Transcript Highlights:

• I call this meeting of the Committee on Ethics to order. We do have a quorum present.
• the ethics complaints that have been submitted to this committee.
• The document is labeled House Committee on Ethics Rules of Procedure.
• I would move the House Committee on Ethics Rules of Procedure, which will be identified as JD-H Ethics
• Rules. >> Chair Davids moves adoption of the House Committee on Ethics Rules of Procedure, JD-Ethics

Committee: House Ethics

Transcript Highlights:

• We're adding in the Ethics Commission to be able to have a special assistant attorney general.
• We're adding in the Ethics Commission to be able to have a special assistant attorney general.
• rules in addition to other rules that they may have that are enforced by the Ethics Commission.
• I think the change for the Ethics Commission is an appropriate one. It has been raised.
• If there are ethical violations, the Attorney General needs to be in a position to address those.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem. A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote. The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency. In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second request for information, which has been approved, will be sent to the ethics commission in
• It will make a similar request for all documents related to the petition and any proceedings the ethics
• :51.680><c> the</c> that's been approved to send is to the that's been approved to send is to the ethics
• </c><00:01:54.320><c> It</c> ethics commission in Bard County. It ethics commission in Bard County.
• </c> and the um any proceedings the ethics and the um any proceedings the ethics commission<00:02:01.920

Summary: The impeachment committee opened by announcing the voting members and alternates assigned to each of three impeachment petitions: jailer Eric Copus, Judge Stephanie Perllo, and Justice Pamela Goodwine. The chair also noted that he and Representative Neighbors had recused themselves from the Goodwine matter. The committee then outlined its next steps on the Copus petition, including requests for information to Ballard Fiscal Court, the county ethics commission, and the commonwealth’s attorney, with responses requested by January 30, 2026. For the Perllo petition, the committee agreed to send the petition to Judge Perllo and invite a response by February 6. For the Goodwine petition, the committee approved sending letters to the Kentucky Bar Association and the Judicial Conduct Commission seeking any complaints or findings related to the matter, and to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance asking whether the named groups had spent money on any other Supreme Court justice in the past eight years. Responses to those requests were asked for by next Friday. After the committee completed its business, the chair asked whether there was anything else to take up. Hearing none, the impeachment committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for a moral belief or an ethical belief.
• But for a moral belief or an ethical belief.
• </c> religious, moral, ethical beliefs. religious, moral, ethical beliefs.
• President, I'm not. ethical belief that blacks are just not ethical belief that blacks are just not the
• ,<00:59:53.119><c> legal</c><00:59:53.680><c> policies</c> ethical, legal policies ethical, legal policies

Transcript Highlights:

• First thing on our agenda Chair Garrison: is HB 139 related to adverse personal actions and ethics by
• Carrie from Florida Commission on Ethics waves in support. Thank you for being here.
• Lopez: House Bill 603 makes an update to Florida ethics laws by recognizing foster families as family
• Lopez: foster children to the definition of relative for ethics purposes.
• Stillman from the Commission on Ethics waving in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's ethical?
• What's<00:42:18.040><c> ethical?</c> What's ethical? What's ethical?
• </c> explicitly requiring the state ethics explicitly requiring the state ethics commission<01:03:09.240
• </c> the disclosure form from the Ethics the disclosure form from the Ethics Commission<01:05:29.960>
• </c> lessen the burden on the State Ethics lessen the burden on the State Ethics Commission<01:06:14.600

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct will come to order. We were in a brief recess.
• </c> was cited in the ethics was cited in the ethics complaint<00:10:17.279><c> they</c><00:10:17.440
• </c> period not an ellipsis in the ethics period not an ellipsis in the ethics complaint<00:10:40.240
• As such, I respectfully request that this ethics complaint against me is dismissed.
• With that being said, the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct is adjourned. [Music] [Music] and

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

Transcript Highlights:

• The Maryland public ethics law is administered by the State Ethics Commission, with the Joint Committee
• uh Joint Ethics Committee may uh Joint Ethics Committee may exempt<02:35:05.280><c> somebody.
• </c><02:35:16.240><c> Committee</c> uh Ethics Committee uh Ethics Committee as<02:35:18.400><c> you</
• </c> conversation, it was an issue of ethics. conversation, it was an issue of ethics.
• </c> which is why in the bill the Ethics which is why in the bill the Ethics Committee<02:40:07.320><

Transcript Highlights:

• There's many risks when it comes to morality and when it comes to ethics.
• This really places the ethical and responsible use of AI tools center stage.
• And I'd also like to discuss the intervention, so in the form of the ethics training.
• Taught me the ethics, how to put my community first.
• Integrity can be broken down to agency, character, ethics, and morality.

