Transcript Highlights:

• Next, Senator Burgess, are you willing to take up tab 21, HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands?
• This bill protects owners of land that was formerly mined for phosphate rock from strict liability law
• : the condition giving rise to the lawsuit is a natural geological substance of a former phosphate mine
• A notice identifying the property as a former phosphate mine has been recorded in the county where the
• property is located, and A notice identifying the property as a former phosphate mine has been recorded

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early measures included CS/SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would allow qualified candidates or political parties to sue over violations of party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and impose a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of it, arguing the bill removed existing limits on force and erased sentencing distinctions. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including CS/SB 7014, SB 7016, CS/SB 7012, SB 7000, SB 7002, SB 7004, SB 7006, and SB 7008, all of which extend or preserve public records or meeting exemptions for topics such as social media investigations, small business loan records, motor vehicle enforcement records, emergency shelter information, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, Public Service Commission proceedings, and Gaming Control Commission records. The committee also approved SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and opponents not appearing in the excerpt. HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably after supporters from the Florida Chamber and Associated Industries backed the bill, which limits strict liability claims involving natural geological substances on former phosphate mines but not phosphogypsum stacks. CS/SB 48 on housing, as amended, would require local governments to allow accessory dwelling units, limit certain local barriers, and extend housing incentives; it drew broad support from housing, business, real estate, and advocacy groups. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, CS/SB 364 on CPA licensure modernization, SB 292 on public records protection for appellate court clerks, CS/SB 296 and CS/SB 298 on domestic and dating violence protections and related public records exemptions, and SB 386 on farm equipment warranty protections were also reported favorably, generally with supportive testimony from affected industries, advocacy groups, or public safety stakeholders. Later, the committee approved SB 168 expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increase penalties and enforcement tools. It also heard but temporarily postponed CS/CS/SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services after the chair allowed public testimony because many stakeholders had traveled to attend; one opponent, a longtime builder, argued the bill could criminalize contractors who withhold payment for deficient subcontractor work. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes on selected bills and then adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, Senator Burgess, are you willing to take up tab 21, HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands?
• This bill protects owners of land that was formerly mined for phosphate rock from strict liability law
• : The condition giving rise to the lawsuit is a natural geological substance of a former phosphate mine
• A notice identifying the property as a former phosphate mine has been recorded in the county where the
• property is located, and A notice identifying the property as a former phosphate mine has been recorded

Bills: S0062, S0156, S0168, S0288, S0290, S0292, S0296, S0298, S0364, S0386, S0624, S7004, S7006, S7008, S7012, S7014, S7016

Keywords: candidate qualification, political party, voter registration, election law, Florida Statutes, rural electric cooperatives, energy production, Florida law, energy tariffs, regulation, agriculture, landscape equipment, gasoline-powered, ecologically significant parcels, local government regulations, public records, appellate courts, information exemption, safety, personal identifying information

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and considered a long agenda of bills, many of which were reported favorably. Early action included CS for SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would create an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS for SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and add mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of the bill, arguing it removed useful limits on force and imposed overly rigid sentencing. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including measures extending exemptions for social media platform investigations, small business loan program records, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigatory records, emergency shelter recipient information, Department of Military Affairs records, conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information, Public Service Commission records and meetings, and Florida Gaming Control Commission records and meetings. The committee also advanced CS for SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and no participant would be required to take part. Other approved measures included HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands, which limits certain liability claims if notice and survey requirements are met; CS for SB 48 on housing, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units and was amended to remove hearing and variance requirements and clarify local ordinance obligations; SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, described as a negotiated glitch bill preserving co-op authority over generation and power purchases; and CS for SB 364 on public accountancy, which creates additional CPA licensure pathways and mobility provisions. The committee also approved SB 292 creating a public records exemption for appellate court clerks and their families, despite some opposition votes. Later, the committee passed CS for SB 296 and CS for SB 298, which expand protections for victims of domestic violence and dating violence by creating a feasibility study for a secure web-based 911 alert platform and extending address confidentiality and public records protections to dating violence, stalking, and aggravated stalking victims. SB 386 on farm equipment, described as a “lemon law” for tractors and similar equipment, also passed. Additional open-government bills were approved for emergency shelter recipients, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, PSC records, and gaming commission records. SB 168 on public nuisances was reported favorably as well. One bill, CS for CS for SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was temporarily postponed after extensive stakeholder testimony; the chair allowed public comment but no vote was taken, and the sponsor indicated ongoing discussions and possible changes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded several individual votes for the record, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• His employer might like the mining regulations that he's advancing.
• to advance legislation addressing mining to advance legislation addressing mining policy<00:15:03.160
• like the mining regulations that he's<00:15:12.839> advancing.
• Um, I can't imagine a worse place to have this sort of toxic mining.
• Representative Falkner: I can't imagine a worse place to have this sort of toxic mining.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is the number one concern of mine, that if we do not get directed payments and support for HCMC
• And that is the number one concern of mine, that if we do not get directed payments and support for HCMC
• And that is the number one concern of<00:12:54.240> mine.
• /c><00:12:56.079> one<00:12:56.480> concern<00:12:56.959> of<00:12:57.279> mine
• of mine. the number one concern of mine of mine. the number one concern of mine that<00:12:58.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And mine was the last she looked at, the only one privately owned by a small landlord.
• I take really beautiful care of my property, and she picked mine.
• And mine was the last she looked at, the only one privately owned by a small landlord.
• I take really beautiful care of my property, and she paid mine. privately owned by a small landlord.
• And she picked mine. She's not going to get that choice anymore.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on several real estate, housing, and consumer protection bills. A major portion of the hearing focused on bills to create licensure for commercial interior designers (H.324/S.254), with supporters from the architecture and interior design fields arguing the measure would recognize a distinct profession, expand permitting authority for qualified designers, improve public safety, and remove barriers to firm ownership and public contracting. Witnesses said the proposal had been redrafted through collaboration among interior designers, architects, engineers, and building officials, and Senator Gomez said the Senate had passed the bill previously and hoped to advance it again. The committee also heard support for H.450 on solar customer protections, with solar companies backing standardized disclosures, a consumer brochure, a longer rescission period, and sales registration requirements as consumer safeguards that would not materially disrupt business operations. The committee then took testimony on H.431/S.245, a bill to end housing discrimination in the Commonwealth. Senator Gomez, fair housing advocates, and several renters described alleged discrimination against Black renters and voucher holders, citing testing data and personal experiences. They said the bill would strengthen enforcement by linking court findings to temporary license suspensions, require fair housing training, increase public reporting, and add board representation with fair housing or voucher-holder experience. A real estate appraisers representative also supported S.196, which would make appraisal licensure mandatory in Massachusetts, arguing that home valuation should be done by licensed professionals. A substantial part of the hearing addressed broker-fee and rental-timing bills, including H.335, H.336, H.374, H.224, and H.449. Supporters of the broker-fee changes argued that tenants should not be charged fees when the landlord hired the broker, while opponents warned the language could restrict tenant representation and harm small landlords, students, and the rental market. Several witnesses opposed the 90-day lease-signing window in H.336, saying it would compress the September rental cycle, worsen competition, and make it harder for students and out-of-state renters to secure housing. The chairs noted that broker fees had already been addressed in the state budget, and the hearing concluded with no votes on the bills, only the close of testimony and an announcement that the committee would not hold another hearing until later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, especially communities like mine, we don't have permanent solutions like sewers, and we depend on
• It would reassess cumulative impact on groundwater, surface waters, and nearshore ecosystems.
• It would reassess cumulative impact on groundwater, surface waters, and nearshore ecosystems.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly advocate for restricting data mining of minors' information.
• And what the warning label can say is everything from data mining to 988 because data mining is a strategy
• And then, um, would HHSC be able to put in the warning label about data mining?
• Uh, in, in regard to the data mining, it's like I said, something I'm very concerned about.
• It's, it's I mean, do, do, do these, do these platforms, do they data mine? Do they?

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• You've seen a hand of gravel mining areas like that in Maple Grove.
• areas like that in Maple Grove uh mining areas like that in Maple Grove uh for<00:03:00.480> much
• <00:03:49.080> area<00:03:49.680> and 2,000 acre gravel mining area and 2,000 acre
• The gravel mining area in Maple Grove has served as a source of construction materials for roadways,
• address the soil Corrections post mining address the soil Corrections post mining as<00:05:13.639

Bills: HF1746, HF2585, HF1159, HF2574, HF2839, HF157, HF158, HF160, HF338, HF512

Keywords: Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity

Transcript Highlights:

• And accompanying them are two of their moms and friends of mine, Ms.
• The Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining moved to amend the title of the bill.
• I request unanimous consent to withdraw the Energy Industry and Mining Committee amendment.
• Energy Industry and Mining Committee amendment. Is there objection? Chair hears none; so ordered.
• The Committee on Energy Industry and Mining moved to amend the title.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:40.559> Um<00:25:40.960> which businesses like mine.
• Um which businesses like mine.
• The micro businesses like mine who offer unlimited paid time or unlimited sick time for employees are
• The micro businesses like mine who offer unlimited paid time or unlimited sick time for employees are
• The micro businesses like mine workers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, that a new day will surface again and this will not be the end. Why?
• <08:11:43.920> new<08:11:44.240> day<08:11:45.360> will<08:11:45.920> surface
• <08:11:46.398> again<08:11:47.520> and that a new day will surface again and that a
• new day will surface again and this<08:11:48.080> will<08:11:48.320> not<08:11:48.558>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you want to ask a simple question, surface question, yes, but not get into the weeds of it.
• If you want to ask a simple question,<01:36:11.520> surface<01:36:11.960> question,<01:
• 36:12.680> yes,<01:36:13.000> but<01:36:13.200> not question, surface question,
• yes, but not question, surface question, yes, but not get<01:36:13.560> into<01:36:13.800>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate was called to order, a quorum was established, and remote voting was authorized for several members. The body adopted committee reports except those related to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, gave Senate File 4067 a second reading, and referred newly introduced bills as listed on the agenda. It also adopted a motion to strike and re-refer House File 3379 to the Committee on Finance, and then moved into special orders and floor debate. The main floor action was on House File 2358, a public safety bill providing enhanced criminal penalties for certain coercion offenses. Senator Lang described it as creating a Minnesota crime targeting sexual extortion of children, including online extortion. Senator Maye Quade supported the bill and spoke about the tragic constituent story behind it. The Senate took a roll call and passed the bill 67-0, with its title agreed to. The Senate then began debate on Senate File 4511, which would clarify Minnesota gambling law to prohibit prediction-market style betting disguised as futures contracts. Senator Marty argued the bill was needed to stop companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket from using futures-contract language to evade state gambling restrictions and to protect existing regulated gambling businesses. Senator Johnson initially offered the A10 amendment to delay action until federal jurisdiction issues are resolved, but withdrew it after debate. He then offered the A8 amendment to preserve longer-term weather-related hedging contracts, which Senator Marty supported as a distinction from short-term, manipulable bets; the A8 amendment was adopted. Debate continued with questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach election-related or financial contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you look beneath the surface of this bill, along with the history of all of the attempts at amendments
• <00:57:09.520> look<00:57:09.680> beneath<00:57:10.000> the<00:57:10.240> surface
• But if you look beneath the surface are.
• But if you look beneath the surface of<00:57:10.799> this<00:57:11.040> bill,<00:57:11.680

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we look to the students who are enrolled in the free and reduced meals program, which on the surface
• <01:05:54.440> which<01:05:54.559> on<01:05:54.680> the<01:05:54.799> surface
• <01:05:55.119> seems males program which on the surface seems males program which on the surface

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The mine comes down here. The unions come down here. They talk to you about what this means.
• The mine comes down here and talks to you about what that bill means. The U.P. is begging for.
• The U.P. is already paying the highest energy costs in the country, and the mines are Already paying
• And the mines are critical to the jobs down here at the Ford plants.
• And the mines are critical to the jobs down here at the Ford plants.

Summary: The Senate convened with 30 members present, heard the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and approved several temporary excusals. The chamber received gubernatorial appointments to multiple boards and commissions, then recessed and later took up resolutions and legislation. It adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, a tribute memorializing former Senator and Representative Robert Geake, after remarks honoring his long legislative career and public service; the resolution was adopted and all members and the Lieutenant Governor were added as co-sponsors. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which approved an extension of a state of emergency related to gasoline prices through Labor Day. Senator Camilleri argued the extension would help lower fuel costs for residents, while Senator McBroom later criticized the resolution as political theater and urged action on substantive energy legislation, including a pending Upper Peninsula-related bill. The resolution passed by roll call, 36-1. In floor action, the Senate introduced and referred several bills, including measures on the Income Tax Act, Michigan Trust Fund Act, road classification, the Food Law, Motor Fuels Quality Act, and automated decision tools in employment. The chamber then passed three bills on third reading: Senate Bill 480 on child care organization licensing and regulation, Senate Bill 517 amending the Revised School Code, and Senate Bill 278 amending the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966. The Senate adjourned after statements and a final motion to adjourn until June 25 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• pity story for you to feel better about your own life without you having to take any action to defend mine
• pity story for you to feel better about your own life without you having to take any action to defend mine
• pity story for you to feel better about your own life without you having to take any action to defend mine
• pity story for you to feel better about your own life without you having to take any action to defend mine
• pity story for you to feel better about your own life without you having to take any action to defend mine

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A third of homeless people that died last year, over 115, came from our district, yours and mine.
• A third of homeless people that died last year, over 115, came from our district, yours and mine.
• , district to mine, district to mine, I<00:36:26.400> know<00:36:26.560> that<00:36
• and mine. and mine.
• 28.640> was non-white constituent of mine was non-white constituent of mine was stopped<00:57:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not... in New Mexico currently large loads like data centers or crypto mining.
• They have to be mined. You have to get the rare earths, and you have to manufacture them.
• We don't have an environment in New Mexico that would even allow us to go out and mine them, get the
• So it's another way of storing energy, and it's a lot easier—no rare earths, no mining involved.
• No mining is required. Essentially, big heavy rocks are raised up and lowered as needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The McIlroy family were constituents of mine. And also longtime personal friends.
• person in a vehicle on Texas highways is someone's entire world, just like the three of them were mine
• Members, this bill was inspired by a constituent of mine, Christina Merzon, who is here with us today
• Every day across Texas, families like mine are shattered by highway crimes like road rage shootings,
• I'm sorry, provide families like mine. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Bills: HB 2065, HB 2462, HB 2621, HB 3187, HB 3539, HB 3563, HB 3726, HB 4164, HB 4207, HB 4368, HB 4706, HB 4916, HB 4950, HB 4967, HB 5177, HB 4429, HB 5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• On former phosphate mining lands by Senator Burgess.
• Is an act relating to former phosphate mining lands.
• This bill provides a new process for land owners of former phosphate mines to record a public notice
• that their land is a former phosphate mine and also have a radiation survey conducted by DOH on their
• Number one, it removes the statement about the necessity of phosphate mining.

Keywords: 999, senate, all