Transcript Highlights:

• in the best interest of Florida's future.
• Could that be considered promotion of terrorism because I'm making a statement?
• a compromise between the Chief Financial Officer and the Florida Association of Counties.
• of Counties, with the Senate sponsor, myself, and the Chief Financial Officer.
• I think there's a lot of great factoids that'd be interesting for me to be aware of or for a voter to

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then moved into returning messages from the Senate. Early action focused on CS/CS/HB 1503 on computer science education and certification, which would add computer science and artificial intelligence content in high school and create a K-12 teacher certificate program; after adopting a House amendment restoring certificate language and adjusting implementation timing, the House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill 105-0. The chamber then took up CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, adopting a House amendment to allow local governments to buy into the cyber grant program and add a five-year sunset, then concurring in the Senate amendment shifting grant administration back to the Florida Digital Service; the bill passed 104-1. The House refused to concur in Senate amendments to CS/HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over U.S. military installations and HB 6011 on reporting gifts or honoraria, sending both back to the Senate. It also refused to concur in the Senate amendment to CS/HB 851 on professional learning for instructional and school administrative personnel, saying the Senate version expanded the bill beyond its original autism-focused scope. After a recess, the House unveiled Speaker Daniel Perez’s portrait and heard extended remarks praising his leadership, institutional reforms, and the work of House staff and members. In the second returning-message list, the House debated CS/CS/HB 1471 on systems of law and terrorist organizations. The Senate amendment clarified the definition of “promote,” refined notice and timeline provisions for terrorist organization designations, and kept references to Sharia law as an example in the foreign religious law section. Supporters argued the bill was aimed at conduct beyond speech and was intended to protect the Constitution and public safety; opponents warned it would chill free speech, target Muslim Floridians, and give the governor and cabinet unprecedented power without adequate due process. After lengthy debate, the House concurred and passed the bill 80-25. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1473, a public records bill tied to HB 1471, and moved to concur in a technical Senate amendment aligning the records exemption with the revised structure of HB 1471.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a statement of our Two.
• in</c><00:20:14.960><c> mind</c> best interest of the students in mind best interest of the students
• of their surplus<00:47:16.160><c> statements.
• It does have a surplus statement savings of $2.5 million.
• </c> statement, but all it recommendation of statement, but all it recommendation of ITL.<01:01:55.680

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have three other statutory audits on the tobacco tax, the state's financial statements, and the federal
• Audits on the tobacco tax, the state's financial statements, and the federal compliance audit that we
• Chair, in the interest of being quick, just like you asked, I am the sheriff of San Bernardino County
• And in the interest of brevity, the audit has two primary objectives.
• It is absolutely the most interesting part of the hearing. Yes. It was a little intimidating.

Committee: House Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered in court as evidence to prove the
• The defense can also call witnesses to attack the reliability of the statements.
• The timing of the statement in relation to who the child told? Also, whether Ms.
• And there is a significant process even in terms of getting the statement in.
• Questions of this panel? Representative Graham, you had a question or statement?

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• the next step: understanding the underlying causes of hospital financial distress.
• So as part of the eligibility criteria, we are asking for specified financial statements.
• the next step is understanding the underlying causes of hospital financial distress.
• So as part of the eligibility criteria, we are asking for specified financial statements.
• So that would include Criteria: We are asking for specified financial statements.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• We are being asked to present the voters a permanent restructuring of the financial foundation of local
• A permanent restructuring of the financial foundation of local government in the state of Florida.
• I call it a lot of financial uncertainty. A lot of budgetary uncertainty.
• A lot of financial uncertainty. A lot of budgetary uncertainty.
• of the people at your... ...to put a relationship aside if it's not in the best interests of the people

Transcript Highlights:

• In April of 2025, finances, interest rate changes, everything, it was determined that the assessments
• And as I've said earlier, this is actually a way that it aligns the economic interest of homeowners,
• it aligns the economic interest of insurance companies, and it aligns the economic interest of the state
• it aligns the economic interest of insurance companies, and it aligns the economic interest of the state
• of us kind of were interested in.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and first deferred HB 1142. The committee then heard HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is paid, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens debt. Representative Sawyer and Commissioner Tim Temple said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million in one-time surplus funds and would help expand a popular roof-mitigation program that has already awarded more than 4,600 fortified roofs. The bill drew support from several witnesses and was reported as amended without objection. Next, HB 1210, dealing with insurance claim disputes and a pre-suit review process for Louisiana Citizens claims, was discussed. Representative Dana Henry said he was voluntarily deferring the bill and instead pursuing a study resolution after hearing concerns from members and stakeholders. Department and Citizens officials said the proposal was modeled on Florida’s process and could help resolve disputes faster and cheaper, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony and some opposition cards were noted. The committee then took up HB 1199, which requires coverage for genetic testing and treatment related to SCN2A-associated disorders. Representative Jordan and the Diedon family gave emotional testimony about their daughter Emily’s diagnosis and the importance of timely genetic testing. The bill was amended to require that testing be ordered by a provider and deemed medically necessary by the health plan, with discussion about whether a neurologist should be involved; members said that issue could be refined later. HB 1199 was reported as amended. Finally, the committee considered HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. After a lengthy discussion about state insurance regulation, McCarran-Ferguson, and concerns that the bill could jeopardize federal broadband funding, Representative Jordan voluntarily deferred HB 880, and HB 920 was also deferred. The committee then heard HB 1221, which would limit the policy data collected for the Louisiana Fortified Program Fund. Former Representative Bowler argued the bill was needed to protect policyholder privacy, while the Department of Insurance and Commissioner Temple said the data is needed for surplus-lines premium tax audits, fraud detection, and consumer assistance after disasters. The discussion continued with questions about what data would be visible and how it would be used, but the transcript ends before a final action on HB 1221 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• sure that even potential conflicts of interest were clear, I also have concerns.
• the interest of both the Department of Defense and the commercial industry when it comes to mid-band
• Or the science budget, some of the things that I mentioned in my opening statement?
• about conflicts of interest here.
• I know that the private. industry, public interest groups, have programs of that sort to help people

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very happy to be in this committee, and I'm really interested in looking at the Department of Financial
• Services, Office of Insurance Regulation, and Office of Financial Regulation.
• Department of Financial Services and the Department of Revenue.
• Department of Financial Services, the Department of the Lottery, and the Department of Revenue.
• They also issue the state's comprehensive financial statements at the end of every fiscal year.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certified public accountants are trusted advisors who provide a wide array of financial consulting and
• Director, Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions: Charles Bassett.
• I rise for a floor statement. Point of personal privilege for a statement. But yes, go ahead.
• I rise for a point of personal privilege and reading of a statement. Please.
• Speaker Pro Tem, I rise for a point of personal privilege statement. Please. Thank you.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and approval of the journal. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and proclamations, including Alzheimer’s Association advocates, Arizona Society of CPAs members, the Arizona Airports Association, and students from Onyose Day Academy. A proclamation was read declaring January 26, 2006, as Arizona Aviation Day, highlighting the economic and public-safety importance of Arizona’s aviation sector and its airports. The bulk of the meeting consisted of points of personal privilege and floor statements, many focused on condemning recent deaths and injuries involving federal immigration enforcement actions in Arizona and other states. Senators called for investigations, transparency, due process, and an end to what they described as excessive force and warrantless enforcement. One senator also read a resolution supporting human rights and the people of Iran, condemning state violence and supporting secular protections and international accountability. The chamber also handled routine business, including gubernatorial nominations, which were referred to the appropriate committees, and the introduction and first reading of numerous bills and resolutions covering topics such as taxes, education, immigration, elections, health care, water, labor, housing, firearms, and appropriations. After committee announcements, the Senate adopted a motion to adjourn and recessed/adjourned until Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate people taking interest. I get lots of calls from newspapers and others.
• This is a topic of particular passion for me, and I really appreciate your interest and your service
• these are Madam Chair, just a couple of statements, I guess.
• There are, of course, financial impacts to the administrative burden.
• On top of that, yes, your statement is that you have 73,000 people that are enrolled.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• have something in common, which is what is in the best interest of the children of the Commonwealth.
• of these credit card statements is $400,000 a month.
• I financial part of the presentation.
• </c> representation of the kind of financial representation of the kind of financial reporting<02:01:
• c><02:08:46.400><c> in</c><02:08:46.560><c> the</c> best interests of of the kids in the best interests

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call, introductions, and approval of the previous meeting minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation on SB 253, focused on expanding support for teacher apprenticeship and teaching-and-learning pathways. Senator Hickman and staff from the Kentucky Department of Education and Nelson County Schools described how the program uses dual credit, work-based learning, and registered apprenticeship to help students earn an associate degree in high school and continue toward a teaching degree. They said the goal is to address the teacher shortage by creating a sustainable pipeline into the profession. Witnesses emphasized that the main barrier is cost. Mary Taylor said Kentucky’s youth apprenticeship model has been successful in other fields and that education should be added as an in-demand sector, but an associate degree alone will not solve the teacher shortage because teachers still need a bachelor’s degree and certification. Laura Arnold of Nelson County Schools described the district’s Lead Nelson program, saying the district has invested more than $800,000 since 2021, currently has 37 students in the pathway and seven committed apprentices, and spends about $85,000 per apprentice from freshman year through certification. She said district staffing, planning, and university partnerships are also significant hurdles. Members asked about job guarantees, tenure, and retirement; Arnold said employment is performance-based and retirement issues are being considered. Senator Hickman said the bill would use lottery funds to help cover tuition and dual credit costs so more districts can participate, noting that a prior version died because of a high fiscal note. Representative Payne and Representative Tipton praised the program but stressed the need for funding and noted inconsistencies between statute and budget language on Work Ready Kentucky and dual credit support. Representative Tipton also cautioned that lottery revenue may not keep pace with demand and said the General Assembly may need to make broader funding decisions. After the apprenticeship discussion, the chair moved the committee to the next agenda item on computer science and AI literacy, where Code.org began a presentation on the importance of computer science for all students.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:03.120><c> the</c> the best interest of the public, put the the best interest of the public
• For those of you who are parents, how much of your financial future would you risk for your child?
• And for those of you who dream of becoming parents, how much of your financial future would you risk
• And for those of you who dream of becoming parents, how much of your financial future would you risk
• A part of what we do in interesting one.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• It's interesting to me that here I am still doing this 13 years later because of someone else's kid,
• But instead of empowering residents, this bill will shield powerful corporate interests and make it harder
• of Counties, and I'm here today in support of HB 2198 on behalf of the Justices of the Peace.
• They're out of prison. So I'm proud of this program.
• They're out of prison. So I'm proud of this program.

Summary: The committee first approved prior minutes and announced several bills were being held at sponsors’ request, including HB 4117 and several House concurrent resolutions. It then heard HB 2811, which would expand obstructing governmental operations to include knowingly hindering a lawful arrest by a third party and make it a felony. Supporters, including a county attorney’s office representative, argued it would close a loophole and protect officers during arrests; opponents from criminal defense and civil liberties groups said it duplicated existing resisting arrest and hindering prosecution laws and could chill First Amendment activity such as filming police. After debate over prosecutorial discretion and constitutional concerns, the committee recommended HB 2811 do pass by a 3-2 vote with one member not voting. The committee next considered HB 2665, a “Cade’s Law” proposal to treat intentionally providing advice or encouragement through directed online communication to a minor to die by suicide as manslaughter. The sponsor and family members of suicide victims described the bill as a response to social media-driven encouragement of self-harm and urged stronger accountability. The bill drew no opposition testimony in the excerpt and passed with a 6-0 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then heard HB 2857, allowing ADCRR to store inmate medical records electronically and dispose of paper copies, which passed 5-1 after testimony from the department’s medical provider about space and efficiency. HB 2226 followed, requiring courts to ask about veteran status at initial appearance, notify prosecutors, and connect veterans with Arizona Department of Veterans Services and treatment or diversion options; an amendment shifted the notice duty from prosecutors to courts. The sponsor and veterans’ advocates said the bill would help identify veterans with PTSD or other needs and reduce recidivism, and the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill unanimously, 6-0. The committee then took up HB 2168, which would require county board approval before the Attorney General could bring a public nuisance abatement action in superior court. The sponsor argued the AG had overreached in cases involving a dairy, an aluminum plant, and a rail line, while opponents said the bill would weaken statewide enforcement and protect corporate polluters; the bill passed 3-2 with two not voting. Finally, the committee heard HB 2966, which would bar early termination of lifetime probation for dangerous crimes against children and apply that restriction retroactively. Supporters framed it as protecting children and ensuring offenders serve full probation terms, while survivors, defense attorneys, and the Sex Offender Management Board’s concerns were cited in opposition, with critics warning about loss of judicial discretion, constitutional issues, and reduced incentives for compliance. The bill passed 4-2 with one not voting. The last item in the excerpt was HCR 2001, a voter referral measure to end early voting on the Friday before Election Day, require government-issued ID for voting, and prohibit foreign contributions; an amendment removed the early-voting cutoff and some ID-related provisions while adding on-site tabulation language and other changes. The sponsor argued it would improve election security and speed results, while counties and other opponents raised cost, implementation, and access concerns, especially around on-site tabulation and mail voting. The testimony portion of HCR 2001 was underway when the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• In April of 2025, finances, interest rate changes, everything, it was determined that the assessments
• And as I've said earlier, this is actually a way that it aligns the economic interest of homeowners,
• it aligns the economic interest of insurance companies, and it aligns the economic interest of the state
• of us kind of were interested in.
• And so it is best left to the states to regulate insurance in the best interests of their state.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> think just a lot of interest uh as we think just a lot of interest uh as we think<01:13:35.199><
• How do you get through those statements? That is part of the bread and butter of our program.
• How do you get through those statements? That is part of the bread and butter of our program.
• How do you get through those statements? That is part of the bread and butter of our program.
• How do you get through those statements? That is part of the bread and butter of our program.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We will scrutinize the chemical additives to our food supply, remove the financial conflicts of interest
• And I can explain to you how each one of those is broken if you're interested.
• You have a pretty significant financial interest in litigation against Gardasil.
• the conflicts of interest within the agency to make sure that we have gold standard evidence-based..
• , which are focused on advancing the mercantile interests of the food industry and the pharmaceutical