Committee: All ALC-HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The meeting opened with a report on annual solvency certification for institutions of higher education, which required no action and was to be distributed later. The main presentation focused on artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education, delivered by students from Arkansas State University, the University of Central Arkansas, and Valley View High School. They argued that AI is becoming central to education and the workforce, especially as Arkansas adds major data center investments, and said students should be taught to use AI responsibly so they can compete for jobs, improve internships, and keep talent in-state. They also emphasized concerns about academic integrity, cybercrime, and the need for ethics training and district-level guidance. The presenters shared survey findings from educators in several Arkansas districts, saying most teachers support teaching responsible AI use, believe students without access to AI will be disadvantaged, and want training and district-level management. They described existing AI uses at Arkansas colleges, including AI tutors, AI-generated practice exams, homework feedback tools, and classroom applications in business, climate science, and urban forestry. They also proposed an AI library built on the state’s Access Act infrastructure so K-12 and college students could access shared AI tools and resources across Arkansas. Committee members asked about student attitudes, classroom concerns, and whether AI could help standardize course materials and objectives across institutions. The presenters said reactions among students are mixed, with arts students especially worried about copyright and originality, but that many recognize AI’s real-world value. A UCA representative added that faculty training, ethics discussions, and academic dishonesty guidance are already underway there. The chair thanked the students, noted their work on related research projects, and then moved to a second presentation from Pine Bluff community leaders. The Pine Bluff group described community-based school support efforts, including the Pastors on Patrol program, mentoring, anti-bullying and nonviolence training, drug and vaping education, leadership clubs, and a youth diversion effort for students at risk of detention. They said their work is aimed at improving school climate, encouraging citizenship and scholarship, and reducing negative behavior. Members praised the group’s efforts and asked about expanding the programs to other districts; the presenters said their model and curriculum can be shared and adapted. The meeting ended after the chair thanked both groups and adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Florida Commission on Ethics, uh... Mr.
• complaint filed against you, or if you are filing an ethics complaint.
• You have an ethics complaint filed against you, or if you are filing an ethics complaint.
• that then go from the Ethics Commission to DOAH, and that seems to be unfair to the complainant and
• of violating the Florida Code of Ethics, not a small thing.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's my ethical way of thinking is that we all are adults.
• private sector, ethics enforcement, is not a good public policy.
• I am worried about the structure of the outsourcing ethics and about some of the implications.
• But I do want to highlight that, again, ethics is incredibly important.
• But I do want to highlight that, again, ethics is incredibly important.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard several bills related to school nutrition, campus safety, college financial aid, and UC contracting ethics. SB 1058 by Senator McNerney would remove price as the primary factor in school nutrition procurement grants, allowing districts more flexibility to prioritize quality, local sourcing, cultural responsiveness, and healthier meals. Supporters from school nutrition and education groups said it would help districts better serve students and local farmers without increasing state costs. After questions about vendor selection and safeguards against favoritism, the bill was moved do pass and later approved 7-0. SB 1140 by Senator Ashby, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, would require school safety plans to address access control during construction, maintenance, and repair projects. Supporters said the bill closes a gap that can leave gates or doors unsecured and could help prevent unauthorized access to campuses. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill unanimously. SB 959 was also taken up on consent and passed. SB 1006 by Senator Padilla would raise the Cal Grant B Access Award and tie future increases to inflation using the California Consumer Price Index. Supporters said the current award has lost most of its value and does not cover basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and books, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Members discussed the fiscal impact and the need to keep aid aligned with rising costs; the bill was moved forward and later approved 7-0. SB 1141 by Senator Wahab would bar UC contracts with businesses that pay UC executives or where executives serve in paid roles, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest. UC and the Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill as too broad and potentially disruptive to operations, while supporters argued existing rules are insufficient because many contracting decisions happen outside public view. After extended debate over recusal, transparency, and the scope of the restrictions, the committee passed the bill 4-2 and then finalized all bills on the agenda before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:32.480><c> hotlines,</c><00:03:33.440><c> legal</c> legal education, ethics hotlines, legal
• obligations to their clients, to the citizens of Kentucky, and helping lawyers act in an ethical and
• </c><00:16:07.759><c> So,</c><00:16:08.720><c> in</c> ethical and responsible manner.
• So, in ethical and responsible manner.
• The speaker said the ethics hotline is included as well.

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• They want ethical integrity.
• They want ethical integrity. They right. They want ethical integrity.
• And without that ethical involved?
• ,</c> biases to provide ethical, biases to provide ethical, evidence-based<01:29:13.280><c> care,</c>
• </c><01:37:24.040><c> really</c> AMA code of ethics really AMA code of ethics really lays<01:37:26.280

Summary: The Health Services Committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 414 with a committee substitute. The bill, described by sponsors and supporters as a continuation of prior maternal-health legislation, was framed as a clarification of medical standards and an effort to improve care for women and families facing complicated pregnancies. Representative Tate, Representative Nemes, Adair Wushar of Kentucky Right to Life, and Dr. Jeff Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky all testified in support, saying the substitute was developed collaboratively to reduce confusion in the law and help physicians provide evidence-based care without fear of criminal penalties. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to define what is not an abortion under Kentucky law and to spell out medical treatments for conditions such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and fetal demise. Dr. Goldberg said current statutes contain significant ambiguity and have created unintended barriers to treating pregnancy complications, including emergency situations, and he gave examples of patients who were delayed or harmed because physicians were uncertain about what the law allowed. Representative Nemes said the measure was the result of unusual cooperation among groups that do not usually agree and described it as a first step toward fixing a discrete problem. Representative Wilner raised concerns that the language could effectively require a patient to be in severe distress before treatment is clearly permitted and that it was too prescriptive about how physicians should manage miscarriages. In response, Dr. Goldberg and the sponsors said the substitute was not perfect, was meant as a short-term solution, and was designed to give doctors more confidence in providing routine, medically necessary care for pregnancy complications. The transcript indicates the committee substitute was adopted, but no final vote on the bill itself is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• who serves on the Ethics person who serves on the Ethics Commission<00:25:15.679><c> is</c><00:25:15.800
• I do have concerns over the Ethics Commission portion.
• </c><00:26:45.120><c> When</c> over the Ethics Commission portion.
• When over the Ethics Commission portion.
• </c> their names and so making the Ethics their names and so making the Ethics Commission<00:26:58.200

