Transcript Highlights:

• FEMA does take its environmental and historic preservation, or EHP, compliance reviews very seriously
• It does take its environmental and historic preservation, or EHP, compliance reviews very seriously.
• But I think the most notable was working with FEMA's environmental review and approval process.
• Hopefully, there's an agreement that... And if we...
• Hopefully, there's an agreement that we don't have all the resources we need, so we have to take the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• wholesale price of gas, plus 5 cents, plus 1.4 cents for the underground petroleum storage tank environmental
• funds authorized and have either been let to contract, awarded as design-build, or a memorandum of agreement
• executed with a local agreement executed with a local government<00:19:55.840><c> for</c><00:19:56.240
• We have various types of agreements and services that are available.
• agreements and services that are agreements and services that are available.<00:30:02.640><c> We've</

Keywords: 00:32 Call to Order and Roll Call 02:30 Road Fund Report 17:22 Approval of Minutes 18:07 High Growth Counties Projects 56:00 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee for Transportation met without a quorum at first, then later approved the July 15 minutes by voice vote after quorum was reached. The committee heard an update from the Transportation Cabinet on the road fund for FY 2024-25. Cabinet staff reported road fund revenue came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, with motor vehicle usage tax receipts setting an all-time high for the fifth straight year. Motor fuels tax revenue was below estimate and down from the prior year, while overall road fund collections totaled $1.86 billion, essentially flat year over year. Staff said the road fund ended FY25 with a $61.6 million surplus, which under the budget bill must be appropriated to state construction. Members discussed the gas tax formula, with Senator Higdon arguing it no longer works well because revenues fall when fuel prices fall, and the chair noting the committee may need to revisit the formula. The committee then received an update on High Growth County projects in the 2024 highway plan. KYTC said $16 million in HGC authorizations had been made, nine projects already had construction funds authorized or were otherwise underway, 12 more were scheduled to be let by the end of 2025 with estimated construction costs above $250 million, and one additional project was expected to be awarded through alternative delivery. The cabinet said it anticipated authorizing the full $450 million appropriated by the General Assembly. Members praised the effort and emphasized the need to get projects to market before the next budget cycle. Jason Sala of KYTC also explained why transportation projects take time, citing planning, design, right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation as major steps that can delay delivery. He said these processes are complex and require coordination with property owners, utilities, consultants, contractors, and local governments. Eric Pelfrey then briefed the committee on professional and personal service contracts, saying they are used to expand cabinet capacity for design, inspections, right-of-way appraisal, safety, and related work. He reported that authorizations and payments for these contracts have trended upward over the past decade, and that the number of contracts has also increased. In response to questions, Pelfrey said design-build can speed some projects by overlapping steps, but it does not eliminate right-of-way or utility work when those are required; he said KYTC has been using alternative delivery more often, but project complexity still limits how quickly work can move.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> those JUA funds for new agreements those JUA funds for new agreements whether<02:46:13.920><c> or
• </c> with uh the Department of Environmental with uh the Department of Environmental Services<03:06:51.760
• </c><03:20:56.560><c> and</c> Health now has a lease agreement and Health now has a lease agreement and
• </c> as a result of that new lease agreement as a result of that new lease agreement where<03:21:22.080
• So, we don't 7-year lease agreement.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what the research shows. 78% environmental.
• Are there other environmental factors besides Parkinson's?
• That's what the research shows. 78% environmental.
• Are there other environmental factors besides Parkinson's?
• The environmental effects.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, this is from the agreement.
• What is that agreement? Mr.
• That was in the original agreement with the Harriman family.
• That was in the original agreement with the Harriman family.
• And the agreement does not specify a process.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, received messages from the Senate and governor, and moved several enrolled bills and memorials through routine referral and signing actions. The chamber concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 494, 728, and 703, and later concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 825 and 788. Committee reports also advanced multiple measures, including House Bill 939 from Resources and Conservation, House Bills 940-942 for printing or referral, and House Bill 892 to second reading. House Resolution 29, changing call-of-the-House procedures, and House Joint Memorial 21, urging faster permitting for a tungsten mine in Lemhi County, were also taken up and passed. On the floor, the House passed Senate Bills 1266, 1316, 1288, and 1339. Senate Bill 1266 made technical foster-care corrections, removed extended foster care language, and expanded expedited placement to include kinship caregivers. Senate Bill 1316 updated newborn screening consent language so parents may simply decline certain newborn procedures without stating a medical or religious reason. Senate Bill 1288 created a funding mechanism for high-need special education students, drawing from driver’s education funds and interest from the Idaho Career Readiness Fund; supporters framed it as necessary to meet federal and constitutional obligations, while opponents argued it would create an ongoing spending commitment and reduce funds for other programs. Senate Bill 1339 replaced continuous improvement planning with longer-term strategic performance planning for public schools, with supporters emphasizing accountability and reduced reporting burdens. The House also passed House Bills 706, 888, 894, and 927. House Bill 706 allowed a single stairwell in certain four- to six-story condo and apartment buildings, with added fire-safety requirements, to reduce housing costs; supporters cited affordability and housing supply, while some raised safety concerns. House Bill 888 revised the state IT procurement framework to bring more agency technology purchases under the Office of Information Technology Services, with some agencies exempted. House Bill 894 required open meetings to allow recording, photography, and video with exemptions for corrections, parole, and executive sessions. House Bill 927 restored consequences for unpaid traffic infractions, including license-related enforcement after notice and a 60-day cure period, and was presented as a public safety and fiscal responsibility measure. The House then recessed and later resumed to continue the calendar and committee business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, this is from the agreement.
• What is that agreement? Mr.
• That was in the original agreement with the Harriman family.
• That was in the original agreement with the Harriman family.
• And the agreement does not specify a process.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It terminates existing sister city agreements as of July 1, 2026, if they are with foreign countries
• It provides that remaining linkage institutes may not enter into any agreement with a foreign country
• We didn’t have an opportunity to understand the depth, the complexity of surrogacy agreements.
• And I know that it seems to be a concern of some people. ...agreements.
• and the adoption agreements.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But today's hearing is focused on the legislative budget agreement.
• I look forward to having an agreement with the administration very soon.
• AB 109 reflects months party budget agreement.
• Then we have the agreement between the Senate and the Assembly.
• We have a three-party agreement on the revenues.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think we've come to a pretty good place where all the stakeholders are in agreement on the language
• not be used to pay liabilities in another unless the respective participants have entered into an agreement
• qualification requirements, evidence of contamination or pollutants above a phase two environmental
• The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to no longer issue or reissue permits for
• There are some provisions in there, but we're not going outside of the collective bargaining agreement

Summary: The committee first confirmed six appointees in a single vote, then took up a series of bills, most of them reported favorably. The early debate centered on SB 208, a land-use bill by Sen. McLean that would require development fees to reflect review costs and create more objective compatibility standards for residential development denials. An amendment adding housing-related provisions, including an OPAGA study of urban development boundaries, drew extended discussion over the Everglades and local control; it was adopted, while a late-filed amendment on rural boundaries was withdrawn. The bill was then reported favorably after supporters and opponents, including Miami-Dade and housing groups, weighed in. The committee also favorably reported SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after amendments adding conservation, wildlife corridor, and Everglades-related protections, with one amendment specifically preserving stronger protections in counties covered by the Northern Everglades/Indian River Lagoon plan. Several criminal justice and public records measures also advanced. SB 436 would add resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense for battery enhancement and include certain felony battery offenses in prison release reoffender status. SB 830 would extend public-records protections to county and city administrators and related family information. SB 990 would authorize protected cell captive insurers in Florida. SB 600, on bail bonds, drew the most debate: an amendment by Sen. Rouson preserved the current treatment of charitable bail organizations’ deposits, with supporters arguing nonprofits help low-income defendants and critics saying the bill should distinguish commercial and nonprofit bonding; the amendment was adopted and the bill reported favorably. SB 914 on dry needling and SB 1434 on infill redevelopment also passed, the latter with an amendment removing a 10% markup requirement for buyback provisions. The committee then moved through a large education and health agenda. SB 1504 would let high school students who complete an insurance/personal finance elective qualify later for a customer service representative license. SB 1718 would expand educator preparation and temporary certification options. SB 7038 was a broad education package covering tuition waivers for Florida State Guard members, residency rules, consumer protections, dual enrollment, grading, and college funding; amendments clarified workforce licensure and exempted certain dental training from new licensure rules. SB 1092 on podiatric medicine added definitions and restrictions for cellular/tissue-based products. SB 1138 on qualified contractors created a pre-application review program for certain local governments, with historic-preservation carveouts. SB 186 on student health and safety required seizure-training and action plans in schools, and SB 560 on child welfare streamlined psychotropic-medication procedures for children in state care while adding youth advisory meetings and insurance-data review. SB 902, a broad Department of Health bill, addressed medical marijuana facility setbacks, practitioner discipline, autism microcredentials, marriage and family therapy licensure, a neurofibromatosis grant program, and family home health aide delegation; it passed after two amendments. Finally, SB 218 on land-use regulations limited hurricane-recovery restrictions to affected counties, SB 1002 expanded child-neglect definitions tied to parental drug abuse, SB 1474 tightened biosolids land-application rules, SB 1708 eased out-of-state veterinary licensure by endorsement, and SB 314 established a Florida regulatory framework for payment stablecoins aligned with federal law. Most measures were reported favorably by committee vote after brief testimony or no debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and be renewed
• Yes, so currently all revenue generated by these cooperative endeavor agreements goes into the aquatic
• There were 87 active cooperative endeavor agreements in place that requested a total of 1.54... ...agreements
• being used, and everybody doesn't have cooperative agreements.
• Would that now—would they fall in these needing to have a cooperative agreement?”

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:

• It would involve transfer agreements.
• do not have articulation agreements?
• I think they have to be innovative, but I wrote articulation agreements. To be innovative.
• I wrote an articulation agreement.
• So it's, again, this is basically related to the state reciprocity agreement.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The assistance that was required, notwithstanding any potential cooperative agreement, was only staff
• The assistance that was required, notwithstanding any potential cooperative agreement, was only staff
• was only staff assistance uh agreement was only staff assistance uh provided<00:10:09.600><c> by</c>
• Again, we had a very unique project, unique structures, unique environmental conditions going on there
• </c> unique structures unique environmental unique structures unique environmental conditions<00:46:31.319

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is what Florida needs more of: broad agreement when things are right.
• This bill addresses a longstanding issue on the Ocklawaha by directing the Department of Environmental
• But in 1971, President Nixon stopped the construction of the canal project for environmental...
• President Nixon stopped the construction of the canal project for environmental and economic reasons.
• Forest Service released an environmental impact statement calling for the restoration of the Ocklawaha

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:38.320><c> and</c> organizations agreements and organizations agreements and construction<
• A lot of good agreement.
• A lot of good agreement.
• A lot of good agreement.
• A lot of good agreement.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Bills: HCR11, HCR181, HCR187, HCR47, HCR44, HCR161, HCR102, HCR107, HCR118, HCR42, HCR176, HCR84, HCR94, HCR195, HR14, HR171, HR177, HR43, HR40, HR151, HR94, HR99, HR110, HR38, HR166, HR76, HR86, HR185

Keywords: charter schools, facilities, school funding, education, Hawaii, student enrollment, policy change, HCR181, House Concurrent Resolution, Department of Education, DOE, temporary positions, position renewal, superintendent-level positions, legislative intent, statutory interpretation, budget accountability, fiscal oversight, government transparency, state employment

Transcript Highlights:

• And respectfully asking for a no on this amendment, not because there's not agreement around the desired

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6176, SB6335, SB6047, HB2235, HB2340, HB2464, HB2619, HB1376, HB1796, HB2091, HB2249, HB2254, HB2353, HB2431, HB2441, SB5808, SB5949, HB2124, HB1069, HB2104, HB2624

