Transcript Highlights:

• This addresses recent IRS guidance, but this proposed substitute replaces that 40% allocation with a
• This addresses recent IRS guidance, but this proposed substitute replaces that 40% allocation with a

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2479, the Wage Recovery Act, which would create a wage recovery program and account to provide limited advance payments to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship from unpaid wages, while also changing how L&I prioritizes wage complaints and increasing civil penalties for willful wage violations. The bill was described as a consensus product of a labor-business work group, and testimony from the sponsor, work group members, business groups, and labor organizations was strongly supportive, emphasizing faster wage recovery, better enforcement, and a balanced approach to wage theft. No one testified in opposition. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on several bills. It reported out House Bill 291, extending employee contact-information sharing requirements to all state agencies; House Bill 2105, as amended, on notice requirements for I-9 audits and related records; House Bill 2107, as amended, on L&I notice to employers after construction-site hazard inspections; House Bill 2151, as amended, on factory-built housing and inspection standards; House Bill 2190, on compensation for language access providers for missed appointments; House Bill 2303, as amended, prohibiting employer requests or coercion for microchip implantation; and House Bill 2345, as amended, adjusting paid family and medical leave premium allocation to address an IRS-related issue. The committee also deferred action on House Bills 2191 and 2218. Several amendments were adopted during executive session, including technical and policy changes to HB 2105, a carve-out in HB 2151 for certain prefabricated enclosures used for energy equipment, and removal of administrative enforcement from HB 2303. Final votes were largely bipartisan, with most measures passing on voice vote or by recorded vote and receiving due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• A general question: you know, looking at AI throughout a lot of these, will AI replace a lot of FTEs,
• Going down, they're not being replaced by, you know, contract employees or outsourcing.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It replaces release with placement and requires the department to use risk factors to assess the person
• This amendment simply prohibits extraordinary replacement for a person who has a serious infraction in

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met in executive session to review several bills, with one bill on the DCYF Oversight Board (SB 5942) held until the following week so additional stakeholder input could be incorporated. Staff briefed bills on escorted leaves for incarcerated individuals (SB 5873), extraordinary medical placements (SB 5895), financial stability for youth in DCYF care receiving Social Security benefits (SB 5911), an extended foster care housing pilot (SB 5940), changes to the persistent offender definition and resentencing (SB 5945), adding positions to the Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Committee (SB 5957), and medically tailored meals for Apple Health enrollees (SB 5966). Several of these bills had multiple proposed amendments, many offered by Senator Christian, addressing eligibility limits, monitoring, location restrictions, time limits, liability, victim notification, and funding contingencies. In executive action, the committee adopted only the chair’s technical amendment to SB 5873 and rejected the other proposed amendments, then advanced the bill as a proposed substitute to the Rules Committee. SB 5895 also moved forward as a proposed substitute after most amendments were rejected and one was withdrawn; the committee sent it to Ways and Means. SB 5911’s amendment clarifying protected accounts for youth benefits was adopted, and the bill was advanced to Ways and Means. SB 5940 was also advanced to Ways and Means after adoption of the substitute. SB 5945’s proposed substitute was adopted and the bill was sent forward, while SB 5957 and SB 5966 were briefly discussed in briefing but not acted on during the portion of the meeting captured here. The chair noted that any remaining executive bills not completed would be taken up at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• post-exposure prophylaxis for non-occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus infection, nicotine replacement
• post-exposure prophylaxis for non-occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus infection, nicotine replacement

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reviewed four bill drafts for the Rural Health Transformation effort. The first required the presidential physical fitness test in PE classes; members asked about DPI and school support, then moved and approved the draft. The second required physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle and included legislative intent encouraging other health boards to consider nutrition-related CE; it was approved after brief discussion. The third bill adopted the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Members discussed a separate issue involving occupational therapy compact background checks and whether that fix could be added now or would need to wait until later; the committee also discussed Board of Medicine input and the compact’s workforce benefits. The draft was moved forward to the full committee. The fourth bill expanded pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Legislative Council explained the draft, and Senator Roars proposed substantial amendments to narrow motion sickness, UTI, diabetes supply, and substitution provisions. Members debated whether to vote on amendments now or wait for the special session public hearing; concerns were raised about transparency, stakeholder input, and avoiding premature action. No amendment vote was taken, and the bill was left for later consideration. The committee then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• which we currently use, the Optum contractor, to perform the Arkansas independent assessment, and replace
• They can’t even replace a Band-Aid on a person if the Band-Aid falls off.

