Transcript Highlights:

• The chair is reading the Journal of the preceding day and approves the same.
• :23.560> that<00:02:23.720> have<00:02:23.959> not<00:02:24.160> only Finally
• Mr President none of this finally Mr President none of this success<00:04:35.919> would<00:04
• House Communication No. 423 returns Senate Bill 1291, Senate Draft 1, that has passed third reading in
• House Communication No. 424 returns Senate Bill 1051, Senate Draft 1, that passed third reading in the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please read the bill.
• Please read the next bill.
• Please read the next bill.
• Please read the bill.
• Senator Burton moves the bill to be read a third time. Please read the bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions recognizing guests, family members, and a USF Day at the Capitol presentation. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar, where it first passed two Open Government Sunset Review bills: CS/SB 7010, preserving a public records exemption for certain Department of Financial Services receiver information, and SB 7008/HB 7003, preserving confidentiality for financial technology sandbox application records. Both measures passed unanimously. The Senate also passed CS/SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings relating to terrorism, a bill intended to help victims enforce judgments against terrorist entities, and CS/CS/SB 910 on veterans benefits assistance, aimed at improving veterans’ access to benefits and transition support. Additional measures passed included CS/CS/CS/SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems, CS/CS/CS/SB 700, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, and several claims bills, including relief for Darlene Angerville and J.R., Eric and Jennifer Miles on behalf of EEM, and Marcus Button. SB 994 on driver’s license education requirements also passed after an amendment making texting while driving a moving violation with points and a distracted-driving course requirement. The most extended debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 700, where senators discussed provisions on fluoride in drinking water, labeling of plant-based products, drone penalties, charity registration, agricultural housing, and other agriculture-related policy changes. Several amendments on fluoride were offered and defeated, while a technical amendment on financial institution definitions was adopted. Senators also briefly discussed the policy implications of the bill’s fluoride language and its relationship to local control and public health. Several other bills on the calendar were temporarily postponed, and at the end of the session the Senate adopted motions to certify passed bills to the House, retain postponed bills on the special order calendar, and remove CS/SB 7016 from the special order calendar. The Senate then adjourned until April 16.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it would would read like the one.
• When I did my read, I read these like a computer program, and I texted back that I missed a lot of semicolons
• Final speaker, Jessica Klein.
• >> Senator Williams, you have final >> Senator Williams, you have final question,<00
• <00:53:39.160> error scaling and determine the final error scaling and determine the final

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I cannot read the next name.
• I cannot read the next name. All right. I cannot read the next name.
• I think our final speaker is Nick you. I think our final speaker is Nick Norman. Good morning, sir.
• changing section 15 to read section 16. changing section 15 to read section 16.
• And final section 15 to section 16.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll now read the order.
• Clerk will read.
• The clerk will read.
• reading.
• To all the students out there celebrating, read across. America, keep reading.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You got a chance to read them.
• Finally, implement during the bienium.
• In the final stage, MH MHC few minutes.
• 27.279> grants<00:09:27.920> staff then finalize MHC uh grants staff then finalize MHC
• The goal here is to make reading it.

Bills: HF4148

Keywords: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:08.640> the it's been a second since I read the it's been a second since I read the
• In reading the for taking my question.
• municipality and so forth, but if I read municipality and so forth, but if I read this<00:34:56.639
• Finally,<01:24:35.520> voter<01:24:35.920> approval<01:24:36.400> and Finally, voter
• :19.600> hiring municipalities from finally hiring municipalities from finally hiring someone<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now apparently we're getting our fifth and final in the next six months.
• Senator Montigny, office in order, an amendment which the clerk will read.
• Senator Tarr offers another amendment, which the clerk will read.
• The bill is ordered to a third reading. Third reading of the bill. Thank you.
• The bill is ordered to a third reading.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a fiscal year 2025 close-out supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments, many of which were withdrawn, adopted, or rejected. Early debate focused heavily on funding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Massachusetts, with Senators O’Connor and Feeney arguing for restoring money for transportation, safety, and event readiness, citing projected ridership surges, economic benefits, and the need for Boston and the Commonwealth to invest. Senator Driscoll also won adoption of an amendment directing the MBTA to study and report on its local assessment formula, using Milton and Quincy as examples of perceived inequities in how communities are charged relative to service received. The Senate then took up several other amendments, including measures on fire survivor support, vaccine liability, mental health and sidewalk projects, council on aging and public safety items, disaster relief, service dogs, and MBTA assessments. Senator Tarr offered amendments on driver record transparency and energy cost reporting, but those were not adopted. A major roll-call vote rejected Tarr’s amendment to restore a larger share of excess capital gains to the stabilization fund; supporters argued for stronger rainy day reserves, while the Ways and Means chair defended the bill’s use of a deficiency reserve fund and warned of revenue losses from federal tax changes. The Senate also adopted an amendment on shelter and Home Base spending transparency, requiring renewed reporting on emergency shelter and housing assistance programs. Later, the chamber adopted Senator Edwards’ amendment creating a Massachusetts Federal Employee and Service Member Civil Relief Act to protect federal workers and service members in the event of a shutdown, including relief from eviction and foreclosure-related harms. The Senate also adopted Senator Rodrigues’s Ways and Means amendment, then approved the underlying supplemental budget as amended and ordered it to third reading. After the final roll call, the bill was passed to be engrossed by a 39-0 vote. The Senate concluded by agreeing to adjourn and by honoring Mrs. Anne Lee in memory, with a brief communication from Senator Cyr noting a prior remote-vote error for the journal.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just read about your new facility in Moorhead.
• I just read about your new facility in Moorhead.
• And then finally, we have goals.
• Because you seem surprised when you read the zero.
• And then finally, at the... Yep, yep. Yes.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please listen to the third reading of the bill.
• Please listen to the third reading of the bill.
• Please listen to the third reading of the bill.
• reading of the bill. reading of the bill.
• <00:23:10.920> of Please listen to the second reading of Please listen to the second reading

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance by four Vermont music therapists, followed by remarks recognizing music therapy as an evidence-based profession and welcoming the performers to the chamber. The body then handled several referral and procedural matters: Senate Bills 212 and 328, and Senate Bill 325 after an Environment Committee report, were referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A because of revenue impacts. The House also read HCR 263, congratulating the 2026 Mount Mansfield Union High School Division 1 championship girls basketball team, and members offered brief congratulations and announcements, including a birthday greeting for the Chief of Staff, notice of an art social, and a reminder about the House Adjournment Pool benefiting Good Samaritan Haven. The House voted to move Senate Bill 206, relating to licensure of early childhood educators, from Government Operations and Military Affairs to Human Services. It then took up House Bill 951, the state budget bill, suspended rules to consider it immediately, and voted not to concur with the Senate’s proposal of amendment. The House requested a committee of conference and appointed Representatives Shay, Feltes, and Lumley to serve on the House side, then suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. In the orders of the day, the House passed House Bill 902 on amendments to the City of Barre charter, and passed Senate Bills 142, 179, 227, 230, and 298 in concurrence with proposals of amendment. Action on Senate Bill 223, relating to water quality, was postponed for two legislative days. The House then considered Senate Bill 327 on economic development, hearing detailed testimony from the Commerce and Economic Development, Ways and Means, and Appropriations committees. The bill would support small businesses, repeal the VEGI sunset, create hospitality and culinary workforce initiatives, revise the Rural Industrial Development Grant Program, authorize cash rounding when pennies are unavailable, and establish a C-PACE financing program. Ways and Means offered nine amendments, including changes to VEGI limits, grant language, rounding notice provisions, and C-PACE timing and tax clarifications; the House adopted the amendments and proposed the bill back to the Senate as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our teachers know how to teach reading. Now we've given them the 'what' to teach reading with.
• So that's a little nighttime reading.
• My final question is pretty all-encompassing.
• , science of reading training.
• In ELA and reading, they should have 90 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE READING OF THE CERTIFICATION MR.
• I MOVE THAT SCR 1466 RELATING TO THE JOINT SESSION BE TAKEN UP IN STANDARD AND READ THE FIRST TIME BY
• FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR A READING OF THE RESOLUTION MR.
• WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
• AND FINALLY, THE VERSE I WORK VERY HARD TO LIVE OUT IN MY DAILY LIFE EPHESIANS 4:29.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Secretary, please read the certification of election from the Secretary of State.
• The reading of the certification, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Secretary.
• The reading of the resolution, Mr. President. Are there any questions? Is there a debate?
• We all look forward to hearing your final State of the State address.
• And finally, most importantly, Missy, I can get through it. Hang on. I love you.

Summary: The Senate convened for opening day of the 2026 regular session with prayer, presentation of colors by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem by the FAMU Marching 100. The chamber then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Ralph E. Misullo, Jr. of District 11, and welcomed a number of special guests, including statewide elected officials, Supreme Court justices, and former Senate leaders and members. The Senate adopted SCR 1466, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session to receive a message from the Governor, and waived rules to immediately transmit the resolution to the House. The Rules Chair also moved that the Secretary notify the House and Governor that the Senate was convened and ready to begin the 2026 regular session. No substantive legislation was debated; the session was largely ceremonial and organizational. In remarks, the Senate President reflected on the role of the Senate, the need for balance, deliberation, and checks and balances, and highlighted priorities such as rural Florida, citrus recovery, farmers feeding Florida, rural health care, affordability, low taxes, property tax relief, and fiscal restraint. He also emphasized faith, service, and cooperation. At the end of the session, Senator Gates announced that 52 executive appointments would be considered the next day, and the Senate adjourned until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with committee meetings and other business to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say, when I read the article, I saw it.
• I want to read.
• I'm going to read verbatim what our policy says based on that act.
• I'm going to read verbatim what our policy says based on that act.
• The final stroke on that, The final stroke on that case was that the department, we asked for a psych

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098.
• Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098.
• Read the bills for the third time.
• Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 69. Senate Bill 69. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 69.
• Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 74. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 74.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, and approved leave requests and the previous day’s journal. The chamber received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session measures that had been signed into law, and members recognized a number of guests, including law enforcement officers, medical staff, and several championship athletic teams and Special Olympics participant Justin Tate. Representative Dolly Henley also made a personal explanation regarding her request to vote no on House Bill 1098, apologizing for any confusion. On the red and yellow calendars, the House passed Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, by a large margin and then considered a series of appropriation and reappropriation bills in batches. Amendment 1 to House Bill 1034, concerning the Treasury Office of State Appropriation and a 10% salary increase for the Secretary of State, was rejected. Several bills passed, including House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bills 2, 14, 26, 68, 69, 72, and 74, along with multiple batched general appropriation and reappropriation measures. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed on final passage. Members also discussed the scope of certain appropriations, including questions about whether funds allowed disproportionate staff raises and whether a workforce-services reappropriation would centralize services in Little Rock; the sponsor said the bills did not do those things. After completing the calendar, Representative Meeks moved to adjourn until 3:00 p.m. Monday, and the motion carried. The House announced that House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment on Monday and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1020. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1020.
• Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1023. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1020.
• Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1098.
• Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 69. Senate Bill 69. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 69.
• Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 74. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 74.

Summary: The House convened with a prayer and pledge, established a quorum, approved leave requests, dispensed with the prior journal, and received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session bills that had been signed into law. The chamber also adopted a consent calendar of resolutions and recognized multiple guests, including law enforcement officers, a doctor and nurse, a House staff member celebrating her 80th birthday, and several student athletic teams and Special Olympics participants. During the floor session, members heard a personal privilege statement from Representative Dolly Henley apologizing for any confusion about her request to vote no on House Bill 1098. The House then took up appropriations and related budget measures. Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation, passed 90-1 with the emergency clause. An amendment to House Bill 1034 concerning the Secretary of State’s appropriation was rejected. The House passed a batch of general appropriation bills, then separately passed House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 26, Senate Bill 68, Senate Bill 69, and Senate Bill 72. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. Several bills were pulled from batches for separate votes at members’ requests, and the chamber repeatedly noted that some measures contained no appropriation increase while others reflected pay-plan, security, performance-fund, or capital-project adjustments. Senate Bill 69 was described as a supplemental for a University of Arkansas food science building without drawing on general revenue. Most measures passed with strong margins, though House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 3 p.m. Monday, and committee announcements noted House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• of<00:06:40.800> the objection, further reading of the objection, further reading of the journal
• reading of House Files 3669 through 3748. >> First reading.
• Dickens A Tale of Two probably read Dickens A Tale of Two Cities.
• I won't read the names, but due to time.
• acknowledgement<01:08:18.799> that finally heard an acknowledgement that finally heard an

