Transcript Highlights:

• Late-filed amendment barcode 252-648 by Senator Trumbull.
• Without objection, show the late-filed amendment introduced.
• Late filed amendment barcode 252-648 by Senator Trunow.
• The bill also authorizes a qualified candidate or political party with qualified candidates in the same
• But objections show the late-filed amendment introduced.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today to provide feedback on House File 1800.
• I'm here today to provide feedback on House File 1800.
• He said it can come from a candidate and does not have to be a party.
• can come from a candidate can come from a candidate and<01:10:26.400> it<01:10:26.560>
• Okay, House File 1800 passes, six votes yes and five nay.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:55.440> are the bottom the candidates are the bottom the candidates are responsible
• One is to allow for filing here in Concord as well as at the town clerk.
• Filing at the state instead of the town, I could see it doesn't make a big difference to me.
• Um, certainly filing at the town. Comment on any of that. I'll be happy to.
• Um, certainly filing at the town. to me. Um, certainly filing at the town.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• filing?
• before the primary pre-filing deadline, early filing.
• Okay, so this year the candidate filing period ended on Saturday, January 31st. Yes.
• deficient filings, provide written notice to the person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer of
• deficient filings to provide written notice to the person, candidate, financial agent, or treasurer

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting’s minutes, then took up House Bill 4198, which would require all employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization. Counsel explained that the bill would add enforcement by the Division of Labor, create tiered penalties including warnings, fines, debarment from state contracts, and possible business license revocation, while also removing criminal penalties tied to hiring unauthorized workers in light of federal law. Members raised extensive concerns about drafting problems, including circular and conflicting language, unclear references to existing verification and recordkeeping provisions, the meaning of terms like “seeks to employ,” and whether the bill could unintentionally apply to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements. Questions also focused on whether the bill would apply to public versus private employers, how compliance would be shown, and how penalties would work for small businesses or employers who never actually hire the person in question. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a straightforward extension of the federally required I-9 process, saying E-Verify is a quick, free online check that helps employers verify work authorization and protects them from liability for unknowingly hiring unauthorized workers. He said the bill was intended to be mandatory, not permissive, and argued that it would help law-abiding employers compete fairly. After the questioning, the committee rejected a motion to table the bill and instead sent House Bill 4198 to a seven-member subcommittee to clean up the drafting, resolve inconsistencies, and review the penalties and scope of the measure. The subcommittee was directed to meet the next morning and report back quickly. The committee then moved to House Bill 4710, with an amendment that would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the bill is aimed at preventing candidates from switching parties after losing a primary and then running as independents in the general election. Members discussed how the 210-day requirement would interact with both primary and general election filing deadlines, and the Secretary of State’s office clarified that the measure would affect candidates who change affiliation shortly before filing. The discussion continued with testimony from the Secretary of State’s general counsel about how the bill would operate in practice, but no final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• or a House file.
• or a house if it's used a senate file or a house file<00:13:05.079> and<00:13:05.240> then
• <01:14:45.239> 126 of precursor to a new patent filing 126 of precursor to a new patent filing
• these people would be good candidates these people would be good candidates for<01:20:49.560>
• <01:21:09.159> nominations also accept new candidate nominations also accept new candidate

