Transcript Highlights:

• When this happens, there's no discrimination among the regulation and harm that comes.
• It's a safe harbor from regulation.
• We regulate it through smart regulation.
• I'm so uncomfortable that there's no regulation of these products.
• I'm so uncomfortable that there's no regulation of these products.

Bills: S0052 , S0502 , S0624 , S0758 , S0834 , S0840

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Office of Financial Regulation, the Department of Management Services, including the Commission
• and the Office of Financial Regulation, the Department of Management Services, including the Commission
• Next up, we have the Office of Insurance Regulation.
• . $412,000 and four new positions are recommended for the Office of Financial Regulation to create a
• . 412,000 and 4 new positions are recommended for the Office of Financial Regulation to create a new

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably. Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage. The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement. program refer to the committee on environmental regulation
• Refer to the Committee on State Affairs HB 1378 by Verdell relating to municipal and county regulation
• Refer to the Committee on Environmental Regulation.
• HB 1462 by Gonzales of El Paso. to the authority of certain counties to regulate junkyards, automotive
• Refer to the committee on environmental regulation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law regulates the enforcement of foreign laws in Arizona, and this bill specifically adds Sharia
• also noteworthy that, in our very limited amount of research, Sharia law also has approaches to regulating
• House Bill 1075 may violate this doctrine by authorizing Arizona to regulate foreign affairs based on
• state-made national security assessments. ...to regulate foreign affairs based on state-made national
• And so regulating against just that type of alert would be a problem, but that's not what this does.

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• With reasonable regulation, earned wage access becomes a practical, worker-friendly option.
• During the Obama administration, there were proposed regulations on essentially payday loans.
• The additional regulation would not squash other market participants?
• We support appropriate regulation. ...to choose a provider that best fits their needs.
• , operations, or otherwise regulating drones.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Commerce Committee heard House Bill 2181, which would extend the deadline for funeral establishments or responsible individuals to complete and submit death certificates. The committee adopted an amendment reducing the maximum extension to 14 days and clarifying that the medical certification deadline for health care providers excludes weekends and holidays. Testimony from a mortuary owner and the sponsor described delays caused by doctors’ schedules, county processing, holidays, and families needing more time; some members argued the bill did not address the underlying accountability problems for doctors and counties, while others supported the added flexibility. HB 2181 was approved 6-4-1 with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2682, which creates a DES rental assistance program providing up to two months or $5,000 in aid and appropriates $5 million from the general fund for administration. Supporters said the bill would help families facing short-term crises stay housed, reduce evictions, and serve as a preventive measure that could save money downstream; a constituent testified in Spanish about receiving emergency rental help after falling behind. Some members raised concerns about the program’s cost, the limited target population, and whether seniors should be included, while others supported it as a pilot and asked for possible amendments. HB 2682 passed 7-4. House Bill 2698, which creates a rental assistance study committee to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs and repeals the committee in 2028, was heard next and passed on a 7-4 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 2476, revising CPA certification and reciprocity requirements by creating multiple pathways to licensure and updating related rules and fees. Supporters said the bill would help address a CPA workforce shortage and align Arizona with other states; after questions about whether the bill made licensure harder or easier, the committee unanimously approved HB 2476, 11-0. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2308, which would bar dental insurers and certain holding companies from owning dental practices. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill would prevent conflicts of interest and preserve separation between payers and providers, while Delta Dental opposed the measure as overbroad and potentially burdensome for nonprofit insurers and investors. After discussion about private equity, nonprofit charity care, and vertical integration, the bill was approved 8-0 with three members present. The committee then started House Bill 2118 on mobile food vendors, with the sponsor and food truck operators arguing it would streamline duplicate local permitting, while cities and some vendors opposed it as a loss of local oversight and control; testimony continued, but no final action on HB 2118 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:27.680><c> of</c><00:01:27.840><c> the</c> through the regulations of the through the regulations
