Transcript Highlights:

• That is now covered with this amendment.
• And also any need to cover the face because of inclement weather and so forth.
• So this will account for other use of facial coverings for health and safety purposes.
• We will..." "...of facial coverings for health and safety purposes.
• "This amendment, as briefed by the staff, provides much more guidance on when facial coverings can be

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on February 23, 2026, with a compressed schedule and limited testimony time. Members first heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, which would set eligibility standards for sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals, require background checks for sheriff candidates through the Washington State Patrol, regulate volunteers and youth cadets, and create a vacancy in office if an elected law enforcement official is finally decertified or fails statutory eligibility requirements. Supporters, including Senator Lovick and several advocacy groups, said the bill promotes accountability and professionalism. Opponents, including the sheriffs of Walla Walla and Spokane counties, argued it imposes unfunded mandates, conflicts with voter sovereignty and recall procedures, and could create problems for rural counties and volunteer use. The committee later took executive action and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation, 6-2 with one excused. In executive session, the committee also acted on Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, which expands law enforcement hiring eligibility to people legally authorized to work in the United States. A striking amendment clarified that agencies are not liable for employment discrimination claims if hiring is impracticable, allowed applicants who cannot yet possess weapons to apply if they can possess them when hired, and made technical changes. Representative Burnett raised concerns about background investigations, foreign-country vetting, oath of office, and firearm issues, but the committee adopted the striker and then reported the bill out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee also considered Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public except in specified circumstances and creates a civil cause of action. Amendments added an intent section, expanded exceptions for health and safety equipment under OSHA/WISHA, and proposed stronger prosecutorial language, though two amendments were rejected. The bill was then reported out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5890 would expand reckless driving to include driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and 20 miles per hour over in active construction zones when workers are present; law enforcement, prosecutors, traffic safety officials, and construction industry representatives testified in support. Substitute Senate Bill 5936, a Uniform Law Commission proposal on human trafficking, would allow prosecution of businesses that knowingly engage in or profit from trafficking, strengthen victim confidentiality, and improve U and T visa certification procedures; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with one witness urging caution about unintended consequences for businesses that report trafficking. Finally, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6070 would expand missing-person response tools by allowing certain surveillance devices to be used for community caretaking to locate missing endangered persons, create Ebony and Purple Alerts, transfer the missing persons website to the State Patrol, and add a public records exemption. Testimony strongly supported the alert provisions, especially for people with disabilities, while one privacy advocate objected to the surveillance provisions as an overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• School teacher and Civil War historian Tyler Alexander, while searching for an image to use on the cover
• of his of his new book, the cover of his of his new book, If<00:04:09.080><c> I</c><00:04:09.120><c>
• entity to provide claims or utilization data as a condition for receiving a 340B drug.
• This is already prohibited as it relates to pharmacies with which a 340B covered entity contracts. from
• requiring a 340B covered entity to from requiring a 340B covered entity to provide<00:37:41.040><c>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know all the entities that would apply to, no.
• You know some of the entities that it might apply to?
• I don't know all the entities that would apply to, no.
• You know some of the entities that it might apply to?
• But any electricity that the affected market customer purchases from an entity that's not an electric

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SSB 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act by removing the separate definition of alternative fuel and broadening the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous products and fuels used for transportation purposes. The Washington State Department of Agriculture testified that the change would let weights and measures staff test a wider range of fuels, including hydrogen and other clean fuels, and Douglas County PUD supported the bill as necessary to help regulate the state’s first hydrogen fueling station and future hydrogen infrastructure. A question clarified that the bill concerns the purity of the final hydrogen fuel product, not certification of the production process. The committee then received a briefing on three amendments to SB 5982, which expands Clean Energy Transformation Act coverage to additional entities. Amendment 170 would remove a requirement tied to affected market customers consuming the same or greater share of non-emitting and renewable electricity for the same end uses; Amendment 171 would exempt electricity used solely for emergency backup purposes; and Amendment 173 would similarly exempt backup generation using de minimis fossil fuels and related load from CETA compliance. Members discussed whether the amendments were needed to protect cogeneration facilities and emergency backup systems, while others argued they could weaken CETA’s clean-energy goals. In executive session, SB 6013 was reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation by a 21-0 voice vote. On SB 5982, Amendment 170 failed, Amendment 171 failed, and Amendment 173 passed. The committee then adopted the amendments into a striking amendment and voted 12-8 to report Substitute Senate Bill 5982 out of committee with a do pass as amended recommendation. Members supporting the bill said it levels the playing field and preserves exemptions for backup power and existing cogeneration, while opponents argued it could undermine CETA and allow continued fossil-fuel use or create loopholes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this wouldn't it be covered anyway? this wouldn't it be covered anyway?
• Um, you guys already covered that this would be covered just like any other consumer protection bill
• guys already covered that this would<01:50:08.960><c> be</c><01:50:09.040><c> covered</c><01:50:09.360
• But this does cover all app stores. So if a new app store came along, >> Yes, there it's covered.
• HB 1650 requires covered businesses to not send push notifications to covered minors between 12:00 a.m

