Transcript Highlights:

• And that's all part of the federal law, not part of this new law. Leader Pizzo.
• So the 'contracted with' part, what does that mean?
• What, two-part question, three-part question, what is the role of the governor under the Florida Constitution
• Senator Angolia: So that part is in the bill. I understand.
• and to really take part in it.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to answer part of that. I wanted to... I'm going to answer part of that.
• I think it's part of the process. I think it's part of the deterrence. Representative Ely.
• I think it's part of the process. I think it's part of the deterrence.
• The other part of it: these cameras are on all the time.
• The other part of it: these cameras are on all the time.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of as part of our curriculum this time.
• of New Mexico or other parts of the United States.
• There is a time element to, um, a, a natural resource injury, and so part of our investigation, part
• The longest part is the drive there, right?
• Um, and then that's the other part of it, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm part of that housing task force.
• Are you part of the team that's looking at that from a...
• Are you part of the team that's looking at that from a, from, from, Are you part of the team that's looking
• So there will be some parts that I will share sort of verbatim from the report and other parts that I
• a tribe they are or are not a part of.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, that's part of the budget, part of the money that's coming in."
• <00:43:19.359> of are situations I I have been part of are situations I I have been part of
• recommendation and concurred in part recommendation and concurred in part with<00:50:24.800>
• <00:50:27.520> with Justice, which concurred in part with Justice, which concurred in part
• Just curious on the financial disclosure part.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on December 19, with Senators Long and Lang serving as replacements. The committee approved the November 21 minutes and adopted the consent calendar after removing two Department of Health and Human Services items for separate discussion. It then took up an HHS request involving nursing facility rates, where Nathan White explained that $2.2 million would be transferred from a long-term care Medicaid eligibility contract to the nursing facilities budget. He said the funds would offset an otherwise projected 3.9% average rate decrease and bring the overall average change to zero for the next six months, with rates reset again in July under state law. Members asked about the budget adjustment factor, bed counts, and whether additional funds could raise rates further; White said the factor is statutory, capped at 28.76%, and that more money would lower the factor and increase rates. The committee also corrected a date in the request from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and approved the item. The committee next approved another HHS item related to rural health transformation grants. Members confirmed the request covered the full amount applied for this biennium, and asked about the technology component. HHS said the grant is not solely about AI, but about broader technology improvements such as electronic medical records, back-end systems, and tools to improve access and sustainability in underserved areas. The committee approved that item as well. The Judicial Council then requested funds for contract attorneys providing indigent defense on a fixed-fee basis. The council said current funds had already been exhausted and that the new appropriation would be used immediately. Members questioned the size of the request and the number of people awaiting counsel; the council reported about 150 incarcerated people and about 300 non-incarcerated people waiting for counsel, more than in recent years. It attributed the increase to competition for attorneys, public defender offices closing intake in some locations because of caseload limits, and broader case and court-system changes. One member raised constitutional concerns about delays in counsel for incarcerated defendants. The committee ultimately amended the request downward to $1 million, approved it, and then approved a motion to place several annual financial reports on file and release them to the public when available. The committee also discussed dashboard reporting from HHS, asking for more detail on community mental health center caseloads and budget-reduction information, and HHS agreed to provide more useful monthly detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• That part frustrates me.
• Just because one part of the body gets to write the bills doesn't mean the other part of the body shouldn't
• I can't remember that part of the bill, and I know it may not be part of the new bill, but I'd really
• The county, parts of the county can be, but not parts of the city. Federal U.S.
• That's the part I'm talking about.

Transcript Highlights:

• Part one is just in order for the department really to be able to comply with part two; they'd have to
• do part one, but the part one wouldn't be available because it has personally identifiable information
• information that part this part two is information that part this part two is what<01:41:15.080>
• <01:41:21.080> one with part two they'd have to do part one with part two they'd have to do
• part one but<01:41:21.679> the<01:41:21.840> part<01:41:22.040> one<01:41:22.239

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like, well, okay, well, there are parts like, well, okay, well, there are parts of<00:40:13.760>
• part That's all part mean, that's like part That's all part of<00:46:30.920> it.
• like earlier, there's many moving parts like earlier, there's many moving parts with<00:51:51.760
• >> So,<00:56:19.800> part<00:56:20.160> of<00:56:20.320> part<00:56:20.520
• of part of it is people from >> So, part of part of it is people from the<00:56:23.120> general

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very excited to be part of this. I'm very excited to be part of this.
• part of the equation. part of the equation.
• And me taking part in that cuz<01:26:39.520> I<01:26:39.600> was<01:26:39.760> part<
• part of the<01:29:33.800> 90s.
• bill to reform the the management part bill to reform the the management part with<01:30:01.280>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several gubernatorial nominations for confirmation, beginning with GM 788 for Karen Knudsen to the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnerships Commission. DBEDT strongly supported her nomination, describing her decades of Asia-Pacific and East-West Center experience. Senators asked about the new commission structure, confirming that the old committee was abolished and replaced by a five-voting-member commission with two governor appointees before the Senate, other ex officio and legislative appointees, and one OHA vacancy still pending. Knudsen said the commission would help review new sister-state and international partnership proposals, while existing relationships would remain in place. Members also discussed the commission’s lack of a separate budget and its use of DBEDT international relations funding. The committee then moved to GM 789 for Wesley Fong to the same commission; DBEDT supported him based on his military, legal, and international trade background. A concern was raised that he also served on the State Ethics Commission, and Fong stated he had resigned from that post effective the 20th of the month to avoid a conflict. Senators questioned his reasons for leaving ethics, and he explained that his term was ending and he wanted to continue public service in a role aligned with his background in international agreements, education, and Indo-Pacific relations. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The committee next considered GM 769 for Patrick Branco to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The foundation and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both testified in strong support. Branco appeared by Zoom and said he was currently on temporary military orders on the East Coast, but had prior experience in public diplomacy as cultural attaché in Caracas and had worked on Fulbright and cultural exchange efforts. The committee then took up GM 770 for Makanani Salā to the same board. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported her nomination, and Noe Wong-Wilson testified in person, citing Salā’s work at Windward Community College and her role in organizing the Best Fest festival, saying she would bring Hawaiian cultural perspective to the foundation. Salā said her county experience included arts, culture, and sister-city work, and that she would emphasize public-private partnerships and helping other agencies use the foundation’s expertise. Members briefly discussed FESTPAC and its rotating international location. Finally, the committee heard GM 767 for Miles Miyatso to the Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both supported the nomination, and Avalon Development Company was listed but did not appear on Zoom. The discussion in the provided transcript ended during this item, with no vote or final action shown for the nominations covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course, part of our clean energy.
• <00:27:03.679> of added to this goal since it's part of added to this goal since it's part
• And specifically, I just want to read one part in 374-F:3, paragraph 10.
• <01:30:06.480> Yeah, as part of that um duty to advise.
• Yeah, as part of that um duty to advise. Yeah, thank<01:30:07.199> you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And part of that will be, are we ensuring that we provide envelopes that are accessible to the disabled
• of our clean energy goals and our climate goals, and public transportation as a critical, critical part
• What are you doing to be a part of the process? What are you doing? Are you...
• What are you doing to be a part of the process? What are you doing?
• A part of it is that one of the things they do is make sure that the poll workers are evenly divided.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on March 25, 2026, with nine measures on the agenda and three bills taken on consent. The committee approved the consent calendar for AB 1736, AB 1853, and AB 2153. The committee also heard several election-related bills, including AB 1993 on ballot-envelope privacy, AB 1788 on nonprofit disclosure of travel payments for elected officials, AB 1560 on barring people convicted of public corruption from lobbying, AB 1539 on presidential and vice-presidential ballot eligibility certifications, AB 1919 on Santa Cruz Metro local tax initiative procedures, and AB 1562 on county selection of poll workers. The chair also noted membership changes and welcomed new and returning members and staff. AB 1993 drew the most debate. The author argued it was a common-sense safeguard to prevent voters’ choices from being visible through ballot-envelope holes, citing a Sacramento County incident and public concern about ballot privacy. County election officials, the Secretary of State’s office, and Disability Rights California opposed the bill, saying the holes also serve accessibility and processing functions, that existing voter instructions already address privacy, and that the measure would create implementation problems and an unfunded mandate. After extended discussion, the committee voted the bill out on a 2-6 roll call and it failed. AB 1788 was supported by the FPPC and the League of Women Voters and passed as amended to Appropriations, with members emphasizing transparency while seeking to avoid unintended coverage of organizations like NCSL and CSG. AB 1560 passed 6-0 despite the Secretary of State’s implementation concerns about how the office would learn of relevant convictions. AB 1539, which would require party representatives to certify presidential and vice-presidential nominees’ constitutional eligibility, passed 7-0 as amended. AB 1919, which would clarify procedures for a Santa Cruz Metro voter initiative to place a transit tax on the ballot, passed 6-2, and AB 1562, which would allow counties to randomly select poll workers, passed 7-1 after discussion about civic engagement, guardrails, and election administration. The committee then completed roll-call adjustments for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like that's part of what we had to tell them in the day.
• Like that's part of what we had to tell them in the day.
• Well, that's part of.
• So that's part of what this fund is.
• But that's part.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are the things that you described in the last part of your statement things that do not occur as part
• Of electricity for our state, for a large part of our state.
• Part of my concern is that we're looking at two agencies.
• The control issue, you know, that's going to be part of this study.
• But it was the substitute, because we wanted to be part of that.

