Transcript Highlights:

• I will start with Senator Block. Three minutes. No, just thank you for the data.
• And I just mentioned because I want to see an audiologist or a hearing specialist on that group.
• Going to bring in all of the information; support groups are one of them.
• Madam Chair, Senator Block, great point. It is one tiny bullet in there under risk factors.
• And I think it would be great to convene, I think, a group.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's designed to identify and block illegal cell phone usage.
• Is this software going to block it out, or is it going to monitor it?
• I used to turn block out because I was the person being blocked.
• But it's always a possibility, and this group needs all the help they can get.
• And were there any other institutions or groups that are asking for a large increase outside of what

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Representative Block. Thank you so much. Thank you both for being here.
• They're a student work group from here that was discussed yesterday, so please go ahead.
• That represented block race because they are of major concern, and that was one of my questions.
• So I think what I'm saying is that Block brought up, yeah, let's finish our discussion.
• Representative Block. Thank you, Madam Chair; I really appreciate it.

Transcript Highlights:

• pet retail All different kinds of humane groups have concerns about pet retail sales and puppy mills
• The first part relates to the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.
• And just because we're talking about AI, and we had a huge group of us had a huge conversation about
• Ryan Kennedy with Florida Citizens Alliance, a group of over 250,000 Floridians here in Florida.
• We have a national work group that has been working with policy experts...

Bills: S0214, S0482, S7030, S0554, S0994, S0998, S1004, S1074, S1076, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism heard and advanced several bills focused on economic development, consumer protection, workforce issues, and technology. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. SB 1266, as amended, creates a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with Cyber Florida and was also reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was approved without opposition. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales practices and predatory financing at retail pet stores, received supportive testimony from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, also passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package, which combines updates to the Small Cities CDBG program, clarification of rural community eligibility, an exemption from a reverter clause for military-related land conveyances, and revisions to E-Verify enforcement. The E-Verify portion drew the most debate, with questions about employer cure periods, treatment of current investigations, and whether the bill creates a loophole for independent contractors. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal enforcement between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably on a divided vote. SB 214, which expands the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties, was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 482, an artificial intelligence consumer-protection bill that creates an “AI bill of rights” covering companion chatbots, parental controls for minors, data privacy, de-identified data, unauthorized use of likeness, and enforcement by the Attorney General, with a limited private cause of action for minors. The bill drew extensive testimony both in support and in opposition, including concerns about privacy, age verification, and enforcement, but it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7030, a public-records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations under the AI bill, and adjourned after members requested to be recorded on certain votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has cut off and blocked remittances.
• The clerk will designate the amendments in block on block number one, consisting of amendments numbered
• The amendments in block are adopted.
• ignored, testimonies blocked, oversight ignored, testimonies blocked, oversight treated<07:50:34.478
• The GEO group Republican spending bill.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a major blocking, right?
• a major blocking, right?
• a major blocking, right?
• a major blocking, right?
• a major blocking, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• right direction, which would be to reduce the total number of Baker Acts statewide by various age groups
• Also, there's a SIP work group that we have that consistently works to make sure that those SIP services
• In addition to that, there are therapeutic group care as well.
• And Representative Alvarez mentioned one group that wasn't on there.
• Or our block grant, we typically do about 2 to 2.5% admin from the total service bucket.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to review implementation of House Bill 7021, the recent overhaul of Florida’s Baker Act and Marchman Act, and to hear from DCF Assistant Secretary Erica Floyd Thomas about how the department is using the $50 million appropriation tied to the bill. Representative Maney, the bill sponsor, gave a lengthy background on why he pursued the reforms and emphasized that the goal was to improve access, reduce unnecessary crisis interventions, and give agencies the resources needed to carry out their responsibilities. He and the chair both noted that the bill was the product of many years of work and broad bipartisan support. DCF reported several early outcomes and implementation steps, including a statewide reduction in Baker Act initiations over the past five years, strong diversion rates from crisis through 988, mobile response teams, care coordination, and forensic multidisciplinary teams, and the creation of new tools such as a Baker Act dashboard and the first annual Marchman Act report. The department described key statutory changes: law enforcement discretion in initiating Baker Acts, a single-petition process, remote appearances, stronger discharge planning, interim services, updated parent notification and hold-period rules, an ombudsman office for children’s behavioral health, and regional collaboratives to identify local service gaps. DCF said it has updated manuals, FAQs, trainings, and rules, and that the managing entities have begun contracting for services. Members asked about how the $50 million was allocated, why much of it went to crisis capacity rather than outpatient care, how much has been spent so far, whether administrative costs are capped, and how the department will measure success. DCF said most of the money was used to preserve and expand crisis beds, detox beds, CSU beds, short-term residential treatment, discharge planning, and outpatient supports, with $1.3 million for the ombudsman and regional collaboratives and $48.3 million to managing entities. The assistant secretary said the department tracks readmissions, utilization, provider capacity, and monthly and quarterly reports from managing entities, but it is still early to see full effects because contracts were only recently executed. Members also raised concerns about children, families, veterans, workforce shortages, transparency, and gaps for hard-to-place individuals, including those with developmental disabilities or dementia. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after questions were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Peter McDonald, who is the president of our group, couldn't make it today.
• Senator Block. Thank you. Mr. Chair, can we get the timeline back up for a minute?
• He's part of that group. Yeah, I made contact for the Kotakus board back in 2000.
• Chair, Senator Block (member_14069), this is fee simple land.
• Senator Block. Mr. Chair, so the next meeting is going to be in September. Is it possible?

Transcript Highlights:

• reiterate when we had the whole group reiterate when we had the whole group here<00:21:55.039>
• And I didn't support the original block grant thing. I thought that didn't make any sense.
• And I didn't support the original block grant thing. I thought that didn't make any sense.
• And I didn't support the original block grant thing. I thought that didn't make any sense.
• And I didn't support the original block grant thing. I thought that didn't make any sense.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, the Natural Resources Subcommittee heard a request in block from two state agencies for
• There's a work group going on in higher education that I know a lot of us are going to be on.
• There's a work group going on in higher education that I know a lot of us are going to be on.
• There's a work group going on in higher education that I know a lot of us are going to be on.
• In this particular case, 10 years and counting, this group is not helpful.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:20.720> know I did want to just let this group know I did want to just let this group
• , And so sort of the first building block, And so sort of the first building block, if<00:13:20.880
• <00:35:44.040> of Lori and her team will get a group of Lori and her team will get a group
• <01:08:43.920> of setting where we convene a group of setting where we convene a group of
• So that's one example that the current group is working on.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by block, parcel by parcel.
• by block, parcel by parcel.
• by block, parcel by parcel.
• by block, parcel by parcel.
• I think it's not always easy to have a group this large to work.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Block and then Representative Vida. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, guys.
• Madam Chair, Representative Block, it's because of the different powers.
• Madam Chair, Representative Block, yes, that's correct.
• We have a group of people who are working to represent their organizations.
• And so that would be the companies' the venture capital groups that are located inside the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even then, in Kansas, when a similar law led to over 30,000 citizens being blocked from voting, there
• Even then, in Kansas, when a similar law led to over 30,000 citizens being blocked from voting, there
• The League of Women Voters is a leading nonpartisan group that are experts on voting.
• And as I listen to the chair list all of these people that were waiving in opposition, the one group
• of people that I didn't. these people that were waiving in opposition, the one group of people that I

Bills: S0174, S1342, S1334, S1362, S1602, S1604

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, transit-oriented development, housing affordability, mixed-use zoning, urban development, traffic congestion, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud, vertiports, aviation, airport infrastructure, economic development, veterans

Summary: The committee first heard CS for SB 1342 on transit-oriented development by Senator Rouson, which seeks to expand housing near fixed transit corridors by updating TOD definitions and applying Live Local-style land-use principles to those areas. An amendment narrowed definitions, limited the bill to land-use and development regulations, removed a private cause of action, and added exclusions for environmentally sensitive areas, historic properties, and military installations. Supporters said the bill would increase housing supply near existing infrastructure and maximize the state’s transit investments, while local government groups and city leagues opposed it as a sweeping preemption of local zoning authority that could force high-density development without public hearings or adequate infrastructure planning. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up CS for SB 1334 on elections by Senator Grall, which would require documentary proof of citizenship in voter registration and related election processes, update how citizenship is verified through REAL ID and the SAVE database, clarify that paper ballots are the primary voting method, and add other election-related changes such as candidate eligibility rules and timelines. Two technical amendments were adopted. During extended questioning, senators raised concerns about how documents would be submitted and stored, whether voters without Florida IDs or REAL IDs—especially students, disabled voters, seniors, and homeless Floridians—could be flagged or burdened, and what fiscal and workload impacts the bill would have on supervisors of elections and state agencies. Supporters argued the bill would streamline verification and reduce duplicate paperwork, while many public speakers and some senators said it would create barriers to voting, increase costs, and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The transcript ends during debate on the bill, before a final vote is shown. Later, the committee considered CS for SB 1362 on advanced air mobility by Senator Harrell. A strike-all amendment aligned the bill with the House version and added vertiports and charging systems as eligible projects for public-private partnership funding, with FDOT authorized to fund certain vertiport costs within available resources. The bill drew support from industry and local representatives, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 174, which designates a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and directs FDOT to install markers at an estimated cost of $2,400. The bill prompted significant debate over whether Kirk’s legacy warranted a state road designation, with opponents citing his controversial statements and arguing the honor was political and divisive, while supporters said the designation recognizes civic engagement near FIU and is symbolic rather than regulatory. The transcript ends during debate on SB 174, before any final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way it's set up on the agenda is sort of a larger group than what we're really going to do.
• We have a lot of expertise here amongst us, and I have been talking with this group both during the session
• Is there any cross-pollination between the recruitment of perhaps the social work group?
• Block. I know you guys on the left.
• Sherry, Representative Block... That's a very insightful question.

Transcript Highlights:

• To teach just 2 because you can't do the things that teachers love to do as far as grouping students
• I've already mentioned that we have multi-age classroom groupings, integrated school activities.
• We have blocked periods for shop.
• We discussed the possibility of doing a blocked period for math because of the concern for math.
• The other thing that we do is we have a block in during block period in the afternoon, we have a math

Transcript Highlights:

• What we mean is there are lots of groups What we mean is there are lots of groups involved<00:05
• <00:10:47.320> every and round and round the block every and round and round the block every
• We also want folks to know that districts have the ability to block or not block AI types of resources
• districts have the ability uh to block districts have the ability uh to block or<00:55:50.680>
• That's a you know, Group with you.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met and adopted the prior minutes before turning to AI in education. Jeff Gagne of the Southern Regional Education Board described SREB’s Commission on AI in Education, which has organized its work into committees on policy, K-12 instruction, postsecondary instruction, and skills development. He highlighted eight commission recommendations covering statewide AI networks, targeted guidance for different user groups, professional development, standards and curricula, local capacity assessments, risk management, procurement, and AI-ready workforce skills. He also emphasized that states need more specific guidance for students, teachers, faculty, administrators, and parents, and that training is essential because many educators have not been prepared to use AI in instruction. Gagne also summarized two recent SREB reports: one on AI-ready workforce skills and one on AI use in K-12 classrooms. The workforce report recommends embedding AI across standards, strengthening computer science and digital learning standards, collaborating with industry and workforce agencies, building AI competencies into training and upskilling, providing educator professional development, and monitoring readiness. He said the report identifies three skill areas: success skills, industry baseline skills, and technical skills. The classroom guidance report promotes responsible AI adoption, with four pillars focused on increasing cognitive demand, streamlining teaching and administrative work, supporting personalized learning, and developing ethical AI users. He also noted that the report includes an AI procurement tool for school districts. Members thanked Gagne for providing outside examples and resources. One member noted JCPS has an introductory AI professional development offering for educators. Gagne said Kentucky’s David Couch serves on the SREB commission and that the commission’s member list and reports are available on SREB’s website. The committee then heard from Travis Powell of the Council on Postsecondary Education, who said CPE had surveyed campuses and found that Kentucky institutions have broadly embraced AI in teaching, research, student services, and administrative operations. He said all institutions have AI-focused degrees, minors, or courses, and many are integrating AI into general education and across disciplines. Powell also said CPE is considering an AI consortium and that campuses are using AI in research partnerships and applied work, while continuing to focus on ethical and effective use.

Transcript Highlights:

• the don uh the uh disabled hunters group the don uh the uh disabled hunters group in<00:30:09.200
• <00:50:33.599> So cost of the employee group insurance.
• So cost of the employee group insurance.
• <01:39:03.360> Um, block grant that we say, you know.
• Um, block grant that we say, you know.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next group we have Senate. All right. Next group we have Senate. All right.
• of us to group of us to group of us to participate, a group of participate, a group of participate,
• But you with those groups at that time. But you with those groups at that time.
• A block, detect or prevent following. A block, detect or prevent following.
• C material, B block or filter spam. C material, B block or filter spam.

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Megan Tokanaga, Block, Department of Finance, just to clarify...
• Group made up of whom?
• So—owners a part of that group?
• Hi, Kathy Van Austin, MBM Strategy Group, representing John Burton Advocates for Youth.
• Hi, Kathy Van Austin, MBM Strategy Group, representing John Burton Advocates for Youth.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals focused on housing, homelessness, and related administrative changes, and took no votes, holding items open for later action. Item 1 would realign staff positions and resources as part of the Governor’s housing and homelessness reorganization, including shifting two Cal ICH positions to HCD, moving one Cal ICH position for communications/external affairs, and authorizing a chief deputy director at the new Housing Development Finance Committee. Administration witnesses said the changes were technical and net zero-cost, while the LAO recommended approval but asked for clarification on funding for the chief deputy. Several senators questioned whether the staffing shifts would weaken Cal ICH’s homelessness work and whether adding communications capacity was appropriate without new housing funding. Item 2 proposed creating a $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Fund at CalHFA, with $56 million General Fund and $44 million in existing National Mortgage Settlement funds, to support disaster-impacted homeowners through tools such as loan loss guarantees and interest rate buy-downs. CalHFA said the fund would help homeowners bridge the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs and would work through approved lenders. The LAO raised concerns about the lack of alternatives in the proposal, the broad discretion left to CalHFA in program design, and the General Fund cost. Senators pressed for more detail on eligibility, equity safeguards, lender oversight, and how many homeowners would actually benefit, with some warning the proposal was too open-ended and could miss the most vulnerable households. Item 3 addressed trailer bill language for HAP Round 7, including a proposed $500 million General Fund allocation tied to new accountability measures, pro-housing designation requirements for 14 large cities and 11 counties, local match requirements, streamlined system performance metrics, and recapture/reallocation of unspent funds. HCD said the proposal would avoid a new application process by treating Round 7 as additional disbursements of Round 6 and would provide technical assistance to jurisdictions. The LAO and several senators questioned the timing, the burden of pro-housing designation and local match requirements, the vagueness of some standards, and whether the proposal would delay rather than speed up funding. Members also debated whether the trailer bill preserved or weakened existing homelessness accountability metrics and whether the approach was too complicated given local budget pressures and ongoing homelessness needs.