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• the original Senate Bill 5, the removal process language that went up to the governor had the state ethics
• She didn't want to add an additional process where anyone could go to the Ethics Commission and start
• ethics process now because, as I understand it's two things.
• I don't see other ones that give—oh, no, for the State Ethics Commission, we did too.
• I don't see other ones that give, oh, no, for the State Ethics Commission, we did too.

Bills: SB104 , SJR3 , SM3 , SB104 , SJR3 , SM3

Committees: Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Keywords: wildlife commission, removal procedures, malfeasance, appointed officials, governance, education reform, public education, state board of education, superintendent, chartering authority, constitutional amendment, policy setting, insects, insect workshop, insect identification, ecology, monitoring, management, pollinators, pollination

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Ethics Commission will establish the specific requirements on how these composures must appear
• , I'm committed to working with committee. members, our constituents, stakeholders, and the Texas Ethics
• Tenley, I show you as General Counsel. for the Texas Ethics Commission. Thank you.
• We know how difficult it is to collect $500 these days from the Ethics Commission when y'all are done
• I think the Ethics Commission can knock that out pretty easily.

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> bill clarifies that the Ethics bill clarifies that the Ethics Commission<01:07:59.040><c> will</
• Vermont State Ethics Commission, a consultant for the Vermont State Ethics Commission, the Secretary
• </c> from the Vermont State Ethics from the Vermont State Ethics Commission,<01:10:17.120><c> another
• </c> office and the sec- and the State Ethics office and the sec- and the State Ethics Commission<01:
• </c> constraints placed on the Ethics constraints placed on the Ethics Commission.<01:13:16.360><c> Um

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:03.520><c> administrative</c> 411 relating to ethics administrative 411 relating to ethics
• </c> measure we have the Hawaii state ethics measure we have the Hawaii state ethics Commission<00:27
• </c> um there is a provision in the ethics um there is a provision in the ethics code<00:31:38.480><c
• </c> comments to this bill and as the ethics comments to this bill and as the ethics commission<00:34
• </c> that arose is that both the ethics that arose is that both the ethics commission<00:38:24.800><c

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gaetz, let's take your other bill, Tab 15, CS for SB 348 on ethics. You are recognized.
• Thank you, Madam Chair. 348 on ethics. You are recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Code of Ethics, fines that remain unpaid and delinquent after 90 days.
• This bill is recommended by the Commission on Ethics in consultation with the Attorney General.
• Perry Stillman, Florida Commission on Ethics, waving in support. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 108 on administrative procedures. That bill, as amended, would require agencies to review all rules on a five-year cycle, submit regulatory plans and annual reports, publish intended agency action within 90 days of new rulemaking authority, improve public access to incorporated materials, and streamline rule publication and correction procedures. After brief testimony from the Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and support from Americans for Prosperity and the James Madison Institute, the committee adopted two amendments and reported CS for SB 108 favorably. The committee then approved several other measures, including the Senate veterans package (CS for CS for SB 116), which made technical changes and was supported by veterans and advocacy groups; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempts local barriers while preserving state and federal law and building codes; CS for SB 126 allowing mail distribution of prescription hearing aids after a Florida-licensed professional examination; CS for SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to abandon restrained animals during declared disasters; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice expansion for complex cardiac conditions; SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure; CS for SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property; CS for SB 348 on ethics, addressing false military rank claims and delinquent ethics fines; SB 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day; CS for SB 160 expanding CPA licensure pathways and clarifying administrative outsourcing; and CS for SB 50 promoting nature-based coastal resilience measures. Most of these bills received supportive testimony and were reported favorably. The committee also considered and reported favorably the annual reviser bills SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42, which adopt the 2025 Florida Statutes, conform statutory names, remove expired provisions, and clean up obsolete language and cross-references. Throughout the meeting, members asked questions on a few bills, but no roll-call votes were recorded as opposed; each measure was approved and reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested that a few missed affirmative votes be recorded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• so what I'm going to be doing is covering the rest of the dockets, which cover the Idaho Code of Ethics
• so what I'm going to be doing is covering the rest of the dockets, which cover the Idaho Code of Ethics
• Beginning on page 475, you have the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators.
• , which is empowered by law to investigate and determine if a violation of the law or the Code of Ethics
• State Board of Education and renders decisions that provide Idaho with competent, qualified, and ethical

Committee: Senate Education