Transcript Highlights:

• California's wildlife areas provide natural habitat, control flooding, and give the public access to
• Rather, it ensures that water deliveries operating under an approved state control plan can continue.
• The need for ABB. are made in compliance with an approved invasive muscle control plan.
• Existing law already requires agencies to develop invasive mussel control plans in coordination with
• If invasive mussels are detected despite implementation of an approved control plan, the responsibility

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee heard several measures focused on conservation, coastal protection, water supply, and urban greening. AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Aguirre-Curry would direct fees generated by state wildlife areas back to their operation and maintenance; she accepted committee amendments, and Audubon California testified in support with no opposition. AB 1448 by Assembly Member Hart would restrict state actions that could facilitate expanded offshore oil and gas development in federal waters, including limits on using existing infrastructure for new offshore drilling and added review requirements for lease changes; it drew broad support from coastal governments and environmental groups and no opposition, and was referred to Appropriations. AB 1894 by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio would allow imported water deliveries for groundwater recharge to continue when they comply with approved invasive mussel control plans, addressing disruptions caused by the golden mussel; supporters said it protects groundwater reliability while maintaining invasive-species safeguards, while opponents argued it could undercut local authority and liability protections. After discussion about liability and whether the bill weakens invasive-species protections, the committee voted 6-0 to send it to Appropriations. The committee also considered ACR 107 by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, which recognizes the Diablo Range as a conservation priority and links it to habitat protection, groundwater recharge, and the state’s 30-by-30 goals. Save Mount Diablo and other supporters emphasized the range’s ecological value and limited current protection, and members voiced support; the resolution passed 7-0. AB 1946 by Assembly Member Bryan would encourage land conservation investments in historically underserved urban communities and support greening, park creation, and restoration in places like South Los Angeles. Testimony from Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation and park and conservation groups stressed environmental justice, access to nature, and the need to regenerate degraded lands into parkland. Members discussed the importance of urban parks, maintenance, biodiversity, and balancing rural and urban conservation, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. The committee also took up the consent calendar, which passed unanimously. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly noted the need to balance environmental protection with practical water delivery and local community needs, and several bills were amended or clarified before votes. Final recorded actions included unanimous or near-unanimous approvals for the measures heard, with AB 1448, AB 1894, AB 1987, and AB 1946 moving forward, along with ACR 107 and the consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers in the field enforcement division of the Comptroller's office were brought into this new entity
• officers in the field enforcement division of the Comptroller's office were brought into this new entity
• The Comptroller's office and into an independent entity.
• This new entity without causing any changes to their ranks, their pay, etc.
• It clarifies which entities may accredit a massage therapy curriculum and repeals the requirement that

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, quorum call, and several introductions recognizing guests, including Reverend Jennifer Carsner and her daughter, President Kirk Schmoke, representatives from Maryland independent colleges and universities, students from Stevenson University, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, Washington College, a constituent, and the Greater Washington, D.C.-Maryland chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The chamber also adopted a resolution honoring Damatha Catholic High School for winning the 2025 WCAC football championship and another recognizing the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce on its 100th anniversary. Both resolutions were adopted unanimously after brief remarks and roll calls. The Senate then took up executive nominations, separating nominee 16 from the main report. The chamber voted 42 in favor on the remaining nominations and then 42 in favor on nominee 16, giving all nominees the Senate’s advice and consent. On third reading, the Senate passed several bills, including SB 46, SB 25, SB 58, SB 163, SB 170, SB 188, SB 247, SB 356, and SB 379, with recorded affirmative votes ranging from 36 to 42. These measures covered topics such as veterans cemeteries, tax credits and tax modifications, education funding, transportation revenue bonds, biotechnology incentives, a stillborn child tax credit, and recovery residence grant funding. The chamber also advanced numerous second-reading bills, generally adopting committee reports and amendments without objection. Among the measures discussed were collective bargaining for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission police officers; adoption of the 2022 Uniform Commercial Code amendments for controllable electronic records; cemetery sale and transfer oversight; an additional license for electronic smoking devices; collective bargaining for Baltimore County Public Library supervisory employees; payroll processor exemptions under the Money Transmission Act; scalp cooling coverage for chemotherapy patients; orthoses and prostheses coverage under health and Medicaid plans; an online database of elevator inspection certificates; service animal program disqualification standards; extension of the State Board of Environmental Health Specialists; disclosure of lapsed professional liability insurance for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives; and revisions to massage therapy licensure rules. Most reports were favorable, with several technical or substantive amendments adopted and bills ordered printed for third reading. A notable policy discussion occurred on SB 56, which would allow the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center to share individual-level student and workforce data with a third-party data center for multi-state reporting. The sponsor explained the bill as a way to compare Maryland outcomes with other states while using data-sharing agreements and oversight to protect privacy; a minority whip raised concerns about the type of third-party data center and whether the practice was new. The sponsor said the bill was intended to formalize and safeguard data sharing, and noted a technical amendment would be offered to correct the amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill seeks to address these issues by expanding and clarifying indemnity certification for entities
• Thirdly, this bill also limits excessive liabilities imposed on entities involved in the production and
• The bill could result in a situation where the chain of transfers for each entity in the chain would
• They have no control over what goes on beneath; they don't own the royalty and all the interests beneath
• study that is imposed by TxDOT, and if they can show that they complied with the traffic control study

Bills: HB48, HB49, HB 1169, HB1971, HB2584, HB2663, HB2890, HB48, HB49

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have control over that.
• ,<05:08:53.040> unions, other labor relations entities, unions, other labor relations entities
• So that includes organization or entity.
• automatically and directed to entities automatically and directed to entities that<05:15:31.200>
• private for-profit entity. private for-profit entity.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• do that to control who has that information.
• do that to control who has that information.
• These are specific controls on that.
• But because there is a different legal entity, such as an LLC that they are the controlling member of
• But because there is a different legal entity, such as an LLC, that they are the controlling member of

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they would have to follow the foundational rules that, you know, all of our control agencies have
• , it's fair to say I am not the education policy expert, but we are an expert at standing up new entities
• Coordinating entity that drives our system to coordinate in an accountable and strategic way.
• We need your support for the creation of this long overdue entity to ensure that our state maximizes
• These include tribal entities, local governments, and private partners.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a HIPAA-covered entity, the Department of Health and Human Services safeguards Vital Records data
• As a HIPAA-covered entity, the Department of Health and Human Services safeguards Vital Records data
• As a HIPAA-covered entity, the Department of Health and Human Services safeguards Vital Records data
• As a HIPAA-covered entity, the Department of Health and Human Services safeguards Vital Records data
• <00:45:23.079> and and um commitment to local control and and um commitment to local control

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:28:09.520> for funds received from state entities for funds received from state entities
• I 10 9.2 2 FTE 11 tuberculosis control I 10 9.2 2 FTE 11 tuberculosis control and<05:48:51.840><
• <05:59:01.040> fund the stationary sources control fund the stationary sources control fund
• Water Quality Control Division. Water Quality Control Division, $33,838,998.
• shall be from the radiation 2 control shall be from the radiation 2 control fund<06:10:25.680>

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views. House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide funding to lakes and entities that are even smaller than ours.
• They were included as eligible entities at the NMFA in the PPRF program.
• Some are Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, depending on the revenue that the entity has.
• It's great to see additional public bodies and entities.
• And so the act itself exempts certain entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kincart Jonsson: THESE ENTITIES ARE ALL LICENSED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND HAVE TO SUBMIT INFORMATION
• THE STATE-BASED PRICE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT IGNORES OTHER STATE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT
• IF WE IMPORT CITRATE SYSTEM HERE AND THROUGH A STATE-BASED PRICE CONTROL SYSTEM WE WOULD HAVE SIMILAR
• , WE'VE SEEN PRICE CONTROLS AND MEDICARE RECENTLY, 60% OPTION I KNOW FLORIDA DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT
• PBM IS IN THIS BILL WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL WHETHER THEIR PHARMACY CAN DECLINE TO FILL A

Transcript Highlights:

• LOGISTICS, WE ACQUIRED AND DEPLOYED 12,200 LINEAR FEET OF FLOOD CONTROL DEVICES TO HELP FLOOD FIGHT EFFORTS
• ONGOING RECOVERY TO DATE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FEMA HAS OBLIGATED $146.1 MILLION TO STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES
• I CAN CONTROL WHAT I CAN CONTROL.
• THERE IS AN AGENCY THAT SITS IN DC THAT I CANNOT CONTROL AND TO THAT END ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS
• I CANNOT CONTROL AND TO THAT END ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• make additional observations about variations in resources among charter schools or cooperative entities
• make additional observations about variations in resources among charter schools or cooperative entities
• make additional observations about variations in resources among charter schools or cooperative entities
• make additional observations about variations in resources among charter schools or cooperative entities
• ' recipients can be either nonprofits or educational entities, or some combination of both.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the control of medical providers. and the control of medical providers.
• <01:32:41.960> the structured, from controlling the structured, from controlling the practice
• It focuses on preventing corporations from influencing or controlling how medical care is delivered.
• If a family office led by non-clinicians has that level of control, it may fall within the scope.
• , it may fall has that level of control, it may fall fall<01:33:21.440> within<01:33:21.760>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reflection on Nowruz, the Persian New Year, emphasizing renewal, spring, and the challenges facing Iranian families amid conflict. The speaker connected the holiday’s themes of hope and responsibility to Vermont and democracy, then the chamber moved to routine business, including first readings and referrals of five House bills: H.945 on hemp products, H.946 on utility advertising and costs in rental agreements, H.947 on a residential universal design building code, H.948 on membership of the Retired Employees Committee on Insurance, and H.949 on homestead and non-homestead property tax yields and technical education finance changes. Three Senate bills were also read and referred: S.189 on hospital service reductions, S.203 on penalties for repeat DUI offenses, and S.313 on transforming Vermont’s career technical education system. The House also recognized several guests and announcements, including family members of members, airport employees, a UVM student intern, and visitors from Brazil. A House concurrent resolution, HCR 168, was read and congratulated Girl Scout Troop 60336 of Milton on earning the Bronze Award for a community garden project that improved accessibility through rain barrels and raised beds. The resolution highlighted the troop’s leadership and the role of its co-leaders, and the chamber applauded the guests in attendance. The main floor action centered on House Bill 642, relating to youthful offender proceedings, where Representative Booton of Barre City offered an amendment to stop the scheduled expansion of Raise the Age to 20-year-olds. Supporters argued the change would preserve current treatment of 18-year-olds while preventing an automatic expansion they said could strain the system and raise public safety concerns; opponents, including the Judiciary Committee, urged waiting for required Department for Children and Families reports due in 2026 before making changes. After debate, a roll call vote was taken on the amendment, with members calling the roll as the vote proceeded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Had this bill existed, homeowners and the public entities would have been better able to monitor which
• Please state your name, entity, and position. Good afternoon, Chair and members.
• Is there anyone else here in opposition, state your name, entity, and position?
• In doing so, it ensures that platforms are held to the same standard as any other business entity that
• plays an active role ...as any other business entity that plays an active role in violating statutory

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 924 relates to the entities that provide cable services.
• You guys get to make those calls in local control.
• funds that were appropriated for that purpose, to make sure that they can be utilized by an eligible entity

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• It does go through a committee that vets all of the entities that we send.
• supporter and tried to push bills that you all have because I believe in local government, local control
• Section two, except as otherwise provided in this act, no governmental entity may adopt an ordinance,

Bills: HB407, SB306, SB320, SB321

Keywords: local redevelopment, tax payments, transient occupancy, state revenue, authority powers, transparency, discretionary accounts, government accountability, public access, online publication, liquefied petroleum gas, safety regulations, public gathering places, cylinder storage, proximity regulations, drycleaning, environmental remediation, pollution, hazardous waste, trust fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Defense Support Task Force, and SelectFlorida, the state's international trade and business partnership entity
• Schafe, about whether we were taking any monies from those entities.
• We have to get to, or I think we were at the point, where we have to have a better control over our recurring

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to consider its recommended fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and a conforming committee bill. Chair Shove presented an $18.5 billion TED budget, describing it as about 8.5% below the prior year’s TED budget and emphasizing recurring savings, reductions to vacant positions over 90 days old, and a focus on core agency needs. He highlighted funding for economic development, Visit Florida, Space Florida, affordable housing programs, military affairs, libraries, cultural and historic preservation grants, emergency management, and a $14.1 billion transportation work program. The committee then took up PCB TED 2501, which changes documentary stamp tax distributions by redirecting certain revenues to general revenue. The bill would reinstate the general revenue service charge on the supplemental housing-related dock stamp revenue, eliminating a recurring $150 million source for the State Housing Trust Fund, and would also redirect about $466 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund to general revenue. Chair Shove said the measure has no net zero fiscal impact on state revenues and does not alter the longstanding standard dock stamp funding for affordable housing or eliminate FDOT programs, arguing the bill preserves flexibility for future legislatures. Public testimony was split. Representatives from the Florida Transportation Builders Association and the Florida Public Transportation Association warned that the transportation trust fund reduction would significantly affect FDOT’s five-year work program, especially the Strategic Intermodal System, and could reduce planned capacity improvements and transit funding. Several members also raised concerns about the housing-related changes, arguing the bill undercuts commitments made through the Live Local framework and could weaken affordable housing efforts. In closing, Chair Shove defended the bill as a necessary tightening of recurring spending and said existing affordable housing and transportation programs would still be funded through other appropriations. The committee approved PCB TED 2501 on a 10-2 vote and reported it favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 878 ensures that misdemeanor offenders who are using controlled substances when they commit their
• Administrative Commission and the Office of State Court Administrator both serve as pass-through entities
• efficiencies, this amendment simply moves the process for such reimbursement, if provided under one entity

Summary: The Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum present and first received an implementation update on CS for SB 606, the Boating Safety Act of 2022, from FWC Lieutenant Colonel Robert Roe. He described the livery permit system, safety and insurance requirements, required pre-rental and pre-ride instruction, recordkeeping, overdue-vessel reporting, accident reporting, and penalties for violations. He also reported enforcement results since the permit requirement took effect in January 2023, including 1,428 permits issued, 1,093 liveries operating, three 90-day suspensions, one revocation, and two pending revocations. Members asked whether liveries may require boating safety education even for people exempt under current law; Roe said they may do so as a business decision, but current law does not require it unless the statute is changed. A member noted concern that many accidents involve boaters in the older exempt age group and said the issue may be revisited this session. The committee then considered SB 878 by Senator Martin, which extends probation for misdemeanor offenders who were using controlled substances when they committed the offense, allowing supervision for up to one year and aligning those cases more closely with existing alcohol-related misdemeanor probation rules. With no appearance forms or debate, the bill was voted favorably. Next, the committee took up CS for SB 538 by Senator Bradley, the state court system package. The bill updates statutes to reflect current court operations, including duty judge procedures, removal of a location limit for duty hearings, repeal of a cap on arbitrator compensation in court-ordered non-binding arbitration, and an alternative method for judicial authentication when a court seal is unavailable. An amendment shifting certain clerk reimbursement requests through the Justice Administrative Commission was adopted, and the bill was then reported favorably with support waivers from several court-related entities. Finally, the committee heard SB 472 by Senator Truenow, which provides that inmates who complete classes meeting required curriculum standards may receive credit toward licensure requirements for those classes. Several organizations waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• had an imminent domain issue or just an easement that was provided for a state road or other state entity
• But this would be only for a government entity. Okay, right. Thank you. Thank you, repr...
• But he would have the control to do whatever repurpose he wants to with it.

Bills: SB42, HB323

Keywords: abandoned roads, land ownership, government regulations, property rights, transportation, electric utility, oversize vehicles, transport permits, state highway system, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's helpful for members sometimes to know if there's a particular title attached with an entity
• So that's helpful for members sometimes to know if there's a particular title attached with an entity
• So that's helpful for members sometimes to know if there's a particular title attached with an entity
• You may change the levers of power and who has the greatest control.
• Uh, they often times will reach out, such as to the Alabama Association of School Boards, as an entity

Bills: HB180

Keywords: education, county superintendent, appointed, elected officials, Conecuh County, local control, 1136, house, all