• </c> board reviews its rules and regulations board reviews its rules and regulations each<00:03:43.120
• </c> with knowledge of the regulated with knowledge of the regulated professions<00:04:39.199><c> and
• </c> non-banking division, you you regulate non-banking division, you you regulate palm<01:31:43.440>
• We do regulate those companies.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be a departure from administrative, peer-driven regulation.
• So to ask the board to regulate an entity they don't regulate seems peculiar.
• So to ask the board to regulate an entity they don't regulate seems peculiar.
• It's our job as a government to facilitate that, but not to over-regulate.
• Professional regulation and individual freedom, all while maintaining public safety.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2308, which would prohibit a dental insurer or its holding company from owning interests in dental practices regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and insurer control over provider care, while Delta Dental opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create divestment burdens. After discussion of possible exemptions and market-share caps, the committee passed HB 2308 on a 7-0 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, increases penalties for sales to minors, restricts youth-oriented marketing, and licenses manufacturers and distributors. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, and Vapor Technology Association, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency and help curb illegal products and youth vaping. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued it should instead use a full tobacco retail licensing model and that the bill’s enforcement structure lacks sufficient resources. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-1. House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The strike-everything amendment allows a person or organization that filed a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before ballot qualification, applies the rule retroactively to withdrawals filed on or after January 1, 2026, and bars tallying or canvassing votes for referenda with a withdrawal notice. The sponsor described it as a common-sense governance fix, and the committee gave it a 7-0 do-pass recommendation. The committee next heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and related disciplinary processes. Nursing board officials opposed parts of the bill, warning that changes to nursing education oversight and tighter deadlines could weaken patient safety and increase costs and liability, while the Arizona Nurses Association and several nurses supported the bill as a way to prioritize serious complaints, improve timeliness, and allow expungement in appropriate cases. After adopting the amendment, the committee passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote. The committee also passed House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures, and House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, both by unanimous votes. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 4010 on creating a Board of Genetic Counselors, with the sponsor and supporters describing it as a licensure and patient-safety measure; the transcript ends during testimony on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that we should learn the lessons from other states and listen to our policy regulators.
• And listen to our policy regulators.
• It also contains provisions regulating the profiling of consumers.
• Tarr, adoption of rules and regulations. Senator Tarr. Amendment 37 by Mr.
• Tarr, adoption of rules and regulations. Senator Tarr. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized several guests in the chamber, and adopted a resolution congratulating Coleman-Nee on election as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. It also took up several local and personnel matters, including a sick leave bank for Emily Cullick and later Paul Stavarski, and local bills affecting the town of Weston and a Dorchester housing/library procurement exemption; those measures were advanced to third reading or engrossment as appropriate. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. The main business was Senate No. 2516, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which came before the Senate on a Ways and Means substitute (Senate Document 2608). Senators Creem, Moore, Charles, Feingold, Keenan, and others spoke in support, describing the bill as a comprehensive consumer privacy measure with data minimization rules, limits on sensitive data, protections for minors, and strong Attorney General enforcement. Several amendments were debated, with many rejected or withdrawn, while some were adopted, including provisions on geolocation data protections, opting out of targeted advertising, affiliate and merger/acquisition protections, internal operations exemptions, parental access to child data, and a Ways and Means amendment. A number of other amendments on employee data, union data, loyalty programs, AI training, reporting, and related issues were either not adopted or held/withdrawn. After the amendment process, the Senate adopted the amended Ways and Means substitute and ordered the bill to a third reading. The bill was then passed to be engrossed on a roll call vote of 40-0. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The session adjourned in memory of Darrow Logan Alexander of South Boston.

Transcript Highlights:

• The process safety regulations, because different companies come in with different philosophies, and
• We had updated regulations that came into being in October of 2017.
• Those are just a few that helped make these updated regulations come into being.
• sections of the regulation.
• That's why we want to go back to the 2017 regulation.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• An LA Times investigation found that once regulated pet stores were removed from the market, a network
• The lesson from California is simple: eliminating regulated pet stores does not eliminate the demand
• Eliminated regulating<00:09:12.240><c> eliminating</c><00:09:12.959><c> regulated</c><00:09:13.440><c
• > pet</c> regulating eliminating regulated pet regulating eliminating regulated pet stores<00:09:14.160
• </c> regulating this industry in this way. regulating this industry in this way.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> being attentive to and and regulating being attentive to and and regulating these<01:05:27.359><
• </c> consistent with federal regulations. consistent with federal regulations.
• </c><01:20:42.640><c> is</c> reading of the federal regulations is reading of the federal regulations
• </c> contrary to these regulations contrary to these regulations &gt;&gt; and<01:20:48.320><c> I</c><
• </c> experience a patchwork of regulations experience a patchwork of regulations and<01:58:06.080><c>

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Unadmitted surplus lines insurers that are really not that regulated.
• The commissioner's regulation should help people in distressed areas.
• put again in regulation statute, new standards.
• One of those would put again in regulation statute, new standards. would put again in regulation statute
• But it is protected in regulation and it is law.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, everything that is done with this process is heavily regulated.
• Um, so it's uh it's heavily regulated.
• I know you can't help me with those federal regulations.
• I know you can't help me with those federal regulations.
• So I foolish regulations keeping out.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is extra regulation in the marketplace. Mr.
• Okay, it's not a regulation? What is it? Mr.
• This is extra regulation in the marketplace. Mr.
• It's not a regulation. Mr. Chair, I don't think that this bill is a regulation.
• Okay, it's not a regulation? What is it? Mr.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• They not once claimed that these games were outside of the regulations that were previously created,
• </c><00:00:41.879><c> that</c><00:00:42.000><c> were</c> outside of the regulations that were outside
• of the regulations that were previously<00:00:42.960><c> created</c><00:00:43.960><c> and</c><00:00:
• The court ruled that games were improperly regulated, and the legislature rightly took action. Mr.
• The court looked at that and said the games have been improperly regulated.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House File 733, which would restore electronic pull-tab features such as open-all, free play, bonus games, and similar functions that were restricted in 2023. The bill’s supporters, including representatives of Allied Charities of Minnesota, the American Legion, and a Bloomington school activities foundation, argued that the 2023 changes reduced revenue for charitable gambling operations and, in turn, cut funding for veterans programs, youth sports, food shelves, school needs, and other local community services. Several supporters cited early revenue declines since the new rules took effect, including double-digit drops and one example of a Bloomington site reporting a 29% year-over-year decline overall and a 44% drop in e-tab revenue. They also argued that restoring the features would help charities without meaningfully increasing casino play. Opponents, including Citizens Against Gambling Expansion and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, said the bill would expand slot-machine-like gambling in neighborhood bars and restaurants and increase problem gambling and related social harms. They argued the features in question mimic slot machines, are especially concerning in non-age-restricted locations, and would amount to a major expansion of gambling. The tribal representative also said the 2023 clarification was appropriate, that charitable gambling revenues do not translate efficiently into mission funding, and that tax relief or other policy changes would be better ways to help charities than restoring the disputed features. The chair reminded testifiers to keep comments neutral and not partisan. After testimony, a member discussion began, with Representative Ray Rower thanking the testifiers and expressing support for their work. The transcript excerpt does not show a final vote or disposition beyond the bill being recommended to be re-referred to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• links to the regulations.
• ,</c><00:03:41.920><c> everyone</c> administrative regulations, everyone administrative regulations,
• </c><01:40:12.960><c> Just</c> regulations as well. Thank you. Just regulations as well. Thank you.
• </c> laid out in the application regulation laid out in the application regulation 915<01:52:48.080><
• </c> a half years of continuous regulation. a half years of continuous regulation.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are here today because we regulate state-licensed financial institutions, including...
• So even when we know that the federal regulator is the primary regulator, we know that there may not
• But that is where we're still working through that process as the regulator at the state level.
• But it's a mix of state-regulated and federally regulated institutions.
• State-regulated and federally regulated institutions.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a new approach to regulation that we presented from our AI and healthcare study.
• How should regulating emerging technologies look moving forward?
• , but excessive state regulation thwarts this imperative, end quote.
• And finally, there has been movement to regulate the frontier models as a whole.
• And finally, there has been movement to regulate the frontier models as a whole.

Transcript Highlights:

• And federal banking law does not preempt states from regulating this action by non-bank card network
• It is a regulated financial data environment.
• Under Regulation Z, the same limited-liability standard applies to credit cards.
• Under Regulation Z, the same limited liability standard applies to credit cards.
• Their banking rules and regulations are different because of the way they issue credit.

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing chaired by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jamie Murphy. The commission reviewed its charge to gather input on payment trends, cashless transactions, credit card fees, mobile payments, buy now/pay later, and related issues affecting small businesses. Representative Sean Garballey testified in support of maintaining the current card system, emphasizing tourism’s importance to Massachusetts and arguing that universal card acceptance and interchange stability are especially important with major upcoming events and visitors. A large portion of the hearing focused on independent restaurants and small businesses arguing that credit card processing fees are burdensome and unfair when applied to sales tax and gratuities that are not business revenue. Testifiers including Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others described razor-thin margins and said restaurants pay fees on money passed through to the state or employees. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses first, and making fees proportional. In response, credit union and banking representatives, including Alex Vereen, Brad Popolado, Deb Peters, and Keely McEwen, argued that interchange funds fraud protection, card infrastructure, and consumer protections, and warned that state-specific changes could create compliance burdens, higher costs, or reduced access to services. Several witnesses addressed legal and policy questions. Dan Swanson and David Montero said states have authority to regulate aspects of the payment system, but Montero warned that state-specific rules could create uncertainty and conflict with federal banking law. Julian Morris and other industry witnesses argued that card payments benefit consumers and merchants by reducing cash-handling costs and increasing spending, while critics of reform said changes could shift costs into bank fees or reduced rewards. Commission members questioned whether sales tax could be separated from card transactions, whether surcharging should be considered, and whether vendor compensation or other state-level relief might be more workable. The chairs said they were exploring a narrower, targeted approach rather than a broad overhaul, and announced plans for one additional public hearing to allow further testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And together we work to implement state policy and regulate the regulated investor-owned for-profit utilities
• The PUC does not regulate investors.
• </c><01:09:48.960><c> by</c> however, may elect to be uh regulated by however, may elect to be uh regulated
• So, currently the PUC regulates the PUC.
• </c> some of the primary areas of regulation some of the primary areas of regulation for<01:10:12.880

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy