Transcript Highlights:

• "Well, not necessarily, but there would be just compensation for a physical taking.
• "Well, not necessarily, but there would be just compensation for a physical taking.
• "Well, not necessarily, but there would be just compensation for a physical taking.
• "Well, not necessarily, but there would be just compensation for a physical taking.
• "Well, not necessarily, but there would be just compensation for a physical taking.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm looking at consumer enforcement public compensation lines 214 through 217. Okay, thank you.
• , or will the Attorney General compensate when no monies have been recovered?
• Would those victims then be eligible for compensation under this fund?
• <00:52:03.119> to restitution or other compensations to restitution or other compensations
• <00:52:25.319> lines<00:52:25.720> 214<00:52:26.920> through compensation lines

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > BY YOUR VOTE CS FOR SB 138 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL ON COMPENSATION
• MEMBERS SB 130 MAKES THREE CHANGES TO FLORIDA'S COMPENSATION OF VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL INCARCERATION.
• THE BILL EXTENDS THE TIMELINE TO FILE FOR SUCH COMPENSATION FROM 90 DAYS TO TWO YEARS.
• IT REMOVES THE RESTRICTIVE CLEAN HANDS LAW, FLORIDA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT HAS A COMPENSATION
• SINCE ENACTING THE WRONGFUL INCARCERATION STATUTE 2018 THERE ARE 18 EXONERATES WHO BEEN DENIED COMPENSATION

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, if you look on page 15, section 329, employee compensation.
• . compensation. compensation.
• Page 16, you see exactly where all these compensation dollars are going.
• So, the House's position was to pay for the employee compensation out of the severance tax.
• They receded to the Senate's position to pay that compensation out of the general fund.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• civil judgment and then they came to New Hampshire to enforce it, you know, it's for to recover a monetary
• civil judgment and then they came to New Hampshire to enforce it, you know, it's for to recover a monetary
• for<03:13:58.560> to<03:13:58.720> recover<03:13:58.960> a<03:13:59.200> monetary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• harm and redress we're talking about harm and redress we're talking about harm and redress through monetary
• damages and so forth on through monetary damages and so forth on through monetary damages and so forth

Bills: HCR 21, HCR 22, HCR 23, HCR 24, HCR 25, HCR 26, HCR 27, HCR 31, HCR 41, HCR 42, HCR 43, HCR 44, HCR 45, HCR 52, HCR 53, HCR 66, HCR 67, HCR 73, HR 8, HR 10, HR 13, HR 20, HR 21, HR 50, HR 59, HR 61, HR 71, HR 74, HR 79, HR 84, HR 86, HR 90, HR 91, HR 102, HR 103, HR 107, HR 113, HR 125, HR 126, HR 132, HR 142, HR 145, HR 149, HR 150, HR 152, HR 167, HR 179, HR 181, HR 183, HR 186, HR 192, HR 196, HR 199, HR 207, HR 211, HR 212, HR 213, HR 216, HR 249, HR 256, HR 259, HR 261, HR 263, HR 272, HR 281, HR 285, HR 294, HR 295, HR 300, HR 305, HR 311, HR 313, HR 315, HR 316, HR 323, HR 331, HR 339, HR 340, HR 346, HR 349, HR 352, HR 357, HR 358, HR 360, HR 363, HR 374, HR 377, HCR 20, HCR 28, HCR 30, HCR 32, HCR 49, HR 14, HR 15, HR 19, HR 23, HR 24, HR 25, HR 26, HR 27, HR 29, HR 47, HR 48, HR 55, HR 56, HR 66, HR 85, HR 92, HR 93, HR 95, HR 96, HR 140, HR 155, HR 164, HR 204, HR 241, HR 242, HR 250, HR 253, HR 260, HR 262, HR 265, HR 279, HR 310, HR 312, HR 328, HR 332, HR 359, HR 362, HR 367

Keywords: recognition, award, petroleum industry, leadership, community service, HCR 22, House Concurrent Resolution, Texas Legislature, commendation, honorary resolution, Dr. James Olson, James Olson, University of Texas Permian Basin, UT Permian Basin, psychology professor, 50 years of service, faculty recognition, academic award, Piper Professor Award, Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not monetary, and thank you for our Hilo renovations projects.
• It's not monetary, and thank you for our Hilo renovations projects.
• Non-monetary?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, Senators, finally, tab number three, CS for Senate Bill 694, on compensation of the descendants
• Okay, Senators, finally, tab number three, CS for Senate Bill 694, on compensation of the descendants
• This bill provides compensation to the next of kin of the Groveland Four, consistent with the state's
• But compensation is the remedy the law provides, and it is the remedy the state owes.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. First, SB 214 by Senator McLean, described as a targeted rural access bill, would allow special districts in rural communities and areas of opportunity to receive certain state and federal financial assistance payments by invoice rather than reimbursement. An amendment expanding the benefit to independent special districts in those rural areas, including water and wastewater projects, was adopted, and the bill then passed favorably. Support was noted from representatives of water and sewer cooperatives, a water and sewer district, Resiliency Florida, and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee then took up CS for SB 1266 by Senator Kalata on cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment creating a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, working with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida and participating institutions to provide certification and clearance-related training. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS for SB 694 by Senator Bracey Davis, which would provide compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for wrongful convictions and related harms. Senator Bracey Davis and a supporter testified about the history of the case, prior legislative apologies, pardons, and exonerations, and the need for compensation as a final step. Members spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this modification would exempt the lobby compensation thresholds in Government Code 305.005 from
• Currently, the lobby compensation thresholds increase each year based on inflation, shifting more data
• Compensation thresholds increase each year based on inflation, shifting more data into the lowest threshold
• modification will ensure that the reporting categories continue to provide effective disclosure of lobby compensation

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Netties River Authority, Lower Netties Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations for those entities without modification. The Texas Ethics Commission received the most discussion. Members adopted a modified recommendation to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and another modification to round inflation-adjusted amounts. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be produced, review of the substantial compliance standard for corrected reports, review of the definition of principal purpose for campaign finance reporting, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on lobbying registration and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. The Commission then took its required final record vote to forward all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature; the motion passed with nine ayes. Sunset staff provided a status update on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, reporting that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The meeting also noted the recently completed evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission and ended with closing remarks from the chair and vice chair before the Commission recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This modification would exempt the lobby compensation thresholds in Government Code 305.005 from inflation
• Currently, the lobby compensation thresholds increase each year based on inflation, shifting more data
• Compensation thresholds increase each year based on inflation, shifting more data into the lowest threshold
• modification will ensure that the reporting categories continue to provide effective disclosure of lobby compensation

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 meeting minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Nettie River Authority, Lower Nettie Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations without objection. For the Texas Ethics Commission, the Commission adopted staff recommendations, including two modifications to recommendation 1.2: one to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and revert them to statutory levels, and another to round inflation-adjusted amounts to practical increments. The Commission also adopted eight new Texas Ethics Commission recommendations. These addressed late filing penalties, including limiting accrual for eight-day reports through election day, excluding the first post-election semiannual report from daily penalties, waiving penalties when notice cannot be shown, reviewing the definition of substantial compliance for corrected reports, reviewing the definition of principal purpose to reduce unnecessary campaign finance reporting burdens, improving public access to delinquent penalty information on the TEC website, and expanding training and plain-language guidance on lobbying and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, stating that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with most remaining items in progress or partially implemented. The Commission also briefly noted receipt of a Texas Lottery Commission evaluation concerning executive leadership and potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• testify on Senate Bill 210, which is, uh, creating a special commission on additional regular compensation
• time discussing research done by five women who interned in my office last summer and explored compensation
• in the line of duty and provide her with an annual retirement amount equivalent to her regular compensation
• in the line of duty and provide her with an annual retirement amount equivalent to her regular compensation
• When she reaches retirement age, she will then receive a pension amounting to 80% of her compensation

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several retirement and workforce-related bills. House Bill 2980 would place county correctional nurses and certain medical staff into Group 4 retirement. Representative Trino, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, and nurse manager Leanne Cameron argued that correctional nurses work in dangerous, high-stress settings with frequent contact with incarcerated people, high rates of mental illness and substance use in the jail population, and significant workplace violence, and that the change would help recruitment and retention with limited statewide fiscal impact. The committee also heard Senate Bill 210, which would create a commission to study additional regular compensation and annual expenses for members of the General Court. Senator John Keenan said Massachusetts has high leadership stipends compared with other states and argued the current structure can affect independence and public trust. Representative O'Day testified on House Bill 2928 to extend Group 2 retirement to additional Department of Children and Families social workers, and SEIU 509 witnesses described frequent transport of children, crisis response, threats, assaults, and other high-risk duties that they said match Group 2 work. Additional testimony supported House Bill 2943 for DDS service coordinators and supervisors, with witnesses describing home visits in unsafe conditions, transport of vulnerable individuals, direct care during staffing crises, and exposure to violence. House Bill 2899 drew support from the Association of Social Work Boards for social work field placement grants, incentives for supervisors, and expanded retirement benefits for DCF social workers. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2613, a local retirement bill for Salem police officer Kathleen Roachville, who described a severe line-of-duty injury during an arrest involving a combative person in a mental health crisis. Finally, Susan Smith Campbell testified for reclassifying certain DYS administrative officers into Group 2 because of their direct involvement in restraints, assaults, and crisis management. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is still roughly going to higher ed programs, operations, compensation, other initiatives.
• That is still roughly going to higher ed programs, operations compensation, other initiatives.
• We also, for the first time, saw a pretty significant reliance on WIA to fund faculty compensation and
• And the second call that I wanted to mention was, again, around compensation.
• And the second call that I wanted to mention was, again, around compensation.

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, In the world of this matter of non-economic damages, the compensation is not given because someone
• this particular case, the question is whether the survivors are a class of people that should be compensated
• the state legislature's public policy was that dependents, Marcy used the word dependence, were compensated
• But there's negligence, and there's gross negligence, and people deserve to be compensated the same as
• And people deserve to be compensated the same as if that gross negligence killed somebody in an automobile

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee considered one bill, HB 603, which would repeal section 768.21(8), the Florida medical negligence wrongful death exception often referred to by supporters as the “Free Kill” law. The sponsor argued the current statute unfairly bars certain families—especially adult children or parents of unmarried adults without minor children—from recovering non-economic damages when a loved one dies from medical negligence, while such damages are available in other wrongful death cases. Supporters, including family members, AARP, and some legal advocates, testified that the law is discriminatory and denies equal access to justice for grieving families and vulnerable adults. Opponents, including physicians, hospital and insurer representatives, and business groups, argued that repeal would increase malpractice exposure, raise premiums, worsen access to care, and accelerate physician retirements or departures from Florida. Several urged that if the bill moves forward, it should be paired with caps on non-economic damages to balance the impact on the health care system. Supporters countered that negligence must still be proven, that the law creates unequal treatment, and that existing tort reforms have not lowered premiums. The sponsor closed by rejecting claims that the bill is “jackpot justice” and emphasizing that families deserve court access and accountability. After debate, the committee voted on HB 603 and passed it 16-2. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• hundreds of thousands of medical bills, lost wages, and long-term disability without meaningful compensation
• Unlike UIM coverage, the Occupational Accident Insurance provided under Proposition 22 excludes compensation
• A lot of key issues around the worker rights or driver rights and compensation in the right share of
• Doesn't get workers' compensation, is out of work for a while.
• , which we, that's a state-run workers' compensation program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on down to line nine for elk crop damage compensation, also from Senate File 469 from Senator
• ,<00:17:42.400> also<00:17:42.720> from<00:17:42.880> Senate damage compensation
• , also from Senate damage compensation, also from Senate file<00:17:43.440> 469<00:17:44.080><
• for that due to um, some compensation for that due to their,<01:12:09.679> um,<01:12:10.640><
• system to compensate the producers. system to compensate the producers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Farmers have done their part without compensation for the work and missed commercial opportunity.
• Farmers have done their part without compensation for the work and missed commercial opportunity.
• <00:07:55.479> or state did not in any way compensate or state did not in any way compensate
• Farmers have done their part without compensation for the work and missed commercial opportunity.
• <00:08:37.479> for<00:08:37.680> the their part without compensation for the their

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It it works quite well compensation.
• Uh, yeah, you're compensated if they eat your hay stack.
• You know, how do you get compensated for that?
• You know, how do you get compensated for that?
• You know, how do you get compensated for that?

