Transcript Highlights:

• And then also that work is to provide connection back to those VA health care benefits that they've earned
• <00:04:25.560> those<00:04:25.759> VA<00:04:26.320> Healthcare connection back
• to those VA Healthcare connection back to those VA Healthcare benefits<00:04:27.759> that<00:
• resources<00:08:42.440> is<00:08:42.560> it<00:08:42.800> the connection back
• at 2013 one of our new look at back at 2013 one of our new Readiness<00:36:37.839> centers<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We yield back the remaining of our time.
• You know people cannot go back. They cannot go back. Believe me, they are fleeing persecution.
• And back before 9/11, if we wanted to go back and forth to Mexico, we'd have to go through checkpoints
• Twice deported defied our laws, came back into our country, back into Jacksonville, nowhere near the
• We do not back up.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27. The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we go back to 1998 in the dynamics.
• that, back to you, commerce. that, back to you, commerce.
• wind and solar that were cut back. wind and solar that were cut back.
• I'm here to say that will fight back.
• that is where we where our roots go back that is where we where our roots go back to.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would normally refer them back.
• Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the committee for comment.
• Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the committee.
• We want those funds to go back to social workers in the clinic.
• We want those funds to go back to transportation.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But now it's back to the same thing. We're back to contracts. Why have HDA?
• But now it's back to the same thing. We're back to contracts. Why have HDA?
• But now it's back to the same thing. We're back to contracts. Why have HDA?
• But now it's back to the same thing. We're back to contracts. Why have HDA?
• But now it's back to the same thing. We're back to contracts. Why have HDA?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Tourism and Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism held an informational briefing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract updates, destination management action plans, and state auditor findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson described her role as temporary and said she was focused on identifying problems, gathering information, communicating with stakeholders, and implementing solutions. She said HTA is now operating as a typical state agency subject to state controls, but noted that HTA’s work often involves nontraditional programs that can create process errors. She also said she had directed staff to review the auditor’s findings on the destination management action plan process and that the review was posted publicly. A major topic was the search for a permanent CEO and the agency’s restructuring under SB 1571. HTA board chair Tata Po said he hoped to select a CEO within about four months, with three to six finalists expected in roughly two to two-and-a-half months, and said the job description would largely remain the same except for compensation and reporting changes under the new law. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism representatives explained that HTA’s board is now advisory and does not approve the budget, while DBEDT retains budget authority. They also said HTA is working with the governor’s office and DBEDT on contract and budget transitions, including a possible shift to a calendar-year process so grantees and contractors have more certainty. Members pressed HTA on staffing, oversight, and accountability, especially around the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB contracts. HTA said the destination stewardship team supports destination management and product development, including workforce development, sports, and implementation of destination management action plans, and that staff provide direction to contractors rather than simply handing work over to them. Anderson said the stewardship team had 11 people and that the destination management side covered about 15 contracts, while the branding side had three managers overseeing nine contracts. She said the agency had 47 contracts overall and that the major contracts included CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB. Several members criticized HTA’s management history, questioned staffing qualifications and compensation, and expressed concern that the agency had lost public trust. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I'll turn it back to the dais, Mr. Zabur.
• I think that's a Come back and take a look at this.
• Hiding in the back for the expert. Hiding in the back for dramatic effect. I love it. Thank you.
• And then we see this come back.
• Bring it back. Let's go ahead and we have a All right. Bring it back.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with SB 1350 by Senator McNerney presented first. The measure would expand California’s use of renewable hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with supporters emphasizing grid reliability, clean-energy goals, in-state investment, and construction jobs. Support came from labor, clean-energy, municipal utility, and local government representatives; NRDC Action Fund withdrew opposition after amendments, while a few groups remained opposed or neutral. The committee later took a roll call and SB 1350 passed out on a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard SB 1180 by Senator Allen, which would set operational rules for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund created under SB 54, including clearer eligible uses, transparency, technical assistance, and access for tribes and smaller community groups. Environmental justice, ocean, conservation, and local government groups strongly supported the bill, saying it would ensure the fund addresses plastic pollution’s public health and environmental harms. Industry and manufacturing groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill should stay tightly tied to plastic waste reduction and not broaden into source-reduction policy. After quorum was established, the committee approved SB 1180 on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. SB 1326 by Senator Wahab was then heard to strengthen tribal consultation and tribal cultural resource protections under CEQA by recognizing tribal registers and requiring feasible avoidance or mitigation measures when tribes identify resources. Tribal representatives and supporters said the bill would better protect sacred sites and tribal knowledge, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and rural county groups opposed unless amended, citing implementation concerns, possible litigation, and uncertainty for infrastructure and housing projects. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. Finally, SB 954 by Senator Blakespear was presented as a cleanup of last year’s SB 131 advanced-manufacturing CEQA exemption, narrowing eligible projects and adding guardrails such as setbacks, air-quality limits, tribal consultation, labor standards, and habitat protections. Environmental and labor groups supported the bill as a needed correction to an overly broad exemption, while business, manufacturing, housing, and local-government groups opposed, warning it could make the exemption unusable and slow investment. Members debated the balance between environmental protection and manufacturing competitiveness, and the committee voted SB 954 out on a due pass recommendation to the Labor and Employment Committee; the transcript then moved on to SB 1031 on compostable plastics, which was introduced but not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was seen back in 2023.
• Um, I think I want to go back to the Brownfield. Brownfield.
• We'll bring this meeting back to order. Sorry, we're a little bit late getting back in here.
• All right, we'll go back to the agency then. Mr. Durrell. Mr.
• Are those from 5 years back, 10 years back? I think that's the specific question I'm having.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I mean, let me back up then.
• Yeah, I'll go back to the question.
• Committee on Director Nominations is called back to order.
• Committee on director nominations is called back to order.
• My family goes back in Arizona a long way. My family goes back in Arizona a long way.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in the back room there.
• We get people back to work That will help all of us.
• They're going to go back up.
• So going back to what Mr.
• As a former county Commissioner, I really push back on that.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're going to move back to our previous measure, back to HB 496 HD2 SD1 relating to Mamaki T.
• So, we're going to move back to our previous measure, back to HB 496 HD2 SD1 relating to Mamaki T.
• So, we're going to move back to our previous measure, back to HB 496 HD2 SD1 relating to Mamaki T.
• So, we're going to move back to our previous measure, back to HB 496 HD2 SD1 relating to Mamaki T.
• So, we're going to move back to our previous measure, back to HB 496 HD2 SD1 relating to Mamaki T.

