Transcript Highlights:

• My livestock operation is considered small, but my impact on my local community and economy is large.
• is considered small my impact on<00:27:43.240> my<00:27:43.399> local<00:27:43.720>
• <00:38:42.880> help intended to be kind of just a small help intended to be kind of just a
• Through that effort, we did almost 60 interviews with small meat processors.
• <00:54:47.119> Mi interviews that we did with small Mi interviews that we did with small Mi

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are still a relatively small team and a very small player in the larger cereal aisle.
• We are still a relatively small team and a very small player in the larger cereal aisle.
• We are still a relatively small team and a very small player in the larger cereal aisle.
• We were talking about we're a small player. We're not an ADM.
• Senator KES, um, I... of small entrepreneurs small EG um of small entrepreneurs small EG um groups<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• focused on undergraduate<00:05:07.800> education<00:05:08.800> with<00:05:08.960> small
• <00:05:09.320> class undergraduate education with small class undergraduate education with
• small class sizes<00:05:10.320> and<00:05:10.440> a<00:05:10.680> strong<00:05:
• institutional size with a uh that small institutional size with a uh faculty<00:19:04.440> that
• <00:26:25.360> town Campus located uh in a safe small town Campus located uh in a safe small

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And quickly I realized there was a dog wearing a red vest, a small dog that was sitting on someone's
• A small sum when you consider the responsibilities and time commitment of the job.
• And because this bill provides a tax credit rather than a tax deduction, more small farmers would see
• But the possibilities are limited because with these small farms, they're often, in order for them to
• We are independent contractors, small business owners, who face insurmountable financial strain.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held its inaugural hearing of the session, led by Chair Michael Day and co-chair Senator Lydia Edwards, and reviewed a large slate of bills and constitutional amendments. The chair laid out hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, priority for in-person witnesses, and deadlines for reporting constitutional amendments and House bills. The committee heard testimony on 29 proposals, with many witnesses and advocates speaking in support of measures they said would clarify the law, improve access to justice, or address public safety and fairness concerns. Several bills drew extensive testimony. Supporters of H.1686/S.1254 urged creation of a commission to study intentional misrepresentation of service animals, citing disruptive and dangerous encounters with fake service dogs and the need to protect legitimate service-dog teams. H.1649/S.1168 on court transcriber fees received strong support from transcribers and CPCS, who said rates have been frozen at $3 per page since 1988 and should be raised to $4.50, with an automatic CPI adjustment; they also described the work as time-consuming and essential to the justice system. H.1768/S.1037 on indigency was backed by CPCS, which said the bill would update eligibility rules, reduce unnecessary six-month reassessments, and eliminate the $150 counsel fee for indigent adults. H.1723/S.1193 to remove the charitable immunity cap was supported by legislators and attorneys who argued the current $20,000/$100,000 caps leave seriously injured people undercompensated and make Massachusetts an outlier. The committee also heard testimony on S.1046 regarding adoptions, with multiple adoptive parents, attorneys, and agency representatives describing recent probate court interpretations that have disrupted out-of-state surrender and finalization practices. Witnesses said the bill would restore predictability and allow birth parents outside Massachusetts to use either their home-state law or Massachusetts law, while preserving ICPC safeguards. Senator Feingold testified on H.1748/S.1109, “Conrad’s Law,” to criminalize coercing someone into suicide, arguing Massachusetts should join most other states in creating a specific offense rather than relying on involuntary manslaughter charges. Representative Donahue supported H.66 to remove “so help me God” from the constitutional oath of office. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee simply heard testimony and thanked witnesses, with chairs indicating they would continue reviewing the bills and written submissions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we would adjourn, and we would come into the office here just in small groups.
• You all may have experienced this before, that I am not real well versed in small talk sometimes, and
• I've had to learn how to do better at small talk because I'll just jump to business.
• You all may have experienced this before that I am not real well versed in small talk sometimes.
• It is a small gym. It is hot in October in that gym. And this guy comes over.

Bills: HB1168

Keywords: abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, methotrexate, pro-life, pro-choice, reproductive health, unborn child, trafficking, felony, contraception, pharmacist, pharmacy, Title 63, Oklahoma statutes, abortion pill, drug distribution, criminal penalty

Summary: The Senate first came to order after repeated quorum calls, then devoted a long portion of the meeting to farewell remarks for Senator Darcy Jech. Jech reflected on his 12 years in the chamber, his rural district, campaign experiences, major events during his tenure, and the importance of relationships, compromise, and service. Numerous senators followed with personal tributes, praising his steadiness, humility, faith, work on devotions and the Rural Caucus, and his reputation as a thoughtful, respectful colleague and family man. After the farewell segment, the Senate moved to executive nominations. The chamber unanimously confirmed Sharon Shell Millington as Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, Clayton Bullard as Cabinet Secretary of Health and Mental Health, and Clayton Bullard as administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The Senate then approved a slate of Tier 2 nominations, including appointments to the Home Inspector Examiners Committee, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology board, the State Fire Marshal Commission, the State Board of Health, the State Board of Licensed Social Workers, the Forensic Review Board, the Oklahoma State Credit Union, the Health Care Workforce Training Commission, the Alarm, Locksmith, and Fire Sprinkler Industry Committee, and the Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. No debate or opposition was recorded on the nominations, and the votes were overwhelmingly or unanimously in favor. After announcements, the Senate agreed to recess and then adjourned until Monday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And many of those ordinances that are adopted for the small environmentally sensitive lands on the shorelands
• And many of those ordinances that are adopted for the small environmentally sensitive lands on the shorelands
• And many of those ordinances that are adopted for the small environmentally sensitive lands on the shorelands
• And many of those ordinances that are adopted for the small environmentally sensitive lands on the shorelands
• And many of those ordinances that are adopted for the small environmentally sensitive lands on the shorelands

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to do this and they wanted to make progress on this issue, and high-capacity magazine ban is a very small
• all of Minnesota. and high capacity magazine ban is a very and high capacity magazine ban is a very small
• small small very<00:24:22.800> small<00:24:23.080> slice.
• 23.440> It's<00:24:23.520> a<00:24:23.560> very<00:24:23.800> clear very small
• It's a very clear very small slice.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As somebody who lives in rural Minnesota and we own a small business, I can tell you that our taxes on
• As somebody who lives in rural Minnesota and we own a small business, I can tell you that our taxes on
• And when you own a small business and these are not new vehicles by any means, that hurts.
• And I think of how small a business we are, and I can't imagine that helping any business in our state
• And when you own a small business and these are not new vehicles by any means, that hurts.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But for a small-town mayor coming to his...
• But for a small-town mayor coming to his senator to tell me about this, I wouldn't have known.
• Senator Rogers, how many small towns with this involved?
• And so how do other small towns handle this?
• So my understanding, Senator, is that it would, for any of the other small communities, have to acquire

Bills: SB1137, SB1176, SB1287, SB1335, SB1336, SB1445, SB1677

Keywords: underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip, interactive positive response system, landlord duties, apartment community, mobile home park

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from the Arizona Water Banking Authority by Dr. Rebecca Burnett. She explained the authority’s role in storing Colorado River water as long-term storage credits, its funding sources, and its obligations to provide backup supplies for CAP municipal and industrial subcontractors, the Hualapai River Indian community, and Nevada. Members asked about future firming for CAP users, recovery of credits, water quality issues, and whether municipalities banking water themselves affects the authority’s supply. Burnett said the authority has no current firming policy for CAP M&I subcontractors, is waiting on Colorado River guidelines, and does not have excess water to bank because no surplus is available. No action was taken on the presentation. The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 1445, as amended, allows small municipalities to test bacteriological samples on site with EPA-approved equipment; the sponsor and a rural mayor argued it would save money and improve responsiveness, while some members questioned whether the change was already possible under existing law. The bill passed 6-4. SB 1137, with a Taylor amendment, modernizes Arizona’s 811 call-before-you-dig system by adding large-project coordination meetings, an interactive positive response system, and related procedures; it passed unanimously 10-0. SB 1287, which expands an existing groundwater use allowance for irrigation grandfathered rights from initial AMAs to all AMAs, passed 9-1. The committee also considered SB 1335, as amended, which in its final form addressed a temporary continuation of irrigation tied to the Ag-to-Urban program and groundwater savings credits; DWR said the amendment was still a placeholder and needed cleanup, while supporters said it would help manage timing issues for farmers and developers. It passed 5-4. SB 1336 reauthorized the State Land Department through 2030 and added oversight, reporting, and planning requirements; the department was neutral but raised concerns about the proposed oversight committee and implementation details. After debate over the need for another board and the length of reauthorization, it passed 5-4. Finally, SB 1677 appropriates $3 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management for salt cedar mitigation along the lower Gila River corridor. Supporters from Audubon Southwest, the City of Buckeye, and local landowners said the invasive trees increase flood and wildfire risk, consume large amounts of water, and crowd out native habitat; some members raised concerns about herbicide use and wanted more detail on the mitigation plan. The bill passed 9-0. The chair then thanked staff and members, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Baseline forecasts, you know, a slight increase, you know, mixed bag: picking up in sales tax, but a small
• decrease in motor vehicle excise tax, a small increase in individual income tax, and a small decrease
• We probably have a small bit of hybrid in that.
• thought, you know, if you're looking long-term, look at space, they would accommodate leaders, but also small
• We will give you updates whenever you meet again, and we'll just keep, you know, it's a small contract

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $50,000 per small business. We were oversubscribed by 8,000 companies within a day.
• A condition of that loan was that when PPP money was given, those small businesses in Florida and our
• I know these are small figures. There's larger figures that I'm fundamentally concerned about.
• and equipment downtime. ...for small repair businesses and reduce electronic and equipment downtime
• We think about Black history sometimes from a micro, from a small perspective.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:37.520> personnel<00:30:37.919> that >> Yeah, very small number.
• >> I've heard numbers, and I'm almost scared to say it is so small.
• It's a small number of sheriffs. >> It may be less than. >> Can we find out?
• >> I've heard numbers, and I'm almost scared to say it is so small.
• It's a small number of sheriffs. >> It may be less than. >> Can we find out?

Bills: HB304, HB285, HB312, HB311, SB60

Keywords: impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, law enforcement, HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law

Transcript Highlights:

• $50,000 per small business. We were oversubscribed by 8,000 companies within a day.
• A condition of that loan was that when PPP money was given, those small businesses in Florida and our
• I know these are small figures. There's larger figures that I'm fundamentally concerned about.
• and equipment downtime. ...for small repair businesses and reduce electronic and equipment downtime
• We think about Black history sometimes from a micro, from a small perspective.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a small community college, and I'm not anti-athletic or anything of that sort.
• It was actually very good for a small community college because the classes were small.
• there's this shadow growth fund that the rest of the legislators don't get to do, and we're given a small
• School Boards Association, for instance, which has a predominantly small district event, would have one
• And so, I fully recognize that this is not designed to Run over the small districts or anything of that

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• And in school districts and areas that are really small, those percentages, although may not be very
• But, you know, faithful in small things, you're faithful in big things.
• So the small details do matter.
• So the small details do matter.
• So the small details do matter.

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some do, but it's very, very small percentage. But most Medical service, but not dental care.
• Some do, but it's a very, very small percentage. Most veterans need dental care.
• We were in Orlando with two footprints, and we were in Tallahassee with a very, very small 10,000-foot
• able to do now is we have gone down to now just two warehouses, this one, and then the very, very small
• Senator, the design is to have a track where we do small classes, like one- or two-hour classes.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both at the individual level, a small business level, a community level, and certainly statewide across
• A small little attraction in California called Yosemite National Park.
• , we cannot host a World Cup or an Olympics or anything like that, but definitely Yosemite and our small
• The tourism community consists of 9,400 businesses, and many of those are small businesses—over 90% are
• small businesses.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also very worried about my cats' health, especially with their small lungs.
• There is a small fiscal note for this bill that's only $300,000 for the first year, and that is it.
• They're like small cities, right? Well, there's a huge problem with that, because you don't...
• And so you're not talking about the small septic tanks that are – well, they're not that small. set off
• I'm here to urge you to move forward with House Bill 456, which would be a small step toward advancing

Bills: HB456, HB482, HB1463, HB1682, HB1949, HB5549, SB763

Keywords: translation, environmental quality, complaints, accessibility, multilingual, TCEQ, environmental justice, environmental complaints, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, language access, public information, Texas Commission, multilingual access, administrative actions, environmental regulations, state representatives, state senators, penalty notice, Water Code, legislative notification

Transcript Highlights:

• These seemingly small variances in time can add up to an overall timeline that can be impacted by up
• We have one small suggestion similar to what Mr. Reid said.
• It's like, you know, how much, how many gallons of water can you get through a small garden hose versus
• Um, so I am about 3.5 hours north of here in a small town of Poetry. We're about 2000 inhabitants.
• Um, we also have a small manufacturing business, so we know business, um, and we have to just to keep

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the PBM uses small clerical errors to claw back that full amount.
• Or there's a small clerical error that's in the claim when it's submitted.
• And the words are small on the page, but they do have meaning.
• Chairman, it's amazing how just a few small words can turn into a moment. ...multi-session struggle.
• Then it's small. You can read it. That's number two. It's very good. Number three is a no.

Bills: HB1464, HB1635, HB2516, HB3317, HB3502, HB4012, HB4268, HB4386, HB4877, SB916

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug pricing, pharmacy benefits, health insurance, health benefit plan, insurer, HMO, self-insured employer, public employer, school district, county, municipality, university system, higher education, retirees, dependent coverage, stop-loss coverage, bulk purchasing, group purchasing, purchasing pool