Transcript Highlights:

• So is the concept of your amendment, if that's what they decide on collaboratively, right? Right.
• That's right. I'm tired. Okay, let's move to the next page, and the first item is state hospital.
• However, the amendment that the senator is suggesting is moving in the right... ...amendment that the
• It goes back to the full committee first, right? Full committee first. Okay.
• It goes back to the full committee first, right? Full committee first. Okay.

Bills: SB2399

Keywords: mental health, psychiatric treatment, reimbursement, medical assistance, legislative report, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met to work through amendments and budget items in House Bill 2012/HB 1004, focusing first on long-term care, disability services, and behavioral health. Members discussed competing approaches to a four-plex for medically complex individuals, a value-based care payment withhold for nursing facilities, accreditation requirements for providers, a study of developmental disability services, and funding for Family Voices and Ann Carlson-related services. Several amendments were accepted or set aside after discussion, including a study amendment for disability services and a Family Voices grant amendment that was adjusted to remove “one-time” language so it could continue as an ongoing grant. The committee also agreed to keep or defer some items for conference committee, including the youth crisis stabilization pilot and other long-term care proposals. A major discussion centered on the state hospital project. Members debated whether the $330 million project should remain in the DHS budget or be moved to the OMB budget for construction management. After discussion of costs, alternates, and the role of a steering committee and BND loan language, the committee agreed to remove the state hospital funding and related loan language from the DHS budget while leaving the steering committee language in place. The committee also considered a proposed Altru grant for additional beds and settled on a smaller planning-focused approach, with a $1 million grant and a line of credit concept to be refined later. The committee then turned to behavioral health items, including QRTP funding, nursing home behavioral health training, and a youth crisis stabilization pilot. Members generally supported keeping the QRTP funding level, but were divided on the nursing home behavioral health training and the crisis stabilization pilot, with some preferring to leave those issues for conference committee. The division also reviewed the HHS block grant and underfunding structure, with Donna Ackland explaining salary, vacancy, and flexibility calculations; the committee discussed adjusting the underfund and revenue assumptions but did not finalize every number before moving on. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1577 on wastewater treatment grants. Senator Davison moved to hoghouse the bill into a study-focused version using the proposed amendment language, and the motion passed. The committee then moved HB 1577 as amended with a do pass recommendation; the roll call passed with Senators Cleary, Davison, Dever, and Mathern voting yes, and Senator Magrum not recorded as voting. The meeting adjourned with plans to return later in the day to continue budget work.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right. So, the vote is 17 to 1 on the amendment. All right.
• We balance several constitutional rights in the First Amendment, and we have done that with the buffer
• Chair. rights in the First Amendment, and we have done that with the buffer zone.
• It represents First Amendment rights.
• It represents first amendment rights.<01:06:10.640> It<01:06:10.880> honors<01:06:12.160

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the amendment requires the DOE to establish a work group to update the Florida Educator Accomplished
• The very fact that our country had to pass the 14th and 19th Amendments and later the Voting Rights Act
• This is on the bill, I think, right? Okay. All right. Is there any debate on the amendment?
• This is an amendment that ensures that the technical amendment makes sure the first priority tier includes
• That is the amendment, Mr. Chair. All right, I don't see any appearance forms on the amendment.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and considered a wide range of education-related bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved CS/SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funding, CS/SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School updates, and CS/SB 430 requiring public schools to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, train students and staff in CPR/AED use, and maintain accessible AEDs. Testimony on the cardiac bill came from the American Heart Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology in support, and the chair noted a survey suggesting many districts already have AEDs in schools. The committee also approved CS/SB 1528 on educational opportunities for military children, which expands coordination and training under the interstate compact, and CS/SB 364, which would move the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University for research and administrative support. The committee then adopted amendments and favorably reported CS/SB 1590 on educator preparation, which modernizes teacher standards and certification pathways, including updates to FEAPs, a revised teacher exam, and an alternative certification program. The SPLC testified in opposition to part of the bill, arguing that language on historical instruction and systemic racism was contradictory and could limit accurate teaching of history. The committee also approved CS/SB 1702 on education, incorporating a wireless-device-in-schools pilot and other education provisions, with support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and others. CS/SB 444 on human trafficking awareness was amended to require no-cost training for school employees and charter schools; FSU law students testified in support, emphasizing the need for school personnel to recognize trafficking indicators. The committee also approved CS/SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions, expanding transportation eligibility for students walking near limited-access facilities, though members noted the bill carried an indeterminate fiscal impact and no dedicated funding. Later, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1102 on school readiness, which expands how disabilities can be identified for early learning services and ties additional funding to training on early identification of delays. It also approved SB 1382 on access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households, revising eligibility and priority tiers to use state median income rather than federal poverty level and refining the waitlist and forecasting process. Several members recorded votes on bills they had missed during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after reporting all of the above measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• IS THERE DEBATE ON THIS AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
• ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT? DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• THIS AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WERE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. QUESTIONS ON THE BILLS AMENDED?
• THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL IS AMENDED. QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we should be good, mad clerk. >> On the amendment and then the to pass as amended motion. >> Right
• The vote that's going to come up is going to be now on the amendment. >> Okay. >> Right.
• > amendment<00:23:50.480> is<00:23:51.120> passes, >> Right.
• And if the amendment is passes, >> Right.
• All right. So, the motion is passed 12 to 5. The amending motion passes 12 to 5.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But of course, we don't need this law in the first place because parental rights already exist.
• But of course, we don't need this law in the first place because parental rights already exist.
• parents have, and I made sure to incorporate all of the rights in this amendment.
• parents have, and I made sure to incorporate all of the rights in this amendment.
• Some of the rights that were missing but are in my floor amendment are the rights of parents to be informed

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, members, the motion is to adopt the A5 amendment to Senate File 1455.
• Um, this A5 amendment... have to introduce yourself first. That's our special rule here.
• Chair, to my first amendment. I'd like to offer the A3 Amendment.
• amendment it's I'd chair to my first amendment it's I'd like<01:15:44.800> to<01:15:44.920>
• now on this reason I I'm a no vote right now on this amendment<01:27:20.480> thank<01:27:20.600

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Raise your right hands.
• Representative amended of phs1 Representative Bowski<00:04:56.759> um<00:04:57.000> first<
• amended by phs2 with committee Amendment amended by phs2 with committee Amendment one<00:25:33.399
• Title amendment is adopted to Senate Bill 25 as amended by PHS 2 with committee amendment 1 rolled therein
• <00:26:57.559> a Amendment Amendment have a motion a Amendment Amendment have a motion a second

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 244 Discussion 00:01:16 SB 244 Vote 00:02:00 SB 19 Discussion 00:03:30 SB 19 Vote 00:08:35 SB 63 Discussion 00:10:52 SB 63 Vote 00:14:47 SB 179 Discussion 00:16:28 SB 179 Vote 00:18:38 SB 25 Discussion 00:20:00 SB 25 Vote 00:25:35 SB 6 Discussion 00:27:10 SB 6 Vote 00:30:37, 958, all

Summary: The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee met on March 13, 2025, with a quorum present and took up several Senate bills. Senate Bill 244, relating to Department of Law operations, was presented as a cleanup bill and reported favorably with 18 yes votes and no opposition. Senate Bill 19, concerning moments of silence and reflection, was amended with PHS 1 to add a moral instruction component and related school-district provisions; members raised questions about the research cited, the logistics of student release time, and possible fiscal effects. The bill was reported favorably with 15 yes, 3 no, and 1 pass, and a title amendment was adopted. Senate Bill 63, dealing with street-legal special purpose vehicles, was amended to make local participation optional, clarify motorcycle-style insurance requirements, and address registration and inspection rules; after a committee amendment was rolled into the substitute, it was reported favorably with 18 yes and 1 pass. The committee also considered Senate Bill 179, which establishes a nuclear energy development grant program within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. Testimony explained that the bill sets aside $10 million from an existing appropriation, including $2 million for workforce training at the University of Kentucky’s engineering school in Paducah. The bill was reported favorably with 19 yes votes and no opposition. Senate Bill 25, a housing measure allowing industrial revenue bonds for large multifamily housing, was substantially expanded through PHS 2 and a committee amendment to incorporate provisions from House Bill 9, House Bill 643, Senate Bill 85, and budget-related language; the committee reported it favorably with 16 yes votes and 3 passes, and adopted a title amendment. Finally, Senate Bill 6, which revises education reporting and funding provisions, was amended by PHS 1 to require reporting of fringe costs in K-12 spending and to modify SEEK funding for virtual schools and English as a Second Language add-ons. Members asked whether the changes affected other funding streams and how the SEEK formula would be applied, and the sponsor clarified that the virtual-school provision applies only to SEEK. The bill was reported favorably with 16 yes votes and 3 passes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there appearance cards on the amendment? No appearance cards on the amendment.
• Senators, are there questions on the amendment? Questions on the amendment?
• All right. Thank you. So it's a very simple. All right, thank you.
• First, around subsection 776.051, it looks like we're repealing what is a good law on the books right
• Are there any questions on the amendment? Appearance cards on the amendment.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met with several members excused and first took up SB 350, which clarifies public records protections for crime victims and extends temporary confidentiality to law enforcement officers involved in use-of-force incidents for 72 hours, with a possible written extension up to 60 days. Senator Graal said the bill was intended to align with the Florida Constitution’s victim definition and to address privacy concerns without allowing indefinite withholding. Testimony from Marsy’s Law and the Florida PBA supported the measure, though there were questions about the 60-day period. The committee reported SB 350 favorably. The committee then considered two domestic violence-related bills by Senator Berman. CS/SB 296, after a delete-all amendment, directs a study of a secure web-based alert platform that would give domestic violence victims a unique phone number and code-based emergency alert system, and it expands Florida’s address confidentiality program to dating violence victims. Several speakers, including survivors and advocates, described the need for safer ways to seek help without alerting abusers. The bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 298 similarly expanded confidentiality protections for the Haven Coordinating Council records to cover dating violence victims, and it was also reported favorably. Later, the committee heard SB 398, which updates Florida statutes by replacing the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” including conforming changes to the offense severity ranking chart. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 156, the Jason Raynor Act, which changes resisting-an-officer language, removes references to lawful or unlawful duty in favor of “any duties,” and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring a life sentence. Law enforcement groups supported the bill, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about removing judicial discretion and eliminating a statutory protection against force when an officer knows an arrest is unlawful. Despite those objections, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 168 on public nuisances, which expands nuisance law to include gambling houses, increases penalties, allows attorney fees, and authorizes foreclosure for unpaid fees, and CS/SB 54, which after amendment focuses on medical examiner procedures and reporting related to violent offenders and toxicology/psychotropic drug review. Both bills were reported favorably. The meeting ended after members recorded additional affirmative votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, if there's no further testimony, first thanks to everyone who participated.
• All right, if there's no further testimony, first thanks to everyone who participated.
• All right, please call the roll. The motion is do pass as amended to Judiciary.
• First of all, recent amendments helped by clarifying privacy and discrimination harms.
• First of all, recent amendments helped by clarifying privacy and discrimination harms.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on privacy, AI, consumer protection, and public safety. AB 1979 would require a licensed health care professional to retain final clinical judgment when using AI tools in health care and would limit chatbot access to medical records; supporters, including nurses and TechEquity, said it preserves human decision-making, while hospitals and industry groups opposed it unless amended, citing burdens and training concerns. The bill passed 6-1 and was placed on call. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home confidentiality program to immigrant service providers and workers facing harassment and doxing; supporters described threats against advocates and their families, while one senator raised concerns about a private right of action and penalties. The bill passed 4-1 and was placed on call for further committees. AB 2103 would make Engaged California a permanent statewide public engagement program; supporters said it broadens civic participation and transparency, while concerns were raised about partisan balance in topic selection. It passed 6-0 and was placed on call to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 2, which would set statutory damages and other financial accountability measures for large social media platforms when negligence causing harm to children is proven in court. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost her daughter and child-safety advocates, argued that stronger remedies are needed because social media design features are harming children and existing enforcement has been insufficient. Opponents, including TechNet, CCIA, CalChamber, and others, argued the bill blurs content and conduct, could increase litigation, and is unnecessary given existing lawsuits and verdicts. Several senators said the bill was a consumer-protection measure and supported it; it passed 5-0 and was placed on call. AB 883, as amended, would use California’s Delete Act/DROP system to help elected officials and judges remove personal information from data brokers, while also shortening the deletion timeline for all Californians from 45 to 30 days. Supporters said the bill responds to rising threats against public servants and improves privacy tools broadly; some opponents removed or softened opposition after amendments, though CalChamber and CCIA remained opposed unless amended, largely over the private right of action. The bill passed 4-0 and was placed on call. The committee then recessed briefly before taking up AB 2023, a chatbot safety bill for children that would require age verification, safety audits, default protections, parental controls, crisis-response measures, and limits on targeted ads and data sharing. Supporters said it builds on prior AI and child-safety legislation and is needed to prevent harms like self-harm and manipulation; opponents raised concerns about vague harm standards, audit requirements, and liability. The hearing continued with testimony and committee discussion, but no final vote on AB 2023 was shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• All in favor of the amendment say yay. Yay? Any opposed? All right, the amendment is adopted.
• All right, members, any debate on the bill as amended?
• All right, members, any debate on the bill is amended.
• Appearance forms on the amendment? All right. Any debate on the amendment?
• Thank you. ...on the bill as amended. Questions on the bill as amended? All right.

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and heard several bills, with SB 1742 on condos temporarily postponed. SB 1298 on building construction was reported favorably after sponsor testimony about continuing education for building professionals, rural sharing of building officials, residential inspector limits, a planning examiner internship, permitting modernization, and contractor transition liability. SB 638 on home inspectors was also reported favorably after discussion of increasing required education from 120 to 200 hours, adding subject-specific exam and course requirements, and requiring $300,000 in errors and omissions insurance. SB 960 on elevator accessibility requirements was reported favorably, allowing additional shorter support rails in elevators while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. The committee adopted amendments and reported favorably CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms, aimed at stopping bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations; the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the bill, and members discussed how the measure would preserve direct restaurant-platform relationships like OpenTable and Resy while targeting third-party marketplaces that resell reservations. CS/SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was reported favorably after amendments that defined mRNA vaccine use and added a cosmetics-related amendment addressing harmful chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing agents, and mercury compounds; the Florida Retail Federation raised concerns but said it was working with the sponsor. CS/SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was reported favorably after an amendment clarifying the definition of heated tobacco products and excluding hookah, with support from the Florida Retail Federation and comments that the bill would distinguish these products from cigarettes for tax purposes. The committee also adopted a strike-all amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 1262 on construction contracting, which adds consumer protection and financial literacy topics to contractor continuing education, increases penalties for unlicensed contracting, creates a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and requires timely refunds and project completion standards; the Florida Home Builders Association supported the measure. Finally, CS/SB 1304 on solar facilities was reported favorably after extensive testimony from county commissioners and local officials supporting greater local oversight and decommissioning requirements for utility-scale solar on agricultural land; the bill would remove the current statewide by-right treatment for solar on agricultural land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances. The meeting ended with members recording additional affirmative votes on selected bills and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is, I think this is I'm going to call this amendment the 'Do the Right Thing' amendment.
• So, like I say, this is what I consider to be the 'Do Right' amendment.
• This amendment is way beyond doing the right thing.
• All right, that was our final amendment that was submitted before the deadline.
• First, we have to adopt the D D E Amendment as amended, D one amendment as amended.

Bills: HF2436, HF2929

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, HF2929, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food assistance, nutrition assistance, public benefits, eligibility determination, income eligibility, federal poverty guidelines, poverty level, county agency, Tribal agency, human services, children and families, benefits administration

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill under consideration for proposed amendment is House Bill 1612. Senator Cleary.
• The proposed amendment has been adopted. The proposed amendment has been adopted.
• right?
• before this bill was brought to the floor the first time, and the intent of our amendment was that 2155
• The amendments are...

