Transcript Highlights:

• That will be one of the bigger issues in conference that we're going to have to deal with.
• was filed and it was already in the House budget, we did not address it because it's in place for conference
• These issues will be resolved during conference, along with the economic issues, which will be addressed
• We are requiring a monthly notice of whether a student has moved back and forth.
• Requiring a monthly notice of whether a student has moved back and forth between programs and neighborhood

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Stacy Householder and Arturo Perez from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
• So the Wyoming Legislature belongs to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the organization
• <00:02:44.400> of<00:02:44.560> State National Conference of State National Conference
• So, you notice there's no appropriation in the bill.
• So, you notice there's no program.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• know, in the House, we have all been pre-conferencing our bills, but when the budget bills go to conference
• know, in the House, we have all been pre-conferencing our bills, but when the budget bills go to conference
• , the the budget bills go to conference, there's<00:22:23.679> a<00:22:23.840> whole<00
• Things may shift and evolve as we go through conference committees, and perhaps, you know, none of us
• I think the governor sent out a notice, but the MMB now has a public website sort of trying to keep track

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're trying to do with this bill is allow victims to send notice through electronic methods
• But you also notice later in the same paragraph. It says the court shall appoint an attorney.
• The bill directs DPS to electronically identify eligible records in the state and to provide notice to
• And I think that the notice provision...
• I'm actually here on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. OK, I'm sorry.

Bills: HB285, HB795, HB1795, HB1871, HB2407, HB2461, HB2695, HB3507, HB4911, HB200

Keywords: animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, aggravated assault, penal code, public servant, deadly weapon, mass shooting, Penal Code, penalties, felony, Texas Penal Code, felony enhancement, first-degree felony, second-degree felony, violent crime, assault punishment, serious bodily injury

Transcript Highlights:

• For all those interested in submitting a public comment, Chair: please view the notice of public hearing
• When you've selected the notice, scroll down to the bottom of the website information.
• The Chair now calls Adam Haynes with the Conference of Urban Counties.
• Adam Haynes with the Conference of Urban Counties and we are testifying on the bill today.
• We have a population of approximately 61,000 people, and we received notice in 2023 from the Tarrant

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• President, members, a letter that's being distributed from the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
• <00:14:10.000> And<00:14:10.160> I Minnesota Catholic Conference.
• And I Minnesota Catholic Conference. And I think,<00:14:10.560> Mr.
• I hope that you would, in conference committee, try to address ways to incentivize people to purchase
• if that carries a cost with conference if that carries a cost with it.<01:25:18.320> We<01:25

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think at least if you're going to give us something, give us a heads up, give us some notice so we
• way I understood, was standardizing some billing formats, doing some uniform documentation, some notice
• Form documentation, some notice rules, and whatnot, and communication logs. Was that generally it?
• At some point, it ends up in conference, and then you don't know what it's going to say.
• We’re just noticing that people are scared to work there, and I want them to take care of it.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a major workers’ compensation overhaul centered on creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and modernizing fee schedule and claims data collection. Myers said the bill was designed to improve transparency, reduce disputes, address outliers and abuse, and help injured workers return to work faster. The committee adopted technical amendments, then considered a large amendment set combining portions of House bills 780 and 1101, which added preliminary determination procedures, fraud language, temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit changes, and a fallback deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached by 2029. Several members and witnesses objected that the amendments were dropped late and would turn SB 408 into an omnibus bill; supporters argued the package was the best chance for comprehensive reform. After debate, the committee adopted the amendments and reported SB 408 favorably as amended. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply divided. Supporters, including some providers and injured-worker advocates, said the bill’s core value was transparency through the database and that the system needed modernization and a better fee schedule. Opponents argued the added amendments would burden pro se claimants, expand litigation, and weaken injured workers’ rights, especially through fraud and preliminary hearing provisions. Committee members also questioned whether the combined package was germane and whether it should be allowed to move as a single reform measure. Louisiana Workforce Commission staff explained the timeline for data collection, electronic billing, dispute rules, and eventual fee schedule rulemaking, and said the department could execute the law as amended. The committee then turned to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, concerning workplace violence and safety plans for small-box discount retailers. The bill was revised through a substitute that required covered retailers to develop and submit a written workforce safety plan, or submit an existing plan if one already existed. Representative Glorioso raised concerns that requiring a written safety plan could create new civil liability under Louisiana’s assumption-of-duty doctrine and increase litigation and insurance costs. Chasson responded that the intent was simply to encourage safety planning and that businesses already had such plans. The committee discussed possible narrowing language, but the transcript ends before a final disposition on HB 585 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for me, being the Chair of Health and Human Services, being on conference calls constantly, I had
• Mandate at least 90 days' notice before any proposed changes.
• They don't have any clue that we're changing this, and they're going to get notices...
• Patients are all going to get that notice, and they're going to want to know what happened. when they
• I didn't notice all of that 100%, but I'm concerned that we're setting up a world.

Bills: SB331, SB883, SB926, SB1137, SB1138, SB1144, SB1151, SB1236, SB1270, SB1522, SB1869, SB2207, SB2422

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 9:30 a.m., and we are in Conference Room 325 at the State Capitol.
• In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted.
• Finally, we have a new microphone system in the House conference rooms.
• In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted.
• We are in conference room 325.

Bills: HB1602, HB2246, HB1707, HB2216, HB2594, HB2595, HB2155, HB2113, HB2207, HB1832, HB2015, HB2152, HB2548

Keywords: agriculture, grant specialist, financial support, farmers, Hawaii, federal grants, grant administration, revolving fund, department of agriculture and biosecurity, grant compliance, transportation, reimbursement, food security, local production, sustainability, agricultural loans, financing, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii agriculture, loan portfolio

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when I go to clerk conferences and meet with other clerks, um, it's going to be my recommendation
• Um, when I go to clerk conferences and meet with other clerks, um, it's going to be my recommendation
• Um, when I go to clerk conferences and meet with other clerks, um, it's going to be my recommendation
• What would they be required if they noticed there were 100 people voted?
• noticed there were 100 people voted. noticed there were 100 people voted.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During that 30 days, while they are under notice, they will try to reach them by text and email and then
• We have always done a referral in our notices to Our Home on workforce connections, how they can access
• But in addition to the follow-up, so you now have to complete...” “...eligible before we send notices
• And that is sending the notice out to them if they have not met the administrative process.
• So we are trying to build in a time period to where they get timely notice and can work on some things

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s proposed workforce system overhaul, including a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan and a package of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate workforce governance, reduce administrative costs, and redirect more funding to training and supportive services. Commerce officials said the plan would replace the current structure of 10 local workforce boards and more than 200 board members with a single statewide board and one administrative entity, while keeping local offices open and using regional business councils to preserve employer and local input. They said the state has already reduced Commerce headcount and operating costs, and that the changes would improve coordination with higher education, adult education, vocational rehabilitation, DHS, and Arkansas Industry Connect. Much of the discussion centered on the waiver package, especially the proposal to make the state board function as the local board, allow more flexible movement of funds across regions, eliminate the WIOA “last dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, create affiliate sites instead of requiring every area to maintain a comprehensive center, and relax the 14 youth program element requirement. Officials said the State Board of Workforce Development approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, and that implementation would begin only after federal approval and a closeout process, likely taking up to a year. They also described plans to streamline referrals and data sharing, expand mobile and virtual services, and use a more centralized model to improve customer service and employer engagement. Members raised repeated concerns about rural representation, local control, board composition, and whether jobs and relationships would be lost if local boards were eliminated. Commerce officials responded that local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired by the state, and regional business councils would help ensure local employer voice. Several members also questioned how the funding was being used, citing audit findings that only about $1.8 million to $1.9 million of roughly $14 million to $15 million in federal workforce funds had gone to training and supportive services. Officials said the reorganization could increase annual training spending to roughly $6 million to $7 million by reducing overhead, one-stop operator contracts, and board administration. The committee also discussed how the changes might support workforce training facilities, apprenticeships, child care and transportation assistance, and employer-driven training in fields such as manufacturing, health care, technology, and welding. The Division of Higher Education also briefed members on Workforce Pell. Officials explained that the new federal program would extend Pell eligibility to short-term programs, but only within narrow limits, such as 150 to 599 clock hours and 8 to 15 weeks of instruction, with additional completion and employment benchmarks. They said Arkansas is working with colleges and universities to identify programs that fit the criteria and that the governor has designated the Division of Higher Education to lead implementation. No votes were taken by the committee during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• As members may have noticed, several bills have been referred to these subcommittees.
• Uh, also, how much advance notice does the jail administrator know that the inspectors are coming?
• We will issue a notice of noncompliance as part of a special inspection, um, at that point in time.
• That is conferred by the Constitution and the laws of the state.
• I had the opportunity in January to go up to the mayor's conference in, in DC.

Transcript Highlights:

• office, have continued to reach out beyond the language required in the statute of the electronic notices
• And it's something actually that the Florida Supervisors of Elections Conference supports.
• It's something actually that the Florida Supervisors of Elections Conference supported that legislative

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• parcels for which the owner or owners have an ownership interest and requires a municipality to provide notice
• Uh, next witness is Adam Haines, uh, conference of Urban cities, uh, testifying on the bill.
• Members, Adam Haines conference of Urban Counties, I would have got in trouble with TML if I didn't put

Transcript Highlights:

• What are travel policies regarding In-state or out of state conferences.
• council that the New Mexico Youth and Government Program hosted by the YMCA held its annual session conference
• So, uh, just a, a notice that this 8-track temperature control system upgrade at the Walter K.

Transcript Highlights:

• authorizes clerks to retain the full amount of revenue collected by the Article 5 Revenue Estimating Conference
• As the administrator, the clerk issues notice and conducts the auction, takes in and processes funds
• proposal represents a thoughtful, disciplined approach and provides a solid foundation as we head into conferences
• Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, I would imagine for. I don't want to suggest.

Bills: S0436, S0532, S0600, S0644, S0682, S0928, S1072, S1332, S1632, S1634

Keywords: foreclosure, court clerks, budget management, judicial sales, Florida statutes, bail bonds, pretrial release, forfeiture, criminal justice, bond conditions, surety, attorney fees, litigation costs, court jurisdiction, equitable awards, financial resources, domestic violence, protective injunctions, electronic monitoring, enhanced penalties

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to consider several criminal justice and court-related bills, along with the committee’s proposed $7.9 billion budget. The committee first heard and approved CS/SB 600 on bail bonds, as amended to adjust solicitation, cash bond return, forfeiture remission timing, and clerk procedures; CS/SB 436 on felony battery, which expands qualifying prior offenses and was amended to correct a drafting issue; CS/SB 928, “Missy’s Law,” requiring immediate remand to custody after conviction for dangerous crimes; SB 1332 on career offender registration, adding in-person reporting, more detailed registration requirements, and stronger penalties for noncompliance; and CS/SB 682 on violent criminal offenses, a domestic violence measure adopted via a substitute amendment that adds stricter penalties, electronic monitoring, injunction protections, and related procedures. All of those bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1072 creating an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s Office. The bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing rising anti-Semitic incidents and the need for statewide review, and opponents raising concerns about free speech, the definition of anti-Semitism, and possible conflation of criticism of Israel with hate speech. Senators also discussed the bill’s scope and the IHRA definition before it was reported favorably. In addition, CS/SB 532 on clerks of court was amended to clarify foreclosure sale procedures and funding predictability for clerks, then reported favorably. CS/SB 644 on attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs was also approved after amendments that aligned family-law fee provisions and codified standards for fee awards in dissolution and paternity cases; the sponsor said the bill was intended to curb vexatious litigation and improve consistency across districts. After the bill actions, the chair summarized the criminal and civil justice budget, describing it as a disciplined proposal that addresses corrections deficits and future inmate growth while funding core public safety needs. The committee then heard substantial public testimony on prison conditions, staffing, pay, heat, infrastructure, and the possibility of reducing prison populations or adding air conditioning in facilities. The chair announced that SB 1632 and its conforming bill SB 1634 would be temporarily postponed to the following week, and the record was supplemented with the names of many people who had registered to speak for or against those bills. The meeting concluded after members were invited to record votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to add that we just passed a large... well, if it makes it through conference committee and
• Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health sent layoff and separation notices to 170 employees whose
• I'm a past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a past president of the Streamlined
• It's a framework that I'm hoping to continue the conversation on as we move into conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to submit any more water projects, whatever, to maybe make it through budget conference
• I will let everybody know, as returning members, you may notice that we are now in the 412, not because
• organized a Python panel discussion at the North American Invasive Species Management Association conference
• It was a highlight of this conference. We also coordinate extensively outside the state.

Summary: The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures. Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP. Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home. Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires notice. Your bill, please, ma'am. Thank you.
• This bill requires notice to a victim or a designated family member of the victim prior to a resentencing
• And we just want to acknowledge that notice is understandable, but involvement at a place for either
• We do have a card in support, not wishing to speak: Tom Costanza, Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you may have noticed already that a few different things...
• You may have noticed already that a few different things.
• Most of that is due to the new accessibility rules, and so you might notice little things like every
• For the members, your lunches will be down in Conference Room B and C. Okay, very good.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved the November minutes by roll call vote, then held its annual officer elections. Senator Conway was elected chair, Representative Couture vice chair, Mike Yastramski to the executive committee as the active member representative, Bev Hermanson as the retiree representative, and Anthony Marietta as the employer representative. Each election passed by roll call vote, with 14 yes votes and 5 excused members. Staff then presented a high-level overview of the 2026 legislative session, focusing on pension-related bills and studies. Topics included the termination and restatement of LEOFF 1 in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, DRS administration changes in House Bill 2124, administrative expense authority in Substitute Senate Bill 5834, exclusion of certain port workers from PERS in Engrossed House Bill 2179, and a one-time 3% COLA for PERS and TERS Plan 1 retirees in Substitute Senate Bill 5862. The presentation also covered new studies directed to the committee, including LEOFF 1 pension board and medical liability issues and oversight of the restated LEOFF 1 plan, plus related studies assigned to the LEOFF 2 Board and the Office of the State Actuary. Committee members asked about DRS’s role in implementing the LEOFF 1 termination/restatement bill, and DRS said it would help seek IRS approval and notify members about the bill and any challenge deadlines. A separate orientation presentation reviewed committee procedures, public comment, staff roles, voting rules, and the interim work plan. Public commenters from retiree and school administrator groups urged the committee to pursue another one-time COLA and to consider an ongoing COLA for Plan 1 retirees, pointing to inflation and the LEOFF 1 surplus account created by HB 2034. No further committee action was taken beyond adjournment, and the meeting ended after scheduling the executive committee to meet later that morning.