Transcript Highlights:

• and follow-on training.
• , this is not initial pilot training.
• Also, for the simulator training devices, these are absolutely—” “Sensitive to these.
• , I tend to think that they're going to invest in a road over lifeguard training.
• And what if there had been some TDT dollars available to invest in training of that lifeguard?

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 16, 2025, with one agenda item: PCB WMC-2502, the committee’s tax package. Chair Duggan presented the bill as a broad tax measure covering sales tax, tourist development taxes, ad valorem/VAB procedures, affordable housing property tax changes, tangible personal property, special assessments, fuel taxes, communication services taxes, corporate income tax updates, pari-mutuel/card room taxes, local incentives, and a redistribution of horse industry trust fund money. He also noted emergency rulemaking authority for the Department of Revenue and estimated a recurring state impact of $34.6 million in FY 2025-26. Members questioned several provisions, including the aviation fuel tax repeal, the delay of the natural gas fuel tax, the extension of the local communication services tax freeze, the charitable trust corporate income tax clarification, the reduction in card room taxes, and the affordable housing changes tied to the Live Local Act. Public testimony included support from airlines, UPS, child care management, and others, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association opposed the lifeguard/TDT change, the Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities opposed the missing-middle exemption changes, and local government representatives raised concerns about revenue impacts and the loss of local opt-out authority. The committee also adopted Amendment 1 by Representative Rizzo, which limits certain special assessments on RV parks when based on square footage. During debate, members split on some provisions but generally supported the package, with comments focused on aviation competitiveness, preschool assessment relief, lifeguard funding, affordable housing, and the horse industry funding shift. Representative Duggan closed by emphasizing that the bill was only the beginning of the process and would continue through conference and floor consideration. The committee then voted 16-1 to report PCB WMC-2502 favorably, with Representative Alvarez voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM OF THE FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS TO SPECIFICALLY DELIVER TEACHER TRAINING
• THEY ARE AGAIN TRAINING OUR LITERACY COACHES THAT ARE IN THOSE SCHOOLS THEY ARE AGAIN TRAINING OUR LITERACY
• TO HELP AS PEOPLE COME ON BOARD TO ACCLIMATE THEM AND FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THE AND TRAINING TO HELP
• THEY BRING RESOURCES FROM THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICTS AND THEY HAVE TRAININGS.
• FOR US TO GET OUR TEACHERS TRAINED UP AND PREPARED HIM TO CONTINUE THE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• manager, Patty McDonald, our training manager, Patty McDonald, our training manager,<00:01:17.200
• 31.760> the They're receiving training from the They're receiving training from the University
• <01:07:59.039> that assessment, that is the training that assessment, that is the training
• work is the training is the training work is the training is the training work working<01:08:55.520
• >> the training or the monitoring. >> the training or the monitoring.

Bills: SB1, SB4, SB6, SB9, SB16, SB17, SB20, SB22, SB28, SB29, SB36, SB41, SB45, SB77, SB85, SB87, SB96, SB98, SB110, SB126, SB139, SB143, SB164, SB167, SB171, SB186, SB188, SB195, SB197, SB198, SB204, SB205, SB206, SB207, SB209, SB210, SB211, SB217, SB219, SB220, SB225, SB231, SB237, SB238, SB241, SB244, SB246, SB247, SB272, SB294, SB315, SB346, SB364, SB366, SB367, SB386, SB392, SB403, SB415, SB427, SB431, SB437, SB457, SB459, SB469, SB471, SB478, SB484, SB489, SB502, SB503, SB507, SB508, SB510, SB516, SB517, SB518, SB519, SB521, SB535, SB543, SB550, SB564, SB568, SB570, SB575, SB577, SB578, SB590, SB607, SB616, SB621, SB634, SB644, SB647, SB649, SB652, SB655, SB656, SB663

Keywords: agricultural lands, foreign ownership, state agriculture policy, real estate regulation, land conservation, SB4, Royal Mausoleum, Mauna Ala, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, stewardship, Hawaiian affairs, cemetery, burial site, ancestral remains, cultural preservation, state land management, agency transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount of training and the breadth of training that doctoral-level psychologists receive is so much
• > training<00:21:06.240> that<00:21:06.760> that bre breadth of training that that
• there's a there's additional uh training there's a there's additional uh training beyond<00:21:16.559
• <00:39:23.560> of it is um sorry I just lost my train of it is um sorry I just lost my train
• having to repeat training.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• all staff and likely wouldn't need that same level of training in the second year of implementation.
• However, ongoing funding is needed to support annual staff training.
• However, ongoing funding is needed to support annual staff training.
• Lastly, we have However, ongoing funding is needed to support annual staff training.
• Without it, I wouldn't have been able to commit to the training.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to ask a question about your training.
• Is there anything in that training? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.
• I'd like to ask a question about your training.
• Is that part of that training already or not? Well, yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Is there anything in that training? Yeah, thank you for mentioning that.

Summary: The committee approved the February 12 minutes and received updates on delinquent municipal water and sewer reports for 2022 and 2023, noting continued progress toward compliance and reinstatement of turnback funds for several cities. It also deferred several matters to the June 4 meeting, including Fargo’s municipal accounting noncompliance report, Jericho’s street-fund misuse issue, Biggers and Holly Grove deferred reports, and a group of private water and sewer reports lacking proper responses. Members then heard and filed a detailed report on the City of Strong, which involved repeat findings on undeposited receipts, improper use of solid waste funds, unsupported spending, late payroll tax payments, accounting control problems, and fund balance issues. Mayor Darrell Howell described corrective steps, including new internal controls, outside CPA assistance, repayment of misapplied funds, budget amendments, and efforts to address the findings; the committee commended the city’s efforts and filed the report. The committee also filed reports on Thornton Waterworks, Calhoun County, Salem, Briarcliffe, Compton Water Association, Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority, Camden, Johnson County, and Sparkman, while deferring several private water reports and other unresolved items. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District and other regional solid waste districts. The audit found issues in Pulaski County involving unapproved payroll items, missing credit card documentation, unapproved contracts, vehicle and cell phone documentation problems, lack of competitive bidding, and weak internal controls; members questioned the district’s practices and deferred the report to June while requesting district representatives appear. The committee also reviewed a statewide report on six regional solid waste management districts, with findings in Pulaski, Faulkner, and Benton counties and no findings in three others; that report was likewise deferred for Pulaski County questions. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion with Cross County Rural Water System about overdue audit posting, water quality problems, grant-funded improvements, board notice practices, and the broader challenges facing rural water systems, after which the committee filed the report and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Firearms training, more vetting, than a concealed carry permit holder does, in all honesty. Mr.
• Today's law enforcement officers are some of the best trained officers across the nation.
• Let's talk about some of the training officers conduct on a regular basis.
• within our agency, but just as important, we go through training in defensive tactics.”
• Mick McHale continued: “Our defensive tactic training incorporates retention of our firearms.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of bills on inmate medical billing, court-order transmission, animal abandonment during disasters, first responder peer support, firearm purchase waiting periods, capital felony aggravators, domestic violence protections, boating safety, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, xylazine trafficking, and offenses against law enforcement officers. Testimony was generally supportive across the agenda, with some opposition or caution raised on the xylazine bill, the boating safety bill, and parts of the law-enforcement-officer bill. Several measures were presented as responses to specific tragedies, including the Martin County jail medical billing bill, the Baker Act transmission bill, Trooper’s Law for restrained dogs, the Jason Rayner Act, and Lucy’s Law. HB 407 would cap certain emergency medical charges for Martin County jail inmates at 110% of Medicare rates, mirroring Department of Corrections practice; it passed 15-0. HB 513 would require faster electronic transmission of certain court orders, including Baker Act orders, to law enforcement within six hours; it passed 15-0. HB 205, Trooper’s Law, creates a third-degree felony for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster; it passed 15-0. HB 421, as amended, expands peer support for first responders to certain support personnel involved in crime scene work or evidence handling; it passed 16-0. PCS for HB 383 would let law enforcement, correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and active military service members bypass the three-day handgun waiting period without a concealed carry permit; it passed 18-0. HB 693 adds an aggravating factor in capital cases when the victim was gathered with others for a school, religious, or public government meeting; it passed 17-1 after opposition testimony from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. PCS for HB 19 and HB 41, the Haven Act, would expand domestic and dating violence protections, including a feasibility study for a web-based 911 alert system and confidentiality/public-records protections for victims; both passed 18-0. PCS for HB 289, Lucy’s Law, would align boating penalties with driving offenses and expand boating safety card requirements; it passed 18-0 despite concerns from one witness that the bill should go further. HB 479 would allow courts to order restitution in leaving-the-scene property-damage cases; an amendment changing mandatory to discretionary restitution was adopted, and the bill passed 18-0. PCS for HB 57 would regulate xylazine, add trafficking penalties, and include veterinary-use exceptions; it passed 17-0 after one witness opposed mandatory minimums. HB 175, the Jason Rayner Act, clarifies that officers are protected when acting within the scope of their duties and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring life imprisonment; it passed 17-0 after debate over self-defense and unlawful police conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's while they're still in in training.
• <00:09:36.320> of primary location for the training of primary location for the training of
• at Lakes Region and she often trains at Lakes Region and she often trains some<00:15:58.959>
• ethics training for each renewal period. ethics training for each renewal period.
• CPAs with training and other educational endeavors.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what I call CIT or the coaching training what I call CIT or the coaching training which<00:47:13.880
• the education uh and the uh job training the education uh and the uh job training uh<01:02:41.520
• We provide our men with 12 trainings and certifications, on-the-job training, along with job placement
• <01:30:06.199> and provide our men with 12 trainings and provide our men with 12 trainings
• <01:39:59.040> and Enterprise as a model for training and Enterprise as a model for training