Keywords: Conference Notices: AGR 2:30 PM:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we want to back up for a second. We want to call John Schnauz back as a witness.
• So thanks again for coming back up, hearing from Reagan, and then, you know, being able to bounce back
• Let me back up. Let me clarify.
• You've been sitting back there for a long time today.
• But you also have to go back.

Bills: HB139, HB1818, HB1942, HB1959, HB2221, HB2254, HB2563, HB2067, HB2275, HB3211, HB139

Keywords: HB 1818, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, health maintenance organization, HMO, insurer, utilization review, preauthorization, prior authorization, medical necessity review, health care services, medical care, insurance regulation, insurance examination, regulatory oversight, confidential records, public information exception, Chapter 843, Chapter 1301

Transcript Highlights:

• Why haven't they gotten back are they? Why haven't they gotten back to<00:19:29.120> work?
• c> to<00:25:42.720> bus or even worse not go back to bus or even worse not go back to bus
• all the way back to 1976, right?
• then you might go back up to a 1% FBR. then you might go back up to a 1% FBR.
• <02:03:22.639> Your was back then. Your was back then.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• house under the back porch of the back house under the back porch of the back of<00:08:36.000>
• It's appears to us that curls back.
• He gave it back. He didn't I don't know. He gave it back. He didn't want<00:20:41.919> it.
• That had to go back, which it did do. It went back, and I agree with you.
• <01:56:38.480> Well,<01:56:38.880> I back? Is he back? The speaker? Well, I back?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 27FN, which would change how improvements to dwellings over water are handled and align those projects more closely with the state building code. The bill was presented by Trisha Milo on behalf of Senator Lang, and attorney John Cronin explained that it arose from a specific New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving the Newcombs’ lakeside property, but that it could affect a small number of older waterfront homes statewide. He said the intent was to give the Department of Environmental Services (DES) limited waiver authority for improvements that do not harm water quality, plant life, or fish, while still requiring DES review and local permits. Committee members asked several questions about the scope of the bill, including whether it was tied to one case, how many properties might be affected, what counts as “living space,” and whether the language could allow larger decks or other expansions. Cronin said the bill was meant to be narrow, focused on access and egress and not on creating new living space, and that DES would still be able to deny unreasonable requests. He also described the Newcombs’ project as a rehabilitation of an older structure that had been approved locally and later challenged by DES, leading to the current dispute. Darlene Forst, the Wetlands Bureau administrator at DES, testified in opposition. She said the department was surprised the bill was being heard because it believed the Senate had sent it to interim study, and she argued the language was unclear and could have broader statewide effects than intended. Forst also said the underlying case was still active and should not be effectively re-litigated through this bill. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So now it was coming back to our municipalities, and it was coming back to our municipalities by way
• Go back to those who paid the illegal taxes, is my perspective.
• This is a solution that gets it back to people who paid it.
• This is a solution that gets it back to people who paid it.
• When you're giving back the cash, maybe hold like 20% of it back so if the next year there's an undercollection

Bills: HB2143, HB2273, HB2290, HB2373, HB2784, HB2794, HB4037

Keywords: public safety, retirement system, investments, trust fund, board of trustees, financial report, income tax rebate, Pinal County, taxpayer eligibility, state revenue, financial assistance, transaction privilege tax, business location, tangible personal property, shared vehicle, sourcing, income tax, veterans, donations, tax refunds

Transcript Highlights:

• They cannot have more than 8% profit, and we took it back. We took it back for New Mexico.
• Okay, so if you go back to—and we don't have to go right—but if you go back to page three and you just
• I'm happy to go back and look at it in my office and get back to you about where that case stands.
• This was a couple of years back.
• I want to go back to...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome back. Uh thanks. testimony. Welcome back. Uh thanks.
• We'll bring this back up later to discuss. So, let's try to keep it to questions now.
• So, let's this back up later to discuss.
• So um law as a as a backs stop.
• Nobody would be able to come back later and say, um, that was not an emergency.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, now let's go back to...
• Whatever that was called back in the 1800s. Well, no.
• Robert, welcome back.
• But I will say this: most people that go back to TDCJ are not going back for another sex offense; they're
• going back for a technical violation. violation.

Bills: HB240, HB2097, HB2731, HB3087, HB3234, HB3319, HB3394, HB3687, HB4105, HB4205, HB4350, HB4462, HB4642, HB4801, HB5403, HB240

Keywords: quorum, tax levy, county governance, local government, population regulations, quorum requirement, Texas counties, population threshold, deputy sheriff, civil service, law enforcement, appeals process, sheriff's department, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I'll go back. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much.
• Okay, I'll go back. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much.
• Okay, I'll go back. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much.
• Welcome back. Third time's the charm, thank you. Yes, sir.
• I was going back and forth with her.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard a series of bills, beginning with HB 759, which would lower Florida’s minimum age to purchase or transfer firearms from 21 to 18. The bill drew strong opposition from gun-violence prevention groups, Parkland survivors and families, and several members who argued the current law was enacted after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting and should not be reversed. Supporters, including gun-rights advocates and some members, argued 18-year-olds are legal adults who serve in the military, vote, and should have full Second Amendment rights. After debate, the committee voted 13-5 to report HB 759 favorably. The committee then unanimously approved HB 431, extending Level 2 background screening requirements for youth athletic coaches through July 1, 2026, and HB 231, which keeps certain medical examiner information confidential, both with little opposition. It also approved HB 663, increasing penalties for unlawfully using tracking devices or apps in furtherance of dangerous crimes, after adopting a technical amendment, and HB 845, which clarifies the intake process for Veterans Treatment Court and removes Veterans Hall of Fame language from the bill. Each of those measures passed without recorded opposition. Members also approved PCS for HB 255, known as Dexter’s Law, which creates a sentencing multiplier for aggravated animal cruelty cases. The bill was presented as a response to a high-profile dog abuse case and was supported by animal welfare and law enforcement groups; members cited animal cruelty as a predictor of broader violence. The committee then approved HB 1021, allowing active law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons at sporting events, after debate over identification, venue procedures, and whether the bill should extend more broadly; it passed 16-1. Finally, HB 653, adding aggravating factors for capital felonies involving the assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, was reported favorably after brief discussion about federal penalties and deterrence. The transcript ends as the committee begins hearing HB 6025, a repeal bill related to emergency restrictions on firearms during local states of emergency, but the discussion is cut off before action is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look back at New Hampshire municipal reports dating back to the early 2000s, even prior to that
• If you look back at New Hampshire municipal reports dating back to the early 2000s, even prior to that
• education aid back to 2007208. education aid back to 2007208.
• Back up." You I I said, "Wait a minute. Back up."
• Way back there. >> Eight. Way back there. >> Oops. >> Oops. >> Oops.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission meeting focused on reviewing and correcting draft minutes and then working through a draft report on the cost of special education. Members made mostly clerical corrections, including clarifying references to Spalding, fixing acronyms such as LETRS, and cleaning up membership titles and appointee roles to match SB 57. The minutes were approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair also noted the commission’s deadline to complete findings and recommendations by July 1 and said the final report must be delivered to legislative leaders, the governor, the state librarian, and others. The main substantive discussion centered on the report’s findings about special education funding. Members agreed the report should emphasize that the commission was created to study the cost of special education and reduce reliance on local property taxes. One draft section described FY24 special education funding as coming from three primary state and federal sources totaling about $152 million, or roughly 15% of annual costs, with the remaining 85% paid by local school districts through property tax revenue, estimated at about $825 million. Members discussed adding historical or longitudinal data to show trends over time, and some suggested attaching charts or tables showing funding over the last 20 to 30 years. A second major topic was demographic data. The draft noted that statewide K-12 enrollment has declined since 2003 while the number and share of students with IEPs has increased. Members questioned whether the data compared like with like, especially given the growth of Education Freedom Accounts and charter school enrollment, and whether the figures included or excluded those students. Several members asked for clearer sourcing from the Department of Education and suggested keeping a list of unresolved questions, including the impact of the shift from ADMA to ADMR and the effect of the EFA program. The discussion ended with agreement to continue refining the report and to gather additional attachments and clarifications before finalizing recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Paxton moves that Senate Bill 472 be reported back to the full Senate.
• Senator Paxton moves that Senate Bill 472 be reported back to the full Senate with a recommendation to
• Senator Cook moves that Senate Bill 710 be reported back to the full Senate with a recommendation that
• Senator Nichols moves that Senate Bill 785 be reported back to the full Senate.
• All right, we're not coming back after.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and took up a series of pending bills, with no public testimony presented. The committee first reported SB 472 favorably to the full Senate on a 5-1 vote. It then adopted committee substitutes and advanced SB 414 and SB 578, with SB 414 reported with a recommendation to do not pass but with the substitute adopted, and SB 578 reported favorably; SB 578 and several other bills were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee similarly advanced SB 710, SB 785, SB 973, SB 1062, SB 1352, SB 1547, SB 1450, SB 1502, and SB 1566, while SB 970 was held. Most of these measures were reported out with do pass recommendations, often after adopting committee substitutes, and several were placed on the local and uncontested calendar without objection. Votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous, with the main recorded dissent on SB 472, SB 414, SB 785, and SB 1502. At the end of the meeting, Senator Middleton was noted as voting aye on all measures, and the committee recessed until the call of the chair.