Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is Brena Hashimoto, Director of the Department of Human Resources Development, comments in person
• I'm Brena Hashimoto, Director of the Department of Human Resources Development.
• And so it's the IT development, public awareness, and we reporting requirements. Okay.
• And so it's<00:27:25.919> the<00:27:26.080> IT<00:27:26.760> development,<00:27:
• 27.760> public it's the IT development, public it's the IT development, public awareness,<00:27

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can tell you that for her, she is going to focus on rural development.
• We talked about ag economic development.
• Uh, Commissioner, I love that to hear the words "ag" and economic development in the same phrase.
• <00:18:13.480> that<00:18:13.559> is to focus on Rural Development that is to focus
• in the same phrase economic development in the same phrase I<00:20:46.919> think<00:20:47.120

Keywords: 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 – Attendance Roll Call 03:15 -- House Bill 186 09:59 – Roll Call Vote 11:51 – HB 370 22:55 – Roll Call Vote 24:45 – HB 304 28:47—Roll Call Vote 30:13 – HB 391 43:09—Roll Call Vote, 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 186, which would streamline food-service rules for churches and nonprofits providing meals to homeless shelters and people displaced by natural disasters. Representative Duvall said the bill is meant to remove unnecessary kitchen and plumbing requirements so organizations can safely serve simple meals in emergencies. Members discussed food safety, whether the bill applies only in declared disaster situations or also to homeless shelters, and whether training should be offered; Duvall clarified that the disaster and homelessness provisions are separate and that food must still be safe and wholesome. After discussion, the committee took a roll call vote and House Bill 186 passed with favorable expression. The committee then heard House Bill 370, a Department of Agriculture reorganization measure sponsored by Representative Payne. Payne and Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said the bill would move the Division of Farm Safety and Rural Health and create an Office of Economic Development to better support programs such as Food Is Medicine, rural health, farmer mental health, and farm safety. Members asked about the removal of references to shows and fairs, whether the bill would affect livestock shows and county fairs, and whether any new funding was included; Payne said the department would still support shows and fairs, the change was about efficiency and focus, and no new funding was specified because budget decisions come later. Discussion on House Bill 370 also highlighted the department’s broader economic role, including agricultural economic development and outreach tied to the new USDA secretary’s visit to Kentucky. The committee then voted and the bill passed with favorable expression. Finally, the committee began House Bill 304 on soybean assessment language. Representative Bivens and soybean association representatives explained it as cleanup language related to the soybean checkoff and a contingency if the federal checkoff changes. Members asked whether a referendum had already occurred and whether producers supported the measure; the witnesses said the referendum had already taken place and that soybean producers and the association supported it, while one member noted the state may increasingly need to adjust to federal changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend the General Municipal Law in relation to permitting industrial development agencies to
• Our eighth bill is Senate Bill 767A by Senator Lucas: an act to amend the Town Law in relation to permitting

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Local Government committee met on March 10 and considered 13 bills, mostly on municipal finance, property tax exemptions, local planning, and public safety. Measures included Next Generation 911 system updates, good-faith deposit procedures for bond sales, sheriff and undersheriff training requirements, comprehensive planning for housing needs, increased volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker benefits, industrial development agency incentives for pollution mitigation projects, and several local real property tax exemption or conveyance bills. The committee also took up bills on water quality improvement funding for the Town of Warwick, special equalization rates for certain school districts, and eye and tissue donation procedures. Testimony and discussion were limited on most bills, with members generally moving them without comment. There was some discussion on the Nassau County assessor exemption bill, where a member noted a separate bill addressing a recurring property-closing issue. The comprehensive planning bill drew the most recorded opposition, with one senator voting nay and another recorded as AWR. Several other bills also had AWRs or nays noted, but no extended debate was captured. All 13 bills were voted out of committee, with most reported to Finance or other committees as noted. The committee adjourned after the final bill, and the clerk was acknowledged for his first meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development. Development.
• And the ACCD, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, initially develops the application process
• Committee on Economic Development. Committee on Economic Development.
• here here in Senate Economic Development here here in Senate Economic Development Housing<00:35:
• the committee on economic development. the committee on economic development.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• new programs and we've developed projects across the state.
• <01:32:34.200> a To inform their efforts to develop a To inform their efforts to develop a
• development of the of the program. development of the of the program.
• development in the mental health fields. development in the mental health fields.
• , identification card, a learner's permit, identification card, a learner's permit, operator's<02

