Transcript Highlights:

• We have to be the check and there's no way to defend the MOUs year after year with some of the provisions
• All backgrounds come together in nature. They also drive real economic impact.
• I love our system of government, it's very elegant, checks and balances, separation of powers and all
• Tomorrow there's check-in session, Tuesday, July 1st, Wednesday.
• July 2nd check-in session, Thursday, July 3rd floor session at 9 AM.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and diversify the special education workforce, pulling in new talent from a variety of different backgrounds
• Does somebody just say, oh by the way, you're, here, here's a check. Congratulations.
• So by completing next step plans, by schools being proactive, and checking to make sure that students
• the things that they're already required to do in statute, but instead of it just being a kind of a check
• Um, we are tracking it in mostly in conversations and check-ins with our, um, with their LEAs, asking

Transcript Highlights:

• We will work with and cross-check every available ounce of data that we have to make sure to mitigate
• We will work with and cross-check every available ounce of data that we have to make sure to mitigate
• In the background here, and this probably benefits the whole committee, is the way that we fund our schools
• Where it could be helpful is, you know, we get the school open and we check off the box.
• I mean, obviously, we can check to see whatever this committee might be helpful with, but we haven't

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me start by saying in your packet should be some background information on this wonderful organization
• <00:46:14.720> in<00:46:14.960> with<00:46:15.119> the detail and also check
• in with the detail and also check in with the stakeholders<00:46:16.800> as<00:46:17.200>
• with the sober home operators to check with the sober home operators to make<00:53:58.720> sure
• And so, Madam Chair, I do have a testifier from the Epilepsy Foundation to provide more background on

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So just a little background here for the committee.
• So just a little background here for the committee.
• So just a little background here for the committee.
• cfss provider assisting commission check cfss provider assisting commission check a<00:45:42.000
• Check box. What happened to the check box? And I don't think we succeeded with that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires that a background check and a LPA must be signed within six months.
• It requires that a background check and a LPA must be signed within six months.
• It requires that a background check and a LPA must be signed within six months.
• It requires that a background check and a LPA must be signed within six months.
• It requires that a background<00:09:12.959> check<00:09:13.279> and<00:09:13.440> a<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• those teachers who are helping with AmeriCorps to become future teachers down the road, so it sort of checks
• so<00:02:04.719> it<00:02:04.840> sort<00:02:05.039> of<00:02:05.439> checks
• <00:02:05.799> all<00:02:05.960> the the road so it sort of checks all the the road
• so it sort of checks all the boxes<00:02:06.399> that<00:02:06.520> we<00:02:06.719>
• Just to give you an idea of the scope, um, I did a little, um, check on the numbers before we started

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for bus drivers statewide so they don't have to go get checked everywhere.
• And if you have such a license, you have been submitted to a background check and are presumably not
• And I checked with my chief on that.
• And I checked with my chief on that.
• And I I checked with uh ever heard of.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just for a quick little bit of background. ...rule change for the committee's review.
• Just for a quick little bit of background about why you're seeing this on your agenda today.
• So this rule, again, just by way of background, what this relates to is the deadline.
• is simply clarifying. ...little background of what the rule does, is the change is simply clarifying
• And I'm just wondering if you could give us some background on that. Why we haven't done that?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just for a quick little bit of background. ...rule change for the committee's review.
• Just for a quick little bit of background about why you're seeing this on your agenda today.
• So this rule, again, just by way of background, what this relates to is the deadline.
• is simply clarifying. ...little background of what the rule does, is the change is simply clarifying
• And I'm just wondering if you could give us some background on that. Why we haven't done that?

Summary: The committee met to organize upcoming legislative session arrangements and staffing, and to review several rule and security-related items. It first approved a Joint Rule 211 change, recommended by the Employee Benefits Committee, that clarifies the deadline and statutory references for introducing health insurance mandate bills so required cost-benefit materials can be completed in time. Members noted the change would streamline the process, though it would not solve all timing and mandate-determination issues. The committee then discussed a draft bill on confidentiality protections for certain public officials and candidates, but members raised concerns about the statute’s complexity, the practical difficulty of administering it, and whether it would meaningfully improve safety; no action was taken and the topic was set aside for further discussion. The committee received an update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is in process to apply for grant funding that could reimburse up to about $200 per legislator for personal security-related expenses such as home cameras, locks, lighting, or monitoring services, with reimbursement handled through Legislative Council and subject to Emergency Commission approval. Members asked about eligible expenses, timing, and whether new legislators would be included, and staff said the program would likely cover current legislators only for this round. The committee also approved the 2027 joint session schedule for the State of the State, tribal-state message, and State of the Judiciary on January 5, with the tribal and judiciary addresses in the morning and the governor’s address later in the day. The committee next approved the statutory reporting schedule for the Commerce Commissioner and agricultural commodity groups, setting the Commerce report for January 13, 2027, and the agriculture reports and pesticide container disposal update for January 14, 2027. Members questioned the usefulness of some of these recurring reports, but agreed to follow the existing statutory requirements. The largest discussion centered on Legislative Council staffing for the 2027 session: the committee approved reducing session staff to 36 Senate and 41 House employees, eliminating procedural clerk positions in standing committees in favor of permanent policy analysts, while retaining quality assurance clerks and adding a House parking lot attendant. It also approved a 3% salary increase for those staff positions, matching the increase given to state employees. Finally, the committee reviewed a revised organizational session and new legislator training agenda. Staff proposed moving some orientation content into a separate pre-session training day for new legislators on November 30, including laptop setup, mock committee and floor sessions, parliamentary procedure, and HR/benefits training, while adding more security and budgeting instruction. Members strongly supported earlier and more practical training, including follow-up reinforcement during the first week of session, and suggested using experienced or term-limited former legislators as mentors. Staff also described efforts to expand training materials into podcasts, flowcharts, and other formats, and Legislative Council leadership outlined the office’s remaining vacancies and a proposed expansion of policy analysts, program evaluators, legal staff, and training support to better serve the legislature and improve oversight of state programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did check our nursing passage rate. It was 94%, also outstanding.
• So first, my background. I'm from a blue-collar background.
• It is something that I think really fits the bill for me, given my background, and led me to apply to
• , so corporate governance and financial controls are very important, and a big part of my background
• , so corporate governance and financial controls are very important, and a big part of my background

Bills: S1570, S1376

Keywords: missing persons, special needs, autism, search-and-rescue, Florida, voluntary program, funding, genetic counseling, education grants, state universities, faculty recruitment, student financial assistance

Summary: The committee heard and approved two bills before moving to a long confirmation agenda. SB 1570, by Sen. Gates, would restore Project Leo, a previously sunset program that helps locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination between CARD centers and local sheriffs; it was praised as a proven tool for families and first responders and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1376, by Sen. Burgess, would create grants to support genetic counseling education and help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors; testimony noted the state’s limited supply of licensed counselors and the need to expand clinical training, and the bill also passed favorably. The committee then considered a block of reappointments to university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and others. No one requested separate votes on the reappointments, and the block was confirmed unanimously for recommendation to the next committee. A series of new appointees then appeared and largely emphasized workforce training, nursing, military support, and local economic development at their institutions. Witnesses included appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, FIU, UWF, Valencia, the College of the Florida Keys, and others; several highlighted strong NCLEX pass rates, dual enrollment, and partnerships with employers or military communities. One nominee, Florida Poly reappointment Ilya Shapiro, faced pointed questioning from Sen. Bracey Davis about past comments regarding race and the Supreme Court; he said his remarks were about hiring criteria, not a specific justice, and reiterated opposition to race- or sex-based selection. The committee also briefly struggled to reach Sherry Young by phone before hearing her testimony for Chipola College, where she said she wanted to give back as an alumna and nurse practitioner. Most new appointees were recommended for confirmation in a block, while Thomas Zachary Smith of UWF was pulled for separate consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Zeleznikar, I know this is an area you have a lot of background in, and I'm trying to
• in and um I'm a lot of um background in and um I'm trying<00:45:43.839> to<00:45:44.680> as
• But another point is we checked with our state government team, and this removal of expedited rulemaking
• But another point is we checked with our state government team, and this removal of expedited rulemaking
• with our state government team checked with our state government team and<00:53:42.680> this<

Bills: HF500, HF718, HF1096, HF1246, HF1469

Keywords: nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, workforce development, job training, economic stability, low-income, career pathways, education funding, Summit Academy, employment, STEM programming, GED preparation, Neighborhood Development Center, NDC, small business, entrepreneurship, business training

Transcript Highlights:

• off we're going to assume negative check off we're going to assume that<00:07:22.160> you<00:
• With that, Representative Perryman, if you would like to background us on House File 400, which talks
• A little bit of background about entity laws: people get confused.
• Correct, just checking to see who’s paying attention.
• and maybe a little bit more background and maybe a little bit more background on<00:47:45.160>

Bills: HF747, HF1014, HF320, HF400

Keywords: corporate governance, shareholder rights, beneficial ownership, defective corporate acts, Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota Insurance Guaranty Association, MIGA, insurance guaranty fund, insurer insolvency, covered claim, net worth threshold, high-net-worth insured, financial information request, insurance claims, self-insured retention, deductible, commercial insurance, insurance regulation, Minnesota Statutes 60C.09, guaranty association

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that background, I'll pivot to some of the work that MMB is currently doing to monitor federal
• So with that background, I'll pivot to some of the work that MMB is currently doing to monitor federal
• So with that background, I'll pivot to some of the work that MMB is currently doing to monitor federal
• So with that background, I'll pivot to some of the work that MMB is currently doing to monitor federal
• So with that background, I'll pivot to some of the work that MMB is currently doing to monitor federal

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our checks, our QA checks, can be done a lot from the office as well, but we still have four or five
• , our QA the office. our our checks, our QA checks<01:07:06.319> can<01:07:06.480> be<01
• ><01:30:04.639> system<01:30:05.360> codes, check check your OBD uh system codes, check
• My background is in theoretical physics. I have a master's degree.
• Um, my background in this is that I own an excavation company.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, we are going to go ahead and get started, but I'm going to pause for a second and just check
• It's something that we could and should look into, which is kind of cross-checking against the income
• As you explained, I wanted to go into a bit of the background and history of the food stamps program
• So a little bit of background on the Food Policy Forum.
• I'm a registered dietitian, and I have a background in some of the programs that I'm going to be sharing

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to take a moment to discuss the background of the bill and the status of large load requests
• And so it's very difficult for them to harden their systems because they don't have that background that
• I know it sounds like I'm blowing smoke, but I actually have a little bit of background in this because
• I checked and thought that it was submitted, but we will get the written report to you.
• I checked and thought that it was submitted, but we will get the written report to you. Okay, good.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those of us with gray hair in the room are going to check out probably a little bit faster than she will
• I'm going to talk a little bit about my background, but as sort of a...
• I want to talk a little bit about my background and why I'm so excited about this technology.
• As a result of that, it's long been said that New Mexico checks all the boxes for why a company would
• My background is as a land use planner for 28 years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Coming from a business background and from a foreign country making the U.S. my home, I have realized
• That's coming from a lot of different drivers, but I think coming from largely a solar background.
• For background, real quickly and as a refresher, perhaps...
• Monitoring is important for a variety of reasons; it's kind of like a basic health check on your aquifer
• I'm checking in with the geologists and just the real need of that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some towns will require printing, envelopes, checks, stamps, and going to the post office.
• Instead, I am driving my truck to an empty parking lot for another redundant check.
• And just for some background, I am a Massachusetts native, and I... ...to the Bean New Deal.
• The sun is coming in from the background, but my name is Maureen St. Cyr.
• And some people are tenants who have to check with their landlords and advocate for a tree.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a lengthy hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills related to environmental health, PFAS, medical device chemicals, food access, lead poisoning, air quality, oral health, and school food additives. Chair Driscoll and Chair Decker emphasized that the hearing was for testimony only, no decisions would be made that day, and that written testimony could still be submitted. They also noted the high volume of speakers and asked witnesses to keep remarks brief. A major portion of the hearing focused on PFAS-related legislation, including bills to restrict PFAS in products and food packaging and to create a PFAS remediation trust fund. Municipal officials and advocates described the high costs of PFAS cleanup, especially for drinking water systems, citing Easton’s multimillion-dollar treatment investments and rate increases. Testimony from legislators and advocates argued that Massachusetts should act despite federal uncertainty, and that the state should stop PFAS at the source rather than leaving municipalities and residents to pay for remediation. The committee also heard strong support for a bill banning DEHP in medical devices, with physicians, nurses, and a bill sponsor saying the chemical can leach from IV bags and tubing and that safer alternatives already exist. The committee also heard testimony on bills to establish statewide food truck permitting, with food truck owners and a senator describing the current system as costly, duplicative, and inconsistent across municipalities. Another set of witnesses supported the “Bean New Deal,” which would expand plant-based food options in public institutions, senior nutrition programs, and WIC, citing health, equity, and cost savings. On lead poisoning, housing advocates and a representative backed bills to expand lead-safe housing requirements to all rental units, arguing the current law contributes to discrimination against families with children and leaves too much pre-1978 housing uncertified. The committee also heard support for an outdoor air pollution bill that would create an advisory committee, identify pollution hotspots, expand monitoring, and set reduction targets, with testimony from environmental justice groups, pediatricians, and legislators describing disproportionate asthma and other health harms in overburdened communities. Later testimony addressed oral health bills to create dental therapists and allow dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide, with supporters saying the measures would expand access, reduce costs, and help underserved patients. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to prohibit harmful food dyes in competitive school foods, with parents describing behavioral and health concerns tied to synthetic dyes. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.