Summary: The committee approved the December 8 minutes and referred items C1 and C2 to the labor and environment subcommittees, adopting the chair’s recommendations. The main substantive item was a DHS rule package revising the State Plan Personal Care Manual and the Arkansas Independent Assessment (ARIA) Manual. DHS said the revisions would repeal and replace the current manuals with streamlined versions, remove overlapping language, implement Act 853 by shifting licensure/certification for personal care agencies to the Department of Health, lengthen personal care prior authorizations from six months to one year, and keep the 64-hour monthly cap. For ARIA, DHS said it would remove references to state plan personal care, clarify telehealth and in-person assessments, and add/update sections for PASS, AR Choices, Living Choices, and PACE. DHS argued the current independent assessment process is costly and not controlling utilization, citing a 95% approval rate, annual spending of more than $212 million on personal care for about 17,000 people, and an estimated $6.173 million in savings from eliminating the Optum assessment and reducing prior-authorization frequency. Agency witnesses said the new process would reinsert primary care practitioner involvement, use standardized evaluation and prescription forms, and rely on personal care provider nurses for the assessment step, with training already available through an AFMC contract. Several members questioned whether PCPs should be used as gatekeepers, whether the change would delay services, and whether the savings estimate accounted for training or provider burden. Some members also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, the workload on physicians, and whether the agency had adequately worked with the existing vendor to improve the current system. The discussion became contentious, with Senator Irvin and others strongly opposing the proposal as inconsistent with the earlier independent-assessment approach and urging DHS to slow down and work with legislators. Other members asked for clarification on how the new process would work for new applicants and whether it would affect waiver or PASS participants; DHS said the rule would not apply to PASS and should not delay services. At the end of the hearing, the chair offered DHS the option to pull the rule down and work off-record with legislators on a revised proposal, and DHS agreed. The meeting then adjourned without further business or a final vote on the rule.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just a technical amendment, and it removes another reference that we missed and replaces it with
• It removes another reference that we missed and replaces it with CSAM. That is the amendment.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores the rights of adults 18 and older, emphasizing constitutional rights, military service, voting, jury duty, and parental responsibility. Opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates and several members, cited Parkland and the recent FSU shooting, argued that people under 21 are still developing and more impulsive, and said the current law helps protect public safety. After extensive debate and public testimony on both sides, the committee voted 11-5 to report HB 133 favorably. The committee then considered PCS for HB 35, which adds driving without a valid license to the offenses that can lead to habitual traffic offender designation and is named Isaiah’s Law in memory of a child killed by an unlicensed driver. Supporters said it addresses repeat dangerous conduct and should help prevent similar tragedies. One member questioned whether it was a knee-jerk response, while others said it was a reasonable accountability measure. The PCS passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 245, which updates Florida law to use more accurate terminology for child sexual abuse material rather than “child pornography,” and includes related technical corrections. The sponsor said the change better reflects the seriousness of the crime and asked whether the bill also covered AI-generated material; the sponsor said the statute already addresses such references. After a technical amendment was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, 16-0, and was reported favorably. The chair also reminded members to maintain respect toward public witnesses and each other before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, Representative Melvin chose to resign this committee over the summer, and he was replaced
• First of all, Representative Melvin chose to resign this committee over the summer, and he was replaced

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Public Works and Highways Committee met in work session on HB 100 and HB 561, with brief housekeeping remarks at the start noting a new committee member, Representative Charlie Foot, and the departure of committee assistant Karen Davis. The chair also referenced upcoming discussion of the 10-year transportation plan and warned that the gas hearings and related funding changes would affect communities. HB 100 would prohibit the Department of Transportation from using state funds for planning, construction, operation, or management of new passenger rail projects. Members raised concerns that the bill needed more work and might have unintended effects on private and tourist rail operations, including the Cog Railway and other tourism railways. Several speakers said the issue should be studied further rather than acted on immediately. HB 561 concerns the transfer of state-owned real property, specifically requiring approval from municipal legislative bodies before transferring state-owned class one or two highways. Multiple members supported an interim study, saying the bill is tied to broader questions about the 10-year plan, road funding, municipal partnership, and the possibility that the state may eventually need to turn highways over to towns. Concerns were also raised about specific road situations such as Continental Boulevard and the need to understand current practices before making changes. In executive session, the committee voted 16-0, with two members absent, to send both HB 100 and HB 561 to interim study and place them on the consent calendar. The chair then explained that the bills would be revisited next fall and could later be debated on the House floor. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now in the last legislative session we replaced the ones.
• this program, then the Health Care Authority and Be Well New Mexico would not need to work together. replace

Transcript Highlights:

• increase, or do you have, I guess my number, my question is, do you have demographic data on who's replacing
• Data on who's replacing the seniors because that does impact our workforce as people leave the workforce

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission met with a quorum present to hear the constitutionally required Long-Range Financial Outlook and consider a series of budget amendments. Amy Baker of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research presented the outlook, describing Florida’s continued population growth, strong wage growth, an aging population, housing-market softening, and low consumer sentiment. She said the general revenue forecast was largely unchanged from March, but the state’s funds available had improved because of legislative actions in 2025 that increased the balance forward. She also noted strong reserves, a projected current-year Medicaid deficit of about $125 million, and a three-year outlook that remains positive in the first year but turns negative in years two and three. She highlighted the risk of co-occurring catastrophic events, using a normalized Great Miami Hurricane scenario to illustrate potential state losses. The outlook was adopted after brief comments from House and Senate members emphasizing fiscal restraint and efficiency. The commission then approved multiple budget amendments, mostly without objection. The Agency for Health Care Administration received amendments to realign funding for Florida KidCare based on estimating conference results, to provide $85 million in budget authority for disproportionate share hospital payments, and to adjust Medicaid and long-term care appropriations, including placing surplus funds into reserve. The Department of Health received $6.3 million in additional authority for newborn screening. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Management Services each received $2.2 million in Private Inmate Welfare Trust Fund authority for repair invoices and pending projects. The Department of State was authorized to release $2.5 million in nonrecurring general revenue for cultural and museum grants and America 250 commemorative grants. The Department of Transportation received approval for a project roll-forward and for work program changes, including advancing I-95 widening in Duval County and the I-4 corridor in Polk and Osceola counties. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, House Bill 2598 would replace all statutory references to 'Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
• This bill includes all requirements for the legislative committee, just like secondary replacement, revealing

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of their efforts, the existing cable barriers were replaced with concrete barriers to prevent
• There were seven fatalities since they replaced the outdated cable barrier with a concrete barrier.

Bills: HB767, HB1708, HB2143, HB2198, HB2415, HB2457, HB2763, SB876, SB1230, SB2515, SB2688, SB2790, SB2799, HB3012, HB1672, HB2523, HB3135

Keywords: highway designation, memorial, Montgomery County, Paul P. Mendes, transportation, memorial highway, Kevin Ramirez Vasquez, Ector County, state designation, memorial designation, highway, military honors, veteran commemoration, Officer Jacob Candanoza, Transportation Code, state highway, Kaufman County, law enforcement, Travis County, Senior Police Officer

Transcript Highlights:

• And they replaced the water well, but we were out of water on our place for about almost a year, well
• And they replaced the water well, but we were out of water on our place for about almost a year, well

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Memorial Walkway in Capitol North, uh, including boilers and cooling tower replacement project, will
• this week, and there may be some challenges with keeping those spaces cool, uh, during the tower replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• While not replacing them, quantum computers can add new computing capabilities.
• While not replacing them, quantum computers can add new computing capabilities that do more with less

Summary: The Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee met in person and established quorum after beginning briefly as a subcommittee. The committee adopted its rules and then heard several bills focused on economic recovery, housing, technology, retail theft, and utility infrastructure. AB 265 (Caloza) would create a $100 million state-funded small business and nonprofit recovery program for organizations affected by declared emergencies; it drew broad support from small business, nonprofit, chamber, city, and community groups, with no opposition voiced. AB 797 (Harabedian) proposed a zero-cost state financing structure using CRA-backed securities to help community nonprofits buy wildfire-damaged properties at fair market value and prevent predatory investor purchases; it was presented as a community stabilization tool and received support from the California Community Foundation, with no opposition. AB 940 (Wicks/Ellis) would establish quantum innovation zones to strengthen California’s quantum computing economy, and AB 949 (Shiavo) would create a retail theft grant program for small businesses to fund security improvements and theft prevention measures; both bills were supported by business and university witnesses, though one member said they would not vote for AB 949 due to concerns about broader crime policy. AB 1347 (Carrillo) proposed a pilot program to speed utility interconnections in priority growth regions, including allowing developers to trade expedited connections for upfront infrastructure cost recovery and use microgrids in some cases; it had no opposition in the hearing. Committee members generally expressed support for the bills, especially those aimed at disaster recovery and small business resilience. Questions on AB 940 focused on where quantum innovation zones might be located and how local governments and universities would coordinate; the author and witnesses said the zones should be open statewide and could build on existing research centers such as Berkeley, Stanford, Caltech, UCSB, UCLA, and UCSC. On AB 797, members discussed the need to protect homeowners from below-market offers after wildfires. On AB 949, the author emphasized that modest grants could help small businesses make security upgrades and prevent repeated theft losses. The committee voted to send AB 265, AB 797, AB 940, AB 949, and AB 1347 forward, generally on party-line or near-unanimous votes, with the bills reported out of committee and placed on call as needed. The consent calendar, including AB 254, AB 415, AB 655, AB 1232, AB 1254, AB 1477, and HR 27, was also approved. The hearing adjourned at 10:33 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So from of moving, we would strike all the way through line 14 through the word health plan and replace
• Line 14 through the word health plan, and replace it with impact of changes to health plan benefits.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The State and Local Government Committee met to reconsider and amend House Bill 1165, which dealt with petition circulation requirements and ballot receipt rules. The committee walked through technical changes requested by the Secretary of State’s office, including moving petition-title language, adding a 15-business-day submission deadline for petition packets, and revising language related to mailed absentee ballots and the presidential executive order requiring ballots to be received by election day rather than merely postmarked. The State Election Director explained that the change was intended to provide clarity and consistency for voters and election officials, while Senator Braunberger objected that it was an unnecessary reaction to an executive order that could be challenged. The committee adopted the amendment 5-1 and then passed the bill as amended on a 5-1 vote, with Senator Braunberger voting no. The committee then took up House Bill 1307, which concerned election authority, home rule powers, and related city and county petition/signature provisions. After questions from members and clarification from the Deputy Secretary of State and a League of Cities representative, the committee agreed the amendment was intended to preserve city petition power and align the bill with changes made in another election bill, while also addressing park district language. The amendment was adopted 6-0, and the bill was passed as amended 6-0. Senator Castaneda was designated as the carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1580, a study bill on state employee compensation. Members used language from an earlier draft tied to health plan changes and broadened it to study total rewards compensation, including pay grades, classifications, comparisons among state employees across departments and with similar private-sector jobs, equity funding and bonuses, prevailing wages on state projects, and the impact of changes to health plan benefits and premium structures. The committee agreed to make the language more generic and adopted the amendment 6-0, then passed the bill as amended 6-0. House Bill 1601 was not acted on and was held until after floor session so members could continue discussions and await additional input.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're replacing two people.
• One of the people we were replacing was a woman, and I looked at the rest of the board, and there are

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary held confirmation hearings for two State University System Board of Governors appointees, M. Carson Good and Speaker Paul Renner. Good described his background in Florida real estate, airport governance, and fundraising, and said he would focus on improving university performance, collaboration among institutions, and growing endowments while keeping in-state tuition stable. Renner emphasized his legislative experience with higher education, and said his priorities on the Board would be transparency, compliance with legislative direction, and reducing administrative bloat. Both nominees were recommended for confirmation on a single vote, with Senator Berman noting concern about the low number of women on the board. The committee then heard and passed SB 1726, a higher education transparency bill by Senator Calatayud. The bill would require Board of Governors members to comply with constitutional financial disclosure requirements, set term limits for State Board of Education and university board members, change rules for presidential searches and public records, and require more detailed textbook and syllabus information for students. A student advocate from Florida Student Power Network supported the bill as increasing student involvement and democratic accountability in higher education. Senator Harrell raised a concern about residency requirements for Board of Governors members, and the sponsor said that issue could be revisited later. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 1458 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship funding. A delete-all amendment was adopted that required clearer funding splits between local education agencies and program providers, annual reporting, a standard DOE contract template, and a cap on administrative fees in certain cases. Supporters from industry groups said the changes would improve transparency and accountability without requesting additional funding. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 584 on young adult housing support. An amendment removed a requirement that state agencies act as co-signers or guarantors on leases while preserving coordination for the federal Foster Youth to Independence program. Several former foster youth and advocates testified in support, describing housing instability and its impact on education, and urging broader access to campus housing and vouchers. The sponsor said the bill prioritizes housing and work-study for homeless and former foster youth, supports the FYI program, and directs a statewide study of housing barriers. The committee reported the bill favorably and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A1 cannot be removed but must be replaced with some other certifying standards.
• House Bill 1926 updates the Property Code by replacing outdated references with the appropriate provisions

Bills: HB431, HB648, HB 1006, HB1926, HB2037, HB2468, HB2788, HB2791, HB3255, HB3260

Keywords: HB 431, Texas Property Code, Property Code Chapter 202, solar roof tiles, solar shingles, solar energy device, homeowners association, HOA, property owners' association, POA, renewable energy, residential solar, distributed solar, roof-mounted solar, homeowner rights, architectural control, restrictive covenants, real estate, subdivision regulations, multi-zoned subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• someone needs to move a pole—or it could be large things, a new bridge, or our bridge needs to be replaced
• Not only to get to gig speeds and beyond for customers, but to continue upgrading, also replacing our

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee met with a quorum present and considered five bills. The first, PCS for HB 987, was an honorary transportation facility designation bill naming several roads and an overpass for fallen officers, a military service member, and first responders. An amendment added the Sheriff Gary S. Borders Memorial Highway designation in Lake County. Members offered supportive remarks, and the bill passed 17-0. The committee then heard HB 703, which would require authorities such as FDOT or local governments to pay the costs when they require telecom providers to relocate infrastructure from public rights-of-way. Support came from Charter Communications, Associated Industries of Florida, and Florida Internet and Television, with discussion focused on the communication services tax and the cost burden of relocations. The bill passed unanimously 18-0. HB 1523 followed, addressing municipal utilities serving customers outside their boundaries by requiring public meetings, annual reporting, limits on transfers to general revenue, and reduced or eliminated surcharges for outside-boundary customers. Municipal utility representatives opposed parts of the bill, citing rural impacts, debt obligations, and the need for a glide path, while supporters argued for transparency and fairness to ratepayers outside municipal boundaries. An amendment changed a reporting date to January 31, 2026, and the bill passed 14-4. HB 867 established a legal framework for commuter rail operations along Florida’s coastal corridor, including insurance and indemnification arrangements for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties using the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way. An amendment clarified that Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline are not state entities and do not have sovereign immunity unless expressly provided by law. The bill passed 18-0. Finally, HB 1137 clarified a prior energy preemption law by adding boards, agencies, commissions, and authorities of counties and municipal corporations to the entities covered, aimed at preventing discriminatory energy-source practices by an appointed board. Public testimony included support from the Florida Natural Gas Association and the Florida Home Builders Association and opposition from Florida Student Power. Members noted the bill was a cleanup measure, and it passed favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The May Revision also maintains the $153 million ongoing increase in General Fund for the replacement
• That was the expectation with the nonresident replacement program for the end of 2026-27.
• It looks like, when we're accounting for the over-replacement from the prior years, we'll be at over
• 300 students replaced, but that only looks at the fall headcount.
• So while we didn't complete necessarily a replacement, we have exceeded the undergraduate enrollment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, a deepfake is a digitally altered or synthesized image or video that deceptively replaces one
• Image or video that deceptively replaces one individual's likeness with another's, creating the false
• And then the front half of the section is replacing the language 'performance' with 'production.'
• And then the front half of the section is replacing the language performance with production.
• That's simply replacing performance with the language production.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.