Transcript Highlights:

• With this exemption, Texas can enhance the quality of life and economic security of both the providers
• In my work, I... support self-advocates and families in sharing their lived experiences at the Capitol
• qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, but there's no doubt. out in my mind that her son's future is more secure

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• from Warner University, along with their instructor, Justin Sharpless, is visiting us here in the Capitol
• We use them for audit services, custodial, legal, advertising, security, scientific research and analysis
• According to the Social Security Administration, the average wage index that they published during that

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on higher education funding, focusing on how Florida’s university system should be financed and whether a new funding model is needed. University system financial officers and Chancellor Ray Rodriguez discussed major cost drivers, including wages and benefits, utilities, maintenance, financial aid, research, and the effects of geography, institutional mission, and student mix. UF highlighted the cost of research and graduate programs; UCF and FAU pointed to growth, location, and cost of living; FAMU emphasized recruiting top-tier talent while relying on other revenue sources; and UNF noted the challenges of growth and long-term planning. Members also discussed the role of internal controls and audits in addressing excessive spending and questioned whether out-of-state tuition should be adjusted to help offset costs. On revenue sources beyond state appropriations and tuition, the panel described auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. Several universities noted that some revenues are restricted to specific purposes and cannot be used for general operations. FAMU explained that a large share of its capital project funding reflected active campus construction, while UF said its component-unit revenue is largely tied to UF Health. The Chancellor emphasized that the system’s low tuition and strong state support are central to Florida’s national standing, but also noted that some auxiliary revenues are pledged to debt and must be managed carefully. When discussing the current funding process, witnesses praised Florida’s performance-based funding model for aligning incentives with student success, transparency, and accountability. They also raised concerns about non-recurring appropriations, rising employee benefit costs, unfunded mandates, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of multi-year planning. Suggestions for improvement included more recurring funding, better coverage of mandated costs, greater flexibility in fee-setting, and possible weighting for mission, geography, and institutional type. The Chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a “version 3.0” of performance-based funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications, but any changes would require legislative action. On out-of-state tuition, most universities said they would prefer local board flexibility, while the Chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or fees could affect future state support and should be balanced carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Colorado Day at the Capitol. of Colorado Day at the Capitol.
• We've hosted their national championship sports team several times here at the Capitol, and their hockey
• This year, the Colorado State Capitol This year, the Colorado State Capitol will raise a flag in observance
• Please, if you want to come join the governor on a walk around the Capitol.
• If you would like to walk around the Capitol with the governor, I will...

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Leader Berman, and Senator Polsky and I, we represent Palm Beach County, and they've invaded the Capitol
• And so they've been meeting throughout the Capitol today.
• leaders, local elected officials, and community stakeholders to celebrate Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol
• Bruzo, and county staff, and all of the Palm Beach County business and community leaders here at the Capitol
• So I want to welcome them to the Capitol. Welcome to the Florida Senate. Any other announcements?

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 executive appointments. After explanation by Ethics and Elections Chair Don Gates, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties losing population, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care measures. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health provisions in light of a new federal rural health grant and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties spoke in support, while also asking about eligibility and access to grant funds. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General concerns by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision for later conforming legislation and changes to enrollment documentation and withdrawal procedures. Senators from both parties supported the bill while raising concerns about accountability, student oversight, and school quality. The bill passed 38-0. Afterward, the Senate waived rules so SB 250 and CS/SB 318 could be immediately certified to the House. The session ended with announcements, including Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and a reminder about the chamber group photograph, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leader Berman, and Senator Polsky and I, we represent Palm Beach County, and they've invaded the Capitol
• And so they've been meeting throughout the Capitol today.
• leaders, local elected officials, and community stakeholders to celebrate Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol
• Bruzo, and county staff, and all of the Palm Beach County business and community leaders here at the Capitol
• So I want to welcome them to the Capitol. Welcome to the Florida Senate. Any other announcements?

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer, pledge, doctor-of-the-day introduction, and several recognitions, including a Founders’ Day tribute to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a welcome to a nationally ranked student debater in the gallery. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 gubernatorial executive appointments; after explanation by the Ethics and Elections chair, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program, housing and transportation investments, education funding, and rural health care improvements. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health-care provisions in light of new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding amounts. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing the bill’s focus on rural infrastructure, health care access, and local flexibility. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates explained that the bill responds to Auditor General concerns by separating scholarship funding from public-school funding, tightening enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees, requiring student identification numbers, improving reimbursement processes, and directing the Department of Education to develop a business plan for scholarship funding organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision from the bill, with that issue expected to move elsewhere. Senators discussed transparency, accountability, and protections against overpayments and unverified enrollments, while also noting the need to preserve support for school districts. The bill passed 38-0. After both bills passed, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House. The chamber also heard announcements recognizing Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and scheduled a group photograph for the following Thursday before adjourning until January 22 or upon the President’s call.

Transcript Highlights:

• bringing great energy and just good, excellent work to the people of Hawaii and here at the State Capitol
• Sarah Millie, who is the El Lima Intermediate School teacher, who, with her students, came to the Capitol
• teacher, who with her students came<00:17:42.559> to<00:17:42.799> the<00:17:42.960> capitol
• for<00:17:43.840> three<00:17:44.080> years<00:17:44.480> in came to the capitol
• for three years in came to the capitol for three years in 2020,<00:17:46.160> 2021,<00:17:47.120

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because, as a fireman or a cop, you know once that scene is either secured or the fire has been extinguished
• Calendar 447, Senate Print 2051, Senator Webb, an act to amend the Capitollic Beverage Control Law.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the prior journal and took up motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris moved to reconsider and restore Senate Print 3179A, an Environmental Conservation Law bill, to the third reading calendar, and amendments were also received on Senate Print 8491. The chamber then considered and adopted Resolution 1716, designating March 2026 as Greek History Month in New York, with remarks from several senators about Greek heritage, Greek independence, immigration, and the contributions of Greek Americans. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1607, proclaiming March 2026 as American Red Cross Month, with extensive testimony praising Red Cross disaster relief, blood donation, preparedness work, and volunteers; several senators highlighted local volunteers and urged greater support for the organization, including budget resources. The Senate welcomed guests, including Red Cross representatives and students from Brooklyn, and later opened the resolutions for co-sponsorship. The chamber then moved through the calendar and passed multiple bills, including measures affecting mental hygiene, elder law, penal law, public authorities, labor, public service, correction, education, election law, alcoholic beverage control, and state administrative procedure. Most bills passed by wide margins, though some drew recorded opposition, including the public authorities bill and several election, public service, and correction measures. Senator Ramos explained her support for the labor bill as a workplace dignity and anti-bullying measure, and Senator Ryan explained his support for the small-business regulatory website bill as a way to simplify access to agency rules and guidance. Senator Skoufis’s Public Health Law bill was also recalled from the Assembly, restored to the third reading calendar, and amended. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• because they're not able to yet raise their head completely to breathe, you can give a false sense of security
• I'm like anything that I've seen and 40 years of child advocacy up here at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• County Day or, you know, something like that, a lobby event that those sorts of events are not at the Capitol
• Um, I've got an insurance agency, I've got a securities exchange, uh, a personal financial advisor as

Transcript Highlights:

• them to the law enforcement agency that's looking to hire your former employee through the TCOLE secure
• Welcome back to the Capitol in this role, and introduce yourself. Go ahead. Yes, sir.

Bills: SB7, SB14, SB 7, SB 14

Keywords: gender designation, civil penalties, private civil rights, multiple-occupancy spaces, Texas Women's Privacy Act, law enforcement, confidentiality, personnel files, employee records, misconduct, abortion, civil liability, abortion-inducing drugs, qui tam actions, Texas Citizens Participation Act, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, healthcare regulations, impact fees, water conservation, reuse projects

Transcript Highlights:

• consent calendar, and if your staff is watching this, please make your way to Room 126 in the State Capitol
• So SB 551 formally codifies the principles of normalization and dynamic security to foster a safer rehabilitative

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee met and adopted a consent calendar that included SB 4, SB 229, SB 385, SB 459, and SB 553. SB 221 was pulled by the committee and will return later. The committee then heard several bills, with members repeatedly noting the next hearing would be July 1 in Room 126. SB 281 by Senator Perez would require judges to use the exact statutory immigration-consequences advisement when taking pleas from noncitizen defendants. Supporters said judges have been deviating from the required language, creating confusion and harming defendants; opponents, including district attorneys, warned that the bill could affect plea withdrawals and appellate litigation unless amended. The committee discussed possible amendments, including a nonretroactivity clarification and language proposed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the bill was passed on call. SB 337 by Senator Menjivar would strengthen protections against sexual abuse and misconduct in prisons, especially women’s prisons, by requiring documentation of searches, extending grievance timelines, limiting hiring of people with violent or sexual convictions, and improving investigation procedures. Supporters emphasized staff abuse, retaliation concerns, and the need for oversight; opposition testimony focused on transgender inmate placement and was criticized by committee members as not germane. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. SB 379 by Senator Jones, dealing with oversight of sexually violent predator conditional release placements, passed to Appropriations after support from law enforcement and prosecutors and no opposition. SB 734 by Senator Caballero, which would provide due process protections for law enforcement officers affected by California Racial Justice Act findings, also passed to Appropriations with support from police and district attorney groups and no opposition. SB 551 by Senator Cortese, which would codify normalization and dynamic security principles in corrections, passed to Appropriations despite concerns from one member that it went too far in making prisons too home-like.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, sustainable aviation fuel is one of the specific examples of buyers interested in securing
• To the Capitol, I had the good fortune of serving on the then Energy and Climate Committee.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• putting all these things together, ensuring shorelines remain strong, communities safe, and our economy secure
• I wanted to take this time because it is FSU Day at the Capitol, the best day of session, so I want to

Bills: SCR5, SCR13, SB3, SB6, SB10, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB18, SB19, SB24, SB35, SB57, SB65, SB112, SB284, SB290, SB388, SB400, SB402, SB412, SB495, SB499, SB502, SB509, SB621, SB706, SB740, SB815, SB842, SB854, SB875, SB893, SB917, SB974, SB1025, SB1061, SB1073, SB1106, SB1268, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1379, SB1447, SB1451, SB1555, SB1902, SJR36, SJR12, SCR13, SCR25, SCR5, SCR22, SCR12, SCR24, SB495, SB412, SB10, SB18, SB565, SB372, SB842, SB765, SB62, SB19, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB290, SB13, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB917, SB925, SB388, SB1902, SB1121, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB35, SB6, SB815, SB3, SB1281, SB1379, SB1300, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB1451, SB1061, SB15, SB65, SB241, SB304, SB402, SB499, SB621, SB974, SB1023, SB1024, SB1025, SB1106, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB400, SB609, SB1447, SB670, SB502, SB427, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1555, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB893, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB509, SB985, SB965, SB17, SB1119, SB1505, SB12, SB24, SB57, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1268, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB840, SJR57, SCR8, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB610, SB918, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB535, SB761, SB1, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB3, SB6, SB15, SB35, SB290, SB706, SB842, SB917, SB1281, SB1451, SB1902, SB12, SB13, SB17, SB19, SB388, SR261, SR265, SR276, SR277, SR281, SR286, SR293, SCR5, SCR13, SB2425, SB2880, SB10, SB12, SB13, SB17, SB18, SB19, SB388, SB412, SB495, SB2425, SB2880

Keywords: SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming, education K-16, State Affairs, Texas Legislature, public school tribute, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• 28.399> I<00:10:28.519> called<00:10:28.800> the In January 1997, I called the Capitol
• I've learned to advocate for myself to get the medical treatment I needed and to file for Social Security

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The prayer will be offered by guest chaplain, Reverend Rachel Landers Vognes, Capitol Hill Presbyterian
• Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington,<00:06:16.360> D.C.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ADA chairlift study here at the Capitol project is complete. This was a study only.
• Any other comments on the Capitol Commission? Just a question, please. Council Commission?
• content creation processes and ensuring that visitors will be able to use the tool to navigate the Capitol

Summary: The commission heard updates on several Capitol accessibility and planning projects. A study of the ADA chairlifts at the Capitol was completed, and the consultant recommended replacing the lifts in the legislative library, House chamber, and Senate chamber because of compliance and functional issues. Preliminary cost estimates were about $400,000, with design expected to take a few months and construction another month or two. Members asked whether the replacement would fit into the broader capital master plan, and staff said the locations appear unlikely to be heavily affected, but that would be confirmed during design. The group also discussed the updated capital master plan and the pending owner’s representative procurement. The Office of Administration has the RFQ prepared, but it will not be released until budget authority is available; the commission had previously approved moving forward subject to appropriations, and members noted that delays will increase costs. Staff said they are waiting on the FY26 budget before proceeding. An update was given on the Governor’s Council on Disability’s digital wayfinding project. The team is working on the technical architecture, content process, and governance framework, and at this stage the commission is only expected to approve signage rather than fund the project. Members raised questions about long-term maintenance, software updates, and responsibility for ongoing costs, and staff said those details are still being worked out. The commission also emphasized that House and Senate leadership and administrative staff should be shown the proposed signs before implementation. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:35.199> We<00:14:35.440> support secure, and well-maintained.
• We support secure, and well-maintained.
• owners are installing 24-hour security owners are installing 24-hour security just<00:15:10.000>
• <00:16:16.639> housing 3809 to ensure safe and secure housing for residents, workers, and
• I came from working at a city before I came to the Capitol, and we saw it with our library workers.

Bills: HF3600, HF3809, HF3608

Keywords: housing, community land trusts, competitive development, development programs, Minnesota, HF3809, Minnesota eviction law, landlord-tenant, residential lease, minor child, children in eviction, eviction complaint, defendant prohibition, expedited eviction, expedited hearing, summary eviction, tenant protections, housing policy, civil penalty, nonwaivable lease terms

Transcript Highlights:

• for me to take my Social Security for me to take my Social Security early." early." early."
• our children and national security. our children and national security.
• values, but also our national security. values, but also our national security.
• of security. But let me be very clear. of security. But let me be very clear.
• We just stopped having children. spending is social security. It's spending is social security.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• group of people around the this capitol group of people around the this capitol building<01:33:12.159
• an additional 11 state troopers for capital security.
• uh that we looked at in the security uh that we looked at in the security piece<01:48:01.760>
• The concern is to for capital security.
• <01:55:59.520> uh included in the safety and security uh included in the safety and security

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The security of their infrastructure needs to be protected. Their costs need to be recovered.
• Provisions for financial security that, that, uh, uh, assures providers that will remove their attachments
• spent nearly 3 years as a PUC commissioner with significant time working inside and outside of the Capitol
• No landman out front trying to secure rightways and easements, uh, companies and contractors taking it
• Associated with putting in that pole and maintaining that pole and and maintaining security.