Transcript Highlights:

• Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service. She was not required to be present today.
• Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service. Is there any objection?
• DEI also includes accessibility issues for people with disabilities, things like ramps.
• As a disabled, queer woman of color, this impacts just about every area of my life.
• DEI also includes accessibility issues for people with disabilities, things like ramps.

Summary: The committee first confirmed Heather L. Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service, with the motion adopted and the confirmation recommended favorably. Members then took up SPB 7022, which sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2025, updates rates to address unfunded actuarial liability, and allows certain elected officers to elect a DROP accumulation; a technical title amendment was adopted, the bill was submitted as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The committee then heard extensive debate and public testimony on SB 1710, which would restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion-related policies, trainings, and activities in state agencies, state-funded contractors and grantees, and medical institutions of higher education. Sponsor Senator DiCeglie said the bill is intended to prevent state agencies and contractors from using state funds for DEI programs and to limit state agencies from adopting DEI-related official positions; he also said the medical-school portion would likely be amended out later. Senator Polsky and others questioned the bill’s breadth and how it would affect health-related grants, public universities, historically Black institutions, recruitment, and contractor training. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill would harm health care, education, access, and inclusion; a few supporters said DEI is ideological, can undermine merit, and should not be used by state agencies or publicly funded institutions. After debate, Senator Polsky argued the bill was confusing, overbroad, and harmful to serving diverse communities, while Senator Arrington said it was an overreach into private business and could have significant fiscal impacts. Chair Fine closed by saying DEI is political ideology and that the bill is meant to ensure government focuses on talent rather than identity. SB 1710 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote, with Senator Arrington voting no and the remaining members voting yes. The committee then began SB 1678, relating to entities that boycott Israel, and heard the sponsor’s explanation of a delete-all amendment that would expand and clarify state restrictions on dealings with entities engaged in boycotts of Israel, including certain nonprofits, foreign educational institutions, and grants; the amendment was adopted, and the sponsor and a witness began answering questions when the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:20:53.040> property elderly, blind, and disabled property elderly, blind, and disabled
• I had a friend who died extremely poor with an adult disabled child upstairs.
• Commissions even more so.
• Committee or commission?
• exemption, then there's a disabled exemption, then there's a disabled veterans<02:08:36.719>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The implementation requirements direct both the TDCJ and the Commission on Jail Standards to adopt rules
• Um, so, I had never heard of the Civil commitment commission until I got sworn in, and you mentioned
• , we would love to get the data on this, but a lot of the guys who are there have intellectual disabilities
• , so there's some concerns with the disability due due process issues here.
• I'm intellectually disabled, so please be patient with me, OK. Not a problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• I SAY THIS TO MEAN EVEN FLAGS LIKE THE DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG WILL BE ERASED FROM COMMUNITIES AND THAT
• IS A FLAG OF UTMOST IMPORTANT TO OUR DISABLED VETS THAT ARE IN A VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA
• CITY IS ALLOWED OR PERMITTED OR CONTINUES TO FLY UPRIGHT FLAG AND THERE ARE SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION
• I HAVE TO AGREE I DON'T THINK A COUNSELOR COMMISSION ACTUALLY HAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT HAS A FIRST
• AMENDMENT RIGHT AS I COMMISSION PART I DON'T THINK THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AS A SENATE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :05.520> insurance $44 upon approval of the insurance $44 upon approval of the insurance commission
• This clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission under the universal service program may use funds
• universal service program to provide free telecommunications access to individuals with print disabilities
• The bill clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission under the universal service program may use funds
• universal service program to provide free telecommunications access to individuals with print disabilities

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered several conference measures on April 25, 2025, mostly waiting on FIN or Ways and Means releases before taking action. SB 25 on eviction mediation was agreed to and passed with amendments, with members voting aye except for one no vote recorded from Representative Pirk and several excused members. SB 1367 on installment loans was also taken up later in the meeting; a revised conference draft was noted to include a five-year timeframe, a $1 convenience fee, and a corrected effective date, and it passed unanimously among those voting. Other measures were repeatedly rolled to later times in Room 224 or 225 because releases were still pending, including SB 1044 on property insurance stabilization, SB 1220 on a renewable gas tariff, SB 500 on electric utilities, HB 1370 on liquor tax/draft beer definitions, HB 939 on alcohol/liquor tax changes, HB 1052 on the universal service program, and SB 1500 on electric utilities. When SB 1220 and SB 500 were eventually heard, both were described as creating or adjusting utility-related processes and both passed with amendments. HB 1370 also passed with amendments after the committee noted it would redefine draft beer for liquor tax purposes. SB 1044 drew the most detailed discussion: the conferees described major funding provisions, including a $30 million reimbursable general obligation bond appropriation for the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, a $20 million reimbursable GO bond appropriation to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for a condominium loan program, and a $5 million appropriation for GAP reserves, along with 36-month assessment periods and a temporary recording fee up to $44. The bill passed with amendments. HB 1052 on the universal service program was described as allowing the Public Utilities Commission to use program funds to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities, with a $150,000 cap, and it also passed with a conference draft.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's when the negotiation comes in with the counselor with the commission on that project.
