Transcript Highlights:

• licensure barriers include promoting licensure reciprocity across states, such as with health care compacts
• Senator Harrell: And you mentioned the compacts, the interstate compacts.
• Act, whereby the state has its own controls on the licensure of individuals, very different than a compact
• other states when you were looking, or was it mostly if they had anything they participated in a compact

Bills: S0428 , S0606 , S0192 , S0162 , S0340

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Keywords: drowning prevention, water safety, swimming lessons, swim vouchers, child drowning, infant safety, toddler safety, pool safety, bath safety, safe bathing practices, postpartum education, newborn care, childbirth education, birth centers, home birth providers, Department of Health, public health, water competency, swim instruction, infant supervision

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills focused largely on drowning prevention, surgical smoke, human trafficking training, and chiropractic patient funds. SB 428 would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; the sponsor and supporters from Nemours and the YMCA emphasized Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be more widely accessible. Senator Harrell noted the need to revisit funding levels as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 606, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum education provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and home birth providers. A mother who lost her daughter to drowning testified in support, describing the bill as an early opportunity to educate parents. An amendment removed home birth providers from the compliance-proof requirement, and the bill was adopted as amended and reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 162 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already used in many facilities, while several senators raised concerns about the lack of supporting data, possible burdens on rural and smaller facilities, and whether the mandate should be narrower. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with the sponsor saying more data would be provided later. The committee also approved SB 340, requiring a two-hour human trafficking course for nursing students before licensure, after amending it to make the requirement apply to students rather than nursing programs. Finally, SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin, removed the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation reviewing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system and comparing board oversight, rulemaking, funding, appointments, and term-limit models in other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• path, this is the history of our project which really began with the signing of the Canadian River Compact
• in Logan understandably want to continue to grind this ax, but the fact is that the Canadian River Compact
• It's a storage compact, so the state of New Mexico can store up to 200,000 acre feet.
• Do they have the capability of shutting off Logan and Quay and some of those counties, or in the compact
• And just to be super clear, the Canadian River Compact is an agreement between the three states and does

Transcript Highlights:

• First is the interstate compact cost-sharing proposal.
• And for the interstate compact cost-sharing, have you gotten any pushback at all from any of the counties
• </c><00:36:46.000><c> unit</c> Um, and for the interstate compact unit Um, and for the interstate compact
• you know, the percentage<00:37:06.000><c> of</c><00:37:06.560><c> interstate</c><00:37:07.119><c> compact
• of interstate compact and the size<00:37:08.240><c> of</c><00:37:08.400><c> of</c><00:37:08.800><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have concerns about the medical compact and some of the other compacts because I think it gives
• I do have concerns about the medical compact and some of the other compacts because I think it gives
• You know, when Senator Trujillo talked about the medical compacts, when we talk about GRT, when we talk
• And so I look at this as a bigger picture of... ...about the medical compacts, when we talk about GRT

Bills: SB151 , HB8 , SB177 , HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 909, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, by Representative Anderson.
• Currently, there are 30 states that are participating in this compact, including all the system.
• Currently, there are 30 states that are participating in this compact, including all the southeastern
• protects certain biological information from being exposed, and it is a requirement to adopt the compact
• “You know, we know, Representative Edmonds knows just how compact our districts are.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced several health care bills. HB 909, joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, was presented with a strike-all amendment and reported favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. HB 911, the related public records exemption protecting certain biological information, was also adopted and reported favorably as amended by a 14-0 vote. CS for HB 597, allowing schools to procure and administer glucagon for students with diabetes under trained personnel, passed unanimously 14-0 after a technical amendment. HB 519, aligning state law with federal language on controlled substances administered by paramedics, passed as amended 14-0. The committee then took up HB 919 on nursing education programs. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf argued the bill would create accountability for underperforming nursing schools by requiring remediation, tuition refunds in the lowest-performing programs, and public reporting of passage rates. Supporters said it would improve quality and protect students from debt without licensure success, while opponents from private nursing schools warned it could close programs and reduce nurse supply. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably 15-0. HB 1553, which would require health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data so the Department of Health can implement the research database previously authorized by law, passed unanimously 15-0. The final bill, HB 883, would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice autonomously; supporters said it would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents raised concerns about quality and physician oversight. After lengthy testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 14-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• rights for specific purposes which primarily... are which are in unless this statute is passed is for compact
• compliance to ensure that we're making the deliveries that are required under the compact, and for endangered
• Senator, we do have water in the reserve for compact compliance. You are correct about that.
• It can change, but the basis for our priority is compact compliance, endangered species, and if this
• For compact compliance purposes, it's possible that we would end up having...

