Transcript Highlights:

• Airboats, mudboats, some people call mud boats, surface-drive boats.
• Airboats, mudboats, some people call mud boats, surface-drive boats.
• to blinds or maybe driving through this park.
• Nowadays, they are no louder than surface drives.
• He's not able to drive one of those surface drives anymore, and I'm asking for a favorable passage, please

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The beauty of health care is that we are in a kind of business where we can drive down the cost while
• You are going to be less likely to come back to the hospital and drive costs up.
• that you talked about, drive down cost of care.
• And I think we all can work together to drive the best health possible. Thank you. Excellent.
• So it has been in place for about two years, and it has helped us drive...

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion focused on how Florida health care organizations are working to improve access, quality, and affordability. Panelists from Florida Community Care/Independent Living Systems, Sunshine Health, AdventHealth, UF Health, and Nemours described their approaches, including Medicaid managed care, value-based contracting, community partnerships, mobile screening units, smart-room technology, telehealth, and specialized programs for maternal health, children, and complex chronic conditions. Several speakers emphasized that managed care and coordinated care can improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization and costs. Members asked about the impact of Medicare’s V28 changes, mobile cancer screening, urgent care versus emergency room billing, pediatric specialty access, complaint resolution, Black maternal mortality, provider shortages, network adequacy, and the use of AI in prior authorization. Witnesses said V28 has affected providers and revenue, UF Health’s mobile screening program is expanding beyond a few cancer types, and its urgent care model bills patients at the appropriate level rather than both urgent care and ER rates. Nemours said it reduced specialty wait times through scheduling changes, telemedicine, and registry tools, while AdventHealth described postpartum coordination and maternal heart programs to reduce maternal complications and mortality. On complaints and access problems, panelists said their organizations use patient/member advocates, care managers, call centers, and escalation processes to resolve issues, and Sunshine Health specifically discussed a transportation complaint that was addressed with its vendor and the family. Sunshine Health also said it is not using AI for prior authorization, though it is exploring responsible uses elsewhere, and Florida Community Care said it is not using AI in utilization management. In closing, panelists identified workforce shortages, provider burnout, and high-cost drugs as the biggest ongoing challenges. The meeting ended with thanks to the panel and adjournment after Representative Brackett moved to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say I probably drive one of the most.
• And so we had to drive it an hour and a half to our friend's house.
• you, you drive by more Iowans and Minnesotans.
• So talk about a wait list, talk about a drive time. It's a hassle. Yes.
• You're all driving. Legally, I hope. Maybe not. We know loopholes.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• So when a TNC driver is driving to pick somebody up, driving negligently, and to say they can hit somebody
• There’s no lack of Uber or Lyft people driving.
• And then I drive all day, and then I log...
• And I’m driving with my kid home from school to our home.
• If they’re driving home, I’m sorry, if they decide...

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee heard several bills and amendments, beginning with CS/SB 498 on trust fund interest for IOTA accounts. The sponsor said a 2023 Florida Supreme Court rule sharply increased interest paid into legal aid funding, creating a windfall and making participation difficult for banks. An amendment was adopted requiring savings institutions to pay the higher of 0.25% or the highest comparable rate offered on certain non-IOTA accounts, and the bill then passed favorably after testimony from banks, legal aid representatives, and other stakeholders both supporting and opposing the measure. The committee also approved CS/SB 232, which clarifies Florida’s consumer collection law applies only to phone calls during restricted hours and not emails or text messages, after a delete-all amendment and supportive testimony from industry groups. It then approved SB 132, as amended, to designate gold and silver as legal tender and set rules for custody, audits, electronic transfer, and government acceptance of payments; supporters called it a sound-money measure, while the banking association said it still had unresolved technical concerns. Later, the committee passed SB 1466 to create a trust fund for the My Safe Florida Home Program, with an amendment funding it from 20% of collected insurance premium tax revenue. It also considered SB 1206 on transportation network company insurance, reducing coverage during the “dead-leg” period before a rider is picked up from $1 million to lower limits; the bill drew sharp opposition from trial lawyers and support from insurers and some business groups, and the committee adopted a clarifying amendment before reporting the bill favorably. Finally, CS/SB 924 on fertility preservation for cancer patients was amended several times to narrow scope and clarify coverage rules, then passed favorably after debate over cost, preauthorization, and post-treatment storage obligations. The committee adjourned after allowing technical and conforming changes to implement the adopted amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have economies of scale to drive down those costs.
• We've also And drive down overall costs. We've also offered solutions.
• enough volume that They can drive down costs.
• That also drive up the cost of health care.
• Drive home safely. Meeting adjourned.

Committee: Joint Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, if you're at a drive-through, the drive-through attendant is able to ask you if you need
• Essentially, if you're on drive-through, the drive-through attendant is able to ask you if you need a
• But again, the whole drive of this is safety.
• When the individual is clear to drive again, When the individual is clear to drive again, the ban is
• or shouldn't be driving.

Summary: The committee met in hybrid format on June 18, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so minutes were not approved until later in the meeting after additional members joined. The committee heard a series of bills, with most receiving supportive testimony from sponsors, agency officials, advocacy groups, and frequent public commenter Robert Overmiller. Several measures focused on transportation and public safety, including HB 363 on residential speed limits, HB 384 extending DelDOT open-end contracts from three to five years, HB 413 allowing green flashing lights on road work and emergency vehicles, HB 456 streamlining subaqueous lands permitting, and HB 388 letting drivers with temporary medical suspensions keep their license for ID purposes while being flagged in the system as not allowed to drive. Members asked questions mainly about implementation, enforcement, and scope, and sponsors or agency witnesses explained that the bills were intended to improve safety, efficiency, and administrative clarity. The committee also took up HB 111, which would require single-use food service items such as utensils, straws, napkins, and condiments to be provided only upon request, with exemptions for schools, nonprofits, health care facilities, correctional facilities, and similar settings. Supporters, including Plastic Free Delaware and the Sierra Club, said the bill would reduce waste and save businesses money, while opponents from the restaurant industry argued it could confuse customers, hurt tourism, and be difficult to enforce. Sponsors emphasized that restaurants could still ask customers if they wanted items and that the bill included a phase-in period and capped penalties. The committee also heard HB 393, a consumer protection bill for third-party electric suppliers that tightens oversight, training, reporting, renewal notices, and rate limits after concerns about misleading sales and unexpectedly high bills; it drew support from environmental advocates and members who had seen constituent complaints. Finally, the committee heard HB 412 on hunting and trapping education and wildlife drug administration, which was described as a safety and modernization measure and supported by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and sportsmen’s groups, and SB 346, which would speed up Environmental Appeals Board hearings and decisions. SB 346 drew broad support from DNREC, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and business groups, though one witness asked to clarify that Superior Court appeal rights would remain intact; DNREC confirmed they would. The committee also approved the June 10, 2026 minutes after quorum was established, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we'll have SB 584, Commercial Driving Schools, by Vice Chair Avila.
• It strengthens oversight over commercial driving schools by allowing the Florida Department of Highway
• Next up, we'll have SB 584, Commercial Driving Schools, by Vice Chair Avila.
• It strengthens oversight over commercial driving schools by allowing the Florida Department of Highway
• Having closed on his bill and driving to a unanimous vote, Marilyn, please call the roll.

Bills: S0174 , S0388 , S0470 , S0488 , S0490 , S0584 , S0628

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, license plates, Florida Wildflower, vehicle registration, annual use fee, specialty plates, Fraternal Order of Police, license plate, funding, memorial foundation, law enforcement, motor carriers, fuel tax, military exemptions, safety regulations, electronic submissions

Transcript Highlights:

• two toll plazas, and $1,944 if you drive through three plazas every day.
• But the people that drive on this new toll road, that's desirable.
• Deciding whether you want to drive on a managed lane on a state roadway.
• I don't drive on a lot of managed toll lanes, but every now and then, I'll be driving on a road that
• We're driving on LBJ, and it suggested to take the managed toll lane.

Bills: HJR58 , HJR63 , HB263 , HB542 , HB905 , HB 1288 , HB1402 , HB2003 , HB2262 , HB2323 , HB2429 , HB2876 , HB3019 , HB263

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't drive drunk. They don't drive high.
• When we move from employees driving vehicles to machines driving vehicles, it should be no different.
• of driving a vehicle in Missouri, you're present in the state of Missouri.
• of driving a vehicle in Missouri, you're present in the state of Missouri.
• And that is the majority of where the calls are centered or drive...

Summary: The House first established a quorum after several member introductions and announcements, including recognition of guests from foster care, a Bayless High School Scholar Bowl team, public utility representatives, and family members. The chamber then moved into House Bills for Perfection, beginning with HB 1812, a voter-roll maintenance measure that requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to send deceased-voter lists to the Secretary of State every 30 days for distribution to election authorities. An amendment added a 10-day processing deadline, and the bill was supported as an election-integrity measure before being ordered perfected and printed. Members also advanced HCS for HB 3308, a sales-tax exemption for materials used to construct facilities or improvements for public use that will be deeded to a political subdivision, such as parks. Supporters said it would help public-good projects while limiting the exemption to public-use construction; questions focused on fiscal impact and ensuring there is a formal agreement to transfer the property. The substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The House then took up HCS for HB 3010, a prior-authorization reform bill for health care providers. Supporters said it would reduce administrative burden, add an API-based tracking component, and create a gold-carding process for providers with high approval rates; members from both parties emphasized the strain prior authorization places on physicians and patients. The committee substitute and bill were adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber next considered HCS for HB 2872, a major literacy bill centered on the science of reading. The bill requires phonics-based instruction, early screening in grades 1-3, teacher training, and retention for students who are not reading on grade level by the end of third grade, subject to exemptions for students with disabilities, English learners, IEPs, 504 plans, prior retention, and other good-cause cases. Amendments clarified that three-cueing cannot be the primary instructional strategy and added parent involvement and earlier intervention language; the most contentious debate focused on retention and parental rights, but the amendment passed 103-27-1 and the bill was then adopted and ordered perfected and printed. Finally, the House advanced HCS for HB 1826 and related bills to expand authorized epinephrine products beyond EpiPens to include nasal spray and other approved forms for use in schools, child care centers, nursing homes, and by first responders; supporters cited allergy emergencies and needle fear, and the substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber also began debate on HCS for HB 2069/2208, a bill to authorize autonomous vehicles in Missouri, with the sponsor describing safety and economic benefits and the first amendment adding liability, jurisdiction, and U.S.-based operator requirements; a second amendment removed commercial vehicles and made technical changes. Debate on the underlying autonomous-vehicle bill continued, with supporters emphasizing modernization and opponents raising concerns about local control, surveillance, and the lack of independent safety data.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this does is it adds driving 20 ...in construction or school zones.
• school or construction zone to the current definition of reckless driving.
• It clarifies the existing definition of reckless driving.
• Reckless driving, Mr. Chairman. Go ahead, Senator.
• What happens to a person who has reckless driving on their driving record? Senator Kaiser. Mr.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, if you do not have a driver's license, you should not be driving.
• If this passes, they can still let you drive off.
• I don't think it's necessary or safe to drive without a license.
• Were they driving on the wrong side of the road? Were they impaired?
• For example, driving on the wrong side of the road and excess...

Bills: HB105 , HB296 , HB15 , HB264 , HB34 , HB304 , HB146 , HB26 , HB15 , HB34 , HB26

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: law enforcement, retirement benefits, Alabama Peace Officers, agency-issued badge, agency-issued pistol, resisting arrest, custody, public safety, Alabama law, traffic infractions, traffic ticket, disposition, criminal contempt, vessel registration, boating fees, state funds, regulatory changes, water safety, compliance, false information

Transcript Highlights:

• In our study, we further examine the link, specifically by looking at drive times.
• So shorter drive times—how does that relate to cannabis use?
• So our first piece looks at drive times and reported cannabis use.
• And here it's roughly a 50% reduction in drive time predicts about a 2% increase.
• And urban areas generally drive it, but that might just be density.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee held a work session on earthquake insurance and later on Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) cannabis and I-502 research. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that earthquake coverage is usually excluded from standard property policies, is expensive, and often carries very high deductibles. Staff also described admitted versus surplus line insurers, and introduced parametric insurance and captive insurance as specialized risk-transfer tools mainly used by commercial and sophisticated buyers. OIC data showed about 226,000 admitted earthquake policies in 2023, with most personal policies concentrated in the Puget Sound and Vancouver areas and commercial endorsements more broadly distributed. A second panel, including insurance and banking representatives, focused on potential catastrophic earthquake exposure for commercial buildings and collateralized loans. They argued that many commercial properties may lack earthquake coverage, leaving banks and the broader economy exposed if owners default or surrender damaged properties after a major quake. They discussed the Nisqually earthquake, the Cascadia subduction zone, building age, soil and slope conditions, retrofit standards, pollution remediation, and the need for property resilience assessments and inventories of vulnerable buildings. Members asked about consumer impacts, affordability, education, and whether legislation like prior work on unreinforced masonry buildings could help reduce risk; the Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is costly and that affordability is a major concern. Committee members also discussed inventories and risk assessment efforts, including state geologist work on school buildings and whether similar approaches could be extended to nearby private structures. The presenters said banks likely have good inventories of their collateral but may not know which properties are most vulnerable to earthquake damage. The discussion ended with a request for follow-up information on consumer education and disaster planning resources. WSIPP then presented its long-running evaluation of Initiative 502 and cannabis legalization. Staff explained WSIPP’s nonpartisan role and its legislatively directed 20-year study, with final benefit-cost work due in 2032. The presentation summarized prior findings that cannabis misdemeanor convictions dropped sharply after legalization, though racial disproportionalities persisted at lower absolute levels. WSIPP also reported that shorter drive times to cannabis retailers were associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving local drivers, higher THC-positive rates among blood-tested crash drivers, and higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses and co-occurring substance use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. For high school students, nearby retail access was associated with more reported use, more unexcused absences, and a lower likelihood of graduating on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, WSIPP said retailer openings were associated with higher cannabis use disorder diagnoses, hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, while emphasizing that the analyses show associations rather than direct causation and that results are specific to Medicaid enrollees.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's based on the cost of driving an F-150 pickup for, you know, 13,000 miles a year.
• He made poor decisions, which, you know, included driving while intoxicated.
• We need to have different fuel, and we need to drive less.
• There are lots of concerns about the way people are driving.
• We're helping to drive the economy of our state through the production of this. Bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, ensuring that if you're driving a moped, you're going to be safe about it. Yep.
• So, ensuring that if you're driving a moped, you're going to be safe about it. Yep.
• </c><00:47:58.240><c> moped</c> anyone of any age from driving moped anyone of any age from driving moped
• </c><00:48:02.240><c> moped,</c> ensuring that if you're driving moped, ensuring that if you're driving
• c> that</c> the driver necessary for driving that the driver necessary for driving that when<00:55:03.200

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> driving. That'd be great. driving. That'd be great. &gt;&gt; Yeah.<00:04:38.080><c> Mr.
• So, can you you talked a little bit about the distracted driving pilot?
• And I, um, the distracted driving pilot?
• But if that were to turn into a video screen, I, I, it's already hard enough driving.
• But if that were to turn into a video screen, I, I, it's already hard enough driving.

Transcript Highlights:

• On my way here with my fellow colleagues, we were driving through the construction that's taken place
• You know, we're 14, 13-year-olds, becoming teenagers, approaching the age to be able to drive.
• Well, no, we just had about 12 months without an impaired-driving fatality.
• We had fatalities that involved other driving behaviors, but the impaired-driving fatalities were down
• But you had 12 impaired-driving fatalities before per year in 2020 and 2021.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and that means driving developments into an HOA, uh, the ones that may be outside of what we like
• Uh, and that means driving developments into an HOA, uh, the ones that may be outside of what we like
• Uh, and that means driving developments into an HOA, uh, the ones that may be outside of what we like
• Uh, and that means driving developments into an HOA, uh, the ones that may be outside of what we like
• Uh, and that means driving developments into an HOA, uh, the ones that may be outside of what we like

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:04.440><c> maybe</c> student is still here driving maybe student is still here driving maybe
• If you're an undocumented individual without a license, you drive in New Hampshire, you're driving without
• You should have a license when you drive.
• you drive in New Hampshire<01:02:46.559><c> you're</c><01:02:46.680><c> driving</c><01:02:47.079><c>
• without</c><01:02:47.400><c> a</c> Hampshire you're driving without a Hampshire you're driving without

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyway, so the challenge is the less gas people buy due to either driving electric vehicles or driving
• </c> gas people buy due to either driving gas people buy due to either driving electric<00:04:05.519>
• vehicles or driving hybrid electric vehicles or driving hybrid vehicles<00:04:07.920><c> or</c><00:04
• :08.640><c> driving</c><00:04:09.280><c> more</c><00:04:09.840><c> efficient</c> vehicles or driving
• </c><00:19:36.960><c> a</c> they would pay if they were driving a they would pay if they were driving

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Mayor Cornett was a driving force behind the bypass project, which was built to route traffic over the
• A charge of misdemeanor reckless driving is treated as a minor traffic violation.
• Our family was driving home from...
• Members, when you take a driving test, do you take a driving test for COVID-19 or do you take a driving
• I hope that this can also serve as a reminder for people to stop and think and drive safely.

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

Committee: Senate Transportation