Transcript Highlights:

• If our engine — I'm an engine captain — has a guy in the back seat who's going through something, he's
• We showed up, my engine company got the kid out of the pool, brought him to the kitchen table, knocked

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Access to Breakthrough Mental Health Therapies met to discuss psychedelic-assisted treatments for serious mental health conditions, with a focus on psilocybin, ibogaine, MDMA, and related compounds. The chair framed the issue as a clinical and access problem for veterans, first responders, and others with PTSD, depression, TBI, addiction, and suicidal ideation, emphasizing that these therapies are intended for supervised medical settings rather than take-home use. Members reviewed research claims and policy trends, including FDA breakthrough therapy designations, state-level psychedelic legislation, and the role of Arizona’s right-to-try law in expanding access once federal approval is in place. Testimony came from Alan Mullen, a retired Army Special Forces veteran, who described his PTSD/TBI history and said ibogaine treatment helped him confront trauma and showed promise in reducing symptoms under strict medical monitoring. Dr. Sue Cisley of Scottsdale Research Institute described ongoing FDA-controlled trials in Arizona, said current medications often fail high-need patients, and urged removal of research barriers and preparation for right-to-try and expanded access. Dan Freiberg of the Professional Firefighters of Arizona said firefighters face chronic exposure to trauma, often rely on alcohol or other coping mechanisms, and need effective alternatives beyond traditional therapy. Dr. Chung Trin discussed late-stage psychedelic trials, the FDA breakthrough pathway, safety oversight, and the need for state readiness when approvals occur. Committee members asked about how the treatments work, whether they require psychotherapy support, safety concerns including suicidality and black-market abuse, patenting and synthetic versus natural versions, and costs compared with ketamine and other treatments. Witnesses said the therapies are administered with extensive screening, monitoring, and integration support, and argued that addiction potential appears low under medical supervision. The discussion ended with interest in sending correspondence to federal officials to support right-to-try cooperation and in continuing the research and policy work; no formal vote or action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ABOUT IN LAMENTING THE GEN A PROFILE AND THEN WE HAVE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AS WELL FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
• GEN A PROFILE AND THEN WE HAVE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS AS WELL FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.
• EMPLOYEES ACROSS NETWORK ENGINEERING FINANCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, SUPPLY CHAIN AND MANY OTHER PARTS

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh also hydrogen, uh, trucks with hydrogen engines, I should say.
• , yet Texas allows for an overweight permit on our state and county roads, roads with much less engineering
• I was the only non-engineer in the study.

Bills: HCR 114, HB 137, HB 283, HB 1398, HB 1960, HB 2153, HB 2431, HB 2638, HB 2699, HB 2999, HB 3208, HB 3389, HB 3413, HB 3510, HB 3642, HB 3859, HB 3974, HB 3986, HB 4142, HB 4173, HB 4174, HB 4542, HB 4605, HB 4663, HB 4731, HB 5064, HB 5216, HB 5218, HB 5332, HB 5453, HB 5577

Keywords: memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority, highway routes, healthcare, insurance, mental health, treatment access, state funding, transportation, axle weight, aggregates, regulations, Texas law

Transcript Highlights:

• BUILDING CODE CURRENTLY EXEMPTS CERTAIN OF THESE FACILITIES FROM DESIGN AND APPROVED BY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
• ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS TOGETHER. IT'S NOW MERGING ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS WITH FORESTERS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've got the engineers who, if the community says, "Have you tried solution A?"
• they can go back to their engineers and say, can go back to their engineers and say, "Okay, if we go

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't have to run or, or idle an engine, um, at a point of delivery considering that you're not having
• Primarily, and then the the engine went. As arrival and departure, that is correct, sir. OK.
• So maybe the, you know, the engine and the refrigeration, neither one of them is exceeding 65, you know

Bills: HB 246, HB 796, HB 1056, HB 1544, HB 1846, HB 2001, HB 2618, HB 2625, HB 2869, HB 2898, HB 3069, HB 3114, HB 3157, HB 3228, HJR 98