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The EOC itself is just to respond to disasters, whereas Española's training is for training firefighters
• And is it a training center? Yes, Madam Chair.
• Madam Chair, Senator Wilson, yes, it will be a training center.
• We intend to do trainings throughout the region for FEMA trainings, for EEOC trainings, for them to bring
• So are you suggesting training is not taking place, or it's just inadequate?

Bills: SB20, SB111, SB211, SB218, SB14

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• allows experienced, fully trained allows experienced, fully trained troopers<00:15:04.079> to
• And so the training is there.
• There might be additional training that State Police require, first aid or, you know, driving safety
• And so the training is law enforcement.
• Um, but their training is the best of the best.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met for its second meeting of the 2026 session and considered two bills. After opening formalities, roll call, prayer, and the pledge, the committee heard Senate Bill 84, which would provide five additional emergency response trailers for county coroners, one for each of the state’s 10 districts. The sponsor and coroners testified that the trailers would improve response times and equipment availability during natural disasters and mass fatality incidents, citing recent floods, tornadoes, snow and ice events, and the need for standby power and other equipment. Members praised the coroners’ work, discussed funding concerns, and noted the bill’s relatively small cost and one-time funding structure tied to FEMA reimbursement for replacement equipment. The committee then considered Senate Bill 102, which would adjust the Kentucky State Police Trooper R program by resetting the five-year eligibility window from a trooper’s last day of service rather than the original retirement date. The sponsor and supporters said the change would help retain experienced retired troopers to fill staffing gaps without creating new retirement obligations or lowering standards. Members asked about ongoing certification and retirement-system impacts; testimony indicated Trooper R officers must maintain required law-enforcement certification, but no additional retirement contributions are made for them. Some members raised concerns about pension-system effects and compared the issue to shortages in other law-enforcement fields, while others strongly supported the bill as a practical staffing tool. Both bills received favorable committee action. Senate Bill 84 was approved by roll call and passed with favorable expression, and Senate Bill 102 likewise passed with favorable expression after a roll-call vote, with members generally expressing support for the underlying public-safety goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ecology also provides training and technical assistance for interpreting the SEPA rules.
• They've used it for transitioning, staff training, some new software testing, and other things like that
• Local governments are now in the process of training their staff and also their permit counter staff,
• One is I agree with you about the staff training, although what we're hearing from our cities is that
• So I'm not sure that the staff is there to train because they are, you know, keeping the most essential