• Judicial qualifications occasions Commission.
• We're going to take up tab. 46 appointment to the commission on ethics senators.
• We have a reappointment 14, a desk of it as a member of the Commission on Ethics.
• This is a reappointment he's already serving on the commission.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or developmental disability advisory, so some of the advocacy.
• The ARC is an advocacy group for the Developmental Disability Council, which is also an advocacy group
• that MFA would be reaching out and having some connection with any of the various advocates for disabled
• The four topics are disability relief, needs assessment, homeownership, building and permitting, and
• Commission and can go to the city council.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislative Audit Commission do its work in directing the work of the Legislative Auditor.
• The Legislative Audit Commission do its work in directing the work of the Legislative Auditor.
• We have hundreds of boards and commissions to begin with.
• To the A57. commissions to begin commissions to begin with.<02:25:23.680> We<02:25:23.920>
• services or our first or our disability services or our first responders?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's supported by First 5, Build Up California, the California Commission on the Status of Women and
• Additionally, this bill requires that these qualifications are published by the Commission on Teacher
• Assembly Bill 1925 by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez and others, relating to disabilities.
• Permanent disabilities should not require permanent paperwork. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• File item 183 is AB ... for people with disabilities.

Summary: The Assembly met on May 7, 2026, after an initial delay caused by the absence of a quorum, then proceeded with prayer, a moment of silence for victims of a hate-motivated attack at the Islamic Center in San Diego, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Speaker pro tempore then moved through the daily file, repeatedly urging members to be on time and at their desks as the House of Origin deadline approached. Procedural actions included dispensing with the journal, deferring some items, and moving AB 1667 to the inactive file. The bulk of the session was devoted to floor consideration of many bills, most of which passed with little or no opposition. Measures approved included bills on artificial intelligence provenance information (AB 2713), community college trustee compensation (AB 2528), transit camera enforcement and privacy (AB 1837), excess proceeds claims in taxation (AB 2705), HOA technical cleanup (AB 1892), hepatitis C treatment access (AB 1843), child care planning in local general plans (AB 1914), greenhouse energy code flexibility (AB 2200), rent-now-pay-later consumer protections (AB 2350), housing cleanup and density bonus measures (including AB 2390, AB 2480, AB 1567, AB 1751, and others), spay/neuter access (AB 2010), workforce housing financing tools (AB 2110), supportive housing and homelessness-related changes (AB 2146), mental health and health plan notification measures (AB 1598, AB 2613), student aid and education bills (AB 1534, AB 1636, AB 1669, AB 1728, AB 1784, AB 1871), public safety and criminal justice bills (AB 1546, AB 1572, AB 1872, AB 1877, AB 1932), and several health and social services measures (AB 1602, AB 1628, AB 1680, AB 1825, AB 1845, AB 1906, AB 1907, AB 1925). Most bills were described as support measures, often with bipartisan backing and no opposition, and passed by wide margins. A few bills drew more discussion, especially AB 1751, a housing/townhome bill that sparked extended debate over wages, prevailing wage, stakeholder engagement, and whether the measure could depress pay for construction trades; despite concerns and an opposition speech, it ultimately passed 44-0. AB 1793, which would allow symmetrical rounding of cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of the penny’s phaseout, also drew light debate and passed 47-1. AB 1932, an urgency measure expanding community-based crisis response, passed with one no vote on both the urgency and the bill. Several urgency or 54-vote bills, including AB 1534 and AB 1932, required later roll calls or calls to be lifted, but all measures described in the transcript were ultimately approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were commissioned by the Legislative Counsel Service to conduct the study.
• I want to thank the Legislative Council Service for commissioning that study and hope that we can commission
• You add a person with a disability or chronic health condition in there.
• It's going on five and a half years now because of my disability and people who don't work with it, and
• Eighteen months with a toothache, so tell me that we're being humane to people with disabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:14.240> accommodations, work, disability accommodations, work, disability accommodations
• . disability. disability.
• Disability determination services is a program that essentially processes applications for federal disability
• then we also refer uh disability then we also refer uh disability applications<01:12:02.560>
• commissioned commissioned uh<01:29:52.480> in<01:29:52.719> Minnesota<01:29:53.360>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In FY26, about 10% of students with disabilities were classified as Class D, meaning their IEP requires
• So you all have heard that autism is driving a lot of the increase in students with disabilities across
• Chair, members of the Commission.
• My name is Jennifer Boyd, and I am a parent of a child with a disability.
• I'm a commissioner on the Public Education Commission. I have a grandson who also attends NMIS.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Peter Lee is a technical support staff specialist for the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.
• compensation and temporary disability compensation and temporary disability cases<00:20:05.360><
• compensation uh temporary disability compensation uh temporary disability insurance<00:20:55.360
• The Public Utilities Commission has provided their guidance to the utilities.
• and the Public Utilities Commission and the Public Utilities Commission weighs<01:25:28.920>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• For these reasons, we join a coalition of partners from the National Center for Youth Law, Disability
• We use the First 5 county commissions because they're in all 58 counties and they're made up of people
• And so the First 5 commissions were chosen. It's not really going outside and wasting money.
• Crystal Quinn, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, in support.
• This issue is even more challenging for youth with disabilities or additional needs.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child and family services bills, with testimony from authors, county officials, advocates, and members of the public. AB 2083 would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; there was no public opposition, but a vice chair raised concerns about lack of outreach to Riverside County and possible added fees for residents. The bill was held pending quorum and later noted as enjoying a due pass recommendation, though no final roll was taken in the excerpt. AB 1579, which expands the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models, drew strong support from San Francisco County, Seneca Family of Agencies, and several counties and advocacy groups, who argued the current crisis residential model is financially and operationally unworkable and leaves youth in hospitals or emergency departments. The Youth Law Center and allied organizations opposed the bill, saying it departs from the original small, community-based crisis model and could lead to more institutional care. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 1628 would extend California’s safe surrender window for newborns from 72 hours to 30 days. The author and fire service supporters said the change would better reflect postpartum recovery and help prevent unsafe abandonment; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 1634, dealing with the “Kids” specialty license plate program, sought to raise plate fees and revise distribution formulas to generate more revenue for child safety and child care programs. Supporters said the update would modernize outdated 1992 pricing and expand county access, while a committee member objected that the bill would reallocate funds away from state agencies and private nonprofits; the bill was moved on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 would streamline child support enrollment by having courts transmit support orders directly to child support agencies unless a custodial parent opts out. Supporters said automatic enrollment would reduce poverty and remove paperwork barriers, while opponents warned it could undermine parent choice and create problems for families with sensitive circumstances. The committee passed the bill 6-0. AB 1708 would require regions receiving HHAP homelessness funds to more meaningfully engage smaller cities; many city officials supported it as a way to include jurisdictions that are doing local homelessness work, while Los Angeles’ mayor’s office opposed it. The bill passed 5-0. AB 2395 would standardize access to the child support debt reduction program; supporters described it as a way to help low-income obligors escape uncollectible government-owed debt, while receiving parents and child support agencies warned it could reduce money owed to families and needs more work. The bill passed 4-0. The committee then began AB 1914, which would require local governments to plan for child care in general plans; supporters framed child care as essential infrastructure, while at least one member raised concerns about state mandates on local jurisdictions, and the excerpt ends before any vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2021, I have served as a committee member on the Children's Court Improvement Commission, and the
• Just curious, where did you work with kids with disabilities?
• It got stuck in the JJAC and in the Sentencing Commission and never reached the community the way it
• It's hard to tell your stories, and that's what, when I was an advocate for people with disabilities,
• The group that keeps getting forgotten in Martinez-Yazoo is the kids with disabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you know because commissions.
• We don't do any of the commissions.
• <01:04:25.359> work documents in boards and commission work documents in boards and commission
• This is for people with disabilities.
• Um, page 50, section 16 disabilities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :51.440> was<00:03:51.680> offered previous commission salon, I was offered previous commission
• <00:07:00.200> I long-term disability policy, which I long-term disability policy, which I
• disabilities and want to work. disabilities and want to work.
• <01:23:48.880> the allows individuals with disabilities the allows individuals with disabilities
• <01:34:17.720> uh consequences on on disabled uh consequences on on disabled uh people<01:

Bills: HF3843, HF3597, HF4003, HF3167, HF4193

Keywords: workforce development, appropriations, nonprofit organizations, employment services, state funding, paid leave, S corporations, employment law, exemptions, Minnesota Statutes, cancer, healthcare, appropriation, Rural Cancer Institute, Minnesota clinicians, pilot program, nursing, education, University of Minnesota, equity

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposal must also get approval from the commissioner of a local disabilities commission or MassAbility
• , to state roads, to guarantee that the bike lanes are safe and accessible for people with disabilities
• You know, I... for senior citizens and those with disabilities.
• commissions, and critically establishes enforceable standards for the operation of... ...and critically
• It also calls for involving the disability community in decisions about bike lanes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on several bills related to driver’s license suspensions, junior operator training, online driver education, and regulation of e-bikes/scooters. A major focus was the Road to Opportunity Act (H. 3662/S. 2368), which would end license suspensions and registration holds for unpaid fines and fees unrelated to road safety, create hardship waivers and payment options, and replace suspension with nonrenewal in some cases. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, ACLU, CPCS, Greater Boston Legal Services, transportation and anti-poverty advocates, and several affected residents who described job loss, housing instability, and difficulty paying toll and fee debts. They argued the current system punishes poverty, disproportionately affects Black and Latino residents, and is costly to enforce. Some testimony also noted that the bill would preserve suspensions for dangerous driving offenses. District Attorney Marion Ryan testified in favor of two bills: one allowing partial payment plans for certain RMV penalties and another closing a loophole that makes the penalty for violating a hardship license less severe than driving after a full suspension. Senator Sear and Representative Reed also spoke for the Road to Opportunity Act, while the AAG said the Attorney General supports it. Committee members asked about RMV implementation and whether the agency supports payment plans; Ryan said the RMV has been cooperative but believes legislation is needed. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting young drivers. Senator Lovely and Representative Cruz supported a bill to create a junior operator license training fund, expand access for low- and moderate-income families, require refunds in some cases, and allow earlier passenger privileges. Another bill would make virtual instructor-led driver education permanent; AAA and several driving school owners supported it as an access and convenience measure, while other instructors opposed it, arguing in-person instruction is safer and more effective. Finally, Senator Collins and others testified for a transportation safety bill regulating motorized bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds, increasing fines, requiring insurance for commercial use, and requiring public hearings and accessibility review for new bike lanes. Advocates for blind and disabled pedestrians supported that bill, while some transportation and business voices backed it as a safety and planning measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Ways and Means Committee doesn't work on this because there's a commission.
• . commission. commission.
• commission commission as<00:45:46.520> Representative<00:45:47.040> Elberger<00:45:47.520
• Um, because it's behavioral and it's a disability. That was the broad term, not the narrow term.
• That's That was the disability.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee began with brief remarks recognizing Representative Almquist’s service and noting that he would not seek reelection, along with comments about other members’ departures and replacements. The chair then opened a series of interim study work sessions, explaining that some bills would be handled now and school-funding-related bills later in the year. Members also discussed how interim study reports work, including that they are recommendations for future legislation and do not prevent anyone from filing similar bills again. On HB 224, dealing with rebates to taxpayers from the renewable energy fund, members noted that the bill was essentially the same as a prior House bill that passed the House but stalled in conference with the Senate. The committee discussed whether the measure would change current law; members were told it would not, and that the report would simply recommend future legislation. The chair indicated the committee would likely recommend the bill for future legislation, with no minority report, and that any roll call vote would be reflected in the final report. On HB 417, repealing the communication services tax, members raised concerns about revenue loss, possible 911-related issues, and conflicts over municipal taxation of telephone poles and related property. The Lottery Director and others explained that repeal could create legal uncertainty for municipalities and that the bill could reduce state revenue by millions of dollars. The committee concluded the bill should not be recommended for future legislation unless it were substantially revised to address revenue and municipal-taxation complications. On HB 635, concerning taxing nonprofit entities that settle illegal immigrants, members agreed it was primarily a federal issue and outside the state’s authority, so it was not recommended for future legislation. On HB 660, requiring historic horse racing facilities to compensate host communities, members said the concept of mitigating local impacts was reasonable but the bill was too broad in its current form. Testimony from the Lottery Director and others focused on how host communities and charities currently receive days and revenue, how operators are using shared days, and how the market may already be adjusting. Members also discussed whether neighboring communities, including out-of-state towns, should be considered and whether the state’s share of gaming revenue could be redirected. The discussion ended with interest in a narrower rewrite and possible future legislation, but no final vote was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This provision would be subject to the approval of the applicable commission.
• Since 1949, Texas has issued specialty license plates for disabled veterans to honor their service and
• Disabled peace officers who register their vehicles under the program receive free or discounted use
• in handicapped and disability parking spaces.
• But really, we don't know how many disabled retired peace officers there are.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on transportation infrastructure, public safety, and local commemorations. SB 2841 would clarify the overweight corridor designation for the Port of Brownsville so all three statutorily approved bridges are treated uniformly for northbound and southbound overweight traffic; the Port of Brownsville testified in support, and the bill was left pending. SB 39 would restore the commercial motor vehicle “admission rule” framework in collision cases; Senator Birdwell explained the committee substitute, and the bill was later reported favorably. The committee also heard and later advanced SB 682, SB 1369, and SB 1422, which rename stretches of highway or a bridge in honor of fallen firefighters and military service members, with no opposition testimony and all left pending before final votes. The committee also heard SB 2366, which would create a grant program for short-line railroad projects through rural rail transportation districts for track, bridge, capacity, and restoration work. Senator Hughes and several witnesses from rural rail districts and rail advocacy groups supported the bill, while TxDOT explained current rail funding is limited and that the bill would be the first such grant program for Class 3 short lines; members discussed that the bill would need a floor amendment because state funds cannot be paid directly to railroads. SB 1013 would expand crosswalk protections under the Lisa Torrey-Smith Act to include certain driveway curb cuts along sidewalks; it was supported by the author and left pending before later being reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 2080, which would modernize port and navigation district rules by easing records and procurement requirements, exempting certain security and cybersecurity discussions from recording, and expanding some operational authority. Port Houston and the Texas Ports Association supported the bill, while the City of Corpus Christi raised concerns that the language could expand port economic-development authority beyond navigation purposes and affect local tax bases; the Port of Galveston also noted concerns about the filed version but supported the bill as presented, and the committee substitute was later reported favorably. SB 2001 would create specialty license plates and related parking/toll benefits for permanently disabled peace officers; SB 2705 would codify registration exemptions for certain farm equipment and some specialty plates. Both were supported by witnesses, adopted with committee substitutes where applicable, and reported favorably. Final votes on the reported bills were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, and the committee recessed after leaving some motions open briefly.