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee met to begin a budget overview for higher education. The chair noted quorum, committee member introductions, and that Democratic members were absent. The chair also said the Office of Higher Education would not be appearing for the planned budget deep dive, so nonpartisan fiscal staff would present instead. Ken Savory, the committee’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst, introduced a presentation on the higher education finance structure and timeline. Savory explained the state budget cycle, the difference between direct appropriations, statutory appropriations, open appropriations, base funding, tails, and one-time appropriations, and how those concepts apply to higher education. He described the committee’s usual budget areas: the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Foundation. He also reviewed historical spending charts showing higher education’s share of the general fund over time, the 2/3-1/3 funding policy in statute, and how tuition and general fund support have shifted. He noted that the FY 26-27 base for the Office of Higher Education area is about $725 million, including roughly $450 million for the State Grant program and about $99 million for North Star Promise. Members asked about comparing the current budget to earlier biennia, and staff responded that they would need to calculate the percentage difference. The chair then summarized prior budget growth, saying the previous budget was about $650 million over base and the current budget/tail was about $450 million over base. Staff also reviewed the 2024 omnibus higher education bill, including a roughly $5 million reduction to North Star Promise that was redirected to the Fostering Independence Grant program and a $500,000 appropriation for Minnesota State’s Kids on Campus program. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We finally found a perfect candidate.
• Maybe we'll start with file item number two, AB 408.
• On the consent calendar, file item 13, AB 1101 Huen.
• On the consent calendar, file item 13, AB 1101, Huen, and file item 14, AB 1130, Berman. Elhawary?
• Aguiar-Curry, file item one. Elhawary? Aye. Haney? Aye. Irwin? Aye. File item two, AB 408, Berman.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with most measures drawing support from industry, professional, local government, and advocacy witnesses, and several receiving committee amendments before moving forward. AB 8 on hemp and cannabis drew the most extensive debate: supporters said it would close loopholes around intoxicating hemp products, strengthen enforcement, and bring THC products into the regulated cannabis supply chain; opponents, including small cannabis farmers and environmental groups, warned it could undermine Proposition 64’s closed-loop system, harm California cultivators, and reduce tax revenues for youth, environmental, and law enforcement programs. The author said the bill was intended to protect consumers and children and to work further with stakeholders. AB 476 on copper theft was presented as a public safety and infrastructure bill to tighten reporting, documentation, and penalties for scrap metal theft; supporters from cities, utilities, broadband, and recycling-related groups described major losses and outages from copper theft, and the remaining opposition moved to neutral after amendments, with the bill advancing with committee support. The committee also heard AB 985, which would allow nationally certified anesthesiologist assistants to practice under direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists to address anesthesia workforce shortages. Supporters, including the California Society of Anesthesiologists, medical groups, students, and patients, said it would expand access and bring California in line with other states; nurse anesthesiology groups expressed concerns and sought further clarification, but there was no formal opposition at the hearing. AB 506, aimed at online pet sales, would void contracts that fail to disclose an animal’s origin or veterinary records or that require non-refundable deposits; animal welfare groups said it would curb puppy mill pipelines and deceptive online sales, and there was no opposition. AB 876, on certified registered nurse anesthetists, generated the sharpest health care policy dispute: supporters said it would codify existing practice and clarify CRNA duties, while physicians and medical associations argued it would expand scope too far and reduce patient safety. After a roll call, AB 876 passed the committee 9-0, as amended, to Appropriations. Other bills advanced with broad support after amendments. AB 432, the Menopause Equity Act, would require continuing medical education on menopause-related care for certain physicians; the author and medical experts said the bill addresses widespread gaps in menopause treatment and research, while CMA and ACOG opposed the mandate as an inappropriate CME requirement, though they agreed the underlying problem is real. The bill passed on call, as amended, to Health. AB 759 would allow eligible architectural candidates to use the title “architect in training” to encourage completion of licensure and improve diversity in the profession; it passed unanimously, as amended, to Appropriations. AB 967 would create an optional expedited licensure fee for out-of-state physicians to reduce delays in bringing doctors into California’s workforce; supporters said it would help address shortages and improve patient access, and the bill was presented with support from medical stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or are other candidates for judicial office subject to the same restrictions?
• It was going to be filed today, so we didn't prepare fully for it.
• Does this bill in any way limit contributions to state-level or statewide candidates? In Texas?
• President and members, this amendment is modeled after the restrictions that candidates and judicial
• We allow those that are filing for office to raise money, and through September 1, I would.

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• A different file. Got it.
• increased an eviction uh notice is filed increased an eviction uh notice is filed and<00:14:13.399
• <01:08:35.960> committees<01:08:36.480> non-candidate candidate committees non-candidate
• candidate committees non-candidate committees<01:08:38.000> and<01:08:38.199> political
• So only if you have a password, like, for example, you're a candidate or non-candidate committee and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1324, which would require the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and allow attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide those services, with an appropriation. The Department of the Attorney General recommended removing reference to Hawaii Public Housing Authority tenants because HPHA eviction proceedings are administrative and could conflict with the bill. Hawaii Appleseed and other testifiers strongly supported the measure, citing studies showing much higher tenant retention when counsel is available, and suggested adding notice of the right to counsel at key points such as rent increases, eviction notices, and lease signing. The committee adopted amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested change and a technical amendment, and passed the bill out with a recommendation to move it forward; members voted aye, with one member voting with reservations and several excused. The committee then heard House Bill 126 on property forfeiture, which would increase transparency and accountability in civil asset forfeiture by clarifying covered property, changing disposition rules, and removing language requiring liberal construction of the forfeiture act. The Attorney General said forfeiture remains an important law enforcement tool and that the bill would not impair its use. The Office of the Public Defender supported the measure but argued civil forfeiture is broadly problematic because many people cannot meaningfully challenge it and are not entitled to counsel. Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, saying forfeiture is useful in fighting illegal activity and that added procedures would delay enforcement and reduce operational funding from forfeiture proceeds. Community Alliance on Prisons, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters urged reform or abolition of civil forfeiture, citing transparency concerns and the risk of abuse. No vote on HB 126 was taken in the portion provided. The final measure discussed was House Bill 166, which would require the state to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees in certain civil actions, allow employees to hire their own counsel at their own expense, and set a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the state declines to defend. Testimony from the Hawaii Association for Justice and labor representatives was in strong support, describing the bill as a negotiated clarification that balances employee protections with accountability and noting it had passed previously but died in conference. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on HB 166.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a candidate for U.S.
• We the people demand to elect our own candidates.
• of Washington. ...candidate for Congress in Texas's 3rd congressional district.
• File a map or not? Are you intending...
• Have you heard that they'll be filing a map?

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An act providing for the election of candidates in the city of Haverhill, House No. 4203.
• An act providing for the election of candidates in the city of Haverhill, House No. 4204.
• An act providing for the election of candidates in the city of Haverill, House number 4203.
• An act providing for the election of candidates in the city of Haverill, House number 4204.
• Question comes. for the election of candidates in the city of Havril, House No, 4204.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with ceremonial recognitions, including the United States of Wales girls swim team for its third consecutive state championship, the Weston High School girls indoor track team for its state title, and students visiting from the Squantum Schools. The chamber then adopted a resolution honoring Carl F. Kowalski of Whitman for more than 40 years of public service after suspending the rules. The House also took up a Senate amendment to the fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill, House No. 528. After suspending the rules, the House voted not to concur with the Senate amendment and instead agreed to appoint a committee of conference. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee then recommended several bills for immediate consideration, including measures on Milton school land timing, tolling reform, LIHEAP automatic re-enrollment, Massachusetts identification cards, Quincy public safety records, and parity among Massachusetts beaches; the House suspended Rule 7A, ordered them to third reading, and advanced them. On third reading, the House concurred in the Senate amendment to House No. 4259, designating the Weeder Park tennis courts as the Kim O'Connell tennis courts. It then passed to be engrossed bills on Haverhill election procedures (House Nos. 4203 and 4204), extending Dalton Fire District interim fire chief employment (House No. 4321), and regulating elections in Conway (House No. 4498). Finally, the House took up the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill, House No. 5500, but postponed further consideration until April 27, adopted an order to meet the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 2831. Senate File 2831.
• policy is Senate File 3548. policy is Senate File 3548.
• and to urge you to support Senate File and to urge you to support Senate File 3548,<00:30:28.080
• Next, we'll hear Senate<01:18:09.040> File<01:18:09.360> 3963. Senate File 3963.
• Senate File 3963.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Candidates receive. Hands-on practice and real-time feedback.
• It prioritizes candidates entering high need campuses. like bilingual and special education.
• Crittenden-Fuller and Andrew Ott show that first-year candidates prepared through residency programs
• briefly what those are, the difference between the bill as filed.
• I mean so if you file that the district decides to file a lawsuit and There's certain ultraviolet conduct

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 1842, House File 60, came to us by a St.
• Senate File 1842, House File 60, came to us by a St.
• Senate File 1842, House File 60, came to us by a St.
• Senate File 1536 would allow candidates to use a bachelor's degree with two years of experience or a
• Senate File 1536 would allow candidates to use a bachelor's degree with two years of experience or a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Late-filed amendment barcode 252-648 by Senator Truenow.
• Without objection, show the late-filed amendment introduced.
• Late filed amendment barcode 252-648 by Senator Trunow.
• The bill also authorizes a qualified candidate or political party with qualified candidates in the same
• But objections show the late-filed amendment introduced.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, to have in front of you House File 3650.
• Chair and members, to have in front of you House File 3650.
• of you House File 30 uh 3650. of you House File 30 uh 3650.
• EPC, speaking in support of House File EPC, speaking in support of House File 3650.<00:05:29.360
• >> House File 3650 as amended is on its way to education finance.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• AND INVESTIGATIONS FOR PENALTIES FOR ANY BANK OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT ANYONE IN FLORIDA CAN FILE
• THINK A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION IS NECESSARY IN LIGHT OF CURRENT LAW AND IT'S THERE FOR ANYBODY TO FILE
• WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT 25% AND THE MARGIN OF ERROR IS LIMITED TO CANDIDATE QUESTIONS. >> Sen.
• Grall: THAT WAS A BALLOT INITIATIVE PETITION, NOT CANDIDATE PETITIONS. >> Sen.
• SINCE THAT TIME 100 BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED ON THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE PROCESS, 16 OUR OF 2 PASSED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the timelines for verifying petitions more feasible for counties and to standardize timelines for candidates
• We have also amended in a provision from another bill creating a voter access program, ...candidates.
• One of the changes removes electronic voting in jails, and the other leaves the filing date for candidates
• By statute, candidate filing begins in early October.
• By statute, candidate filing begins in early October, and by the end of that month, after the period

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current law requires a person seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate for partisan office
• Although current law requires candidates to state such information and affirm in writing, courts have
• The bill also authorizes a qualified candidate or political party with qualified candidates in the same
• a valid petition that we have accepted, That them doing this under the petition, them filing a valid
• It imports files from the very system it is supposed to audit.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• it, so she filed it for them.
• > um representative to file it so I filed um representative to file it so I filed it<03:24:59.760>
• First, it says prior to filing any campaign finance statements, a candidate shall register with the Secretary
• 04:31:52.760> report<04:31:53.720> the candidate does not file a report the candidate does
• unambiguous if someone has a candidate unambiguous if someone has a candidate they<04:32:03.359>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we will be hearing Senate File 3128, Senator McQuade's Senate File 3186, and then we'll hear testimony
• file are at Senate file 3128<00:01:13.840> and<00:01:14.640> we<00:01:14.880> are
• It also allows awarded to candidates.
• The one-time teacher candidates.
• the governor's bill, Senate File the governor's bill, Senate File 2255.<00:37:01.200> We<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all