Summary: The Local Government Committee met in work session and heard a series of presentations on SEPA, permitting reforms, and building code implementation. Department of Ecology staff gave an overview of the State Environmental Policy Act, explaining its role in state and local decision-making, common exemptions, planned actions, and recent housing-related statutory changes such as transit-oriented development exemptions and SEPA appeals protections for certain local ordinances. Committee members asked about repeated SEPA reviews, cultural and historic resource review, and how SEPA relates to NEPA; Ecology responded that repeated reviews usually occur when proposals change and that programmatic EISs can help front-load analysis. Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections described how recent SEPA exemptions reduced residential review volume and supported more housing permits, and said the city is considering raising thresholds further. The State Building Code Council provided an update on code adoption timelines and legislative tasks tied to the 2024 codes, including single-stair housing, multiplex housing, dwelling unit size, and temporary emergency shelter standards. Council staff said the content of the codes is largely set, but administrative timelines have been delayed, prompting a motion to postpone final adoption while pursuing ways to preserve the planned implementation schedule. Members asked about the timing of code changes and the impact on housing costs, and staff said the legislative topics remain on track for inclusion in the 2024 code package. Committee staff then reviewed recent permitting legislation, including SB 5290’s permit decision deadlines and fee-refund provisions, later bills limiting pre-application meetings and clarifying that building permits are excluded from those timelines, and project-specific changes affecting middle housing, ADUs, lot splits, passive house projects, self-certification, transit-oriented development, and parking requirements. Commerce’s Dave Anderson reported on SB 5290 implementation, including guidance on permit fees, studies on staffing and statewide permitting systems, grants to local governments, and the first annual performance report, which showed mixed results and highlighted the importance of digital tools, clear checklists, staff training, and coordination across departments. Local officials from Issaquah and Kitsap County described their own process improvements, including code updates, optional pre-application meetings, new staffing, reporting systems, and a phased “Two by Six” review model in Kitsap, while also noting challenges from staffing shortages, agency coordination, and the burden of implementing multiple new mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And by the way, too, on the job training, internships, apprenticeships also filter out that alignment
• So on the job training in all forms and fashion, I think it's always a good thing.
• The other challenge we have is who's going to train them.
• The other challenge we have is who's going to train them.
• I've spent last week alone, personally, myself, 20 hours doing finance training on projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• Be trained? Whether it's mechanics, pilots, do we have a data list of that? Mr.
• the state, which includes crash reconstruction and drug recognition training.
• There is a refresher course for already licensed instructors, as well as new instructor training.
• We also provide ongoing training as there's turnover in our officers. Let's see.
• So the approach was to train the trainers. The idea is we developed a presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, and that being said, is that, uh, those that are graduates of the game warden Training Center are
• to include sexual abuse training and reporting training for all of those staff.
• Every summer we begin with a um multi-day orientation training all of our staff.
• A camp should clearly be trained in these procedures.
• For our members is education and professional training to address crisis situations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've lived in Ocala from 60 years and train race horses for 7.47 of those years.
• They love to come see the horses train.
• I train the race horses and watch over the farm.
• Yes on. >> We're going to cut my hand and in half literally training 47 years.
• I've been training. 47, I just want to give the young people the chance for us.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• maintenance of the military and training maintenance of the military and training facilities<00:
• Veteran service officers and help train Veteran service officers and help train them<00:12:16.000
• <00:51:25.559> for and that would be to fund training for and that would be to fund training
• We take what's called accredited training.
• We take what's called accredited training.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Veterans and Military Affairs Division held its first meeting with a quorum present, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and reviewed decorum expectations and basic operating rules. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Aaron Repinski emphasized that the committee would operate as a nonpartisan body focused on veterans’ issues. No minutes were approved because it was the division’s first meeting. Nonpartisan House staff then gave an overview of the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including their missions, organizational structure, and budgets. The presentation highlighted the Minnesota National Guard, Camp Ripley, enlistment incentives, the Emergency Services Program, and the Veterans Affairs programs for veterans homes, cemeteries, benefits assistance, and state-funded benefits such as the State Soldiers Assistance Program, Minnesota GI Bill, and Post-9/11 bonus. Staff also noted housing and homelessness-related initiatives, several committee-supported outside programs, and the Support Our Troops license plate funding split between the two agencies. The committee then heard from Trent Dils of Disabled American Veterans Minnesota on behalf of the Commander's Task Force, a coalition of congressionally chartered veterans organizations. He described the group’s unanimous legislative process and urged continuation of a separate veterans omnibus bill, arguing it has helped keep veterans issues apart from broader partisan disputes. He also began outlining the task force’s 2025 priorities, including hunting, fishing, and trapping benefits for veterans, but the transcript cuts off before the full list or any committee action on those priorities is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:15.920> or principles are not um trained or principles are not um trained or equipped
• <00:42:31.920> for of free know your rights trainings for of free know your rights trainings
• once it's finalized, updating folks on training. >> I think the training would be basically a quick,
• <00:56:49.839> up updated guidance including training up updated guidance including training
• . training. training.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• These bills recognize the extensive training and work.
• These bills recognize the extensive training and work. Licensed practical nurses.
• at the Medical Education and Training Campus on Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
• I went through quite a bit of training to learn that craft.
• overseas and used that training.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its second public hearing of the 2025–26 session, with opening remarks from Chairs John Velis and Joe McGonagle outlining testimony on 20 House bills and 18 Senate bills. The hearing covered a wide range of veterans issues, including municipal veterans assistance funds, pension equity, expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate, veterans service officer staffing, disability benefits eligibility, service dogs, POW tax relief, courtesy parking spaces, women veterans and motherhood, and workforce-related licensing and employment measures. Chairs emphasized the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, and written testimony process. Several bills drew support focused on expanding services and access. Representative Arena-DeRosa spoke for bills to broaden municipal veterans assistance funds to cover housing and legal expenses and to study enhanced pension equity for veterans, citing burn pit exposure and shorter life expectancy among veterans. Senator Fattman, Representative Peas, and Veterans Advocate Bob Notch supported bills expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate to include active-duty service members and their families, arguing it would improve transition support, coordination with state agencies, and retention of military talent in Massachusetts. Representative Arriaga backed a bill to incentivize municipalities to provide full-time or regional veterans service officers and another to study the impact of combat on women veterans and motherhood. Representative Moulton/another sponsor also sought to exempt veterans’ disability payments from income calculations for other state benefits, and Representative Hong and Senator Scanlan supported a state service dog program, POW income tax relief, and courtesy retail parking spaces for veterans. Testimony also focused on workforce and claims-assistance issues. The Military Officers Association of America and James Keene urged passage of bills waiving duplicative education requirements so qualified veterans and military medics can become licensed practical nurses, arguing it would help address health care shortages and recognize military training. Brave Veterans Inc. called for a Veterans Research Trust Fund to protect data and program evaluation work during budget cuts. On claims assistance, one witness supported criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans for VA claims help, while a private consulting firm opposed the bill, arguing it would restrict lawful speech and veterans’ choice and that existing federal and HERO Act safeguards already address abuses. The VFW strongly opposed paid claims consulting, said its accredited service officers provide free help statewide, and urged more public awareness of existing free services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And really, the cost of practicing medicine starts with our training.
• So, my entire career has been training residents.
• I've been training residents in New Mexico since 2009.
• So, to train physicians, we think let's strengthen our training programs.
• It takes seven years, as we've heard to train a physician.

Keywords: 996, all