Transcript Highlights:

• Do you know of any reason personal or otherwise that would in any way prevent you from fully and honorably
• the business at following the money to take down drug cartels, money launderers, crypto-currencies. scams
• You are saying that you will prevent Elon Musk from... instance, blocking federal payments for his own
• And as you said in our conversation, permanently passing this bill and preventing this tax hike on our
• for the wealthy by pretending that extending their 2017 tax scam will only cost $0.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: nomination, Deputy Secretary of Treasury, economic policy, inflation, tariffs, tribal nations, government relations

Summary: The meeting convened to consider the nomination of Mike Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. During the session, multiple members voiced concerns regarding current economic policies under the Trump administration, particularly around inflation, tariffs, and the impact on small businesses. Discussions frequently centered on the administration's approach to tariffs and taxation, and how these factors contribute to the rising cost of living and potential job losses. Additionally, the importance of bolstering government-to-government relationships with tribal nations was emphasized, highlighting the need for specialized offices focused on tribal affairs within the Treasury Department.

Transcript Highlights:

• So nothing in this bill would prevent the use of AI, to be clear.
• So nothing in this bill would prevent Do you want to...
• So nothing in this bill would prevent the use of AI, to be clear.
• This exposes individuals to various forms of exploitation, identity theft, scams, misinformation, and
• The bill would not prevent youth from using companion AI and other aspects, such as music tutoring.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Biliary atresia is a disease in which the bile ducts are blocked, preventing bile from leaving the liver
• Biliaria atresia is a disease in which the bowel ducts are blocked preventing bowel from leaving the
• But in short, this bill will prevent 20 families each year in Florida from going through the unfathomable
• We can no longer be complicit in a preventable health risk.
• Florida needs nursing, nurses who know what they're doing, not scams and failures. Thanks, Mr.

Bills: S0162 , S0254 , S0688 , S0794 , S1110 , S1574

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum present and took up several health-related bills. CS/SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics was heard first. The bill would require coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics without lifetime or continuous-use caps, direct AHCA to seek federal approval and update contracts, and require annual reporting. Testimony from a child using prosthetic “gymnastics blades,” his mother, and another young person with a prosthetic leg emphasized the high cost of activity-specific devices and the impact on children’s mobility, sports participation, and quality of life. Senators voiced strong support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then approved SB 1574, “Maddie’s Law,” which adds newborn screening for biliary atresia using the existing blood specimen collected at birth. The sponsor and the child’s father described the condition as time-sensitive and potentially fatal without early detection, and argued the screening could prevent transplants and save money. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered CS/SB 794 on background screening for employees of residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities, plus a review of waiver support coordination quality, training, and access issues. Parents and a support coordinator testified that strong support coordination is essential for families and that the bill would help standardize expectations and improve services. An amendment aligning the bill with the House companion was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Members next heard SB 162, which requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. Supporters, including nurses and the Florida Nurses Association, described surgical smoke as a workplace hazard with toxic chemicals and potential cancer risks; hospital representatives said they support the intent but argued existing federal and state standards already regulate the issue and the bill is too prescriptive. A late-filed amendment clarifying the smoke must be “effectively captured and filtered” was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 254, a major nursing education bill that tightens oversight of low-performing nursing programs, creates a temporary provisional license and preceptorship pathway for graduates awaiting NCLEX results, requires remediation for delayed testing, and increases transparency by posting passage rates. Nursing groups supported stronger standards, while private nursing schools warned the bill could reduce capacity and discourage program directors; the amended bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 688, which would reestablish licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors in Florida, create a board of naturopathic medicine, set licensure and renewal requirements, and define the scope of practice while excluding most prescription authority. Supporters said it would expand health care choices and allow naturopathic doctors to practice openly, while opponents from the medical community warned the bill could authorize diagnosis and treatment without sufficient training and rely on unproven therapies. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned after members thanked staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• working closely with my House co-chair, Representative Murphy, and identifying the alarming rate of scams
• working closely with my house co-chair representative murphy and identifying the um alarming rate of scams
• Are we seeing more scams? Is it just anecdotal? Do we see data on it?
• Scams are not on the decrease. They are definitely on the rise. We see a lot of that.
• In addition to preventing human suffering, improving throughput, and reducing excess claims to payers

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.

Bills: SSB1017 , SSB1029 , SSB1080 , SF117 , SF120 , SSB1052 , HF12 , HF14 , HF104 , HF124 , HF146 , HSB7 , HSB8

Committee: Joint Health and Human Services

Keywords: pharmacy benefits manager, reverse auction, public employees, health insurance, drug pricing, health care costs, price transparency, cash price, discounted cash price, average allowed amount, deductible credit, cost-sharing, health carrier, health benefit plan, out-of-network, network provider, prescription drugs, formulary, generic drug, pharmacy benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• You are aware we have a president who calls the Green New Deal a scam and it's anti-science, and it's
• There are rules to prevent that.
• I agree with President Trump: the science of forestry would have prevented that fire.
• It's the scam of global warming and letting the brush grow up, burning the whole thing down.
• </c><01:42:55.840><c> of</c><01:42:56.080><c> GL</c> prevented that fire it's the scam of GL prevented

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it makes ADRA the single authority for credentialing addiction, counseling, prevention, and peer
• Addiction, counseling, prevention, and peer support.

Bills: HR174 , HR194 , HCR98 , SB39 , SB124 , SB190 , SB236 , SB270 , SB273 , SB359 , SB415 , SB426 , SB437 , SB451

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: fenbendazole, cancer treatment, public health, FDA, clinical trials, patient safety, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, SNAP, food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, grocery delivery, delivery fees, service charges, online grocery, food access, food insecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• It will prevent the cost from being passed on to residential, industrial, agriculture, and commercial

Bills: HB2992 , HB3183 , HB3464 , HB4170 , HB4338

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining, large load customer, electric rates, utility tariffs, cost causation, rate design, public power utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative, investor-owned utility, load growth, interconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• This does not prevent growth. This does not restrict areas.
• This does not prevent growth. This does not restrict areas.
• This does not prevent growth. This does not restrict areas.
• This does not prevent growth. This does not restrict areas.
• This does not prevent growth. This does not restrict areas.

Bills: SB341 , SB340 , SB341 , SB354 , SB340

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: SB341, Alabama, veteran license plate, veteran tag, distinctive license tag, specialty plate, radiation exposure, atomic bomb testing, ionizing radiation, World War II veterans, Vietnam veterans, Korean War veterans, Cold War veterans, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, Department of Veterans Affairs, probate judge

Transcript Highlights:

• standards for directors, prohibiting loans to directors, and shores up investigative authority to prevent
• What's to prevent someone from discriminating racially against a potential customer?
• Or is that something we're trying to prevent? Thank you for the question.

Bills: SB1195 , SB1245 , SB1379 , SB1420 , SB1473 , SB1534 , SB1743 , SB1769 , SB1945

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: nuisance, racing facility, racetrack, qualified defense, local property rights, noise regulation, legal claims, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, drug offenses, DUI penalties, residential treatment, human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, public comment

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that this Office of the Homeless Youth and Prevention and Protection Program Advisory Committee

Bills: HB1873 , HB2600 , SB5957

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care

Transcript Highlights:

• demonstration by the school district that the sale is necessary to restore financial stability and prevent
• districts, they have this ability, and I'm certainly open to any kind of adjustment to the bill to prevent
• The tool that this legislation provides can be viewed as a preventive measure to protect these important
• It can also be used as a caution and preventive measure to make sure that this step is never taken, but
• I believe HB 2668 is a preventative approach.

Bills: HB2514 , HB2551 , HB2236 , HB2470

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: HB 2514, global war on terror, GWOT, war on terror memorial, Capitol campus memorial, Washington veterans, fallen service members, military memorial, post-9/11 veterans, Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, veterans memorial, capitol grounds, state memorial, Secretary of State, Capitol Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs

Bills: SB17 , SB35 , SB164 , SB3 , HB70 , HB49 , HB60 , HB151 , HB164 , SB17 , SB35 , SB164

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, judgeship, judiciary, court system, appropriation, district court, ambulance standards, Department of Health, emergency medical services, certification, public safety, tariffs, mental health, commitment, involuntary commitment, civil commitment

Bills: SB3 , HB70 , HB49 , HB60 , HB151 , HB164 , SB17 , SB35 , SB164

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: mental health, commitment, involuntary commitment, civil commitment, assisted outpatient treatment, AOT, court-ordered treatment, behavioral health, psychiatric hold, danger to self, danger to others, suicide prevention, self-harm, homicide risk, capacity, decisional capacity, guardianship, treatment guardian, crisis stabilization, crisis triage center

Transcript Highlights:

• At the end of the day, we all have the same goals, preventing injuries to— Members, do you have any questions

Bills: SB1128 , SB1137 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1186 , SB1235 , SB1238

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: scrap metal theft, study committee, Arizona, regulated industries, public safety, underground utilities, utility locating, dig safe, call before you dig, excavation safety, damage prevention, one-call center, locate request, white lining, large project coordination, buried infrastructure, subsurface utilities, utility marking, locator wire, locator strip

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish a crash prevention zone without the approval
• It requires a monetary penalty assessed for traffic infractions within these crash prevention zones to
• zone to be deposited into the crash prevention zone account.
• This is to prevent sort of review in advance.
• As an accident risk zone, ARZ, we are changing it to AACPZ, which is a crash prevention zone.

Bills: HB2228 , HB2273 , HB2381 , HB2418 , HB2388 , HB2183 , HB2224 , HB2267 , HB2174 , HB1529

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: building code, safety regulations, construction, scissor stairs, state standards, embodied carbon, building materials, sustainability, environment, performance-based codes, building regulations, residential construction, energy efficiency, sustainable design, permit review, project permits, land use, zoning, development regulations, residential development

Transcript Highlights:

• The next amendment we have is offered by Senator Christian, listed as Amendment A2, and it prevents an
• from both the pilot program and Commerce housing pilot housing programs unless it is necessary to prevent
• This amendment is pretty simple and prevents individuals who are in closed custody from being eligible

Bills: SB5873 , SB5895 , SB5911 , SB5940 , SB5942 , SB5945 , SB5957 , SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability

Bills: HR670 , HB1601 , HB1600 , HB1834 , HR780 , HR131 , HR504 , HB6938

Keywords: military, veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, awareness day, Russia, Ukraine, foreign policy, territorial integrity, national interest, Russian aggression, Russian occupation, Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, sanctions, diplomatic recognition, foreign assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill allows irreparable, preventable damage in our communities.
• </c><01:20:17.840><c> The</c> review to prevent misuse and delay.
• The review to prevent misuse and delay.
• </c> nothing short of an attempt to prevent nothing short of an attempt to prevent President<04:30:22.239
• </c> that prevents accidents and saves lives. that prevents accidents and saves lives.

Bills: HCR66 , HB2550 , HR432 , HB3898 , HB3383 , HB3638 , HB3628 , HR939

Keywords: military funding, defense, appropriations, fiscal year, government, labor relations, collective bargaining, federal employees, workforce protection, executive order, federal labor relations, labor management, federal oversight, government reform, Clean Water Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, PERMIT Act, waters of the United States, WOTUS, EPA

Bills: HR1034 , HB1559 , HB1560 , HR759 , HB2180 , HCR62 , HB1949 , HB3109

Keywords: House of Representatives, privileges resolution, legislative process, cosponsorship, majority leader, postal service, employee rights, appeal, Merit Systems Protection Board, labor relations, Postal Service, supervisors, negotiation, pay policies, managerial personnel, USPS, United States Postal Service, postal workers, postal supervisors, postal managers