Transcript Highlights:

• Gail Olenik with the Florida Education Association is waving against.
• Guys, welcome to the Florida Senate. So is there any further business? Oh, hey, Senator Osgood.

Bills: S7036

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K-12 Appropriations met with a quorum present and announced it would not be presenting its budget at this time, per a Senate memorandum. The sole bill on the agenda was SB 7036 by Senator Corey Simon, which was described as a broad education package strengthening school turnaround tools, early literacy supports, early learning policies, academic offerings, and educator pipeline provisions. Senator Simon explained that the bill addresses persistently low-performing schools, Title I use for STEM curricula, charter school renewal and dismissal rules, epinephrine device policies, VPK summer bridge eligibility, disability-aligned interventions, agriculture and Algebra 1 instruction, GATE access, and certification updates for teachers and computer science. An amendment was adopted that removed provisions on temporary door locks and DOE-developed instructional materials and added a GATE startup grant update. The committee heard numerous appearance forms, with many individuals and organizations waving against the bill, while one student, Ella Latimore, appeared and spoke briefly. Much of the exchange with her was lighthearted and unrelated to the bill, but Senator Simon used his closing to note that concerns from the prior stop had been addressed by removing the DOE materials and door-lock language, and he asked for favorable support. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and CS for SB 7036 was reported favorably. After the vote, members made several informal statements, including remarks about a Valentine’s Day visit from students and appreciation for community member Misty Cash. Senator Osgood also raised a serious concern about declining immigrant student enrollment affecting district budgets, especially in Broward County, and urged the committee to address the issue proactively with school districts. The chair said staff were already working with districts on the matter and that more discussion would follow. The meeting then adjourned after additional light banter among members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gail Olenik with the Florida Education Association is waving against.
• Guys, welcome to the Florida Senate. So is there any further business? Oh, hey, Senator Osgood.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• investment engine for Minnesota, and I think this effort can should be a poster check for a private-public
• private partnership along this public private partnership along with<00:04:34.160><c> grid</c><00:04
• </c> with over $9 million attracted in public with over $9 million attracted in public and<00:07:53.479
• public resources and efficiently use our public funds.
• </c> my background is in public my background is in public administration<00:46:16.160><c> so</c><00:

Bills: HF1013 , HF1598 , HF1656 , HF2162

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• O God of justice and mercy, as we gather in service to our state, we give you thanks for the gift of
• May we all be stirred to more generous and dedicated service. towards the common good of our community
• I want to thank you for your service. It's like public service.
• Okay, who is vice president of marketing and public relations. for Titan fuel.
• Alvarado, Betancourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, New York, Florida.

Bills: SJR36 , SJR2 , SB4 , SR45 , SR47 , SR63 , SR66 , SR70 , SR85 , SCR14 , SB10 , SB11 , SB10 , SB11

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:53.119><c> and</c><00:53:53.440><c> non-public</c> think it's both public and non-public think
• </c><00:54:11.599><c> and</c> provide funding for public and provide funding for public and non-public
• accommodations, public services, education, employment, and so the process to engage in that conversation
• public housing, public accommodations, public services,<01:58:39.840><c> education,</c><01:58:40.639
• </c> public services, and then education. public services, and then education.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Government Efficiency have under consideration HB 2192, relating to video content matters of public
• It modifies the definition of public infrastructure to remove certain energy and gas infrastructure and
• improvement infrastructure, and require a district to obtain written authorization from a public service
• The Committee on Public Safety, having under consideration H.C.R. 259, supporting county services, submits
• Chairman, I move that the Health and Human Services Committee amendment to House Bill 2932 be adopted

Summary: The Senate met in floor session, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and then moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars considering a range of House bills and one concurrent resolution. On the first calendar, members considered HB 2192 on employment/video content matters of public concern, HB 2592 on government information technology and AI-related rulemaking, HB 2752 on the Arizona Commerce Authority trade office, HB 2916 on traffic schools and fingerprint clearance, and HB 2946 on development fees. Amendments were adopted on HB 2192, HB 2592, HB 2916, and HB 2946; HB 2752 received a Mesnard amendment, but an Epstein amendment failed on division after a 7-14 vote. All of those bills were reported out do pass, with HB 2752 retained on the calendar after amendment consideration. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On later calendars, the Senate advanced HB 2918, HB 2999 on infrastructure finance districts/special taxing districts, HB 1418 on county officers/sheriff authority, HCR 259 supporting county sheriffs, HB 2035 on child welfare placement/reporting, HB 241 on child neglect, HB 2594 on court trust confidentiality, HB 2932 on groundwater transportation fees, HB 2109 on distracted driving penalties for motorcycles, HB 2118 on mobile food vendor licenses, HB 2244 on eviction satisfaction of judgment, HB 4011 on HOA duties, and HB 2440 on a transition program. Several bills were amended, including HB 2999, which drew discussion about tax rates, bond coverage, and infrastructure district financing; an Epstein objection focused on homeowner cost uncertainty, but the bill ultimately advanced. HB 2035, HB 2594, HB 2932, HB 2109, HB 2118, HB 2244, HB 4011, and HB 2440 all received do pass recommendations, with some technical or conforming amendments adopted along the way. The Senate also adopted a proclamation recognizing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on its centennial anniversary and welcomed university representatives and students in the gallery. The chamber granted the House’s request to return SB 1113 for further amendment and appointed free conference committees for HB 2133 and HB 2010. Final third-reading votes passed HB 2592, HB 2916, HB 2946, and HB 2999, with recorded roll-call results showing HB 2592 passed 16-9 with 11 not voting, HB 2916 passed 26-1 with 3 not voting, HB 2946 passed 27-0 with 3 not voting, and HB 2999 passed 21-6 with 3 not voting. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The personal information you give on this card is subject to public disclosure.
• Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
• Is that public record? Yes. All right. What's the settlement offer to Gremlin right? Public record?
• They're going to cease to provide services to the citizens.
• , and the people that want service.

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Summary: The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably. Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure. The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Seeing none, I'm going to close a public Seeing none, I'm going to close a public hearing<01:29:
• It could be someplace that's accessible to services like sewer and fire and emergency services.
• </c><02:40:57.439><c> Um</c> fire and uh emergency services. Um fire and uh emergency services.
• They tend to require less services.
• Uh, the of Environmental Services.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• service or not.
• services in this state.
• services, you know, the post board for law enforcement, all the public services that people rely on.
• including K-12, public for services including K-12, public education, health care, and higher education
• Policy and finance and the human services department to get together, create a new public benefits delivery

Transcript Highlights:

• The personal information you give on this card is subject to public disclosure.
• Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
• At the end of the day, the average— In the public with a gun on his side.
• They’re going to cease to provide services to the citizens.
• and the people that want service.

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, the plan is public knowledge already—they’ve already stated it is public knowledge.
• brought public awareness to.
• I believe is what's public knowledge.
• It wasn't me that requested it to be public knowledge.
• So if it's public knowledge, and you already have it, let me eliminate the issue of the public knowledge

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a major workers’ compensation overhaul centered on creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and modernizing fee schedule and claims data collection. Myers said the bill was designed to improve transparency, reduce disputes, address outliers and abuse, and help injured workers return to work faster. The committee adopted technical amendments, then considered a large amendment set combining portions of House bills 780 and 1101, which added preliminary determination procedures, fraud language, temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit changes, and a fallback deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached by 2029. Several members and witnesses objected that the amendments were dropped late and would turn SB 408 into an omnibus bill; supporters argued the package was the best chance for comprehensive reform. After debate, the committee adopted the amendments and reported SB 408 favorably as amended. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply divided. Supporters, including some providers and injured-worker advocates, said the bill’s core value was transparency through the database and that the system needed modernization and a better fee schedule. Opponents argued the added amendments would burden pro se claimants, expand litigation, and weaken injured workers’ rights, especially through fraud and preliminary hearing provisions. Committee members also questioned whether the combined package was germane and whether it should be allowed to move as a single reform measure. Louisiana Workforce Commission staff explained the timeline for data collection, electronic billing, dispute rules, and eventual fee schedule rulemaking, and said the department could execute the law as amended. The committee then turned to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, concerning workplace violence and safety plans for small-box discount retailers. The bill was revised through a substitute that required covered retailers to develop and submit a written workforce safety plan, or submit an existing plan if one already existed. Representative Glorioso raised concerns that requiring a written safety plan could create new civil liability under Louisiana’s assumption-of-duty doctrine and increase litigation and insurance costs. Chasson responded that the intent was simply to encourage safety planning and that businesses already had such plans. The committee discussed possible narrowing language, but the transcript ends before a final disposition on HB 585 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• and prisons, but there comes a point when we have to pass legislation that is here to protect the public
• and I'll be happy to protect the public and I'll be happy to entertain<00:05:22.199><c> any</c><00:05
• Re-entry services by the Department of Corrections.
• Re-entry services by the Department of Corrections.
• </c> associated with attendance at any public associated with attendance at any public post-secondary

Summary: The committee began with roll call and introductory remarks, including recognition of new members and guests. It then took up House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Tipton, which would increase penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection. Under the committee substitute, a third violation involving the same order and same individual could be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Tipton and domestic violence survivor Maryanne Pratt testified in support, with Pratt describing repeated abuse, protective-order violations, and ongoing fear despite arrests and jail time. Several members spoke in favor of the bill and praised Pratt’s testimony. Members and outside witnesses raised concerns about the substitute’s language, especially the requirement that the same victim be involved and whether the bill could leave gaps for repeat abusers with different victims. Representative Burke and others questioned whether the conduct was already covered by stalking or assault statutes. Scott West, speaking for the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the bill could allow technical contempt findings to be used as predicate offenses and noted that existing assault and stalking laws already address much of the conduct. Sponsor Tipton said the language was not final and that further changes might be considered in the Senate. Despite the concerns, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 38 with favorable expression by a 19-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 206, sponsored by Representative Nemes, on wrongful conviction compensation. Nemes introduced exonerees and representatives from the Kentucky Innocence Project, and the substitute was adopted without objection. Testimony came from Paul Herd, who spent 20 years wrongfully convicted and described the difficulty of reentry, and Jon Acar, who said he was wrongly convicted as a teenager and spent years in custody and on parole. Both urged passage of the bill as overdue support for people exonerated after wrongful convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lower overall public system costs. lower overall public system costs.
• ><c> a</c><00:31:50.799><c> crisis,</c> If emergency services manage a crisis, If emergency services
• </c> reduce services or close programs. reduce services or close programs.
• </c> Properties financed with layered public Properties financed with layered public and<00:36:09.280
• </c> that uh requires the kind of service that uh requires the kind of service they're<00:41:27.760><

Bills: HF3425 , HF3424 , HF1385

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That is not public.
• </c> hours of community service. hours of community service.
• The public can't attend. Um proceeding. The public can't attend.
• Their grand jury service of citizens guide specifically states as a grand jury, you are a public official
• Their grand jury service of citizens guide specifically states as a grand jury, you are a public official

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• for public comment.
• She said they are a critical element of the victim services, public health, and public safety ecosystems
• So rather than risk expanding these service disruptions to other public safety answering points throughout
• Utility Commission.
• We built it on the most modern cloud services available, Amazon Web Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• for public comment.
• We are a critical element of the victim services, public health, and public safety ecosystems, helping
• So rather than risk expanding these service disruptions to other public safety answering points throughout
• Utility Commission.
• We built it on the most modern cloud services available, Amazon Web Services.

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear budget-related updates from the Judicial Branch and the Office of Emergency Services, with no votes taken. The Judicial Council supported the Governor’s proposed budget, highlighting $70 million for increased trial court operating costs, additional funding for court-appointed counsel, Court of Appeal case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities. Trial court representatives emphasized staffing retention problems, especially in counties like San Bernardino, and said stable funding is needed to avoid delays and maintain access to justice. Members also discussed the branch’s remote proceedings program, which has been used in more than 6 million hearings statewide since 2022 and was described as especially important in rural areas and for vulnerable litigants; several members urged making the authority permanent rather than extending it temporarily. A major portion of the hearing focused on Proposition 36 implementation. Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains the $130 million provided in the 2025 Budget Act for court workload and pretrial services, but adds no new Prop. 36 court funding. Judicial Council staff reported nearly 35,000 felony Prop. 36 filings in 2025, with most cases still pending and only a small share of treatment-mandated cases already dismissed after treatment. Witnesses said courts are using the funds for staffing, coordinators, clerks, and treatment-court operations, but that workload varies widely by county and that data collection is limited because courts report aggregate information rather than case-level outcomes. The LAO raised a technical concern about the Department of Finance’s Prop. 47 savings estimate and recommended revising the methodology at May Revision. The committee also reviewed the Orange Central Justice Center facility modification project, where the Judicial Council explained that hidden construction deficiencies and fire-life-safety issues caused costs to rise substantially after demolition began. The LAO said the project itself was supportable but recommended that the Legislature set an ongoing funding level for court facilities, require a long-term facilities plan, and consider more oversight of facility modification projects. Finance said it continues to fund courthouse projects individually and through the State Public Works Board, while acknowledging project delays and cost increases. Finally, Cal OES and advocates discussed victim services funding. Cal OES said it administers about $315 million annually for victim service programs, including VOCA-funded services, but federal VOCA allocations have fluctuated sharply and the state has used one-time General Fund backfills to maintain services. Trauma recovery center advocates warned that an 85% reduction in funding would sharply reduce services for survivors of violent crime, while human trafficking advocates urged reauthorization of the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program before funding reverts to pre-pandemic levels in July 2026. Members asked about federal and state funding stability, referral pathways, and the long-term value of these programs in preventing worse outcomes and reducing public costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would just say the Florida Senate has managed to get by just fine with this exact language over the
• Is there public testimony? We have no public testimony. Any debate, members?
• Any public testimony? No public testimony. Debate, members? Any debate?

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, uh, even red states like Texas and Florida are on board with banning or regulating AI's use
• 05.120><c> and</c> know, uh, even red states like Texas and know, uh, even red states like Texas and Florida
• 06.319><c> board</c><00:03:06.640><c> with</c><00:03:07.360><c> banning</c><00:03:07.760><c> or</c> Florida
• are on board with banning or Florida are on board with banning or regulating<00:03:08.560><c> AI's</

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got public testimony. Let's see.
• Colton Medill, Florida Chamber of Commerce, is waving in support. Thank you. All right.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida and Schiff. Lastly, we also have the committee's rules to approve and adopt.
• Together, these two bills increase transparency and hold SBA accountable to the American public.
• That displaces SBA employees under the guise of improving customer service for small business owners.
• And its impact on the dedicated public servants who work there.

Bills: SB298 , SB300 , SB371

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee