Transcript Highlights:

• A more educated workforce benefits our entire community and state.
• Most importantly, I saw students without the benefit of college-educated parents... ...get proactive
• Minnesota is at the front of the pack in educational outcomes nationally.
• Hopkins here, I was just kind of trying to ask higher education questions.
• . government data practices and higher education.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• that they have to talk to parents.
• That they have to talk to parents.
• Away from their parents and then hide that fact from their parents. I think that's wrong.
• of their parents.
• That's called parenting.

Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 785, by the Education Committee, an act relating to education
• to teach driver's education.
• The State Department of Education has added four driver's ed programs that parents can choose from, so
• The State Department of Education has added four driver's ed programs that parents can choose from.
• from a driver's education teacher do get in more accidents, and that could cause parents' insurance premiums

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and approval of the prior day’s journal, then moved through committee reports, House messages, and bill introductions. Several measures were referred to committees or held on the calendar, including new Senate bills and a number of House bills and resolutions. The chamber also received enrolled bills and transmitted others between the House, Senate, and governor’s office. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 1363, the natural resources maintenance appropriation. The bill funded maintenance budgets for the Department of Environmental Quality, Fish and Game, Lands, Parks and Recreation, Water Resources, and the Endowment Fund Investment Board, with reductions tied to statewide adjustments and removal of one-time funding. Supporters described it as a responsible “tightening of the belt,” while opponents argued the cuts would harm firefighting, water management, park staffing, permitting, and other services. After debate, the Senate passed SB 1363 on a roll call vote of 28-7. The Senate then considered and passed House Bill 558, protecting federal survivor and dependent benefits for children in state custody; House Bill 500, clarifying e-bike and bicycle traffic protections; House Bill 577, eliminating mandatory 10-year license plate replacement; House Bill 636, allowing school districts to use facilities funds for lease purchases; House Bill 539, limiting temporary administrative rules; House Bill 511, raising the cap on the fire suppression surcharge for structures on forest land; House Bill 639, updating midwifery medication authority; and House Bill 628, expanding parent-taught driver education options. House Bill 620, giving county commissioners special-expertise status in federal land management planning, also passed. House Bill 610, which would have extended the homestead tax exemption to homeowners absent for religious missionary service, failed on a 16-17 vote. The Senate then returned to miscellaneous business, made announcements, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> female only sports teams in educational female only sports teams in educational institutions<00:
• </c><00:57:56.520><c> housing</c> with te with cuts to education housing with te with cuts to education
• </c> a23 this is exemptions um for education a23 this is exemptions um for education and<01:19:42.040
• system because they American education system because they have<01:25:41.280><c> educational</c><01:
• and I received an email from a parent and I received an email from a parent<01:26:51.560><c> of</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• education and Statewide education<01:18:32.719><c> property</c><01:18:33.239><c> tax</c> education property
• </c><01:21:26.120><c> in</c> of an adequate education in of an adequate education in Massachusetts<01
• </c> education scholarship um and education education scholarship um and education um<03:47:46.279><c
• Their parents don't know about it. Their parents don't realize that they need it.
• I wish every parent was engaged.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education, medication, incarceration, our public education, Medicaid program, and the criminal justice
• funding gap, where there are not enough special education funds, and then general education funds have
• Linda is a retired educator and administrator and serves as an educational advocate for families across
• My years as an educational administrator, my experience in the role of attending meetings with parents
• What is it that we need to do um on the parent side and on the education side?

Transcript Highlights:

• While we're on the subject of education, why then are we not cutting back on K-12 education for those
• It could be their parents.
• To finish their education.
• What if you're 16 years old and you come with your parents, and you know what your parents are doing,
• What if you're 16 years old and you come with your parents, and you know what your parents are doing,

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee took up SB 2-C, a major immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Senator Gruters and co-introduced by Senator Fine. Gruters described the measure as a broad crackdown on illegal immigration that would replace a single immigration officer with a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, create a $250 million grant program for local law enforcement, fund additional Department of Agriculture interdiction staff and facilities, expand pretrial detention for certain unauthorized immigrants, increase criminal penalties, require more cooperation with ICE, and eliminate in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. He and supporters framed the bill as a way to support law enforcement, deter illegal immigration, and align Florida with federal enforcement efforts. Committee questioning focused heavily on the bill’s education, detention, and enforcement provisions. Senators pressed Gruters and Fine on why the bill did not address employer sanctions or E-Verify, whether the tuition changes would affect students who had grown up in Florida, how sanctuary-policy enforcement would work, and whether the bill would create practical burdens for prosecutors, jails, and local officials. Gruters said he was open to working on E-Verify in regular session but not to amending this bill, and Fine argued the tuition repeal would apply to undocumented students who had qualified under existing law. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified in support, saying ICE bed capacity was still insufficient and that county jails needed more resources to honor detainers. Mark Schlachman of FSU Law offered historical context, noting prior state-federal cooperation efforts and warning of unintended consequences, while several public witnesses opposed the bill as unconstitutional, costly, and harmful to immigrant families and the economy. Opponents from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Florida, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, Florida Policy Institute, AFL-CIO, and immigrant advocacy groups argued the bill would invite litigation, encourage racial profiling, harm the workforce and higher education, and punish law-abiding immigrants and their families. They emphasized that immigration is a federal matter, that K-12 education must be provided regardless of status, and that removing in-state tuition would reduce access to college and hurt Florida’s economy. Some speakers urged the committee to grandfather current students if the tuition waiver is repealed. The meeting ended with continued public testimony and no final vote reflected in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when they get to school, their parents do want them to eat... their parents do want them to eat healthy
• The Alabama Board of Education supports this bill.
• It's the state department of education, not the state board.
• In fact, today if a 14-year-old child does not give their consent, parents...
• Professionals may provide emergency services without parental consent in the following... parental consent

Bills: SB87 , HB491 , SB43 , SB101

Committee: House Health

Keywords: midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, HB491, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school lunch, cafeteria, artificial dyes, food additives, food coloring, synthetic dyes, Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents have to be part of the solution, but parents need to be made aware of these harms, and that's
• Instead, the government can focus resources on educating young people and parents directly instead of
• Instead, the government can focus resources on educating young people and parents directly instead of
• young people and resources on educating young people and parents<00:13:13.200><c> directly</c><00:13:
• </c><00:13:23.200><c> and</c> literacy while connecting parents and literacy while connecting parents

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What that means is, for example, if a parent was homeschooling and they went and bought their materials
• Some of it has been fixed through the Department of Education.
• Sometimes those are $3,000 expenses paid for by the parents to participate in those activities.
• Still residing in House Education Committee. Very good. Thank you.
• So parents do pay for those things.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• George Washington once advised that the primary object of public education should be the education of
• , Then incorporating input from the State Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and
• I'm a special educator, a health educator.
• I'm a special educator, a health educator.
• H.B. 516 aims to clarify it and expand the role of parents in public education, seeking greater transparency

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> safely reunited with parents. safely reunited with parents.
• are</c> their parents, and parents who are their parents, and parents who are expecting<00:07:59.880
• Um, we're going to be joined by educators and parents who are going to talk to the real terror that they
• Um, we're going to be joined by educators and parents who are going to talk to the real terror that they
• A parent?

Bills: HF3415

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child care, day care, licensed child care center, license-exempt child care, immigration enforcement, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, judicial warrant, facility access, sensitive locations, immigrant families, Minnesota Statutes chapter 142B, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to pay for educating these students.
• to pay for educating these students.
• I am the Education Director at Idaho Parents Unlimited.
• I'm a local small business owner and a parent to twin boys who have both received special education services
• It's spread paper thin in education.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1288, which would create a high-cost special education student fund to reimburse school districts for extraordinary special education expenses above $30,000 per student. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is a response to federal and state obligations to serve students with disabilities, and that the initial $5 million appropriation would provide limited relief to districts, especially rural and charter schools, that must absorb unpredictable costs. Testifiers from school districts, Idaho Parents Unlimited, parents, and Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind described very high costs for aides, therapies, assistive technology, and specialized services, and said the bill would help districts maintain services for all students. Some members raised concerns about whether schools are being asked to provide health-related services and about the long-term fiscal burden, but the bill was advanced to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also took up Senate Bill 1339, which would replace the current continuous improvement plan framework with strategic performance plans and related training for districts and charters. The sponsor and supporters argued that the bill would encourage long-term goal setting, stakeholder involvement, annual review, and more local flexibility, while reducing redundant reporting and focusing oversight on schools that are not meeting goals. Supporters said many high-performing districts already use similar practices and that the bill would help align resources with student outcomes. One testifier said her district already has strategic and continuous improvement plans and questioned whether the proposal added value without new funding, while another superintendent said the bill improved clarity and community engagement. The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1339 to the floor with a due pass recommendation and also approved the March 12 and March 13 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's essentially a process where a parent can go to the superintendent and say, 'Um, there's an educational
• . education. education.
• </c> education. There's 25. education. There's 25.
• Um, I know that they do go into agreements with parents outside of the special education process and,
• . education. education.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to approve the May 18, 2026 minutes and then focused on how SB 57’s special education cost study should inform HB 1099, which creates a separate study committee on residential placements and related education costs. Members discussed sending the commission’s minutes and findings to that new committee, noting the short timeline for its work and the need to be specific about unresolved issues so the new group does not duplicate the same questions. A major topic was the cost and responsibility for students placed at Spalding and similar residential programs, especially transportation and whether costs are paid through the Department of Education’s episode-of-treatment (EOT) fund, local districts, DHS, or Medicaid. Staff explained that for students with disabilities, EOT funds cover special education and transportation costs tied to the placement, while students without disabilities are handled through DHS care-management and best-interest meetings. Members raised concerns about whether some students at Spalding are receiving no schooling, whether transportation costs are substantial, and whether Medicaid reimbursement could offset some expenses. The commission also discussed confusion over district responsibility when students placed in residential programs attend school in another district, using Winnisquam as an example. Several members said the receiving district was not notified that DHHS-approved programs could bring in additional students and costs, and they suggested DHHS or its care-management entity should notify both the district of residence and the receiving district when a program is approved. The group agreed this notification issue, along with transportation funding, privacy concerns in Medicaid-to-schools billing, and the distinction between special education placements, EOT placements, and other voluntary residential placements, should be passed to the HB 1099 study committee for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we support parents' choice to choose the interventions of their medical care.
• And we support parents' choice to choose the interventions of their medical care.
• By the education services for deaf and blinders. Is that required already?
• , just like you say, by the education services for deaf and blinders.
• If the hospital is already offering the test, parents can already opt out.

Summary: The committee began by honoring pages Finn Meekum and Cooper Smith for their service, with both students describing the experience as eye-opening and professional. Members thanked them for their help, presented gifts and certificates, and then approved the minutes from February 2 and February 5, 2026. Senate Bill 1316, by Senator Blaylock, would update Idaho’s newborn screening exemption language to align with vaccination exemption standards and clarify that parents may decline newborn screenings and related treatments without stating a specific religious objection. A pediatrician testified in support, saying the bill codifies current practice and supports parental choice. The committee advanced the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1294, by Senator Galloway, would codify newborn hearing screening in Idaho law and standardize the screening methods used. Supporters, including an education official, an early intervention provider, and parents of children with hearing loss, said early screening improves language development, reduces long-term costs, and helps prevent delayed diagnosis. Some members questioned whether the bill was necessary if screenings already occur and whether the mandatory language conflicted with exemption provisions, but the committee sent the bill to the floor on a 4-3 roll call vote. Senate Bill 1314, also by Senator Blaylock, would repeal the Board of Health and Welfare and regional behavioral health board statutes, shifting authority and rulemaking directly to the department while keeping services in place. The sponsor said the boards are outdated and duplicative; an opponent argued the changes could affect federal settlement obligations, grant funding, oversight, and regional input in behavioral health. After debate, the committee advanced the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, you know, certainly I believe in, in educating parents and.
• is that parents first thought, this will never happen to my child.
• Texas PTA supports efforts that educate and empowers parents.
• , and parental involvement.
• to definitely, you know, strengthen those parental controls.

Bills: HB 186

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everyone, to Senate Education today.
• It literally gives the power of education back to the parents.
• It reinforces parental authority that the legislation explicitly encourages parents and guardians to
• We're giving it to the parents.
• Congress House Education meeting.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 23, February 24, March 2, and March 5, 2026, and then unanimously agreed to switch the order of the day’s bills. The committee took up House Bill 623, which would require Idaho public schools to begin the day with a 60-second moment of silence. Representative Skog and supporters said the bill is a neutral, low-cost way to help students calm down, reflect, and improve behavior and mental health, citing other states and testimony from a rabbi, pastor, and others. Opponents argued it was government overreach, could be used to promote prayer, and raised First Amendment and implementation concerns, especially for young children and special education classrooms. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send HB 623 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1357, which would limit the share of foreign national student-athletes receiving scholarships at Idaho public colleges and universities. Senator O’Conniewicz said the bill was intended to prioritize Idaho and U.S. students, increase opportunities for local athletes, and reduce reliance on foreign national athletes in scholarship sports. Athletic directors, coaches, and conference officials opposed the bill, arguing it would hurt competitiveness, create administrative burdens, reduce recruiting flexibility, and potentially trigger NCAA concerns; they also said some programs, especially tennis and golf, would be especially affected. Supporters said the bill still allowed many foreign national athletes and would help develop Idaho talent. After extensive debate, the committee voted to hold SB 1357 in committee at the call of the chair, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Senator Warner, I agree with you that parent education is important.
• These things really should be educating parents.
• education. and see if we can focus on parent education.
• Chairman, Senator Warner, I agree with you that parent education is important.
• I love the idea of doing parent education as well, so there's a lot of good that can get done, but this

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2615, as amended by a strike-everything amendment creating an Independent Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety with 15 members, authority to review DCS data and practices, request briefings and audits, conduct site visits, and receive confidential complaints, with a $2.2 million FY 2027 appropriation. The sponsor and several parents and foster/adoptive caregivers testified in support, describing child safety failures and arguing for independent accountability, while some members questioned whether the Ombudsman’s office was the right home for the committee and suggested other oversight structures. The amendment was adopted, but the bill itself failed on a 5-5 vote. House Bill 2620, which would appropriate $300,000 annually from FY 2027 through FY 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services for grants to emergency shelters serving veterans, received strong support from the sponsor and shelter advocates who said the funding would help move homeless veterans toward stable housing and connect them with VA services. Members emphasized veterans’ service and the need for trauma-informed case management, and the bill passed with a 10-0 do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2321, requiring DCS to place and later remove a credit freeze for children in care to prevent identity theft, also passed unanimously after the sponsor and members discussed the administrative process and protections for foster youth. The committee then considered House Bill 2601, directing ADOT to seek federal segmentation for the Interstate 11 project between Casa Grande and Wickenburg so environmental review could proceed separately from litigation affecting the southern portion. Supporters framed the bill as a bipartisan way to keep the project moving, while opponents from environmental groups and several members argued it would encourage sprawl, harm desert habitat, and add cost and delay; the bill passed 6-4. House Bill 2992, a pilot program for child sexual abuse and grooming awareness education in six public schools, drew testimony from a trafficking survivor and others who supported prevention efforts, but some members argued the topic should be handled through broader sex education or parent education; it passed 6-4. Later bills also advanced: HB 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, passed 7-3; HB 2165, exempting certain veterans and National Guard members from state park admission fees, passed 6-4 after amendment narrowing the exemption; HB 2960, creating a veterans specialty court grant program and related data-sharing requirements, passed 8-0; HB 2014, directing studies on gasoline blends and fuel feasibility amid EPA waiver concerns, passed 6-2; and HB 2957, preserving non-Real ID licenses and limiting biometric/data retention with a Kavanaugh amendment, passed 5-4-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:17.720><c> um</c> someone you love much l a parent um someone you love much l a parent um
• Higher foster care costs, as children lose parental support, and lower educational outcomes for impacted
• parent arrested or in court.
• But the role of the parent with the child, the relationship of the parent with the child—does the parent
• </c><00:57:48.599><c> aren't</c> parent and even parents who aren't parent and even parents who aren't

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:20 Discussion of 25RS HB 479 00:03:22 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 479 00:04:51 Discussion of 25RS HB 574 00:21:49 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 475 00:23:41 Discussion of 25RS HB 291 01:04:38 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 291 01:05:42 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Families and Children met and first took up House Bill 479, which would require one hour of dementia training for DCBS workers. Representative Derrick Lewis and the Alzheimer’s Association said the bill was a straightforward, bipartisan effort to address dementia awareness and improve worker training, with no fiscal impact. Members spoke in support, including remarks about personal family experiences with dementia and the importance of recognizing symptoms early. The committee voted 11-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The committee then heard House Bill 574, the “Baby Maya” child protection bill, sponsored by Representatives Dossett and Lewis. The bill would require reporting when a child is born to a parent who previously had children removed for neglect or abuse, create a rebuttable presumption allowing the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to make an initial safety determination, authorize emergency custody procedures, and name the measure the Baby Maya Law. Sponsors said it was intended to add guardrails after the Baby Maya case and stressed that it would not automatically remove children or add new mandatory-reporter penalties. Members asked about hospital involvement, HIPAA, and information-sharing; the Cabinet commissioner said the agency would be open to better data-sharing with hospitals, but currently has no such system. The bill passed 12-1 with favorable expression. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 291, the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, with a committee substitute. The bill would expand sentencing alternatives for primary caregivers convicted of nonviolent offenses, allowing judges to consider family status and use options such as counseling, parenting classes, and related services. Supporters argued it would keep families together, reduce harm from parental incarceration, and save money; one witness cited a report estimating $4 million in direct incarceration savings and broader economic benefits. Another witness, Amanda Hall, gave emotional testimony about the long-term harm of parental incarceration and said access to help would have been better for her family than prison. The committee adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 12-1 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you for your support of higher education.
• Again, building the whole education workforce.
• Again, building the whole education workforce.
• for public education to the school districts that educate the students.
• This isn't parents.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill). The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.