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to build upon that, especially when we talk about economic development.
• I am the Economic Development and Project Specialist at UNM Rainforest Innovations.
• Economic Development Administration.
• Our website is another focus that we've been developing with our team as well.
• Yeah, just don't issue any permits. So they're not even saying if it.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they've developed over the years, if Mr.
• In terms of data center development, yes. Mr.
• Rhett Bennett: Developer lens into the process and how it's going and the development and growth ahead
• I think we want the economic development.
• Developers don't know when they'll get service, to what degree they'll get Developers don't know when

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to be able to hear as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit
• From the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or
• Many of these CEQA exemptions are sensible and promote needed development.
• Many of these CEQA exemptions are sensible and promote needed development that doesn't harm the environment
• definition to skip over the public, environmental, and community review process to access building permits

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on labor standards, worker safety, and public transparency. SB 954 by Senator Blakespear would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by adding worker protections such as prevailing wage, a skilled and trained workforce, high-road employment standards, and environmental guardrails. Supporters from labor, environmental justice, and conservation groups said the bill restores promised safeguards after SB 131, while business groups argued the added requirements would undermine the exemption and discourage investment. The committee voted 5-0 to do pass and re-refer SB 954 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open for absent members. The committee then considered SB 966 by Senator Gonzalez, which would codify refinery worker participation and safety protections adopted in 2017 after the 2012 Chevron Richmond fire. Supporters, including United Steelworkers and a former refinery worker, said the bill would preserve workers’ ability to report hazards, select representatives, and stop unsafe work, preventing future disasters. The Western States Petroleum Association opposed the bill, arguing it could be preempted by federal labor law and would add regulatory uncertainty. The committee passed SB 966 3-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations, with the roll left open. Next, SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas sought to modernize private security guard training, expand de-escalation instruction, strengthen accountability, and create a clearer professional pathway for the industry. The author and many security workers testified that guards are often first responders in volatile situations and need more practical training and better standards; opponents from industry and business groups warned the bill would raise costs, worsen staffing shortages, and create implementation problems, especially around third-party training and a new wage order. The committee voted 4-1 to do pass and re-refer SB 1203 to Public Safety, with one no vote and the roll left open. The committee also heard SB 1284 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, a transparency bill requiring DHCS to publish the names of large employers with workers enrolled in Medi-Cal and the estimated taxpayer cost. Supporters said the measure would show how low wages and unaffordable coverage shift health costs to the public, while opponents argued Medi-Cal enrollment depends on many factors and that naming employers would be misleading and amount to public shaming. After discussion, the committee voted 4-2 to do pass and re-refer SB 1284 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open. The transcript then began discussion of SB 1054 by Senator Cabaldon, which would improve workforce data collection and sharing to better evaluate job-training pathways, but the excerpt cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our weather is being modified, permit or not, whether or not there's a law here or not, it's happening
• They should not just have to get a permit.
• They should not just have to get a permit.
• We have to have licenses that the state permits.
• We have to have licenses that the state permits.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee took up eight bills focused on water policy, coastal resilience, environmental regulation, beaches, wildlife funding, and carbon sequestration. HB 7001 preserved the public-record exemption for site-specific location information on endangered and threatened species before its scheduled repeal, and it was reported favorably 16-0. H.R. 661, expressing support for a “one-water” approach to the state water supply, drew discussion about whether it implied centralized control; an amendment aligning the resolution with Senate language was adopted, and the resolution passed 16-0 with a committee substitute. The committee also advanced HB 1345 on infrastructure and resiliency, which after a strike-all amendment authorized DEP to procure coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships and use incentives such as revenue-sharing, expedited permitting, public engagement, and workforce training; it passed 16-0. HB 477 on weather modification was substantially amended to return to current statute and add a $10,000 fine for failing to obtain a permit; the bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against weather modification and cloud seeding, and it passed as amended with a committee substitute. HB 6043, repealing the 2018 customary-use beach statute affecting Walton County, prompted testimony about beach access, tourism losses, and private property rights; it passed 17-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 843, making clarifying changes to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds and allowing use of the non-game wildlife trust fund for law enforcement and coordination with related agencies and landowners; it passed 17-0. HB 1169 revised water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and procurement practices, including restrictions on lobbyist funds and updated project preference rules; two amendments were adopted and the bill passed 16-0. Finally, HB 1063 created a task force to study carbon sequestration and related ecosystem services in Florida’s natural and agricultural lands and waters; after amendments removing a fiscal component and clarifying voluntary participation and property-rights protections, it passed 15-2. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of data center development, yes.
• Rhett Bennett: Developer lens into the process and how it's going and the development and growth ahead
• We're developing the well-publicized Stargate project in Abilene.
• I think we want the economic development.
• I lead market development and policy for Google Data Centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a topic that I'm very passionate about: workforce development.
• And so this is why we've brought workforce development to the forefront.
• And so we've developed a strategy around three key focus areas.
• We are developing additional components behind the scenes.
• curriculum already developed somewhere, or yet?

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and first considered SB 88, which would allow local governments to authorize utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed county roads and municipal streets, with limits on who may operate them and where they may travel. An amendment from Sen. Wright was adopted to require minimum motor vehicle insurance, keep a registration certificate in the vehicle, and delay the effective date to January 1, 2026 for implementation. The bill drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would create a safe, locally controlled path for UTV use and reflect how the vehicles are already being used, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Florida Justice Association argued UTVs are designed for off-road use and lack the safety features needed for public roads. After debate, the committee reported CS/SB 88 favorably, with Sen. Davis voting no and several members expressing support while noting safety concerns for future work. The committee then heard SB 274, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way in honor of the late hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. Sen. Arrington described Rosen’s business success and extensive charitable work in Central Florida, and the bill received supportive comments from committee members and a representative from UCF. The committee voted the bill favorably without opposition. The final item was a discussion on transportation workforce issues led by FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, with remarks from Florida Transportation Builders Association president Dan Hurtado. Perdue said Florida’s growing transportation needs, an aging workforce, and projected retirements require a broader workforce strategy, including a proposed Transportation Academy, craft and trade programs, learning labs, and a transportation research institute. He said FDOT has already reduced vacancies through recruit-and-retain efforts and hiring events, but still needs more skilled workers. Hurtado said FTBA supports expanding workforce development efforts and noted the industry’s own Florida Connect Academy. No vote was taken on the workforce discussion, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , you need to have a to pull a permit, you need to have a registration<00:15:47.040> number<00
• And if it says contact the registration bureau with a red light, you don't get the permit till it gets
• Now we're using the town to enforce standards when they pull a permit.
• <00:18:49.520> And standards when they pull a permit.
• And standards when they pull a permit.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My area of research is on reproduction and gender development.
• My area of research is on reproduction and gender development.
• Can you reveal what you know if you're permitted to discuss that?
• males... ...discriminate on the basis of sex while discriminating against females by permitting males
• Under the law, students in California are permitted to participate in sex-segregated programs and access

