Transcript Highlights:

• Questions on the amendment? Members, were there questions on the amendment?
• There is no public testimony on the amendment. Debate on the amendment. All in favor say yea.
• Show the amendment adopted.
• Show the amendment adopted. We're back on the bill as amended. We are in public testimony.
• There are no amendments.

Summary: The Budget Committee took up six bills. HB 313 passed unanimously and was reported favorably; it exempts vehicles or motorcycles displaying the Purple Heart specialty license plate from paying tolls on Florida facilities. HB 749 also passed and was reported favorably; it extends benefits to firefighters injured during training exercises. CS/HB 1103 passed and was reported favorably; it addresses APD’s developmental disability waitlist by increasing transparency, creating statewide family care councils, expanding the existing pilot program statewide on a phased timeline, and improving coordination for young adults transitioning out of foster care. Testimony on HB 1103 focused on the long waitlist, the need for more provider capacity and support coordinators, and concerns from Disability Rights Florida about moving too quickly without enough data, while supporters argued the current system is not working and families need access to services now. HB 1097 passed after a unanimous amendment removing an appropriation; it creates a premier academic insurance research center at Florida State University to conduct applied insurance and catastrophic risk research, with members discussing the transition from FIU and noting continued collaboration. HB 1309 passed and was reported favorably; it requires evidence-based reading interventions for K-2 students with reading deficiencies and creates a reading coaches program for grades 4-12. Supporters from education and business groups appeared in favor. CS/HB 433 also passed and was reported favorably, though it drew the most debate. The bill requires agencies to review existing rules and guidance documents for consistency with legislative intent, repromulgate rules over time, and report licensing metrics. Members raised concerns about possible duplication of work, staffing needs, and cost, while the sponsor and supporters argued agencies should already be doing this and that the bill would reduce unnecessary regulation and improve accountability. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stephen Brown, Legislative District 4.
• out to all of you, their legislators.
• We haven't moved the floor amendment.
• We will go back to the floor amendment itself.
• Now move that floor amendment for us. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > that legislation the model legislation that legislation the model legislation that we<00:28:38.200
• And the major amendment?
• Okay. on the amendment okay on the amendment okay do<01:28:24.440> the<01:28:24.520> amendment
• do the amendment we do the amendment do the amendment we do the amendment first<01:28:26.760>
• Seeing none—wait a minute, what amendment? No amendment. Okay, not to pass.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for this legislation.
• They have an opposed-unless-amended position.
• I will be accepting the committee's amendments.
• I will be accepting the committee's amendments.
• I will be accepting the committee's amendments.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with most measures drawing support from industry, professional, local government, and advocacy witnesses, and several receiving committee amendments before moving forward. AB 8 on hemp and cannabis drew the most extensive debate: supporters said it would close loopholes around intoxicating hemp products, strengthen enforcement, and bring THC products into the regulated cannabis supply chain; opponents, including small cannabis farmers and environmental groups, warned it could undermine Proposition 64’s closed-loop system, harm California cultivators, and reduce tax revenues for youth, environmental, and law enforcement programs. The author said the bill was intended to protect consumers and children and to work further with stakeholders. AB 476 on copper theft was presented as a public safety and infrastructure bill to tighten reporting, documentation, and penalties for scrap metal theft; supporters from cities, utilities, broadband, and recycling-related groups described major losses and outages from copper theft, and the remaining opposition moved to neutral after amendments, with the bill advancing with committee support. The committee also heard AB 985, which would allow nationally certified anesthesiologist assistants to practice under direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists to address anesthesia workforce shortages. Supporters, including the California Society of Anesthesiologists, medical groups, students, and patients, said it would expand access and bring California in line with other states; nurse anesthesiology groups expressed concerns and sought further clarification, but there was no formal opposition at the hearing. AB 506, aimed at online pet sales, would void contracts that fail to disclose an animal’s origin or veterinary records or that require non-refundable deposits; animal welfare groups said it would curb puppy mill pipelines and deceptive online sales, and there was no opposition. AB 876, on certified registered nurse anesthetists, generated the sharpest health care policy dispute: supporters said it would codify existing practice and clarify CRNA duties, while physicians and medical associations argued it would expand scope too far and reduce patient safety. After a roll call, AB 876 passed the committee 9-0, as amended, to Appropriations. Other bills advanced with broad support after amendments. AB 432, the Menopause Equity Act, would require continuing medical education on menopause-related care for certain physicians; the author and medical experts said the bill addresses widespread gaps in menopause treatment and research, while CMA and ACOG opposed the mandate as an inappropriate CME requirement, though they agreed the underlying problem is real. The bill passed on call, as amended, to Health. AB 759 would allow eligible architectural candidates to use the title “architect in training” to encourage completion of licensure and improve diversity in the profession; it passed unanimously, as amended, to Appropriations. AB 967 would create an optional expedited licensure fee for out-of-state physicians to reduce delays in bringing doctors into California’s workforce; supporters said it would help address shortages and improve patient access, and the bill was presented with support from medical stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there is an author's amendment, right? The A4 amendment.
• on the A4 testify on the amendment on the A4 amendment?
• under this legislation. under this legislation.
• <00:49:41.839> to amended, as amended, be re-referred to amended, as amended, be re-referred
• The amendment is adopted. So, to your bill as amended.

Bills: HF2354, HF1672, HF2389, HF2870, HF2743, HF1918, HF2551, HF1671

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, medical cannabis, medical marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, hemp, marijuana registry, patient registry, visiting patient, Tribal cannabis, Tribal medical cannabis program, Tribal sovereignty, Office of Cannabis Management, designated caregiver, home cultivation, adult-use cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment. Amendment. >> Very<00:05:13.440> good.
• about with constitutional amendments? about with constitutional amendments?
• amendment drafting.
• > you<00:37:07.920> can amendments, the first amendment, you can amendments, the first amendment
• It could propose an amendment just like Congress can propose an amendment.

Keywords: Concurrent meeting of the House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs and the House Standing Committee on State Government. Title of video has been shortened due to YouTube length restrictions. Discussion of HCR 45: 00:04:14, 958, all

Summary: The joint meeting of the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and the House State Government Committee was called to consider House Concurrent Resolution 45, sponsored by Representative Jason Petri. The resolution would support calling for a federal balanced budget amendment through the Article V process. Petri argued that Kentucky’s own constitutional balanced-budget requirement shows the value of fiscal restraint, and he said decades of federal deficit spending and rising debt make a constitutional amendment necessary. Governor Ron DeSantis and Lauren Ends of the National Campaign for a Balanced Budget Amendment also testified in support, emphasizing the growth of federal debt, the risk of a future debt crisis, and the view that Congress is unlikely to solve the problem on its own. Members asked about the mechanics and risks of an Article V convention, including whether the convention’s “sole purpose” language would be enforceable and whether a convention could become a “runaway” process. DeSantis and Ends said states can impose guardrails on delegates, including criminal penalties and delegate-limitation laws, and noted that any proposed amendment would still require ratification by 38 states. They also said that if Congress chose to draft the amendment itself in response to state pressure, that would be acceptable. One witness said 18 states have passed faithful-delegate or delegate-limitation laws. Representative Callaway asked what would happen if the debt issue is not addressed. Witnesses responded that continued borrowing could lead to economic dislocation, higher interest costs, and a debt crisis that would crowd out other federal spending. They said the current debt burden is already more than $100,000 per U.S. citizen and roughly $300,000 per taxpayer, and that a balanced budget amendment would be a first step toward stopping the growth of debt before any long-term paydown could occur. The transcript provided does not show a final vote or other committee action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment say I. amendment say I.
• the bill as amended. the bill as amended.
• All those in favor of the amendment as amended say aye.
• Okay, so we have the amendment as amended by the committee.
• move amendment have I'll move amendment 1190s. 1190s. 1190s.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Vice Chair, please move the D.S. amendment. Mr.
• The amendment has not been adopted yet.
• If the committee chooses to advance HB 2162, I urge you to consider amending the legislation to ensure
• Wynn and Senator Kavanaugh on an amendment.
• Let me read pending legislation in different states.

Bills: HB2155, HB2156, HB2162, HB2762, HB2791

Keywords: Arizona Beef Council, agriculture, market development, beef products, terminating council, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, game and fish commission, wildlife, appointment, commission membership, Arizona Revised Statutes, food labeling, cultivated cells, cell-cultured products, consumer information, food safety, cell-cultured protein

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. The amendment is adopted.
• me A15 amendment does. me A15 amendment does.
• A15 amendment. A15 amendment.
• <00:08:07.759> amendment, next amendment, the author's amendment, next amendment, the author's
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 5313, a bipartisan bill to create a statewide framework for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota. The author said the bill is intended to improve safety, provide regulatory clarity, avoid a patchwork of local rules, and support economic development and mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. The bill was described as a work in progress, and the committee adopted three author amendments: A12, a technical correction; A15, which states MDOT and Public Safety can absorb the bill’s incidental costs within existing resources; and A14, which added clarifying airport-related language requested by the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport/MAC. The Minnesota Department of Transportation testified in support of continued discussion but said the bill needs more work in several areas, including an annual MDOT permitting process for AV operators, defining operational design domains, adding stronger enforcement authority, clarifying remote assistance roles, and requiring fully automated vehicles to be registered with Public Safety. MDOT said it has worked with the governor’s connected and automated vehicles council and more than 70 stakeholders on recommendations. Industry and transit witnesses strongly supported the bill, citing existing AV deployments and safety benefits. Southwest Transit’s CEO said its Eden Prairie AV service has carried 27,000 riders over 112,000 miles with no accidents, strong customer satisfaction, and increased ridership. A Whimo representative said the bill would create regulatory certainty and help expand AV deployment. Several public witnesses emphasized accessibility and safety. A disability advocate described how autonomous vehicles could improve independence for people who cannot drive, including those with epilepsy and other disabilities, and urged passage of the bill. A former 911 dispatcher and state patrol employee said AVs could reduce crashes and protect drivers, pedestrians, and officers, contrasting a dangerous human ride-share experience with a safer autonomous ride. Another disability advocate and blind Minnesotan testified that AVs could help address transportation barriers, though he also noted ongoing discrimination problems with ride-hailing services for blind riders with guide dogs. After the amendments were adopted, the bill was moved to the Commerce Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Legislation.
• First, I would like to accept the committee amendments.
• We aren't support yet we actually are support if amended we absolutely appreciate the amendments in the
• With the sunset process, we could either have been in favor with amendments or opposed with amendments
• We are supportive amended.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . amendment. amendment.
• 8 as amended by floor amendment 1. 8 as amended by floor amendment 1.
• as amended. as amended.
• . amendment. amendment.
• as amended is adopted. as amended is adopted.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received a message from the House announcing passage of House Bills 364, 534, 600, and 662 and requesting concurrence. The chamber then took up second-reading reports, placing several bills on the Rules Committee calendar, and briefly recessed for caucus meetings before returning to floor business. The first major floor action was Senate Bill 11, a residential safe room rebate program aimed at rural tornado preparedness. Supporters described it as a way to use FEMA or private funds to help homeowners build personal storm shelters that could also serve neighbors; one senator opposed it over a fiscal note and concerns about unintended consequences in rural areas. The Senate adopted a committee substitute and passed SB 11 by a vote of 33–3. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 8 on public utilities and PSC intervention procedures. A committee substitute and floor amendment were adopted to clarify intervention standards, limit delay tactics, allow written comments from non-intervenors, and revise transmission-line approval thresholds; supporters said the changes would improve PSC efficiency and protect ratepayers, while some senators objected to a provision moving records from the Energy and Environment Cabinet to the state auditor as politically motivated. SB 8 passed 30–5. Senate Bill 94, dealing with dealer compensation for warranty and recall work, was also amended and passed unanimously after supporters said it reflected agreement between auto dealers and manufacturers. Finally, Senate Bill 197 on economic development incentives was amended to create county tiers, expand incentives for distressed areas, allow cross-border projects near state lines, and correct clerical errors; it passed 36–0.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment 0474H. amendment 0474H.
• Yes, I have an amendment, amendment 04 72.
• Yes, I have an amendment, amendment 04 72.
• Yes, I have an amendment, amendment 04 72.
• c><02:20:18.240> 04 amendment um amendment um 04 amendment um amendment um 04 72. 72. 72.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the amendments are bills. I think the amendments are good.
• So, I would like to offer an amendment to...
• So, Motion and second to the amendment... Motion and second to the amendment.
• Yes, you want to discuss the amendment?
• Okay, we have an amendment to lower or to change...

Bills: SB58, SB101, SB102

Keywords: parental rights, minor consent, medical consent, mental health services, school counseling, student counseling, parental notification, opt-in, health records, HIPAA, vaccine consent, adolescent health, youth privacy, confidential counseling, school mental health, reproductive health, pregnancy services, sexually transmitted infections, STI treatment, substance abuse treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an amendment at the desk. The clerk will report the amendment. The amendment is coded A1.
• Lee F moves to amend House File Number 17. The amendment is coded A3.
• There's an amendment at the desk. The clerk will report the amendment.
• Torkelson moves to amend House File Number 18. The amendment is coded.
• This is a similar amendment to the Lee amendment to the cash bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amending section 13-3620, A.R.S., relating to family offenses.
• Senate Bill 1175, amending Title 8, Chapter 4, Article 4, A.R.S., by amending Section 8-530.10, relating
• No legislation is perfect.
• No legislation is perfect.
• Speaker, I move the House to concur in the Senate amendments to HB 2082, 2096, amendments 2, HB 2082,

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then moved through a lengthy third-reading calendar. Early bills included SB 1135 on workers’ compensation, which passed 49-4, and SB 1127 on family offenses, which failed 5-50 after Rep. Gress said he supported the policy but voted no to allow reconsideration. SB 1133 on nominating procedures passed 32-23 without the emergency clause, and SB 1136 on workers’ compensation passed 54-1. Members then debated several health-related and regulatory measures, including SB 1145 on behavioral health behavior analysis, SB 1165 on health insurance coverage for breast exams, SB 1175 on child welfare, SB 1184 on condominiums and planned communities, SB 1205 on municipal regulations, SB 1210 on private post-secondary education institutions, and SB 1233 on state agencies, with mixed votes and several floor explanations focused on costs, insurance mandates, and public health benefits. The chamber also considered SB 1243 on court-ordered treatment, where supporters framed it as protecting vulnerable people and opponents warned about guardianship abuse and indefinite confinement; it passed 50-7. SB 1246 on condominium and planned community notices passed unanimously, while SB 1253 on Safe Haven providers passed 57-0. SB 1259 on campaign-related address confidentiality drew extensive debate about candidate safety, threats, and residency rules, and passed 43-14. Additional measures passed included SB 1271 on municipal authority, SB 1286 on veterinarians, SB 1292 on the public safety personnel retirement system, SB 1366 creating a towing and impound advisory committee, SB 1446, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1561 and SB 1564 on health care institutions, and several final-read House bills. On final reading, the House concurred in amendments to several bills and passed HB 2082, HB 296 on WIFA, HB 2557 on patient records, HB 2749 on reclassifying certain felony convictions to misdemeanors under strict conditions, and HB 4001 on nicotine products and youth access. HB 4001 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing youth protection, stronger penalties for sales to minors, and anti-vaping enforcement, while opponents criticized the bill as regulatory overreach or insufficiently focused on taxation and education. The House also adopted a motion to request the Senate return SB 1456 for reconsideration, heard a memorial resolution honoring James Hong Shee, and received remarks and a proclamation on National Gun Violence Awareness Day before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• um there are a couple states legislator um there are a couple states legislator legislators<00:41
• We do have some amended through.
• past legislative um sessions under that. past legislative um sessions under that.
• could certainly file legislation, non-germane amendments on other bills, but our goal here is really
• or state plan amendments.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt, I like this amendment.
• Do we have a motion on the amendment to pass on that amendment?
• Do we have a motion on the amendment to pass on that amendment?
• Do we have a motion on the amendment to pass on that amendment?
• All right, so we amended the amendment, so it’s now considered a committee amendment.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm requesting an amendment be drafted because we can't do a Senate amendment. Yes.
• I mean, if we didn't use the amendment, the other thing I would just note is that the way the legislation
• <01:15:31.440> So, amendment. We're here as a resource. So, amendment.
• original legislation.
• original legislation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns. Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note. The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have one amendment, one amendment. Let's take up Amendment 131878 by Senator Trunow.
• Having explained the amendment, are there questions on the amendment?
• amendment?
• amendment?
• The amendment is adopted. We are now back on the bill as amended.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met and reported several bills favorably after brief presentations, no substantive opposition, and mostly unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls. CS/SB 118, by Senator Trunow, clarified how non-ad valorem special assessments may be levied on recreational vehicle parks, and an amendment removed a requirement that local governments consider RV park occupancy rates when apportioning assessments. The bill was supported by the Florida Retail Federation and passed favorably. SB 1520, by Senator Kalatayud, made changes to the Live Local Act’s missing middle property tax exemption, including allowing vesting upon final site plan approval for one year and expanding the data used for local government opt-out decisions; it also passed favorably with support from Landlord Housing Partners. The committee also approved CS/SB 678, by Senator Mayfield, which reestablishes the framework allowing distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise tax calculations and applies retroactively to January 1, 2025. Support came from the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, Wine and Spirits Distributors of Florida, and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. CS/SB 680, also by Senator Mayfield, addressed double taxation of electricity used at EV charging stations by creating a sales tax exemption for separately metered electricity sold to station operators and transferred to consumers; Tesla and the Florida Retail Federation supported it, and Senator Gates spoke in favor, describing the bill as a fair solution to a prior tax administration problem. CS/SB 450, by Senator Polsky, updated property tax exemption rules for permanently and totally disabled veterans’ surviving spouses, including allowing transfer of up to 120% of the prior homestead exemption amount to a new residence. The amendment and bill were supported by the Property Appraisers Association of Florida and passed favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1074, by Senator Gates, was amended to establish uniform rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of penny distribution issues, while protecting sales tax calculations and providing liability protections; it also included safeguards for pawn and recycling transactions. The Florida Retail Federation, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Associated Industries of Florida supported the measure, which was reported favorably. Senator Gates requested to be recorded as voting yes on all bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I have an amendment, which is amendment 1006H.
• that amendment? Yes, I do. that amendment? Yes, I do.
• ought to pass as amended. ought to pass as amended.
• OTP on amendment 2026 OTP on amendment 2026 -0365H.
• legislatively in place. legislatively in place.

Keywords: 1189, house, all