Transcript Highlights:

• Leader-elect, Provost. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Chair, I move to amend House Bill 3649, page six, section two, lines 15 through 18, by deleting Section
• Up next, we're going to have House Bill 3674 being presented by Leader-elect Provenzano.
• Page 12, Section 4, lines 13 through 16, by deleting Section 4 in its entirety and by inserting a new
• Section 4 to read as follows: This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.

Bills: HB4421, HB4426, HB4432, HB4329, HB3551, HB3763, HB1411, HB2730, HB3465, HB3649, HB3650, HB3674, HB3941, HB3970, HB3979, HB3980, HB3981, SB1074

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Third change reconciles the difference between the Florida probate code and Florida trust code providing
• Senate Bill 402 simply cleans up Florida Statutes section 817.312.
• those sections to read as follows: Armed forces as defined in section 250.01.
• Please read the next. individually in each section, and this bill would amend those sections to read
• Armed forces as defined in section 250.01.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions and recognitions, including awareness resolutions and visiting groups in the galleries. The chamber then moved to special order bills. Senate Bill 88 on utility terrain vehicles passed 32-5 after debate over allowing local governments to opt in to street use of UTVs under safety restrictions; Senator Smith opposed it over safety concerns. Senate Bill 102 on exceptional student education passed 36-0, creating a workforce credential/badge program for students with autism or on modified curricula; supporters emphasized employment opportunities and safety training, while Senator Davis raised concerns about added costs to school districts. Senate Bill 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults passed 37-0, allowing alternative service on scammers through the same apps used to contact victims. Senate Bill 130 on compensation for victims of wrongful incarceration passed 38-0, extending filing deadlines and removing restrictive barriers; supporters called it a long-overdue justice fix. Senate Bill 158 on diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations passed 38-0, eliminating cost sharing for follow-up breast tests in the state employee health plan to encourage early detection. The most contentious measure was Senate Bill 234 on criminal offenses against law enforcement officers. The bill sought to clarify that violent resistance to officers is not justified by claims about the legality of the detention and to add manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses carrying life imprisonment without release. An amendment by Senator Jones to restore “in good faith” language failed, after debate centered on due process, racial profiling, and the role of juries and suppression motions. Several senators spoke in support of law enforcement but objected to the bill’s breadth and mandatory life penalty; Senator Leek ultimately postponed the bill temporarily rather than taking a final vote. Senate Bill 262 on trust code technical changes passed 36-0. Senate Bill 274 designating roads for Harris Rosen and Geraldine Thompson passed 38-0, followed by a successful co-sponsorship motion and remarks honoring Thompson’s legacy. Senate Bill 280 on candidate qualification passed 38-0, creating an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation filing requirements. Senate Bill 296 on middle and high school start times passed 38-0, repealing the statewide start-time mandate and shifting implementation decisions to local districts while requiring public reporting and discussion. Senate Bill 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day also passed unanimously, with senators emphasizing remembrance, anti-Semitism, and the educational value of the memorial and observance.

Bills: HR19, HR20, HR21, HR22, HR23, HR24, HR25, HR26, HR27, HR28, HR29, HR30, HR31, HR32, HR33, HR34, HR35, HR36, HR37, HR38, HCR15, HCR16, HCR17, HCR18, HB115, HB208, HB465, HB832, HB964, HB965, HB966, HB967, HB968, HB969, HB970, HB971, HB972, HB973, HB974, HB975, HR14, HR15, HR16, HR17, HR18, HCR14, SCR4, SCR7, SCR8, HB362, HB963, HB207, HB300, HB331, HB428, HB464, HB587, HB618, HB629, HB801, HB853, HB891, HB78, HB112, HB148, HB149, HB190, HB221, HB346, HB354, HB355, HB356, HB358, HB384, HB427, HB657, HB675, HB716, HB901

