Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the department opposes section 2011E that starts on page 12 and goes on to page 13.
• Um, so we ask that those sections be deleted from the bill.
• </c> Um, the department opposes uh section Um, the department opposes uh section 2011e<00:18:41.520><
• </c><00:19:40.400><c> be</c> we ask that those, uh, sections be we ask that those, uh, sections be deleted
• </c><00:20:13.039><c> 7616</c> a change is not made to uh section 7616 a change is not made to uh section

Bills: SB2187

Keywords: housing, economic development, tourism, state department, renaming, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Tourism and Water and Land hearing focused on HB 1947, which would repeal the Hawaii Tourism Authority, create an Office of Tourism in DBEDT, and establish a Division of Destination Management in DLNR. The Attorney General opposed provisions allowing the new tourism office or advisory board to hire independent attorneys, and also noted civil service and transfer-of-functions issues, including the need for standard transition language for employees, contracts, records, and equipment. DNR said it stood on its written comments, while the Department of Taxation also stood on its written testimony. HTA opposed the bill, arguing that Act 132 had already improved its governance and that destination management should remain within a single, holistic tourism framework. HTA said it is better positioned to coordinate with counties, communities, and state agencies on both tourism promotion and mitigation of impacts, and pointed to its strategic plan and DMAP work as evidence. The County of Kauai Office of Economic Development also opposed the bill, saying tourism issues cross multiple agencies and that coordination is best handled by one entity rather than splitting responsibilities between DBEDT and DLNR. One member of the public testified in support with reservations, saying Hawaii needs stronger leadership and control, but also warning that dissolving HTA would be a major change. During questioning, committee members pressed HTA on why destination management should not simply be handled by DLNR if HTA already consults with it on land-use and conservation issues. HTA responded that its role is broader than conservation alone and includes balancing economic development, visitor management, and resident quality of life, while deferring to DLNR on matters within DLNR’s jurisdiction. The hearing then moved to decision-making, where the chairs announced amendments that removed the transfer of destination management to DLNR, added counties and state/county agency assistance to the Office of Tourism, and made other conforming changes. The House committees voted to recommend HB 1947 pass with amendments, with several members voting aye and some voting with reservations, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's saying that the ADU, like a multi-section manufactured home or a single-family stick build,
• And, Madam Chair, that's section two.
• So that's the separate section is that for the casita section, that's section two, and section one changes
• For the casita section, that's section two, and section one changes the zoning authority from commercial
• So there are separate sections of the law, but we're trying to do the two versions of this in housing

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3.
• </c> of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, section of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, section one,<00:23:50.400
• Section kindness, peace, and equality.
• </c><00:24:11.520><c> Section</c><00:24:11.919><c> three.
• Section three. The clerk of the King Jr. Section three.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:27 Report of Committees 05:14 Orders of the Day 06:02 HB 184 06:16 HB 265 09:38 HJR 24 13:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 19:39 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 26:58 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 28:48 ConC and Rules Report 37:47 Impeachment Committee Announcement 40:50 Adjournment 41:13, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is one policy section that I'll point out in the first three articles, which is the ones that I
• </c><00:13:44.560><c> This</c><00:13:44.800><c> section</c> Uh, page 45, section 13.
• Uh, the first one's on page 71 and it's section 12.
• The second section is section 13 of the arts article, and it's the one that Mr.
• The second section is section 13 of the arts article, and it's the one that Mr.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 2563, the Omnibus Legacy Bill, was presented as a roughly $779 million package funding projects across Minnesota through the four Legacy funds: Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Chairs Vang and McDonald described the bill as a responsible one-time spending measure with no ongoing base funding, emphasizing habitat restoration, water protection, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. Nonpartisan staff then walked through the spreadsheet, explaining that the bill largely follows the recommendations of the relevant councils and governor, with some additions such as a Wilderness Inquiry partnership, an Ash River sewer extension, competitive grant funding, and several arts and history projects. Staff highlighted the major allocations and structure of the bill: Outdoor Heritage funding for land and habitat projects, Clean Water funding for water-quality work, Parks and Trails funding following the traditional 40-40-20 split, and Arts and Cultural Heritage funding for the State Arts Board, Minnesota Historical Society, Humanities Center, Indian Affairs Council, Department of Education, and other recipients. They also noted policy provisions requiring Clean Water Council recommendations to be broken out by fiscal year, requiring recent 990 forms for arts grantees, limiting arts funds from being used for capital construction except in specified cases, and extending a prior appropriation for the Sunni Lee memorial project. Members asked about land acquisition, the new 990 requirement, and reduced funding for children’s museums; chairs and staff responded that Outdoor Heritage includes land acquisition, the 990 is simply a documentation requirement, and children’s museum funding is lower because more money is now placed in a competitive grant pool. The chairs said the bill reflects compromise and an effort to keep the bill relatively clean of earmarks, while also noting that a Department of Revenue transfer of more than $31 million from legacy funds affected available funding and forced difficult choices. After discussion, the committee laid the bill over, with the chair noting it was also being done in honor of Representative Mary Murphy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 940-940-1-3.
• So if you go down to line 71 on page three, that's that new section that we added.
• So that's why we wanted to carve out that section in particular.
• I believe that's in page three, Section 6 of that.
• I believe that's in page 3, Section 6 of that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4523 amends Section 21.105 of the Transportation Code by adding Subsection C, which makes
• Additionally, HB4523 also repeals Section 21.0114, Subsection B of the Transportation Code, which allows
• House Bill 4523 amends section 21.105 of the Transportation Code by adding subsection C, which makes
• A vehicle crash involving 130 vehicles occurred on an elevated section of South.
• Since that day, NTE has closed the section of the roadway where there are no vehicles.

