Transcript Highlights:

• Per rider nine lottery operator contract.
• Contract lotteries to pay the operator contract from funds appropriated to strategy A16, lottery operator
• act that authorizes the agency to expend lottery funds only on certain lottery expenses.
• Texas Lottery Commission.
• They would get two machines, I guess?

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• HOW DO YOU PLAY THE MACHINE? WHY IS IT A SLOT MACHINE?
• IT TAKES TIME AND INVESTIGATIONS AND MACHINES OUT AND TAKE THE MACHINES OUT.
• TWO MACHINES.
• PROBABLY A SLOT MACHINE.
• AND PLAYS LIKE A SLOT MACHINE IT IS A SLOT MACHINE.

Bills: HB2073 , HB2403 , HB2587 , HB2607 , HB1170 , HB1570 , HB1710 , HB1750 , HB1834 , HB2441

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, failure to register, criminal justice, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, nonprofit, grant funding, pilot program, financial support, community development, child care, childcare, subsidy rates, rate regions, market rate survey

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 800, Ortega, prison vending machines: holding committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we go, how did they have cigarette vending machines?

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, how we administer that is a lottery application with priority for farmers who earn less than $100,000
• Um, how we administer that<00:13:57.040><c> is</c><00:13:57.199><c> a</c><00:13:57.360><c> lottery</c
• ><00:13:57.680><c> application</c><00:13:58.160><c> with</c> that is a lottery application with that
• Uh, you say it's a lottery application.
• </c> we have a pretty welloiled machine we have a pretty welloiled machine whether<00:39:32.640><c> we're

Transcript Highlights:

• Open the machines. Vote, members, vote your machines.
• Secretary, open the machines. Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• Secretary will open the machines. Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• Vote your machines, members. Members, vote your machines. Madam Secretary, close the machine.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see a small piece of that is on line 12, where this repeals the lottery distribution that the
• Competes Fund gets from our lottery profits.
• And when we repealed that Competes Fund distribution from the lottery, that money instead goes to the
• We don't need that machine. That's what it is. Okay, thank you. Okay, I'm Nor, come on. Yay! Yay!

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see a small piece of that is on line 12, where this repeals the lottery distribution that the
• Competes Fund gets from our lottery profits.
• And when we repealed that Competes Fund distribution from the lottery, that money instead goes to the
• We don't need that machine. That's what it is. Okay, thank you. Okay, I'm Norr, come on. Yay! Yay!

Summary: The meeting began with a JLBC presentation on the state budget proposal. Staff reviewed revenue changes from the April forecast, which lowered expected growth slightly, and then walked through major tax policy provisions. Those included full conformity with HR1 for the current tax year, a shift to the provisions of SB 1106 for future tax years, new deductions for retirement/pension distributions and Roth IRA contributions, an increase in the dependent credit, and a child and dependent care subtraction. Staff said the tax changes had an overall fiscal impact of about $1.4 billion over four years. They also described offsets from repealing several tax credits and exemptions, including solar-related tax breaks, a renewable energy production credit, a new employment tax credit, a refundable R&D credit for smaller employers, and a pollution-control device credit, totaling about $75 million in added revenue. Another budget item would redirect Arizona Commerce Authority Competes Fund lottery distributions to the general fund. Members asked questions about the budget’s effect on ACCESS eligibility checks, state employee health insurance funding, and cuts to one-time funding for area agencies on aging and Alzheimer’s programs. The committee then moved to caucus items on several bills. HB 2249, as amended by the Senate, would expand the parents’ bill of rights to include access to a child’s complete educational record and notice if school staff facilitate social transitioning, and would require investigation of prior violations; the sponsor concurred with the amendment. HB 2035 would require DCS and courts to identify and consider extended family for kinship foster care placement, with Senate changes shortening a reporting deadline and adding adopted family members to the definition. HB 2170 would bar state contracts for electronic or IT goods with PRC-controlled companies, with a certification requirement added in the Senate. HB 2573 would remove a waiting period for ignition interlock restricted licenses after DUI revocation and adjust psychotherapy language. HB 2415 on kratom would classify synthetic kratom as a narcotic drug and add advertising, packaging, and retail restrictions, but the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate changes. HB 2873 would let local petition sponsors withdraw municipal referendum petitions retroactively, which members noted could affect the Marana data center petition effort. The final bill discussed, SB 1798, would create a Financial Aid Awareness Program in the Department of Education to recognize schools that support FAFSA completion. Members questioned whether the department would need additional staff or resources, but no fiscal note had been provided. The meeting ended with recognition of interns and a brief photo opportunity before the caucus moved into closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote machine members. Vote machine members. vote.
• Name and protocol of machines, members, vote your machines. Vote your machine members.
• Clerk of Machines, members, vote machine. Vote machine members. Dana, Henry. Yes.
• Madam Clerk of Machines, members, vote machine. Vote machine. Vote machine, members. Amity, yes.
• Clerk will close the machine. Clerk will close the machine.

