Transcript Highlights:

• We're working hard every day with eyes.
• And if they are to drive under current law, it is a misdemeanor for that. >> And this is, you know, driving
• to a doctor's appointment, drive into your job.
• They have worked hard to succeed.
• It would be hard to avoid the authorities before you enter.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hard reality is that very little of what we have.
• But the hard reality is that growth is incredibly expensive.
• That was hard to miss. I did.
• And it's hard to get your arms around it.
• It's hard to keep track of them.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They drive. So they're driving right through your district heading to our direction.
• They drive. So they're driving right through your district heading to our direction.
• And so we are working hard behind the scenes driving those initiatives for the community so we can push
• we are working hard behind the scenes<00:42:43.839> driving<00:42:44.720> uh<00:42:44.880
• time affording equipment and I had hard time affording equipment and I had a<00:54:32.240> hard

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:19 Signage Value & Tourism Growth Along the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Trail 00:03:12 Building a Stronger Community Through Sports 00:32:03, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard a presentation from Pike County/Pikeville tourism officials about improving signage for the Hatfield-McCoy historic sites. Bob Scott, Tony Tacket, and Jay Shepard said visitors increasingly come to the area but often cannot find the sites because cell service and GPS are unreliable in the mountains. They argued that clearer signage along routes 119, 319, and 1056 would help visitors navigate the historic loop, strengthen branding, and increase dwell time and local spending. The Pike County presenters emphasized the economic importance of tourism, citing growth in tourist spending from $72.93 million in 2017 to $103.2 million in 2023 and $114.6 million in 2024. They said tourism helps offset the decline of coal, supports local mom-and-pop businesses, and benefits from partnerships with nearby West Virginia sites such as Matewan and other Hatfield-McCoy-related locations. Members asked about cross-state promotion, lodging capacity, and the possibility of a dinner show in Kentucky; the presenters said lodging is up 33% but more is needed, a new Crown Plaza hotel is planned in Pikeville, and a dinner show would require local investment and community buy-in. Committee members from the region spoke in support of the tourism effort and the need to preserve and teach local history. The chair and others said signage would help visitors and noted that a business without signs is no business. The committee then moved on to a separate presentation from the Louisville Sports Commission, introduced by Senator Jason Howell, which began with an overview of the commission’s role in sports tourism and economic development in Louisville.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am held accountable to drive those core values.
• It's hard to manage something when you don't have the right reporting.
• We've worked really hard.
• lot to do an actual drive test and pre-trip inspection.
• , driving skills testing, and then come back to have their licenses issued.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is hard to administer. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Jeff.
• When a teensy driver, it's driving to pick somebody up driving negligently and to say they can hit somebody
• There's no lack of Uber or Lyft people driving.
• Don't get paid as much if they don't work as hard.
• They're on their phones while they're driving on the road.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have economies of scale to drive down those costs.
• enough volume that They can drive down costs.
• That also drive up the cost of health care.
• Their equity in the clinic is a really hard proposal.
• Drive home safely. Meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they fought against this bill so hard they fought against this bill so hard but<00:01:17.680>
• that are experiencing Financial Hard that are experiencing Financial Hard Times<00:15:46.279>
• And just as a reminder, we do have a hard stop today at 9:30 for House-mandated training.
• And just as a reminder, we do have a hard stop today at 9:30 for House-mandated training.
• And just as a reminder, we do have a hard stop today at 9:30 for House-mandated training.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 733, which would restore electronic pull-tab features such as open-all, free play, bonus games, and similar functions that were restricted in 2023. The bill’s supporters, including representatives of Allied Charities of Minnesota, the American Legion, and a Bloomington school activities foundation, argued that the 2023 changes reduced revenue for charitable gambling operations and, in turn, cut funding for veterans programs, youth sports, food shelves, school needs, and other local community services. Several supporters cited early revenue declines since the new rules took effect, including double-digit drops and one example of a Bloomington site reporting a 29% year-over-year decline overall and a 44% drop in e-tab revenue. They also argued that restoring the features would help charities without meaningfully increasing casino play. Opponents, including Citizens Against Gambling Expansion and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, said the bill would expand slot-machine-like gambling in neighborhood bars and restaurants and increase problem gambling and related social harms. They argued the features in question mimic slot machines, are especially concerning in non-age-restricted locations, and would amount to a major expansion of gambling. The tribal representative also said the 2023 clarification was appropriate, that charitable gambling revenues do not translate efficiently into mission funding, and that tax relief or other policy changes would be better ways to help charities than restoring the disputed features. The chair reminded testifiers to keep comments neutral and not partisan. After testimony, a member discussion began, with Representative Ray Rower thanking the testifiers and expressing support for their work. The transcript excerpt does not show a final vote or disposition beyond the bill being recommended to be re-referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• if you're driving a Prius versus<00:46:03.480> driving<00:46:04.480> uh<00:46:05.160>
• And then it just kind of also makes me think that we don't want to do hard things.
• And then it just kind of also makes me think that we don't want to do hard things.
• <01:43:14.239> the mitigation efforts that are driving the mitigation efforts that are driving
• trading that off of from uh driving trading that off of from uh driving somewhere<01:44:06.000><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Drunk driving already takes far too many lives in this state.
• without the device, driving drunk without the device.
• Some judges, when I was a judge, like, if I would not let people drive, so it would be you cannot drive
• Everyone knows the dangers of intoxicated driving.
• Thank you for your hard work this morning.

Bills: SB476, SB664, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1080, SB1171, SB1320, SB1437, SB1727, SB1809, SB2289, SB2320

Keywords: education, funding, school infrastructure, public schools, teacher support, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, ignition interlock devices, youth offenders, vehicular homicide, Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several criminal justice bills, with most of the discussion focused on oilfield theft, DWI enforcement, juvenile justice, reentry licensing, jail transparency, and court/judicial standards. SB 1320 would create a DPS oilfield theft unit headquartered in the Permian Basin; supporters from industry, law enforcement, and a district attorney described increasingly sophisticated, organized theft tied to cartels and multi-jurisdictional criminal networks, while DPS said it currently has only two officers working the issue. The committee voted SB 1320 out unanimously and placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 826, which would enhance DWI committed in a school zone to a state jail felony, also passed unanimously after brief explanation and no testimony. SB 1171, adding juvenile justice OIG peace officers to Schedule C salary, was reported favorably on a committee substitute, and SB 1080, which would allow incarcerated people to obtain occupational licenses effective upon release, also passed on a committee substitute after testimony from formerly incarcerated advocates and reentry supporters. The committee also considered several bills aimed at tougher DWI penalties. SB 476 would increase intoxication manslaughter penalties when the offender violates an ignition interlock restriction; the bill was supported by the author, victims’ family members, Galveston officials, and law enforcement, but opposed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued treatment and prevention would be more effective. After discussion about possible amendments, the bill was left pending. SB 745 would create a new first-degree felony option for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, and it was reported favorably after testimony from a prosecutor supporting the need for a stronger sentencing option. SB 2320 would broadly increase penalties for DWI offenses, including first-time DWI, DWI with an open container, high-BAC DWI, and repeat offenses; it was supported by a grieving family member and a sheriff, and the committee voted it out favorably. On juvenile justice, SB 1727 would expand tools to address assaults on staff at Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities by lowering the age for transfer to adult prison in some cases, allowing earlier transfer of determinate-sentence youth, and restricting release when a criminal case is pending. Juvenile probation officials supported the bill as a public safety and victim-rights measure, while the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed it, arguing it would send children to inappropriate adult facilities and conflict with juvenile justice principles; the bill was left pending. SB 1437 would expand the juvenile justice do-not-hire registry to include non-certified positions, and it passed unanimously after supporters said it would help close loopholes that allow predators to move between child-serving jobs. SB 2289, requiring counties that house inmates out of state to report that information and any deaths to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, also passed unanimously. Finally, SB 989, requiring criminal background checks for court personnel who determine bail, and SB 664, establishing statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and associate judges, were explained and discussed as transparency and public-safety measures, with SB 989 reported favorably and SB 664 under committee consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is distracted driving.
• while driving.
• driving.
• I try really, really hard.
• I try really, really hard.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to review its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal and several bills. The chair outlined a roughly $18 billion budget area, including major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, library/cultural/historical initiatives, affordable housing, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee next heard and approved CS/SB 666, creating a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting scholarships, academic, athletic, and arts programs at Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Members praised the school’s academic and athletic achievements, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition. The committee also heard extensive testimony on CS/SB 1318, which would rename Florida’s texting-while-driving law as the hands-free driving law and expand the prohibition to handheld use of wireless devices, including in work zones. Supporters, including law enforcement, health care, bicycling, and crash victims’ advocates, argued it would save lives and make enforcement clearer; some senators supported the goal but raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways in Hillsborough and Charlotte counties for Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen and Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, creating the International Aerospace Innovation Fund to be administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills were reported favorably with little debate. Senators also requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, our committee staff has been working really hard over the last couple weeks to put together
• You are going to be less likely to come back to the hospital and drive costs up.
• that you talked about, drive down cost of care.
• So it has been in place for about two years, and it has helped us drive...
• Reb, it's a little hard to hear you on the mic.

