Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court addressing Texas’s age-verification law for pornographic websites.
• That concern becomes real with the proposal in this legislation to label kids ages 13 to 17 as adolescent
• Libraries already provide age-appropriate services.
• What it does is move decision-making away from families and towards bureaucracy at exactly the age when
• This is legislation that closes the loophole around the sale of surplus administrative facilities.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill defines eligible persons as a child under 18, dependent college age child up to 26, and a disabled
• Beauchamp: has been for years catching 100 percent of kids with this disease and reducing the diagnosis age
• Senator Jones: Members, SB 794 requires every employee of a residential facility or day training program
• In a survey of OR nurses last fall, 95 percent reported their facility already had the equipment and
• Boomer generation, I'm acutely aware Florida has faced increasing healthcare costs as our population ages

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of my constituents eat food, so it is a privilege to be on the Ag Committee and advocate for and
• educate about why Ag is so important for our state.
• I know you guys all have ag in your districts.
• Now we're pushing it beyond that to regenerative ag.
• We spend a lot of money improving and maintaining those facilities.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• scope of practice that they do today with care teams and things of that nature in. the healthcare facilities
• So, by doing the coronary artery screening, and doing it in anyone over the age of 50 every five years
• Everyone over the age of 50 should have this scan, and if it's positive, then we move on to the next
• I've only met or know of one person who actually was a legislator who had a natural LDL in higher age
• They're amazing and they work with kids at such a young age.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Even after the Air Force accepts the final contracted KC-46, the average age of the remaining KC-135
• the ready reserve force has suffered from a reduction in capacity and readiness as a result of the aging
• So you did mention that you have an aging fleet and there is the possibility of your purchasing used
• There's been, the Red Hill facility has been closed.
• It has three piers, two nearly 8,000 foot runways, and one of the largest bulk fuel storage facilities

Committee: Senate Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee

Keywords: Transcom, logistics, military readiness, air refueling, KC-135, KC-46, strategic infrastructure, geopolitical threats, Alaska

Summary: During this meeting, the committee hosted an extensive discussion on the operations and logistical challenges facing the U.S. Transportation Command (Transcom). General Reid provided testimony on key areas including the importance of maintaining robust logistical capabilities in contested environments, particularly in relation to geopolitical threats posed by adversarial nations. Various members emphasized the necessity for modernization of the air refueling fleet, addressing issues such as the readiness of the KC-135 and the procurement of the next-generation KC-46 aircraft, which has experienced delays and technical challenges. The dialogue further extended to the strategic importance of U.S. ports and transportation infrastructure, especially in regions like Alaska which play a crucial role in military logistics and power projection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 197 removes supervision of the nurse employed by the legislative facilities committee from
• </c> employed by the legislative facilities employed by the legislative facilities committee<00:04:02.319
• </c><00:51:32.720><c> as</c> within or on legislative facilities as within or on legislative facilities
• Um, although I don't know that their facilities are really kitted out for those types of things.
• Um, although I don't know that their facilities are really kitted out for those types of things.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Administration Committee opened with Senate Bill 197, which would remove the Department of Health and Human Services commissioner’s supervisory role over the legislative facilities committee nurse and instead place the nurse under the Board of Nursing’s scope of practice. The sponsor’s aide and DHHS legislative director explained that the change updates outdated language last amended in 1995, aligns the statute with current practice, and was reviewed with legislative staff and nursing regulators, who were said to be comfortable with the proposal. Members asked why the change was needed and whether the commissioner had actually been supervising; the response was that the language no longer reflected how the position functioned. The chair said the bill might still be a simple consent item, but additional modifications were being discussed, so the hearing was closed with no vote taken at that time. The committee then heard Senate Bill 186, authorizing the Joint Legislative Historical Committee to accept and display a portrait of former Senator Jeb Bradley in the State House. The sponsor’s aide described Bradley’s legislative and congressional service and urged the committee to move the bill ought to pass. Members asked practical questions about whether the portrait was completed, its size, and where it would be hung. The witness said the portrait was not yet completed and that size and placement had not been determined, though the committee was told the historical committee would decide placement. A committee member noted that portrait sizes and locations are already being reviewed because of space concerns, and the hearing ended without a vote. A work session followed on the portrait bills, with the chair using them as a vehicle to discuss broader problems in the statutes governing portraits and the historical committee. He said the committee had gathered information from other states and suggested possible policy ideas such as portrait moratoriums, waiting periods after death, size limits, and clearer placement rules. Members discussed the need to update the RSAs and better define the historical committee’s authority. The committee did not take final action during the work session, but the discussion indicated that the portrait bills may be held while broader statutory revisions are considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• > follow it so at the age age of nine I follow it so at the age age of nine I became<00:27:53.880><c>
• </c> month and and um talk about the facility month and and um talk about the facility and<02:27:52.479
• </c> matter um when you come to our facility matter um when you come to our facility if<02:29:26.439>
• </c><02:42:56.120><c> is</c> by see how wonderful our facility is by see how wonderful our facility is
• Thank you, Representative Rollins. the facility so you see a big drop there the facility so you see a

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Care authority regional planning transitional acute care facilities, 43 million dollars.
• out foster youth at the age of 18 to 21, things like housing, transportation, health care. help with
• Some states provide, at the age of 18 to 21, they'll provide housing; they might provide housing and
• get a better start in life and to avoid homelessness, which is another scourge that many people who age
• At the moment, there are approximately 300 aging out foster youth that are participating in the program

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I've actually been to that facility. It's very nice. If you get to Pembina, just... Facility.
• , and intermediate care facilities for folks with developmental disabilities.
• PRTFs, $135 for basic care, and $135 for intermediate care facilities.
• PRTFs, $135 for basic care, and $135 for intermediate care facilities.
• It's Medicaid in these facilities. Further discussion. Mr.

Bills: HB1603

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: Native American, grave protection, repatriation, cultural heritage, tribal compliance, 908, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and announced it would begin meeting at 8 a.m. for the rest of the week to work through a growing bill list. The committee first approved House Bill 1603, a companion to the Historical Society budget dealing with NAGPRA, including a $500,000 matching grant to be divided among North Dakota’s five tribes and a committee to address repatriation of human remains and cultural items. The vote was unanimous, 15-0. The committee then considered House Bill 1225, which would increase penalties for reckless endangerment involving a firearm and create a mandatory prison term. After debate over public safety concerns versus the bill’s fiscal note and prison costs, the committee adopted a do not pass recommendation by a 9-6-1 vote. Members also discussed House Bill 1018, the State Historical Society budget, and approved an amendment that adjusted one-time funding items, including NAGPRA compliance, museum exhibits, military gallery funding, local historic grants, and line-of-credit repayment. The amended bill then received a due pass recommendation by a 14-2 vote. The committee next approved House Bill 1468, a behavioral health facility grant for St. Hayes, which supporters said would expand in-state access to acute and adolescent behavioral health care and reduce the need to send patients out of state. The bill passed 14-1. It then amended and passed House Bill 1485, increasing the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients by $15 and indexing it to inflation; the amendment and the bill as amended both passed 14-2. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 1016, the Adjutant General/National Guard budget, after adopting an amendment that funded disaster relief, response equipment, IT and website costs, and staffing changes for the watch center; the amended bill passed 14-2. The committee adjourned after completing six bills and planned to resume the next morning at 8 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Riverside that is in dire need of upgrading their facilities, falling down around them.
• We support rejecting the increase in the age for Adult Protective Services.
• Good afternoon, Yasmin Pellett, on behalf of Justice in Aging.
• Good afternoon, Yasmin Pellett, on behalf of Justice and Aging.
• It's closing our bills and closing our facilities. Thank you. Thank you very much. Welcome.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes land acquisition, facilities. Kako has those facilities in place for healthcare tech.
• </c> includes land acquisition facilities includes land acquisition facilities Kako<00:10:29.600><c>
• ><c> place</c><00:10:31.440><c> for</c> Kako has those facilities in place for Kako has those facilities
• </c><00:42:30.319><c> Now</c><00:42:30.560><c> these</c> infrastructure and facilities.
• Now these infrastructure and facilities.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 706, relating to highway safety, this measure requires all skateboard users under the age
• House Bill 706, relating to highway safety, this measure requires all skateboard users under the age
• our written testimony in support of this measure that requires helmet use for skateboarders under the age
• </c> term unless the correctional facility term unless the correctional facility such<00:24:58.679><c
• Department of Ag here. Mr.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of transportation and public safety bills, beginning with HB 706, which would require skateboard users under age 16 to wear helmets. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, and the chair noted written support from AAA Hawaii, Kulani Medical Center for Women and Children, and several individuals. No opposition was mentioned, and the bill appeared to draw no questions. Members then heard HB 860, which would grant immunity to the state or county that repairs or maintains a street when ownership or jurisdiction is disputed. DOT and DLNR supported the bill, with county support from Maui and a Hawaii Island county representative, while the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed it. The committee also heard HB 1162, requiring applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to complete an approved basic rider course, with DOT support and a recommended amendment to exempt motorcycles used for training; the Public Defender asked about the current process, and DOT explained the bill was intended to improve safety given motorcycle fatalities. HB 1259, allowing speed-limit reductions within 10 mph of the current limit without an engineering study, also drew DOT support and support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and individuals. The committee next considered HB 1158, a governor’s package bill limiting civil liability for people who provide firefighting services with vessels at commercial harbors or roadsteads to gross negligence or wanton conduct. DOT Harbors said the bill was prompted by lessons from the Lahaina fires and was intended to encourage privately owned firefighting-equipped vessels to assist without hesitation; the Hawaii Harbor Users Group and an individual supported it. HB 54, which would make a third or subsequent excessive speeding offense a Class C felony and allow vehicle forfeiture, drew DOT support but strong opposition from the Public Defender, who argued the bill was overly harsh, would force jury trials, and could create sentencing problems; the Public Defender also said existing penalties were already significant. The committee then heard HB 1334, which would exempt donations of wild game meat, including axis deer, to charitable and nonprofit organizations from certain meat inspection and transportation laws; DLNR and multiple community and food-related groups supported it, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 698 on animal cruelty, which would increase criminal penalties for various offenses. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the cases are rare, enforcement is limited, and the proposed penalties—up to Class A felony treatment in some cases—were too severe; animal welfare advocates strongly supported the measure, saying cruelty cases are widespread, underreported, and under-enforced, and that stronger penalties are needed as a deterrent. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the bills in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• location like some parts of the existing public utility renovation site site or certain surface facilities
• Or changing a facility in a public school, authorizing a civil penalty, authorizing a private civil right
• 1015 by Toth relates the regulations and policies for entering and using a bathroom or changing facility
• 1016 by Toth relates to a public school policy regarding multi-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities
• and assisted living facilities refer to the Committee on Human and Human Services.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It modifies that threshold from 12 years of age or older to 16 years of age or older.
• It modifies that threshold from 12 years of age or older to 16 years of age or older.
• </c><00:21:26.159><c> and</c> to 16 years uh of age or older and to 16 years uh of age or older and finally
• </c><00:23:07.120><c> and</c> health aging and health aging and dementia<00:23:09.000><c> uh</c><00:23
• </c> the prohibition um uh a school facility the prohibition um uh a school facility that<00:57:26.799

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of ages.
• </c> and forever into the ages of ages. Amen. and forever into the ages of ages. Amen.
• ><c> to</c><01:07:48.400><c> hold</c> county correctional facilities to hold county correctional facilities
• ><c> public</c><03:46:33.760><c> schools</c> facilities belonging to public schools facilities belonging
• </c><03:46:45.680><c> as</c> activation of such facilities as activation of such facilities as temporary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But you also said that you would be considered a residential facility.
• They are a residential facility. They're licensed.
• And it happened in facilities that operated without meaningful, consistent and it happened in facilities
• We became a license-exempt facility under HB 557.
• What this does do is add more regulations to a license-exempt facility.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee continued a public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ scope of practice. Supporters, including Dr. Kelly Deering, said optometrists are trained to perform the listed office-based procedures, that rural Missouri lacks access to ophthalmologists, and that the bill would reduce wait times, travel burdens, and costs while helping retain students and practitioners in the state. Opponents, including representatives of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, argued the bill does not guarantee rural access and said the procedures should remain within the medical/surgical training of physicians. Members also questioned training on live human eyes and how suspicious lesions would be handled. No vote was taken, and the hearing on HB 2897 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2353, which would create a licensing and sign-and-seal framework for interior designers and move oversight to the board that includes architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. Sponsor Rep. Sherri Gallick and supporters said the bill modernizes regulation, recognizes accredited education and NCIDQ testing, and would let licensed interior designers take responsibility for non-structural interior design work without hiring an architect to stamp plans. Opponents from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and others said they were still negotiating but remained concerned about scope-of-practice language, especially phrases like “all interior design of buildings” and “publicly occupied buildings,” which they said could create overlap with architecture and engineering or unintended obligations for public entities. Testimony also focused on whether unlicensed interior designers would still be allowed to work under carve-outs. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a separate framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate without a state license while registering with the state and meeting background-check, reporting, and oversight requirements. Sponsor Rep. Jamie Gregg and MACA representatives said the bill is intended to expand foster placement capacity for children in need while preserving the religious mission of Christian homes, and they cited federal and state initiatives encouraging partnerships with faith-based providers. Opponents argued the bill would create a two-tier system, weaken state licensing protections, and risk placing vulnerable children in facilities without the same direct oversight, inspections, and reunification safeguards as licensed foster homes. Members raised concerns about abuse history at some faith-based homes, the role of the proposed board, and whether religious practices or other mission-based rules would conflict with child welfare standards. The hearing continued with additional testimony; no vote was reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2018, 11 facilities, VA facilities out of 170, have been using it, not studying it, using it.
• Since 2018, 11 facilities, VA facilities out of 170, have been using it, not studying it, using it.
• Since 2018, 11 facilities, VA facilities out of 170, have been using it, not studying it, using it.
• Since 2018, 11 facilities, VA facilities out of 170, have been using it, not studying it, using it.
• Since 2018, 11 facilities, VA facilities out of 170, have been using it, not studying it, using it.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, May 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would seek legal counsel from the state AG.
• We've gone to the AG, we've fought it in court, and we've won.
• and related departmental facilities.
• facilities, where the equipment is based and used for maintaining the state highway system.
• These facilities are decades old, undersized, and unable to meet current operational needs.

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• In an acute facility, they're prepared to practice regardless of education. patient level.
• Decent will allow us to upgrade to newer models as our copiers age.
• Core computer coding cannot be modified anymore, and due to its age, the systems pose higher threats.
• Uh, form so that we don't have to do that with each common age. So we're a limit. We're hopefully.
• We've also seen an uptick in... in facility inspections.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill defines eligible persons as a child under 18, a dependent college-aged child up to 26, and a
• now and has been for years, catching 100% of the kids with biliary atresia and reducing the diagnosis age
• from current... ...100% of the kids with biliary atresia and reducing the diagnosis age from currently
• Members, SB 794 requires that every employee of a residential facility or day training program for people
• In a survey of Florida OR nurses last fall, 95% reported their facility already has the equipment, yet

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

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: surgical smoke, health standards, hospital safety, patient protection, medical regulations, nursing education, licensure, remedial courses, temporary license, graduate nursing preceptorship, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, background screening, support coordination services, developmental disabilities, Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, public hearings, orthotics, prosthetics, healthcare, Medicaid

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.