Transcript Highlights:

• That's the actual monitoring well.
• abandonment, and monitoring well replacement within the east parcel where we need more information.
• It doesn't mix well.
• It's been abandoned a long time.
• Well, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, thank you. Thank you for that answer. Just one last question. I'm just in the broad sense.
• Their comment was, well, if I knew that, because they don't necessarily know if the health plan is a
• Well, you're recognized, and you can go back and forth as needed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Well, it wouldn't take it.
• That, two-thirds, if not 90 percent of my speaking, is very well stated.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and heard a full agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and passed without objection after supportive testimony from banking and credit union groups. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program; the sponsor described it as a way to move emergency out-of-network payment disputes away from costly litigation and into an independent dispute resolution process modeled on the federal No Surprises Act. A proposed amendment drew significant questions from senators and concerns from the Florida Insurance Council about confusion over state versus federal eligibility and possible effects on contracted rates, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the amendment. The underlying bill was then supported by health care and insurance stakeholders and reported favorably. SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels also passed, with Progressive Insurance waiving in support. The committee next approved CS/SB 158 on pet insurance, which requires continuing education for agents, clearer consumer disclosures, and annual reporting to OIR; the amendment was technical and adopted. SB 1494 on breast cancer screening coverage was presented as expanding required coverage for mammograms and supplemental screenings for certain insurance products, and it passed with support from cancer and radiology groups. CS/SB 314 on digital asset issuers was amended to create a Florida framework for payment stablecoin issuers consistent with the federal GENIUS Act, allowing state-level regulation as an alternative to federal supervision, and was reported favorably. SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, including higher small-estate thresholds and clearer authority for personal representatives, also passed after a banking-related amendment requiring letters of administration for safe deposit box access was adopted. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance, which raises the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ comp policies from 10% to 20% and adjusts the Florida Workers’ Compensation Guarantee Association board membership; a carrier representative testified that the change would help keep more high-risk accounts in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 on a Florida Stable Coin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for DFS to create a Florida coin, limit the pilot to existing stablecoins with at least $1 billion market capitalization, and require qualified public deposit handling; it then passed. CS/SB 838 on electronic payments for retail installment contracts clarified that convenience fees for electronic payments are permissible while preserving a fee-free option, and it was reported favorably after questions about consumer access to free payment methods. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, made a wide range of administrative changes affecting My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, licensing, bail bonds, and other DFS functions; a late-filed amendment on title insurer appointments was adopted, and the bill passed. The committee also approved SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting condo hardening assistance to owner-occupied units meeting income and occupancy criteria, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which the sponsor and industry witnesses said would modernize Florida law and promote insurance competition and economic activity. The meeting ended with all bills on the agenda reported favorably and the committee adjourning without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know the area quite well, as it was part of your district.
• Well, I disagree with that interpretation.
• Okay, well maybe some of the experts that are here can shed some light.
• Right, well, there's a lot of granularity here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Well, she just reminded me it wasn't. But alright, well, I just sent it up while we're there.

Bills: SB 682, SB 1013, SB 1369, SB 1422, SB 2001, SB 2080, SB 2366, SB 2705, SB 2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on several bills aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of Texas transportation and port authorities. Key discussions included the implications of SB2080, which seeks to streamline operations for navigation districts by raising procurement authority, exempting security discussions from recording requirements, and aligning Texas ports with national standards to foster economic growth. Senator Alvarado advocated fervently for the bill, emphasizing its positive impact on competitiveness with ports in states like Virginia and New Jersey. Public testimony reflected mixed responses, with strong support from industry representatives but opposition from some municipal authorities concerned about the potential overreach of port authorities into local development.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I just want to make a distinction of abandoned wells versus idle wells.
• And I just want to make sure that the two-for-one is for idle wells and not abandoned wells.
• a well... ...would choose where to plug and abandon a well within that same existing field, and in the
• and that an operator may elect to acquire that well for the sole purpose of plugging and abandonment.
• We also ask for proper financial assurances of plugging and abandoning oil wells, and we must ensure

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Utilities and Energy, Transportation, and Natural Resources focused on California’s transportation fuels sector, especially the state’s response to refinery closures and the broader transition away from fossil fuels. Opening remarks emphasized the tension between climate and air-quality goals, fuel affordability, refinery jobs and local tax bases, and the need to avoid crisis-driven responses as Phillips 66 and Valero consider shutting refineries in Wilmington and Benicia. Professor Emily Grubert framed the issue as a long-term managed transition in which the public already bears much of the risk and should also capture benefits from a well-planned shift. CARB Chair Leanne Randolph reviewed the state’s emissions and fuel policies, including AB 32, the low-carbon fuel standard, clean vehicle programs, and the at-berth regulation for ocean-going vessels. She said California’s transportation sector remains the largest source of greenhouse gases and a major source of smog-forming pollution, but that the state has made substantial progress and still needs to reduce demand for fossil fuels while maintaining compliance with federal air-quality standards. Randolph also said CARB’s recent LCFS amendments had not caused the predicted spike in gas prices and explained that compliance pathways for the at-berth rule include emissions-reduction technologies or payments into a remediation fund. CEC Vice Chair Gunda described declining gasoline demand, shrinking in-state refining capacity, and growing dependence on imports, arguing that the state is in a “mid-transition” period that requires both support for legacy infrastructure and continued investment in cleaner alternatives. He outlined the administration’s petroleum market stabilization proposal, which aims to return California crude production to 125 million barrels a year through four components: codifying the ban on fracking, validating the Kern County oil-and-gas permitting ordinance, creating a temporary CEQA exemption paired with a two-for-one plug-and-drill framework, and strengthening pipeline and spill-safety requirements. Department of Conservation Director Jennifer Lucasey said the proposal is intended to stabilize crude supply and pipeline throughput while preserving health and environmental protections, and noted that CalGEM would still review permits and enforce other requirements. Mayor Steve Young of Benicia testified that a Valero closure would significantly reduce city revenue and leave the community facing years of cleanup and redevelopment challenges. He said the city supports environmental protection but is worried about the economic hit, the possibility that Benicia becomes a fuel-import terminal, and the lack of local influence over refinery decisions. Members pressed the panel on the CEQA exemption, tribal and habitat review, disclosure of closure liabilities, fuel-demand projections, and whether the proposal should include more demand-side measures. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and officials said some proposals, including a margin-cap pause and further transition planning, would be taken up later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every side of the aisle, I think, wants to see the abandoned wells plugged as quickly as possible and
• One question: do we need to define “orphaned well” or “abandoned”? Mr.
• You know, there’s new technology for, you know, let’s say long-term energy storage of abandoned wells
• You know, there’s new technology for, you know, let’s say long-term energy storage of abandoned wells
• Abandoned wells.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, go ahead. Go ahead. Good afternoon. I left your bill a lot. Thank you.
• Well, maybe we need to add a guardian ad litem.
• Well, it’s, the courts are intervening. And so is it constitutional?
• Well, it’s, the courts are intervening. So yes, it would be up to the courts, yes. Okay.
• Well, thank you. But again, a bill like this isn’t going to pass in a year.

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and approved several measures. House Bill 2516 was voted do pass by a 6-yes, 1-present roll call. House Joint Resolution 171 was amended, rolled into a new House committee substitute, and then voted do pass by a 7-0 roll call. House Bill 3090 was also amended to remove three sections, rolled into a new House committee substitute, and then passed unanimously, 7-0. The committee then returned to open session to hear House Bill 2512, sponsored by Representative Tricia Burns. The bill would replace the current “imminent danger” standard with “predictable harm,” create a “qualified petitioner” process, and expand court involvement in ordering treatment, including long-acting antipsychotic injections for certain patients with severe mental illness. Burns argued the bill is meant to help families and police intervene earlier in cases involving schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, and similar conditions, and said current law leaves families with too few tools and too little communication from providers. Members asked about how the bill differs from current 96-hour psychiatric holds, how “predictable harm” would work in practice, and whether the proposal raises constitutional concerns. Burns said the bill is intended to allow earlier intervention based on documented patterns of behavior and to provide due process through the courts. In opposition, Lisa Pennett of Armour Vine raised concerns about court-ordered treatment against a patient’s will, unclear standards for incapacity, immunity provisions, funding penalties for noncompliant clinics, and criminal penalties for interference. The hearing on House Bill 2512 concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I reluctantly said, 'Well, no.'
• No caps absolutely doesn't sit well with me.
• , as well as organizations that promote them.
• They have children and they are raised and all goes well.
• Well, thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long third-reading file, taking up a series of bills and resolutions. Early measures included AB 713 on equal access to campus jobs for undocumented students, AB 1049 streamlining food assistance applications, and AB 1421 authorizing a study process on road user charges; all passed, with AB 1421 first amended procedurally after debate over whether it would lead to a mileage tax. Other education and workforce bills also passed, including AB 1171 on part-time community college faculty health insurance and AB 1198 on prevailing wage timing for public works projects. The chamber also approved a number of public safety, housing, environmental, and consumer protection measures. These included AB 1382 banning the sale of genetically modified pets for cosmetic purposes, AB 292 revising penalties for repeat felony domestic violence offenders, AB 375 restoring telehealth access for autism services paraprofessionals, AB 442 easing forest management rules, AB 501 increasing penalties for false UCC lien filings, AB 634 banning tianeptine, AB 939 modernizing density bonus resale rules for affordable homeownership, AB 739 on common-interest development fee transparency, AB 464 strengthening protections for incarcerated survivors of sexual assault, AB 910 increasing PBM reporting, AB 1153 addressing illegal dumping and abandoned RVs, AB 1165 requiring a housing/homelessness fiscal analysis, AB 1235 creating a skilled-and-trained requirement for CSU contracts, AB 1245 updating procurement rules to combat forced labor, AB 1383 making limited PEPRA changes for first responders, AB 1439 studying pension investment labor standards, AB 1486 speeding Prop 4 funding for agricultural research, and AB 1406 raising the condo liquidated damages cap from 3% to 6% with assurances of further amendments in the Senate. AB 762, which would phase out disposable vape devices in favor of reusable ones, drew the most extended debate, with supporters citing landfill fires and health concerns and opponents warning about lost tax revenue and illicit-market growth; it ultimately passed. The Assembly also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding coauthors: ACR 120 declaring January 2026 Positive Parenting Awareness Month, ACR 121 designating January 2026 National Mentoring Month, and ACR 122 recognizing Anesthesiologist Week. AB 1485, granting tribes welfare-exemption treatment for conservation land, was concurred in and passed. The consent calendar was then adopted, and the house adjourned until Monday, February 2, at 1 p.m., with a few vote changes entered after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• key components have been deteriorated to the point where there are no longer operative and it's abandoned
• So they just abandoned it.
• So we'll talk more about some of the prevention measures that we've put in place that are working well
• In my view, I think we give these folks who have abandoned these boats so much latitude that I would.
• They can individually charge an individual for removal as you do as well. Absolutely.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
• Second, this bill does not define 'abandoned,' and operable and abandoned are not the same thing.
• Well, thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
• And members of the committee as well.
• I knew my ex-husband was not well.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the area quite well; it was part of your district.
• Well, Mr. Chairman, again, I will defer to the experts here.
• Well, I disagree with that interpretation.
• Well, I haven't had a chance to read it.
• Well, she just reminded me it wasn't.

Bills: SB682, SB1013, SB1369, SB1422, SB2001, SB2080, SB2366, SB2705, SB2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, well, we're going to call all. I'll go. Okay, well, we're going to call. Thank you.
• Well, then. I'm like, okay. Well, then I. Lay off the consent. We'll keep it open.
• they were really abandoned.
• they were really abandoned.
• Well, that's why... Well, I might leave that. You know what? I'm going to let the chair.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank my staff as well as agency staff for the hard work that went into putting together these
• So before you ask questions, you're required to get their title right as well.
• The $80 million referenced in the back of the bill is actually from abandoned grants.
• Do we know why, what kind of impediments people are facing that they're abandoning their grants?
• Do we know what percentage of the grants are being abandoned compared to how many are being made?

Summary: The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably. Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage. The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank my staff as well as agency staff for the hard work that went into putting together these
• So before you ask questions, you're required to get their title right as well.
• So the $80 million referenced in the back of the bill is actually from abandoned grants.
• Do we know why, what kind of impediments people are facing that they're abandoning their grants?
• Do we know what percentage of the grants are being abandoned compared to how many are being made?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government met to hear presentations on the Governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 “Florida’s first” budget for environmental and general government agencies, and to act on several confirmation appointments. The committee first unanimously recommended confirmation of five appointees to water management district and basin board positions. It then heard an environmental budget overview from the Governor’s Office and DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert, followed by a general government budget presentation from Olivia McCaffrey and agency leaders. In the environmental presentation, the administration highlighted a proposed $5.8 billion environmental budget, including more than $1.4 billion for water resources, with $810 million for Everglades restoration, $408 million for water quality, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $75 million for beach renourishment, $150 million for Florida Forever and $70 million for state park infrastructure, and $221 million for hazardous waste cleanup. Additional proposals included funding for FWC law enforcement, boating access, manatee care, python removal, oyster reef restoration, forestry and wildfire equipment, and citrus research and disease prevention. Senators asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and how beach renourishment funding would be used after storms. In the general government presentation, the administration outlined budget recommendations for DBPR, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Lottery, DMS, PERC, DFS/OIR/OFR, and Revenue. Highlights included DBPR funding for licensing processing, an animal abuse hotline, vehicles, and IT recruitment; FGCC funding for new enforcement squads and a licensing/enforcement IT system; Lottery funding for marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention; DMS funding for building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, and local cybersecurity grants; PERC funding to handle increased union-related caseloads after SB 256; DFS funding for My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, and financial investigations; and Revenue funding for operations, IT modernization, and fiscally constrained counties. Members questioned funding levels for Florida Forever, state parks, local cybersecurity grants, DBPR fraud and transparency initiatives, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s unused grant balances and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank my staff as well as agency staff for the hard work that went into putting together these
• So before you ask questions, you're required to get their title right as well.
• So the $80 million referenced in the back of the bill is actually from abandoned grants.
• Do we know why, what kind of impediments people are facing that they're abandoning their grants?
• Do we know what percentage of the grants are being abandoned compared to how many are being made?

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum, welcomed new member Senator Ralph Massullo, and first took up confirmation of five appointees to water management district and basin board positions. Senator McLean moved favorable confirmation of Ted Everett, Jerome Pate, Michael Romano, Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns, and the motion passed by roll call. The main agenda item was the Governor’s Florida First budget presentation for the environmental agencies. Kim Kramer and DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert outlined proposed environmental funding of about $5.8 billion, including more than $1.4 billion for water resources, $810 million for Everglades restoration, $408 million for water quality, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $75 million for beach renourishment, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state park infrastructure, and $221 million for hazardous waste cleanup. They also highlighted proposed funding for FWC operations, manatee care, python removal, oyster reef restoration, forestry and wildfire equipment, and citrus research and disease response. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and how beach renourishment is handled after storms. The committee then heard the general government budget presentation. Agencies highlighted included DBPR, Gaming Control, the Lottery, DMS, PERC, DFS, OIR, and Revenue. DBPR discussed funding for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, vehicle replacement, and IT recruitment; Gaming Control requested new law enforcement squads and a licensing/enforcement IT system; the Lottery emphasized marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding; DMS proposed building, fleet, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and local government grant investments; PERC described workload growth after SB 256 and requested staffing, operations, and pay increases; OIR sought more staff for consumer protection and market oversight plus building renovations; DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home funding, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation; and Revenue requested operational, IT, and fiscally constrained county funding. Members questioned DBPR about unfunded HOA fraud and condo transparency items, DMS about cybersecurity grants, and DFS about My Safe Florida Home funding levels, abandoned grants, and reduced program uptake. No further action was taken, and the committee adjourned without additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> showing um the effects of well-managed showing um the effects of well-managed rangeland,<00:12:39.960
• ><c> well-managed</c><00:12:40.480><c> grazing</c><00:12:40.800><c> lands,</c> rangeland, well-managed
• </c> can be mitigated by well-managed can be mitigated by well-managed rangelands.<00:13:15.520><c> Um
• Hawaii Humane is very concerned about abandoned animals on the landscape.
• And if you notice, the lawyers in the Senate also voted against this resolution as well.

Bills: SCR120, SCR71, SCR164, SCR41

Keywords: rangelands, pastoralists, pastoralism, ranching, ranchers, paniolo, livestock, grazing, grasslands, land management, conservation, sustainable agriculture, agriculture, Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, University of Hawaii, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, Hawaii counties, International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, you know, we did contracts. Well, you know, you know, you know, you...
• abandoned?
• abandoned?
• Right now, in the state of Louisiana, how many wells need to be plugged and abandoned?
• these old wells.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 480, which would allow anchoring in certain waterways, specifically Oyster Bayou, with restrictions to protect oyster leases and require a person to remain on board. After brief explanation from the sponsor, Representative DeWitt moved favorable and the bill was reported favorable without objection. House Bill 510, which would have prohibited importation of captured carbon dioxide into Louisiana for sequestration, was discussed briefly. The sponsor said the proposal appeared to conflict with federal law and interstate commerce concerns, and he asked to voluntarily defer the bill. The committee agreed, and HB 510 was deferred. The committee also heard House Resolution 279, urging the state to study geothermal energy policy; after questions about geothermal technology and possible overlap with CCS infrastructure, the resolution was adopted on a 10-3 roll call vote and reported favorable. The bulk of the meeting focused on House Bill 1152, as amended, dealing with the Carbon Dioxide Geologic Storage Trust Fund and a proposed injection fee for carbon sequestration projects. The amendment would set the fee at 19 cents per ton, with 12 cents going to the state trust fund and 7 cents going directly to affected parishes, while retaining existing fund caps and adding evacuation routes as an eligible local expenditure. Industry groups and local government representatives both testified: industry warned the proposal was rushed, could create uncertainty, and might hurt Louisiana’s competitiveness; parish officials argued locals need a meaningful revenue share, transparency, and bargaining power because they will bear emergency-response burdens. Members raised questions about the fee structure, exemptions for state lands and parish agreements, and whether the local share would continue for the life of a project. The bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript, with talk of creating an off-session task force or working group to continue negotiations for next year.

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding will help the Oil Conservation Division ensure that the abandoned wells are cleaned up.
• These are not newly drilled wells that have been abandoned.
• These are not newly drilled wells that have been abandoned.
• This bill will help fund the cleanup of abandoned wells, and through adequate bonding, corporations can
• well.

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding will help the Oil Conservation Division ensure that the abandoned wells are cleaned up.
• These are not newly drilled wells that have been abandoned; they are historic liabilities that require
• These are not newly drilled wells that have been abandoned.
• This bill will help fund the cleanup of abandoned wells, and through adequate bonding, corporations can
• There's 34,000 wells out there, so the state could be up for as much as 3,000 wells at $150,000 per well

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 7, the Apprenticeship Assistance Act, which would keep apprenticeship trust fund distributions at $2.5 million rather than reducing them and remove a reference to the tobacco settlement permanent fund. Labor, construction, business, and environmental groups testified in support, emphasizing workforce development, retention of workers in New Mexico, and expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. The bill was moved and adopted without opposition. Members then considered House Bill 66, as amended, to increase funding for health professional loan repayment and related workforce supports. The amendment struck an appropriation because the funding was already included in House Bill 2. Testimony from health care providers, chambers of commerce, social workers, and physical therapy advocates supported the bill as a way to address provider shortages and improve recruitment and retention. After questions about eligibility, repayment terms, and overlap with similar Senate bills, the committee voted to do pass the bill as amended. House Bill 96, creating a working group to study a possible New Mexico Space Commission, was also amended to strike an appropriation. Support came from the chamber, Virgin Galactic, and aerospace advocates, who said a commission could help coordinate economic development and workforce efforts in the space sector. Members asked about other states’ commissions, workforce pathways, and the working group’s timeline, and the sponsor agreed to add clearer dissolution language later. The committee then passed the bill as amended. The committee then took up House Bill 80, a committee substitute to redirect more of the oil and gas conservation tax to the reclamation fund for orphan well plugging and site remediation. Supporters from industry, environmental groups, tribal advocates, and chambers said the bill would better align the tax with its original purpose and provide stable funding for cleanup, while an opponent argued the bill shifts costs from industry to the public and should instead raise the tax or bonding requirements. After discussion of backlog, phase-in timing, and procurement reforms, the committee voted do pass. The committee also heard House Bill 4, as amended, which phases in a larger share of premium surtax revenue to the Health Care Affordability Fund over three years. Supporters said it would sustain BeWell enrollment and affordability programs, while opponents questioned the burden on private payers and the size of the general fund impact. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 10-7 vote. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 65, as amended, creating a Foster Care Plus pilot project for children in CYFD custody, with testimony both supporting the need for better services and cautioning that implementation should respect tribal law, cultural practices, and family reunification. The committee also tabled House Bill 68 at the sponsor’s request. The transcript then began discussion of House Bill 88, which would make minor changes to the land grant assistance fund, including capturing reverted payments that currently go back to the general fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, with Oklahoma being north of an 11% error rate, I think that's a problem.
• And some in opposition to this bill have said, well, this isn't a problem.
• So I think—I don't know that they're not funded well enough, because I believe they are funded well enough
• But a lot of these abandoned grows are abandoned because they lost their license, and they lost their
• And so everybody else gets to know, oh, well, I forgot you couldn't do that.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee considered a series of bills, beginning with House Bill 4422 and House Bill 4423, which strengthen immigration status verification for public assistance programs, including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid. Supporters said the measures would improve eligibility checks through the SAVE system, reduce fraud, and help address Oklahoma’s high error rate in benefit programs. Members raised concerns about whether the bills could discourage eligible children or mixed-status families from seeking services, but the author said the bills were intended to target ineligible applicants and would not affect eligible U.S.-citizen children. Both bills were reported out with due pass recommendations by 8-3 votes. The committee also advanced House Bill 3834, which would create a state-backed vehicle to support ibogaine research for conditions such as PTSD, alcoholism, and opioid addiction, with private matching funds and potential state royalties if a product is commercialized. House Bill 2947 would allow Medicaid billing for mental health therapist interns working under supervision, with an estimated fiscal impact discussed in the hundreds of thousands of dollars rather than millions; it passed 11-0. House Bill 2964 would remove the mandatory fee for copies of medical records requested by attorneys, insurers, or subpoenas, while still allowing providers to charge at their discretion; it also passed unanimously. Several marijuana-related bills were heard. House Bill 3143 would extend the current moratorium on new marijuana grow licenses, and House Bill 3144 would cap the number of licenses if the moratorium is later lifted. Supporters argued the limits would help law enforcement and regulators control illegal activity and reduce black-market diversion, while critics questioned whether the issue was really license count or agency resources. Both bills were reported out, 9-2 and 8-2 respectively. House Bill 3519 would replace a failed bond approach for cleaning up abandoned grows with a fee-based revolving fund, and House Bill 3522 would require the ABLE Commission to report disciplinary actions annually; both passed 10-0. House Bill 3530 would give ABLE-regulated businesses 10 days to produce requested records, and House Bill 4300 would align DHS child care worker background-check statutes with federal law; both were reported out unanimously. The committee also laid over several other bills before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Companies don't know how to report abandoned crypto, and people aren't getting reconnected with their
• So this bill sets a clear process: if a virtual currency is abandoned for three years, holders must try
• And this bill also ensures that California implements best practices for managing abandoned digital assets
• , consumer protections, as well as practical administration and a clear legal path forward for holders
• of unclaimed virtual currency, as well as the Comptroller's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all