Transcript Highlights:

• In the last study alone, and it will be last year and a half, but stories were collected thanks to over
• It's very important to separate those two, and HASAMI really looks at the evidence-based practice of
• DHS grant, it's very well managed; they conduct great site visits and provide reports about the evidence
• also hosted memory screening training for referrals for its network of 400 nurse educators who collectively
• We have evidence that the Safe Harbor no wrong door response works. This is a good investment.

Bills: HF2115 , HF2276 , HF1644 , HF99 , HF2068 , HF2707 , HF2704 , HF2406 , HF1674 , HF1579

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• Canada's low contributions... ...are not as helpful to the collective defense, the NATO's collective
• Part of that would include human intelligence that's collected by law enforcement authorities and intelligence
• Chairman, do you have any evidence that this individual gave aid and support because there's been no
• evidence provided by the administration?
• not think we should accuse somebody who opposed the war or opposed circumstances unless you have evidence

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: U.S. foreign policy, Mexico relations, Japan relations, border security, trade agreements, drug trafficking, ambassadorial nominations, intergovernmental communication

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on critical discussions concerning U.S. foreign policy, particularly relationships with Mexico and Japan. Notable attention was given to border security, trade agreements, and implications of drug trafficking. Ambassadorial nominees discussed their strategies to strengthen ties with these nations, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in addressing mutual challenges, particularly concerning security and trade. The committee engaged in extensive dialogue, highlighting the urgency of improving intergovernmental communications to deter drug trafficking and support democratic governance.

Transcript Highlights:

• training and building stronger cases through trainings such as... ...training such as interrogation and evidence
• collection.
• The answer is evidently, it is... our numbers...
• The answer is evidently, our numbers are looking better. I'll go into some of those.
• Collectively we've got the right... Collectively we've got the right strategy.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the third step, information is collected for each housing unit and occupants matched to the 2020
• Looking at, on the y-axis, self-response and non-response, different modalities of collecting the data
• Looking at, on the y-axis, self-response and non-response, different modalities of collecting the data
• I'm not sure, only because I've heard—I mean, I don't have hard evidence on this—but there seems to be
• That collection of data, and then right there will be a product in 2030 which will hopefully be better

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we already have evidence here in California that legal aid works to prevent homelessness.
• Through our shelter partnership, we helped her appeal and present updated evidence.
• And you can call them data collection systems.
• County based on the data we've collected exist in Hollywood and Pasadena.
• I mean, the first question, I don't have detail on how the steps are for data collection.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:28:43.679><c> SSI</c> um 65 kids who we are collecting SSI um 65 kids who we are collecting SSI
• </c><01:57:35.040><c> of</c> eligible because of the collection of eligible because of the collection
• </c> when they are collecting the FFI. when they are collecting the FFI. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c><02:20:08.399><c> for</c> um benefits which they can collect for um benefits which they can collect
• </c> how they need to provide that evidence. how they need to provide that evidence.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session opened with routine announcements, including new and absent members, a tribute to former chair Rep. Jess Edwards, and an explanation that Division 3 is advisory and will make recommendations to full Finance. Chair Mooney also distributed a self-created index to the budget binder and reviewed the committee’s options under House Rule 45. Members discussed scheduling a future visit to the Veterans Home in Tilton, with several October dates unavailable, and the chair said she would circulate possible dates. The committee also reviewed the second-year budget context and sources of funding, including surplus monies, existing and new revenue streams, grants, reappropriations, and the rainy day fund. The committee then took up several retained bills and repeatedly heard that their substance had already been addressed in the budget. House Bill 519, funding the Waypoint Youth and Young Adult Shelter, was moved ITL and passed 10-0. House Bill 547, county reimbursement funds, was also moved ITL and passed 10-0 after members noted the reimbursement had been included in HB 2. House Bill 570, repealing the prescription drug affordability board, was moved ITL and passed 10-0, with minority members saying they still believed the board had value but acknowledging the repeal had already occurred in HB 2. House Bill 704, concerning caregiver respite and senior volunteer programs, received the most discussion. Mr. Ripple explained that most items were already funded or suspended in the budget, leaving only the senior volunteer grant program unfunded. Chair Mooney offered amendment 2963H to fund the RSVP program at $180,000 for one year, contingent on surplus funds, and DHHS witnesses explained that RSVP is a federally funded AmeriCorps program that would be added to existing state licensing structures. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill was reported ought to pass as amended on a 10-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 751, which would require licensure of outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities and create an ombudsman-related complaint process. DHHS witnesses said the bill had been narrowed substantially from an earlier certification model with multiple positions and IT costs to a licensing model using existing department infrastructure, reducing the fiscal note to $211,000 for one position. They also said the ombudsman section was no longer needed because licensed facilities would fall under existing oversight. Members questioned how many facilities exist and whether licensing fees would cover costs; DHHS said it did not know the full provider landscape and that licensing revenue across the board does not cover the department’s costs. Rep. Daniels then proposed amendment 2964H to form a study committee because of the remaining questions and lack of a clear revenue stream, and the committee was still discussing that amendment when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on evidence, safety, and humanity. on evidence, safety, and humanity.
• They are brought in; we collect, you know, their concerns.
• Can it collect donations?
• I don't know what the classification of data would be on that. collect, uh, donations collect, uh, donations
• Scientific evidence for their worldwide.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the corroborating evidence, the only corroborating evidence that may be available is video footage
• need to have that evidence when they make the complaint.
• Thank you, as a former prosecutor, the bulk of evidence posed... Thank you.
• The survivor in that case would have had none of that evidence.
• Senate Bill 1326 is concerning as well, because it's not evidence, Thank you.

Bills: S0600 , S0760 , S1012 , S1326 , S1488 , S1536 , S1544 , S1750

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: bail bonds, pretrial release, forfeiture, criminal justice, Florida statutes, bond conditions, surety, violations of release conditions, violent crimes, victim safety, public safety, warrantless arrest, probable cause, pretrial detention, first appearance hearing, law enforcement immunity, domestic violence, stalking, battery, aggravated assault

Summary: The committee took up several criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 760 on violations of pretrial release conditions. A strike-all amendment narrowed the bill to make willful violation of a no-contact order a first-degree misdemeanor, authorize warrantless arrest on probable cause, and require detention until first appearance in certain cases. The amendment and the bill, as amended, were both adopted and reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1536 on digital voyeurism, which would extend the expectation of privacy to backyards in the surveillance statute; it was reported favorably after brief questions and support from a Florida Smart Justice Alliance witness. Members next considered SB 1012 on inmate services. The bill would expand use of contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust funds for reintegration and facility upgrades, and would require reimbursement for inmate emergency and specialty medical services at Medicaid rates, with telehealth and autonomous APRNs included as options. Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida opposed the bill as written, warning that tying Medicaid participation to treatment of inmates could reduce reimbursement and discourage provider participation, while the Department of Corrections and Florida Smart Justice Alliance supported it. Senators discussed costs, aging inmates, and possible future changes, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed CS for SB 600 on bail bond and pretrial release laws after adopting a strike-all that aligned it with the House companion and made technical changes to solicitation, training, and bond reinstatement rules. Public testimony raised concerns about who should receive returned bond money and how clerks would process payments, but the sponsor said the bill would continue to be refined. Later, the committee reconsidered and favorably reported SB 1750 on criminal sexual conduct, which increases penalties and mandatory minimums for serious sex crimes, especially those involving children. It also reconsidered and favorably reported SB 1544 on complaints against law enforcement and correctional officers, a bill requiring complainants to provide sworn complaints to officers before interrogation unless corroborating evidence is present; police chiefs and sexual violence advocates opposed parts of the bill, while supporters argued it would protect officers from unfounded complaints. Finally, SB 1488 on booking officer duties regarding minor children of arrested persons was reported favorably, and SB 1326 on prosecution of defamation was taken up for reconsideration with a delete-all amendment that narrowed the insanity defense, limited mitigation for severe mental illness in serious cases, and extended detention periods for incompetent defendants; opposition testimony from defense, public defender, and mental health advocates warned it would worsen treatment and increase costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the corroborating evidence, the only corroborating evidence that may be available is video footage
• need to have that evidence when they make the complaint.
• Very often, the corroborating evidence comes from the actual law enforcement agency themselves.
• The survivor in that case would have had none of that evidence.
• Senate Bill 1326 is concerning as well, because it's not evidence, Thank you.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers are making grocery deliveries, collecting items for families.
• Teachers are making grocery deliveries collecting items for families members.
• In the states that have this in place, research and evidence shows...
• There is evidence. I know some folks didn't like that. We cite evidence. But guess what?
• There is evidence. I know some folks didn't like that. We cite evidence. But guess what?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The intent of this legislation is to make sure that impact fees are collected.
• The city has to collect that fee, and that is what this legislation does.
• the impact fee rather than may collect the impact fee.
• And they're being asked to collect this fee on behalf of the county.
• This is as simple as collecting the fee or not collecting the fee.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This transformation is driven by the comprehensive, collective, and coordinated passion, wisdom, and
• of it and if we can get there's evidence of it and if we can get the<00:36:47.119><c> indust</c><00:
• What data is being collected at the state and county level?
• We believe the right data collection would drive significant improvement in services.
• One of the biggest things we've been able to do is streamline our data collection processes.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that means is that if the agricultural collective bargaining bill passes, this bill
• Similar to the agricultural collective bargaining bill, the Public Employment Relations Commission, or
• Provisions are also established for the types of evidence that can be submitted and other factors that
• Provisions are also established for the types of evidence that can be submitted and other factors that
• It highlights how essential an active and well-resourced NLRB is in protecting collective bargaining.

Bills: HB2405 , HB2406 , HB2471 , HB2478 , HB2492

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations, employee rights, union representation, non-covered employees, wage enforcement, labor standards

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:13.480><c> of</c> also does not reduce the collection of also does not reduce the collection
• </c><00:48:13.079><c> on</c> the maybe problems with collecting on the maybe problems with collecting
• We would collect revenue that we're not currently collecting, whereas the $20 may not have actually collected
• Revenue that we're not currently collect Revenue that we're not currently collecting<02:52:26.040><c
• whereas the $20 may not have collecting whereas the $20 may not have actually<02:52:28.479><c> collected

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism and Water and Land was held on March 20, 2025, on SB 1396 SD3 HD1, which would raise transient accommodations tax revenues beginning in 2027, impose a $20 per-night tax on stays booked through loyalty or rewards points, and dedicate funds to DLNR for natural resource protection, management, and restoration. The Office of the Governor, DLNR, DBEDT, the Hawaii State Energy Office, Tax Department, Hawaiian Home Lands, HI-EMA, the Climate Advisory Team, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HCDA, the Hawaii Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resource Legacy Fund, KUA, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority all testified in support or with comments, generally emphasizing the need for dedicated funding for environmental stewardship, resilience, wildfire and climate preparedness, and community-based projects. Several supporters cited polling showing broad visitor willingness to pay additional fees to protect Hawaiʻi’s resources, and DLNR and the Attorney General noted the bill aligns with broader state land-management and fire-safety priorities. Opposition came from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which argued the bill unnecessarily raises the TAT, places more burden on visitors and visitor-dependent businesses, and could harm Maui’s still-recovering economy. The Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi initially marked opposition but then said it had misunderstood the bill’s relationship to another measure and asked to resend testimony. Expedia Group did not oppose the TAT increase itself but raised operational concerns about the new tax on loyalty-point redemptions, calling it novel and difficult to administer. The American Hotel Lodging Association and Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance were listed as having no comments present. Testifiers also suggested amendments, including dedicating the revenues to a special fund, ensuring community grants, and clarifying administrative provisions. One testifier urged the bill be used to fund hurricane shelters and stronger building standards, while another emphasized that the measure should support people and disaster resilience as well as environmental protection. During questions, members asked for the polling methodology and for a breakdown of current TAT allocations; staff indicated they could share the survey memo and began identifying existing statutory remittances. No vote or final committee action was taken during the excerpted portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill strengthens Florida's child welfare laws by clarifying that evidence of acute or chronic parental
• just tell you that expanding the definition... ...expanding the definition from exposure and from evidence
• But unfortunately, despite this evidence, the child was allowed to return home with her parents.
• The course must cover, but is not limited to, evidence-based treatment protocols for patients of all
• The course must cover, but is not limited to, evidence-based treatment protocols for patients of all

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This creates an all-or-nothing framework for juries, even when the evidence supports a more proportionate
• Geiger held that when supported by the evidence, lesser related offense instructions could be given to
• the state that would allow that to happen, but allowing further judicial discretion, even if the evidence
• So not only the information they collect directly from you, which just might be very basic, your email
• SB 1098 restricts investor-owned utilities from collecting unlimited amounts of ratepayer money through

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not the envelope, they collect my signature.
• The evidence of that is overwhelming.
• I present evidence of weaknesses in our election system.
• I present evidence of weaknesses in our election system.
• is that on page 35 of the Transparency Foundation report, there is evidence of voter fraud.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Collectively, the Delta economy makes up nearly $7 billion annually and is home to 4 million residents
• We're collectively experiencing change that parallels prior industrial revolutions in scale, with all
• And there's not much that we can do collectively as a legislature to drop prices immediately.
• And there's not much that we can do to collectively as a legislature to drop prices immediately.
• I'm here today to present SB 1039, which establishes a clear evidence... Thank you.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• makes it so that military protective orders are admissible in our proceedings toward getting, as evidence
• :58:15.720><c> towards</c><00:58:16.119><c> getting</c><00:58:16.480><c> as</c><00:58:16.680><c> evidence
• </c> proceedings towards getting as evidence proceedings towards getting as evidence towards<00:58:17.720
• is accurate, and he found it difficult to justify needing basically an entire legal office just to collect
• the</c><01:06:27.119><c> documents</c><01:06:27.520><c> of</c><01:06:27.680><c> what</c> just to collect

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our collective efforts have brought us something invaluable: time.
• I think we follow the evidence, and as soon as we can get there, we get there.
• I think we follow the evidence, and as soon as we can get there, we get there.
• So we're able to get there to collect the sample.
• And we have no evidence that the flies are in over there, I mean, in general.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: 1184, house, all