Transcript Highlights:

• What might be different in a charter school's code of conduct?
• The code of student conduct must meet or exceed the minimum standards set forth in the sponsor's code
• me what the section is, I'm happy to answer questions about that section.
• If you want to tell me what the section is, I'm happy to answer questions about that section.
• But Section 1983 civil rights actions are federal cases.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing interns, guests, and advocates. The Rules Chair added CS for CS for SB 622 to the special order calendar, and SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills when the measures were identical or nearly identical. The Senate passed SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, requiring DEP to develop a recycling and waste diversion roadmap by 2026; SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking, after adopting amendments related to mitigation credit use and former phosphate mine lands; and SB 494/HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, which increases sentencing consequences and creates a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, with an amendment clarifying the database language. The Senate also passed SB 500/HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, SB 524/HB 1089 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 592/HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education, SB 936/HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, and SB 1156 on a home health aid program for medically fragile children. Most of these bills were adopted after brief sponsor explanations, questions, and in some cases amendments or House-substitute motions. Debate centered on several policy issues. Senators raised concerns about the constitutional and environmental implications of mitigation banking credits in SB 492, the scope and privacy implications of the animal abuse database in SB 494, the funding and eligibility details of the condo resilience program in SB 592, and the public-school/charter-school balance in SB 822, which drew extensive questioning about enrollment, governance, discipline, accountability, and data sharing before being placed on the third-reading calendar after amendments. The Spectrum Alert bill drew support from members who compared it to the Purple Alert and emphasized the risks faced by children with ASD. The medically fragile children home health aid bill also drew strong support, with senators describing it as a long-needed fix to help families provide in-home care without losing Medicaid coverage. Votes on the measures reported in the transcript were overwhelmingly favorable, with bills passing by margins such as 38-0, 35-3, 37-0, 36-0, and 35-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 2 allowed for a judgeship, and I’ll explain it this way.
• Um, and that’s the other sections are the sections that were from the bill from last year.
• So there’s bound and there’s moving parts from a map to the code sections to all of that.
• moving parts from a map to the code moving parts from a map to the code sections<00:05:28.400>
• So honestly, to sections to all of that.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 17 February, 2026; 10:45 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up a technical fix to last year’s judicial redistricting plan, affecting only parts of Carroll, Grenada, Montgomery, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Yalobusha Counties. The sponsor explained that the bill corrects issues left out of the prior redistricting legislation, including judgeship/chancellery details and qualifying deadlines. Because the original February 2 qualifying date had already passed, the bill includes backstop language allowing qualifying until May 1, 2026 if the measure is not enacted in time. Senator Turner Ford raised concerns that the bill was changing the law after some judges had already qualified and may have believed they were unopposed, saying the timing felt unfair and that he would likely vote against it. The sponsor responded that a cleanup bill had already been passed, that this measure applies only to the affected district, and that judges and other interested parties had been notified during the two-year redistricting process. He said the changes were necessary technical corrections rather than a hodgepodge approach. The committee then approved the bill, adopting a motion that the title was sufficient and that it do pass. The motion to rise and report also passed, and the bill was sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:43.080> So, um appropriation section begins. So, um appropriation section begins.
• This new section never came issues.
• sections in the bill that are related to sections in the bill that are related to those<00:58:38.120>
• That first section that we amended with your previous amendment is not this section.
• It was a different section of the bill. This section right here...

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, you're recognized to explain Amendment bar code 231079.
• no need for that section of the bill.
• This is coded into their technologies.
• And then the other section at Section 5 allows for law enforcement officers to use a drone when executing
• And it has to spread the code, access that device.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third change reconciles a difference between the Florida Probate Code and the Florida Trust Code.
• Reconciles a difference between the Florida Probate Code and the Florida Trust Code by providing that
• Basically, that's already in the Florida Probate Code. We're putting it now in the trust code.
• Basically, we're putting it now in the trust code, making them the same.
• Sarah Butters, with the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, waiving in

Summary: The Judiciary Committee considered four bills. SB 300 would extend a public records exemption for personal information of appellate court clerks and their spouses and children, mirroring protections already given to trial court clerks; after one support appearance and brief debate about harassment risks, it passed 8-1 and was reported favorably. SB 302 would create a similar exemption for current and former Judicial Qualifications Commission employees, citing doxing, threatening calls and emails, and social media intimidation; it passed 9-1 and was also reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 262, which makes technical changes to the Florida Trust Code, including clarifying trust decanting authority, limiting successor trustee actions where beneficiaries are barred, aligning ademption-by-satisfaction rules with the probate code, and clarifying that transferring homestead property into a community trust does not trigger reassessment. An amendment making the changes retroactive as clarifying and remedial was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously 10-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, SB 322 would create a nonjudicial process for commercial property owners to ask the sheriff to remove unauthorized persons from commercial real estate, similar to the recently enacted residential squatter-removal process. Two amendments were adopted to authorize reasonably necessary force and correct cross-references, and the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after one senator later asked to be recorded as voting yes on SB 300.

Transcript Highlights:

• becomes, what about the rest of Article 3, Section 20?
• was the map color-coded that you received?
• the map color-coded that you received?
• It did not overturn Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. News flash.
• But the Supreme Court did not overturn Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code 9, 0, 0, 2, 6, 8, take up. Substitute Amendment bar code 8, 9, 4, 7, 2, 6, Senator Grall.
• Yes, Madam Chair, this is a late filed amendment bar code 614-0080.
• We'll show bar code 1, 5, 9, 8, 1, 6, is adopt.
• So you're talking about sections.
• But I do have a question on the the vaccine section.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to turn next, on page five, to the actual section of the Internal Revenue Code that governs
• I would like to turn next, on page five, to the actual section of the Internal Revenue Code that governs
• That section is Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
• This is a longstanding section of the code, and it is well established.
• /c><00:34:23.320> in under Section 117 of the code in under Section 117 of the code in addition

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 402, a bill to repeal a provision in RSA 194-F:2 stating that Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds “shall not constitute taxable income” to the parent or student. The bill sponsor argued the current language is misleading because the state cannot determine federal tax liability, and said the bill would simply remove inaccurate tax advice from state law. He cited IRS guidance and prior federal legislation, including a Ted Cruz proposal, to suggest some EFA uses may be taxable under federal law, while others may not, and said the bill could be amended if needed to avoid confusion. Testimony was sharply divided. Py Campbell opposed the bill, arguing it would unfairly single out EFA students and could amount to a tax on education funds, including for self-employed families, and recommended it be voted inexpedient to legislate. Stephen Matthew French, a tax preparer, also opposed the bill, saying IRS Publication 970 already makes clear that scholarship-type payments used for tuition and related expenses are not taxable, and that the bill addresses a problem that does not exist. He warned that adding tax reporting requirements could create administrative costs for families and the program administrator. Bill Ardinger, a tax attorney, supported the repeal of the statutory language, saying the state should not place potentially incorrect tax advice into law. He explained that under federal tax law, only certain scholarship-like uses are exempt, while many EFA-eligible expenses may not be, especially for families using the program for homeschooling or other nontraditional expenses. He said the current statute could mislead families into thinking all EFA payments are tax-free and could expose the state to future legal problems. The hearing ended after questions from committee members; no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• codes.
• Energy conservation codes?
• and construction code, whether that be from the electric code or mechanical code, if those are things
• So right now the Codes Council can consider a... such code mandate that economically reasonable energy
• enforcement of a violation of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or local building codes,

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met with quorum present and considered a full agenda of housing, code enforcement, and rent regulation bills, many of which had passed the Senate in prior years. Early measures included a statewide residential rental registry (S.912), penalties and reporting for vacant and abandoned properties (S.925), and extending tenant response time for major capital improvement rent increase applications (S.1461). The committee also advanced several code-enforcement and fire/building-code bills, including measures to expand remedies for Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code violations (S.3406), increase the Secretary of State’s code enforcement powers (S.4165 and S.4534), and authorize investigations into code administration and enforcement (S.4535). Members raised concerns about local fiscal impacts, the scope of state authority, contractor use, and whether the bills adequately define or limit “imminent threat” and related enforcement powers. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on S.4852, which would require the Codes Council to review and act on updates to international model codes within 18 months. Senators debated whether the bill would speed up code adoption or, as some feared, weaken economic reasonableness considerations by striking the word “economically” from the statutory standard. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure prompt review of widely used model codes and noted other statutory safeguards remain in place; opponents worried about reduced attention to cost and practical impacts, especially amid housing and utility capacity constraints. The committee also discussed S.6368A, requiring complainants to receive copies of compliance orders issued after code complaints, and S.6600B, mandating inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings in New York City. Additional bills advanced included standards for all-gender bathroom design and construction (S.7131A), compensation for required code-enforcement personnel training (S.7159), and audits of individual apartment improvements in rent-regulated units (S.8046A). Several measures were reported to Finance, while others were reported to the floor. Throughout the meeting, votes were largely along expected lines, with some members voting negative or “without recommendation” on the more expansive code-enforcement bills. No bill was defeated, and all items on the agenda were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• In doing so, that actually changed the code section in House Bill 3 that was very important to House
• All this amendment does is make those two code sections work together.
• In doing so, that actually<00:11:06.720> changed<00:11:07.040> the<00:11:07.360> code
• code section uh in actually changed the code section uh in House<00:11:09.519> Bill<00:11:09.839
• <00:11:17.120> sections does is make those two code sections does is make those two code sections