Bills: HR252 , HR253 , HR254 , HR255 , HR256 , HCR103 , HCR104 , HR244 , HR245 , HR246 , HR247 , HR248 , HR249 , HR250 , HR251 , HCR101 , HCR102 , SCR40 , SCR60 , SB112 , SB131 , SB145 , SB194 , SB268 , SB307 , SB312 , SB319 , SB333 , SB341 , SB346 , SB464 , SB466 , SB488 , SB495 , SB503 , SB507 , SB509 , HR9 , HR196 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR50 , HCR62 , HCR67 , HCR71 , HCR78 , HCR81 , SCR20 , HB123 , HB251 , HB625 , HB662 , HB709 , HB769 , HB775 , HB783 , HB895 , HB1011 , HB1057 , HB1155 , HB1186 , HB1224 , HB1245 , HB1247 , HB1253 , HB1254 , HB1255 , HB1256 , SB8 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB14 , SB16 , SB17 , SB18 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB40 , SB48 , SB55 , SB69 , SB75 , SB77 , SB78 , SB85 , SB102 , SB115 , SB133 , SB140 , SB148 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB185 , SB197 , SB200 , SB217 , SB235 , SB278 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB315 , SB324 , SB330 , SB411 , SB416 , SB420 , SB436 , SB438 , SB449 , SB455 , SB456 , SB477 , SB489 , SB521 , SB97 , SB105 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , HCR72 , HR37 , HCR64 , HR170 , HR191 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR217 , HCR11 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR66 , HCR68 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , SCR11 , SCR22 , SCR2 , HCR6 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB258 , HB633 , HB801 , HB61 , HB98 , HB102 , HB139 , HB142 , HB170 , HB185 , HB194 , HB199 , HB231 , HB247 , HB294 , HB336 , HB474 , HB661 , HB842 , HB852 , HB66 , HB153 , HB165 , HB326 , HB387 , HB455 , HB513 , HB603 , HB660 , HB719 , HB762 , HB766 , HB802 , HB816 , HB833 , HB940 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1028 , HB1039 , HB1051 , HB1053 , HB1080 , HB1201 , HB1215 , HB1228 , HB1251 , HB1252 , SB1 , SB23 , SB32 , SB42 , SB43 , SB46 , SB51 , SB110 , SB113 , SB150 , SB154 , SB161 , SB218 , SB220 , SB221 , SB253 , SB289 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB502 , SB26 , SB28 , SB29 , SB30 , SB41 , SB44 , SB64 , SB84 , SB87 , SB93 , SB98 , SB107 , SB118 , SB142 , SB192 , SB195 , SB199 , SB219 , SB222 , SB234 , SB241 , SB255 , SB275 , SB277 , SB292 , SB294 , SB306 , SB314 , SB482 , HCR32 , HB798 , HB998 , HB1084 , HB1223 , HB59 , HB955 , HB1191 , HB1234 , HB646 , HB824 , HB341 , SB397 , SB442 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB911 , HB926 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , SB47 , SB82 , SB89 , SB149 , SB382

Transcript Highlights:

• >> The vending machine. >> Yeah. I thought they were going to do— Damn it.
• &gt;&gt; The<01:57:11.679><c> vending</c><01:57:12.080><c> machine.
• </c> &gt;&gt; The vending machine. &gt;&gt; The vending machine.

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Bills: HB63 , HB19 , HB80 , HB41 , HB20 , HB60 , HB100 , HB71 , HB91 , HB93 , HB63 , HB19 , HB80 , HB41 , HB20 , HB60 , HB100 , HB71 , HB91 , HB93

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: paternity, child custody, joint custody, parental rights, family law, domestic violence, shared parenting, Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, human trafficking, victim restitution, civil action, criminal prosecution, labor servitude, sexual servitude, class A felony, class B felony

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes you own the machines and the software, and sometimes you lease it because the upgrades and
• So this is much like the lottery funds; you know, there's a huge waterfall underneath them.
• So this is much like the lottery funds; you know, there's a huge waterfall underneath them.
• I'm going to rebut that: when you go for the lottery, you voluntarily pay for that.
• You're not forced to do it, and that's the difference between the lottery waterfall and a ticket waterfall

Summary: The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard several transportation-related measures, with SB 1010 and SB 1552 held at the outset. SB 1024, dealing with licensing and registration rules for roadable aircraft, was discussed briefly; members raised questions about vehicle license tax revenue and the sponsor was absent, but the bill was still advanced on a do pass recommendation by a 3-2 vote. SB 1205, which creates statewide rules for motor vehicle booting on private property, received testimony from industry and Sen. Kavanagh in support and was approved 5-0. SB 1366, creating a study committee on public property towing and impound practices, also passed 5-0 after supporters described it as a bipartisan, data-gathering measure. The committee then took up SB 1624 on photo enforcement violations. The bill would cap civil penalties at $75 and limit the use of photo enforcement violations for license, insurance, and court-record purposes, while an amendment added a class three misdemeanor for excessive speed and directed $15 of the penalty to the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. The measure drew extensive debate, with supporters arguing it would simplify enforcement and keep penalties manageable, and opponents including insurers and local governments warning it would mask risk, reduce revenue for state and local funds, and interfere with school-zone safety. After adopting the amendment, the committee advanced the bill 4-2. SB 1232, a technical bill concerning billboard placement near military airport and facility districts, was amended to clarify local approval and public hearing requirements and then passed unanimously. SCR 1004, the companion measure to a House resolution, would send to voters a proposal limiting photo enforcement unless a local government had a contract in place by December 31, 2026; after testimony describing it as a negotiated compromise that preserves local control, it passed 4-2. The committee also approved two memorials, SCM 1002 renaming a portion of SR 77 as the L.F. Quinn Memorial Highway and SCM 1006 renaming a portion of US 70 as the PFC Michael A. Nolene Memorial Highway, both by unanimous votes, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, lottery revenue. Source that can be incorporated.
• You know, lottery revenue, casino revenue. So you've got some gambling things.
• And so to use a machine to do that, many of the ...putting foundations and things of that nature.
• And so to use a machine to do that, many of these machines, some are on wheels and some are on tracks
• And it's a very difficult proposition sometimes, especially the smaller track machines.

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from NCSL staff on national transportation funding trends and alternative user-fee options as gas tax revenue declines. The presentation covered declining fuel-tax purchasing power, the effects of more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, and a range of state responses including indexed gas taxes, EV and hybrid registration fees, voluntary and mandatory road usage charges, transportation network company fees, retail delivery fees, and per-kilowatt-hour EV charging fees. Members asked about Virginia’s mileage-fee program, enrollment rates, and whether states had reduced gas taxes alongside new fees; the presenters said they would follow up with additional information. Committee staff then presented a comparison of Washington’s transportation budget with Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, focusing on population, lane miles, road condition, fuel taxes, preservation spending, mega-projects, and governance structures. The discussion highlighted Washington’s unique transportation pressures, including ferries, fish-passage obligations, high debt service, and major capital projects. Members asked follow-up questions about debt service, interest costs, CCA impacts on fuel prices, and whether project costs differed by state. The committee held public hearings on three bills. House Bill 2109 would allow vehicles being towed on trailers to use coverings to contain mud, rocks, or debris instead of requiring prior cleaning; the bill’s sponsor and construction witnesses supported it as a practical solution, and the fiscal note showed modest costs to WSP and WSDOT. House Bill 2139 would raise snowmobile registration fees to support snow park and trail grooming; State Parks, DNR, and several snowmobile advocates supported it, while some snowmobile users opposed it, arguing that enforcement of unregistered sleds should be addressed first. House Bill 2192 would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority and allow it to collect certain health data; the sponsor and agency supported the bill as a public-health tool, while one attorney raised concerns about limiting civil discovery and evidentiary access in fatal crash litigation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so it's like he said, it's a lottery.
• </c><00:52:55.680><c> so</c> it's a like he said it's a lottery so it's a like he said it's a lottery
• </c><01:12:15.199><c> proceed</c> funded by lccmr and the lottery proceed funded by lccmr and the lottery
• So the process they used is an XRF machine, right?
• So the process they used is an XRF machine, right?

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• There are vended products out there. Um, Sandy Hook is one that is used most often.
• Um, Sandy vended products out there.
• I think they'll figure they won the lottery.
• </c><02:58:05.520><c> Um,</c> they'll figure they won the lottery.
• Um, they'll figure they won the lottery.

Transcript Highlights:

• Open the machines. Vote, members, vote your machines. Vote, members, vote your machines.
• Secretary to open the machines. Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• The Secretary will open the machines. Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• Vote your machines, members. Vote your machines.
• He has proposed in voting machines. Vote for machine, members, voting machines.

Bills: SR113 , SR114 , SCR64 , SCR65 , SCR66 , SCR67 , SCR12 , HB59 , HB66 , HB79 , HB153 , HB165 , HB326 , HB387 , HB455 , HB513 , HB660 , HB719 , HB762 , HB802 , HB816 , HB833 , HB895 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1011 , HB1028 , HB1039 , HB1051 , HB1053 , HB1057 , HB1080 , HB1084 , HB1155 , HB1215 , HB1224 , HB1228 , HB1234 , HB1251 , HB1252 , HB1254 , HB1256 , HB221 , HCR11 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR32 , HCR49 , HCR50 , HCR60 , HCR64 , HCR66 , HCR67 , HCR68 , HCR78 , HCR81 , HCR58 , SB25 , SB250 , SB348 , SB444 , SB485 , HB22 , HB28 , HB33 , HB41 , HB47 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB195 , HB214 , HB217 , HB233 , HB283 , HB290 , HB316 , HB319 , HB324 , HB345 , HB362 , HB363 , HB368 , HB377 , HB380 , HB382 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB431 , HB441 , HB466 , HB503 , HB511 , HB514 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB590 , HB593 , HB618 , HB636 , HB655 , HB664 , HB685 , HB692 , HB707 , HB715 , HB732 , HB738 , HB741 , HB748 , HB776 , HB807 , HB822 , HB856 , HB860 , HB868 , HB887 , HB888 , HB896 , HB905 , HB908 , HB961 , HB980 , HB990 , HB992 , HB999 , HB1000 , HB1010 , HB1146 , HB1157 , HB1233 , HB1236 , HB1243 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB424 , SCR9 , SB132 , SB35 , SB65 , SB135 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR26 , HCR45 , HCR31 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB90 , HB127 , HB138 , HB150 , HB201 , HB268 , HB273 , HB285 , HB315 , HB354 , HB355 , HB360 , HB376 , HB445 , HB506 , HB606 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB17 , HB21 , HB51 , HB55 , HB74 , HB106 , HB108 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB168 , HB215 , HB226 , HB263 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1237 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB166 , HB211 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present and opened with the introduction of guest pastor Dr. Jeff Williams, who delivered the invocation before members recited the pledge and approved the journal without objection. The chamber then handled a series of communications from the House, including notice of House action on numerous Senate bills and joint resolutions, and introduced several Senate resolutions and a concurrent resolution, many of which were laid over. One resolution to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month drew objection to suspension of the rules, while SCR 64, creating a task force on construction management at risk, was amended to add the Louisiana Police Jury Association president or designee and then adopted 34-0. SCR 66 designating Anti-Hunger Day and SCR 67 honoring Chef John Folse were also adopted unanimously. The Senate also heard personal privilege remarks recognizing Southwest Louisiana Day at the Capitol, honoring the late John Gillespie, and designating a Day Without Child Care at the Capitol through SR 115. The chamber then considered a large number of House bills and House concurrent resolutions on second reading, mostly referring them to committees or ordering them to the Legislative Bureau. Among the measures advanced from committee were bills on veterans’ employment at schools, anti-cancer medication coverage, domestic abuse arrest holding periods, food safety, state finances, vaccination status and public buildings, construction code commission purpose, elected official compensation, clinical trial competitiveness, law enforcement records, sexual assault nurse examiner oversight, human remains documentation, wildlife disposition, and several local or tax-related measures. HCR 11 supporting the Louisiana National Guard at Camp Beauregard was concurred in 135-0. The Senate also received committee reports on multiple House bills, with several reported favorably or with amendments. On final passage, the Senate approved a series of bills, including SB 135 on sports wagering revenue allocation, which passed 32-2 after debate over shifting more funding to early childhood education and capping the sports fund allocation. Other bills passed included HB 238 on ethics exceptions for former school board members, HB 241 on bank records definitions, HB 242 allowing a St. Tammany Parish constable to appoint a deputy, HB 250 on financial disclosure for board members, HB 260 on complimentary transportation for legislators, HB 265 expanding video voyeurism offenses with a funeral-service exemption amendment, HB 275 increasing penalties for domestic violence committed in the presence of a child, HB 300 raising the appraisal threshold for certain residential loans, HB 320 creating a crime of unlawful exposure by an inmate, HB 338 extending the Office of Financial Institutions sunset, HB 339 expanding privacy protections for law enforcement officers and administrative law judges, HB 349 expanding the Imported Seafood Safety Fund’s uses, HB 379 allowing certain 17-year-old students to serve as poll commissioners, HB 427 revising online minor-protection language after a debated amendment restoring an opt-out, HB 463 raising emergency communication service charges under voter approval and hearing requirements, HB 464 requiring utility damage notices to go to the Regional Notification Center, and HB 468 regulating wholesaling of residential real property. Most of these measures passed unanimously or by wide margins, with several motions to reconsider laid on the table after passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please close the machine.
• </c> close the machine. close the machine.
• </c> These two funds are from net lottery These two funds are from net lottery proceeds<03:49:21.680>
• These funds are from net lottery proceeds and are included for informational purposes, as net lottery
• These funds are from net lottery proceeds and are included for informational purposes, as net lottery

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, how do you play this machine? Why is it a slot machine?
• When we crack open these machines and look at them, we can tell how much money has gone through the machine
• or two machines.
• It's probably a slot machine.
• , if it plays like a slot machine, it's a slot machine.

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard a presentation from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on illegal gambling in Florida. Executive Director Ross Marchman described the commission’s role, the limited number of legal slot-machine locations in the state, and the prevalence of illegal casinos, including “fish tables” and other machines found in strip malls, gas stations, and back rooms. He said the commission has received thousands of complaints, conducted 88 operations, seized thousands of machines and millions in cash and other property, and is currently storing large amounts of seized evidence at significant cost because the cases and appeals are still pending. Marchman argued that illegal casinos are tied to broader criminal activity, including robberies, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms offenses, and even murders, and said the current penalties are too weak because most gaming offenses are second-degree misdemeanors. He and members discussed the need for stronger deterrents, better resources, and possible changes to the law, including whether evidence could be reduced to samples rather than retained in full. Senators also asked about cease-and-desist letters to online gaming operators, the role of manufacturers and landlords, and how the commission distinguishes legal amusement machines from illegal slot machines. Daniel McGinn, speaking as an individual, supported the commission’s concerns and said prior enforcement efforts were limited by the statutory scheme. He referenced the Gator Coin case and explained that operators often use licensing agreements and repeated cash-split arrangements to keep machines in circulation. He urged legislative action, noted a gap in the statute regarding private rights of action, and warned against creating carve-outs that could raise constitutional or compact issues. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have it in vending machines in some cities.
• treatment plants is used for flushing toilets, bathing, watering lawns and gardens, used in washing machines

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.