Transcript Highlights:

• , 14,000 from the employer, is we try to create certain. go from the employee, 14.5% from the employer
• I think it's just a straight $5,000, but I'm not sure whether an active employee and whether they're
• All pension systems in the United States utilize services for death notifications.
• What they will do is All pension systems in the United States utilize for death notifications.
• We have a $5,000 death benefit, and we utilize the same third-party vendors to notify us in the event

Committee: House Pensions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , including veterans, crisis line employees.
• As to how firing 80,000 VA employees might affect Veterans care? I have not, ma'am.
• VA employees might affect veterans care.
• And we've actually seen a growth in the numbers of employees on the veteran crisis line.
• Otu, have you heard anything from potential employees? I have not.

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Grant Program, HOPE Act, BRAVE Act, Every State Counts for Vets Mental Health Act, advocacy, legislation, mental health resources

Summary: The committee meeting focused primarily on the critical issues surrounding veterans' mental health and suicide prevention. Discussions centered on the reauthorization of essential programs aimed at providing non-clinical support services to veterans, particularly the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Senators emphasized the urgent need for adequate mental health resources as the suicide rate among veterans remains alarmingly high. Key testimonies were provided by various advocates and officials, illustrating both successful implementations of these programs and areas needing improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:20.400><c> is</c> space to match the work employee is space to match the work employee is
• </c> increase in being able to hire employees increase in being able to hire employees that<00:09:10.120
• </c><00:58:23.319><c> or</c> comes to the number of our employees or comes to the number of our employees
• </c> are seeing more production per employee are seeing more production per employee and<00:58:36.400
• </c><01:17:24.960><c> but</c> certainly those 41,000 employees but certainly those 41,000 employees but

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> our our uh employees our our uh employees in<01:00:58.720><c> their</c><01:00:58.960><c> future.
• <01:32:48.800><c> are</c><01:32:49.520><c> utilizing</c> employees are utilizing employees are utilizing
• Uh, the current number of employees under agency 96 that will be housing it already has 10 employees.
• </c> housing it already has 10 employees. housing it already has 10 employees.
• </c> in those employees that we mentioned. in those employees that we mentioned.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The employees loved it. It took a lot of education.
• And the best thing about it is that you have a designated employee.
• So once we’ve utilized the purpose of the fund, the money just sits there.
• prevent them from utilizing those phones during an emergency, basically.
• prevent them from utilizing those phones during an emergency, basically.

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with brief announcements, including an invitation from Chad Heinrich of the University of Phoenix to an upcoming lunch-and-learn on artificial intelligence and education, and then members and staff exchanged end-of-session धन्यवाद and appreciation. The committee then took up several education-related bills, hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions before voting on each measure. SB 1497 would require larger school districts that operate self-insurance programs to obtain quotes for coverage and services at least every four years and to receive certain information from providers in advance. Supporters said the bill would increase competition, transparency, and cost savings for school employee health benefits; it passed 10-0. SB 1711 would direct the State Board of Education and ADE to compile and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, and to make those resources available to schools and families. Supporters framed it as a voluntary, parent-facing safety tool, while opponents argued it should include stronger evidence-based and trauma-informed requirements; it passed 7-3. SB 1798 would create a FAFSA awareness program recognizing schools that designate a FAFSA point person and promote financial aid completion. Supporters said it would help students access postsecondary funding, especially given Arizona’s low FAFSA completion rate and unclaimed federal aid; it passed 8-2. SB 1143 would require schools and districts to submit federal civil rights data to ADE and would require ADE to publish an annual school safety report. Supporters said it would improve transparency for parents, while opponents called it duplicative and raised privacy and scope concerns; it passed 7-3. SB 1684, as amended, would create a private cause of action against public schools for serious physical injury caused by bullying after a prior report and school negligence, with an amendment limiting the claim to bullying on school property or at school events and requiring written reports. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 6-3, after debate over litigation risk, school discipline, and whether the bill should also cover private schools. The committee also passed SB 1754, which would require ADE’s special education division to help complete incomplete complaints, post redacted complaint reports, and adopt related procedures; members emphasized transparency and privacy protections, and the bill passed 9-0 after an amendment extending the posting timeline and clarifying report contents. SB 1423, continuing the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education until 2036, passed 8-1, with one member objecting to the long sunset extension. Finally, SB 1763, dealing with school district “additional monies” funds and financial reporting, was discussed with an amendment to remove unemployment-compensation transfers and require board approval for expenditures, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of those employees and workers have to find somewhere to sleep at night.
• There's almost never any excess utility or capacity that's simply waiting for a developer to utilize.
• There's almost never any excess utility or capacity that's simply waiting for a developer to utilize.
• Again, when we utilize third party, they were very, they weren't thorough.
• And so it considers utility revenues over that period of time.

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have quite a few developers behind me that have utilized MODESA in the past and hopefully intend
• to utilize it again if we pass it in the legislature and can speak in a lot of detail as well.
• I'm proud to represent Gateway Arch Park Foundation, our employees, our board.
• I'm proud to represent Gateway Arch Park Foundation, our employees, our board.
• That employee base moved from 67,000 employees to 105,000 employees.

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the safety of passengers and employees the safety of passengers and employees but<00:27:08.400><
• Employee harassment.
• Employee harassment. That's Absolutely. Employee harassment.
• I'm a utility analyst at the Public Utilities Commission.
• I'm utility analyst at Public Utilities I'm utility analyst at Public Utilities Commission.<01:44:08.239

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1588, which would establish a Department of Transportation noise detection program using cameras to enforce noise control laws. DOT supported the measure and said it is already piloting the technology at eight locations, with about 10 sites costing roughly $2 million to $2.5 million to install and operate. The Department of Health said it was willing to work with DOT but noted its current regulations are not designed for vehicular noise sources and that the bill may need clearer standards to be enforceable. Members raised concerns about the lack of a specific decibel threshold and whether the system could accurately identify the source of noise; DOT said the pilot can pinpoint vehicles and that the program would align with existing health standards, but no final number was identified during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1696, which lowers the minimum age for a commercial driver’s license from 19 to 18 and removes a restriction tied to vehicle category, while requiring DOT rule changes. DOT, the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii Transportation Association, Teamsters Local 996, and other stakeholders testified in support. The Hawaii Transportation Association suggested adding a training requirement for drivers ages 18 to 20, proposing at least 320 hours of employer training and recordkeeping. Members sought clarification that the bill would apply to intrastate, not interstate, licensing. For HB 233, the committee considered a measure authorizing DOT to designate airport special district zones statewide to prevent unauthorized access and improve security. DOT and the City and County of Honolulu supported the bill, explaining that defined boundaries would help law enforcement address trespassing, disruptions, fires, theft, harassment, and other incidents around airports and terminals; DOT said commercial airports are ready to implement the proposal, while some general aviation sites would need further work. Members asked about the scope of the boundaries, existing enforcement, and whether the measure would cover state-owned or non-state parcels near airports. The committee also heard HB 2332, which renames the Harbors Division as the Commercial Ports Division and distinguishes “harbor” from “port” in statute. DOT, the Maritime Group, and harbor users supported the bill, saying the change would reduce confusion between commercial cargo/cruise facilities and recreational small boat harbors, and could help with clarity and possibly federal grant competitiveness. Members asked about impacts on small boat harbors and cruise activity, and DOT explained that the bill is aimed at purpose-built commercial ports, not recreational facilities. The committee also took testimony on HB 2283, which clarifies DOT’s consultative role with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in setting port pilotage standards and requirements. DOT, DCCA, Matson, the Hawaii Pilots Association, and others supported the measure, saying it would improve coordination and ensure pilot licensing standards reflect operational realities in the harbors. Finally, after a recess, the committee heard HB 2217, which would allow driver’s permits, licenses, and ID cards to include a notation for a non-apparent disability. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities opposed the bill as drafted, saying voluntary alternatives such as Smart 911 may be better and that the category is too broad. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended limiting the notation to medically recognized, specifically defined conditions so agencies can train personnel and avoid confusion or escalation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Correction needs to look at a different approach to its current full-time employee
• To be clear, the department does have an employee assistance unit. They do important work.
• Yet this resource is not being fully utilized. Yet these resources are not being fully utilized.
• It's a pleasure to be here on behalf of the National Correctional Employees Union.
• Ultimately, the NCEU and the sheriffs whose employees we represent are partners for progress.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation among public safety agencies held a hearing focused on union and correctional staff testimony. Chair Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger opened by noting the commission’s extensive site visits and prior testimony, and they recognized Correctional Officers Week. Union representatives from KOUF, NCEU, AFSCME, and local county correctional unions described the daily realities of correctional work, emphasizing staff safety, staffing shortages, retention problems, mental health impacts, and the need to preserve local sheriff’s offices and collective bargaining agreements. Testimony centered on several recurring concerns: violence inside facilities, the spread of synthetic drugs such as K2, inmate suicides and suicide attempts, and the strain these issues place on officers, EMS, and local resources. Speakers also raised concerns about gender-identity housing policies, arguing they can create safety and workplace issues for staff, and urged more support for officer wellness, debriefing, and programs like OnSide Academy. Several witnesses argued that county facilities should remain locally controlled and that consolidation with the Department of Correction would weaken programming, staffing, and community-based reentry work. One witness described the Norwegian correctional model as a possible source of ideas for more rehabilitative approaches. Commission members responded with support for correctional staff and asked questions about K2 detection, paperless systems, EMS transports, and possible metrics to quantify incidents and facility needs. Members also discussed the importance of individualized assessments of each facility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The commission voted to seek an extension of its reporting deadline from September 30 to November 30, and agreed to continue site visits, including the upcoming Barnstable visit and a June 15 hearing. The meeting adjourned after the motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• These amendments ensure that employees impacted by the separation of the sheriff and coroner's office
• These amendments are sure that employees impacted by the separation of the sheriff and coroner's office
• Our focus today is on the employees who perform this work every day.
• to do our autopsies. ...utilizing the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office to do our autopsies.
• I know we involved other agencies for that transparency. utilizing the San Bernardino County coroner's

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Corrections needs to look at a different approach to their current full-time employee
• To be clear, the department does have an employee assistance unit. They do important work.
• Yet this resource is not being fully utilized.
• Yet these resources are not being fully utilized.
• It's a pleasure to be here on behalf of the National Correctional Employees Union.

Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation in public safety held a hearing focused on correctional labor testimony, with union leaders and officers from multiple county facilities and the Department of Correction describing staffing, safety, wellness, and programming concerns. Speakers emphasized that correctional officers face high levels of workplace violence, exposure to synthetic drugs like K2, inmate suicides and assaults, and significant mental health strain. They also raised concerns about gender-identity housing policies, arguing that current practices can create unsafe conditions for staff, and urged stronger debriefing and wellness supports after traumatic incidents, including fuller use of programs like OnSide Academy. Several witnesses from unions including KCU/NCU and local county bargaining units argued against consolidating sheriff’s offices or merging them with the Department of Correction. They said consolidation could weaken collective bargaining, harm retention and recruitment, increase commute times, and disrupt locally tailored programming and reentry services. Multiple speakers stressed that county facilities are distinct and should be evaluated individually, not by a single formula, and that staffing levels, training, and facility-specific needs must drive any policy changes. One witness described innovative programming such as welding and shed-building partnerships, while another highlighted Norfolk County’s accreditation, budget stability, and reentry efforts. Commission members largely thanked the witnesses and echoed concerns about officer safety and wellness. They discussed the need for more facility tours, including Norfolk, and debated whether the commission should seek an extension beyond its September 30 reporting deadline. After discussion, the commission voted to request an extension to November 30, with the understanding that the report would still be completed and filed later. Members also discussed the possibility of examining the Norwegian correctional model and reaching out to the judiciary for additional testimony. The hearing concluded with an adjournment after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Corrections needs to look at a different approach to their current full-time employee
• To be clear, the department does have an employee assistance unit. They do important work.
• Yet this resource is not being fully utilized. These resources are not being fully utilized.
• It's a pleasure to be here on behalf of the National Correctional Employees Union.
• burnout, reduce direct supervision, and negatively impact Employee burnout, reduce direct supervision

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation among public safety agencies held a hearing focused on correctional labor perspectives, with testimony from union representatives and correctional officers from state and county facilities. Chair Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger opened by noting the commission’s extensive site visits and prior testimony, and they recognized Correctional Officers Week. Witnesses emphasized that officers are central to any reform discussion and described the daily realities of staffing shortages, violence, mental health crises, substance use, and the need for better wellness support. Kevin Flanagan of the correctional officers’ union said officers face serious safety risks, citing weapons recovered, assaults, suicides, and the spread of synthetic drugs like K2 that are often introduced through paper soaked with chemicals. He urged stronger contraband controls, including paperless systems and technology to detect synthetic drugs, and criticized policies he said can be manipulated in gender-identity housing and search situations. He also argued that staffing shortages, forced overtime, and low morale are worsening retention, and that officers need more support after traumatic incidents, including fuller use of the OnSide Academy program. Other union representatives, including NCU and county officers, opposed consolidating sheriffs’ offices or merging them with the Department of Correction, warning it could weaken collective bargaining, reduce local accountability, and harm programming and reentry work. They argued that county facilities are distinct and should be funded and staffed based on local needs, not a one-size-fits-all model, and several speakers supported expanding vocational and reentry programming. Commissioners responded with support for officer wellness and asked for more information on EMS transports, medical interventions, and possible models from other jurisdictions, including Norway and Germany. At the end of the hearing, the commission discussed extending its reporting deadline beyond September 30, with members agreeing to seek an extension to November 30. The commission also agreed to continue site visits, including the upcoming Barnstable visit, and adjourned after adopting the motion to request the extension.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state's UI program is available to workers who are payroll employees.
• When you're a payroll employee and you lose your job and you file a claim for unemployment insurance,
• That is sort of the underpinning of this. is available to workers who are payroll employees.
• When you're a payroll employee and you lose your job and you file a claim for unemployment insurance,
• Dollars they need to pay rent or utilities, that's what it comes down to.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration held an informational hearing on whether the Employment Development Department is ready for the next recession, with a focus on EDD Next, the department’s long-running technology modernization effort. The Legislative Analyst’s Office reviewed EDD’s major benefit programs, the history of prior modernization attempts, the current Integrated Claims Management System work, and the department’s remaining risks, including continued reliance on a COBOL-era mainframe and the challenge of adapting quickly to future federal or state policy changes during a downturn. The LAO also explained that most pandemic-era fraud was tied to temporary federal unemployment programs rather than California’s core UI system, and that the state’s UI loan repayment is not largely attributable to fraud. Members raised concerns about the cost of repeated modernization efforts, paper versus online claims, appeal overturn rates, WARN notices, and legislative oversight of the project. EDD’s panel said the department has made substantial customer-service and processing improvements, including online self-service tools, improved call center features, identity verification, fraud controls, language access upgrades, and a new document management system. Officials reported that as of early 2026, about 83% to 85% of claims across programs were being processed timely within two weeks, and said paid family leave delays in 2024 were tied to the transition into the disability insurance online platform and seasonal workload patterns. They also said EDD is working with the Department of Technology on EDD Next and that the project will proceed in phases, with paid family leave and disability insurance first and unemployment insurance later. Members pressed EDD on persistent paid family leave backlogs, the share of paper applications, response times for constituents, and whether the department tracks long-running cases and WARN notice trends. EDD said its service standard is generally immediate response through phone, chat, or callback tools, while more complex cases can take longer because the department may be waiting on claimants or medical providers. The department also said it tracks call outcomes and outstanding cases, and that it can provide additional data on WARN notices. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with plans to continue discussing EDD Next and paid family leave at a later March 10 budget hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you say employee, statutorily employee means someone who gets a W-2.
• ><c> statutorily</c> when you say employee, statutorily when you say employee, statutorily employee<01
• </c> employee means someone who gets a W-2. employee means someone who gets a W-2.
• </c> utility Oh, that would be the poor. utility Oh, that would be the poor.
• utilities.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Increase statewide, 25 school districts would utilize the new formula. 23 school districts would utilize
• Our employees would have gotten every dime that you siloed. It wouldn't have all been teachers.
