Transcript Highlights:

• The China seminar was a platform for in-depth discussions on diverse topics, always accompanied by excellent
• China<00:05:29.800> Minar<00:05:30.000> was<00:05:30.120> a<00:05:30.280> platform
• <00:05:30.720> for<00:05:30.960> in-depth China Minar was a platform for in-depth China
• Minar was a platform for in-depth discussions<00:05:32.199> on<00:05:32.440> diverse<00
• The seminar has hosted over 250 speakers and 350 presentations covering history, culture, politics, economics

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 24 members present and one excused, approved the previous day’s Journal, and heard several introductions. Senator Hashimoto welcomed a visiting Kukui Fellowship Program cohort from Maui, and Senator Chang delivered a tribute honoring the late University of Hawaii Professor Daniel W. Kwak, highlighting his scholarship in Asian studies, his teaching career, and the journalism fellowship and China seminar he founded. A late introduction also recognized retired UH communications professor Gerald Kato for his work in journalism policy. The chamber then processed messages and communications, including Governor’s nominations to boards and commissions, House communications returning Senate bills, and a Judiciary communication transmitting the nomination of Sonia H. Toma to the Family Court of the Second Circuit. The Senate adopted Standing Committee Reports Nos. 1369 and 1370, agreed to disagree with House amendments to Senate Bill 108, and received notice that conferees would be named later. House concurrent resolutions transmitted from the House were referred to committee. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 994, HD1, relating to promoting pornography to minors, and House Bill 1175, relating to tax appeal procedures, both by unanimous consent with 24 ayes and no reservations. The Senate also granted a waiver of referral for a list of Senate concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions so they could meet an upcoming deadline. The President thanked staff for the job fair and noted its value for employees whose service would end at adjournment. The Senate then adjourned until 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 31st.

Transcript Highlights:

• The BOE's technology project before you today modernizes the technology platform used specifically for
• Phase one, the initial EDR project, established our foundational enterprise platform and modernized both
• In 2023, we introduced the personal income tax audit and protest workloads to our enterprise platform
• In 2023, we introduced the personal income tax audit and protest workloads to our enterprise platform
• FTB's data center, which hosts the mainframe environment, provides the necessary operating and storage

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several budget proposals from CDTFA, the Board of Equalization, and the Franchise Tax Board. The first panel focused on cannabis, hemp, flavored tobacco, and related enforcement. CDTFA requested ongoing funding to implement cannabis tax changes, enforce the new intoxicating hemp restrictions and flavored tobacco seizure authority, and continue compliance work. The department said it is targeting illicit product, protecting licensed businesses, and using referrals from the public and lawmakers to focus inspections. The LAO supported some of the proposals but urged the Legislature to treat them as part of a longer-term enforcement strategy and raised concerns about the use of General Fund support for cannabis enforcement. Public testimony on the cannabis item largely supported stronger enforcement and funding for the legal market. The committee also heard CDTFA’s request to reappropriate funds for an upgrade to the CROS tax collection system, which would improve taxpayer services, security, and software maintenance without adding new money. A separate CDTFA proposal would make all delivery network companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the change would reduce confusion for restaurants and improve compliance, while the LAO questioned whether the proposal functioned more like a tax increase because it would also capture service fees. Members raised affordability concerns, but the proposal was framed by the administration as a parity and compliance measure. The subcommittee then considered a governor’s proposal for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Finance argued the credit would help decarbonize aviation and support in-state production, while the LAO recommended rejection, citing cost, uncertainty about environmental benefits, possible diversion of diesel excise tax revenues from transportation programs, and concerns about consistency with voter-approved transportation funding rules. Testimony from airlines, labor unions, airports, and refinery workers strongly supported the credit, emphasizing union jobs, refinery conversions, and emissions reductions, while fuel retailers and some others warned about fiscal risk and higher fuel prices. The chair and some members expressed support for the proposal despite the funding concerns. Finally, the BOE presented an IT modernization project for state-assessed property administration, saying the current system is outdated and manual and that a new system is needed to improve accuracy, cybersecurity, and workflow efficiency, especially with a likely increase in workload from new VoIP assessments. The LAO asked for more justification for the timing, but BOE said the urgency stems from aging systems and growing workload. BOE also requested modest funding to implement SB 293 changes to intergenerational property transfers and wildfire relief guidance, which the LAO did not oppose. The Franchise Tax Board began its presentation on the final phase of its Enterprise Data to Revenue modernization effort, describing the project’s rollout across audit, collections, legal, and filing enforcement workloads and noting it is now in a warranty period.

