Transcript Highlights:

• It's an expansion of an exemption that's currently in law to allow for It's an expansion of an exemption
• Since 2019 alone, Florida has invested over $541 million in spaceport infrastructure, with a total of

Bills: S1512 , S1602 , S1604 , S1656

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Keywords: Space Florida, tax exemption, governmental purpose, aviation, defense industry, space exploration, semiconductor technology, veterans, housing, property management, incentives, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, vacancy relief, risk mitigation, housing finance, trust fund, Homes for Veterans, S1656, SB 1656, official state flagship

Summary: The Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and took up several memorials and bills. It first reported favorably Senate Memorial 1714, which urges Congress to pass the No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Act to prevent U.S. taxpayer funds from benefiting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The committee then heard and approved SB 1512, expanding tax exemptions and procurement flexibility for Space Florida, with support from Space Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. It also approved SB 1656, designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, replacing the Western Union, after discussion of the ship’s World War II service, museum role, and no known fiscal impact. The committee next approved SM 1186, urging Congress to increase the Florida National Guard’s force structure, with members noting Florida’s population growth and emergency response needs. It then considered SB 1602, creating the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in selected counties to help landlords house veterans through vacancy relief and risk mitigation funds; the bill was amended twice, including technical and clarifying changes, and reported favorably as a committee substitute. Senator Sharief expressed support and asked to co-sponsor the veterans housing measure. Finally, the committee passed SB 1604, which creates the associated vacancy relief and risk mitigation trust funds within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to support the veterans housing pilot program. That bill also received a technical amendment before being reported favorably as a committee substitute. After the bills were disposed of, members were invited to record votes if needed, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:32.040><c> costs</c><00:20:32.400><c> and</c> uh to ensure infrastructure costs and uh to
• ensure infrastructure costs and other<00:20:32.680><c> financial</c><00:20:33.200><c> burdens</c><00:
• It subjects those projects, billions in infrastructure, to the same rules of the road that exist for
• It subjects those projects, billions in infrastructure, to the same rules of the road that exist for
• </c> with electric school bus infrastructure with electric school bus infrastructure programs,<03:31:

Transcript Highlights:

• And the opportunity to maintain our existing infrastructure and keep up with expansion in this state
• and keep up existing infrastructure and keep up with<00:37:28.160><c> expansion</c><00:37:28.880><c>
• </c> in a sense you own this infrastructure in a sense you own this infrastructure as<00:40:25.920><c
• <00:42:01.400><c> right</c><00:42:01.640><c> now</c> infrastructure right now infrastructure right now
• </c> regional drinking water infrastructure. regional drinking water infrastructure.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Transcript Highlights:

• and it make it's harder infrastructure and it make it's harder to<00:28:58.799><c> attract</c><00:28
• use and those things that may lower impact, whether it's letting the river run or having room for expansion
• use and those things that may lower impact, whether it's letting the river run or having room for expansion
• <00:38:07.280><c> having</c><00:38:07.760><c> room</c><00:38:07.920><c> for</c><00:38:08.079><c> expansion
• </c> river run or having room for expansion river run or having room for expansion or<00:38:08.880><c

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force opened its sixth meeting by approving the minutes and then taking up a presentation from University of Pikeville representatives and local leaders on an Eastern Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain in Pike County. Speakers included Greg May, Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty, Lori Worth, and Laura Damron. They described repeated flooding and other disasters in eastern Kentucky, the lack of a single prepared relief location, and the need for a centralized, elevated site that could serve as a flood and broader natural-disaster hub. The presenters said the Bear Mountain property, about 530 acres and well above flood levels, could support a multi-use facility combining disaster response functions with university and community uses. Proposed features included a command and communications center, distribution space, emergency shelter, medical and clinic support, food service, restroom facilities, RV hookups, and an indoor track/distribution building. They emphasized that the project would help avoid disrupting existing venues such as the Pikeville Expo Center and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, while also supporting tourism and economic recovery. Committee members asked about community and emergency-management support, annual operating costs, and resilience standards such as tornado-related building codes. In response, the presenters said local stakeholders, including Appalachian Wireless, Pikeville Medical Center, Community Trust Bank, the city of Pikeville, and emergency management officials, had expressed support. They said the university planned to absorb some operating costs through multiple uses of the facility, community camps, and budgeted maintenance, and that construction documents were nearly complete with plans to begin building within months. After the presentation, the chair thanked the presenters and moved the committee into its recommendations discussion, noting the broader fiscal and humanitarian importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency and indicating that future legislation would likely follow from the task force’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We face a constant struggle between infrastructure demand and budget constraints.
• Those are always the main infrastructure needs from a county.
• Distributed batteries are helping to defer expensive grid infrastructure upgrades.
• China is building power infrastructure dramatically faster than the United States.
• burden, and that infrastructure burden ends up getting socialized on ratepayers.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's appropriating funds for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• </c><01:09:03.880><c> okay</c> only for Waste Water infrastructure okay only for Waste Water infrastructure
• </c><01:18:21.159><c> and</c> kind of uh enormous infrastructure and kind of uh enormous infrastructure
• </c><01:53:28.800><c> of</c> housing stocks and develop expansion of housing stocks and develop expansion
• </c><02:07:56.159><c> yes</c> cost of this the infrastructure yes cost of this the infrastructure yes

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It serves roughly a quarter of Lake Charles and the critical infrastructure that it protects: Christus
• Tammany Parish Hospital District Number Two, Slidell Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Expansion
• So the ED expansion project is adding 26 beds to our existing ED, also integrating another ED department
• So we're doing an expansion of 26 beds outside of the emergency department, as well as renovating two

Summary: The joint Senate and House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works committees met on March 3, 2026, and first considered several requests for approval to use the construction manager at risk (CMAR) method for local projects. The first item, Caddo Parish’s proposed $9.6 million pickleball park, drew extended questioning about whether the project was truly complex, whether CMAR would save money versus public bid, the project’s location and accessibility, and whether it fit the statute’s timing and risk criteria. The House initially voted to deny the request, while the Senate had moved to approve; after discussion about the statute and CMAR policy, the House motion was reconsidered and the Caddo project was ultimately approved. The committee then approved CMAR requests for an Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office indoor shooting range, a Calcasieu drainage district pump station rehabilitation/replacement project, St. Tammany Parish Hospital District No. 2’s Slidell Memorial emergency department expansion, St. Charles Parish Hospital’s entry registration/PACU renovation, and the Port of Vinton dock project in Calcasieu Parish. Testimony on the approved projects emphasized complexity, operational continuity, and schedule concerns. The Ascension Parish shooting range was described as involving bullet protection, ventilation and lead-control systems, and multiple training configurations; the drainage district project was presented as critical infrastructure serving much of Lake Charles and requiring staged construction to maintain flood protection; the hospital projects were justified by work inside operating facilities and the need to avoid disrupting patient care; and the Port of Vinton project was tied to an LED-related deadline and the need to keep port operations running during construction. Members generally supported these projects, with motions to approve made on both sides and no objections recorded. The meeting also featured a broader policy discussion about CMAR use. Several members, especially Representative Fontenot, questioned whether the committee had been too permissive in approving CMARs for projects that did not appear especially complex, and raised concerns about public bidding, taxpayer savings, and impacts on minority contractors. Senator Price said future legislation may tighten CMAR requirements, while Senator McMath and Senator Carter noted that the statute’s listed factors are not exhaustive and cautioned against abruptly changing practice for pending projects. The committee recessed after completing the CMAR agenda and planned to hear a DOTD presentation afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the second one was House Bill 14, which is the expansion of tax credits.
• uh, in terms of, of what we're going to do in the tax package of that $130 million the Tax, uh, expansion
• which I understand as well as a governor initiative, as well as Senate Bill 211, quantum facility infrastructure
• Uh, any other expansion on, on this matter? None? OK.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Our infrastructure is already stressed to the max.
• But what's laid out in this bill is some expansion of that.
• But what's laid out in this bill is some expansion of that.
• I've been very involved in the infrastructure. That water.
• This is not an expansion of choice; it's a restriction.

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The committee first took up SB 354, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which creates a framework for large planned communities on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area and a streamlined local review process. Senator McLean presented the bill and a strike-all amendment, and members raised concerns about local control, conservation enforceability, data centers, concurrency, multi-county projects, and whether reserve lands could later be converted. Audubon Florida and 1,000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill, arguing the conservation protections were not permanent enough and that the reserve areas could be changed later; small-county representatives also worried about tax-base impacts. Supporters argued the bill would better manage growth, preserve green space, and provide a more orderly alternative to sprawl. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judiciary, school, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship. Amendments added disclosure about whether federal candidates intend to trade stock if elected and adjusted 2026 congressional qualifying procedures in the event of redistricting, including a new qualifying window and petition rules. The bill was reported favorably after brief support from a member of the public and discussion about candidate vetting. The committee also reported favorably CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill with amendments addressing My Safe Florida Home notices, condo pilot eligibility, firefighter hiring, unclaimed property, and related financial-services provisions. Next, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1620, a school board members’ bill of rights. A substitute amendment narrowed the bill to access to records, fiscal transparency, and nondisclosure agreements, while preserving board members’ rights to timely documents, budget information, and public comment, and setting deadlines for records requests. Superintendents and a school board member testified in support, saying the bill clarifies roles and prevents board members from being frozen out. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material”; one senator supported the terminology change but warned about preserving legal precedent and avoiding appellate issues. The committee then reported favorably SB 1548, an update to the Live Local affordable housing law expanding eligible sites and clarifying setbacks, airport proximity, and fair-housing protections. Finally, the committee took up the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates. The bill allows trained master’s-level VPAs to perform limited veterinary services under a veterinarian’s supervision, and an amendment tightened the standard to immediate supervision on premises. Supporters said the measure would expand access to care, especially in rural areas with vet shortages, while opponents argued it added unnecessary regulation. After testimony from veterinary educators and others, the bill continued with support expressed by committee members, including praise for the direct-supervision amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, So, on, on, on D3, D3, we talk about livability infrastructure.
• Um, I love Senator Figueroa's words, so I will, I will copy you a little bit and say expansion.
• Madam Chair, the second one I had was, uh, page 34 Broadmed and digital infrastructure.
• With um item B4B, the broadband, folks have talked about broadband infrastructure, because it impacts
• and some of these warehouses, um, the infrastructure just cannot support that right now.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• PEOPLE DELIVERING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
• TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE GOES WITH THAT.
• WE HAVE TO HAVE ADVANCED LEVELS OF EDUCATION IN OUR PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY TO DELIVER OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
• NOT ONLY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT INTO GROWING OUR WORKFORCE.
• FTBA FULLY SUPPORTS THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS LIKE THE CRAFT AND

Transcript Highlights:

• Upon statewide expansion, FCCS offered the student scholarship program.
• Maintaining funding isn't expansion; it's the baseline that keeps the doors open.
• Child care is not a side issue; it's workforce infrastructure.
• What this bill is not: it's not an expansion.
• It's essential social infrastructure. When we invest in one young...

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we added a law that added the expansion plan onto that.
• Practically, the net impact of the state budget is about a $50 million increase for Medicaid expansion
• legislature passed a budget for the Department of Water Resources to provide money for water infrastructure
• I'm not even sure that we track in-migration to participating in Medicaid expansion.
• Number two, the increased amounts for transportation expansion congestion mitigation.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• we should invest in this infrastructure we should invest in this the<00:05:20.240><c> cost</c><00:05
• Maybe in this electronic system, but that's what... otherwise all expansion ERS will be sent otherwise
• all expansion ERS will be sent to to to Judiciary<01:06:14.279><c> what</c><01:06:14.480><c> what</c
• order has been entered and an expansion order has been entered and transmitted<01:07:33.520><c> the<
• orders to the Judiciary to expansion orders to the Judiciary to effectuate<01:29:13.239><c> the</c><

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the request for reappropriations for various infrastructure projects for the 2027 fiscal year
• sets out fund usage restrictions on the request for the $73.7 million reappropriation for prison expansion
• This is the request for reappropriations for various infrastructure projects for the 2027 fiscal year
• sets out fund usage restrictions on the request for the $73.7 million reappropriation for prison expansion
• Thank you, Senator. dollar reappropriation for prison expansion. Mr. Chair. All right. Thank you.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were also some building expansions required for COVID, particularly for some of the child care
• The use of proceeds is for startup and expansion.
• If we can, I think that what you're doing here in the expansion at NMFA is really where...
• You have idea stage, early stage, expansion stage, and later stage.
• Three to five million for expansion; ten to twenty million for later stage, you know, fifty to a hundred

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, these are regional investments that support public safety and community infrastructure, and they
• Uh, these are regional investments that support public safety and community infrastructure, and they
• We're asking for your help with much-needed regional public infrastructure that impacts all those who
• community infrastructure, Douglas County has<00:24:53.280><c> used</c><00:24:53.600><c> it</c><00:24
• </c><00:31:18.960><c> in</c><00:31:19.120><c> place</c> has lots of infrastructure in place has lots

Bills: HF495 , HF4321 , HF3902 , HF4161 , HF3755

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, HF4321, dependent care assistance programs, gross income exclusion, federal conformity, Internal Revenue Code, individual income tax, Minnesota tax law, tax conformity, child care assistance, employer-provided dependent care, taxable income, state income tax, retroactive tax change, family care benefits, housing tax credit

Transcript Highlights:

• My fear is that in its expansiveness, I might be adding every ornament. from the Christmas ornament store
• Infrastructure, and expecting that would be an act of terrorism.
• I typically lean towards the words of critical infrastructure, which may not necessarily be publicly
• terrorist activity, which includes explosives and firearms, reaches the security of critical infrastructure
• He had a list in his apartment of the other critical infrastructure he intended to hit.

Bills: HCR40 , HB214 , HB214

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• years, Sutter County has experienced several small bridge and culvert failures, and the aging infrastructure
• Developers of critical decarbonization infrastructure in the state are subjected to a constantly shifting
• take advantage of this provision sets a dangerous precedent for future climate-damaging highway expansion
• to put a toll on a road that was already built with taxpayer dollars if there is no extension or expansion
• of the road that the tolling is paying for. ...or expansion of the road that the tolling is paying for

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Summary: The committee heard a series of water, parks, transportation, energy, and fisheries bills, with authors and supporters generally emphasizing targeted exemptions, improved access, or regulatory clarity. AB 430 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to study and publicly release the economic and environmental impacts of repeated emergency water curtailment regulations; farm, water, and local government groups supported it as a transparency measure. AB 1139 would expand a CEQA exemption so county park agencies can open existing roads and trails for non-motorized recreation, with supporters citing outdoor access and opponents warning about impacts to species, riparian areas, tribal resources, and fire risk. AB 929 would temporarily exempt small community water systems and managed wetlands from certain SGMA pumping reductions and fees; supporters said it protects vulnerable communities and wetlands, while agricultural and water interests argued it undermines basin-wide groundwater management and could worsen SGMA implementation. The committee also heard AB 1225, creating an Accessibility Advisory Committee for State Parks, which drew broad support from disability advocates and committee members and no opposition. Additional measures focused on infrastructure and environmental policy. AB 975 would give Sutter County a narrow, temporary exemption from streambed alteration agreements for certain damaged small bridges and culverts, with county officials describing long delays in repairing flood-damaged crossings and no opposition heard. AB 514 would declare state policy encouraging local water suppliers to develop emergency water supplies for drought or service interruptions; it received broad support from water agencies and no opposition. AB 550 would allow incidental take permits for species under consideration for listing, aimed at reducing delays for clean energy projects; supporters said it would prevent regulatory limbo, while environmental groups sought amendments to clarify the permit standard, limit the use of scientific research as mitigation, and add a fee provision. The committee also took up AB 697 on the Highway 37 corridor, authorizing an incidental take permit for the near-term project between Mare Island and Sears Point to advance mobility and habitat restoration. Supporters from local transportation agencies and county officials said the corridor is a major bottleneck and the interim project is needed now, while environmental and tribal opponents argued it would fast-track highway widening, increase emissions, and affect tribal cultural resources. Members discussed tolling limits, equity, and the long delay on the corridor; the bill was moved out on a vote, with some members noting they would continue to monitor it. Finally, AB 1056 would phase out transferable set gill net permits after 2027, allowing only limited family transfers thereafter; supporters framed it as a gradual conservation reform consistent with Fish and Game Commission findings, while fishing groups opposed it as harmful to working fishermen.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expansion of the life resource center. expansion of the life resource center.
• , didn't contaminate the infrastructure.
• , didn't contaminate the infrastructure.
• </c><00:39:59.839><c> didn't</c> didn't burn their infrastructure didn't didn't burn their infrastructure
• /c><00:40:02.640><c> what</c> contaminate the infrastructure so what contaminate the infrastructure so