Keywords: HR19, House Resolution 19, Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association Day, LNLA, nursery industry, landscape industry, horticulture, green industry, environmental stewardship, beautification, sustainability, state capitol, special day resolution, commemoration, trade association, wholesale growers, landscape architects, grounds maintenance, interiorscapers, Louisiana agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
• THAT IS THE ONE SECTION, PRESIDENT AS A DOUBLE I WILL GIVE YOU A YES VOTE.
• Pizzo: IT WAS SECTION 2 OF YOUR BILL TWO YEARS AGO.
• I HAVE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS BUT I AM A LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL THE SECOND BLACK FEMALE TO BE ELECTED TO
• IN THE MIDDLE OF SECTIONS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grall: SB 1760 REQUIRES ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RESIDE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
• THIS HELPS ENSURE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE ELECTED
• THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 10478 BY SENATOR McCLAIN.
• THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 94306 BY SENATOR GAETZ.
• THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SECTION 10 ARTICLE 10 SECTION 24 REQUIRES THE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or going to the Office of Election Security or a supervisor of elections.
• or going to the Office of Election Security or a supervisor of elections.
• Bar code 658022. Senator Grall. Thank you. Bar code 658022. Senator Grall. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Bar code 81062. Senator Bradley. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Well, candidate petitions are about electing a person.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider SPB 7016, a major bill revising Florida’s constitutional initiative petition process. Senator Grall presented it as a fraud-prevention and ballot-integrity measure that would add sponsor training, stricter circulator rules, more voter identification information, faster submission deadlines, notice to voters whose signatures are verified, and additional civil and criminal penalties. The committee also considered several amendments, including a $1 million bond requirement, font and page limits for petition forms, restrictions on incentive-based circulator pay, removal of a criminal-conviction prerequisite for certain fines, deposit and reimbursement procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, mandatory circulator training, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. All of the amendments were adopted, with some roll-call votes recorded and most passing on party-line or near party-line splits. The bill drew extensive questioning from senators, especially about the practical effects of the new requirements. Senator Polsky and Senator Rouson raised concerns about disenfranchising voters, burdening grassroots volunteers, the cost of bonds and deposits, the 10-day return deadline, and whether voters would be notified if a petition they signed was later invalidated. Grall said the measures were intended to protect the constitutionally significant initiative process, reduce fraud, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear administrative costs. Dave Ramba, speaking for supervisors of elections, supported the deposit and reimbursement concepts but warned that the bill’s implementation would be operationally difficult and that software vendors might not be ready for the changes by the effective date. He also said the process should avoid subsidizing petition drives with county taxpayer money. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers from Common Cause Florida, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP Florida State Conference, Florida Rising, Equal Ground, Voices of Florida, and other civic groups arguing the bill would suppress direct democracy, criminalize volunteer activity, impose excessive costs, and create confusion and litigation risk. One speaker from the Florida Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, saying the initiative process should be protected from fraud and outside interests. During debate, Senator Polsky argued the Legislature has steadily made the initiative process harder after recent citizen-led amendments succeeded, while supporters framed the bill as a necessary integrity measure. The committee had not yet taken final action on the bill itself by the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the amendment I mentioned that strikes Sections 1, 2, and 6 of the bill.
• And you're aware that the Code of Civil Practice and Remedies Code already says that an individual who
• And the amendment would provide that this section of the Education Code that is being clarified and expanded
• 8, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution.
• It also says the no new revenue and voter approval tax rates as provided by Section 26.04, Tax Code,

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• set are you familiar with that is there is there a central location we can go this section of code is
• Section 7.09, Fraud Reporting.
• I'll verify the codes.
• And it's all I see in the codes, so is there a code for this for the merit?
• And so, uh, tax code, the Texas tax code generally covers how districts set their INS rates.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fund for the 2026 general election.
• Chair, and Representative Pettigrew, this would be for the election fund for election costs.
• Election costs in terms of guardrails around this.
• out of the election fund.
• So you can see on line 262, 15 million for the election fund for the 2026 primary election, which is

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all have to qualify for elections.
• Chair: Representative, there is amendment bar code 883543.
• We are not touching the sections in law or the Rep.
• McFarland: sections of statute where local regulations are.
• Representative, you may explain the amendment bar code 407389. Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• section 6.05 subsection B.
• Again, all appraisal for property tax purposes happens at the local level per tax code section 23.01A
• Market value is defined in the tax code under Section 1.04, and all real and tangible personal property
• , our bond elections, uh, it still ultimately is not getting to the.
• My uh my wife is a local elected official.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a different reason code that I need to use for food support or SNAP. It's like that.
• So we're breaking this out into three different sections.
• Today, notices are hardwired or hard-coded into MAXIS.
• I feel like at this point in time they probably have the security codes are building.
• I feel like at this point in time they probably have the security codes are building.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, Education Code Section 33043, the Governor is authorized to appoint a total of six
• Additionally, as shown on slide 11, Education Code Section 33143 currently authorizes the appointment
• In addition, Section 2.1 of... ...to Section 4 of Article 7.
• Newly elected governor, new elected state superintendent of public instruction, get elected in November
• sections.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on Governor Newsom’s education governance proposal, which would reorganize state K-12 education leadership by shifting day-to-day management of the Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a governor-appointed education commissioner, while giving the superintendent a more policy-focused role and voting seats on the State Board of Education and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Brooks Allen, for the State Board of Education and Governor’s office, argued the change would reduce fragmented authority, improve accountability, and align California with other states that use appointed chief education officials. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the budget-neutral staffing transfers and transition timeline, and LAO analyst Sarah Cortez said the LAO supports the shift to an appointed commissioner but recommends Senate confirmation, clearer statutory duties, preserved legislative oversight, and a cost-neutral fiscal plan. Committee members raised substantial concerns about timing, constitutionality, voter expectations, and whether the proposal would actually improve student outcomes. Senator Cabaldon argued the change would effectively alter the meaning of the constitutionally created superintendent office during an election year without voter approval, and questioned whether governance restructuring has evidence of improving achievement or should instead yield savings. Other senators asked how the new structure would work in practice, who would be accountable if it failed, whether a governor-appointed commissioner was the best model, and whether local districts would truly see clearer lines of authority. Allen responded that the Legislature retains plenary authority over education, that the transition would be minimally disruptive, and that the proposal was designed to create a single line of management and clearer communication for local districts. The discussion also covered the Legislature’s role in curriculum and education policy. LAO staff explained that the Legislature has broad authority over education and can direct curriculum-related policy, though it has generally delegated detailed curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Several senators said the current system already creates confusion for voters and local educators, while others argued the proposal adds another layer of bureaucracy and overpromises on results. No vote was taken at this hearing; members continued questioning witnesses and indicated the proposal would be examined further in later panels, including testimony from local education leaders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the effective date of this section is September 30, 2025.
• Finally, the effective date of this section is September 30, 2025.
• <00:36:22.520> 7 specifically Article 1 Section 7 specifically Article 1 Section 7 regarding
• uh entities in our code that I'm kind of uh entities in our code that I'm kind of just<01:14:29.320><
• <01:35:53.000> and impact of big money in our elections and impact of big money in our elections

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2437, the governor’s proposed tax bill, and first adopted the A25-Z42 amendment to put the bill in the desired shape. Commissioner Paul Marquardt of the Department of Revenue then presented the bill as part of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s budget, describing it as a response to budget pressures that would make the tax system more fair and stable while supporting economic development and jobs. Marquardt walked through the bill’s major provisions. These included sustainable aviation fuel policy, repeal of K-12 education credit assignment, elimination of the political contribution refund, expansion of the research and development credit, short-line railroad infrastructure modernization, changes to the state airport fund levy, replacement of attachments and appearances with distribution systems, a narrow personal property tax exception for low-income housing tenants, reduced aquatic invasive species aid, and a 34% reduction in PILT payments. He then focused on the sales tax article, saying it would lower the statewide rate by 0.75% while expanding the base to selected professional services such as accounting, banking, brokerage, and legal services, with business-to-business transactions exempt. He said the proposal would be effective for sales and purchases after September 30, 2025, and estimated a first-year rate-cut impact of about $99 million versus $215 million from the service expansion, while arguing that most households would see a net tax cut. He also noted other changes such as landlord penalty adjustments, a 30% reduction in sustainable aviation fuel incentive payments, repeal of local government cannabis aid, and repeal of the tax filing modernization account. Public testimony began with Kyle Playford of the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, who strongly opposed the proposed sales tax on professional services, especially financial planning. He argued that financial planning is an essential service for retirement, investment, and long-term financial security, and said the tax would raise costs for consumers, reduce access for middle-class families, small business owners, and retirees, and put Minnesota firms at a competitive disadvantage. The chair then indicated that additional public testimony would continue before member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding will also support election assistance for individuals with disabilities, election auditing
• the provisions of the Elections Code, ensuring that state election laws are enforced. ...administer
• the provisions of the Elections Code, ensuring that state election laws are enforced, promoting voter
• Code, ensuring that state election laws are enforced, promoting voter registration to eligible voters
• The election code actually has mirrored what is called UOCAVA, and it provides certain aspects of the

