Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices.
• The bill also requires Space Florida to establish an application process for projects seeking funding

Summary: The committee first reviewed the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal for transportation, tourism, and economic development, which totals about $18 billion and includes major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, affordable housing, library/cultural/historical initiatives, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. Members approved staff technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard and approved CS/SB 666, which creates a specialty license plate for the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, with proceeds supporting scholarships and school academic, athletic, and arts programs. CS/SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, drew extensive testimony from the sponsor, law enforcement, advocates, and victims’ families. Supporters argued it would create a clearer, easier-to-enforce prohibition on holding a wireless device while driving and help reduce crashes and deaths; some senators raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways for Tampa Police Officer Jesse Madsen and Charlotte County Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, which would create the International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills had supportive testimony and no opposition noted. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for those in the committee and in the audience, please silence all electronic devices.
• I'm from the point of the application. There's in the amendment.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> As an administrator reminder, please silence all electronic devices and anybody who wishes to speak
• Section 2 focuses on applicants for a drive-by learners.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• someone and... ...what it takes to be diagnosed with SMI with someone and also have done the ALTCS application
• The department is planning to continue to coordinate with the child, if applicable, and their attorney
• was denied 14 days to correct any application deficiencies that led to the denial.
• The bill grants the vendor an opportunity for reevaluation of the application, and if denied again after
• The bill requires any step therapy protocol to be adjudicated electronically and in real time and prescribes

Bills: SB1086, SB1193, SB1318, SB1345, SB1346, SB1451, SB1496, SB1611, SB1630, SB1631, SB1632, SB1672

Keywords: reimbursement, healthcare, laboratory services, noncontracting providers, Arizona health care cost containment, personal identifying information, PII, privacy, confidential records, public records exemption, commercial disclosure, data privacy, licensure, certification, health professions, health care licensing, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, emergency medical care technician, EMCT

Transcript Highlights:

• All senators and guests in the gallery, please silence your electronic devices.
• Let me just actually use the application of this language.
• Let me just actually use the application of this language.
• We don't know if that person missed something on an application. They're ineligible.
• But 47 counties are in the process now, and all the other counties are participating or their application

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a moment of silence honoring former Senator and Judge Thomas Gallen. The chamber then moved to special order items focused on immigration and related enforcement measures. Senate Memorial 6C, urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements, passed by voice vote. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration measure that would impose a mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of capital felonies and create state crimes for illegal entry and re-entry. Senators Pizzo, Polsky, and Sharief raised concerns about constitutional issues, plea bargaining, trial and penalty-phase procedures, prosecutorial discretion, and the effect on victims’ families. Supporters, including Senators Fine and Gruters, argued the bill was a strong deterrent and a response to serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. The bill passed 25-11. The chamber next debated Senate Bill 2C, a broader immigration enforcement package. The bill would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, expand local-federal cooperation, fund detention and enforcement efforts, strengthen pretrial detention rules for unauthorized aliens, and end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Davis and Pizzo questioned enforcement mechanics, jurisdiction, bond procedures, and whether local agencies were actually mandated to participate; supporters said the bill was designed to maximize cooperation with federal authorities and the Trump administration. A late-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo to preserve tuition waivers for current students failed 14-22, and a second amendment was withdrawn after discussion. Debate then continued on the bill, with opponents arguing it was costly, federal in nature, and harmful to Dreamers and other students, while supporters said it was necessary to crack down on illegal immigration and align state policy with federal enforcement priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 3:30 p.m. on
• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 3:30 p.m. on
• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 3:30 p.m. on
• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 3:30 p.m. on
• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 3:30 p.m. on

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted an emergency preamble for Senate No. 2799, establishing a sick leave bank for a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education employee. The chamber also adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring the Warren Public Library on its 150th anniversary. Several local bills then advanced, including Senate No. 2509 on filling mayoral vacancies in New Bedford, House No. 4171 on vacancies among town meeting members in Milford (as amended), and House No. 4233 amending the Charter of the City of Malden, which was passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. Senate No. 2799 was also passed to be enacted. The Senate adopted a committee report extending the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure’s reporting deadline to March 5, 2026. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition concerning the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code to the Committee on Financial Services. Multiple Senate orders were then adopted setting expedited procedures for Ways and Means consideration of several bills, including campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees (Senate No. 507, new draft 2898), property tax bill shocks (Senate No. 1933, new draft 2899), municipal tax relief (Senate No. 1935, new draft 2900), property tax deferral (Senate No. 2713, new draft 2901), a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption (Senate No. 2036, new draft 2902), and honoring Blue Star Families (Senate No. 2903). The Senate also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar. At the close of business, members moved to adjourn in memory of Mary Ann Lomba of Dorchester, with remarks noting her community service and family, and the motion prevailed. The Senate adjourned in her memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the ATF really, it even says it on the application when you apply for a federal firearms license,
• that if you're not in it to be a business and make money, do not submit the application."
• But the application for an FFL, and I append an extract from the most current version, requires that
• a copy of the application go to the chief law enforcement officer.
• <06:21:04.558> I comfort it might be some new electron I comfort it might be some new electron

