Transcript Highlights:

• You guys can read that for yourself, but whatever is obligated in a disaster, disaster by disaster at
• Each and every federally declared disaster has what we refer to as a one-year lock-in.
• And this is based not just on lab experimentation, but in post-disaster investigations.
• I will also say we need to think about other disasters and floods and...
• I will also say we need to think about other disasters and floods and... ...hole.

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard a series of presentations focused on mitigation, flood and wind resilience, and insurance discounts. Kevin Guthrie of the Florida Division of Emergency Management outlined several funding streams for mitigation, including federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program dollars, BRIC grants, flood mitigation assistance, and the state hurricane loss mitigation program. He emphasized the new Elevate Florida initiative, which will use about $400 million initially to elevate or reconstruct flood-prone homes, starting with National Flood Insurance Program properties and severe repetitive-loss homes, with no current per-home cap. Guthrie said the state will contract directly with licensed vendors and aims to reduce future flood losses, lower insurance costs, and keep properties on the tax rolls rather than relying on buyouts. Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski described Florida’s windstorm mitigation discount program, explaining that the 1802 inspection form is used to assess a home’s overall “envelope” and determine statutory discounts. He said the office is updating the program based on a new wind loss study, with likely changes including greater recognition of roof types such as metal roofs and possible territorial risk adjustments. He also said the Legislature now requires the office to revisit the study every five years. Stephen Fielder of the Department of Financial Services reported on My Safe Florida Home, noting that the program offers inspections and grants for roof and opening protections, has completed more than 100,000 inspections, and has reimbursed hundreds of millions of dollars. He said the department has validated its discount calculations with insurers and that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce premiums through verified mitigation work. Michael Newman of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety said Florida’s building code is nationally leading and that post-Ian surveys found no wind-driven structural damage in buildings built after adoption of the code. He argued that mitigation should be treated as a system, not isolated upgrades, and suggested adding Fortified designation to the state’s mitigation form to better document verified resilience improvements. Bill Truex, a county commissioner and builder, stressed the need to educate homeowners about floodproofing and roof choices, citing examples where flood panels prevented damage and noting that asphalt shingles often do not last as long in Florida as their marketing suggests. In panel discussion, senators asked about program eligibility, outreach to elderly and digitally challenged residents, contractor vetting, roof-life disclosures, and whether flood insurance should be more broadly required. Officials said outreach will include call centers and in-person assistance, and several participants urged better consumer disclosure and more data-driven guidance on roof and mitigation choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• I declare the bill to have passed.
• Declare the vote. I one nay and received 23 of those elected to unconstituted house.
• I declare the emergency to have passed. Lo leader, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Across Oklahoma, we're already seeing the impacts of extreme weather disasters.
• The vote was 74 to 16, a majority of those elected to and constituting the House, declaring the bill

Bills: HR1046, SB1733, SB1439

Keywords: Oklahoma City, terrorism, Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, memorial, remembrance, first responders, community support, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, fossil fuels, liability protection, climate change, energy independence, oil and gas, 914

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to take up to 10 CS for SB 150 on abandoning restrained animals during natural disasters
• There are more animals tied up and abandoned during declared states of emergency because of the notoriety
• During a declared national weather disaster.
• We must increase the number of guardsmen for the protection of Florida, which is had the 5th most declared
• We are currently under prepared for a large-scale disaster where there may be and we may be unable to

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in addition to not just the changing population, the propensity for natural disasters, the increase
• in state declarations of emergency.
• In this case, you've seen the fifth most declared states of emergency.
• In this case, you've seen the fifth most declared states of emergency of anywhere in the country, and
• into play, when really we have a, as you know, very large coastline great propensity for natural disasters

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard and passed two measures before receiving a staff presentation on the local bill process and local delegation meetings. HB 4007, by Rep. Snyder, would cap reimbursement for certain inmate emergency medical services in Martin County at 110% of the Medicare rate, with a higher cap if a provider shows it is operating at a loss. Snyder said the bill is intended to create predictability and save taxpayer dollars; members asked about fiscal effects and whether other counties could adopt similar language. Public testimony came in support from Martin County and related local officials, and the bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee also passed HM 4005, by Rep. Daly, which urges Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Daly argued Florida’s troop allocation is outdated and inadequate for the state’s population and disaster demands, contributing to burnout and recruiting problems. Members asked about the basis for the current allocation, possible budget and infrastructure impacts, and the National Guard’s needs; there was no opposition or public testimony, and the memorial was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. After the votes, Reps. Holcomb and Kendall gave a detailed presentation explaining how local bills differ from general laws, constitutional limits on local legislation, required local delegation meetings and notice, certification and economic impact forms, and amendment procedures. Members asked several process questions, including about multi-county delegations and Miami-Dade’s special status. The meeting ended with a few recognitions and adjournment before session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to clause 12-A of Rule 1, the Chair declares the House in recess until 2:00 p.m. today.
• PURSUANT TO CLAUSE IS 12 -- TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE 1, THE HOUSE DECLARES THE NEWS TO -- THE CHAIR DECLARES
• Pursuant to clause 12-A of Rule 1, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the
• RESPECT TO IRAN DECLARED ON MARCH 15, 1995, IS TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MARCH 15, 2025.
• With ever-worsening wildfires and other severe national disasters threatening communities across this

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VERBATIM THE WORDS ON THE SLIDE BUT YOU COULD READ THEM FOR YOURSELF BUT WHATEVER IS OBLIGATED IN A DISASTER
• AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHATEVER IS OBLIGATED BY THE ONE YEAR DATE OF DISASTER WE AUTOMATICALLY GET 20
• YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A COPY OF THE DECLARATIONS PAGE.
• SOME TIME TO GET AN UPDATED DECLARATIONS PAGE NEW SHOWING THE DISCOUNTS THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AND
• EACH AND EVERY FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER HAS WHAT WE REFER TO OF ONE YEAR LOCK IN ALL MONIES PAID OUT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
• The county is planning on having, Senator Eckhardt, using the emergency disaster declaration for the
• You have a clawback on emergency disaster.
• So... ...Counties that were included in the disaster declaration in this most recent flood could not
• Your bill, much as Senator Menendez pointed out. the counties under the disaster declaration could not

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17, SB 4, SB1, SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB4

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, on page 1, line 14, after appropriation, we’d like to insert declaring an emergency, so we’re
• declaring an emergency clause on this bill.
• This is the reform or the disaster funding.
• If that bill passes, then $50 million would go over to the disaster program.
• And keep in mind that the executive order disaster reform bill would create capacity.

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• Catastrophe models predict the future losses of natural disasters and are often used as benchmarks to
• Effective regulation of insurance rates, and by analyzing past wildfire disasters, a model can point
• The inclusion of language in the findings and declarations intersects with other bills that restrict
• But now we have the chance to make it right for the inevitable disasters yet to come.
• If this bill does not move forward and another similar future disaster like this occurs, you will need

Summary: The committee met to hear seven Senate bills, first approving two consent items, SB 352 and SB 804, on motions to do pass to Appropriations. SB 542 (Limón) would require public notice and comment before issuing a financial responsibility certificate for an oil pipeline and require hydrostatic testing before restarting pipelines idle for five years or more; it was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity and passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 616 (Rubio) would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to coordinate wildfire mitigation and insurance-related recommendations; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and several local and industry groups, while water agencies, special districts, and the building industry raised concerns about water infrastructure standards, and it passed on a due-pass motion to Insurance. SB 429 (Cortese), which would establish a public wildfire catastrophe model and related university-based research and education program, received support from the Department of Insurance and outside groups and passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 256 (Perez) would strengthen wildfire mitigation and emergency response by expanding planning, improving PSPS communication, requiring utility coordination with emergency centers, and directing removal of permanently abandoned electrical facilities; utilities and business groups were generally neutral after amendments, while the author emphasized the bill’s connection to recent wildfire losses, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 509 (Caballero) would require specialized training for local law enforcement on transnational repression targeting diaspora communities; it received support from the California Police Chiefs Association and immigrant-rights advocates, but drew extensive opposition from Hindu and civil-rights organizations concerned about bias, implementation, and First Amendment issues. Committee members discussed amendments to clarify cultural competency, diversity, and constitutional protections, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. After the hearing, the committee took final roll-call votes on the bills, with the consent items and SB 429, SB 256, and SB 509 moving forward, while SB 542 and SB 616 were also reported out on earlier motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So whether it was the EB-5 disaster or a federally declared weather disaster, all those projects would
• <00:48:37.839> or Uh so whether it was the EV5 disaster or Uh so whether it was the EV5 disaster
• > um<00:48:41.920> weather a federally declared um um weather a federally declared um um
• > programs<00:48:45.520> those disaster all th those programs those disaster all th those
• <00:49:29.599> natural program or a federally declared natural program or a federally declared

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot allow Washington to continue this dysfunction and derail disaster recovery or to let the disaster
• disaster recovery fund is about to run out<00:13:18.800> of<00:13:19.040> money,<00:13
• <00:13:49.519> recovery dysfunction and derail disaster recovery dysfunction and derail disaster
• relief fund run or to let the disaster relief fund run dry.<00:13:55.040> I<00:13:55.680>
• relief fund so that Western the disaster relief fund so that Western North<00:14:11.839> Carolina

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 30, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THE CHAIR DECLARES A QUORUM IS PRESENT.
• COUNTRY THAT WOULD ONCE AND FOR ALL ANSWER AND THE FOUNDERS ALSO KNEW THE IDEALS ARTICULATED IN THE DECLARATION
• BEST DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION IN THE WORLD DO NOT RUN ON AUTOPILOT.
• WE ELIMINATED TAXES ON BABY ITEMS, DISASTER SUPPLY, AND COMPLETELY ELIMINATED THE TAX AND BUSINESS RENT
• SEVEN YEARS AGO WE WERE CHARGED WITH IMPROVING FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAD COORDINATION

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding will come to order. Clerk, call the roll.
• SB 20 is the anti-disaster fraud bill. Darby carried it in the House, as many may recall.
• House Bill 20 addresses these disaster scams.
• disaster.
• Ultimately, the bill protects both victims of natural disasters and innocent members of the public.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a disaster for our country.
• This is a disaster for our country.
• This is a disaster for our country.
• This is a disaster for our future.
• the anniversary date of his declaration. the anniversary date of his declaration.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 352, an act relating to Women's Veterans Appreciation Day and declaring an emergency.
• House Bill 354, an act relating to homelessness prevention, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring
• <00:13:21.519> an appreciation day and declaring an appreciation day and declaring an emergency
• appropriation, therefore, and declaring appropriation, therefore, and declaring an<00:13:35.040>
• House Bill 360, an act relating to adult performances and declaring an emergency.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09 Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52 ConC and Rules Report 29:29 Adjournment 31:04, 958, all

Summary: The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. Routine business followed: absent members were excused, the rules were suspended to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and the journal from January 12, 2026 was approved. No bills were taken up on second reading, and there were no committee reports or orders of the day at that point. During announcements, members recognized the Frederick Douglass High School cheerleading squad for winning a state title, and several members noted visits or upcoming events involving Kentucky firefighters and fire chiefs. Multiple committee meeting notices were also shared, and House Bill 244 was withdrawn by its primary sponsor. The clerk then read a long list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics including pharmacist reimbursements, immigration enforcement, housing, identity documents, sex-based classifications, school choking prevention, local minimum wages, rental property, labor standards, wages, veterans issues, homelessness prevention, real property appraisers, jury duty, paramedic education, adult performances, sanctuary policies, charitable gaming, court costs, National Guard benefits, child care coverage, and several resolutions. The chamber then considered House Resolution 21, honoring the victims of the UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville and commending first responders. The sponsor described the crash, named the victims, and detailed the extensive multi-agency response. The House opened the board for additional co-sponsors, observed a moment of silence, and adopted the resolution without objection. Afterward, the House recessed briefly for Committee on Committees and Rules Committee meetings, then received committee referrals for numerous bills to standing committees. No floor amendments were introduced, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Tulare Cemetery District is a disaster.
• If they did not go forward in declaring a cemetery abandoned...
• The county does not have to agree to declare it abandoned under current law.
• And if it doesn't declare it, it does not have that responsibility.
• ... ...an opportunity, a may, for a county to decide to declare abandoned.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee will now come to order. Faith, please call the roll.
• Welcome to the Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee.
• This helps us draft disaster declarations.
• This helps us draft, draft disaster declarations.
• To conclude, I'm coming from an area that faces all the palette of natural disasters: earthquakes, floods

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in emergency management and related public-safety applications. The panel included the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the University of Florida, and Florida International University. FDEM described current uses of AI for invoice anomaly detection, automated situation report drafting, and data synthesis in WebEOC, emphasizing that AI is used to speed analysis and improve efficiency but not to replace human decision-making. The agency also said counties retain access through backup communications such as Starlink and generators, and that WebEOC provides shared visibility, archived documentation, and a common operating picture across all 67 counties. University of Florida representatives highlighted Beacon, an AI-enabled public safety audio service developed with FDEM and public media partners to distribute official alerts across multiple platforms, including mobile devices and digital streams. UF IFAS described a geospatial AI “Gaia bot” that turns satellite data into natural-language answers and maps for crop damage assessment and flood-risk mapping, with a focus on making complex Earth-observation data more accessible to growers and policymakers. FIU presented AI models that predict water levels and flood mitigation settings much faster than traditional simulation tools, with comparable or better accuracy, and said the work includes explainability features and broader research on compound flooding. Members asked extensive questions about storm surge, hallucinations, whether generative AI or large language models were being used, data vetting, and hardware needs. The witnesses repeatedly stressed that their systems are not autonomous, that human review remains central, and that the models used are primarily data-driven predictive tools rather than chatbot-style generative AI. The meeting ended with thanks to the panelists and an announcement that the committee’s policy chief was leaving for another position. Representative Mooney then moved that the committee rise, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This dynamic, called disaster capitalism, has occurred in several post-disaster communities.
• Predatory real estate speculation can have a ripple effect on disaster-impacted communities, driving
• for disaster-impacted residents both in the immediate aftermath and through the rebuilding period by
• I am pleased to present SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act.
• disaster.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning. Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• Taking advantage of disasters for personal gain will not be tolerated.
• During a disaster like a wildfire, it's unforgivable, unacceptable.
• a disaster that seems obviously a disaster in our state.
• , such as a pandemic or natural disaster.
• by disaster.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Abbott, it has been prioritized over the immensely critical issue of the day: flooding and disaster
• . ...a bullet in his belt to prevail, including moving the election date, arresting legislators, declaring
• to try and make sure we heal this country and bring it back together, frankly, from the cliff of disaster
• In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson... wrote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident
• It was a disaster. He was also convicted in the Abramoff scandal a few months later.

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB4, HB1, HB3, HB20, HB22, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, HB4, SB2, SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments