Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you all will join me in standing with the chief of SLED, with our Sheriff's Association, and our
• I also want to thank the people of District 14, Lawrence County, for allowing me to serve and represent
• He was also the director of the PD area for four years in the South Carolina Association of Conservation
• Representative Arremes congratulating Jimmy Redd of Aiken County. Mr.
• Baxter v.son of Beryn County. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had bankers, title agents, realtors, probate judges, county commission, secretary of state, Zillow
• We've had bankers, title agents, realtors, probate judges, county commission, secretary of state, Zillow
• We've had bankers, title agents, realtors, probate judges, county commission, secretary of state, Zillow
• We've had bankers, title agents, realtors, probate judges, county commission, secretary of state, Zillow
• We've had bankers, title agents, realtors, probate judges, county commission, secretary of state, Zillow

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I will just cite to you a couple of success stories. So, Alabama, they have this program.
• For the record, Mike Summers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association
• request of the Cooperative Credit Union<01:30:14.239><c> Association</c><01:30:14.960><c> and</c><01:
• Um, as Senator Innis noted, this bill was drafted at the request of the credit union association, not
• I am Jessica Avery, the director of advocacy for the Cooperative Credit Union Association.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• of veterans in his county.
• </c><00:42:43.200><c> associated</c><00:42:43.760><c> land</c> acres of associated land acres of associated
• I'm Jeremiah Reman, here on behalf of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association.
• of the Wyoming County Commissioners<01:27:42.560><c> Association.
• county</c> highest responsibilities of county highest responsibilities of county commissioners<01:27

Bills: HB0068 , HB0062 , HB0127 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• of counties get into it, but it's economics.
• </c><00:26:48.320><c> We</c> the Geological Survey of Alabama. We the Geological Survey of Alabama.
• This contract will be for mapping of the ecological zones in the Black Belt of Alabama. Mr.
• </c> in the Black Belt of Alabama. Mr. in the Black Belt of Alabama. Mr.
• My name is Luke Kislow with the office of the minority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a representative of the Florida State Fire Service Association, Local S-20 of the International
• Association of Fire Fighters.
• I'm appearing before you today on behalf of the Florida State Fire Service Association.
• We're 47th out of 49 highway patrols. Arkansas and Alabama are the only two behind us.
• I'm the Port of the Police Benevolence Association chief negotiator.

Summary: The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met to hear impasse presentations from the Department of Management Services and several bargaining units. The department reported that most articles had been resolved in each of the full-book contracts, with remaining disputes centered largely on wages and a handful of non-economic issues. For the FDLE special agents, security services, law enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida State Fire Service units, the state described its wage offers as generally a 2% competitive increase plus a 3% special pay increase, along with various bonuses, retention funds, or career-development funding in some units. The department also said it wanted to keep existing language on work schedules, seniority, grooming, equipment, grievance procedures, and other items, often characterizing its changes as housekeeping or alignment with current practice. The department noted that insurance had been agreed to with no increased employee cost, and it confirmed that correctional officers do receive overtime pay. Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association strongly disputed the state’s position, arguing that firefighters should not be required to perform major construction work, that their work schedules and on-call/callback arrangements unfairly suppress overtime, and that wildfire and fire-rescue employees are underpaid and underprotected. They also pressed for better compensation for EMT/paramedic-certified firefighters, additional protective clothing, on-site decontamination and shower/laundry facilities, and stronger cancer-prevention language. The association said the state had not bargained in good faith and urged the committee to support the union’s proposals. The Police Benevolent Association’s Florida Highway Patrol unit focused on wages and a career development plan, saying troopers remain underpaid compared with other states and are leaving for better-paying agencies. It also sought a veteran stipend, broader grooming/tattoo language, safety improvements for high-mileage vehicles, and changes to seniority and inflation-related pay. The PBA law enforcement unit raised similar safety concerns about aging vehicles, sought limits on performance evaluations tied to case presentations, and requested a $7,000 across-the-board wage increase. The security services unit, representing correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers, said its main issue was wages and asked for an $8-per-hour starting pay increase, retention bonuses, special pay for death row and close-management staff, added pay for SOTEC officers, and overtime pay for lieutenants and captains who currently receive comp time instead. No votes were taken, no public testimony followed, and the committee adjourned after taking the presentations under advisement.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm speaking on behalf of the Washington Defender Association and the Washington Association of Criminal
• Brad Banks with the Association of Counties here. Happy to be testifying on this bill.
• I think the two underlying concerns primarily for the Association of Counties really are this notion
• of the Washington Defender Association.
• I'm here today on behalf of the Washington Defender Association and the Washington Association of Criminal

Summary: The committee heard staff briefings and sponsor testimony on four bills. House Bill 2310 would elevate fourth-degree assault with a finding of sexual motivation to a Class C felony after two prior qualifying convictions within 10 years, with discussion focused on when sex-offender registration would apply and whether the bill would capture repeat conduct that is often pled down. The sponsor said the bill responds to a constituent’s experience and is intended to increase accountability for repeat offenders. Testimony was split: prosecutors and law enforcement supported the bill as a practical way to address repetitive sexual-motivation assaults, while defense advocates warned it would trigger major sex-offense consequences, including registration, prison time, immigration consequences, and possible sentencing disproportionality. No vote was taken and the hearing was held open. House Bill 1239, the reentry readiness bill, would increase earned release time to up to 33.33% for eligible offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026, make certain enhancements eligible for earned release time, create a two-year peer-support pilot for incarcerated survivors of sexual violence and intimate partner violence at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, and require victim-notification materials about sentencing changes. The sponsor and supporters said it would improve reentry, reduce recidivism, and better prepare people for release, while the Sentencing Guidelines Commission said it aligns with prior recommendations for consistency in earned release. Prosecutors opposed the bill, arguing it mainly shortens sentences rather than improving reentry and could reduce accountability. The hearing remained open. House Bill 1228 would allow blood and breath toxicology testing to be considered valid if performed by a lab certified under ISO/IEC 17025, in addition to current state toxicologist methods. The sponsor and several local officials said Washington’s toxicology backlog is causing long delays, sometimes over 300 days, which slows charging decisions and can allow repeat DUI behavior before cases are filed. Supporters said private accredited labs could provide a local option and speed results, while defense advocates asked for discovery protections if outside labs are used. County and law enforcement representatives supported the concept but cautioned against shifting costs to counties and creating unequal access based on local resources. The sponsor indicated an amendment would remove out-of-state labs and add a five-year report-back. House Bill 2464 would require private detention facilities to report serious incidents such as abuse, neglect, deaths, suicides, injuries requiring hospitalization, and service disruptions to the Department of Health and local law enforcement within one business day, and would require annual reporting by law enforcement on calls and follow-up actions. The sponsor said the bill is aimed at transparency and ensuring that incidents in private detention facilities are not hidden. Testimony from advocates, journalists, and researchers described alleged abuse, suicides, hunger strikes, fires, and barriers to reporting at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, and said the bill would improve public access to information. Law enforcement representatives said the bill affects only two agencies and urged the committee to consider the cumulative burden of reporting mandates and the public-trust implications of involving local agencies in federal detention issues. The hearing on this bill was also held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Director of Elections for St. Charles County.
• So before I begin to preface this, I am the co-chair for the Missouri Association of County Clerks and
• Charles County, it's about 1% of our voters are on this list.
• I think that's consistent among a lot of counties.
• Charles County, but every county, even rural counties. that we, we as an association, really like, we'd

Committees: House Elections , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• Give her a round of applause.
• </c> of three. of three.
• </c> of these changes. of these changes.
• </c><00:41:37.200><c> the</c> either a mentor or be part of the either a mentor or be part of the Alabama
• I I do of department of education is.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• by the Police Jury Association, two employers in Louisiana appointed by the Secretary of Louisiana Works
• We have a charter, but the police jury association also works with some of those groups as well.
• Chairman, if I may, Guy Cormier, Police Jury Association of Louisiana, just trying to help out Ms.
• Since we don't have a police jury association, who would those members consist of in New Orleans?
• One of the biggest confusions I get is that we were named the Police Jury Association in 1924 because

Summary: The Labor and Industrial Relations Committee first took up House Bill 680 by Rep. Weibel, which proposes a major overhaul of Louisiana’s workforce development system. The bill and a large amendment package were described as modernizing workforce planning, consolidating some state-level strategy and administration, and strengthening coordination with local workforce partners, employers, and regional stakeholders. A transition advisory team with an 18-month sunset was added to help implement the changes, and members repeatedly raised concerns about preserving local input for different regions, parishes, and cities. Rep. Weibel, the secretary of Louisiana Works, parish officials, and other supporters said the goal is to shift more resources from overhead to training and direct services while keeping local boards and parish involvement in place. Testimony from a Utah official and from local government and business representatives emphasized that similar consolidations can create efficiencies without eliminating local responsiveness. The committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 680 with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 780 by Rep. Furman on workers’ compensation. The bill seeks to streamline disputes over compensation and medical benefits, reduce litigation, and lower costs by restoring an expedited preliminary determination process and changing the standard for penalties and attorney fees to an arbitrary-and-capricious standard. Supporters, including lobbyists and defense attorneys, argued that the current process is outdated, overly technical, and too litigious, especially because adjusters now often work remotely and the statute still relies on fax and certified-mail procedures. They said the bill would speed up decisions, reduce unnecessary attorney-fee claims, and help employers and injured workers alike. Opponents, including attorneys for injured workers, argued the bill would make it harder for workers to recover penalties when benefits are delayed, shift the burden in favor of insurers, and fail to address understaffing and defense costs. Members debated whether the bill’s new standard should replace the current “reasonably controverted” language; an amendment to restore that language was offered but opposed by the author and other members and was not adopted. The committee adopted technical amendments and other committee amendments, heard additional testimony, and continued debating the bill’s substantive changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a representative of the Florida State Fire Service Association, Local S-20 of the International
• Association of Firefighters.
• I'm appearing before you today on behalf of the Florida State Fire Service Association.
• I'm the Port of the Police Benevolence Association Chief Negotiator.
• That would bring us close, but I'll tell you what, we would still be behind some of the counties.

Summary: The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met for an informational public hearing on several state employee bargaining units at impasse. The Department of Management Services outlined negotiations for the FDLE special agents, security services/correctional officers, sworn law enforcement officers, Florida Highway Patrol troopers, and Florida State Fire Service units. Across the units, the state said most contract articles had been resolved, with remaining disputes centered mainly on wages, hours of work, grievance language, safety, grooming, travel, and other housekeeping items. The state repeatedly emphasized proposed 2% competitive pay increases plus specialty or special pay increases in some units, insurance held harmless with no added employee cost, and its desire to keep current scheduling practices and remove outdated grievance language referencing the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. No votes were taken. Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association argued that firefighters are being asked to perform work far outside their job descriptions, including major construction, and said the state’s work-schedule and on-call practices unfairly avoid overtime and underpay firefighters. They also sought higher on-call compensation, a stronger wage plan with incentives and certification-based increases, restoration of a pay differential for firefighter-EMTs, and added PPE, decontamination, and cancer-prevention protections. The PBA’s Florida Highway Patrol unit said troopers need a larger career development plan, veteran stipends, updated grooming/tattoo rules, safer and newer vehicles, and better pay to address turnover. The PBA’s law enforcement unit focused on vehicle safety, performance evaluation language to prevent case-presentation quotas, and a $7,000 across-the-board raise, while disputing whether certain articles were timely opened. The security services unit said correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers need an $8-per-hour starting pay increase, retention bonuses, special pay for death row and close-management assignments, and overtime pay for lieutenants and captains who currently receive comp time and sometimes work beyond their limits. The committee heard the presentations, asked a brief question about correctional officers’ overtime, accepted written materials from the FOP special agent unit, and adjourned without action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why a large group of associations and businesses have been pushing for the expansion of TSTC
• I'm Tony Bennett, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, testifying strong support
• of SJR 5.
• I'm here testifying in support of SGR 59 on behalf of the Texas Association of Builders. and over 10,000
• of the bill at the request of the texas public charter school association and uh... that's all That's

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill modernizes the law on the definition of gangs without criminalizing the association of being
• This bill modernizes the law on the definition of gangs without criminalizing the association of being
• Josh Burkett is waving in support, Florida Association of Secondhand Dealers, also.
• Josh Burkett is waving in support, Florida Association of Secondhand Dealers, also.
• Freedom of a citizen. Principles like freedom. Freedom of association.

Summary: The committee first considered CS/SB 536, which updates Florida’s criminal gang statutes to reflect modern gang recruitment and communication methods, including social media and encrypted messaging. Senator Martin said the bill does not criminalize gang membership, but clarifies definitions used for gang-related enhancements and law enforcement investigations. Members raised concerns about the meaning of “observed in the company” of gang members and possible impacts on businesses and bikers; Martin said the language was not intended to reach ordinary business customers and that the bill still requires other criteria. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably after debate, with some members supporting it and others warning it was still too broad. The committee also approved CS/SB 762, allowing cross-jurisdictional assignment of conflict capital cases with cost and reporting requirements, after an amendment emphasizing judicial economy and geographic proximity; the bill was described as a cost-saving measure and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1742, creating a new offense for indecent exposure or sexual acts directed at minors under 16, was amended to align with the House version and to cover observing a child for sexual gratification, then reported favorably. CS/SB 1750, increasing penalties and mandatory minimums for serious sex crimes and child sexual abuse material offenses, was amended to restore some current-law provisions and limit reclassification to offenders who were 18 or older at the time of the offense, then reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 1582 on statewide data sharing for secondhand dealer and pawnbroker transactions, along with its companion public-records bill SB 1792, both described as theft-prevention and law-enforcement tools with confidentiality protections and stakeholder support. CS/SB 500, providing FDLE protective security for major-party nominees for statewide constitutional offices, was also reported favorably after a technical amendment. The longest and most contentious discussion was on CS/SB 1632, which would create a process for Florida to designate foreign and domestic terrorist organizations, restrict courts from enforcing foreign or religious law when it conflicts with state or federal law, and bar public funds from supporting designated organizations. Senator Graal said the bill targets conduct, not belief, and creates due-process protections through written findings, public notice, cabinet action, and judicial review. Senator Smith and Senator Polsky repeatedly questioned whether the bill’s use of terms like “promotion” could chill protected speech, academic debate, protest activity, or legal representation, and whether the designation process could be used politically or against religious and advocacy groups. Graal said promotion was meant to cover support for illegal acts, not mere disagreement or academic speech, and said she was open to clarifying language. Numerous speakers opposed the bill, arguing it was vague, unconstitutional, and likely to be used against Muslim communities, students, nonprofits, and dissenting political speech; a few supporters argued it was needed for public safety and to prevent state support for terrorism. The committee did not take a final vote on CS/SB 1632 in the portion provided, and the transcript ends during public testimony on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill modernizes the law on the definition of gangs without criminalizing the association of being
• This bill modernizes the law on the definition of gangs without criminalizing the association of being
• Josh Burkett is waving in support, Florida Association of Secondhand Dealers, also.
• I am a proud member of the church, And I am from Oklahoma City County.
• Freedom of a citizen. Freedom of association. Freedom to disagree peacefully.

Bills: S0500 , S0536 , S0762 , S1582 , S1632 , S1634 , S1742 , S1750 , S1792

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• the Special Commission, of which we were honored to be a part of, and look forward to the hearing today
• , and so much of this bill you'll see reflected from the work of that commission earlier.
• One of the issues that the Commission had highlighted as an area of concern was battery safety and the
• So that's another key component of the Ride Safe Act and the recommendations of the Commission.
• I'm with the Mass Association of Insurance Agents.

Bills: H5400 , H5421 , H5430 , S3077 , S3089

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Keywords: Boston, easement, highway improvement, Woburn, Burlington, public safety, transportation, land transfer, vessel transportation, Marston Mills, Osterville, Barnstable, state highway, traffic safety, maritime regulation, local legislation, Hyannis Transportation Center, Thomas S. Cahir, Cape Cod, commemorative designation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Patrick Robinson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
• I am concerned of the business association industry, where are we going with workers' comp.
• Gary Padereau, Louisiana Association of Self-Insured.
• Association of Self-insured employers, the Louisiana Workers' Comp watchdog group for decades on both
• And members of the committee, my name's Troy Prevo, and I currently serve as the Associate...

Bills: HB282 , HB293 , HB390 , HB456 , HB460 , HB561 , HB819 , HB1023 , HB1047 , HB1101

Committee: House Labor & Industrial

Keywords: employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe an example of a group it would go to, an example of what other party it would go to, and what other
• And through no fault of their own, they have become wards of the state.
• That's because one of the things that we haven't done well is take care of foster kids.
• And thank you to each of the members of this committee, who I count as friends and also coach champions
• If I may, a little birdie has told me, because of the strong work of this committee, that this line Item

Bills: SB1558 , SB1983 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1426 , SB633

Committee: House Children, Youth and Family Services

Keywords: child care, licensing, definitions, foster care, child welfare, SB1983, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and we very much appreciate
• So I met with some of the folks from the Tax Administrators Association, and that was one of the points
• eight years the Remote Sellers Commission to capture some of that.
• So Guy Cormier, Police Association of Louisiana. I did fill in a green card, Mr.
• Debbie Hinton, Executive Council for the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. I want to thank Rep.

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB253 , HB411 , HB440 , HB514 , HB515 , HB543 , HB614 , HB620 , HB658 , HB812 , HB898 , HB961

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, income tax, tax repeal, individuals, estates, trusts, tax reduction, state revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, my name is Tom Wright, and I'm here on behalf of the National Association of Benefit and Insurance
• I'm the president and CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, and we're a trade association that represents
• Commission, and we worked with them to fine-tune this to the document that you have in front of you today
• to thank the Public Utilities Commission for all of their help.
• out of the pockets of profits come right out of the pockets of lowwage<01:23:43.280><c> workers.

Bills: HF2400 , HF1724 , HF3437 , HF4333 , HF2874 , HF4052

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, direct primary care, healthcare agreements, medical services, patient care, health insurance, mortgage fees, residential loans, commercial loans, finance regulations, investment properties, insurance, supplemental health insurance, short-term care, home health care, nursing care

Transcript Highlights:

• employees of a school association from authorizing an individual to use a restroom, locker room, shower
• cause of action against an athletic association that knowingly violates the requirements relating to
• To local athletic associations within certain parameters of looking at, you know, is height relevant?
• For the record, Jimmy Arwood on behalf of the Arizona School Board Association.
• Acel LeBlanc on behalf of the Arizona Education Association.

Bills: HB2020 , HB2032 , HB2033 , HB2249 , HB2313 , HB2318 , HB2378 , HCR2003

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Keywords: interference, disruption, educational institutions, public order, conduct rules, statewide assessment, student testing, academic standards, third grade reading, reading retention, promotion and retention, school accountability, assessment window, testing window, test scores, school report cards, nontest data, graduation rates, dropout rates, education data privacy