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the respiratory care interstate compact
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the respiratory care interstate compact
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5015, relating to the respiratory care interstate compact

Summary: The Senate first took up Senate Bill 155 on adjunct teaching permits. After adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, the chamber concurred in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill 33-0, with one member absent and not voting. The amendment was described as creating an exception so a criminal history check would not be required every year, and the bill was presented as a tool to help county boards fill vacancies, especially in shortage areas. The chamber then received a large number of committee reports and advanced several House bills on first reading. These included measures on creating the Team West Virginia Corporation, establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory, the Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act, business-ready site programs, volunteer fire company allowances, extending qualified opportunity zones, natural resource police retirement, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, ALS care services, abuse prevention, the respiratory care interstate compact, peer support services, tax lien sales, the Neighborhood Investment Program, bonds for the Science and Culture Center, and a comprehensive energy development policy and plan. Several bills were reported as amended by committees, and one energy bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Additional committee action included reports on a bill to repeal the school-transfer eligibility protection, a load forecast accountability bill, oil and gas well plugging provisions, a TANF drug-screening extension, and a bill authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners. Most of these were advanced on first reading after unanimous consent. The Senate then moved to adjourn until the next day, with announcements of upcoming committee meetings before the chamber adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Five million people compacted into that geography.
• , but Texas is also a member of several other compacts, including the nursing compact, SIPAC, among others
• These compacts are incredibly powerful.
• However, there are some compacts that Texas has yet to adopt, such as the counseling compact and the
• dietitian licensure compact.

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• The map is also compact, both visually and on mathematical measures of compactness for each of the districts
• It's compact. It's contiguous. It does not split parishes.
• It's clearly compact. It meets all of the redistricting principles.
• It's clearly compact, cohesive, maintains most parishes, and it keeps communities of interest.
• Obviously, it's very much compact. And I think, as... Obviously, it's very much compact.

Bills: SB116 , SB121 , SB130 , SB407

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• 1216, traumatic event counseling; SB 1232, military competitive permitting; SB 1235, EMS reciprocity compact
• availability; SB 1237, election procedures manual consultation; SB 1238, physician assistants license for compact
• SB 1310, dentist, dental hygienist compact — Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed attendance, and approved the prior journal. Several senators then used points of personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visitors, including Chaplain Ron Lagata, an Air Force air traffic controller apprentice shadowing Senator Gabaldón, a guest of Senator Farnsworth, and a group connected to Arizona’s space industry and Special Olympics Arizona. Senator Bolick read a proclamation for “Not in Our State,” condemning human trafficking and calling on Arizonans, schools, churches, nonprofits, law enforcement, and businesses to work together to prevent trafficking and support victims. Senator Tothley then gave an emotional statement about the death of an eight-year-old girl in his community, criticized delays in the turquoise alert system, and urged statewide changes so alerts go out more quickly and broadly. The Senate observed a moment of silence in the child’s memory. The chamber then moved through second reading of a long list of bills and resolutions covering topics such as counseling after traumatic events, military permitting, EMS reciprocity, election procedures, court-ordered treatment, assisted living, juvenile detention education, Alzheimer’s funding, gaming appropriations, short-term rentals, law enforcement mask prohibitions, fire district formation, prison and correction officer issues, port of entry funding, appeals court structure, and congressional term limits. Several bills were also referred to committees, including measures on voting centers, candidate petition circulators, weather modification, federal land acquisition consent, bleed control kits, foreign donations, unemployment benefits, and SNAP purchases. The Senate also announced upcoming committee meetings and then adjourned until Monday, January 26, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1216 traumatic event counseling; SB 1232 military competitive permitting; SB 1235 EMS portability compact
• availability SB 1237 election procedures manual consultation; SB 1238 physician assistants license for compact
• SB 1310, dentist and dental hygienist compact — Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
• , relates to intergovernmental agreements, enacting the Occupational Therapy Licensure Interstate Compact
• Thompson [ID: member_12088], relates to professional licensure, enacting the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill for the Indian Gaming Compact. Any questions of the sponsor? Are there amendments?
• Many of us in this chamber voted for unanimously things like the Seminole Gaming Compact that... will
• HB 27 Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact.
• This bill allows the state of Florida to become a compact state as part of the Social Worker Compact.
• This compact would allow military families to designate a compact home state, and if they get assigned

Bills: HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , SB 14 , HB 12 , HB 1522 , HB 422 , HB 675 , HB 204 , HB 748 , HB 912 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , HCR 123 , HCR 124 , HR 57 , HR 87 , HR 111 , HR 228 , HR 230 , HR 322 , HR 624 , HR 625 , HR 626 , HR 627 , HR 628 , HR 630 , HR 631 , HR 634 , HR 635 , HR 636 , HR 637 , HR 638 , HR 639 , HR 640 , HR 645 , HR 646 , HR 648 , HR 649 , HR 651 , HR 652 , HR 653 , HR 654 , HR 664 , HR 665 , HR 668 , HR 675 , HR 676 , HR 678 , HR 679 , HR 680 , HR 683 , HR 686 , HR 688 , HR 689 , HR 694 , HR 695 , HR 697 , HR 698 , HR 699 , HR 472 , HR 622 , HR 632 , HR 633 , HR 643 , HR 655 , HR 657 , HR 660 , HR 661 , HR 662 , HR 663 , HR 667 , HR 670 , HR 674 , HR 681 , HR 682 , HR 696

Transcript Highlights:

• WICHE was created through the Western Regional Education Compact and was established by the Western governors
• In 1953, Arizona's state legislature authorized the governor to enter into a compact with other Western
• We offer, through our partnership with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, savings opportunities
• But we offer through our partnership with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, which is us, but in

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee of Reference first heard a sunset review of the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board. Governor’s Office staff explained that the board was created in 2016 to lower borrowing costs for qualifying schools by providing a state guarantee that improves credit ratings, but the board has no dedicated staff or budget and is now largely in a monitoring role because it has reached its statutory leverage cap. Members discussed the long maturities of the approved financings, whether rural districts might benefit from additional capacity, and why a 10-year continuation was being requested. The committee voted to recommend continuing the board for 10 years until July 1, 2036. The committee then heard a sunset review of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE’s president described the interstate compact, its regional student access programs—WUE, WRGP, and PSEP—along with behavioral health fidelity reviews and cooperative purchasing savings. Testimony emphasized tuition savings for Arizona students, the return of health care graduates to Arizona, and the value of regional collaboration. The committee voted to recommend continuing WICHE for 10 years until July 1, 2036. Finally, the committee reviewed the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program performance audit. The Auditor General reported that the program has grown substantially, but many sampled schools were not fully complying with requirements such as operational plans, safety teams, training, activity logs, and reimbursement documentation. The department agreed with the finding and said it would implement the recommendations. The school safety director responded that the department has already begun tightening monitoring, training, and documentation procedures, and he answered questions about emergency plans and campus safety. No further action was taken on the audit, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Toble to update the committee on the compacting process. Mr. Toble said compacting is ongoing.
• Toble to update the committee on the compacting process. Mr. Toble said compacting is ongoing.
• </c><00:58:36.640><c> process</c><00:58:37.039><c> you're</c> on the uh compacting process you're on
• the uh compacting process you're in<00:58:39.319><c> uh</c><00:58:39.480><c> yeah</c><00:58:39.640><c
• </c><00:58:45.359><c> is</c> will let you know that compacting is will let you know that compacting is

