Transcript Highlights:

• The journal was read and approved.
• On motion, Senate adjourned. >> Without objection, the journal stands approved as read.
• AS THE CAPITOL REGION, HIS ENGINEERING SKILLS AND STRATEGIC VISION REALLY HELPED TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE
• It is, in every sense, an economic engine for the state.
• It is, in every sense, an economic engine for the state.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and took up a series of motions to discharge identical Assembly bills to the Third Reading Calendar, along with committee reports and amendments. The chamber also received an introduction from Senator Gonzalez honoring Maria Raine and her advocacy for guardrails on AI chatbots after the death of her son, and later adopted a Rules Committee report sending several General Business Law bills directly to Third Reading. The resolution calendar was adopted with some exceptions, and the Senate recognized several previously adopted resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Barnabas McHenry, Arthur Jones Jr., Floyd Todd Peterson III, the Lexington School for the Deaf, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Apraxia Awareness Month, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Prevention Week, Physician Anesthesiologists Week, and Golf Day in New York. The Senate then considered and passed numerous bills, many on consumer protection and public policy topics. Measures included bills on General Business Law, Public Health Law, Correction Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Executive Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Public Officers Law, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Public Housing Law, Education Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills were laid aside, including a Public Health Law bill by Senator Fernandez and a Public Service Law bill by Senator Parker. The chamber also passed a concurrent constitutional resolution by Senator Stec proposing an amendment to Article 14. During floor debate, senators explained votes on several measures. Senator Ramos spoke in support of paid sick leave for domestic workers, describing the bill as a long-overdue labor protection for a workforce historically excluded from such rights. Senator Fernandez described her bill as the Manufacturer Disclosure and Transparency Act, aimed at requiring notice and public disclosure of certain pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements to improve transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing. Senator Ryan and Senator Martins supported a bill restricting hidden algorithmic price manipulation online, and Senator May supported a bill limiting excessive rental car fuel charges as part of a broader consumer protection package. The Senate also passed a memorial highway bill naming a portion of Route 19 in LeRoy for Lieutenant Gary A. Scott, with Senator Borrello explaining the veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Transcript Highlights:

• attempt to close these. loopholes in the Do Not Hire Registry or the now interagency reportable search engine
• That's why the interagency search engine that Senator Forbidden Court referenced is not yet implemented
• Registry, because it protects not just the kids in school environments through the interagency search engine
• disabilities and elderly who are also vulnerable to a abuse are covered in the interagency search engine
• They transfer you have to put in an application the school has to approve your transfer.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• We have just a couple bills on the agenda, but before we get into them, I'll look for approval of last
• The motion is approved. All right, so we'll move to our first bill on the agenda today.
• It's a parking lot, and so it's adding sort of an economic development engine as well into the community
• of an um and so it's adding sort of an economic<00:32:33.360> development<00:32:33.919> engine
• as well into economic development engine as well into the<00:32:35.320> community<00:32:36.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I always knew you were an engineer. On Bond, and that's when I really got to know you even better.
• I always knew you were an engineer, but I never really knew how your brain worked until we were done
• I said, Ron, I don't do engineering, you don't do real estate. Do we have an agreement?
• Districts are being asked to do more with budgets that were approved years ago through referendum.
• And finally, any increase beyond 2% would require voter approval through the referendum process.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:45.480> teacher Standards Board approved teacher Standards Board approved teacher preparation
• The development and approval of each registered teacher apprenticeship program requires a significant
• helping launch the first approved helping launch the first approved teacher<00:27:01.840> apprenti
• They're highly engineered. They're built differently.
• They approve that, and as long as they approve it, there are no issues with the construction of that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A new agency does not guarantee better outcomes, lower costs, faster approvals, or more efficient use
• And with that, I respectfully request an aye vote on SB 172. approval from the Joint Legislative Budget
• They need lower costs, faster approvals, and a government that is easier to work with.
• They need lower costs, faster approvals, and a government that is easier to work with.
• The dairy industry is also an economic engine for our state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Approval of the minutes. If there are no... Approval of the minutes.
• corrections, without objection, the Judiciary and Elections Committee minutes of 14 January 2026 stand approved
• public and private funding, and can directly harm when fake conclusions inform medical treatment, engineering
• public and private funding, and can directly harm when fake conclusions inform medical treatment, engineering
• Until several years ago, there were hundreds of providers on the court-approved roster and thousands