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:14.919><c> I</c> troubled with this this whole section I troubled with this this whole section
• </c> person is charged under this section person is charged under this section except<01:13:35.199><c
• You know, as I said, I'm not the biggest fan of section nine.
• I think having some definitions at the beginning of the section might help clarify that.
• I think having some definitions at the beginning of the section might help clarify that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two main items. First, the solid waste subcommittee reviewed draft language for HB 707, focusing on landfill siting and permitting standards. Members and the Department of Environmental Services discussed replacing repeated references to “aquifer” with “drinking water well,” clarifying that aquifer is a broad term, and considering whether a statutory definition was needed. They also debated the bill’s setback and time-of-travel provisions, including the 10^-5 standard, a 1,500-foot distance, and whether the bill should rely more on performance-based criteria than prescriptive distances. Another major topic was permit denial language tied to applicants with significant histories of repeated serious violations or landfill-related litigation; the department said it already has related authority in current rules, but noted some wording was still too vague and could be tightened. No vote was taken, and the chair closed the hearing with plans to continue work later. The second item was a work session on HB 424, which would direct the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to create forms for businesses to request information about service animals and establish a study committee on fraudulent or untrained service animals. Several members said the problem raised by the bill was real but expressed concern that the legislature may be limited by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Others argued that a study committee would likely not produce a workable solution and might conflict with leadership’s direction to avoid unnecessary study committees. Members discussed whether the bill should be retained, amended, or instead replaced with a letter or resolution to the federal delegation. The committee appeared to lean toward ITL and possibly pursuing a letter to federal officials, but no final vote is reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you tell me the section that you're working with, the actual section of your bill? One...
• They had added a section 2010.1080, and nobody, I guess, knew what that section had done, and so instead
• They had added a section 2010.1080, and nobody, I guess, knew what that section had done, and so instead
• They had added a section 2010.1080, and nobody, I guess, knew what that section had done, and so instead
• They had added a section 2010.1080, and nobody, I guess, knew what that section had done, and so instead

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amending sections 14-5312.01 and 36-546, A.R.S., relating to mental health services.
• Amending Section 35-1-44, A.R.S., relating to Title 41, Chapter 11, Article 1, by adding Section 41-16
• House Bill 2136, amending Section 13-201, Arizona Revised Statutes, and adding Section 13-2906, relating
• House Bill 2144, amending Section 25-320, Arizona Revised Statutes, and Section 25-502, relating to child
• Amending Title 13, Chapter 15, Arizona Revised Statutes, by amending Section 13-1510 and Section 13-3821

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three adds a new definition of handler for purposes of section four.
• On page 34, section section applicators.
• On page 34, section section 4<00:19:39.520><c> exempts</c><00:19:39.919><c> handlers</c><00:19:40.400
• </c> section five.
• Um, oh, then with section section five.

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are two sections to this bill.
• The first section pertains to the public school districts, the traditional districts, and the second
• section pertains to the public charter schools.
• But that is true of both section one for school districts and section two for public charter schools.
• on, for example, For the districts, there's a section on, for example, district IRA scores.

Summary: The committee first heard House Joint Memorial 20, sponsored by Representative Steve Tanner, which asks the federal government to study and account for the cost Idaho says it bears under Plyler v. Doe for educating children of non-citizens. Tanner argued the ruling functions as an unfunded mandate and estimated the annual cost to Idaho taxpayers at roughly $112 million to $220 million. Members debated whether the memorial conflicted with Plyler, whether undocumented status could even be studied, and whether the memorial unfairly targeted a vulnerable population. Supporters said it was simply a statement asking the federal government to make Idaho whole; opponents raised concerns about one-sided framing and the treatment of immigrant children. The committee took a roll call vote and passed the memorial 10-3, sending it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 883, sponsored by Representative Doug Pickett, a school funding flexibility and earned autonomy proposal for both traditional public school districts and public charter schools. Pickett and Idaho Charter School Network representative Emily McClure explained that the bill would allow qualifying schools more discretion over funding and reduce reporting burdens if they meet academic, financial, and governance benchmarks. The bill includes a two-year grace period if a school has a bad year and a 2029 review date. Questions focused on the different standards for districts and charters, how many schools might qualify, how growth and socioeconomic factors are accounted for, and why virtual charter schools were excluded. Supporters said the bill rewards strong performance and innovation while maintaining accountability. Testimony in favor emphasized that high-performing schools need flexibility to allocate funds, hire experienced staff, and reduce compliance work; one charter school leader said a compliance position had become 95% paperwork. Some members praised the bipartisan effort and said the bill could be a useful experiment and a bridge to broader funding reform. Representative Veeley moved to send HB 883 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Going through the bill, Section 1 revises the Board of Midwifery's rulemaking authority, Section 1 revises
• Section 2 creates a new section establishing that a licensed midwife may obtain and administer any medication
• Section 2 creates a new section establishing that a licensed midwife may obtain and administer any medication
• Section 3 updates existing code references relating to client disclosure and record keeping.
• Section 4 declares that the existing administrative rules contained in ADAPA 24.26.01, specific section

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 639, sponsored by Senator Taves, which would modernize Idaho’s licensed midwifery laws by replacing a fixed statutory list of allowable medications with a board-defined formulary and protocol for maternal and neonatal care. Supporters, including licensed midwives Charity Catlin and Valerie Hall, said the bill would reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, especially for stable postpartum hemorrhage cases and other situations where midwives could safely use additional medications, while lowering costs and improving care in rural areas. Senator Taves said he worked with the Idaho Midwifery Council and that the bill reflects current training and standards. The committee moved HB 639 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then received a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on state oversight of children’s residential care. OPE described concerns about limited licensing authority, lack of clearly communicated children’s rights, inconsistent reporting of restraint and seclusion, weak enforcement, and gaps in oversight for foster youth and privately placed children. The report also found that foster youth placements in residential care had increased, including out-of-state placements, and recommended more unannounced surveys, random interviews, better tracking of children’s needs and placement appropriateness, and clearer coordination among licensing, caseworkers, and contract monitors. Department of Health and Welfare officials responded that they have already reduced congregate care use, created a Continuity Care Bureau, standardized licensing response timelines, and improved monitoring practices. They acknowledged one remaining gap: Idaho lacks a mechanism to place substantiated facility abusers on a child protection registry, and they said legislative action would be needed. The department also said it supports a separate bill to strengthen resident rights and access to help. The committee took no further action on the OPE report and adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Going through the bill, Section 1 revises the Board of Midwifery's rulemaking authority, Section 1 revises
• Section 2 creates a new section establishing that a licensed midwife may obtain and administer any medication
• Section 2 creates a new section establishing that a licensed midwife may obtain and administer any medication
• Section 3 updates existing code references relating to client disclosure and record keeping.
• Section 4 declares that the existing administrative rules contained in IDAPA 24.26.01, specific section

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 639 from Senator Ben Taves, which would modernize Idaho’s licensed midwifery laws by replacing a fixed statutory medication list with a board-defined formulary and protocol for maternal and neonatal care. Supporters, including licensed midwives Charity Catlin and Valerie Hall, said the bill would reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, especially for stable postpartum hemorrhage cases and other rural maternity situations, while lowering costs and preserving recovery and bonding. Senator Taves said he worked with the Idaho Midwifery Council and that the bill aligns Idaho with neighboring states. The committee voted to send HB 639 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then received a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on state oversight of children’s residential care. OPE reported concerns about limited licensing authority, unclear children’s rights information, lack of required reporting on restraint and seclusion, weak enforcement, and inconsistent monitoring practices. The report also found that foster youth placements in residential care had increased, including out-of-state placements, and that the state lacked a clear way to track whether children were in the most appropriate setting. OPE recommended more unannounced surveys, standardized contract monitoring, better communication across divisions, and clearer abuse-investigation procedures. Department of Health and Welfare officials responded that they had already reduced congregate care use, created a Continuity Care Bureau, and implemented or were implementing several recommendations. They said licensing had adopted priority response timelines similar to child protection cases and was working on resident-rights improvements, but acknowledged a remaining gap in placing substantiated perpetrators on a registry and said legislative action would be needed. The committee discussed the need for stronger oversight for both foster and privately placed children, and the chair announced the committee would meet again the next day for a Medicaid and managed care presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Section.
• Chair, Senator Padilla, uh, in section two, the section two portion is actually the Governor's GROW piece
• Yeah, so section one, is there anything in section one that is not directly related To loss of GRT.
• I was all in for the first sections where it talked about making.
• Thank you for Section. 2. Okay, we'll look at it. We're going to roll this over.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one is the appropriation.
• </c><00:02:08.000><c> if</c><00:02:08.560><c> um</c><00:02:09.679><c> um</c> uh section by section and
• then if um um uh section by section and then if um um uh<00:02:10.959><c> Miss</c><00:02:11.200><c>
• Section one is front of you is the A11. Section one is the<00:02:32.560><c> appropriation.
• Subdivision 7 date of this section.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the percentage gets new section.
• </c><00:14:43.680><c> What</c><00:14:43.920><c> this</c><00:14:44.160><c> section</c> you'll see section
• What this section you'll see section 12.
• Uh section related construction costs.
• </c> of carveout put in uh the park section of carveout put in uh the park section for<00:28:03.120><

Bills: HF2563

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:23.480><c> 571</c> under the family court section 571 under the family court section 571 why
• Bill Plum, vice chair of the section law section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, in support.
• </c> Vice chair section law section of Haw Vice chair section law section of Haw State<01:04:12.680><
• Bill Plum, vice chair for the section law section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, in support.
• Next up is SP 175, another constitutional amendment to Article 6, Section 3.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is this: Article I, Section 1, our Constitution actually requires us.
• It expands homeowners association restrictions under section 55-3-3-2.
• 6, let’s see, Section, Chapter 65, Title 16.
• Section 65, let’s see, Section, Chapter 65, Title 67, where you add the definition of accessory dwelling
• Library board trustees are a cross-section of our local community.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Local Government Taxation Committee heard several bills and advanced all of them. House Bill 749, dealing with forced annexation and septic/service hookup issues for certain property owners, was presented by Rep. Barbara Ehart as a narrow property-rights fix for homeowners facing very high connection costs; the committee quickly moved it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1354, sponsored by Sen. Taves, would create a statewide framework requiring cities over 5,000 population to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with limits on size, setbacks, parking, impact fees, and owner-occupancy rules, while also affecting HOA restrictions. Support came from AARP Idaho and the Idaho Home Builders Association, which emphasized housing supply, aging in place, and family caregiving; opposition came from the Association of Idaho Cities, APA Idaho, and the Idaho Community Association Institute, which argued the bill was too preemptive, threatened local control, and could strain infrastructure and parking. The committee rejected a motion to hold the bill and instead sent it to the 14th order for possible amendment. House Bill 661, a follow-up to prior legislation on roll-off dumpster competition, would extend similar open-competition rules from cities to counties with franchise agreements. Sen. Adams said counties were on board and that the bill simply carried forward the prior approach; the committee sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 715 would require city council approval, along with library boards, to hire or terminate library directors at Idaho’s 55 city libraries. Rep. Cornelis argued this would add accountability for taxpayer-funded positions, while library professionals and the Idaho Library Association opposed it as government overreach that could politicize library leadership and blur lines of authority. Despite those objections, the committee passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, House Bill 733 would change Idaho’s tax audit process for partnerships by allowing the Tax Commission to audit and resolve adjustments at the partnership level rather than requiring amended returns from each partner. The sponsor and a CPA representative described it as an efficiency measure aligned with IRS practice and model legislation used in other states; the committee agreed and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then approved the minutes from February 26 and March 5 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to its sites in the code section, there is money available.
• The second one is that section 12-26-7G is added to make individual...
• The third revision is that section 12-26-9I is...
• Section 12-26-9J allows for the entry into...
• Then the next one is replacing line 286 on page 11 with the following: This section and section 41 do

Bills: HB43, SB81, SB178, SB138, SB89, SB183, HB27, HB188, HB199, HB190, SB117, HB43, HB27

Keywords: criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, custodial sexual misconduct, sexual misconduct, inmate abuse, prisoner exploitation, correctional staff, jail staff, detention center, probation officer, parole officer, Department of Corrections, Department of Youth Services, sheriff, county jail, municipal jail

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been invited to appear to discuss the department's rulemaking process for Section 381...
• to discuss the department's rulemaking process for Section 381.147, Florida Statutes.
• Section 120.534 authorizes an agency to adopt an emergency rule for any rule pending ratification by
• Section 120.534 authorizes an agency to adopt an emergency rule for any rule pending ratification by
• We are therefore proposing amendments to Section 120.534 that set a one-year timeframe for legislative

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.