Transcript Highlights:

• I would, you know, I appreciate your thought and feedback.

Bills: HR290, HR298, SB405, SCR61, HR318

Keywords: gender-affirming care, gender affirming therapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy, transgender health, trans youth, LGBTQ, mental health, psychosis, psychiatric conditions, puberty blockers, androgen blockers, cross-sex hormones, estrogen, testosterone, informed consent, screening, monitoring protocols, Louisiana Department of Health, LDH, House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an exemption currently for law enforcement across the state, but we just heard feedback from

Bills: HB3045

Keywords: accident response, motor vehicle, law enforcement, fire department, fee prohibition

Summary: The Public Safety Committee first considered several gubernatorial nominations. Brent Black of Bixby was renominated to the Forensic Review Board, with Senator Guthrie noting the board’s seven-member makeup and the need for mental health professionals; the nomination was advanced 8-0. Lou Ann Moody of Henrietta was then presented for the Forensic Review Board. Moody described her long legal career, her work as city attorney and in juvenile/dependency matters, and her decision to avoid criminal defense work to avoid ethical conflicts. Members asked about the board’s caseload and meeting schedule, and the nomination was advanced 8-0. The committee also heard the nomination of a retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer, Mr. McCoy, to the OSBI Commission. He emphasized his decades of law enforcement and emergency-management experience, and the nomination was advanced 8-0. The committee then took up House Bill 3045, with an amendment offered by Senator Reinhart. The amendment would allow certain fire departments, rural fire districts, and fire protection districts in municipalities under 200,000 population to recover accident response fees, while preventing those fees from going into general revenue or funding non-fire services. Reinhart explained the bill was intended to address fire departments’ ability to recover costs while limiting the impact on the state’s two largest cities. Senator Brooks questioned why the exemption would apply only to the largest municipalities, and Reinhart responded that Tulsa and Oklahoma City would see the greatest fiscal impact and that rural departments lacked comparable revenue sources. Senator Murdoch raised a point that the bill had an unescorted fiscal impact on municipalities and asked for a ruling under the Municipal Fiscal Impact Act. The chair took the matter under advisement and, at the sponsor’s request, laid the bill over rather than proceeding further. The meeting concluded with members offering extended personal remarks thanking the chair and vice chair for their leadership and service, and the chair adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• applicants, with a moving state and federal regulatory environment, in a fear-based process that has no feedback

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused primarily on two local measures: Senate Bill 3026 concerning voting procedures for a proposed six-town regional school district, and House Bill 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year moratorium on large-scale solar development. Committee members reminded speakers of testimony limits and remote participation rules, then took testimony from local officials, residents, and advocates. On S. 3026, supporters from the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board and local boards said the bill would create a fairer, equal voting process across all six towns for a major regional school district decision. They argued the measure would expand voter access, address concerns about unequal polling opportunities, and help communities respond to declining enrollment and financial pressures affecting school sustainability. Testifiers thanked the bill’s sponsors and urged the committee to advance it. On H. 5294, Worthington officials and residents strongly supported the moratorium, saying it was not anti-solar but a needed planning pause for a small rural town facing industrial-scale solar and battery proposals. Witnesses cited limited municipal staff, volunteer fire and health services, water-supply and groundwater concerns, wildfire risk, decommissioning and oversight costs, land-use and ecological impacts, and the strain on rural communities from state energy mandates. Several speakers said the town needed time to develop zoning and safety regulations before projects moved forward, and they asked the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed testimony after the final speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• question, and since that's part of the amendments that were just put in the analysis, I'm getting that feedback

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard SB 1094 by Senator Weber Pearson, which would expand pharmacist and health plan authority to substitute biosimilars for reference biologic drugs in order to lower prescription drug costs. The author and supporters, including Blue Shield of California, Sharp HealthCare, and several business and health groups, argued that biologics are a major driver of rising health care spending and that biosimilars can provide substantial savings while maintaining safety and efficacy. The bill also included transparency provisions and committee amendments, including notice requirements and clarifications around substitution and exceptions. Opposition came from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the California Rheumatology Alliance, and Biocom, who said the bill was not scientifically justified, could undermine FDA standards, and might lead to unwanted switching, side effects, or delays in care for patients with chronic conditions. They emphasized that pharmacists can already substitute interchangeable biosimilars and that non-interchangeable products can be changed with prescriber contact. Committee discussion focused on patient safety, the meaning of “do not substitute,” the 30-day notice provisions, and the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. After debate, the committee adopted a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Health Committee. The bill passed the committee on a 10-0 roll call vote and was sent onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We got feedback from quite a few different stakeholders, including some local fire departments and building