Bills: SB1015, SB1049, SB1066, SB1081, SB1092, SB1133, SB1134, SB1139, SB1147, SB1148, SB1168, SB1189, SCR1001, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1010

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, spousal maintenance, court guidelines, self-sufficiency, financial support, marriage dissolution, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children

Transcript Highlights:

• All decisions must be approved unanimously.
• The board will approve the release of grants to support local law enforcement in the enforcement of federal
• And the Special Session SB 6 P Senator Ingoglia filed approving all prior payments and contracts but
• Mister Chair, one of the elements of the crime that has to be approved by the prosecutor would face his
• Chairman, I would I would challenge the assertion that's going to be possible approved. >> They also

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wants to attend OU to study aerospace engineering. Let's give Jackson her hand, please. Next, Mr.
• SUCCo executive president and academic team captain, who wants to attend OSU to study mechanical engineering
• Again, there is a provision in the bill that if we can ask the OID to run another one, get given the approval

Bills: HB2975, HB3405, HB3406, HB3728, HB3902, HB3977, SB397, HB1161, HB2938, HB2939, HB3306, HB3722, HB4113, HB4123, HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, Senator, relating to school bus cameras, the bill requires the school board to approve the
• Do engineers have to sign off on these bus stops anywhere in the state of Florida?
• I can say that I don't believe that engineers are involved in the logistical decisions of determining

Bills: S0382, S0654, S0684, S0880, S1080

Keywords: traffic enforcement, speed detection systems, school safety, traffic violations, reporting requirements, local authority, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles, specialty license plate, specialty plates, Florida DMV, DHSMV, Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, Miami Northwestern Senior High School, alumni association, commemorative plate, license plate fees

Summary: The Transportation Committee met with a quorum and first took up SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement, which would standardize procedures for red-light, school-zone speed, and school bus camera enforcement. The bill would allow clerks to retain 10% of penalty revenue, permit virtual hearings, require records retention, limit surveillance/data use, tighten school-zone flashing-light requirements, and add school board approval and reporting requirements for school bus camera programs. An amendment clarified reporting periods and which entity receives liability-transfer affidavits. Members raised questions about information-sharing, facial recognition, school-zone warnings, and school bus stop safety, but the committee accepted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 1080, which was amended by a delete-all to address FDOT direct payments to first-tier subcontractors and takeover agreements involving sureties and replacement contractors. The amended bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved a slate of appointments in tabs 1 through 6 by one vote. Next, the committee heard SB 382 on electric bicycles and scooters. A strike-all amendment shifted the bill away from immediate enforcement changes and instead created an e-bike task force, required crash data collection and reporting, and retained rules requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, provide audible signals, and limit speed near pedestrians. Members discussed enforcement practicality, access concerns for riders who rely on e-bikes, and the need for public education and transparency. The amended bill was reported favorably. The committee then reported favorably SB 684, which removes certain signature requirements for electronic odometer disclosures in total-loss vehicle and vessel insurance transactions, and SB 880, which creates a new license plate for the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association. The meeting ended after all items were approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? Motion. All in favor, say 'aye'. All opposed?
• The minutes are approved. I now recognize our secretary for an update on the RSA agreement.
• But we've also got great architects, engineers, contractors, construction managers, tradespeople, and

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next one down would be a one-time race for me that the board actually approved.
• Could you also tell us how fees are approved?
• We are vetting those whenever they apply and making sure that the amount that we are approving them for
• There is also an air handling unit appropriation, which is now putting us in the engineering design phase

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, show the journal approved. Are there corrections to the journal?
• Hearing none, show the journal approved.
• It's an engine of revenue, generating over $11 billion in my county alone.
• So who approves the waiver? What actors have to approve it? Representative Miller: Thank you, Mr.
• Show the motion approved. The House is adjourned. Say aye. Opposed, no. Show the motion approved.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was designed specifically to incentivize us to speed up interconnection approval times, and I want
• We give them an initial review, a technical review, and we approved them for installation.
• uh in support from Tesla and engineering uh in support from Tesla and in<00:31:22.799> support
• imposing certain conditions on approval imposing certain conditions on approval of<01:21:32.120>
• conditions on their on their approval conditions on their on their approval but<01:26:10.159>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress. On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns. The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first item of business is the approval of minutes.
• I may have a motion to approve the minutes for the meeting on February 27th, 2025?
• Representative Seon moves to approve the minutes from February 27th, 2025. Is there any discussion?
• <00:20:45.919> energy<00:20:46.280> and engineering energy and engineering energy and Manufacturing
• My understanding is that we approve this every year at the legislature.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Shea Rawls-Rolson, I'm a licensed professional engineer and I'm the director of Austin Water
• But the latest provision of this bill states that the district must obtain... ...an approval of the member
• the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, have reviewed and approved
• There's been no formal review... and approval process for the dedication of groundwater rights.
• HB 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study to evaluate the disparity

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve as the investment engine for 30.1 billion of state cash.
• We also serve as an investment engine for non-retirement funds of 6.4 billion.
• We recommended that the LCPR approve the requested assumption updates.
• <00:42:07.599> the we recommended that the lcpr approve the we recommended that the lcpr approve
• <01:03:34.640> the<01:03:34.799> advance unanimous approval the advance unanimous approval

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not this committee that will ever approve siting.
• It's not this committee that will ever approve plans and specs and grant the permit.
• project approved in the United<01:25:49.520> States<01:25:49.840> has<01:25:50.040>
• of their Community where economic engine of their Community is<01:40:20.040> no<01:40:20.239>
• <01:50:50.159> a ask yourself if you want to approve a ask yourself if you want to approve

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Energy Committee heard Senate File 426, authored by Senator Icorn, which would remove the 100-megawatt cap on hydropower for purposes of qualifying as an eligible energy technology under Minnesota law. Supporters said hydropower is carbon-free, reliable, flexible baseload power that can help Minnesota meet its 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040. Testifiers from Missouri River Energy Services and Minnesota Power described existing hydropower resources, including allocations from federal Missouri River dams, Minnesota hydro stations, and Manitoba Hydro, and argued that the bill would preserve and expand options for clean energy development. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s purpose and potential environmental impacts. Senator McEwen questioned why the size limit should be removed without specific proposed projects or more information about the need for larger dams, citing concerns about fisheries, water resources, and land use. Senator Port and others asked about costs, environmental effects, and where new projects might be built. In response, supporters said the bill is intended to open the door to future projects and allow agencies to review proposals through existing permitting and environmental processes, rather than approving any specific dam. Committee members offered mixed reactions. Senator Frentz said he supported the concept but recommended laying the bill over for further discussion and possibly sending it to the Environment Committee, noting environmental concerns and the need for more conversation. Senator Gruenhagen strongly supported the bill, arguing that it merely lifts a cap while leaving permitting and review requirements in place. Senator Hoffman also supported the bill, saying current policy blocks consideration of new projects and that the change would allow regulators to evaluate proposals on their merits. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was left open for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's federally regulated and approved by FDA.
• doses for approved indications.
• Approved indications. However, adverse effects may occur and can be dose-related.
• doses for approved indications.
• So if you approve this introduction. That's why they call me Dr. A. Dr. A? It's In Tablion.

Bills: S1082, S1168, S1756, S1156, S1480

Keywords: provider disputes, health plan, dispute resolution, Medicare, Medicaid, healthcare regulation, background screening, athletic coaches, youth sports, criminal history, expungement, Florida statutes, medical freedom, vaccination, ivermectin, healthcare practitioner liability, immunization exemptions, ambulatory surgical centers, patient safety, licensure

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills. SB 1082, on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program, was presented as a way to let providers and insurers use the federal independent dispute resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims under state-regulated commercial plans. A late-filed amendment clarified when providers and health plans could access the state program, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1168, which would centralize background screening clearinghouse functions at the Agency for Health Care Administration, also passed as amended after an amendment requiring sealed and expunged records to be included in screenings for qualified entities. Supporters said centralization would improve turnaround times, reduce duplication, and save costs; the sponsor said the bill also addresses coaches’ background screening language from last session. The committee then approved SB 1156, which moves ambulatory surgery center regulation out of the hospital-focused chapter of law into a standalone section, and SB 1480, as amended by a strike-all, which would grandfather certain temporary certificate holders practicing in areas of critical need if federal designation changes affect those areas. Testimony on SB 1480 emphasized continuity of care for patients in underserved communities, and the bill was reported favorably. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would require state-approved educational materials on childhood vaccines, require practitioners to provide those materials and alternative schedules before vaccination, expand school immunization exemptions to include conscience-based objections, clarify that the Surgeon General cannot order vaccination during a public health emergency, and authorize pharmacists to provide ivermectin behind the counter without a prescription with written information and safeguards. The sponsor argued the bill strengthens parental choice and informed consent. Committee members raised concerns about vaccine-preventable disease risks, immunocompromised children, school outbreaks, and the impact of adding a new exemption. A Department of Health representative said the department would need to provide details on the history of exemption consultations and noted that removing the earlier consultation requirement had not been shown to increase outbreaks. The committee adopted a friendly amendment to give physicians the same liability protection as pharmacists for ivermectin dispensing, but rejected a substitute amendment that would have required a consultation for exemption requests. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the bill, with physicians, pediatric specialists, cancer advocates, parents of immunocompromised children, and public health groups warning that it would lower vaccination rates and endanger vulnerable Floridians. The bill remained pending after testimony, with the committee continuing to hear public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This project was conceptually approved by a majority vote of the City Commission.
• This project was conceptually approved by a majority vote of the City Commission.
• Meeting minutes preparation and approval.
• And there was no town council approval of record for the contract amendment.
• That contract was never presented to the council for review or approval to hire Lee N.

Summary: The committee first took up a long-running audit finding involving the City of Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit fund balance, which has exceeded the statutory cap for several years and was reported at $10.8 million in the latest audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city had analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees, used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation, and is pursuing a $9.4 million City Hall expansion that they say is allowed under a November 2024 Attorney General opinion permitting construction of a building to house the building code enforcement function. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, whether the proposed uses were truly lawful, why the balance kept growing despite fee waivers, and where the interest earnings were going. The mayor and deputy city manager said the city’s growth and staffing needs justified the plan, but several members expressed frustration and skepticism. A public commenter also urged accountability and raised concerns about the city’s spending plans and the size of the remaining balance. The committee then received an Auditor General presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 operational audit findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings included election paperwork problems that left a council seat vacant, conflicts of interest, late financial disclosure filings, related-party transactions, inadequate meeting notices and minutes, quorum and voting documentation problems, council members’ involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget adoption and monitoring deficiencies, inaccurate accounting records and bank reconciliations, utility billing and rate issues, grant compliance problems tied to an unfinished grocery store project, weak personnel and contracting controls, improper severance and compensation issues, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control weaknesses, poor public records access, and IT access and fraud-policy gaps. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit largely reflected the prior administration and that the current council and staff are taking corrective action. They said the town terminated the former manager, adopted seven new policies since the audit began, and is working with the Auditor General to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics compliance. The town attorney said he had alerted federal authorities earlier about concerns, and committee members noted that FDLE has received a criminal referral and is investigating. Several members praised the new leadership’s cooperation but also suggested the town consider consolidation or dissolution if problems persist.