Bills: HB303, SB96, HM6

Keywords: public utility, certificate of public convenience and necessity, certificate of need, Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility regulation, ratemaking, energy storage, battery storage, grid reliability, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, generation plant, utility expansion, service territory, mutual domestic water consumer association, economic development department, clean energy, fossil fuel reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• No, it wasn't part of the four million. This, each year, if Madam Chair...
• I live in the rural part of the state. I just want to make... ...presenters.
• I live in the rural part of the state.
• Representative, I understand part of the purpose, a big part of the purpose, of this bill is to add underserved
• I realize that that was part of our strategy as well.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• right now as part of the legislative session so that we can get to the final part, which is to be a
• part of the compacts, right?
• So it's a huge group of states that are part of it.
• I am now on Senate Judiciary, so I will be part of that.
• So I will be part of that.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, a part of Santa Cruz, and part of Pima counties.
• It's been a great time to be able to be part of the committee.
• It is, I'm sorry, would you please repeat your second part of the question? Go ahead.
• And part of this is the accelerated cell rate that is used in this.
• He said banning a new industry is not part of Arizona’s fabric.

Bills: HB2155, HB2156, HB2162, HB2762, HB2791

Keywords: Arizona Beef Council, agriculture, market development, beef products, terminating council, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, game and fish commission, wildlife, appointment, commission membership, Arizona Revised Statutes, food labeling, cultivated cells, cell-cultured products, consumer information, food safety, cell-cultured protein

Summary: The House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met for its first session, with members and staff introducing themselves before taking up committee-of-reference business and several bills. The committee first heard a presentation from the Arizona Beef Council, which described its checkoff-funded promotion, education, and research work for Arizona beef producers, including classroom materials, nutrition outreach, and ranch tours. After questions about how the program is funded and whether the state would lose its Arizona-retained share if the council were not continued, the committee voted to recommend continuing the council for eight years, until July 1, 2034. The committee then considered HB 2155, which also continued the Arizona Beef Council for eight years, and advanced it on a 7-1 vote. HB 2156, which appropriates money to the livestock compensation fund for wolf depredation losses, was amended to set the appropriation at $250,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027 and then passed 5-2, with supporters emphasizing rancher compensation and opponents questioning use of general funds and noting unused prior funding. HB 2162, which would require at least one Arizona Game and Fish Commission member to be a cattleman or rancher, drew testimony for and against but was ultimately held by the chair after discussion about representation, existing appointment structures, and rural interests. The committee also advanced two cell-cultured protein bills. HB 2762 would require a disclaimer on packaging for food derived from cultivated cells; supporters argued for consumer transparency and opponents said federal labeling rules already apply and state-specific requirements could create confusion. It passed 5-3. HB 2791 would prohibit the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption and make violations a felony; supporters raised safety, innovation, and agricultural concerns, while opponents argued it would criminalize federally approved products and restrict consumer choice. That bill also passed 5-3. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, it's still included because it was part of our original ask.
• The first part is the recurring expense of $172,000.575. You can see the map on the back.
• The parts in the green are the areas that are our agency's offices on the third floor.
• We We also anticipate having one-time furnishing costs that are not part of the base plan.
• But the chair knows it's going to be part of the reality as we go into other questions.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we are made up of 13 river basins, and all are part...
• Johns River, and it was diverted as a part of developing the area for agriculture.
• That's part of what we're doing.
• without that part.
• Good afternoon. without that part.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from the Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida water management districts for FY 2026-2027. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and priorities within the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Common themes included reduced budgets from the prior year due to completion of major projects, continued reliance on state appropriations and ad valorem revenue, rising construction and maintenance costs, and the need to maintain aging infrastructure while advancing alternative water supply, springs restoration, flood control, and land management projects. Committee members repeatedly asked how much of each district’s budget and personnel were devoted to the core missions, how maintenance and operating projections were developed, and how projects were selected. The districts generally said most spending was tied to core responsibilities, with administrative overhead relatively small, and explained that budgets are built through a mix of staff analysis, governing board direction, strategic basin planning, and cooperative funding with local, state, and federal partners. Several districts highlighted specific projects, including Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Taylor Creek Reservoir improvements, Crane Creek, Everglades restoration, and various springs and watershed projects. The districts also noted challenges from hurricanes, inflation, cybersecurity, and aging water control structures. South Florida Water Management District’s presentation focused on Everglades restoration and the large-scale infrastructure needed to move, store, and clean water in South Florida. The director said the district’s $1.05 billion preliminary budget is largely for flood control, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and maintenance of extensive canals, levees, pumps, and reservoirs, and emphasized that recent restoration investments are producing measurable water quality and salinity improvements. No votes were taken on the district budgets, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would be the homeowner part of it. That would be the actual home itself.
• Obviously, it has lots of moving parts to it. And it is a big idea for sure.
• It's part of the project completely.
• some parts of New Jersey, some parts of Pennsylvania, some parts of California, you simply present an
• Rominger, you represent the best parts of Florida: one light, septic, well, and potatoes.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 330, by Sen. Bradley, clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, including allowing a prior physical exam to count if a transferring officer is not given a new one; an amendment declaring the act an important state interest was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. SB 594, by Sen. Burton, would make mobile home residents eligible for local housing assistance programs such as SHIP for lot rent and home repairs; it received supportive testimony from manufactured-home advocates and passed favorably. SB 840, by Sen. DeSigley, revised hurricane-related land-use restrictions from prior legislation by shortening the affected area from 100 miles to 50 miles, ending certain temporary limits on June 30, 2026, and exempting some water, flood, and state/federal planning matters; it passed favorably after supportive comments from local-government interests and members noting the need to fix unintended consequences of prior law. The committee also approved SB 526, by Sen. Grawe, which addresses no-damages-for-delay clauses in public construction contracts, creates a uniform commercial permit application, requires permit fee reductions when private providers are used, and adds mitigation to statewide product approval categories. County representatives testified with concerns about the contracting language, unfunded mandates, and fee reductions, but the bill passed favorably. SB 504, by Sen. Burgess, creates a statewide framework for code inspector body camera use, and SB 506, its linked public-records bill, exempts certain sensitive content from disclosure; both passed favorably with support from the sponsor and no opposition in committee. The most heavily debated measure was SB 354, by Chair McLean, which creates a “blue ribbon project” framework for very large developments that trade state preemption over local land-use regulation for reserving at least 60% of the land for conservation, agriculture, recreation, utilities, and related uses. The bill drew significant testimony from environmental groups, counties, smart-growth advocates, and local residents who argued it could weaken local control, reduce public review, and allow sprawl or inadequate infrastructure planning; supporters argued it could help address housing needs and preserve large amounts of land. The committee adopted two amendments clarifying reserve-area easements and requiring certain easements to be granted without charge, and the committee then reported the bill favorably, with some senators noting they supported it in concept but wanted further changes before later stops.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT'S PART OF THE TRANSITION.
• BUT ALSO TO TRAIN ALL STAFF THAT IS PART OF IT WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
• AND WE ALSO PLAY A KEY PART IN SPECIAL NEED SYSTEM NAVIGATION.
• WHO ALSO SEVEN SPECIAL SYSTEM THAT IS PART OF IT.
• AS PART OF THE SKILL PROGRAM.