Transcript Highlights:

• With that, we have our LPA program, our local public agency program.
• urban program.
• You should have seen the program is just a recommended construction program.
• “Okay, that’s the rural program.” “Okay, and that’s the rural program, correct?”
• “That’s the entire program.” “Entire program?” “Yes, sir.”

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Senate Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee received updates from the Department of Transportation and Development on its transformation efforts, including a new project delivery dashboard, key performance indicators, and litter abatement work. DOTD said the dashboard is now live and tied to daily field updates, and reported progress on its T4LA initiatives, including improved project transparency, customer service, and a new highway sponsorship litter program. Members praised the department’s work and asked about litter funding, with DOTD saying last year’s $14.7 million litter pickup effort included the legislature’s supplemental appropriation. The committee also heard detailed progress reports on LTIF 1.0 and 2.0, the Office of Highway Construction’s bridge bundling and roadway projects, the Calcasieu River Bridge project, and the Cameron Ferry. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 is about 80% complete and that LTIF 2.0 has encumbered nearly $150 million, with several projects ahead of schedule and some under budget. The Office of Highway Construction said 62 bridge projects are in the bundle, 11 are under construction, and emergency procurement has helped accelerate delivery. DOTD said the Calcasieu River Bridge remains on track for a mid-to-late April groundbreaking, with all federal permits in hand and right-of-way acquisition underway; it also reported that new Cameron Ferry boats are under construction and that a privatization proposal from Labmar Ferry Services will go to the Louisiana Transportation Authority. Members then reviewed the draft 2026-2027 highway priority program, which DOTD said includes $913 million for construction across 302 projects and about $1.2 billion total investment. The committee also received public comment on the statewide flood control program, which recommended six projects expected to reduce flood damage by more than $289 million, and on the airport construction and development priority program, which includes 31 air carrier projects and 99 general aviation projects. DOTD also noted no current projects for the rail infrastructure program but said it expects to request $13 million and has 19 projects in the queue, and it presented three port projects that are not yet funded but will be considered by the Louisiana Transportation Authority. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research presented data on impaired driving, saying impaired driving remains a major factor in fatalities and injuries, with alcohol and drugs together contributing to a large share of crashes and about $700 million in annual economic costs. Members discussed youth driving, marijuana, ignition interlock, DWI courts, and enforcement challenges on waterways; the presenters emphasized education, enforcement, and treatment as part of a broader safety strategy. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after receiving the presentations and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program has a sunset.
• So therefore, this program pays for itself.
• So therefore, this program pays for itself.
• So we went and researched those programs, and we took the best from those programs, and that's what you
• Existing program, got to love that.

Committee: House Economic Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with the tax credit program.
• The LaunchPad elementary literacy program. This is a program that I— Thank you.
• program.
• program.
• So the program costs $95,000 in our program. So the program costs $95,000 in our district.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our seed program, the state education assistance program, we're asking for a little bit more this year
• </c> you are very familiar with that program. you are very familiar with that program.
• 05:15.840><c> program.
• </c> program, it's a very successful program program, it's a very successful program and<00:15:25.440
• And again, that program, Senator, out of the 34 that are in the United States, that program we have at

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 15 January, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So previously this program has been a...
• So previously this program has been a Appropriation for this fund.
• program.
• The next bucket of funding is rural workforce program funding.
• This is essentially our capacity capital program and capital maintenance program.

Bills: S0048

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Keywords: housing, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, local government, zoning regulations, military families, density bonus, homeownership, property taxes

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard presentations on the Governor’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and then considered one bill, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, with transportation and economic development receiving about $18 billion statewide and $601 million in general revenue. Agency heads then presented priorities for Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, State, Transportation, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard, emphasizing workforce development, housing, tourism marketing, aviation and space infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, emergency preparedness, and military readiness. In the Commerce presentation, Secretary Kelly highlighted funding for housing programs, the Hometown Heroes program, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, rural infrastructure and workforce grants, Reconnect and Florida WINS systems, law enforcement and firefighter recruitment bonuses, defense support, Visit Florida, Space Florida, and SelectFlorida. Senators asked about Visit Florida’s private match requirements and whether the agency fully leveraged prior appropriations; Visit Florida’s CEO said the match was met and exceeded, though it is difficult but important. The Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles presentation focused on trooper pay, pursuit vehicles, aviation assets, and enterprise data systems, with questions about immigration enforcement and body cameras. Military Affairs requested funding for readiness centers, training facilities, education and health benefits for Guardsmen, and maintenance of existing armories; members discussed Guard deployments, staffing levels, and a proposed firing range project. The Department of State requested funds for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and defended its arts grant process and rule changes. Transportation’s budget emphasized a $14.3 billion work program, road and bridge maintenance, aviation and aerospace, safety initiatives, and seaport investments, while Emergency Management requested funding for preparedness, flood mitigation, WebEOC, grants management, and alert systems; senators also asked about the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility. For CS/SB 48, Senator Gates explained that the bill would require local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs would be allowed by right without a separate hearing. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, saying ADUs could help provide long-term housing for service workers. After questions about local government and HOA authority, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 48 favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, aptly called the FARM program.
• codify the grant programs at this time or cause any conflict.
• I know they'll be able to partake in the road program.
• in the ACA grant program?
• There are a great deal of these scholarship programs.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 executive appointments. After explanation by Ethics and Elections Chair Don Gates, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties losing population, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care measures. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health provisions in light of a new federal rural health grant and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties spoke in support, while also asking about eligibility and access to grant funds. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General concerns by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision for later conforming legislation and changes to enrollment documentation and withdrawal procedures. Senators from both parties supported the bill while raising concerns about accountability, student oversight, and school quality. The bill passed 38-0. Afterward, the Senate waived rules so SB 250 and CS/SB 318 could be immediately certified to the House. The session ended with announcements, including Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and a reminder about the chamber group photograph, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Children program.
• of the program?
• </c><00:45:08.400><c> exists</c> program that that the program exists program that that the program exists
• The income limits on this program are slightly higher than the ETC program.
• Or the WIC program, and how there are certain guidelines in place to control those programs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• for programs that don't have financial stability?
• into the equivalency program.
• I was hoping we could get the funding to expand those programs, to get more inmates through the program
• So, but while they're in there, they can get this equivalency program, and then a lot of these programs
• the other programs.

Summary: The Public Safety committee met and first considered HB 2993, as amended by a PCS, which would create 11 Council of Government-based positions to help rural law enforcement pursue grants and equipment funding. Members questioned the estimated $1.1 million annual cost, whether the program would mainly benefit rural areas rather than metro counties, and how the money would be administered through Oklahoma Homeland Security. The bill author explained that each COG would receive one funded position and that the money would stay within each COG. The committee voted 7-2 to report the bill favorably. The committee then heard HB 3850, which would require inmates to obtain a high school equivalency diploma as a condition of parole and would place the diploma in the inmate’s release file to improve employability and reduce recidivism. Questions focused on whether the requirement applied to all inmates, how it would affect release eligibility, and whether existing DOC programs already provide similar training. The author said the bill would build on current law and could help reduce waiting lists for equivalency programs. The committee voted 8-1 to pass the bill. Next, HB 3595, with a PCS, would create a revolving fund in the Department of Public Safety to award counties grants for traffic-control public safety equipment, especially for events where vehicles could be used to harm crowds. Members discussed the bill’s dependence on future appropriations and its status as a vehicle for the idea while budget issues are resolved. The committee voted 7-2 to report it out. The committee also unanimously passed HB 3763, requiring two hours of domestic violence training as part of continuing education for law enforcement, and HB 3760, a tax credit for donations to qualified law enforcement foundations, with the author noting a planned amendment to include COGs and certain other nonprofits. The chair announced one more meeting the following week and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we've actually administered over 30 competitive grant programs, and I'm highlighting programs which
• grant programs and I'm highlighting<00:02:22.160><c> programs</c><00:02:22.879><c> which</c><00:02:23.120
• ><c> total</c><00:02:23.520><c> about</c> highlighting programs which total about highlighting programs
• </c> person leaves the program. person leaves the program.
• In general, the grant programs.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and state tribal compact school modernization program.
• This program was created two years ago and passed unanimously by the Senate to create a program that
• will put the public works support programs at risk.
• Critically, this is not a grant program.
• and youth hip-hop residency program.

Bills: SB6003

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:23.239><c> and</c> importantly is that uh this program and importantly is that uh this program
• </c><00:09:29.680><c> to</c> so grateful for uh this PR program to so grateful for uh this PR program
• sharing the program.
• sharing the program.
• </c> implementation uh building program implementation uh building program Integrity<00:45:42.040><c>

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or Mercy program dollars.
• Improvement Program or Mercy program<00:48:42.160><c> dollars.
• . program. program.
• </c> bridge program, that is a rolling list. bridge program, that is a rolling list.
• </c> contamination mitigation grants program. contamination mitigation grants program.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, the program was expanded to allow for Northwest Indian College to establish a program.
• Last session, the program was expanded to allow for Northwest Indian College to establish a program.
• Program.
• technology programs.
• This is exactly the type of program and chemical that Ecology's Safer Products program is meant to be

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Strengthen Alabama Homes program.
• the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program.
• These programs provide compelling evidence of how state...
• These programs provide compelling evidence of how state-backed grant programs can assist individual homeowners
• So this is far more than a single state grant program.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to consider several bills focused on California’s insurance market, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, was heard first. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in support, describing state grant programs that help homeowners harden roofs and create defensible space, with the goal of reducing losses and improving insurance affordability and availability. Supporters from the insurance industry, local government, and the Rebuild Paradise Foundation also backed the bill, and committee members emphasized the need for more incentives for mitigation. The bill passed the committee on a do pass motion and was sent to Appropriations. AB 290, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require the FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal grace-period issues. The author described her own experience being forced onto the FAIR Plan and facing a large premium increase, while Consumer Federation of California called the bill common-sense consumer protection. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, saying it was already handling major wildfire claims and other operational demands and requested more time and changes to the non-renewal grace-period language. Members across the committee supported the bill as a needed modernization measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers and report policy recommendations. Supporters from affordable housing organizations said rising premiums were forcing providers to cut services, defer maintenance, and use reserves, threatening housing stability for low-income residents. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 646, by Assemblymember Wallace, also passed to Appropriations; it concerns disclosure related to motor vehicle protection products and catalytic converter theft deterrence, with support from auto dealers and industry groups. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent. Members later added on to the record in support of the bills, and the hearing concluded without recorded opposition votes on the measures that advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> programs that were cited were um program programs that were cited were um program that<01:12:33.040
• </c> the the grant program. the the grant program.
• the program.
• This program is an optional program.
• </c> program that would render the program program that would render the program itself<05:19:13.600>

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Really important programs.
• So thank you for that program.
• But it differs in the programs.
• There are two programs here: the elections program and then the administration and operations program
• There are two programs here: the elections program and then the administration and operations program

Bills: HB1

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• But these programs do have a mixed record.
• clearly target this federally regulated program.
• County assessed the HTA as its number one training program.
• these programs are doing what it was intended to do, which were basically programs where we have a partnership
• We are building this program in real time.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on worker safety, wages, workforce training, and retirement savings. AB 2137 (Chen) would strengthen safety rules and certification for artificial stone fabrication shops to reduce silica exposure; AB 2499 (Gibson) would require Cal/OSHA to develop heat-illness protections for incarcerated workers and staff in correctional facilities; AB 2300 (Arambula) would streamline the disbursement of state and federal workforce funds; AB 2646 (Krell) would establish a minimum wage floor for certain agricultural workers; AB 2227 (Connolly) would tighten licensing and bond requirements for farm labor contractors and add default-judgment procedures for wage claims; AB 1869 (Haney) would create a reporting process for alleged REIT interference in hotel operations; AB 2650 (Pellerin) would expand CalSavers with emergency savings accounts and other updates; AB 2634 (Zbur) would prioritize labor-management partnerships in High Road Training Partnership grants; and AB 1888 would require skilled-and-trained workforce and prevailing wage standards for work under the Safe Home Grant Program. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create California’s approval process for short-term Pell-eligible workforce programs. The committee also took up several consent items, including AB 1904, AB 1980, AB 2550, AB 2078, and AB 2682. Most bills were described as aligning state programs with federal law or improving worker protections and program quality, while opponents generally raised concerns about costs, administrative burden, regulatory uncertainty, or reduced oversight. Testimony was largely split along labor and industry lines. Supporters included labor unions, legal aid groups, workforce boards, and affected workers or family members, who emphasized heat illness, wage theft, silica exposure, poor prison conditions, and the need for higher-quality training and retirement access. Opponents on several bills, especially those affecting agriculture, REITs, and workforce administration, argued the measures would increase costs, create uncertainty, or duplicate existing law. On AB 2227, committee members engaged in extended discussion about Labor Commissioner delays and whether the bill’s default-judgment and bond provisions would meaningfully help workers. On AB 1869, members and witnesses debated whether the bill created new standards or simply improved enforcement of existing REIT rules. The committee voted to pass all of the measures heard, generally with motions to do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Several bills were held open for absent members during the meeting, and later add-on roll calls recorded additional ayes, moving the bills out of committee. The meeting concluded after the consent calendar was approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But these programs do have a mixed record.
• But these programs do have a mixed record.
• clearly target this federally regulated program.
• these programs are doing what it intended to do, which were basically programs where we have a partnership
• We are building this program in real time.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot afford to let this program slip away.
• This program is about helping school lunch programs for poor children to eat balanced, locally sourced
• But it's not because of this program.
• We literally, all we have is a pilot program, the farm-to-school program that was started a few years
• Although I gotta say, the federal government's program is flawed, and we should have our own program

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> accurate knowledge of dhs's program accurate knowledge of dhs's program Integrity<00:09:14.120><
• DHS program this proposal expands the DHS program this proposal expands the scope<00:12:14.760><c> to
• and program integrity package.
• go on the same programs.
• I'm noticing, you know, there was a comment earlier about federal programs and state programs.

Keywords: 1183, house