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot do it electronically at all. We cannot parse out.
• It's all electronic. There's no paper record.
• You cannot just—there's no way for us to just mark it out on an electronic system.
• system maybe in out on an electronic system maybe in this<01:11:20.400> electronic<01:11:20.880
• But my understanding from the program standpoint, we cannot do it electronically.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also just, to be sure I'm clear about the applicability of the bill, it's—we actually aren't doing
• benefit and a lot of favors at this point, and so to hear the number of books that are purchased in electronic
• 52:09.040> in number of books that are purchased in number of books that are purchased in electronic
• 10.559> the<00:52:10.880> audio<00:52:11.359> versus<00:52:11.680> the electronic
• form and the audio versus the electronic form and the audio versus the actual<00:52:12.319> physical

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:12:04.560> Workforce<04:12:05.040> Innovation per uh applicant.
• Workforce Innovation per uh applicant.
• The testimony of the applicant can be sufficient. It creates a rebuttable presumption.
• The testimony of the applicant can be sufficient. It creates a rebuttable presumption.
• They go processes all the applications.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Refugee medical assistance, refugee social services, JobCore at a cost of $187,000 per applicant.
• Refugee medical assistance, refugee social services, JobCore at a cost of $187,000 per applicant.
• <04:12:04.560> Workforce<04:12:05.040> Innovation per uh applicant.
• Workforce Innovation per uh applicant.
• The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the federal level processes all the applications.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The landowners fill out the application. There's a few questions on it.
• They approve or deny those applications.
• I don't know what it is out there that we'll get application from a faculty.
• The application window opened October 1 and will close June 1 at 5 p.m.
• Applications were submitted through our electronic portal.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whether or not, in the application for funding, you are fully funding the compliance components.
• The department has actively and intensively engaged each cohort throughout the application process.
• So I think looking at the enrollment caps in all of the applicable HCBS waivers is something that we
• DHCS collects an administrative fee applicable to PACE centers that are exempt from CDPH licensure.
• How do we set standards for applications, standards for entry?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have had with the hiring company, to get that out quickly, have a shortened period for bringing in applicants
• It's, um, the position I'm sorry, we're going through the applications right now and we're looking at
• I'm sorry, we're going<01:49:33.280> through<01:49:33.440> the<01:49:33.600> applications
• <01:49:34.320> right<01:49:34.639> now going through the applications right now going
• through the applications right now and<01:49:35.199> we're<01:49:35.520> looking<01:49

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Tourism and Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism held an informational briefing on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract updates, destination management action plans, and state auditor findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson described her role as temporary and said she was focused on identifying problems, gathering information, communicating with stakeholders, and implementing solutions. She said HTA is now operating as a typical state agency subject to state controls, but noted that HTA’s work often involves nontraditional programs that can create process errors. She also said she had directed staff to review the auditor’s findings on the destination management action plan process and that the review was posted publicly. A major topic was the search for a permanent CEO and the agency’s restructuring under SB 1571. HTA board chair Tata Po said he hoped to select a CEO within about four months, with three to six finalists expected in roughly two to two-and-a-half months, and said the job description would largely remain the same except for compensation and reporting changes under the new law. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism representatives explained that HTA’s board is now advisory and does not approve the budget, while DBEDT retains budget authority. They also said HTA is working with the governor’s office and DBEDT on contract and budget transitions, including a possible shift to a calendar-year process so grantees and contractors have more certainty. Members pressed HTA on staffing, oversight, and accountability, especially around the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB contracts. HTA said the destination stewardship team supports destination management and product development, including workforce development, sports, and implementation of destination management action plans, and that staff provide direction to contractors rather than simply handing work over to them. Anderson said the stewardship team had 11 people and that the destination management side covered about 15 contracts, while the branding side had three managers overseeing nine contracts. She said the agency had 47 contracts overall and that the major contracts included CNHA/Kilohana and HVCB. Several members criticized HTA’s management history, questioned staffing qualifications and compensation, and expressed concern that the agency had lost public trust. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Move state applications and compute to a top-tier public cloud by 2029, right?
• We go to 6200 on the next page, Department operations system platform permitting application, Senate.
• State Department operations system platform permitting application, Senate.
• And then we go to 6.200 permitting application, Senate. Audits, Senate. 6.225 is House.
• If you look at that, at the end of the sentence, we're deleting not to include electronic surveillance

Summary: The meeting was a lengthy conference committee review of multiple budget bills, with most of the discussion focused on House Bill 2 and related education funding. Members walked through numerous fund switches and appropriations tied to the foundation formula, blind pension, Capital Commission, Lottery Proceeds, and Classroom Trust funds. Several members urged fully funding the foundation formula or getting as close as possible, while others defended the compromise approach as a way to close the gap with available revenue. The committee also settled a number of education-related items, including child care grants, career ladder, school safety training, assessment pilots, Title I reallocation, parents as teachers language, child care subsidy language, and flex percentages on selected lines. The committee agreed to sign the House Bill 2 conference report after resolving the listed positions and language compromises. The committee then moved through House Bill 3 on higher education, agreeing to most Senate positions and a conference proposal directing the department to develop a new higher education funding model by December 1, 2026. Several members raised concerns about the timeline and whether the model would preserve separate funding buckets for two-year and four-year institutions, but the proposal was retained. House Bill 2004, covering transportation, was also reviewed, with compromises on items such as safety operations, low-volume roads, port funding, and several flex percentages. Members discussed the use of Capital Commission dollars and the status of road and port projects, and the bill was advanced with the agreed positions. House Bill 5, dealing with information technology and administration, generated substantial debate over a new Senate-added language proposal for OA/ITSD. Several members objected that the language was overly prescriptive, resembled a resolution, and could steer the state toward a specific cloud-computing direction or vendor; others said it was intended to create accountability and a plan for better oversight of IT spending. The committee left some items open briefly, then returned with a shorter conference proposal and agreed to distribute it. House Bill 7, House Bill 8, House Bill 9, and House Bill 2010 were also handled, with a mix of Senate, House, and compromise positions on public safety, veterans, agriculture, economic development, and behavioral health items. The committee recessed several times and repeatedly instructed members to sign the conference reports after the agreed changes were read into the record.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what was the issue that caused us to go to electronic counting? Was it the errors back then?
• <01:43:48.480> voting was the error rates on electronic voting was the error rates on electronic
• <01:44:21.679> voting flying around about electronic voting flying around about electronic
• And I might even say perhaps the hanging chad debacle was to usher in the electronic machines regarding
• <02:06:39.119> machines electronic machines electronic machines regarding<02:06:41.360> county

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please note that an electronic message.
• Similarly, electronic relationships.
• not allow for voicemails, electronic not allow for voicemails, electronic messaging<00:26:50.960
• Electronic messaging is also separation.
• <00:32:31.760> messaging, it talks about electronic messaging, it talks about electronic messaging

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It updates the New Mexico Rental Purchase Agreement Act to include electronic disclosures for required
• Is there any objection to the do pass motion on Senate Bill 179 electronic disclosure?
• Address of the occupant or alternative contact by electronic mail to the last known electronic address
• Telephone number and electronic mail address of the occupant. All right. Post-movement discussion.
• I know I pay for my storage unit via electronic, and so I think that's a common practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, do you have the capability electronically or otherwise to do that? So, Mr.
• Uh, do you have the capability electronically or otherwise to do that? So, Mr.
• with their applications. with their applications.
• What is usable, what's not usable, everything from electronics to vehicles to computers.
• vehicles to from electronics to vehicles to I'm<03:01:10.080> not<03:01:10.360> really

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The law will require and provide for electronic visit verification, often shortened to EVV, to create
• <00:53:44.160> visit<00:53:44.480> verification,<00:53:45.680> often electronic
• visit verification, often electronic visit verification, often shortened<00:53:46.480> to<00:53
• enhance electronic visit verification for<00:55:14.400> high-risk<00:55:15.200> programs.
• Services says that they do electron Services says that they do electron electronic<00:55:28.720>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first received a House message reappointing a conference committee on Senate File 2077, the environment and natural resources appropriations bill, and took no further action on that message. The chamber then moved through motions and resolutions, including a failed attempt to suspend the rules to make House File 4102 a special order for immediate consideration. Senator Howe argued the bill was urgent because it would extend a study on state law enforcement pay and help address State Patrol recruitment and retention, while Senator Friends opposed suspending the rules; the motion failed on a roll call vote, 35 ayes to 32 nays. The Senate then took House File 3629 from the table, made it a special order, and adopted the A5 amendment. The bill, relating to grants management and the Department of Administration, was described as refining agency authority over exemptions, adding reporting requirements, expanding whistleblower protections, and broadening fraud-prevention tools. The A5 amendment added stronger payment-withholding authority for agencies based on credible allegations of fraud, removed the 60-day withholding limit, allowed cross-agency withholding in some cases, replaced court appeal with agency reconsideration, made the authority permanent, and added a reporting requirement for DHS and DCYF inspector general activity. Supporters said it would improve transparency and protect taxpayers; the bill then passed final roll call 67-0. Finally, the Senate took up House File 4492, which was amended with the A4 delete-everything amendment. The new version combined three articles: READ Act provisions, a veterans diploma provision, and early literacy field-experience changes. Senators described the veterans section as requiring school districts to award diplomas to veterans who left high school to serve in the Korean or Vietnam Wars, and the READ Act and literacy provisions as aligning teacher preparation and early literacy instruction with state standards. Members also discussed school discipline and classroom safety issues in the course of debate. The bill was then read for final passage, with senators speaking in support of the combined package and its education and veterans provisions.