Transcript Highlights:

• This funding is currently greatly delayed.
• So that funding... ...have not received any funding.
• So our foreign representatives are funded by federal funds and state funds.
• funds.
• The funding, as you know, was reduced.

Bills: SB5871 , SB5919

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: motor vehicle, glass repair, insurance claims, consumer protection, regulations, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures

Transcript Highlights:

• With the federal funding uncertainty, With the federal funding uncertainty that's looming, I also just
• We receive transfers from Bridgewater State Hospital.
• amount of expansion funds.
• So that's funded through House 1.
• , that funds CHIA.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those optical links, or I just like to call them space lasers, are for data transfer between satellites
• . ...for data transfer between satellites, and then propulsion systems for maneuvering, which is very
• It's just kind of a momentum transfer or kind of bent-pipe system. Good. You good?
• It'll be good for everything, and the environment, the funding that people put into their satellites.
• So it's so it's... ...with less funding from the feds and say, hey, we know how to do it here.

Summary: The committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard a series of presentations focused on Florida’s space and aerospace industry. Blue Origin’s Anna Spencer described the company’s Florida operations at Rocket Park, including New Glenn manufacturing and launch activities, Blue Moon lunar lander work, workforce development, and recent booster recovery and launch milestones. Amazon’s Beth Cooley presented an update on Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), outlining the satellite broadband network, customer terminals, dark skies mitigation efforts, Florida facilities and jobs, and launch plans; members asked about RV/mobile applications, satellite counts, and the role of fiber, but no action was taken. Starcatcher Industries CEO Andrew Rush then described his company’s effort to create an orbital energy grid that beams power to satellites to extend mission life and increase available power, citing demonstrations in Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace sector, citing billions in private investment, hundreds of projects in the pipeline, the leverage of state spaceport funding, workforce and university programs, and the need for additional tools and infrastructure to keep Florida competitive. He emphasized growth in launch activity, manufacturing, research, and military support infrastructure, and said Space Florida would bring forward legislative proposals. Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro delivered the strongest policy message of the meeting, warning that KSC’s aging infrastructure and relatively smaller NASA budget share could cause Florida to lose aerospace leadership to states like Texas unless the state strengthens its partnership, research investment, and infrastructure support. Members questioned her about federal restrictions on commercial investment in common-use infrastructure, the need for more state-federal alignment, and how Florida can preserve its role as the launch capital of the world. After the presentations and questions, Senator Burgess moved to adjourn, there was no objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• understand the solutions lie not only in our continued support of law enforcement and more police funding
• , but in funding and growing evidence-based programs like community violence intervention that build
• But just making sure that the facilities are adequate, that we have adequate funding in the budget.
• I know last year we went a long way in providing $100 million in recurring funding.
• You basically have to demonstrate that you're... ...transfers. And you can read on there.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee met with Vice Chair Smith presiding in Chair Martin’s excused absence. After opening remarks from several senators, the committee heard a presentation from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on the state’s incentivized prisons program and related population-management efforts. Dixon said the department now operates eight incentivized prisons, which use enhanced privileges and programming for well-behaved inmates, and reported major reductions in disciplinary reports, staff assaults, inmate-on-inmate assaults, and uses of force compared with average institutions. He also described administrative management units for more disruptive inmates, short-sentence correctional institutions for those with less than a year to serve, and a reentry strategy that places inmates closer to home within 18 months of release. Dixon said Florida’s recidivism rate has fallen to about 21 percent, among the lowest in the nation, and emphasized that staffing, programming, and facility repairs remain ongoing needs. Committee members asked about access to education and workforce training, staffing levels, contraband, technology upgrades, heating and air-conditioning maintenance, and whether incentivized prisons could be expanded. Dixon said educational access is improving but remains limited by eligibility and staffing, that the incentivized facilities are at capacity, and that expansion depends on adding more administrative management unit beds. He also said the department is increasing use of technology, improving maintenance oversight, and continuing efforts to reduce contraband and improve staff recruitment and retention. Several senators praised the department’s work and urged more funding for prison infrastructure and officer pay. Public testimony largely supported the incentivized prisons model while calling for more seats, better staffing, and broader reforms. Family members of incarcerated people said the facilities were safer, more stable, and better for rehabilitation, though they asked for more programming, better treatment by staff, and clearer access to education and release-related opportunities. A Florida PBA representative emphasized that programs can only succeed with safe staffing levels and better pay and retention for correctional officers. No formal committee vote or bill action was taken, and the meeting ended after public testimony and closing remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is being difficult for us is, you know, this will take some funding to scale up and do.
• the purpose of capping the credit certifications by still expanding the fiscal risk to the general fund
• Still expanding the fiscal risk to the general fund. One follow-up question.
• the LFC scoring came back positive, or I should say, with a negative fiscal impact to the general fund
• We transfer then we pay the property tax division's costs, we transfer then, assuming there's more leftover

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• I no longer fear losing a probation officer due to our funding issues. As Dr.
• Because not only is there a funding issue, But the 254 counties in the state look very, very different
• I just want to ask, as far as transfer, I have kids that are not being picked up by teachers.
• You're talking about transferring with certifications or determinate sentences?
• How do you begin to even think about the ecosystem of funding that needs to happen?

Bills: HB1511 , HB1831 , HB1988 , HB2147 , HB2234

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• from seven different state funds and any ongoing funds that were given to the joint legislative offices
• from seven different state funds and any ongoing funds that were given to the joint legislative offices
• </c> from seven different state funds um and from seven different state funds um and any<00:02:57.840
• This is really just showing the restricted fund balance at the end of each biennium.
• And, of course, just remember the fund balance does include all of the kind of funds that are rolled

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2009, the land ownership transferred from Chevron Mining to the Navajo Code Talker Association.
• But they need to help them raise the funds.
• That was privately funded. I'm just at a loss here.
• I think it's a good direction of how we reauthorize these funds to the Cultural Affairs.
• We have to send the funds to the Cultural Affairs Department.

Transcript Highlights:

• Passed that lowered the school funding collection limit to two percent as part of a modernization of
• Where citizens got a chance to look at the deductions and the consequences and the funding strings.
• For example, they cannot cut back and reduce funding for our police and for our firefighters.
• They're funded lobbyists. And are laws against murder unfunded mandates? Should we repeal those?
• But again, federal funding. Being potentially withheld.

Bills: SB15 , SB9 , SB7 , SB1 , SB2 , SB67 , SB15 , SB9 , SB7

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM UNDERWAY THAT IS FUNDED BY A VERY GENEROUS DONOR FOR ACADEMIC FOR FAMILIES WITH
• LIVE HEALTHY FUNDING SUPPORTS THE EXPANSION OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS WITH A BROADER IMPACT ON THE STUDENT
• ADDITIONALLY, THE STUDENTS WRITE THEIR OWN GRANTS AND FUNDED $350 AND RECEIVED SIX PATENTS FOR THEIR
• LIVE HEALTHY FUNDING WILL SUPPORT EXPANSION. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE A MORE BROAD IMPACT.
• THE CENTER HAS CREATED A BLUEPRINT FOR THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND LIVE HEALTHY FUNDING.

Transcript Highlights:

• and we can also accept donor support funding.
• With initial funding from the legislature and continued funding from the Title V block grant, the initiative
• With the funding from both agencies combined, the With the funding from both agencies combined, the program
• You can see here, this is their funding for last fiscal year.
• You can see here, this is their funding for last fiscal year.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives. Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• You could dip into your savings and you could try to fund the gap every year.
• under, you're not protected by the guarantee fund.
• Four, expand funding for home hardening. Two programs already exist.
• Alabama funded 10,000 grants; 50,000 homes now meet fortified standards.
• Alabama funded 10,000 grants; 50,000 homes now meet fortified standards.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lose significant federal funds lose significant federal funds supporting<00:29:35.960><c> these<
• </c> federal Medicaid funding. federal Medicaid funding.
• </c> because of the size of unspent funds because of the size of unspent funds that<00:37:19.040><c>
• </c><00:41:22.920><c> uh</c> reflected in how the reserve funds uh reflected in how the reserve funds
• </c> general fund. general fund.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The issue is that when those transfers occurred, 10% of that revenue went to ABC for their funding for
• There's zero funds, general funds. There is $700,000 of dedicated funds and zero federal funds.
• This is a program transfer of one FTP and associated funding from the document services program to the
• This provides funding for the Bureau Chief and does not authorize a requested transfer from purchasing
• , with the remaining transferred to the general fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• “Transaction” means the transfer of ownership of a firearm from a seller to a buyer. Section 3.
• The number of firearms sold or transferred listed by make and model of the firearm.
• firearm transfers and transactions.
• Madam President, so that is the case of any transfer of any firearm today.
• I did not sell or transfer or give my legally purchased firearm to that criminal.

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered an invocation, and handled several announcements and courtesy motions, including excusing some members and relaxing the dress code. The chamber then adopted committee reports on several bills, including Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 30, and Senate Bill 43. It then moved to third reading of Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 17, the “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act.” SB 17 was read at length and explained by Senator O’Malley and co-sponsor Senator Bergman as a gun crime prevention measure aimed at dealer security, employee training, recordkeeping, reporting requirements, inspections, and a ban on future dealer sales or transfers of certain firearms and accessories, including high-capacity magazines, .50-caliber rifles and cartridges, gas-operated semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines, and machine guns. Supporters argued the bill targets the retail-to-criminal pipeline, improves accountability, and would help reduce gun trafficking and violence. Opponents argued it infringes on constitutional rights, would not stop criminals from obtaining guns, and would burden law-abiding citizens and dealers. The chamber then debated Floor Amendment No. 1 by Senator Brantley, which would have struck Section 7, the portion banning certain weapons and devices. Supporters of the amendment said Section 7 was the most constitutionally vulnerable part of the bill and would likely be litigated, while opponents said the section was central to the bill’s purpose and consistent with Second Amendment case law. The amendment failed on a roll call vote, 15-22. A second amendment by Senator Block, which would have exempted certain under-21 employees from the bill’s age restriction if they were military members, veterans, or had completed hunter safety or 4-H programs, was then taken up and debated, with supporters emphasizing military training and youth firearms education as evidence of responsibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any transfer that happens... ...the oil and gas company when it's repurposed.
• Any transfer that happens on the surface is still subject to that lease.
• charged with analyzing gaps and redundancies in early childhood delivery systems, mapping out all funding
• streams, conducting stakeholder engagements, drafting a transitionary... ...out all funding streams,
• It sets up a revolving fund.

Bills: HR1038 , HB3263 , HB3127 , HB2997 , HB3115 , HB2123 , HB3587 , HB3028 , HB2035 , HB3369 , HB3620 , HB3621 , HB3622 , HB3624 , HB3175 , HB3173 , HB3178 , HB1979 , HB4476

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the pledge, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Major General (ret.) Tony L. Wright, Doctor of the Day Dr. Jeanette Kelly, Capitol Day students, Girl Scouts, and family members of legislators. Members also adopted House Resolution 1038 honoring the Oklahoma Youth Expo and its agricultural education and scholarship impact, including recognition of top ag mechanics exhibitors. The chamber then considered and passed several bills, including HB 3263 designating the morel mushroom as the state mushroom; HB 315 setting qualifications and a term limit for the Department of Corrections director; HB 2123 revising authorization for an Arkansas River bridge project near Bigsby; HB 3587 allowing court-ordered outpatient mental health treatment; HB 3028 allowing career techs in public schools to pass along credit card surcharges; HB 2035 clarifying transportation protection agreements related to funeral services; HB 3369 allowing food trucks to use two fire extinguishers and training in lieu of an automatic suppression system; and a series of census-related bills creating a census count committee, reestablishing a state data center function, and updating Commerce technology for census address work. The House also passed HB 3624 to standardize county boundary mapping, HB 3175 creating an Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 3173 allowing repurposing of orphaned and abandoned wells for geothermal or energy storage uses, and HB 4476 creating a revolving-fund rebate program to help smaller communities compete for music events and tourism. Two measures failed on final passage: HB 3178, which would have created a standard depreciation table for county assessors to value farm equipment, and HB 1979, which would have created an Early Childhood Task Force. In both cases, members later served notice of intent to reconsider the failed votes. The House also reconsidered and passed previously failed motions on HB 3127 and HB 2997. Most bills that reached final passage were approved by recorded vote, with HB 3178 failing 43-45 and HB 1979 failing 46-43. The House adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I tip when there's a worker involved that I can support by putting additional funds in their direction
• In New Mexico, we serve over 37,000 consumers with an average earned wage access transfer amount of $72
• The only fee that is solely attributable to EWA is the optional $1.99 expedited transfer fee.
• This bill does not help households that live paycheck to paycheck in New Mexico access needed funds in
• It strips funds in a never-ending cycle of high fees and hidden gratuities and is predatory in nature

