Transcript Highlights:

• rural communities to expand education offerings, to increase health care services, and modernize commerce

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, presentation of the colors, and the national anthem. The chamber welcomed cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, former Senate presidents and colleagues, and other guests. Senators also observed moments of silence honoring former Senator Geraldine Thompson and former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and the Senate dedicated its 2024-2026 handbook to Thompson in recognition of her work in education and civics. The main action of the day was adoption of SCR 1294, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session in the House chamber at 11 a.m. that day to receive a message from Governor Ron DeSantis. The resolution was adopted without objection, rules were waived, and it was immediately certified to the House. The Secretary was also directed to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was convened and ready to proceed with the 2025 regular session. In a lengthy opening-day address, the President outlined the session’s priorities, emphasizing rural Florida, citrus and agriculture, government efficiency, IT and cybersecurity reform, administrative rule review, affordability, insurance and property tax relief, autism services, veterans’ support, mental health and child welfare legislation, Everglades restoration, public school administrative efficiency, and food insecurity. No substantive debate or roll-call votes were taken beyond the unanimous adoption of the concurrent resolution. The Senate then adjourned until March 12, 2025, or upon the call of the President.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Section 288.095, paragraph 3, provides that the Department of Commerce may adopt rules necessary

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee met for its first meeting of the year, with roll call and member introductions followed by an orientation on the committee’s role in reviewing agency rulemaking. Staff explained that JAPAC/JAPSI oversees whether agency rules stay within statutory authority, reviews proposed and existing rules under Chapter 120, and can recommend objections when rules enlarge, modify, or contravene enabling statutes. The committee also adopted its biennial rules of procedure by motion and roll-call vote. The main substantive item was staff’s recommended objections to 32 existing Agency for Health Care Administration rules. Staff said the common issue was a sunset provision added to rules, which they argued is not authorized by Chapter 120 because rules may be amended or repealed only through formal rulemaking, not allowed to expire automatically. Staff noted the sunset language could create confusion and affect interrelated rules, and recommended formal objections. The chair reported that he and the vice chair had met with the agency, which agreed to work on compliance and amend the language. No public testimony was offered. After brief committee discussion, including questions about timing, the chair said the agency would return with a compliance proposal at the next scheduled meeting, likely in February. The committee deferred further action on the 32 recommended objections until that meeting, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The Chair called to order this meeting of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee
• Um, first bill on the roster is a bill we heard last week, the Commerce Omnibus Policy Bill.
• The Commerce Omnibus Policy Bill is the first bill on the roster. It is the Chair's bill.
• My name is Andrew Morley, and I'm with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
• My name is Andrew Morley, and I'm with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a question I think for maybe Commerce. I don't know.
• <01:26:05.639> think<01:26:05.800> for<01:26:06.560> maybe<01:26:07.560> Commerce
• a question I think for maybe Commerce a question I think for maybe Commerce what<01:26:08.239>
• /c><01:26:08.800> I<01:26:08.920> don't<01:26:09.119> know<01:26:09.840> Commerce
• <01:26:10.320> or what committee I don't know Commerce or what committee I don't know Commerce

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.

Bills: SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health

Bills: SJR 3, SB 5, SB 21, SB 72, SB 703, SB 764, SB 790, SJR 36, SJR 3, SJR 34, SJR 18, SCR 9, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 5, SB 21, SB 72, SB 140, SB 262, SB 370, SB 372, SB 495, SB 627, SB 703, SB 764, SB 842, SB 971, SB 790, SB 767, SB 480, SB 1066, SB 929, SB 765, SB 523, SB 62, SB 19, SB 18, SB 666, SB 688, SB 707, SB 888, SB 687, SB 706, SB 847, SB 869, SB 890, SB 992, SB 1145, SB 494, SB 290, SB 766, SB 11, SB 10, SB 13, SB 263, SJR 3, SB 5, SR 172, SR 176, SR 177, SR 190, SR 193, SR 194, SR 202, SR 203, SR 208

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, research institute, funding, grants, state health initiatives, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, investment reserve, economic resilience, financial security, vehicle rental, damage waiver

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:53.040> I'd Commerce, and the Minnesota AFL CIO.
• I'd Commerce, and the Minnesota AFL CIO.
• So, I researched this in the last few days, thinking to myself, goodness, what type of commerce would
• <04:02:26.720> and sanctuary zone uh to which commerce and sanctuary zone uh to which commerce
• , what type of commerce would be affected<04:02:57.040> by<04:02:57.279> this?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or uh assault on a federal commerce or uh assault on a federal officer<03:29:46.800> in<03:29
• Speaker, this time I yield a very valuable member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative
• Speaker, this time I yield a very valuable member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative
• I yield as much time as he shall consume to the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Commerce
• So, I want to thank all my friends on the Energy and Commerce Committee who helped me get my bill, which

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The United States Constitution expressly provides that Congress has power to regulate commerce with foreign
• The United States Constitution expressly provides that Congress has power to regulate commerce with foreign
• The United States Constitution expressly provides that Congress has power to regulate commerce with foreign
• The United States Constitution expressly provides that Congress has power to regulate commerce with foreign
• Commerce with foreign nations and among the several states and with the Indian tribes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• All Pueblo Council of Governors, the Albuquerque City Council, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
• All Pueblo Council of Governors, the Albuquerque City Council, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
• long-standing issue by allowing native or Alaskan Native handicraft and artwork to be sold in interstate commerce
• long-standing issue by allowing native or Alaskan Native handicraft and artwork to be sold in interstate commerce
• long-standing issue by allowing native or Alaskan Native handicraft and artwork to be sold in interstate commerce

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• same subject matter, which has everything that we had in this bill, is, uh, we did pass it out of commerce
• pass<00:16:06.000> it<00:16:06.240> out<00:16:06.399> of<00:16:06.560> commerce
• is uh we did pass it out of commerce is uh we did pass it out of commerce this<00:16:07.360>
• I don't know how this bill ended up in housing, as this bill really belongs in commerce.
• I spoke to the chair and ranking member of commerce, and they believe we should concur.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Energy and Commerce Republicans included a pay-to-play scheme to sell out the most vulnerable communities
• The Energy and Commerce Republicans included a pay-to-play scheme to sell out the most vulnerable communities
• The Energy and Commerce Republicans included a pay-to-play scheme to sell out the most vulnerable communities
• The Energy and Commerce Republicans included a pay-to-play scheme to sell out the most vulnerable communities
• The Energy and Commerce Republicans included a pay-to-play scheme to sell out the most vulnerable communities

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to get any support from DOH today in person, so next we're going to go to the Department of Commerce
• First up, we have the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Office of Consumer Protection, otherwise
• I recommend we incorporate the amendment from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as provided
• 02:14:58.599> the<02:14:58.719> Department<02:14:59.119> of<02:14:59.239> Commerce
• <02:14:59.559> and from the Department of Commerce and from the Department of Commerce and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 302, which would repeal the requirement that a provider-patient relationship for medical cannabis certification be established in person first. The Department of Health said it supported the House Draft 2 version as a way to expand patient access, and several testifiers from the medical cannabis community and dispensary industry supported the bill, especially for patients on outer islands or those unable to travel. One witness asked that earlier language removed in committee be restored to further improve access. Representative Shimizu asked whether follow-up in-person visits would still occur, and DOH responded that this varies by provider, with some continuing in-person care and others moving to telehealth for chronic conditions. The committee then took up House Bill 712, relating to the federal 340B drug pricing program and contract pharmacies. The Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office both said they supported the bill’s purpose but wanted it clarified and possibly moved into a standalone chapter rather than chapter 481B. Supporters, including Hawaii Pacific Health and the Queen’s Health Systems, said the bill is needed to protect safety-net funding and access to discounted drugs, citing large financial benefits from 340B and losses caused by manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies. PhRMA opposed the bill, arguing the issue is not access to discounts but accountability and transparency in how contract pharmacies distribute benefits, and said it was willing to discuss amendments. Members asked follow-up questions about whether there was data showing misuse; PhRMA said it did not have numbers, while hospital witnesses said the program is federally audited and used appropriately in Hawaii. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1482, HD1, which would tighten hemp and controlled-substance definitions to exclude Schedule I cannabinoids from manufactured hemp products and clarify the treatment of artificially derived cannabis. The Department of Health supported the measure, saying it adds clarity to existing prohibitions. Kūre Hawaii and other supporters said it would close loopholes involving Delta-8 and similar products. An individual testifier urged stronger language to also cover compounds such as HHC, THCA, THCP, and THCO. In response to questions about enforcement against mislabeled hemp products, DOH explained that THC percentages are relative to product weight, that some products can remain under the hemp threshold while still containing significant THC, and that hemp flower is already prohibited from direct retail sale, though enforcement can be complicated and involves both administrative and criminal authorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other thing I would mention: I was chair of the Commerce Committee last biennium, and I recall
• And the other thing I would mention: I was chair of the Commerce Committee last biennium, and I recall
• And the other thing I would mention: I was chair of the Commerce Committee last biennium, and I recall
• ><01:41:19.520> the I would mention I was chair of the I would mention I was chair of the Commerce
• :41:21.000> last<01:41:21.239> bym<01:41:22.000> and<01:41:22.239> I Commerce

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a great group from the city of Muskogee and the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, as well as their

Bills: SB1778, SB1570, SB134, SB1966, SB1636, SB1725, SB1726, SB259, SB504, SB592, SB2030, SB1572, SB843, SB1242, SB1255, SB1262, SB1264, SB1286, SB1581, SB1290, SB1316, SB1319, SB1369, SB1379, SB1381, SB1400, SB1427, SB1436, SB1461, SB1496, SB1509, SB1534, SB1553, SB904, SB1592, SB1645, SB1684, SB1767, SB1772, SB1813, SB1894, SB1928, SB1946, SB1980, SB2040, SB2060, SB2061

Keywords: reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, child welfare, child safety, administrative transition, Department of Child Safety and Well-being, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, juvenile justice, foster care, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, memorial highways, bridge designations

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we'll go to Committee on Commerce, SB 1181.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills and one House concurrent memorial, most of them described as third-read consent items. Topics included claims against the state, CPA licensing, creditor assignments, insurance adjuster licensing, school equivalency instruction, extending a credit enhancement board, firearm safety instruction in schools, student eligibility restrictions for school activities, Celebrate Freedom Week, release-time courses, voter registration roll access, campaign and disclosure mailing addresses, federal land designation tracking, public records review standards, workers’ compensation burial and death benefits, condominium flag displays, restrictions on sexually explicit material in schools and libraries, agency guidance posting, standardized state hiring, mental health court-ordered treatment procedures, autopsy supervision, tribal MOUs, controlled substance scheduling, emergency medical technician data privacy, dense breast tissue notice repeal, assisted living referral agency requirements, attorney disciplinary claims, fentanyl penalties, campus firearms rules, suppressors, defamation standards, mandatory reporting, attorney licensing, emergency service fee limits, forcible detainer changes, utility worker assault penalties, water basin reporting, small modular nuclear reactors, water recovery assumptions, ICE notification after arrests, military police certification pathways, and scholarship organization tax credits. Most bills were presented without debate and were noted as available for questions, with no votes taken in the caucus itself. A few items drew discussion. On SB 1040, members asked what information would be redacted from voter registration rolls; staff said existing statutory redactions such as voter registration numbers, ID numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal identifying information would remain. SB 1193 prompted comments that EMT data being open source was surprising and that the issue might be expanded to paramedics. SB 1243 was described as strengthening guardian notification rights in court-ordered treatment, and SB 1318 was characterized as a cleanup measure to remove redundant state notice requirements for dense breast tissue. The most extended exchange came on SB 1148, which would require the Arizona Supreme Court to directly license attorneys rather than delegate that function to another organization; members asked whether the bill was shifting responsibility away from the State Bar, and staff explained that the court already has the duty but currently staffs part of the process out. SB 1418, which limits county regulation of certain small modular nuclear reactor projects, drew criticism from one member who argued it would reduce local control. The caucus also heard a sponsor presentation on H.C.M. 2009 urging Congress and the President to amend the Antiquities Act, compensate states for subsurface minerals, and streamline mining permits, with the sponsor emphasizing Arizona’s mining history and the need to access mineral resources more easily.

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• related to critical infrastructure with a foreign source of concern, and it directs the Department of Commerce

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act. Senator Grohl explained that the bill expands state restrictions and disclosure requirements related to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including foreign-agent registration, gift bans for public officials, ethics training, procurement limits for IT and critical infrastructure, restrictions on sister-city/sister-state affiliations, changes to linkage institutes and in-state tuition provisions, and new criminal penalties for certain offenses committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Senator Polsky raised questions about higher education, election technology, federal FARA overlap, and whether the bill would affect candidates or events involving CARE; the sponsor responded that the bill focuses on foreign countries of concern, ownership/control, and gifts, and does not prohibit speaking at events. An amendment clarifying definitions, willful violations, and ethics-training content was adopted, and after supportive testimony from Kelly Curry and Robert Pierce, the committee reported CS for SB 1178 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure if the filing is made before the maximum fine accrues and the filer has not previously received such a waiver or accrued the maximum fine in prior years. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified that the bill supports transparency and makes the fine and appeals process more efficient, noting it was a commission recommendation. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee held confirmation hearings on appointments in Tabs 3 through 26. No senator requested separate votes on any appointee, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointments was approved and recommended favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Taking Care of Business and Commerce Committee will meet tomorrow at 10:00 in room 114.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 27 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer led by Rep. Lee Yancey of Rankin County, who asked for mercy for residents in North and West Mississippi affected by a severe ice storm and for wisdom for legislators. The chamber then recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and the clerk confirmed a quorum was present. The House dispensed with the reading of the journal, reported no selection committee reports, and noted standing committee reports on the calendar. Introductions of bills and constitutional amendments were dispensed with by unanimous consent, and there were no resolutions, petitions, memorials, or other papers. Several guests were recognized in the galleries, including members of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, the Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Association, a Clinton alderwoman, a nurse practitioner constituent, Mississippi College nursing students, and other constituents. Members also made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including County Affairs, Technology, Agriculture, Corrections, Marine Resources, Public Utilities, Public Health, Municipalities, Universities and Colleges, Rules, Taking Care of Business and Commerce, Education, and a newly formed subcommittee. One announcement noted that the State of the State address had been postponed to February 4 at 5:00 p.m. in the rotunda. The House also heard multiple requests to adjourn in memory, including Ms. Irene Martin of Scott County, Mr. John White, the Speaker’s father, Mr. Corey Collins, Lydia Johnson, Mr. Byron Patton, and two people killed in the recent winter storm in North Mississippi. Members also welcomed back the House attorney, Juan, after an absence. No legislation was debated or voted on beyond procedural motions and the motion to dispense with the journal reading. At the end of the session, Rep. Brent Powell moved that the House stand adjourned until 2:00 p.m. the next day, and the motion was adopted by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: COMMERCE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CHAIR BUCHANAN. >> Rep.