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the amendment removes the requirement that organizations nominate representatives to the authority
• First, the amendment removes the requirement that organizations nominate representatives to the authority
• On the amendment, the ayes are 115, the nays are 87. The amendment is adopted.
• The amendment is agreed to. Representative Rigby offers Amendment A-4097.
• On the amendment, the ayes are 100, the nays are 102. The amendment fails.

Keywords: Scheduler, 973, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Chaney: First up we have Bobby, First Amendment Foundation, is a proponent.
• Representative: The First Amendment does not exist to protect comfortable speech.
• Florida stands for the First Amendment. This is a day of remembrance, not a holiday.
• This is important because we all have our First Amendment rights here.
• When violence becomes an acceptable response to speech, then the First Amendment becomes meaningless.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. first uh female elected in her own right first uh female elected in her own right to<00:55
• The right to observe and record government activity is also found in the First Amendment and in our Constitution
• The right to observe and record government activity is also found in the First Amendment and in our Constitution
• The right to observe and record government activity is also found in the First Amendment and in our Constitution
• The right to observe and record government activity is also found in the First Amendment and in our Constitution

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right? Yes.
• All right, Senator from Jefferson, actually, the counsel has stated your amendment to refresh the members
• Right, but you're wanting to codify that as an amendment to the bill. Okay. Senator from Fayette?
• Well, I mean, the amendment is the bill, right?
• The first one is this legislature and this committee supported last year, and that was an amendment to

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SHOW THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED, BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• THE AMENDMENT.
• AND THERE IS ALSO A SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT TO THAT AMENDMENT.
• BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
• THERE IS AN AMENDMENT SO IF I CAN TAKE OF THAT AMENDMENT. >> Vice Chair Sharief: AMENDMENT BARCODE 613174

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IF NOT, LET'S GO TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHICH IS BARCODE 939772 TIMELY FILE.
• THAT IS WHY WE ACCOUNTED FOR ANYBODY WHO HAD THE RIGHTS RESTORED WHICH IS AUTOMATIC UNDER AMENDMENT 4
• AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND ALSO FOR THE LEAGUE.
• THE RIGHT OF FLORIDIANS TO PROPOSE AND VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE.
• WE HAD MY FIRST YEAR, THE RIGHTS RESTORATION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right. Assembly Member, we have a first and second. Would you like to offer close?
• All right. Assembly Member, we have a first and second. Would you like to offer close?
• on the protection of First Amendment rights, and ensure that the timeline for implementation is extended
• we need guidelines to ensure that they do not face persecution for simply exercising their First Amendment
• Amendment rights as part of this and clarifying that this bill would not supersede anyone's First Amendment

Summary: The committee met to hear seven Senate bills, first approving two consent items, SB 352 and SB 804, on motions to do pass to Appropriations. SB 542 (Limón) would require public notice and comment before issuing a financial responsibility certificate for an oil pipeline and require hydrostatic testing before restarting pipelines idle for five years or more; it was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity and passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 616 (Rubio) would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to coordinate wildfire mitigation and insurance-related recommendations; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and several local and industry groups, while water agencies, special districts, and the building industry raised concerns about water infrastructure standards, and it passed on a due-pass motion to Insurance. SB 429 (Cortese), which would establish a public wildfire catastrophe model and related university-based research and education program, received support from the Department of Insurance and outside groups and passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 256 (Perez) would strengthen wildfire mitigation and emergency response by expanding planning, improving PSPS communication, requiring utility coordination with emergency centers, and directing removal of permanently abandoned electrical facilities; utilities and business groups were generally neutral after amendments, while the author emphasized the bill’s connection to recent wildfire losses, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 509 (Caballero) would require specialized training for local law enforcement on transnational repression targeting diaspora communities; it received support from the California Police Chiefs Association and immigrant-rights advocates, but drew extensive opposition from Hindu and civil-rights organizations concerned about bias, implementation, and First Amendment issues. Committee members discussed amendments to clarify cultural competency, diversity, and constitutional protections, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. After the hearing, the committee took final roll-call votes on the bills, with the consent items and SB 429, SB 256, and SB 509 moving forward, while SB 542 and SB 616 were also reported out on earlier motions.