Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of killing the head shops, we regulated them.
• Instead of killing the head shops, we regulated them. Fix it or kill it was the message that I got.
• A location where food and water and other things can go into that impacted area in a short period of
• There's an old saying that says a person can live 40 days without food, about three days without water
• Importantly, existing law already regulates medical professionals, conduct, staffing ratios, anesthesia

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of killing the head shops, we regulated them.
• Instead of killing the head shops, we regulated them.
• A location where food and water and other things can go into that impacted area in a short period of
• There's an old saying that says a person can live 40 days without food, about three days without water
• Importantly, existing law already regulates medical professionals, conduct, staffing ratios, anesthesia

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• NITSA regulates the Truth in Mileage Act of 1985.
• Nitsa regulates the Truth and as Nitsa.
• </c> outdoor advertising control regulations outdoor advertising control regulations do<01:27:41.440>
• I could go to Concord and just change the sign regulations and do this.
• I could go to Concord and just change the sign regulations and do this.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 573, fair housing and housing discrimination regulations intent and discriminatory effect,
• If not, the clerk will take the call. discrimination regulations intent and discrimination regulations
• Senate Bill 371, Water Pollution Control Discharge Permits Animal Feeding Operations.
• </c><00:53:12.800><c> and</c> Housing Discrimination Regulations and Housing Discrimination Regulations
• Is the Is the increased regulation &gt;&gt; Okay.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you just had you taking water, right? you just had you taking water, right?
• So the problem here, if you look at this on a scale of too little regulation to too much regulation,
• So the problem here, if you look at this on a scale of too little regulation to too much regulation,
• ,</c><04:52:53.840><c> we</c> regulation to too much regulation, we regulation to too much regulation
• </c> much regulation. much regulation.

Committee: House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've talked about the environment and the importance of our environment and the quality of air, soil, water
• The reason that we are continuing to be considered out of attainment of the regulations from the EPA
• Number one, the EPA regulations continue to lower the standards.
• And I don't believe anybody in our region is out of attainment with the EPA's regulation.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal by a 125-0 roll call vote. Members then spent a large portion of the morning recognizing special guests, interns, students, and constituents, including school groups, interns, a Savannah Bananas player, and several birthday and personal privilege announcements. On legislation, the House agreed to conference on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1421. The chamber then took up Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, a bipartisan measure to reauthorize the Missouri Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund and continue support for the Division of Tourism and Missouri Film Office. Supporters from both parties emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide; the bill passed 136-6. The House next debated House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1020, an omnibus Department of Revenue bill covering fee office contracting, vehicle registration penalties, Real ID document retention, and other DOR changes. The body adopted an amendment lowering late registration penalties, making document retention opt-in, and restoring a five-year plate option, followed by a second amendment removing cosmetic damage as a basis for rejecting rebuilt-vehicle inspections. The bill then passed 130-10. Later, the House began debate on a combined judiciary/civil legislation bill involving insurance assignment-of-benefits restrictions, anti-SLAPP protections, workers’ compensation and court administration changes, and expungement-related funding; members adopted a title change and several amendments, including one to make attorney-fee awards more even in anti-SLAPP motions, while also debating a proposed St. Louis police legal expense fund amendment and whether it had been properly vetted.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the reason there's now a whole bunch of regulation around oil drilling because of the Exxon Valdez
• Insurance companies are horribly regulated in this country—horribly regulated.
• When we have water laws that protect and provide for growth, they're not going to come.

Bills: SB38 , SB17 , SB41 , SB264

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, sexual crimes, statute of limitations

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 99, a proposed reform of the Medical Malpractice Act. Representative Chandler said the bill is intended to address physician shortages, rising malpractice premiums, and litigation pressures by changing punitive damages rules, including a higher standard of proof, a requirement that punitive damages not be pleaded in the initial complaint, and limits tied to the type of provider. Supporters, including physicians, business leaders, and some patients, said the bill would help retain doctors, improve access to care, and create more predictable liability exposure. Several supporters also said current malpractice conditions are driving doctors out of the state and harming rural access to services. Opponents argued the bill would reduce patient recovery, create unequal treatment based on insurance status through the bill-versus-paid provision, and raise constitutional concerns involving equal protection, collateral source rules, and separation of powers. They also criticized the bill for not addressing other drivers of malpractice, such as hospital practices, prior authorization, staffing, and background checks for out-of-state doctors. Some witnesses urged amendments to protect the Patient Compensation Fund, ensure future medical expenses are covered, require minimum surcharge settings, and improve oversight of providers entering the state. Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses about whether the bill would actually lower premiums, whether it would improve access to care, and how it would affect hospitals, independent providers, and the Patient Compensation Fund. The sponsor said the bill was based on negotiations and comparisons with other states, and that it should help premiums over time. Members raised concerns about the fund’s solvency, the role of hospitals in the fund, and whether some provisions would survive legal challenge. No final vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated amendments would be discussed later and the committee would continue the hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• full breadth of the policy included in the bill and to make it an act relating to construction regulations
• We should focus better on enforcing the federal laws and regulations we already have in place to address
• The government cannot regulate your speech if it's content-based and viewpoint-based.
• in our utility departments to be able to pay for stormwater mitigation, to be able to pay for clean water

Bills: S0330 , S0526 , S0862 , S1072 , S1078 , S1192 , S1250 , S1296 , S1298 , S1642 , S1698 , S7022

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Keywords: firefighter disability, law enforcement disability, correctional officer disability, correctional probation officer, presumptive disability, workers' compensation, line of duty presumption, heart disease presumption, hypertension presumption, tuberculosis presumption, public safety employees, first responders, physical examination, preemployment exam, medical specialist, Medicare reimbursement, employing agency, Florida Statutes 112.18, Florida Statutes 943.13, occupational disease

Summary: The committee heard several bills and confirmations, with most measures reported favorably. Senate Bill 330 clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, codifying the medical definition of heart disease and allowing transferring law enforcement officers to rely on a prior physical if a new agency does not provide one. Support was waived in by the Florida Smart Justice Alliance and the Fraternal Order of Police, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 526, as amended by a delete-all amendment, addressed commercial construction contracts, permit standards, fee reductions when private providers are used, floodproofing, product approval categories, and adoption of certain electrical code standards; it drew support from several construction and business groups and one opposing appearance, then was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1192 created a pilot program for callback queues at the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families to reduce hold times for callers seeking re-employment assistance and public benefits, and it also passed favorably. Senate Bill 1078 established transition procedures for a governor-elect, including agency liaisons, briefing materials, office space, and access to records; an amendment shifted IT support to the Department of Management Services, narrowed access to confidential records, and increased penalties for unauthorized disclosure, after which the bill was approved. Senate Bill 7022 extended a public records exemption for classroom examinations and assessment instruments through 2031 and expanded coverage to school district boards and public schools; it was also reported favorably. Senate Bill 862, as amended, set a $60,000 salary goal by 2030 for state correctional officers, probation officers, and institutional security specialists, with annual raises subject to appropriations; members and witnesses emphasized recruitment, retention, and safety, and the bill passed. Senate Bill 1250 removed the requirement that the Commission on Human Relations use registered mail for certain notices under the Florida Civil Rights Act, allowing less expensive notice methods, and it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 1698 allowed certain employers to post required workplace notices electronically instead of physically, and it passed without opposition. The committee also recommended confirmation of 10 appointees to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the State Retirement Commission. The most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 1072, which created an anti-Semitism task force within the Department of Legal Affairs to review anti-Semitism in Florida, improve community relations, advise on law enforcement training, assess digital media literacy efforts, evaluate hate crime statutes, and recommend policy changes. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address a growing problem and noted that Florida already uses the Holocaust Remembrance definition of anti-Semitism in statute. Numerous speakers opposed the bill, arguing it could chill protected speech, especially criticism of Israel, and could be used selectively against students, activists, Muslims, Arabs, and Jewish anti-Zionists; several also said existing hate-crime and civil-rights laws were sufficient and that the task force should include protections against Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate. One member raised concerns about the constitutionality of creating such task forces in light of prior actions by the Attorney General. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote with Senator Bracey Davis voting yes along with the majority. Senate Bill 1642, the Freedom in the Workplace Act, was also heard and drew significant questioning. The bill would bar public employers and contractors from requiring pronoun use, certain gender-identity-related training, or non-binary sex options on forms, and would protect employees and contractors from adverse action based on religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs. Senator Polsky questioned whether the bill could interfere with anti-harassment training and workplace discipline, while the sponsor said the measure was meant to prevent government coercion and extend protections similar to those in school settings. The transcript cuts off before the final disposition of this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• State regulations have not been effective, with more than one aspect of those regulations already being
• Aspect of those regulations already being legally challenged.
• but could not support regulation for many reasons, but essentially for regulation to be effective, you
• Alcohol is that they self-regulate at a very high level.
• They're very good about regulating and they test themselves.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:21.520><c> We</c> product that we do not regulate. We product that we do not regulate.
• This is not regulating PBMs.
• This is not regulating PBMs. This law. This is not regulating PBMs.
• This is thoughtful regulation.
• </c> department for oversight and regulation. department for oversight and regulation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would clarify that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary policy for a newborn’s care unless the mother has no coverage or no employer-sponsored coverage. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure simply codifies the department’s long-standing interpretation of existing law. Representative Miles asked whether the coverage would extend to a grandchild if a young woman on her parents’ plan had a baby, and Birdsell said it would. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Senator Kevin Avard. The bill requires insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, when they change Medicare Advantage offerings. Benton Court said the bill was prompted by disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers and the department were confused by carriers exiting, changing plans, or narrowing offerings. He said the department does not regulate Medicare Advantage itself, but does license the carriers, and the notice requirement would help the department advise consumers; he also said noncompliance could affect a carrier’s license and could lead to fines. Members discussed the notice period, and the department and AHIP indicated support for changing it from 120 days to 90 days to align with federal timing. The hearing was closed with plans to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Representative Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole said the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell at a loss. Members questioned whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts, whether the bill would raise consumer prices, and whether it would mainly affect independent pharmacies. Cole and others said the issue has changed over time because PBMs now control a much larger share of the market, and that the bill would let pharmacies refuse loss-making fills and direct patients to mail order instead. The discussion also noted that the bill excludes Medicare and Medicaid and that the current proposal does not create a middle-ground option for patients to pay a premium at the counter.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that every single one of these regulations, whether it's methy baby regulations, whether it's, you
• And that every single one of these regulations, whether it's methy baby regulations, whether it's, you
• And that every single one of these regulations, whether it's methy baby regulations, whether it's, you
• and regulations and mandate and regulate and regulations and all<02:17:19.480><c> those</c><02:17:19.880
• It's regulation of lobbyists.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> was the intention to close Still Water, was the intention to close Still Water, but<02:30:25.520
• </c> of facilities including Still Water of facilities including Still Water um<02:32:37.600><c> which
• live in Still Water?
• </c> senator from, I don't know, Still Water senator from, I don't know, Still Water or<03:05:52.800>
• </c> or wait, do you live in Still Water? or wait, do you live in Still Water?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I want—sometimes people will say, you know, is this a shortened, watered-down version?
• And so I want—sometimes people will say, you know, is this a shortened, watered-down version?
• And so I want—sometimes people will say, you know, is this a shortened, watered-down version?
• down version I this a shortened watered down version I know<00:07:44.520><c> the</c><00:07:44.639><c
• Returning to the bill, because DLI is responsible for regulating registered apprenticeship programs in

Bills: HF846 , HF1538 , HF1959

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• As you lands and waters of our state.
• </c> morning of July 4th, as flood waters morning of July 4th, as flood waters devastated<02:11:54.079
• If we don't start pulling down water.
• </c> these federal roadblocks, more water these federal roadblocks, more water will<07:29:08.320><c>
• </c> legislation, the Orland Project Water legislation, the Orland Project Water Management<07:29:14.638

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and heating water systems.
• This plant provides hot and cold water and feeds HVAC services. for roughly 85% of the occupied space
• I think somebody said, you know, in 1800... ...or whatever, they were talking about water, education,
• Fast forward to 2025, we're talking about water, education, and roads. So not much changed, right?
• Isn't that part of the water? Yes, well, a part of it. So water is actually used for tier two.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I might say other than the regulations I might say other than the regulations that<00:56:00.400>
• </c> Maryland families, this regulation Maryland families, this regulation intentionally<03:22:33.320
• And occur on this with this regulation.
• And when we create regulations table.
• </c> And we allow the PSC to make regulations And we allow the PSC to make regulations like<03:24:08.800

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> municipality can operate um storm water municipality can operate um storm water utilities utilities
• </c> it with fees on the water bill. it with fees on the water bill.
• </c> adjudication of interstate water rights. adjudication of interstate water rights.
• </c> control funding moving from water control funding moving from water account<01:47:50.960><c> one
• </c> replacement. uh for monitoring water replacement. uh for monitoring water flow. flow. flow.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or limit the county's authority to regulate
• available to grow adequate land or water available to grow any<00:54:52.160><c> meaningful</c><00:54
• Um, but it varies based on water availability, soil type.
• Um, but it varies based on water availability, soil type.
• They couldn't even give me the data on the amount of water used.

Bills: HB1736 , HB1620 , HB1695

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: animal control, spay and neuter, pet overpopulation, sterilization, counties funding, tax designation, veterinary care, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy policy, rebate program, environmental impact, renewable fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1737, which clarifies allowable uses in agricultural districts for farm dwellings and farm employee housing, and HB 1604 HD2, which creates an agricultural workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Testimony on HB 1737 was overwhelmingly supportive, with county agriculture officials, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union backing the measure; one witness asked for a definition of “affordable” to guard against misuse of farm housing. For HB 1604, the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, with OHA requesting disaggregated data and a seat on the working group. Committee discussion focused on housing shortages, possible misuse, affordability, and whether innovative housing models such as modular, tiny, and container homes should be considered. The committee then took action on both measures. HB 1737 HD3 was recommended to pass with amendments that would limit farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members actively engaged in the farm operation, add a grandfathering provision for existing permitted housing, preserve county zoning authority, clarify that ag tourism must be secondary and not occur in employee housing, delete a square-footage-per-acre ratio, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. HB 1604 HD2 was also recommended to pass with amendments adding OHA and a housing-shortage organization to the working group, expanding its scope to include modular, tiny, and container homes and permitting/zoning streamlining, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. Both motions were adopted unanimously by the members present. The joint hearing then moved to HB 1736, which would establish a spay and neuter special fund and require sterilization and declaration provisions for cats, with some discussion of dogs. DLNR and the Hawaiian Humane Society supported the bill, while Pacific Pet Alliance objected to the broader requirements and the inclusion of dogs; the Hawaiian Humane Society and American Bird Conservancy supported cat-focused sterilization and the special fund, while some testifiers opposed mandatory sterilization as too costly or intrusive. Members raised questions about toxoplasmosis, trap-neuter-release, enforcement, neighbor-island access, and funding needs, and DLNR indicated additional funding and third-party contracting would likely be needed. The transcript then began HB 1620 HD2 on energy, which would increase the environmental response energy and food security tax and shift funds from the hydrogen fueling subaccount to EV charging infrastructure; state agencies generally stood on written testimony in support, while the Tax Foundation objected to special fund earmarks and noted the bill raises only one part of the barrel tax structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It did not regulate state and local police.
• It did not regulate state and local police.
• </c> not regulate state and local police. not regulate state and local police.
• So that doesn't really hold a lot of water to me.
• Uh and of course uh lot of water to me.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, if you read that section, it talks about telecommunications, water treatment facilities, all your
• Near the water, five years goes by before a claim gets filed.
• First, it defines and regulates legal funding transactions.
• and fits underneath this title, and I do believe it would make the bill, I don't know, dead in the water
• I don't know, dead in the water as far as constitutionality without having adopted the titling change

Keywords: 959, house, all