Transcript Highlights:

• City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services in support.
• County Mayor's office, Mayor Alameda, in support. County Council Member Inaba, in support.
• County of Maui Mayor Bissen, in support. Maui County Chair Alice Lee, in support.
• Hawaii County Council Member Jen Kajiwara, in support.
• City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services with comments.

Bills: SCR48

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, 910, house, all

Summary: The Housing Committee met on SCR 48, which declares that affordable housing credits are perpetual and remain valid until redeemed, and asks counties to recognize them without expiration dates. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with speakers saying the resolution clarifies the intent of the 2024 act and provides clear parameters for the credits. No one testified in opposition or offered questions. The committee then took up SCR 48 for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the resolution as is. The measure passed with one member voting with reservations. The chair noted this was the committee’s final hearing of the year and thanked advocates, stakeholders, staff, and IT support before adjourning. The transcript also included portions of the Transportation Committee and a joint Transportation/Housing hearing. Transportation advanced SCR 31 on school bus driver licensing and workforce improvements, SCR 132 urging Honolulu to prioritize the rail extension, SCR 145 on studying a demerit point system, and SCR 110 SD 1 on evaluating state-owned logistics facilities for housing projects. SCR 110 drew support from labor groups, with a request to add labor representation to the working group. The committees adopted recommendations on those measures, including SCR 110 with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cordiero Martin of Harrison County.
• Um I Cordiero Martin of Harrison County.
• I controlled substance in Green County.
• Melvin Jackson of Monroe County.
• County. Disqualified back in 2002. County. Disqualified back in 2002.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 24 March, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered several suffrage-restoration bills and two nominations. Senate Bill 3394 for Jerene Cummings was explained by Senator Turner Ford, who said Cummings was convicted of false pretense in 1997, has had no further trouble for nearly 30 years, and MDLC records showed no later encounters; the committee approved it. Senate Bill 3400 for Dennis Hopkins was presented by Senator Why, who described Hopkins as a long-time productive community member and church volunteer; it was also approved. Senate Bill 3402 for Cordiero Martin was reviewed in Senator Carter’s absence, with members noting his 2014 felony shoplifting conviction, later controlled-substance conviction while incarcerated, completion of sentence terms, and law-abiding conduct since release; it passed. Bills 3403 and 3404 for Teddy Null and Denise Null were presented by Senator Parks, who said both had completed their sentences, were discharged in 2017 and 2018, and operate a successful business; both were approved together. Senate Bill 3395 for Melvin Jackson and Senate Bill 3396 for Lawrence Daniels were also considered and approved after staff reviewed MDOC/NCIC materials and noted completion of sentence requirements and no outstanding issues. During the discussion of the Jackson and Daniels matters, committee staff noted that MDOC background packets and time sheets had been received, and one member raised a concern about unusual immigration-related entries and aliases appearing on the NCIC sheet associated with the Hopkins file. Staff clarified that the name on the sheet appeared to be different and suggested asking MDOC for clarification or having DPS run a report before the matter reached the floor, to ensure it was not the same person. The committee then moved on without taking further action on that issue during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the committee considered two confirmations to the Crimestoppers Advisory Council. It recommended advising and consenting to the reappointment of Colonel William R. Bill Allen Jr. of Tupelo for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2025, and to the reappointment of David Jonathan Clayton of Petal to the Polygraph Examiner’s Board for a six-year term beginning October 7, 2025. Both nominations were approved by voice vote. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds a new subsection allowing the county commission of a county where a CVB is located to appoint
• a county commissioner as a voting member of the CVB board.
• For any multi-county CVBs, the county commission of each of the counties that are included within the
• The bill provides that the absence of a county commissioner member of a CVB may not be considered.
• The bill provides that the absence of a county commissioner member of a CVB may not be considered for

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What does it look like in terms of the cost of that local municipality or county?
• This bill was brought as a request bill from Rogers County treasurer.
• Impact analysis, Rogers County.
• Just real quick, I didn't get that on Rogers County.
• So, the percentages that cash payments were 4.7% of all transactions in the county.

