are valuable to local recycling programs, and that the proposal would shift costs onto consumers and municipalities. Committee members questioned witnesses about redemption rates, handling fees, the 2014 ballot question, and whether the bill had changed from prior sessions. The biomass portion drew strong support from Springfield officials, state legislators, environmental advocates, and public health groups. They said woody biomass should not count as clean energy because burning wood produces particulate pollution and carbon emissions, and they warned that current law contains a loophole that could help finance the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant in Springfield. Witnesses emphasized Springfield’s air-quality and asthma burdens, the public health impacts of PM2.5, and the need to close the loophole before a January 1, 2026 deadline. One forest-industry witness supported a separate bill promoting modern wood heat with pollution controls, arguing it is cleaner than older wood systems and has minimal ratepayer cost, while noting that those credits would be affected if the governor’s broader energy affordability bill repeals the alternative energy portfolio standard. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs managed testimony by alternating between the bottle bill and biomass topics, asking speakers to keep remarks brief and to note when they agreed with prior testimony. Several legislators also testified in support of the bills, and committee members asked follow-up questions on deposit levels, retailer handling fees, recycling economics, and the public-health rationale for the biomass restrictions.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House and Governmental Affairs Mar 24th, 2026

House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • If they take the GSA rate, that's tax-free, and anything over the GSA rate is extra income.
  • Well, it's the GSA rate, which is a per diem rate, which covers the meals and lodging.
  • Well, it's the GSA rate, which is a per diem rate, which covers the meals and lodging.
  • It's the GSA rate.
  • I don't set the rate. That's the federal rate. Yeah. All right, that's all I have.
Bills: HB177 , HB210 , HB238 , HB258 , HB307 , HB359 , HB398 , HB661 , HB705 , HB752 , HB858
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We've seen rates increase over 12% on average across the state.
  • We've seen rates increase over 12% on average across the state.
  • So we're seeing that with rates going up, electricity rates going up around the country.
  • So and we're seeing that with rates going up, electricity rates going And we're seeing that with rates
  • going up, electricity rates going up around the country.
Summary: The committee first met in executive session on Senate Bill 5941, which would exempt certain school districts from a Washington State Energy Code requirement for onsite renewable energy systems on large new commercial buildings or additions. The committee adopted Senator Short’s amendment narrowing the eligible school district definition from 1,000 or fewer students to 500 or fewer students, then approved the bill as amended and sent it to the Rules Committee with a do pass recommendation. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6171, a proposed substitute addressing emerging large energy use facilities, primarily data centers. Staff explained that the bill would require utilities serving such facilities to adopt tariffs or policies to protect other ratepayers, require long-term contracts and full cost recovery, allow curtailment during emergencies, add reporting and sustainability requirements, create a fee to fund energy assistance, weatherization, and higher education programs, and impose new clean energy and labor-related requirements. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to protect affordability, reliability, transparency, and the public interest as data center demand grows. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including community action groups, environmental organizations, some utilities, Ecology, and student representatives, argued the bill would prevent cost shifting, improve transparency, support low-income energy assistance, and help manage grid and climate impacts. Opponents, including data center representatives, public utility district and business groups, and some local government and port officials, said the bill was too prescriptive, could raise costs, threaten competitiveness, duplicate existing utility practices, and interfere with existing CCA/CETA provisions and local flexibility. No vote was taken on SB 6171 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after public testimony.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • We do have a rating. But I don't have it with me.
  • Vega here might have the best rate at about 6% vacancy rate.
  • Regarding NBIS, our condition ratings, and our national bridge elements, NMDOT rates bridges using NBIS
  • ratings from 0 to 9.
  • NBE ratings, or National Bridge Element ratings, refer to our ability to rate each individual bridge
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So typically, we intervene in base-rate proceedings. I'm sorry, what?
  • Typically we intervene in base-rate proceedings.
  • To have a rate increase, they will file for that, go ahead and use the rate increase, and then the agency
  • there could be a rate adjustment while that case is being resolved.
  • increase. reasonable rate to set.
Committee: Senate Nominations
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

May 2, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the value that is multiplied by the tax rate, or the millage rate, in order to calculate the
  • The tax rate imposed by local government, a millage rate is the total amount of, quote, mills, that are
  • That is a choice by the taxing authorities when they set their millage rates.
  • I'll repeat that: that is a choice by the taxing authorities when they set their millage rates.
  • The millage rate is something... Chair, which is that the increase is a choice, right?
Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken. The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.