Transcript Highlights:

• The profit motive guarantees that platforms will not act with urgency or consistency.
• It imposes, ...subject platforms to liability for protected expression.
• content they host.
• content they host.
• And clearly, the platforms are doing less and less to try to moderate this.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, appraisal districts and taxing units across the state operate on various software platforms that
• So, this information can be transferred easily between platforms with little or no reformatting.
• Uh, this bill was brought by a constituent because for a whole host of reasons, peace officers are leaving
• intended to support counties and cities heavily impacted by these exemptions, um, especially those, uh, hosting
• Under current law, charitable organizations must keep up compliance with a host of tax-related rules

Bills: SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: redistricting, election, Texas legislature, district composition, political representation, congressional redistricting, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. House, Congressional districts, district map, district boundaries, gerrymandering, voting rights, election law, apportionment, representation, special committee, PLANC2308, redistricting plan, elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, appraisal districts and taxing. units across the state operate on various software platforms that
• This information can be transferred easily between platforms with little or no reformatting.
• Constituents, because for a whole host of reasons, peace officers are leaving the profession and communities
• was intended to support counties and cities heavily impacted by these exemptions, especially those hosting
• Under current law, charitable organizations must keep up compliance with a host of tax-related rules

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually hosted the National Indian Higher Education Consortium meeting in downtown Minneapolis at
• the convention center in 2024, so all the tribal colleges helped host that, and we had almost 2,000
• and<00:15:59.000> so colleges hosted helped host that and so colleges hosted helped host
• So we built the platform that we needed, the reporting structure we needed.
• We’ve had other institutions already reach out to us wanting this platform.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• WE THINK THAT IS BEST HOSTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT. >> Chair Yeager: GO AHEAD.
• IF IT'S AI PLATFORM THAT MAKES A MISTAKE, IF IT'S A HUMAN, THE SAME LAW APPLIES.
• IF IT'S A AI PLATFORM OR HUMAN PLATFORM THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE.
• IF THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT INFORMATION BEING RETAINED BY THE AI PLATFORM THEN, I BELIEVE, THE DEPARTMENT
• I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PLATFORM IS NOT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, BIAS, OR USE AI

Transcript Highlights:

• substitute for Senate Bill 940, a bill to be entitled an act relating to third-party reservation platforms
• Third-party reservation platforms were using automated...
• Third-party reservation platforms are using automated programs to misappropriate restaurant reservations
• The bill defines the term third-party reservation platform to mean any website, mobile application, or
• Famuse Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research is hosting today, and it's going to be in the

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then moved to the special order calendar. Early bills passed included measures on the Florida Trust Code (SB 806/HB 1173), school district reporting requirements and educator misconduct reporting (SB 1374), debt collection email communications (SB 232), service of process updates (SB 576/HB 157), public lodging and food service establishments (SB 606), lien waivers and releases (SB 658), Crime Stoppers public records exemptions (SB 710), health care licensure and foreign-country business interests (SB 768, amended), diabetes management in schools (SB 772/HB 597), platting procedures (SB 784), fentanyl testing in hospitals (SB 1346/HB 1195), third-party reservation platforms (SB 940), electronic landlord-tenant notices (SB 1164/HB 615), leaving the scene of a crash restitution (SB 1378/HB 479), background screening for athletic coaches (SB 1546), surrendered infants and infant safety devices (SB 1690/HB 791), and affordable housing/Live Local Act changes (SB 1730, amended). Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on trespass, higher education, transportation services, the UCC, altered sexual depictions, firearms during emergencies, Brownfields, false reporting, health care billing, motor vehicles, utility services, and others. Most of the debate centered on a few controversial bills. Senators debated the fentanyl testing bill in support of faster detection and life-saving treatment, and the surrendered infants bill drew opposition over safety, anonymity, and liability concerns, though supporters argued baby boxes provide a monitored safe surrender option. The affordable housing bill received an amendment and broad support as a continuation of the Live Local Act, with changes to zoning, parking, height, and litigation procedures. The day’s most contentious measure was the agriculture/consumer services package (SB 700), where senators argued over the bill’s fluoride-related preemption; opponents criticized the policy and process, while the sponsor emphasized broader agriculture, consumer protection, and FFA-related provisions. That bill passed 27-9. Votes on the other major bills were largely bipartisan and often unanimous or near-unanimous, with several bills passing 35-37 yeas and few or no nays. The Senate also adopted a motion to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House. The session concluded with announcements recognizing visitors, including Taiwan representatives, and remarks about a lantern-lighting observance tied to the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:47:44.399> to would require online dating platforms to would require online dating platforms
• the platform for fraudulent activity. the platform for fraudulent activity.
• > been<02:47:56.160> around Online dating platforms have been around Online dating platforms
• I'm aware of incubators to host them.
• <05:42:50.240> events educational resources and hosts events educational resources and hosts

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 23, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• property visible on their platform.
• This amendment excludes social media platforms from being considered a listing platform.
• This amendment excludes social media platforms from being considered a listing platform.
• That applies to a whole host of transactions way beyond the two that we're now talking about.
• Just this past Sunday, my synagogue hosted our annual ethnic Jewish food festival.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of retained bills and several new measures, with most receiving favorable reports after amendments. Major debate centered on CS/SB 706, which preempts airport naming to the state and designates Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA and trademark-related conditions. Senator Jones offered amendments to avoid private royalty benefits, but both failed. Senators Berman, Osgood, Jones, and Pizzo spoke against the bill, raising concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and ethical issues; Senator Mayfield defended the bill as cost-free to the airport and noted the naming agreement. The committee ultimately voted the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements and CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, both with amendments and some opposition from the Florida League of Cities on the utility bill. Several other bills were heard and reported favorably with little controversy. CS/SB 1500 would streamline uncontested probate proceedings; SB 962 would exclude farms and farm operations from certain zoning definitions tied to affordable housing preemption; CS/SB 820 would strengthen reporting for problem-solving courts; SB 840 would revise portions of last year’s hurricane-related land-use law to narrow its scope and sunset temporary restrictions; and SB 856 would require online property listings to show estimated ad valorem taxes, with an amendment excluding social media platforms and broadening liability protections. SB 110 would clarify homestead exemption eligibility for 98-year or longer residential leases. SB 394 would exempt certain underwriting managers handling limited facultative reinsurance from licensure requirements, and SB 434 would prevent wind-hardening improvements from increasing assessed value for residential property tax purposes. The committee also advanced several public-safety and transparency measures. CS/CS/SB 658 and 608, a combined water-safety bill, would require safety features for rental properties with pools or nearby water bodies and authorize DBPR enforcement; supporters framed it as a response to Florida’s high child-drowning rates, and Airbnb waived in support. SB 748 would place constitutional language on restoration of voting rights on sentencing score sheets, with broad support from voting-rights and civil-rights groups. CS/SB 824 would require annual reporting of unimproved school-district land inventories, and CS/SB 848 would create a framework for off-site stormwater treatment and related credits, with support from builders and mitigation bankers. The committee also heard CS/SB 1036 on school counselors, which clarifies certification requirements and performance criteria after a delete-all amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• To address food insecurity, we hosted a Thanksgiving donation that provided 200 meals to students in
• We also have a K through 6 school that we host along with the Hawaiian Academy for Arts and Sciences,
• <01:59:28.880> over every year and in 2024 we hosted over every year and in 2024 we hosted
• First, we host a monthly game night with bowling, ping pong, pizza, and, most importantly, friends.
• the Performing Art Center where we host the Performing Art Center where we host our<03:27:37.439

