Transcript Highlights:

• the other budget subcommittees, recommends the funding that forms the foundation of the General Appropriations
• On the opening day of the 2025 legislative session, Speaker Perez mentioned many things in his opening
• Last fall, the Legislative Budget Commission published a long-range financial outlook, which projected
• for other planning funds, it didn't seem like an appropriate time to add more members to a court that
• also for other planning funds, it didn't seem like an appropriate time to add more members to a court

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met to consider the fiscal year 2025-26 budget recommendations, a proposed committee bill on judicial positions, and one member bill. The chair framed the budget as part of a broader effort to slow spending growth and reduce recurring expenditures, noting the subcommittee’s proposed $7.3 billion budget is $366 million below the prior year. Major budget items included funding for the Department of Corrections to address staffing, maintenance, health services, security equipment, and facility needs; the Department of Juvenile Justice for residential beds, maintenance, the Broward detention facility replacement design, medical services, and Florida Scholars Academy costs; FDLE for the Fort Myers regional operations center and sexual offender/predator registration workload; and the state courts and justice administration entities for judges, due process resources, security, and staffing. The budget also reduced 1,280 vacant positions and $139.2 million in excess funding and authority. The committee then heard PCB-JUB-25-01, which implements part of the Florida Supreme Court’s certification of judicial need. The bill establishes 17 additional circuit court judges and 12 additional county court judges, with about $13.9 million in general revenue and 72 associated positions. In response to a question about why the two certified 6th District Court of Appeal judges were not included, the chair said the committee did not think it was the right time to add judges to a brand-new court still operating from leased space. The PCB was reported favorably on a 14-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 1351 by Representative Baker, which revises sex offender and predator registration rules by clarifying resident categories, creating an in-state travel residence definition, allowing online or in-person reporting for certain temporary residence changes, removing duplicative reporting requirements, clarifying vehicle and employment reporting, and requiring local law enforcement to verify addresses more frequently for registrants not on supervision. FDLE and Smart Justice indicated support, and the bill passed unanimously, 14-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee on Appropriations will now come to order Ali ship.
• So there's political engagement that I think is an appropriate.
• I was thinking more or less on the usage of of of funds being appropriate for what it would be requested
• As an appropriation committee.
• We'll have to appropriate.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> speaker and request roll call. speaker and request roll call.
• </c> I do support this legislation. I do support this legislation.
• </c> and it's evil what's happened to legisl and it's evil what's happened to legisl legislators<01:40
• </c> legislators in this room. legislators in this room.
• Speaker, I request a roll call. &gt;&gt; Mr. Speaker, I request a roll call.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> Jacqueline Coleman, and all legislators, Jacqueline Coleman, and all legislators, Supreme<00:02
• Speaker, this if uh if appropriate. Mr.
• </c> that are uh using open records requests that are uh using open records requests to<00:54:04.160>
• </c> Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.
• :15:23.320><c> Bills</c> Appropriations and Revenue, House Bills Appropriations and Revenue, House Bills

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget request for the Office of the Governor.
• Now, who determines whether an IEP is appropriate or not?
• I just want to follow up on that request.
• So we had made a request to the governor to expand pretrial.
• And so they say, go to the Appropriations Committee.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:48.920><c> that</c> We are also including legislation that We are also including legislation
• </c> this piece of legislation? this piece of legislation?
• </c> with letter and respectfully request with letter and respectfully request concurrence<00:58:59.120
• I'd like to act on a legislative citation.
• </c><01:17:05.720><c> and</c> recommitted to Appropriations and recommitted to Appropriations and Revenue

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the journal from the prior legislative the journal from the prior legislative day. day. day.
• </c> it does not mandate an appropriation. it does not mandate an appropriation.
• </c> special pediatric hospital on request special pediatric hospital on request within<00:20:41.600>
• </c><00:53:08.640><c> Number</c> Legislative Policy Committee. Number Legislative Policy Committee.
• </c><01:24:39.360><c> Any</c> appropriate time tomorrow. Any appropriate time tomorrow.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hear the request. Is there an objection? Hearing none, it is so ordered.
• You've heard the request. Is there an objection?
• They were doing great work and actually recommending legislation.
• Senators, this is simple legislation.
• It will be expanded because of legislation that we may pass in this body based on flawed legislation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a question for staff, so we think that's appropriate. That would be good now.
• Thank you. ...our Energy Committee, Fish and Wildlife, Legislative, Law and Order Committee.
• Fiscal note has been requested, I'm happy to take questions. also eliminates this report.
• Fiscal note's been requested. I'm happy to take questions. Are there any questions? OK.
• I think there's probably also value in kind of having focused legislation here as well.

