Transcript Highlights:

• pursuant to our universal background check.
• I cannot say, sell a firearm to Senator Townsend without a background check today.
• But under that, Madam President, if I don't have to do a background check— Do a background check, exactly
• Senator O'Malley, I just wanted to get a little bit of background done for us.
• Today, an FFL dealer must run a background check on every single sale.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fast forward to today: if you're a Chinese national looking to come study research in the United States
• the United States, and then they choose the students from China who get those scholarships to come study
• Foster program, and that it is a study of how to use those programs to benefit the workforce.
• He said the study would help determine how to improve the tech piece of TOPS and the M.J.
• He said neither program has had a comprehensive, long-term study of outcomes or return on investment.

Bills: HR171, HCR49, HB632, HB1084, SB310, SB351, SB399

Keywords: HR171, House Resolution 171, M.J. Foster Promise Program, TOPS-Tech, TOPS Tech Award, Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, LCATCS, financial aid, scholarship, workforce development, career training, technical education, vocational education, postsecondary credential, associate degree, industry-based credential, high-demand jobs, high-wage occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• So if they're working on a study related to sickle cell, is that allowed under the bill?
• So I think if you're talking about African-American studies, I think that's reasonable.
• ...is entirely on attracting black students and studying issues at that school.
• Diversity is recognizing everyone has different backgrounds, different cultures.
• There are many studies. provides. This is why we have it.

Summary: The committee first confirmed Heather L. Turnbull to the Florida Commission on Community Service without debate. It then took up SPB 7022, which sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2025, updates rates to address unfunded liability, and preserves the 3% employee contribution rate. Senator Fine said the bill would increase FRS Trust Fund revenue by about $310 million annually and also gives certain elected officers an option related to DROP accumulations. An amendment was adopted, the bill was submitted as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1710, a bill by Senator DeSantis/DeSigley to prohibit state agencies, vendors, and grant recipients from using state funds for DEI-related policies, trainings, and programs, and to impose related restrictions on medical institutions of higher education. Senator Polsky and others questioned the bill’s broad and vague language, its effect on health-related work, public-facing agency positions, private contractors, and medical school admissions. The sponsor said the bill was intended to stop DEI from influencing state agencies and that the medical-school portion would likely be amended out later. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill would harm health care, education, access, and minority communities; a few supporters said DEI is ideological and should be removed from government and public institutions. After debate, the bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote, with Senator Errington voting no. The committee then began SB 1678, relating to entities that boycott Israel, with a delete-all amendment. Senator Leak said the bill would expand Florida’s anti-BDS framework to cover nonprofits, foreign educational institutions, foreign government funds, academic boycotts, political subdivisions, and certain grants, while the amendment aligned the bill with existing law and clarified procurement and divestment provisions. Testimony included support from proponents who said Florida should not do business with entities engaged in boycotts of Israel, and opposition from speakers who argued the bill would restrict academic freedom and conscience. Debate continued as the transcript ended, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:47.079> the please so we're looking to study the please so we're looking to study the
• They asked whether it is different from interim study.
• , they do not believe the committee should be sponsoring that study.
• a signing ceremony for that study a signing ceremony for that study committee<04:03:41.600> um
• <04:45:28.718> I<04:45:28.840> think she was studying I think she was studying I think

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Ohio and Louisiana show that studies in Ohio and Louisiana show that voucher<01:13:45.600> prog
• I wonder, did those studies control for the starting point of each of those children?
• Was that controlled for in those research studies? Thank you for the question.
• it creates a study committee so that<02:12:20.800> we<02:12:20.960> can<02:12:21.239><
• Senator Abbas said the National Instant Criminal Background Check System covers certain adjudications

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I come from a trucking background, and I have a private pilot's license, and I've been boating for
• 00:12:08.320> trucking member um I come from a trucking member um I come from a trucking background
• and I have a private pilot's background and I have a private pilot's license<00:12:11.120> and
• They have incredible backgrounds, like I said. It's an honor to be with them each and every day.
• We can set up what's called interim study if we truly believe that... no, retained, sorry, retained on

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an opening/orientation session in which members introduced themselves and explained their interest in the committee. Several members noted backgrounds in trucking, piloting, boating, motorcycles, road safety, or constituent concerns about transportation issues. The chair also noted several absent members and said the committee would first hear agency presentations before covering committee procedures. The Department of Safety gave the main presentation, outlining its seven divisions and how they relate to transportation policy and the Highway Fund. The assistant commissioner emphasized that Highway Fund revenue supports both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety, with collections coming largely from the road toll/gas tax, DMV fees, and the new electric vehicle surcharge. He also noted that 12% of Highway Fund revenues go to local road repair through the DOT Betterment Fund, and warned that the fund has had a structural deficit for several biennia, requiring General Fund transfers that may be uncertain this session. He said the department aims to provide data and fiscal context on legislation and fiscal notes. State Police then provided a detailed overview of its structure and operations, including the Operations Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Justice Information Bureau. Testimony highlighted Troop G’s role in vehicle inspections, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, fraud investigations, and consumer complaint handling, as well as statewide staffing shortages. The division reported rising calls for service, motor vehicle stops, DWI arrests, and other arrests despite a vacancy rate of about 17%. It also described aviation, K-9, bomb squad, special events response, SWAT, narcotics, major crime, forensic laboratory, and other specialized units, with statistics on drug seizures, investigations, and lab workload. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll provide some background on the proposals.
• know we're laying this over, and Madam Chair, I know why we're laying it over, but maybe a little background
• So the first study of this type of a program was from Alabama. that effects everybody's rate eventually
• I forgot to take on my cruise ship background there. After that would have been nice to the nation.
• Again, he said a quick guide background.

Bills: HF4881, HF4867, HF4422, HF4223

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, regulation, financial institutions, prescription drug affordability, consumer protection, restitution account, financial compensation, attorney general, distributions, property insurance, homeowners insurance, fire and allied lines, hail insurance, appraisal clause, loss adjustment, alternative dispute resolution, insurance claims, claim valuation, actual cash value

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm stuck in the Phoenix airport, so I apologize if there's some background noise here.
• Am I going to fail my background checks in the future?”
• I was studying for the Utah bar exam. I had to edit and resubmit.
• You do have a different background than the average person that just comes in and talks about it.
• You do have a different background than the average person that just comes in and talks about it.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And something that would be helpful to me, you mentioned New Balance, but kind of case studies of how
• And something that would be helpful to me, you mentioned New Balance, but kind of case studies of how
• And something that would be helpful to me, you mentioned New Balance, but kind of case studies of how
• So I think specifically for that study.
• physical, first aid, CPR, background physical, first aid, CPR, background checks,<01:45:25.280><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549, HB1737, HB1628, HB1769, HB2493, HB2264, HB1997, HB2168, HB2427, HB1805, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469, HB2233, HB2519, HB2141, HB1904, HB2201, HB2410, HB2007, HB2385, HB2444, HB2349, HB2235, HB1872, HB2416, HB2291, HB2292, HB2263, HB2359, HB2455, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB1648, HB2164, HB2323, HB1825, HB2172, HB1888, HB2005, HB2387, HB2358, HB2119, HB2276, HB2472, HB1714, HB2325, HB1541, HB1960, HB2140, HB2315, HB2367, HB2388, HB1696, HB2333, HB2138, HB2332, HB2283, HB2059, HB2057, HB2589, HB2417, HB2337, HB1588, HB2217, HB2020, HB1915, HB1742, HB2026, HB1965, HB1546, HB2360, HB1563, HB1749, HB2614, HB1511, HB1753, HB1849, HB1641, HB2161, HB2194, HB1721, HB2284, HB2188, HB1897, HB1880, HB1573, HB1876, HB20, HB2137

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to studying committee report 551-26. Top of page 20, 552-26, 553-26, 554-26.
• Moving on to studying committee report 551-26. Top of page 20, 552-26, 553-26, 554-26.
• Moving on to studying committee report 551-26. Top of page 20, 552-26, 553-26, 554-26.
• Moving on to studying committee report 551-26. Top of page 20, 552-26, 553-26, 554-26.
• committee<00:26:37.279> report Moving on to studying committee report Moving on to studying

