Transcript Highlights:

• Knowingly is: a person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a circumstance that is a material
• Purposefully is: a person acts purposefully with respect to a material element of the offense when he
• Knowingly is: a person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a circumstance that is a material
• Purposefully is: a person acts purposefully with respect to a material element of the offense when he
• Knowingly is: a person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a circumstance that is a material

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Especially in the middle of a pandemic, to even get the expertise, as I learned very quickly, the world
• DPP, we decided to hold together, but clearly what we learned was it needed a very serious investment
• was it needed a clearly what we learned was it needed a very<00:41:29.680> serious<00:41:30.079
• One thing I do want to say, and I want to thank the state because it's different, as I've learned in
• over the years is like even when learned over the years is like even when we<01:03:39.440> have

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will not use cheaper materials or rush patient appointments just because an insurance company decides
• I see how hard it is for others to learn.
• We learned my Lyme infection had come out of remission because of an asymptomatic strep infection.
• I learned to hide my smile, ashamed of the gaps in my mouth.
• This is responsible for planning, decision-making, and reward-based learning.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with more than 70 people signed up to testify, focusing mainly on health insurance and health care access bills. Early testimony centered on H.1257/S.712, which would require insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of genetic craniofacial conditions. Supporters included legislators, dentists, and medical experts who said these conditions are not cosmetic, can severely affect eating, speech, pain, and social functioning, and often create major financial hardship because insurers deny coverage. A related dental bill, H.1262/S.676, drew technical testimony from the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts about implementation issues with the 2022 dental loss-ratio law, while the Massachusetts Dental Society supported H.1306/S.696 on transparency in dental network leasing and opposed H.1262. Representative Gentile also testified for H.4013, which would ban for-profit acute care hospitals and for-profit health insurers in Massachusetts, arguing that profit incentives undermine patient care. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H.1261/S.799, a bill to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills. Municipal fire chiefs, Boston EMS, nonprofit ambulance providers, and the bill’s Senate sponsor said the measure would require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly and promptly, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, and reduce confusion caused by out-of-network billing. Witnesses described ambulance services as essential public health infrastructure and said current billing practices can discourage people from calling 911 or leave municipalities and nonprofits unable to recover costs. Committee members asked about unpaid debt, municipal billing burdens, and how the bill would affect rates and reimbursement. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H.1249/S.805, which would require screening for PANS/PANDAS in medical and clinical settings. Legislators, clinicians, parents, a teen with the condition, and educators described PANS/PANDAS as an infection-triggered inflammatory illness that can present as sudden psychiatric symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder. Supporters said routine screening at well visits, emergency rooms, and other clinical settings would help identify children earlier, reduce unnecessary psychiatric treatment and hospitalizations, and improve outcomes. Testifiers repeatedly urged favorable action, emphasizing the personal and financial toll on families and the potential for early treatment to prevent long-term harm. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on these bills; no committee action or votes were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• the cosmetic standards of surrounding homes, such as roof pitch, exterior facade, and foundation material
• this bill also does Foundation material this bill also does not<00:22:17.159> override<00:22:
• from KC's past president Mayor material from KC's past president Mayor Mike<00:40:53.200> Mike
• that are quote construction materials that are quote compatible<00:47:13.640> with<00:47:13.800
• <00:47:17.079> do structures so long as the materials do structures so long as the materials

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:01 Roll Call 00:16 HB 211 Discussion 02:55 HB 211 Vote 16:30 HB 160 Discussion 18:50 HB 160 Vote 52:06 Adjournment 57:35, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met for its first meeting of the year, established a quorum, and heard two bills. House Bill 211, sponsored by Representative Chris Lewis, would create a definition for cigar bars and allow indoor cigar smoking in qualifying establishments if they meet criteria such as deriving at least 15% of gross income from cigar-related sales, restricting entry to those 21 and older, prohibiting cigarettes and vaping, and requiring a smoke-free area for deliveries. Lewis and Louisville Metro Council member Anthony Pantini described the bill as a small-business and tourism measure modeled on Tennessee law, while the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a St. Elizabeth physician opposed it, arguing it would undermine local smoke-free ordinances and expose patrons and workers to harmful secondhand smoke. Several members raised local-control concerns, and Lewis said he was open to local governments making decisions on less restrictive approaches. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then approved HB 211 on a roll call vote, with multiple members voting yes and several no votes, sending the bill forward as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 160 from Representative Susan Whitten, with Logan Haynes of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute. They said Kentucky faces a housing shortage of roughly 200,000 units and that starter homes are increasingly unaffordable, making manufactured housing an important part of the solution. Whitten said the bill would treat manufactured housing more like site-built housing while still allowing local governments to enforce cosmetic standards such as roof pitch, exterior facade, and foundation material, and she emphasized that HOA, deed, and historical preservation restrictions would remain in place. Haynes argued that modern manufactured homes are federally and state inspected, more energy efficient, faster to build, and more affordable than site-built homes, and he said the bill would not open the door to older-style mobile homes or single-wides except in limited narrow-lot situations. Representatives from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties expressed concerns about the bill’s current language, saying land-use decisions should remain local and warning that the definition of qualified manufactured home and the bill’s treatment of local standards could have unintended consequences. They said they appreciated Whitten’s willingness to work with them and indicated they hoped to continue negotiating amendments as the bill moved forward. No vote on HB 160 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to remind everyone that comes in, if you want to have materials distributed, they have to be distributed
• Uh, anyone that was received any materials for this meeting is free to disregard them.
• distributed they have to have materials distributed they have to be<00:01:26.759> distributed
• <00:01:33.640> for<00:01:34.040> this was received any materials for this was received
• any materials for this before<00:01:35.200> this<00:01:35.320> meeting<00:01:35.680>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee met to continue discussion of a committee substitute for a bill dealing with non-veterinary equine dental practice. The chair first addressed a procedural issue, saying any handouts distributed without the chair’s approval were improper and would not be part of the official record. The committee then reintroduced and approved the committee substitute by motion and second, before moving into member questions rather than hearing additional public testimony that morning. Senator Reed asked what testing would be required for state approval and about the bill’s timeline. The response said the bill would rely on an internationally recognized testing model, with education and continuing education requirements, and that the measure included an 18-month period to allow existing practitioners time to comply. Senator Deneen then raised concerns about the grandfather clause, the five-year lookback, and whether the bill could set a precedent that would further encroach on veterinary practice. In response, supporters said the bill was intended to create a structure for a practice that already exists, with training, insurance, a registry, and a grievance process to weed out bad actors while preserving access and affordability for horse owners, especially in rural areas where veterinarians may be scarce or unavailable. The discussion also included historical context, with members noting the issue had been considered during earlier veterinary modernization efforts and had been worked on through open work groups, surveys, stakeholder meetings, and multiple drafts. Supporters argued that without a regulated framework, some horse owners might not be able to afford veterinary care, which could leave horses untreated. No final vote on the bill itself was described in this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many were surprised to learn that HIV testing is currently not included. a standard component of an STD
• Chairman, I've asked the assistant clerk to pass out materials that I prepared in anticipation of...
• All of that has to be done, and so they would package up the material and they would notify Texas that
• With this, we've seen the increase in the cost of materials and equipment.
• Because what I learned, once upon a time, I didn't have health insurance.

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• He's connecting with others, learning, Today, at nearly four years of age, Eric is thriving.
• He's connecting with others, learning, and communicating in ways no one thought possible without early
• The extra step costs Sam six months, six critical months of lost learning, The extra step costs Sam six
• critical months of lost learning, lost growth, and lost opportunity.
• We were thankful and fortunate to learn that there's a proven early intervention available.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of health insurance and public health bills, with most speakers focused on expanding coverage for specific treatments and services. Bills discussed included H. 1187/S. 792 on rehabilitation counselors, H. 1173/S. 692 on patient navigation, S. 2600 on scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients, S. 2599 on medically necessary treatment for port wine birthmarks, H. 1164 on licensed educational psychologists for child and adolescent mental health services, S. 754/H. 1254 on autism diagnosis and treatment by nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists, S. 714/H. 1137 on infectious disease response and coverage, and S. 791 on making nature a prescriptive therapeutic intervention. Speakers generally argued these bills would improve access, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and address gaps in current insurance reimbursement rules. Testimony in support emphasized personal stories and clinical evidence. Cancer patients and providers described the benefits of patient navigation and scalp cooling for dignity and quality of life during treatment. Boston Children’s Hospital staff and families said port wine birthmark treatment is medically necessary, can prevent complications, and should not be denied as cosmetic. Rehabilitation counselors and school psychologists argued their services are effective, cost-saving, and underused because they cannot bill insurance. Autism advocates said current insurance statutes are outdated because nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists already provide evaluations and should be recognized for reimbursement to avoid delays in early intervention. Public health and GLAD Law testimony supported stronger infectious disease coverage to remove barriers to testing, treatment, and PrEP access. The hearing also included extensive testimony on H. 1172, a bill requiring insurance coverage for detransition-related care. Supporters said it would ensure coverage for medically necessary care for people who regret or reverse gender transition, while opponents argued it would legitimize anti-trans narratives or, conversely, that detransition care is needed because transition procedures can cause harm. The committee also heard strong support for S. 791 from advocates who described nature access as a health intervention that could help with trauma, anxiety, substance use recovery, and environmental justice, with claims that insurance coverage and reduced park fees would improve access. No votes were taken during the transcript, and the chair repeatedly thanked speakers and moved through the long list of public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we had to be very conscientious about the industry, about the supply of materials, the supply
• We have been utilizing our innovation, our resources, and our labs like the State Materials Office.
• I would say my second question here deals more with aggregate and materials for road construction, road
• This is something we've started. ...to do for the whole supply chain, all materials.
• This is something we've started doing, understanding where the materials that we need come from, where

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how each program works, the distinction between a civil notice of violation and a uniform traffic citation, and the fee distribution for each type of violation. It also reported preliminary data showing 42 jurisdictions operating red light cameras, with 496 cameras at 302 intersections and 923,133 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025; for the newer school bus and school zone programs, the department said preliminary figures showed five active school bus programs and 40 active school zone programs, with prior-year totals of 61,150 school bus notices and 26,300 school zone notices. Senators asked about camera placement, school zone requirements, review procedures, and whether law enforcement or third parties are involved in reviewing violations. The committee then received an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, which used $4 billion in general revenue to advance a $7 billion package of 20 major congestion-relief projects. He said the department has used innovative delivery methods, including modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, to move projects forward faster and control costs. He highlighted progress on projects including I-4 congestion relief lanes, the Golden Glades Interchange, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, I-75 at Pine Ridge Road, and I-275 in Tampa, and said 80% of the plan is expected to be underway by the end of 2026, with four projects remaining in 2027. Members asked about temporary traffic patterns at Golden Glades, subcontractor opportunities, public transportation planning, contractor safety and OSHA issues, bridge strikes, logistics hubs near airports and seaports, aggregate and material supply, local government coordination, and federal transportation funding. Secretary Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic management plans, works with small businesses and local subs, and monitors contractor safety closely, including corrective action plans after incidents. He emphasized that Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, that the state remains largely state-funded, and that additional resources are the main thing the Legislature can provide to support future infrastructure delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We hope to give you an opportunity to learn a little bit more about Kakaʻako Makai and why this bill
• <00:10:44.240> an<00:10:44.360> opportunity<00:10:44.760> to<00:10:44.880> learn
• hope to give you an opportunity to learn hope to give you an opportunity to learn a<00:10:45.120
• Ash material from two incinerators was used to fill the seawall.
• They are hauling out material from that project site because that's what the Department of Health requires

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Water and Land, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing committees on January 29, 2025 focused on SB 534, with the chairs outlining hearing procedures, public testimony limits, and plans to allow extended presentations from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) before moving to other testifiers. The hearing was presented as a public, transparent discussion of OHA’s plans for Kakaʻako Makai, with committee members noting that decision-making would follow if time permitted. OHA testified in strong support of SB 534. The chair of OHA’s Board of Trustees said the bill was a novel proposal for the legislature and emphasized that OHA was bringing together a broad coalition of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from construction, hospitality, education, law enforcement, civil service, and schools, as well as longtime community advocates who have opposed development in Kakaʻako Makai. OHA’s presentation reviewed the history of the area, the creation and role of HCDA, prior master plans, the 2012 land conveyance to OHA, and the argument that OHA has not been able to realize the full economic value of the lands because desired entitlements were not secured. OHA linked the bill to its constitutional mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians and argued that the state’s housing crisis makes additional development, including residential use, especially important. A major theme of the testimony was housing. OHA argued that Hawaiʻi faces severe affordability pressures, out-migration, and workforce shortages, and said that residential development in Kakaʻako Makai would help address those needs while also supporting the value of the trust lands. The presentation described HCDA’s authority over zoning and development in Kakaʻako, the existing reserved housing requirements, and the need for a master plan that could move forward if SB 534 becomes law. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the discussion remained in the presentation and testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• environment into the learning environment into the learning environment. environment. environment
• the seclusionary learning versus the seclusionary practices.
• I want him to learn and grow and be the best person he can be.
• going into that work and that learning going into that work and that learning and<01:20:46.239><
• Turman, can you shed any light on what these other materials are in our packets?"

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to understand feedstock, raw materials, etc.
• We need to understand feedstock, raw materials, etc.
• The witness said they would be looking at the material in the study.
• material at the end of its use? material at the end of its use?
• Um and then we would look at material.

Bills: HF4770

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even with barging materials to the continent, no new incinerators have been built at a new site in this
• <00:34:38.240> to health even with barging materials to health even with barging materials
• As you're talking about it, it will be recycled and put into construction material.
• and then for the neighbor is material and then for the neighbor is what<00:39:36.200> is<00:39
• will not have any contact with the material under C material, that's this.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner, Madam Chair, Representative Allen, the material that we store there is actually the drill
• Commissioner, Madam Chair, Representative Allen, the material that we store there is actually the drill
• What it is used for is actually restored as a geological history of what we're learning.
• We have the executive director, John, and I'll let you pronounce your last name so I can learn that too
• We have the executive director, John, and I'll let you pronounce your last name so I can learn that too

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's one of the key things is that all that material is both bulky, messy, potentially, you
• I think that's the one of the key things is that all that material is both bulky, messy, potentially,
• <05:32:59.520> we'll<05:32:59.718> just<05:32:59.840> be managing the material
• we'll just be managing the material we'll just be collecting<05:33:00.400> it<05:33:00.878>
• um to to avoid to materials um to to avoid to representative<05:33:53.240> Cole's<05:33:53.600

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we will learn more public interest.
• Um, I know my committee really enjoyed it and learned a lot.
• <04:08:23.520> We're enjoyed it and learned a lot. We're enjoyed it and learned a lot.
• I worked with outdoor learning center.
• So we put the list of material there, study material, recommended study material.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were raised in their communities, lived with their families, attended their neighborhood schools, learned
• their their families, attended their neighborhood<04:13:34.960> schools,<04:13:35.840> learned
• schools, learned um life skills,<04:13:38.560> now<04:13:38.880> have<04:13:39.239>
• I was baffled to<04:40:32.080> learn<04:40:32.560> after<04:40:32.878> the<04:40
• after the birth of our first to learn after the birth of our first son<04:40:34.240> that<04:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They just need a place to go and dispose of that material.
• They just need a place to go and dispose of that material.
• They just need a place to go and dispose of that material.
• They just need a place to go and dispose of that material.
• We're where the materials go, right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have learned about ear acupuncture for opioid treatment through a gentleman that's sitting behind me
• I have learned about ear acupuncture for opioid treatment through a gentleman that's sitting behind me
• So what we teach in trainings, and what I've learned from being trained and I now train, and from reading
• I have not had a cigarette since then. won't buy you C easy and so I learned won't buy you C easy and
• that we need to prepare the materials that we need to prepare the scripts<03:02:10.840> that<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your materials on the bill are being handed out at this moment, and also you're receiving some material
• The material has been distributed to members. bill to pass without recommendation.
• The uh material So, uh let's see here.
• The staff will hand out the materials, and same thing here.
• All right, Senator McUade, the materials All right, Senator McUade, the materials are<02:26:23.359

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just a recommendation of the materials from our staff coordinator.
• This is just a recommendation of the materials from our staff coordinator to then be brought forward
• The material will be forwarded to the Senate President... And that motion carries.
• The material will be forwarded to the Senate President, the House Speaker.
• The material will be forwarded to the Senate President, the House Speaker.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.