Transcript Highlights:

• </c> complete the improvements to the plant complete the improvements to the plant and<00:42:17.880><
• </c><00:42:22.160><c> in</c> conducted an inspection of the plant in conducted an inspection of the plant
• Closing is the same way.
• </c><01:30:05.960><c> to</c> funded are in progress or close to funded are in progress or close to completion
• </c><01:37:14.000><c> and</c> with wastewater treatment plants and with wastewater treatment plants and

Bills: HF458, HF459, HF461, HF449, HF450, HF965, HF1280, HF612, HF615, HF616, HF622, HF650, HF651, HF1045, HF972, HF851, HF644, HF1050

Keywords: HF458, Henderson, water treatment facility, drinking water, municipal water, public infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, bonding bill, Public Facilities Authority, water distribution system, well connection, local government grant, Minnesota capital budget, HF459, Carver levee, City of Carver, levee restoration, flood control, flood mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> plants uh for the past 50 plus years. plants uh for the past 50 plus years.
• </c> the risk of building the nuclear plants. the risk of building the nuclear plants.
• </c> centers are worse than our coal plant. centers are worse than our coal plant.
• I know the nuclear plant does.
• I know the nuclear plant does.

Bills: HF4308, HF4153, HF4703, HF4711

Keywords: HF4308, Monticello nuclear plant, Prairie Island, renewable development account, RDA, nuclear waste, spent fuel, dry cask storage, utility tax, commercial-industrial property tax, state general levy, property tax exemption, residential heating fuels, natural gas tax exemption, electricity sales tax exemption, year-round sales tax exemption, distributed solar energy standard, solar mandate, community solar, grid modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, I will say this: at a time when billionaires and large corporations are the wealthiest and
• In closing, I will say this: at a time when billionaires and large corporations are the wealthiest and
• Seeing none, we'll close testimony and I'll take it to member questions.
• He asked Leader Nisa for closing comments before making the motion to move it on to the next step.
• I'm going to ask for just maybe some closing comments. Representative Ciro, thank you.

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:47.120><c> weed</c><00:23:47.520><c> risk</c> plants and displays of plants weed risk plants
• People would not bring these plants home and plant them.
• </c> restricted plant list of plants that restricted plant list of plants that can't<00:29:05.919><c>
• plants home and<00:30:01.279><c> plant</c><00:30:01.520><c> them.
• </c> relating to plants. relating to plants.

Bills: HB2425, HB2596, HB2573, HB2017, HB1931, HB1736, HB1594, HB1828

Keywords: agriculture, sugarcane, permitting process, land use, conservation district, diversified agriculture, economic impact, invasive species, plant sales, weed risk assessment, consumer protection, environmental impact, workforce development, biosecurity, training program, partnerships, tax credit, Hawaiian home lands, investment costs, nonrefundable

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and then took testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 2425 would exempt agricultural enterprises on former commercial sugarcane lands in conservation use districts from certain permitting and site plan requirements. The Department of Agriculture supported the measure and stood on written comments. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but said the bill appeared to cite the wrong statute and suggested amending the conservation district law instead. Other testimony was generally supportive, while some witnesses raised concerns about using the right statutory vehicle. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be redirected through a different chapter. The committee then heard HB 596, which would require retail sellers of plants to disclose invasiveness risk, direct the Invasive Species Council to create a labeling system and weed risk assessments, and establish fines. The Department of Land and Natural Resources strongly supported the bill, saying point-of-sale labels would help consumers make informed choices. Supporters from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species said the state’s noxious weed and restricted plant lists are outdated or incomplete and that the bill would help prevent harmful species from being purchased and planted. Opponents, including the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, argued the measure was too broad, could stigmatize plants and producers, and might be better implemented through voluntary education or narrower definitions. Committee discussion focused on possible amendments, including using printable labels from a website and limiting the bill to larger commercial retailers. HB 2573 would create a five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program involving the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Leeward Community College, and the Department of Human Resources Development. DHRD said it supported the intent but wanted clearer responsibilities; the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, and others supported the proposal. DAB said the program would help build needed biosecurity staffing and training, and that law-enforcement-related curriculum could be incorporated. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 207, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include certain Hawaiian homelands and additional agricultural costs such as orchards, fruit crops, and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Taxation and DAB stood on written comments, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands strongly supported the bill, calling it a potential game-changer for developing agricultural lands and offsetting infrastructure costs; the department also asked that the credit be broadened beyond agriculture alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• be able to get to food no matter where they are and do it during the summer as well as when school closes
• I also have paid close attention, as I hope my colleagues have, of the trash cans. in the lunchroom and
• And then the rug gets pulled out from them after they made a year of decisions to plant the stuff.
• I kept a close eye on the milk consumption and waste that we started seeing in about 2012 when the Act
• We're starting a food processing plant in Muskegon County with the goal of getting local Michigan potatoes

Bills: SB222

Keywords: whole milk, school lunch, school meals, National School Lunch Program, Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition Act, USDA, nutrition standards, dairy, nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced-fat milk, lactose-free milk, nondairy beverages, plant-based milk, milk substitution, parental consent, legal guardian, food allergies, allergic reaction

Summary: This meeting of the committee focused primarily on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, S222, which aims to permit schools to offer a fuller range of milk options, including whole, reduced, and low-fat varieties, that have garnered bipartisan support. Chairman Bozeman opened the session by highlighting concerns over children's nutrition and the obesity epidemic, emphasizing the significance of nutritious school meals in addressing these issues. Experts from various organizations were invited to discuss the implications of this bill as well as the current challenges facing school meal programs, including budget constraints and food supply issues. The meeting included passionate testimonies about the direct impacts of current dietary guidelines and federal funding reductions affecting schools' abilities to provide healthy meal options.

Transcript Highlights:

• The advanced wafer plant in the world will be a 300 millimeter plant.
• This is a very close location and...
• sophisticated microchips depend on this way for the plant.
• This is not a bill about concrete batch plants, but I must preface it by mentioning concrete batch plants
• In Texas, a concrete batch plant may obtain an enhanced control permit if the batch plant implements

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759, HB29

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• certainly understand the idea of a parallel to the enhanced controls that we have for concrete batch plants
• that the requirements, those enhanced controls, are written into the statute for the concrete batch plant
• If not, public testimony is closed, and the bill and its committee substitute will be left pending.
• If not, public testimony is closed, and the bill and its committee substitute will be left pending.
• We closed down at 10:45, 10:50 this morning and didn't know that we'd come back this late.

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources took public testimony on Senate Bill 1757 and its committee substitute, a measure dealing with aggregate production operations and a new permitting option for rock crushers/aggregate facilities. Testimony centered on whether the bill should remain focused on air permitting or also include broader quarry operations such as stormwater, reclamation, monitoring, and public participation requirements. Supporters of the substitute, including representatives of the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association and Associated General Contractors, said the bill would provide a voluntary third permitting option, preserve existing authorizations, and create a more practical regulatory path for Texas growth. Opponents and critics, including representatives of Texas for Responsible Aggregate Mining, Job Materials, and Public Citizen, argued the bill as written was too weak or too broad in the wrong ways. They said best management practices should be set in statute or through negotiated rulemaking rather than left to TCEQ rulemaking, and they raised concerns about limited monitoring periods, vague air-monitoring standards, public notice procedures, and the inclusion of non-air requirements in an air permit. Several witnesses said the bill should better balance industry needs with neighborhood impacts and public health protections. Chair Birdwell questioned witnesses about ongoing negotiations between industry groups and said the bill was intended to be a practical compromise. After testimony and questions, public testimony was closed. The committee left SB 1757 and its committee substitute pending, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• certainly understand the idea of a parallel to the enhanced controls that we have for concrete batch plants
• that the requirements for those enhanced controls are written into the statute for concrete batch plants
• Public testimony is closed, and the bill and its committee substitute will be left pending.
• We closed down at 10:45, 10:50 this morning and didn't know that we'd come back this late, so thank you

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759, HB29

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• I just first of all want to have the two departments we've been working with closely on this bill explain
• of Natural Resources, before issuing a commercial mechanical control permit to work with aquatic plants
• I am working on this bill very closely with Senator Bolden in the Senate.
• But the park is listed as permanently closed. It's been closed for many, many years.
• But the park is listed as permanently closed. It's been closed for many, many years.

Bills: HF1355, HF78, HF1846, HF1225

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF78, Minnesota veterans, veteran retreats, Camp Bliss, Walker, Independent Lifestyles Inc., Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans affairs grant, general fund appropriation, family members, spouse, domestic partner, children, therapy, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We're closing the door on the possibility of having this kind of neighborhood retail in the future.
• And that concludes our testimony on this bill and closes the public hearing on it.
• Hearing none, we will close the public hearing on Senate Bill 6018 and move into our...
• All right, hearing none, we will close the public hearing on Senate Bill 6018 and move into our public
• With that, we will close the public hearing on Senate Bill 6027 and move into the public hearing for

Bills: SB6018, SB6026, SB6027, SB6028, SB5937, SB5938

Keywords: housing, finance, commission, state funding, affordable housing, residential development, zoning reform, mixed-use zoning, commercial zones, Growth Management Act, GMA, state preemption, local land use, development regulations, ground-floor retail, ground-floor commercial, permit waiver, waiver process, density, urban growth area

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 6026, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act with populations of 30,000 or more to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and prohibit mandatory ground-floor commercial or mixed-use requirements in most such areas, with exemptions for certain sensitive or constrained locations. The prime sponsor, Senator Alvarado, and supporters from the Governor’s Office, Commerce, housing advocates, developers, and major employers said the bill would unlock underused land, reduce housing costs, and add flexibility where infrastructure already exists. Local government and business representatives raised concerns about impacts on small business corridors, tax base stability, planning assumptions, and the loss of ground-floor retail in main street and transit-oriented areas, while several asked for narrower carve-outs or technical amendments. The committee also took public hearing testimony on Senate Bill 6018, which would update the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority to allow more flexible financing tools, including direct mortgage lending to borrowers, while clarifying that the bill is not intended to authorize first-mortgage lending for homebuyers. The commission, the sponsor, and banking stakeholders said the changes would modernize outdated statutes and help finance affordable housing, and bankers said they were working with the sponsor on clarifying language. No vote was taken on SB 6018 during the hearing. Senate Bill 6027 was heard next and would expand how local housing-related sales tax revenues and state affordable housing funds can be used, including for operations, maintenance, preservation, and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing and supportive housing. Supporters from counties, cities, housing providers, and advocacy groups said the bill would help preserve existing units and respond to federal funding uncertainty, especially around permanent supportive housing and Continuum of Care dollars. Testifiers also asked for additional flexibility for rental assistance and for certain local uses, but no committee action was taken during the public hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6028, which would create a revolving loan fund administered by the Housing Finance Commission to support mixed-income affordable homeownership projects. The sponsor and supporters said the fund would help stalled for-sale projects move forward, recycle dollars through repayment, and create permanently affordable homes; one supporter suggested increasing the project cap and clarifying eligible capital sources. The committee did take executive action on SB 5937 and SB 5938 earlier in the meeting, adopting amendments and advancing both bills with due-pass recommendations to the Rules Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> closing comments? closing comments?
• Just a comment before we close and go to closing comments.
• Just a comment before we close and go to closing comments.
• Just a comment before we close and go to closing comments.
• Just a comment before we close and go to closing comments.

Bills: HF3898, HF3957, HF4372, HF4350, HF3692, HF4085

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a little close there. Two separate bills. I was a little close there. Mr.

Bills: SB145, SB143

Keywords: auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license

Transcript Highlights:

• These are also very close to Elevate Quantum's new packaging facility to help assemble and test parts
• Any closing thoughts? Mr. Chair and Senator, and thank you so much.
• having this on state land, and I don't know what kind of state land we have around the state that are close
• to railroads, close to infrastructure, close to good schools, that that's something that needs to be

Bills: SB145, SB143

Keywords: auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for a plants and plant
• </c><00:12:55.040><c> and</c><00:12:55.279><c> plant</c><00:12:55.600><c> material</c> funds for plants
• and plant material funds for plants and plant material inspections<00:12:56.720><c> and</c><00:12:57.040
• This measure establishes a clean plant program with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to
• support the production, maintenance, and distribution of disease-free clean plant material to growers

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1737, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Bills: HB2, SB145, SB143

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 143, which would raise caps on certain agriculture fees so they can keep pace with inflation. Senator Woods explained that the bill only adjusts fee ceilings, not automatic increases, and an amendment was adopted to tie the caps to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the U.S. Department of Labor. There was no public support or opposition testimony, and the bill was then passed on an 8-0 do-pass vote, with several members excused. The committee then took up Senate Bill 145, which would change the state audit system by raising thresholds for smaller local public bodies and creating a statewide federal single audit for state agencies. The State Auditor and DFA said the bill was intended to streamline audits, reduce delays, and align New Mexico with federal rules and other states, but multiple CPA and audit witnesses opposed the statewide single-audit concept, warning it could reduce transparency, weaken accountability, and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Committee members pressed for clarification on how the audit structure would work, which agencies would be covered, and whether DFA or independent auditors would conduct the work; the sponsors said amendments were needed to clarify the bill and remove problematic language, including the appropriation and references to gifts and donations. The committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation language and then continued questioning without taking final action in the excerpt. The final portion of the meeting shifted to the House Bill 2 budget presentation. Committee members reviewed the Senate Finance version of the budget, which included about a 2.7% increase in recurring spending, 30% reserves, and major investments in health care affordability, early childhood, public education, housing, clean energy, water, and agriculture-related priorities. Members asked about water testing needs, water settlement funding, career technical education funding, and the contingency fund/disaster reserve structure. The presenters said some items still needed technical work and that additional adjustments would be made before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Close to home for me and my constituents are the southern resident killer whales.
• This legislation also required an MOU between the governor and such a coal plant.
• We have a stormwater runoff system or a floating wastewater treatment plant that's out.
• We have a stormwater runoff system or a floating wastewater treatment plant that's out.
• And with that, I will close the hearing on House Bill 2421, and we are adjourned for the day.

Bills: HB2421, HB1652, HB2367, HB2284

Keywords: 6PPD, tires, environmental impact, public health, chemical regulation, HB1652, Salish Sea Protection and Marine Clean Fuels Act, marine fuel, low-sulfur fuel, sulfur emissions, ocean-going vessels, shipping, maritime pollution, air quality, particulate matter, Department of Ecology, port visit, regulated waters, fuel switching, vessel emissions

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several environmental bills. House Bill 2284, aimed at reducing litter, would remove a scheduled increase in plastic bag thickness, preserve penalties on thicker bags, and create a Litter Solutions Task Force. Supporters from business, retail, agriculture, and recycling groups said it takes a data-driven, collaborative approach and avoids higher consumer costs; Ecology said it supports removing the thickness increase but raised budget concerns and suggested adding more task force members. Opponents or cautions focused on implementation costs and the need to align with the state’s upcoming litter study. No vote was taken in the hearing. House Bill 1652 would require certain ocean-going vessels in Washington waters to use fuel with no more than 0.1% sulfur, with Ecology overseeing enforcement and a proposed substitute clarifying vessel coverage and recordkeeping. Supporters, including environmental, public health, port, and tribal voices, said the bill would reduce air pollution and toxic scrubber washwater that harms marine life and communities. Ports, shipping interests, and industry groups opposed or raised concerns, arguing the bill could effectively prohibit scrubbers, burden vessels and ports, and create compliance and economic issues. The hearing also included questions about whether cruise ships were already voluntarily avoiding scrubber discharges in Puget Sound. House Bill 2367 would end remaining coal-related exemptions by limiting cap-and-invest exemptions to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas regulation for the Centralia coal plant, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. The sponsor and environmental groups said it would align state law with the planned coal phaseout and prevent any return to coal combustion after the plant’s retirement date. Business and petroleum representatives warned that if the plant were pulled into cap-and-invest, the allowance market could be affected and the program might need adjustment. The committee then heard House Bill 2421, which would ban 6PPD and regrettable substitutes in tires by 2035 and impose a 6PPD mitigation fee starting in 2027 to fund monitoring and cleanup. Supporters from salmon, city, tribal, youth, and environmental groups said 6PPD is a major cause of salmon mortality and that the fee would help fund mitigation; tire manufacturers, retailers, trucking, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing there is no proven alternative yet, the fee would raise costs, and the timeline could create safety and liability concerns. No votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6172 relates to eliminating preferential treatment to a coal-fired electric generating plant
• And this is looking at a plant where we need to continue to build generating power in the state of Washington
• This is really, this language is really very, very closely related to what the utility folks do right
• This is really, this language is really very, very closely related to what the utility folks do right

Bills: SB6124, SB6171, SB6284, SB5609, SB6172, SB6246, SB5932, SB6269, SB6223, SB5975

Keywords: appliance affordability, cost index, energy efficiency, consumer protection, Washington state, energy facilities, large energy consumers, regulation, environment, sustainability, artificial intelligence, data privacy, technological impacts, cultural resources, land use, environmental policy, exemptions, state laws, Washington climate policy, greenhouse gas

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee took executive action on 11 bills, with staff briefing each measure and members considering multiple proposed substitutes and amendments. The committee advanced bills on an Appliance Affordability Index study (SB 624), emerging large energy use facilities/data centers (SB 6171), AI systems (SB 6284), cultural resource protection under SEPA (SB 5609), coal plant treatment under cap-and-invest and tax law (SB 6172), emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities (SB 6246), low-to-zero-carbon alternative jet fuel production (SB 5932), motor fuel definitions (SB 6269), community-scaled weatherization projects (SB 6223), lead in cookware (SB 5975), and electric transmission system modernization (SB 5466). Several bills were described as technical or policy updates tied to climate, energy reliability, consumer protection, and land-use review. Members debated a number of substantive changes. On SB 6171, the committee rejected an amendment to remove the proposed fee on data centers and instead advanced a substitute that retained tariff, reporting, and utility-related provisions; testimony emphasized both competitiveness for data centers and ratepayer protection. On SB 6284, the committee advanced a substitute that refined definitions, added human-consideration language, extended risk-management duties to developers with exemptions for smaller entities and certain sectors, and clarified enforcement. On SB 5609, an amendment to delay or restructure cultural-resource requirements was not adopted, and the committee moved forward a substitute requiring local ordinances and a governor-led task force; supporters stressed protecting irreplaceable cultural resources, while opponents raised housing and implementation concerns. The committee also adopted an amendment to SB 6172 related to emergency DOE orders for a coal facility, then advanced the bill; it moved SB 6246 forward without amendment; and it adopted a substitute for SB 5932 intended to preserve tax incentive certainty for alternative jet fuel producers over a 10-year period. For SB 5975, the committee rejected one substitute and adopted another that tightened lead restrictions in cookware and shifted future regulation to the Safer Products Program. On SB 5466, the committee rejected several amendments on wildfire risk, corridor planning, landowner consultation, eminent domain, and liability, then advanced the proposed second substitute to Ways and Means. Most bills were reported out of committee with due pass recommendations, several to Ways and Means and others to Rules, and the meeting adjourned after all executive actions were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that will conclude public testimony, and I will close House Bill 2650.
• And that will conclude public testimony, and I will close House Bill 2650.
• I know from growing up in the shadow of a coal plant that coal is not ...bill.
• and use tax for coal burned at the plant.
• We will close that hearing.

Bills: HB2367, HB1974, HB2650, HB2626

Keywords: coal-fired plant, preferential treatment, energy policy, electric generation, regulatory reform, land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation

Summary: House Finance heard public testimony on several bills. HB 2367 would end certain exemptions for the Centralia coal plant by limiting its Climate Commitment Act exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing restrictions on additional greenhouse gas requirements, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. Staff and the sponsor said the bill would help keep the plant’s transition away from coal on track; business and utility-related witnesses asked for amendments to preserve allowance market stability, while climate advocates strongly supported the bill. The hearing was closed without a vote. HB 1974 would authorize public housing authorities, public corporations, and nonprofits to operate as land banks for affordable housing, give counties priority to land banks for tax-foreclosed property, and create property tax, leasehold excise tax, and REET exemptions tied to land bank activity, with a JLARC review required. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help move underused and public land into affordable housing production, including starter homes and mixed-income projects. One question focused on whether public land should remain in public ownership longer-term; the sponsor said land banks and land trusts can work together, but financing can be difficult with very long covenants. The hearing was closed. HB 2650, an agency-request bill from the Department of Revenue, would standardize notice and effective-date rules for local REET and lodging tax changes and clarify documentation for affordable housing sales and use tax deferrals. DOR said the changes would improve administration with minimal fiscal impact, and the bill’s sponsor described it as a simple alignment measure. The only public testimony was from DOR in support, and the hearing was closed. HB 2626 would raise the premium tax on health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements from 2% to 3%, remove a dentistry-related exemption, and create a new 1% tax on certain disability and group stop-loss insurers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help backfill expected health care funding gaps and support Apple Health and subsidies, and asked about a possible amendment to prevent pass-through to consumers. Insurers, business groups, and dental plans opposed the bill, warning it would raise premiums, reduce affordability, and potentially affect employer coverage decisions; patient and advocacy witnesses supported the revenue concept but urged that proceeds be directed to health care subsidies and protections against pass-through. No vote was taken, and the committee also announced amendment deadlines and a 4 p.m. meeting the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you pull that microphone close to you? Yes, I will.
• In finance, I can close anywhere I choose.
• When I get to the attorney's office for the closing.
• at the closing with me?"
• Why are we closing?

Bills: HB1342, HB2889, HB3002, HB3254, HB4820, HJR40, HJR40

Keywords: private activity bonds, housing, residential rental projects, low-income, affordable housing, bond measures, funding equality, political subdivisions, public communications, election fairness, debt collection, consumer rights, disclosures, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, settlement agreements, State Board of Education, group benefits program, health insurance, state employees, dependents eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, recognized the close on the amendment. Way close, please.
• You are recognized to close the bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Senator Calatayud, you're recognized to close on the bill. We've closed, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
• Senator Collada, you'd recognize to close on the bill. We've closed, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
• Okay, seeing none, Senator Kalata-Yud, you're recognized to close on the bill. We've closed, Mr.

Bills: S0564, S1062, S1340, S1646, S1718

Keywords: student volunteers, polling locations, election administration, community service, Florida statutes, speech education, debate, high school, Florida Debate Initiative, civics, competitive teams, student participation, educational advancement, dyslexia, dyscalculia, education, screening, intervention, student support, educational facilities

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 met with a quorum present and heard several education-related bills. The committee first considered CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, which would create a Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, designate Speech and Debate Week, authorize a teacher endorsement, require FLVS to establish an institute for speech and debate, direct development of related coursework and credentials, and require annual district reporting. Supporters, including a parent and representatives of the Florida Debate Initiative and school groups, emphasized the academic and civic benefits of debate and the need for funding for travel and training. The committee adopted a delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard and reported favorably SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, with testimony from an Orange County principal and others supporting a proposal to let educators bank professional learning hours, and SB 1646 on educational facilities, which revises how facility funding is calculated and prioritized, including safety and planning considerations. The committee then took up CS/SB 564 on student volunteers at polling locations. An amendment clarified that high school students who are registered or pre-registered to vote may volunteer at polling places and count the service toward graduation or postsecondary financial aid requirements. Testimony from a county supervisor of elections and civic groups supported the bill as a way to engage students in elections and expand volunteer opportunities, while clarifying it would not conflict with existing election funding rules. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1340 on coordinated screening and progress monitoring, which requires school districts to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia and dyscalculia, place identified students on support plans, and use evidence-based interventions, with State Board of Education rulemaking to implement the process. The sponsor and a supporting parent group stressed early identification and intervention. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of Laila Collins to the State Board of Education, and then adjourned.