Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, we also now have out-of-control car registration fees.
• out of control car registration fees. out of control car registration fees.
• So, House Bill 212 creates a $7 per day fee on your car for not obeying.
• , because while our registration fees, because while our registration fees<01:58:04.800> might
• But this program has a $25 million to $50 million administrative fee attached to it.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House of Delegates met on February 27, 2026, with a prayer, roll call showing 130 members present, and the reading of the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up several House resolutions recognizing guests and honorees, including Harold Futch Sr. II and his daughter R.V. for their collaboration on the album “Harmony” and R.V.’s status as the youngest Grammy winner; Michelle Eberle for her leadership of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; and the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County on its 85th anniversary. Each resolution was read and adopted with applause and congratulations. The House also received Senate Bill 108 from the Senate consent calendar and, by unanimous consent, had it read the first time and referred to committee. In the Economic Matters Committee report, the House adopted favorable reports and sent multiple bills to third reading, including HB 306 on dealer website price transparency, HB 461 on rural readiness and capacity building, HB 573 on fair housing discrimination standards, HB 798 on small minority- and women-owned business capital access, HB 850 on open house disclosure requirements, HB 951 on land records revisions, HB 996 on corporations and associations revisions, HB 1026 on rounding cash transactions, and HB 1312 on legal tender species establishment. HB 306 drew the most debate over its title, which included the “Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act.” One delegate argued the title improperly referenced a private business and should be removed; the floor leader responded that the bill honored consumer advocate Jack Fitzgerald and that the dealership was employee-owned. A motion to special order the bill failed on a roll call vote of 95 no to 38 yes, and the bill was then ordered printed for third reading. HB 691 on permitting efficiency for housing development projects was also special ordered until the next day after members sought more time to review possible amendments. The House adopted amendments and favorable reports on several bills, including HB 243 on comprehensive and general plans, HB 343 on housing counseling services, HB 483 on charitable organization audit thresholds, HB 523 on residential foreclosure restrictions, and HB 243’s amendments clarifying prospective application. Members asked questions about HB 243’s planning requirements and about HB 523’s “zombie mortgage” protections; the floor leader explained that HB 523 would protect homeowners from surprise foreclosures on old debts without forgiving the underlying debt, while HB 243 would modernize comprehensive planning standards without changing local subdivision review processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that going to be with a database that requires a transaction fee?
• So, you know, again, this is, you know, we've had conversation about the structural part of unemployment
• It provides statutory structure, stability, and accountability.
• Within FDLE, it provides statutory structure, stability, and accountability so those funds will continue

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, beginning with agency and records measures from Senator Massullo. SB 488, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles agency package, would update reporting thresholds for crashes, expand DHSMV’s use of email for certain transactions, and align tank vehicle definitions with federal rules; it was reported favorably. Its companion, SB 490, creates a public records exemption for certain email records and also passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 892, revising enhanced sentencing procedures for repeat offenders, and SB 124, which cleans up outdated Florida Virtual School language without changing day-to-day operations. Later, SB 584 on commercial driving schools, SB 656 codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and related grant program, and SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute all passed favorably as well. The most extensive debate centered on SB 216, which would tighten reemployment assistance eligibility by adding job-search requirements, interview attendance rules, identity and immigration verification every two weeks, and fraud-reporting duties for the Department of Commerce. Senator McLean argued the bill targets fraud and improves program integrity, while opponents and several members raised concerns about fiscal impact, administrative burden, and reduced access for unemployed workers, especially seniors and rural residents. Dr. Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO testified against the bill, warning it could sharply reduce recipiency and worsen an already restrictive system. Despite opposition, the bill was reported favorably on a divided roll call. The committee also approved CS/SB 382 on electric bicycles, which requires riders to yield to pedestrians on shared pathways, sound an audible signal before passing, and limits speed near pedestrians; it also creates a task force to study further regulation. Michelle Lynch, whose son was killed in an e-scooter crash, testified in support of broader safety rules and urged the committee to add e-scooters back into the bill. Several members echoed concerns about e-scooter safety and asked for further work, but the bill advanced favorably. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific tabs, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that going to be with a database that requires a transaction fee?
• So, you know, again, this is, you know, we've had conversation about the structural part of unemployment
• It provides statutory structure, stability, and accountability.
• Within FDLE, it provides statutory structure, stability, and accountability so those funds will continue

Bills: S0124, S0216, S0382, S0488, S0490, S0524, S0584, S0656, S0816, S0892, S1156