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• that outreach, have it front-facing on our website, have that availability happening, use every platform
• ><00:26:49.919> every availability happening, use every availability happening, use every platform
• And then the ability for us to host veteran reunions, other conferences at this facility is a key driver
• Um and then the ability for<00:36:48.880> us<00:36:49.040> to<00:36:49.280> host
• <00:36:49.920> uh<00:36:50.160> veteran<00:36:50.640> reunions, for us to host uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When I look at the Republican Party platform for less government and less spending, this doesn't seem
• When I look at the Republican party<00:20:55.039> platform<00:20:55.880> for<00:20:56.880
• and party platform for less government and less<00:20:58.679> spending,<00:20:59.679> this
• On page seven, you got section 13, which was the lapse work that they hosted.
• So, they go through all the laps hosted.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To address food insecurity, we hosted a Thanksgiving donation that provided 200 meals to students in
• <01:13:14.280> fostering by reducing um crime hosting fostering by reducing um crime hosting
• We also have a K through 6 school that we host along with the Hawaiian Academy for Arts and Sciences,
• We also have a K through 6 school that we host along with the Hawaiian Academy for Arts and Sciences,
• One, we host a monthly game night with bowling, ping pong, pizza, and, most importantly, friends.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are economically insecure, and we place them with host agencies or employment opportunities.
• Or CHESS IT project, which would connect six community colleges onto a new education platforming system
• enables DOIT to pilot and scale innovative technologies such as AI-driven analytics, cloud-native platforms
• must stress that this is foundational to maintaining uptime, security, and scalability for all state-hosted
• It is a subscription-based service where we host the platform.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is critical that we address social media platforms that facilitate drug peddling to children—platforms
• their platforms to be used need to be held liable and accountable.
• Namely Snapchat and the social media platforms.
• "Because we had no idea this was happening on our platform.
• It is time to give parents the right... to sue these platforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ranking Member Cantwell, I want to thank you both for hosting this important confirmation hearing today
• He highlighted that current actions by tech platforms may violate their own terms of service in violation
• users based on their speech, and this action is clearly designed to intimidate the platforms to adopt
• I'm concerned about the possibility of new AI platforms like DeepSeek being used to extract sensitive
• The loopholes in its code could easily be copied into other platforms.

Keywords: Senate Committee, Commerce, Science, Technology, Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, FTC, Consumer Protection, Innovation, Emerging Technologies

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation featured significant discussions regarding technological advancements and their implications for the future. Notably, nominations were made for key positions in the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Federal Trade Commission. Committee members expressed the importance of leading in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasizing that the pace of innovation is crucial for maintaining the United States' global position as a leader in technology. The discussions also highlighted the role of the FTC in protecting consumers from deceptive business practices and ensuring fair competition in the marketplace. Attendees underscored the urgency of advancing research and development in areas such as quantum computing, as evidenced by a demonstration of a new quantum chip anticipated to redefine computing capabilities across industries. Various members engaged in vibrant exchanges, showing support for initiatives aimed at bolstering innovation through public and private collaboration. Overall, the meeting set a strong agenda for pursuing future science and technology policies that ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of global advancements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 39, DHS with Deloitte Consulting, is to continue Amazon Web Services to host the Integrated Eligibility
• This is to implement their Lament 451 platform to support student recruitment, admissions, engagement
• integration development, and post-implementation support for their Workday student information system platform
• This is for services, maintenance, and development for DMZ hosting. 72, Management Services Division

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures. The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to continue Amazon Web Services to host the integrated eligibility and benefits management program
• This is to implement their Lament-451 platform to support student recruitment, admissions, engagement
• integration development, and post-implementation support for their Workday student information system platform
• Services with Arkansas Information Consortium LLC, is for services, maintenance, and development for DMZ hosting

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hey, if you're a job seeker, come interact with us on this digital platform. You can ask questions.
• You can do your research based on what you... ...platform, you know, you can ask questions, you can do
• We have a whole host of performance metrics that we're monitoring that inform our strategic decision-making
• We've hosted three since we launched it.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and first considered SB 88, which would allow local governments to authorize utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed county roads and municipal streets, with limits on who may operate them and where they may travel. An amendment from Sen. Wright was adopted to require minimum motor vehicle insurance, keep a registration certificate in the vehicle, and delay the effective date to January 1, 2026 for implementation. The bill drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would create a safe, locally controlled path for UTV use and reflect how the vehicles are already being used, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Florida Justice Association argued UTVs are designed for off-road use and lack the safety features needed for public roads. After debate, the committee reported CS/SB 88 favorably, with Sen. Davis voting no and several members expressing support while noting safety concerns for future work. The committee then heard SB 274, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way in honor of the late hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. Sen. Arrington described Rosen’s business success and extensive charitable work in Central Florida, and the bill received supportive comments from committee members and a representative from UCF. The committee voted the bill favorably without opposition. The final item was a discussion on transportation workforce issues led by FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, with remarks from Florida Transportation Builders Association president Dan Hurtado. Perdue said Florida’s growing transportation needs, an aging workforce, and projected retirements require a broader workforce strategy, including a proposed Transportation Academy, craft and trade programs, learning labs, and a transportation research institute. He said FDOT has already reduced vacancies through recruit-and-retain efforts and hiring events, but still needs more skilled workers. Hurtado said FTBA supports expanding workforce development efforts and noted the industry’s own Florida Connect Academy. No vote was taken on the workforce discussion, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.