Transcript Highlights:

• and qualified to do this critical work.
• Fire suppression work is highly technical.
• , God forbid they need to work.
• Many of them young people there for internships or work-based learning, spending their summers working
• So I am committed to working it through.

Summary: The Committee on Emergency Management heard several bills related to public safety, wildfire preparedness, and fireworks regulation. SB 1299, by Senator Arreguín, would place in statute a certification and training framework for fire sprinkler fitters and apprentices after a court decision disrupted prior State Fire Marshal regulations. Supporters said the bill would protect life safety by ensuring qualified installation and maintenance of fire suppression systems, while opponents raised concerns about added costs, housing affordability, and labor-related effects. The committee passed the bill as amended to the Committee on Labor and Employment on a roll call vote, with DeMaio and Hadwick voting no. SB 1153, by Senator Caballero, would require urban retail water suppliers to incorporate wildfire-specific procedures into emergency plans and clarify that water systems are not designed to serve as wildfire defense systems. Supporters from water agencies and fire organizations said the bill would improve coordination, planning, and ratepayer protection while acknowledging infrastructure limits. Members discussed transparency, backup generators, and whether the bill should require more public disclosure; the author said he would continue working on possible amendments. The committee passed the bill as amended to the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. SB 828, by Senator Cabaldon, responds to the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion by requiring fireworks licensees to disclose storage locations, verify local permits, and meet other compliance conditions. The author said the bill was developed with the State Fire Marshal and local public safety partners to close information gaps and improve enforcement. An opposition witness argued the permit-verification requirements could not be met in all jurisdictions, especially for hobby rocketry and small-scale uses, prompting discussion about clarifying different rocket categories and administrative implementation. The committee passed SB 828 as amended to the Committee on Local Government, and the meeting then adjourned after all bills were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• They worked for about eight months.
• Their only requirement is that they work for five years after graduation with AMO.
• We also do research work. We work with the U.S.
• we work with the US Army Corps of Engineers predominantly but we work with ports port authorities and
• We work with the U.S.

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard a presentation on Florida’s maritime and ocean economy from Florida Atlantic University, the College of the Florida Keys, and Star Center. Speakers emphasized the importance of maritime industries such as aquaculture, marine engineering, shipbuilding, transportation, coastal resilience, and offshore renewable energy, and described workforce programs, certifications, and partnerships designed to train students and workers for these fields. They also highlighted federal and state initiatives supporting ocean economy research and commercialization, including tech hubs and innovation programs. The committee then considered SB 312 relating to the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition. Senator Gates explained that the bill would allow IHMC to create a subsidiary to commercialize research, similar to Moffitt Cancer Center. Senator Fine offered and the committee adopted a friendly amendment addressing board membership concerns tied to a University of West Florida trustee. However, after questions arose about whether the bill and analysis aligned on whether subsidiaries would be for-profit or not-for-profit, the bill was tabled. Finally, the committee took up SB 270 on the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The bill would extend eligibility for students in certain military/public-service family situations, giving families more time to establish Florida residency after returning to the state. Senator Fine’s amendment was adopted to add AP Capstone Diploma students to the automatic Bright Futures eligibility provisions, alongside IB and Cambridge AICE students. The committee then reported the bill favorably as amended by a vote of 7-0, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Following the passage of the Florida Indoor Clean Air Act, our association worked with the legislature
• Those reforms are working, particularly in improving affordability and encouraging investment.
• We look forward to working with the committee and legislature on this. So thank you. Very good.
• So certainly would like to work with you on that to tighten up that shot group. Very good.
• But I know that you are always a tremendous bill sponsor, and you'll work with everyone.

Bills: S0408 , S0986 , S0678 , S0800 , S1050 , S0484 , S1118

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:

• I currently have seven kennel techs that work under me.
• She once worked at Petland Frisco under the management of Jake Patel.
• Thank you, members, for working with us on this bill.
• Hard-working folks who often cannot get access to traditional loans.
• We are good people doing good work.

Bills: HB 12 , HB149 , SB229 , SB1361 , SB1749 , SB1897 , SB2113 , SB2566 , SB2677 , SB1652 , SB2327 , SB2344 , SB2696 , HB12 , HB149

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Real quick, just kind of how our budget works.
• And it's a great place to work.
• The work began after a change in federal law.
• If it's a city, mostly we work with cities, universities, and counties.
• He worked hard on it.

Committee: House A&B Select Agencies Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a long two-year process that Chairman Dissotel and I had worked on.
• And I guess you've been working with LED on this? I've talked with them.
• And this is something we'll continue to have to work on.
• My little water districts and/or the town may have one employee that works.
• We've kind of tried to work with them so they don't follow the exact same rules.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee then heard and advanced a series of House bills, many of them described as modernization or consumer-protection measures. HB 555, as amended, expands the definition of financial exploitation under the Protection of Eligible Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, adds training and transaction-delay provisions for financial institutions, and was reported favorably after technical and substantive amendments. HB 1166 creates a disclosure form for vacant residential property transactions and was also reported favorably. HB 267, which changes how candidates for the Louisiana Board of Home Inspectors are submitted to the governor, and HB 1195, which updates rules and penalties for athletic contests, exhibitions, and sports-agent/NIL regulation, were each moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced several licensing and regulatory bills. HB 917 modernizes life safety and property protection licensing by reducing burdens on some employees and moving to a three-year license cycle; it was reported favorably. HB 1230 overhauls Louisiana’s money transmission laws, replacing older statutes with a new framework for digital payments and stronger consumer protections; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 1103, described as opening Louisiana for business in certain commerce areas, was reported favorably. HB 478 requires utility bills to clearly label and reimburse overcharges within 90 days and was reported favorably. HB 1096 gives electric cooperatives an opt-out from a prior law allowing boards to amend bylaws without member approval, and HB 921 modernizes private security licensing while restoring penalties for unlicensed activity; both were reported favorably, with HB 921 amended. HB 548 adds CPA licensure pathways to help address shortages, especially in rural areas, and was also reported favorably. Several bills drew more extensive discussion. HB 670 would promote wood pellet manufacturing and related workforce development; supporters argued it could create jobs and help manage timber waste, while an opponent warned about pollution, environmental violations, and the risks of biomass facilities. Committee members raised concerns about permitting and environmental oversight, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably, with discussion of possible follow-up with DEQ. HB 259, dealing with BEAD broadband projects, extends notice requirements before excavation, requires coordination with utility operators, and addresses damage reimbursement; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 848 clarifies repair obligations for ATV and golf cart sellers, aiming to ensure consumers have meaningful repair access and to level the playing field between small dealers and big-box retailers; it was reported favorably after questions about enforcement and service requirements. The committee also heard HB 672 and HB 670 as economic-development measures tied to brick manufacturing and wood pellets, respectively, and both were moved favorably. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that remaining bills would be carried over to the following week, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , 10 hours' worth of work.
• Yeah, an hour's worth of work, 10 hours' worth of work.
• I'm happy to work on this definition with you.
• So many law enforcement agencies have officers that work with the FBI or work with the Secret Service
• My county is working with Palantir. If you don't know what that is, look it up.

Bills: S0086 , S0642 , S0712 , S0758 , S0896 , S1224 , S1300 , S1370 , S1712

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1300 on education and workforce development for current and former inmates. Senator Claudio explained that the bill is intended to expand collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections to provide training opportunities tied to Florida’s need for CDL drivers. The bill was reported favorably without debate. Members then considered SB 896 on campus safety, as amended by strike-all and late-filed amendment. The bill would require postsecondary institutions to adopt active assailant response plans, conduct security risk assessments, improve threat reporting and information sharing, and allow voluntary participation in the guardian program; the late-filed amendment removed a prohibition on guardians wearing uniforms. After questions about the firearm-discharge provision near campuses and testimony both for and against, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 86 on commercial motor vehicles operated by unauthorized aliens, SB 642 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers, and confirmed appointees listed on tabs 10 through 19. The committee next heard SB 712 on pyramid promotional schemes, which would create a new prohibition and increase penalties while preserving legitimate direct sales plans. Members raised concerns about whether participants in such schemes might themselves be victims, and the sponsor said prosecutorial discretion would distinguish victims from primary wrongdoers; the bill was reported favorably. SB 1224 on rental housing application fraud was also amended and reported favorably after testimony from apartment and realtor groups in support. In the latter part of the meeting, Chair Martin presented SB 1370 to expand habitual traffic offender status to repeated unlicensed driving, and SB 1712 to create a statewide FDLE counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit. SB 1370 was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1712 drew extensive questioning and public opposition over concerns about broad language, surveillance, and possible impacts on speech and protest, but the sponsor said the unit would focus on protecting the state from adversary intelligence threats and operate within constitutional limits; it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 758 on the Justice Administrative Commission was amended to adjust commission membership and reported favorably unanimously. The committee then recorded additional votes for members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even one is clearly not working.
• But I appreciate the work of the discussion that we're all having.
• So here we are here we are working on progress. We have a long way to go.
• Keep working the process. Thank you for your work, your wealth.
• Again, this is not working.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a hand-in-hand working condition where the state worked with locals, and locals worked with the
• It's not going to work very—could they make something work? Yes.
• It's not going to work very—could they make something work? Yes.
• just beginning work.
• longer you're out of work, the harder it is to go back to work.

Committee: Joint Legislative Management

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the engagement and your work.
• In the 32 years I've worked in Indian country, I've worked with numerous structures of GOIA, going all
• We worked really hard last year, but ran into a bump with a fiscal note that we worked really hard to
• It is, again, another example of a very well-worked bill.
• Doglio really covered the way the fees work. I think Rep.

Bills: SB5420 , SB5877 , SB5868 , SB5109 , SB5832 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5988 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• People don't want to work in this state.
• People don't want to work in this state.
• People don't want to work in this state.
• If the goal is to ensure that people who are legally authorized to work, work, then we have a system
• And if our goal is actually just to make sure that people who are legally working are supposed to work

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> looking forward to the work ahead. looking forward to the work ahead.
• </c><02:10:38.480><c> with</c> privilege of working with privilege of working with many<02:10:41.040>
• </c> been for many years in the works. been for many years in the works.
• ><04:14:21.840><c> whereas</c> revenue from working families, whereas revenue from working families,
• </c> response to the Malama Ohana working response to the Malama Ohana working group<04:33:02.000><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Let it dwell in our halls not just in moments of prayer but in the long difficult work of legislation
• I join all my colleagues in the House in congratulating you on 25 years of outstanding work.
• I've worked with a lot of folks in the interim.
• Jones: I have 20 years of history of doing HIV work. I came up with this bill all by myself.
• I want to thank all of the members and people who helped work on this, but especially the Speaker who

Bills: HB 118 , HB388 , HB 114 , HB205 , HB2789 , HB2791 , HB499 , HB2960 , HB3163 , HB3135 , HB2427 , HB1618 , HB1672 , HB1722 , HB1338 , HB787 , HB2618 , HB879 , HB 1126 , HB4134 , HB3513 , HB718 , HB1536 , HB1445 , HB1640 , HB1893 , HB1734 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB 1276 , HB3272 , HB3276 , HB3516 , HB4145 , HB1585 , HB4810 , HB2989 , HB2558 , HB3014 , HB2742 , HB1695 , HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HB1587 , HB3684 , HB 118 , HB388 , HB 114 , HB205 , HB2789 , HB2791 , HB499 , HB2960 , HB3163 , HB3135 , HB2427 , HB1618 , HB1672 , HB1722 , HB1338 , HB787 , HB2618 , HB879 , HB 1126 , HB4134 , HB3513 , HB718 , HB1536 , HB1445 , HB1640 , HB1893 , HB1734 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB 1276 , HB3272 , HB3276 , HB3516 , HB4145 , HB1585 , HB4810 , HB2989 , HB2558 , HB3014 , HB2742 , HB1695 , HB609 , HB630 , HB420 , HB767 , HB1708 , HB1404 , HB2457 , HB140 , HB227 , HB913 , HB2198 , HB2763 , HB 1261 , HB 1135 , HB1318 , HB2358 , HB2765 , HB2735 , HB3307 , HB 1242 , HB2842 , HB333 , HB201 , HB694 , HB2415 , HB155 , HB272 , HB405 , HB519 , HB 1136 , HB 1275 , HB1437 , HB1532 , HB1675 , HB1868 , HB1888 , HB1990 , HB2286 , HB2523 , HB3129 , HB3251 , HB3354 , HB3479 , HB3803 , HB3804 , HB3805 , HB3806 , HB3887 , HB4163 , HB4238 , HB 1240 , HB1842 , HB2029 , HB2622 , HB3255 , HB654 , HB4643 , HB4945 , HB3611 , HB3724 , HB3623 , HB3810 , HB4127 , HCR78 , HCR12 , SB767

Keywords: HB 388, HB388, coordination of benefits, COB questionnaire, health benefit plan, health insurance, insurance commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance, uniform form, primary payer, secondary payer, multiple coverage, dual coverage, Medicaid, CHIP, managed care, HMO, small employer health plan, school district health coverage, self-funded plan

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in quality work that works. in quality work that works. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:36:24.560><c> you.
• </c> another work group. another work group.
• It doesn't work. just get rid of it. It doesn't work.
• </c><01:41:14.360><c> work,</c> doing the work, studying doing the work, doing the work, studying doing
• . work. work.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:14.440><c> with</c><00:28:14.640><c> multiple</c> energy working with multiple energy working
• </c><00:32:34.200><c> that</c> that the controls uh didn't work that that the controls uh didn't work
• </c> 86,000 both licensed and unlicensed 86,000 both licensed and unlicensed Educators<01:15:52.920><
• </c> like to come to this building and work like to come to this building and work on<01:16:47.159><c
• </c> estimated $20 million allotment working estimated $20 million allotment working with<01:32:36.719

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> just described could potentially work. just described could potentially work.
• </c> to have done this work. to have done this work.
• </c> working and keeping the service we need. working and keeping the service we need.
• If I were to work, it would matter work.
• We work hard to continue to seek federal funds, to work with our philanthropic partners.

Bills: HB2488 , HB2456

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program through the diversionary work program through the diversionary work program<00:12:38.519
• </c><00:18:10.280><c> until</c> right your computer doesn't work until right your computer doesn't work
• working parents working in two full-time working parents working in careers<00:57:01.200><c> that</c>
• full-time from home I daughter I work full-time from home I work<00:58:17.200><c> full-time</c><00:58
• </c> and we'll be both um you know working and we'll be both um you know working with<01:10:24.560><c

Bills: HF1367 , HF2732 , HF1897 , HF1424 , HF1383 , HF2728 , HF2863 , HF1685 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• work? work?
• </c> Thank you for working it out. Thank you for working it out. Oh. Oh. Oh.
• </c> work in collaboration on borderlines. work in collaboration on borderlines.
• </c> unlicensed person, prohibition. unlicensed person, prohibition.
• </c> is not working, but I am here. Okay. is not working, but I am here. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• my work.
• I work on state legislative work, and I've had the pleasure of working with people to craft laws in a
• my work.
• I work on state legislative work, and I've had the pleasure of working with people to craft laws in a
• I work on state legislative work, and I've had the pleasure of working with people to craft laws in a

Transcript Highlights:

• So how can we work to avoid that?
• And so this work here is very intentional, very focused.
• We realize that the work that we're in is uncharted waters.
• Obviously, it's a work in progress, and there's still more work to be done.
• Great to work with Assembly Member Calra on this one.

Committee: House Insurance