Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I sustained nine bullet wounds. >> His experience is one of several tragedies from the interim that
• and serve the state following an attack that left bullets in his body. >> I sustained nine bullet wounds

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program opened the 2026 Senate session with tributes to Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and others lost or injured during the interim, including Senator John Hoffman, who returned to the floor after surviving an attack. Senators repeatedly framed the session around courage, grief, civil discourse, and a commitment to govern despite heightened fear and political violence. The Capitol itself has changed in response, with locked doors, new security systems, more law enforcement presence, and new visitor guidelines. A major segment focused on Capitol security. Senator Bonnie Westlin said the Axtell report, commissioned by the Department of Public Safety, was the basis for new screening measures and identified weapon screening as the top priority. She said the goal is to create a safer perimeter for members, staff, and the thousands of annual visitors, while keeping access workable through single entry points and Evolv screening machines. She also discussed Senate restrictions on guns in the gallery, possible future legislation to ban guns on the Capitol complex, encrypted badges, internal access controls, and behavioral threat assessments. She noted some recommendations will require funding, with the Department of Administration seeking about $41 million. The program also highlighted the Senate fiscal review, described as a nonpartisan summary of the enacted budget that is being moved toward a more interactive web format. Another segment featured Senator Eric Lucero on affordable housing and home ownership. He said the Minnesota Housing workforce and affordable home ownership program is intended to increase owner-occupied housing supply, but argued that 123 homes built statewide is not enough to address the shortage. Lucero blamed regulation and permitting delays for higher costs, said Minnesota homes can cost $50,000 to $150,000 more than comparable homes in neighboring states, and said he will continue pushing for regulatory rollbacks to make home ownership more attainable.

Transcript Highlights:

• faith-based BIP addresses not only the offender's behavioral patterns, but also the emotional and spiritual wounds
• BIP is addressed not only the offender's behavioral patterns, but also the emotional and spiritual wounds

Bills: S0052, S0502, S0624, S0758, S0834, S0840

Keywords: places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493, Class G license, Class C license, security services, faith-based institutions, public safety, military jurisdiction, delinquency, concurrent jurisdiction

Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• controversy about having a Santa Fe Trail marker in San Miguel del Vado because there's still that open wound
• This wound is still there, even though we ignore it.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from 2018 to 2023, 1,073 people were wounded or killed in a school shooting incident.
• California alone, 96 school shooting incidents happened within five years, resulting in 82 people being wounded

Summary: The committee first took up a consent calendar of multiple bills, moving them forward mostly to Appropriations, with AB 1531 sent to Insurance. It then heard AB 645, requiring emergency medical dispatch training for public safety dispatchers who handle medical calls. Supporters said standardized dispatcher training would improve CPR and other pre-arrival instructions, especially in rural areas with long response times; there was no opposition, and the bill was moved to Appropriations. AB 716, on statewide hydrogen fire safety standards and a State Fire Marshal hydrogen expert, also drew support and was sent to Utilities and Energy. AB 783, aimed at lowering disaster rebuilding costs by allowing state contracting for construction materials in declared disaster areas, was supported by housing and building groups and moved to Appropriations. AB 591, creating a public works mutual aid plan for disasters, and AB 1200, expanding disaster preparedness through tabletop exercises, a State Lifelines Council, and CERT training, both received supportive testimony and were sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 300, which would require regular updates to fire hazard severity zone maps; witnesses from fire agencies and cities supported moving the review schedule to every five years, and the bill was sent to Appropriations as amended. AB 986 would add landslides and climate-change-exacerbated conditions to the definition of state and local emergencies; supporters from Rancho Palos Verdes and the League of California Cities described severe land movement and major costs, while members raised concerns about overbroad emergency declarations. The bill nonetheless advanced to Appropriations. AB 478, requiring local emergency plans to include pet rescue procedures and longer holding periods for rescued animals, was supported by the author, a mayor, and animal advocacy groups; members suggested revisiting the 90-day reclamation period and transfer rules, but the bill moved to Appropriations. Later, AB 598 proposed school mapping technology for K-12 campuses so first responders can access accurate layouts during emergencies. The sponsor and dispatch representatives said the maps could reduce response times and improve coordination, while committee members asked about costs, vendor neutrality, rural school funding, and coordination with the 911 Advisory Board; the bill was moved to Appropriations with members noting possible follow-up amendments. Throughout the meeting, several votes were left open for later addition, and the committee eventually recorded additional aye votes and one no vote on AB 783 and a not-voting position on AB 986 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, every day, 125 people in the United States are killed with guns and more than 200 are shot and wounded
• three, but she was the size of a 10-month-old when she presented to the hospital with a deep stabbed wound

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee met to consider several bills, with six measures approved on consent, including bills on background checks, female offender prison facilities, a juvenile justice hunger survey, protective orders and firearms, a youth offender camp pilot, and peace officer behavioral health training. AB 710 and AB 848 were pulled by the authors. The committee also took up AB 458, AB 394, AB 1094, AB 1092, and AB 1036, with extensive testimony on each. AB 458, by Assembly Member Stephanie, would require state agencies purchasing firearms, ammunition, or accessories to vet vendors for compliance with firearms laws and procurement standards. Supporters, including Brady and the California Police Chiefs Association, said taxpayer funds should not go to dealers with serious violations; opponents argued the bill added burdens and vague standards. The committee approved the bill as amended and sent it to Appropriations. AB 394, by Assembly Member Wilson, would expand protections for transit workers and riders by broadening enhanced battery penalties, clarifying who may seek temporary restraining orders in the transit context, and making those orders system-wide. Transit agencies, labor groups, and law enforcement supported the bill, while public defender and civil liberties groups raised concerns about vagueness, duration, and impacts on access to transit. The committee passed AB 394 to Judiciary as amended. AB 1094, by Assembly Member Baines, would raise the minimum parole eligibility term for child torture convictions involving a child under 14 in the perpetrator’s care or custody from seven years to 20 years. Prosecutors, sheriffs, and police groups supported the bill, citing the severity of the abuse and the need to protect child victims; opponents argued the parole system already screens for risk and that harsher sentences do not improve public safety. The committee approved the bill as amended to Appropriations. AB 1092, by Assembly Member Castillo, would extend concealed carry weapon license renewals from two years to four years; supporters said it would reduce costs and administrative burdens, while the chair and others opposed it as unnecessary. The committee ultimately voted the bill down. AB 1036, by Assembly Member Schultz, would expand post-conviction discovery access for people convicted of felonies with sentences of one year or more, including Brady materials and jury selection notes. Innocence organizations and defense groups supported it, while district attorneys opposed the broader discovery obligations; the committee passed it to Appropriations as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• , an Act Combating Offshore Tax Avoidance.
• I'm here in support of my bill, S. 2033, an act combating offshore tax avoidance.
• H. 311, S. 2033, an act combating offshore tax avoidance.
• The next bill is Senate 2033, an act combating offshore tax avoidance, House 3110.
• I'm offering testimony in support of an act combating offshore tax avoidance.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm combating antisemitism today. My name is Simon Contaldo.
• Thank you to the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism in Massachusetts for their thorough and
• The special commission's charge to develop recommendations to combat anti-Semitism is very important
• The special commission's charge to develop recommendations to combat anti-Semitism is very important
• At age, ...this special commission that is supposed to be combating anti-Semitism.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission held a public comment hearing as it continued work toward a November 30 statutory deadline for its final report. The co-chairs reviewed logistics for the hybrid format, two-minute testimony limit, respectful conduct, and the plan to alternate between in-person and virtual speakers. The commission approved the minutes from its previous September 8 meeting by motion and vote, with no nays. Much of the testimony focused on how the commission should define antisemitism, especially whether to adopt the IHRA definition and whether it improperly conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel or Zionism. Many speakers, including Jewish educators, rabbis, academics, students, and legislators, described personal experiences with antisemitism and urged the commission to address hate while protecting free speech, academic freedom, and the ability to criticize Israeli government policy. Several called for the commission to reject or narrow the IHRA definition and instead consider the Jerusalem Declaration or other frameworks that distinguish antisemitism from anti-Zionism. Others emphasized that antisemitism should be addressed alongside racism, Islamophobia, white nationalism, and other forms of bias, and some urged broader anti-bias training in schools. A smaller number of speakers supported stronger action against antisemitism in schools and public institutions, including concerns about antisemitic materials in education and about organizations or events they viewed as promoting hate. A recurring theme was the conflict in Gaza and its impact on the debate: some speakers condemned Israel’s military actions as genocide, apartheid, or colonialism and said criticism of those actions should not be treated as antisemitic, while others defended Israel, rejected genocide claims, and argued that anti-Israel activism can fuel antisemitism. Several speakers also raised concerns about campus discipline, union materials, and state facility rentals, and one speaker asked that state resources not be used by groups they viewed as inciting hate. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes and hearing public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's wound care and education for folks. So, it's a full program.
• It's wound care and education for folks. So, it's a full program.
• fentanyl strips for xylazine and fentanyl strips for testing.<00:32:22.559> It's<00:32:22.880> wound
• It's wound care and education testing. It's wound care and education for<00:32:25.360> folks.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• experience, as well as to assess the differences in effectiveness of crossbows and vertical bows and wounding
• us to estimate the number of newly recruited archery hunters and assess the difference again in wounding
• hunters and assess the difference<01:26:15.639> again<01:26:15.920> in<01:26:16.080> wounding
• <01:26:16.800> loss<01:26:17.239> and difference again in wounding loss and difference
• again in wounding loss and weapon<01:26:17.840> Effectiveness<01:26:18.440> between<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• fraud Bureau is a law enforcement agency comprised of sworn peace officers and civilian staff who combat
• fraud Bureau is a law enforcement agency comprised of sworn peace officers and civilian staff who combat
• fraud Bureau is a law enforcement agency comprised of sworn peace officers and civilian staff who combat
• insurance fraud tackle who compat combat insurance fraud tackle Financial<00:05:24.319> crimes
• <00:37:37.280> insurance are doing our best to combat insurance are doing our best to combat

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These children arrived alone, unidentified, and ripped apart by gunshot wounds.
• normalize that doctors and nurses in the United States have had to become expert in managing war wounds
• <02:12:28.639> The ripped apart by gunshot wounds. The ripped apart by gunshot wounds.
• <02:12:49.920> The<02:12:50.079> toll expert in managing war wounds.
• The toll expert in managing war wounds.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sculpture by by artist Timothy Schmaltz, depicting a mother with an unborn child cradled in a globe-shaped wound

Bills: SB2053, SCR19, SCR23, SCR29

Keywords: Governor's Medal of Service, Texas award, state honor, public service recognition, Governor's office, Governor's award, Texas Government Code Chapter 3108, ceremonial award, honorary medal, state service award, local government retirees, private sector contributions, Texas Legislature recognition, gift acceptance, donations, grant funding, executive recognition, Texas Life Monument, human life, preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• They may apply makeup to enhance an actor's own features or to create wounds, bruises, injuries, or special

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I myself, as a result of being a patriot to combat communism in the past.
• conflicts of 50 years ago in Southeast Asia brought a lot of pain to our modern-day society, and many wounds
• still<04:01:14.479> not<04:01:15.000> healed<04:01:16.000> and and many wounds
• are still not healed and and many wounds are still not healed and still<04:01:16.560> linger<
• those who fought alongside<04:01:39.080> Americans<04:01:40.080> as Allies face deeper wounds

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a problem last year with the administration bill that wound up with some language restricting
• min Administration bill bill bill um<01:41:27.599> that um that um that um<01:41:30.040> wound
• 30.719> some<01:41:30.920> language<01:41:31.840> U<01:41:32.840> uh um wound
• up with some language U uh um wound up with some language U uh restricting<01:41:34.119> um<01
• <05:17:49.520> uh necessary uh to to help combat uh necessary uh to to help combat uh unsheltered

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involved and engaged in this Combat involved and engaged in this Combat Sports<00:15:11.519>
• like it's because the lack of Combat like it's because the lack of Combat Sports<00:15:46.440>
• folks have done it by removing Combat folks have done it by removing Combat Sports<00:16:08.199>
• in coordinating some of these Combat in coordinating some of these Combat Sports<00:20:53.360>
• We're trying to build combat sports back up.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the human reality is that when someone receives Narcan, wound care, or sterile supplies, they are
• Now, the human reality is that when someone receives Narcan, wound care, or sterile supplies, they are
• They're getting wound care kits.
• They're getting<02:11:43.679> wound<02:11:44.000> care<02:11:44.239> kits.
• Um this this getting wound care kits.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it is a bipartisan, self-inflicted wound that is hurting Minnesotans.
• Uh it is a<00:30:29.760> bipartisan<00:30:31.120> self-inflicted<00:30:32.080> wound
• <00:30:32.559> that a bipartisan self-inflicted wound that a bipartisan self-inflicted wound
• us to find out where the federal government is causing the most damage and do our best to patch the wound
• us to find out where the federal government is causing the most damage and do our best to patch the wound

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like an effort to combat fraud with waste.
• like an effort to combat fraud with waste.
• like an effort to combat fraud with waste.
• like an effort to combat fraud with waste.
• like an effort to combat fraud with waste.

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• coordinate with the Army, Air Force, and our joint staff counterparts to provide ready forces to our combat
• We have two Army combat arms brigades, two combat support groups, an Army support group, an Army headquarters
• , and an Air Force... ...combat support groups, an Army support group, an Army headquarters, an Air Force
• Since 9/11, the Florida National Guard has deployed... ...in five combatant commands around the world
• And then to further... ...and our combatant commands.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, and Domestic Security met for its first meeting of the 2025-26 session and heard presentations from Major General John Haas, Adjutant General of Florida, and Tim McGregor, executive director of the Florida Defense Support Commission. General Haas reviewed the Florida National Guard’s missions, statewide footprint, domestic disaster response, and federal deployments, emphasizing the Guard’s role in hurricanes, border-related support, and other state operations. He also discussed recruiting and retention, noting that recruiting remains strong but retention is challenged by the Guard’s high operational tempo, and he outlined efforts to expand force structure, improve facilities, and modernize units, including Camp Blanding upgrades, new armories, additional infantry, engineer, military police, and aviation assets, and the Air National Guard’s F-35 conversion. Members asked questions about recruiting methods, typical brigade size, and how many personnel would be needed to reduce the average duty burden back toward the statutory 39 days. Haas explained that Florida’s large population helps recruiting, especially through community and school outreach, but that the state’s frequent domestic missions make the current 12,000-member force too small for its workload. He said the Guard’s high tempo is the main reason members leave for the reserves and argued that more force structure is needed to reduce strain. Committee members also discussed prior efforts to influence National Guard stationing decisions based on population shifts and domestic mission demands. McGregor then described the Florida Defense Support Commission’s work to protect military installations, prevent encroachment, support workforce and economic development, and improve the military-friendly environment for service members and families. He highlighted the commission’s grant programs, the military benefits guide, and a spouse license reciprocity matrix, as well as site visits to installations and defense-related facilities across the state. Members asked about Lockheed Martin’s innovation and simulation work in Orlando and discussed the value of military spouse reciprocity compacts. No bills were heard, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.