• The employees would have got every dime, but it wouldn't have been just teachers.
• So there's a simple one: utility fees. So there's a simple one: utility fees.
• And utilities is something that going forward we will adjust every year.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:52.600><c> the</c><00:01:53.360><c> legislature</c><00:01:54.360><c> had</c> It did get utilized
• before the sunset kicked in, but there was not a great deal of utilization.
• um but I never gave up the utilization um but I never gave up the hope<00:02:26.879><c> that</c><00:
• I think this is timely to energize our state employees to be able to feel as if they have a voice and
• So an employee recommends to their management.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 289, authored by Representative Quam, and adopted a technical A1 amendment before moving the bill forward. Quam explained that the bill is intended to create a mechanism for frontline state employees, faculty, and management to identify waste, inefficiency, and possible savings in agency budgets, with a portion of any savings going back to the state budget and the remainder placed in a special fund for mission-related spending decided by a joint committee. He said the idea grew out of earlier faculty union discussions and that the bill had previously passed with bipartisan support, though it was underused when first enacted. Members generally praised the goal of empowering employees and improving efficiency, but several raised concerns about the bill’s practical operation and low historical use. Representative Jones asked why uptake had been limited and whether current conditions would improve participation; Quam responded that larger budgets and more employee engagement could make the program more useful now. Representative Freiberg and Representative Bonner both supported the concept but questioned whether employees would understand budget constraints and whether the structure might discourage managers from saving money intentionally. Quam argued that employee input would improve decisions, morale, and credibility, and could help justify needed investments. Representative Koznick asked how the bill interacted with the Odyssey Fund, and staff clarified that the two are separate accounts and do not directly affect each other. Representative Koznick also objected to comments he viewed as attacking the administration, and the chair reminded members not to impute motives. Representative Kosnik/Quam indicated openness to future improvements, but Representative Bonner said she was not ready to support the bill in its current form because of concerns about the approval process through MMB and the Legislative Audit Commission. Despite those reservations, the committee ultimately voted to send House File 289, as amended, to the General Register.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill as filed required additional details to be collected by the utility and submitted to ERCOT.
• This is meant to encourage the utilities to work with customers, large load customers, to coordinate
• We were in forecasting, if you, the ERCOT and the PUC, or rather the local utility, needed to know for
• </p><p>Yeah, the reason it applies to distribution and transmission is that we found that one utility
• so the utility knows how quickly we have to be prepared to meet that demand.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met to consider and vote on a committee substitute for Senate Bill 6, which Senator King said was intended to address rapidly growing electricity demand from large loads such as data centers while protecting reliability and keeping costs from shifting to homeowners and small businesses. He described the bill as a response to updated ERCOT and PUC forecasts showing much higher generation needs than previously expected. Senator King outlined several substantive changes in the substitute: replacing a minimum transmission charge with an upfront interconnection charge for new large loads; requiring the PUC to conduct a more detailed 4CP evaluation and adopt rules based on it; expanding load-forecasting data collection to smaller loads and standardizing criteria for interconnections; removing an exemption from ERCOT/PUC reliability review for certain net metering arrangements; making some PUC conditions temporary and limiting intervenors in those proceedings; and requiring utilities to work with large load customers on protocols and equipment for firm load shed participation. He also noted technical changes meant to close loopholes, including changing references from “duplicate” to “substantially similar” projects and from “affiliated” to “unaffiliated.” Senator Menendez asked for clarification on several provisions, including whether stranded infrastructure costs applied to generation or only transmission, how “single site” would be defined, how ERCOT-directed curtailment and notice would work, and what “load ramp milestones” meant. King responded that the bill was meant to cover both distribution and transmission-level loads, that the PUC would define certain terms through rulemaking, that large customers would work with utilities in advance on flexible load and backup generation arrangements, and that ramp milestones would help utilities plan for phased growth in demand. After questions concluded, Senator King moved adoption of the committee substitute and passage of SB 6 as substituted. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the expanded uses allowed in H.R. 1, With the expanded uses allowed in H.R. 1, we expect utilization
• There’s no fee for employers to offer direct deposit for their employees, and we’ll help them set it
• Employees with a 529 payroll direct deposit save, on average, 75% more than those who only contribute
• Direct employer contributions to employees’ Ideal accounts qualify for a 20% tax credit, up to a maximum
• of $500 per employee per year.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm concerned, of course, that there might be families that utilize both and should utilize both, and
• So we utilize DUE's data.
• So employee benefits is next, still has to five.
• institutional avenues to be utilized.
• And I, for one, ...know how to utilize these funds.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee heard extended discussion of the chair’s House budget substitute, especially House Bill 2 for elementary and secondary education and House Bill 3 for higher education. The chair said the operating budget leaves roughly $300 million in reserve, explained several cuts and restorations, and described proposed changes to child care, including cutting enhancement payments and keeping attendance-based rather than enrollment-based subsidy payments. Representative Fogle objected to the child care cuts and the proposed language limiting the department’s move to prospective payment and enrollment-based reimbursement; State Budget Director Dan Hogg testified that the governor’s office still intended to move to payment on enrollment in May if the budget language did not block it, while prospective payment remained under review because of federal funding concerns. The chair also explained a restriction on Parents as Teachers services for children already in public pre-K, and members debated whether that would reduce duplication or improperly limit services. The chair further proposed a new competitive Title I innovation grant program funded by a reallocation of some Title I dollars, with questions raised about what services would be reduced to offset it. The bulk of the meeting focused on a major higher education funding overhaul in House Bill 3. The chair and vice chair proposed replacing the current base-plus model with an FTE-based formula that would distribute the same overall state funding according to student credit hours, with community colleges funded on a 12-hour FTE, four-year undergraduate students on a 15-hour FTE, and graduate enrollment discussed as a separate issue. They said the goal was to make funding follow students rather than institutions and to reduce long-standing disparities between schools. Several members supported the idea as overdue and more transparent, while others warned it was being done too quickly and could harm institutions with high-cost programs, research missions, or smaller enrollments. Concerns were raised about possible closures, accreditation problems, and unintended effects on workforce programs such as nursing, engineering, and technical training. The chair and vice chair said there was no intent to force consolidation, but acknowledged that some institutions would gain and others would lose under the new model. Members also questioned how the formula would treat research and doctoral funding, especially at the University of Missouri, and whether graduate programs were properly counted. The chair said some special-purpose lines were retained, but a large portion of MU’s research and doctoral funding was folded into the broader pool and redistributed through the FTE model. Several members asked for clarification on whether graduate hours were counted at nine credits, and the chair said he was not certain and would seek follow-up from staff or the department. Community college representatives were discussed as having unanimously opposed the recommendation, and the chair noted that the institutions were briefed only shortly before the hearing. No votes were taken during the exchange, and the committee appeared to be gathering testimony and concerns ahead of markup and future action on the budget bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only way I can really control it is to fire employees. That’s how I control that cost.
• If you're wanting to hire some new employees, what is your justification?
• If you're wanting to hire some new employees, what is your justification for that?
• Not every stormwater utility is charged as a utility fee on your utility bill.
• Some cities have As a utility fee on your utility bill, some cities have structured it to where it's

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs convened with a quorum and took up SB 308, a bill related to the Florida Museum of Black History. The bill would establish a Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors and direct it to work with a supporting nonprofit foundation, while also requiring the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners to provide administrative assistance and staffing until planning, design, and engineering are complete. With no appearance forms or debate, the committee voted the bill favorably. The remainder of the meeting was an informational briefing from the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities on local government budgeting practices. Presenters explained how counties and cities develop budgets, the legal framework governing property taxes and other revenues, the distinction between restricted and unrestricted funds, and the role of constitutional officers, public safety, debt, pensions, and capital planning. They emphasized that most local revenues are restricted by law, that general funds are the main discretionary source, and that local governments must balance annual budgets while meeting mandated service levels. The presenters also discussed how property taxes, fees, local option taxes, and state-shared revenues support local services, and they highlighted the fiscal pressures created by public safety, emergency management, infrastructure, and retirement costs. Members asked questions about the share of local revenue that is unrestricted and the implications for any proposal to eliminate property taxes. The presenters responded that only a portion of county and municipal revenue is flexible, with much of it dedicated to specific purposes by law.