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549, HB1737, HB1628, HB1769, HB2493, HB2264, HB1997, HB2168, HB2427, HB1805, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469, HB2233, HB2519, HB2141, HB1904, HB2201, HB2410, HB2007, HB2385, HB2444, HB2349, HB2235, HB1872, HB2416, HB2291, HB2292, HB2263, HB2359, HB2455, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB1648, HB2164, HB2323, HB1825, HB2172, HB1888, HB2005, HB2387, HB2358, HB2119, HB2276, HB2472, HB1714, HB2325, HB1541, HB1960, HB2140, HB2315, HB2367, HB2388, HB1696, HB2333, HB2138, HB2332, HB2283, HB2059, HB2057, HB2589, HB2417, HB2337, HB1588, HB2217, HB2020, HB1915, HB1742, HB2026, HB1965, HB1546, HB2360, HB1563, HB1749, HB2614, HB1511, HB1753, HB1849, HB1641, HB2161, HB2194, HB1721, HB2284, HB2188, HB1897, HB1880, HB1573, HB1876, HB20, HB2137

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• I was contacted by the eighth grade social studies teacher in my town of Bington, Mr.
• He said that is the point of interim study: to potentially recommend new legislation.
• He said that is the point of interim study: to potentially recommend new legislation.
• Representative Bale said interim study is a better motion.
• an interim study to to accomplish<03:50:10.000> that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The study that we commissioned also did a five-year projection forward.
• If you can just introduce yourself, kind of give us your background, and the floor is yours.
• , and, uh, the floor uh, your background, and, uh, the floor is<00:36:51.920> yours.
• Of course, I have a local government housing background, and I'm also a realtor.
• It's kind of my background. So, a important topic, but I guess it's for everybody.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Studies have all shown they take bigger losses and they much prefer to see a homeowner reinstate the
• Uh studies have all shown they property.
• And uh that’s kind of the background I’m just trying to figure out as we walk through this expansion.
• And uh that’s kind of the background I’m just trying to figure out as we walk through this expansion.
• And uh that’s kind of the background I’m just trying to figure out as we walk through this expansion.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for having me here today to provide some background information on hospital uncompensated care
• information on on hospital background information on on hospital uncompensated<00:05:08.880> care
• Okay, I probably should have studied my... No, it's okay. Better. Okay, thank you.
• And the last study I saw, the commercial market, the insurers were paying, I think it was 192% above
• I had no medical background and no understanding of what was happening.

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• option of ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, refer for interim study
• option of ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, refer for interim study
• option of ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, refer for interim study
• option of ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, refer for interim study
• option of ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, refer for interim study

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: Division Three of the Finance Committee met in work session on April 20, 2026, to consider Senate Bills 481, 603, and 663, with the discussion focused primarily on SB 481, relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property. The chair explained that the bill was advisory only and that the committee’s recommendations would go to full Finance on April 27. For SB 481, members reviewed conflicting provisions in the prior budget law about whether sale proceeds should go to the general fund or the Youth Development Center Claims and Administration Settlement Fund, and the bill was described as a compromise that would direct proceeds to the general fund before June 30, 2027, and to the settlement fund after that date. It was noted that the settlement fund had originally received about $20 million and had roughly $10 million remaining. The committee also received an extensive update from DCYF Director Marie Noonan on the new Youth Development Center in Hampstead. She reported that construction remained on schedule, with major structural and interior work complete, substantial completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026, and occupancy anticipated in early 2027. The presentation highlighted the facility’s design features, including single-occupancy bedrooms, sensory rooms, an education wing, medical and clinical suites, visitation space, a gym, and multiple outdoor courtyards, all intended to support a trauma-informed setting. Members asked about the facility’s funding, square footage, fencing, and scanner; staff said the building is about 34,000 square feet, funded entirely with federal ARPA state recovery funds to date, and that the scanner is on site but not yet operational pending policy and staff training. Committee members also raised concerns about the facility’s design and security. In response, DCYF said some concrete walls are required for structural and safety reasons, but they are being painted to maintain a brighter environment, and that the fencing will be about 15 feet high with privacy netting because the campus is shared with Hampstead. Officials said the new facility is legislatively limited to a maximum of 12 youth, while the current center can house 12 to 18, and emphasized that courts ultimately determine placements. No votes or final actions were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• , um, seeing no other questions, I do think that this seems like it has been a good opportunity to study
• um the staffing opportunity to study um the staffing change<00:45:04.400> and<00:45:05.000>
• First, a background study must be completed for everyone who will be present in the home.
• I think it would be best to work on it in the background. Senator Hoffman, thank you, Madam Chair.
• <01:32:29.920> Senator on it in the background Senator on it in the background Senator Hoffman

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the interim director of the Schimberg Center for Housing Studies.
• , which we, and both the data clearinghouse and the rental market study, we do, that are sponsored by
• So we did update the rental market study in 2025. It's the ninth one we've done.
• When we looked at the rental market study, we found that about a million people had moved to Florida
• So a lot more detail in the rental market study.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 on local business taxes while allowing municipalities to continue imposing a gross-receipts-based business tax on merchants. Senator Trumbull presented the bill for the sponsor, and committee members questioned what services local governments fund with local business tax revenue and whether the bill should be considered alongside broader property tax changes. County and city representatives opposed the bill, arguing that local business taxes are capped home-rule revenues used for general fund services such as public safety, zoning and licensure checks, economic development, and business support, and warning that repeal would shift costs to residential taxpayers and reduce local flexibility. Senator Shreve said he would vote no because of ongoing property tax discussions, while Senator Pizzo said he would support the bill but wanted clearer accounting of how the revenue is spent. The committee voted 5-1 to report SB 122 favorably. The committee then held a housing panel discussion focused on Florida’s housing shortage, affordability, and supply constraints. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven largely by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs roughly 100,000 additional units per year just to keep up with in-migration and that local planning systems often do not prioritize housing enough. He urged more emphasis on measurable impacts, streamlined permitting, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other market-responsive tools. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center said Florida is seeing more single-family and multifamily construction but that production is concentrated in a handful of counties, while condo construction remains limited; she also noted that rents and home prices spiked sharply in the early 2020s and remain above pre-2020 levels, with nearly 905,000 low-income renters cost-burdened. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research said the national housing market is slow, Florida has a severe affordability problem, and builders are lowering prices and offering incentives but still face high land, labor, materials, and insurance costs. In committee discussion, senators focused on whether Florida should encourage more density, including townhomes, build-to-rent products, modular housing, and redevelopment of existing sites rather than relying on large new subdivisions. Members also discussed the role of local zoning, impact fees, density bonuses, and state incentives tied to housing targets. Several senators said Florida’s growth and affordability challenges require updating land development codes and planning for where future residents will live without overbuilding rural or environmentally sensitive areas. The chair closed by emphasizing that density can support affordability and that Florida should use existing footprints more efficiently.

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at studies, we took on studies, and commissioned studies in a couple of different areas to
• Throughout the state, we commissioned a small business capital landscape study.
• Really, a study that we're needing to get done.
• Mechanisms to help them meet those targets, and to complete a study of NMFA's programs and our partners
• Ultimately, when we complete that other study, we will understand the impact we'll get for that risk.

Transcript Highlights:

• commission that's been tasked to study commission that's been tasked to study carbon,<00:25:16.480
• :02.480> that<00:30:02.640> is there's a study committee that is there's a study committee
• Um one is few areas to to to study.
• Studies revealed that here.
• little bit of my background. little bit of my background.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 163FN, dealing with requiring current, verifiable evidence of a species’ presence before land-use restrictions are imposed for habitat protection. Members discussed an amendment that had been worked on with agencies and stakeholder groups. Fish and Game testified that, while the amendment improved the bill, the agency still opposed it because of concerns about citizen science, how the proposal would apply to public versus private property, and how the transition to DES would work. Representative Darby argued the amendment was ambiguous, lacked a full hearing, and did not clearly address record verification or private-property access issues. The amendment passed 8-7, and the committee then voted OTPA 8-7, with a minority report noted. The committee then moved to HB 1752FN, which would create a chain of custody for timber and carbon credits. Representative Davis presented an amendment saying it would help law enforcement investigate timber theft and add transparency to New Hampshire’s carbon registry by identifying buyers of carbon credits. Supporters said the change would impose little burden and align with practices in other states. Opponents, including Representative Darby, Representative Vale, and the state forester from DNCR, said the carbon market is complex, the amendment was not fully vetted, and a hearing with all stakeholders was needed; they also raised fiscal-note concerns. The amendment passed 8-7, and the committee then voted OTPA 8-7, again with a minority report. Finally, the committee opened a hearing on HB 1019, which would add an active water treatment professional to the state water well board. Representative Peter Petrino and Representative Wendy Thomas said the board should include expertise on contamination risks and treatment technologies, citing concerns about arsenic, radon, and PFAS in private wells. The chairman of the Water Well Board testified in opposition to the bill as drafted, saying the board supports the general idea of licensing water filtration work but does not currently have authority or rules to oversee that field and believes the proposal would put “the cart before the horse.” Members questioned whether the board’s current mandate even covers filtration systems, and the discussion ended with those concerns unresolved.