Transcript Highlights:

• We're asking for 12 positions for five years to support this work that's going to be managed.
• So that's for older foster care youth, you know, foster care youth who are graduating high school and
• Chairman, for a question.
• I was really hoping you would acknowledge me first so I could rid of him for being here for two weeks
• It's also for leases for space that we occupy, wherein those benefit determinations for SNAP are made

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 5, 2026 minutes and then heard a lengthy budget presentation from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon and Medicaid Director Sasha O’Connell. The department outlined numerous supplemental and line-item requests across Medicaid, child and family services, welfare/self-reliance, and support functions, including funding for state hospital billing authority, Medicaid caseload and cost growth, rural health transformation staffing and program funds, child care capacity and program integrity work, kinship navigation, home visiting, and IT and procurement modernization. The committee also discussed the department’s reorganization and the need for additional procurement support for large Medicaid contracts. Much of the discussion focused on Medicaid spending growth, especially in disability services and behavioral health. Sharon said higher utilization and more intensive services, including residential habilitation, youth residential treatment, and substance use services, were driving costs. Members asked about safeguards against provider overuse or steerage; the director said the department uses annual assessments, internal reviews, data mining, and referrals to program integrity, and that some provider behavior had already prompted a proposed rate reduction for residential habilitation. She also explained that the department is seeking to maintain contractor support for disability assessments rather than absorb the work in-house. The committee also reviewed the department’s response to budget reductions and federal changes. Sharon explained the 4% provider rate reduction, the resulting savings, and the need for an additional $22 million in general funds to balance Medicaid, with options for further cuts still before the legislature. Other topics included the state’s Medicaid estate recovery and program integrity contractors, the impact of new SNAP administrative cost-sharing rules, Medicaid work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews under state and federal law, and a request for three dedicated procurement staff in the Department of Administration to speed Medicaid contracting. No further votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the committee adjourned to attend the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• for working people.
• There have been many sponsors to this, and I just want to say that, you know, I'm very hopeful for this
• My name is Hope Morales, and I'm the Executive Director for Teach Plus New Mexico.
• for kids kindergarten through 12th grade use high-quality instructional materials from the PED list.
• It's that teachers have a wide variety for those native languages for... ...have a wide variety for those

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kaufman, in high school, where you need higher computing power for AutoCAD and some of these programs
• And, uh, you mentioned the one-to-one no take-home for middle school, high school one-to-one they were
• What about middle school, high school? Could you talk about that for just a little bit?
• that allows for the CAD labs to exist because then, you know, in a high school, that means then it's
• You're going to see a majority of those courses at the high school are going to be online courses for

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but there is flexibility within that term for high-impact targeting support.
• By your vote, CS for CS for CS for SB 1626, this report of favorably.
• I would like to thank Senator Cory Simon for leading the way with this bill and the Florida High School
• Thank you for continuing to advocate for your child.
• Michelle, please call the roll on CS for CS for CS for SB 1070.

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills and amendments, reporting several measures favorably. Early in the meeting, CS for CS for SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System Act was approved without opposition. The committee then adopted amendments and passed CS for SB 714 on non-opioid advanced directives, CS for SB 738 updating child care and early learning provider regulation, CS for SB 756 revising health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, and CS for CS for SB 1356 creating a Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a newborn genetic testing pilot. Later, the committee also approved CS for SB 1624 on higher education, CS for SB 1626 on child welfare, SB 178 on an agronomic study for emerging crops, SB 1162 on water access facilities and boat ramp parking, CS for CS for SB 958 creating a type 1 diabetes early detection program, CS for CS for SB 1402 expanding dropout retrieval eligibility, SB 774 requiring electronic transmission of certain court orders, SB 1516 creating an international aerospace innovation fund, and SB 994 revising driver education requirements. Most of these bills were reported favorably by roll call votes after brief explanations and, in several cases, amendments. Several measures drew substantive discussion and public testimony. CS for CS for SB 1624 prompted questions about replacing “minority” with “underrepresented,” the role of the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education in overseeing private religious postsecondary institutions, and whether the changes could affect access for students at institutions such as FAMU and FIU. CS for CS for SB 1070 on ECGs for student athletes received extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates describing children lost to sudden cardiac arrest and urging mandatory screenings; the sponsor said the bill would be cost-neutral for districts by encouraging partnerships with screening groups. SB 994 on driver education was discussed as a vehicle to add distracted driving instruction, and the sponsor agreed to work on that issue. SB 774 was presented as a response to a fatal delay in transmitting an ex parte order, with support from clerks and sheriffs. The most extended debate centered on SB 810 on stormwater management systems. The sponsor said the bill, as amended, would narrow annual inspections to infrastructure identified as vulnerable by MS4 entities, but the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, and Florida Stormwater Association warned the proposal could impose major costs and duplicate existing MS4 permit requirements. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, whether the bill would apply to FDOT or other entities, and whether annual inspections were feasible for large and small jurisdictions alike. Despite those concerns, the sponsor and several members emphasized flood prevention and public safety, and the bill remained under discussion with the sponsor indicating continued willingness to work with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's see, $15.4 million for the high medical malpractice insurance premiums, not the PCF surcharges.
• And in 2026, $5 million and $8.1 million was given directly to the rural hospitals for their high premiums
• And $8.1 million was given directly to the rural hospitals for their high premiums.
• Vice Chair, members of the committee, I'm hoping the residual market's gonna be a place for you to go
• So we're seeing these high numbers and, you know, for purposeful reasons why we passed those pieces of

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank you for your leadership for... thank you for your leadership, for your partnership in
• hope unborn have died, and yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which
• Thank you, guys, for what you do for our state. You guys for what you do for our state.
• It also codifies the Alabama high school diploma option as an alternative for individuals 18 or older
• Hey, uh, I work with high school students all the time, and I just want to say this for the record: this

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also for connection... ...but also for biodiversity, also for connection to rail trails, and make a wider
• We put out $1.4 billion out of the SRF last year, which is a really historic high for us.
• We put out $1.4 billion out of the SRF last year, which is a really historic high for us.
• The coalition has been advocating for the past several years for a $500 million authorization for the
• Finally, we are asking for $75 million for trails.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on S.2542, the Mass Ready Act, a $3 billion environmental bond bill aimed at climate resilience, water infrastructure, conservation, and related permitting reforms. Secretary Rebecca Tepper and administration officials described the bill’s major investments in flood control, coastal resilience, DCR roads/bridges/dams and parks, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, land conservation, food security infrastructure, and expanded Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness funding. They also explained proposed streamlining measures for environmental permitting, flood risk disclosures, a Connecticut River Resilient Commission, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-cost financing for municipal resilience projects. Committee members asked about affordability, useful life of projects, how the revolving fund would be capitalized, and how the bill would help communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and coastal towns; officials said the fund would initially use existing trust resources, not new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds once it has a track record. Several witnesses supported the bill but urged larger authorizations or additional provisions. Boston Harbor Now asked for more funding for MVP and the state’s resilient coast plan, and supported permitting reforms for nature-based and hybrid solutions. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance urged inclusion of drought-management language from separate bills, plus a statewide flood buyout program and a water reuse commission. Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements, especially in environmental justice communities affected by traffic and airport pollution. Conservation and forestry advocates requested more funding for urban tree canopy, local nurseries, and workforce training, while also raising concerns about PFAS impacts and the need for clearer municipal reforestation language. Agriculture and water infrastructure groups focused on food security and drinking water needs. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative backed the food security infrastructure grant program and farmland protection funding, warning that the program needs continued support in fiscal 2027 and that farmland loss is accelerating. The Massachusetts Waterworks Association said the bill does not go far enough on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, citing large statewide capital needs and PFAS compliance costs, and asked for recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. A Product Stewardship Council representative also urged funding for a waste reduction needs assessment, citing growing landfill constraints and rising disposal costs. No votes were taken during the hearing."}{

Transcript Highlights:

• Has that been flat for a long time? What's the formula for determining reimbursement rates?
• Just for the record, Ashlyn Abney, I'm the Education Division Director for the Office of Early Childhood
• does ABC pay for?
• Is it one in five for infant care? And that is certainly not what it is for K-12.
• Identified as being high risk.

Committee: All EDUCATION- HOUSE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not for human traffickers. I'm not for that.
• Consistent with other high-risk age groups, we already accept restrictions for things that are far less
• I hope that we... have the age raised. Thank you so much for bringing this amendment.
• Gun homicide rate for youth is incredibly high, despite them being a smaller percentage of the population
• This has high implications for Florida's growing senior population, which currently comprises over one-fourth

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we're hoping that as opposed to following the process that we have for the last 15 years, that
• uses, and being in the High Plains region, there are very few options, um, for alternative water sources
• Chair, for, for bearing with me with these questions.
• So, what we train for, we always train for the worst case scenario.
• , for cleanup.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The demand for food assistance remains high.
• Demand is high for the fruit and vegetable pilot.
• FY 25-26 and $60 million for FY 26-27, to reduce long wait lists, meet the very high demand for legal
• However, they have a high demand for services.
• these cuts is to pay for trillions of dollars in federal tax cuts for high-income households and corporations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for.
• We hope we'll things we're asking for.
• The national average for uh We're hoping to be moving earth sometime by late next month and showing those
• The demand for air traffic controllers obviously is high, and I will turn that over to Mr. Glass.
• The KEC will drive workforce development, building skills for high-demand jobs in an industry facing

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you'll give us a full minute for him. Yes, of course.
• The small food banks and pantries in Washington are hoping for a little assistance in fighting against
• And I hope you'll support it. I'm asking for a no on this amendment.
• And I hope you'll support it. I'm asking for a no on this amendment.
• There's not only hope for the future; it accelerated it.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And each time you ask for a waiver from the FERC, it's a very high bar to achieve.
• to be used for what they're supposed to be used for?
• We conduct high-visibility patrols along major corridors known for trafficking activity.
• And so this summer, for the first time, we had a pre-teacher-ed one-week-long program where we had high
• So I guess just for us, I hope that, to our creator, our Tukashila, if this is something that Morton

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Counseling for Career Choice Act ensures that middle and high school students are made fully aware
• The Counseling for Career Choice Act ensures that middle and high school students are made fully aware
• The Counseling for Career Choice Act ensures that middle and high school students are made fully aware
• So the balance that the city struck was that it should be for an imminent violent offense, high-level
• I hope the whole House will join me in praying for Erica and his precious children and the family and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She added that historic preservation investment has catalytic impacts for the state, supporting high-wage
• the state um supporting impacts for the state um supporting Highway<00:11:23.880><c> High</c><00:11:
• </c><00:22:04.240><c> programs</c> credits for for all of these programs credits for for all of these
• "Thank you, and thank you for taking my question. I hope you can answer this.
• for taking my<01:04:31.319><c> question</c><01:04:31.559><c> I</c><01:04:31.680><c> hope</c><01:04:31.799

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that would allow for a deductible credit, Madam President, for someone who gets their care for less
• I hope that we won't engage that. I hope the amendment is adopted. Yes. Michael J. Barrett.
• that supports apprenticeship programs for teachers in high-need districts.
• For many, that is not the case.
• to be doing for primary care.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for our community for the last 125 years.
• from East Orange High School were each recognized for their tributes to Black history trailblazers.
• Speaker, he worked until his life was taken from him for hope, optimism, and to build a better world
• Speaker, he worked until his life was taken from him for hope, optimism, and to build a better world
• SPEAKER, HE WORKED UNTIL HIS LIFE WAS TAKEN FROM HIM FOR HOPE, OPTIMISM, AND TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ...the 8A hope and also the need for the federal release, I guess, to do that.
• Just a little context for the reasons for our work.
• Active transportation fatalities have been unacceptably high for some time, and Active transportation
• fatalities have been unacceptably high for some time, and in 2024 we had 158 deaths.
• So I hope you can find in the report that there's really a data-driven roadmap for you to... ...report

