Transcript Highlights:

• Laws and programs can be revised. They can be changed and updated.
• In just the first quarter of operations, the Farmers Feeding Florida program has recovered over 4.6 million
• Everyone I've spoken to about the program supports making sure the children in Florida don't go to bed
• In fact, I've had an opportunity to discuss with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins plans to make our legislation
• ... ...to discuss with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins plans to make our legislation a national model for

Summary: The Florida Senate convened for the opening of the 2026 regular session with prayer, presentation of colors by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by children in the chamber, and a performance of the national anthem by the FAMU Marching 100. Newly elected Senator Ralph Massullo was certified and sworn into office by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, and several current and former state officials and senators were recognized in the chamber. The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1466 to convene in joint session with the House to receive the Governor’s message, waived the rules to immediately certify the resolution to the House, and notified the House and Governor that the Senate was ready to proceed with the 2026 regular session. In remarks, Senate leadership and the President discussed priorities including rural Florida, agriculture, citrus recovery, food insecurity, affordability, tax relief, balanced budgets, and the importance of deliberation and checks and balances. The President also highlighted recent and planned initiatives such as the Farmers Feeding Florida program, rural health care investment, and property tax relief, while emphasizing faith, service, and cooperation in the chamber. Senator Gates announced that 52 executive appointments would be taken up the following day. The session concluded with a benediction by Senator Massullo and adjournment until the next scheduled meeting, with the Senate set to meet later in joint session with the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> incentive programs. incentive programs.
• program.
• program.
• program.
• program.

Bills: HF858 , HF2577 , HF2576

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: bioincentive payments, agriculture, job creation, environmental compliance, financial reporting, waste handling, sewage sludge, PFAS regulation, environment, record retention, fertilizer disposal, pesticide disposal, environmental impact, safety regulations, burning prohibition

Transcript Highlights:

• front of me, but the majority of your retail pet shops purchase all of their animals from a licensed USDA
• Talk about a licensed USDA entity. I think we need to look into that a little further.
• just today in continuous numbers of animals being euthanized because we could use funds to have programs

Bills: HB3419 , HB3624 , HB3748 , HB4335

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, counties, property taxation, watercourse, boundaries, effective date, county government, administration, local resources, public institutions, construction, maintenance, animal welfare, pet shops, commercial breeders, county regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we're going to hear a program.
• That is an incredible program.
• these programs to promote and serve locally produced foods in schools and other child nutrition programs
• </c><00:16:21.680><c> that</c> purchasing assistance program that purchasing assistance program that
• </c> these are are uh letters from US USDA these are are uh letters from US USDA uh<00:17:13.280><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been thought of years ago when I was working with USDA on some fair...
• But we know that this program is oversubscribed.
• So we actually have programs like this also in my district that are needing help as well.
• We see the program grow. We see people being able to invest in what we're doing now.
• I'll just close by saying, again, this program...