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing that Transportation thought they didn't really think that other states in the compact would
• And, um, uh, the interstate compact is important to us.
• hearing that Transportation thought they didn't really think that other states in the compact would
• And, um, uh, the interstate compact is important to us.
• They've not caused any harm regarding interstate compacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Rio Grande Compact is one of them.
• with Texas, perhaps we need to give some thought about how to prevent that either through early compacts
• The permanent loss of aquifer storage from compaction.
• We are in a position with Rio Grande compacts where we could be in violation of those compacts as early
• This has far-reaching impacts, from community wells going dry to interstate compact challenges.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 400, a bill to be entitled: An act relating to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities
• Senate Bill 400 simply removes the repeal date of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities
• Participation in the compact enables member states, of which all the other 49 states are a part, to address
• The continuation of this compact allows military families To official military orders.
• The continuation of this compact allows military families to know that Florida is and will always be

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions and recognitions, including awareness resolutions and visiting groups in the galleries. The chamber then moved to special order bills. Senate Bill 88 on utility terrain vehicles passed 32-5 after debate over allowing local governments to opt in to street use of UTVs under safety restrictions; Senator Smith opposed it over safety concerns. Senate Bill 102 on exceptional student education passed 36-0, creating a workforce credential/badge program for students with autism or on modified curricula; supporters emphasized employment opportunities and safety training, while Senator Davis raised concerns about added costs to school districts. Senate Bill 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults passed 37-0, allowing alternative service on scammers through the same apps used to contact victims. Senate Bill 130 on compensation for victims of wrongful incarceration passed 38-0, extending filing deadlines and removing restrictive barriers; supporters called it a long-overdue justice fix. Senate Bill 158 on diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations passed 38-0, eliminating cost sharing for follow-up breast tests in the state employee health plan to encourage early detection. The most contentious measure was Senate Bill 234 on criminal offenses against law enforcement officers. The bill sought to clarify that violent resistance to officers is not justified by claims about the legality of the detention and to add manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses carrying life imprisonment without release. An amendment by Senator Jones to restore “in good faith” language failed, after debate centered on due process, racial profiling, and the role of juries and suppression motions. Several senators spoke in support of law enforcement but objected to the bill’s breadth and mandatory life penalty; Senator Leek ultimately postponed the bill temporarily rather than taking a final vote. Senate Bill 262 on trust code technical changes passed 36-0. Senate Bill 274 designating roads for Harris Rosen and Geraldine Thompson passed 38-0, followed by a successful co-sponsorship motion and remarks honoring Thompson’s legacy. Senate Bill 280 on candidate qualification passed 38-0, creating an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation filing requirements. Senate Bill 296 on middle and high school start times passed 38-0, repealing the statewide start-time mandate and shifting implementation decisions to local districts while requiring public reporting and discussion. Senate Bill 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day also passed unanimously, with senators emphasizing remembrance, anti-Semitism, and the educational value of the memorial and observance.

Transcript Highlights:

• So just any comment or consideration of those compact maybe we're in the compact maybe we've signed it
• Compact, which we probably is something Compact, which we probably is something we<02:08:06.639><c> have
• compact.
• And so recognized under the compact.
• ,</c> commission that oversees the compact, commission that oversees the compact, which<02:12:16.320>

Transcript Highlights:

• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• Very happy to see the medical compact on here.
• Very happy to see the medical compact on here.

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.