Transcript Highlights:

• everywhere this morning, we are reading the section of Exodus, chapters 18-20, that contains the Ten Commandments
• You've probably heard of them, but just before the Ten Commandments in Exodus 18, there's an interesting

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was proud many of these systems were recently used.” “Other techniques.
• I was proud many of these systems were recently used in Iran and Venezuela.
• It's different from the other schools in the system. It is supposed to be small.
• The GI Bill put a huge amount of new money into the higher education system.
• And I really feel that this committee... ...system, but that's part of our job.

Bills: S1570, S1376

Keywords: missing persons, special needs, autism, search-and-rescue, Florida, voluntary program, funding, genetic counseling, education grants, state universities, faculty recruitment, student financial assistance

Summary: The committee heard and approved two bills before moving to a long confirmation agenda. SB 1570, by Sen. Gates, would restore Project Leo, a previously sunset program that helps locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination between CARD centers and local sheriffs; it was praised as a proven tool for families and first responders and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1376, by Sen. Burgess, would create grants to support genetic counseling education and help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors; testimony noted the state’s limited supply of licensed counselors and the need to expand clinical training, and the bill also passed favorably. The committee then considered a block of reappointments to university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and others. No one requested separate votes on the reappointments, and the block was confirmed unanimously for recommendation to the next committee. A series of new appointees then appeared and largely emphasized workforce training, nursing, military support, and local economic development at their institutions. Witnesses included appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, FIU, UWF, Valencia, the College of the Florida Keys, and others; several highlighted strong NCLEX pass rates, dual enrollment, and partnerships with employers or military communities. One nominee, Florida Poly reappointment Ilya Shapiro, faced pointed questioning from Sen. Bracey Davis about past comments regarding race and the Supreme Court; he said his remarks were about hiring criteria, not a specific justice, and reiterated opposition to race- or sex-based selection. The committee also briefly struggled to reach Sherry Young by phone before hearing her testimony for Chipola College, where she said she wanted to give back as an alumna and nurse practitioner. Most new appointees were recommended for confirmation in a block, while Thomas Zachary Smith of UWF was pulled for separate consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was proud many of these systems were recently used in Iran and Venezuela.
• It's different from the other schools in the system. It is supposed to be small.
• the system. It is supposed to be small. We don't have grades. It's an honors college.
• The GI Bill put a huge amount of new money into the higher education system.
• And I really feel that this committee system, but that's part of our job.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not an actual system. It's the water system, but hydraulics is what it's called.
• They send this message that our system cannot be trusted, even though it is the very system that brought
• They send this message that our system cannot be trusted, even though it is the very system that brought
• And hopefully this will become law and we will continue to make our election system, our voting system
• The way the current K-12 system The way the current K-12 system works with the Guardian program is it

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and finally it removes the study required by the Department of Commerce on electronic shelf label systems
• and finally it removes the study required by the Department of Commerce on electronic shelf label systems
• Waters, and this amendment removes the moratorium prohibiting the use of an electronic shelf label system
• Yes, House Bill 2503 relates to documentation regarding data used to train an AI system and a generative
• AI system, and there is one amendment in the bill, Pool 162, by Representative Shavers.

Summary: The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee met in executive session on January 28, 2026, and advanced six bills. House Bill 2325, creating a tourism self-supported assessment program for statewide tourism promotion, was amended to add certain large restaurants and retailers, adjust enforcement and governance provisions, and remove a recommendation tied to an advisory report; the committee adopted Amendment 264 and reported the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation by a 12-0 vote, with one member excused. Members supporting the bill emphasized tourism’s economic benefits, local flexibility, and the need for stronger statewide marketing funding. House Bill 2481, addressing surveillance-based price discrimination and surge pricing for retail goods, drew the most discussion. Representative Kloba withdrew the proposed substitute, and the committee voted on the bill as written. Members debated affordability, grocery pricing fairness, and the impact on businesses; Representative Waters said she would work on the issue further but urged a no vote. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused. House Bill 2503, on documentation for data used to train AI systems, was amended to require posting information describing efforts to remove child sexual abuse material from training datasets. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and accountability in AI, while opponents warned the measure could burden startups and smaller developers. The amended bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused. House Bill 2397, concerning reimbursement timing under the State Fire Services Mobilization Plan, was amended so the 60-day reimbursement clock starts when complete documentation is received; it passed unanimously with one excused. House Bill 2278, on tourism promotion areas, and House Bill 2417, updating victim protections under the Washington Code of Military Justice, were both reported out unanimously with one excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:05:31.759><c> flight</c> communication systems, flight communication systems, flight controllers
• ,</c> controllers, navigation systems, controllers, navigation systems, batteries,<00:05:37.039><c> smart
• </c><00:27:12.960><c> critical</c> spying on water systems critical spying on water systems critical
• into the water system.
• </c> and not more than $2,000 per incident. and not more than $2,000 per incident.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But thank you for being here and thank you for your commitment to our university system.
• I was proud many of these systems were recently used in Iran and Venezuela.
• It's different from the other schools in the system. It is supposed to be small.
• The GI Bill put a huge amount of new money into the higher education system.
• The GI Bill put a huge amount of new money into the higher education system.

Summary: The committee on Higher Education Appropriations heard and favorably reported two bills: SB 1570, which revives the former Project Leo program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices, and CS/SB 1376, which creates a grant program to support genetic counseling education in response to a statewide shortage of genetic counselors. Both bills drew supportive comments, with the genetic counseling bill also receiving public support from a university representative. The committee then took up a large slate of confirmations. It first approved a block of reappointments to various university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and Broward College. It then heard from numerous new appointees and some requested reappointments, many of whom emphasized workforce training, nursing, military and veteran support, dual enrollment, and local economic development as priorities for their institutions. Several nominees highlighted their personal ties to the schools and communities they would serve, including appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, UWF, FIU, the College of the Florida Keys, Valencia College, and Chipola College. Committee members repeatedly asked about nursing NCLEX pass rates, workforce alignment, and institutional growth. One reappointment, Thomas Zachary Smith to the UWF board, was pulled from the block for separate questioning about his past public comments and his role in Project 2025; he said he would serve in his personal capacity and treat all students equally. The committee also separately heard from a Florida Poly reappointment, I. Shapiro, who was questioned about prior remarks regarding race and Supreme Court nominations, and from a New College reappointment, Mark Bowerlaine, who described campus improvements and enrollment growth. The meeting ended amid ongoing confirmation processing and separate votes on the remaining nominees.

Transcript Highlights:

• potential backlog issues, and one of the things that came up is we have established a kit tracking system
• for several years, and that kit tracking system can tell us where kits are and where they might be delayed
• system that enables someone to like<00:04:02.080><c> ensure</c><00:04:02.400><c> that</c><00:04:02.560
• And I would be happy to discuss those measures for everyone in the system.
• </c> the system. the system.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on SB 145, which would require sexual assault evidence kits to be delivered to the state forensic lab within seven business days and analyzed more promptly. Pamela Kyle of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said the bill was developed after survivor concerns and extensive discussions with the Departments of Safety and Justice. She explained that most agencies already deliver kits quickly, but some kits sit for months, and the bill is intended to add structure without penalties while preserving chain of custody. Members discussed the use of common carriers or courier services for transport, the need for clear rules, and whether carriers would know what they were transporting. Representative Papovich offered amendment 2025-2301H to remove the reimbursement program for police shipping costs, arguing it would add administrative overhead and was unnecessary. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, and the committee then voted OTPA on SB 145 as amended, with members voting yes on the roll call. The committee then opened a work session on SB 295, and the sponsor presented a replace-all amendment intended to simplify and clarify the Education Freedom Account bill without changing its purpose. The amendment would remove income-cap language, define priority enrollment groups, establish an enrollment cap for the EFA program, and create rolling enrollment rules. It would set a 10,000-student cap for the 2025-2026 school year, allow the cap to increase by 25% if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior cap, and ensure current participants can remain enrolled. The amendment also provides that certain sections would later be repealed once the Department of Education certifies that applications have not exceeded the cap for two consecutive school years. The sponsor walked through the amendment section by section, explaining that the bill is structured in two phases: one while caps exist and another after they are no longer needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consider Psalm 78:5-6: He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded
• is a positive step toward reestablishing good citizenship as a central aim of our public education system

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• seems to be committed to that commitment. the current plan for both lander redundancies, space launch systems
• Chairman, I move that P.N. 114, nomination of John Manzillio to be the Lieutenant Commander, be favorably

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Troop G troop commander.
• I'm the Troop G troop commander.
• I'm the Troop G troop commander. Colin. I'm the Troop G troop commander.
• Um component of a steering or<00:48:15.359><c> suspension</c><00:48:15.920><c> system</c><00:48:16.160
• that is loose or or suspension system that is loose or improperly<00:48:17.680><c> secured.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Ten Commandments bill we're looking at. Is that correct? >> Chaplain's bill. Excuse me.
• And our constitution says each county has to have their own school system.
• </c><00:04:56.000><c> And</c><00:04:56.160><c> this</c> have their own school system.
• And this have their own school system.
• Um, the school system board is the one that would have to then move forward as far as the vote.

Bills: HB8, HB380, HB8, HB380

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the same um system<00:45:34.400><c> that</c> system that system that 173B,<00:45:37.040><c> the<
• </c> person who can't get free of the system. person who can't get free of the system.
• </c> One can't get the system to protect her. One can't get the system to protect her.
• </c><02:49:39.120><c> failed</c> it's the truth that the system failed it's the truth that the system
• </c> and I say it's confirmed it's a systemic and I say it's confirmed it's a systemic problem.<04:35

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, the bill addresses a fundamental fairness issue in Idaho's career ladder system that currently
• Many operate with wait lists and time-bound enrollment systems.
• But school systems do not always adapt with us.
• The U.S. is fortunate to field the most advanced weapon systems in the world.
• They have their routines, their support systems, their stability.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is very possible that the system caught them and then did not allow them to vote.
• But that is something then that once is in the system, that proof remains in the system and it does not
• And right now... ...proof remains in the system and it does not have to be done again.
• I understand that you're speaking directly to the state university system.
• and the voter registration system can truly support these new requirements.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and pledge, and included a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a doctor of the day, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to special order business, with several bills temporarily postponed before taking up a series of measures on health care, public records, cybersecurity, court clerks, trademarks, septic permits, and elections. The first major bill, CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, would require hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, train staff, designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment, and have AHCA publish scores and adopt minimum standards. Senator Harrell said the bill was intended to ensure emergency rooms are prepared for children, and it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which protects victim identities and temporarily exempts the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim from disclosure, after questions about access for victims of police misconduct; it passed 33-4. The chamber then approved CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, after adopting an amendment and an amendment to the amendment that kept the program within Florida Digital Service and extended the grant-award timeline; Harrell said it would help local governments defend against ransomware and hacking, and it passed 37-0. CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments that let clerks retain more excess revenue and adjusted related fee distributions, though Leader Berman warned it would shift revenue away from municipalities and law enforcement. CS/HB 679 on trademark registration and CS/HB 589 on septic system permits also passed unanimously after technical amendments, with the septic bill intended to reduce permit delays and clarify liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/HB 991, which incorporated citizenship verification using Real ID data, changed candidate-qualifying rules, altered acceptable voter IDs, and added other election-related provisions. Multiple amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to preserve student and senior IDs for voting, exempt some seniors from citizenship-document requirements, rely on human review rather than automated systems, and delay implementation. Supporters argued the bill would improve election integrity and address non-citizen registration and voting, citing state reports and examples of prosecutions; opponents argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors, and create barriers based on access to documents. The amendment package was adopted, and debate on the underlying bill continued with questions about federal law, documentation, and whether voters could still participate if state verification failed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that we could impose a system here that the state can simply say this is a fake ID based upon
• I think that we could<00:52:37.120><c> impose</c><00:52:37.640><c> a</c><00:52:37.720><c> system</c><
• that the could impose a system here that the state<00:52:39.960><c> can</c><00:52:40.160><c> simply<
• </c><01:07:14.880><c> stations</c><01:07:15.400><c> to</c> process of of command stations to process
• of of command stations to navigate<01:07:16.040><c> the</c><01:07:16.160><c> process</c><01:07:16.760

