Video & Transcript : 'covered entity' :
Page 228 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They do cover all costs to construct and maintain West Upland Road and any other off-system roads.
- They are the only entities in Texas permitted to dismantle or salvage non-repairable vehicles and to
- vehicles for which the seller has a title in their possession at the time of the sale to a recycling entity
- growth in the illegal sales of untitled vehicles at locations operated by unlicensed and unregistered entities
- A vehicle can be purchased by a recycling entity if certain information on the vehicle and the seller
Keywords:
memorial highway, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Archer County, highway designation, vehicle weight, ports of entry, Texas Transportation Code, truck regulations, load limits, Adopt-a-County Road, funding, road maintenance, county partnership, public recognition, memorial designation, highway, Sergeant Mark Butler, transportation, Brazos County
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Finance (Part II) Jan 29th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The plan only covers those drugs if you are actually diabetic.
- A year, the claims costs that we're covering.
- And then rider 11 is deleted as it’s now covered in Article 9.
- I will briefly cover them in sequence.
- A lot of what I had planned to talk about today was covered earlier by Mr.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs.
Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS.
For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Of the 64 delinquent entities, 59 have filed their reports since the LJAC meeting held on July 10th,
- Officials from nine entities were present to address repeat findings.
- Are they in charge of state funds in some other entity or organization in the state?
- that are not covered by the bond program.
- What happens with these entities?
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard several audit-related reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports were scheduled for standing committees and the full Legislative Joint Audit Committee, with one requested report still in progress. The City, County, and Local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, reinstatement of turnback funds for entities that filed required reports, and action involving the town of Daisy, which was directed to repay misused street funds at 10% of general fund revenue annually. The education and state agencies reports included higher education audits and state agency findings, with some reports filed and others deferred to the February meeting for additional information or corrective-action details.
The committee then took up a special audit of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Legislative Audit reported that the program, funded with $10 million in desegregation money plus a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, with 116 graduates, but found numerous eligibility and disbursement problems, including scholarships to ineligible students, excessive awards, improper documentation, and unclear disposition of some assets. Committee members questioned UALR representatives about oversight, staffing, and whether funds were properly used, and also heard from Philander Smith College about its limited role in verifying enrollment. Members expressed concern about the program’s results and the lack of detail on accountability, and the committee voted to table the report until the next meeting for further review and requested additional information, including the federal court order and more detail on expenditures and oversight.
Finally, the committee reviewed the annual disposition report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 resulting in criminal charges and convictions, 39 still under review, 96 not charged, and others dismissed or pending; 20 convictions produced fines, restitution, and audit-cost orders, and bond trust fund claims were paid in some cases. Prosecutor Coordinator and Attorney General representatives explained that some referrals do not meet criminal standards, may lack intent, or are otherwise not prosecutable, and members asked for more standardized reporting, clearer explanations of why cases are not charged, and more information on restitution efforts. The committee discussed possible templates, training, and better coordination, then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 24 Mar 12th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- see one of those, that would be a that probably be the first place that would be granted, and that covers
- I think the alliance Language covers that.
- On who owns the building, there are five different entities eligible for this.
- The same entities that would have owned the building before.
- , being in this building, you start making a list and you can add to it, and you're never going to cover
Bills:
HB2997, HB2021, HB3041, HB1823, HB3372, HB1427, HB3127, HB3128, HCR1020, HB4198, HB3000, HB3001, HB3002, HB3003, HB3004, HB3005, HB3006, HB3007, HB3008, SB392, HB3320
Keywords:
motor vehicles, administrative fines, license regulation, state agencies, employment levels, after-school programs, grant funding, community organizations, child care, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The substitute clarifies that only medically necessary services that are covered by the health plan may
- But the irony is that if someone is covered under a policy and they're coming and trying to shop for
- But that is a known entity, and we sign up for that.
- Reports indicate that premiums charged covered 97% of claims paid in the past 20 years.
- They're simply trying to cover their costs and achieve the industry standard practice of covering claims
Bills:
HB345, HB721, HB2580, SB815, HB3057, HB4603, HB3233, SB495, HB3863, HB3914, HB4570, HB5099, HB5173, SB458
Keywords:
insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill provides clarity as to which items and which materials are covered by the preemption.
- against community studying the effects, but as far as the burden to put on small businesses are or entities
- , even I mean, think of government entities, schools where Aguilar containers I've used for school lunches
- this removes the local government from having a patchwork that even a school district that's that covers
- Asheville, the skies and covered cars and homes near the plant.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- bill was restricted to property state; this bill would encompass any surplus lines policy that may cover
- If, for example, there may be... ocean cargo that's partially in this state but covering other parts
- You have multiple different types of lines, like liability. insurance that's now covered by this, and
- Current law states that government entities awarded public work contracts funded with the... state funds
- The load-serving entities, retail electric providers, municipals, and co-ops.
Keywords:
dispatchable generation, electricity, natural gas, ERCOT, energy credits, utilities regulation, renewable energy, arbitration, insurance contracts, surplus lines, Texas law, insurance policy, boiler inspection, boiler safety, inspection report deadline, certificate inspection, authorized inspector, inspection agency, Health and Safety Code, board of boiler rules
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I think we've got everybody covered. Senator Berman, I think we're good.
- I think we've got everybody covered. Senator Berman, I think we're good.
- But somebody with a disability who fell between those ages wasn't covered.
- But somebody with a disability who fell between those ages wasn't covered.
- also includes provisions to prevent a public utility from providing electric service to a foreign entity
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage.
Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program.
Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage.
A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (2-25-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- It indicates that the legislative body, the policymaking entity for the commonwealth, will be involved
- the legislative body, the indicates that the legislative body, the policymaking<00:04:19.759><c> entity
- <00:04:20.160><c> for</c><00:04:20.400><c> the</c><00:04:20.560><c> commonwealth</c> policymaking entity
- for the commonwealth policymaking entity for the commonwealth will<00:04:21.359><c> be</c><00:04:21.440
- We're covering fewer people, and it's costing astronomically more. Something is out of balance.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 173 from Senator David Givens, which would create a legislative review process for the state health plan and state plan amendments, modeled after the administrative regulations process. Givens argued the legislature should have a stronger policy role in reviewing the plan, saying the bill would allow lawmakers to find components deficient rather than approve them outright. He tied the proposal to Medicaid spending growth and projected enrollment changes, saying the state needs a new oversight tool. Committee members generally supported the concept, though Senator Berg expressed concern that the legislature lacks the executive branch’s healthcare expertise. The bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 137, sponsored by Chairman Meredith, which would create a pathway for certain internationally trained physicians to practice in Kentucky without repeating residency in the United States. Supporters said the bill is aimed at addressing Kentucky’s physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and cited projections of a statewide shortage of about 3,000 physicians by 2030 and a shortage of primary care doctors in particular. Testimony from Cicero Action and Baptist Health emphasized that many foreign-trained physicians are already fully trained, that residency slots are limited, and that the bill could help fill shortages in underserved counties while preserving quality through existing exams, ECFMG certification, English proficiency requirements, primary source verification, and mentoring/oversight.
Several members raised questions and concerns. Senator Berg asked about verification, required exams, and oversight, and Senator Tishner raised concerns about fraudulent credentials in some countries and whether the bill could admit underqualified physicians. Witnesses responded that applicants would still have to pass the same exams, obtain ECFMG certification, and undergo primary-source credentialing and employer oversight. Supporters also argued the bill would not displace U.S.-trained physicians because it would use otherwise limited residency capacity more efficiently. After discussion, the committee adopted the bill and reported it favorably by unanimous vote.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 14 (1-27-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- /c><00:22:07.120><c> with</c><00:22:07.440><c> all</c><00:22:07.679><c> the</c><00:22:07.919><c> entities
- </c><00:22:08.400><c> to</c><00:22:08.720><c> make</c> forward uh with all the entities to make forward
- uh with all the entities to make even<00:22:09.360><c> better</c><00:22:09.679><c> bill</c><00:22:10.000
- The solar panels were still completely covered in snow and ice. Mr.
- </c><00:58:45.119><c> and</c> section of I65 which was ice covered and section of I65 which was ice covered
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Sep 10th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The confidential portion includes data that the state and other government entities gather for demographic
- up to a 12-month supply of prescription hormone therapy, when medically approved, and have it be covered
- that covered up the assault can be held accountable.
- Senate amendments are And the entities that covered up the assault can be held accountable.
- Item 237. and the entities that covered up the assault can be held accountable.
Summary:
The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, then returned to session with prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk following news of his shooting. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules, moving several bills to the inactive file, re-referring bills to committees, and authorizing committee meetings. The chamber also observed adjournments in memory for several individuals, including Ermilo Don Rodas, John Burton, Nina Chomsky, and Barbara “Bobby” Samperey.
On the floor file, members considered and passed a long list of Senate bills, largely on bipartisan or unanimous votes. Topics included consumer protection and transparency for self-storage contracts (SB 709), adoption jurisdiction (SB 450), privacy and name/image protections (SB 683), an audit of the February 2025 bar exam (SB 47), data broker transparency (SB 361), used-car buyer protections (SB 76), state parks land acquisition streamlining (SB 630), cemetery work group deadlines (SB 777), financial enforcement authority (SB 825), utility outage reporting and reliability planning (SB 292), vital records confidentiality (SB 313), health care coverage and hormone therapy access (SB 418), workplace outreach (SB 578), Holocaust and genocide education (SB 472), county jail treatment for misdemeanor incompetency cases (SB 820), and AI companion chatbot safeguards for minors and self-harm risks (SB 243). Most measures passed with little or no opposition, though SB 578 drew sharp debate over the workplace outreach program and its funding.
The Assembly also took up concurrence items and approved numerous Assembly bills with Senate amendments. These included transparency in legislative nondisclosure agreements (AB 1370), affordable faculty/staff housing provisions at community colleges (AB 648), tribal youth foster care reforms (AB 1378), EV charger payment regulations (AB 1423), technical Political Reform Act changes (AB 1511), diacritical marks on vital records (AB 64), reproductive health protections with urgency (AB 260), union and collective bargaining protections (AB 288), bench trial statement-of-decision streamlining (AB 515), agricultural land stewardship (AB 524), geothermal exploratory project rules (AB 527), Medi-Cal field medicine changes (AB 543), tobacco-related provisions (AB 573), social media platform rules (AB 656), state parks transaction reporting (AB 679), professional licensing changes (AB 742), and child care staffing and assistant teacher pathways with urgency (AB 753). Votes were generally strong, with several measures passing unanimously or near-unanimously.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- To do so, OPAGA utilized information and data from state and federal entities...
- To do so, OPAGA utilized information and data from state and federal entities, along with other states
- In general, multiple entities collaborate to regulate and license occupations.
- Also, in contrast, in other states, the entity authorized to remove board members varies.
- And if I can clarify, especially in our health care entities and our different boards that represent
Summary:
The Senate Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills focused largely on drowning prevention, surgical smoke, human trafficking training, and chiropractic patient funds. SB 428 would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; the sponsor and supporters from Nemours and the YMCA emphasized Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be more widely accessible. Senator Harrell noted the need to revisit funding levels as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably.
The committee also considered SB 606, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum education provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and home birth providers. A mother who lost her daughter to drowning testified in support, describing the bill as an early opportunity to educate parents. An amendment removed home birth providers from the compliance-proof requirement, and the bill was adopted as amended and reported favorably as a committee substitute.
SB 162 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already used in many facilities, while several senators raised concerns about the lack of supporting data, possible burdens on rural and smaller facilities, and whether the mandate should be narrower. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with the sponsor saying more data would be provided later. The committee also approved SB 340, requiring a two-hour human trafficking course for nursing students before licensure, after amending it to make the requirement apply to students rather than nursing programs. Finally, SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin, removed the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation reviewing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system and comparing board oversight, rulemaking, funding, appointments, and term-limit models in other states.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><04:06:26.000><c> this</c> does not cover you does not cover this does not cover you does not cover
- </c> Corporation committee or other entity Corporation committee or other entity knows<04:07:23.080><
- to cover.
- to cover.
- </c><04:35:02.279><c> simply</c> cover to cover these materials simply cover to cover these materials
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, leaves of absence, guest introductions, and memorial remarks honoring former Representative Carolyn Gargas of Hollis, who was remembered for her long House service, work on child and family issues, and community involvement. The House then adopted a consent calendar and approved a motion to withdraw House Bill 431, which would have created a commission to review draft rules on minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards; the motion failed after a roll call vote, so the bill remained in play.
The House next took up House Bill 109-FN, relative to false reports to law enforcement. The majority supported the bill as a way to add penalties for knowingly false reports about law enforcement officers, arguing officers deserve protection from false accusations and that the knowingly standard is a high bar. The minority opposed it as duplicative of existing law and warned it could chill legitimate complaints against police. After debate and a division vote, the majority committee report of ought to pass was adopted, 198-173.
The House also considered House Bill 218-FN, which would provide victims of crime a free police report. The committee amendment changed the bill so victims would receive a written confirmation that a crime occurred rather than the initial police report, to avoid conflicts with right-to-know law and active-investigation confidentiality. Supporters said the change was a small but important clarification agreed to by law enforcement and domestic violence advocates, while opponents argued the original language was already workable and that the floor amendment was unnecessary. A division vote was requested on the amendment, and the transcript ends during that debate before the final outcome on HB 218 is shown.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee, May 15, 2026
Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> you know, when I first started covering you know, when I first started covering policy<00:41:43.280
- </c> silver were not included in the covered silver were not included in the covered minerals. minerals
- sale, and the private entity an outright sale, and the private entity would<01:08:35.200><c> then</c
- So, I'm going to cover a few things in this handout here.
- So, I'm going to cover a few Okay?
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, the definition of psychotherapeutic communication may cover compassionate statements in
- For example, the definition of psychotherapeutic communication may cover compassionate statements in
- So if there's questioning on why just that entity or that country, it's because that's the energy that
- It is important that we understand that it is all of you in that entity, in this business, that we rely
- It is important that we understand that it is all of you in that entity, in this business, that we rely
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight Mar 24th, 2026
Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- spaces: one space for a member to disclose the names and their relationship with individuals or entities
- While I do not know what was covered in the briefings to the board members, it is clear from CPC members
- While I do not know what was covered in the and duration of the project.
- While I do not know what was covered in the briefings to the board members, it is clear from CPC members
- I've been pretty consistent in my concerns about that, that while it's clear that those entities are
Summary:
The committee met to review MassDOT’s failed service plaza procurement and the Inspector General’s findings. Chair Montigny opened with a broad critique of procurement culture, conflict-of-interest risks, and the need for stronger oversight, saying the committee’s role is bipartisan and investigative and that subpoenas would be used if necessary. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro then summarized his investigatory letter, saying MassDOT had created procedures that could have supported a fair process but did not follow them. He identified eight major problems, including inadequate conflict-of-interest disclosures, undisclosed relationships and communications with Applegreen and Suffolk Construction, violations of contact rules, inconsistent weighting of evaluation subfactors, weak documentation of scoring, unclear information-sharing with subject matter experts, live roll-call scoring that increased perceived bias, and insufficient board/committee review before approval. He recommended clearer disclosure forms, stronger training, better documentation, sealed scoring, clearer rules for internal communications, and more public board involvement.
Committee members pressed the Inspector General on whether the conduct violated law, how to define and police “appearance” of conflicts, whether employees should be held accountable, and whether prior evaluators should be excluded from the new process. Shapiro said his report did not conclude that laws were violated, but that the process was seriously flawed and that accountability should be handled within agencies. He also said he would provide additional written recommendations on broader procurement standards and noted that some oversight functions may need clearer definitions and better recordkeeping across agencies and quasi-public entities. The chair and members emphasized that the problems appeared systemic rather than limited to one administration or one contract.
MassDOT Interim Secretary Phil Ting and Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver then described the new procurement approach. They said the prior process had been a failure, but that the new effort is a complete reset with no one from the prior evaluation participating. MassDOT plans to split the plazas into three geographic packages, use a design-build/public-private partnership framework, and create a P3 Commission with appointments from the governor, legislative leaders, and treasurer, plus review by the Inspector General and Attorney General. They said the new scoring will be more objective, with financial scoring set at 60% and based on a guaranteed maximum price and other mathematical measures rather than projected revenues, and that technical and financial evaluations will be separated in a double-blind process. Members signaled cautious support for the changes but continued to question whether the new structure and oversight will be enough to prevent a repeat of the earlier procurement failures.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development and Assembly Business and Professions Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today we will be hearing from four entities responsible for overseeing the regulation of licensed professionals
- For each portion of today's hearing, we will begin by hearing from representatives of the entity under
- Then, with that, they determine what kind of support is needed, because the hiring entity is the one
- However, if you're an out-of-state entity, they would be able to have to apply through the Bureau of
- Senator Smallwell-Quivas covered one of the areas I was going to cover.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-24 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill prohibits individuals or entities from leaving migrant vessels in Florida waters, and that
- I do agree with Senator Berman that we do have this covered in a different statute, 104.31.
- What does relate to the bill is how do you know that all faiths are covered in this office?
- and covered non-compete agreements.
- The bill limits covered agreements to no more than four years and provides for the enforcement of covered
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. Members then moved to the special order calendar after adopting a motion to reconsider the earlier failed vote on CS/SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. The chamber also temporarily postponed several bills during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, Brownfields, and school social workers.
The Senate passed a series of bills with little or no opposition, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included expedited DNA testing grants for law enforcement; additional aggravating factors in capital felony sentencing; fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients; commuter rail indemnification; disposition of migrant vessels; specialty license plates; an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign; relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University; charter school changes; registration rules for sexual predators and offenders; assault and battery penalties for utility workers; juvenile justice revisions; reporting of student mental health outcomes; foster home licensure transfers; water access facilities and boating-related funding; Florida Virtual School changes; school readiness program improvements; protections against lewd sexual images of children; age-related criminal offense provisions; tampering with electronic monitoring devices; certified recovery residences; and codification of the FSU Election Law Center. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly, though the charter school bill and the aggravating factors bill drew more divided votes.
One of the most debated measures was SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office employees while on duty and using government resources, citing alleged election-related emails and concerns about mixing government and religious influence. Supporters argued the amendment was needed as a guardrail; opponents said existing law already covered the conduct and that the amendment could be confusing or overly broad. The amendment failed 13-23, and the underlying bill passed 27-9 after extended debate about faith, politics, and the office’s role. Another notable debate involved SB 954 on certified recovery residences, where senators emphasized the need for stable housing in addiction recovery and the bill passed unanimously after supportive remarks from members who had personal experience with recovery. The Senate also passed SB 674 on bonuses for county tax collector and property appraiser employees after questions about safeguards and the purpose of the bonuses.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- So it wouldn't blanket cover; the original bill blanket covered all the different products that they
- So this bill does that: allows both of those entities explicitly, provides for how they would be selected
- House Bill 685 allows Louisiana entities to use the cooperative procurement process authorized under
- the federal... ...entities to use the cooperative procurement process authorized under the Federal FAST
- The FAST Act allows for expedited procurement of public vehicles, but Louisiana entities face conflicts
Bills:
HB345, HB503, HB511, HB590, HB655, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB748, HB776, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB896, HB999, HB1000, HB1086, HB1233
Keywords:
rail infrastructure, ports, Class II railroads, Class III railroads, transportation, HB 503, Act 554, Golden Meadow, utility terrain vehicle, UTV, recreational off-highway vehicle, ROV, golf cart, low-speed vehicle, road shoulder travel, local ordinance, municipal traffic regulation, vehicle registration decal, municipal general fund, insurance requirement
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Works met with five members present and approved the April 29, 2026 minutes. The committee then heard and reported a series of bills, including HB 1233, which lowers the contract threshold for hospital service districts using the Seymours program; HB 715, requiring aerial applicators operating from public airports to have transponders and radios and removing proposed ADS-B fee restrictions in favor of separate legislation; and HB 999, allowing impoundment of uninsured out-of-state vehicles. It also advanced HB 692 to let parishes and municipalities use group purchasing organizations, with an added sole-source procurement amendment for certain repairs and parts, and HB 511 to create a pursuit-intervention technology grant program, using a technical amendment to establish the fund structure.
The committee also reported HB 590, creating a program to help law enforcement identify drivers with autism or other mental/physical disabilities through special envelopes and related notice technology; HB 503, a local bill cleaning up golf cart and utility terrain vehicle definitions in Golden Meadow; HB 655, authorizing DOTD cost-plus contracts for state-owned ferries; HB 748, clarifying that school board-owned or leased vehicles are exempt from tolls; HB 860, allowing fillable electronic bids; HB 896, addressing tolling rules and fees in Plaquemines Parish and requiring a nearby customer service center; and HB 1000, a cleanup bill on highway priority program reporting and local district contract limits.
Later, the committee reported HB 887, which establishes a more consistent scoring and ranking framework for certain procurement processes, and HB 888, a cleanup bill on temporary tags and temporary license plates with added anti-counterfeiting and safety features. HB 1086, a major overhaul moving Louisiana toward a fully electronic vehicle title and lien system, was amended but voluntarily held for a week so members could review the extensive new language. The committee also reported HB 776, expanding port priority funding to larger projects and allowing flexibility in annual amounts, HB 707, shifting LPG commission promotional work to Agriculture and Forestry, HB 868, requiring safety chains or other manufacturer-specified safety equipment on farm trailers, HB 856, authorizing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting for DOTD maintenance and construction work, HB 345, adding rail infrastructure at ports to the rail improvement program, and HB 685, allowing transit agencies to use FAST Act cooperative procurement for buses and other rolling stock. At the end, the committee corrected its action on HB 856 by reconsidering and withdrawing the technical amendment set 2332 for later floor work, while leaving the bill reported with the department’s substantive amendments.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty - Wednesday, April 29
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We've covered a lot. I'm sure we could, um, I know. There's talk about some of these other issues.
- I think we pretty much covered it at this point.
- That is the bill that would require public entities to offer property for sale first to, or excuse me
- , let me back up on that, school districts to offer property for sale first to a public entity, giving
- That is the bill that would require public entities to offer property for sale first to, or excuse me
Summary:
The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the House Journal for the prior day by a 126-0 vote, and then heard several points of personal privilege, including recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day and a moment of silence for journalist Ray Hartman. Members also introduced numerous student groups, interns, and special guests visiting the chamber.
The chamber then took up conference committee business on House Bills 2637 and 3155, a large public safety/criminal justice package. Members discussed the bill’s juvenile justice provisions, including narrowing prosecutorial certification of juveniles to certain serious offenses, changes to age language, juvenile detention facility funding, outpatient mental health treatment, cyberstalking provisions, drone restrictions, prosecutorial salaries, and sex offender registry language. The House approved the motion to exceed the conference differences, adopted the conference committee report by 124-13, passed the bill 119-18, and adopted the emergency clause for the drone-related sections by 125-15.
The House also passed Senate Bill 834, a consumer protection measure dealing with mortgage modifications and sale-leaseback transactions, by 139-1 after discussion of its protections for homeowners. Senate Bill 937, a land transfer bill authorizing the governor to dispose of certain state properties, was amended and passed 137-2-1. Senate Bill 938, which raises recording fees from $4 to $6 to support the state land survey program and recorder of deeds offices, passed 121-21-2 after supporters said the increase was overdue and necessary to sustain the program. Finally, House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 973, concerning wholesaler disclosures and land banks, was amended to remove a school property provision and add land bank authority, then passed 110-36. The House adjourned after announcements and was set to return the next day with several bills on the agenda.