Transcript Highlights:

• to say I'm sure we all on the tax committee have our favorite economists that we like to, you know, read
• 04:10.720> know, economists that we like to, you know, economists that we like to, you know, read
• read at all hours in the morning. read at all hours in the morning.
• Chair. second, third, and top brackets. second, third, and top brackets.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The third and final report finding related to university controls over credit cards, and that just related
• two, when it talks in questions that constitute consultant services, where it says here, if I may read
• Where it talks, it says here, if I may read it aloud, what I read here. It says here, it says here.
• As far as the third item, they didn't always competitively recruit employees, so they didn't advertise
• Holscher, I'm reading here in the Florida Statutes, let's see, 101.2.976.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear a presentation from the Florida Auditor General’s office on recent operational audits of four universities and to discuss how audit findings are handled. The Auditor General explained that financial audits occur annually and operational audits at least every three years, with universities required to respond in writing to findings; the office generally follows up in the next audit cycle, though it can audit sooner if needed. Members asked about accountability, whether findings are referred to other bodies, and how internal university audit functions interact with the state audit process. The chair emphasized the committee’s oversight role in ensuring public funds are used appropriately. The audit findings highlighted issues at New College of Florida, Florida A&M University, the University of Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. At New College, auditors cited invoice/payment errors, delinquent student account collection delays, prohibited extra compensation, exceeding state remuneration limits for certain employees, weak purchasing card controls, construction management cost documentation issues, and subcontractor licensing documentation gaps. At FAMU, auditors found investment accounting classification issues, delayed bank reconciliations, late vendor payments, and incomplete annual employee evaluations. At UF, auditors reported concerns over a $6.4 million consulting contract, event and catering spending, president’s office hiring and salary practices, bonus and relocation payments, continued high compensation after the president transitioned to another role, travel expenses including charter flights, and remote work agreements. At FAU, auditors found distance learning fee revenue exceeded allowable costs by about $2.8 million, carry forward funds were underreported by about $77 million, and credit card controls needed improvement. Members pressed the Auditor General on whether overpayments were refunded, whether any findings involved statutory violations, and what enforcement exists beyond the audit report. The auditor said some issues were corrected by the universities, such as New College recovering excess compensation from foundation funds, but others would be revisited in future audits; if potential fraud were identified, it would be referred to the state attorney’s office. The chair closed by noting that accountability for public spending rests with the Legislature and the committee, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action beyond receiving the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• A QUICK OVERVIEW, WE ARE THE THIRD LARGEST PRISON SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY AND WE EMPLOY 24,000 STAFF, HAVE
• THAT IS THE THIRD LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
• WE AVERAGE A SIXTH GRADE EDUCATION TO LET THE BASELINE AS WE'RE LEARNING TO READ AND GETTING A GED BUT
• WE READ ALL THE TWEETS, ALL THE EMAILS, ALL THE MESSAGES FROM LOVED ONES OF THOSE INCARCERATED.
• WE PRIORITIZE GE'S, LEARNING TO READ WHEN WE CAN.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I realize, it's a little hard to see for some, I'll just read that.
• And third, it is defined according to practical realities.
• I know that's at MCI Framingham or Read to Me Mommy.
• Whether or not people are reading it, I don’t know. So this tablet process is...
• Whether or not people are reading it, I don’t know.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission approved the July 11 minutes and then received a detailed follow-up presentation from the Department of Correction on facility footprint, mission-driven housing, programming, and technology. Commissioner Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Peterson explained recent and planned facility changes, including the closures of Walpole, MCI Cedar Junction, and MCI Concord, the transition of the Plymouth Section 35/Mass Act program to Health and Human Services, the return of Bay State to DOC control for possible future use, and the Shattuck Hospital move to East Newton Pavilion. Members asked about operational capacity, the exclusion of support beds from occupancy figures, and the status of mothballed or unused facilities. Framingham drew particular attention because of its historically low women’s population and planned renovations; members raised concerns about the cost and the need to consider the broader women’s correctional system. A major portion of the meeting focused on mission-driven units and evidence-based programming. DOC described specialized units for health services, nursing care, clinical stabilization, mental health, residential treatment, protective custody, reentry, emerging adults, education, and substance use recovery, and noted that security threat group support beds are not used. Staff explained the distinction between general population beds and support beds, and between programming and treatment. They said core recidivism-reduction programs are based on risk-need responsivity and COMPAS assessments, with Spectrum Health Systems as the current vendor, and presented recidivism data showing lower reoffending among participants who completed programs such as violence reduction, criminal thinking, and the Correctional Recovery Academy. For women, they highlighted the pathways model at MCI Framingham, which combines trauma-informed, gender-responsive services, and reported strong outcomes for those engaged for at least 26 weeks. Members asked about how needs are identified and counted, how declinations are handled, and how the department distinguishes completion from ongoing maintenance. DOC said participation is voluntary, individuals are re-recommended over time, and completion is recorded in the system when criteria are met. They also discussed educational supports for learning disabilities and trauma, including IEP/504 coordination, tutoring, and a new school psychologist for testing. Questions were raised about family reunification programming, and DOC pointed to family-focused services, mediation, Read to Me Mommy, and the Brave unit for young fathers. Sheriff Cabral and Sheriff Cochie praised the presentation and emphasized the importance of family reunification and the realities of trauma in incarcerated people’s lives. The final section highlighted the expanded use of tablets across all facilities. DOC said tablets now support free phone calls, emails, video visits, surveys, educational content, medical updates, sick-call requests, and an earned-good-time app, while also helping with communication during facility closures and with ongoing programming. Staff said the tablets are used both for learning and recreation, and that more than half of the incarcerated population uses them monthly for educational purposes. Members discussed whether user feedback or “reviews” of programs could help increase participation, and DOC said tablet-based surveys make that possible. The meeting ended with general agreement that the department has expanded programming and technology substantially and is using them to support reentry, communication, and facility operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Um, and in any case, this is largely looking at the regulations, the second and third paragraphs
• There's no third-party fees that are charged.
• And I'm going to read that through because it's really intriguing.
• <00:59:12.799> it's<00:59:13.119> really read that through because it's really read
• But there's only six sections in Article 18, so I'd suggest you guys read them all.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then third, if we're unable to take the full credit for the assessment, that's sort of a third loss
• And then third, if we're unable to take the full credit for the assessment, that's sort of a third loss
• but I think that's an accurate reading. but I think that's an accurate reading.
• They just read the news. folks are. They just read the news.
• >> Yeah. or reading the local newspaper. >> Yeah. or reading the local newspaper.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, the Commission is requesting 6.2 million dollars to create open oversight and safety regulatory
• Page 7 of the presentation outlines our third exceptional item.
• It's kind of hard to read.
• This is the third year, we're entering the third year of a national outbreak.
• So you can read my written testimony, and happy to answer any questions. There's a lot in it.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the way I read this it's got 2,000 hours of study time for GLO at $240 an hour. 2,000 hours would
• We may recommend a third-party audit that we would contract with a third-party auditor to do or an even
• It's not read yet so you can go until it's read. Okay. I just heard it beep. Sorry.
• It's impossible. to read and understand so why haven't you just released the deer on your ranch I do
• You know, we have over one-third of the deer farms have gone away in the last two years.

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• and I propose the amendment to read and I propose the amendment to read clarify<00:15:29.920>
• :33:10.440> party >> That's an independent third party >> That's an independent third
• So, that sentence would read, "Require So, that sentence would read, "Require and<00:44:31.040> hold
• read read to<00:58:51.520> improve<00:58:52.000> provider<00:58:52.480> participation
• Okay, so would you like to read the sentence now?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on January 12, 2026, to approve the December 10, 2025 minutes and continue finalizing its findings and recommendations. Members reviewed findings on administrative inefficiencies, Medicaid and workforce participation under HR 1, Medicaid budget growth, rural health transformation fund development, and provider tax/state-directed payment changes. The board approved a motion to change “pilot” to “partnership” in the workforce-related recommendation, and also adopted a technical amendment clarifying overlapping HCBS services by removing reference to adult daycare waiver services and revising the language to focus on reducing duplication, simplifying provider contracting, and standardizing processes across programs. A separate technical correction was noted to change “DMS” to “DPH” in the rural health transformation finding, to be handled in the final edits. Several findings drew discussion but no final substantive vote during the meeting. On the rural health transformation fund, Dr. Berg said Kentucky had done well in federal funding and noted limits on what could be shared publicly, while Commissioner Lee said a public website had been created and recommended the department reference be changed to the Department for Public Health. Finding five prompted extended discussion about provider taxes, state-directed payment reductions under HR 1, and whether the board should address the relationship between actuarial studies, MCO payments, and actual provider reimbursement more directly. Senator Meredith and others argued for a broader, more transparent baseline review of rates across provider groups, while Commissioner Lee said CMS will require certain fee schedule comparisons to Medicare beginning July 1, 2026, and that quarterly expenditure reports already go to LRC. The board did not finish resolving finding five during the meeting and agreed to return to it after staff prepared more explicit language. Members also discussed the possibility of an all-payers claims database as a better way to understand what is being paid across payers and services. No final vote on the full findings package was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, but the board did adopt the noted amendments and continued working through the remaining language.

Transcript Highlights:

• One word of caution, though, when you are reading the instances of amendment, it makes some already very
• confusing contingencies and effective dates even more confusing to read.
• And then the third tact was adjustments to Act 73 and new policy to support the work that the Education
• <00:04:06.600> was<00:04:07.080> adjustments And then the third tact was adjustments
• So, this work is sort of the third-year phase in moving towards something called regional assessment

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The caucus of the whole received an update from Representative Kornheiser on House Bill 955, focusing on the Ways and Means amendment and how it aligns with Act 73 and the House Education Committee’s broader education transformation work. She said the amendment was assembled from separate pieces developed earlier in the session and covers three main areas: planned property tax updates, steps needed for the future education finance system and foundation formula, and policy changes to support collaborative education service agencies and district mergers. She emphasized that the bill is aimed at the future state of the system, with many provisions tied to later effective dates and pending reports. Kornheiser described the property tax provisions as further defining the new non-homestead/second-home classification so the Tax Department can continue form development and data collection before rates are set, and she said the bill also advances regional assessment districts and a more regular reappraisal cycle. On education finance, she said the amendment adds school construction and school debt provisions, reserve guidance, pre-K funding study language, special education funding protections, and transportation-related follow-up work so those pieces can fit the foundation formula. She also framed the bill as reducing cost drivers in the system, citing health care savings, reference-based pricing, mental health coordination, special education scale, deferred maintenance, and larger-scale school organization. During questions, members asked about merger support funding, transportation timelines, private equity ownership of school transportation, tuition restrictions for approved independent and public schools, and the timing and finality of the second-home tax definitions. Staff explained that merger support would be reimbursed through AOE for committee expenses and would not count against excess spending thresholds, that transportation and other grant categories will be addressed in future reports and decisions, and that the transportation study does not explicitly name private equity but could encompass staffing and cost issues. They also confirmed that the tuition-related provisions apply to approved independent, in-state public, and out-of-state public schools receiving tuition, but only when the foundation formula takes effect. No votes were taken during the caucus; the update was informational, with the bill noted as having been referred to Appropriations and expected to come up for action later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just in reading it, I'd like to make sure that there's, and maybe we can do this moving forward, some
• The offense is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or by a fine...
• The offense is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or by a fine of not more
• So let me just read you a couple of comments, and then I'll close, Mr. Chairman.
• I’ve read a lot of case law. I believe this is the right language.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of bills on inmate medical billing, court-order transmission, animal abandonment during disasters, first responder peer support, firearm purchase waiting periods, capital felony aggravators, domestic violence protections, boating safety, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, xylazine trafficking, and offenses against law enforcement officers. Testimony was generally supportive across the agenda, with some opposition or caution raised on the xylazine bill, the boating safety bill, and parts of the law-enforcement-officer bill. Several measures were presented as responses to specific tragedies, including the Martin County jail medical billing bill, the Baker Act transmission bill, Trooper’s Law for restrained dogs, the Jason Rayner Act, and Lucy’s Law. HB 407 would cap certain emergency medical charges for Martin County jail inmates at 110% of Medicare rates, mirroring Department of Corrections practice; it passed 15-0. HB 513 would require faster electronic transmission of certain court orders, including Baker Act orders, to law enforcement within six hours; it passed 15-0. HB 205, Trooper’s Law, creates a third-degree felony for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster; it passed 15-0. HB 421, as amended, expands peer support for first responders to certain support personnel involved in crime scene work or evidence handling; it passed 16-0. PCS for HB 383 would let law enforcement, correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and active military service members bypass the three-day handgun waiting period without a concealed carry permit; it passed 18-0. HB 693 adds an aggravating factor in capital cases when the victim was gathered with others for a school, religious, or public government meeting; it passed 17-1 after opposition testimony from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. PCS for HB 19 and HB 41, the Haven Act, would expand domestic and dating violence protections, including a feasibility study for a web-based 911 alert system and confidentiality/public-records protections for victims; both passed 18-0. PCS for HB 289, Lucy’s Law, would align boating penalties with driving offenses and expand boating safety card requirements; it passed 18-0 despite concerns from one witness that the bill should go further. HB 479 would allow courts to order restitution in leaving-the-scene property-damage cases; an amendment changing mandatory to discretionary restitution was adopted, and the bill passed 18-0. PCS for HB 57 would regulate xylazine, add trafficking penalties, and include veterinary-use exceptions; it passed 17-0 after one witness opposed mandatory minimums. HB 175, the Jason Rayner Act, clarifies that officers are protected when acting within the scope of their duties and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring life imprisonment; it passed 17-0 after debate over self-defense and unlawful police conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• This instructional need was centered on LA teachers and improving reading scores and literacy.
• Now, if you if you're fully well county center get certainly is two-thirds of his teachers and students
• So the subcommittee to public school, the 17 year-old reads that an 8th grade level.
• are first second 3rd grade teachers school teachers because that's who teaches our children how to read
• So there is no negotiate, never that we sit down with the any just read the law you did with the money

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reggie states completed the third Reggie states completed the third programmatic<00:16:38.079>
• Now it third period banking adjustment.
• But they're about a third of what we do.
• Uh, they're about a third of what we do.
• So, um, I can read the whole did that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is my third term.
• I haven't read the article yet. You shared it, and I haven't read it completely yet.
• I haven't read it yet, but, yeah, so I haven't read it yet. And I apologize. I haven't read it.
• I haven't read the article yet. You shared it, and I haven't read it completely yet.
• I haven't read it yet, but, yeah, so I haven't read it yet. And I apologize. I haven't read it.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business, the second reading of bills.
• reading of bills. Clerk, please report. reading of bills. Clerk, please report.
• a third time by title and sponsor only, and placed upon its passage.
• Motion is that House Bill 4 be taken from its place in the orders of the day, read for the third time
• So, she's and started reading at dinner. So, she's very<00:15:04.000> naive.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:02 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:49 Report of Committees 06:49 Orders of the Day 08:20 HB 4 08:33 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 17:34 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 27:40 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 29:22 ConC/Rules Report 33:29 Floor Amendments 35:06 Adjournment 35:37, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow bill co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the journal and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 48 and 102 and requested concurrence. The clerk then reported second-reading bills including measures on school bus safety, special license plates, healthcare workforce credentials, housing, veteran PTSD treatment, postsecondary education, the Kentucky Fire Commission, and local purchasing, along with committee reports advancing a wide range of bills on cultured meat, eviction/removal of unlawful occupants, involuntary commitment, grand jury service, CPA licensure, physical therapy, engineering scholarships, rabies vaccinations, the Controlled Substance Prescribing Council, robotics, reading and language arts instruction, and the education assessment/accountability system. The main floor action was House Bill 4, relating to grooming a minor. The sponsor described the bill as creating criminal penalties for grooming behavior, with enhanced penalties when the offender holds a position of authority. A floor amendment was adopted making technical wording changes and adding siblings and volunteers to the bill’s lawful-purpose exceptions. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing child protection and the need for stronger legal tools, though one member said she wished the age threshold were higher. The House then passed House Bill 4 as amended by a vote of 98-0. After HB 4, the House moved through announcements and legislative citations. Members recognized the Corbin Middle School football team and the Lion County High School boys basketball team, and honored M. Samantha Shaver, DMD. Committee meeting notices were announced for several panels, including Economic Development, State Government, Natural Resources and Energy, Families and Children, and Health Services. The clerk also reported newly introduced bills and resolutions covering school foods, family care leave, correctional services, protective orders, data privacy, school funding for districts with high tax-exempt property, Medicaid coverage for adult day health and in-home attendant care, alternative diplomas, Kentucky Nurses Day, a sister-city partnership with Israel’s Shamron Regional Council, and DUI. The House then recessed briefly for committee meetings, received committee referral and rules reports, introduced floor amendments to HB 257 and HB 305, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I read the 100 feet and wireless communication, if you read the education advice, you automatically
• But when I read it, I thought...
• About a third of them were registered to vote at that time.
• I would read it all out. It's about freedom and stuff.
• Of this bill and kind of go through it because the way I read it, I read it the way you're reading it

Bills: HB1968, HB2279, HB2739, HB2803, HB3909, HB3918, HB4253, HB4475, HB5115, HB5430

Keywords: election services, contracting, political subdivisions, county elections, election code, voter registration, citizenship status, election law, cancellation, disqualification, Texas Election Code, voter identification, registration, election integrity, identification documents, election, watcher, polling place, removal, Texas Elections Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll read through the health boards and talk about House files included and what I understand to be the
• Because it was the third deadline and the bill here was not finished, the agreement here was not finished
• I have testified in this committee previously that up to a third of dementia cases are preventable.
• I read the article as well, and it's not the first time that Congress has been thinking about it.
• Attention to them and read through those to see what else came forward.

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• What it seems to me when reading this is that if they have the parts, what if they don't have the gun
• I was trying to read this. I'm not... I was trying to read this starting at Line 39 on page two.
• And I want to say this to you: there are people who have a mindset that on the third of the...
• Mindset that on the third of the month, it could be... not that it doesn't happen.
• The amendments, I'll just wait and read the amendments understand. Thank you all.

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, SB116, machine gun conversion devices, switches, pistol conversion device, auto sear, firearm accessories, machine gun, automatic weapon, semiautomatic pistol, gun control

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, Bob Scott, Third Act NM. Can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me? Yep.
• I'm a member and co-facilitator. of Third Act New Mexico, a committed group of New Mexican elders, 60
• I read a book, didn't write a book. I don't write much more than about sentences at a time.
• I don't even know; I haven't read the book, but I believe it's about a nuisance case.
• I'm going back to the fiscal impact report and I marked it up, you know, in reading it.

Transcript Highlights:

• John Strauss, our chief gaming officer, is going to read through a few of the details we wanted to share
• Currently, all tribes in Washington State that have a casino and offer sports betting have engaged a third
• Our attorney general has signed on to an amicus brief in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
• The Attorney General has signed on to an amicus brief in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that
• So when we're talking about the partner, like third-party folks that sort of set the odds, that's like

Summary: The House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a field hearing on the Puyallup Reservation, where members first received an overview of sports betting in Washington. Tribal casino representatives and the Washington State Gambling Commission explained that sports betting became legal in 2020 under HB 2638 and is currently limited to tribal casinos through sportsbook, kiosk, and on-premise mobile wagering. Testimony covered how odds are set, compliance with federal anti-money-laundering rules, and the role of third-party vendors. Tribal representatives said sports betting supports tribal economic development and asked to expand betting to include Washington college teams, while warning that prediction markets and other unregulated products pose a threat. Committee members asked about geo-fencing, betting limits, in-state college betting restrictions, and regulatory oversight. No votes were taken. The committee then heard from Vicki Lowe of the American Indian Health Commission on tribal data sovereignty and health data. She described tribal sovereignty and the federal trust responsibility, and said tribes should have equitable access to their own health data and control over how it is used. She explained that during COVID, tribes often lacked direct access to state health data, which complicated case tracing and other public health work. Lowe said the Department of Health stopped collecting tribal affiliation in some contexts because of Public Records Act concerns, and she argued that this is inconsistent with tribal data-sharing principles adopted through the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council. Members asked for clarification about what counts as tribal data and how public records concerns affected data collection. No formal action was taken. Finally, Lucy Smartlut gave an update on the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force. She reported on the task force’s structure, its extension through 2027, and progress on recommendations including a fully funded cold case investigation unit in the Attorney General’s office, an updated missing persons resource, and forensic genetic genealogy work on unidentified remains. She said the cold case unit has active investigations, has helped locate missing Indigenous people, and made its first homicide arrest. She also presented data showing Native people are disproportionately represented among homicide and missing persons cases, and noted survey findings that many law enforcement agencies rely on officer observation for race data and have limited consultation with tribes. Committee members asked about funding, interagency coordination, and whether the task force is shifting toward prevention. The presenter said sustainability, continued awareness, and stronger collaboration remain priorities, and no vote was taken.