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion focused on how Florida health care organizations are working to improve access, quality, and affordability. Panelists from Florida Community Care/Independent Living Systems, Sunshine Health, AdventHealth, UF Health, and Nemours described their approaches, including Medicaid managed care, value-based contracting, community partnerships, mobile screening units, smart-room technology, telehealth, and specialized programs for maternal health, children, and complex chronic conditions. Several speakers emphasized that managed care and coordinated care can improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization and costs. Members asked about the impact of Medicare’s V28 changes, mobile cancer screening, urgent care versus emergency room billing, pediatric specialty access, complaint resolution, Black maternal mortality, provider shortages, network adequacy, and the use of AI in prior authorization. Witnesses said V28 has affected providers and revenue, UF Health’s mobile screening program is expanding beyond a few cancer types, and its urgent care model bills patients at the appropriate level rather than both urgent care and ER rates. Nemours said it reduced specialty wait times through scheduling changes, telemedicine, and registry tools, while AdventHealth described postpartum coordination and maternal heart programs to reduce maternal complications and mortality. On complaints and access problems, panelists said their organizations use patient/member advocates, care managers, call centers, and escalation processes to resolve issues, and Sunshine Health specifically discussed a transportation complaint that was addressed with its vendor and the family. Sunshine Health also said it is not using AI for prior authorization, though it is exploring responsible uses elsewhere, and Florida Community Care said it is not using AI in utilization management. In closing, panelists identified workforce shortages, provider burnout, and high-cost drugs as the biggest ongoing challenges. The meeting ended with thanks to the panel and adjournment after Representative Brackett moved to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Driving under the influence, as we all know, is a terrible offense.
• This was something that I worked on very hard in the fire department.
• Driving under the influence. To speak quickly to a couple of those, just to give this some context.
• Driving while impaired is not a mistake. It is a conscious decision that endangers lives.
• And yet we also know drunk driving can also be a choice.

Bills: SB60, SB85, SB323, SB309, SB465

Keywords: elderly, vulnerable persons, criminal penalties, theft, civil penalties, criminal justice reform, traffic stops, law enforcement, data recording, public safety, racial profiling, SB323, Nevada, Department of Corrections, offenders, inmates, incarcerated people, prison phone calls, free phone calls, family communication

Transcript Highlights:

• They may even drive drunk or high, or they may even be driving while looking down at their phone and
• They don't drive drunk or high, and they don't look at their phone while driving.
• You know, when we drive, when we get in our vehicles and drive around, no one's videoing us.
• When we drive, when we get in our vehicles and drive around, no one's videoing us.
• The Waymo Driver, our automated driving system, drives over 2 million miles on a weekly basis.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the same number of points assessed for reckless driving and driving over 100 miles an hour.
• Rhonda Campbell with Mothers Against Strong Driving in support.
• Drunk driving is not an accident. It's a choice.
• , and they have to drive to work.
• , and they have to drive to work.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• drive too.
• drive too.
• drive too.
• drive too.
• drive too.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have more people driving erratically, intentionally reckless.
• Meaning you cause the death of someone due to your intentional reckless driving.
• We have more people<00:02:47.040> driving<00:02:47.560> erratically, people driving erratically
• , people driving erratically, intentionally<00:02:49.519> reckless.
• And uh that's the bill what we drives.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural Texas communities drive our Texas economy, yet investment dollars increasingly flow to more populated
• Members, in closing, this program creates an incentive to drive the needed investment dollars to rural
• It will drive $300 million into the rural economy of the state of Texas.
• Sadly, some of the brave men and women who worked so hard to protect their neighbors lost their jobs
• It's very hard to walk so much and be thirsty.

Bills: HB446, HB1609, HB4443, HB4464, HB4735, HB5476

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, Texas Workforce Commission, advisory board, employee rights, administrative penalties, training requirements, employee training, occupational health, employer penalties, worker rights, heat illness, volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency responder, emergency medical services volunteer, EMS volunteer, firefighter, fire department, emergency services, declared disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• It's hard for me to believe that this is the fifth year I've been in front of you guys.
• The driving track is still in the dirt work phase.
• And then, when we go drive, I'll bring in 20 LEDT or law enforcement driving training instructors.
• They can't drive, so they can't drive your car and they can't vote, but they can go to the academy.
• So we're working hard with the staff to make sure that they're Recognized how hard they work and make

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , where there's no warning on the label not to drive.
• to go out and drive impaired.
• And the last thing is I like to remind everyone, as we all drive, we all grew up driving, but remember
• driving is a privilege, it's not a right.
• driving but remember driving is a privilege it's not a right and if we don't respond if we don't respect

Summary: The committee heard and approved several bills. CS for CS for CS SB 138, Trenton’s Law, would broaden DUI and boating-under-the-influence laws to cover any impairing substance, increase penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing, allow blood warrants in misdemeanor DUI/BUI cases, enhance penalties for DUI with death or vehicular homicide involving prior convictions, and authorize DUI diversion programs. Supporters included law enforcement and prosecutors, who said the bill addresses gaps involving over-the-counter drugs and refusal cases; the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about the breadth of the “any impairing substance” language and record consequences for first refusals. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 400, which removes the repeal date from Florida’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, and CS for SB 102, which creates a workforce credentialing program for exceptional student education students, especially those with autism, to earn badges for job skills and safety-related competencies. SB 102 drew questions about fiscal impact and teacher training, with supporters emphasizing workforce readiness and parent involvement while some members raised concerns about costs and implementation. SB 130, which updates compensation for wrongfully incarcerated people found factually innocent, was also reported favorably after supporters argued Florida’s current law is too restrictive and too few exonerees have been compensated. The committee then approved CS for CS for SB 296, which repeals the statewide mandate for later middle and high school start times and returns the decision to local districts, while requiring districts to document their analysis of sleep, safety, transportation, and other impacts. An amendment added a reporting requirement to show how districts considered later start times and any unintended consequences. The bill drew broad support from school officials and education groups, with members noting transportation and extracurricular challenges. Finally, SB 234, dealing with criminal offenses against law enforcement officers, was reported favorably after debate over whether the bill should retain “good faith” language and how it would affect defenses and officer accountability. The committee also passed CS for SB 274, designating a portion of International Drive as Harris Rosen Way and adding a memorial designation for the late Senator Geraldine Thompson near the Wells Built Museum; members praised both honorees and the bill was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after recording one member’s request to be shown voting yes on the first bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Santa Fe Drive also has a painful history.
• Santa Fe Drive also has a painful history.
• For example, Santa Fe Drive in Encinitas.
• Reckless driving isn't a mistake or just an accident.
• for repeat reckless driving, authorizing longer impoundments when a vehicle is used in reckless driving

Keywords: 988, house, all