Transcript Highlights:

• We lament this burden that keeps girls out of school and limits their opportunities to contribute to
• He's currently retired and was first appointed to the board in 2024.
• Prior to his retirement, he had a long career as a registered nurse in public health and the healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, one-time funding for retired law enforcement dogs program that was added by the House, and your
• Now, on the bottom of page 5, the section for the retired law enforcement dog program would go away as
• So then if we contribute a third, then you'd match the other third. Correct, yes, sir.

Bills: SB2012

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on budget and bill amendments. The committee first took up the Attorney General’s budget and reviewed a detailed amendment package that adjusted FTE levels, salary equity funding, funding sources, and several one-time appropriations. Changes included removing some House-added items, adding contingent funding tied to other bills, restoring certain funding sources, increasing the electronic smoking device manufacturer fee, and adding a provision on 24/7 sobriety program fees. Senator Dwyer then offered a further amendment to make the electronic smoking device fee a $2,000 application fee with a $500 annual renewal fee, which passed. The committee then voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as amended and give it a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1143, relating to Great Plains Food Bank funding. After testimony from Amy Cleary on behalf of Great Plains Food Bank, members discussed the organization’s statewide role and the project’s financing, including a planned $30 million facility and existing fundraising. Senator Burkhard moved to restore the appropriation from $5 million to $10 million, and the motion passed 4-1. The committee then voted 4-1 to give the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, with Senator Burkhard designated as carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1524, which would fund regional planning councils and authorize 16 FTEs. Members expressed sympathy for the councils’ work but concerns about approving new state-funded positions. No action was taken, and the chair asked to hold the bill over for further review. The committee then recessed, noting remaining budget work and upcoming hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• They contribute get the capital improvement projects, and this would be the small boat harbor commercial
• They<00:05:10.880><c> contribute</c><00:05:11.760><c> get</c><00:05:12.640><c> the</c><00:05:12.760><
• c> capital</c> They contribute get the capital They contribute get the capital improvement<00:05:13.600
• </c><00:14:49.520><c> or</c><00:14:49.720><c> not</c> to OHA uh contributing or not to OHA uh contributing
• Because Jeju is a sister state. pushes it, and then they retire, they pushes it, and then they retire

Summary: The committee first heard HB 649, which would create a small boat harbor commercial vessel special fund and raise mortgage fees on commercial vessels to fund harbor improvements. DLNR stood on written testimony in support, while the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Activity and Attractions Association of Hawaii, Calypso Charters, and a local commercial operator all opposed the bill, arguing that the fee increase would burden thin-margin businesses without fixing procurement and staffing problems and that the bill’s fee language and fund allocations were too vague. A DLNR witness also noted a prior bill, HB 2477, had sought to broaden the fee base to more ocean operators statewide rather than increase the percentage. No vote was taken on HB 649 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2599 on aquatic protection, which would prioritize ecosystem integrity and use of best available science in managing aquatic resources and set coral reef resilience goals. DLNR supported the measure, and a testifier from the public urged stronger coral goals for Oahu and a broader framework including water quality, herbivore management, fishery management, enforcement, and coral restoration. There was no opposition or vote shown on HB 2599 before the committee recessed to a joint hearing. In the joint Economic Development and Tourism / Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts hearing, members heard HB 2118 on transferring the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBED, HB 2474 on authorizing non-binding international cooperative agreements, HB 1863 on creating an honorary ambassador to Canada, HB 1943 on out-of-state DBED offices and export promotion, and HB 2604 on a performing arts ticket surcharge. Testimony was generally supportive for HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943, with questions focused on agency placement, sister-state relationships, and the rationale for overseas offices. HB 2604 drew opposition from the Tax Foundation and others, who argued the surcharge functioned as a tax and would make arts participation more expensive; the chair recommended deferring it. During decision-making, both committees passed HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943 with amendments, including technical changes and revised effective dates. For HB 2474, the amendments were described as clarifying definitions for sister-state and international cooperative agreements, allowing relationships with national governments, and preserving legislative approval and transparency. HB 1943 was amended to require an office in Laoag City, Philippines, rather than a non-existent DBED Philippines office. HB 2604 was deferred. After the joint session, the Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts committee resumed and heard HB 2395 on permits for taking marine deposits and HB 2361 on administrative support for the Kahului Bay Regional Council, both of which drew only DLNR written testimony and no further action in the excerpt. The committee then began HB 1823 on Coastal Zone Management Act exemptions, with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs testifying first, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> political contribution refund electronic political contribution refund electronic filing<00:15:03.440
• The House offers House section 17, which is the retirement annuity contribution provision.
• The House offers House section 17, which is the retirement annuity contribution provision.
• The House offers House section 17, which is the retirement annuity contribution provision.
• Madam Chair, we will retire and discuss this, but I want to go back now because Mr. Man is present.

Transcript Highlights:

• reorganization project we've conducted for Chapter 20 of the Ethics Commission rules relating to reporting contributions
• which the Commission makes equitable adjustments to the dollar amount on which the standard service retirement
• the section of statute that says the Comptroller must report to the Ethics Commission a campaign contribution
• charter school's resources to make political advertising Natalie: appears to constitute an improper contribution
• So you've committed a felony by taking a corporate contribution.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission convened at 9:03 a.m. and held an executive session, reconvening at 10:18 a.m. During the meeting, the Commission approved a settlement agreement with Michael Quinn Sullivan, ending ongoing litigation. The agreement involved Sullivan dropping his legal challenges regarding a civil penalty previously imposed by the Commission. The Commission also announced personnel changes, including the departure of the director of enforcement, Marie Prim, and the appointment of Jordan Hun as interim director. The Commission discussed outside counsel contracts, approving the addition of Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta LLP to their pool of qualified vendors. They scheduled their next meeting for September 23rd and approved minutes from previous meetings. The agenda included several rulemaking items, with three rules adopted and five proposed for publication in the Texas Register. Notably, amendments to Chapter 20 regarding reporting contributions and expenditures were approved, as well as changes to lobbyist registration thresholds in Chapter 34, which were proposed for publication. The Commission also addressed advisory opinions, adopting several, including one regarding political advertising by charter schools and another concerning the revolving door prohibition for former state employees. Appeals for administrative waivers and reductions of fines were considered, with several fines waived or reduced based on individual circumstances. Lastly, the Commission discussed policies related to alternative dispute resolution and clarified responsibilities between the Commission and staff, concluding the meeting at 11:15 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 60 modifies Senate Bill 60 modifies the Florida retirement system by reclassifying the district
• It simply recognizes contributions that shaped a generation.
• You mentioned the word contribution.
• Can you identify what historically significant contributions Charlie Kirk has made to the state of Florida
• And Florida has been home to men and women whose contributions truly shaped this state.

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability took up three bills. First, it heard Senator Gates’s employee protection bill, which would create whistleblower-style protections for people who file ethics complaints based on personal knowledge, allowing the Ethics Commission to investigate retaliation and, if probable cause is found, letting the complainant seek administrative or civil relief. The Commission on Ethics supported the measure, saying it had long recommended such protections and that implementation costs would be low. The committee adopted the delete-all amendment and then reported the committee substitute for Senate Bill 92 favorably. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 60 by Senator McLean, which reclassifies certain district assistant regional counsel supervisor positions in the Florida Retirement System to the senior management class, aligning them more closely with comparable attorney positions in public defender and state attorney offices. A late-file technical amendment aligning class codes with Florida statutes was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. A representative from the regional council spoke in support. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 194 by Senator Martin, which would designate October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance. The sponsor argued the day would honor Kirk’s advocacy for free speech, debate, and civic engagement, and said it would not create a state holiday or require closures. The bill drew strong opposition from Senator Polsky and Senator Bracy Davis, who cited Kirk’s public comments on race, women, gun violence, and systemic discrimination and argued he was not a unifying figure worthy of state honor. Julie Keefe also spoke against the bill, while representatives from the Venezuelan American Republican Club and the Christian Family Coalition spoke in support. Despite the debate, the committee voted to report Senate Bill 194 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 60 modifies the Florida retirement system by reclassifying the district assistant regional
• It simply recognizes contributions that shaped a generation.
• You mentioned the word contribution.
• Can you identify what historically significant contributions Charlie Kirk has made to the State of Florida
• And Florida has been home to men and women whose contributions truly shaped this state.

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability heard three bills and reported all three favorably. First, the committee took up Senator Gates’ employee protection bill, which was amended with a delete-all to create whistleblower protections for people who file ethics complaints based on personal knowledge. Gates and the Florida Commission on Ethics said the measure would reduce retaliation against insiders who report misconduct, while the commission said it supported the proposal and expected low implementation costs. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended. The committee next considered Senator McClain’s bill to reclassify certain district assistant regional counsel supervisor positions in the Florida Retirement System to the senior management class. Supporters said the change would align those positions with comparable attorneys in public defender and state attorney offices and help with recruitment and retention. A late-file technical amendment aligning class codes with statute was adopted, and the committee then reported the bill favorably. The final bill, Senator Martin’s SB 194, would designate October 14 each year as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance in Florida. Martin argued the day would honor Kirk’s advocacy for free speech, civic engagement, and debate, and said it would not create a state holiday or require closures. The bill drew strong opposition from Senator Polsky and Senator Bracy Davis, who cited Kirk’s public statements on race, women, guns, and systemic discrimination and argued he was divisive and unworthy of a state honor. Supporters, including representatives from the Venezuelan American Republican Club and the Christian Family Coalition, backed the measure. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For generations, Armenian families have contributed to the strength and character of the Central Valley
• The resilience and contributions continue to shape. our state's social, cultural, and economic fabric
• thrives because of its rich diversity, and we will always support the Armenian people and their contributions
• indeed the City of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley would not be what they are without the contributions
• Before we do that, we have a very special guest in the rear of the chamber, retired assembly member,

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to PTSD, he was medically retired from both roles. to cover these expenses. to cover these expenses
• retired from both roles.
• We should note that speeding contributes to nearly one-third of our nation's traffic deaths, according
• Um, speeding is a leading risk factor on our streets, contributes to traffic violence, and dangers not
• </c><00:59:26.800><c> Um</c> contribute to the to the account. Um contribute to the to the account.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• contributes to Minnesota's Public<00:03:32.640><c> Safety</c><00:03:33.640><c> we</c><00:03:33.760><
• </c><00:03:39.239><c> to</c><00:03:39.480><c> safer</c><00:03:40.120><c> stronger</c> and contribute
• to safer stronger and contribute to safer stronger communities<00:03:42.680><c> for</c><00:03:42.879>
• My team has been successful at managing through these events so far, with a large contributing factor
• </c><00:51:15.240><c> um</c> executive director who's now retired um executive director who's now retired

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• They said if they would have built their new house for retirement 100 feet into the Seven County Metro
• The state overmatch, so we contribute a lot from the state side. that so we contribute a lot from the
• that so we contribute a lot from the state<01:06:19.920><c> side</c><01:06:20.440><c> thank</c><01:06
• According to the dad, who’s kind of semi-retired, they would save $12 million.
• Thank you. semi-retired they would save $12 semi-retired they would save $12 million<01:12:22.760><c>

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm now retired.
• I'm now retired.
• I'm now retired.
• I'm now retired.
• I'm now retired.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an electrical engineer, recently retired from New Orleans Gas.
• Good neighbors and contributing to the local economy, which I have witnessed firsthand.
• So wind turbine collisions contribute to avian mortality rates.
• Projects further contribute to harmful environmental air pollution.
• It directly contributes to the destruction of wildlife and ecosystems in Texas.

Bills: SB458 , SB819 , SB1238 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1644 , SB1791 , SB1810 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB758 , SB1455 , SB1706

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• My husband just retired after 31 years in the Navy.
• I'm sorry, 2008, and I retired and became a state employee.
• I'm sorry, 2008, and I retired and became a state employee.
• When I retired, I went to law school.
• I'm also a retired professor of criminal justice at St. Cloud State University. I retired from St.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Retired Air Force officer. Mr.
• Retired Air Force, started off in the enlisted ranks, got commissioned, and retired in 2018 at Kirtland
• Our longtime coordinator of that program retired about a year and a half ago.
• He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps after 30 years.
• I've been a member of the Legion since I retired.

Transcript Highlights:

• Data from CalSTRS shows women will receive almost a hundred thousand dollars less in retirement benefits
• Let me repeat them, almost $100,000 less in retirement benefits than their male counterparts.
• When CalSTRS, when a teacher retires, CalSTRS converts unused sick leave to additional service credit
• It's not just about retirement.
• Or we retire.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will talk about a a contribution.
• to to the arts, which made contributions to to the arts, which is<00:34:30.960><c> uh</c><00:34:31.119
• But at that time, 21,000 jobs in the state, $3.4 billion, 3.4% to 4% of the NRA's GDP, were contributed
• At the same time, we've lost the ability to have retirement funds that was a 7 percent one-time that
• We bought out 15 contracts of teachers to help them retire faster.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 397 by Senator Reese provides for vacancies caused by retirement, resignation, or removal
• In 2020, the legislature passed a law saying an official who retires cannot be reappointed to his own
• If they retire or resign to go run for another position...
• So I'm going to retire or resign or whatever you want to call it.
• You don't want to represent a government that is just rich and retired.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills dealing with judicial vacancies, travel reimbursement, election administration, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection; it allows the Supreme Court to reappoint a retiring judge on an ad hoc basis to finish cases or provide urgent coverage, while not changing other laws that prevent a judge from returning to the same seat after retiring or resigning. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was reported as amended after the committee adopted a new amendment removing lodging from the bill, leaving only meal reimbursement limits tied to the federal GSA rate. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk was also reported favorably; it would create per diem pay for legislators doing legislative business outside session and raise statewide elected officials’ salaries using a formula tied to university president pay. The committee deferred Senate Bill 41, which would have extended the deadline for public bodies to publish open-meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, after the author said he wanted more time to work with opponents. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, which would have created public-records exceptions for certain university searches, research, and donor information, drew substantial questioning and testimony from the press and members; after amendments narrowed the scope, the committee ultimately held the bill for further work rather than voting it out. Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, was reported favorably; it requires public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including at least two contacts, a mailing address, email addresses, a website if available, and a phone number, without requiring public funds for member phones. On election-related bills, Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller was reported favorably as amended. It allows precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place when both use the same ballot, with Secretary of State Landry saying it would preserve voter privacy, reduce costs, and be seamless for voters. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter was also reported favorably; it increases the number of election commissioners allowed in closed party primaries to match staffing needs created by the new system. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, which makes certain crime-scene photos, audio/video recordings, and digital images nonpublic except by court order or clerk access, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. House Bill 906 by Representative Billings was reported favorably as amended; the amendments let party state central committees decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in party primaries, require notice to the Department of State, and make participation rules consistent across the party’s related races, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The committee also deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 397 by Senator Reese provides for vacancies caused by retirement, resignation, or removal
• In 2020, the legislature passed a law saying an official who retires cannot be reappointed to his own
• If they retire or resign to go run for another position...
• So I'm going to retire or resign or whatever you want to call it.
• You don't want to represent a government that is just rich and retired.

Bills: HB398 , HB906 , HB1201 , SB41 , SB47 , SB106 , SB210 , SB218 , SB220 , SB248 , SB289 , SB397

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• county, there is a, in one circuit, in one county, there's an incumbent who calls himself a semi-retired
• There are only four classifications. retired judges and senior judges.
• county, there is a, in one circuit, in one county, there's an incumbent who calls himself a semi-retired
• has certified the need for a circuit judge in that particular county because one judge is a semi-retired
• One judge is a semi-retired judge.

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.