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will read the amendment. Mr.
• Clerk will read the report.
• Third reading of the bill.
• Third reading of the bill. Third reading of the bill.
• Clerk, will you read the order?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several Senate and House bills, mostly under suspension of the rules, and advanced a number of measures to third reading or engrossment. Early in the session, the House dealt with a Senate bill on student learning and mental health by insisting on its position and appointing a committee of conference. It also referred a Senate petition on alleviating poverty to the Committee on Children and Families after the House declined to concur with a Judiciary referral. The chamber then considered and advanced multiple Ways and Means bills, including legislation on police interactions with people with autism spectrum disorder, honoring Blue Star families, land conveyance in Bolton, newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus, affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton, increasing access to epinephrine, and civil rights and technology. Several bills drew extended floor debate. Supporters of the epinephrine bill emphasized its life-saving purpose and described the death of Michael Brown as a catalyst for the measure; the House adopted the bill after a roll call vote of 149-0. The newborn CMV screening bill also prompted substantial testimony in favor from public health advocates and parents, who argued that universal screening would enable earlier treatment and reduce long-term harm; an amendment to add other rare diseases was withdrawn, and a later amendment creating a broad opt-out was defeated 1-153 before the bill passed 154-1. The civil rights and technology bill focused on banning weaponized drones and robotic devices, restricting misuse, and preserving law enforcement and civil liberties; it passed 154-1. The Blue Star families bill, creating commemorative plates for families of fallen law enforcement officers, passed 156-0 after emotional remarks from members and supporters. The House also passed without recorded opposition a bill facilitating better interactions between police and people with autism, and it approved a Bolton land conveyance bill and the Brighton affordable housing/cultural space bill. The chamber observed moments of silence for former Congressman Barney Frank and State Trooper Kevin Traynor, welcomed several guest groups, and concluded by adopting an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Being a public policy wonk, you know, I read those things pretty closely.
• The words that you read are not the words that I wrote.
• The only chapter that I've read carefully is the education chapter.
• If they were not aware, then perhaps they were not reading any local news.
• Of those years, the final 27 were with one firm, Franklin Templeton Investment.

Summary: The committee first took up a confirmation for UCF trustee reappointment candidate Mr. Christie, who described his long service on the board, his UCF business-school background, and his focus on strengthening UCF’s financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology programs. Members praised his service and asked about UCF’s future direction, including its role in Florida’s space and engineering sectors. He was allowed to leave early for a meeting with the governor. The committee then heard the Higher Education Appropriations budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26. The chair outlined a proposed $11.5 billion higher education budget emphasizing workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education, the GATE program, nursing education through the Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS agriculture technology, tutoring, autism and neurodevelopment services, student financial aid, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and the chair said a conforming bill would address details. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical corrections and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for university boards, especially the University of West Florida, where several nominees were questioned about Title IX compliance, free speech, workforce readiness, military/veteran ties, and prior statements about privatization and higher education. Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, and Adam Kessel each described their backgrounds and goals for UWF; Kessel faced extensive questioning about his past writings on privatization, the GI Bill, and speech suppression, and said he would not recommend privatizing Florida universities and supported veterans’ education benefits. Public testimony on UWF was largely opposed, with speakers arguing the nominees lacked local ties and warning the slate would harm the university and community. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment nominee Judge Belvin Perry, who emphasized student success, workforce quality, and FAMU’s continued rise, and from UCF nominee Mark Philburn and FSU nominee Peter Jones, both of whom highlighted their professional experience and commitment to student success and prudent stewardship. The meeting extended its time to 6:30 p.m. to continue hearing nominees and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:07.279> The interesting read. Um, let's see. The interesting read. Um, let's see.
• > your you read that on your you read that on your own.<00:30:10.559> And<00:30:10.799>
• And then finally, um, most recently own.
• We to a law firm and read the report.
• You did you read the letter question.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all