Transcript Highlights:

• So our story of farm workers in California is so diverse.
• That means reliable water, because with where water flows, food grows, and...
• That means reliable water, because where water flows, food grows, and if it doesn't flow, then fields
• That means reliable water, because with where water flows, food grows, and That means reliable water,
• I appreciate the diverse perspectives and understanding of the value of the farm workers.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a series of guest introductions, including Canadian diplomatic visitors and youth soccer champions from Senator Niello’s district. The body also recognized guests connected to arts education and later heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for Caitlin “Katie” Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The President announced the Senate would enter a one-week spring recess and return on April 6, 2026. On the floor, the Senate adopted SR 89 by Senator Alvarado-Gil, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day in California. Supporters emphasized the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and services for people with profound autism and their families. The resolution passed by a 35-0 vote. The Senate also adopted SCR 147 by Senator Allen, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with remarks stressing the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success; it passed 37-0. The chamber then adopted SCR 141 by Senator Wahab, recognizing March 26, 2026 as Women’s Equal Pay Day. Senators discussed the gender pay gap, its impact on families, and the need for transparency and enforcement; the resolution passed 37-0. The Senate also approved AB 2156, an urgency measure to proclaim March 31 as Farm Worker Day, with extensive debate about farm workers’ historical contributions, labor conditions, and the decision to rename the day in light of recent allegations involving the prior honoree. The bill passed unanimously, 37-0, including the urgency clause. Finally, the Senate adopted the consent calendar, which included SB 968, SJR 11, SB 1005, and SB 1080, by unanimous vote. A committee announcement noted Budget Subcommittee 3 would meet upon adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were termed essential workers, and they are the representation of the great mosaic of diversity
• So our story of farm workers in California is so diverse.
• That means reliable water, because with where water flows, food grows, and...
• That means reliable water, because where water flows, food grows, and if it doesn't flow, then fields
• That means reliable water, because with where water flows, food grows, and That means reliable water,

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several guest introductions, including a Canadian diplomatic delegation visiting for Canada Day at the Capitol and the undefeated Under-11 San Juan Spirits soccer team. The chamber also recognized guests connected to later resolutions, including families and advocates tied to profound autism and farm worker issues, as well as arts education leaders. The Senate adopted SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day, after remarks emphasizing the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and lifelong services for people with profound autism and their caregivers. Members also adopted SCR 147, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with support focused on the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success. Both resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up AB 2156, an urgency measure renaming Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Worker Day and proclaiming March 31 as Farm Worker Day. Supporters from multiple caucuses and regions spoke about the history of farm labor, the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers, and the need to honor the broader movement and its diverse participants; some speakers also referenced recent allegations and the desire to center survivors and workers rather than one individual. The bill passed with 37 ayes and 0 noes, including the urgency clause. The Senate also adopted a consent calendar of several items without objection, then adjourned in memory of Caitlin Mardell Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The session concluded with announcements of a committee meeting and a one-week spring recess, with the next floor session scheduled for April 6, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute House Bill 1906 relates to water systems regulation and the structuring of water rates.
• Under the proposed second substitute, all Group A public water systems must submit water system plans
• All Group A public water systems must submit water system plans, small water system management plans,
• to the county in which any water system is located, any water district or public utility district operating
• water systems within that county, any adjacent publicly owned water systems, and customers of the water

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just brought water out.
• Having a diverse workforce is critical to meeting the needs of the diverse residents of our state.
• diverse student body is essential to its educational mission.
• And finally, produces new knowledge stemming from diverse outlooks. Thanks.
• Finally, produces new knowledge stemming from diverse outlooks.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held a hearing on the impact of federal policy on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts, the fourth in a series on federal impacts on racial equity. Chair Bud Williams and Chair Miranda opened by emphasizing that no bills were being heard and that the committee would instead take testimony from invited witnesses; public written testimony was also accepted. The chairs and witnesses repeatedly cited long-standing wealth disparities affecting Black and brown communities, including homeownership, wages, business ownership, and access to capital, and linked those disparities to federal policy changes, housing, education, health care, and workforce development. Administration officials testified first. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones described persistent labor market disparities, including higher unemployment for Black and Latino residents, lower median hourly wages, and underemployment among degree holders, and highlighted state efforts such as ESOL-for-work funding, workforce training grants, MassHire career centers, skills-based hiring, and the state equity dashboards. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiami Mahania argued that poverty drives poor health, not the reverse, and said wealth gaps contribute to chronic disease, maternal health inequities, medical debt, and shorter life expectancy; she pointed to the Advancing Health Equity Massachusetts initiative, a health care affordability working group, and the governor’s push to bar medical debt from credit reporting. Assistant Secretary Juan Vega of EOED focused on entrepreneurship and procurement, citing technical assistance grants, founder support programs, place-based investment, the Business Front Door, and the need to broaden access to contracts, capital, and business growth opportunities. Committee members pressed the panel on the effects of the federal “big beautiful bill” on households, especially single-parent and Black women-led households, and on whether the state could develop more timely data systems instead of relying on federal numbers. Officials said the impacts were still being monitored, but warned that Medicaid and SNAP changes would likely hit lower-income households and community institutions hard. Members also asked about unions and apprenticeships, microbusiness definitions, supplier diversity, pay equity, and degree inflation; the administration said registered apprenticeships and skills-based hiring are key tools, and noted that wage equity reporting is still in its early stages. Later testimony from BECMA’s Nicole O’Bean stressed that tariffs, DEI rollbacks, immigration enforcement, capital gaps, and federal funding cuts are constraining Black-owned businesses and inclusive procurement, while Gastón Institute researchers described severe Latino homeownership and rent burdens, educational inequities, and the need for housing, labor, and education policy changes to close the wealth gap.

Transcript Highlights:

• My district actually needs a lot of money for a water filtration system, and the need for that is just
• The Clean Water Fund, the committee typically makes a biennial appropriation, so we can spread it over
• two years as long as we're keeping a 5% reserve each year, so it's a little lighter on Clean Water.
• You know, I have a very diverse community, and I know that there's a lot of art that's happening.
• This space is very diverse, and the work that is being done is very diverse.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's do our best to celebrate the diversity of opinion in the state of California.
• However, when I saw asset sales and water district, it's alarming.
• wants to sell our water to other states, wants to sell our water to Mexico, and MET refuses to buy the
• water.
• And this water district participates in the MET program, I believe.

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, then completed the prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, journal motions, and a long series of procedural actions, including suspending rules to move bills and approve a large Appropriations Committee hearing list. Members also made several guest introductions, including Shannon Lee, district staff from Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez’s office, and later guests tied to agritourism and education recognitions. The floor debate centered heavily on AJR 31, a resolution urging Congress to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Supporters argued that recent Supreme Court decisions and redistricting efforts in other states were weakening Black and other minority representation and that California should take a clear stand for voting rights. Opponents argued the measure promoted racial division, conflicted with equal protection principles, and that districts should be drawn based on place or communities of interest rather than race. After a contentious debate with repeated parliamentary warnings over decorum, the Assembly suspended the rules to take up the resolution, added coauthors, and passed AJR 31 by a vote of 58-8. The Assembly then moved through a series of bills and resolutions, generally approving them with little or no opposition. These included AB 2341 clarifying emergency language translation rules for local agencies; AB 1816 extending court supervision for certain sex-offender rehabilitation programs; AB 2561 protecting consumer privacy settings on phones and digital devices; ACR 167 recognizing World Agritourism Day; ACR 190 recognizing California Day of the Teacher; AB 1581 improving identification of Native American students in public schools; AB 1586 requiring opioid overdose prevention training for school resource officers and safety planning; AB 1665 requiring mental health training for school coaches; AB 1693 streamlining retail tenant-improvement permitting; AB 1768 authorizing a local tax measure related to health funding; AB 1712 facilitating a water-system sale for Santa Fe Springs; AB 1792 addressing sexually exploitive AI imagery in health education; and AB 1822 prioritizing school projects that address extreme heat. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, several unanimously, and the resolution on agritourism and the teacher day were adopted by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• California is a very diverse, linguistically diverse state, and we need to make sure that we have teachers
• First, we choke them off of the water, choke the water off from our farms, and a lot of our lands go
• Clean Water Revolving Fund, at no additional cost to water agencies, with the goal of stabilizing and
• Under the misdemeanor, diversion. upon successful completion of a diversion program.
• This directly threatens our water systems that provide water to millions of Californians and millions

Transcript Highlights:

• legacy money is spent well on very important projects throughout every 87 counties, including clean water
• , parks and trails, outdoor clean water, parks and trails, outdoor heritage,<00:03:15.599><c> lassard
• The clean water fund ensures that our water is drinkable anywhere in our state and protects our lakes
• ><c> our</c><00:04:42.800><c> water</c><00:04:43.120><c> is</c><00:04:43.440><c> a</c><00:04:43.720><
• c> drinkable</c><00:04:44.720><c> for</c> sure that our water is a drinkable for sure that our water

Summary: The House considered a conference committee report on House File 2563, the legacy bill, and members described it as a bipartisan agreement with the Senate. Representative Vang outlined several major changes from the House version, including restoring funding for Peace in the Valley in parks and trails, moving Wilderness Inquiry funding to the arts and culture fund, increasing the Minnesota Zoo to $3.4 million, raising the Children’s Museum to $1 million, setting aside $1.5 million for a competitive grant pool for children’s museums statewide, and increasing the Science Museum to $700,000. Supporters said the bill invests in clean water, parks and trails, outdoor heritage, arts and cultural heritage, and a new community identity and heritage grant program for underserved communities. Several members spoke in favor of the report, emphasizing the value of legacy funds for conservation, cultural programming, tourism, and community identity. Speakers highlighted specific beneficiaries and projects, including outdoor heritage groups, the Science Museum, Latino arts and mural projects, and competitive funding for creative arts and music. One member noted that some state agencies also received appropriations in the bill and criticized fee increases on Minnesotans, while another said the bill reflected a fair negotiation process and that some programs saw reductions because of a $33.1 million accounting-related shortfall. After debate, the House adopted the conference committee report. The clerk then took the roll, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a vote of 113 yeas and 21 nays, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, in a twist of irony, I'll never forget, she offered me a bottle of water to make sure that
• The good member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Further remarks, the good member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr.
• The member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Amendment from the 17th, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I move Amendment 274?

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply changes the water sewer district's amount that they—it raises the amount for surplus property
• The member from the 17th, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Permission to move 2132.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Transcript Highlights:

• The good member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• FEMA reviews them consistently to make sure that changes in water movements and changes in all sorts
• Changes in water movements and changes in all sorts of things are captured in the new floodplain data

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, in a twist of irony, I'll never forget, she offered me a bottle of water to make sure that
• Further remarks, the good member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr.
• Further remarks, the good member from the 17th District, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr.
• The member from the 17th, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I move Amendment 2174?
• Amendment from the 17th, Representative Waters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I move Amendment 274?

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Summary: The House received several messages from the Senate announcing passage of engrossed or substitute versions of House Bill 2294, House Bill 2472, Senate Bill 606, Senate Bill 6335, engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6266, and engrossed substitute House Bill 3. The chamber then moved through second and third reading on a series of measures, often suspending the rules to advance bills to final passage. A major floor debate centered on Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, which would reestablish the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health and expand its membership. Amendment 2131, offered to keep the committee at its current size rather than expanding it, was rejected after debate over fiscal restraint, committee scope, and whether the body functioned like a “proxy legislature.” The resolution then passed 83-10. The House also passed engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6200 on portable cooling devices for renters and mobile home occupants, Senate Bill 6084 on clarifying the prohibition on voting in more than one election, second engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5105 on sexually explicit depictions involving minors, and Senate Bill 6046 authorizing the Civil Air Patrol to be used by the governor in emergencies; each drew debate over policy scope, enforcement, and state-federal authority, but all ultimately passed. The House next passed substitute Senate Bill 6054, limiting HOA and common-interest community restrictions that conflict with wildfire-hardening measures; substitute Senate Bill 6091, requiring greater transparency in real estate broker practices; Senate Bill 6291, giving more time to train and certify on-site wastewater inspectors; substitute Senate Bill 6081, creating a Public Records Act exemption for sex designation information to protect transgender people from doxxing and harassment; Senate Bill 5963, automatically enrolling certain vulnerable students in the Washington College Grant; and substitute Senate Bill 6226, addressing audiology scope-of-practice and telemedicine concerns. Most of these bills passed with broad bipartisan support, though some drew dissent over added regulation, privacy, or scope-of-practice issues. The final portion of the transcript focused on Senate Bill 6106, which the Speaker ruled had an out-of-scope amendment related to agricultural seasonal workers; the bill itself passed 75-18 after debate over layoff notices and tribal sovereignty. Substitute Senate Bill 6014, dealing with pregnancy accommodations and related public records issues, saw a failed amendment to replace gender-neutral language with “pregnant woman” and then passed 68-25. The House also debated Senate Bill 5820, with multiple amendments concerning freight rail, greenhouse gas calculations, county planning, property rights, and rail safety; the excerpt ends amid that amendment debate before final action on the bill is shown.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278 , SB5831 , SB5915 , SB5963 , SB6025 , SB6046 , SB6084 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , SB6188 , SB6291 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Transcript Highlights:

• diversity of the state. state. state.
• My experience was water county. You know, they were six-year, and mine was four years.
• Rogers will run out of water. >> And yeah, we're having... Well, well, I think I've got a group.
• </c> &gt;&gt; My thing experience was water &gt;&gt; My thing experience was water county.<00:54:55.760
• Rogers will run out of water. Rogers. Rogers will run out of water.

Committee: House County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:

• This is impacting water. They say in 25 years, Mr.
• It's going to continue to impact water scarcity.
• It's a water security issue. It's an economic diversification issue.
• Water security is economic security. Clean air is public health.
• water projects from the Water Project Fund without receiving the approval of the legislature until December

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, an invocation, pledges, and a series of announcements and guest introductions tied to several recognition days, including Disability Rights Awareness Day, Elevate the Spectrum Day, Geothermal Rising Legislative Day, DWI Awareness Day, and Adult Education and Literacy Day. Senators also welcomed guests for New Mexico Down Syndrome Day and other constituent visits, and the chamber read certificates recognizing the Hurley family and the New Mexico Military Museum, as well as adult education and literacy programs across the state. Testimony and remarks highlighted the service of the Hurley family, the importance of adult education for workforce and civic participation, and the contributions of people with disabilities and their families. The Senate adopted multiple committee reports and received House messages on several bills and resolutions. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 96, as amended, which streamlines child care licensing and reduces administrative barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers; an HOA-related floor amendment was adopted after discussion about local restrictions and neighborhood traffic concerns. The chamber then passed Senate Bill 14, as amended, which expands the state’s health professional loan repayment program with $25 million in funding split between physicians and allied health professionals/nurses, with questions focused on eligibility, prioritization, and whether the funding would be sufficient to address shortages. Senators also debated the bill’s support for part-time service and its role in helping New Mexico compete for medical workers. The Senate next passed Senate Bill 104 unanimously, establishing a process for removing a wildlife commissioner that requires gubernatorial initiation, notice and a hearing, and direct review by the state Supreme Court; debate centered on due process, the removal standard of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, and how the new process compares with prior law. Finally, the chamber took up Senate Bill 50, which would give the Law Enforcement Training Standards Council more flexibility to set training curricula for officers, especially in rural departments; sponsors said the bill preserves minimum training while allowing updates for current issues, but several senators raised concerns that the measure could weaken explicit statutory requirements for domestic violence and sexual assault training and asked how those topics would remain protected in the future curriculum.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Hilferty, Title 33, City of New Orleans sewage and water board in New Orleans
• Department of Conservation and Energy to study and provide rules and regulations regarding licensure of water
• House Bill 710 by Representative Bamber, withdrawals of surface water, withdrawals from Lake Bissano,
• Lyons, privileges against multifamily residential properties, two grant parishes, sewage districts, water
• Lyons, privileges against multifamily residential properties in two grant parishes, sewage districts, water

Bills: HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , HR46 , HR48 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , SB128 , SB149 , SB174 , SB191 , SB205 , SB213 , SB218 , SB220 , SB229 , SB238 , SB243 , SB375 , SB379 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB781 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB171 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB149 , HB733 , HB875 , HB868 , HB901

Keywords: waterfowl conservation, wetlands preservation, Ducks Unlimited, environmental stewardship, Louisiana, tennis, athlete recognition, family legacy, sports achievements, coaching, student parents, higher education, academic support, family stability, workforce equity, Homeland Security, federal funding, public safety, emergency services, TSA

Transcript Highlights:

• off of the water.
• Of water and wastewater into the future. You also heard about the Water and Wastewater Alliance.
• to become water operators.
• We all know that we all hang out at the same watering holes because water is limited.
• But it's water intensive. Okay. It's super water intensive.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• diversions.
• water available.
• has water available.
• I was curious, looking at your priorities when it comes to diversion and water diversion of wastewater
• and water diversion of wastewater, treated wastewater, that it go back into the streams rather than

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met for a work session and first heard an economic and revenue forecast update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast described moderate U.S. growth, elevated near-term inflation, weak Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and slower housing permit activity. Revenues were revised up about $105 million for the current biennium and down about $185 million for the next biennium, with uncertainty tied largely to tariffs, federal policy, and the recent federal shutdown. Members asked about the outlook for February, income inequality, and housing affordability; the presenter said the forecast does not measure income distribution and that housing permit data does not directly address affordability. The committee then received a caseload forecast update. Most forecasts were unchanged or nearly unchanged, but several programs moved: Washington College Grant caseloads rose, TANF and Working Connections changed due to immigration-related assumptions and updated policy timing, and long-term care caseloads increased. The largest change was in Medicaid low-income adults, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce caseloads significantly through narrower non-citizen eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. Members raised concerns about downstream effects such as uncompensated care and higher premiums, and the presenter noted some effects could be delayed depending on federal implementation guidance. A wildfire funding and 2025 fire season update followed. Staff explained the state’s base wildfire suppression funding and estimated a supplemental need of about $139 million in state funds. DNR reported a busy fire year with lower snowpack, drought, more than 1,100 DNR jurisdictional fires, about 76,000 acres burned, 31 aircraft used, 690 DNR firefighters, and 350 out-of-state resources brought in; the agency said its suppression effectiveness improved to 94.1% of fires kept under 10 acres. Questions focused on National Guard use, aircraft counts, and the higher number of residences lost in complex fires. The committee then heard a budget preview showing the near general fund outlook worsening to about a $4.3 billion ending balance by fiscal year 2029 after maintenance-level costs, while noting that policy items such as wildfire costs and liability account decisions were not yet built in. The final major topic was the state’s tort liability and self-insurance account, where the Risk Manager reported a sharp rise in indemnity costs, from $223 million in fiscal year 2023 to nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2025, driven largely by DCYF claims, especially sex abuse cases. Defense costs also rose as the Attorney General’s Office relied more on special assistant attorneys general to handle volume. Members asked about older claims, comparisons with other states, insurance coverage, and whether costs might decline if the AG’s office hires more attorneys. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust about statewide water shortages, declining snowpack, drought, overappropriated basins, and the need for more storage, recharge, conservation, and enforcement. Tribal witnesses emphasized water sovereignty, salmon habitat, and the need for tribes to be involved early in legislation, while Ecology described major projects in the Odessa and Yakima basins and the challenges of climate change and legal constraints. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Across the state, the water board and water users are working hard to address water challenges in every
• Water board and water users are working hard to address water challenges in every basin.
• I'm the Boise River Water Master with Water District 63.
• We pay for that water.
• The water right is what it is, and we're not exceeding any of these water rights.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• On the water policy that you had mentioned, how are the farmers...
• practices to address their water needs?
• We mentioned earlier that we have a very... ...diverse state.
• We mentioned earlier that we have a very diverse state.
• I mean, it's very diverse, like I said in the beginning. And we wear many hats.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Florida Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum present and heard two presentations. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, outlined department accomplishments and funding needs, including IT modernization, expansion of the Rural and Family Lands program, updated best management practice manuals, growth of the Fresh From Florida marketing campaign, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, clearing concealed-weapons permit backlogs, construction of the Conner Complex headquarters, forestry equipment upgrades, and youth agriculture programs such as FFA and 4-H. Senators asked about water policy, citrus greening, FAMU partnerships, staffing efficiencies, and interdiction stations used to stop invasive species, stolen goods, and diseased or banned agricultural products from entering the state. Dr. Krista Court of the University of Florida/IFAS presented a preliminary economic assessment of the 2024 hurricane season’s agricultural impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. She explained that the estimates are based on wind, rainfall, flooding, crop location, and survey data from extension agents, industry groups, FDACS, and producers, and that the figures do not include many asset losses, supply-chain effects, forestry losses, or some insurance-covered damages. Her preliminary estimates placed total 2024 agricultural production losses between about $402.3 million and $975.8 million, with the hardest-hit commodity groups including field and row crops, vegetables, melons, potatoes, greenhouse/nursery products, and animals and animal products. Members discussed the importance of accurate survey participation and baseline data, including use of USDA Farm Service Agency information, to improve future disaster estimates and federal relief decisions. Several senators emphasized agriculture’s importance in their districts and statewide. No bills were considered and no formal votes were taken; the only action was adjournment by motion of Senator Burton.