Bills: HB2496, HB2575, HB2605

Keywords: tribal consultation, energy facilities, site evaluation, environmental impact, policy regulation, environmental regulation, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, HB 2605, Washington asbestos law, naturally occurring fibrous silicate, asbestos-containing building materials, fibrous silicate materials, asbestos labeling, construction materials, renovation, repair and maintenance, EPA method

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask you to bless every senator, every legislator.
• Privilege reported the Legislative Bureau.
• It is ordered to the Legislative Bureau.
• Senator Bartholome's first bill, the legislative session.
• There has been legislation before with my name on it.

Bills: SB524, SR108, SR109, SCR56, SCR57, SCR12, HB227, HB398, HB689, HB897, HB1029, HB1107, HB1217, HB221, HCR58, HB136, SB162, SB382, SCR33, SCR30, SB112, SB194, SB307, SB341, SB346, SB363, SB495, SB503, SB507, SB509, SB513, SB408, SB131, SB145, SB333, SB464, SB466, SB500, SB283, SB338, SB488, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB228, SB246, SB249, SB268, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB312, SB319, SB323, SB369, SB431, SB474, SB484, SB490, SB492, SB501, HCR14, HB537, HB652, HB653, HB661, HB726, HB756, HB851, HB964, HB966, HB34, HB35, HB48, HB474, HB553, HB758, HB852, HB10, HB16, HB36, HB44, HB46, HB52, HB61, HB78, HB98, HB102, HB124, HB126, HB131, HB135, HB141, HB142, HB164, HB170, HB171, HB179, HB194, HB231, HB245, HB280, HB292, HB294, HB297, HB305, HB336, HB337, HB351, HB436, HB594, HB789, HB956, HB957, HB995, HB1040, HB50, HB117, HB120, HB122, HB139, HB148, HB149, HB185, HB199, HB247, HB271, HB286, HB301, HB358, HB359, HB384, HB413, HB428, HB450, HB462, HB547, HB613, HB631, HB657, HB669, HB675, HB680, HB691, HB712, HB716, HB720, HB723, HB727, HB728, HB735, HB747, HB759, HB825, HB842, HB845, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB907, HB923, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB965, HB1036, HB287, HB370, HB515, HB521, HB570, HB1200, HB29, HB39, HB58, HB67, HB73, HB76, HB77, HB82, HB112, HB121, HB125, HB132, HB134, HB151, HB154, HB155, HB161, HB166, HB187, HB191, HB207, HB211, HB224, HB238, HB241, HB242, HB250, HB260, HB265, HB275, HB300, HB320, HB338, HB339, HB349, HB379, HB399, HB427, HB463, HB464, HB468, HB545, HB550, HB551, HB565, HB588, HB639, HB725, HB782, HB805, HB808, HB834, HB847, HB853, HB858, HB861, HB883, HB916, HB937, HB977, HB1012, HB1027, HB1044, HB1054, HB1071, HB1091, HB1117, HB119, HB129, HB677, HB850, SB68, SB149

Keywords: Jump Start, career and technical education, CTE, career diploma, career pathways, workforce development, high school diploma, career major, individual career and academic plan, ICAP, individual graduation plan, IGP, work-based learning, apprenticeship, internship, dual enrollment, articulation agreement, transfer credit, rural schools, rural LEA

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, a guest minister prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a St. Charles Parish presentation featuring a youth national anthem singer. The chamber then moved through a large number of House and Senate messages, committee reports, and introductions, including measures on career and technical education, flood risk maps, public-private partnership contracting, arts day, and a task force on work-based learning. Several resolutions were adopted, including SCR 56 honoring the YMCA and SCR 57 honoring Jonathan Nicole, both by unanimous votes. A House concurrent resolution supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education also passed 26-9. On Senate bills, the chamber gave final passage to SB 112 on voluntary release time for K-12 religious instruction with a criminal background check amendment, SB 194 on public assistance and citizenship verification, SB 307 on public displays of historical/religious documents, SB 341 expanding church and nonprofit religious self-insurance coverage, SB 346 prohibiting deepfake materials used against students, SB 495 on campaign finance reporting and unitemized contributions, SB 503 on age assurance for minors using mobile apps, SB 507 creating a statewide process for determining non-enrollment, SB 509 on bank-owned life insurance, SB 131 limiting attorney fee recovery in occupational licensing disciplinary cases, SB 145 requiring backup power for adult residential care providers, SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and federal reimbursement, SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage, SB 466 on expropriation and foreign adversaries, SB 488 on a school safety drone response pilot program, SB 312 on union dues and withholding procedures, and SB 319 on voter identification and provisional ballot procedures. Most passed with little or no opposition, though SB 194, SB 307, SB 503, SB 131, SB 333, and SB 319 drew some dissenting votes. The chamber also passed multiple House bills, including HB 1071 on public records exceptions for aerospace critical infrastructure, HB 537 repealing the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, HB 652 and HB 653 adjusting Oyster Task Force membership, HB 661 narrowing nepotism restrictions for certain school board hires with an amendment, HB 756 aligning watercraft enforcement with Coast Guard standards, HB 851 banning intentional balloon releases, HB 964 authorizing a Caddo Parish property transfer, and HB 34 and HB 35 on sheriff pension fund eligibility and contribution rules. Several items were returned to the calendar or referred to committees. A major discussion centered on SB 484, which would restructure parts of higher education governance and transfer certain Board of Regents functions; it drew extensive questioning and amendments, including a new Lumcon board structure and financial reporting requirements, but was returned to the calendar for further work rather than final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Megan, please give your legislative update. Good morning.
• Megan and her team are out tracking legislation, answering questions for legislators, and just making
• It all ties together and can help support appropriate dosing.
• I don't know what the appropriate threshold should be.
• You know, the federal legislation is in place.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and a number more introducing legislation.
• What I like about this legislation is that it takes a very sensible approach.
• As Brian said, this legislation does not take away parental agency.
• A fiscal note has been requested, but is not yet available.
• I also want to thank her and Senator Short for sponsoring this insurance commissioner's requested legislation