Keywords: MS House Floor - 9 February, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum, dispensed with reading the journal, and welcomed several guests, including Dr. Richard Calderon and medical student Sam Buckley, along with hospital and judicial visitors in the gallery. The chamber then moved to floor action on several bills, mostly from the Workforce Committee. House Bill 622 was brought back on reconsideration, amended to align code sections with changes made by House Bill 3, and passed 119-0. House Bill 329, a reverse-auction option for local school boards and local governments, passed 113-1. House Bills 1401 and 1588, both workforce-related measures extending repeal or exemption dates and adjusting reporting requirements, passed 121-0 and 118-0, respectively. House Bill 562 created the Mississippi Career and Technical Education tuition guarantee program for CTE students and passed 116-0. House Bill 1696 transferred apprenticeship program oversight to a state advisory structure; members questioned how it would work, whether it would affect existing programs, and how it related to specific trades, but the bill passed 113-4 after an amendment to conform to federal requirements. House Bill 338 established a construction training assistant fund supported by a reduced designated contractor contribution rate; members asked about the funding source, whether it was state money, and how it would interact with existing training efforts such as Build Mississippi and Habitat for Humanity. After adopting a committee amendment reducing the contribution percentage, the bill passed 128-0. The House also concurred in a Senate amendment on another bill, making it effective immediately so a state health department hygienist could begin work right away; that motion passed 128-0. The session ended with memorial announcements for several individuals, a request for a rules meeting after adjournment, and adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fire code defines a...
• that's in the fire code um the fire code that's in the fire code um the fire code defines<03:21:
• the code is of bedrooms yes the code the code is specific<03:25:42.439> on<03:25:42.560> including
• phrasing this the question fire code phrasing this the question fire code says<03:29:36.399>
• align our ordinance with the fire code align our ordinance with the fire code so<03:39:56.800>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This language reinstates repealed language from the former Education Code Section 10858 and clarifies
• There's a section in the language itself that specifically says that that section is only operative upon
• inside the LLM, but the code inside the government code that we're going to need to be writing to fix
• LLM, but the code inside the government code that we're going to need to be writing to fix us.
• It's not an appropriate Control Section item.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard several May Revision proposals, primarily from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program under Proposition 12, a transition away from the state hemp program to USDA oversight by January 1, 2028, ongoing support for agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to the department’s indirect cost cap. The LAO generally supported the animal care, hemp transition, and statistics proposals, while also urging future review of the Prop 12 funding once litigation is resolved. The indirect-cost-cap language was described as technical and not increasing charges to programs, and it was held open with no objections from the LAO or Finance. The committee also discussed the new federal Workforce Pell program and related Cradle to Career funding and trailer bill language. Finance said the state is still reviewing federal rules and is focusing on basic implementation steps, with the trailer bill assigning eligibility determinations to the California Student Aid Commission, requiring data sharing through Cradle to Career, and prioritizing public institutions first. The LAO urged caution because the federal rules were just finalized and said the Legislature should better define the process and costs before appropriating the $1.3 million requested for Cradle to Career. Members raised policy concerns about limiting the program to certain institutions and about aligning the proposal with pending legislation and broader workforce policy. The Department of Technology presented a $1 million request for Poppy, the state’s digital assistant, to expand a secure GenAI platform for state employees. Members asked detailed questions about data security, model training, bias controls, and whether the system could eventually support local governments; CDT said the system uses state-controlled cloud infrastructure, does not use user data for training, and quarantines new models for review. CDT also sought provisional authority for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative to cover possible operating shortfalls while the network is still being built; the LAO remained concerned about broad spending authority, and several members questioned the revenue assumptions and oversight. FTB then proposed retaining a smaller set of CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, with the LAO saying the reduced staffing level was broadly reasonable but still worth legislative scrutiny. The committee also began hearing the administration’s revenue proposals, including a permanent limitation on business tax credits and a tax on electronically delivered prewritten software, with the LAO generally supporting the goal of raising ongoing revenue but recommending changes to the software proposal’s exemptions and business-use treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we ask for all five zip codes of data.
• , and we ask for all five zip codes of data.
• So the tool that CMS has used to waive the IMD exclusion is Section 1115 of the Medicaid Act.
• There are many types of Section 1115 demonstrations or waivers, not just IMD waivers.
• North Dakota Century Code does create an exemption there.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Applied those Trump tax cuts to the Arizona tax code.
• This will apply the Trump tax cuts to the Arizona income tax code.
• It's a $440 million tax relief package for Arizonans... ...tax code.
• Those forms currently do not comply with the current tax code.
• This applies the Trump tax cuts to the Arizona tax code.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> THIS BILL HAS TWO SECTIONS. THE FIRST MAKES IT A VIOLATION.
• SECTION 112 FLORIDA CODE OF ETHICS FOR ANYONE WHO IS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
• IN SECTION TWO OF THE BILL MR.
• VIOLATED THE CODE THAT THAT'S THEN A THUMB THEIR NOSE AT THE LAW AND DO NOT PAY THEIR FINES.
• WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT WE WILL TAKE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 92278 BY SENATOR GAETZ.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Bills: HR70, HR71, HCR35, HB31, HB326, HB1013, HB1014, HB1015, HB1016, HR65, HR66, HR67, HR68, HR69, HCR33, HCR34, HB1006, HB1007, HB1008, HB1010, HB1011, SB2, SB13, SB24, SB28, SB40, SB47, SB48, SB70, SB79, SB80, SB109, SB127, SB139, SB154, SB181, SB199, SB200, SB208, SB277, SB317, SB336, SB349, SB357, HR15, HR20, HCR14, HB51, HB58, HB69, HB82, HB93, HB143, HB166, HB199, HB201, HB202, HB218, HB222, HB223, HB224, HB231, HB235, HB246, HB338, HB349, HB352, HB379, HB405, HB429, HB535, HB547, HB577, HB588, HB626, HB636, HB652, HB653, HB669, HB688, HB691, HB721, HB738, HB749, HB806, HB843, HB851, HB857, HB861, HB889, HB904, HB907, HB908, HB929, HB955, HB1009, HB952, HB8, HB9, HB10, HB15, HB16, HB17, HB18, HB19, HB22, HB33, HB34, HB35, HB44, HB46, HB47, HB48, HB61, HB101, HB126, HB135, HB142, HB164, HB185, HB215, HB226, HB232, HB233, HB242, HB284, HB292, HB297, HB301, HB334, HB436, HB468, HB548, HB571, HB582, HB593, HB594, HB609, HB613, HB712, HB722, HB732, HB746, HB827, HB845, HB848, HB921, HB923, HB951, HB953, HB999, HB53, HB57, HB64, HB102, HB106, HB111, HB137, HB152, HB155, HB177, HB238, HB256, HB258, HB337, HB359, HB363, HB386, HB434, HB546, HB557, HB584, HB661, HB697, HB726, HB727, HB747, HB756, HB758, HB759, HB765, HB767, HB825, HB858, HB930, HB941, HB957, HB964, HB868, HB119, HB140, HB739, HB842, HB875, HB919, HB52, HB228, HB289, HB735, HB796, HB901, HB193, HB400, HB570, HB733

Keywords: Northside High School, basketball, state championship, sportsmanship, athletic recognition, commendation, criminal justice, community contributions, Bridget A. Dinvaut, law enforcement, tax delinquency, property sale, rehabilitation, Louisiana State Law Institute, legislation, retirement, police benefits, disability, municipality, Social Security

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, there, there's a section in the bill that specifically refers to data sharing, um, and I think
• allow the city of Garland to participate in a qualified hotel project as defined by the Texas tax code
• House Bill 3699 would amend the Texas Labor Code to define last work and.
• Under current law, Section 552,130 of the government code treats vehicle license plates as captured on
• Section 552,130 of the government code and Section 730007 of the Transportation code to clarify that

Transcript Highlights:

• Unanimous consent to allow for a relaxed dress code for the morning session of the state Senate.
• So for the member's information, the Senate does have a dress code. We did send out a letter.
• It strikes Sections 1 through 7, which is the oil and gas equalization surtax section.
• President, it strikes Sections 1 through 7, which is the section that creates the oil and gas equalization
• surtax. equalization surtax section.

Transcript Highlights:

• On this slide, I have a couple sections highlighted around statewide systems.
• Here is the list of required chart of accounts codes for all agencies.
• The sub-sub-object is listed as a mandatory code.
• In the past, this was an agency-specific code and not required.
• You can see Section 951.

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The<00:28:41.480> code<00:28:41.760> of The code of The code of conduct<00:28:43.200>
• of ethics or a code of conduct.
• of ethics or a code of conduct.
• of ethics or a code of conduct.
• Ethics or a code of conduct.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all