Bills: SB6131 , SB6155 , SB6238 , SB5824 , SB6110 , SB5839 , SB6032 , SB6148

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: traffic safety, roadway fatalities, Washington traffic safety commission, policy update, road safety, accident prevention, disability, parking privileges, accessibility, special parking, local government, oil tankers, restricted waters, environmental safety, maritime regulations, state law, fifth-wheel, travel trailers, vehicle regulation, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• During that time, we had extremely high levels of domoic acid that persisted for a long time.
• During that time, we had extremely high levels of demoic acid that persisted for a long time.
• That's something we're going to, I think, all hope for, and we always do, and it's just going to depend
• And this is what we're seeing right now for your region, potentially high production of cellular domoic
• So as a mom, you're moving to get food for yourself, to keep your plane of nutrition high, but also to

Committee: House Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum, focusing on the state of California fisheries and the environment. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and CDFW Marine Region Manager Dr. Craig Schumann described the sector as economically important but under pressure from drought, climate change, wildfire, warm oceans, and federal uncertainty. They highlighted progress under the state salmon strategy, including barrier removal, habitat restoration, flow protections, hatchery modernization, and technology improvements, while noting that salmon closures in recent years reflected the state’s driest period on record. Schumann reported 2025 commercial landings of about 217 million pounds worth $212 million, led by market squid, Dungeness crab, groundfish, and spiny lobster, and said the state’s marine protected area network had received international recognition. He also discussed salmon season openings, in-season management, hatchery release strategies, parentage-based tagging, kelp restoration planning, domoic acid closures, and expected future opportunities for rebuilt groundfish stocks such as yelloweye rockfish and cow cod. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Klamath River dam removal and salmon recovery. CDFW’s Crystal Robinson reviewed the project timeline, from the 2002 fish kill through dam decommissioning and full barrier removal in October 2024, and said fish returned to historic habitat within days. Yurok Chairman Joseph James, Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery, and Dr. Craig Tucker described the dam removal as a historic tribal and state partnership and emphasized that salmon are central to tribal culture, food, and sovereignty. They said the river is already showing recovery, including the return of spring-run Chinook above Upper Klamath Lake for the first time in over a century, but stressed that continued restoration, funding, and protection of cold-water tributaries like the Scott and Shasta Rivers are still needed. Speakers also raised concerns about federal efforts to reinterpret the Endangered Species Act and rewrite the Klamath irrigation biological opinion, and urged the state to remain actively involved. The committee discussed AB 263 and AB 2218, which relate to minimum stream flows and Indigenous water rights, respectively. Members also questioned the agencies about Sacramento River salmon management, Shasta Reservoir cold-water releases, enforcement capacity, and federal disaster funding delays. Crowfoot and Schumann said the Sacramento remains the state’s most important salmon river and that the Bay-Delta Plan update and hatchery and flow actions are critical to recovery. They said marine enforcement remains limited, with about 50 officers covering the 1,100-mile coastline, and relies on technology, federal partnerships, and public tips. The committee indicated it would follow up on the federal biological opinion rewrite and on salmon-related policy issues. The final panel addressed the 2026–27 Dungeness crab season outlook. CDFW’s Joanna Grable said the season will be shaped by the “four horsemen” of whales, domoic acid, meat quality, and fleet dynamics, and warned that warm ocean conditions and a possible strong El Niño could increase domoic acid risk and whale entanglement concerns. She said the department will likely take a conservative approach, including possible season delays or gear reductions, while using new tools such as crab evisceration authority. PCFFA Executive Director Lisa Damrosch argued that the fishery has been built too much on fear and litigation, but acknowledged that RAMP now provides a framework to avoid a repeat of the 2016 crisis while still protecting whales and supporting fishing communities.