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer, and approval of the previous day’s journal. It received a House message that the House had passed second engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5010, and then took up Senate Resolution 8700 honoring Yolanda Cortinas Trout Manuel for her community service, business leadership, and public service. Senator Fortunato sponsored the resolution and spoke warmly in support, and the Senate adopted it by voice vote and recognized the guest in the gallery. The chamber then confirmed Gubernatorial Appointment No. 9142, Maria Seguyenza to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, after supportive remarks from Senators Bateman and Wilson-Clair. The Senate also passed Substitute House Bill 2248, described as a technical cleanup bill for Secretary of State corporate filings, and House Bill 2309, which removes postgraduate degree requirements for certain state jobs to broaden applicant pools. House Bill 2348 passed as a Department of Natural Resources efficiency measure allowing smaller land sales to be posted online and clarifying fair-market-value requirements. The Senate deferred Second Substitute House Bill 1128 at first, then later adopted a striking amendment and passed the bill as amended. The bill creates a child care workforce standards board to study workforce conditions and make recommendations; several proposed amendments by Senator King to add child-safety training language, add an expiration date, and narrow the board’s scope were rejected. Supporters said the board would professionalize child care work and improve wages and standards, while opponents argued it would add government and costs without solving affordability. The Senate also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2523 on the Community Reinvestment Program, with supporters emphasizing accountability, periodic review, and an independent study, and passed Substitute House Bill 2428 to prevent unintentional lapses in life insurance policies by allowing third-party notices. Finally, the Senate passed House Bill 2340, expanding the CARES substance use disorder recovery program to nursing assistants, and Engrossed House Bill 2317, which streamlines licensing for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program sites in certain educational settings. Most bills passed by wide margins, though Second Substitute House Bill 1128 passed with a narrower 28-19 vote. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• Otherwise, a lot of the departments have their own data sharing agreements between the departments and
• Otherwise, a lot of the departments have their own data sharing agreements between the departments and
• Otherwise, a lot of the departments have their own data sharing agreements between the departments and
• </c> their own data sharing agreements their own data sharing agreements between<00:40:33.040><c> the
• </c> common data sharing agreements. common data sharing agreements.

Bills: HB1813, HB2429, HB2423, HB1996, HB1851, HB2546, HB2028, HB2583, HB2490, HB2545, HB2114, HB1859, HB2534, HB2474, HB1863, HB2475

Keywords: taxation, general excise tax, use tax, exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, tax expenditure, tax expenditure evaluation, tax credit review, tax incentive, tax exemption, use tax exemption, income tax credit, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Taxation, fiscal oversight, budget accountability, tax policy, revenue loss, public spending

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Bills: SB174, SB39, SB40, SB206, SB200, HB169, HB345, HB381, HB25, SB174, SB39, SB40, SB206, SB200, HB169, HB345, HB381, HB25

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40, Houston/Hunter Act, firearm hold agreement, gun storage, temporary firearm storage, firearms dealer, federal firearms licensee, FFL, civil immunity, gun owner

Transcript Highlights:

• Hills of Walnut Creek, is designed to balance residential growth, commercial opportunity, and environmental
• continue a non-conforming use of their property until the... ...person or municipality entering into an agreement
• discontinues the non-conforming use, as long as the property owner or lessee does not enter into an agreement

Bills: SB3038, SB3045, SB3065, SB3069, SB3071, HB2025, HB2149, HB3370, HB4205, HB4506, HB5424, HB5652, HB24, HB3687, HB24

Keywords: Fort Bend County, Municipal Utility District, MUD, special district, Rosenberg, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, ad valorem tax, bond issuance, assessments, fees, taxes, eminent domain, road district, storm drainage, infrastructure financing, development agreement, municipal consent, temporary directors, public utility district

Bills: HB24, SB3038, SB3045, SB3065, SB3069, SB3071, HB2025, HB2149, HB3370, HB4205, HB4506, HB5424, HB5652, HB24, HB3687

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management, Fort Bend County, Municipal Utility District, MUD, special district, Rosenberg, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, ad valorem tax, bond issuance, assessments, fees, taxes, eminent domain, road district, storm drainage