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Often it's going to be with the VA Pacific Island Healthcare system, which is our primary system here
• that is our [clears throat] system that is our [clears throat] primary<00:26:44.559><c> system</c><00
• </c> support from Hawaii Correctional System support from Hawaii Correctional System Oversight<00:38:
• </c><01:12:11.360><c> These</c> system doesn't make any sense. These system doesn't make any sense.
• That's how that system works.

Bills: HB1531

Keywords: emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1913, which would create a mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veteran Services for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home and appropriate funds for it. Supporters said veterans, especially on the neighbor islands, need more mental health access and coordination. Several witnesses, including Sean Sonatada and Tom Driscoll, supported the intent but urged amendments to broaden the position beyond one facility and make it a statewide resource. Committee members questioned whether the bill would duplicate existing services at the veterans home and whether the position would be reimbursable through federal VA funding; testimony indicated the state would appropriate the money, while existing home services are already covered through current staff and federal reimbursement structures. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 9, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart state. Testifiers generally supported the measure as a way to honor wounded veterans and their families, though one member asked what benefits the designation would confer. Witnesses clarified that the bill was mainly symbolic and did not appear to create new benefits, and one testifier noted Honolulu County had already adopted a similar Purple Heart designation. The committee then took up House Bill 1628, which would establish a compassionate release protocol for certain seriously ill or debilitated incarcerated persons. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Hawaii Paroling Authority opposed the bill, arguing that an existing administrative process already works, that the bill could improperly extend eligibility to people serving life without parole or mandatory minimum sentences, and that it lacked victim and family input and sufficient resources. In contrast, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission strongly supported the bill, saying it would reduce the high cost of incarcerating people with complex medical needs, ease burdens on staff and the prison population, and better reflect human dignity. The commission described having seen severe suffering and deaths in custody and said compassionate release is warranted in some cases. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> DCR will incorporate the system-wide DCR will incorporate the system-wide recommended<00:04:35.720
• level, so larger justice the systems level, so larger justice systems<00:21:06.760><c> reform,</c><00
• , impacted by the justice system, or supporting the system, or providing care for those in and out of
• the system itself.
• , or uh system, or supporting the system, or uh providing<00:24:28.840><c> care</c><00:24:29.080><c>

Bills: SR185, HB2452, HB2329, HB2272, HB2273, HB2335, HB1656, HB2207, HB2289, HB1854, HB2581, HB20, HB2296, HB1707, HB2297, HB1890, HB2241, HB2474, HB1688, HB2546, HB1574, HB1546, HB2218, HB1163, HB1514, HB1749, HB2385, HB1576, HB1974, HB2022, HB1973, HB2005, HB1894, HB1515, HB1718, HB1591, HB2475, HB1721, HB1864, HB1946, HB1920

Keywords: Department of Education, capital improvement program, performance audit, infrastructure, transparency, state bonds, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, bond authorization, state debt limit, constitutional debt limit, Article VII Section 13, Hawaii bonds, state borrowing, public finance, capital improvement projects, supplemental appropriations, judiciary appropriations, refunding bonds, reimbursable bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric McClure, state court administrator, waives in support for the state court system.
• Specifically, the amendment creates a definition for regional stormwater management systems.
• , mental health incidents, and homelessness calls.
• , mental health incidents, and homelessness calls.
• We have a system right now where we deal with rules of evidence.

Bills: S0092, S0110, S0192, S0212, S0260, S0350, S0394, S0422, S0434, S0442, S0484, S0546, S0556, S0684, S0696, S0706, S0748, S0786, S0820, S0824, S0838, S0840, S0848, S0856, S0962, S1000, S1014, S1036, S1050, S1054, S1080, S1118, S1134, S1338, S1480, S1500, S1506, S1622, S1724

Keywords: employee protections, whistleblower, retaliation, public trust, ethics complaint, Commission on Ethics, Public Employees Relations Commission, public employee, local government attorney, public officer, adverse personnel action, protected disclosure, whistleblower retaliation, state agency, independent contractor, public employment, civil service, reinstatement, back pay, front pay

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and considered a long agenda of bills, many of them retained from the prior week. The most debated measure was CS for SB 706, which would preempt naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designate Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport, subject to FAA approval and a trademark agreement. Amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to prevent private financial benefit from the naming. Several senators spoke in opposition, citing concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and the trademark/licensing arrangement; supporters argued there was no cost to the airport and that the bill simply set a state naming policy. The committee reported the bill favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably CS for SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements, CS for CS for SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, CS for SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, SB 962 on excluding farms from certain zoning definitions, and CS for SB 820 on problem-solving court reporting requirements. The committee then approved several bills from Senator DiCeglie and Senator Arrington. SB 840, addressing land-use regulations for local governments affected by natural disasters, was supported by local-government and environmental advocates who said it would restore local control after SB 180’s hurricane-related restrictions; the sponsor said it was intended to correct unintended consequences of last year’s law. CS for SB 856, requiring online listing platforms to show estimated ad valorem taxes on residential listings, was amended to exclude social media platforms and broaden liability protections; the sponsor and a county property appraiser described it as a consumer-transparency measure. CS for SB 110, clarifying homestead exemption treatment for long-term leases that end at death, was also reported favorably. The committee took up a controversial strike-all amendment to SB 212, which focused on public swimming pools and added residency and related restrictions for certain sex offenders and offenders on community control or probation. The amendment drew strong opposition from advocates and affected families, who argued it would worsen homelessness, impose broad geographic restrictions, and lack evidence of improving child safety; supporters said it was a targeted public-safety measure. Despite the objections, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total-loss vehicle and vessel titles, SB 394 on reinsurance intermediary managers, SB 434 on property tax assessment treatment for wind-hardening improvements, CS for CS for SBs 658 and 608 on water-safety requirements for rental properties with pools or nearby water, SB 748 on adding voting-rights restoration information to sentencing score sheets, and CS for SB 824 requiring school districts to inventory unimproved real property. The meeting ended while the committee was beginning SB 848 on stormwater treatment, with an amendment being introduced as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• that you have been intoxicated and you decide to leave, well, that intoxication all gets out of your system
• That person sobers up or whatever; it may not be in their system.
• up or whatever, it may not be<00:20:39.600><c> in</c><00:20:39.840><c> their</c><00:20:40.000><c> system
• > this</c><00:20:40.960><c> is</c><00:20:41.200><c> going</c><00:20:41.360><c> to</c> be in their system
• So this is going to be in their system.

Bills: SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, HB132, HB37, HB13, HB54, HB126, HB7, SB30, HB188, HB189, HB26, HB264, HB288, HB248, HB249, HB227, HB228, HB132, HB37, HB13, HB54, HB126, HB7, SB30, HB188, HB189, HB26, HB264, HB288, HB248, HB249, HB227, HB228

Keywords: Lieutenant Governor, vacancy, governor appointment, Alabama Constitution, state government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery