Transcript Highlights:

• His plans are now carried onward by his son, Don Del Bono.
• He was voted Professor of the Year by the school students in the year before he retired.
• He was voted Professor of the Year by the school students in the year before he retired.
• He was at the city council meetings, at the school board meetings, at planning meetings, and because
• He founded the Pleasanton Weekly, and even though he retired as editor-in-chief in 2017, he continued

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed guests from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, including President Jeffrey Armstrong, students, and staff. Senator Laird highlighted the university’s 125th anniversary and student achievements, including a Rose Parade Sweepstakes Trophy and a national design-build competition win. The chamber also recognized guests from Senator Cortese’s office later in the session. On the floor, the Senate took up and adopted SCR 111 by Senator Niello, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the certified public accountant profession in California and recognizing the California Board of Accountancy and the California Society of CPAs. The resolution passed by unanimous vote after roll call. The Senate also adopted SCR 109 by Senator Grove, proclaiming January 2026 as National Mentoring Month and honoring Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central California for its long record of youth mentoring and community impact. In unfinished business, the Senate concurred in Assembly amendments to SB 25 by Senator Umberg, described as streamlining California’s merger process and aligning it with the federal process; the motion passed 33-0. The Senate then approved a motion from Senator Laird to give certain Budget and Fiscal Review Committee bills second reading upon report and third reading status, with the motion carrying 29-10. The chamber also approved several adjourn-in-memory tributes, most notably for former Congressman Doug LaMalfa, with multiple senators speaking to his rural advocacy, bipartisan relationships, and personal kindness, and for Barry Del Bono, Alan Stewart Hammond, and Jeb Bing. The session ended with the Senate in recess until the next scheduled floor meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• His plans are now carried onward by his son, Don Del Bono.
• He was voted Professor of the Year by the school’s students in the year before he retired.
• He was voted Professor of the Year by the school’s students in the year before he retired.
• He was at the city council meetings, the school board meetings, and planning meetings, and because of
• He founded the Pleasanton Weekly, and even though he retired as editor-in-chief in 2017, he continued

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a retired state government attorney and, as of last year, retired as seasonal session staff, which
• or their behavior support plans.
• of plans.
• , a long-term planning process.
• So it's really an initial planning group, planning process, and the people that are involved would be

Bills: HJR6 , HJR7 , HB120 , HB60 , HB151 , HR1 , HM13 , SB40 , SB104

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a family home up until about years ago until they fully retired.
• There’s a new strategic plan out that we’ll be tailoring our accountability plan toward.
• You mentioned that students that were planning to enroll in the university...
• My goals are consistent with the strategic plan of FAMU.
• My goals are consistent with the strategic plan of FAMU.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• . three sessions is is the tenative plan.
• Park and planning was at the park<01:05:45.680><c> and</c><01:05:45.839><c> planning</c><01:05:46.079
• She's retiring after the session.
• </c> three of our senators who are retiring three of our senators who are retiring from<03:04:49.040>
• </c> remarks to the body upon his retirement remarks to the body upon his retirement from<03:10:01.920

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> more to the retirement more to the retirement pension<01:17:11.520><c> for</c><01:17:11.719><c>
• </c> figure it out so so plan to be figure it out so so plan to be here<01:30:39.719><c> uh</c><01:30
• </c><04:15:23.319><c> I</c> like that versus choosing to retire I like that versus choosing to retire
• to retire today.
• </c> was asked earlier about um retirement was asked earlier about um retirement Cliff<04:21:49.479><

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:25.760><c> income</c> for public safety retirement income for public safety retirement income
• </c><00:52:32.160><c> income</c> for public safety retirement income for public safety retirement income
• </c><00:59:11.599><c> income,</c> 911, specialist retirement income, 911, specialist retirement income
• </c><01:02:07.920><c> income</c> safety employee retirement income safety employee retirement income
• </c> retired volunteer firefighters. retired volunteer firefighters.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re in the process of coming up with a current-state scenario and a future-state plan, and then a plan
• Can you expand a little bit on what your plan is with that North Star project?
• Ed Murphy has had 46 years with the agency, and he’s retiring in July.
• There’s others as well, but we now have a plan in place.
• Oil and gas operator meetings to understand future plans. That’s done.

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the famous picture where they were planning to land on the moon.
• Every retired physician that I can: 'Can you please run for office?'
• And you retired from the job after just 12 years. You've been retired since September.
• It sounds like retirement is really retirement in quotes, like many of those who are retired.
• And they've always got a plan, and it always involves incentives.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion. The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care. The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:56.399><c> savings</c> their college and retirement savings their college and retirement savings
• </c> business put business plans together on. business put business plans together on.
• </c> destroying people's retirement savings. destroying people's retirement savings.
• This budget plan requires $880 lie.
• Any of this is all according to plan with a straight face. There is no plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• This compromise ensures no one loses their living or retirement plan while also ensuring that these animals
• 00:02:53.519><c> their</c><00:02:53.760><c> living</c><00:02:54.000><c> or</c><00:02:54.319><c> retirement
• </c> no one loses their living or retirement no one loses their living or retirement plan<00:02:55.440
• 55.760><c> also</c><00:02:56.160><c> ensuring</c><00:02:56.720><c> that</c><00:02:56.959><c> these</c> plan
• while also ensuring that these plan while also ensuring that these animals<00:02:57.760><c> are</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• We just did a comprehensive plan amendment wherein we did amend certain areas. ...comprehensive plan
• It does not eliminate planning.
• Planning and zoning is still going to be required to issue permits and look at all of these plans and
• Planning and zoning is still going to be required to issue permits and look at all of these plans and
• But comp plans are... ...capacity, et cetera. Comp plans are updated about every five years or so.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• already chosen teaching, they may not have decided to teach in a priority school or may not have planned
• entering the profession and ongoing job-embedded professional learning from preparation through retirement
• Together, you put together a plan to submit an actual grant to receive the to start entering, admitting
• I know that we allowed retired teachers to return to the classroom during COVID.
• Can you remind me where we stand with the issue of those who have retired and are coming back?

Transcript Highlights:

• Protect our state and nation from any evil plans of the enemy.
• Because I'm most concerned for students with disabilities and 504 plans.
• With a wrench or a plan, he's the one I could trust to handle the urgency for him.
• We were not trying to keep anything in place for long-range planning.
• We wanted to give his portrait a day to hang in the chamber before we retire it on Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> before their planning board chalk out. before their planning board chalk out.
• </c> with their regional planning with their regional planning commissions,<00:15:44.720><c> who</c><
• Chairman, in plan thanks to you, Mr.
• </c> municipalities more independence to plan municipalities more independence to plan for<00:56:53.599
• We bought out 15 contracts of teachers to help them retire faster.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• plan.
• </c><01:49:42.800><c> I</c> [clears throat] the retirement plan.
• I [clears throat] the retirement plan.
• </c><01:50:33.360><c> plan</c><01:50:33.520><c> and</c> investment in your retirement plan and investment
• in your retirement plan and how<01:50:33.920><c> it</c><01:50:34.080><c> would</c><01:50:34.159><c>

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• You mean how long have I been retired? Yeah. Two years. Okay.
• We do not plan to use cooling towers or other water-intensive cooling systems.
• Developers of data centers work more closely with utilities and long-term resource planning to ensure
• It's planned at its final size at 2 gigawatts. Two gigawatts.
• Chair, and senators, this bill allows a county or municipality to keep information concerning the plans

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and voted on several bills. SB 986 would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and also restrict smoking in rooms and bars; the sponsor said it is intended to protect public health and outdoor spaces, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on designated smoking areas, and cannabis advocates warned about unintended effects on patients and property rights. The committee reported SB 986 favorably. The committee also passed SB 678, which restores statutory authority for DBPR’s long-standing rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise taxes; a strike-all amendment was adopted, including retroactive application to January 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 800, which increases penalties for repeat unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts, was amended and reported favorably as well. Members then considered SB 408 on vaccine advertising and liability. The sponsor argued the bill would address declining public trust in vaccines by allowing claims against manufacturers that advertise in Florida, while opponents said the measure is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, and would create unnecessary litigation. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported SB 408 favorably. The committee also heard SB 484 on data centers, which would set PSC tariff requirements so large load customers pay their own costs, preserve local planning authority, and limit water permits for large data centers; testimony was mixed, with supporters emphasizing ratepayer protections and economic benefits and critics warning about overregulation and confidentiality limits. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1118, which creates a time-limited public records exemption for certain data center development information held by local governments, after the sponsor said it was meant to prevent extended NDAs while still allowing local notice and input. SB 1050, requiring veterinarians to provide written prescriptions so pet owners can choose their pharmacy, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after several members recorded votes on bills they had missed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pia Woodley, Lieutenant Commander, retired, United States Navy, Chair of the Florida Veterans Foundation
• Pia Woodley, Lieutenant Commander, retired, United States Navy, Chair of the Florida Veterans Foundation
• Our current chair is retired Navy Captain Jeff Kathy.
• master let's say what was he retired master chief petty officer so that's an E9 in the Navy I looked
• Navy into retirement.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met to consider SB 96, which originally proposed a new veterans dental care program but was amended to expand the existing Veterans Dental Care Grant Program. The amendment raised eligibility from 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level and added a recurring $500,000 general revenue appropriation. Members discussed whether expanding eligibility without guaranteed additional funding could dilute services for veterans already being served, while supporters argued it would help veterans currently turned away for dental care. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 96 favorably by roll call vote, with Chair Wright voting no. The committee also approved two committee bills continuing public records exemptions: SPB 7000, covering the address and telephone number of people staying in public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events, and SPB 7002, covering certain Department of Military Affairs records stored in or transmitted through Department of Defense systems or related to military cyber operations. Both were moved as committee bills without objection and were favorably reported. Members then received presentations from Dr. Pia Woodley of the Florida Veterans Foundation and Joe Marino of Veterans Florida. Dr. Woodley outlined the foundation’s dental initiatives, emergency assistance, transportation support, benefits guide distribution, new programs for state veterans’ homes and community grants, and recent audits with no findings. Marino described Veterans Florida’s SkillBridge, entrepreneur, and workforce programs, including outreach and federal partnerships, and noted legislative priorities to allow stipends for training at UF IFAS AGVets facilities and to rename a program in statute for clarity. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, AB 39 provides... ...on existing plans rather than develop new ones.
• We're planning on doing this bill. Give us your input. This was last November.
• Barbara Dubois, Mill Valley solar owner, retired, and I oppose.
• Clay Newman, retired business, welding business owner, deeply opposed.
• One of my staff's mothers is a retired teacher; she relies on that solar.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open. The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0. Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Has the governor got a plan?
• I retire in 53 days.
• This particular plan, only half of the This particular plan, only half of the jobs need to pay well.
• Our plan was to build in Casa Grande.
• That's why we would plan to do it.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2165 , HB2202 , HB2305 , HB2321 , HB2399 , HB2403 , HB2416 , HB2418 , HB2446 , HB2601 , HB2615 , HB2620 , HB2812 , HB2939 , HB2940 , HB2955 , HB2957 , HB2960 , HB2992 , HB4026 , HB4049

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access