Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:26:18.560><c> So</c> commercial industrial land. So commercial industrial land.
• So there's no uniformity to the settlements either.
• So there's no uniformity to the settlements either.
• So there's no uniformity to the settlements either.
• Code section 15852B are varied.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other counties that are not in that carve-out would report at a ZIP code level.
• Why ZIP codes? I'll give an example.
• We can talk about more, but then there are counties with 100 or fewer ZIP codes.
• They have the ZIP code of these residents.
• They have the ZIP code of these residents.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have concerns about Idaho Code and curriculum overlapping with state standards.
• Were you involved in this content writing that's going into code? No. Oh, sorry.
• You know, we are so many different pieces buried in code that if someone happens to remember and there's
• So this bill's aim is to create clear, uniform, and required processes so important information is not
• So this bill's aim is to create clear, uniform, and required processes so important information is not

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code is fuzzy, so different interpretations on the individual level are, again, very common.
• AB 2612 aims to close that gap by directing state agencies to establish clear, uniform... ...aims to
• In closing, by establishing uniform rules for plug-in play solar, AB 2612 facilitates safer adoption
• panels 4, 8, and the correlating committee for the National Electrical Code, responsible for writing
• , such as the National Electrical Code or the California Electrical Code here in California; and finally

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• model accreditation plan, or MAP, for asbestos abatement on certain projects covering public and commercial
• certain projects cover or an MAP for asbestos abatement on certain projects covering public and commercial
• be wages, but it could also be other really important things like health care and other, you know, uniform

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several Department of Labor and Industries request bills and related workplace measures. Senate Bill 6039 would allow L&I to send notices electronically with an opt-out option; Senator Curtis King and L&I supported it as a simple modernization and the committee heard no opposition. Senate Bill 6136 would require L&I to publish actuarially indicated workers’ compensation rates and explain when rates are capped below those levels; Senator King and employer groups described it as a transparency bill, while L&I said it would disclose how reserve funds and rate caps affect different classes. Senate Bill 6188 would expand L&I’s authority over asbestos certification rulemaking beyond rules specifically required to match federal standards; Senator Victoria Hunt and L&I argued this would strengthen worker safety and training, while the Building Industry Association raised concern about diverging from federal rules and asked for narrower authority. Senate Bill 6014 would create a Public Records Act exemption for people involved in pregnancy-accommodation complaints or investigations and fix a cross-reference in last year’s pregnancy accommodation law; Senator T’wina Nobles and Moms Rising said it would restore intended protections and privacy for pregnant and postpartum workers. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 6058, which would give L&I discretion to investigate wage complaints under the Wage Payment Act and assess penalties for willful violations when it initiates an investigation; L&I supported the bill and noted a House amendment to reduce costs and avoid conflict with another wage-recovery measure. For Senate Bill 6136, hospitality, construction, and self-insured employer representatives all supported the measure as a transparency step, with the self-insurers noting the impact of PTSD presumptive claims on rate classes. For Senate Bill 6188, L&I said the bill would let the department set stronger certification standards for asbestos workers and supervisors, while BIAW argued the bill should be limited to specific EPA model standards rather than removing the current statutory limitation. In executive session, the committee took action on five bills. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5061, which requires annual prevailing-wage adjustments in public works contracts, an amendment allowing change orders for wage increases over 5% failed, a one-year effective-date delay was adopted, and the bill passed 7-2 as amended. Substitute Senate Bill 5874, allowing ESD to waive penalties for minor unemployment-insurance reporting errors, passed 9-0. Senate Bill 5944, making missed-appointment payments part of bargained compensation for language access providers, passed 9-0. Substitute Senate Bill 5972, expanding binding interest arbitration for correctional officers in city and county jails, rejected two amendments that would have limited the binding effect and required consideration of local fiscal ability, then passed 8-1. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302, addressing misclassification of independent contractors on public works projects, passed 9-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , to provide a correct code reference; amending Section 15-5311, Idaho Code, to provide a correct code
• 66-404, Idaho Code, to provide correct code references and make technical corrections; and declaring
• , to provide a correct code reference; amending Section 15-5311, Idaho Code, to provide a correct code
• 39-1105, Idaho Code, to provide a correct code reference; amending Section 66-404, Idaho Code, to provide
• ; repealing Section 54-918, Idaho Code; amending Chapter 9, Title 54, Idaho Code, by the addition of

Summary: The House convened with 70 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal. The chamber then received committee reports noting that House Bills 489 through 493 had been printed and referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. Under resolutions and first reading, House Concurrent Resolution 21 was introduced to designate 2026 as the Year of Volunteerism and the America 250 in Idaho Service Challenge, with related commemorative activities for the nation’s 250th birthday; it was referred for printing. The House also introduced House Bills 494 through 498, covering background checks and related code updates, dentistry and denturist regulation, podiatry licensure and discipline, controlled substances scheduling and related technical changes, and authorization for legislative leaders to employ outside counsel in federal litigation. All five bills were referred to the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee for printing. During announcements, members welcomed teachers, IEA members, and several guests in the gallery, and noted a sound money talk, a balanced budget amendment informational hearing featuring Governor Ron DeSantis, and a pharmacy student reception. Committee meeting notices were also read for the coming days. The House then adjourned until 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Senate Standing Committee on Codes.
• My understanding is that police agencies in the state have uniformity to their rules, but I will circle
• So the Codes Committee continues its streak of a bipartisan conversation.
• The bill is reported, and so concludes the meeting on Codes. Thank you.
• And so we conclude this meeting on Codes. Thank you. and so we include this meeting on codes.

Committee: Senate Codes

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Codes met on February 4, 2026, and considered a series of bills, mostly amendments to the Penal Law, with one Executive Law bill and one bill affecting both the Criminal Procedure Law and Penal Law. The committee moved and reported Senate Print 83 (Liu), 3158 (Schofez), 3693 (Sanders), 4470 (Mayer), 5041 (Sepúlveda), and 7202A (Hinch). Senate Print 3204 (Kruger) was advanced to finance after a member voted without recommendation, and Senate Print 5138 (Janaris) was reported despite negative votes from Senators Murray, Palumbo, and Gallivan. One bill, 3158, drew supportive comments about addressing animal fighting, with mention of letters from animal rights organizations. Another, 4470, prompted questions about who would create required training and whether existing police agency training would be superseded; counsel said the municipal council would promulgate the training rules and would follow up on the remaining question. Most votes were bipartisan, and the chair noted that the committee continued its pattern of bipartisan action. Senator Gallivan recorded a without-recommendation vote on several bills, and Senator Salazar was noted as without recommendation on the final bill. The meeting concluded after the last bill was reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 991, by Representative Mandy Landry, provides relative to the Code of Criminal Procedure,
• House Bill 991, by Representative Mandy Landry, provides relative to the Code of Criminal Procedure,
• House Bill 995, by Representative Lacombe, provides relative to the Children's Code, videotape statements
• Senate Bill 303, by Senator Cloud, concerns the Louisiana Procurement Code and cooperative purchasing
• Title 39, Louisiana Procurement Code, Cooperative Purchasing for Information Technology Systems.

Bills: HR46 , HR47 , HR48 , HR49 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , HR42 , HR43 , HR44 , HR45 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR29 , HCR30 , SCR13 , HB894 , HB983 , HB984 , SB19 , SB23 , SB26 , SB30 , SB39 , SB45 , SB46 , SB50 , SB51 , SB55 , SB69 , SB71 , SB73 , SB84 , SB85 , SB89 , SB96 , SB98 , SB101 , SB110 , SB148 , SB150 , SB160 , SB164 , SB303 , SB340 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB160 , HB171 , HB174 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB198 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB237 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB316 , HB351 , HB393 , HB400 , HB413 , HB446 , HB469 , HB486 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB807 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB221 , HB148 , HB331 , HB149 , HB901

Keywords: HR 46, House Resolution 46, water well drillers, water wells, well drilling, driller licensure, licensing requirements, Department of Conservation and Energy, R.S. 38:3098.1, LAC 46.LXXXIX.507, professional references, two years drilling experience, workforce development, barriers to entry, water infrastructure, natural resources, groundwater, public health, state water resources, occupational licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• They're just issued a hard copy citation pertaining to that violation of the code, whatever it might
• This was a practice or code or law before that they were not, for some reason.
• So if we have a QR code and you're able to scan the QR code and from that information, you'd be able
• I can't answer to the QR code side of it.
• fine, because I know there’s been some talk about this, and I heard Rick Green talk about this QR code

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the first thing we need to do is to move the amendment coded A25-000061, which is in your packets
• The change on page two, line three deletes two sections from the uniform laws provision that is in the
• 00:02:59.680><c> sections</c><00:03:00.400><c> from</c><00:03:00.720><c> the</c><00:03:00.879><c> uniform
• </c> deletes two sections from the uniform deletes two sections from the uniform laws<00:03:01.760><c

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• CIA Director William Colby acknowledged the debt owed; without the Hmong codes, 50,000 more.
• Under the code name Water Pump, the Hmong people paid a heavy price for our role on the ground and in
• Today, I am honored and privileged to wear this uniform once again to honor the sacrifices of my father
• People often thank me for my service, but my 27 years in uniform pale in comparison to the sacrifices
• to clarify that it was not a disrespectful chuckle; it was because I wish I could still fit in my uniform

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s for non-commercial purposes.
• This is a matter of commercial versus hobby cultivation.
• And so LCB is in charge of regulating commercial activity.
• We're talking about foster care and commercial properties.
• And so this is a civil versus commercial activity here.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 5882 would extend workers’ compensation PTSD presumptions to local correctional facility workers after 90 days of employment, with staff explaining the bill’s scope, fiscal note, and how claims would affect employers’ experience ratings. The sponsor and labor representatives supported the measure as a response to correctional officer trauma, while cities, retailers, and self-insurers opposed it over cost, system sustainability, and the need for more study. Labor and Industries said the estimated five-year state-fund claim cost ranges from $6.7 million to $15.3 million, and the hearing closed after testimony from both sides. The committee then heard SB 6196, which would impose a 95% excise tax on kratom products starting in 2027, create licensing and labeling requirements, and direct revenue to youth harmful substance prevention. Supporters argued kratom is unregulated and increasingly available to youth, and some urged age-gating and stronger restrictions on synthetic concentrated products. Opponents, including retailers and the American Kratom Association, said the bill is too punitive, would hurt legitimate businesses, and should be revised into a consumer protection framework rather than treated like a controlled substance. No vote was taken. SB 6204, allowing adults to grow up to six cannabis plants at home with a 15-plant household cap, drew strong support from cannabis advocates and some medical users, who said home grow should have been part of legalization and would help consumers understand the plant. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and public health warned about youth access, enforcement problems, fire and chemical risks, and possible impacts on cannabis tax revenue. The committee also heard SB 6134, requiring notice to striking workers about possible UI overpayments if they later receive retroactive wages, which the sponsor said would prevent surprise repayment obligations; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Finally, SB 6195, aimed at reducing cannabis oversupply by tying producer canopy size to reported sales, drew broad support from cannabis businesses and trade groups, who said it would stabilize the market and address JLARC’s findings, with some stakeholders asking for implementation fixes and clearer language.

Transcript Highlights:

• The regulations must either incentivize ground-floor commercial uses within mixed-use and commercial
• Yes, so 20% of mixed-use and commercial zones.
• Building Code applicable to kit homes by March 31, 2027.
• zones that cities can require ground-floor commercial in. ...and an increase in the percentage of commercial
• Attempts have been made to remove commercial requirements on properties through zoning code changes,

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on engrossed second substitute Senate Bill 6026, which would prohibit certain GMA-planning cities and counties from excluding residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones and would limit local requirements for ground-floor commercial or mixed-use space, subject to numerous exemptions and a possible study-based off-ramp. The bill sponsor and supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, the governor’s housing policy advisor, Commerce staff, developers, labor/employer groups, and housing advocates, argued it would reduce barriers, reuse underutilized commercial land, and help address the state’s housing shortage. Cities including Bellevue, Kirkland, Bellingham, Redmond, Kent, Lacey, and Lakewood testified in opposition or with concerns, emphasizing local control, impacts on walkable neighborhoods and small businesses, implementation costs, and the need for more flexibility or clearer compliance options. Committee members asked about exemptions, the study process, and how the bill would affect existing local plans and incentives. The committee then moved to executive session on several bills. It rejected Representative Griffey’s amendment to Senate Bill 5820, which would have restored Clark County’s freight rail dependent overlay authority and added findings about greenhouse gas reductions from short line rail, and then passed SB 5820 out with a do pass recommendation. The committee also passed SB 5995, extending authorization for port districts to purchase zero- and near-zero-emission cargo handling equipment; SB 5552, directing rulemaking for kit home building codes; SB 5467, raising thresholds for water-sewer district surplus property sales; and SB 6189, removing the deadline for forming a public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities. Each of those bills received a do pass recommendation, with some members noting support for housing, workforce, efficiency, or local flexibility and others expressing concerns about contracts, automation, or competitiveness. After executive session, the committee resumed testimony on SB 6026. Additional supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Commerce, developers, the Washington Roundtable, Microsoft, and housing organizations, reiterated that the bill would unlock housing on vacant commercial land and preserve some local flexibility through exemptions and height incentives. Opponents and concerned cities continued to argue that the bill would weaken local planning, reduce commercial space needed for complete communities, and impose costs and implementation burdens. The hearing concluded without final action on SB 6026, with the chair noting more testimony and work remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm going to go through the command PNL P, which I'm sure are codes that do not mean much to you.
• I'm going to use a code that we know through list to do the cash and select GA.
• And we've got very, very little commercial industrial property.
• </c> We are really short on commercial We are really short on commercial industrial<02:31:46.480><c>
• </c> got very very little commercial got very very little commercial industrial<02:32:06.040><c> property

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts weren't receiving equal funding when the funding aid formula assumed a uniform rate
• This is that 25-mill U-R-T, uniform rate of tax, that is used solely for maintenance and operation of
• So this law requires that the Department of Education create a uniform chart of accounts known as the
• So I'm glad that we do have it in code for everybody to do it and commend the ones that were doing it
• So I'm glad that we do have it in code for everybody to do it and commend the ones that we're doing it

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the previous minutes and then focused on an update from the Department of Education on early childhood programs, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ongoing work to review ABC slots, which have been flat for years at about 23,800 slots and roughly $114 million. They said about 1,000 slots statewide are currently unfilled despite a waiting list of more than 2,000 families, and the department is shifting toward paying based on enrollment rather than guaranteed slots. Members asked about school choice, income eligibility, year-round access, curriculum flexibility, transportation, and whether funding should be increased or rebalanced; the department said it is collecting data, may survey providers more formally, and is considering whether to modernize income thresholds, daily rates, and other program rules. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical information on income limits and other program details. The second major portion of the meeting was a legal presentation on the framework for Arkansas school adequacy by BLR education attorney Taylor Lloyd. She reviewed the constitutional basis for a “general, suitable, and efficient” public school system, the Dupree and Lake View cases, and the principle that adequacy and equity are different but related: adequacy asks what resources are needed, while equity asks whether those resources are distributed fairly. She explained that the General Assembly must define adequacy, study it, and react to evidence over time, and that the current adequacy definition includes curriculum and career/technical frameworks, the 38 mandatory Carnegie units, state testing standards, and sufficient funding. She also described the matrix as a funding tool, not a spending mandate, and noted that categorical funds are separate from the matrix. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum then gave the historical framework, tracing legislative responses from Dupree through Lake View and into the present. She highlighted major changes such as the creation of equalization funding, fiscal distress and academic distress laws, the adequacy study process, the Educational Adequacy Fund, facilities and transportation changes, declining enrollment and student growth funding, and later adjustments to teacher salaries, isolated funding, and categorical programs. She explained that the adequacy study has evolved through committee hearings, surveys, site visits, and outside consultants, and that recent changes include updates to accountability references and the addition or removal of certain funding categories. Members asked follow-up questions about how the matrix is used, whether homeschool or private-school funding raises comparable issues, whether stakeholders include private and homeschool participants, whether school board members should be surveyed, and whether the state should revisit average daily membership versus attendance-based funding. No votes were taken on the adequacy presentations, but the committee did agree to continue the early childhood discussion in a future subcommittee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the bill that we'll be voting on, are we delaying drainage upgrades or building code updates?
• How does the bill address, or does the bill address, building code updates? Senator DiCeglie.
• It doesn't address anything to do with building code updates.
• How does the bill address, or does the bill address building code updates? Senator DeSegley.
• It doesn't address anything to do with building code updates.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into special order and returning messages. Early floor action included passage of HB 6503 (relief for Mandy Penny Lamon by Sarasota County), HB 1123 (sewer collection systems), HB 211 (farm products), and a joint resolution on ad valorem tax exemption for agricultural tangible personal property, all approved without opposition. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the chamber recessed and later returned to messages from the House. The Senate then took up a series of House amendments and conference-style motions on major bills. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response was amended and concurred in after debate over hurricane recovery, local government moratoriums, evacuation timing in the Keys, and property tax and redevelopment provisions; it passed 34-1. CS/HB 1609 on waste incineration and auxiliary containers was heavily debated over plastic and polystyrene preemption, local beach and park regulations, and landfill/incinerator provisions, then passed 26-10. CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiatives was amended to allow volunteers to carry up to 25 petitions without registration/training and passed 28-9. The Senate also refused to concur in a House amendment to SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, and in SB 116 on veterans, seeking to restore funding for veteran suicide prevention. Later, the chamber approved or advanced several education and health-related bills. CS/HB 1255 on education was amended and passed, with changes to school readiness and other education provisions. CS/HB 875 on educator preparation passed after discussion of cognitive science, classroom management, teacher excellence programs, and the phaseout of the general knowledge test. CS/HB 1105, a large education package, passed after debate over charter school conversions, cell phone restrictions, and other school governance changes. In health care, CS/HB 1427 was introduced as a comprehensive package combining multiple health-related provisions, though the excerpt ends before final action on that bill. Throughout the day, the Senate also concurred or refused to concur in various House amendments on mental health, financial institutions, land development, brownfields, and out-of-network provider legislation, with votes generally recorded and several measures passing on divided but mostly favorable roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, House Bill 2133 requires any commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally distributes
• Finally, House Bill 2133 contains civil penalties if a commercial entity is publishing or distributing
• The bill also places responsibility where it belongs: on commercial platforms that profit from sexual
• The bill also places responsibility where it belongs on commercial platforms that profit from sexual
• It creates a fair and uniform rule, and it protects the process for all parties.

Bills: HB2043 , HB2045 , HB2046 , HB2048 , HB2064 , HB2074 , HB2126 , HB2133 , HB2144

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, drive-by shooting, gun violence, firearms, felony, vehicle forfeiture, driver license revocation, drive by shooting, public safety, criminal penalties, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide safe and reliable drinking water and for localized structure fires, consistent with fire codes
• The Government Code specifically states that water service is a property-related service that aids in
• of the information is required by the disaster preparedness plan already required in the Government Code
• These systems require specialized expertise and uniform standards, which this bill helps to protect.
• AB 2405 fixes that with a simple, common-sense, and uniform standard.

Committee: House Emergency Management

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's largely codified by Code Section 21-5I-4.
• All right, so we've identified multiple code conflicts and some circular... ...identified multiple code
• I will say that our office appreciates the uniformity that's provided.
• Disclosures pursuant to 17A to A7 of the code.
• There's another section of code.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment also prohibits FWC from issuing a fishing license to any commercial vessel owned by any
• their protective gear and require them to issue safer alternatives in the future when it becomes commercially
• their protective gear and require them to issue safer alternatives in the future when it becomes commercially
• will require any food product containing vaccine and vaccine materials to be properly labeled in uniform

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard and advanced a large slate of bills, beginning with SB 978, which directs DEP to report on large sewage disposal facilities, rank them for wastewater treatment upgrades, and provide progress reports; it was reported favorably without public opposition. The committee also adopted an amendment and favorably reported SB 1388, which restricts vessel safety inspections without probable cause, creates a five-year safety decal, addresses spring protection zones, and bars FWC fishing licenses for commercial vessels owned by alien powers. Members raised some questions about spring protections and boating access, and one public witness urged further review of the spring-zone language. The committee then favorably reported SB 880, designating the American flamingo as state bird and the Florida scrub jay as state songbird, after testimony supporting both birds as symbols of Florida’s identity and conservation values. Several other measures were heard and passed. SB 830, dealing with lost or abandoned migrant vessels and aligning with House language, was amended and reported favorably. SB 1326, which requires local plans to maintain hurricane evacuation clearance times and allocates building permits in Monroe County and nearby municipalities, was amended to spread allocations over at least 10 years and then passed. SB 490, expanding off-duty concealed carry eligibility to correctional officers and correctional probation officers and exempting certain public safety personnel from the waiting period for rifles and shotguns, was reported favorably after support from the Florida PBA. SB 26, an uncontested claim bill for injuries from a 2022 crash, also passed, with one member suggesting future consideration of health insurance coverage for victims in similar cases. The committee additionally approved SB 98 on securities regulation and fingerprinting requirements, SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety, SB 196 on labeling food and cosmetics that contain vaccine materials or certain chemicals, SB 1300 restricting oil and gas drilling structures in sensitive areas, SB 1612 on financial institution assessment and stock offering timelines, and SB 492 on mitigation banking and wetland conservation easements. SB 1212 drew strong support from firefighters, while SB 492 drew both support and opposition from environmental and development interests, with concerns raised about wetland function, credit release timing, and conservation easement releases. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of 12 appointees to water management district governing boards and adjourned after members recorded individual votes on selected bills.