Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of The committee, thank you for the time today and the conversation and the consideration
• You know, we're always having those conversations in commerce and this bill does just that.
• I won't use company names because that would be I can't do that, but we are in conversations with several
• So that could fall within the context and is in real-life conversations of things that we're having today
• And so, my assessment of the Conversation this morning is that we didn't need any other bills to talk

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Has there been any conversations with the stakeholders and even people in the public, law enforcement
• Those conversations are ongoing, but there's no expansion.
• And I'm hoping that this starts a conversation that's going to go even beyond this legislative session
• It is my intent, as this bill moves through—we've had those conversations with the stakeholders, and
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Senators, for a great conversation here today.

Bills: S0382, S0628, S0654, S0696, S0880

Keywords: transportation facility designations, road naming, highway designation, honorary designation, memorial highway, memorial boulevard, memorial interchange, airport naming, FDOT markers, Florida Department of Transportation, State Road 80, SR 80, U.S. 90, U.S. 41, A1A, Turnpike interchange, Kissimmee Park Road, Bobby Bowden, Donald Trump Highway, President Donald J. Trump Highway

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum and considered five bills, all of which were reported favorably. First, SB 628 designated a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as “Warrior Sacrifice Way” to honor Ensign Joshua Watson, Petty Officer Muhammad Hatham, and Cameron Walters, who were killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing remembrance and support for the families. The committee then heard CS/SB 382 on electric bicycles and scooters. The bill would require riders on shared pathways to yield to pedestrians, sound an audible signal before passing, and limit speed near pedestrians, while creating an e-bike safety task force and reporting requirements. Law enforcement, local officials, and school board representatives supported the bill and described safety concerns and data gaps, while several senators raised questions about enforcement and asked that e-scooters be addressed more explicitly. The bill was reported favorably. Members also approved SB 880, creating a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate to fund scholarships and school programs, and SB 696, which allows online trademark registration applications and updates Florida’s trademark classification and verification procedures. Finally, the committee took up CS/CS/SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement cameras for red light, school zone speeding, and school bus violations. The bill and an amendment added guardrails on data use, hearings, reporting, signage, and contract limits; senators raised concerns about privacy, surveillance, and school zone enforcement, and a Hillsborough County sheriff’s representative testified that all-day school zone enforcement has improved safety. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after recording additional affirmative votes on SB 628 from Senators Martin and Smith.

Transcript Highlights:

• Outlay Award Cycle Adjustment Timeline, is recommended for removal from the agenda for additional conversation
• So, in the past, this was related to potentially the conversations we had with the field and kind of
• We've had some really good conversations with the subcommittee on that, and I'm looking forward to bringing
• DFA Internal Control Review: this is a conversation and a letter we received from the State Comptroller
• Thank you all for joining us for this conversation in efforts to revitalize this program to better support

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a conversation that's happening with counties and municipalities when it comes to any type of
• Is there a conversation that's happening with counties and municipalities when it comes to any type of
• And so this entire conversation has been about the huge amount of investment.
• There's a lot of strategic conversations going on. I... We're going to get there.
• There's a lot of strategic conversations going on. I appreciate that.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details. The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress. Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I haven't been part of in those discussions, but I've been told that there are conversations. >> What
• Retail Federation speaking against. >> Thank you, Mister Chairman by senator for our spirited conversations
• why I'm where I am today, but thank you for bringing this to our attention and prepared for the conversation
• Thank you. >> I appreciate you bringing this conversation to the committee today.
• But I would hope that we continue the conversation with that.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had a lot of good conversations over the last three days. Representative D.
• We've had a lot of good conversations over the last three days. Representative D.
• Dibble: We're having good conversations. Mary Murphy: Hi, thank you.
• Dibble: We're having good conversations. Mary Murphy: Hi, thank you.
• We're having good conversations, and my hope is sooner rather than later.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: On January 27, 2025, Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman and Representative D. Dibble said they had resumed negotiations after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a quorum in the House is 68. They said the ruling brought Republicans back to the table and clarified that actions taken by Republicans between January 14 and January 24 had no legal effect because the House was not validly organized. Both said they had spent several hours over the weekend and that talks were making gradual progress, though no final agreement had been reached. The main issue remained power-sharing in a tied House. Hortman said the DFL wants Republicans to run the chamber only until the House returns to a 67-67 tie, at which point the parties would implement the previously negotiated shared-governance agreement with co-chairs, equal committee membership, and a co-speaker. She said Republicans instead want to continue operating as if they had a majority. Hortman also said the DFL was looking for ways to make the interim Republican-majority period meaningful, including possible permanent committee arrangements, while still preserving the principle of shared power once the tie is restored. A second major topic was the GOP effort to remove Representative Brad Tabke. Hortman and Dibble said Tabke had won his seat three times—on Election Day, in a recount, and in court—and argued that removing him would be an undemocratic precedent. They also said the Supreme Court’s ruling confirmed that Secretary of State Steve Simon was properly presiding over the House under the quorum rules. In response to questions about pay for absent members, Hortman said legislative pay is set by the Constitution and statute and that no action without a quorum could change it. They said they had exchanged roughly 10 written offers since January 13 and hoped to reach an agreement soon, possibly by the end of the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have part of the conversation working on policy that Florida into the future. >> Us understand McLean
• Have a conversation. Thank you. Senator Wright, thank you for that question.
• We picked agencies based on our conversation with the Florida public transportation agencies kind.
• We have initiated those conversations about what that is gonna look like and how it's going to happen
• And so that's kind of the catalyst for, you know, for the conversation occurring.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard some conversation to heart.
• That was input that we got from conversations with MSRS.
• Uh second, it conversations with MSRS.
• appreciate the thoughtful conversation appreciate the thoughtful conversation on<02:13:37.040>
• I appreciate the conversation tonight around having a little bit more time to have those conversations

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > before<00:33:50.000> he This conversation started way before he This conversation started
• <00:34:19.200> about had those conversations about had those conversations about partnerships
• We had a conversation with him. A group of us met with him.
• We had a conversation with him. A group of us met with him.
• We had a conversation with him. A group of us met with him.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a partner that has come in, a national provider that has come in and is really Leading those conversations
• I wanna say in addition to that, I had some really amazing conversations with Google corporate at a dinner
• And that group acts asks for some follow-up as well, lots of follow-up conversations.
• line of 30 people waiting to give us cards and talk about how we can follow up for additional conversations

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I I appreciate the conversation chair.
• :00.239> this<01:32:00.400> bill, continued conversation on this bill, continued conversation
• And so with that conversation right now.
• <02:05:29.119> that committee and having conversations that committee and having conversations
• I'm not on Health conversation today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > Federal in conversations about the Federal in conversations about the Federal Reserve,<00:03
• other hand, if we flip the conversation other hand, if we flip the conversation and<00:05:21.360
• Among the conversations we've alley.
• > uh<00:28:43.600> I awesome conversations and uh I awesome conversations and uh I appreciate
• Um for me, this is the conversation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:58.240> can discussions or conversations can discussions or conversations can ultimately
• back and watch some of the conversation back and watch some of the conversation that<01:43:41.520
• So, this is what I conversation, is it?
• Right now, current type conversation.
• You guys, this is an interesting conversation, is it?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 146, there's going to be a conversation 146, there's going to be a conversation later.<01:45:57.679
• What was the conversation with the agencies about absorbing this?
• kind of as a scalpel conversation?
• Let’s have that conversation.”
• Let’s start having conversations and solutions.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I would prefer not to start the conversation.
• thoughts, if anybody has any, to start the conversation. >> Sure.
• I would would start the conversation.
• , folks know over here or conversations, folks know over here or conversations, I'm<03:35:12.960>
• The follow-up question: Um, I had an offline conversation with Mr.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that conversation is not being had.
• That's another conversation we're not having.
• We've had many, many conversations about what you care about, your family, We've had many, many conversations
• I know we have conversations on this. Yes, we have.
• So I remember the conversation that we had.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, and a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Senators also paid tribute to former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron with a moment of silence. The chamber then moved to special-order bills after routine announcements that no committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk. The first major bill, SB 138/HB 687 on transportation offenses involving death, increased penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenses and added warnings and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. After a brief amendment and questions about attorney rights and prior impairing-substance language, the bill passed 37-0. SB 306 on Medicaid providers followed, requiring broader provider access, including after-hours availability and more primary care access for Medicaid enrollees; it also passed 37-0. The chamber then took up the major condominium reform bill, SB 1742/HB 913, addressing post-Surfside safety, reserve funding, milestone inspections, budgeting, reserve flexibility, manager regulation, conflicts of interest, and condo sale rescission periods. Senators from both parties praised the sponsors for extensive stakeholder work and the bill passed 37-0 after multiple amendments. The final major item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendments and petition-gathering rules, with sponsors arguing the bill was needed to combat fraud in the 2024 petition process and opponents warning it would burden citizen initiatives. The Senate adopted the House bill and then considered numerous amendments on petition circulator rules, submission deadlines, invalid-signature thresholds, voter notification, and related enforcement provisions; several amendments were adopted, and the substitute was later withdrawn, leaving the chamber to continue on the underlying bill and remaining amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• bills so that we can have a conversation bills so that we can have a conversation about them uh and
• about we've got to make conversation about we've got to make conversation about we've got to make sure
• about this so when you tell conversation about this so when you tell conversation about this so when
• I'm conversation I'm conversation I'm saying then that telling me that they saying then that telling
• proud about had a little conversation proud about had a little conversation proud about this bill we

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'd like to continue this conversation.
• So we are... ...regularly having active conversations.
• I don't dislike the conversation. The questions are great.
• The conversation was, well, you'll probably see a bill if that's the answer.
• And there's a lot of conversations about different degrees in music.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This conversation should not simply be what we eliminate.
• And I hope this conversation will continue tonight and into tomorrow.
• And so that is why I think we've had this conversation.
• I think we've had this conversation.
• Conversations with our constituents.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been having conversations with them. We just sat down and had a conversation today.
• They must also be part of this conversation.
• They deserve consideration; conversations are required for such an important bill.
• Now, I recognize that these conversations are hard. They're tough.
• Today I want to have a frank conversation about weight.

Keywords: 987, senate, all