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 heard updates from the Secretary of State, EDD, the State Controller’s Office, CalHR, and DGS on a range of budget proposals and federal policy impacts. Secretary of State Shirley Weber opened with remarks about California’s election system, emphasizing its safety, transparency, high voter registration and vote-by-mail participation, and the office’s response to bomb threats and other election threats. Her staff then presented funding requests for the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS) and Help America Vote Act/VoteCal activities, describing them as needed to modernize campaign finance and lobbying disclosure systems and maintain election security and voter services. A major portion of the hearing focused on federal election policy, especially the potential effects of a presidential executive order and the SAVE Act. Secretary of State staff said California would face significant, potentially unquantifiable costs if forced to comply, including new burdens on county recorders, county election offices, and the Secretary of State’s office, and warned of voter disenfranchisement, especially for students, seniors, disabled voters, military and overseas voters, rural residents, and people with limited transportation. Members and public commenters strongly opposed the federal proposals and argued California’s current system is functioning well. The committee also heard that federal HAVA funds were not expected to be at risk because the state draws them down into an interest-bearing account. EDD reported on paid family leave, explaining that recent delays were tied to a system transition and increased claim volume, and said it was simplifying applications and adding staff and automation. Public testimony supported expanding paid family leave to chosen family. EDD also said it is prepared for possible unemployment spikes, citing a recession plan, a command center, and recent hiring. The State Controller’s Office requested funding to continue the Fiscal migration project, which would move the state’s accounting book of record to the new system by July 1, 2026; Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee expressed support for the project’s progress. CalHR presented a proposal for a statewide recruitment, outreach, and education paid media campaign under AB 1511, saying its current advertising budget is too small to reach diverse communities effectively. The final item addressed Governor Newsom’s executive order requiring a return to office on a four-day schedule. CalHR and DGS said they were working department-by-department to assess space, parking, transit, and other logistics, but had not completed a statewide cost analysis. Members and many public commenters criticized the order, arguing it was rushed, costly, harmful to telework benefits, and potentially disruptive to workers, especially those with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or long commutes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For local governments that choose to voluntarily allow code enforcement officers to have body cameras
• It's the people of the state of Florida's money, who have elected us to It's the people of the state
• And this will also include the section dealing and this will also include the section dealing with relative
• This amendment would allow an elected official who serves on the same elected board, council, commission
• when supporting or voting for the elected relative for a leadership position only within the elected

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in a previous section. We moved it to a previous section.
• election.
• It's probably not good language: Section 2, at the next general election or at any...
• Section 2, at the next general election or at any special election that may be called for that purpose
• It's Section 2: approval or rejection at the next general election.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• transparent for voters and the public and streamline election processes to make local election offices
• Also, the section where the Secretary of State has to give the county's elected commissioners approval
• Also, the section where the Secretary of State has to give the county's elected commissioners approval
• election.
• In Section 29, election accuracy audits should be more clearly specified… Election accuracy audits should

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Elections Committee of this body should determine whether it's possible to comply with state election
• The Elections Committee of this body should determine whether it's possible to comply with state election
• The Elections Committee of this body should determine whether it's possible to comply with state election
• The Elections Committee of this body should determine whether it's possible to comply with state election
• The Elections Committee of this body should determine whether it's possible to comply with state election

Bills: HF6, HF52, HF53

Keywords: education, literacy, science of reading, school performance, funding flexibility, innovation zones, equity and inclusion, HF52, New Germany, wastewater treatment, wastewater facility, sewer infrastructure, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, municipal infrastructure, water quality, sanitation, sewage treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• The footnote section begins on page 25.
• The footnote section begins on page 25, and this section provides additional disclosures required by
• All right, there's just one last section. Do I ask you, Mr. Wagner's question? One last section.
• of code.
• They all have their different sections of code.

Keywords: 908, all