Bills: HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, unclaimed property, service charges, property fund, accountability, government transparency, local development, economic impact, voter approval, tax increment financing, review committee, public finance, blight, salary increase, bonus limits, job performance

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, senator from Baltimore County. >> Thank you very much.
• Uh Baltimore Baltimore County. yes. Uh Baltimore Baltimore County.
• members of the Baltimore County members of the Baltimore County delegation<00:07:58.319> 11:00
• Any other any other County. All right. Any other any other announcements?
• Uh, Senator from Montgomery County. >> Is this a good time for an announcement?

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, January 15, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened on January 15 with a prayer offered by Reverend Sheridan Almond of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington, introduced as a guest of the senator from the 18th district. Her remarks were journalized without objection. The chamber also welcomed several guests, including Carter Pry, a recent Crofton High School graduate interested in cybersecurity and AI, interns Isabelle War and Daniel Mora, and the Catonsville Middle School Student Council and adviser Katie Tucci. Members also recognized the day’s pages and thanked them for their service. The only bill read at the desk was Senate Bill 232, by Senator Salling, concerning state procurement preferences for historically underutilized business zone businesses; it was referred to the appropriate standing committee. Committee announcements followed, with Finance, Education, Energy, and the Environment, Judicial Proceedings, and Ethics all scheduling organizational meetings and related briefings later that day. Additional announcements noted Baltimore City and Baltimore County delegation meetings, a Fire EMS Coalition meeting, and Cecil Day events in Annapolis. A senator from Montgomery County highlighted an art exhibit, Art in Full Spectrum, on the fourth floor of the House office building, featuring artists with disabilities from many districts and a future reception. The Senate then confirmed a quorum of 45 members and, on motion of the majority leader, adjourned pro forma until Friday, January 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we have the Orlando Forestry Center, which is our District 12, which basically is Volusia County
• down through Brevard County, and Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties.
• , for example Taylor County, or the sheriff up to do damage assessments.
• I've got some constituents in a few of my counties that have farm equipment.
• In Palm Beach County, we have an operator that we've invested in Palm Beach County over $23 million in

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture received a presentation from Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan on the agency’s wildfire response, forest management, and emergency support roles. He described the service’s four regions and 14 districts, its year-round wildfire response, use of bulldozers, helicopters, and drones, and the current high fire danger due to drought conditions. Dolan also highlighted prescribed burning, fuels mitigation, state forest management, the pine seedling nursery, and the agency’s role in hurricane response and incident management. Members asked about equipment loans and whether more prescribed burning could reduce wildfire impacts; Dolan said Florida already leads the nation in prescribed fire and emphasized public education and fuels reduction. The committee then considered and unanimously reported favorably Senate Bill 386, which creates a farm-equipment consumer protection process similar to a lemon law, allowing purchasers to seek repair or replacement of defective major farm equipment at no cost. The committee also took up Senate Bill 290, the Agriculture and Consumer Services omnibus bill. The bill would modernize fair association rules, preempt local bans on gas- and diesel-powered farm and landscape equipment, allow surplus of certain state-owned lands for bona fide agricultural use while excluding parks, forests, and wildlife lands, create a veterinary loan repayment program, make Farmers Feeding Florida permanent, expand Forest Service training opportunities, criminalize signal-jamming devices, increase penalties for CDL and English-proficiency exam cheating, restrict certain door-to-door solicitation, protect food safety inspectors, clarify biosolids rules, and add criminal and vendor-list penalties for contractors who fail to pay subcontractors. The committee adopted three amendments to align dates and technical language and to authorize native seed research and marketing through the Florida Wildlife Foundation. Testimony on SB 290 included support from several industry groups, concerns from the Home Builders Association about the new contractor-payment criminal penalties, and opposition from a citizen worried about the new surplus-land process for conservation lands. Despite concerns, CS/SB 290 was reported favorably. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of the appointees listed on tabs 4 and 5, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have a county millage and a municipal millage. They're structured in a similar fashion.
• So again, the counties and municipalities are limited to a 10-mill cap, and you can only exceed that
• So if there's a county-dependent special district, that millage counts toward the county.
• Some of the highest millage rates in particular counties can be close to 20 mills.
• there's a much greater variance in the non-school millage rates when... ...you try to analyze that on a county-by-county

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met for its first meeting of the session, with a quorum present and several members excused. Chair Avila opened by framing the committee’s main focus as property tax relief and housing affordability, noting the complexity of any changes to Florida’s long-standing property tax structure and emphasizing the need to preserve funding for schools and local public safety. He also introduced new committee staff member Tamisha Black and thanked staff for summer work supporting analysis of potential proposals, including constitutional amendment concepts and other property tax relief ideas. Staff director Azar Khan then presented an update on the General Revenue forecast, explaining that collections remained above estimate but at a slower pace than the prior year, with recent economic indicators slightly weaker than earlier forecasts. He said the new forecast mostly reflected modest adjustments, with a notable share of the increase coming from earnings on investment rather than the usual drivers such as sales tax or corporate income tax. Khan also gave a detailed presentation on ad valorem millages, explaining the different millage types used by school districts, counties, municipalities, special districts, and water management districts; the rollback rate; TRIM notice and hearing timelines; voting thresholds for adopting higher millages; and long-term trends showing millage rates declining over time even as total taxes levied have increased. Members used the presentations to discuss property tax relief options and the relationship between local property taxes and state revenue. President Passidomo praised staff and Senator Bernard’s summer work on proposals. President Gaetz asked about converting homestead property tax revenue to sales tax and was told the rough equivalent could be around a 2.8-cent sales tax increase, though with important behavioral and distributional caveats. Senator Rouson asked about the decline in corporate income tax estimates, and Khan said it likely reflected changes in national corporate profit expectations and collection patterns, promising a follow-up. The Department of Revenue’s Lizette Kelly confirmed that TRIM data, including adopted millages, rollback rates, and maximum millage calculations, are collected by jurisdiction and can be provided to the committee. No bills were taken up and no votes occurred beyond adjournment, which was adopted by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Age and McKinley County tried. They were successful, but the tribe intervened.
• I mean, is there another location that we should be looking at, maybe in McKinley County?
• We'd love to be in Sabonito, but that was an option that the county had in their back pocket. Mr.
• The county, McKinley County, will benefit greatly from the taxes and the tax base.
• Chair, I think—really, whether you go through the COG or you work with McKinley County...

Transcript Highlights:

• Matagorda County, San Bernard in my county, and the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge in, of course,
• Brazoria County.
• This would cover Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties in South Texas. And then there's a gap.
• Those three counties are where the Central Flyway really comes over, okay?
• How far the proposed development is from those areas, it simply says anywhere in the county.

Bills: HB3129, HB3251, HB3556, HB3724, HB3887

Keywords: construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, HB 3887, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Code, performance bond, payment bond, contractor bonding, public works, construction contracts, public building, procurement, bid security, subcontractors, suppliers, contractor payment protection, project completion

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members of the committee, Joyce Sparson, executive director for New Mexico County.
• The reality is that both Sandoval County and Lincoln County, um, are doing their very best to deal with
• And the reality is counties are struggling with how to handle this.
• The county commissioners and the county sheriffs have no jurisdiction.
• I mean, this just says that a county, state, or municipal government can, can enter an agreement with

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, this is, as you know, a Jefferson County local bill.
• The public-private partnership allows Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority, because we are really
• This is just a restoration of the FIS permit in Jefferson County. $7.50 per year would be that amount
• then $2.50 to the Jefferson County treasury.
• to the Jefferson County treasury.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:45.199> and referred to the Committee on County and referred to the Committee on County
• gentleman from Bowwin County. gentleman from Bowwin County.
• ,<00:27:50.559> for gentlemen from Bowwin County, for gentlemen from Bowwin County, for changing
• Gentleman from Bowwin County. Have Mr. Gentleman from Bowwin County.
• gentle lady from Jefferson County. gentle lady from Jefferson County.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 34 senators present. The chamber then received a House message referring House Bill 1 on primary elections to the Committee on County and Municipal Government, and moved to Senate Bill 1, also dealing with primary elections and tied to ongoing court action over Alabama’s legislative maps. Senator Elliott explained SB 1 as a prospective measure meant to set up a special election if federal courts lift injunctions on the state Senate districts, while opponents argued the bill was being rushed and could disrupt voters, candidates, absentee voters, and election administration. Much of the debate focused on whether the bill would effectively change election rules too close to an election and whether it conflicted with a 2022 statewide amendment requiring election-related changes to take effect at least six months before a general election. Supporters said the bill simply preserves the legislature’s enacted maps and responds to recent court rulings, while opponents said it could disenfranchise voters, especially military, elderly, absentee, rural, and Black voters, and that the underlying litigation and federal Voting Rights Act issues remained unresolved. Several members also referenced a Brennan Center report and broader concerns about racial turnout gaps and minority representation in Alabama. Senator Coleman offered an amendment to give the state discretion rather than mandate a special election, arguing it would better align with the current court order; the Senate rejected it on a roll call vote, 8 yeas to 25 nays. Senator Vivian Figures then offered a notice-focused amendment requiring adequate public notice before any election changes, arguing that voters need time to learn new dates, polling places, deadlines, and ballot information; that amendment also failed on a roll call vote, with the clerk announcing it did not pass. The transcript ends with further discussion beginning after the failed amendment votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, HB 206 prohibits counties from requirements. House Bill 206.
• , but counties won't be able to compel a cash bond.
• Highway 377 in Hood and Johnson counties as the Bob Cornett Parkway.
• Members, the House amended Senate Bill 616 to add Medina County.
• The amended bill adds Medina County to the Williamson County regarding aquifer storage recovery projects

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• with uh 18 counties here in Minnesota.
• And again, we’re in the 12-county metro area.
• county governments. county governments.
• rides, and you have the county-based rides, and you have the county-based purchasers.<00:30:59.880
• still in Hennepin County?" still in Hennepin County?"

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:02.720> are state and that 80% of our counties are state and that 80% of our counties
• City County City County state<01:30:19.280> but<01:30:19.800> education<01:30:20.800
• using their dollars in their county, that's kind of a county operation, and they're not doing as much
• using their dollars in their County using their dollars in their County that's<01:31:04.400>
• by county.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe McDonald, representing Wright County.
• <00:31:35.080> and $200 million in Grants to County and $200 million in Grants to County and
• At times, county agencies are involved with CCAP program investigations as well.
• He said counties play an incredible and important role in delivering services.
• least is licensed in individual counties least is licensed in individual counties is<01:39:14.679

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:52.720> each millions of dollars to Lake County each millions of dollars to Lake County
• :57:38.079> Finance<00:57:38.400> and the Lake County School Finance and the Lake County
• to many other civic and county to many other civic and county engagements<00:57:42.960> such<
• Members, I have commissioners from Prowers County.
• My Logan County This is an exciting day.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe I need to come to Pinellas County and ask you.
• , and South Bay like basically his hometown, like in Pinellas County.
• And lastly, I represent Palm Beach County.
• And Palm Beach County is a better county today because of your love for Palm Beach County.
• Representative Person Smolika, same county.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of the day’s doctor of the day, an intern, and a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day. After routine announcements, the Senate moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, many of them with House companion bills substituted in place of Senate versions. The first major floor action was passage of a tax-related bill conforming Florida’s Internal Revenue Code to federal changes while excluding certain provisions from H.R. 1; it passed 34-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 1758 on public assistance and Medicaid, which proposed stronger fraud enforcement, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services, pharmacy and drug rebate reforms, and SNAP fraud reduction measures. A Berman amendment to require Medicaid expansion before work requirements was rejected, as was an Osgood amendment to add photo-ID protections and exemptions for certain SNAP users. The bill remained on the calendar for third reading after extensive debate and questioning about implementation, exemptions, and potential impacts on beneficiaries. The chamber also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on gold and silver legal tender, public records exemptions for financial institutions and custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government finance transparency, digital voyeurism, and insurance customer representative licensing. Most of these measures were adopted after brief explanation, minor amendments, or substitution of House companions, with votes generally in favor and several passing unanimously or by wide margins. Later, the Senate took up CS/SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin access, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition. The bill’s first amendments clarified anti-kickback rules for vaccine manufacturers and required informational materials to address risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy; the transcript ends during consideration of this bill, before final passage is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So does this, does this include the people in the county Jails that have just received their JNS and
• My only question is, is there a financial responsibility attached to this for the county jails?
• My belief is there's not going to be any cost to the county jail.
• So these are people pretrial in the county jails. County jails don't currently do that.
• In a rural county, that's the way it worked in my jail.

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mandatory training, mental health, domestic violence, peace officer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• throughout the state because not every county has the resources that Maricopa or Pima County might have
• And on that note, I'm curious about the flood in Gila County recently.
• The town runs out of resources, they ask the county.
• The county runs out of resources, they ask the state.
• Sheriff William Ponce from La Paz County.

Keywords: 1182, all