Transcript Highlights:

• We have ethics pieces in place, and we have sunshine laws, and thank you for the sunshine law.
• However, ...we have ethics pieces in place and we have sunshine laws.
• And thank you for the sunshine law.
• You just, under law, you could not get anyway.
• Illinois also has cameras with a consent law. So why not yet in Florida?

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee met and took up several education bills. It first heard SJR 1104 on religious expression in public schools, which would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect voluntary religious expression by students and school personnel. The sponsor said it would codify existing protections and not require prayer or religious activity, while opponents argued it was unnecessary, could be used to advance Christian nationalism, and could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee reported the resolution favorably. The committee then approved SB 1738 on educational facilities, as amended, to require the Department of Education to review school facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices intended to improve safety and accountability. It also approved SB 824 on charter schools, as amended, which shifts the bill to a transparency-focused strike-all requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education. The committee also confirmed appointees on Tabs 7 and 8. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1620 on public education, described by the sponsor as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give board members broader access to district documents and staff, limit nondisclosure agreements, clarify attorney representation, and strengthen budget transparency and nepotism rules. Supporters said it would help board members do their oversight jobs, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendents, expose confidential student or employee information, and create confusion in district governance. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170 on education, as amended, which would allow parents of students with disabilities to request cameras in self-contained classrooms and set district procedures for reviewing those requests. Supporters, including parents and disability advocates, testified that cameras would protect non-speaking and vulnerable students and provide accountability, while one opponent argued the measure should be funded if adopted. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also adopted a committee-bill motion for SPB 7036, a broad education package covering school turnaround, literacy, safety, early learning, instruction, and educator pipeline issues, though members raised concerns about a possible state role in producing instructional materials; the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we need to strengthen some of the laws around these things.
• military law enforcement entity when they suspect there's been a violation.
• Representative Deal: We need to change the laws.
• This is a complaint against law enforcement officers and corrections officers.
• We called law enforcement right away. They had a false document.

Transcript Highlights:

• Center, Santa Clara University School of Law.
• So I teach labor and employment law, sometimes in the law school, sometimes to our undergrads.
• And whenever, Employment law, sometimes in the law school, sometimes to our undergrads.
• That's a very new law, so that's important.
• And we have laws.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to be treated equally under the law. to be treated equally under the law.
• Minnesota's Constitution, unlike the federal law, guarantees a right to bail.
• </c> federal law, guarantees a right to bail. federal law, guarantees a right to bail.
• And so by<00:26:21.640><c> law</c><00:26:22.360><c> and</c><00:26:22.640><c> by</c> by law and by by
• </c><00:40:09.680><c> agent</c> the judge, the probation agent the judge, the probation agent supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not sure what the law is.
• . laws. laws.
• We need three basic laws.
• We need three basic laws. If Avon said. We need three basic laws.
• </c> law. Trooper Storm's going to testify. law. Trooper Storm's going to testify.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• But at the time, North Dakota had already passed their laws.
• This just removes it from the law and updates it back to what it was before that was added.
• And so our chief parole and probation officer will talk about that, but I'll speak to the MRCC update
• I'm the, well, month now, the chief parole and probation officer for the state of North Dakota.
• So I oversee our parole and probation officers across the state.

Summary: The committee began with roll call, introductions of a new fiscal analyst and a new member, and approval of the March 19 minutes. The first major presentation was from the Office of Management and Budget on the state’s general fund and special fund status through May. OMB reported general fund revenues were running below the legislative forecast by about $76 million, driven largely by weaker individual income tax and sales tax collections, though the projected ending balance remained positive and above the budgeted level. The budget stabilization fund was above its cap and would transfer excess earnings to the general fund, and the legacy fund balance continued to grow. Members also asked about federal funding uncertainty and mineral leasing revenue variability. The committee then reviewed compliance reports and trust fund analyses, followed by discussion of a bill draft for the fixed-route city transportation network study. The draft would create a $15 million general fund grant program with a formula-based distribution to eligible fixed-route transit cities, intended to support operating and capital needs and help match federal transit funds. Transit officials from Minot and Fargo testified in support, explaining local fare and match structures and the difficulty of replacing aging buses and securing federal matching dollars. Several members questioned whether the program should be limited to the current four cities or broadened to future eligible urban areas, and whether local funding sources should be explored further. The committee did not finalize the bill draft at that point and planned to continue discussion at a later meeting. The committee also approved a bill draft repealing obsolete language related to approval of a bi-state authority with South Dakota, after staff explained that no agreements had ever been implemented and the provision appeared outdated. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried. Later, the Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site presented updates on uncrewed aircraft systems initiatives, including the Vantis radar data enclave, the drone replacement program, and efforts to build a revenue model for Vantis. Test site officials said FAA approval had been secured for the radar data program, replacement of noncompliant drones was underway, and future revenue could come from state and external users once pricing and intellectual property arrangements are finalized. Members asked about Chinese-made drones, supply chain issues, automation, and how the system would manage beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation then presented on the design of a new minimum-security prison and a reentry housing study. Officials said the proposed facility would relocate the minimum-security prison to the penitentiary campus, reduce costs from an earlier estimate, and provide more beds and programming space, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and opening around 2031. They also described staffing needs, the planned move of women to the New England facility, and possible expansion of men’s housing there. The parole and probation chief described a reentry housing task force studying housing needs for people leaving incarceration, with a goal of developing data-driven recommendations for subsidies and support services; a representative from Protection and Advocacy closed by expressing general support for fixed-route and paratransit funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would give local communities the power to impose stricter zoning laws that would prohibit data centers
• So the reason we give counties the ability to either choose to impose these laws or not is because some
• I believe it would fall under the same thing because it is a state law, but that being said, the federal
• And if a business is going to fail, it's just going to go to Texas, Alabama, ...is going to fail, it's
• just going to go to Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana.

Committee: All BOYS STATE

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks to Arkansas Boys State delegates about leadership, public service, and the significance of the Capitol, followed by prayer, attendance, and announcements that both chambers were organized and ready for business. The House then considered House Bill 1001, which would have increased funding for rural health care through a 10% tax on people earning at least $300,000; supporters argued it would improve access and quality in rural areas, while opponents raised concerns about fairness, funding, and driving away doctors and taxpayers. The bill failed, 24 yeas to 51 nays. House Bill 1002, aimed at funding more teachers for rural school districts and limiting how many subjects a teacher could be assigned, drew debate over teacher burnout, funding, and whether it would improve outcomes; it passed after immediate consideration, 38 yeas to 36 nays, though the transcript later includes a conflicting note that it failed. House Bill 1003, the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2026, would let counties restrict data centers and impose a 10% tax for conservation; supporters emphasized local control and resource protection, while opponents warned about jobs, economic loss, and federal issues. It passed 62 yeas to 7 nays. House Bill 1004, reducing motor vehicle registration fees, was debated as a way to ease costs for families but criticized for reducing transportation funding; it failed, 20 yeas to 46 nays. The chamber then moved to Senate bills. Senate Bill 1 proposed incentives tied to SNAP benefits and healthier food purchases, including a Double Bucks-style program; supporters said it would help address food insecurity and obesity, while opponents objected to taxing junk food and burdening non-SNAP users. It passed 43 yeas to 27 nays. Senate Bill 2 would require reading tests in earlier grades and provide state tutoring for students who fail; supporters said it would address literacy problems early, while opponents wanted clearer provisions for older students and more detail on implementation. It passed 67 yeas to 6 nays. Senate Bill 3, the Freedom to Earn Act, would lower the individual income tax rate from 3.7% to 3.0%; supporters said it would help working families and attract business, while opponents argued the benefits would mostly go to corporations and wealthy executives. It passed 53 yeas to 15 nays. Senate Bill 4 created a zoning grant program to encourage mixed-use development in growing cities, funded by a 1% hotel tourism tax up to $50 million; supporters said it would promote housing, small business growth, and downtown revitalization, and it passed 51 yeas to 7 nays. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll try to get waivers, which is basically, hey, let us do something that's not the letter of the law
• And so we do have a mechanism that if a claim is, us do something that's not the letter of the law to
• would have to be lawyers much smarter than she was to look into antitrust, anti-kickback, and Stark law
• She said that even if Arkansas joins with West Virginia, Alabama, Kansas, and Mississippi, the states
• So even when you put West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, the states that don't have

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used. The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so. Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are not consistent with the open meeting law. And so I would encourage you to vote no.
• board may review and discuss, you know, that those are, that's not consistent with the open meeting law
• Alabama has banned the meat, and also Texas has banned the meat.
• And that is not how these types of commercial regulations and labeling laws tend to roll out.
• And Florida, Alabama, and Texas have already banned the meat.

Committee: House House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs began with member and staff introductions, then heard a committee of reference presentation from the Arizona Beef Council. The council described its checkoff-funded promotion, education, and research work for Arizona beef producers, including consumer education, classroom materials, nutrition tours, and social media outreach. After questions about the funding structure and what would happen if the council were not continued, the committee voted to recommend continuation of the Arizona Beef Council for eight years, until July 1, 2034, by voice vote. The committee then considered HB 2155, which also continued the Arizona Beef Council for eight years. Members discussed the purpose of the council and the use of checkoff dollars, and the bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-1 vote. HB 2156, which appropriated money to the livestock compensation fund for wolf depredation losses, was amended to set the amount at $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 and then passed 5-2, with supporters emphasizing rancher compensation and opponents raising concerns about transparency, conflicts of interest, and whether the fund had fully used prior appropriations. HB 2162, requiring at least one Arizona Game and Fish Commission member to be a cattleman or rancher, drew testimony both for and against. Supporters argued ranchers deserve direct representation on wildlife policy, while opponents said ranchers already have influence through the appointment process and that the commission should represent broader public interests. The chair ultimately announced he would hold the bill rather than advance it at that time. The committee then passed HB 2762, which requires disclaimers on cultivated-cell food products, on a 5-3 vote after debate over federal labeling rules and consumer transparency, and HB 2791, which bans the sale of cell-cultured protein and makes violations a felony, also on a 5-3 vote after testimony about innovation, consumer choice, and concerns about the product’s safety and impact on traditional agriculture. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1013 rewrites state employment law in a way...
• It's spelled out in law exactly what merit means.
• Chair, Senate Bill 1662 requires the court, if probation is granted, to only impose conditions of probation
• Since the existing law was enacted, it’s worked very well.
• Chair and members Liz Goodman from Rose Law Group here Mr.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:30:43.280><c> to</c> Why would we then change the law to Why would we then change the law to
• And I said, "What law?"
• Current law, no shenanigans.
• Uh there's Current law, no shenanigans.
• </c><03:02:42.000><c> to</c> we're putting something into law to we're putting something into law to

Transcript Highlights:

• I also earned a master's degree in political science from the University of Alabama and my law degree
• from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
• I am a law professor in Florida.
• Thomas University, the Benjamin Crump School of Law. Oh, okay.
• Thomas University, the Benjamin Crump School of Law. Oh, okay.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 270, which would extend Bright Futures eligibility by 12 months for certain students whose parent was serving overseas in public service and then retired, giving military and diplomatic families more time to return to Florida without losing scholarship eligibility. Senator Burgess also explained a late-filed amendment to set the bill’s effective implementation for the 2025-26 school year, and the committee adopted the amendment without objection. The bill received supportive testimony, including from Senator Smith, and was reported favorably by a roll call vote. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmation hearings for appointees to state college boards of trustees, with the chair emphasizing a new process of hearing from each nominee individually rather than taking a blanket vote. Nominees from Tallahassee State College, St. Johns River State College, South Florida State College, Broward College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Valencia College described their backgrounds and priorities, which largely centered on workforce development, nursing and health sciences, dual enrollment, fiscal responsibility, student retention, and partnerships with local employers and communities. Several nominees highlighted their own educational or professional ties to the colleges, and some noted the importance of serving rural or military-connected communities. One nominee, John Aloko for Pasco-Hernando State College, was not present because he was attending a conference in Hawaii and was deferred to a later hearing. After hearing all other nominees, the committee voted to recommend confirmation of the remaining appointees in a block vote, covering Tabs 2 through 22 except Tab 8, and the motion passed. Two members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• consequences of enforce the law and put law enforcement enforce the law and put law enforcement back
• the law.
• the law.
• the law.
• the law.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was people in uniforms, law enforcement...
• I work with probation.
• police program, law enforcement on the reservation.
• So, this is an area where California has enacted a number of laws.
• Usually, when you bring cases, there's a body of case law that interprets the laws and guides what it

Transcript Highlights:

• The investigation does not conflict with federal law.
• The investigation does not conflict with federal law.
• By way of background, current law, ARS 13-701, provides for the possibility of enhanced penalties for
• Notwithstanding any other law, HB 2345 requires a peace officer to seize the commercial motor vehicle
• And so I would just note the... ...immigration law, and so I would just note the low count here.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills and resolutions, with members frequently asking to pull measures from consent and noting party-line or unanimous votes. Topics included medical and vaccination restrictions (HB 2248, HB 2086), state investment and conflict-of-interest rules for the treasurer (HB 2303), budget and reporting requirements (HB 2688, HB 2015), procurement limits involving China-linked companies (HB 2170, HB 2134), homelessness administration (HB 2533), traffic and transportation measures (HB 2109, HB 2574, HB 2210), school testing and education policy (HB 2032, HB 2033, HB 2075, HB 2266, HB 2395, HCR 2003), and several health-care bills involving lactation services, gender-transition care for minors, abortion-related restrictions, and hospital immigration-status reporting (HB 2072, HB 2085, HB 2364, HB 2689, HB 2796). Members also discussed water policy, including desalination, groundwater transport, and water-use limits (HB 2052, HB 2056, HB 2098, HB 2758, HB 2328), as well as food and agriculture measures such as SNAP restrictions, cultivated-cell food labeling and bans, and the Beef Council extension (HB 2396, HB 2762, HB 2791, HB 2155). Several members criticized bills as unconstitutional, costly, or harmful to affordability, while sponsors described them as clarifications, consumer protections, or administrative fixes. The caucus also considered a number of bills affecting labor, property, and consumer issues, including unemployment eligibility changes, mobile home park submetering fees, appraisal management company rules, digital goods seller requirements, property tax clarifications, and protections for minors in online content creation (HB 2690, HB 2459, HB 2501, HB 2010, HB 2120, HB 2192, HB 2261, HB 2279). Other measures addressed sexual extortion penalties, name-change procedures for sex offenders, and restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs and gender-transition procedures for minors (HB 2666, HB 2223, HB 2364, HB 2085). Members repeatedly raised concerns about federal preemption, constitutional issues, implementation costs, and unintended consequences, and several sponsors or members indicated they were working on amendments or stakeholder discussions. At the end of the meeting, the caucus also heard memorials and resolutions, including a proposal to limit voting centers and precinct voting, and memorials urging withdrawal from the United Nations and defunding the IMF (HCR 2016, HM 2001, HM 2004). The meeting concluded with caucus announcements, including an affordability-themed award recognizing Rep. Betty Villegas, a Black History Month sign-up request, and reminders about upcoming affordability and Latino Caucus events. No final floor votes were taken in the transcript, but multiple bills were pulled from consent or noted for opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• And We're simply codifying it into law.
• We're simply codifying it into law.
• That is from federal law. That would be included in state law, too.
• But again, that's current<05:25:48.958><c> law.</c> current law. current law.
• ,</c> they can't automat if this becomes law, they can't automat if this becomes law, the<06:31:44.320

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> report uh crimes to to law enforcement. report uh crimes to to law enforcement.
• Um, our law enforcement.
• &gt;&gt; I'm I'm sorry. law. &gt;&gt; I'm I'm sorry. law.
• </c> officers who complete their probation. officers who complete their probation.
• Okay, we have one law school, the... Okay, we have one law school, the Richardson School of Law.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is current law, so. Mr.
• Don't you think it's going to be followed because it's the law?
• , 6 months probation.
• And so the words under current law is "no more than, no more than."
• And contradicts New Mexico law.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It exists with our probation branch. It exists with our probation officers.
• It exists with our probation branch. It exists with our probation officers.
• Majority Leader Duran. probation. We are realigning with probation.
• </c><04:55:42.718><c> Secondly,</c><04:55:43.200><c> the</c><04:55:43.360><c> probation</c> current law
• Secondly, the probation current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:01:14.400><c> enforcement</c> with the New Hampshire law enforcement with the New Hampshire law
• </c><02:04:21.199><c> Stannis</c><02:04:21.599><c> Laws.
• Stannis Laws. Today, as pastor of of St. Stannis Laws. Today, as pastor of both<02:04:23.599><c> St.
• c> the</c><02:24:48.640><c> United</c> into law.
• The law reinforces the United into law.