Summary: The House Business Committee met with a quorum, approved the February 25 minutes, and removed House Bill 881 from the agenda, leaving House Bill 706 as the only item for consideration. The bill, presented by Senator Ali Robbie, would allow local governments to permit single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories with a range of safety requirements, including NFPA 13 sprinklers, fire-rated stair enclosures, smoke detection, egress features, and limits on building size and unit count. Robbie argued the measure could reduce construction costs, help smaller infill projects pencil, and expand housing supply, while noting that pressurization was not included because of added cost and lack of consensus. Public testimony was split. The Professional Firefighters of Idaho and Boise Fire Marshal Mike Bazanio, speaking for the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association, opposed the bill, arguing that a second stairway is a critical life-safety feature and that a single stair creates a single point of failure for occupants and firefighters. They said they were not persuaded by the cited research and emphasized concerns about smoke, evacuation, and firefighter access. Supporters, including a Boise resident, a housing advocate, and an architect, said modern single-stair buildings with strong sprinkler and fire-safety standards have a good safety record, would improve affordability, and would give cities more flexibility to build smaller, more efficient housing types. In closing, Robbie said the bill had been negotiated with fire officials, building code officials, and architects, and that the main unresolved issue was stair pressurization. After debate, Representative Razor moved HB 706 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Representative Crane opposed the bill, while Representative Harris said he would support it because local control would limit adoption to cities able to handle the buildings. The committee approved the motion on a 14-4 roll call vote, and HB 706 was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• a little more time to look at that with our board members, but we could definitely provide that feedback

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee heard three House bills. House Bill 734, presented by Rep. Ben Furman, would change how wind and geothermal tax revenues are distributed to school districts that do not have supplemental levies, using the county levy rate instead. Furman said the bill closes an unintended loophole and does not change total revenue or affect solar. After brief questions, the committee voted to send HB 734 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 670, presented by Rep. Monks, would clarify last year’s urban renewal law regarding whether fire protection and ambulance districts may withdraw from existing or new urban renewal districts when there are no outstanding bonds or contractual obligations funded by district revenues. Monks said the bill is meant to reflect legislative intent and address ongoing litigation. Testimony from the Association of Idaho Cities, the Redevelopment Association of Idaho, and Garden City Urban Renewal Agency opposed the bill, arguing it could increase ambiguity and litigation and that the courts should resolve the current disputes first. The committee voted to send HB 670 to the 14th order for possible amendment. House Bill 658, also presented by Rep. Birch, would create a process for county commissioners to fill vacancies on cemetery maintenance district boards when a quorum is lost, and would allow counties to handle temporary district functions until a board is restored. Birch said the bill responds to a cemetery district board vacancy problem and has support from local government associations. The committee asked a few light questions and then passed HB 658 to the floor with a due pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• How would they know, how would we know, feedback and that their studies and their findings?

Summary: The meeting was a caucus review of a long list of bills on Minority Caucus Calendars 8 and 9, with members briefly noting whether measures were unanimous, on consent, or had split votes. Topics included appropriations for homeless veteran shelter services (HB 2620), the Veterans Court Program grant fund (HB 2960), municipal improvement districts (HB 4064), a memorial measure (HB 2079), child care grants (HB 2239), midwife medication administration and advisory committee changes (HB 2251), home and community-based service provider funding (HB 2403), EMS reciprocity (HB 2437), prescription monitoring (HB 2434), electronic monitoring in health care facilities (HB 2914), pregnancy resource center funding and restrictions (HB 2229), limits on police transport of mental health patients (HB 2404), Access coverage for mild obstructive sleep apnea treatment (HB 2726), school district spending and teacher pay requirements referred to the ballot (HCR 2007), mobile home park operator training (HB 2199), local government investment pool oversight (HB 2344), task order contract website posting (HB 2445), tourism improvement areas (HB 2950), ambulance certificate reporting (HB 2402), short-term rental occupancy rules (HB 2429), ASRS retirement rules for elected officials (HB 2505), trespass penalties after eviction (HB 2047), post-nuptial agreement enforcement (HB 2861), civil rights board continuation (HB 2931), and utility replacement plant siting (HB 2389). Members also discussed child welfare and family law bills on Calendar 9, including kinship foster placement (HB 2035), neglect standards based on financial resources (HB 2041), family court evidence (HB 2968), DCS response to abuse reports (HB 4004), prostate cancer insurance cost-sharing (HB 2617), mental health hearing technology (SB 1242), optometrist prescriptions (SB 1023), behavior analyst regulation (SB 1145), assisted living occupants (SB 1247), manufactured home installer licensing and fingerprinting (HB 2868), supervised parenting time (HB 2615), unlawful entry involving vulnerable adults (HB 4136), uranium contamination monitoring funding (HB 2889), a gas and petroleum refinery study committee (HB 4025), and veteran state park fee exemptions (HB 2165). Several members raised policy concerns on bills involving privacy, rural transportation capacity, environmental review, pregnancy centers, and funding priorities, while others noted support or that amendments had addressed earlier issues. No formal roll-call votes were taken in the transcript itself; the chair mainly recorded whether bills were unanimous, consent, or split and whether any should be taken off consent or discussed further. The meeting ended with announcements about an upcoming CAP breakfast, a Latino Caucus meeting, and an Affordability Award presented to Representative Volk before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to say here this afternoon is I don't want this bill to lose its identity, but I do welcome feedback

Bills: SB1288, SB1705, SB1878, SB2019, SB2118

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard several bills related to local government finance, liability, bail, and jail operations. Senate Bill 1288, by Senator Gillespie, would require the state and political subdivisions to equally share FEMA-related matching costs for federally declared disasters; supporters said it would codify long-standing practice and provide certainty for local governments, with an estimated fiscal impact of just under $4.9 million. After questions about future appropriations and delayed reimbursements, the bill advanced on a 9-0 vote. Senate Bill 2019, by Senator Logan, would create a political subdivision liability insurance guarantee program and fund to help local governments and shared insurance pools manage large federal civil rights judgments. Members questioned the bill’s scope and whether it applied to catastrophic events or civil rights cases; the author said it was intended to spread the burden of large judgments over time and reduce pressure on property taxpayers. The committee adopted a title-off motion and advanced the bill 7-2. Chair Hamilton presented Senate Bills 1705, 1878, and 2118. SB 1705 would bar nonprofits from bailing people out of jail if they receive public funds, with supporters citing public safety and opponents raising concerns about impacts on nonprofit and church-based assistance; it passed 7-2. SB 1878 would establish a uniform bail schedule, limit personal recognizance release for certain repeat or higher-risk offenders, and require court approval to lower certain bonds; it also passed 7-2. SB 2118 would clarify how county sheriffs may use commissary funds for jail-related purposes such as training, equipment, inmate care, and operations; it passed 7-2. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Truthfully, I understand the concerns, appreciate the feedback with that.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Truthfully, I understand the concerns and appreciate the feedback.

Summary: The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education met after an extended recess and first laid over House Bills 3244, 4146, 4158, and later 3718 for a future hearing. The committee also noted that its Wednesday meeting would be held at 4:30 p.m. in Room 4S5. Several bills were then heard and advanced, with PCS substitutes adopted without objection where noted. House Bill 4478, by Rep. Deck, raised the student activity fund deposit threshold from $100 to $500 and required all such deposits to be made by the end of the business week; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3671, by Rep. Provenzano, allowed experienced teachers to carry career teacher status to a new district for evaluation purposes only, not for contract or tenure decisions; after a question about tenure, it passed 7-0. House Bill 3051, by Rep. Stewart, streamlined and modernized the Tulsa Reconciliation Scholarship to make it easier for eligible students to access while preserving the program’s historic purpose; it passed 6-1. House Bill 3671 also drew questions about whether the bill would affect tenure, and the author said it would not. House Bill 3051 prompted questions about eligibility and whether there was any ranking system; the author said the scholarship remained equally available under current law. House Bill 3710, by Rep. Pogemiller, created a bipartisan district realignment commission to study school-district consolidation or reorganization every 10 years, considering financial efficiency, academic outcomes, enrollment, location, and proximity to other schools; supporters argued it would start a needed conversation about district structure and administrative costs, while opponents raised concerns about forced consolidation and local control. After extensive debate, it passed 5-4.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members of the committee, for your feedback.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first temporarily postponed SB 920 on mathematics education. The committee then took up SB 1216, which would revise public school personnel compensation rules to give districts more flexibility in using cost-of-living adjustments, recognizing advanced degrees, and adjusting performance pay limits for educators and other school personnel. Senator Rodriguez said the bill would add tools for recruitment and retention without replacing performance pay, and several members spoke in strong support, emphasizing teacher pay, retention, and the need to invest in education. The bill was reported favorably after roll call. The committee next considered SB 1036 on school counselors. Senator Claudio explained that the bill addresses counselor shortages by removing a barrier tied to classroom-teacher certification requirements, which she said limits the applicant pool and makes it harder to recruit and retain counselors. Public testimony strongly supported the bill, including students and school personnel who described high counselor-to-student ratios, limited access to counseling, and the importance of mental health and academic guidance. Members also discussed related support roles such as BRACE advisors and the need for more efficient use of district resources and state support. During debate, senators shared personal examples of how counselors can help students identify goals and access opportunities, while also noting that many counselors are overwhelmed by administrative duties and large caseloads. Senator Claudio closed by saying the bill removes barriers for direct-service professionals and could be paired with future efforts on ratios and streamlined services. CS for SB 1036 was reported favorably by roll call. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on SB 1216, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members of the committee, for your feedback.

Bills: S0920, S1036, S1216

Keywords: mathematics education, career pathways, applied algebra, college readiness, technical education, school counselors, educational standards, certification requirements, evaluation criteria, professional development, public school personnel, salary adjustment, performance salary schedule, cost-of-living adjustment, school administration

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and first temporarily postponed SB 920 on mathematics education. The committee then took up SB 1216 on public school personnel compensation, sponsored by Senator Rodriguez, which would give districts more flexibility in educator pay by restoring meaningful cost-of-living adjustments for teachers with direct student contact, allowing recognition of relevant advanced degrees, and removing rigid performance-pay caps. Several senators spoke in support, emphasizing teacher retention, compensation, and education as a state investment. The bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. After a brief recess, the committee considered CS/SB 1036 on school counselors, sponsored by Senator Calatayud, to address counselor shortages by removing certification barriers tied to classroom teacher requirements. The sponsor and supporting testimony described recruitment and retention problems, high counselor-to-student ratios, and the need for counselors to focus on student academics, mental health, and college/career readiness rather than administrative duties. Public testimony came from students, educators, and school personnel who described limited access to counselors and the impact on student well-being and college planning. Committee members broadly supported the bill while noting that counselors are often overburdened and that additional support personnel, including BRACE advisors, may also need attention in the future. Senators also discussed broader efficiency measures and the need for schools and colleges to improve access to guidance services. CS/SB 1036 was reported favorably by unanimous vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on the two bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also welcome both the members of this committee and hopefully future committees any and all feedback

Bills: S0530, S0658, S0608, S1708, S0680, S0980, S0204

Keywords: Florida lottery, state lottery, lottery tickets, lottery retailer, Department of the Lottery, Division of Security, ball machine, lottery vending machine, instant tickets, online lottery tickets, major procurement, vendor disclosure, performance bond, retailer bond, security report, counterfeit ticket, altered ticket, false claim, ticket theft, fraud

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries considered and reported several bills. SB 530 on state lotteries was presented with two technical amendments adopted, including changes to lottery department contracting language and machine-purchase flexibility; the committee then reported the bill favorably. SB 204, which increases penalties for illegal slot machine operations to a third-degree felony and creates a declaratory-statement process for veteran service organizations to confirm machine legality, drew support from gaming interests and some soft opposition from a veterans group concerned about implementation; it was also reported favorably. The committee then took up a proposed committee substitute combining SB 658 and SB 608 on water safety requirements for rental and vacation properties. The combined bill would require certain rental properties near water bodies or with pools to install specified alarms, locks, fences, covers, or similar safety devices, with enforcement through DBPR and a grace period for correcting some violations. Senators emphasized the bill as a response to child drowning deaths, including those involving autistic children, and the PCS was reported favorably. SB 980, as a delete-everything amendment, would create the Florida Agegate Act to restrict advertising, promotion, and display of non-FDA-approved nicotine devices in areas accessible to those under 21, with penalties and inspection authority; after questions about counterfeit products and enforcement, it was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1708, which removes a three-year out-of-state practice requirement for veterinary licensure by endorsement while keeping other competency requirements, and SB 680, as amended, which creates a sales tax exemption for electricity sold to EV charging station operators and transferred to consumers, subject to metering and affidavit requirements. Several members recorded votes after the roll calls, and the meeting ended with an invitation to return later for another bill before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And specific to that, one of the biggest things that we get feedback on is that we create our own burdensome

Summary: The Senate Committee on Human Services met on January 12, 2026, beginning without a quorum but hearing four bills. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with the federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, multi-generational role. Supporters from the Child Abuse Prevention Center and California Family Resource Association said the change would clarify state law and help position California for future federal partnerships; no opposition was heard. SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon would correct a prior CEQA exemption for child care facilities so it applies in residential as well as nonresidential areas. Supporters, including Napa County Supervisor Liz Alessio and the Rural County Representatives of California, said the current language unintentionally blocks child care projects in places families need them most and has been used to delay or stop projects; several local government and early care organizations also supported the bill, and there was no opposition. SB 837 by Senator Gomez-Reyes would require aging and disability resource connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Testimony from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers emphasized recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation and preparedness support; no opposition was presented. SB 479 by Senator Arreguín would allow the cities of Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use multidisciplinary homeless response teams and share specified information across teams and departments, similar to counties under existing law. Supporters said the bill would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while noting confidentiality safeguards already exist; a privacy letter from Oakland Privacy was mentioned, but no formal opposition testified. After quorum was established, the committee voted 5-0 to pass each bill: SB 299 to Senate Environmental Quality, SB 557 and SB 837 to Senate Appropriations, and SB 479 to Senate Judiciary. All four measures were placed on call briefly and then cleared with unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And specific to that, one of the biggest things that we get feedback on is that we create our own burdensome

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Human Services met on January 12, 2026, and began hearing bills before a quorum was established. SB 557 by Senator Hurtado would update California’s statutory definition of family resource centers to align with a federal definition and reflect their prevention-focused, low- or no-cost, multi-generational role. The bill was supported by the Child Abuse Prevention Center and the California Family Resource Association, which said the change would help California better position itself for future federal partnerships and funding. No opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 299 by Senator Cabaldon, which would correct a prior CEQA childcare exemption so it applies to childcare centers in residential zones as well as nonresidential ones. Supporters, including Napa County Supervisor Liz Alessio and Rural County Representatives of California, said the current language has allowed CEQA to be used to block needed childcare projects, including a Napa church-site conversion, and that the bill would help expand access to childcare. The committee chair noted similar unintended CEQA barriers in other communities. No opposition was presented. SB 837 by Senator Gomez Reyes would require Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Supporters from the California Commission on Aging and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers tied the bill to deaths in the Palisades, Eaton, Tubbs, and Camp fires and argued that current emergency systems fail people with access and functional needs. SB 479, presented by Senator Arreguín, would allow Berkeley, Pasadena, and Long Beach, as local health jurisdictions, to use the same multidisciplinary homelessness response information-sharing authority already available to counties. Supporters said the change would improve coordination and outcomes for unsheltered residents, while a privacy group had raised amendment concerns. After quorum was reached, all four bills were approved on 5-0 votes and sent onward: SB 299 to Senate Environmental Quality, SB 557 and SB 837 to Senate Appropriations, and SB 479 to Senate Judiciary.

Transcript Highlights:

• Has there been any discussion or any thought, or I'd just like to kind of get your feedback on if it's

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met for its first meeting of the session, took roll, and heard a presentation from Ken Plant of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on SB 108, the 2025 law overhauling Florida rulemaking. The presentation focused on new deadlines for agencies to begin and publish rules, limits on automatic sunset provisions, changes to emergency rule procedures, expanded public input on statements of estimated regulatory costs, a five-year review cycle for existing rules, and new licensing-reporting requirements. Members asked about the review timeline and emphasized the need to keep agencies accountable for meeting the new requirements. The committee then reviewed the Department of Management Services’ response to Auditor General Report 2025-1096 on fleet management. DMS said the audit found 10 issues, most of which it believes it has addressed, and described the statewide fleet system as tracking about 27,000 assets with limited staff. DMS highlighted two major improvement ideas that would require funding: an enterprise telematics system to automate vehicle data and improve tracking, and centralized fleet procurement to reduce duplication and save money. Members questioned the status of FleetWave implementation, missing vehicle records, integration with other state systems, and access controls for separated employees. DMS explained that FleetWave is fully implemented but still relies on manual data entry, that discrepancies with the state accounting system largely reflect mismatched or inconsistent entries, and that policies and procedures were updated after the audit. The department said it now works more closely with People First to deactivate access when employees leave. After discussion, no further business was raised, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it gets overexplained, but the point is that I'm trying to make is there was no public feedback

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to lay out House Bill 4, the House companion to Senate Bill 4, and no public testimony was taken at this hearing. Senator King explained that HB 4 was based on the House’s revised congressional map, which he said made only minor changes from SB 4 while aiming to comply with law, improve Republican political performance, and keep districts compact. He noted changes affecting several districts, including moving Fort Bliss into CD 16, placing all of Navarro County into CD 6, and moving Liberty County into CD 9, and said counsel had reviewed the map and found it legally compliant. Several senators criticized the process and the substance of the map. Senators Alvarado, Miles, and Hinojosa objected that the House substitute had not been subject to a public hearing and argued that communities in Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas were being split or paired with unrelated areas. They also questioned the compactness of the districts and raised concerns about racial effects, including changes in Black voting-age population in CD 9 and CD 18. Senator King responded that the committee had already heard extensive testimony on redistricting, that the Senate was following its usual companion-bill process, and that he had not relied on racial data but on historical voting patterns and legal review. After debate, Senator Parker moved to report HB 4 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be ordered not printed. The committee approved the motion by a 5-3 vote, with one absent, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• that participated in this board and of course they talked to their areas within the city to get feedback

Transcript Highlights:

• which should always be met and informed through the second lens, which are the experiences and the feedback

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met to consider several bills and the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. SB 1310, relating to reporting of student mental health outcomes, was temporarily postponed. The committee then took up SB 1354 on behavioral health managing entities, adopted a delete-all amendment, and heard support for the bill’s focus on transparency, accountability, audits, referral patterns, and a DCF report due by December 1. Members discussed the capacity of the current reporting system and the need for coordination with school districts. The committee voted the bill favorably. The committee next considered SB 1620 on mental health and substance abuse disorders, which implements selected recommendations from the 2025 Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. The bill, as amended, includes reforms on dignity and patient-centered care, crisis response, individualized treatment plans, use of the DLA-20 assessment tool, data analysis by the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, and creation of a research center. Amendments removed a direct medication-provision requirement in favor of a review and report on discharge procedures, medication adherence, and long-acting injectables, and clarified licensure priorities for short-term residential treatment programs. Testimony and debate emphasized the need for action, better data, and efficient use of public funds. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard from Taylor Hatch, the Governor’s appointee to lead DCF. Hatch described her background in state government and her priorities for DCF, including coordination, transparency, prevention, permanency, and responsiveness to vulnerable Floridians. Several members spoke in support, citing her experience at APD and familiarity with the agency’s work. The committee voted unanimously to recommend her confirmation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• have worked with a county tax assessor and with urban county administrators to incorporate their feedback

Bills: HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR2, HJR4, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34, HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34

Keywords: school district, ad valorem tax, local revenue, tax collection, education funding, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure, Texas-Mexico border, ad valorem taxation, farm products, livestock, timber, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment