Transcript Highlights:

• No parent should have to bury a child. That is absolutely just horrible.
• As parents, there is not a whole lot more that you could ask for.
• That trauma for a parent, having to do that every year— as a parent of three myself, I just cannot imagine
• We're about to have vendors for education... Public education. So why is this different?
• And that's where you and I differ on public education, because I think public education, again, is...

Bills: HB153 , HB1410 , HB1461 , HB1760 , HB1762 , HB3261 , HB3773 , HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• Her grandfather had an eighth-grade education, and her father was a high school educator.
• Education.
• My wonderful parents, Don and Linda, didn't have degrees, but they had faith in me and grit.
• My fellow students' parents were small business owners.
• The SBA might support parents and children as they work in small businesses.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We include over $1 billion for educational capital outlay.
• As we all know, education is the second largest swath in our budget.
• The total budget for Pre-K-12 education includes local funds.
• and engagement in Florida's K-12 education.
• It expands it to include a health science education program.

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget and related implementing bills. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented a $115 billion General Appropriations Bill, saying it reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major budget areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental/agricultural agencies. Highlights included increased funding for school safety, teacher and scholarship funding, workforce education, Medicaid and kid care, corrections operations, judgeships, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and arts and cultural grants. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Senators discussed the Emergency Management Trust Fund, cultural arts grant allocations, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salary support, charter school capital outlay funding, Bright Futures and EASE funding, New College funding, DOC deficits and inmate health care/food service costs, the ADAP HIV drug program, Medicaid reductions for non-critical access hospitals, and the use of opioid settlement and COVID relief funds. Chairs explained that some apparent reductions reflected shifts below the line or reclassification, that the ADAP appropriation would only cover about six months, and that some vacant positions were being removed as part of a right-sizing effort. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed weapons permit processing, elections security funding, and arts grant selection and proviso language. The Senate then substituted House bills for the Senate budget and implementing measures, amended them into the Senate posture, and passed them. HB 5001 (the appropriations bill), HB 503 (implementing bill), HB 5201 (collective bargaining), and HB 5205 (retirement) all passed 36-0 and were sent to conference. Other budget-related bills also passed, including SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, SB 2510 on court trust funds, SB 2512 creating 13 circuit and 12 county judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health. Most of these passed unanimously, with the Senate requesting the House either pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are is an education thing.
• </c> requires formal education, supervised requires formal education, supervised clinical<02:31:26.880
• and decisions on parental decisionmaking and parental<05:56:24.558><c> rights,</c><05:56:25.360><c>
• c> to</c><05:56:28.798><c> be</c> that fit parents are presumed to be that fit parents are presumed to
• </c> parents to follow the existing science. parents to follow the existing science.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> They're caring for aging parents. They're caring for aging parents.
• ,</c> services, food assistance, education, services, food assistance, education, health<02:34:44.960
• My parents, both educators, saw education as a legacy.
• My parents, both educators, saw South.
• My parents, both educators, saw education<07:25:17.440><c> as</c><07:25:17.600><c> a</c><07:25:17.760

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witten, members, House Bill 2409 would establish the Arizona Artificial Intelligence Education
• Program to offer AI education courses each summer to every resident of the state.
• that all health education instruction include mental health instruction.
• Madam Witt members, Houseville 2040 requires a public educational institution to provide students 38
• to require that all health education instruction include mental health instruction hospital 2093 is

Summary: The meeting was a rapid bill review caucus with the chair emphasizing a hard stop before 11 a.m. and asking members to keep questions brief. A large number of bills were introduced or summarized, with many placed on third-read consent or consent calendars and several receiving brief sponsor explanations. The topics ranged widely, but much of the discussion centered on artificial intelligence, education, health care, water policy, state land management, commerce, transportation, public safety, and local government finance. In the AI and education sections, members heard bills requiring disclosure when minors interact with AI, allowing AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, creating an AI education program, recognizing certain AI communications as privileged, and requiring schools to teach AI ethics and basic prompting. Other education measures addressed superintendent employment rules, school district oversight, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal and prenatal development standards, and a resolution expanding race- and ethnicity-based nondiscrimination rules in public education. Health-related bills included funding and oversight for ESA administration, childhood cancer research grants, health facility licensure and complaint timelines, a firefighter cancer registry, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and a bill criminalizing nonconsensual abortion-inducing drugs. The committee also reviewed many land, water, and natural resources bills, including measures on groundwater transportation fees, assured water supply reviews, water hauling, state land audits and oversight, solar and mining land-use mapping, and state land disposition planning. Several bills focused on wildlife and ranching, such as landowner permits for deer and wolves, expanding predatory animal definitions, and a memorial urging federal reform of the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Transportation and public safety bills covered towing regulation, DUI interlock rules, motorcycle lane splitting/filtering, digital driver licenses, and a resolution on tax and fee increases for municipalities and counties. Members asked a number of questions on controversial items, especially the municipal tax/fee moratorium, water policy, and state land governance, but no roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply advanced or noted as consent-calendar measures, with one bill (HB 2913) being pulled from consent for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• On education, it's $593.5 million for public education.
• Most notably, it's $248 million for special... ...education.
• Most notably, it is $248 million for special education circuit breaker reimbursements.
• items for spending on the public education front.
• So this would put fiscal year 24... ...public education and transportation.

Summary: The Senate considered a series of amendments to a supplemental appropriations bill and related measures, with several adopted and several rejected or withdrawn. Early amendments on equitable approaches to public safety and a Holyoke local account clarification failed, while amendments providing $2.5 million for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers technical assistance and expanding access to gender-affirming medications and mifepristone were adopted. The chamber also adopted a technical amendment on alternative protein grants, a clarification to ETF modernization, and an energy storage systems amendment. Other proposals on homeowner protections, La Casa funding, emergency contract reform, an energy dashboard, EV charging ratepayer impacts, hate crimes, distressed hospital payments, and task force membership were rejected or withdrawn. A substantial portion of the debate focused on health care, food assistance, and public safety. Senators spoke in support of funding for community health centers, hospital relief, and EBT anti-skimming protections, including $15.5 million for chip-enabled EBT cards and related replacement-benefit support. One amendment to strengthen protections against impersonating federal officers was rejected, while another on professional protections was withdrawn after discussion of ballot address privacy and security concerns. The Senate also adopted amendments to continue prior appropriations for a North Shore food pantry and drought management efforts, and it later approved a sick leave bank for a Department of Mental Health employee. The chamber then took up the fiscal year 2025 fair share supplemental budget conference report, which Ways and Means described as $1.39 billion in spending split between transportation and education, including MBTA improvements, Chapter 90 aid, regional transit authorities, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, higher education deferred maintenance, and career technical education capital grants. After a roll call, the bill passed, with one recorded negative vote. The Senate also adopted a separate Ways and Means amendment and ordered the bill to third reading before final passage. The session ended with adjournment motions and a moment of silence honoring Melissa and Mark Hortman and other victims of political violence, along with a memorial adjournment for firefighter Jeffrey DeSanchez.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> education thing. education thing.
• [applause] Trevor, education, man.
• When I lose Trevor, education, man.
• We’ve educated you and we’ve helped set you on a life’s path. education here and you get picked up by
• 46:12.400><c> human</c> uh, education, health, and human uh, education, health, and human services,<04

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida Statute 768.21 subsection 8 contains exceptions that prohibit certain parents and children of
• He got a $7,500 fine and education on blood clots. He’s 84 years old.
• And let me be clear, this law does not just fail parents like me.
• I fought for his education.
• I ask you to ensure that no other parents are stripped of their right to fight for their child.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard three bills. SB 514, by Senator Harrell, clarified that medical quality review committees used by managing entities are treated like other medical review committees for purposes of civil liability and public records protections. The committee adopted a Harrell amendment removing the word “malpractice” from the title, heard support from the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Association of Managing Entities, and Florida Smart Justice Alliance, and then voted 11-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 734, by Senator Yarborough, which would repeal the current wrongful death exception that bars certain parents and adult children from recovering non-economic damages in medical negligence cases. The bill drew extensive testimony from families describing deaths they said were caused by medical negligence and from supporters including AARP and the Florida Justice Association, while opponents from the health care, insurance, and business sectors argued it would raise malpractice premiums, increase litigation, worsen physician shortages, and reduce access to care. After debate, the committee voted 9-2 to report the bill favorably. Finally, SB 538, by Senator Bradley, was presented as the state courts legislative package. It updates court operations by clarifying duty judge requirements, removing a location limit on duty hearings, repealing a cap on arbitrator compensation in court-ordered non-binding arbitration, and allowing alternative judicial authentication of oaths and acknowledgments when a court seal is unavailable. The bill received supportive waiver forms from the Florida Bar ADR section and several judges, and was reported favorably on an 11-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We include over $1 billion for educational capital outlay.
• As we all know, education is the second largest swath in our budget.
• The total budget for Pre-K-12 education includes local funds.
• and engagement in Florida's K-12 education.
• It expands it to include a health science education program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Omen, welcome back to the House Higher Education Committee.
• Please state Higher Education Committee.
• </c> my friends of House of Higher Education my friends of House of Higher Education with<00:15:03.120
• </c> students into the right educational students into the right educational institution<00:25:08.880
• Let's say there's a parent Minnesota?

Transcript Highlights:

• for adult education learners.
• preparation programs at the 13 education preparation programs in our state.
• As a 32 year educator.
• Speaker, gentle lady, for people who are not in the education committee.
• inclined to support whatever that would be on an education bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:14.879><c> can</c> Wi-Fi cameras so that parents can Wi-Fi cameras so that parents can observe
• So they are able to view the parent.
• The length of said video should be kept and giving the parents the right to see it.
• </c><00:34:10.480><c> check</c> to the facility and where parents check to the facility and where parents
• I am sure many of you are parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles.

Bills: HF1027 , HF2226 , HF1916 , HF1915 , HF1567 , HF1986

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:49.680><c> who</c> dream a dream inspired by my parents who dream a dream inspired by my parents
• </c> six-year-olds yep and George's parents six-year-olds yep and George's parents moved<00:20:13.440
• Do you have to deal with parents, George?
• or other education entities.
• </c> partnership with with the educational partnership with with the educational institutions<01:01:33.440

Bills: HF110 , HF111 , HF263 , HF105

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And you call their parent or you back."
• So educa early education is is like no.
• </c> It's education.
• </c> manage it but they have to be educated manage it but they have to be educated on<01:34:50.159><c
• </c> scammed or if they want more education scammed or if they want more education or<01:44:14.400><c

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on fraud in the community, with presenters from ARP, CoinFlip, HPD, the Hawaii Bankers Association, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the Department of Law Enforcement. The chair described widespread scams targeting kupuna and other residents, including impersonation of grandchildren, lottery/inheritance schemes, romance scams, online shopping fraud, investment scams, and tech-support scams. Members emphasized the emotional manipulation used by scammers, the difficulty of getting victims to report losses, and the need to educate the public on warning signs and available resources. ARP said scams are an epidemic and highlighted national data showing major losses among older adults, including $4.8 billion lost by people age 60 and over in 2024. ARP focused especially on cryptocurrency kiosks as a growing scam channel in Hawaii, citing 64 complaints totaling $922,000 in 2024 and noting that complaints nearly doubled from the prior year. ARP urged stronger safeguards such as limits on transactions, refunds, live customer support, and a law-enforcement contact for operators, and said its Fraud Watch Network can help victims freeze credit, identify next steps, and track current scams. The chair said he intends to introduce legislation to lower and ultimately eliminate the amount of Bitcoin that can be purchased through ATMs. CoinFlip said it supports consumer-protection regulation and described its compliance practices, including scam warning screens, anti-money-laundering controls, blockchain analytics, wallet pinning, transaction monitoring, and cooperation with law enforcement. The company said it is registered as a money services business, files suspicious activity and currency transaction reports, and holds money transmitter licenses in many jurisdictions. It also pointed to Illinois-style refund protections for new users and said it refunds fees to scam victims, though not the underlying funds. In response to committee questions, members and the company discussed whether crypto kiosks are necessary, how scams can be traced, and whether banks and kiosks can better intervene when suspicious activity is detected.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> cost of education uh that is 1826. cost of education uh that is 1826.
• </c> their best education possible. their best education possible.
• </c> education outcome. education outcome.
• </c><04:27:55.359><c> So</c> The education educational personnel.
• So The education educational personnel.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> mother I oppose this bill as an educator mother I oppose this bill as an educator I<00:31:26.600
• I also am the parent of a transgender child.
• The law also serves the purpose to educate the public.
• I'm here today as a parent. I'm here today as a parent.
• </c> 3500 teachers and education 3500 teachers and education professionals<03:01:25.520><c> across</c

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• rights and public education or for the committee on public education.
• committee on public education.
• or for the Committee on Higher Education.
• Those students are for the committee on public education.
• on Higher Education.

Bills: HB14 , HJR31 , HB43 , HB18 , HB 106 , HB36 , HB26 , HB149 , HB 121 , HB206 , HB136 , HB3114 , HB2733 , HB1732 , HB3700 , HB467 , HB 1130 , HB1846 , HB1442 , HB 1147 , HB2176 , HB2701 , HB805 , HB2890 , HB 1154 , HB1644 , HB2118 , HB1718 , HB2488 , HB2596 , HB1971 , HB2468 , HB484 , HB2578 , HB3204 , HB 1041 , HB307 , HB685 , HB1710 , HB538 , HB2525 , HB3125 , HB2027 , HB2894 , HB3077 , HB3684 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HJR5 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HJR2 , HJR6 , HB1587 , HB14 , HJR31 , HB43 , HB18 , HB 106 , HB36 , HB26 , HB149 , HB 121 , HB206 , HB136 , HB3114 , HB2733 , HB1732 , HB3700 , HB467 , HB 1130 , HB1846 , HB1442 , HB 1147 , HB2176 , HB2701 , HB805 , HB2890 , HB 1154 , HB1644 , HB2118 , HB1718 , HB2488 , HB2596 , HB1971 , HB2468 , HB484 , HB2578 , HB3204 , HB 1041 , HB307 , HB685 , HB1710 , HB538 , HB2525 , HB3125 , HB2027 , HB2894 , HB3077 , HB3684

Transcript Highlights:

• These trainings have been established by CYFD in partnership with resource parents, foster parents, as
• My Ph.D. is in special education, so I always taught the class.
• It's the introduction to general education teachers about special education, and there were none; I mean
• We also have our Opioid Education and Prevention Program.
• This includes the education and distribution of over 4,700 gun locks.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:22.920><c> ensures</c> democratization of Education ensures democratization of Education ensures
• </c> reserves to provide special education reserves to provide special education services<00:26:36.559
• and a parent of a special education student, so this is something that is very close to my heart.
• Thank you very much, Miss Loval, and thank you for your dedication to education as an educator and as
• </c> requires that the policy allow a parent requires that the policy allow a parent to<00:47:15.720>

Committee: Senate Education Finance