Transcript Highlights:

• I have a diverse background in horse training, competing at professional-level exhibitions, teaching
• This bill is not about lowering standards. It's about setting clear, fair, and informed ones.
• And cities safety, nuisance, zoning compatibility, and basic community standards.
• There were also comments that we need to have clear standards and language, and I think there's still
• some room for improvement to make those standards a little more clear to preserve those appropriate

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Agricultural Committee approved minutes from January 29 and February 3, 2026, then introduced two RSs from Chair Nichols. RS 33191, which would classify Norway rats and roof rats as public nuisances and direct coordinated abatement efforts through the Department of Agriculture, was printed. RS 33266, a truth-in-labeling proposal for alternative animal protein products that would restrict meat-style terms on non-meat products, was also printed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1242 and Senate Bill 1243, both cleanup measures from Senator Blaylock related to Idaho Potato Commission statutes and the Idaho One Plan. Both bills were moved to the floor with due pass recommendations. Senate Bill 1241, the working animal bill sponsored by Senator Shippey, drew extensive testimony. Supporters from agriculture, veterinary, recreation, youth, and carriage interests said it would protect the use of working animals and preserve Idaho’s agricultural heritage. Opponents, including the Association of Idaho Cities and the Idaho Humane Society, argued the bill was too broad, could preempt local animal control, zoning, nuisance, and public health ordinances, and should be narrowed. The committee voted to send SB 1241 to the amending order for possible amendments. Finally, the committee heard House Joint Memorial 10, which urges Congress and USDA to prohibit artificial sweeteners in federally funded school meals and promote real sugar. Support came from the sugar beet industry, which said the memorial supports Idaho agriculture and school nutrition. A nutritionist testified in opposition, arguing the memorial conflicts with current health guidance that discourages added sugar in school meals. The committee approved H.J.M. 10 and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• HCMC is also a teaching hospital where it educates the next generation of doctors.
• </c> way, we have to support the teaching way, we have to support the teaching hospitals<00:10:27.400
• Those who stay to teach are there because innovation and research are not separate from clinical care
• Anything that we do that does not meet the standard risks the unthinkable.
• Bernstein. >> Anything that we do that does not meet the standard risks the unthinkable.

Bills: HF4841, HF4234, HF3697

Keywords: Hennepin County, sales tax, health care facilities, ballpark improvements, tax revenue, HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, tax refund

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to teach employers the law so that they know how to treat their employees.
• So they're asking for this money to be able to go out and start teaching.
• We're trying to teach employers how the law so that they know how to treat their employees.
• So they're asking for this money to be able to go out and start teaching.
• The fund is asking for this money to be able to go out and start teaching again.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard prayer and the pledge, approved the journal, and received committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several bills and resolutions were moved through the calendar, including committee referrals, enrollments, and transmittals of already-passed measures. The chamber also received new first-reading bills, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, education, and endowment land leases. On the floor, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 117 recognizing Idaho’s ties with Italy and the opening of an Idaho office in Italy. The resolution was supported with remarks about historical Italian immigration to Idaho and wartime cooperation involving Italian POW labor in Idaho agriculture. The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 30, which directs the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel to study and provide guidance on implementing comprehensive Medicaid-managed care; that measure passed by roll call, 20-10 with one absent. The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, adding a new joint rule to limit the number of bill drafts and RSs a legislator may bring in a year, with exceptions for budget bills, amendments, trailer bills, interim committee legislation, and leadership-approved exceptions; it passed 35-0. The chamber also adopted Senate Joint Memorial 115 urging federal action on pelican impacts to Idaho fisheries, and Senate Resolution 120 honoring State Police K-9 Kimber for her service. Later, House Bill 723 on child care licensing and protections for children in residential care facilities passed 32-3 after debate focused on abuse prevention, unannounced inspections, and a bill of rights notice for children. In the afternoon session, the Senate passed several appropriation bills, including Senate Bills 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, and 1386, covering the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Idaho State Lottery, Fish and Game, Veterans Services, Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Commission, and Pardons and Parole. Most were described as enhancement or maintenance budgets funded largely through dedicated or federal funds, with debate emphasizing small hardware purchases, program restorations, and agency operating needs. Senate Bill 1382 for Fish and Game passed 23-12, and House Bill 848, the legislative branch appropriation bill, was brought up for consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that we can teach parents and educators how to identify manipulation, coercion, exploitation
• We have lots of secular courses that teach children and adults how to shoot guns, and we're grateful
• It increases the standard deduction.
• I believe it's a pretty benign bill by the standards of the legislature. Mr.
• I teach my children. I talk to my children. I love my children. I teach them right from wrong.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The training version of IHS involves actively teaching and tracking the progress of skills within those
• </c><00:08:56.520><c> and</c><00:08:56.720><c> tracking</c><00:08:57.280><c> the</c> actively teaching
• and tracking the actively teaching and tracking the progress<00:08:57.960><c> of</c><00:08:58.280><c
• ARM proposes to establish the standards that the legislature enacted last session as the uniform standards
• ARM proposes to establish the standards that the legislature enacted last session as the uniform standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports teachers in professional learning who are teaching those advanced placement courses.
• </c> professional learning who are teaching professional learning who are teaching those<01:28:41.760
• What is the primary purpose of Teach for America?
• Are they getting teaching certificates and staying in Kentucky?
• Are they getting teaching certificate.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The parties involved have agreed to have the Police Standards and Training go first.
• </c><00:03:23.840><c> and</c> agreed to have the police standards and agreed to have the police standards
• and Training, and I appreciate Standards and Training, and I appreciate this<00:03:53.760><c> body's
• The Cooper test is based on fitness standards: run, mile and a half run, push-ups, and sit-ups.
• The Cooper test is based on fitness standards: run, mile and a half run, push-ups, and sit-ups.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened by approving the September 5, 2025 minutes, with one member asking that future minutes use honorifics such as Mr. or Ms. The agenda was then adjusted so Police Standards and Training could present first. Director John Skipa reported on the 2019 performance audit, saying 12 of 16 findings were fully resolved and the remaining items were substantially or partially resolved. He highlighted work on a job task analysis to update curriculum and develop a more realistic physical aptitude test, including possible replacement of the long-used Cooper test and a shift away from mandatory baton training toward electronic weapons training. He said stakeholder work groups would meet in October and November, with a goal of completing the work by the first quarter of 2026. On the strategic planning and performance measurement finding, Skipa said the agency had relied on the 2019 audit and the LEAC report as guides while also implementing a digital records system. He acknowledged that a formal forward-looking strategic plan with the council had not yet been completed, but said he and the council chair wanted to do so, possibly through a retreat-style planning session. Members asked how many LEAC recommendations had been fully implemented; Skipa said he did not know the exact number but believed nearly all of the 22 items assigned to his agency were complete. On the administrative rules finding, he said a part-time former director had been brought back to help revise outdated rules, the council subcommittee had finished its work, and proposed changes would be sent to the full council, then to stakeholders and the public, with a public hearing expected and implementation targeted for 2026. For the Corrections Advisory Committee finding, Skipa said the committee had been reconvened in 2020 and 2021 but had limited usefulness because the statutorily named members were mostly high-level administrators rather than line supervisors or newer corrections staff. He said some positions later went unfilled because of budget and staffing issues, and the committee had not been called back, but he was open to either informal adjustments or possible legislative changes to make the committee more useful. Committee members suggested that the statute may need to be amended to allow more appropriate designees or supervisors to participate. After Police Standards and Training concluded, the committee moved on to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, where the executive director said he would focus on the partially resolved items in the dental examiner audit and the National Path audit, noting that many changes were tied to recent statutory revisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we can teach and traumatic.
• </c> um I'm I'm wondering if I'm teaching um I'm I'm wondering if I'm teaching that<03:29:10.640><c>
• So, if I am teaching my student, if I'm a high school history teacher and I'm teaching my students that
• </c> of the original prohibition on teaching of the original prohibition on teaching discrimination.
• </c> this law is going to prohibit teaching this law is going to prohibit teaching that<03:58:05.359>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 69, including a germane amendment about local school boards’ acceptance or rejection of gifts and donations and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Rep. Cordelli said the early literacy proposal was a modified version of an earlier kindergarten readiness bill, would rely on gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements. Members questioned the shift from a broader technology program to an online-only model, the lack of detailed evaluation metrics, how long children would use the program, and whether it was appropriate for very young children. Cordelli said the change was intended to avoid government dependence and still allow the program to be offered next school year. Several members raised concerns about the gift-acceptance language on the underlying bill, including whether school boards would need to vote on small donations, whether gifts could be handled in blocks or at regular meetings, and how anonymous donations would work under right-to-know laws. Rep. Han noted that some gift discussions might belong in non-public session under RSA 91-A, while Rep. Cornell said acceptance or rejection of gifts could be handled at regular meetings and suggested a dollar threshold could be added later. The New Hampshire School Boards Association said it was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails, policy guidance, and clarification on timing, anonymity, and public-meeting requirements. Supporters of the early childhood program, including Waterford.org, said the proposal would provide an evidence-based, adaptive online literacy program with family engagement for four- and five-year-olds, and that it could help close early learning gaps. Waterford said it could work collaboratively with school districts and IEP teams, and that it would provide devices and internet access for families who need them. Committee members pressed on how the program would interact with existing special education services and whether districts could use it as part of an IEP; the response was that it would be supplementary and not an approved special education service. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair indicated the committee would later executive the bills and try to get reports filed promptly.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty standard.
• I'll give you the standard wave to the people behind me.
• I'll give you the standard wave to the people behind me.
• I'll give you the standard wave to the people behind me.
• </c> assess the assessing standards board. assess the assessing standards board. we<02:42:54.240><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fawcett, etc., provides for a pilot program to assess the competency of applicants for a license to teach
• Fawcett, etc., provides for a pilot program to assess the competency of applicants for a license to teach
• This bill comes with it additional consideration for teachers who are teaching in very hard to fill spots
• This bill comes with it additional consideration for teachers who are teaching in very hard to fill spots
• makes an appropriation to the Department of Education to carry out the incentivizing pathways to teaching

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education accreditation standards. Thank you, Mr. President.
• They are all in favor of becoming aligned with national standards.
• It has nothing to do with how they teach or what they teach.
• also reduce their carbon footprint, we allow them to offset up to 10% of their renewable portfolio standard
• And so we need to make sure that we have oversight and that they follow the same renewable energy standards

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum on Valentine’s Day and spent much of the opening portion on ceremonial remarks, guest introductions, and announcements tied to Early Childhood Day, the New Mexico State Bar’s anniversary, and other Valentine’s-themed recognitions. Senators also approved several unanimous-consent requests excusing members from the chamber. The body then received House messages announcing passage of House Joint Resolution 6, House Bill 166, House Bill 295 as amended, House Joint Memorials 2 and 3, and House Joint Resolution 5 as amended. Committee reports were adopted on several measures, including Senate Memorial 27, Senate Memorial 21, House bills 10, 12, 34, and 63, Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 261, Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 151, and Senate Memorials 3 and 16, which were reported as duly enrolled and signed in open session. The Senate also introduced and referred House Bill 166 to Judiciary, House Bill 295 to Finance, House Joint Resolution 6 and House Joint Memorials 2 and 3 to Rules. The main floor action was final passage of Senate Bill 306, which updates New Mexico’s private post-secondary authorization framework to align with federal accreditation terminology and standards; it passed 42-0 after brief questions about tribal colleges and online institutions. The Senate then debated Senate Conservation Committee substitute for Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, which would require large microgrids over 20 megawatts to meet renewable-energy standards, file annual energy and water reports with the PRC, and address utility cost-shifting concerns. Supporters said it would add oversight and protect air, water, and consumers, while opponents argued it would create uncertainty, discourage major economic development, and undercut a recent policy change allowing microgrids. The debate was ongoing in the excerpt, with no final vote shown for SB 235.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to teach you how to research it, how to find it, and how to apply it correctly.
• But right now, I believe that these license holders are held to a higher standard.
• Certainly contractors, engineers, CPAs, they're going to figure out. ...held to a higher standard.
• These codes are foundational to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare standards set forth by the Florida
• I believe that in doing so, we should not compromise safety or professional standards.

Summary: The committee first took up a local beverage-license bill for the World Equestrian Center in Marion County. The sponsor described the facility’s size, economic impact, and rapid expansion, and explained that the bill would direct DBPR to issue a special license for qualifying equestrian sports facilities. After questions about whether the carve-out would set a precedent for other businesses, the sponsor said the unique facts of the facility justified the bill. An amendment narrowed the off-premises alcohol authority so the license would allow beer and wine only for off-premises sales, while still allowing on-premises sales of all alcoholic beverages and a standalone bar on the premises. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 16-1, with Representative Rayner voting no. The committee then heard PCS for HB 1461, a broad regulatory-reform bill that would repeal continuing education requirements for certain licensed professionals, eliminate several boards/councils/commissions at DBPR and DACS, remove some secondary licenses, and expand licensure pathways. The sponsors argued that most complaints are already handled administratively, that the boards create bureaucracy and cost, and that the bill would improve efficiency without changing initial licensure standards. Members raised concerns about whether DBPR has the subject-matter expertise to replace professional boards, especially for engineering, harbor pilots, electrical work, home inspection, architecture, interior design, and related fields, and about whether removing continuing education could weaken public safety and code compliance. Public testimony on the PCS was mixed but leaned strongly against the bill from affected professions. Opponents from architecture, electrical contracting, home inspection, geology, interior design, real estate, and related groups argued that the boards provide technical expertise, discipline, and updated knowledge tied to changing building codes and safety standards, and that continuing education is important for public protection. Some supporters, including representatives of CPAs and landscape architects, said they appreciated efforts to streamline licensing and reduce anti-competitive barriers but still had concerns about specific provisions. The committee adopted two amendments: one requiring 30 days’ notice for an address change for a prescription sales business, and a second technical amendment. No final vote on the PCS was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• particularly concerns by employers about the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards
• For example, let me give you just a couple: Good Grubs down in Palm Beach County, where we teach culinary
• One of the questions that I have pertains to our standardized tests, as it pertains to the standardized
• One of the questions that I have is it pertains to our standardized tests, as it pertains to the standardized
• My name is Shane Seleski, and I teach AP Statistics, IB Math Applications and Interpretations, and ACE

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I'm happy to take any questions. and standard Testimony. - Thank you.
• And so agriculture is one way to teach financial literacy.
• we need something that's homegrown, that's relevant for our state, and so we can use agriculture to teach
• Mahalo. that's relevant for our state and so we can use agriculture to teach that to our population.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s nominations for advisory and regulatory boards. The first group included William Smith, Michelle Ige, and Kayana Neman for the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council; Leland Park and Cynthia Hobson for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Nicole Kacal for the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation board. DBEDT and related witnesses testified in support of all nominees, and each nominee described experience in small business, finance, community engagement, or technology. Much of the discussion focused on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy through small business support, financial literacy, and better access to capital and grants. Committee members questioned nominees about priorities for Hawaiʻi Island and the state more broadly. Topics included agricultural infrastructure, value-added food production, shared processing facilities and commercial kitchens, workforce housing, and ways government and nonprofits can partner to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and grant processes. Several nominees emphasized community impact, measurable outcomes, and practical regulatory reform. Nicole Kacal also discussed diversifying the economy beyond tourism, expanding technology and AI opportunities, and creating locally governed training and research pathways so workers can adapt to changing jobs. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to recommend advice and consent for all nominees. The nominations for GM 608, GM 609, GM 612, and GM 613 were adopted by voice vote, with Senators Kim and Fevella excused. The committee then voted separately on GM 794 for Nicole Kacal, and that recommendation was also adopted. The hearing concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It applies good government standards to the Angelina-Natavach River Authority's governing law, which
• Exempting teaching hospitals from the provisions of the bill.
• The teaching hospitals compete with private hospitals, and it was a thought in the House that the executive
• I think it was on this, the teaching hospital exemption. And I'm glad memories still work. Okay.

Bills: HB148, HB334, HB554, HB762, HB1520, HB1593, HB3526, HB3810, HB5092, SB2215, HB2607, HB148

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales

Transcript Highlights:

• principle in my life, and I have learned from many talented colleagues and leaders who set a high standard
• Because I thought you have to set a standard.
• Because I thought you have to set a standard.
• And that's where my team goes out and we try to teach people how to get a state job.
• And that's where my team goes out and we try to teach people how to get a state job, how to apply, what

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee first handled several routine items, approving two governor appointments not required to appear: Armin Meyer to the Division of Consumer Financial Protection and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved referral of bills to committees, a Rules waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guest access on the Senate floor on April 6, and floor acknowledgments, with each action passing 5-0. The committee then heard from Arania Ortega, appointed to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members asked about her background at CalHR and the Department of Finance, her approach to board decision-making, recusal rules, the status of AB 288, PERB’s caseload and backlog, ride-share enforcement, and the legislative employees’ unionization process. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is preparing for possible new workloads, and has recusal procedures that would automatically exclude her from certain state employee and child care cases for one year. Public testimony supported her appointment, and the committee voted 5-0 to move her nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Monica Erickson, nominated to lead the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on state labor negotiations, CalPERS, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and HR training, DEIA efforts, hiring pipelines, degree requirements, veteran hiring, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR has reduced the vacancy rate from 20% to 17%, is expanding recruitment tools and class consolidations, is working on a skills-matching tool and career counseling, and has helped reduce the gender pay gap from 21.1% in 2013 to 12.2%. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her nomination 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• As our workforce changes, it is essential that we change our high school standards and preparation to
• Washington has been one of the lowest ranked states for standards and preparation to reflect that.
• federal laws regarding student safety, campus security, emergency response, and energy efficiency standards
• My simple brain is like, but you also need more teachers to teach the bunch of... houses, a bunch more
• My simple brain is like, but you also need more teachers to teach the bunch more kids that are in the

Bills: SB5841, SB5922, SB5858, SB5943

Keywords: financial aid, postsecondary education, student support, application process, higher education access, school transportation, school buses, pupil transportation, transportation vehicle fund, school district finance, fund transfer, reimbursement schedule, depreciation schedule, zero-emission buses, electric school buses, bus electrification, charging stations, fueling stations, vehicle replacement, major repairs

Transcript Highlights:

• standard capacity.
• So right now, CSU and UC are both utilizing those facilities below legislative capacity standards.
• For example, teaching labs—it just has a schedule for the section that would be in that teaching lab,
• But, you know, going forward, that should just be a standard part of our practice.
• Going forward, that should just be a standard part of our practice.

Summary: The committee’s first major discussion focused on higher education facilities across UC, CSU, and the community colleges, with Chair Alvarez framing the issue as a final budget hearing before the May Revise. The LAO presented findings that campuses have grown substantially in buildings and square footage, while classroom and lab utilization remains below legislative standards and deferred maintenance backlogs continue to rise. The LAO also emphasized that the state and segments lack comprehensive data on capital renewal spending and recommended better reporting, clearer funding targets, and long-term planning for renewal and maintenance. UC, CSU, and community college representatives each described large five-year capital plans, aging facilities, seismic and deferred maintenance needs, and the role of student housing, while noting that construction costs are rising faster than inflation. Members questioned the segments about debt service, utilization rates, and how projects are prioritized. UC said its debt service tied to state support is about $665 million annually and described a $30 billion five-year capital financial plan, including housing, medical centers, and building renewal. CSU said it has about $31 billion in five-year needs and more than $8 billion in deferred maintenance, with funding coming from a mix of state-related and one-time sources since the state shifted capital responsibility to CSU. Community colleges said their unmet facilities needs total about $33.5 billion and explained their use of a scoring matrix and FUSION system to rank projects. The chair and members pressed all three systems to better distinguish between projects that are truly shovel-ready and those that are long-term needs, and discussed whether facilities condition data, total cost of ownership, and more standardized metrics should guide future bond proposals. The committee then turned to Proposition 2 and the Governor’s proposed community college capital outlay projects. The Department of Finance said Prop. 2 provides $1.5 billion for community colleges and that the Governor’s budget proposes 29 projects, with two continuing Prop. 51 projects also included. The LAO supported the overall use of the funds but raised concerns about the current 65/35 split between modernization and growth, the unusually large share of gymnasium projects, and some scoring metrics that favor larger campuses and certain regions. Community college officials said the scoring system was developed through participatory governance and would take one to two years to revise, but they supported the funding and agreed to follow up on questions about project categories and the rationale for the weighting. Members also suggested giving more weight to modernization, regional access, and intersegmental or collaborative projects. A final item addressed the CalKids program. The Department of Finance proposed $56,000 ongoing General Fund for three positions, while the LAO recommended approving two positions but rejecting a manager position until the current $7.5 million marketing campaign is evaluated. ScholarShare’s executive director said CalKids has enrolled more than 5 million children, with nearly 600,000 claims and over $45 million distributed, and argued that additional staff and outreach are needed to reach a goal of 1 million claimed scholarships by the end of 2025 and to implement AB 2808. Members asked about marketing effectiveness, data sharing, and eligibility rules, and the program said it is expanding partnerships with Cradle to Career and CSAC. No final vote was taken in the hearing, and the chair indicated the facilities item would be held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• standards while allowing flexibility<00:44:39.040><c> for</c><00:44:39.400><c> vocational</c><00:44:
• Because you can do doesn't always mean you can teach.
• </c><00:46:17.680><c> Being</c><00:46:17.920><c> a</c> always mean you can teach.
• Being a always mean you can teach.
• 2010th graders of of necessarily teach 2010th graders of of biology<00:46:40.960><c> students.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Augustine puts it simply this way: faith teaches us what to believe, hope teaches us what to desire
• , but love teaches us how to live.
• He leads me, and he teaches me every single day. And he teaches me every single day.
• set by the Florida Customer Service Standards Act.
• Service Standards Act. That is the bill. Are there amendments? None on the desk, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate first handled a large batch of executive appointments reported by the Ethics and Elections Committee. Senators debated several nominees, with some members objecting to particular appointees over their views or past conduct. The report on the first group of appointments was adopted 31-0, and Jeffrey Aaron’s separate confirmation to the Public Employee Relations Commission was approved 26-10 after extended debate centered on his role as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and allegations that he helped facilitate the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds into political activity. The chamber then considered Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. Supporters praised her work on Medicaid directed payments and hospital funding, while opponents criticized her prior tenure at the Department of Children and Families, citing problems with Medicaid redeterminations, postpartum coverage, Hope Florida oversight, and a women’s shelter case. The Senate adopted her confirmation report 32-5. Next, Taylor Hatch’s confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families was taken up; the committee report noted ongoing concerns about SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, audits, and Hope Florida, but recommended confirmation based on her stated commitments to reform. After debate over DCF’s performance and accountability, the Senate adopted her confirmation report 33-4. After a brief recess, the Senate held a recognition ceremony for outgoing President Kathleen Passidomo. Senators from both parties offered lengthy remarks praising her leadership, diligence, humor, and support for members, often recalling personal interactions and her role in shaping legislation and mentoring newer senators. The ceremony emphasized her service as Senate President and continued leadership as Rules Chair, and included a presentation of a handmade keepsake box filled with letters and mementos from staff and colleagues.