Transcript Highlights:

• filed by Representative Janino of Revere, and other members of the House, commending the National Brain
• Tumor Society Incorporated for its recognition of May 2026 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including adoption of resolutions congratulating Judy and Dick Jolin on their 50th wedding anniversary and commending the National Brain Tumor Society for Brain Tumor Awareness Month. The chamber also welcomed guests recognizing Apraxia Awareness Day. A gubernatorial message proposing injured-on-duty compensation for Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale was filed and referred to the Committee on Public Service. The House concurred in several Senate petitions referred under suspension of Joint Rule 12, including measures on consumer-connected devices, crumbling concrete relief for homeowners, and naming the Hianus Transportation Center. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 for a petition on reporting crimes to law enforcement, and for a quantum science tax incentive petition, which was then referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling placed three House bills on the calendar: the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, a Holyoke Charter change removing the treasurer as acting mayor, and a Kingston measure raising the maximum retirement age for special police officers to 70. The House then advanced and passed to be enacted three engrossed bills concerning Andover special town meetings, the Plymouth town charter, and an additional all-alcoholic-beverages license for Pembroke. It also passed to be engrossed bills on expanded small property tax abatements in Auburn, validation of the New Salem annual town election, and land acquisition/disposition in Falmouth. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• health-related data.
• health-related data.
• health-related data.
• a public health population Health a public health approach<01:19:20.040><c> is</c><01:19:20.159><c>
• ><c> health</c> by public health by public health the<03:07:19.160><c> role</c><03:07:19.439><c> of</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and currently I'm in charge of the field operations, which oversees all of our patrol operations.
• which oversees um all of our operations which oversees um all of our patrol<00:11:41.680><c> operations
• </c><00:11:42.720><c> Um</c> patrol operations. Um patrol operations.
• I had fractures traumatic brain injury.
• </c><00:41:14.400><c> call</c> time you can have another operator call time you can have another operator

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas, Arizona, Virginia, they're operating now.
• The noise affects children's brains.
• That's not how we operate. That's not America.
• They operate outside of an organized market.
• Most of the West and much of the Southeast ...operates that way.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't impose any financial liability on the state or establish a state-operated precious metals
• “...because we're not creating any liability upon the state, and we're not establishing a state-operated
• We operate 24 branches here in the state with about 100 employees and about 40,000 customers.”
• bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration. by this, but I'm, I'm, I'm just trying to wrap my brain
• We don't currently have an operation of theirs in Louisiana.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on March 17, 2026, adopted its rules again because they had not been properly posted, and voluntarily deferred several bills before taking up the day’s agenda. The committee then moved through a series of commerce and financial services measures, with members repeatedly noting the bills had been worked on jointly by authors and stakeholders. HB 489, on transfer-on-death securities, was amended to make the transfer requirements mandatory and to remove a liability limitation for registering entities, then reported favorable. HB 545, which narrowed a consumer-loan bill to origination fees only, was amended and reported favorable. HB 555, expanding protections for eligible adults from financial exploitation, was amended with technical changes and an amendment from Rep. Boyd, then reported favorable after testimony from bankers and advocates describing scams targeting seniors and the need for delayed transactions, trusted contacts, and training. HB 797, creating the Bayou Gold Program, was amended to clarify electronic payment platforms and reported favorable after questions about state involvement, insurance, and consumer protections. HB 952, modernizing the consumer loan framework, was amended to a three-tier rate structure and to add ability-to-repay and disaster-relief provisions, then reported favorable. The committee also considered two economic development bills from Rep. Owen. HB 672 would encourage brick manufacturing in Louisiana; after an amendment changed LED’s role from directing a priority industry to allowing support through existing programs and guidance, the bill was reported favorable. Testimony emphasized Louisiana’s clay deposits, limited in-state brick production, and potential benefits for housing costs and jobs. HB 670, on wood pellet manufacturing, received a similar amendment limiting LED to support and guidance rather than mandates, and was also reported favorable. A consultant testified that a proposed North Louisiana pellet facility could generate significant payroll, local spending, and revenue from timber that is currently underused, while LED described the sector as part of the state’s agribusiness and energy strategy and discussed global demand, carbon footprint requirements, and the role of CCUS in attracting large projects. The discussion on HB 670 continued at the end of the transcript, with members probing how the industry works and how Louisiana could benefit from it.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before us deals with health care and helping lower the cost of some of those health care materials
• </c> deals with the um non-durable Health deals with the um non-durable Health Care<00:05:06.800><c>
• </c><00:05:31.280><c> plan</c> describe what the Private health plan describe what the Private health
• In health care products that Mr.
• Health care is ever-changing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These problems mean that no ADAS vehicle should ever be allowed to operate in any operational design
• Well, there's an operational, thank you for the question, there's an operational apparatus around the
• So instead of thinking remote operations are bad, we need to think that remote operations are good.
• speed, roadway type, weather constraints, time-of-day operations, a communication link to a remote operator
• We are opposed to technologies that replace a human operator, a well-qualified human operator.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So instead of thinking remote operations are bad, we need to think that remote operations are good.
• speed, roadway type, weather constraints, time-of-day operations, a communication link to a remote operator
• We are opposed to technologies that replace a human operator, a well-qualified human operator.
• Permit to the operating authority.
• Permit to the operating authority.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on autonomous vehicle technology in California, with testimony from industry, safety advocates, first responders, drivers, and state regulators. The chair framed the hearing as an overview of AV deployment, safety, first responder interactions, and current and future regulation. Witnesses from the AV industry argued that autonomous vehicles can reduce crashes and injuries, create jobs, and support California’s leadership in innovation, while critics and crash survivors described serious safety failures, including phantom braking, inadequate transparency, and crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot/Full Self-Driving systems. Several witnesses urged stronger disclosure, data preservation, independent safety validation, and clearer accountability for companies deploying these systems. First responder and labor witnesses described operational problems in San Francisco and elsewhere, saying AVs have blocked fire engines, ambulances, and police responses, shut down in emergency scenes, and caused major delays during outages. They asked for faster and more reliable remote support, a public safety manual override, clearer enforcement authority, and limits on deployment in complex conditions. A police chief representative said law enforcement supports innovation but needs standardized protocols, training, and clear statutory authority. A Teamsters representative criticized proposed DMV rules for heavy-duty autonomous trucks, arguing they rely too heavily on manufacturer self-certification and do not impose enough independent safety review or geographic limits. State regulators from the DMV and CPUC defended California’s existing AV framework, saying the state has regulated AVs since 2014 and now has an end-to-end system with permits, reporting requirements, enforcement tools, and first responder coordination. DMV officials said the new rulemaking would add more reporting, address heavy-duty AVs, and require compliance with emergency geofence messages and law enforcement direction. CPUC testimony emphasized that its role is limited to passenger service and ride-hail operations. Committee members asked about crash data, remote operations, liability, response times, and whether California should adopt more uniform standards and stronger guardrails. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, to be able to operate in that battle space.
• So, to be able to operate in that battle space.
• This is the basis for them to operate.
• I have owned and operated child care centers across the valley for 30 years.
• But what we've endured in DCS, I am African-American.

