Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:44:12.960><c> you</c><00:44:13.119><c> know,</c> for for suicides and and you know, for for suicides
• Each of those subcommittees had primary responsibility for at least one chapter of the penal code that
• Each of those subcommittees had primary responsibility for at least one chapter of the penal code that
• Thank you, and thank you for working with us to provide some language to amend the bill to achieve what
• Thank you, and thank you for working with us to provide some language to amend the bill to achieve what

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided. Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions. The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> to</c> widely known for her dedicated work to widely known for her dedicated work to the<00:45:41.119
• He was right to hire him a few months later for my staff to work for her.
• </c><04:46:51.280><c> his</c><04:46:51.440><c> work</c> freshman out of Washington for his work freshman
• We are so grateful for their work in Congress.
• </c><05:34:49.040><c> hard</c> room for people who wanted to work hard room for people who wanted to

Transcript Highlights:

• work in the upcoming session.
• So for the teachers in Berlin, for example, I'm wondering what accreditation program you work with.
• Yet we work hard to make ends meet for our students.
• Thank you so much for your volunteer service and the difficult work you do for our state.
• I thank you for the work that you do.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on strategic resource management in public education. LESC staff and PED officials argued that New Mexico has increased school funding, but local budgeting and planning remain fragmented and overly compliance-driven. They described long-term pressures including declining enrollment, rising special education costs, falling cash balances, changes in federal funding, and leadership turnover, and said schools need more intentional multi-year planning tied to student outcomes. They also outlined the many disconnected planning requirements schools must complete, compared New Mexico’s current approach with Ohio’s three-year budget forecasting model, and recommended continuing multi-year appropriations, adding $2.5 million for state grants in the unified application, and directing LESC, LFC, and PED to develop a long-term financial planning proposal. PED said it is working to reduce administrative burden through school accreditation, a unified application for federal and state funds, and internal alignment of guidance and coaching, with pilot schools reporting time savings and better alignment. Members raised concerns about four-day school weeks, the burden on small districts, the need for outcomes and return on investment, and whether the state should move toward a two-year or three-year planning cycle; staff clarified that the proposal was to streamline or eliminate redundant requirements, not add another layer. The committee then received an update on the Educator Fellows program. PED described it as a Grow Your Own pipeline that employs candidates as supplemental educational assistants while they work toward licensure, providing salary, benefits, paid leave, mentoring, and coursework support. Officials said the program helps address teacher shortages, improves student-to-teacher ratios, increases workforce diversity, and supports the Martinez-Yazzie action plan. They reported 370 current fellows across 86 LEAs and about 180 schools, with many fellows being people of color, first-generation college students, or second-career educators; roughly 85 are expected to become certified this year. A local HR director from Belen testified that the program has been especially valuable in small communities, where fellows are already rooted in the community and several have moved into teaching roles. Members asked about high school recruitment, tuition, retirement and benefits, the relationship to the Higher Education Department’s Grow Your Own scholarship, and the role of university partners. PED said fellows choose among accredited higher education partners, the program is separate from the scholarship but complementary, and the state is also building an apprenticeship model and seeking to expand the program to more LEAs, though some districts are on a waiting list because of funding and local match requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to begin by thanking Representative Bonner and other authors for their work on this bill and for
• I want to begin by thanking Representative Bonner and other authors for their work on this bill and for
• I want to begin by thanking Representative Bonner and other authors for their work on this bill and for
• </c><00:32:24.240><c> the</c> work a lot of volunteer hours for the work a lot of volunteer hours for
• </c><01:18:59.360><c> neighbors</c><01:18:59.760><c> to</c> for neighbors to work with neighbors to for

Transcript Highlights:

• But thank you for your clarifying answers, Senator Burgess, and I appreciate your work on this.
• the mental health of inmates eligible for work assignments or work programs and document an inmate's
• the mental health of inmates eligible for work assignments or work programs and document an inmate's
• work as we prepare for future hurricanes.
• I want to thank Chair Burgess and his staff for working on this bill.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's going to start some more conversations about how everyone can work together, and for the
• About how everyone can work together and for the protection of bases also.
• I want to thank the committee staff for their thoughtful work reflected in the amendment.
• So thank you for this bill and appreciate you already showing how hard you're going to work to get it
• But the folks clamored for Olive Garden. I worked many of my teenage...

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard a full agenda of local and policy bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved HB 4019, capping Lake County inmate health care and emergency transport reimbursements at percentages tied to Medicare; HB 97, allowing small counties to opt back into transportation concurrency; HB 267, expanding SHIP/local housing assistance eligibility to mobile home owners paying lot rent; HB 351, creating a framework for concurrent state jurisdiction over certain matters involving military installations, with an amendment changing the bill to say the state “may accept” jurisdiction; HB 4013, revising and merging fire district boundaries in Lee County; HB 481, increasing public nuisance fines and strengthening nuisance abatement and foreclosure procedures; HB 4025, conveying state land to the Village of Tequesta for continued park use; and HB 4017, repealing an obsolete Nassau County recreation and water control district, as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on HB 299, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which would create a voluntary framework for very large developments that dedicate 60% of land to conservation while allowing compact, walkable development and affordable housing on the remainder. The sponsor argued it would balance growth, conservation, and housing affordability without new bureaucracy, while opponents from Audubon Florida, county groups, and local governments warned the bill could weaken local planning, lack enforceable conservation safeguards, and allow nonconservation uses within reserved areas. Supporters said it could preserve large tracts of land at no taxpayer cost and improve long-range planning. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying reserve areas, allowing use of the state’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, requiring easements be provided without charge, and aligning affordability definitions with existing programs. The bill then passed favorably as amended, with some members voting no. The committee also approved HB 4023, a local bill adjusting the boundaries of the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District in Collier County, with no change to the district’s powers and duties. Several bills drew supportive testimony from local officials, industry groups, or affected residents, and some had amendments adopted without objection. At the end of the meeting, the chair noted it was the last interim committee week meeting, thanked members and staff, and encouraged continued stakeholder engagement ahead of session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, this is done mainly with work groups, one ad hoc subcommittee.
• We're pleased to do the work in public, and there's a lot of webcast for the work that was done in the
• Chair, thank you for your leadership and the committee's work on economic development.
• for tribal, and then overall $10 million set aside for...
• Thank you for all your hard work. Tell your members we appreciate it.

Bills: SB145 , SB143

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank NDI for 31 years of amazing work across New Mexico, and I want to thank all the students
• And so for today, Mr.
• Incredible work. Work done by an incredible organization.
• My son Ryan, who's been working very hard for the last few years to get into medical school.
• All right, members, that'll conclude for today. Good work. A lot of bill introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Working with you doing this legislative session to provide the resources necessary for you to continue
• Thank you all for being here. Thank you for all the great work.
• So, thank you for the work you all do, and welcome to the state capitol. Thank you.
• She did a lot of work in terms of health care. for this country and also for this state.
• My wife Jill and I have worked with Meals on Wheels for, gosh, more than 30 years.

Bills: SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR36 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB9 , SB40

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:55.600><c> for</c> developing what we that worked for developing what we that worked for Fanny
• worked</c><00:31:58.080><c> for</c><00:31:58.159><c> the</c> Fanny, worked for Freddie, worked for the
• This has been a work in progress, an education for me working on this bill.
• For these reasons, I urge the committee to amend HB 2026 through your work sessions so that it reflects
• </c><04:42:50.958><c> sessions</c> going to start having work sessions going to start having work sessions

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm on my own to pay for their care because I'm a working mom.
• So thank you so much for your advocacy and work.
• Representative McFarlane, as always, thank you for working your bill.
• So thank you so much for your advocacy and work.
• Representative McFarlane, as always, thank you for working your bill.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met and first took up HB 47, Child Care and Early Learning Providers, sponsored by Rep. McFarland. The bill was presented as an effort to reduce child care costs and regulatory burdens by exempting preschools from special tax assessments, moving teacher training and testing online and making it free, allowing abbreviated inspections for top providers, extending license-exempt status to employer-provided child care, and addressing an insurance issue affecting family child care homes. Members asked about DCF transparency, accreditation, background screening timelines, accountability for exempt facilities, and whether violations would still be searchable; McFarland said accreditation would still be required, DCF reporting and abuse hotlines would remain available, and the bill would not eliminate existing transparency for licensed providers. An amendment was adopted to add clarifying language and exempt certain DOD and Coast Guard child care facilities operated by DOD personnel. Several witnesses and members spoke in support, emphasizing workforce needs, affordability, and safety. HB 47 was reported favorably by a vote of 18-0. The committee then heard HB 259, which designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day. Rep. Gerwig said the bill is intended to raise awareness of fentanyl’s dangers and overdose risks. Members spoke in strong support, citing fentanyl’s impact on families, youth, and first responders, and the need for education because fentanyl is often unknowingly ingested or mixed into other drugs. Gerwig also described a personal example involving a child exposed to fentanyl in a vacation rental. HB 259 was reported favorably by a vote of 17-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are trying to do active surveillance for that, and we're working in conjunction with USDA as well
• And then we worked really closely with the Racing Commission on the Coggins for the racehorses.
• We worked with SPO on that spreadsheet to do that. Okay, thank you for that.
• Thank you very much for your work and your presentation; it is deeply appreciated.
• Madam Chair, we work closely with our federal grants for every state dollar that we expect.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, just want to thank the committee for their work on this bill. ...respectfully ask for an aye
• Thank you, and thank you for working with us on the amendments and also for your leadership in this area
• I would like to start by thanking the Chair for working with us and Dory for the thorough analysis.
• And thank you again for your commitment to work with us and your sponsor as well.
• Thank you so much for your leadership and your thoughtful approach to this and for working with the committee

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I wonder if there's an opportunity that maybe is still untapped for for people who work in tech and who
• of work, we know that our school board members make very important decisions for our kids, for our schools
• And I want to thank also the opposition for working with the committee.
• those for there to be incentives for locals to do these programs and put in the extra work and the effort
• I first want to start off by thanking Chesla for her work on this bill.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry for those that are behind me.
• Thank you for joining. Thank you for joining. Thank you, Chair Brian and committee members.
• Thank you for your time and leadership. SB 653. Thank you for your time and leadership. Great.
• We work to support... ...and native habitat for wildlife.
• I appreciate working with Mr. Montgomery on this bill. I ask for your aye vote.

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee met with some initial delay while waiting for quorum, then approved the consent calendar items SB 234, SB 484, and SB 839. The committee heard several bills focused on wildfire mitigation, biomass use, climate resilience, and geologic hazard mapping. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance climate, air quality, public health, and land management goals, with testimony both supporting and opposing biomass-related proposals. SB 88 (Caballero) would direct state agencies to support beneficial uses of forest and agricultural biomass, including biochar and low-carbon energy. Supporters argued it would reduce open burning, improve air quality, and create rural economic opportunities; opponents, including environmental groups, argued woody biomass energy is costly, polluting, and harmful to forests and communities. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 653 (Cortese) defining environmentally sensitive vegetation management also passed, with supporters describing it as a voluntary framework to align wildfire fuel reduction with biodiversity and habitat restoration; no opposition was heard, and a member requested to be added as a coauthor. The committee also approved SCR 50 (Stern), which urges state climate agencies to define maladaptation and develop criteria for reviewing climate-related policies and investments, and SB 567 (Limón), a pilot program to study converting idle oil wells into gravity energy storage wells. SB 567 drew support from the sponsor and labor/local government witnesses, while the Water Replenishment District opposed unless amended, citing groundwater protection concerns in key basins and asking for additional safeguards. Finally, SB 831 (Limón) passed, clarifying the scope of geologic hazards to include conditions tied to climate change and natural disasters such as post-fire debris flows, subsidence, and coastal erosion. All measures were reported out of committee, with several absent-member votes later added to complete the roll.

Transcript Highlights:

• be able to utilize their home pools for swimming education. for work requirements, a 1-month for work
• Becker for working on this together. Um, Rep.
• Becker for working on this together. Um, Rep.
• Bierman, for working on this together. Um, Rep.
• </c> for working on this together. for working on this together. Um<00:45:39.640><c> Rep.

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank the committee for this work on 155 munitions and getting it going again, but we have to do more
• Senator, very sincerely thank you for your work on this.
• We are going to have to figure out and work together to create unique pathways for the cyber experts
• Very sincerely, Senator, I thank you and your colleagues for the work on this.
• And so I think taking a deep dive on the incentive structure for how we do waivers and maybe working

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to the chair and the committee staff for their work on this bill.
• A special thank you to Logan Hess and to you for your work on this bill.
• So thank you very much for your work on this. Thank you.
• So thank you so much for that work.
• And I want to thank you for your work. These are hard bills to do.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the questions, for your work in improving this measure, and I respectfully ask for an aye
• I thank the author for your work on this.
• I thank the author for your work on this.
• I thank the author for your work on this, and thank you for working with some of the concerns from the
• I want to thank you for bringing forward this bill and for working with the committee to look at some

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills, with extensive testimony on maternal health, prenatal safety, privacy, valley fever, Medi-Cal contracting, anti-discrimination protections, and health data sharing. SB 32 would require time-and-distance standards for labor and delivery units in health plan networks; the author and supporters said it would address maternity care deserts and improve access, while health plans opposed. SB 646 would require testing and public disclosure for toxic elements in prenatal vitamins; supporters emphasized fetal and maternal safety and transparency, while industry opponents warned it could confuse consumers or lead to reduced nutrient content. Both bills drew broad support from medical and public health groups, and both were advanced on party-line or near-unanimous votes after committee discussion. The committee also approved SB 313, which moves a parent’s birthplace on birth certificates into the confidential section to protect privacy, and SB 297, which directs CDPH to identify high-incidence valley fever regions and publish them for screening and awareness; valley fever experts and supporters stressed rising cases and the need for earlier diagnosis, while local health jurisdictions raised concerns about mandates. SB 324, dealing with Medi-Cal enhanced care management and community supports, would prioritize local community-based organizations and clarify contracting and data practices; it received strong support from nonprofits and community health advocates, with children’s hospitals and health plans seeking amendments, and it was sent forward after amendments were discussed. The committee then considered SB 418, which would codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and allow up to a 12-month prescription supply for hormone therapy when medically necessary. Supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care for transgender patients and others using hormone therapy, including IVF and menopause patients, while opponents argued it would conflict with federal policy and promote harmful treatments. The bill passed to the next committee. Finally, SB 660 would strengthen the California Health and Human Services data exchange framework by creating governance and accountability for data sharing across health and social service entities; supporters said it would reduce duplication and improve care coordination, while some providers and hospital groups raised concerns. It was approved and sent to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. The consent calendar and the other measures were also voted out, with the committee recording the required roll-call votes and sending the bills onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for working with us. Thank you so much for working with us.
• Very thankful for your work. Thank you.
• Very thankful for your work. Thank you.
• So we do allow for that, or we do call for that representation on the work group.
• And here in California, we do work for probably 15 or 16 CSU campuses, the UC system, We do work for

Committee: House Education