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• the Committee on General and Housing be relieved of House Bill 661, an act relating to workers' compensation
• Committee on General and Housing be relieved of House Bill 661, which is an act relating to workers' compensation
• 661, which is an act relating to Bill 661, which is an act relating to workers<00:09:31.120> compensation
• <00:09:31.839> coverage<00:09:32.880> for workers compensation coverage for workers
• compensation coverage for firefighters<00:09:33.839> with<00:09:34.080> cancer<00:09:34.399

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional message from Representative Chris Marorrow centered on humility, uncertainty, and keeping a “beginner’s mind” when making decisions. He used a farmer story, a Zen teaching, and a Christian text to emphasize that outcomes are often unknowable and that lawmakers should remain open, curious, and aware of unintended consequences. The chamber then suspended rules to introduce 15 House bills by number only and referred them to committees, including bills sent to Energy and Digital Infrastructure, Judiciary, Government Operations and Military Affairs, Environment, Ways and Means, Commerce and Economic Development, Healthcare, Human Services, and Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry. The House also adopted JRS 34, a joint resolution setting the weekend adjournment schedule so the two chambers would reconvene no later than Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Several committee reassignment motions were approved: H.724, relating to involuntary psychiatric medication in emergency circumstances, was moved from Human Services to Healthcare; and H.661, relating to workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters with cancer, was moved from General and Housing to Commerce and Economic Development. Announcements included a Farmers Night event, a Climate Solutions Caucus meeting, and recognition of guests in the gallery. The House then adjourned until Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• operating in New Mexico, and, um, those birth centers and the staff that work there were not being compensated
• And then House Bill 66 um approaches the um workers' compensation statute, and Xandra and I were talking
• amount of discovery costs that the defendant or the employer has to provide um when um a worker's compensation
• cap compensation case is being litigated, and it also increases the cap that um the plaintiff's attorneys
• You know, and not when, when they don't compensate adequately, the people who, uh, who actually provide

Transcript Highlights:

• Earlier today, I think there was some discussion of the operating budget Section 943 excess compensation
• Our staff's going to follow up on something, and so that excess compensation could be one that you want
• That excess compensation could be one that you want to plunk there for now until next month, and then
• Okay, and then just to be clear, then I'll add excess compensation to the parking lot.
• I think that I had that on my short list, that the excess compensation and demographics as two kind of

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy executive committee met to approve the November minutes, which were adopted by voice vote. The committee then received an update from the Attorney General’s Office on two ongoing cases, Fowler and Joel Lynn, with briefing and oral argument timelines still pending. Michael Harbour of the Office of the State Actuary provided an actuarial update focused on ESSB 5357, explaining that the bill raised the assumed investment return from 7% to 7.25%, suspended UAL contribution rates for four years, and changed amortization for past benefit improvements; members asked for clarification on how those changes would affect long-term funding and contribution rates, especially for Plan 1 systems. A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to committee discussion of interim priorities and the need for more analysis of recent pension legislation. Members emphasized the importance of understanding the fiscal impacts of ESSB 5357 and related pension changes before the September economic experience study, and several asked staff to provide a more preliminary walkthrough of the bill’s effects. The committee also discussed the LEOFF 1 study and broader questions about overfunding, including when a plan should be considered overfunded and whether overfunding should be addressed through merger or closure proposals. One member suggested reviewing the operating budget’s excess compensation proviso during the interim as well. Staff reviewed the draft 2025 interim work plan, proposing June topics including election of officers, a presentation on SB 5357 and its actuarial implications, and an initial LEOFF 1 study kickoff based on SB 5085 and HB 2034. The committee also placed excess compensation and demographic experience study items in a parking lot for possible later scheduling. The June agenda was adopted by roll call vote, with three ayes and three members absent or excused, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.