Transcript Highlights:

• ; North Shore Chamber of Commerce; The Rescue Tube Foundation; Hawaiian Lifeguards HGEA Unit 15; HGEA
• Foundation, Hawaiian Lifeguards HGEA Foundation, Hawaiian Lifeguards HGEA Unit<00:16:21.800> 15,
• I'm with the Hawaii Community Foundation, and we're in strong support of the resolution 100 and HR 92
• I'm with the Hawaii<00:43:01.400> Community<00:43:01.880> Foundation<00:43:02.520> and
• Community Foundation and we're in strong<00:43:03.440> support<00:43:04.200> of<00:43:

Bills: HCR92, HCR46, HCR172, HCR147, HCR112, HCR100, HR84, HR42, HR139, HR104, HR92

Keywords: automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care

Transcript Highlights:

• I always thought of it as a foundation, and then we build on that foundation each time we come in and
• My name is Alexa Jordan, and I’m here on behalf of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 500
• Chair members, Kathy Mossberg, on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, one of the proud co-sponsors
• Chair members, Kathy Mossberg, on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, one of the proud co-sponsors
• Ryan Spencer, with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, in support.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related measures. SB 27 by Senator Umberg would revise and expand California’s CARE Court by limiting the expansion to people with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, clarifying the definition of “clinically stabilized,” and narrowing the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Supporters, including behavioral health officials and family members, said the bill would reduce dismissals and better serve people with severe illness; opponents warned the expansion would strain county staffing and housing resources and could undermine voluntary engagement. The bill passed on a do pass motion to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 503 by Senator Weber Pierson would require AI tools used in health care facilities to be identified, monitored, and mitigated for bias when used in clinical decision-making or resource allocation. The author and supporters from Kaiser Permanente and the California Medical Association said the bill would help prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve trust and safety. The committee discussed the need to clarify developer and deployer responsibilities, and the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. SB 68 by Senator Menjivar would require restaurants to provide written allergen information for the top nine food allergens, with tiered flexibility for smaller establishments. The bill was supported by patients, families, nurses, and allergy organizations, who described severe reactions and the difficulty of relying on verbal disclosures alone. The California Restaurant Association opposed unless amended, seeking broader use of the national model food code and additional liability language. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 403 by Senator Blakespear, which would remove the sunset from the End of Life Option Act; supporters described the law as a compassionate, well-functioning option for terminally ill patients, while faith-based groups opposed it. The bill passed to Judiciary. Later, SB 41 by Senator Wiener was introduced to rein in pharmacy benefit manager practices that steer patients to mail-order pharmacies and reimburse community pharmacies below cost; community pharmacists and several health organizations testified in support, describing pharmacy closures and patient access problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we see in Section 1 here, the Foundation Aid Stabilization shows a hundred...
• What we see in Section 1 here, the Foundation Aid Stabilization shows $133 million that's going into
• Section 6 on page 7 is there again just explaining the foundation aid stabilization money.
• Once again, divorce is a broken foundation, and we're trying to put a solid foundation on top of something
• Trying to put a solid foundation on top of something that's broken.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem. A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote. The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency. In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could you explain a little more about the foundations that have entered into this agreement and what
• We are partnering with private foundations who are providing the direct stipend.
• The $500 a month is not state money; that's private foundation money, and Quorum Land Foundation.
• We have quite a few up in Taos, Keillor Foundation, and the Anderson Foundation.
• The foundation is supporting stipends there in San Juan County, and Quorum is supporting that.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I pray that we, you know, build that foundation as we have our state leaders here on tribal lands
• That foundation gave me the confidence to see education as a pathway, not a barrier.
• That foundation gave me the confidence to see education as a pathway, not a barrier.
• That really set the foundation for the rest of my education.
• James Ramos has built the foundation, and you have been there to help build it.

Summary: The Select Committee on Native American Affairs held a historic hearing at Table Mountain Rancheria focused on tribal education, culture, resilience, leadership, and trust. The opening prayer and remarks emphasized the significance of holding the first committee hearing on tribal land. Members said the hearing was intended both to hear testimony about ongoing problems in schools and to identify next steps for legislation and policy, especially as the session neared its end. The committee also referenced recent efforts supporting Native students’ right to wear regalia at graduation and broader concerns about representation in education and state institutions. The first panel centered on Native students’ experiences in public schools. Bella Garcia described a two-year fight with Clovis Unified over wearing tribal regalia at graduation, including a restrictive approval form and administrators who she said denied Native identity and made her feel invisible. Morningstar Ghali connected those experiences to the legacy of boarding schools, racial profiling, suspensions, and the “boarding school to prison pipeline,” and called for culturally responsive education, Native educators, counselors, Native studies, and restorative justice. Janet K. Bill, from the Attorney General’s Office of Native American Affairs, described her own path from tribal Head Start to Stanford, law school, tribal council, and state service, and said education, justice, and sovereignty are linked. Members asked about restorative justice, representation, and how to build pipelines into leadership and education roles. The second panel focused on solutions. Chairwoman Michelle Heredia Cordova urged a reimagined education system that is more personalized, experiential, culturally grounded, and balanced with land-based learning, while also recruiting Native teachers and creating stronger tribal partnerships. Chairman Leo Sisku said schools should educate educators, stop tokenizing Native students, and create accountability and consequences for discriminatory behavior; he also supported stronger tribal-school partnerships and more positive outreach. Chairman Fred Bean emphasized consistent engagement from tribal leaders at every level of schooling, stronger transitions from elementary to college, and programs that prepare Native youth for leadership, trades, and higher education. Chairman Shaineto of Tule River argued that schools and administrators should face consequences for violating Native students’ rights, and that Native people should not have to keep educating institutions about basic cultural respect. Committee members responded by discussing possible statewide solutions, including regional tribal boards, better enforcement of existing laws, stronger pipelines into teaching and leadership, and improved representation on boards and in state agencies. Several members raised the need to implement existing laws, fill vacant Native appointments, and consider broader protections for Native regalia and cultural expression. No formal vote was taken in the transcript, but the hearing concluded with a clear call for continued collaboration, accountability, and legislation driven by Native voices.

Transcript Highlights:

• this the program that was also connected with another bill that would move some of this into the foundation
• being funded and has been funded through the budget, but that bill would have put it under the foundation
• Just wanted to make sure of that. that would move some of this into the foundation formula?
• being funded and has been funded through the budget, but that bill would have put it under the foundation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• construction sites when you're looking at complex soils, if you're building something or establishing foundations
• construction sites when you're looking at complex soils, if you're building something or establishing foundations
• their new giant headquarters up there, these folks would probably be employed to make sure that the foundations
• and so forth was all— these folks would probably be employed to make sure that the foundations and so

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, saying it regulates about 72,000 nurses across RN, LPN, advanced practice, medication assistant, and dialysis technician-related roles. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint volume, and the board’s finances. The board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but faces vacancy and distribution issues, receives about 2,200 complaints annually, and most serious complaints involve criminal backgrounds, fraud or misrepresentation, misappropriation, drug abuse, and criminal investigations. Officials also said they are looking at ways to improve efficiency in case handling, including better documentation and added help positions, and noted outreach efforts through nursing associations and the Arkansas Center for Nursing. For professional soil classifiers, Agriculture Department officials explained that the occupation was created in 1975 and now is administered by the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. They said the profession is small and specialized, with about 29 registered soil classifiers in Arkansas, and requires a four-year degree plus coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences. Members asked whether the current number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the licensing fund is used. Officials said the current number appears adequate, though demand could change with more nutrient management or related work, and that soil classifiers commonly assist with septic system design, perk testing, wetland determinations, and other soil-related projects. They also noted the program has a small reserve and may look at training, curriculum, testing, and administrative budget adjustments. Both reports were reviewed without objection, and no votes were taken. The next meeting was announced for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• District education is the foundation District education is the foundation upon<01:24:52.639>
• If that's more than you need to get to your foundation opportunity budget, then you can stop.
• And if in your town that gets you to your foundation opportunity budget, or your share of the foundation
• building out its share of the foundation building out its share of the foundation opportunity<04
• would have a higher Foundation would have a higher Foundation opportunity<05:15:34.320> budget

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which clarifies that dual and concurrent enrollment courses may not exceed four credits. Members said the bill came from the community college system and was intended to preserve the program’s high school-to-college pathway. An amendment changing the effective date to passage was adopted 18-0, and the committee then voted 18-0 to recommend OTPA on the bill as amended, with the bill placed on the consent calendar. The committee then retained HB 295 and HB 366, both related to school building aid, after members said the issues were complex and needed more work. Both motions to retain passed 18-0, leaving the bills in committee without reports. The chair also said HB 354 would not be taken up that day because of possible changes from the Department of Education and others. HB 494, funding the math learning communities program, was then amended to flat-fund the program rather than increase it, with members citing budget uncertainty. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted 18-0 for OTPA on the bill as amended, placing it on consent. Finally, HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid, drew debate over whether charter schools should be treated differently from traditional public schools. The committee voted 10-8 for inexpedient to legislate, sending the bill to the regular calendar; Representative Damon was assigned the minority report and Representative Popovic the majority report. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program, where members discussed flat-funding the program at $2.5 million per year and the potential impact on course availability, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been to the SEAL Foundation, and SEAL Family Foundations have honored the Gold Star families to
• I created his foundation in order to promote his legacy.
• Part of his foundation is considered what we call...
• Foundation-wise, I'm getting a chance to...

Bills: HCR46, HB1389, HB3359, HB5629

Keywords: commemoration, military, navy seal, honor, January 12, Nathan Gage Ingram, military funeral honors, JROTC, veterans, training, grant program, military honors, community engagement, funeral services, education grants, community service, HB 3359, veteran status, Texas Veterans Commission, veterans services

Transcript Highlights:

• business 25 years ago without having sort of another bridge loan back then with the Initiative Foundations
• business 25 years ago without having sort of another bridge loan back then with the Initiative Foundations
• business 25 years ago without having sort of another bridge loan back then with the Initiative Foundations
• business 25 years ago without having sort of another bridge loan back then with the Initiative Foundations
• Business 25 years ago without having sort of another bridge loan back then with the Initiative Foundations

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2581 was presented as a request for a $1 million state investment in Fortis Capital, a Minnesota nonprofit economic development lender. The bill was described as supporting entrepreneurship and wealth-building by expanding access to capital for businesses that are underserved by traditional lending, especially in rural areas, communities of color, immigrant communities, and low-wealth areas. Testifiers argued that conventional underwriting standards leave viable businesses without financing and that Fortis provides flexible gap financing to help deals close, complementing rather than replacing banks and CDFIs. Brian Smith, co-founder and CEO of Fortis Capital, said the organization was established in 2019 and has deployed 37 loans totaling over $4 million since 2021, leveraging an additional $29.5 million through partnerships. He said Fortis seeks to increase lending capacity, reduce risk in innovative capital structures, expand statewide partnerships, and accelerate small business growth and job creation. In response to questions, he said Fortis typically charges about 6.12% on average, has had two defaults, and operates as a revolving loan fund. He also explained that Fortis already participates in some Department of Employment and Economic Development programs, but is not eligible for certain grant programs because those grants go directly to borrowers. Committee members asked how the proposal fits with existing state economic development efforts and whether competitive grant programs exist for this kind of work. A DED representative said he would need more detail to compare the proposal to agency programs, though he mentioned the emerging entrepreneur loan program as a possible fit. Members also discussed broader concerns about direct appropriations versus competitive grants. No public testimony was offered. Chair Frasier closed by saying the bill addresses a real need and laid House File 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilizing the foundation and funding for this program in Prop 4, AB 524...
• There is nothing better than when you see a bill start at the— we put the foundation in, and then you're
• There is nothing better when you see a bill start at the we put the foundation in and then you're taking
• So I'm glad to see that the foundation is being used to drive real on-the-ground change, especially around
• And it truly is something that, as the Majority Leader noted, was started as the foundation of in 2017

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Agriculture met as a subcommittee and heard several bills, with extensive discussion focused on balancing agricultural land preservation, water scarcity, renewable energy, and farm equity. AB 1156 by Assembly Member Wicks would update the solar use easement program to allow certain Williamson Act lands facing water constraints to be used for solar projects through a suspension rather than cancellation of contracts. Supporters said the bill could help landowners and local governments adapt to falling water supplies and meet clean energy goals, while opponents, including the Farm Bureau, warned it could weaken Williamson Act protections, expand solar development onto prime farmland, and eliminate cancellation fees that help preserve agricultural land. RCRC said its concerns had largely been addressed through amendments and moved from opposition to support once changes are in print, though committee members continued to raise concerns about prime farmland, community benefits, and definitions of commercial viability and water constraints. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass-as-amended motion, with a later roll call recording six votes in favor and one absent member voting aye. AB 524 by Assembly Member Wilson would create a new state land access program for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, using Proposition 4 funding to provide financial and technical assistance for land acquisition, protection, and long-term leases. Testimony emphasized the lack of secure land tenure for small and underserved farmers, the loss of farmland statewide, and the difficulty of investing in sustainable practices without stable access to land. Committee members strongly supported the measure, with several noting the importance of land access for family farms and equity in agriculture. The bill passed unanimously on an 8-0 vote. The committee also approved AB 675 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, which would codify California’s Farm to School program in statute. Supporters said the program connects students to healthy local food, creates stable markets for farmers, and supports agricultural and nutrition education, while helping direct school meal dollars to California producers. Witnesses from the Center for Ecoliteracy and CAFF described the program’s statewide reach and benefits for small farms and high-need schools. The bill passed on an 8-0 vote. The committee also adopted the consent calendar, approving AB 1322 and AB 1505 on an 8-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say though that I think a foundational piece of it is to actually establish the Community Reinvestment
• think that this measure, with very thoughtful committee amendments, allow us to be able to create a foundation
• I will say though that I think a foundational piece of it is to actually establish the Community Reinvestment
• think that this measure, with very thoughtful committee amendments, allow us to be able to create a foundation
• I will say though that I think a foundational piece of it is to actually establish the Community Reinvestment

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met to hear several bills, beginning with a consent calendar that included AB 665 and AB 866, both adopted on a do pass basis and referred to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 801, which would create a California Community Reinvestment Act to require covered financial institutions, including state-chartered banks, credit unions, residential mortgage lenders, and money transmitters, to meet the financial needs of low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. The author and supporters argued the bill would close gaps left by the federal CRA, address redlining and discriminatory lending, and expand investment in housing, small business, and community development. Support came from community groups, CDFIs, labor, and housing advocates, while opposition from mortgage bankers and credit unions argued the bill would impose costly new reporting and regulatory burdens, especially on institutions they said already serve underserved borrowers well. Committee members discussed the scope of the bill, the experience of other states with state CRA laws, and possible carve-outs or tiered treatment for smaller credit unions. AB 801 was passed as amended and referred to Appropriations, with the roll left open and later completed; one member voted no and others were not voting or voted aye as the roll was finalized. The committee also heard AB 743, which would require licensing and surety bonds for commercial lawsuit financing and bring those transactions under DFPI oversight. The author said the bill was aimed at a largely unregulated, multi-billion-dollar industry and was intended to increase transparency and address concerns about foreign interests, fraud, and abusive litigation funding practices, while not affecting consumer legal funding. Supporters, including Unified Patents, the Civil Justice Association of California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Trucking Association, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the bill was an important first step toward disclosure and regulation. There was no opposition testimony. AB 743 passed unanimously as amended and was referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open briefly for absent members before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Noring Foundation.
• 04:34.880> 4th<00:04:35.199> will<00:04:35.360> Mark<00:04:35.680> 5 Foundation
• um April 4th will Mark 5 Foundation um April 4th will Mark 5 years<00:04:36.120> since<00:04:
• Uh, and we also have Eric Mishy from the Save Foundation, or thanks Representative Stevenson, or thanks
• Uh, and we also have Eric Mishy from the Save Foundation, or thanks Representative Stevenson, or thanks

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• DOWN AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY THAT IS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
• HAS GENERATED $16.5 MILLION IN GRANT SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
• , NOAA AND VARIOUS FOUNDATIONS SO THIS IS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
• WE SHOULD BECOME A R-1 INSTITUTION IN 2025 BASED ON THE BENCHMARKS ESTABLISHED BY THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION
• HAVE, NUMBER OF THEM HELPING US ACROSS THE STATE SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLORIDA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grants are the Center for the Book, Starbase, Black Men Teach, Tolcat Administration, and the Sane Foundation
• The exception is the Sane Foundation, which keeps funding steady in 2026, cuts the grant in half in 2027
• Instructional support to evaluate and accelerate student learning on foundational mathematics skills
• Line 18 is the reduction to the Sun Foundation.
• These resources are essential for building a solid academic foundation.

Bills: HF1388

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching

Transcript Highlights:

• It must be fundamental. foundational. We need rural physicians.
• Funded and foundation-funded residency programs all over the country.
• I served on the Educational Foundation and on economic development, and we were working to grow different
• Part of that Foundational support has been the Higher Education Fund, so I'm here today to talk about
• So when you look at the cost of doing business for us in higher education, this is a foundational part

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a foundation upon which dreams are built, wealth is passed on, and families can thrive.
• Yet, Black Minnesotans, whose foundation has been denied for generations, in the state of Minnesota,
• Our testifier is **Emily Stewart**, Associate Director with the North Country Cooperative Foundation.
• My name is Emily Stewart, Associate Director at the North Country Cooperative Foundation.
• It is foundational to the country that we live in. And James.

Bills: HF1143, HF1548, HF1340, HF2549, HF2559, HF1673, HF2740, HF2507, HF2461, HF2381, HF2695

Keywords: education funding, unemployment aid, special education, Minnesota statutes, appropriations, housing, redevelopment, local government, trust funds, community development, HF1340, housing infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, affordable housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, adaptive reuse, area median income, AMI

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, you're with the World Youth Foundation? World Youth Foundation, correct. Okay.
• What we've seen at the World Youth Foundation, we started... started in Sunnyside, a place where probably
• Wallace, we show that you're the Executive Director for Tomorrow's Promise Foundation and that you're
• testifying on behalf of the foundation and yourself in support of HB 2234.
• resources in the community as an ecosystem, as a community-based organization, Tomorrow's Promise Foundation

Bills: HB1511, HB1831, HB1988, HB2147, HB2234

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, state regulations, zoning, local government authority, drug court, juvenile justice, diversion programs, rehabilitation, criminal justice reform, remote proceedings, depositions, virtual hearings, court technology, criminal responsibility, age of maturity, expungement, mental health services, juvenile record sealing, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes serving nine years, or eight years, at the foundation from 2009 to about 2017.
• I was on the foundation of the hospital, excuse me, of the university for nine years.
• I was on the board of the Mount Sinai Foundation.
• And I would like to continue that and get involved in the foundation.
• And I would like to continue that, get involved in the foundation.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education first took up a block of confirmation hearings for trustees and board members at several public universities and state colleges. Appointees from Florida A&M University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, South Florida State College, Valencia College, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida described their backgrounds and emphasized themes such as governance, student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, research growth, and institutional reputation. Members asked a few questions, but most nominees received no substantive opposition. The committee then voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of the group of appointees on tabs 3 through 18 and forwarded them to Ethics and Elections. The committee next heard Senate Bill 114 by Senator Trumbull, which would create the Florida Center of Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at Florida State University, move the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide funding for the effort. Trumbull said the bill is intended to strengthen the state’s insurance research capacity and broaden study of insurance lines beyond wind risk. Senators asked about the impact on FIU and the distinction between the new center and existing FIU work; Trumbull said FIU’s Wall of Wind would remain and that the state-owned model would simply be contracted to FSU instead of FIU. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1624 by Senator Calatayud, a wide-ranging higher education bill addressing tuition, workforce programs, institutional operations, and naming changes. Amendments were adopted to create state college regional consortium service organizations for rural colleges, remove a proposed out-of-state fee change for nonresident online students, extend university master plan update cycles from five to 10 years, and rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough College. The bill also changed several references from specific minority categories to “underrepresented,” revised aid and waiver provisions, adjusted adult education and career program rules, and made other technical changes. Senators Smith and Davis questioned the shift away from enumerated categories, arguing it could obscure disparities affecting groups such as Black students, women in STEM, and students with disabilities; Calatayud said the intent was to focus on socioeconomic access and flexibility for institutions. After debate, the committee voted 6-2 to report the bill favorably, with Senators Davis and Smith voting no, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s about ensuring that our student athletes receive the academic foundation they...
• are waiving their time in support or opposition: Wendy McFarland, waving against; Logan Braggden, Foundation
• Logan Braggden Foundation for Florida's Future, waving in support. Sally Sluder?
• Jason Crawford, Home Education Foundation, Waving, As of I mispronounce, she's waiving against.
• Jason Crawford Home Education Foundation waving in support. Senators wishing to debate on the bill.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee considered a long agenda of claims bills, housing and business measures, and court-administration legislation. It reported favorably several claims bills, including SB 20 for J.N., a minor, SB 14 for the estate of Pennial Janvier, SB 10 for Sidney Holmes, SB 8 for Marcus Button, SB 22 for Eric and Jennifer Miles, and SB 26 for Kristen and Leah McIntosh. Members also approved SB 520 on curators of estates, SB 386 on self-storage lien-sale notices, SB 362 on reusable tenant screening reports, SB 316 creating series LLCs in Florida, and SB 1650 and SB 1652 on vexatious litigants and related public-records issues. SB 248, expanding eligibility for private school and homeschool students to participate in FHSAA sports at public schools, also passed after amendment. Most of the claims bills were described as settled cases with amounts above sovereign-immunity limits, and several senators spoke in support of compensating victims of catastrophic injury or wrongful conviction. SB 10 drew comments about the 34 years Sidney Holmes spent incarcerated after a wrongful conviction, and SB 8 prompted discussion about the long delay in resolving Marcus Button’s injuries from a 2006 school-bus crash. SB 26 was presented as an uncontested claim arising from a DACS employee’s fatal crash that severely injured two teenage girls, and the committee adopted an amendment placing funds for the minor claimant into trust. The policy bills drew more substantive debate. SB 386 would let self-storage operators use websites instead of newspaper ads for lien-sale notices, with newspaper representatives opposing the change and storage-industry witnesses supporting modernization and lower costs. SB 362 would let renters reuse tenant screening reports for 30 days, with the sponsor saying it would reduce repeated application fees. SB 316 would authorize series LLCs while adding record-keeping protections, and SB 1650/1652 would broaden Florida’s vexatious-litigant rules and create a public-records exemption for certain stricken filings. SB 248 passed over concerns from private-school and public-education witnesses about instructional time, funding, and fairness in athletic participation. All measures were reported favorably, with recorded votes ranging from 7-2 on SB 248 to unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other bills.