Transcript Highlights:

• This committee opportunity is really a great opportunity for us to share our journey that we've had through
• We also have AI and digital cytology as well.
• Dex already mentioned digital cytology.
• digital twin for you.
• They can use humans and a digital twin.

Bills: SB1786

Keywords: artificial intelligence, content verification, provenance data, transparency, digital content, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes a framework for structured digital literacy.
• Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
• I jumped at the opportunity to possibly be a trustee for FIU.
• So thank you again for the opportunity to testify today.
• Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to serve.

Bills: S1694

Keywords: technology education, digital literacy, artificial intelligence, computer science, high school graduation

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum present and first took up CS for SB 1694, which would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and encourage high school computer science courses with AI content to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal contexts. The bill drew support from several speakers who emphasized the need for students to understand AI’s capabilities, limitations, ethics, and risks, while one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the loss of skills. Senator Davis said the bill was a good step toward preparing the future workforce and suggested earlier instruction might be worth considering later. The bill was reported favorably, and Senator Leek asked to be recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a long series of confirmation presentations for trustees at multiple Florida colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, USF, UNF, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally emphasized student success, workforce alignment, fiscal responsibility, access and affordability, and institutional growth; several members and senators offered supportive comments, with some asking about specific issues such as Tallahassee State’s NCLEX passage rates and the need for continued improvement. One appointee’s attendance was delayed or skipped for later consideration, but the committee ultimately took a block vote and reported the confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. Finally, Chair Harrell gave a brief overview of the higher education budget, describing a total of $11.9 billion and highlighting increases for workforce education, Florida College System operating funds, workforce development capitalization, the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s Lassinger Center on Learning, the Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, and campus security through a postsecondary guardian program. Senator Davis asked about a transfer related to the workforce development capitalization and incentive grant fund, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds being added. There was no public comment on the budget, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Leek requested to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 1694.

Transcript Highlights:

• , digital navigators, and the Internet for All initiative.
• The Digital Equity Program must create two staff positions: digital resource coordinators, and multimedia
• Every you and community members, thank you for this opportunity.
• Community digital connectivity is a matter of social justice.
• Thank you for that question and the opportunity to clarify it.

Bills: HB2579

Keywords: public media, digital equity, funding, media access, communication technology, 904, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2579, which would create a Public Media Broadcaster Program and a Digital Equity Program funded by a 20-cent-per-line monthly tax on wireless, VOIP, and landline services. Committee staff explained that 80% of the revenue would go to public media grants and 20% to digital equity grants, with a small administrative set-aside. The prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Stearns, and many supporters argued that public radio, PBS, and community media provide essential local news, emergency alerts, music, education, and community connection, especially as federal support declines. Supporters included public media leaders, community media producers, digital equity advocates, a student, and faith-based and civic representatives, who emphasized access for rural communities, youth training, multilingual outreach, and emergency communications. Opponents from CTIA and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes argued the bill would add a regressive burden to already high wireless taxes and criticized the proposal as another tax increase; CTIA also offered to provide comparative state tax data. The hearing closed without a vote on the bill. The committee then received a cybersecurity briefing from state emergency management and technology officials on critical infrastructure protection. Presenters described Washington’s current layered cybersecurity model across state agencies, the Fusion Center, the Military Department, and local and private partners, and said threats are increasingly sophisticated due to ransomware, supply-chain attacks, zero-day exploits, and AI-enabled phishing. They highlighted the state and local cybersecurity grant program, the need for better real-time threat monitoring and intelligence sharing, and a planned volunteer cyber incident response team under the emergency worker program. Members asked about the most vulnerable sectors, motivations behind attacks, and whether the legislature should act on the proposed shared-intelligence model; officials said the main gap is real-time visibility across participating networks and that the model would require significant future investment, but no immediate legislative request was made. The committee also heard an update on the December 2025 flooding response. Emergency management officials said severe atmospheric rivers caused widespread flooding, landslides, wind damage, power outages, evacuations, rescues, and damage to homes, roads, levees, water systems, and agriculture. They credited mitigation investments, floodplain restoration, and prior state staffing increases for reducing damage, and said state and federal agencies coordinated evacuations, rescues, alerts, and disaster assistance. Officials noted ongoing needs for statewide alerting and evacuation systems, multilingual alerting, search-and-rescue coordination, and more funding for state individual assistance and mitigation. Members asked about a statewide alert system, funding needs, and private losses; staff said a statewide integrated platform would improve coordination but would require ongoing appropriations. Finally, the committee received a wildfire resilience update. Presenters said more than 2.3 million acres burned statewide from 2020 to 2025, with wildfire now treated as a recurring statewide hazard rather than an episodic event. They described roles for Emergency Management, the Insurance Commissioner, Commerce’s energy resilience office, and the Department of Natural Resources in prevention, response, recovery, insurance resilience, grid hardening, and forest management. DNR officials highlighted fuels reduction, firefighter training, interagency coordination, AI-enabled detection cameras, aircraft with LiDAR and infrared, and a common operating picture that shares fire data with local responders. They also discussed a legislature-directed statewide wildfire hazard and risk mapping effort and broader community resilience measures such as home hardening and evacuation planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts on this bill.
• So we have an opportunity to work with those tribal housing authorities. Ahead of year 15.
• So we have an opportunity to work with those tribal housing authorities.
• It is an opportunity to purchase, not a 'you must purchase.'
• And that is an opportunity to purchase the unit or to however it is constructed for that project.

Bills: HB1542, HB2527

Keywords: senior housing, independent living, 55 and older, older adults, elderly, retirement housing, retirement community, resident rights, tenant protections, consumer protection act, unfair or deceptive practices, housing discrimination, assisted living distinction, Department of Commerce, Washington RCW, housing provider, community living, security cameras, resident meetings, anonymous complaints

Summary: The Housing Committee opened with scheduling updates, noting that House Bill 2266 may move from Thursday to Monday for executive action and that House Bill 2489 is being pushed to next week to allow more amendment work. The committee then heard House Bill 1542, which would create a bill of rights for residents of senior independent housing, define that housing category, allow enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act, and require a Commerce report. Sponsor Rep. Christine Reeves said the bill responds to seniors in her district who lack protections, and she suggested amendments to extend the reporting deadline and possibly add a registry to better identify covered communities. Supporters from the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP backed the bill as a needed consumer-protection measure for vulnerable older adults, while a representative from a manufactured-home community urged that such communities be included. LeadingAge Washington said the bill is a reasonable start but asked for more stakeholder work and a clarification related to CCRC statutes. The committee also heard House Bill 2527, which addresses eventual tenant ownership programs under the federal low-income housing tax credit program. Staff explained that the bill would require developers to set up reserve or escrow accounts, inform tenants and partners of their rights and responsibilities, and allow the Housing Finance Commission to investigate violations and bar noncompliant developers from future tax-credit participation for a period of time, with harsher penalties for willful violations. Rep. Alex Ybarra Pellett said the bill responds to a state audit and to Native families who were promised eventual ownership but have not received deeds or keys after years of renting. Indigenous rights attorney Gabe Galanda supported the bill, saying more than 500 families, mostly Indigenous and many in tribal communities, were affected by broken promises and inadequate oversight. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission opposed the punitive parts of HB 2527, saying the program is complex, that 17 of the 18 eventual tenant ownership projects involve tribal housing authorities, and that the commission has already adopted stronger policies after the audit. Commission staff said the bill’s penalties and retroactive enforcement could undermine collaborative work with tribes and that the ownership arrangements vary by project and are not simply “keys after 15 years.” Members asked extensive questions about accountability, ownership structures, escrow obligations, and the role of investors versus tribal housing authorities. The chair indicated the issue may be revisited in a future work session. The committee then closed the hearing on HB 2527, reopened HB 1542 for additional testimony, and adjourned after hearing all public testimony without taking any votes.

Bills: HB 1550, HB 1592, HB 1964, HB 2002, HB 2063, HB 2118, HB 2128, HB 2669, HB 2765

Keywords: veterinary, regulation, licensing, practices, board, administration, facilities, pest control, wildlife management, agriculture, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, nonprofit, food banks, agricultural products, grant eligibility, poverty alleviation, transportation, disaster relief

Bills: HB 1550, HB 1592, HB 1964, HB 2002, HB 2063, HB 2118, HB 2128, HB 2669, HB 2765

Keywords: veterinary, regulation, licensing, practices, board, administration, facilities, pest control, wildlife management, agriculture, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, nonprofit, food banks, agricultural products, grant eligibility, poverty alleviation, transportation, disaster relief

Keywords: HI House YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E73KT01jz4, 2026-07-02T01:22:34+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, The joint committees on Education will receive an update from the Department of Education on their plans to address the following: · Summer Learning Opportunities · Learning Loss · School Re-opening Plans, 910, house, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also no definition of digital—I forget the language that's used in here—digital verification
• or digital something.
• Digital identification.
• So there is a degree of pragmatism. digital identification.
• I'd appreciate the opportunity.

Bills: HB2112

Keywords: age restrictions, online content, digital media, youth protection, cyber safety, 904, all

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2112, which would require age verification for websites and other commercial online entities that knowingly distribute material deemed harmful to minors, along with landing-page and ad notices about youth health risks. Staff explained the bill’s scope, exemptions for bona fide news/public-interest content and for ISPs/search engines/cloud providers, and enforcement by the Attorney General with civil penalties. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mari Leavitt, said the bill is intended to protect children from harmful online sexual content and argued that parental controls alone are insufficient; she emphasized privacy safeguards, the use of third-party verification, and cited court decisions and other states’ laws as support. Supportive witnesses, including a parent who described her son’s suicide after exposure to harmful online content, clinicians, and other advocates, said the bill is needed because children can easily bypass simple age gates and that the harms include depression, addiction, and other mental health impacts. Several witnesses and committee members discussed how age verification could work, including privacy-preserving methods, facial age estimation, zero-knowledge proofs, and tokenized checks. Supporters said the bill is narrowly aimed at adult-content sites and that adults’ access would remain protected, while some members asked about search engines, gaming platforms, AI chatbots, and whether the bill should be broader or more precise. Questions also focused on data retention, third-party vendors, and whether the bill’s warning-label and one-third-content thresholds were sufficiently clear. Opponents argued the bill would create privacy and security risks, could be difficult to enforce against out-of-state or foreign websites, and might push users toward less regulated sites. Civil liberties, tech, and LGBTQ advocacy groups warned that the definition of “sexual material harmful to minors” is vague and could sweep in sexual health, educational, reproductive health, and LGBTQ-related content, while also chilling speech and burdening lawful adult access. Some opponents said parental controls and better platform design are preferable alternatives. No vote or executive action was taken; the hearing was limited to testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jason Kent is the CEO of Digital Content Next.
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I'm Jason Kent.
• I've spent my entire career in digital media.
• Tell me what challenges do. digital publishers face in navigating today's digital advertising ecosystem
• Among competing digital platforms? Platforms themselves.

Keywords: antitrust, competition policy, digital advertising, monopoly, America Act, big tech, consumer rights

Summary: The meeting, titled 'Big Fixes, Big Tech', marked the first hearing of the Senate antitrust competition policy and consumer rights subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Chairman Lee opened the session focusing on the urgent need for effective solutions regarding anti-competitive behavior among major tech firms like Google and Facebook, highlighting several ongoing court cases regarding monopolistic practices in the digital advertising and search markets. Key discussions included the limitations imposed on small businesses and innovation due to the dominance of these tech giants, with many testimonies advocating for stronger legislative measures, including the America Act. The act aims to disrupt the monopolistic capabilities of these firms and restore competitive integrity in the marketplace, which has suffered under their oppressive market control.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you again for the opportunity to testify.
• Senator, the Howey test has focused historically, prior to the advent of digital digital assets, on transactions
• There are unique risks and opportunities that digital asset markets prevent.
• The point I'm trying to make is why, all of a sudden, when we got to digital technology, digital currencies
• Digital assets and blockchain are the next big wave. It creates enormous opportunity.

Keywords: Digital Assets, Bitcoin, Stablecoins, Legislation, Bipartisan, Consumer Protection, Regulatory Framework, Financial Innovation, Testimony

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Digital Assets Subcommittee brought a wave of excitement and anticipation regarding the future of digital assets, including Bitcoin and stablecoins. Chair Lummis expressed gratitude towards Senator Scott for establishing the subcommittee, indicating a commitment to promote responsible innovation while safeguarding consumers. Members discussed the necessity for a bipartisan legislative framework to regulate digital asset markets effectively while outlining the potential benefits such legislation could have on enhancing financial inclusion and streamlining payments. The meeting featured expert testimonies from key figures in the digital asset industry, highlighting the importance of creating clear regulatory guidance for digital assets to foster innovation without compromising consumer protections.

Transcript Highlights:

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• It has a lot of small schools, and they wouldn't have these opportunities.
• Chair. advantage of that Levy opportunity advantage of that Levy opportunity across<00:19:52.760><c>
• </c> and providing them with the opportunity and providing them with the opportunity to<01:03:29.319>
• </c><01:09:59.000><c> for</c> that there's a real opportunity for that there's a real opportunity for

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you this morning about House Bill 80.
• I think the main thing that we look for in economic development is the opportunity for investments and
• that same framework, the framework that requires adult sentencing outcomes for children with no opportunity

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Summary: The committee heard a series of capital, bond, environmental, economic development, juvenile justice, and health care bills. Senate Bill 240, the capital outlay package, was presented as a $1.3 billion statewide appropriation, including discretionary capital projects and agency projects; after questions about CYFD projects and House/Senate capital allocations, the committee voted do pass on the committee substitute. House Bill 248, the general obligation bond package totaling about $392.5 million for senior centers, libraries, higher education, and tribal projects, also received a do pass after questions about project vetting, bond timing, and school bus funding. House Bill 80, which increases the share of oil and gas conservation tax revenue going to the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund to speed orphan well plugging and site cleanup, drew strong support from business, environmental, and industry groups; members discussed funding balances, procurement bottlenecks, and the distinction between abandoned and orphan wells before voting do pass. House Bill 184, making technical fixes to the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and related distribution rules, passed with little debate. The committee also heard Senate Bill 172, which expands the TRIGGER program allowing companies to access national laboratory expertise; supporters from the labs, the governor’s office, universities, and business groups cited job creation, follow-on investment, and commercialization gains, while one senator raised concerns about the long extension of the program. The bill passed do pass. House Bill 95, creating a judge for the First and Second Judicial Districts, was described as matching a previously heard Senate bill and passed do pass. Senate Bill 165, a major juvenile justice bill, generated the most extensive debate: the sponsor said it updates the juvenile code, raises the age for certain serious offenses, extends services for youth sentenced as adults, and expands community corrections; law enforcement supported it, while the Public Defender, youth advocates, the ACLU, and a Bernalillo County commissioner opposed it, arguing it expands adult sentencing and relies too heavily on incarceration. Despite those objections, the committee voted do pass. Finally, House Bill 4, which increases the Health Care Affordability Fund distribution to support premium assistance and related coverage programs, was amended so that a portion of the premium surtax would go to the Behavioral Health Program Fund and any unexpended balance would revert to the affordability fund. Supporters from BeWell, health advocacy groups, the insurance office, and homeless services said the bill would protect coverage gains and help offset federal changes; members asked about the amendment’s effect on the behavioral health fund and the bill’s flexibility if revenues decline. The amendment was adopted, and discussion on the bill continued.

Bills: HB2158, HB2178

Keywords: electronic signatures, notary, digital transactions, authentication, legal documents, court rules, court procedure, civil infractions, notice of civil infraction, malicious mischief, physical damage, computer crime, digital property damage, electronic records, data destruction, computer programs, cyber damage, default judgment, payment plan, restitution

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 2158, which updates Washington’s electronic notarization law to allow remote notarization of tangible paper documents, remote administration of oaths or affirmations, and remote acknowledgment of signatures on tangible records. Committee staff explained the bill’s procedures and safeguards, including audiovisual recording and retention requirements. Sponsor Rep. Abell and Uniform Law Commission witness Caitlin Wolfe said the measure expands flexibility, especially for rural residents, while maintaining consumer protections. Ranking Member Walsh raised concerns about fraud and manipulated video, and Wolfe responded that the bill includes safeguards and recording requirements to help detect abuse. The committee then heard House Bill 2178, an Administrative Office of the Courts request bill making several court-rule and statutory alignment changes. Staff described updates to civil infraction filing and response deadlines, payment plan authority, the aggregation threshold for second-degree malicious mischief, an extension of the deadline for electronic submission of protection order petitions, and repeal of an outdated legal financial obligation grant distribution provision. Rep. Tye said the bill is not merely technical and specifically questioned the need to extend the protection-order implementation deadline, saying she was still seeking an explanation. AOC witness Jay Lee Schultz testified that the bill is intended to align statutes with current court rules and the statewide case management system rollout, and said the protection-order deadline extension is needed because courts are transitioning to the new system in phases through 2028. Elizabeth Hendren of the Sexual Violence Law Center opposed the delay in Section 6, arguing it would further postpone reforms intended to improve survivor access, electronic filing, judicial access to related protection orders, and notification features. She urged the committee to seek transparency on implementation, funding, and whether another delay is truly necessary. No votes were taken on either bill, and the hearing concluded with committee introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to give the rest of the panel an option, the opportunity to answer the question Representative

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you for the opportunity to allow me to speak today. Also wanna thank Senator Padilla...
• contingencies, does that mean that we're giving workforce development, MFA, and Housing New Mexico the opportunity
• And just give me an opportunity to talk about that reserve calculation. Thank you, Chairman.
• Do I say this grasping onto that opportunity, making the most of the opportunity that might be here,
• committee has done around education, career development, technical education, housing, economic opportunity

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm very proud for the opportunity to carry it in front of us today and hopefully get it moving on

Bills: HF4141, HF3951

Keywords: housing authority, criminal penalty, assault, public safety, redevelopment, submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, 1183, house

Bills: HB85, HB94, HB276, HB323, HB374, HB586, HB656, HB998, HB1204, SB42, SB46, SB51, SB87, SB110, SB154

Keywords: animal abuse, registry, law enforcement, felony offenses, public notification, firearms, due process, confiscation, law-abiding citizen, government funding, self-defense, bail, contradictory bail hearing, Gwen's Law, pretrial detention, criminal procedure, child sexual abuse, child rape, sexual battery, oral sexual battery

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment requires that any general education core course that integrates technology include opportunities
• to improve digital literacy and competency, instruction on the application of artificial intelligence
• to include instruction in artificial intelligence, but if a computer science course does... ...opportunities
• to improve digital literacy and competency, instruction on the application of artificial intelligence
• And this is an opportunity, obviously, for us to continue to increase that workforce.

Bills: S7038, S1694

Keywords: education, Florida College System, tuition waivers, vocational rehabilitation, state universities, accreditation, public safety, technology education, digital literacy, artificial intelligence, computer science, high school graduation

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard and approved CS/SB 1694, which would revise general education core standards at public postsecondary institutions to incorporate technology-related instruction. The adopted amendment shifted the bill away from creating a sixth core course and instead required technology integration within existing core courses to include digital literacy, AI tool application, and related instruction in areas such as software engineering, networks, databases, and cybersecurity as applicable. For high school computer science courses, the amendment added guidance on critical evaluation of AI results, AI limitations, and ethical use of AI. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted the bill favorably. The committee also took up confirmation appointments on tabs 1 through 2 and, on one motion, recommended confirmation of all appointees favorably. In addition, it considered SPB 7038 on postsecondary education and workforce development, which addresses tuition and fee policies, consumer protections, career and technical education, student acceleration, and institutional operations. Members asked about dual enrollment expansion, CIE licensure exemptions, and the removal of the Classic Learning Test as a fee-waiver qualifier; staff said the dual enrollment change was intended to expand student options without necessarily increasing enrollment, the CLT removal was an error to be corrected, and a Florida Dental Association representative raised concern about preserving the long-standing exemption for dental assisting programs. The committee moved SPB 7038 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Father, we thank you for the opportunity you've given us to come together in the people's house to try
• want to say as we get started that I see athletic signing days all the time, and I just love the opportunity
• I appreciate the opportunity, Chairman Collins, and members. I appreciate the heckles as well.
• I actually had the opportunity to go and look at it in action, and they were still in the...

Bills: SB92, HB9, HB9

Keywords: K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, three-cueing system, reading instruction, structured literacy, scientific strategies, 1136, house, all

Bills: SB282, SB282

Keywords: virtual currency, cryptocurrency, tax exemption, state tax law, digital assets, manufactured homes, certificate of title, Alabama Department of Revenue, law amendment, 1999 models, 1136, house, all