Transcript Highlights:

• There's a young man named Kaya there who is very interested in legislation.
• In this discussion, our request has been capacity.
• earlier, request that this be a starting point and that collaboration can forward this bill.
• I respectfully request your support of House Bill 2456. Thank you.
• Good afternoon to your request and members of the committee for the record.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2456, which would create a juvenile firearm early intervention alternative for youth charged in juvenile court with unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree. Staff explained that the program would require prosecutor agreement, intensive community supervision, random suspicionless searches, therapy and mentoring services, periodic court review, and dismissal of the charge upon successful completion. The bill would also raise concealed pistol license fees by $100 each and dedicate the revenue to a new account funding the alternative. Representative Davis said the bill is intended to fill the gap between firearm possession charges and later juvenile sentencing, and to fund evidence-based services; one member questioned whether the fee increase functions more like a tax than a fee. The chair then paused testimony on HB 2456 to return to the other bill. The bulk of the hearing focused on House Bill 2389, which would expand suspended disposition alternatives, reduce some juvenile robbery sentencing ranges, add a midpoint review for certain youth committed to DCYF, and create new rules for juvenile rehabilitation capacity and emergency transfers. Supporters, including youth currently or formerly in juvenile facilities, defense advocates, restorative justice providers, and some judges, argued the bill would reduce overcrowding, improve rehabilitation, address racial disparities, and give judges more individualized options. Several testified that youth need treatment, family connection, and incentives for progress rather than long confinement, and that current sentencing practices are outdated and underuse suspended dispositions. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, county officials, victim advocates, and some judges, argued the bill would shift costs and responsibility to counties, require resources that do not exist, and weaken accountability for serious offenses such as robbery, assault, and trafficking. They raised concerns about expanded appeals, added court workload, the need for more staffing and programming, and the impact on victims and public safety. DCYF said it supports reducing overcrowding but wants clearer emergency transfer authority for Green Hill; facility staff described improved conditions as population has fallen, but said overcrowding still creates safety and programming problems. No vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some state dollars that have been requested by 'Who We Play For' in appropriations.
• I think $975,000 is what they Requested this year.
• Joint legislative audit committees are so important. Legislative audit committees are so important.
• The original legislation, its purpose, I fully support.
• And that's why this legislation is necessary. Additional questions?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> massive Bill and so the legisl massive Bill and so the legisl legislature<00:09:27.640><c> asked
• </c><00:10:11.720><c> from</c> then eventually lead to a request from then eventually lead to a request
• This makes appropriations for claims against the state.
• AG requested in to the tune of $ AG requested in to the tune of $ 7,514<00:26:22.360><c> also</c><00:
• /c> 7,514 also accept the AG's request 7,514 also accept the AG's request amendment<00:26:23.960><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee continued hearing several bills. HB 399 would create an additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit; it drew support from the Judiciary, Public Defender, State Bar, Financial Services Association, and others, and there was no opposition. HB 560 would appropriate funds for Judiciary contracts with community-based organizations; many service providers and coalition representatives testified in support, emphasizing the growing gap between contract payments and the actual cost of services, especially for domestic violence, youth, legal aid, and other vulnerable populations. HB 648 would establish a two-year pilot program in the First Circuit probate and family court for guardianship and conservatorship-related resources; the Office of the Public Guardian and disability advocates supported it, while suggesting amendments to clarify that the bill refers to professional evaluations, including psychological, neurocognitive, or functional evaluations, rather than just physicians’ letters. The committee also heard HB 990, which appropriates funds for claims against the state, with the Attorney General noting 21 claims totaling about $6.5 million plus two additional resolved claims and requesting corrections to identify two matters as judgments rather than settlements. HB 991 would clarify that the Attorney General may conduct FBI fingerprint-based background checks on contractors and employees; it was supported by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and others, with an amendment to include subcontractors. HB 998 would provide that omissions or errors in citations do not require dismissal or reversal if they do not prejudice the defendant; the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and members discussed whether the language adequately protects due process and how it would apply when identifying information is unavailable. Finally, HB 1174 would address payment-under-protest lawsuits by allowing interest earned on certain funds to be paid in non-taxation cases if the claimant prevails and by setting procedures for premature filings. After testimony, the committee moved into decision-making and recommended passage of HB 399, HB 560, HB 648, HB 990, HB 991, HB 998, and HB 1174, generally with amendments where noted, including effective-date changes and the requested clarifications. The measures were adopted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Lydia Hernandez, Legislative District 24.
• Thank you. ...that will be age appropriate.
• A roll call vote has been requested.
• The amendment in Appropriations has been withdrawn.
• Explanation requested. Explanation requested.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, Chairwoman and committee, for allowing me to speak on this legislation.
• So what in this legislation might conflict with...
• All of that is not even an option to request off of.
• It's just still a request. The board has full authority to grant or deny that.
