Transcript Highlights:

• But anyway, on the K web board<00:03:02.000><c> and</c><00:03:02.159><c> and</c> board and and board
• </c><00:04:15.280><c> school</c><00:04:15.519><c> students</c> allow high school high school students
• And then the Nelson County Schools, we share the story, the future is local.
• And then the Nelson County Schools, we share the story, the future is local.
• or or qualified uh non-public schools or or qualified uh non-public schools?

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Please welcome Broward County Public Schools. Thank you. Okay, anybody else?
• The secretary will unlock the board and senators proceed to vote.
• Lock the board and senators proceed to vote. Have all senators voted?
• However, there is no approval required by the Board of Medicine.
• Secretary, we'll unlock the board, and senators will proceed to vote.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, Catholic lay leaders, seniors advocates, Broward County school officials, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then moved through its special order calendar, beginning with several Florida Statutes revision bills. SB 36 adopted the 2025 Florida Statutes and prior session law; SB 38 conformed statutory terminology for the Division of Criminal Investigations; SB 40 removed repealed provisions; and SB 42 cleaned up obsolete language, cross-references, and typographical errors. Each passed unanimously or nearly unanimously after brief explanations and no substantive debate. The Senate also passed CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, as amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role under USF and clarify research and modeling responsibilities; CS/SB 116 on veterans, which expanded veteran awareness and coordination efforts, added mental health training, and authorized adult day health care; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempted local regulation to give a future Florida presidential library maximum flexibility; CS/SB 126 on prescription hearing aids, allowing mail distribution for adults after appropriate professional evaluation; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions; and SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 118 drew questions about local zoning, parking, and safety and passed 36-3, with one senator later changing to a no vote over local control concerns. Later, the Senate approved CS/CS/SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 348 on ethics, which would penalize false claims of military rank or honors for material gain and require paycheck withholding for delinquent ethics fines owed by public employees. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, which included a CPI/case manager recruitment program, a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improved data collection and capacity analysis for commercially sexually exploited children. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures was adopted after a detailed explanation of rule review, transparency, and rulemaking deadlines, and CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of CPA licensure pathways. The longest and most celebratory debate centered on CS/SB 110 for rural communities. The bill created an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school and health care investments, and related rural support measures. Amendments refined transportation priorities in the Everglades agricultural area and clarified the FARM road program. Senators from across the chamber praised the bill as a long-awaited investment in rural Florida, agriculture, broadband, health care, and quality of life. After extensive debate and emotional closing remarks from the sponsor and leadership, the bill passed overwhelmingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• May it go to local, sir.
• Is there a reason it's local? Senator Hinojosa moves that the committee substitute...
• Having the Higher Education Coordinating Board conduct this study...
• Members, this bill relates to the membership of a school district's local School Health Advisory Council
• board of trustees.

Bills: SB2972 , SB1909 , SB2815 , SB735 , SB2233 , SB800 , SB1069 , SB2683 , SB2986 , SB2058 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1032

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Cities are now being tasked by local water boards to invest millions of dollars into lowering the dissolved
• Cities are now being tasked by local water boards to invest millions of dollars into lowering the dissolved
• And second, by June 1, 2028, the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Control Boards,
• The example would be in the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
• School junior who came up with the bill idea along with her colleagues at her high school, and she will

Summary: The Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard four measures and approved one consent item. AB 1617 was taken up on consent and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1604, which would phase out bisphenol A in paper receipts by 2027 and all bisphenols by 2028. The author and supporters from Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Californians Against Waste argued receipts are a source of worker and consumer exposure and waste contamination, while no opposition testified. The bill passed to Judiciary. AB 1642, dealing with post-wildfire smoke and contamination standards for returning to homes, workplaces, and schools, drew extensive testimony. The author, a Caltech professor, and Eaton Fire survivors described heavy metals and other contaminants found in smoke-damaged homes and said California lacks clear science-based clearance standards. Insurance and real estate groups opposed or expressed concern, arguing the bill could overlap with insurance claims handling and add costs, while the author and supporters said it only sets scientific standards and does not regulate claims. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 5-2 vote. AB 1691 addressed copper-based anti-fouling paint on boats and conflicting state water quality and pesticide regulations. The author and the City of Newport Beach said the bill would require DPR and the State Water Resources Control Board to coordinate on studies and consistent standards, while boating groups warned about unintended consequences and the possibility of a de facto ban. The committee also heard AB 1744, a truth-in-labeling bill sponsored by a high school eco club that would prohibit sunscreen from being marketed as reef-safe or reef-friendly if it contains chemical UV filters; it passed unanimously to Privacy and Consumer Protection. After add-on votes, the committee confirmed the earlier actions and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• board is because that's what the school board is because that's what the school board is dealing the
• state school board is dealing the state school board is dealing the state school board is dealing with
• board superintendent and the school board superintendent and the school board members and others are
• boards to make their decision good local boards to make their decision good local boards to make their
• board the expert the state school board the expert the state school board supposed to be the expert

Bills: HB 9 , HB 22 , HB 908 , HB 1392

Transcript Highlights:

• school boards, working with their educators and their parents on curriculum adoption.
• This provides a tool for school boards in Idaho.
• My name is Quinn Perry, and I'm the deputy director at the Idaho School Boards Association.
• board and are then really responsible for holding administrators and school systems accountable.
• But I still felt like it was important that we come forward with something that allows our local board

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we don't have a day at school, if we shorten the school week, that they will go hungry that day
• Local government unit also includes any school district or community college district.
• I find that interesting that you have community college and local school district.
• When we think of a school district, it's very easy for me to conceive of what a school district looks
• It seeks to take that information, collected from the different Board of Regents and their boards of

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 105, which reinstates a sunset-expired TOPS Tech benefit for eligible veterans. Senator Kathy said the bill would use existing TOPS dollars, not new funding, and would help veterans stay in Louisiana and enter the workforce. After brief questions about eligibility and funding, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 3, by Representative Newell, asked the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study whether vacant state-owned property could be repurposed for housing and rental assistance for cost-burdened state employees. Members discussed the high fiscal note and whether the work could be absorbed in existing budgets. Fiscal staff said LHC had requested a full-time position and four part-time positions for the study, but the committee also talked about narrowing the study’s scope. Representative Marcelle moved the resolution favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then debated House Bill 189, which would extend supplemental pay to fire protection officers at the Lakefront Management Authority’s airport fire department. Representative Newell and airport representatives argued the firefighters perform specialized, hazardous ARFF duties and should receive the same supplemental pay as other qualifying public firefighters. Some members questioned whether the airport and its employees qualify under existing law and whether the supplement should be expanded further. After discussion, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, but the motion failed on a roll call vote of 8 yeas to 10 nays. Later, Senate Bill 461, concerning Office of Group Benefits coverage for certain small employee groups, was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 623, creating a three-tier permitting system for vapor products, was amended to clarify direct-to-consumer shipment restrictions and then reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1222, creating a grocery initiative grants and financial support program through LED to address food deserts, drew extended debate over whether it would amount to government-run grocery stores; supporters framed it as an incentive and grant program for private grocers, while critics raised concerns about government involvement. After amendment, it was reported favorably as amended by a vote of 16 yeas to 2 nays. Finally, House Resolution 80, directing a comprehensive fiscal audit related to Board of Regents and university system spending on certain executive budget metrics, was amended into a substitute version. Members debated whether the resolution would require universities to do additional work and whether it belonged in Appropriations at all, especially since the fiscal note had been removed. The discussion also raised concerns about the listed schools and the resolution’s purpose in light of a federal civil rights investigation. The transcript ends while the committee is still discussing the resolution and related procedural motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve a very large district that has a combination of bureau-funded schools, charter schools, public
• schools, and actually over five high schools.
• Schools, over 10 elementary and middle schools, very large area.
• So if you're interested in collaborating with tribal schools, private schools, public schools, I'd love
• I see we have our Board Chairman, Joseph de la Rosa, here. I see we have a board.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It waives the disclosure requirement for members of a school board or parish or municipal governing authority
• Board of Law. Thank you, Mr. Chair. David Board, Law and Ethics Administrator for the Board.
• I know in the past that the school boards have extended their service for a year whenever their term
• If you remember it, well, I don't know if anybody on here was even on the board, maybe some school board
• So that's what we did in a school board bill that we ran last year, as we wanted them to give them the

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1071, which creates a public records exception for certain aerospace facility and activity records, including blueprints, plans, technical data, operational documents, and security information tied to federally regulated work and contracts with the U.S. Department of War or intelligence agencies. The sponsor and several members emphasized protecting Louisiana aerospace and defense-related work, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 181, as amended, which authorizes the legislative auditor to review confidential income tax records to help LDH verify Medicaid eligibility, and, after amendment, SNAP eligibility as well. Supporters said the bill would help identify ineligible recipients, reduce fraud, and improve the state’s error rate to avoid federal penalties; opponents argued tax returns are outdated and unreliable for current eligibility, could create false flags, and might burden or discourage eligible low-income residents. After extensive debate, the committee adopted Amendment Set 2633 and reported HB 181 favorably by a 10-6 vote. Later, the committee considered HB 250, which removes the requirement that immediate family members of appointed board or commission members disclose certain employment information, while leaving existing ethics prohibitions in place. The Ethics Board said the bill would not change substantive conflict-of-interest rules, only the disclosure requirement, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 544, authorizing a citizen’s advisory referendum election, was briefly explained as a nonbinding, petition-driven local ballot question process, but the sponsor deferred it for further consideration and the committee deferred the bill. The committee also heard HB 1036, which clarifies when a group is considered a “committee” for campaign finance purposes by using a more objective spending threshold rather than the current “primary purpose” standard. Ethics officials said the change would give clearer investigative guidance without changing other disclosure rules, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, HB 210 was amended to address retroactivity concerns in a prior ethics-related provision affecting school board and local governing authority members employed by entities with contracts or business before June 5, 2024; the amendment grandfathered earlier situations while requiring disclosures going forward, and the bill was reported favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> has to travel their room their board has to travel their room their board because<00:22:35.679><
• </c> Kentucky Community crisis response board Kentucky Community crisis response board uh<00:25:12.159
• </c> very proud of the fact that our board very proud of the fact that our board chair<00:27:08.399><
• Well, Commissioner Tackett and our member schools, including the board of control, send their greetings
• of</c><00:38:39.520><c> control</c> schools including the board of control schools including the board

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard a presentation from Parker Keys, Northern Kentucky State Vice President for Kentucky FFA, on the value of career and technical education (CTE). He highlighted enrollment of more than 143,000 secondary students in CTE, work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and the role of student organizations such as DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, Educators Rising, TSA, and SkillsUSA. Senators praised CTE as important for workforce readiness and resume building, and encouraged continued engagement with the committee. The committee then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, sponsored by Senator Steve West, supporting a Southern Regional Education Board initiative to expand crisis counseling and recovery support for schools and colleges after tragedies and disasters. Dr. Steven Puit and Linda Tyrie described a regional network of trained counselors modeled on Kentucky’s response after Marshall County, emphasizing long-term recovery, psychological first aid, and deployment support for up to a year after an event. Members spoke in strong support, citing the lasting impact of Marshall County and Heath, and the resolution passed 13-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 77, a cleanup bill relating to the Education Professional Standards Board. Senator Matt Deneen and Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities representative Mr. Dyer explained that the bill clarifies that small independent colleges and universities may designate a qualified education department representative, not only a chief academic officer, to serve on the board. The committee adopted a committee substitute by voice vote, and the substitute was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires each local board of education to develop and implement by the 2027-2028 school year
• This bill requires each local board of education to develop and implement by the 2027-2028 school year
• Jones, local board of elections board council qualifications, on third reading for final passage.
• So, for the greater good of giving local autonomy, our local boards of education the ability to handle
• ><c> education,</c> autonomy, our local boards of education, autonomy, our local boards of education,

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, these reforms raise the standard of accountability for our schools, school boards, and SAUs
• </c> and establishes the duties of school and establishes the duties of school boards<00:22:54.720><c
• SAUs</c><00:23:11.840><c> while</c> schools, school boards, and SAUs while schools, school boards, and
• Our school boards are elected by the people in their communities.
• Our school boards are elected by the people in their communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a local decision? It is a local decision.
• It is a local decision.
• It requires school districts to have a school safety manual to guide the work.
• It requires school districts to have a school safety manual to guide the work.
• So we do have a full online elementary program, middle school, high school.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may want them on the board to be able to provide input on a school board in discussing special education
• That’s one way that the school district budget advisory board is appointed.
• local establishing a school district a local tax<01:11:45.520><c> cap</c><01:11:45.800><c> question</
• Voters get to make this decision, not the selectmen, not the school board members.
• Voters get to make school board members. Voters get to make this<01:22:43.200><c> decision.

Summary: The committee of conference first resolved House Bill 158, which concerns public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained a revised approach that removed the broader bill language and instead directed the Secretary of State to review absentee ballot data after each general election for patterns such as common addresses and to report findings to the committees of jurisdiction. The House agreed to the Senate position, and the conference committee voted unanimously to concur. The committee then took up House Bill 281, dealing with a sortable electronic voter checklist. Members debated the Senate’s removal of language that would have included the absentee ballot mailing address when different from the voter’s registration address. Concerns were raised that releasing mailing addresses could expose where voters are not home and could affect overseas and military voters. The committee also discussed a related form for election officials who personally know a voter, including how long the form would be retained and whether it would be subject to public records law. After further discussion, the House agreed to the Senate changes with an additional requirement that the form be signed, and the committee voted to proceed with the amended Senate position. House Bill 317, concerning verification of a person’s identity by a supervisor of the checklist without identification, was also discussed at length. The Senate’s version preserved the ability for election officials to identify people they know, but required a signed form under penalty of perjury and added a nursing home-related provision. Members described the measure as balancing community-based identification with tighter documentation, and a House witness described local problems with inconsistent ID checks and concerns about voting in nursing homes. The House sought one additional change requiring the nursing home verification form to be signed, and the Senate accepted that addition; the committee then voted to move the bill forward on the consent calendar. The conference committee next considered House Bill 340 on electioneering by public employees. The chair presented a replace-all amendment that tied the definition of electioneering to existing law, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty of up to $1,000 alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Members discussed clarifying when the misdemeanor versus civil penalty would apply and which categories of public employees were covered. After caucus, the Senate agreed to the House’s replace-all approach with the clarifying changes, and the bill was closed. The committee also resolved House Bill 1062 by agreeing to strike a sunset clause from the Senate version authorizing random audits of citizenship qualifications, and it began discussion of House Bill 1187 on the filing window for special-election candidates, where the House proposed requiring local election officials to arrange a filing time on the same day or next business day after being contacted.

Transcript Highlights:

• able to show up to school, much less get through a day of school and graduate.
• Partnerships between the schools and school districts and healthcare systems.
• That being said, I would much prefer local agencies with local providers, as Dr.
• When I see that local middle school, high school, and undergrad students have more opportunities to serve
• Back, uh, school on wheels, a non-traditional high school.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• graduate from high school.
• It clarifies that ESDs must only attend school board meetings when pertinent budget information is on
• the agenda rather than all school board meetings.
• board.
• Please sign the boards.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5849, which would require all high school students to receive financial education instruction and meet state financial education learning standards to graduate, beginning with the class of 2033 unless the State Board of Education recommends an earlier date. Staff explained the bill’s relationship to existing graduation requirements, the State Board’s role in integrating the requirement into current pathways, and a fiscal note showing about $201,000 in state costs plus unknown district costs. Senators asked about how the requirement would fit different school schedules, whether teacher preparation and clock hours would be addressed, and how the standards would stay current. The bill’s sponsor said it would be embedded within existing pathways, aligned with the Future Ready initiative, and supported by OSPI, the State Board, and the financial education public-private partnership. Testimony on SB 5849 was overwhelmingly supportive, especially from students, educators, nonprofits, bankers, and advocacy groups. Supporters said many students graduate without knowing how to budget, use credit, file taxes, understand loans, or make other basic financial decisions, and argued that a graduation requirement would make financial literacy more equitable and not dependent on family background or zip code. Several students described personal experiences with W-2 forms, student loans, credit cards, and lack of exposure to finance classes, while organizations such as Junior Achievement and the Washington Bankers Association said they already provide curriculum and support and could help districts implement the requirement. One school directors association representative opposed the bill, arguing districts are already overburdened and underfunded and should not receive new mandates without removing others or providing more resources. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive action on a separate packet of bills. It advanced SB 6278 on teacher preparation program review, SB 613 on National Voter Registration Day activities in high schools, SB 6222 on surplus school technology for students, and SB 6206 on a child care pilot for first responders, adopting proposed substitutes where offered. In a second packet, the committee referred SB 6260 on school bus depreciation, adopted a substitute and advanced SB 5346 on student mobile device use and digital citizenship, advanced SB 6263 on public bid thresholds, adopted a substitute and advanced SB 6268 on public access to special education complaint decisions, and adopted a substitute and advanced SB 6247 on financial oversight and misconduct in school districts. The committee then adjourned after signing the boards.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just one more paper cut that our local government This is just one more paper cut that our local
• school bus stop-arm cameras to private... ...enforcement statutes, we're going to expand the school
• Teachers and indeed school board members feeling silenced. Students feeling unseen and abandoned.
• Well, does this apply to law schools and graduate schools? I don't know.
• Well, this is applied to law schools and graduate schools. I don't know.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and adoption of the special order report for the day. Members observed a moment of silence for several service members killed in the Middle East conflict, and the chamber also recognized visiting students, law enforcement, and later several guests in the gallery during farewell remarks. The House then moved through the special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on third reading. The first major measure was CS for CS for HB 981 on tributaries of the St. Johns River, which sponsors described as a community-driven plan to restore the Ocklawaha River while balancing conservation, recreation, and economic concerns. Representative Sapp opposed the bill, arguing it would harm rural communities, Rodman Reservoir interests, freshwater resources, property values, and local jobs without adequate funding or certainty. Representative Cross supported the restoration effort and its long-term environmental and community benefits. The House adopted an amendment updating planning references and expanding the advisory council, then passed the bill 107-3. The chamber next passed CS for CSHB 1389 on affordable housing and the Live Local Act after debate over state preemption of local authority, accessory dwelling units, and the removal of local opt-out provisions; supporters emphasized the statewide housing shortage and the need for more housing supply, while opponents argued the bill further limited local control. The bill passed 70-29. The House also passed CS for CSHB 1085, codifying the local government cybersecurity grant program and giving preference to fiscally constrained counties, by a unanimous 109-0 vote. CS for HB 273 on special districts passed after extensive questioning about downtown development districts, rural areas of opportunity, budget approval, and administrative caps; an amendment to remove the downtown district provisions failed, and the bill ultimately passed 88-? yeas as announced on the floor. CS for HB 989 on motor vehicle manufacturers and franchise dealers passed 109-1 after sponsor testimony that it would prevent manufacturers from concentrating new vehicle inventory with one dealer group and protect competition and small businesses. CS/CS for HB 1329 on local government spending and budget transparency passed 82-28 after a lengthy debate over whether the bill would impose costs on local governments; a Cheney amendment to provide hardship assistance for smaller governments was adopted, and supporters framed the bill as improving public access to local budget information while opponents argued it duplicated existing transparency and could require new software or staff. The House then began consideration of CS/CS/CS/CS HB 1417, the Department of Environmental Protection package, with the sponsor outlining provisions on environmental regulation, septic systems, solar facility stormwater controls, coastal resiliency partnerships, and air-pollution permit timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first point I wanted to make is that school boards already have term limits at eight years under
• I've never served on a school board and I've never served in a local elected office.
• I believe just based through, I've never served on a school board and I've never served in a local elected
• And maybe you are a different commissioner, school board member in your 30s than you are in your 60s,
• and you bring something different to the table. ...school board member in your 30s than you are in your

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and temporarily postponed Senator Yarborough’s bill and Senate Bill 1170 at the sponsor’s request. The committee first considered Senate Bill 982 by Senator Bernard, which was amended to remove language the sponsor said had been declared unconstitutional in 2016. As amended, the bill addresses qualifying fee payment issues, allows qualifying fees to be paid by properly executed checks or debit cards linked to a candidate campaign account, creates a private right of action for qualifying challenges limited to candidates, and addresses campaign expenditures by debit card. Mark Heron testified in support, saying the bill would clarify recent qualifying disputes. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported SB 982 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Joint Resolution 536, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose legislative term limits of eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate, with carve-outs for current officeholders and redistricting. An amendment to change the limits to 12 years in each chamber failed on a tie vote. Public testimony was mixed but largely opposed, with speakers from county and small-county groups arguing the proposal was a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate that would override local choice and reduce institutional knowledge. Several members debated whether the eight-year limit was the right number, with some supporting term limits in principle but questioning a lifetime ban on returning to office. The resolution was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also considered Senate Joint Resolution 802, which would place on the 2026 ballot an eight-year term limit for county commissioners and school board members, with school board limits applied retroactively and county commissioner limits prospectively. An amendment to change the limit to 12 years failed. The Florida Association of Counties, a county commissioner, and representatives of the Small County Coalition testified against the measure, arguing that counties should retain local control through county charters and local referenda. Some senators supported the concept of term limits but raised concerns about imposing a uniform statewide rule on counties and school boards. After debate, the joint resolution was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators who had missed votes were allowed to register their positions on SB 982 and SJR 536, and the committee moved to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're trying to help the school districts increase their scale at the local level in what they're
• So we're trying to help the school districts increase their scale at the local level in what they're
• , school districts, and charter schools.
• I spoke with school board members. We reached out to superintendent's offices.
• I have almost none of the school board members I talked to knew about this at all, Soluna or Bright Life

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are some key differences across the board.
• The small boards and commissions don't, as was stated earlier.
• So there's a void for the small boards and commissions.
• local level in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
• local level in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Summary: The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana. The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session. The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration. Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.