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• and of those types of things. ...of delivering projects and of federal funding and of those types of
• The $8 million difference is not forgiven; that money is transferred.
• I believe the municipal association self-insurance fund.
• For the lawyers for the town of Boyce, I believe the Municipal Association self-insurance fund.
• Well, the self-insurance fund for the Louisiana Municipal Association has paid for the majority of the

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Summary: The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably. Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure. The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• low-risk births, requires collaboration with physicians for certain conditions, and mandates the transfer
• protecting consumers from changes to their medications after they've already committed to a health fund
• 1929 moves in the opposite direction, applying a more aggressive standard that even public pension funds
• Although federal law generally requires a 30-day notice before discharge or transfer, exceptions allow
• Ombudsman programs are reporting an increasing number of complaints related to unlawful transfers and

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. AB 1825 by Krell would clarify California’s offenders with mental health disorders program by tightening the standard for determining “substantial danger of physical harm,” improving exit planning, and expanding Medi-Cal access for people released after a successful challenge. Supporters, including psychiatrists, prosecutors, and medical groups, said the bill would close gaps in care and protect public safety; county behavioral health directors and Disability Rights California registered concerns. AB 1696 by Stephanie would state that nurse midwives do not need physician supervision when providing care within their existing scope, including EMTALA-related evaluation in labor and delivery settings. Nurse midwives and nursing groups supported the bill, while emergency physicians opposed it unless amended, arguing emergency department screening should remain under physician supervision; the author said she would keep working on the issue. AB 1949 by Lee would make acupuncture a separate Medi-Cal benefit and allow up to 24 visits per year. The author and supporters from acupuncture, health access, and integrative medicine groups said the current monthly cap is too restrictive and that acupuncture is an effective, cost-saving alternative for pain management and other conditions. There was no opposition. AB 2330 by Patterson would create a distinct regulatory category for cold spas, with standards for construction, operation, and disinfection. Fitness and wellness groups supported the bill, environmental health administrators had no formal position but thanked the author for amendments, and a committee member raised concerns about local officials interpreting the bill to require separate enclosures from saunas; the author said she would continue working on the language. AB 2000 by Aguirre-Curry would limit mid-year changes to prescription drug formularies and add notice, exceptions, reporting, and enforcement provisions. Family physicians, chronic care advocates, nurses, pharmacists, and patient groups supported the bill, citing non-medical switching and treatment disruptions; health plans and insurers opposed it, warning of higher costs, reduced flexibility, and premium increases. AB 1929 by Ortega would require health plans to disclose investments, including in private prisons and immigrant detention centers. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure tied to patient premiums and public values, while opponents argued the bill was duplicative, burdensome, and potentially harmful to investment confidentiality. AB 2746 by Schiavo would classify medical credit card debt as medical debt so it would not appear on credit reports. Consumer advocates and legal aid groups supported the bill, describing abusive marketing and housing harms; banks, debt collectors, and industry groups opposed it as unworkable and privacy-invasive. The committee took roll on AB 2746 and passed it on a due pass motion to Banking and Finance, with several members voting aye and a few no votes recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes a burden, and it’s a very low-risk title transfer.
• We um we believe risk title transfer.
• </c> of the sign uh would like to transfer of the sign uh would like to transfer the<01:16:43.199><c>
• </c> restriction that says I can't transfer restriction that says I can't transfer the<01:22:45.600><
• and we get roughly 2002 highway funds and we get roughly 2002 $230<01:28:17.600><c> million</c><01:28

Committee: Senate Transportation