Keywords: Florida Virtual School, FLVS, virtual school, online education, distance learning, K-12 education, public school choice, charter-like franchise, student enrollment priorities, home education, homeschool, military families, active duty military, rural schools, inner-city schools, accelerated graduation, education technology, supplemental funding, direct-support organization, foundation

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first postponed SB 524 and SB 1156. It then heard and favorably reported several bills, including SB 488 and SB 490 by Sen. Massullo, which update Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles procedures, raise the crash-reporting threshold, expand email use, and create a related public-records exemption. The committee also favorably reported SB 892 by Sen. Martin on enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders, SB 124 by Sen. Rodriguez updating Florida Virtual School statutes, and SB 584 by Sen. Yarbrough strengthening oversight of commercial driving schools and tax collector authority. SB 656 by Sen. Bradley, codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and related grant program, and SB 816 by Sen. Bradley, formally establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute, also passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on SB 216 by Sen. McLean, which would tighten unemployment assistance eligibility by adding job-search requirements, more frequent verification, and fraud-reporting measures. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud and improve program integrity, while opponents from labor groups and several senators warned it would burden claimants, especially rural residents, seniors, and workers facing layoffs, and could sharply reduce access to benefits. Despite those objections, the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote. The committee also considered CS/SB 382 by Sen. Truenow on electric bicycles, requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, sound an audible signal before passing, and limit speed near pedestrians, while creating a task force to study broader regulation of e-bikes and related devices. A mother whose son was killed on an electric scooter urged the committee to restore scooters to the bill, and several members expressed support for further work on that issue. The committee reported the bill favorably. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional affirmative votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WOULD DRIVE THE SPECIES UP AND SEE IF YOU IDENTIFY NEW COMPOUNDS IN THERE AND YOU CAN SEE CHEMICAL STRUCTURES
• THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY, THEY PAID FAU FEES FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THESE ACTIVITIES
• YOU CAN HAVE STRUCTURES, COMPONENTS THAT CAN HANDLE SUSTAINED WINDS OF CAT 5 BUT THEN AS WE ALL KNOW
• IN FACT THIS PAST YEAR STRUCTURES, COMPONENTS THAT CAN HANDLE SUSTAINED WINDS OF CAT 5 BUT THEN AS WE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:14.720> is<00:23:15.039> most compensation structure is most compensation structure
• But I think the players agreed to this structure.
• They know they're to this structure.
• to have certain um if certain structural to have certain um if certain structural things<01:20:34.400
• So any the way the FL FSA is structured.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• policy, overseeing internal structure policy, overseeing internal structure and<00:05:01.040>
• I think in that area we need to do better in upgrading some of the structures that have fallen apart.
• don't know where student activity fees don't know where student activity fees uh<00:37:50.960>
• quite sure on the student athletic fees quite sure on the student athletic fees and<00:39:54.000
• So it's kind of hard to raise fees when you have a surplus, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes a minimum time frame of 12 months from completion of a covered dwelling or structure for
• dwelling or structure for the policyholder<00:32:44.480> to<00:32:44.640> submit<00:32
• 50:13.480> authority<00:50:13.920> for<00:50:14.080> permits,<00:50:14.560> fees
• , statutory authority for permits, fees, statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections,<00:50
• We are now in a state where the docket parties have worked together to design that structure, came up

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a filing fee associated with that. I think the filing fee is around $325.
• Um I think the filing fees around that. Um I think the filing fees around $325. $325. $325.
• There are no filing fees here.
• mentioned filing fees for prosecution. mentioned filing fees for prosecution.
• <01:52:32.560> That There are no filing fees here. That There are no filing fees here.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1651, which would create a civil sexual assault protective order for survivors who do not have a domestic violence or stalking relationship with the offender, and would also update the sexual assault survivors’ bill of rights regarding evidence kit retention and tracking. Representative Jennifer Rhodes, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to fill gaps for survivors assaulted by strangers, acquaintances, or others outside existing protective-order categories, and to ensure evidence is preserved for the longer of the statute of limitations or the retention period. Committee members asked whether the new order could be misused and how the bill would prevent frivolous petitions; the sponsor said the same legal process would apply and a victim would still have to prove they were actually assaulted. Representative Eileen Kelly and Lynn Shallet of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence testified in support, saying current law leaves many sexual assault survivors without a meaningful civil remedy unless they qualify for domestic violence or stalking relief. Shallet said the gap has existed for decades and noted that other states already have standalone sexual assault protective orders. She also said the bill would clarify survivors’ rights to know the status and location of their evidence kits. Shauna Foster of New Beginnings Without Violence and Abuse described local cases where survivors were denied protective orders because they lacked the required relationship with the offender, including a co-worker assault and an assault involving an unhoused survivor. Lisa Curtis, a survivor and founder of Safe Haven Ballet, gave emotional testimony in support, describing her own sexual assault and the difficulty of seeking protection and justice. She said survivors need safety to recover and that the bill would better align the justice system with trauma-informed support. Janet Carroll, a sexual assault nurse examiner and advisory board co-chair, testified that the bill’s evidence-kit provisions reflect federal changes and existing tracking practices. She explained that New Hampshire uses a kit tracking system that lets patients and professionals follow kits through the process, and said the bill would codify the right to be informed of a kit’s status and location. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax credit structures including inflated development<01:06:34.080> costs.
• It does not require new taxes or fees of any sort to be levied.
• 36:29.200> projects,<01:36:30.080> and<01:36:30.240> student<01:36:30.520> fees
• construction projects, and student fees construction projects, and student fees for<01:36:30.960
• <01:45:46.000> their<01:45:46.240> households, how people structure their households

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , tuition. pays or waives student fees, tuition, which I think is another worthwhile conversation, but
• We also raise antitrust concerns, as the current structure of the program leaves the board vulnerable
• We also raise antitrust concerns, as the current structure of the program leaves the board vulnerable
• I was even forced to pay $1,000 of his attorney's fee since he has no documented income and I have a
• Moreover, the enforcement structure, which grants the board authority to continually expand the scope

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to reproductive access, child safety online, immigration enforcement in schools, health privacy, location data, digital provenance, reparations, and age assurance. AB 54 would protect the medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and others from liability; AB 1137 would strengthen reporting and enforcement tools for child sexual abuse material on social media; AB 49 would limit ICE activity at California public schools; AB 82 would expand privacy and safety protections for gender-affirming care patients and providers; AB 1355 would restrict the collection, use, and sale of precise location data; AB 853 would expand provenance requirements for AI-generated and authentic content; AB 62 would create a pathway for restitution for racially biased eminent domain takings; and AB 1043 would create a device-based age assurance framework for online services. Supporters generally framed the bills as necessary responses to current harms: reproductive rights advocates emphasized California’s role as a safe haven; child safety witnesses described the persistence and re-victimization caused by CSAM online; immigrant rights and education advocates said schools should remain safe from immigration enforcement; health and LGBTQ+ advocates stressed privacy and safety risks tied to tracking and harassment; privacy and consumer groups backed limits on location data and stronger provenance tools; and reparations advocates said AB 62 would help address historic injustices. Opposition came from family policy, tech, business, law enforcement, and industry groups, who raised concerns about safety claims, constitutional issues, implementation burdens, transparency, law enforcement access, and the need to preserve existing privacy frameworks and voluntary standards. The committee members largely expressed support for the policy goals while noting implementation concerns on some measures. Several members asked for or were offered coauthor status on bills. AB 1137, AB 54, AB 49, AB 82, AB 1355, AB 853, and AB 62 all received do-pass votes to Appropriations, with some members voting no or not voting on certain bills. AB 1355 and AB 853 were advanced with amendments or ongoing work promised with opponents, and AB 1043 was presented with discussion of possible amendments on parental consent and age assurance details, though the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their fees are lower than allowed by the IRS and represent a solid value to fund worthy projects that
• it is fully self-funded, meaning all costs for the administration and staffing are paid for out of fees
• are lower than education their fees are lower than Allowed<00:35:26.800> by<00:35:26.920>
• and Staffing are paid for out of fees and Staffing are paid for out of fees generated<00:35:48.720
• certifications and providing structured certifications and providing structured paid<01:20:58.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And it was kind of even the playing field regarding attorney fees.
• So we kind of stripped that out so both sides get attorney fees.
• I know you had the amendment regarding the attorney's fees.
• I could, under this, whoever wins could be entitled to attorney's fees.
• Don't just If either side wins, that side could get attorney's fees.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But on the attorney's fee for the assessor's appeal, you know,...
• On the attorney's fee for the assessor's appeal, you know, lawyers have to eat, but maybe not as well
• The other thing was about the attorney's fees.
• My only hesitation about that is that I understand the attorney's fees and why it would be helpful.
• A situation where costs and attorney fees are awarded to the taxpayer.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Heinz: So you have the servers literally exposed to open air and steel structures that are making a lot
• And then they think about a garbage fee, you know, and you may come to Houston, see us total garbage
• We support the direction the legislature took with S.B. 6, bringing more structure and discipline to
• And so, that sets what's called the system administration fee, which is our funding source.
• Our funding source is the system administration fee with oversight from the Public Utility Commission

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:

• Dan Heinz: So you have the servers literally exposed to open air and steel structures that are making
• And then they think about a garbage fee, you know, and you may come to Houston, see us total garbage
• We support the direction the legislature took with S.B. 6, bringing more structure and discipline to
• And so, that sets what's called the system administration fee, which is our funding source.
• That structure was something that was done post Winter Storm Uri in that legislative session, in terms

Transcript Highlights:

• all, and benefiting acres are susceptible to inundation as if the structure never existed as a structure
• , not a one-in-10 event structure.
• , which allows water to go through the structure and equalize on both sides of that structure.
• In fact, if that structure were not there, there still would not have been flow through that structure
• The one thing, that structure was a... ...years ago, the one thing, that structure was a control structure

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• has become somewhat effective structure has become somewhat ineffective<00:27:32.640> and<00:
• This is more of a how do we put the right structure and leadership on the commission itself in place.
• Hopefully with um the green<01:18:49.679> fee<01:18:50.000> and<01:18:50.239> some
• and some of these extra funds green fee and some of these extra funds to<01:18:52.320> support
• The council's support staff is structured, including this executive director position.

Bills: SB2606, SB3253, SB237, SB3252, SB1178, SB2322, SB2019, SB3043, SB3014, SB2972, SB1190, SB2488

Keywords: wildlife sanctuary, environmental conservation, Hawaii, nonprofit corporation, freshwater preservation, community stewardship, biodiversity, ecological heritage, conservation, endangered species, wildlife preservation, native birds, sanctuary, nonprofit, DLNR, agricultural district, land use, chapter 195D, chapter 205, chapter 42F

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures related to wildlife, conservation, shoreline adaptation, and climate governance. On SB 2606, which would establish the Freshwater State Recreational Area Wildlife Sanctuary Corporation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said it had concerns about employee eligibility and was not yet prepared to comment further on the bill’s ramifications. After testimony ended, a senator asked DLNR to follow up with more detail, and the department said it would relay the questions to leadership and respond later. No vote was taken on the measure during the excerpt. On SB 3253, which would create the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary as a nonprofit entity to work with DLNR, the department said it supported the bill. In discussion, DLNR said Hawaii has not done anything like this before, described a similar model in New Zealand, and estimated that developing such a sanctuary could cost millions of dollars. Members also discussed whether the concept would fit with existing efforts such as Hakalau, and DLNR said the bill could apply to private or state lands depending on the site. No action was taken. The most extensive discussion was on SB 237, which would expand state and county authority to develop adaptation pathways for relocating infrastructure away from sea level rise and coastal flooding areas. DLNR supported the bill, saying it prioritizes public trust resources over economic development or private property. The Kahana Bay Steering Committee and the Shoreline Preservation Coalition opposed the measure, arguing it was too focused on managed retreat and should include a broader range of shoreline responses, such as erosion mitigation, groins, sand nourishment, and other interim protections. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it appreciated the bill’s intent but wanted broader language that would allow more tools in the toolbox. Members debated whether retreat is inevitable, whether different shorelines require different approaches, and whether the bill should be more flexible. No vote was taken. The final measure discussed was SB 3252, which would amend the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, create a coordinator position, and appropriate funds. The commission’s coordinator testified in support, while OPSD opposed the bill, saying it would remove the two cabinet-level co-chair positions, raise accountability concerns, and duplicate some of OPSD’s functions. In questioning, members debated whether the current commission structure has been effective, who would appoint or confirm the coordinator, and whether the bill would improve transparency and implementation. OPSD said it supported more statewide interdepartmental funding for climate planning and staffing, but had concerns about the proposed governance changes. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but making a structure within the informal support structure.
• , but making a structure within the informal support structure.
• , but making a structure within the informal support structure.
• , but making a structure within the informal support structure.
• in the bill around penalties or fees in the bill around penalties or fees coming<01:14:50.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think that what you've heard today is ways that we can set the structure such that it allows for
• > but<01:06:04.160> with<01:06:04.400> how the incentive structure but with how
• the incentive structure but with how carbon<01:06:05.039> intensity<01:06:05.440> and<01
• It talks about structuring.
• Structuring is a person that is not acting alone, that they're acting with or in behalf of other persons

Bills: HB0120, HB0043, HB0128

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we have helium and then we have the various noble gases, but there is not a recommended scale for a fee
• or tax on recommended scale for a fee or tax on those<00:47:20.240> just<00:47:20.440> a
• There are other regulatory structures in place to minimize the exposure risks from keys and automotive
• fobs in Minnesota’s law is not consistent with those other regulatory structures.
• Minnesota’s law is not consistent with those other regulatory structures.

Keywords: 1183, house