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Engin.<00:10:17.880> Um<00:10:18.880> I<00:10:19.120> am<00:10:19.360
• Engin. Um I am I'm not familiar. Engin. Um I am I'm not familiar.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• which includes Lakewood Ranch, Myakka City, and other portions of Manatee County, licensed civil engineer
• which includes Lakewood Ranch, Miyaka City, and other portions of Manatee County, licensed civil engineer
• This is my first time on Ways and Means. licensed civil engineer.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 13, 2025, for its first meeting of the session, with member and staff introductions followed by consideration of several tax-related bills. The committee first heard HJR 163 and its implementing bill HB 165, which would extend the homestead property tax exemption for quadriplegics to surviving spouses, similar to the treatment for surviving spouses of certain disabled veterans. Sponsor Rep. Tant and constituent J.R. Harding described the financial and caregiving burdens faced by spouses of quadriplegics. The committee heard supportive testimony from the Florida Association of Property Appraisers and members voted both measures favorably without opposition. The committee then considered HB 785 on heated tobacco products. Rep. Tramont said the bill would create a new tax/regulatory category for the product, and an amendment clarifying the definition was adopted. The James Madison Institute offered a resource on the issue, the Florida Retail Federation waived in support, and Ranking Member Eskamani said she had concerns about the excise tax treatment and would vote no. The bill passed 16-1. Next, HB 321, a property tax exemption clarification for homes for the aged, was presented by Rep. Smith as a technical “glitch bill” to align state law with IRS tax code and ease development of low-income senior housing. It drew supportive testimony and passed unanimously. The final bill, HB 503 by Rep. Botana, would cap local government revenue from local business taxes and require refunds if collections exceed the cap, with carve-outs for fiscally constrained areas. Local government and economic development groups, including the Florida League of Cities, the City of Winter Haven, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and the Florida Association of Counties, opposed the bill, arguing it would limit funding for public safety, inspections, economic development, and other services and create administrative refund problems. Several members supported the bill as a tax-cutting measure, while others warned of impacts on local services and revenue flexibility. The committee reported HB 503 favorably on a 14-5 vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Army Corps of Engineers actually got on the ball last Saturday in North Carolina.
• a lot of those haulers are now fleeing Florida, going to North Carolina where the Army Corps of Engineers
• Army Corps of Engineers is doing it in North Carolina. So that's kind of the story behind it.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard two hurricane-recovery presentations focused on Florida’s response and long-term recovery efforts. Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reviewed response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including meals, water, sheltering, search and rescue deployments, power restoration, debris removal, flood-control efforts, and generator distribution. He also described ongoing public assistance and mitigation funding, the state’s FROC system for standardizing and speeding reimbursement documentation, and the Elevate Florida residential mitigation program, which will use about $400 million to elevate or reconstruct eligible flood-insurance properties and may expand to county-run programs. Senators asked about manufactured homes, school shelter hardening, mobile home tie-downs, reimbursement for USAR teams, debris hauling, regional sheltering, and FEMA review delays; Guthrie said the state is trying to move recovery faster and more proactively, while acknowledging some limits and federal bottlenecks. The committee then heard from Justin Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce, on HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. He explained that Commerce administers long-term recovery funds through its Office of Long-Term Resiliency for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, with funds used as a last resort after FEMA and insurance. Domer outlined the process for the most recent $925 million allocation covering multiple disasters, including Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, Broward flooding, and North Florida tornadoes, and said the state currently manages about $3.4 billion in DR funds, rising to over $4 billion with the new allocation. He highlighted completed and ongoing housing programs for Hurricane Irma, Michael, and Ian, plus workforce recovery programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants. Senators asked about Broward and Fort Lauderdale funding, homeowner turnaround times, and mobile home eligibility; Domer said Broward and Fort Lauderdale will have separate HUD-directed programs, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• young man, physically fit, basically, in my observation, because he or she is really working that engine
• , you know, and you're physically fit, you know, you can really handle one of those surface-drive engines
• and mud boats, gator-tail type engines, you know.
• Representative Mack, but like in Poydras, our area, certain times of the year, you can't even use any engine
• I was a Livingston Parish councilman, and he worked for an engineering firm in Livingston Parish.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• physically fit, basically, in my observation, because he or she, you know, is really working that engine
• , you know, and you're physically fit, you know, you can really handle one of those surface-drive engines
• and mud boats, gator-tail type engines, you know.
• Mack, but like in Pointe-aux-Chenes, our area, certain times of the year, you can't even use any engine
• I was a Livingston Parish councilman, and he worked for an engineering firm in Livingston Parish.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I teach engineering, manufacturing, fabrication, apprenticeships, and work-based learning.
• So projects like that allow students to apply engineering and problem-solving skills to real-world challenges
• projects like that allow students to So projects like that allow students to apply<00:18:40.000> engineering
• <00:18:40.320> and<00:18:40.559> problem<00:18:41.200> solving apply engineering
• and problem solving apply engineering and problem solving skills<00:18:42.080> to<00:18:42.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Representative Stahl Hamilton, the stakeholders include the engineering community; the stakeholders
• include the construction community... ...the engineering community; the stakeholders include the construction
• Chair, follow-up: so your engineers and your construction folks, can you specifically... are you out
• I'm talking about consensus in all of those groups: the association, the consulting engineers, the procurement
• actually better because of the limited number of change orders you may have, because the design engineer

Bills: HB2063, HB2271, HB2416, HB2478, HB2593, HB2692, HB2813, HB2992, HB2993, HB4044

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires architecture engineer analysis when MDH permit conditions.
• It requires architecture engineer analysis when MDH permit conditions.
• It requires<00:13:34.240> architecture<00:13:34.800> engineer<00:13:35.279> analysis
• requires architecture engineer analysis requires architecture engineer analysis when<00:13:36.000

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 29 January, 2026; 2:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The Public Property Committee held its organizational meeting and elected Senator Ladner as secretary. It then took up Senate Bill 2203, which would centralize leasing authority for state agencies in privately owned space under DFA and, when cheaper, move certain agencies into the capital complex area to encourage consolidation and cost savings. Senator Seymour questioned specific references in the bill, including a corporation mentioned in current law and whether the measure could affect ports, the Gulf Coast Coliseum, universities, community colleges, or local offices outside Metro Jackson. Blunt said the bill was intended only for state agencies in the Metro Jackson area and not for local county offices or other institutions, and he later identified the corporation reference as the Mississippi Home Corporation. The committee adopted a title-sufficient do-pass motion and reported the bill out. The committee next considered a bill by Senator Hobson authorizing the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct a levee project in Yazoo County using federal funds, at an estimated cost of more than $100 million. Hobson said the project would address significant flooding and complete a portion of levee work near Carter and Satartia. With no questions, the committee again adopted a title-sufficient do-pass motion and reported the bill out. Senator Williams then presented Senate Bill 2594, the Mississippi Antiquities Law bill, which would streamline demolition of abandoned, vacant, or blighted buildings on public university and community college campuses while preserving historic properties. He said the measure would require coordination with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, define blight, require engineering analysis in some cases, and give MDH 90 days to respond before demolition or further inspection proceeds. Several senators raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the definitions of blight and other causes, and that it might let institutions tear down too much without sufficient oversight. Williams said the bill was meant to balance preservation with practical needs and agreed to work on a floor amendment to tighten the language. The committee then voted to report the bill out. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2340, authorizing DFA to sell, lease, or convey the former DPS property at 1900 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson. The committee substitute would direct proceeds to the general fund rather than DPS, while preserving mineral rights, allowing repurchase under certain conditions, and requiring DFA review of proposals. Senators discussed possible redevelopment uses, including University Medical Center, and the bill’s restrictions on uses such as heavy industrial, adult entertainment, casinos, liquor stores, and solid waste facilities. No final vote on this bill was reflected in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• they get their college degree—does it have to be in the school of education, or could it be an engineering
• Uh, because we can take an engineer who has passed the practice and then they can be certified to teach
• Uh because we can take an engineer<00:48:37.920> who<00:48:38.160> has<00:48:38.480>
• passed<00:48:39.520> the<00:48:39.680> practice<00:48:40.400> and engineer
• who has passed the practice and engineer who has passed the practice and then<00:48:41.119> they

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we can engineer that into a screw worm and then use a technique called drive, where you essentially
• can sometimes find out the level of construction and how things were done from the architect and engineer
• It was my understanding they were going to start meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers immediately
• I was under the impression that they'd already sent planning folks from the USDA, engineers, and architects
• Under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers, it was supposed to have taken two years.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that we've done is the chief engineer for Caltrans, which is like one of the biggest
• process improvements, including putting the right personnel all the way to the top of the chief engineer
• in for an encroachment permit, all that information trickles all the way to the top to the chief engineer
• Danes get, they become world leaders in something and then they export that technology and the engineering
• Second in that loading order is engineered carbon sequestration, and I think one of the things that we're

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they use burnt engine oil heaters and put used oil from their fleet of semi-trucks and one-ton
• He urged a yes vote. even uh uh burnt engine oil um that we even uh uh burnt engine oil um that we that
• There's burnt<01:44:34.800> engine<01:44:35.119> oil<01:44:35.440> heaters<01:44
• oil heaters that we use and burnt engine oil heaters that we use and and<01:44:37.360> whenever
• He said they use burnt engine oil heaters and put used oil from their fleet of semi-trucks and one-ton

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and made several announcements, including recognition of Liberty Common High School seniors and Canyon Creek Elementary students visiting the Capitol. Committee meeting notices were also given for Judiciary and Transportation, Housing, and Local Government. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1027, a Holocaust remembrance resolution sponsored by Representatives Weinberg and Woodrow and Senators Weissman and Ball. The resolution emphasized the history of the Holocaust, the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Colorado and nationally, the importance of Holocaust and genocide education, and the need to combat bias and hate. Several members spoke in support, including personal reflections from Representatives Woodrow, Weinberg, Goldstein, and others about family history, survivor testimony, and the importance of remembrance and prevention. The House adopted HJR 1027 by vote, and Representatives Rutnell and Lindsay were added as co-sponsors. The chamber then set a slate of bills as special orders for April 14, 2026. In committee-of-the-whole action, House Bill 1288 on jury selection was amended and passed; the amended bill creates a jury selection working group to study voir dire, juror questionnaires, and related issues, with a public report and Supreme Court review of any proposed rule changes. House Bill 1224 on financial protections for mobile home park residents was also taken up, with committee reports adopted and discussion focused on transparency in park sales, resident purchase opportunities, disclosures, and due diligence protections. Representative Richardson offered amendment L006 to adjust how a state registration fee is allocated, describing it as a flexibility and transparency measure, while the sponsor responded that the bill was keeping the fee structure stable and that the existing split had been negotiated with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural states like ours face the highest per capita cost because systems must meet the same engineering
• We talk with the sponsors. the sponsors,<00:47:26.880> engineers<00:47:27.760> understand
• c><00:47:28.720> what sponsors, engineers understand what sponsors, engineers understand what
• I think it's an important tool, uh, for the state engineer and with negotiations with the other basin
• <01:13:59.360> and<01:13:59.600> with tool uh for the state engineer and with tool

Bills: SF0069, SF0070, SF0016, HB0078, HJ0002, HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• Jobs start at $21 for the lowest people on the assembly line up to six figures for engineers.
• Jobs start at $21 for the lowest people on the assembly line up to six figures for engineers.
• Jobs start at $21 for the lowest people on the assembly line up to six figures for engineers.
• Jobs start at $21 for the lowest people on the assembly line up to six figures for engineers.
• They have over 400 engineers at SIG who pride themselves on providing quality and safety.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all