Transcript Highlights:

• And it's wonderful to see all the ag kids here, too.
• And it's wonderful to see all the ag kids here, too.
• And the repairs and maintenance are for university facilities and university equipment.
• It also fluctuates depending on the age of infrastructure and the size of your plant.
• We have received somewhere in the neighborhood of about $78 million worth of facilities cost covered,

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So any facility, you know, including data center facilities that had a large storage system, we would
• There's a lot of confusion for us as developers over whether or not an energy storage facility does.
• I believe it's already been said a few times, but just to reemphasize that these facilities...
• So how can New Mexico attract these kinds of facilities to the state?
• But it does apply to all types of generating facilities.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no age restrictions. That's a pretty big fight.
• There's no age restrictions. That's a pretty big fight.
• There's no age restrictions. That's a pretty big fight.
• to elementary age.
• to elementary age.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People can be born with disabilities and people can become disabled through age.
• Because the facilities do not represent therapeutics.
• You can't blame the officers for what a facility, if you got a facility in the halls, especially when
• They'll be in the facility with our children. They're in the facilities right now.
• And those CBOs aren't allowed to come into certain facilities or portions of the facilities because they

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and if we don't have the facilities and if we don't have the facilities necessary<00:30:50.679><
• of 65, so we are an aging population.
• of 65, so we are an aging population.
• of 65, so we are an aging population.
• </c><01:30:48.199><c> uh</c> indicated to me that our facilities uh indicated to me that our facilities

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, aging asset risk… controls the build-out of decisions.
• Next, aging asset risk. Least-cost build-out strategies. Next, aging asset risk.
• power, getting power to the facility.
• Getting power to the facility is a big process also.
• This is aging infrastructure that's beyond its 50-year life.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, student at the facility.
• well we have the 55year-old age well we have the 55year-old age restriction.<01:43:32.320><c> So</c><
• Why don't we just remove the 55-year-old age requirement then?
• Why don't we just remove the 55-year-old age requirement then?
• Why don't we just remove the 55-year-old age requirement then?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's going to cost the facility roughly $750,000. That was not budgeted."
• So we'll start with an assessment of each facility. workforce in the future.
• So we'll start with an assessment of each facility. Survivable, but thriving.
• So we start with an assessment of each facility.
• MEP continues to rough in throughout the facility, currently focusing on Area B.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator, I don't know what the average age is.
• We stop building larger detention facilities.
• Facility for women—just put it in Santa Fe.
• Fe facility, in Los Lunas, in Clayton.
• All right, so essentially, we, as you know, we just closed the Hobbs facility, that facility in Lee County

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• That special assessment must be collected in the same manner as a hotel, motel, or similar facility.
• But somebody with a disability who fell between those ages wasn't covered.
• As the shooter was 19, we raised the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21.
• Yes, I did just age myself. Okay.
• Secretary will lock the board and record the vote. 36EA is zero in age, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• That special assessment must be collected in the same manner as a hotel, motel, or similar facility.
• But somebody with a disability who fell between those ages wasn't covered.
• So what we said is make sure that somebody in those age groups, from 18 to 60, who goes missing and has
• As the shooter was 19, we raised the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21.
• Secretary will lock the board and record the vote. 36EA is zero in age, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• That special assessment must be collected in the same manner as a hotel, motel, or similar facility.
• But somebody with a disability who fell between those ages wasn't covered.
• So what we said is make sure that somebody in the disability community, who fell between those ages,
• As the shooter was 19, we raised the age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21.
• And yes, I did just age myself. Okay.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would eliminate in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants of all ages.
• Bed capacity is right now in the aggregate between county facilities and the state prison system.
• What really is the daily rate actual cost basis for most of our county facilities taking in taking and
• officials, they'll be able to ask for reimbursement from the board and will be able to hopefully facility
• protections to make it easier for Florida's children to be exploited in the workplace at a younger age

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If 100 facilities applied and they were all approved, that's a lot of applications. Okay.
• GPI's members have four facilities in California today producing bottle glass.
• Ten years ago, I would have been able to say they had five facilities.
• Unfortunately, three facilities have closed on the West Coast in the last 10 years.
• Madam Chair, Michael Bocador on behalf of the Ag Energy Consumers Association.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, that facility was not licensed in Wisconsin. So that's a whole separate issue.
• </c><00:27:14.400><c> um</c><00:27:15.200><c> uh</c> East Grand Forks Potato Facility.
• . facility. facility.
• Uh, you know, we made a significant change last year in the legislature and not just the ag committee
• of facilities here in Minnesota<00:36:14.800><c> across</c><00:36:15.040><c> the</c><00:36:15.200><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• At the age of 17, Alfredo joined the Vietnam War.
• In 1972, at the age of 26, ...
• The average age now is 40 years old.
• I will tell you, though, we have an aging population and a growing aging population of veterans. ...in
• The program keeps going, the facility, everything stays the same.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's kind of aging me here.
• 46:39.839><c> by</c> Separated facilities are justified by Separated facilities are justified by the<
• ,</c><00:47:39.760><c> and</c> uncomfortable at this young age, and uncomfortable at this young age,
• ,</c> navigate sharing private facilities, navigate sharing private facilities, places<00:47:51.520><
• And to say that women, facilities.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1345, health facilities; SB 1346, ...; SB 1477, assistant services; SB 1478, liquor commerce; SB 1496
• SB 1345, health facilities; SB 1346, ...; SB 1477, assistant services; SB 1478, liquor commerce; SB 1496
• Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Bernovich passed away on January 12, 2026, at the age of 59.
• He found this out by doing additional research where young people aging out of foster care had their
• House Bill 4103, amending Title 15, Chapter 4, Article 5A, relating to school facilities.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:27:35.320><c> group</c> County's population for that age group County's population for that age
• Next, we have Hawaii School Facilities Authority in support.
• </c><01:46:00.159><c> Authority</c> have Hawaii school facilities Authority have Hawaii school facilities
• Okay, we're going to recess and then move into our second AG.
• </c> recess and then move into our second AG recess and then move into our second AG I<02:05:18.960><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, the bill defines an emerging large energy use facility as a facility that has a maximum
• I want my generation to inherit opportunity in the AI age, not instability.
• Just days ago, New Brunswick, New Jersey, celebrated a canceled facility.
• These facilities can be the equivalent of large cities, and they can take— These facilities can be the
• We are what is known as a colo facility, meaning that we build the data center facility and then lease

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2515, which addresses emerging large energy use facilities, especially data centers. Staff explained that the bill requires utilities to adopt tariffs or policies for data centers, adds reporting and sustainability requirements, sets renewable energy targets, and creates a sales tax exemption for certain eligible data center equipment in eastern Washington. The House sponsor said the bill is intended to protect ratepayers, grid reliability, water resources, and Washington’s climate goals as data center growth accelerates. Tribal representatives and several environmental and labor witnesses urged restoring provisions removed from the House version, especially authority to curtail data center load during energy emergencies and to refuse service if reliability or affordability would be harmed; they also asked for stronger water reporting and protections for salmon. Utility, business, and data center industry witnesses supported the bill’s general framework but raised concerns about implementation, costs, and some of the added requirements, while some opposed the tax exemption and the loss of earlier protections. No final action on 2515 was taken during the hearing portion shown. The committee then heard and acted on several bills in executive session. It passed Substitute House Bill 1302, which allows municipal utilities to waive connection charges for industrial symbiosis projects. It also passed House Bill 2338 on community-scaled weatherization projects after rejecting an amendment, and House Bill 2367 on eliminating preferential treatment for a coal-fired plant after rejecting an amendment. Substitute House Bill 2496 on tribal consultation by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council was amended and then passed, while amendments to change public meeting and tribal summary provisions were rejected. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225 on AI companion chatbots, House Bill 2426 on PCHB efficiency and appeals, House Bill 2606 on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, Engrossed House Bill 2575 on reducing reporting obligations, and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2215 on Climate Commitment Act compliance for fuels were also advanced, with some amendments adopted and others rejected. The committee then reopened public hearing on House Bill 2416, which would treat a Spokane waste-to-energy facility differently under the Climate Commitment Act by allocating no-cost allowances in the second compliance period and requiring a decarbonization and waste-reduction plan. Spokane city officials, labor, environmental groups, and Ecology generally supported the bill as a balanced approach that protects ratepayers while allowing the facility to decarbonize, though Avista raised a concern about language implying a utility compliance obligation. After that, the committee resumed testimony on House Bill 1170, which requires large AI providers to offer provenance tools and disclosures for AI-generated or altered images, video, and audio. Supporters said the bill would help workers and consumers identify synthetic media and prevent impersonation and misinformation, while industry and civil liberties witnesses argued the bill is technically difficult, uses new definitions, and may be unworkable or premature compared with California’s evolving approach.