Transcript Highlights:

• His leadership helped support job growth, drive commerce, and invest in infrastructure across the Gem
• </c> war in Iran is driving up gas prices. war in Iran is driving up gas prices.
• shouldn't be driving at that moment.
• <07:14:20.798><c> if</c><07:14:21.120><c> it</c> off midstream, mid drive if it off midstream, mid drive
• </c> determines that you shouldn't be driving determines that you shouldn't be driving at<07:14:25.200

Bills: SB4465 , HB7147 , HB2424 , HB7567

Keywords: FISA, intelligence, surveillance, national security, privacy, extension, law enforcement, excise tax, heavy trucks, clean vehicles, environmental policy, heavy truck excise tax, truck and trailer tax, federal retail excise tax, FET, highway trust fund, commercial trucks, Class 8 trucks, tractor-trailer, semi-truck

Transcript Highlights:

• To give an example, where I live, it's much quicker for me to drive to Las Vegas, a 45-minute drive to
• Las Vegas, than it is to drive to...
• Las Vegas, a 45-minute drive to Las Vegas, than it is to drive to Phoenix in a four-hour drive.
• I don't drive I-10 usually unless there's an accident, and I- Can be in the morning.
• Representative Sandoval: The economic chaos driving this deficit didn't appear out of thin air.

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, and spent much of the opening portion recognizing guests and interns from both parties, along with former lawmakers and a newly seated member, Representative Sylvia Allen. The chamber then took up House Concurrent Resolution 2065 honoring the late Alfredo Gutierrez. Members from both parties gave extended remarks about his life as a civil rights advocate, student activist, legislator, and mentor, and the resolution was unanimously adopted and transmitted to the Senate. Family members of Gutierrez were recognized in the gallery during the memorial tribute. The House then moved into Committee of the Whole on the first budget-related measures. On House Bill 4138, the “feed bill”/budget operations measure, Democrats argued the budget favored corporations and data centers over seniors, health care, housing, universities, and vulnerable families, while Republicans defended it as a continuation of prior policy and said it preserved tax conformity and modest agency cuts. After debate and questions, the committee recommended the bill do pass and the House adopted that report, sending HB 4138 to engrossing. The chamber next considered House Bill 4139, the amusement/gaming-related budget bill. Members debated whether it was essentially unchanged from last year’s budget language, with Republicans saying it was a continuation bill and that gaming-related provisions would support rural economies and tourism, while Democrats questioned the broader budget context and its effects on working families. The committee recommended HB 4139 do pass, and the House adopted that recommendation. The House then began debate on House Bill 4140, the state budget implementation bill, focusing on the budget stabilization fund and a proposed government efficiency initiative; discussion was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• My truck, a year-old pickup truck, $1,050 to drive that truck for a year. It's expensive.
• My truck, a year-old pickup truck, $1,050 to drive that truck for a year. It's expensive.
• My truck, a year-old pickup truck, $1,050 to drive that truck for a year. It's expensive.
• My truck, a year-old pickup truck, $1,050 to drive that truck for a year. It's expensive.
• Uh, you know, if you drive through the state of Minnesota, we have a lot of wetlands.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have voter registration drives on campuses. How is that going to work if they have no ID?
• Are they going to take the driving test? Are they going to pay the money?
• You shouldn't have to drive to be able to vote.
• They don't drive because they're dangerous to drive.
• They don't drive because they're danger to drive.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and included several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate measures before final passage. The first major bill, health care patient protection, required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, a pediatric emergency care coordinator, and readiness assessments; it passed 36-0. A public records bill protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim also passed after questions about access for victims of police misconduct, with a 33-4 vote. The Senate next approved a local government cybersecurity bill creating a state-administered program through Florida Digital Service to help counties and cities strengthen cyber defenses, with priority for rural and fiscally constrained governments; after amendments, it passed 37-0. A clerks of court bill allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and, through a House amendment, revising legal notice and traffic citation distribution provisions, passed 38-0 despite debate over impacts on municipalities and law enforcement. The chamber also passed a trademark modernization bill and a septic system permit bill intended to reduce delays for builders; the septic bill was amended to align the House and Senate versions and passed 38-0. The longest and most contested item was the elections bill, which updated citizenship verification procedures using REAL ID and state databases, changed candidate qualification rules, and altered election administration provisions. Numerous amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to exempt certain seniors, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, allow attestations in place of documentary proof of citizenship, and require human review over automated systems. One amendment to delay implementation until July 1, 2027, was also debated. The transcript ends while debate is still underway on the elections measure, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> One minute you could be driving One minute you could be driving your<00:04:43.080><c> car</c><00
• </c><00:42:46.800><c> The</c><00:42:46.880><c> next</c> driving while intoxicated.
• The next driving while intoxicated.
• </c><00:43:03.400><c> under</c> disorderly conduct, and driving under disorderly conduct, and driving
• It wasn't with with driving privileges.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I got in a car with Shaina because I was too young to drive. My brother was driving us.
• And then I got in a car with Shaina because I was too young to drive. My brother was driving us.
• </c> young to drive.
• My brother was driving young to drive.
• </c><02:44:37.279><c> information</c> environments to drive information environments to drive information

Transcript Highlights:

• They will drive up those costs of doing business.
• Private equity should not be driving case strategy.
• </c> driving case strategy. driving case strategy.
• Let's stop trying to drive the businesses of Colorado out of Colorado.
• </c><02:42:02.080><c> the</c> Let's stop trying to uh drive the Let's stop trying to uh drive the businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• that, I want to highlight some targeted investments that we believe supplement our work and further drive
• In your testimony, Secretary, I was listening in the car as I was driving, and you mentioned the $3.5
• That leads to further disparities where you have to drive to the Boston area or south to Connecticut
• We have one of the best teams in the country at driving manufacturers down to a good price.
• Health data drives better decisions.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• We have voter registration drives on campuses. How is that going to work if they have no ID?
• Are they going to take the driving test? Are they going to pay the money?
• You shouldn't have to drive to be able to vote.
• They don't drive because they're dangerous to drive.
• They don't drive because they're danger to drive.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, interns, public safety officials, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up several bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others substituted with House companions before final passage. No committee reports, governor messages, or House messages were on the desk at the start of the regular order of business. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, training, pediatric equipment, a designated pediatric emergency care coordinator, and participation in the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment. Senators also passed CS/CS/HB 1113 on public records, clarifying confidentiality protections for victims and for law enforcement officers who become victims in the course of duty, though that bill drew questions about access to information in misconduct cases and received four no votes. The Senate then passed CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, creating a Florida Digital Service-administered program to help local governments obtain cybersecurity services and grants, with amendments shifting the grant-award deadline and rejecting House differences such as locating the program at USF and adding a sunset date. The chamber also passed CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above Article V projections and revising related fee distributions, despite concerns from some senators and municipalities about revenue shifts. Additional bills passed included CS/CS/HB 679 modernizing trademark registration, and CS/CS/CS/HB 589 on septic system permits, which addresses long permit delays and clarifies liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. Several other bills were taken up, including elections legislation (SB 1334/HB 991) that generated extensive debate and multiple failed amendments on voter ID, citizenship verification, student and senior IDs, and implementation timing; the transcript ends while that bill is still under consideration, after the Senate adopted one amendment and rejected several others.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have voter registration drives on campuses. How is that going to work if they have no ID?
• Are they going to take the driving test? Are they going to pay the money?
• You shouldn't have to drive to be able to vote.
• They don't drive because they're a danger to drive.
• They don't drive because they're danger to drive.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and featured a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a newly awarded PhD, and the day’s doctor. The chamber also adopted a Senate resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. After routine business, the Senate moved to special order bills. The first measures taken up were CS/SB 68 on health care patient protection, which required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, readiness assessments, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. CS/SB 350 on public records, protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the names of law enforcement officers who are victims in the line of duty, passed 33-4 after questions about access for victims’ attorneys. CS/SB 576 on local government cybersecurity established a state-administered cybersecurity protection program for local governments, prioritized rural and fiscally constrained communities, and was amended before passing 37-0. CS/SB 532 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and incorporating related provisions on legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee splits, passed 38-0. CS/SB 696 on trademark registration modernized the filing system and passed 38-0. CS/SB 698 on septic system permits, addressing permit delays and aligning House and Senate language on liability if construction begins early, also passed 38-0. The longest debate centered on CS/SB 1334 / CS/HB 991 on elections and election integrity. The bill would use REAL ID data to verify citizenship for voter registration and list maintenance, revise candidate-qualification rules, change acceptable voter IDs, add citizenship markers to driver licenses and ID cards by July 1, 2027, and make other election-administration changes. Multiple amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to allow attestations in lieu of documentation, exempt seniors, require human review over automated systems, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, and delay implementation to July 1, 2027. One amendment was adopted to retain a stock-trading disclosure for candidates. The chamber then continued debate on the underlying bill, with supporters citing state reports of non-citizen registrations/voting and opponents warning of disenfranchisement for students, seniors, and others who may lack the required documents.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have voter registration drives on campuses. How is that going to work if they have no ID?
• Are they going to take the driving test? Are they going to pay the money?
• You shouldn't have to drive to be able to vote.
• They don't drive because they're dangerous to drive.
• They don't drive because they're danger to drive.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a simple, hey, could you drive down was an absurd decision. I'm willing to stand by that.
• Just a simple, hey, could you drive down was an absurd decision. I'm willing to stand by that.
• Just a simple, hey, could you drive down was an absurd decision. I'm willing to stand by that.
• Just a simple, hey, could you drive down was an absurd decision. I'm willing to stand by that.
• drive down was<01:23:13.679><c> an</c><01:23:14.000><c> absurd</c><01:23:15.199><c> decision.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say they see you drinking a beer while you're driving the boat.
• She actually was a part of the driving force that helped us come up with all kinds of things she did
• Um, I wish um driving in cars.
• </c><01:04:39.760><c> force</c> actually was a part of the driving force actually was a part of the driving
• </c> Profile like I don’t know what, because of the car I was driving.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 29 members present. The chamber adopted routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with reading the prior journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be taken up throughout the day. The Committee on Banking and Insurance reported Senate Bill 269 favorably with a substitute, and the bill was placed on the calendar for the next legislative day. The Senate also welcomed several guest groups in the gallery, including homeschool families, Blount County leaders, and the Alabama Iron and Steel Council. A series of resolutions were introduced and adopted immediately. Senator Stewart’s Joint Resolution 64 honored Joanne Blackman Bland, recognizing her role as a young freedom fighter on Bloody Sunday and later work in voting rights and economic development. The Senate also adopted Joint Resolution 65 congratulating Maplesville High School on its 2025 Class 1A state football championship and Joint Resolution 66 honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Alabama. The Senate then took up local legislation and several calendar bills. Senate Bill 319 for Shelby County, House Bill 460 and House Bill 459 for Henry County, and House Bill 467 regarding the city of Tuscumbia were all advanced and passed, with certification motions adopted where required. The Rules Committee reported Senate Resolution 67, setting the special order calendar, which the Senate adopted. The special order calendar included bills on corrections, services evaluation, retirement benefits, the Growing Alabama Act, health, vessels, homestead exemption, the National Guard, the state port, early childhood education, tourism investment, pardons and paroles, and health-related matters. Under the special order calendar, the Senate passed House Bill 274 on Department of Corrections unmanned aircraft systems, Senate Bill 317 creating the Commission on the Evaluation of Services, House Bill 159 cleaning up retirement provisions for certain circuit clerks, Senate Bill 289 revising the Growing Alabama Act, and House Bill 182 requiring military education to count toward EMS licensure. The chamber also considered House Bill 254 on vessel inspections, with discussion focused on limiting law enforcement stops and boarding of vessels for safety or marine sanitation inspections absent another reason; the transcript cuts off before final disposition of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> been little change to driving been little change to driving behavior<02:54:46.200><c> if</c><02:
• Yes, um, as it relates to our fatalities, distracted driving, impaired driving, speed—those are the three
• </c> fatalities um distracted driving fatalities um distracted driving impaired<03:03:23.080><c> driving
• </c><03:03:41.239><c> and</c> impairment it's distracted driving and impairment it's distracted driving
• </c> uh things like impaired driving uh things like impaired driving enforcement<03:40:55.000><c> and

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that will—it's good for a consumer because it drives down prices.
• And I think that will, it's good for a consumer because it drives down prices.
• Section 111 is a new section for Bowtree Drive for the Department of Transportation on page 40.
• This just updates the name from lane to drive. This next section is the new CTF exception section.
• This adds an additional location for a speed monitoring device on Old Capitol Trail, from Ferrand Drive

Committee: Joint Capital Improvement

Summary: The committee met to finalize the FY27 bond bill, beginning with a roll call and a detailed review of updated appropriation amounts. The Comptroller General walked through major changes across agencies, including additions for OMB, the Department of State, DNREC, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, and explained the funding sources that would cover the total $1.256 billion package. Members then debated several large items, especially the $110 million appropriation for the Diamond State Port Corporation, the $35 million Legislative Hall addition, the $20 million Community Reinvestment Fund, and the $30 million land and building acquisition line. Questions focused on the port project’s costs, expected jobs, return on investment, and whether the state would face future commitments; Secretary of State Charney Patitofunded Chances and other officials testified that the port expansion would create construction and permanent jobs and support long-term economic growth, while some members remained skeptical and objected to the process and spending priorities. The committee also discussed school construction funding, with officials explaining that additional money would forward-fund projects already in the pipeline and help districts that had been turned down for certificates of necessity. Other items reviewed included funding for park improvements, marina acquisition, the Plummer Center demolition and transfer, the Pyle Center sewer project, the Site Readiness Fund, affordable housing, the Arts Endowment Fund, an unclaimed property task force, and various transportation and community transportation projects. Several members raised concerns about county distribution, minority-party involvement in negotiations, and the scale of certain appropriations, but the majority defended the package as statewide investment and economic development. The committee then voted on the Section 1 addendum and a series of new and replacement epilogue sections, including provisions for the port project, Legislative Hall minor capital improvements, land acquisition, affordable housing, the Community Reinvestment Fund, downtown development districts, the Rite Aid demolition, the Site Readiness Fund, school construction formula review, and enhanced school capital funding. Most motions carried, with a few recorded no votes or abstentions on the main addendum. The meeting concluded with a motion authorizing technical corrections by the Comptroller General’s office, followed by closing remarks thanking staff and members for their work and noting that this was likely the final bond committee meeting for some participants before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• and operated streets, and many of those who take either the rapid transit system or commuter rail drive
• People want to know that their bridges will be open when they need to drive to the doctors or get their
• So we do support ...sort of drive home in real dollars what this means to us.
• So we thank you for your time, but we did want to just drive it home a little bit more in dollars and
• I just, first of all, want to say thank you so much for driving in today to share the perspective of

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• car carriers will park in that turning lane and alight those vehicles from the car carrier and then drive
• to move away from the state, and the national companies will literally charge more and more money, driving
• the beginning of the year was tell the parents that yet again we were going to have to amend our driving
• More Teamsters members drive school buses than any other labor union in the industry.
• of Transportation program to assess and do these medical evaluations on CDL drivers and drivers who drive

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 36 bills covering aviation, commercial vehicles, school buses, veterans license plates, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Chair Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing procedures, then the committee heard testimony on a range of measures, including a bill to modernize alternative student transportation for vulnerable students such as those covered by McKinney-Vento, foster children, and students with disabilities; a bill on unmanned aerial systems that would define drones and restrict weaponization, interference with aircraft, and certain surveillance; and a bill addressing airplane noise and reporting at Beverly Regional Airport. Supporters of the student transportation bill argued it would update outdated school bus requirements while preserving safety standards, while drone-related testimony was split between sponsors and public safety advocates who supported stronger restrictions and industry representatives who warned the bills could conflict with federal law and harm legitimate commercial uses. The committee also heard testimony on workforce and school transportation bills. Representatives and industry witnesses supported a proposal to create a grant program and career outreach for the trucking industry, citing a persistent driver shortage and the importance of trucking to the state’s economy. Teamsters Local 170 supported a bill to ease unemployment job-search requirements for school bus drivers and monitors who are expected to return to work within a short period, saying the current rules create unnecessary burdens during summer layoffs. Another school transportation bill would create an under-the-hood exception for CDL licensing of school bus drivers; several chiropractors testified in support, saying they already perform DOT-style exams and should be explicitly authorized to do school bus driver medical certifications. Veterans-related testimony focused on license plate and disability-definition bills. Advocates supported a Medal of Fidelity license plate for Gold Star families and a separate bill to create an air medal plate. The Office of the Veteran Advocate testified in favor of revising the state’s definition of disabled veteran for RMV purposes, arguing the current language is tied to special monthly compensation categories and does not adequately reflect modern service-connected disabilities, including invisible wounds. The American Legion also urged clarification of the definition, while opposing a separate women veterans plate on the grounds that it could divide veterans unnecessarily. The committee took no votes during the hearing and ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide can impair drivers and cause accidents.
• Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide can impair drivers and cause accidents.
• It targets the products driving abuse: oversized canisters, food and candy flavors, balloons, attachments
• Many of my clients come from the eastern Coachella Valley, where I was raised, and frequently have to drive
• anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes while in active labor to And frequently have to drive anywhere from 30

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• I drive through 18 different Rep districts to get to this capital. One of them drives through mine.
• Not a one of them drives through mine.
• only way you would get that lower rate or that $1.13 rate that you see on the actual sign that you drive
• You could drive down to Venice and see that Deepwater Horizon spill burning like a candle in the Gulf
• And we've got some serious major driving income forces in Plaquemines Parish.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.

Transcript Highlights:

• that Republicans at the federal level and at the state level are kicking people off health care and driving
• that Republicans at the federal level and at the state level are kicking people off health care and driving
• are kicking people off health<00:04:42.480><c> care</c><00:04:42.640><c> and</c><00:04:42.760><c> driving
• </c><00:04:43.120><c> up</c><00:04:43.480><c> uncompensated</c> health care and driving up uncompensated
• health care and driving up uncompensated care<00:04:44.560><c> for</c><00:04:44.720><c> our</c><00:04