• For the record, my name is Steve Berg, legislative specialist with Access.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The Special Committee on Health and Human Services heard a series of continuation and board-reform bills, beginning with core review measures to continue the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the State Board of Nursing, the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, the Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants, and the State Board of Pharmacy. HB 2728, HB 2729, HB 2730, HB 2731 as amended, and HB 2732 all received due-pass recommendations, with the physician assistant board bill amended to extend the board for four years rather than two. The committee then moved to reform bills affecting the nursing board and pharmacy board, as well as a reconsidered health plan drug-coverage bill. HB 2408, which would change nursing board complaint procedures, prioritize certain allegations, allow limited expungement of disciplinary records, and adjust evidentiary and liability standards, drew extensive testimony. Nursing board leadership opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken patient safety, raise the burden of proof, and erase useful disciplinary history, while supporters said it would improve fairness, reduce backlog, and give nurses a second chance for non-patient-safety-related issues. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment and advanced the bill on a 7-4-1 vote. HB 2434, updating the controlled substances prescription monitoring program and related reporting and confidentiality rules, and HB 2733, changing pharmacy continuing education timing, delivery rules, and ownership-transition procedures, both passed unanimously after amendments. The committee also reconsidered HB 2725, which would limit access contractors’ use of therapeutic substitution and utilization controls for certain non-opioid drugs. Access and health plan representatives warned the bill was too broad and could significantly increase costs by affecting many drug classes, while the sponsor said the amendment was intended to address those concerns and preserve the policy goal. After the amendment was adopted, the bill failed on a 6-? vote and did not receive a due-pass recommendation. The chair then announced the committee was done hearing House bills and adjourned, with Senate bills expected in a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> treatment should the leg legislator treatment should the leg legislator choose<00:33:01.639><c>
• </c> a long time ago bans and legislative a long time ago bans and legislative inaction<01:36:39.199>
• </c><01:38:16.280><c> for</c> dose of cannabis is appropriate for dose of cannabis is appropriate for
• <02:20:39.160><c> specific</c><02:20:39.600><c> Appropriations</c><02:20:40.319><c> to</c> requesting
• specific Appropriations to requesting specific Appropriations to various<02:20:40.880><c> funds</c><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement. Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits. Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just for everyone's awareness, we're going to hold, at the request of the sponsor, House Bill 29.
• We're going to hold, at the request of the sponsor, House Bill 2939, and then we're going to sort of
• Representative Justin Olson from Legislative District 10. And thank you again, Mr.
• So asking for a copy of that report is where we're coming from with that request.
• They've seen a significant drop in such requests over there.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and held HB 29 and HB 2939 at the sponsor’s request. It then took up HB 2016, which would bar late-filing penalties when a taxpayer’s income tax liability is zero; after an amendment narrowed the bill to income tax filers, the Department of Revenue was neutral on the bill but supported the amendment, and members debated whether removing the penalty would reduce incentives to file. The committee adopted the amendment and returned HB 2016 with a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard HB 2289, which updates the property-value examples used in bond/override election pamphlets and truth-in-taxation notices from older low values to a $300,000 home example. The sponsor and Arizona Tax Research Association said the update would better reflect current home values and improve voter understanding, while some members argued the bill could confuse voters or that the second example should be closer to the current median home price. The committee passed HB 2289 on a 4-3 vote. Several bills related to school district bonding and agricultural property classification were then considered. HB 4103 would prohibit school districts from calling bond elections if enrollment is below 50% of capacity; supporters said districts should use or monetize excess space before seeking more debt, while school administrators and several senators argued it would block needed maintenance and local voter choice. HB 2104 and HB 2105 would give agricultural property owners a temporary reprieve from repeated reclassification and inspections after winning an appeal, with farm groups supporting the measures and county assessors opposing them as limiting oversight; both bills passed 4-3 after amendments. The committee also passed HB 2256 on a 7-0 vote, which creates a process for salvage auction dealers to obtain abandoned titles when insurers do not complete salvage title transfers, and HB 2979 and HB 2996 unanimously, addressing credit union regulatory timelines and clarifying that certificates of insurance do not alter policy coverage. Finally, the committee heard HB 2174 on insurance modeling organizations and HB 2477 on AZ 529 plan updates, with HB 2174 discussed at length over regulatory treatment of models and HB 2477 described as a conformity bill expanding K-12 and credentialing uses and rollover options.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> then we can deal with the appropriation then we can deal with the appropriation at<00:08:29.120>
• </c> in here now, that is a legislative in here now, that is a legislative position.<00:47:47.119><c>
• Uh, and then I think we extended that appropriation, and then they came with the request of wanting to
• Uh, and then I think we extended that appropriation, and then they came with the request of wanting to
• Uh, and then I think we extended that appropriation, and then they came with the request of wanting to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from a legislator.
• and you can see the request there.
• and you can see the request there.
• Stephen Richard telling recorders not to comply with the legislative public records request.
• these requests.

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Federal and Military Affairs and Elections met with all members present and began with an extended presentation on an investigative referral packet concerning alleged voter registration anomalies from March 2023 to the present. The presenter described multiple examples of registrations tied to out-of-state residents, deceased individuals, temporary residents, and registrations allegedly generated through Service Arizona, MVD, Access, county recorders, and third-party/NGO channels. The committee also discussed a Secretary of State email about party-preference changes, discrepancies between county and state counts, and a proposed criminal referral to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice. Members asked questions about whether the issues were glitches or intentional, and several members said the examples reflected serious problems with voter-roll maintenance and automatic voter registration. A roll call was taken on whether members wished to sign onto the referral; some declined, while others agreed, and the committee said the referral would be transmitted after the meeting. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1259, which would allow certain protected individuals to use an alternate mailing address when filing candidate and financial disclosure paperwork. The sponsor said it closes a confidentiality loophole for people whose addresses are protected for safety reasons. Members raised concerns about how the bill interacts with in-district residency requirements, but the bill passed on a 6-1 vote. Senate Bill 1281, dealing with state land procedures for covered federal designations and notification of legislative leaders about land takings, drew opposition from the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, which argued the bill was unnecessary, unfunded, and insufficiently protective of tribal consultation; it passed 4-3. Senate Bill 1037, concerning election equipment security and internet connectivity, prompted debate over whether the bill could be read to permit internet-connected election equipment and over a hostile strike-everything amendment that would have expanded voter-registration and election-administration programs, including ERIC participation and new funding. The amendment failed, and the underlying bill also failed on a 3-3-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1040, which would require county recorders to provide public online access to voter registration rolls and prohibit fees for downloading them. Staff explained that the bill would replace the current chairperson-request process with public access, while still excluding sensitive information such as Social Security numbers. Members debated how much information would be public and whether the bill adequately defined “voter registration rolls.” The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. The chair closed by asking members to look into school app data-sharing contracts and offered to show unredacted materials privately, then noted that dinner had been provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now let's cover the ground rules for appropriate conduct.
• Now let's cover the ground rules for appropriate conduct.
• The motion is do pass and refer to the Committee on Appropriations.
• And so I personally don't see the necessity of this legislation.
• You want to have appropriate emergency response times.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to today's oversight hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Thank you, Mr.
• I want to thank Assembly Member Alvarez for requesting this audit and for raising a fundamental and timely
• And thank you so much to Senator Alvarez for requesting this audit.
• That was legislation that was adopted in AB 2057.
• And I don't know how to feel about how to appropriately feel about both of those.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So my request to you is if you could increase that to 3%.
• So I request to you is if you could increase that to 3%.
• So my third request is I'm Okay.
• The new funding that we're requesting, the $35 million, we have worked out funding that we're requesting
• Lisa King with the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Summary: The subcommittee first noted that item one on the Imagination Library update was being pulled pending review of newly received receipts, invoices, and backup documentation from the State Library and the Department of Finance. The chair said the committee would continue reviewing the materials and later determine whether additional oversight and accountability measures are needed regarding taxpayer funds and implementation of the program. The main discussion focused on the California Community Colleges budget request. Chancellor Christian described strong post-pandemic enrollment recovery and asked the Legislature to fund 3% enrollment growth, change the funding formula to use the highest of the three years rather than a three-year average, and remove the 10% growth cap to avoid unfunded FTES. She also urged support for the Governor’s proposals on COLA, deferral repayment, the Common Cloud Data Platform, credit for prior learning, and Calbright College, while adding requests for AI literacy funding, a Rebuild L.A. workforce effort, veterans services, and support for the Chancellor’s Office. Senators raised concerns about high district reserves, part-time faculty conditions, veterans’ credit pathways, and enrollment fraud; Christian said reserves are complex but should be addressed district by district, and that identity verification and AI tools are being used to prevent fraudulent enrollments. Finance and LAO staff then reviewed the student-centered funding formula and enrollment growth proposals. DOF said the Governor’s budget fully repays $408.4 million in deferrals, provides a 2.41% COLA, and includes funding to cover current-year apportionment costs; LAO recommended prioritizing those proposals but suggested beginning enrollment growth funding in 2026-27 rather than revising the current-year target. Chris Ferguson said most districts are growing, that 54 of 72 districts would benefit from a formula change favoring current-year enrollment, and that unfunded growth remains a concern. On facilities, staff explained that deferred maintenance needs are about $2.2 billion, with projects prioritized by life safety, modernization, and capacity needs. The final item was Calbright College. President Menon said Calbright serves more than 6,200 adult learners statewide, with strong completion and wage gains, and asked for the Governor’s proposed $38 million ongoing increase. She and staff emphasized Calbright’s flexible, competency-based model, its partnerships with employers and other colleges, and its role in serving working adults and caregivers. LAO questioned the proposed funding level and recommended moving Calbright onto the student-centered funding formula in the future to better tie funding to enrollment and outcomes, while Calbright argued its structure is different from traditional colleges and needs separate treatment. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, now it'll be the appropriate time.
• I'm very grateful for this legislation.
• It's a great piece of legislation.
• I think it's a really good piece of legislation.
• So that's why the legislation is before you.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Resources

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation has already passed in other states.
• Many legislators fought it hard and said it was an unaffordable action.
• Many legislators fought it hard and said it was an unaffordable action.
• I strongly, strongly urge you to support this legislation.
• We are very supportive of this legislation.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:49.360><c> that's</c> we are sharing uh the legislation that's we are sharing uh the legislation
• ><c> the</c> draft legislation for the draft legislation for the legislaturator's<00:10:24.160><c> consideration
• So, I was just any appropriation.
• Committee on Government Operations, same request. Um, I vote yes.
• </c> operations, same request. Um I vote yes. operations, same request. Um I vote yes.

Bills: SB3294

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Keywords: wrongful conviction, compensation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, innocence, legal process, burden of proof, case manager, medical coverage, judicial discretion, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first took up SB 3294, a controversial measure concerning post-release assistance for people pursuing reversals of prior court decisions where innocence is in question. Members discussed keeping the bill moving on the “human side” while a House companion addressed the legal issues. The adopted amendments removed advanced compensation language and instead required DCR, with DHS, to help petitioners prepare applications for financial and medical assistance, notify DHS upon release, assign a case manager to assist with a cell phone for one year, housing, employment, mental health counseling, and expedited benefits, and provide a state ID upon release. The measure also included technical amendments and a defective date, and it passed unanimously. The joint committees then heard SB 2237 on fire prevention, which would require state agencies to create and update hazard maps and direct DNR to adopt rules and clear brush. DLNR testified that a single lead agency should develop the maps with input from other agencies, that a five-year timeline would be more reasonable, and that assigning DNR all fuels management on state lands would create an unfunded mandate. Members discussed using the newly created fire marshal’s office as the lead, and the committees ultimately deferred the bill in favor of a broader wildfire mitigation measure already moving in another committee. The final agenda included SB 2596 on government leases, SB 30002 on the Hawaii State Planning Act and green infrastructure, and SB 3067 on records and filing requirements. SB 2596 was advanced unamended to Ways and Means. On SB 30002, OPSD explained that a 2025-2027 comprehensive review of chapter 226 is underway, with a report and draft legislation due in 2027, and members debated whether to move piecemeal changes now or wait for the broader review; the bill nevertheless passed unamended. SB 3067, which updates outdated filing formats and drawing scales, also passed unamended with DAGS supporting the measure in writing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:43.399><c> in</c> that's um that's not appropriated in that's um that's not appropriated in
• This is the one that's Appropriations, the government appropriation Division II.
• </c> depending on how they made their request depending on how they made their request to<03:24:12.040
• </c><03:36:13.920><c> additional</c> governor did appropriate additional governor did appropriate additional
• </c><03:48:13.159><c> is</c> talked about so that appropriation is talked about so that appropriation

