Transcript Highlights:

• updates for on-site supervision, seminar credit approval updates, polling potato seller and wood preservative

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May leadership here be measured not by power held, but by dignity preserved and lives strengthened.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introductions recognizing the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, Youth and Government participants, and Dr. Thomas Clem as Doctor of the Day. Senators also noted the presence of guests from the YMCA and Lakeland Regional, and the chamber received a birthday acknowledgment for President Gates. The chamber then took up several bills on the special order calendar. Senate Bill 100 adopted the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 session’s enacted statute materials; Senate Bill 102 removed statutory provisions that had already been repealed or expired; and Senate Bill 104, the general reviser’s bill, deleted obsolete language and corrected cross-references and errors. Each of these bills passed 36-0. Senate Bill 320, relating to administrative efficiency in public schools, was explained as reducing district-level requirements, expanding teacher apprenticeship and certification flexibility, adjusting assessment and budgeting rules, and increasing district flexibility in VPK and facility planning; it also passed 36-0. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 7010, which authorizes Roth post-tax contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans, by a 36-0 vote. Senate Bill 1720 on public school personnel compensation was withdrawn from further consideration. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify the passed bills to the House and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• May leadership here be measured not by power held, but by dignity preserved and lives strengthened.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introductions recognizing the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, the Senate’s doctor of the day, and visiting guests. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after confirming there were no committee reports, executive messages, House messages, or other pending motions. The Senate passed several bills unanimously: SB 100, adopting the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 session laws; SB 102, deleting statutory provisions that had already been repealed or expired; and SB 104, the general reviser’s bill, which removes obsolete language, updates cross-references, and corrects drafting errors. Senators briefly joked during debate on SB 104, but there was no substantive opposition. The Senate also passed SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools, which reduces district-level requirements, expands teacher apprenticeship and certification flexibility, streamlines assessment and budgeting rules, and adjusts VPK oversight and facility planning requirements. The chamber also approved SB 7010, allowing state and local deferred compensation plans to offer Roth post-tax contributions in addition to pre-tax options. In addition, SB 1720 on public school personnel compensation was withdrawn from further consideration. After passage of the day’s bills, the Senate adopted a motion to immediately certify the passed bills to the House, then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The authority granted under this bill preserves transparency, accountability, and local control.

Summary: The committee heard several tax and local government measures. SB 288 would clarify Proposition 19 rules for inherited homes in probate so the one-year timeline to claim the property tax benefit starts when the home is legally transferred; it had support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 347 would reduce the state’s minimum annual tax on LLCs, LLPs, limited partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations from $800 to $600; it also passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 762 would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve a local sales tax increase of up to 1% to support city services and infrastructure; it passed 4-1 to Local Government, with one no vote from Senator Valadares. The committee also considered veteran property tax relief measures. SCA 4 would remove a constitutional restriction so eligible veterans could stack the homeowners’ exemption with the disabled veterans’ or veterans’ exemption, and SB 623 would make conforming statutory changes to implement that constitutional amendment. Both measures were supported by veterans’ organizations, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and county representatives, and both passed unanimously 5-0 to their next committees, with SCA 4 going to Elections and Constitutional Amendments and SB 623 going to Military and Veterans Affairs. The consent calendar, including SB 575 by Senator Laird, was adopted 5-0 after technical amendments were accepted. The committee then lifted the call on SB 288 and confirmed its 5-0 vote. The meeting concluded after all listed items were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• The authority granted under this bill preserves transparency, accountability, and local control.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Preserve the right place. Members. I didn't question or speaker feeling. There he is now.

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• Preserve the right Thank you, members. Members, are there any questions for Speaker Phelan?

Bills: HB2450 , SB378 , SB764 , SB917 , SB1254 , SB1255

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is home to over a dozen zoos, aquariums, and wildlife preserves that serve vital roles in our community

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why I think this work is critical when it comes to family preservation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 196 also preserves the right to have... ...your homestead exemption applied to your property

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from Lissette Kelly of the Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Oversight Office on property tax relief for catastrophic events. Kelly reviewed existing statutory relief for homestead, non-homestead, commercial, and agricultural property owners, including extended rebuild timelines, preservation of homestead exemption during rehabilitation, agricultural classification protections, and the catastrophic event refund program for residential property that becomes uninhabitable. She also explained the refund process, the roles of property appraisers and tax collectors, and prior legislative reimbursements to local governments after storms such as Ian, Nicole, and Idalia. Members asked about how portability works if a homeowner chooses not to rebuild, and Kelly said she would follow up with more detail. Senator Bernard also asked how residents learn about the refund application, and Kelly said property appraisers and tax collectors actively notify affected owners, including through mailings, FEMA and Red Cross sites, public service announcements, and outreach at community events. She said the property appraisers take the lead in promoting the program, with tax collectors also helping direct taxpayers to apply. The chair noted that staff will distribute the department’s guide to offices before hurricane season and said the committee’s next meeting, during the first week of session, will focus on property taxes more broadly. Kelly said the department would be willing to review the process further and bring suggestions if needed. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• model, one that gets people to the right level of care earlier, reduces repeat crisis contact, and preserves
• Every avoidable jail day we reduce helps preserve jail capacity, reduces pressure on state, Every avoidable
• jail day we reduce helps preserve jail capacity, reduces pressure on state hospitals, and protects local
• Another outcome we observed was workforce preservation among local mental health authorities, allowing
• To the extent that we can do that, while still preserving people's rights, we don't want everybody to

