Transcript Highlights:

• I actually did a little Google search earlier, just kind of checking on it.
• So, you know, with that, you know, whenever we conduct search and rescue missions in flood zones or in

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources considered several environmental and infrastructure bills, most of them sponsored or presented by Senator McLean, along with measures on stormwater, wastewater, brownfields, marine facilities, and a confirmation package. SB 492 on mitigation banking would allow mitigation credits to be purchased outside an impact area when local credits are unavailable, with distance-based multipliers and a statutory credit release schedule; Senator Smith raised concerns about how far credits could be moved from the impacted ecosystem, while supporters said the bill would preserve net environmental benefit and provide predictability. The bill was reported favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. SB 800 would update Florida’s battery recycling program and require manufacturers to support more robust recycling and disposal information, prompted by testimony from waste, recycling, and industry groups describing truck, landfill, and facility fires caused by batteries. SB 1228 would advance a spring restoration project for Kentucky Springs and the Santa Fe spring flows by allowing JEA to amend a compliance plan to deliver more than 35 million gallons per day of reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it was reported favorably without debate. SB 796 would create a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems to help local governments address failing septic tanks, and SB 736 would update the Brownfields program with technical changes, revised definitions, and a change allowing smaller ownership interests to participate in cleanup efforts; both were reported favorably after supportive testimony. SB 810 on stormwater management required annual inspections of local government waterways and drainage works before hurricane season, motivated by flooding after recent storms. Senators Harrell and Smith questioned who would be responsible for inspections and repairs, the scope of structures covered, and the fiscal impact, and the sponsor said the bill would be refined to better define responsibilities and possibly narrow the scope to higher-risk infrastructure. The bill drew opposition from the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Stormwater Association, but also strong support from senators who emphasized the need for better preparedness; it was reported favorably. SB 1162 on water access facilities would add a clean marine manufacturer designation, provide a lease fee discount, and include parking for boat-hauling vehicles and trailers in the grant program; it was reported favorably. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of five Florida Inland Navigation District appointees, and Senator DeSantis? no, Senator DeCeglie recorded affirmative votes on SB 492, SB 800, and SB 1228 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• question we're talking about the medical directors and the nursing homes and then and now the new search
• We want this patient satisfaction search unit survey done and we hope it happens.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, in America, there searching for.
• Lord, search our hearts that they would be found faithful.
• Search<03:09:06.880><c> underway</c><03:09:07.359><c> for</c><03:09:07.600><c> suspect.
• </c><03:09:09.040><c> No</c><03:09:09.279><c> arrests</c> Search underway for suspect.
• No arrests Search underway for suspect.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lewis has been approved to have his strip searches done by female staff only, end quote.
• c> Lewis has been approved to have his Lewis has been approved to have his strip<00:51:47.880><c> search
• </c><00:51:48.360><c> strip</c><00:51:48.680><c> searches</c><00:51:49.160><c> done</c><00:51:49.360>
• <c> by</c> strip search strip searches done by strip search strip searches done by female<00:51:49.840

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Asequia Association, the Town of Taos, and the El Prado Water and Sanitation District, are actively searching
• what is Going to happen weather-wise, wind being the primary cause, but it's fuel moisture, it's relative
• My uncle Really didn't have an interest in the ranch, so our ranch is a small ranch, relatively speaking
• I guess I'll talk about there are sort of three effective dates that are important to understand relative
• Our communities, Latina communities, our indigenous relatives, our black communities, Asian American

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the relatively small increase in costs reflects new costs to mail required expungement notices
• ensuring that those who require and request that additional support around skill building and job search
• Very quickly, very briefly, current year estimates are down relative to what they were at Governor's
• All departments participated in savings, and as described in your agenda, they're relatively minor in
• I'll run through this relatively quickly. The first one is your director. I know.

Summary: The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored. Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants. The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services. Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd have to do a title statute search and we could get back to the member before the third reading.
• wouldn't we also include this new change in a statute of limitation in one place so we didn't have to search
• c><01:07:11.200><c> didn't</c><01:07:11.359><c> have</c><01:07:11.440><c> to</c><01:07:11.599><c> search
• </c> in one place so we didn't have to search in one place so we didn't have to search the<01:07:12.160

Transcript Highlights:

• Shoot-first laws are a solution in search of a problem.
• Shoot-first laws are a solution in search of a problem.
• first laws are a Minnesota shoot first laws are a solution<00:08:00.680><c> in</c><00:08:00.800><c> search
• a</c><00:08:01.400><c> problem</c><00:08:02.199><c> there</c><00:08:02.400><c> is</c> solution in search
• of a problem there is solution in search of a problem there is no<00:08:02.840><c> reason</c><00:08:

Transcript Highlights:

• I generally think it’s a solution in search of a problem, but sometimes we make things that are implicit
• I generally think it's a a<00:23:54.000><c> solution</c><00:23:54.440><c> in</c><00:23:54.640><c> search
• of</c><00:23:55.760><c> a</c><00:23:56.120><c> problem</c><00:23:56.919><c> but</c> a solution in search
• of a problem but a solution in search of a problem but sometimes<00:23:57.960><c> we</c><00:23:58.120
• And you say this is a mandate, and you say this is a solution in search of a problem.

Summary: House File 768, sponsored by Vice Chair Hudson, was heard with an author’s amendment (A4) adopted to remove a technical section and put the bill in the intended form. Hudson described the bill as a response to concerns about government monitoring of protected speech, saying it would bar the Minnesota Department of Human Rights from creating or maintaining a database of constitutionally protected speech while preserving the department’s ability to investigate actual discrimination, harassment, threats, or illegal conduct. He emphasized First Amendment protections and argued the state should not track speech simply because it is controversial or unpopular. The main testimony in support came from Ran Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who echoed the free-speech concerns and said databases of bias incidents can capture lawful speech and create a chilling effect. Representative Rest said she generally supported the free-speech goal but wanted to preserve the Department of Human Rights’ ability to produce biennial reports and analyze de-identified trend data on civil rights incidents, including emerging threats or hateful rhetoric, so lawmakers can respond to patterns without recording individuals’ protected speech. Representative Curran raised concerns that speech trends can relate to public safety and argued that attacks on human rights often begin as speech. Hudson responded that the Department of Human Rights is not a law enforcement agency and that the bill would not impede criminal investigations. He argued that trying to monitor “trends in thought” would be constitutionally problematic and produce unreliable data, and he distinguished protected speech from criminal conduct. Representative Feist said the department’s existing report already uses aggregate, non-investigative data and suggested there may be room to refine the bill’s language. The bill was laid over for further consideration, with Hudson indicating he was open to continued discussion and possible language changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But a quick little Google search for... ...or a trademark name, but a quick little Google search for
• But a quick little Google search for, or a trademark name, but a quick little Google search for parents

Committee: Joint Child Custody Review Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, we have 2938 relating to search and rescue.
• And then finally, we have 2938 relating And then finally, we have 2938 relating to<00:05:29.120><c> search
• </c><00:05:30.320><c> Uh,</c><00:05:30.560><c> we</c><00:05:30.800><c> were</c> to search and rescue.
• Uh, we were to search and rescue.

Bills: SB2543 , SB2435 , SB2352

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The Committee on Government Operations reconvened on February 10, 2026, to take up measures previously heard on February 5. It advanced SB 2983 on criminal destruction of trees with technical, non-substantive amendments and a committee report note asking Judiciary to clarify that removal of invasive species remains allowed; the measure passed with one no vote. SB 2930 on the state risk management revolving fund also passed with amendments, including blanking out the amount, setting a defective date, and directing Ways and Means to review a spreadsheet before further action. The committee likewise passed SB 2928 on making the small business procurement program permanent and SB 2970 on standards of conduct for state agency contracts, adopting the Ethics Commission’s recommended language assigning compliance responsibility to department directors and deputy directors. SB 2927 and SB 3068 on procurement were deferred to a time certain on February 12, and SB 3015 on personal information, SB 2929 on public notice, and SB 2938 on search and rescue were also deferred for further discussion or to avoid re-referral issues. SB 2662 on external consultants was amended to remove a cap and preemptive approval language, narrow the expertise standard, and note possible auditor staffing or appropriation needs; it then passed with amendments. The joint GVO-EIG hearing then took up SB 2543 on state construction projects and an Office of the State Construction Manager within DAGS. Testimony from the Hawaii Iron Workers Stabilization Fund strongly supported the bill, saying it could reduce wasteful spending on large design-build projects and free money for tax credits and other public needs. DAGS, the University of Hawaii, and DLNR offered written comments, while one witness from KIC opposed the measure and asked for an exemption for member-owned electric cooperatives. A Hawaii Solar Energy Association witness also supported the bill but asked that landscape architects be excluded from the bill’s definition of design professionals, and Rocky Mold said Kauai permitting was efficient enough that he had no objection to carving it out. The committee adopted amendments from DNR, DAGS, and UH and passed SB 2543. The hearing also considered SB 2435 on EV charging infrastructure at state facilities. DAGS and the Hawaii State Energy Office supported the concept and explained that the goal was to retrofit managed parking facilities with infrastructure that can meet current and future EV needs, while acknowledging that some stalls can sit unused and that the state must balance space and enforcement. Members raised concerns about whether dedicating 25% of stalls to EV charging would reduce usable parking, and about rural and Big Island conditions where EV range and battery capacity remain limiting. The discussion noted that DOT, DNR, DOE, and DOH may have their own parking facilities outside DAGS control. The committee then indicated it would broaden the bill to apply to all state agencies and lower the threshold in response to member concerns, with final action not fully shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And still, I was searching.
• I was searching because I was looking for something that would help me give me a greater purpose in my
• Probation officers, they go out in the streets and help do mass searches with different agencies.
• But I also want to reaffirm what we heard in debate, that this is a bill in search of a problem that

Bills: S0330 , S0526 , S0862 , S1072 , S1078 , S1192 , S1250 , S1296 , S1298 , S1642 , S1698 , S7022

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The committee heard several bills and confirmations, with most measures reported favorably. Senate Bill 330 clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, codifying the medical definition of heart disease and allowing transferring law enforcement officers to rely on a prior physical if a new agency does not provide one. Support was waived in by the Florida Smart Justice Alliance and the Fraternal Order of Police, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 526, as amended by a delete-all amendment, addressed commercial construction contracts, permit standards, fee reductions when private providers are used, floodproofing, product approval categories, and adoption of certain electrical code standards; it drew support from several construction and business groups and one opposing appearance, then was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1192 created a pilot program for callback queues at the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families to reduce hold times for callers seeking re-employment assistance and public benefits, and it also passed favorably. Senate Bill 1078 established transition procedures for a governor-elect, including agency liaisons, briefing materials, office space, and access to records; an amendment shifted IT support to the Department of Management Services, narrowed access to confidential records, and increased penalties for unauthorized disclosure, after which the bill was approved. Senate Bill 7022 extended a public records exemption for classroom examinations and assessment instruments through 2031 and expanded coverage to school district boards and public schools; it was also reported favorably. Senate Bill 862, as amended, set a $60,000 salary goal by 2030 for state correctional officers, probation officers, and institutional security specialists, with annual raises subject to appropriations; members and witnesses emphasized recruitment, retention, and safety, and the bill passed. Senate Bill 1250 removed the requirement that the Commission on Human Relations use registered mail for certain notices under the Florida Civil Rights Act, allowing less expensive notice methods, and it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1698 allowed certain employers to post required workplace notices electronically instead of physically, and it passed without opposition. The committee also recommended confirmation of 10 appointees to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the State Retirement Commission. The most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 1072, which created an anti-Semitism task force within the Department of Legal Affairs to review anti-Semitism in Florida, improve community relations, advise on law enforcement training, assess digital media literacy efforts, evaluate hate crime statutes, and recommend policy changes. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address a growing problem and noted that Florida already uses the Holocaust Remembrance definition of anti-Semitism in statute. Numerous speakers opposed the bill, arguing it could chill protected speech, especially criticism of Israel, and could be used selectively against students, activists, Muslims, Arabs, and Jewish anti-Zionists; several also said existing hate-crime and civil-rights laws were sufficient and that the task force should include protections against Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate. One member raised concerns about the constitutionality of creating such task forces in light of prior actions by the Attorney General. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote with Senator Bracey Davis voting yes along with the majority. Senate Bill 1642, the Freedom in the Workplace Act, was also heard and drew significant questioning. The bill would bar public employers and contractors from requiring pronoun use, certain gender-identity-related training, or non-binary sex options on forms, and would protect employees and contractors from adverse action based on religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs. Senator Polsky questioned whether the bill could interfere with anti-harassment training and workplace discipline, while the sponsor said the measure was meant to prevent government coercion and extend protections similar to those in school settings. The transcript cuts off before the final disposition of this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• weapons, use surveillance or access police databases, or track people or animals other than helping in search
• So they can still serve as a chaplain, help with search and rescue, help with parking, help take care
• I was soul-searching in 33 years of law enforcement. Let's get that out of the law.
• I was soul-searching in 33 years of law enforcement. I don't think I've ever come across a matron.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was about being able to do a remote work search in these times where people are able to do that
• This was about being able to do a remote work search in these times where people are able to do that
• concludes the walkthrough of the policy provisions, and I will turn it over to Miss Grimwald Nner. search
• um in these these times where search um in these these times where people<00:14:55.279><c> are</c><00

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• It is always searching for more dollars on all modes, and this is an attempt to make sure that those
• </c><00:04:35.240><c> always</c> transportation system is always transportation system is always searching
• 37.800><c> more</c><00:04:38.039><c> dollars</c><00:04:39.000><c> uh</c><00:04:39.160><c> on</c> searching
• uh to for more dollars uh on searching uh to for more dollars uh on all<00:04:39.560><c> modes</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• From narcotics detection to crowd control, search and rescue to border patrol, these animals are more
• From narcotics detection to crowd control,<00:25:59.840><c> search</c><00:26:00.080><c> and</c><00:26
• :00.320><c> rescue</c><00:26:00.640><c> to</c><00:26:00.880><c> border</c> control, search and rescue
• </c><05:37:09.840><c> to</c><05:37:10.080><c> their</c> amount of voting power relative to their amount
• of voting power relative to their shares.<05:37:11.440><c> These</c><05:37:11.760><c> structures,</c

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search
• University to and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate<00:07:14.680><c> a</c><00:07:15.040><c> search
• </c><00:07:15.440><c> for</c><00:07:15.880><c> actionable</c> coordinate a search for actionable coordinate
• a search for actionable solutions<00:07:17.400><c> to</c><00:07:17.600><c> physician</c><00:07:18.240
• </c> search and rescues. search and rescues.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the federal level, you can Google and search false claims act cases, and you'll get just a variety
• level, you can you can Google<00:36:58.960><c> and</c><00:36:59.200><c> new</c><00:36:59.440><c> search
• /c><00:37:00.320><c> uh</c><00:37:00.480><c> false</c><00:37:00.800><c> claims</c> Google and new search
• Actually, that's what I was trying to search really quickly.
• </c> &gt;&gt; that's what I was trying to search &gt;&gt; that's what I was trying to search really<01

Bills: SF0087 , SF0088 , SF0092

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also use these for the federal mission, but also we have a fatality search and rescue team
• mission responding through the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact, where they went down to Florida and searched
• /c><00:04:40.800><c> and</c><00:04:41.000><c> rescue</c><00:04:41.400><c> team</c> a fat fatality search
• and rescue team a fat fatality search and rescue team that<00:04:41.840><c> was</c><00:04:41.960><c>
• for uh uh people who perished searched for uh uh people who perished in<00:04:53.800><c> that</c><00

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• authority, offering a broader protection than the Federal Fourth Amendment in cases like warrantless searches
• enforcement agencies accessed Mountain View's Flock Safety ALPR system for cameras in a nationwide search
• cameras vacuum up all data, whether or not there's any criminal activity being addressed, looked at, searched

Bills: SB5223 , SB5286 , SB6002 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5874 , SB5863 , SB5972 , SB5941 , SB5203 , SB6014 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB5825

Summary: The Senate convened with ceremonial opening activities, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new introductions, including SB 6346, to the appropriate committees. It also confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college and board positions: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, each by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered and passed a series of bills, often after suspending the rules to move them directly to final passage. These included SB 6014 on pregnancy-related accommodations; SB 5863 on preservation and inspection of Lakeland Village historical records; SB 5874 on correcting unemployment insurance employer reporting procedures for small businesses; SB 5972 expanding interest arbitration for certain correctional employees; SB 5286 formalizing reimbursement for local public safety services provided to state hospitals; SB 5877 making a technical correction related to certified anesthesiologist assistants; SB 5904 restricting nursing titles to licensed human persons; SB 5915 updating the health technology assessment program; SB 5919 creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agriculture; SB 5938 adjusting foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions; SB 5957 expanding the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee; SB 6102 aligning the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules; and SB 6103 advancing a rural hospital conversion intended to help East Adams Hospital remain open. The most debated measures were SB 5825, which authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, and SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy. On SB 5825, two Jeff Wilson amendments seeking to limit administrative use of donated funds and cap contributions were both rejected, but the bill ultimately passed 33-16. On SB 6002, an amendment to broaden authorized uses of ALPRs was rejected, a striking amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 48-9 after extensive floor debate focused on privacy, surveillance, law enforcement utility, and the need for clear rules. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though SB 5972 and SB 5203 drew some dissent over impacts on smaller counties and land-use concerns tied to wildlife connectivity planning.