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The point is that people are interested in this kind of work.
• Some of the interesting work that I think we're doing on policy is that we are cognizant of the fact
• I think the first thing, from an attorney's point of view, is to gauge the interest. of those land grants
• If you have some interest, Madam Chair, members of the committee, we all know the importance of making
• Chair, members of the committee, you may all be very interested in this.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative Audit issued two reports for the audit of the state's financial statements.
• The first is the ACFER, which includes all of the financial statements and notes to the financial statements
• The first is the ACFER, which includes all of the financial statements and notes to the financial statements
• The financial statements of the state are fairly presented. Ms.
• And it's, again, financial statements for the State of Arkansas.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee met to adopt prior minutes and reports from its executive and standing committees, including counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. Those reports covered routine audit activity, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, and several state agency audit items. The committee also reviewed and adopted the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 and the related single audit report, both presented by Legislative Audit staff. The state financial report showed unmodified opinions on the state’s financial statements and described total assets of about $41.9 billion and liabilities of about $11.1 billion, along with retirement system assets of $39.9 billion and a net pension liability of $9 billion. Two material weaknesses were identified: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and a Division of Workforce Services methodology change for unemployment-related estimates that was not properly documented or approved. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; it resulted in 33 findings, 14 with questioned costs totaling $16.6 million, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Members questioned agency officials in detail about the Summer EBT questioned costs, DHS unresolved findings, broadband grant documentation, cyber security controls, workers’ compensation liabilities, and child care funding and reporting. DHS explained that the Summer EBT issue involved drawing federal funds in advance rather than as benefits were redeemed, and said the process has been corrected. Broadband officials said the questioned $6.6 million reflected documentation-detail disagreements across many invoices rather than missing payments. OST officials described new logging, endpoint detection, and phishing-training efforts, and DFA and Education officials addressed specific audit findings and corrective actions. The committee ultimately moved to hold the two large statewide reports over until the August meeting for further review, with discussion continuing on whether to release some agency staff in the meantime.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to do this for the committee so that everyone kind of had an idea of how these statements operate
• statement, but it also added language about the cost of frail.
• of the statement later to to an example of the statement later that<00:35:44.560><c> that</c><00:35:
• their own means of fiscal impact statements. statements. statements.
• And for many Kentucky families, this is financially out of reach.

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance met for its first interim meeting, established a quorum, approved routine opening items, and welcomed a new committee assistant and a legislative intern. The committee first heard a Kentucky Bankers Association presentation from Tim Shank and John Cooper focused on the state’s housing shortage, which they described as affecting all 120 counties and especially low- and moderate-income and workforce housing. They urged support for a proposed $20 million banker-backed revolving fund, paired with tax credits, to finance new housing construction; they said the program would be flexible, could support alternatives such as manufactured housing, and would use below-market loans with tax credits vesting over five years only after units are completed. They also asked for extension of the historical tax credit carryforward from five to seven years and for continued support of new market tax credits, arguing that supply-chain delays make the longer period necessary for historic rehabilitation projects. The bankers also raised concerns about credit unions, arguing that because credit unions do not pay the same taxes as banks, they should not be allowed to acquire healthy state-chartered banks or hold state and local deposits. They cited the recent purchase of First State Bank of Middlesborough as an example, saying the transaction would reduce state, county, and city tax revenue and weaken local tax bases. In response to committee questions, the presenters said local regulations, zoning, parking, sidewalk, and utility easement issues can significantly delay housing projects, and they emphasized that state policy and infrastructure support are needed to help address affordability and development barriers. The committee then shifted to a Department of Insurance presentation by Commissioner Sharon Clark on how to read KRS 6.948 health mandate and federal cost defrayal impact statements. Clark explained that the mandate statements were created in 1998 so legislators would have actuarial estimates of how proposed health insurance mandates would affect administrative costs, premiums, and total costs, and she noted that later legislation added federal cost-defrayal analysis. She also reviewed the background of the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits framework and said the department’s statements are intended to help lawmakers make informed decisions on proposed health coverage mandates. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.