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HIBs are a critical tool and the state's largest source of capital for developing and preserving affordable
• program that leverages millions of dollars in both public and private resources to help build and preserve
• state's housing crisis, there is a relatively simple way to solve our housing shortage, and that's to preserve
• c><00:09:33.920><c> and</c><00:09:34.040><c> that's</c><00:09:34.280><c> to</c><00:09:34.480><c> preserve
• </c> housing shortage, and that's to preserve housing shortage, and that's to preserve what<00:09:35.000

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would have been a great urgency to bring up today to preserve the individual market in the state
• and I am trying to set the table for the legislature and the people in the state of Minnesota to preserve
• telling people that you said, "Yeah, it was more important to play games than it was to actually preserve
• to play games than it was<00:33:15.440><c> to</c><00:33:15.560><c> actually</c><00:33:15.920><c> preserve
• </c><00:33:16.560><c> your</c> was to actually preserve your was to actually preserve your insurance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• system is also facing more than $20 million in upgrades over the next several years to repair and preserve
• system is also facing more than $20 million in upgrades over the next several years to repair and preserve
• So, in closing, this project protects public health, it preserves the workforce housing, and enables
• this project protects public<01:47:33.240><c> health,</c><01:47:33.680><c> it</c><01:47:33.800><c> preserves
• </c><01:47:34.440><c> the</c> public health, it preserves the public health, it preserves the workforce

Bills: HF4710 , HF4055 , HF3848 , HF3989 , HF4599 , HF3767 , HF3592 , HF3575 , HF3574 , HF3543 , HF4606 , HF4489 , HF3891 , HF3438 , HF3811 , HF3400

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: capital investment, water infrastructure, sewer systems, public funding, municipal development, Eveleth, wastewater treatment, state bonds, environmental compliance, infrastructure, bonds, economic development, local government, transportation, intersection improvements, Lake Elmo, HF4599, St. Joseph, Minnesota bonding bill, bond proceeds fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has an opportunity to lead the nation in attacking waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, preserving
• Also, the Lone Star State's decision to not expand Medicaid to able bodied, working age adults preserves
• . >> Fraud and your association, agrees, which would be on the homecare side of improving while preserving
• And effective policy has to balance program integrity with preserving access to high quality hospice
• The community first family preserving values that shape foster care reform in this body, that same thinking

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Indeed, Reporters Without Borders, an international group focused on preserving freedom of information
• , Reporters Without Borders, an international group focused on preserving freedom of information, points
• author and the committee on thoughtful solutions that support correctional professionals while preserving
• It preserves judicial discretion, it prioritizes rehabilitation, and it puts public safety first.
• It's important to preserve judicial discretion to impose penalties that are appropriate for a particular

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only do cameras protect children, but they also preserve time and resources for investigators like
• 36.800><c> also</c> cameras protect children, but they also cameras protect children, but they also preserve
• time and resources for preserve time and resources for investigators<00:10:39.920><c> like</c><00:10
• replace good people, but they can reveal dangerous behavior early, protect good caregivers, and preserve
• c> upgrades,</c> Based on our experience, a 7-day retention period is sufficient to identify and preserve

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• these main reasons, whether it was the AG or the budget and finance or long-standing public policy preservation
• long-standing budget and finance or long-standing public<00:15:05.360><c> policy</c><00:15:06.000><c> preservation
• ,</c><00:15:06.560><c> we</c><00:15:06.880><c> urge</c><00:15:06.959><c> you</c> public policy preservation
• , we urge you public policy preservation, we urge you to<00:15:07.440><c> defer</c><00:15:07.839><c>
• coastal resilience for not just Mokuji, which I have been a huge supporter of, the Montuji Bay, and preservation

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 2627, which would exempt Hawaii Tourism Authority contracts and agreements for sports projects, events, and related marketing from the state procurement code and other competitive bidding requirements. HTA, DBEDT, and the State Procurement Office testified in support or with comments, while one individual offered general support for sports tourism. Senators focused on narrowing the bill so the exemption would apply more specifically to sports-related projects and marketing, rather than broad marketing activities, and discussed whether the bill should require notice to the State Procurement Office or approval by the chief procurement officer. Procurement officials said a reporting requirement would be the most expeditious option, while still allowing post-event monitoring and public posting of exemptions. Members also discussed whether the exemption should be limited to situations involving sole-source sports entities, such as major leagues or international sports organizations, to better justify bypassing procurement rules. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, but members and testifiers agreed to continue working on the language. The hearing then moved to SB 2074 relating to state facilities and naming rights for the Aloha Stadium and Hawaii Convention Center. The Stadium Authority, HTA, and DBEDT testified in support, while the Outdoor Circle and other organizations opposed the measure. Opponents argued the bill could create fiscal and legal risk, echoing concerns raised in prior legislation and by the attorney general, and warned it would mark a major shift by treating public facilities as commercial branding opportunities. Supporters said naming rights could generate significant revenue to help fund the stadium project and reduce the burden on the state and developers. Senators questioned how signage would be handled, especially whether it would be exterior-facing or limited to inward-facing signage, and the Stadium Authority said it was willing to work with the Outdoor Circle on language that would preserve community aesthetics while allowing revenue generation. A senator cited a prior study estimating naming rights could bring in about $1.5 million per year over 20 years, and asked what that revenue would buy for the public; the Stadium Authority responded that it would help advance the project toward a larger, improved stadium. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DOT Federal Highway Administration guidance, while preserving the department's engineer discretion to
• DOT Federal Highway Administration guidance would be used while preserving the department's engineer
• And I want to preserve that DOT has the administrative flexibility for expansion.
• And I want to preserve that DOT access.
• And I want to preserve that DOT has<01:36:26.960><c> the</c><01:36:27.040><c> administrative</c><01:36

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met on February 5 and heard testimony on a long agenda of transportation-related bills. Early measures included HB 2392, which would create an employer tax credit for transportation demand management benefits; HB 2462, which would bar auto manufacturers and dealers from charging post-sale fees for already-installed hardware; and HB 2423, which would require diesel sold for on-road use to contain at least 5% biodiesel. HB 2392 drew support from the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and one individual, with the Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation offering comments. HB 2462 drew support from DCCA and one individual, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation opposed it. HB 2423 drew comments from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Hawaii Farm Bureau, support from Pacific Biodiesel and the Hawaii Transportation Association, and a question from the chair about whether biodiesel is exported; the witness said production stays local. The committee also heard HB 1771 on voluntary carbon offsets for air travel, HB 2081 on requiring firefighters exempt from CDL rules to follow equivalent alcohol and substance abuse policies, HB 2334 on allowing the Department of Transportation to assume NEPA responsibilities for certain projects, and HB 2336 on DOT agreements with the Department of Defense for work at military installations using federal funds. HB 1771 drew comments from Life of the Land warning that carbon offsets are often unreliable and could create liability, while Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines offered comments. HB 2081 received support from DOT, county human resources offices, fire departments, and county officials, with the Hawaii Firefighters Association in opposition. HB 2334 was supported by DOT, and the director said other states using NEPA assignment can complete projects in about half the time. HB 2336 was supported by DOT, HIEMA, DBEDT’s military relations office, and the Hawaii Military Affairs Council; the committee discussed the administrative fee as a way to recover costs under an intergovernmental agreement. The most extensive testimony centered on HB 1666, which would limit new motor vehicle markups above 5% of MSRP and require recordkeeping. Multiple dealer groups and the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association opposed it, arguing it would threaten dealership operations, especially in Hawaii’s high-cost market and for vehicles without an MSRP. The committee also heard HB 2375 on uniform towing and parking enforcement standards on state and leased lands, including notice, disability protections, payment safeguards, and public reporting; DLNR, DAGS, and several advocacy groups testified, with strong public support and concerns about towing practices and ADA compliance. HB 2415, which would appropriate funds for crosswalks near school properties, drew support from DOT, DOE, and the Hawaii Bicycling League, and the committee discussed how counties would request projects and how funding would be allocated. Finally, HB 2451, which would move Hawaii toward fare-free public transit beginning in 2027 and create a dedicated funding source through a petroleum tax increase, received broad support from DOT, the Energy Office, public health and advocacy groups, and many individuals; DOE testified that it currently uses about $2.1 million for student bus passes and that the program is tied to savings from inactive school bus routes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, to my Colorado Springs acknowledgements: June Waller has played a singular role in preserving and
• 01:16:14.080><c> singular</c><01:16:14.560><c> role</c><01:16:14.800><c> in</c><01:16:15.040><c> preserving
• </c><01:16:15.440><c> and</c> a singular role in preserving and a singular role in preserving and protecting
• Through photographs, documents, artifacts, and oral histories, she has preserved stories that institutional
• whose community leadership carries the work forward with clarity and intention, where historical preservation

Keywords: 981, all