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> or any kind of event at all it'll cover or any kind of event at all it'll cover or<00:39:48.200>
• as opposed to using language that kind of would only go to that entity.
• as opposed to using language that kind of would only go to that entity.
• as opposed to using language that kind of would only go to that entity.
• as opposed to using language that kind of would only go to that entity.

Bills: HF1354, HF1901, HF2124, HF2130, HF2260, HF2099, HF104, HF134, HF1769

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• This<00:48:05.520><c> is</c><00:48:05.680><c> covered.</c> This is covered. This is covered.
• </c> is only $15 to cover for the business. is only $15 to cover for the business.
• That would be helpful business entity. That would be helpful for<01:20:09.160><c> me.
• ,</c> accepted by public and private entities, accepted by public and private entities, so<02:05:00.880
• to cover.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• corporation in the state of Florida, and prohibits organizations from funneling those funds to other entities
• unless that entity is also registered in the state of Florida.
• And so it covers a slightly different topic than Chair's show's bill.
• as they deserve to be covered.
• as they deserve to be covered.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, many of them amended. Early action included PCS for CS for HB 639, which would expand an existing Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate to all Floridians, tighten specialty plate rules for future applicants, require financial projections and reporting, and create several new specialty plates. After questions about Florida nexus requirements and a successful amendment adding a Florida Film Legacy plate, the bill was reported favorably 26-0. PCS for CS for HB 1169, limiting local governments’ use of excess building-code enforcement funds for construction of the code-enforcement building, also passed unanimously after testimony from the Florida Home Builders Association. The committee then approved HB 139, expanding whistleblower protections for state, local, and contract employees who file ethics complaints, with support from the Florida Commission on Ethics. PCS for HB 273, which would make special districts eligible for certain state and federal grants and direct pay options, passed 24-1 after testimony from both supporters and opponents. Members also approved CS for HB 1087, a public-records exemption for certain stablecoin issuer information, and CS for HB 1085, updating the local government cybersecurity grant program by moving it to Cyber Florida at USF, adding a sunset, and limiting consecutive awards. Several environmental and local-government transparency measures drew extended debate. CS for CS for HB 1417, a broad environmental bill, was amended to remove several provisions, retain others on the Environmental Regulation Commission, springs, solar facilities, Indian River Lagoon septic deadlines, and coastal resiliency partnerships, and then passed 24-0 amid mixed testimony from DEP, water management districts, and environmental advocates. CS for HB 1457, creating a framework for regional stormwater management systems and water quality enhancement areas, passed 24-0 after discussion of port impacts. CS for HB 1329, requiring local budgets to be posted earlier, retained longer, and made searchable, and adding a 10% budget-cutting exercise, passed 17-6 after strong opposition from local-government groups who argued it would be costly and duplicative. The committee also approved CS for HB 4091 creating a special district for stormwater and flood control in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and then took up CS for HB 995, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission and union-related procedures, including registration, dues disclosure, election rules, leave-time limits, and expedited bargaining over legislatively appropriated salary increases; that bill was still under questioning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, will the data be accessible to any federal entity, federal agency?
• What exactly does that cost cover? Mr.
• So we work in partnership with all of those entities.
• And so based on the different topics that we directly need to be covered or should be. covered, they
• And so based on the different topics that we directly need to be covered or should be. covered, they

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Upgrades during this period covered Upgrades during this period covered antennas,<00:04:19.600><
• ,</c> the actual u you know deployment entity, the actual u you know deployment entity, Motorola<00:43
• I don't see a blame on one particular entity.
• Um, local entities, the county entities, and also state, right?
• Um local entities, um the<01:02:03.920><c> county</c><01:02:04.240><c> entities,</c><01:02:05.200><c>

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 Staff Report on Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System- 00:01:09 Kentucky State Police and Finance and Administration Cabinet Response to Staff Report- 00:48:37 Adjournment-01:34:512, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a staff report on Kentucky’s statewide emergency responder voice system (SERVS), a multi-phase project intended to improve interoperable radio communications for first responders. Staff said Kentucky State Police did not appear to have violated statutes or regulations, but the project lacked an overall master plan, clear milestones, and consistent documentation, which contributed to delays, spending issues, and deployment problems. The report recommended updating the Kentucky Field Operations Guide to reflect SERVS and noted that the project has been funded in phases since 2018, with appropriations totaling roughly $216 million across 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, while about $109 million had been spent by the end of fiscal year 2025. The report raised concerns about project sequencing and oversight. Staff said most spending was concentrated in special mobile equipment, with Motorola accounting for about two-thirds of all SERVS expenditures and the top four vendors making up 81 percent of spending. They also said a sample of Motorola payments suggested possible late payments, though they could not confirm whether interest was paid. Staff criticized the use of master agreements for a project of this size, the lack of a centralized ledger, and the absence of a documented timeline or risk mitigation plan. They recommended stronger procurement and planning requirements, including possible legislative changes requiring approved master plans for large capital projects and additional funding conditions tied to SERVS master agreements. Land acquisition and deployment progress were identified as major bottlenecks, especially in Eastern Kentucky. Staff said the project began in western Kentucky using existing tower sites, but the remaining work is concentrated in harder-to-acquire areas, with more than 95 percent of new towers still incomplete. They said the Division of Real Properties did not begin formal contract work on acquisition until October 2024, despite earlier coordination, and recommended earlier consultation on future projects. Staff also noted that the Kentucky Wireless Interoperability Executive Committee had not been active in oversight, and survey results showed limited awareness and involvement among first responders. Committee members agreed that the lack of an initial implementation plan and the continuing need for funding reflected broader planning problems, and they discussed the need for a clearer end-to-end game plan rather than continuing to fund the project without a defined completion path.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes we have all those different entities on there, and I'm not exactly sure.
• Sometimes we have all those different entities on there, and I'm not exactly sure.
• Sometimes we have all those different entities on there, and I'm not exactly sure.
• That just sometimes we have all those different entities on there, and I'm not exactly sure.
• And is it in code that can only be that one entity? No, it's in a special language.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a Legislative Audit presentation summarizing Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions for fiscal year 2025. Auditors said the department distributed about $4.6 billion in grants overall, including $3.2 billion from the Public School Fund, $1.1 billion in federal funds, and $268 million from other state and miscellaneous sources, across 56 Public School Fund programs, 14 other state programs, and 29 federal programs. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, master principal bonuses, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; audit staff and Department of Education representatives explained that the report was only a distribution summary and not a recipient-level audit. Members also questioned why many districts showed lower funding, and staff said the decline was largely due to reduced federal and one-time COVID-related funds. Senators and representatives also discussed whether some incentive programs, such as master principal and national board bonuses, were tied to student outcomes, and whether Economics Arkansas was the sole entity named in special language for financial literacy funding; department staff said they would follow up on several details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on consumer price index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global, with discussion of CPI-U and core CPI estimates for future fiscal years. Dr. Carlos Silva explained that the forecasts generally trend toward about 2 percent over time and that recent projections may have understated actual inflation because of recent shocks. Members asked about the accuracy of past projections, and he said he would provide more detail later if needed. The bulk of the meeting focused on the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with a statewide student-to-teacher ratio of about 14 to 1, average teaching experience of 11.9 years, and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found that districts with higher poverty and minority concentrations generally had less experienced teachers, and that teacher shortages remained widespread, especially in special education, math, science, and foreign language. Members asked about licensure exceptions, alternative preparation pathways, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, and the cost and return on investment of traditional versus alternative routes. Staff said some licensure exceptions are being phased out under Act 304 of 2025 and that they would follow up on several requested details. The report also found that teacher retention averaged 87 percent statewide in 2025, with districts retaining teachers at higher rates than charters, and that 30 percent of surveyed teachers were considering leaving the profession. Principals and teachers identified school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the strongest negative factors. On salaries, BLR reported a statewide average teacher salary of $60,254 in 2025, with districts averaging $60,458 and charters $55,724. Arkansas ranked 45th nationally on average teacher salary in 2025, though its cost-adjusted ranking improved to 36th; among SREB states it ranked 12th, and among neighboring states it ranked fourth. Members asked about starting salaries, salary compression, district step increases, and whether the report should be shared more broadly with educators and school leaders. Staff said they would provide follow-up information on several questions, and the committee took no formal action beyond receiving the presentations and asking for additional data.

Transcript Highlights:

• State government entities on some of the negatives that might have.
• So they made like $5 off of that deal just as an intermediary between those two entities.
• And I think between the three of them, we kind of cover all that.
• of counties, an entity that Has kind of a a more.
• Someone or some entity that we can point to that says. You're not doing it right, or you are.

Transcript Highlights:

• And every one of those entities works with the Business Council to build local capacity.
• And every one of<00:50:04.559><c> those</c><00:50:04.960><c> entities</c><00:50:05.599><c> works</c><
• 00:50:05.920><c> with</c><00:50:06.160><c> the</c> of those entities works with the of those entities
• And what it does is it allows a community or an entity or an organization or an individual, for that
• He said he quit investing in it because he did not see that entity doing what it should be doing.

Bills: HB0150

Keywords: Wyoming business council, economic development, task force, evaluation, policy reform, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do provide pretty uh rigorous cover.
• Cover the cost of planning and implementing job-embedded coaching.
• </c> then um the state aid would cover then um the state aid would cover overall<00:50:21.200><c> under
• :50:24.559><c> state</c><00:50:24.800><c> aid</c> schools are covered with state aid schools are covered
• Uh I have a feeling by the end entities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our second finding area reviews the panel's statutory requirements, which cover topics such as panel
• Our second finding area reviews the panel's statutory requirements, which cover topics such as panel
• You build radio towers on the top of towers as high as you can possibly get them so that you can cover
• as far as you possibly can uh can cover as far as you possibly can uh through<00:58:47.839><c> that<
• And I will attempt to avoid that at all cost. ...the idea of leasing tower space from private entities

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03 Summary of Staff Report on the Firefighter Commission Minimum Training Standards and Administrative Spending- 00:01:00 Staff Update on Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel 00:16:00 Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel Representatives Available for Questions-00:39:34 Kentucky State Police & Finance Cabinet Status Update on Kentucky Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System-00:52:35 Adjournment-01:46:24, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from December 19 and June 12, then received a staff report on the Kentucky Fire Commission’s minimum training standards and administrative spending. Staff explained that the commission’s current minimum training hours are 115 for volunteer firefighters and 300 for paid firefighters, down from 150 and 400 before January 1, 2023, after the commission removed elective classes not directly tied to NFPA standards. The report found the commission’s certification testing aligns fully with NFPA standards, but recommended that the commission formally promulgate regulations establishing the reduced training hours. On finances, staff said the commission complied with the first statutory cap on administrative reimbursements to KCTCS, but could not verify compliance with a second, more specific cap because the finance system does not break out program-level costs and the statute is vague. Staff recommended the commission work with KCTCS to fix that issue and suggested the General Assembly may wish to clarify the statute. After questions about reimbursement levels and investment income, the committee voted to accept the report. The committee then heard an update on the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel. Staff reported that the panel has implemented two of three prior recommendations: it revised its agency notification letter to clearly state the 90-day response deadline and added response prompts and checkboxes to improve completeness. The third recommendation, to adopt formal written procedures, remains in progress; staff said the panel plans to develop those procedures alongside its new case management system. The panel is meeting its statutory membership and meeting requirements, but agency responses to its recommendations have been inconsistent: 48% were timely and appropriate in 2022, 36% in 2023, and 82% in 2024, though only three of nine timely 2024 responses were fully complete. Staff also described the new case management system project, funded with $200,000 in one-time money, and recommended the panel consult budget staff about use of those funds beyond fiscal year 2025. They reissued the recommendation that the panel develop written procedures for case review, findings, recommendations, and annual reports. Committee members raised concerns about the lack of penalties for noncompliance, the volume and length of panel meetings, and technology barriers to reviewing cases, and one member said the panel’s findings should inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, courts have an opportunity to determine how much control a state entity or a government entity
• The bill sponsor, the senator, did state, and it's one of my points, is this does cover a wide range
• And are you representing yourself or a particular entity? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Essentially, they are their own sovereign entity.
• Essentially, they are their own sovereign entity.

