Transcript Highlights:

• The language and terminology changes in this bill match federal terminology and what other states are
• And the language and terminology changes in this bill matches federal terminology and what other states
• Members, we're just updating the monitoring device companies so that way they cannot go in and pay.
• Members, we're just updating the monitoring device companies so that way they cannot go in and remove
• This is to align with our federal partners who use that terminology.

Bills: HR218, HR219, HR220, HR221, HR222, HCR91, HCR92, HCR93, HR210, HR211, HR212, HR213, HR214, HR215, HR216, SCR29, SCR38, SB100, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, SCR23, HB276, HB508, HB512, HB599, HB632, HB656, HB998, HB1052, HB1084, HB1171, HB1193, HB1194, HB1204, HB1209, HB1250, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB173, SB180, SB182, SB260, SB412, SB418, SB424, SB442, SB460, SB476, HCR41, HCR76, HCR77, HCR63, HCR69, HCR86, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB167, HB227, HB243, HB321, HB335, HB398, HB492, HB624, HB689, HB708, HB804, HB906, HB926, HB955, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB1005, HB1029, HB1069, HB1077, HB1095, HB1104, HB1107, HB1187, HB1203, HB1217, HB1220, HB730, HB225, HB175, HB198, HB437, HB457, HB488, HB646, HB763, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1089, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231, HB1246, HB1248, HB1249, SB47, SB82, SB106, SB206, SB210, SB248, SB305, SB376, SB397, SB441, HCR32, HB59, HB617, HB897, HB911, HB1223, HB798, HB824, HB989, HB1140, HB1166, HB1244, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB996, HB1035, HB1113, HB1180, HB1234, HB1240, SB89

Keywords: EJ Fields, Shreveport, Louisiana, gospel music, commendation, resolution, honorary resolution, Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Airplay, Mercy Endureth, music award, ministry, artist recognition, cultural heritage, spiritual heritage, African American gospel, local hero, state commendation, St. Charles Parish, parish day

Summary: The House met with 89 members present and began with prayer, the pledge, and routine journal and leave requests. The early part of the session was largely ceremonial, with multiple personal privilege remarks recognizing visiting groups and special days at the Capitol, including St. Bernard Parish Day, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association Day, ARPEC members, retired public servant Barney Arsenault, Deaf History Month, Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Young Farmers and Ranchers, Louisiana Housing Corporation participants, and Louisiana Hospital Day. The chamber also received Senate messages, including concurrence in several House concurrent resolutions, Senate passage of a number of bills, and a list of Senate resolutions lying over. The House then moved through a long series of resolutions and bills, many of them adopted without objection. Among the measures approved were resolutions designating or commending various observances and groups, and bills addressing inmate documentation upon release, court filings on letter-sized paper, safe harbor protections for trafficking victims, public benefits verification, travel meal reimbursement limits for state employees, the Governor’s Task Force on Impaired Driving, school emergency operation plans, justice of the peace jurisdiction in East Baton Rouge Parish, unaffiliated voter participation in party primaries, electronic monitoring rules, crime victims’ compensation terminology, the indigent defender fund threshold for small municipalities, sex offender identification procedures, the Office of State Public Defender, microbrewery special-event permits, alternative power sources for nursing facilities, relay attack device penalties, and a capital-case intellectual disability bill. Several of these passed overwhelmingly; some were temporarily returned to the calendar or tabled after passage. A few bills drew more discussion. HB 335 on citizenship verification for public benefits passed 77-17. HB 398, limiting meal reimbursements for state travel to GSA rates with an exception process, passed 62-32 after questions about scope and lodging. HB 906 on presidential preference primary qualification and party rules for unaffiliated voters passed 68-19. HB 897, protecting health data collected by pregnancy centers and imposing fines for unauthorized disclosure, passed 94-0 after an amendment and questions about its application. HB 1107 on intellectual disabilities in capital cases passed 75-11 after amendments informed by disability advocates. HB 1187, allowing Citizens Property Insurance to direct certain emergency assessment overages to the Fortify Homes Program or reserves, passed 87-9. HB 1220 on the State Board of Medical Examiners passed 95-0. The House also reconsidered and successfully revived HB 225 after suspending the rules, and several bills were returned to the calendar for later consideration, including HB 689 before it was later brought back and passed 84-7 after amendment. The session concluded with notice of additional Senate messages and upcoming floor scheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• Update grants criteria to ensure funding is directed towards unserved and underserved areas in both rural
• Requires an annual report on progress being made and updates some terminology to provide clarity on how
• Update<00:03:32.720><c> grants</c><00:03:33.120><c> criteria</c><00:03:33.599><c> to</c><00:03:33.840
• ><c> ensure</c><00:03:34.239><c> funding</c> Update grants criteria to ensure funding Update grants criteria
• ><c> to</c> and updates some some terminology to and updates some some terminology to provide<00:03:45.280

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I would save having to update the bill every time we update to a new model code and so forth.
• <c> a</c><00:44:16.480><c> new</c> the bill every time we update to a new the bill every time we update
• Okay, so that's all it's just terminology. We're just making the terminology consistent.
• We're just making the terminology. We're just making the terminology<00:48:58.079><c> consistent.
• U but then it would just cycle update.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill before you is House Bill 2272, updating terminology related to ski areas and winter sports
• The first bill before you is House Bill 2272, updating terminology related to ski areas and winter sports
• House Bill 2272 does the following: It updates terms for ski lift devices that are inspected by State
• Parks and updates ski lift device terms for which operators must maintain liability insurance.
• permit review processes are a core function of local government, and to the extent that they can be updated

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held its final hearing of the session and took executive action on four bills. House Bill 2272 updates terminology related to ski areas and winter sports activities, including ski lift device inspection and liability insurance language. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418 revises local permit review processes for residential projects, including completeness determinations, deadlines for reviews by certain entities, fee refunds for missed deadlines, and requirements for a responsible official and single point of contact; a proposed striking amendment clarified referral procedures for special purpose and public utility districts and adjusted timelines from calendar to business days. The committee also considered Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2451, which changes local tax increment financing rules by adding sunset and construction-start deadlines, modifying project analysis requirements, and creating a negotiation, mediation, and arbitration process with impacted taxing districts. Substitute House Bill 2140 exempts certain land transferred to a governmental entity from additional tax when the transfer supports development under current use classification and the land remains in current use or is used for supporting infrastructure. Fiscal notes were discussed for the bills, including notable local government costs for HB 2418. All four bills received do pass recommendations and were sent to the appropriate next committees: HB 2272 and SHB 2140 to Rules, E2SHB 2418 to Rules after adoption of the striking amendment, and E2SHB 2451 to Ways and Means. Votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, with one senator noting concerns about the cost and implementation burden of HB 2418 and voting without recommendation. The meeting then concluded with thanks to staff and a brief celebration before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other kind of update, forward-looking piece, we've mentioned leading up to this point, kind of a
• Oh, the terminology is old statute language.
• Five-bed homes and up to six-bed homes, but it's a statutory terminology.
• So I just am happy to go on public record to say our current BRS rule language needs to be updated.
• And so we are updating it.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cleaning it up and leaving it in the original location on the OSHA statute, which is more regularly updated
• A lot of terminologies are used across the world.
• preventing people from being erased, we are preventing history being erased by using this right terminology
• As new textbooks are being presented, new information is being updated.
• House Bill 603 makes an update of Florida's ethics laws by recognizing foster families as families.

Transcript Highlights:

• was 1989, so it needs to be updated, you know.
• </c> it's needs to be updated, you know. it's needs to be updated, you know.
• In this case, the limits on—and I'll say that there are some terminology, there's different terminology
• </c> say that there are some terminology say that there are some terminology there's<00:43:06.400><c>
• different terminology kind of there's different terminology kind of thrown<00:43:08.120><c> around</

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawkins's terminology, is something we do have the ability to do in our system, and...
• Hawkins’s terminology, that is something we do have the ability to do in our system and actually have
• If this would have been written with the correct terminology, we would be spending that $1.5 million
• So if this would have been written with the correct terminology, who would you, where would you have
• Most of what the changes are were related to old language that included old terminology.

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And by updating our laws with gender-neutral language, we can promote inclusivity for all Hawaii residents
• </c><00:29:44.480><c> My</c><00:29:44.640><c> recommendation</c> language terminology.
• My recommendation language terminology.
• And<00:30:32.559><c> we'll</c><00:30:32.799><c> update</c><00:30:33.120><c> the</c><00:30:33.279><c>
• recipients</c><00:30:33.760><c> to</c> And we'll update the recipients to And we'll update the recipients

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 666, the nomination of Rose Kea to the Commission on the Status of Women for a term ending June 30, 2029. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from business and community members, and Kea described her background as a real estate broker, small business owner, and nonprofit volunteer leader, saying her experience with workplace equity and women-owned businesses would help the commission. Senators questioned her about the connection between her background and the commission’s work, and about how she would respond to current threats to women’s rights; she said the commission should serve as a unifying and leading force for gender equity. The committee later voted to advise and consent, with the chair’s recommendation adopted. The committee also considered SCR 128 and SR 107, which sought information on state lands leased to the federal government. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the resolutions as drafted, saying the AG does not maintain the lease inventory and that the request should instead go to the agencies that manage the land, such as DLNR, DOE, and DOT. The committee amended the measures to ask the AG to determine whether there are constitutional or other legal impediments to continued leasing or new leases, including whether nominal lease amounts violate law, and then passed both with amendments. Next, the committee took up STR 153 and SR 123, which request the County of Maui to complete the transfer of the Hoie roads, including Hoie Road F, to resolve jurisdictional ambiguities. The judiciary administrator testified in support, and the measures were passed, with the committee adopting the chair’s recommendation. Finally, the committee heard STR 179 and SR 149 on reviewing the Hawaii Revised Statutes for gender-neutral language. The LGBTQ+ Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women supported the effort, though the women’s commission asked for more time and a set date to dissolve the work group. The committee amended the resolutions to assign the review to the Legislative Reference Bureau, with consultation from the LGBTQ+ Commission, the Commission on the Status of Women, civil rights experts, and law-related organizations, and set interim and final reporting deadlines before passing the measures with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It aligns policy with our federal requirements and current child welfare practices, updates terminology
• Terminology regarding general work requirement and disability was updated throughout the sections, and
• sanctioned information updated as needed.
• You said you're updating that right now.
• Seeing none, without objection, the updates will be filed.

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large set of agency rules and reports. Early items were routine filings: emergency-rule reports, subcommittee review reports, and administrative directive reports were filed without objection. One rule from the Department of Agriculture on maternal health providers and remote monitoring was noted as pulled by the agency and not considered. The committee then reviewed and approved several Agriculture rules, including repeal of equine ID-chip rules after Act 703 of 2025, updates to finance rules adding a new water and sewer treatment facilities grant and consolidating revolving-fund rules, and a pesticide rule creating a Class J pesticide category for feral hog toxicant use. It also approved a Commerce/Insurance rule removing duplicative workers’ compensation plan provisions, and a Corrections rule creating a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities and community correction centers. A member asked about prison visitation hours during COVID, and staff said they would check on that. The committee next approved multiple Department of Human Services rules. These included marketing rules for provider-led organizations under Act 301 of 2025, a comprehensive revision of the DCFS policy manual, changes to Medicaid eligibility to include fictive kin placements and to expand ABLE account eligibility under Act 875, presumptive eligibility changes for pregnant women to align with federal rules, and a follow-up SNAP/TEA/Work Pays rule with updated work requirements, mandatory employment and training, alien eligibility changes, and job-search requirements for certain applicants. DHS also presented a rule implementing federal coverage for certain incarcerated youth before and after release, and the committee approved it. Another DHS rule updated nurse aide training requirements to match federal CNA hour standards and moved criminal-records-check procedures to the agency website. The most extended discussion involved DHS Division of Medical Services’ dental rate rule under Act 1025. The agency explained that it was increasing pediatric dental rates and certain oral-surgery-related rates, but not orthodontic rates or a broader special-needs benefit limit because CMS would not approve a diagnosis-based limit. Members debated whether the statutory language was intended to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, with legislators, the Dental Association, and DHS discussing legislative intent, fiscal impact, and whether a future fix or emergency rule might be needed. Despite the disagreement, the committee approved the rule. The committee also approved other DHS medical rules: adverse-decision appeal changes and prior-authorization posting requirements, an increased RSV administration fee for children, expanded emergency treat/triage/transport ambulance authority, and clinic-based physical and occupational therapy coverage. Later, the committee approved permanent rules for the new state insurance program under Shared Administrative Services, procurement rule revisions recommended after an ACASO review, and commodity-management rule updates including a new revenue distribution model. Under Act 595 of 2021, the committee granted two Department of Commerce/Insurance requests to be excluded from rulemaking requirements: one for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting, and one for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would promulgate rules later when clinical guidelines are available. Finally, the committee accepted a recommendation to keep and extend the Department of Education, Division of Career and Technical Education rules, filed outstanding rulemaking updates, and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It aligns policy with our federal requirements and current child welfare practices, updates terminology
• Terminology regarding general work requirement and disability was updated throughout the sections, and
• sanctioned information updated as needed.
• You said you're updating that right now. Do we have a timeline when that update may be completed?
• Seeing none, without objection, the updates will be filed.

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large slate of agency rules and related reports. The chair announced that several items were stricken from the agenda and that the maternal health providers and remote monitoring rules were pulled by the agency. The committee filed reports on emergency rules, ALC subcommittee rule reviews, and administrative directives, then moved through agency rules from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce/Insurance, Department of Corrections, and multiple divisions of the Department of Human Services. Most rules were explained as technical updates or implementations of 2025 legislation and were approved without objection. Examples included repeal of obsolete equine ID-chip rules, updates to agriculture financing and pesticide rules, removal of duplicative workers’ compensation plan language, a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities, DHS marketing rules for PASS programs, a comprehensive DCFS policy manual revision, Medicaid-related changes for fictive kin, ABLE accounts, presumptive eligibility for pregnant women, SNAP work requirements and alien eligibility, coverage for certain incarcerated youth, nurse aide training updates, and permanent rules for state employee insurance and procurement. The committee also approved requests to exclude the Insurance Department from rulemaking requirements for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting and for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would issue rules later when more guidance is available. The most extended discussion concerned DHS’s dental Medicaid rate rule under Act 1025. Members and witnesses debated whether the statute’s language covered only oral surgeons or also general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, and whether the rate increase should apply more broadly to the services rather than the provider title. DHS said it was following the black-letter language of the law and could not confirm a broader interpretation without further approvals and funding, while legislators and a Dental Association representative said the intent was to increase payment for the services, especially in rural areas. Members also discussed the possibility of fixing the language in a future session or through a new rule if approvals and CMS review allow. Despite the concerns, the committee approved the rule. The meeting ended with approval of rule review reports and monthly updates, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They wanted to use different terminology, you know, it's like apply. ...terminology, you know, it's like
• Basically, what we're doing here is updating the statute that relates to the ...updating the statute

Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, mental health, regional authority, board of directors, local governance, public health, sudden cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillator, AED, school safety, emergency response, cardiac emergency response plan, training, athletic events, first aid, sessions

Transcript Highlights:

• They wanted to use different terminology; for example, instead of saying you would register with the
• board, they wanted to apply Terminology, you know, it's like apply for a license instead of registering
• Basically, what we're doing here is updating the statute that relates to the Updating the statute that

Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, mental health, regional authority, board of directors, local governance, public health, sudden cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillator, AED, school safety, emergency response, cardiac emergency response plan, training, athletic events, first aid, 923

Transcript Highlights:

• updates.
• What this is is an update on the lawsuits that are kind of going around the country.
• <00:03:09.760><c> updates.
• updates.
• The last article is terminology updates.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that the current terminology is stigmatizing in the right way.
• This should be part of one of those states that adopt this terminology.
• I'm concerned. mostly about this is some terminology that makes it not sound as bad.
• I believe that it is an updated term that is.
• How do you all make sure that information is updated for individuals?

Bills: HB47, HB1552, HB1686, HB1953, HB2151, HB2355, HB2582, HB2697, HB2895, HB3073, HB3418, HB47

Keywords: sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination, medical care, trauma-informed care, crime victims compensation, evidence retention, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, digital services, reporting requirements, children's protection, sex offender registration, indecent assault, educator-student relationship, criminal justice, legislation, crime victims, compensation fund, information disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• It aligns policy with our federal requirements and current child welfare practices, updates terminology
• Terminology regarding general work requirement and disability was updated throughout the sections, and
• sanctioned information updated as needed.
• We are currently updating the website.
• You said you're updating that right now.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hoff, Darren Hoff, coming to talk with us about the update to the benefit book. Mr.
• </c> rewriting uh making sort of updating rewriting uh making sort of updating making<00:12:42.800><c
• were intended to clarify, these updates were intended to clarify, condense<00:15:24.880><c> and</c><
• that obsolete terminology Secretary Bodn mentioned<00:15:37.360><c> such</c><00:15:37.519><c> as</c>
• </c><00:16:29.440><c> the</c> ...software library, and then updated the purchasing procedure, future

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration met virtually on January 6, 2026, and took up four administrative policy items. Darren Hoff, Senate Human Resources Director, presented updates to the Legislative Coordinating Commission benefit book, including insurance changes tied to SEGIP, mental health and substance use office visit cost sharing, dental plan updates, dependent eligibility clarifications, a new voluntary legal services benefit, a 17% increase in Medicare premiums, and multiple leave-policy revisions to conform with the new paid leave law and other employment rules. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the benefit book with the LCC’s November 10, 2025 changes and staff technical corrections, and the motion passed. Secretary Tom Bern described a proposed Senate Policy 1.56 allowing written rules of conduct for visitors in Senate spaces, aimed at setting clear expectations for behavior such as not blocking hallways or using shouting and profanity, while being developed with consultation to address First Amendment concerns. Senator Marty moved adoption, and the committee approved the policy. Council Lexi Stangle then presented a change to Senate Policy 2.47 on severe weather emergencies that would allow employees who work remotely on severe weather days to accrue compensatory time with supervisor approval; Senator Johnson moved adoption, and the motion passed. The committee also considered a modernization of the Senate information systems policy. Secretary Bern and staff explained that the policy had not been substantially updated in about 20 years and was being condensed and updated to reflect current technology and practices. The revisions reduced the policy from 29 pages to 10, removed obsolete references, added a purpose statement, clarified email inspection and hardware/software procedures, updated website rules and accessibility guidance, and removed the secondary member page option. Senator Coleman moved adoption of the Senate information systems update, and it was approved. After the Rules Committee adjourned, the Subcommittee on Committees met and approved two appointments: one public member to the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources through December 31, 2030, and Senator Gustafson to the Financial Crimes Advisory Board Task Force. Members asked about the task force’s scope and the public appointee’s background; staff explained the task force advises on identity theft and financial crimes, and identified the public appointee as Sha Lang of Preston, Minnesota. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the appointment list, and the subcommittee approved it before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• state to have our official geographic material. ...and our educational curriculum here in Florida update
• terminology.
• But that will be whenever those textbooks will need to be updated. It will not be right now.
• These school districts will not have to update this until the next update of the social studies curriculum
• , which I believe will be, I think, four years from now since they had just updated.

Summary: The Education Employment Committee held its first meeting and heard three bills. Chair Kennedy opened with remarks about the committee’s work and the goal of moving Florida from “excellent to eminent.” The committee first considered PCS for CS for HB 151 on private school participation in interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities. Representative Abbott explained that the bill would let private school students participate in sports at FHSAA member schools when their own school does not offer that sport, clarify treatment of single-sex versus co-ed teams, adjust FHSAA board appointment authority, require appeals panels to include a majority of member-school representatives, set timelines for eligibility appeals, and post appeals decisions online. An amendment by Representative McFarland added FHSAA board decisions to the transparency requirement. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably as amended by a 19-0 vote. The committee then took up HB 549 on the “Gulf of America.” Representative Porras said the bill would align Florida’s geographic materials and academic standards with the federal designation replacing the Gulf of Mexico, with a later amendment to phase in the change only for materials adopted or acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Members questioned the timing, costs, and impact on instructional materials; the ranking member and others argued the bill was unnecessary and could burden districts, while supporters said Florida should lead in adopting the federal terminology. Public testimony included support from Florida Citizens Alliance and opposition from a speaker who called the bill a waste of time. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 16-2 vote. Finally, the committee considered CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions. Representative Kendall described the bill as addressing elementary students who live within the two-mile walk zone but must cross interstates, freeways, highways, or ramps, and said the measure would provide bus service in those hazardous situations. An amendment clarified the language by tying it to the statutory definition of a limited access facility. Members from both parties described local safety concerns and personal experiences, while one member noted the likely added cost to districts. Public testimony listed opponents, but the chair later clarified they had submitted cards with the wrong bill number. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 20-0 vote, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language and terminology changes in this bill match federal terminology and what other states are
• Members, we're just updating the monitoring device companies so that way they cannot go in and pay.
• Members, we're just updating the monitoring device companies that way they cannot go in and pay.
• This is to align with our federal partners who use that terminology.
• This is to align with our federal partners who use that terminology.

Bills: HR218, HR219, HR220, HR221, HR222, HCR91, HCR92, HCR93, HR210, HR211, HR212, HR213, HR214, HR215, HR216, SCR29, SCR38, SB100, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, SCR23, HB276, HB508, HB512, HB599, HB632, HB656, HB998, HB1052, HB1084, HB1171, HB1193, HB1194, HB1204, HB1209, HB1250, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB173, SB180, SB182, SB260, SB412, SB418, SB424, SB442, SB460, SB476, HCR41, HCR76, HCR77, HCR63, HCR69, HCR86, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB167, HB227, HB243, HB321, HB335, HB398, HB492, HB624, HB689, HB708, HB804, HB906, HB926, HB955, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB1005, HB1029, HB1069, HB1077, HB1095, HB1104, HB1107, HB1187, HB1203, HB1217, HB1220, HB730, HB225, HB175, HB198, HB437, HB457, HB488, HB646, HB763, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1089, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231, HB1246, HB1248, HB1249, SB47, SB82, SB106, SB206, SB210, SB248, SB305, SB376, SB397, SB441, HCR32, HB59, HB617, HB897, HB911, HB1223, HB798, HB824, HB989, HB1140, HB1166, HB1244, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB996, HB1035, HB1113, HB1180, HB1234, HB1240, SB89

Keywords: EJ Fields, Shreveport, Louisiana, gospel music, commendation, resolution, honorary resolution, Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Airplay, Mercy Endureth, music award, ministry, artist recognition, cultural heritage, spiritual heritage, African American gospel, local hero, state commendation, St. Charles Parish, parish day

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, what it updates is how the money for early childhood programs is defined, managed, and spent
• the word tax credit in your entire explanation, but I didn't know if that was just an error in terminology
• As I was when I kept hearing the word tax credit, because that terminology..."
• “As I was when I kept hearing the word tax credit, because that terminology gives me twitchy.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met in executive session with a quorum present and took up House Bill 2379, first adopting a pre-distributed House Committee Substitute with no amendments. The sponsor explained that the substitute was revised to align with Senate language and would clarify definitions, limit applicability to certain counties, rename the fund the Early Childhood Education Fund, broaden eligible uses to include child care services, move fund custody to the county treasurer, expand eligible recipients, and prioritize children with the greatest financial need. Most of the discussion focused on how the bill would work in practice. Members asked whether the measure created a new tax; the sponsor repeatedly said it did not, but instead would govern how any local sales tax for early childhood education, if approved by voters in St. Louis City or St. Louis County, would be deposited and spent. Supporters said the bill would add transparency and ensure funds are dedicated to early childhood purposes rather than diverted to general revenue or other uses. Some members raised concerns about taxpayers, including seniors, paying a tax from which they would not directly benefit, while others said the bill simply clarifies management of already authorized local tax authority. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute by voice vote and then voted on the bill itself. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2379 was reported do pass by a roll call vote of seven ayes and two nos. The committee then adjourned.