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met and heard a full agenda of bills, beginning with AB 1674, which would create a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program and require grocery-store capacity to be preserved or mitigated in certain housing developments. The author and local residents from Sunnyvale testified in support, describing the loss of neighborhood grocery stores and the impact on seniors and low-income families. Business and building groups opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add costs and create housing barriers, especially in Section 3. The committee discussed rural and urban food-access differences, and the bill passed the committee 5-0 and was re-referred to Housing and Community Development, with members noting continued work on amendments. The committee then approved several consent items and heard AB 2264, which would allow district agricultural associations to use fairgrounds property for affordable housing by extending lease terms from 55 to 99 years. Supporters said it would unlock underused public land without displacing neighborhoods, and the bill passed to Housing and Community Development. AB 269, the “Fair Act,” would provide a targeted sales and use tax exemption to spur development projects on fairgrounds; it drew broad support from members and fair association testimony and passed to Revenue and Taxation. AB 2143, which would prohibit online marketplaces from accepting payment for noxious weeds shipped into California, received strong support from academic and agricultural witnesses and passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also heard AB 1731, creating the California Healthy Food Procurement Fund and an approved-vendor program to connect schools with California farmers. School nutrition, farm, and food-policy advocates supported the bill as a way to reduce procurement barriers and expand local food in school meals; it passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1848 would raise seed-law fees to fund inspection and enforcement of California’s seed regulations; the California Seed Association supported the increase, and the bill passed to Appropriations. The meeting concluded with roll calls on absent members and adjournment at 2:53 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• poverty programs.
• One of our largest programs is the Women, Infants, and Children Program.
• Another program that we offer is the fruit and vegetable incentive program.
• branch of the SNAP program.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agri and farm-to-school institution program.
• That is an incredible, incredible program.
• programs to promote and serve locally produced foods in schools and other child nutrition programs.
• Local Food Purchase Assistance Program to the tune of $4.7 million.
• These programs are absolutely critical, and these appropriations are a stopgap.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know, like, when we have our WIC program, we have special labels for WIC programs.
• I know, like, when we have our WIC program, we have special labels for WIC programs.
• intended when the program started.
• The program requires self-attestation.
• “No, we’re talking about two programs.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee met with 13 members present and first went into executive session on House Bill 1730, which was voted due pass by a 10-3 roll call. It then considered House Bill 2504, where a committee amendment was adopted to let school districts optionally require a mental-health professional letter for school protection officers, the amendment was rolled into a committee substitute, and the substitute was voted due pass 11-0 with two present. After that, the committee moved to public hearing on House Bills 2481, 2468, and 1974. The three public bills focused on restrictions and verification for public assistance programs. HB 1974 would restrict TANF cash assistance use, including prohibiting ATM cash withdrawals and certain purchases, with a three-strikes style penalty structure; sponsors said it was intended to prevent misuse of taxpayer funds, while opponents argued TANF is a small cash-assistance program for very poor families and that cash access is necessary for rent, laundry, childcare, and other basic needs. HB 2468 would tighten SNAP and Medicaid eligibility verification by requiring documentary proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status, using federal verification systems, and counting ineligible household members’ income; sponsors said it aligns Missouri with federal law and new federal accountability rules, while opponents warned it would add red tape, delay benefits, and increase error rates and costs. HB 2481, along with related SNAP language discussed in HB 174, would implement the governor’s SNAP waiver to restrict purchases of soda and junk food and place those restrictions into statute. Sponsors said the goal was to steer benefits toward healthier foods and reduce waste, while witnesses from industry and advocacy groups said the waiver process was already underway, the definitions were too broad, and the bills could be hard for retailers to implement and could burden eligible recipients, especially in rural areas and among children and vulnerable adults. No final committee action was taken on the three public hearing bills during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program.
• The state program provides program.
• The existing available for the program.
• This bill authorized under the program.
• </c> have to be enrolled in the DMC program. have to be enrolled in the DMC program.

Bills: HF3298 , SF3832 , HF3528 , HF3516 , HF3972 , HF4118

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't want to say that these programs don't work.
• There's another program that I think is very useful.
• In Alabama, we have a great example through our fortified. program.
• We're talking about in one program, the program that oversees the field offices, we're talking about
• So how can these programs?

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: affordable housing, government investment, barriers, legislative solutions, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on addressing the significant issue of affordable housing in America. Members expressed concern over the persistent barriers faced in the housing sector, despite substantial government investment aimed at alleviating these issues. It was highlighted that government interference plays a critical role in complicating the housing landscape, and discussions revolved around potential legislative approaches to mitigate these challenges. Several witnesses provided testimony, contributing to a thorough exploration of the topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the program director for a rural family medicine residency training program based out of a tribally
• We took out a second mortgage and paid $48,000 for a 28-day program.
• Trent Murphy with the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives.
• And we have a strong record of promoting other types of programs.
• USDA organic, perfect USDA organic, perfect example of different products that grocers do prominently

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. AB 1825 by Krell would clarify California’s offenders with mental health disorders program by tightening the standard for determining “substantial danger of physical harm,” improving exit planning, and expanding Medi-Cal access for people released after a successful challenge. Supporters, including psychiatrists, prosecutors, and medical groups, said the bill would close gaps in care and protect public safety; county behavioral health directors and Disability Rights California registered concerns. AB 1696 by Stephanie would state that nurse midwives do not need physician supervision when providing care within their existing scope, including EMTALA-related evaluation in labor and delivery settings. Nurse midwives and nursing groups supported the bill, while emergency physicians opposed it unless amended, arguing emergency department screening should remain under physician supervision; the author said she would keep working on the issue. AB 1949 by Lee would make acupuncture a separate Medi-Cal benefit and allow up to 24 visits per year. The author and supporters from acupuncture, health access, and integrative medicine groups said the current monthly cap is too restrictive and that acupuncture is an effective, cost-saving alternative for pain management and other conditions. There was no opposition. AB 2330 by Patterson would create a distinct regulatory category for cold spas, with standards for construction, operation, and disinfection. Fitness and wellness groups supported the bill, environmental health administrators had no formal position but thanked the author for amendments, and a committee member raised concerns about local officials interpreting the bill to require separate enclosures from saunas; the author said she would continue working on the language. AB 2000 by Aguirre-Curry would limit mid-year changes to prescription drug formularies and add notice, exceptions, reporting, and enforcement provisions. Family physicians, chronic care advocates, nurses, pharmacists, and patient groups supported the bill, citing non-medical switching and treatment disruptions; health plans and insurers opposed it, warning of higher costs, reduced flexibility, and premium increases. AB 1929 by Ortega would require health plans to disclose investments, including in private prisons and immigrant detention centers. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure tied to patient premiums and public values, while opponents argued the bill was duplicative, burdensome, and potentially harmful to investment confidentiality. AB 2746 by Schiavo would classify medical credit card debt as medical debt so it would not appear on credit reports. Consumer advocates and legal aid groups supported the bill, describing abusive marketing and housing harms; banks, debt collectors, and industry groups opposed it as unworkable and privacy-invasive. The committee took roll on AB 2746 and passed it on a due pass motion to Banking and Finance, with several members voting aye and a few no votes recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• a mechanism to detain and... ...rehabilitation, the OMHD program was created to provide a mechanism
• I'm the program director for a rural family medicine residency training program based out of a tribally
• We took out a second mortgage and paid $48,000 for a 28-day program.
• Trent Murphy with the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives.
• And we have a strong record of promoting other types of programs.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• These programs help families balance. 5% and 27%.
• The Technical Assistance Program, TAP, and the Capital Infusion Program, SIP, are extraordinarily important
• comes to the success that we've had with that program.
• You are very familiar with the farmer program.
• There are people currently going through that program.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks. The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support to enhance their um programming support to enhance their um programming that<00:21:20.600
• </c> district and that would be programming district and that would be programming that<00:21:25.159>
• This federal program supplements that state-mandated English learning programs to help students gain
• </c><00:53:54.200><c> to</c> mandated English learning programs to mandated English learning programs
• It is important to note that this program operates alongside the Rural Education Achievement Program,

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It in no way ends it; it preserves it, whether it's a district program, a charter school, or a program
• Whether it's a district program, a charter school, or a program within a school. So thank you, Mr.
• Does the apprenticeship program not have enough money?
• Speaker, generally, there are 75 certified programs. Mr.
• Are those facilities similar to qualified residential treatment programs?

Bills: HB145 , HB164 , HR1 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HB99 , HB206 , HB213 , HB270 , SB104 , SB193 , HB38 , HB254 , HB256 , SB58 , SB64 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM29 , HM43 , HM59 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Transcript Highlights:

• We get a $15 million grant from the USDA, secured late in 2022, to set up a revolving program to do direct
• We get a $15 million grant from the USDA, secured late in 2022, to set up a revolving program to do direct
• We get a $15 million grant from the USDA, secured late in 2022, to set up a revolving program to do direct
• We get a $15 million grant from the USDA, secured late in 2022, to set up a revolving program to do direct
• We get a $15 million grant from the USDA, secured late in 2022, to set up a revolving program to do direct

Bills: HF770 , HF857 , HF38 , HF1500 , HF43

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Transcript Highlights:

• We have before you today a similar program called Continuous Living Cover, which is a program that works
• </c> is an uh an economic development program is an uh an economic development program uh<00:04:58.240
• </c><00:08:42.479><c> inspected</c> processing uh our USDA inspected processing uh our USDA inspected
• </c><00:15:05.000><c> recognized</c> can include USD USDA recognized can include USD USDA recognized
• or competitive grant programs.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Animals used in educational settings, youth livestock programs, and classroom demonstrations are guided
• So the way this bill is written, it would actually take away from some of our programs that incorporate
• community programs to a lesser standard, considering the statutes we have in the state of Idaho.
• The USDA National Hop Report released in December showed production opportunity to give you my annual
• The USDA National Hop Report released in December showed production growth in health.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• The major one for rural communities is the USDA 502 Direct Loan program.
• </c><00:29:52.120><c> this</c><00:29:52.240><c> is</c><00:29:52.360><c> a</c> USDA 502 Direct Loan program
• this is a USDA 502 Direct Loan program this is a federally<00:29:52.960><c> funded</c><00:29:53.399>
• </c><00:47:58.960><c> is</c><00:47:59.079><c> a</c> program and this education program is a program and

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had these conversations about this particular program.
• We did get $450,000 in a USDA federal grant for the past three years."
• "Used on CWD, we did get $450,000 in a USDA federal grant for the past three years." "Okay.
• The ag and forestry program has brought up.
• Whereas I know some of the other federal programs just have different goals that those programs have

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment