Transcript Highlights:

• reason why this situation is happening, and we can't get any information from them at all with exceptions
• Malls is going to hire a third... exceptions.

Bills: HB352, HB366, SB272, SB296

Keywords: HB352, cotton, cotton bale assessment, cotton levy, cotton producers, agriculture, forestry, Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, per bale fee, commodity assessment, producer referendum, cotton sales tax, Alabama Code 2-8-199, cotton commission, agricultural funding, HB366, Lakyn Canine Act, police dog, K9, K-9

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, 2022, we did pass a bill, SB 534, that created an exception for step therapy prior authorization
• that the expansion of access to care is done with the proper safeguards that also allow for the exceptional

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health Policy met with a quorum and heard five bills. SB 126, on prescription hearing aids, would remove Florida’s prohibition on mailing hearing aids when required tele-audiology testing and procedures are completed before sale. The sponsor said the bill would improve access, especially for people with travel or geographic barriers. The Florida Academy of Audiologists expressed support in concept but said it was still working with the sponsor on an amendment for consumer safety. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 152 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems during certain surgical procedures. Supporters, including the Florida Nurses Association and several nurses, described surgical smoke as a workplace and patient safety hazard containing harmful chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants, and said evacuation technology is available and already required in some settings. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 264 would expand step-therapy exemptions for severe mental illness, including certain postpartum and pregnancy-related mental health conditions, so physicians would not have to require patients to fail preferred drugs in specified circumstances. Support came from Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, NAMI Florida, and several medical and pharmacy groups, who argued that delays in effective treatment can worsen crises and increase hospital and crisis-care costs. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 342 would create a public-records exemption for current and former AHCA employees and certain family information, citing threats and harassment directed at inspectors and regulators. President Gaetz said he generally opposes such exemptions but supported this one because the employees are not elected officials and face real safety risks. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 294 would limit the Board of Pharmacy’s ability to add heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac rhythm disorders to the list of chronic conditions eligible for collaborative pharmacy practice, keeping those conditions under direct physician management. The Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, Florida Medical Association, and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology supported the bill, while the Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists opposed it. The committee voted the bill favorably. Senator Trumbull asked to be recorded in support of SB 126 and SB 152, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• to learn that this House has accomplished exactly nothing in the past 3 weeks that we've been here except
• I would like to, uh, recognize a group of exceptional students and staff from Alvin ISD under the Superintendent

Transcript Highlights:

• Our exception, the Duke Energy Florida 2024, which we had all 14 parties either signed or agreed not
• amounts and why those amounts are what they are, because some of these people, all of them were hit except

Summary: The joint committee met with a quorum present and first received an overview of its jurisdiction and duties related to appointing the Florida Public Counsel. Staff explained the committee’s authority under joint rules and state law, noted that the current Public Counsel’s term expires February 28, 2025, and that applications for the next four-year term were open with a February 6, 2025 deadline. The committee then heard an extensive update from Public Counsel Walt Truerweiler on the Office of Public Counsel’s work representing utility ratepayers before the Public Service Commission and in appeals. Truerweiler described the office’s caseload and priorities, including electric, gas, water, and wastewater rate cases; storm recovery dockets; cost-recovery clauses; rulemakings; and customer service hearings. He emphasized that the office seeks to challenge unsupported or imprudent costs, find value for customers, and use expert analysis and customer testimony to shape outcomes. He highlighted recent and ongoing matters, including major Duke, TECO, Sunshine water/wastewater, and hurricane recovery proceedings, and said the office had fully litigated four of its last five rate cases, while also achieving a major settlement in Duke that reduced a requested increase and imposed cost controls on solar projects. Members praised the office’s work and asked about the benefits of settlements, staffing and compensation, and how the office decides when to fully intervene versus provide guidance or monitor a case. Truerweiler said settlements can create predictability, reduce uncertainty and expense, and produce tangible value for both customers and utilities. He also acknowledged recruitment challenges, including lower pay than comparable agencies and difficulty attracting attorneys who do not want in-person litigation work. The committee took no substantive action beyond receiving the presentations, and adjourned after a motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Except that the person is not liable if the person provoked the conduct.
• Uh, it says relief except that the person is not liable to the person who have their rights violated
• Uh, it says relief except<01:01:43.599> that<01:01:43.839> the<01:01:44.079> person<
• that the person is not liable to except that the person is not liable to the<01:01:46.160> person
• that the person is not liable to except that the person is not liable to the<02:23:48.240> person

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is common with military personnel, where there's an exception made for having the firearm because
• of provisions um reducing the exception of provisions um reducing the term<02:04:59.840> of<02
• >> I will be voting aye to all bills except SB 2517. That will be a no vote for me.
• <02:18:09.439> to<02:18:09.840> all<02:18:10.160> bills<02:18:10.719> except
• >> I will be voting I to all bills except >> I will be voting I to all bills except

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 433, which would restrict the carrying of “bladed weapons” and related items. The Office of the Public Defender, Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Knife Rights, and many individual testifiers opposed the bill, arguing it is overbroad, vague, and likely unconstitutional. Common concerns were that the term “bladed weapon” could sweep in ordinary tools such as pocketknives, Leathermans, multi-tools, fishing and camping gear, and items used by farmers, ranchers, hunters, divers, and martial arts practitioners. Several speakers also warned that the bill could burden lawful self-defense and create an affirmative-defense scheme that shifts costs and proof burdens onto defendants. Supporters and opponents alike focused on the need for a clearer definition, with HPD saying a narrower definition would help distinguish ordinary tools from dangerous weapons used in assaults. Opponents repeatedly urged the committee to defer or kill the measure, citing pending and related court cases and the risk of new constitutional challenges. Some testifiers tied the bill to Native Hawaiian gathering rights and subsistence practices, saying it would interfere with hunting, fishing, and food gathering, while others argued it would do little to deter criminals and instead penalize law-abiding residents and visitors. After finishing testimony on SB 433, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 2575 relating to firearms. The transcript shows the start of that item with the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies being called, but no substantive testimony or action on SB 2575 is included before the excerpt ends. No votes or final committee actions are reflected in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, with the exception, I believe, of some of the TIFMAS apparatus that you fund through the Texas A
• Regarding the flood, are there exceptional items that were provided that would address this issue?
• Are there any outstanding exceptional items that we may need to address?
• Our hoist helicopters are exceptional; they are equipped with thermal imaging and are really good at
• The entire exceptional item was $2.7 million.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the exception of some of the TIFMAS apparatus that you fund through the Texas A&M Forest Service
• Federal dollars to build houses, with minimum exception. Is that a fair statement?
• Helicopters are exceptional.
• That was in the last exceptional item request, was it not? It was. I thought I saw it come through.
• The entire exceptional item was $2.7 million.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, one exception to that is credit unions in the state of New Hampshire.
• Um, one exception to that is credit unions in the state of New Hampshire.
• Going to the next section, section three, that's where we're talking about all of the exceptions.
• So we did put a lot of thought into making sure that there are some exceptions to this.
• So we did put a lot of thought into making sure that there are some exceptions to this.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 25, which would allow state-chartered credit unions to compensate board members if the membership approves it. Prime sponsor Senator Dan Innis said the bill is enabling only, intended to help credit unions recruit and retain qualified directors and align New Hampshire with other states that already allow such compensation. Credit union representatives from the Cooperative Credit Union Association and St. Mary’s Bank supported the bill, saying board service has become more complex because of cybersecurity, asset-liability management, and other regulatory demands, and that compensation could be modest and take forms such as meeting fees or educational reimbursement. In response to committee questions, they said compensation would be set by the membership, disclosed in advance, and subject to bylaws and internal policies; they also noted that board members must be credit union members and that voting procedures vary by institution, with some using mailed ballots rather than proxy voting. Members raised questions about why credit union boards were historically excluded, what kinds of compensation were contemplated, whether there would be a cap, and how voting and confidentiality would work. Testimony explained that the historical rationale was the nonprofit, volunteer mission of credit unions, but witnesses argued that the modern environment and competition for talent justify a change. They also said the bill would not mandate compensation and would not create a salary structure comparable to banks, but would allow members to approve modest compensation or reimbursements. After no further testimony, the chair closed the public hearing on Senate Bill 25. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Senator Howard Pearl, concerning the definition of deposits in land sales and escrowed accounts. Pearl said the bill would clarify that buyer funds for upgrades and luxury items in new-home construction are not treated as refundable deposits that must be held in escrow, arguing that the current Attorney General interpretation raises builder costs, increases home prices, and can limit buyer choices. He said the proposal would allow those upgrade funds to be paid directly to builders for construction, with signed disclosures making clear that the buyer requested the items and bears the risk if financing falls through. The hearing on Senate Bill 26 had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that seeks to ban all hemp-derived THC, as you know, all consumables except beverages.
• Well, except for one item.
• Every single customer is carded, no exceptions.
• So 21 and up, except for active military; 18 and up for them.
• So 21 and up, except for active military; 18 and up for them.

Bills: SB 3, HB28, SB3

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the court also found that the domestic abuse advocate privilege was to have broad exceptions
• What this does, both current law and as retained in the bill, is it basically creates an exception, and
• What this does, both current law and as retained in the bill, is it basically creates an exception, and
• <00:48:03.000> and<00:48:03.119> the<00:48:03.240> exception creates an exception
• and the exception creates an exception and the exception says<00:48:03.880> that<00:48:04.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Because that exception was in their last year, we were told.
• Speaker, don't worry, we also heard that there's not an exception for anybody that might be a hunter
• for anybody that might be a exception for anybody that might be a hunter<01:45:38.239> or<01:
• It seems to me if this was really about suicide prevention, we would have the reasonable exceptions that
• It seems to me if this was really about suicide prevention, we would have the reasonable exceptions that

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our vision is to deliver exceptional law enforcement services for a safer Minnesota.
• Our vision is to deliver exceptional law enforcement services for a safer Minnesota.
• Our vision is to deliver exceptional law enforcement services for a safer Minnesota.
• the our vision is to deliver exceptional the our vision is to deliver exceptional law<00:13:51.399
• The Commerce Fraud Bureau has done exceptional work investigating insurance fraud in Minnesota, and we

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :59.880> consent 6096521776 the right to give consent 6096521776 the right to give consent except
• in emergency situations I should except in emergency situations I should also<00:18:03.600> note<
• Once while washer dryer would be about the only exception, and they pick who they want to work with in
• Once while washer dryer would be about the only exception, and they pick who they want to work with in
• would be us which is scary but exception would be us which is scary but um<01:10:03.199> but<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 558, a bill to create a formal process for removing unauthorized occupants from real property, often described as a “squatters bill.” The author presented an A2 amendment, which was adopted, and explained that the bill would give sheriffs a structured complaint and verification process, allow fees, provide immunity when the process is followed, and impose civil remedies for wrongful removal and criminal penalties for false complaints. The bill also includes a provision on holdover situations, clarifying that certain unauthorized guests of tenants are unlawful occupants rather than tenants, and a use-of-excess-force provision was mentioned. Supporters said the measure is intended to give property owners and law enforcement a clearer, faster, and more consistent way to handle situations where people occupy property without a lawful basis, especially in rural or seasonal properties and in some landlord-tenant disputes. Senator Uty read a letter from Hubbard County Sheriff Corey Oas describing recurring problems with rental issues, couch hopping, and subletting without landlord knowledge, and a testifier from Pine Island described several local examples of prolonged and costly occupancy disputes, including a restaurant tenant who stopped paying rent and a rural property trespass incident. Committee members in support emphasized the need to balance tenant rights with property rights and to avoid leaving sheriffs to make ad hoc decisions. Michael D. from Homeline opposed the bill, arguing that existing trespass and harassment restraining order laws already address unlawful occupants and that the proposal creates due process concerns by allowing removal without a court hearing. He also warned that the bill’s definition of unlawful occupant could jeopardize oral leases, which are allowed under Minnesota law. In response, supporters said the bill is meant to distinguish true landlord-tenant relationships from trespass situations and to provide a workable process consistent with Minnesota law. At the end of the discussion, the chair announced that Senate File 558 would be laid over for possible inclusion. He also said Senate File 222 would be laid over, Senate File 559 would be moved with a recommendation to pass to the Judiciary Committee, and the fourth bill on the agenda was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no exceptions.
• after the age has been raised exception after the age has been raised to<01:31:37.800> 18<01:
• What it does do is carve out a narrowly crafted exception to the law. Why?
• Because the current law allows no exceptions, and life throws curveballs.
• [Music] accept the voucher uh an exception is accept the voucher uh an exception is possible<05:05:09.080

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play. The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173. The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think there's any need to eliminate such a large number of the exceptions.
• <00:40:55.599> exception Representative Horgan said there are a number of exceptions for absentee
• <01:17:29.280> for except for except for absentee<01:17:31.639> um<01:17:32.639> if<
• absentee um if except for if you're absentee um if except for if you're absent<01:17:35.120>
• election officials as being an exception election officials as being an exception to<02:12:33.159

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school day with approved exceptions school day with approved exceptions determined<01:47:39.119>
• So, bell to bell, and shall prohibit all, with a few approved exceptions, but none for curricular or
• So, for a remedy, this amended legislation adds to the list of approved exceptions the authorization
• > for<01:49:06.639> laptops Allowing for an exception for laptops Allowing for an exception
• <01:49:20.480> the the list of approved exceptions the the list of approved exceptions the

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of our vendors in there don't really do anything else the rest of the year except build up their
• As you see, there really is no budget for that because that is largely self-funded, except we have had
• build up their inventory of year except build up their inventory of products<00:19:48.600> for
• we have had largely self-funded except we have had real<00:20:25.480> problems<00:20:26.000><
• So plan to be here essentially every day after starting on the 13th, except for Tuesdays.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for most sensible rules, there are always sensible exceptions.
• there are always sensible exceptions there are always sensible exceptions you'll<00:03:09.799>
• um should include a some exceptions um should include a background<00:35:29.560> check<00:35:
• here for uh who do I do make exceptions here for uh who do I see exactly<02:10:41.440> there's
• there's exceptions for exactly there's there's exceptions for the<02:10:42.880> for<02:10:43.040

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:28:17.679> or they going to assess what good or they going to assess what good or exceptional
• > performance<00:28:19.039> looks<00:28:19.279> like<00:28:19.600> and exceptional
• performance looks like and exceptional performance looks like and then<00:28:20.000> incentivize<
• I recommend that we clarify that the second 21H pathway must meet the conditions of paragraph 1, except
• go through council approval, etc., meeting all the conditions that are already in votage projects except

Bills: HB1721, HB1714, HB1718, HB1732, HB1740, HB1777, HB1842, HB1919, HB1701, HB1923, HB1741, HB1734, HB1739

Keywords: housing, expedited permits, insurance, indemnification, construction, affordable housing, executive compensation, Hawaii housing finance, legislative approval, low-income housing, moderate-income housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, TOD, county powers, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, HHFDC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, affordable housing credits

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.