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was a facility that was operating under various permits and polluted.
• Additionally, there's acceleration of funding for the Department of Community Services and Development
• That's what we're going to do: an expenditure plan that will develop with the legislature.
• With the legislature in developing an overall framework for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
• Not general fund: the environmental license plate fee, the waste discharge permit fund, etc.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:20.119> activity health threats and developing activity health threats and developing
• maintenance and improvements development maintenance and improvements of<00:59:40.400> our<00
• ways to detect these to develop ways to detect these chemicals<01:00:15.039> in<01:00:15.240>
• This proposal also proposes fee increases for licenses, notifications, permits, and variances.
• You can learn from others; we can learn how they respond, how they develop tests, the strategies that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We could not record calls, and it hampers the development of your people because what they may be doing
• It'll probably take us about 16 to 18 months to fully develop it because not only are we receiving calls
• That's what we've set aside development time for our Developers to actually make sure we get these projects
• to farm permits, etc.
• They are either getting their learner's permit or taking their first driving test.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> H871 to Commerce and Economic Development. >> H872 to Judiciary. >> H873 to Judiciary. >> H874 to
• .<00:01:38.240> H872 development.
• H872 development.
• >> to commerce and economic development >> to commerce and economic development >
• Subdivision K4 permits actions.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House convened, suspended its rules to introduce 18 bills by number only, and referred the bills to the appropriate committees. House Bill 647, relating to the Vermont Sister State Program and carrying an appropriation, was referred to Appropriations under House Rule 35A. The chamber also read several resolutions: HR13, concerning support for the people of Palestine and Israel and the end of apartheid, was treated as a bill and referred to Government Operations and Military Affairs; JR88, condemning a U.S. military incursion in Venezuela and calling for withdrawal of U.S. forces, was likewise referred to Government Operations and Military Affairs; and JRS37, supporting gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition, was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. JRS39, a weekend adjournment resolution, was adopted in concurrence. On the action calendar, the House passed H541, relating to interference with voters and election officials. It then took up H5, which expands Vermont’s existing hearsay exception for child victims from age 12 and under to age 15 in specified abuse and sexual assault proceedings, with judicial safeguards and a July 1, 2026 effective date. The Judiciary Committee reported the bill favorably 10-1, and the House adopted the committee amendment and ordered third reading. The House also considered H626, a major Judiciary Committee bill on voyeurism, non-consensual disclosure of explicit images, and sexual extortion. Committee members described the bill as updating criminal and civil remedies for image-based abuse, creating a separate sextortion offense, extending criminal statutes of limitation, and clarifying civil recovery for trauma-related harm. During floor debate, members questioned the distinction between the voyeurism and disclosure provisions and the meaning of “reasonable expectation of privacy”; the committee responded with examples and statutory explanations, including that voyeurism covers unlawful recording while the disclosure offense covers later dissemination of images. The bill remained under consideration as the discussion continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• toward a seamless system the development toward a seamless system the development of<00:05:15.400
• council's 2050 Regional development council's 2050 Regional development guide<00:10:22.480> the
• provide some new development provide some new development opportunities<00:18:49.240> um<
• was always use your Trail your permit was always use your Trail your permit money<00:57:31.319><
• <01:32:35.119> and through Trail development and through Trail development and development

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, the development, ratification of operating and capital budgets, and then line 2.5, which is not
• They advise on building codes, seek necessary building permits, and the like.
• They advise on building codes, seek necessary building permits, and the like.
• They advise on building codes, seek necessary building permits, and the like.
• They advise on building codes, seek necessary building permits, and the like.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the long term, could allowing developments at current service levels, rather than being required to
• Additionally, the bill permits transit authorities to contract with transportation network company platforms
• SB 1378 permits a court to order restitution in cases of a standard leaving-the-scene accident.
• It ensures eligible projects related to the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program
• It ensures eligible projects related to the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of transportation-related bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 532 would exempt 100% disabled veterans from paying Florida tolls. SB 1738 would allow certain counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in by maintaining current levels of service, though there were concerns about congestion and future growth. SB 1696 aimed to reduce transportation network company driver impersonation, allow transit authorities to contract with ride-share platforms, and permit those platforms to participate in state-funded paratransit trips. SB 1378, as amended, would allow courts to order restitution in standard leaving-the-scene crashes; the amendment made restitution discretionary and required that the driver caused or contributed to the crash. SB 1210 would increase penalties for red-light and stop-sign crashes and require bodily injury insurance for drivers who cause such crashes. SB 1820, via strike-all amendment, addressed dealer-manufacturer relations by requiring written explanations of performance measures, prohibiting retaliation against dealers asserting statutory rights, and limiting franchise termination or nonrenewal to substantial breaches. SB 1246 created a specialty license plate for safe coastal wildlife, with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation for conservation work and an amendment allowing up to 10% for administrative and marketing costs. The committee also considered SB 574, which would allow Florida residents with Purple Heart license plates to pass tolls free of charge; the bill was amended to change the plate reference to a specialty plate and was reported favorably. SB 1662, the FDOT department bill, was substantially revised by strike-all amendment covering a wide range of transportation issues, including USF’s role in the Florida Transportation Research Institute Consortium, Florida Transportation Commission provisions, seaport and airport-related changes, strategic space infrastructure, sewer lines in rights of way, small county road assistance, aggregate supply chain programs, and Jacksonville Transportation Authority board appointments. Testimony on SB 1662 included support from USF and the Florida Public Transportation Association, which raised concerns about added oversight and bureaucracy for transit systems. Most bills received support from affected stakeholders, and several were amended before final favorable votes. Roll calls were taken on each measure, and all of the listed bills were reported favorably by the committee. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on several bills, and the committee adjourned after a brief personal privilege remark from Chair Collins.