Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

>> Chair: … ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. BROOK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> Senator Arrington: HERE. >> SENATOR AVILA. >> Senator Avila: HERE. >> SENATOR BERNARD. >> Senator Bernard: HERE. >> SENATOR BRACY DAVIS. >> Senator Bracy Davis: HERE. >> SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: HERE. >> SENATOR LEEK. >> Senator Leek: HERE. >> SENATOR MARTIN. >> Senator Martin: HERE. >> SENATOR MAYFIELD. >> Senator Mayfield: HERE. >> SENATOR MCCLAIN. >> Senator McClain: HERE. >> SENATOR SMITH. >> Senator Smith: HERE. >> SENATOR TRUENOW. >> Senator Truenow: HERE. >> SENATOR WRIGHT. >> Senator Wright: HERE. >> VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >> Senator Polsky: HERE. >> CHAIR DICEGLIE. >> Senator DiCeglie: HERE. >> A QUORUM IS PRESENT. >> Chair: SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE FORM AND HAND IT TO A MEMBER OF THE SERGEANTS OFFICE. IF YOU WANT TO WAIVE YOUR SPEAKING TIME YOUR POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING RECORDS. SENATORS WE HAVE SIX BILLS TODAY AND ONE AND A HALF HOURS AND WE WILL NOT EXTEND. IF I HAVE TO SPEED UP SOME TESTIMONY I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WILL BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. I WANT TO TIGHTEN THINGS UP AND I APPRECIATE THE UNDERSTANDING. WE WILL GO AND START WITH TAB NUMBER THREE. THAT IS CS FOR SENATE BILL 1340 TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION BY SENATOR ROUSON. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> Senator Rouson: THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. SENATE BILL 1340 TRANSFORMS DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN FLORIDA BY BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN THE LIVE LOCAL ACT AND APPLYING THE SAME PRINCIPLES REDUCING RED TAPE AND ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN PROTECTING PROPERTY RIGHTS TO AREAS WERE FLORIDA HAS ALREADY INVESTED HEAVILY IN THAT IS OUR TRANSIT CORRIDOR. THE BILL UPDATES AND CLARIFIES THE STATUTORY DEFINITION OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT OR TLD. TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AREAS ARE PLACES THAT ARE SERVED BY A FIXED TRANSIT SYSTEM SUCH AS BUS RAPID TRANSIT, COMMUTER RAIL, INTERCITY RAIL, STREETCARS, OR FIXED GUIDEWAY TRANSIT. IN OTHER WORDS THIS WILL NOT BE IN OPEN DEVELOPMENT AROUND EVERYDAY NEIGHBORHOOD BUS STOPS BUT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON DENSE TRANSIT CORRIDORS. LIVE LOCAL SHOWS THAT WHEN THERE ARE CLEAR STANDARDS REMOVING UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO HOUSE BUILDING. 1342 APPLIES THE SAME APPROACH TRANSIT ORIENTED AREAS AND THAT IS THE BILL. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT. >> Chair: LET'S TAKE UP AMENDMENT BAR CODE 476078. SENATOR ROUSON YOU MAY EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. >> Senator Rouson: THIS IS FOR DESIGNATED LAND USE ALIGNED WITH SECTION 163.164 AND CLARIFIES THE BILL APPLIED SPECIFICALLY TO LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION NOT EVERY LOCAL REMOVES A SECTION PROVIDED FOR PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION AND EXEMPTS SPECIFIC AREAS BY CLARIFYING PROPERTIES WITHIN CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE AREAS. HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED PROPERTIES AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BILL. THAT IS THE AMENDMENT. >> Chair: QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT >> NO. >> Chair: IS THERE DEBATE? YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Rouson: CLOSE. >> Chair: THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? WE ARE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED? SEEING NONE WE HAVE APPEARANCE FORMS. I WILL GET MY GLASSES. WE HAVE MAX MALAN GOLDSTEIN. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I AM A RESIDENT OF BROWARD COUNTY AND I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE CHAIR FOR AGENDA ENDING THIS BILL DIRECTLY TO THE COMMITTEE FOR BEING HERE AND SENATOR ROUSON WHO IS AN INCREDIBLE SPONSOR TO WORK WITH OF THIS LEGISLATION. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME BUT I BELIEVE DURING THE TIME OF THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND THE MISMATCH IN FLORIDA I DO WANT TO SAY THERE ARE TWO RATIONAL THINGS HERE THAT I THINK INTEREST TO PASS. THE FIRST IS THE HOUSE SHORTAGE IS MOST ACUTE IN THE URBAN CENTERS OF THE MAJOR CITY AND THAT IS WHERE THIS BILL IS MOST TARGETED TO APPLY TO IT IS AN URBAN FOREST LIKE MIAMI DADE COUNTY, BROWARD, AND PINELLAS AROUND TRANSIT CORRIDORS WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY THERE NOT JUST FOR TRANSPORTATION BUT THAT IS WHERE THERE IS WATER, SEWER, ROAD AND OTHER UTILITY AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE AS A STATE AND WITH THE HOUSING SUPPLY MISMATCH IS MOST. SECOND IS THAT AND THIS IS MORE RELEVANT TO THIS COMMITTEE SPECIFICALLY THE STATE HAS BEEN THE ENTITY INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS FOR EXAMPLE TRY RAIL THE COMMUTER RAIL AND SO FLORIDA WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY WITH STATE DOLLARS AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE A STATE SUBSIDY EVERY YEAR BETWEEN 15 AND $60 MILLION SO IT'S IN THE STATE'S INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE CORRIDORS AND MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING AROUND THE TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND TO MAXIMIZE THE UTILITY AND OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT AS STATE LEGISLATURE. THAT IS WHY I WANT FOR ALL OF YOU TO BE UP ON THIS BILL AND SEND IT TO RULES NEXT WEEK. >> Chair: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ARI BARG INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE. >> I'M A SENIOR ATTORNEY WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR LEAD ON THIS ZONING PROJECT. THIS ALLOWS FREEDOM TO OWNERS TRANSIT HAS INHERENT VALUE THAT SHOULD BE MAXIMIZED FOR THOSE WHO LIVE NEAR IT SHOULD NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE LAND PRODUCTIVELY WITH THINGS LIKE EXCESSIVE USE RESTRICTIONS, HEIGHT LIMITS OR DENSITY CAPS. AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID THIS BILL ALSO DIRECTLY ADDRESSES HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BY ALLOWING MIXED USE RATE DEVELOPED NEAR TRANSIT AND THIS ARTIFICIALLY INFLATES COST AND HAS TREMENDOUS REAL WORLD VALUE BECAUSE IT FACILITATES HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WHO ARE PRIMARILY YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO OFTEN POSTPONE MAJOR LIFE EVENTS ARE GETTING MARRIED OR HAVING CHILDREN UNTIL THEY CAN AFFORD HOME OF THEIR OWN. FINALLY ALONE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT MAKES BASIC ECONOMIC AND FISCAL SENSE. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS EXPENSIVE BUT IT IS WORTH IT BECAUSE IT FACILITATES THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE OF THOSE CLOSEST TO IT SHOULD NOT FORBIDDEN FROM THESE BENEFITS. THIS IS NOT A RADICAL NEW EXPERIMENT OR FAD BUT BACKED BY HISTORY. CIVILIZATIONS HAVE ALWAYS FORMED AROUND TRANSPORTATION BORDERS LIKE RIVERS AND HIGHWAYS AND METRO STOPS WHATEVER. BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN WITH THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NOWHERE IS THAT MORE TRUE THAN HERE IN FLORIDA. HENRY FLAGLER DID NOT JUST BUILD A LINES HE DEVELOPED ECONOMIC HUBS ALONG THEM. THIS IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RAIL LINES THAT MADE FINANCED SUCCESSFUL. THAT IS WHAT HAS SHAPED THE STATE FROM JACKSONVILLE TO KEY WEST. SB 1342 RECOGNIZES THIS TIMELESS PRINCIPLE WHEN WE BUILD A TRANSIT WE SHOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE AND BUILD AROUND IT. THAT IS HOW ECONOMIES GROW AND PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED AND WE HAVE ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR ALL FLORIDIANS. THIS IS WHY I AM SPEAKING TODAY. >> Chair: WE HAVE TALBOT SHOWFORE AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE ANON FERNANDEZ AARP WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE REBECCA O'HAIR FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU CHAIR AND GOOD MORNING MEMBERS. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES WE OPPOSE THIS BILL WITH NO PUBLIC HEARINGS EVERY 500 ACRES SURROUNDING THE TRANSIT STATION, RAIL STATION OR AN EXPRESS BUS STOP MEANING A SINGLE SUBURBAN TOWN COULD HAVE MULTIPLE 500 ACRE AREAS CONVERTED TO HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT HOMEOWNERS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT REDUCES CURRENT LOT SIZES IN THESE AREAS BUT 85 PERCENT. NOT JUST IN URBAN DOWNTOWNS LIKE MIAMI BUT SUBURBS WITH UNLIMITED DENSITY AND NO OPEN SPACE EXISTING RESIDENTS WILL ALSO SUBSIDIZE ALL OF THIS NEW GROWTH BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL TO ENSURE THE GROWTH WILL PAY FOR ITSELF TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ROADS, WATER, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. WHAT IS MISSING IS CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THE DENSITY INCREASES MEAN FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREAS AND HURRICANE EVACUATIONS. THE IRONY IS THAT TOD TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING IN FLORIDA ALREADY. MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ZONES CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS WHICH MEANS WE ARE ASSURED IN THESE AREAS THAT THERE WILL BE SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THE INCREASED DENSITY AND THE ZONE WILL INCREASE RECENT TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. UNLIKE THE BILL BEFORE YOU ALL OF WORK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH FULL PUBLIC INPUT BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE SENATE BILL ON DOES ALL THIS GOOD WORK WITH THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT DEVELOPING THESE CURRENT DISTRICTS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT INPUT BY STATE, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN TRANSIT. COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO REJECT THEIR GOOD POLICIES AND START NEW TO CONFORM TO THE MANDATES OF THE BILL. THE BILL REQUIRES EVERY SINGLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME WHICH DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE STATE'S OWN GUIDANCE ON TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. SOME ORIGINAL AND SOME ARE COMMUNITY BASED AND SOME ARE JUST NEIGHBORHOOD BUS STOPS. EACH TYPE NEEDS ITS OWN DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS NOT A SINGLE STATE BASED ZONING CODE FORCED ON IT. A RAIL STATION AT THE ORLANDO AIRPORT SHOULD HAVE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAN THE BUS STOP AT DELAND OR STEWARD THIS TEACH BEDROOM COMMUNITIES LIKE MANHATTAN. THIS IS NOT ABOUT INCREASING TRANSIT RIDERSHIP BUT UNCHECKED AND UNPLANNED THIS IS WITH LAND LAW AND OF THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO DO MORE OF THIS IT'S FINE BUT IT SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT WITH FULL PUBLIC INPUT AND COORDINATION WITH STATE, FEDERAL, AND REGIONAL TRANSIT AGENCIES. THE DENSITIES AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AROUND EACH DISTRICT SHOULD BE BASED ON DATA AND ANALYSIS RATHER THAN SOMEONE'S BEST GUESS OF WHAT SEEMS RIGHT. YOU ALREADY HAVE GOOD GUIDANCE OUT THERE FROM YOUR OWN STATE AGENCIES AND FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THESE THINGS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU CONSIDER THESE THINGS BEFORE MOVING THE BILL FURTHER. THANK YOU. >> Chair: THANK YOU. KIM DEACON THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA WAIVING AGAINST AND WE HAVE MICHAEL HOWARD WITH THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES. COME ON UP SIR. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU SENATOR DICEGLIE AND MEMBERS. I'M A COUNCILMEMBER WITH THE TOWN OF INDIAN SHORES UP PINELLAS COUNTY AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER WHICH IS A COALITION OF 27 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PINELLAS COUNTY AREA AND HILLSBORO AND PASCO REPRESENTING OVER MILLION RESIDENTS AND I AM HERE TO RESPECTFULLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH CS AND SB 1342 THE TOD AS AMENDED. WE SHARED LEGISLATORS RULES WITH EXPANDING HOUSING NEAR RECOGNIZED ZONES AND MEANINGFUL REQUIREMENTS THE PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION AND ATTORNEY FEE PROVISION'S STRENGTHENS HISTORIC PROPERTY PROTECTIONS ADDING CARVEOUTS FOR THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR AND THE EVERGLADES MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND LOCALLY DESIGNATED AND SENSITIVE LANDS HOWEVER CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES REMAINS CONCERNED THAT THE BILL'S CORE FRAMEWORK STILL REPRESENTS SWEEPING PREEMPTIONS TO LOCAL LAND USE AUTHORITY. FOR THE IMMEDIATE TERM, THE BILL'S IMPACT ON THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE'S 27 MEMBERS IS CONCENTRATED ON THE PS TA AND HAVING DISCUSSED PS TA STOPS IN SAINT PETE BEACH PASADENA AND THE HEART TECO LINE IS TAMPA THE CHANNELSIDE DISTRICT, THE YBOR DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA. THESE ARE THE ONLY TRANSIT SERVICES THAT DEFINITIVELY MEET THE BILLS PERMIT PUBLIC TRANSIT STOP DEFINITION. HOWEVER, FOR THE IMMEDIATE LONG TERM EVERY MISS A PALLET HE AND PENNELL IS IN HILLSBORO IS EXPOSED TO PS TA AND THE HARTLINE EXPANSION AND DISCUSSION OF EXPANSION ON RAIL SERVICE OR FUTURE BRT. AS THE BILL PASSES IN IT'S CURRENT FORM ANY NEW QUALIFYING STOPS WOULD TRIGGER PERMANENT REVOCABLE TOD ZONES THAT DOUBLE THE HEIGHT WITH NO LOCAL REVIEW. THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THIS BILL'S SPONSOR CONSIDER A BARRIER ISLAND ARE COASTAL COMMUNITY EXEMPTION OR REDUCE TYPE PROVISION FOR MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE FEMA FLOOD ZONE FLOOD HAZARD AREA WITH LIMITED EVACUATION INFRASTRUCTURE. A MINIMUM POPULATION OR LAND USE WHICH WOULD DOUBLE THE PROVISIONS AND NOT APPLIED. A LOCAL OPT IN OR NEGOTIATED FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS MISS APOLOGIES TO TELL THE TOD STANDARDS FOR LOCAL GEOGRAPHY INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONSTRAINTS RATHER THAN APPLYING A UNIFORM STATEWIDE CODE. MODIFICATIONS TO THE PERMANENCE PROVISION OF THE TOD ZONES REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OF QUALIFIED ZINC TRANSIT STOP OR CLOSE OR IF THE TRANSIT SERVICE IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED OR TERMINATED. ON BEHALF OF THE 27 MUNICIPALITIES AT THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES I ASKED THE SENATOR TO CONSIDER FURTHER AMENDMENTS THAT PRESERVE THE MEANINGFUL ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN SHAPING THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS IN INVITATION. I APOLOGIZE WE DID NOT ARRIVE EARLY ENOUGH OR SOON ENOUGH TO MEET WITH SENATOR ROUSON BEFORE THE MEETING BUT WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM IN THE COMMITTEE IN. THANK YOU. >> Chair: THANK YOU. SENATORS, IS THERE ANY DEBATE ON THIS BILL? SENATOR ROUSON YOU MAY CLOSE ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. >> Senator Rouson: THIS BILL DOES NOT MANDATE DEVELOPMENT. IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE SAFETY STANDARDS AND IT DOES NOT TAKE PLANNING AUTHORITY AWAY WHERE IT IS LEGITIMATELY NEEDED. IT SIMPLY ENSURES THAT WHEN FLORIDA INVESTS IN TRANSIT OUR LAND USE POLICIES DON'T WORK AGAINST THE AFFORDABILITY, MOBILITY, AND PROPERTY RIGHTS. WITH THIS I ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. >> Chair: THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON CS FOR CS SENATE BILL 1342. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR AVILA. SENATOR BERNARD. SENATOR BRACY DAVIS. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR LEEK. SENATOR MARTIN. SENATOR MAYFIELD. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR SMITH. SENATOR TRUENOW. SENATOR WRIGHT. SENATOR POLSKY. SENATOR DICEGLIE. >> Chair: YES BY YOUR VOTE CS FOR CS SENATE BILL 1342 REPORTS FAVORABLY. THANK YOU SENATOR ROUSON. SENATORS WE WILL GO TO TAB NUMBER FOUR CS FOR SENATE BILL 1342 BY SENATOR GRALL. YOU MAY EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> Senator Grall: THERE ARE TWO MAIN THEMES OF THIS BILL EFFECTIVE JULY 1st, 2026, UPDATING STATUTORY PROVISIONS RELATED TO CITIZEN SHIP AND VOTING TO BETTER WORK WITH THE SYSTEMS AND TOOLS AVAILABLE TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO VERIFY CITIZENSHIP LIKE REAL ID AND THE SAVE DATABASE WHEN LEGAL STATUS IS UNCERTAIN ALSO TO UPDATE TERMS AND DEFINITIONS TO CLARIFY THE PRIMARY METHOD FOR VOTING IN FLORIDA IS MY PEN AND PAPER. THE BILL MAKES SEVERAL OTHER CHANGES INCLUDING PROVIDING FOR AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THEIR PARTY AND NOT JUST CLAIM TO FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO QUALIFYING PROHIBITING A PERSON FROM QUALIFYING AS A CANDIDATE IF HE OR SHE HAS CHANGED HIS OR HER NAME THROUGH THE STATUTORY PETITION TIME PRIOR TO QUALIFYING THIS DOES NOT APPLIED TO THOSE WHO CHANGE THE NAME DO TO MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, OR ADOPTION. CLARIFYING THESE TIME FRAMES FOR THE COMMISSION AND SUPERVISORS TO UPLOAD THESE RESULTS FOR FIVE FIVE YEAR VIOLATIONS FOUND ELECTION VIOLATIONS, DRIVERS LICENSE IDENTIFICATION CARD HOLDERS THAT ARE U.S. CITIZENS REQUIRING CARDS INDICATE SUCH BY JULY 1st, 2027, PROVIDING SUCH A CARD MUST BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO A PERSON WHO BECOMES A U.S. CITIZEN AND UPDATE THEIR STATUS ACCORDINGLY AND THERE ARE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES. >> Chair: LET'S TAKE THE LATE FILED AMENDMENTS BARCODE 22198 BY SENATOR GRALL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. >> Senator Grall: THIS REMOVES THE CROSS REFERENCE TO A SECTION OF LAW REMOVED FROM THE UNDERLYING BILL AT THE LAST COMMITTEE STOP. >> Chair: QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE ARE THERE APPEARANCE FORMS? IS THERE DEBATE? SENATOR GRALL YOU MAY CLOSE. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS AMENDMENT? THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED. WE WILL GO TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT BAR CODE 638692 SENATOR GRALL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. >> Senator Grall: THIS MAKES A FEW CHANGES THAT ARE TECHNICAL IN NATURE ADJUSTING THE DEFINITION OF BALLOT TO REMOVE OR PROVE FRUITLESS LANGUAGE AND TERMINOLOGY CREATING A DEFINITION FOR THE TERM DOCUMENT ACCEPTABLE AS EVIDENCE OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND LISTS OF THE DOCUMENT OTHER PARTS OF THE STATUTE CAN THEN REFER TO THE DEFINITION THAT OF RELISTING THE DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE THE SAME AS THOSE INCLUDED IN THE UNDERLYING BILL. THE AMENDMENT REMOVES THE LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE OF CITIZENSHIP ELSEWHERE IN THE BILL AND INSTEAD REFERENCE IS THE NEW DEFINITION AND CHANGES THE 360 PERIOD PROCEEDING QUALIFYING TO 365 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING QUALIFYING MAKING THE WORDING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WILL APPEAR ON THE OATH OF CANDIDATE WILL SIGN AT QUALIFIES AND THAT IS THE AMENDMENT. APPEARANCE FORMS? DEBATE? YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Grall: WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED. WE ARE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE THAT WE ARE IN APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT FISCAL IMPACTS ON VARIOUS AGENCIES. IF WE COULD TRY TO LIMIT THE QUESTIONS BASED TO THIS I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT CONSIDERING WE HAVE AN HOUR AND NINE MINUTES TO GO IN THE COMMITTEE. WITH THAT I WILL OPEN US UP FOR QUESTIONS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SENATOR ARRINGTON? >> Senator Arrington: I HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION. SENATOR GRALL IT SAYS IN THE BILL WE WILL REQUIRE VOTERS TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. I THINK THAT IS LINE 197 OF THE AMENDMENT BUT IT DOES NOT SPECIFY THE METHOD OF SUBMISSION WHETHER IT IS ELECTRONIC COPIES, IN PERSON, HOW WILL THEY HANDLE SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS? WILL TO BE STORED? REVIEWED? ET CETERA, PLEASE TELL ME HOW THIS WILL WORK. >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: I AM LOOKING AT LINE 197 OF THE AMENDMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE. IT IS 326 ALSO. WHAT THE BILL IS DOING IS SAYING IF THEY HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THIS INFORMATION TO DHS MV THEY DON'T NEED TO, AND THEY HAVE A REAL ID. THEY PROVIDED THE REAL ID IS APPROVED THEY WOULD NEED TO SHOW THIS TO SUPERVISOR THE SUPERVISOR WOULD DOCUMENT THE TYPE OF EVIDENCE THAT WAS PROVIDED BUT NOT SCAN IT OR KEEP COPIES OF THE EVIDENCE. >> Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> Senator Arrington: IF THEY DON'T HAVE A REAL ID AND THEY WERE TO SHOW THE OTHER PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS HOW WOULD THEY DO IT? IN PERSON? MAIL? WITH A STORY? IF THEY MAILED IT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: THE FIRST REFERENCE YOU MADE WAS IN REGARD TO THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THAT THEY WANT A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AND THEY WILL SHOW SOMETHING THAT IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE VOTER REGISTRATION WHICH IS WHY IT IS INCLUDED IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BILL. BUT IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THEM TO BRING IT IN PERSON TO SHOW THE SUPERVISOR AND THEN THE SUPERVISOR WOULD DOCUMENT THE TYPE OF EVIDENCE PROVIDED BUT WOULD NOT COPY, SCAN, OR RETAIN THE EVIDENCE. >> Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> Senator Arrington: IF SOMEONE WAS AT THE SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT? >> ANYONE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THAT TYPE OF WORK AT THE SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE I AM SURE THERE ARE CERTAIN CLERKS THAT WOULD DO THAT BUT PROBABLY PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE. >> Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> Senator Arrington: ON THE SAME LINE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY U.S. CITIZENS ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO VOTE IN FLORIDA BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR CITIZEN DOCUMENTS RECORDED IN THE DHS MV DATABASE? >> Senator Grall: I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER BUT I HAVE FOR MAY 2025 THAT THERE WERE 99.5 I BELIEVE PERCENT OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS IN FLORIDA REAL ID COMPLIANT AND THAT IS FROM THE DHS MV. >> Senator Arrington: THANK YOU BUT HOW MANY U.S. CITIZENS OF VOTING AGE OF FLORIDA DON'T HAVE THE REAL ID DO YOU KNOW THAT ARE CAN YOU GET IT FOR US? >> Senator Grall: I CAN SEE IF THE NUMBER IT'S AVAILABLE BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT AS WE ARE HERE TODAY I JUST KNOW THAT IT IS THE PRIMARY ID OF FLORIDA CITIZENS TODAY. >> Senator Arrington: STILL ON THE DOCUMENTS WHAT KIND OF DOCUMENTS ARE ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF NAME CHANGE FOR A MARRIED WOMAN AND DO YOU HAVE THAT IN THE BILL SOMEWHERE AS WELL? >> Senator Grall: ANY OF THE TRADITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST THE BUILDS NOT CHANGE WHAT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN THE PAST IS PROOF OF NAME CHANGE MARRIAGE LICENSE THAT TYPE OF THING. >> Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> Senator Arrington: TWO MORE QUESTIONS. >> Chair: YES. >> Senator Arrington: HAVE YOU SPOKE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS WOULD INCREASE THEIR WORKLOAD OR COSTS? >> Senator Grall: THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION. I HEARD FROM THEM A GREAT DEAL PRIOR LOCALLY BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME COMMUNICATION ISSUES BETWEEN DHS MV SYSTEMS AND THE SUPERVISOR SYSTEMS ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPDATING OF THE DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBERS BY ADDING FOUR ADDITIONAL NUMBERS. SO THIS IS BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THAT THIS WILL INCREASE AND MAKE EASIER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS AS TO AVOID DUPLICATE OF PROCESSES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. >> Senator Arrington: APPROPRIATION WISE YOU SAID YOU THINK IT MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM REGARDING INCREASE COSTS. >> Senator Grall: NOT ORIGINAL IT HAD VOTER VALIDATION SOFTWARE BUT THAT IS NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PRODUCT. >> Chair: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SENATOR SMITH. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU SENATOR GRALL I DO HAVE SOME FISCAL IMPACT QUESTIONS AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS THAT WOULD IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE LOCAL SUPERVISORS WOULD NEED AS A RESULT. PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT SENATOR ARRINGTON ASKED REGARDING THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE BILL THAT WOULD BE DOCUMENTS THAT CAN PROVE SOMEONE CITIZENSHIP I THINK IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE AND BRING IT IN PHYSICALLY TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS BUT I HAVE MANY STUDENTS AND UCF HAS SENATORS WHO REPRESENT CAMPUS COMMUNITY WHO ARE OUT OF STATE OR NOT NEAR THEIR DOCUMENTS THEY ARE NOT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS WHEN THEY CAN EASILY ACCESS THEM DOES YOUR BILL ALLOW FOR A PASSPORT DOCUMENT OR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR BE TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND NOT IN PERSON SO THAT A STUDENT WHO IS REMOTE WHO BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS PROBABLY WITH MOM OR DAD MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT AND THAT NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY THAT THEY CAN SEND THESE DOCUMENTS DIGITALLY? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: THE WAY IT WORKS WHEN THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR ELIGIBILITY IS THAT YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS A GAP IN THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT IT. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT PROHIBITS IT FROM BEING SUBMITTED VIA MAIL IF IN FACT IT WAS THAT YOUR PARENTS WERE GOING TO SEND A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO THE SUPERVISOR IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU ARE REGISTERED. BUT AGAIN JUST TO REITERATE IF THE STUDENT IS REAL ID COMPLIANT THAT IS A PRESUMPTION AND IT SAYS U.S. CITIZEN THAT IS A PRESUMPTION OF CITIZENSHIP AND NO OTHER DOCUMENTATION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE GONE WITH THE REAL OF THAT LICENSE BECAUSE CITIZENSHIP IS CHECKED IN ORDER TO BE REAL ID COMPLIANT. SOMEONE WHO IS A NONCITIZEN CAN HAVE A REAL ID BUT IT WOULD INDICATE THAT IN THE SYSTEM BUT IF THEY ARE A CITIZEN BASED ON WHAT WAS RECEIVED TO BECOME REAL ID COMPLIANT THERE WAS NO SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION. >> Senator Smith: PERMISSION FOR A SERIES. >> Chair: YOU CAN GO BACK AND FORTH THAT'S FINE. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU CHAIR AND SENATOR GRALL. I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU ANTICIPATE OR THAT YOU EXPECT FOLKS WOULD BE ABLE TO DIGITALLY SUBMIT THEIR DOCUMENTS IF THEY ARE NOT WITH IN THEIR VICINITY IF THEY HAVE THE GO BACK HOME AND FIND THEM. IS THERE A PORTION OF THE BILL OR IS THERE A SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION IN RULEMAKING THAT AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT TO SPECIFICALLY ALLOW FOR THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF THE DOCUMENTS DEMONSTRATING CITIZENSHIP? >> 98.057 SUB SEVEN IS THE REMOVAL PROCESS TO REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THE RULES IF THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY DOCUMENTATION. WERE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THAT, WE ARE NOT CHANGING IT. THAT IS CURRENT LAW AND THE WAY IN WHICH SOMETHING CAN OR CANNOT BE SUBMITTED THE WAY IN WHICH THE SUPERVISOR WOULD INTERACT WITH THAT POTENTIALLY WITH THE VOTER IF THEY ARE LACKING INFORMATION THAT IS ALL IN 98.0577 AND WE ARE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING ON THIS BILL WITH REGARD TO HOW THAT HAPPENS. >> Senator Smith: I DO NOT HAVE THE STATUTE IN FRONT OF ME. DOES THE STATUTE SPECIFY THAT THESE DOCUMENTS AND THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CAN BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY? DOES THIS AFFIRMATIVELY ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? >> Senator Grall: I DO NOT KNOW THAT AS WE SIT HERE TODAY SENATOR SMITH. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU. THAT IS AN ISSUE I WILL ADDRESS IN A LITTLE BIT. BUT I WANT TO ASK FIRST I HEARD YOU MENTION TO SENATOR ARRINGTON THAT 99 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSES IN FLORIDA ARE REAL ID COMPLIANT I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID. >> Senator Grall: IT WAS OF THE IDS THAT ARE USED IN FLORIDA NOT JUST DRIVERS LICENSES. SO OF THE IDS USED IN FLORIDA 99.5 PERCENT OF THOSE ARE REAL ID COMPLIANT. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION DO NOT MANY FLORIDA REGISTERED VOTERS WHO ARE ON THE ROLLS HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSES AND HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE LICENSES THAT ARE REAL ID COMPLIANT? I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE DO NOT HAVE FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSES WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE OR WHO DO NOT HAVE LICENSES THAT ARE REAL ID COMPLIANT THE LARGER THE WORKLOAD WILL BE ON THE VARIOUS AGENCIES AND ENTITIES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO FIND ALTERNATE METHODS TO CONFIRM THEIR CITIZENSHIP. >> Senator Grall: THE NUMBER ABOUT REAL ID COMPLIANCE IS NOT JUST DRIVERS LICENSE BUT ALSO FLORIDA IDENTIFICATION CARDS. FLORIDA IDENTIFICATION CARD CAN BE REAL ID COMPLIANT BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE DRIVING PRIVILEGES. IT IS A COMBINATION OF THESE THINGS THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING BUT I'M HAPPY TO GET ALL THESE NUMBERS FOR THE COMMITTEE FROM DHS MV FROM THE REPORT AND DISPERSE THOSE. IT IS A HIGH NUMBER AND FROM SPEAKING WITH THE SUPERVISORS THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SEEING AS WELL WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING IN SHOWING IDENTIFICATION TO EITHER REGISTER OR TO VOTE. >> Senator Smith: TO HONE IN ON THE QUESTION I DON'T THANK YOU ANSWERED WAS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE DRIVERS LICENSES WHO ARE REGISTERED VOTERS I DO UNDERSTAND A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO DO HAVE LICENSES ARE REAL ID COMPLIANT BUT ON THE VOTER ROLLS HOW MANY AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS ON THE ROLLS DO WE KNOW HOW FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSES AT ALL? >> Senator Grall: I WOULD SAY LESS THAN 10 PERCENT AND 10 PERCENT IS PROBABLY VERY HIGH. JUST BASED ON ANTIDOTAL FEEDBACK I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SUPERVISORS TO THE EXTENT I CAN GET YOU A REAL NUMBER FOR THAT I AM HAPPY TO DO IT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS OVERWHELMINGLY BY SUPER MAJORITY NUMBERS PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR REAL ID COMPLIANT ID WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A LICENSE OR AN ID FOR PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP AND TO BE ABLE TO VOTE. >> Senator Smith: IN THAT CONTEXT I AM UNDERSTANDING YOUR ANSWER TO SAY THAT JUST UNDER 10 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN FLORIDA JUST UNDER 10 PERCENT DO NOT HAVE FLORIDA DRIVERS LICENSES. >> Senator Grall: I THINK THAT'S A HIGH ESTIMATE AS I'M SITTING HERE MAKING AN ESTIMATE BUT I HAVE SPOKEN SOME SUPERVISORS AND THEY SAID WELL OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE REAL ID COMPLIANT ID SO TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN GET A SPECIFIC NUMBER ABOUT WHO IS COMING IN AND NEEDING TO USE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR THAT I CAN GET INFORMATION THAT CROSS REFERENCES WITH THE HSM V AND THE VOTER ROLLS NUMBERS I AM HAPPY TO TRY TO PULL THE NUMBERS OUT AND GET THEM TO YOU BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THE REASON I'M FOCUSING ON THAT IS BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF YOUR BILL IS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE EVEN IF IT IS JUST UNDER 10 PERCENT OR IF IT IS AROUND FIVE OR 6 PERCENT WE ARE SAYING AS IT IMPACT OF YOUR BILL THAT ANYWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND 10 PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS ARE GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE FLAGGED BY THE STATE AS NOT BEING U.S. CITIZENS AND THEY WILL BE PUSHED INTO A VERIFICATION PROCESS WHERE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE U.S. CITIZENS. IS THAT TRUE? HOW DOES IT WORK? >> Senator Grall: I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE BILL BECAUSE VOTER MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED TODAY. VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED TODAY IN WHICH SUPERVISORS ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS ARE ELIGIBLE AND NOTHING IN THIS BILL IS CHANGING THE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN OR A FLORIDA CITIZEN THIS JUST SAYS SYSTEMS CAN TALK. EVERY YEAR PRIOR TO EACH FEDERAL ELECTION 90 DAYS PRIOR IS WHEN EACH SUPERVISOR IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED WITH THEIR LIST MAINTENANCE PROCESS. EVERY TWO YEARS THERE IS A LIST MAINTENANCE PROCESS THAT IS COMPLETED 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING TIME TO CURE IF THEY FIND THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NONCITIZENS OR TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND CURE. NO ONE IS SAVED TO THE LAST MINUTE. THAT IS CURRENT LOT TODAY AND NOTHING IS CHANGING IT. WE ARE SAYING IF YOU'VE GONE TO DHS MV AND YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM ALL OF YOUR CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION AND THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT YOU ARE CITIZEN YOU SHOULD NOT ALSO OF THE COME OVER TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND PULL ALL THE INFORMATION OUT AGAIN. THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL DOES. IT SAYS YOU CAN DO THIS ONCE BECAUSE WE TRUST THE SYSTEM A VERIFICATION HAPPENING AT ONE STATE AGENCY AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BURDEN YOU TO PULL OUT THE DOCUMENTS AGAIN. >> Senator Grall: THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE I WILL GET BACK