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. The Department of Education testified that the bill’s definition would conflict with federal definitions and be very restrictive, potentially affecting a wide range of instructional methods, curriculum materials, teacher training, civics requirements, suicide prevention training, and other programs. The department said the bill could force a broad overhaul of school practices, create local implementation burdens, and require at least one new state position, with a fiscal note estimating roughly $118,000 in FY 2026 rising in later years. Members also raised concerns about possible impacts on federal pass-through funding and whether the bill was workable. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. The committee then heard HB 133, a Department of Safety/DMV bill involving follow-up when a person votes using an out-of-state license or non-driver ID and then does not obtain a New Hampshire credential within the statutory timeframe. DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology upgrade plus a new full-time position, and that the fiscal note did not include postage or fully account for the manual work needed to match records, send notices, and review responses. They said the proposal also raised broader tracking issues because it would apply not only to voters but to anyone who had not obtained a New Hampshire license within 60 days, and they questioned whether DMV was the proper agency to make those inquiries. Committee members pressed the department on how the 60-day clock would be determined, whether the bill could amount to a kind of poll tax or raise privacy concerns, and whether voter ID cards or other exceptions would avoid that problem. The department explained that New Hampshire offers a free voter identification card through town clerks for people without a license or state ID, but said the bill did not exempt those cards and that the DMV would still be asked to investigate status after voting. Officials also said the bill would be difficult to enforce, that some cases would be ambiguous, and that any response from the DMV would likely amount to a request for information rather than an enforceable consequence. No vote on HB 133 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first part of this is they have the ability to request a written statement.
• So they have the ability to request it.
• It's not just like a teacher can request it.
• This legislation is patterned off of the Arkansas Credit Act that passed in 2023.
• Would it be appropriate to change the verb to shall?

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education met in executive session and first took up House Concurrent Resolution 31. A committee substitute was adopted after the sponsor explained revisions to the proposed civics and patriotism work group, including clearer qualifications, DESE’s role in producing seals, recognition levels for gold/silver/bronze, and a special recognition letter for students entering military service. Ranking member Steinhoff supported the substitute, saying the changes improved implementation and likely reduced fiscal impact. The substitute was then passed do pass, and the committee later corrected the recorded vote on HCR 31 from 15-0 to 16-0. The committee then considered a combined substitute for House Bills 21, 26, and 2197, focused on building-level administrator evaluations and nonrenewal procedures. The substitute required administrators to be evaluated at least once per contract year, required written notice of renewal or nonrenewal by March 1, and gave nonrenewed administrators the right to request written reasons and a closed-door hearing before the school board. Members discussed the removal of earlier language that would have created automatic renewal if deadlines were missed and the decision not to create tenure for principals. Concerns were raised about whether the hearing right gave administrators more protection than other employees, but sponsors said the intent was to ensure annual evaluations and transparency without granting tenure. The committee adopted an amendment, rolled it into a new substitute, and passed the substitute do pass by a 17-0 vote. After leaving executive session, the committee heard House Bill 3489 from Representative Hurlbert. The bill, patterned after Arkansas legislation, would expand access to workforce development assessments such as WorkKeys and allow up to nine hours of college credit for demonstrated workplace skills as recommended by the American Council on Education. Testimony from ACT, the Missouri Chamber, and DESE supported the goal of elevating career readiness, noting employer demand for skilled workers, existing use of WorkKeys in Missouri, and its role in career and technical education and accountability systems. Members asked about the bill’s relationship to the governor’s workforce executive order, whether the language should be mandatory or permissive, and how the credits would transfer. The hearing on HB 3489 concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• right to request re-scoring.
• So we're in support of this legislation.
• Our members are also supporting legislation.
• So we're happy to support your legislation.
• Appropriate for others in Fayette County.

Bills: SB458 , SB819 , SB1238 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1644 , SB1791 , SB1810 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB758 , SB1455 , SB1706

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: insurance appraisal, property insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, residential property, disputed loss, loss valuation, appraisal clause, appraiser, umpire, Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, insurance dispute resolution, claims adjustment, total loss, windstorm insurance, FAIR Plan, surplus lines insurance, policyholder, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the division manager for the Budget Policy Analysis Division for Legislative Services.
• This first slide that I have is, and some of you who've been in legislative council have seen versions
• And then the far-right-hand column is the legislative budget plan as recommended by the governor, and
• It was 21% of the original appropriation for 2009. Fast forward to today.
• And that equates to almost 30% of the original appropriation of the 2026 original appropriation.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funds during a legislative session.
• The Legislative Budget Commission.
• Let's make this legislation that we're voting on today unanimous and bipartisan by putting on appropriate
• legislation and vote it up or down.
• appropriates into the trust fund.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.