Summary: The special committee on government convened to discuss child welfare reform, with members framing the meeting as a response to Arizona Auditor General findings and broader concerns about the Department of Child Safety (DCS). The chair emphasized that the committee’s goal was to improve accountability, oversight, and child-centered practices rather than assign blame, and said bills advanced from the committee would move to the floor. Roll was taken, and the committee then heard testimony on several bills focused on foster care and DCS operations. HB 2611 was heard first. The bill would require termination of a group foster home employee who tests positive on a drug screen, establish screening and safety requirements for group homes, expand foster youth rights, and include designated advocates on family/service teams. An amendment was adopted that changed the drug-testing language to require removal from child contact pending confirmatory review rather than automatic termination, and to require testing after certain incidents. Supporters, including foster youth and former foster youth, described unsafe conditions in group homes, bullying, drug use by staff, inadequate training, and the need for posted rights, mental health services, and stronger accountability. Some members raised questions about the amendment, drug-testing procedures, backup staffing, and contracting authority, but the amendment passed and HB 2611 was given a do pass recommendation by a 5-1-1 vote. The committee next considered HB 2035, which would add extended family members to the search, notification, and placement process when a child enters custody and create a presumption that placement with relatives or significant adults is in the child’s best interest. Testimony strongly favored kinship placement, with speakers arguing that children do better with familiar caregivers and that current practice often fails to locate or prioritize relatives. Several witnesses described tragic cases, including the death of Zariah Finley Dodd, to argue that repeated placements and congregate care increase risk. Some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law and asked for clarification on differences from prior legislation; the sponsor said the bill strengthens existing policy and adds written documentation requirements. HB 2035 was ultimately given a do pass recommendation by a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 4049, which would authorize DCS to employ legal counsel and incur legal expenses, along with an amendment that would require independent representation or review in certain cases involving credible allegations against DCS or its agents. The sponsor and several witnesses argued that the Attorney General’s office has a structural conflict when representing DCS, and that independent counsel would better ensure honesty and accountability in court proceedings. Others cautioned that keeping representation within the Attorney General’s office preserves consistency, oversight, and existing checks and balances. Discussion continued on the structure of legal representation for DCS, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 4049 is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill came through the Committee on Health and Mental Health.
• This bill came through your Health and Mental Health Committee.
• So this bill came through your Health and Mental Health Committee.
• can have access to health care.
• As was mentioned, this bill came through your Committee on Health and Mental Health.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome you to the Joint Committee on Public Health.
• Talking to the public health committee, the first one is real health issues. Illnesses spread.
• , and other physical and mental health issues.
• DSHEA ensures access to health supplements in promoting health and preventing chronic illness.
• While a surgeon may operate once a week or twice a week, nurses are in the operating room for 40 hours

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on a wide range of bills focused on environmental health, disease prevention, and access to care. Major topics included restricting polystyrene use, creating a pancreatic cancer awareness and early-detection initiative, improving indoor air quality through a task force and new regulations, expanding access to epinephrine in public places, improving access to health care for people with long COVID, creating an OBGYN loan repayment program for underserved areas, expanding access to hygiene products, modernizing licensure for dietitians and nutritionists, updating school postural screening requirements, and restricting harmful diet pills and muscle-building supplements. Several legislators also testified in support of their own bills, including measures on menstrual product access and ingredient disclosure, and surgical smoke protections. Testimony on the polystyrene bill emphasized local municipal bans and the need to reduce plastic pollution. Pancreatic cancer advocates and patients described the disease’s low survival rate, the difficulty of early diagnosis, and the need for an awareness campaign and implementation of commission recommendations. Indoor air quality supporters from environmental justice groups, public health organizations, and residents described asthma, mold, pollution, and the need for a task force with technical expertise; some witnesses urged adding remediation professionals to the task force. On epinephrine access, family members of a man who died after a bee sting and an allergy organization stressed that anaphylaxis can be sudden and fatal and that stock epinephrine in public venues could save lives. Long COVID advocates said the condition affects hundreds of thousands of residents and called for better surveillance and access to care, with a request to include MECFS in the bills’ scope. Other testimony focused on workforce and equity issues. Supporters of the OBGYN loan repayment bill said it would help address maternal health disparities and provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. Hope and Comfort described widespread hygiene insecurity and a long waiting list for basic products, urging a task force to study statewide solutions. Dietitians and nutritionists supported modernization of licensure to clarify standards for medical nutrition therapy while allowing broader wellness counseling. School nurses backed reducing mandatory postural screenings, arguing the current law is not evidence-based, is not reimbursed by MassHealth, and takes time from other student health needs. On the supplement bill, the industry trade group opposed restrictions as overbroad and burdensome, while a public health expert cited research linking weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to serious harms and urged passage. The committee also heard support for menstrual product access and surgical smoke protections, with legislators and advocates describing those bills as longstanding priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• owner of Moynihan Lumber with his brothers, Michael and Jack, helping to build a respectful and enduring

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses. Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can only imagine the grief Officer Riveros's family is enduring.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer focused on self-reflection and leadership, and observed the Pledge of Allegiance led by Assembly Member LaShae Sharp-Collins, who also marked the day as Juneteenth. The body approved the previous day’s journal and handled several procedural motions, including unanimous-consent actions to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks, guest seating, re-referrals of multiple Senate bills to different committees, and the removal of AJR 9 from the consent calendar. The Assembly also re-referred AB 470 to the Communications and Conveyance Committee and, by roll call, suspended Joint Rule 62A to allow that committee to hear the bill on June 23; the motion passed 46-8. On the daily file, the clerk read a series of Senate bills on second reading, and the Assembly passed and retained all items on both the Assembly and Senate third-reading files. The second-day consent calendar included ACR 93, recognizing Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency Awareness Day, and ACR 95, recognizing the 2025 International Day of Yoga. Sixty-one coauthors were added to the resolutions, and both items were adopted by unanimous 64-0 votes. The chamber then heard adjournment-in-memory tributes from Assembly Members Rubio and Michelle Rodriguez for Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, who was killed in the line of duty. Both members praised his bravery, service, and dedication, and the Assembly observed a moment of silence. The session concluded with announcements that there would be no floor or check-in session on Friday, June 19, and that the Assembly would reconvene Monday, June 23, at 1 p.m., before adjourning on motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got to make sure you give that operator a chance to Be a great operator and just don't pile more
• Which is the equivalent of operating 220 coal-fired power plants for a year.
• The purple level, 201 to 300, health alert, indicates that the risk of health effects is increased.
• For mental health, we have significant funding in there for health and well-being.
• How we're going to pay for health care, for example.

Transcript Highlights:

• By taking into account allowable net operating losses.
• The term worldwide also implies how it operates.
• That is, the worldwide method takes Worldwide also implies how it operates.
• Again,... ...health care.
• It's got an operation in State A. It's got half its sales in State A.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to have substandard health care.
• We know New Mexico And co-health care is predominantly about rural health care.
• For example, if you work in a rural health clinic—so my facility operates a rural health clinic and care
• care or primary health care.
• Shout out for rural health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• merely out of tradition, but in humble recognition that without you, we have no true wisdom, no enduring
• She operates that.
• of Health and Mental Hygiene until 2015.
• of Health and Mental Hygiene until 2015.
• I know she was so proud of all of her efforts here, so much on health care.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, March 26, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with 39 members present and a quorum. The session opened with an invocation by Bishop Antonio Palmer of Kingdom Celebration Center, whose remarks were journalized. The President and members also welcomed several guests to the chamber, including former Delegate Sean Terrence, students from Charles H. Flowers High School and Garrison Forest School, Dr. Lee Snyder as doctor of the day, and Dr. Barbara Ann Palmer in recognition of Women’s History Month. The President also noted that the next day would be pro forma and that some scheduled items would be moved to the following week. The Senate considered Executive Nominations Report No. 6, covering gubernatorial nominees for boards and commissions including the State Board of Education, MEDCO, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. On motion of the committee chair, the report was special ordered to Tuesday, with members asked to review the list for recusals or related issues. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 890, which concerns an insurance premium receipts tax exemption for captive insurance procured by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems. On SB 890, the Senate adopted the committee amendments and then adopted a floor amendment offered by the bill sponsor. The amendment was described as replacing the bill’s earlier approach with a two-year moratorium on collection of any related liabilities, followed by a Maryland Insurance Administration report back on ongoing investigations. One senator raised concern that the amendment’s language could require the state to refund taxes already paid by hospitals and others, potentially costing millions, and asked for more time to review it; the motion to special order the bill was defeated. After discussion, the amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. At the close of the floor session, committee and delegation announcements were made, including Finance, Triple E, Judicial Proceedings, Budget and Tax, Executive Nominations, and several county delegations. A senator from District 6 also spoke about the anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse and thanked colleagues for bipartisan work on related legislation and recovery efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE DELETE ALL ADDS A REQUIREMENT FOR A HOPE OPERATOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR USE
• OF AN UNDERUSED VACANT OR HOPE OPERATOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF AN UNDERUSED
• VACANT OR SURPLUS FACILITY RATHER THAN SPECIFY THE HOPE OPERATOR IS A FACILITY AT NO COST.
• IT INCLUDES AN AUTHORIZATION PRESCHOOL HOPE OPERATING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO CO-LOCATE IN ANY PUBLIC
• HE SUFFERED PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE, SCHOOL AND FACIAL FACTORS, LOSS OF VISION IN ONE EYE AND MOBILITY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• filed by Representative Janino of Revere, and other members of the House, commending the National Brain
• Tumor Society Incorporated for its recognition of May 2026 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that you want to do, but it can't stop you from using the most important thing in your body: your brain
• Your brain, you can't stop that. Thank you so much. What? Good. Amazing job.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and first considered CS/SB 1356, relating to the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases. Senator Burton explained a delete-all amendment that would create the institute at Florida State University, establish the Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program for newborn screening at select sites, and form a Sunshine Genetics Consortium to coordinate researchers and clinicians. The amendment also included $5 million in recurring funding for the institute and $2 million in nonrecurring funding for the pilot program. The committee heard supportive testimony from Gavin Lambert and his mother, who described the benefits of earlier diagnosis for Friedreich’s ataxia, along with support from representatives of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, FSU, BioFlorida, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Senators Berman and Harrell spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing early detection and collaboration. The amendment was adopted, and CS/SB 1356 was reported favorably on a roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 892, which would codify the Florida State University Election Law Center in statute and make it eligible for recurring funding. Senator Simon said the center was created in 2023 with a $1 million nonrecurring appropriation and that the bill would help sustain its work and attract talent in election law and related fields. Senator Berman asked about current funding and whether the center would be supported through recurring General Appropriations Act funding in the future; Senator Simon responded that the bill would allow it to compete for recurring dollars. Jack Rowan, an FSU law student, testified in support and highlighted the center’s work, including a Bush v. Gore 25th anniversary conference. Professor Michael Morley and Lena Rojas also supported the bill. No opposition was presented, and SB 892 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.