TO THAT IN THE SECOND BUT I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE NEW VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AS IT RELATES TO A STUDENT HERE IN NORTH FLORIDA. SO, A STUDENT REGISTERS TO VOTE AS A NEW STUDENT IN FLORIDA WHO IS LIVING HERE WHO IS AN FSU THEY HAVE A PERMANENT ADDRESS AND LET'S SAY THEIR HOME ADDRESS IS IN GEORGIA AND THEY HAVE GEORGE'S DRIVERS LICENSE THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE BORN AND THAT IS WHERE THEY GREW UP AND BECAUSE THEY CAN DRIVE TO GEORGIA IN A MATTER OF 20 MINUTES THEY DON'T HAVE A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE BUT THEY ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA NOW THAT THEY LIVED HERE TO GO TO SCHOOL. WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE SINCE IN THE AMENDMENT WE JUST ADOPTED IN BETWEEN'S LINE AT 185 AND 197 WE ARE SEEING IN THE BILL THAT IF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CANNOT BE VERIFIED OR IF THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES INDICATES THAT APPLICANT IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN OR HAS NOT PROVIDED AN ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENT AS EVIDENCE OF CITIZENSHIP BUT I BELIEVE IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT THEY WILL BE FLAGGED AS SOMEONE WHO IS POTENTIALLY A NONCITIZEN SO, WHAT PROCESS DO THEY THEN GO THROUGH AFTER THEY HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE SENATOR GRALL TO CONFIRM THEIR CITIZENSHIP SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THEY HAVE BEEN FLAGGED IN THE SYSTEM. >> Senator Grall: THEY WOULD NEED TO GET A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE. THEY NEED TO BE A FLORIDA RESIDENT. THEY NEED TO BE A FLORIDA RESIDENT WHO HAS A FLORIDA IDENTIFICATION CARD AND YOU ACCEPT FLORIDA -- WHERE YOU CANNOT PROVIDE THE STATE OF GEORGIA DRIVER'S LICENSE BUT THEY WOULD NEED TO CHANGE THEIR DRIVERS LICENSE OR THEIR ID CARD TO FLORIDA AND THEN THAT WOULD ENSURE THEY WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE SUPERVISOR TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE IN FACT A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> Chair: SENATOR SMITH I'M PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A FISCAL QUESTION SO IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. >> Chair: I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING BUT I NEED TO GET THERE QUICKER. >> Senator Smith: CUTTING STRAIGHT TO THE CHASE SO MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUAL BE FLAGGED WITH A SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION AS POTENTIAL NONCITIZENS OF THAT THEN REQUIRE OUTREACH AND REQUIRE STAFF HOURS AND REQUIRE CAPACITY. I'M TRYING TO ASSESS THE VOLUME OF WORK THAT SUPERVISORS ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THIS BILL THAT IS FUNDING THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS FOR THESE ADDITIONAL COST SO I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SENATOR GRALL WHAT YOU JUST SAID NOW IS THAT IF A STUDENT WANTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA YOUR BILL NOW REQUIRES FOR THEM TO ALSO OBTAIN A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE AS WELL EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT OF PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH A DRIVERS LICENSE IS THAT CORRECT? >> Senator Grall: IN ORDER TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA YOU MUST BE A FLORIDA RESIDENT AND YOU HAVE 30 DAYS IN ORDER TO CHANGE HER DRIVERS LICENSE WHEN YOU MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDERED A RESIDENT OTHERWISE IT REMAINS AT THE PRIOR ADDRESS ON THE LICENSE FOR ANOTHER STATE. THIS BILL IS NOT CHANGING THAT AT ALL. THAT IS CURRENT LAW THAT REQUIRES YOU IF YOU ARE GOING TO SAY I AM A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND YOU ARE A DRIVER THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IS IMPLICATED. ALSO, THERE IS NOTHING, THESE ARE PROCESSES THAT THE SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO DO TODAY. THEY CONFIRM ELIGIBILITY OF THEIR LIST TODAY AND, SO, IF THEY HAD SOMEBODY THAT SHOWED UP AND GAVE A GEORGE OR DRIVERS LICENSE WHEN THEY REGISTER TO VOTE THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE SENT A LETTER TODAY SAYING WE NEED DIFFERENT DOCUMENTATION OF YOUR PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT IS CHANGING THAT. THIS IS ALLOWING THEM TO RELY COMPLETELY ON THE REAL ID COMPLIANT IDENTIFICATION CARDS FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS AS OPPOSED TO EVER HAVING TO GET ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. >> Senator Smith: THANK YOU SENATOR GRALL AND MY UNDERSTANDING FOR QUITE SOME TIME FLORIDA OF LAW DOES ALLOW STUDENTS TO VOTE TO GET STUDENTS TO REGISTER AT THE CAMPUS ADDRESS IS THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER WITHOUT IS THEIR DRIVERS LICENSE. >> Senator Grall: THEY CAN DO THAT BUT THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO PROVE THEY WERE A FLORIDA RESIDENT IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THE FLORIDA ELECTION. THEIR RESIDENCY MATTERS AND SO IF THE SUPERVISOR HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESIDENCY OF THAT STUDENT THEN THEY CAN FOLLOW UP AND ASK FOR ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO PROVE IT. THERE ARE WAYS TO REGISTER WITHOUT HAVING CERTAIN YOU CAN SEE MANY THINGS CAN BE PROVIDED BUT AT SOME POINT IF SOMEONE THEY CANNOT RELY ON I GUESS THEY CANNOT RELY ON A DRIVERS LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE AND THE SUPERVISORS WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT AS PROOF OF RESIDENCY. >> Senator Smith: FINAL QUESTION. RELATED TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LACK OF APPROPRIATIONS IN YOUR BILL TO FUND WHAT IS ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE YOUR EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS BILL IS JULY 1st, 2026. FOR THEM TO IMPLEMENT AND BE PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THESE VARIOUS PROVISIONS THAT HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE STAFF DURING THE ELECTION YEAR. HAVE YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT ALL OF THESE TWO REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR BILL THAT SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH VERY QUICKLY ALSO BE WITH THE POTENTIAL NEW TASK TO SUPERVISORS OF DRAWING ALL NEW PRECINCTS AS A RESULT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED MID DECADE REDISTRICTING ON TOP OF THAT. WE HAVE NOT DONE IT YET BUT WE ARE NOT PASSING THIS BILL IN A VACUUM. DO YOU THINK THAT THEY CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS INCLUDING REDISTRICTING? >> Senator Grall: REDISTRICTING IS NOW THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL AND HAS NOT BEEN CONTEMPLATED WITH REGARD TO THIS POLICY. THAT IS MEANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE SUPERVISORS TO SHARE DATA WITH DHS AND V, MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE 99.5 PERCENT FLORIDIANS THAT HAVE A REAL ID COMPLIANCE. IT'S ALL MEANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO VOTE AND FOR THE SUPERVISORS TO SHARE THE DATA. THERE MAY BE THE NEED TO UPDATE SOME SYSTEMS FROM DHS MV FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO HIS PARTNERS OF THE STATE IN TERMS OF SHARING. THE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS TIME TO MAKE THE SYSTEMS WORK BETTER. BUT NOW WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS HAVING TO HAPPEN THAT IS TAKING MORE WORK FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN WHICH A DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER WOULD CHANGE. SO THAT ADDING THE ADDITIONAL FOUR NUMBERS. THAT IS ADDITIONAL WORK THAT THE SYSTEMS CURRENTLY HAVE NOT BEEN LINED UP TO TAKE CARE OF AND IT IS A MORE MANUAL PROCESS. THIS SEEKS TO MAKE ALL OF THAT MORE SMOOTH SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A WORKLOAD THAT WOULD DECREASE IN THE LONG RUN. >> Chair: SENATOR BRACY DAVIS PLEASE LIMIT YOUR QUESTION TO APPROPRIATION OR FISCAL IMPACT. >> Senator Bracy Davis: I WANT TO ADD AND ATTACH MY QUESTION TO WHAT SENATOR SMITH ASKED IN TERMS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE. YOU MENTION THAT THIS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE SUPERVISORS OF AND OUT OF THE 67 COUNTIES HOW MANY SUPERVISOR SUPPORT THIS? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: I HAVE NOT TAKEN A POLL. >> Senator Bracy Davis: DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SINCE THE BILL OVERWHELMINGLY AFFECTS THEM AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS IN A FEW MONTHS? >> Senator Grall: AS I INDICATED BEFORE I HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SUPERVISORS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THEM RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT CONTENT OF THE BILL TO ME IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT. AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS WILL STREAMLINE AND MAKE THEIR PROCESSES EASIER AND THERE IS SO MANY COMPONENTS OF THE BILL THAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING. I JUST DON'T SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE GOTTEN FEEDBACK ON THAT IS CONCERNING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION. >> Chair: SENATOR BRACY DAVIS. >> Senator Bracy Davis: THANK YOU. WILL ANY OF THEM DO YOU KNOW BE WAIVING IN SUPPORT TODAY? >> Senator Grall: I AM NOT SURE. I HAD THE MIAMI DADE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION WAIVE IN SUPPORT IN THE LAST ONE. >> Senator Bracy Davis: ONE OUT OF 67. DOES CORD BYRD HAVE A STANCE OF THIS BILL OR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE? >> Senator Grall: I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND WITH SUPERVISORS AND WITH THE HOUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE UPCOMING ELECTION AND THAT WOULD ONLY SERVE TO ASSIST IN THE UPCOMING ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS. I AM SURE THE SECRETARY HAS OPINIONS ON THE BILL AND I AM SURE THE SECRETARY HAS OTHER THINGS THAT HE WOULD LIKE IN THE BILL AND MAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HE WOULD NOT LIKE BUT I PRESENT TO YOU WHERE I HAVE COME TO IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL ELECTION POLICY AND CONSIDERATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE TODAY. >> Senator Bracy Davis: I BELIEVE YOU TOLD SENATOR ARRINGTON AT THAT THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS DON'T KEEP THE DOCUMENTS BUT THEN I THINK YOU ALSO TOLD SENATOR SMITH THAT A STUDENT COULD SUBMIT A DOCUMENT BY MAIL. IF THE STUDENT SUBMITS THE DOCUMENT HOW THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS SECURING FOR DISPOSING OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY HAVE SUBMITTED? >> Senator Grall: THE BILL DOES NOT CHANGE HOWEVER THIS IS DONE TODAY. SO WITH ALL OF OTHER PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT DOCUMENT AND KEEP IT SECURE AND ALL OTHER SECURITY PROTOCOLS THIS BILL DOES NOT IMPACT THE LAWS IN WHICH THE SUPERVISORS ARE SUBJECT TODAY IN TERMS OF THE SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS. WHATEVER ATTENTION IS REQUIRED WHEN THEY RECEIVE IT HOWEVER THEY WOULD DESTROY ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONTEMPLATED IN PRIOR LEGISLATION AS WELL AS RULES AND THIS BILL DOES NOT CHANGE ANY OF IT. >> Senator Bracy Davis: FOLLOW UP. >> Chair: FOLLOW UP. DO YOU HAVE FISCAL IMPACT QUESTION? I WANT TO REMIND APPROPRIATIONS THIS IS NOT THE LAST COMMITTEE STOP WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS POLICY BUT I WANT TO GET FOCUSED ON FISCAL IMPACT OF THE BILL, PLEASE. >> Senator Bracy Davis: IT IS HARD TO DO THAT SINCE THERE IS NO MONEY CONTEMPLATED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE SO IT'S HARD TO HAVE FISCAL QUESTIONS WITH NO PHYSICAL ATTACH BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE DISABLED COMMUNITY MANY FLORIDIANS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES DO NOT HAVE DRIVERS LICENSE, NO STATE ID CARDS, OR DOCUMENTS THEREFORE THEY MAY NOT APPEAR IN THE DHS MV SYSTEM FOR CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION DURING VOTER REGISTRATION OR UPDATE. FOR VOTERS WHO ALSO FACE BARRIERS COMPLETING A RETURNING PAPER FORMS INCLUDING BLIND OR LOW VISION VOTERS AND THOSE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS WILL ELECTRONIC METHODS SUCH AS E MAIL BE ACCEPTED FOR COMPLETING AND RETURNING THESE FORMS? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: COMPLETING AND RETURNING WHAT FORMS? >> Senator Bracy Davis: FLORIDIANS WITH DISABILITIES WHO DO NOT HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE OR STATE ID CARDS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS AND THEREFORE MAY NOT APPEAR IN THE DHS MV CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION? >> Senator Grall: THEY COULD PROVIDE ALL DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED IN THE PAST AND THAT THE BILL OUTLINES DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERVISOR. >> Senator Bracy Davis: FOLLOW UP. THIS BILL MANDATES ALL DRIVERS LICENSE AND STATE ID CARDS HAVE A MARKER THAT INDICATES CITIZENSHIP, WHY? >> Senator Bracy Davis: TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT SOMEONE IS A CITIZEN OR NOT AND THE SYSTEM IDENTIFIES AND HAS THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY IT ON THE BACKEND. >> Senator Bracy Davis: IF YOU ARE CHECKING EVERY VOTER IN THE DSMV DATABASE WHY IS THIS NECESSARY? >> Senator Grall: SO THAT IT IS AN EASY WAY FOR THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS TO IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE COMES TO VOTE OR REGISTER THAT THEY ARE IN FACT A U.S. CITIZEN. >> Senator Bracy Davis: THAT IS ALL. >> Chair: SENATOR BERNARD. >> Senator Bernard: I SAW THIS BILL AT THE LAST STOP BUT DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO HEAR IT BECAUSE I WAS ON CALL EARLIER BUT ON THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THIS BILL HAVE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD COST ON THE BACK END FROM DHSMV, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND SOE'S THROUGHOUT THE WITH UPDATING THE SYSTEM? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: WE HAVE AN IMPACT REPLACEMENT CAR FOR DRIVERS LICENSE IN THE ANALYSIS I BELIEVE AND THEN THERE IS ALSO IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO THE STATE DATABASE AS PART OF ONE OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AROUND THESE ISSUES THERE IS FREE ACCESS TO THE STATE DATABASE FOR STATE TERRITORIAL TRIBAL AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND SO THERE IS NOT A COST WITH REGARD TO ACCESSING THAT I THINK WITHIN THE AGENCY RESOURCES THERE IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE SYSTEMS SPEAK SHOULD THAT BE ANY DIFFERENT OR I GET DIFFERENT INFORMATION I WILL BE SURE TO GET THAT TO THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE NEXT STOP. >> Chair: FOLLOW UP? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Bernard: ON THE COST OF DRIVER'S LICENSE DO YOU HAVE THE IMPACT ON THAT? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: IT WAS $172,000. >> Senator Bernard: MR. CHAIR FOLLOW UP. >> Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Bernard: IS THIS TO UPDATE ALL DRIVERS LICENSES AND ADD CITIZENSHIP. >> Senator Grall: THAT FISCAL IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO BECOME U.S. CITIZENS AND ARE GOING TO WANT TO UPDATE THEIR DRIVERS LICENSE TO EVERYONE ELSE YOU WOULD NOT GET AN AUTOMATIC NEW LICENSE IT WOULD BE UPON RENEWAL THAT YOU WOULD GET THE DRIVERS LICENSE WITH THE MARKER. >> Senator Bernard: ONE LAST QUESTION. ON THE DHS MVD'S WE HAVE THE EXACT CAUSE OF HOW THEY WOULD UPDATE THE SYSTEM AND WOULD THEY NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF REGARDING THIS AND UPDATING THE SYSTEM? >> Senator Grall: WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN SPECIFICS ON THAT YET. LIKE I SAID IN THE PRIOR ANSWER I THINK WITHIN EXISTING RESOURCES THEY HAVE TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES ALREADY TO WORK WITH THE SUPERVISORS AND SO I BELIEVE THAT OVERWHELMINGLY IT IS THOUGHT THAT THESE WOULD BE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES AT DHS MV AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. >> Senator Bernard: ARE THEY ASKING US FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES RIGHT NOW THROUGH DATA APPROPRIATIONS? I JUST DON'T KNOW IF DHS MV IS ASKING US FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN STAFF TO DO THIS CURRENT WORK AND WILL THIS ADD MORE TO THEIR PLATE? >> Senator Grall: I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH DHS MV LDR. >> Chair: FURTHER QUESTIONS? VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >> Senator Polsky: WITH RESPECT TO THIS WE TALK ABOUT EXPRESS VOTING MACHINES WHICH YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICES ON -- FOR INSTANCE YOU DOUBLE CHECK AND IT DOESN'T LET YOU PICK TWO SO, IT IS BETTER THAN HUMAN POTENTIAL ERROR. IT PRINTS IT OUT AND YOU CAN REVIEW IT THEN HAND IT OVER TO THE PERSON JUST SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT AN EXPRESS VOTE MACHINE DOES. JUST TO CLARIFY YOUR BILL MAKES IT THAT NOT THE PRIMARY CHOICE LOCATIONS OR DAY OF ELECTION VOTING LOCATIONS IS THAT CORRECT? >> Senator Grall: YES UNLESS THEY REQUEST TO USE THE VOTER INTERFACE. >> Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Polsky: FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT THERE ARE THREE COUNTIES THAT HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN THESE EXPRESS VOTE MACHINES IT HAS DECREASED LINES, IT HAS SAVED COSTS WITH RESPECT TO PRINTING OUT BALLOTS FOR EACH PERSON WHO WALKS IN AND PAPER AND TONER AND MACHINES ET CETERA. WHY ARE WE NOT ELIMINATING BUT WHY ARE WE MAKING IT SO THAT THE COUNTIES WHO INVEST THEIR TREMENDOUS RESOURCES INTO HAVING THESE MACHINES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM AS MUCH AS THEY USE THEM BEFORE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE THAT SOMEONE HAS TO ASK FOR IT. WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS NEVER THE INTENTION OF THE STATE TO MOVE TO VOTING MACHINES PRIMARILY AND IF THAT WAS A DECISION AND I THINK THAT IS MAYBE THE WAY THOSE THREE COUNTIES READ THE STATUTE THAT THEY COULD DO THAT THE PREFERENCE THAT THIS BILL SETS FORTH IS PEN AND PAPER VOTING BALLOT WITH A VOTER BEING ABLE TO REQUEST TO USE THE MACHINE SHOULD THEY NEED TO. IT IS SO THAT WE DO NOT END UP IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE JUST AN EXPLOSION OF VOTING MACHINES AND WE ARE MAKING IT CLEAR BEFORE THAT TRANSFERS TO MANY OTHER COUNTIES THAT PAPER AND PEN ARE THE PROPOSED METHOD OF VOTING IN FLORIDA. >> Senator Polsky: SO THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO REQUESTED OR FOR FOLKS OF HAVE A DISABILITY FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND SO IF THEY ARE SAFE FOR SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY TO USE AND THAT VOTE WILL BE COUNTED PROPERLY AND IT IS SAFE FOR THOSE WHO REQUEST WHY IS IT NOT SAFE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC? >> Senator Grall: I DID NOT USE THE WORD SAFE AND THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFE METHOD OF VOTING I SAID THE PREFERRED METHOD IN THIS BILL AND I BELIEVE THE PREFERRED METHOD OF THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS AS WE HAVE LOOKED AT ELECTION ISSUES HAS BEEN WITH PAPER AND PEN AND, SO, THAT IS THE PREFERRED METHOD. WE CAN MAKE ANOTHER METHOD AVAILABLE THAT IS OF COURSE SAFE AS WE WANT ALL OF OUR VOTING MACHINES TO HAVE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY SO SAFETY DOES NOT FACTOR INTO IT AT ALL. IT IS A PREFERENCE. >> Senator Polsky: BUT IT IF IT IS A PREFERENCE IN THREE COUNTIES ALREADY INVESTED HEAVILY IN THIS WHY IS THIS BILL EVEN WEIGHING IN ON THAT? WHY CAN'T IT LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS IN A SAFE MANNER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FOR ALL THESE YEARS. >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: IT IS IN THE PREFERENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PREFERENCE OF THE BILL SPONSOR. >> Senator Polsky: BUT IF IT IS EQUALLY SAFE WHY IS IT THE PREFERENCE? >> Senator Grall: BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY IT IS ABOUT PAPER BALLOTS AND PAPER AND PEN BALLOTS AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT THAT IS THE PREFERRED AND HAS BEEN THE PREFERRED WAY IN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE HAS TOLD THE SUPERVISORS TO ADMINISTER ELECTIONS AND THAT IT SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY WAY THAT HAPPENS IN EVERY COUNTY. THAT IS A IS A COMPONENT OF THE BILL. >> Senator Polsky: YOU MENTIONED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS FLAGGED THEN IF THEY HAVE TO SHOW THEIR DOCUMENTS TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION OFFICE DO THEY HAVE TO PHYSICALLY GO IN PERSON TO HAND THE DOCUMENTS OVER? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL. >> Senator Grall: I HAVE ANSWERED THIS QUESTION A COUPLE TIMES TODAY BUT THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH THAT IS CURRENTLY DONE. CURRENTLY IT IS DONE AND IS COVERED UNDER STATUTE I BELIEVE 98.057 BUT I CAN GET YOU THE SPECIFIC STATUTE AND FOR SCHOOLS DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH SOMEONE CAN TAKE DOCUMENTS TO THE SUPERVISOR AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT TODAY IF THE SUPERVISOR BELIEVES THE VOTER IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE. THE SUPERVISOR NEEDS PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY AND THEY REACH OUT AND THEY GET THE INFORMATION THEY MAKE A DETERMINATION. THIS BILL DOES NOTHING TO CHANGE THE METHOD IN WHICH THAT HAPPENS. >> Senator Polsky: I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ABOUT STUDENT VOTING I SEE THERE ARE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS CURRENTLY THE SITUATION THAT THE STUDENT GIVING SENATOR SMITH'S EXAMPLE WHO RESIDES IN GEORGIA BUT IS GOING TO FSU FOR SCHOOL WHO IS AN FSU STUDENT WHO WILL BE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS THAT THEY CURRENTLY NOW JUST HAVE TO SHOW THEIR STUDENT ID AND MAYBE THERE GEORGE HER DRIVER'S LICENSE IN ORDER TO VOTE IN FLORIDA AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY THE WAY SOMEONE MOVING TO FLORIDA DOES BUT RATHER BECAUSE THEY ARE A STUDENT AND IT IS KNOWN TO BE TRANSITORY THAT A STUDENT ID IS SUFFICIENT. THOSE THIS BILL CHANGE THAT IN ANY WAY? >> Chair: SENATOR GRALL? >> Senator Grall: WE DON'T CHANGE WHATEVER HAS BEEN DONE WITH REGARD TO STUDENT ID. I THINK THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE PRESENTED FOR PURPOSES OF VOTING BUT NOT PURPOSES OF REGISTRATION. I CAN FIGURE IT I WOULD SUBMIT THAT IF THIS EXISTS IT IS A LOOPHOLE THAT SHOULD BE CLOSED. IF YOU RESIDE IN ANOTHER STATE YOU SHOULD NOT VOTE THE STATE OF FLORIDA. YOU PICK A STATE TO LIVE IN BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN OUR LAWS AND NOTHING IN WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF INTERACTING WITH GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS THAT WOULD NECESSARILY PROHIBIT SOMEONE FROM VOTING IN ANOTHER STATE OTHER THAN IT'S PROBABLY A FELONY TO VOTE AND THOSE OTHER STATES OR IT SHOULD BE SO YOU HAVE TO PICK A STATE TO LIVE IN AND YOU PICK A STATE TO LIVE IN AND YOU GET TO VOTE IN THAT STATE AND THAT IS THE POLICY OF FLORIDA. SO, I DON'T BELIEVE A STUDENT ID ALONE HAS BEEN THE BASIS FOR WHICH SOMEONE CAN REGISTER TO VOTE AND STAY ON THE VOTER ROLLS. LIKELY THEY WOULD NEED TO PROVE FLORIDA ELIGIBILITY IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED ABLE TO VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTION BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN USE AN ADDRESS AT A UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO DO THIS DURING THAT PROCESS BUT OVERALL FLORIDA CITIZENSHIP AND ELIGIBILITY SHOULD BE DETERMINED ABOUT WHERE YOUR CITIZENSHIP ACTUALLY IS. >> Chair: FINAL QUESTION. >> Senator Polsky: PLEASE CLARIFY THAT A STUDENT WHO IS ONE OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUT OF STATE STUDENTS WHO GO TO FLORIDA SCHOOLS TO DO NOT NEED A FLORIDA THE FLORIDA RESIDENTS DURING THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY ARE LIVING HERE. >> Senator Grall: THEY DO NOT JUST LIKE I DID NOT NEED A NORTH CAROLINA DRIVER'S LICENSE WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT DRIVERS LICENSE WHEN I WAS IN WISCONSIN AS A STUDENT AND THEN I VOTED IN FLORIDA AS A FLORIDA RESIDENT AND NOT VOTE IN NORTH CAROLINA WISCONSIN THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE SO THEY DO NOT IN A FLORIDA LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD IN ORDER TO BE A STUDENT IN FLORIDA YOU NEED TO BE A FLORIDA RESIDENT AND ORDER TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> Senator Polsky: I THINK WE NEED CLARIFICATION ON THAT. >> Chair: WE HAVE A TON OF APPEARANCE FORMS TODAY. I WILL DO MY BEST UNFORTUNATELY I'LL HAVE TO LIMIT THE SPEAKERS TO 30 SECONDS. WE WILL GO AS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE BE CONCISE AND IF YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR CONCERN FROM A FISCAL IMPACT I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. WENDY MCFARLAND IS WAIVING AGAINST. HANA VASQUEZ WAIVING AGAINST. AND HEIDI IS WAIVING AGAINST. DIANA CORRADO WAIVING AGAINST. VINNIE CHARLES WAIVING AGAINST. KIA TAYLOR WAIVING AGAINST. CALYPSO MARCELLO WAIVING AGAINST. CHELSEY SAINT ROSE WAIVING AGAINST. SYLVIA JOHNNY WAIVING AGAINST. JORDAN LAWLER WAIVING AGAINST. GENARO BELIZE WAIVING AGAINST. CAMILO WAIVING AGAINST. CAMILO TYLER WAIVING AGAINST. JAMAR WAIVING AGAINST. CHRIS WAIVING AGAINST. MATTHEW LEBRON SPEAKING AGAINST. MATTHEW LEBRON. COME ON UP SIR. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I TRAVELED HERE FROM ORLANDO AND I THINK THAT IT IS CURRENTLY HOW WE CAN VOTE IN I MOVED HERE A FEW YEARS AGO AND I THINK THAT OUR CURRENT RESTRICTIONS TO GET VOTING THE ABILITY TO VOTE BECOME A RESIDENCE IS SUFFICIENT AND I THINK ADDING FURTHER COMPLICATIONS RESTRICTS PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE RESOURCES FROM VOTING AND I THINK IT WOULD BE >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. CAROLINA LOPEZ WAIVING AGAINST. MILES DAVIS WAIVING AGAINST. CHRIS WAIVING AGAINST. DARREN TYLER WAIVING AGAINST. ELION QUINTON WAIVING AGAINST. NAOMI DIXON WAIVING AGAINST. STEPHANIE BENSON WAIVING AGAINST. DEVIN CHAMBER WAIVING AGAINST. SHAWN CROM WAIVING AGAINST. NAOMI BELL WAIVING AGAINST. ALEX LIVYEAR WAIVING AGAINST. CASSIE CREED WAIVING AGAINST. AMY MARCEL WAIVING AGAINST. SUMTER WADE WAIVING AGAINST. JEAN TOUGH WAIVING AGAINST. CHEYENNE ROBERTS WAIVING AGAINST. DOCTOR RICH TEMPLETON WAIVING AGAINST. TEMPLIN. I'M SORRY. JOEY RIZO WAIVING AGAINST. KELLY MCMAHON WAIVING AGAINST. PAM PARIS WAIVING AGAINST. CAIRO MITCHELL FLORIDA STUDENT POWER COME ON UP. THANK YOU MISS MITCHELL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS. >> I GO TO A FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL. I'M SO SORRY. >> Chair: THAT'S GOOD JUST SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> I AM HERE TODAY SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF SENATE BILL 1134. THIS AFFECTS DEMOCRACY BY STRIPPING AWAY WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR THIS WILL LIMIT THE ABILITY TO VOTE AND KILL THE VOTE FOR BOTH PARTIES DISMISSING MANY ELIGIBLE CITIZENS. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. THANK YOU. NOEL LYNN PALERMO WAIVING AGAINST. WANITA ROMERO WAIVING AGAINST. BREE BRADSHAW WAIVING AGAINST. JUSCO LOVE MINOR WAIVING AGAINST. CHRISTIAN PHELPS WAIVING AGAINST. MARIA LAREN WAIVING AGAINST. AMANDA SANTIAGO WAIVING AGAINST. MADISON RIDER WAIVING AGAINST. ALYSSA WHITE WAIVING AGAINST. EVELYN SHOP WAIVING AGAINST. SIOUX RIVER WAIVING AGAINST. TESSA BRIAN WAIVING AGAINST. LYNN WYATT WAIVING AGAINST. ERICA JONG WAIVING AGAINST. AVERY AUGER WAIVING AGAINST. LUNA PLAZA YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> GOOD MORNING I AM LUNA IN MY FINAL SEMESTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI I'M ASKING TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. FLORIDA HAS SECURED ELECTIONS THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE WHAT I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS STUDENTS BEING TURNED AWAY FOR PRESENTING A STUDENT ID RATHER THAN A FLORIDA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND WE HAVE MANY OUT OF STATE STUDENTS. IT MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE AND OTHER POLLING LOCATIONS BUT IT IS AT MINE AND SENATE BILL 1234 WILL MAKE THIS WORSE NOT BETTER. VOTER TURN OUT IS ALREADY LOW AND THIS BILL IS NOT A SECURITY MEASURE. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. MATT TANNER WAIVING AGAINST. GEORGIA EVANS WAIVING AGAINST. BRITTANY MURRAY WAIVING IN SUPPORT. SHAWN DONNELLY WAIVING AGAINST. BRETT PHARAOH WAIVING AGAINST. SONNY PEREZ WAIVING AGAINST. JONATHAN PRINCIPAL WAIVING AGAINST. LILIANA FREEZE WAIVING AGAINST. ROBERT MYERS WAIVING AGAINST. DOCTOR JUDITH GRAY WAIVING AGAINST. JENNIFER TESSA WAIVING AGAINST. KEITH PLATT WAIVING AGAINST. LISA TIME WAIVING AGAINST. LAKISHA MARTIN WAIVING AGAINST. KAREN JOSEPH WAIVING AGAINST. KYMBERLEE GARMAN WAIVING AGAINST. DAVID AMAN IS WAIVING AGAINST. TOM WARINER WAIVING IN SUPPORT. AMAYA L SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. YESTERDAY AS THE BILL WAS PASSING THROUGH THE HOUSE ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE SPOKE ABOUT HOW SHE HAD AN AUNT WHO HAD NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING BORN IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO JIM CROW LAWS. SHE STATED AS A RESULT SHE IS STILL FIGHTING TO HELP HER CAN'T OBTAIN A BIRTH CERTIFICATE. IT MAKES ME WONDER MORE ABOUT THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE WHO WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE RESTRICTIONS OF THIS BILL THERE NEEDS TO BE INCENTIVES AND THINGS THAT HELP TO PREVENT THESE SCENARIOS THAT WAY THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS UNFAIRLY RESTRICTED FROM VOTING. >> Chair: THANK YOU. WE HAVE LENA JOHN BAPTISTE SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HOMELESS PEOPLE EXIST AND MANY I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS PERSON BEFORE MANY DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS OR ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND CURRENTLY IN MY OWN COUNTY THERE IS HELP TO GET AN ID BUT NOT A DRIVERS LICENSE. A LOT OF THESE DOCUMENTS IF YOU ARE HOMELESS MANY GET LOST SO THIS BILL IMPACTS HOMELESS POPULATION, POOR, THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE. >> Chair: THANK YOU. JACOB BALLARD SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BILL. I AM TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY. THIS IS NOT EFFICIENT. THIS PROCESS IS ONEROUS. MY WIFE I'M RECENTLY MARRIED SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH WEEKS OF APPOINTMENTS JUST TO CHANGE HER NAME. NOW THIS IS ANOTHER STEP. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS ON NECESSARY BILL. THIS IS NOT EFFICIENT. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SUSAN HOLBROOK WAIVING AGAINST. DOROTHY FEATHERSTEEN WAIVING AGAINST. SAMARA SMITH SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE WITH ENGAGE MIAMI. REQUIRING PEOPLE TO PROVE THE U.S. U.S. CITIZENSHIP CREATES UNNECESSARY BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE HAVE THIS RIGHT. NONCITIZEN VOTING IS LEGAL SO THE BILL DOES NOT SOLVE A LEGAL PROBLEM. NOT EVERYONE HAS EVERY EASY ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS LIKE PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND REPLACING THEM COST TIME AND MONEY. VOTE NO. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. KAREN LENA CORDERO SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. I OPPOSE SB 1334. IT WILL IMPACT WOMEN WHO WORK HARD FOR THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND WOULD CAUSE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES. IT WOULD BRING COST TO THEIR DOMESTIC TO THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. PLEASE VOTE NO. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE CATHERINE BILL SPEAKING AGAINST. NEXT UP WE WILL KEEP AGO AND WE HAVE MICHAEL MONTENEGRO AND THEN ROSE ATHERTON AFTER THAT. GOOD MORNING YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I WHILE WE ARE SPEAKING PLEASE DON'T TALK. WE HAVE TRAVELED FROM ALL OVER FLORIDA TO BE HERE TODAY AND TALKING WILL SOMEONE IS A. >> Chair: I UNDERSTAND THANK YOU. >> I DO OPPOSE THIS BILL THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL BUT LET'S NOT IGNORE THIS PIECE [INAUDIBLE] WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT DURING MIDTERMS. THE INSTINCT SHOULD NOT BE TO CHANGE BUT AS A PATIENT IT SHOULD BE TO LISTEN WHY. THE BILL IS A CLAIM TO ATTEMPT TO PURGE VOTERS UNDER THE GUISE INTEGRITY. >> Chair: THANK YOU. MICHAEL MONTENEGRO. GOOD MORNING YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM FROM MIAMI DISTRICT 36 ENGAGE MIAMI. I'M HERE BECAUSE VOTER FRAUD IS RARE AND PROVISIONS WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS TO DO ALL THESE NEW PROVISIONS. MANY PEOPLE WILL SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ALSO THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. MY PARENTS FLED TO CUBA WHERE THEY DID NOT HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. VOTING FOR THIS BILL IS ANTIDEMOCRATIC AND I URGE EVERY SENATOR TO OPPOSE THIS BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU. JENNIFER KEITH WAIVING AGAINST. KAREN WOODALL WAIVING AGAINST FLORIDA CENTER FOR FISCAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY. ALICE SPEAKING AGAINST. >> I'M ROSE ATHERTON PLEASE VOTE NO AGAINST THIS BILL. I THINK THIS BILL WILL CAUSE FLORIDIANS WHO ARE ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE TO BE EVEN FURTHER DISADVANTAGED. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE AND SOMETIMES WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE IN BUT I ASK YOU ALL TO VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU. ALEX GUSBUREAU SPEAKING AGAINST. GOOD MORNING WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. THIS BILL IS BEING FRAMED AS AN ELECTION INTEGRITY BILL BUT CREATES BARRIERS FOR ELIGIBLE VOTERS THE EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FRAUD. NONCITIZEN VOTING IN FLORIDA IS ALREADY ILLEGAL AND RARE. THIS BILL AS AN UNVERIFIED VOTER CATEGORY THAT CAN CAUSE LAWFUL CITIZENS FROM VOTING SIBLEY BECAUSE OF DATABASE ERRORS OR OUTDATED RECORDS MEANING AT NATURALIZED CITIZENS, SENIORS, AND EVERY DAY VOTERS COULD LOSE ACCESS DUE TO BUREAUCRACY NOT WRONGDOING. ELECTION SECURITY MATTERS BUT SO DOES VOTER ACCESS. WE SHOULD STRENGTHEN CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS WITHOUT MAKING IT HARDER FOR ELIGIBLE FLORIDIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU. >> Chair: THANK YOU. MARSHALL DEBROKE THEN JULIE KENT AND KALIN HEARD. >> THANK YOU. I OPP