Transcript Highlights:

• We will join our regularly scheduled programming shortly.
• God bless you in your future endeavors. I heard the comments.
• as well as nursing education programs.
• The bill makes this program permanent with a statewide program and expansion into more diverse areas.
• It plans for Florida's future.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have people who come to this place, they brag about being fiscally conservative.
• </c><00:12:56.520><c> They</c> about being fiscally conservative.
• They about being fiscally conservative.
• I do responsible, fiscally conservative.
• like it's the future and that's really<00:15:46.720><c> something.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're participating in their future at an early age.
• They're participating in their future at an earlier age.
• But let's be clear, this is not going to stop the federal program.
• But let's be clear, this is not going to stop the federal program.
• But let's be clear, this is not going to stop the federal program.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The senior companion program was funded. The senior companion program was funded.
• </c> the retired uh senior volunteer program the retired uh senior volunteer program uh<00:29:03.919>
• /c><00:31:07.679><c> and</c> existing federally funded program and existing federally funded program
• </c><00:52:47.520><c> If</c> through other treatment programs. If through other treatment programs.
• legislation or not for recommend future legislation or not for future<02:45:13.040><c> legislation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• conservation.
• The program was originally a program...
• The program is currently not utilized and, as such, should be repealed.
• simply makes the program permanent.
• And that's determined by a very publicly noticed program.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of land use, public records, infrastructure, and local-government bills. The most debated measures were CS for CS for HB 399 and CS for HB 979, both sponsored by Rep. Borrero, which sought to streamline development approvals and reduce local-government barriers. HB 399 would require simple-majority approval for certain land development applications, mandate local definitions of compatibility, and add provisions affecting destination resorts, manufactured housing, historic properties, and a study of urban development boundaries. HB 979 would allow administrative rezoning of environmentally damaged five-acre-or-larger parcels in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties for residential use if adjacent to neighborhoods. Supporters argued both bills would increase housing supply, encourage cleanup of contaminated land, and lower costs; opponents argued they preempt local decision-making, weaken voter-approved growth controls, and do not guarantee affordability. Both bills were amended and then reported favorably, with HB 399 passing 16-10 and HB 979 passing after debate. The committee also approved CS for HB 437, a public records bill by Rep. Andrade, on a 25-0 vote. The bill requires agencies to respond to public records requests within three days by producing the records, citing why they cannot, or giving a good-faith estimate of time and cost; it also limits agencies from later relying on exemptions not previously raised. Proponents said the measure addresses long delays and nonresponses by agencies, while school district representatives warned the timeline could be difficult for large, complex requests. The committee adopted the bill and sent it favorably. Several local and special district bills were also approved. CS for CS for HB 1103 would help local governments coordinate with FWC on derelict vessels and anchoring issues and passed unanimously. CS for HB 1245, dealing with biosolids regulation, also passed unanimously. CS for HB 4081 to expand the East Point Water and Sewer District passed 25-0. CS for HB 4103, creating a state special district for the Apalachicola water and sewer system, passed 25-1 after testimony from city officials who argued the city had improved its water system and should retain a role. CS for HB 4105, expanding the Port St. Joe Port Authority into a multi-county regional board, passed 23-3 despite opposition from residents concerned about infrastructure, environmental impacts, and local control. The committee also began consideration of PCS for CS for HB 433, an agriculture-related bill with changes to surplus lands and other provisions, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program. Program.
• </c> reporting program. reporting program.
• </c> invest program. invest program.
• . programs. programs.
• program and Clean Water Fund programs are both important to conservation efforts and supports the diversion

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These students can still... ...qualify for our Florida Bright Futures Program, which is still completely
• program?
• This program has been one of the most successful water and land conservation programs in the nation,
• Members, investing more in these programs will help our communities be more secure in the future.
• Members, investing more in these programs will help our communities be more secure in the future.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would also say, again, the conservation easement.
• I'm a theologically conservative Christian and a politically conservative voter.
• This certification program is completely voluntary.
• It's a very high level certification program, much different than a fire academy type program that you
• What we're asking for is a grant program.

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• trade or a two-year program or a four-year program.
• This is one of those types of programs.
• So the approved supplier program, which is the program that I am privileged to steward.
• to also impact senior centers, senior nutrition programs, including Office of Indian Elder Affairs programs
• So the New Mexico Grown Program Again, I spoke to the fact that this is an incentive program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Office's Salmon Recovery Funding Board program.
• This program was created two years ago and passed unanimously by the Senate to create a program that
• Critically, this is not a grant program.
• and youth hip-hop residency program.
• program and youth hip-hop residency program.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Budget staff said the proposal uses nearly all of the roughly $400 million in available bond capacity, leaving about $5.4 million unused, and includes additional funding from the Common School Construction account, the Climate Commitment Account, and federal funds. OFM described housing as the largest priority, with $237 million total, including $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund for affordable rental housing, homeownership, preservation, and manufactured home community acquisition; it also highlighted urgent state facility needs, climate and clean energy investments, natural resource projects, and education funding for school seismic safety, small district and tribal compact school modernization, lead pipe remediation, and higher education preservation projects. Committee members asked about the timing of housing production, and OFM said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the biennium. Public testimony in the housing section strongly supported the governor’s housing investments, especially the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and homeownership programs, while several speakers asked for larger appropriations for workforce housing, community land trusts, right-to-counsel, and specific local projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, Casa Mia, and Native and immigrant community facilities. One testifier criticized overall state tax policy, but the chair clarified that the capital budget is bonded and does not directly raise taxes. Testimony on K-12 education generally supported the proposed funding for small school modernization, seismic safety, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools lead remediation, with rural districts emphasizing the importance of planning and construction grants for aging facilities. Higher education witnesses supported preservation and deferred maintenance funding but asked for additional support for projects at Cascadia College, WSU Spokane, UW’s decarbonization work, and other campus infrastructure needs. Natural resources testimony backed Salmon Recovery Funding Board and community forest investments, while asking for more funding for ranked RCO projects. In the final section, local governments and utilities opposed a proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance account to the operating budget, warning it would reduce infrastructure lending capacity; other speakers supported the Washington State Green Bank, public works financing, and several local economic development and utility projects. No votes or formal committee action were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, future times as can you speak to what the future time may be?
• It's not just... ...and conservative Democrats.
• And for future witnesses that are in the waiting room, please address For future witnesses that are in
• I'm a proud Republican conservative, and I do support this redistricting because we have many conservative
• Republican conservative living in the Rio Grande Valley.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting held its first regional hearing, focused on South and Central Texas, including Bexar County, Travis County, and the Rio Grande Valley. After establishing a quorum, the committee adopted its rules on a 6-3 roll-call vote, with Senators Alvarado and Miles voting no. Chair Phil King explained the regional-hearing format, the use of 2020 census data, the online testimony process, and the availability of written comments and future hearings. Several members then gave opening remarks, with Republicans emphasizing public input and Democrats arguing the special session and mid-decade redistricting were unnecessary and aimed at minority districts. A major procedural issue arose over whether the committee should invite or subpoena the DOJ attorney who authored the July 7 letter that prompted the redistricting discussion. Senator Miles moved to subpoena the attorney; the motion was seconded but then set aside after the chair said the committee could not take formal action on a non-procedural matter during a regional hearing under the adopted rules. The chair said he would consult legal counsel about issuing an invitation, and members discussed the August 7 deadline referenced in the DOJ letter. The committee then moved on to public testimony. Witnesses, including Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, law professor Ellen Katz, and Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe, argued that the DOJ letter misread the law and that the targeted districts were lawful opportunity or coalition districts. They said the Fifth Circuit’s Pettway decision was limited to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and did not declare coalition districts unconstitutional, and they cited Bartlett v. Strickland as warning against intentionally dismantling effective minority districts. Garcia and Bledsoe said the hearing was politically motivated and would harm Black and Latino representation; Katz said Texas would act illegally if it followed the DOJ letter’s instructions. Members asked questions about the legal status of coalition districts, the 2021 map-drawing process, and the difference between opportunity, coalition, and crossover districts. The hearing continued with additional public witnesses, including labor representative Emily Amps, who said workers and communities of color were being harmed by the proposed redistricting effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then are there any new positions that you foresee in the near future that would fall into this program
• We have a program. This is one of several programs, but probably...
• Agri programs represent one of Minnesota's most strategic commitments to our state's agricultural future
• future.
• 80 growers who've been part of this program, and the program is growing.

Bills: HF3692

Keywords: Farmer-Lender Mediation Act, mediation, agriculture finance, debt relief, civil law, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Soil Conservation Service.
• to form conservation districts.
• the Soil Conservation Service.
• the Soil Conservation Service.
• to form conservation districts.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and foremost be a jobs program for the employees.
• This program, which is identical to the tax credit, will be a jobs program for a stand-up.
• Gabriel Tolson with the Planning and Conservation League, in support.
• The California Conservation Camp program gives them an opportunity to do real work in real conditions
• Camp program to state-approved apprenticeships.

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime wage costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, and other agricultural groups, argued that California’s ag overtime law has reduced take-home pay by limiting hours and that the credit would help employers continue offering overtime while putting more money back into workers’ paychecks. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the bill would subsidize employers for complying with the law, shift costs to taxpayers, and set a precedent for industry-specific carve-outs. The bill was held in subcommittee and taken up later when more members arrived. The committee then considered SB 1083, a follow-up to last year’s school employee misconduct database law. Senator Perez said the bill would add due process protections for classified school employees by requiring an administrative law judge review before placement in the statewide egregious misconduct database, require notice when an employee leaves during an investigation, and extend vetting to some contractors and non-permanent workers. Supporters, including the California School Employees Association and California Federation of Teachers, said the bill balances student safety with fairness for employees who could be wrongly accused. Opponents, including school business officials, joint powers authorities, administrators, and school employers, warned the bill could delay investigations, create conflicting timelines, and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved SB 1083 on a 3-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. SB 1089, authored by Senator Richardson, would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications for chronic weight management and direct CalRx to help make the drugs more affordable. The senator described the bill as a response to personal experience with coverage denials and high out-of-pocket costs, and said broader access could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Diabetes Association and other medical groups supported the measure, citing diabetes prevention and treatment benefits, while a pharmaceutical industry representative said there were still concerns but noted ongoing discussions. The committee passed SB 1089 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar. The committee next heard SB 954, which would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by narrowing the definition and adding environmental, tribal, labor, and community protections, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce requirements, and review for projects near disadvantaged communities. Support came from labor unions, environmental groups, and community organizations, which said the bill would restore oversight and prevent harmful projects from bypassing CEQA. Business groups and chambers of commerce opposed, arguing the bill would make the exemption too restrictive, discourage investment, and worsen California’s manufacturing job losses. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1299, which would codify training and certification standards for fire sprinkler fitters after a court decision invalidated prior regulations on procedural grounds; the author and supporters said the bill is needed to protect public safety and ensure qualified installation of fire suppression systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:31.440><c> for</c> striving to create a better future for striving to create a better future
• ><c> already</c><00:42:01.520><c> been</c> The Medicaid program that's already been The Medicaid program
• ><c> positive</c> program has already shown positive program has already shown positive educational<01
• </c> Department of Justice grant programs Department of Justice grant programs that<02:22:19.200><c>
• . future. future.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> coordinate the activities of the program coordinate the activities of the program Statewide<00:03
• Jenny Grim, Forestry Program Manager, Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
• Jenny Grim, Forestry Program Manager, Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
• conservation conservation enforcement<01:39:41.639><c> uh</c><01:39:41.760><c> on</c><01:39:42.040><
• </c> measure forward or this future measure forward or this future discussions<01:41:24.280><c> as</c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you'll see the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block grant program.
• program.
• or UIC program.
• program.
• This program falls under the TCEQ TURP program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The revolving loan fund, then you'll see the energy efficiency conservation block grant program.
• over the life of the program.
• The Lone Star Program. Now the Lone Star Program has some federal dollars intermixed with it.
• or UIC program.
• This program falls under the TCEQ TURP Program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing the Arizona sportsmen for wildlife conservation.
• I'm representing the Arizona sportsmen for wildlife conservation.
• I can go into some more details on the program.
• adding it on to the statewide consistent one-source program.
• I'm Chuck Podalak, also with Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• : the local road and bridge programs and the wetland replacement program.
• program.
• : the local road and bridge programs and the wetland replacement program.
• : the local road and bridge programs and the wetland replacement program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all