Summary: The Transportation Committee considered several bills and amendments. SB 1274, as amended, removed a number of unrelated transportation provisions and added items including local authority to lower residential speed limits, clarification that certain license plate frames do not obscure plates, FDOT funding for eligible rural airport projects, limits on yellow-light timing changes to intersections with red-light cameras, revisions to private use of license plate readers, and rules for direct payments to first-tier subcontractors. The amendment and the bill both passed favorably. SB 1310, as amended, would direct FDOT to study advanced detection and monitoring systems at public railroad crossings and report policy options to the governor and legislature; rail safety testimony supported the study while urging attention to interoperability and other safety concerns. The amendment and bill were adopted and reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 828 on extending sovereign immunity to private contractors providing public transit services. Supporters said it would reduce litigation costs, provide predictability, and help maintain affordable transit and paratransit service, especially in rural areas; opponents argued it was an overbroad expansion of sovereign immunity and could affect employee rights and accountability. After an amendment narrowing the language to contractors providing services rather than operating transit and removing subcontractor references, the bill passed favorably. SB 1378, which strengthens traffic enforcement by clarifying abandoned-vehicle removal, penalties for unlawful plates or stickers, and vehicle seizure authority for fleeing and eluding, also passed favorably with support from law enforcement-related testimony. The committee then confirmed a slate of appointees in tab 6 by one vote, with no objections. SB 1562, dealing with motor vehicle dealers and limiting concentration of a brand’s sales among a single dealer group once the brand has a meaningful Florida presence, was presented as a competition and dealer-diversity measure and passed favorably. Members later recorded additional affirmative votes on several tabs, and the chair noted this was likely the committee’s last meeting of the year before adjourning without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> governmental entities. governmental entities.
• </c> a very large number of entities a very large number of entities &gt;&gt; here.
• Or did your deputy cover everything? My deputy covered everything. Oh, I'm sorry.
• Or did your deputy cover everything? My deputy covered everything. Oh, I'm sorry.
• </c> cover um regions five, six, and eight. cover um regions five, six, and eight.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:54.640><c> that</c> because we have several entities that because we have several entities
• All governmental entities pay the fees.
• </c><00:37:51.280><c> provide</c> or county because these entities provide or county because these entities
• </c> regulations um if an individual entity regulations um if an individual entity feels<00:43:42.079
• I think we’ve covered everybody online and in the room for storm water.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, we wanted to make sure it covered.
• But obviously we also want to write it so that as we get more, it would cover them.
• So we wanted to have verbiage that covered the different types of directors. them.
• So we wanted to have the verbiage 137 that covered the different types of directors. 138 >> Thank you
• I might be covered also on the amendment, but I'm FDOT.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee met to consider several bills, beginning with HB 335 by Representative Kendall, which sought to recognize space as a fifth mode of transportation, give voting rights to ex officio Space Florida board members, and reduce what the sponsor described as unnecessary state oversight of spaceport operations. The bill was presented as a response to feedback from NASA, Space Force, and other federal partners about clarifying the state’s role at federally owned facilities like Kennedy Space Center. Members raised questions about terminology, authority over federal property, and the role of Space Florida; the sponsor said an amendment would remove the voting-rights provision and instead require spaceports to provide an annual list of shovel-ready projects. The amendment was adopted, and HB 335 passed favorably. The committee then unanimously passed HB 885, which designates a road in Baker County near the courthouse in honor of former Representative and Judge John Cruz, and HB 403, which names a portion of the road leading into NAS Pensacola as Warriors Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Pensacola attack and the broader naval community there. Both bills drew brief supportive remarks and no opposition. The committee also considered HB 25, a bridge designation for Coach Wilks, a longtime local basketball coach, and adopted a Senate amendment adding the Dickey Betts Memorial Highway designation on U.S. 41 in Sarasota County. HB 25, as amended, passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with adjournment after all measures on the agenda were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:14.000><c> and</c> means that that service is covered and means that that service is covered
• drug by a covered entity unless receipt of the drug is prohibited by federal law.
• drug by a covered entity unless receipt of the drug is prohibited by federal law.
• </c> accepted in the case of a covered accepted in the case of a covered prescription<05:06:11.320><c
• </c> for certain Medicaid covered for certain Medicaid covered over-the-counter<05:08:27.000><c> medications

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> govern the data collected by entities govern the data collected by entities who<00:37:48.480><c>
• </c> would provide good incentive uh cover would provide good incentive uh cover those<01:08:23.839><
• The program focuses on certain covered products whose brand producers would cover the costs associated
• The program focuses on certain covered products whose brand producers would cover the costs associated
• The program focuses on certain covered products whose brand producers would cover the costs associated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all