Bills: SB5928

Keywords: wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is an entity that is, I think, appropriate for folks to get training from.
• "I would want to make sure that the appropriate folks are receiving that training.
• This is a governor's request, so I thank the governor for This is a governor's request, so I thank the
• legislation forward.
• I'm Representative Julio Cortez from the 38th Legislative District.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2203 would create the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for driving on a roadway known to be closed due to hazardous conditions, with gross misdemeanor penalties, a possible Class C felony enhancement if a rescue leads to injury or involves a minor or vulnerable adult, license suspension, and emergency-response cost recovery. The prime sponsor described recent flooding rescues in Orting as the impetus, and local police support emphasized responder safety and limited resources. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission opposed the felony section, saying the conduct did not warrant felony treatment and recommending a traffic infraction for the first level and a gross misdemeanor for the second. House Bill 2293 would bar Washington law enforcement agencies, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and related personnel from training with foreign militaries, intelligence agencies, or security services, or funding travel for that purpose. The sponsor said civilian policing should not be trained like military service and argued officers should be trained under U.S. constitutional standards. Opponents from the sheriffs and police chiefs association argued the bill was too broad and unclear, could block valuable counterterrorism and best-practice training, and might need exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and other legitimate international partnerships. Members discussed possible amendments and clarification language. House Bill 2165 would create a new gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, covering possession or creation of realistic badges, insignia, or other items identifying someone as an officer when they are not commissioned, while preserving defenses for honorary, reserve, posse, and protected expressive uses. The sponsor and governor’s office said current law is too limited because it often requires an active impersonation before enforcement can occur; law enforcement groups supported the goal but raised concerns about definitions, vehicle markings, federal-agent coverage, and whether the offense could be plea-bargained away. House Bill 2173 would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT protective gear, and medical or environmental masks, and would allow civil suits for violations. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and trust and responds to concerns about masked immigration enforcement; opponents warned it could expose officers to doxxing, create liability and recruitment problems, and raise constitutional issues, especially as applied to federal officers. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it means to request? Well, how how tactically, as a purchasing officer make that request?
• It's appropriate to require that everyone to a vendor day. I don't even know her.
• I just so we use we do use the request for, quote, process often.
• We'll put out request for staff services, go out to all the vendors.
• approaching appropriate bonding amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Appropriations Committee report? Appropriations Committee report?
• </c> adoption of the the Appropriations adoption of the the Appropriations Committee<00:22:31.960><c>
• This is responsible legislation.
• This is responsible legislation. legislation. legislation.
• </c> believe this is significant legislation. believe this is significant legislation.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Same<01:57:06.800><c> request.</c> &gt;&gt; Same request. &gt;&gt; Same request.
• &gt;&gt; Same<02:11:22.560><c> request.</c> &gt;&gt; Same request. &gt;&gt; Same request.
• By reaffirming annual and longevity step increases subject to collective bargaining and legislative appropriation
• </c> collective bargaining and legislative collective bargaining and legislative appropriation,<04:11
• Same request. So ordered. Cochran. Same request. So ordered.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal
• For legislative business, Assemblymember Arambula.
• That power cannot be legislated away.
• to the Appropriations Committee.
• Young Legislators of the Year from the 73rd Assembly District.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, sir, now, are you going to need a legislative appropriation to do this, or is this, hey, if you
• There is no request from the state in association with this bill.
• Chair... ...feel it's the appropriate course of action. Mr. Chair, Mr.
• Powell, there was $18 million appropriated to different fire departments.
• Powell, there was $18 million appropriated to different fire departments.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several public safety and corrections measures. SB 1161 would prevent $750,000 appropriated to DPS for Yuma County’s Amberly’s Place Family Advocacy Center from lapsing; testimony emphasized that the bill preserves existing funding for crisis response and victim services. The committee also advanced SB 1215, which clarifies the cancer list tied to the occupational disease presumption for firefighters and peace officers and adds retroactivity to June 30, 2021. SB 1270, aimed at retention for Tier 3 corrections employees, would allow optional employer supplemental contributions to defined contribution accounts at specified service intervals, with an amendment capping annual contributions at $5,000 and requiring employer policies; members discussed retention, vesting, and whether the incentive could simply be taken and left after the waiting period. Both SB 1161 and SB 1215 received due pass recommendations, as did SB 1270 after one no vote and several members noting the need for better retention tools. The committee then considered SB 1400, which authorizes law enforcement wellness and crisis response programs and sets confidentiality rules for information shared in those programs. Supporters said the bill would expand access to peer and professional support while preserving public records and misconduct investigation access, but members raised concerns that the privilege language could be too broad for licensed therapists; the sponsor indicated openness to an amendment, and the bill was advanced with members reserving the right to change their votes if the language is not tightened. SB 1538, as a strike-everything amendment, would require workers’ compensation coverage for PTSD treatment for firefighters and peace officers and could include one course of MDMA treatment if federal approval and DEA rescheduling occur by the stated deadline. Supporters described promising clinical trial results and argued the bill is a conditional authorization, while counties opposed the mandate and raised cost concerns; after debate over whether the bill is permissive or mandatory, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation. The committee also passed SB 1537, which renames the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund and repeals the advisory commission. Supporters said the new name better reflects the fund’s use for de-escalation and less-lethal equipment, while some members opposed the change and preferred the money be used for raises. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1580, which would appropriate funds for fire incident management support hardware and software and, under a chairman’s amendment, redirect money from the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund to additional public safety technology and retention/recruitment purposes; testimony focused on regional data-sharing systems and the need for accountability and clarity on how the funds would be spent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior appropriation means first in time, first in right.
• Specific to water appropriation.
• I appear before you today to request the committee consider having Legislative Council gather what other
• Also, periodically during legislative sessions, I would say you've appropriated dollars specifically
• The bedded salts are at the appropriate thickness.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of the Mincota Power Cooperative headquarters before returning for presentations on large energy consumers, especially data centers. The first presentations focused on how North Dakota should respond to rapid growth in energy-intensive projects, with speakers emphasizing the need for reliable transmission, local decision-making tools, and factual information for county and township officials who are being asked to weigh major projects with limited staff and technical support. The North Dakota Transmission Authority director said local governments are being asked to make high-impact decisions on pipelines, transmission lines, large agriculture, wind, solar, carbon dioxide pipelines, direct-air capture, and data centers, and urged development of simple statewide decision tools and support from the League of Cities and Association of Counties. The Department of Environmental Quality’s air division director said North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the nation, but large data centers can create air-quality concerns because of diesel backup generation; he said the department is requiring air monitors at some facilities and expects grid power and, potentially, cleaner natural gas backup to reduce emissions. Members asked about emissions standards, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession at DEQ. The Department of Water Resources director said North Dakota’s water law is based on common ownership and prior appropriation, and that data centers generally use relatively small amounts of water, often in closed-loop systems. He said the Missouri River and groundwater supplies are ample for projected needs, that the department’s permitting process protects senior water rights, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use a very small share of Missouri River flow. Members asked about downstream impacts and compared data center water use with fracking. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson urged the committee to study how other states regulate data centers, warned against litigation-driven delays and overly broad local ordinances, argued reclamation bonding should be handled at the state level if at all, and said data centers can bring jobs and tax base but should remain subject to local zoning. The committee ended the morning session for lunch and later heard an EERC update from CEO Charles Gorecki on the center’s 75 years of work in energy and environmental technologies, especially oil and gas development and related research.

Transcript Highlights:

• We appropriated before; it wasn't utilized.
• So the request, I think what the deputy director is trying to say, the request may have been for more
• Well, we had requested that earlier on, but yeah, it's the same request. It's the same.
• and appropriated by the Senate.
• and appropriated by the Senate. funding that has been requested and appropriated by the Senate.

Summary: The committee heard an extensive Department of Social Services presentation on child care budget issues, including the Governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget, federal CCDF changes, Prop. 64 revenue adjustments, and a one-time $11.5 million disaster-related infrastructure grant for licensed child care facilities affected by 2025 declared disasters. DSS said federal formula updates and lower Prop. 64 revenues would reduce funding and could result in about 4,176 CCTR slots being reduced, but the department said it was working to avoid impacts to currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning general child care funding with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant. Members pressed DSS and Finance on why reductions were not being backfilled and why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unused; DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment challenges, and that some unspent funds revert to the General Fund. The committee also discussed whether some contract dollars should be shifted to vouchers and whether more flexibility should be allowed for infrastructure and expansion costs. A second panel focused on the state’s commitment to expand child care and on rate reform. DSS reported that nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded since 2021-22, but speakers from Stanislaus County Office of Education, Parent Voices California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that unmet need remains large and that the system still leaves many families without access. Stanislaus County described a large local shortage of infant and toddler care and said reimbursement disparities between child care programs and state preschool create disincentives for providers. Parent Voices gave testimony about the burdens and instability families face when trying to access care, especially for survivors and low-income parents, and called for a universal, publicly funded system. The Budget Center said only about 16% of eligible children were enrolled in 2024, urged expansion across the mixed delivery system rather than concentrating investment in TK, and called for faster rate reform and new revenue. LAO estimated that bringing certain CCTR adjustment factors up to CSPP levels would cost $88 million to $131 million ongoing. Members and witnesses discussed the single rate structure, automation needs, and the need for deadlines and a ramp-up plan; DSS said the goal is to eliminate disparities, but that policy decisions are still needed before automation can proceed. The committee then reviewed several trailer bill proposals. DSS outlined a 2026-27 COLA proposal that would apply a 2.41% increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, though the department said it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program and would revise the proposal; LAO recommended making the COLA methodology uniform across programs. DSS also proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology on a triennial schedule, limiting temporary absences in family child care homes to 20% of monthly hours, defining excessive unexplained absences as more than 30 days in a year, and aligning family fee deductions with new federal requirements so providers receive the full voucher value. Members generally supported the temporary absence change and asked about implementation timing for the family fee deduction, with DSS saying it was in contact with Riverside County. The committee also heard a brief update on the Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation, which would extend unused funds through June 30, 2028 because prior costs came in higher than expected.