Transcript Highlights:

• with a vote of well the bill uh passes with a vote of 10<00:31:30.000><c> to</c><00:31:30.200><c> zero
• <c> will</c><00:31:30.919><c> be</c><00:31:31.039><c> reported</c><00:31:31.399><c> with</c> 10 to zero
• so it will be reported with 10 to zero so it will be reported with favorable<00:31:32.000><c> expression

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:13 SB 15 Discussion 00:45 SB 15 Vote 08:40 SB 103 Discussion 11:12 SB 103 Vote 29:49, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Committee for Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor heard two bills. Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, was presented with testimony from Major League Baseball in support of exempting minor league baseball players from Kentucky wage-and-hour treatment. Witnesses said the bill would preserve the negotiated collective bargaining structure for players, avoid impractical time-tracking requirements, and keep Kentucky aligned with other states. Senators discussed minor league salary levels, the importance of baseball to Kentucky communities, and the bill’s relationship to minimum wage law. The committee then took a roll call vote and passed the bill with unanimous support from members present. The committee next heard Senate Bill 103 from Sen. Danny Carroll, which would require the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to adopt regulations under Chapter 13A, limit reciprocal agreements with other states until in-state provider contracts are exhausted, establish procedures for service fee memos before a new fiscal year, and require an annual report with operating and financial information. Testimony from community rehabilitation providers and disability advocates emphasized that the bill would increase transparency, protect local providers, and improve services for people with disabilities seeking competitive employment. They said Kentucky has a large disability population, that many working-age individuals with disabilities are not employed, and that better oversight could help address workforce shortages and reduce reliance on public assistance. Senators asked about the disability population, age ranges served, funding, and recent changes to provider rates and selection processes. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 103 unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've approved in 2024, I approved over 70 rate, zero percent rate increases or decreases for this marketplace
• And you’ve heard me today: my team and I can zero in on surplus, and we get focused on how to build it
• not-for-profit insurer of last resort, and because of that, we have no financial incentive to not pay claims—zero

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• the good news is that the number is low, and we are diligent in ensuring that we're trying to get to zero
• But as they zero in on a community, and maybe that company knows they're going to go to a particular
• But as they zero into a community and maybe that company knows they're going to go to a particular county

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• Zero in the negative; the emergency preamble is adopted.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Rules Committee reports extending committee reporting deadlines to March 18, 2026 for the Environment and Natural Resources, Mental Health/Substance Use/Recovery, Public Service, and Transportation committees. In each case, the rules were suspended and the orders were adopted. The House also received a Senate amendment to the cannabis modernization bill (H.4206), declined to concur, and appointed a conference committee consisting of Representatives Donahue, Gonzalez, and Soder. The House then considered a slate of bills recommended by the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee, including measures on microphotographic records, the Dalton Fire District water commissioners, and local alcohol license matters in Arlington and Pembroke. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered these bills to a third reading. The chamber also adopted the emergency preamble for H.4565, a sick leave bank bill for a Department of Transitional Assistance employee, enacted S.2678 validating the Millbury annual town meeting, and passed H.3952 authorizing the Dartmouth Fire District No. 1 prudential committee to appoint a treasurer. Later, the House advanced several third-reading bills: H.4663 appointing a highway surveyor, H.4814 concerning Westford alcohol licenses, and H.4632 setting an age limit for original appointment as a police officer in Bill Rooker. H.4632 was amended to remove a veterans-related age provision before being engrossed. The House then adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the vote is eight ayes and zero nays, so you would recommend the measures in the mass motion

Summary: The committee considered a mass motion declaring House Bills 4154, 4155, 4156, 4157, 4158, 4159, 4161, 4162, 4163, 4165, 4166, 4169, and Senate Bill 1630 constitutional and in proper form. Tim Fleming of the Rules Office said all of the measures were either budget bills or, in the case of SB 1630, separately reviewed and found constitutional and in proper form. He said the budget package was substantially constitutional and in proper form, but repeated several cautions about common issues in budget bills, including footnotes or directives that may go beyond appropriations, conditions placed on appropriations that could raise separation-of-powers concerns, and nonprofit funding that could implicate the gift clause or special legislation concerns. He also noted a provision in the health bill limiting counties from the expenditure limitation of Article 9, Section 20, which he said is not enforceable. After brief discussion and no further questions, the committee voted on the motion. The vote was 8 ayes and 0 nays, and the measures were recommended as constitutional and in proper form.

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote, it is six ayes and zero noes.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote of 17 ayes and zero noes, you have voted House Committee substitute for House Bill 1915

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The Economic Development Committee met in executive session with a quorum present and took up House Bill 1915. Representative Castile offered a House Committee substitute, explaining that it reflected a session-long effort among stakeholders to resolve concerns about payment timelines, affected properties, and other issues, and that it had eased tensions between AGC and HBA. Representative Amato also spoke in support, noting the sponsor’s work to bring stakeholders together. The committee adopted the House Committee substitute by voice vote. It then voted on the substituted version of House Bill 1915 and passed it out of committee with 17 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, with a vote of eight yea and zero, I will report your bill as a due pass out of committee.

Bills: SB1533 , SB2026

Committee: House Veteran and Military Affairs

Keywords: veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans, Dignity in Burial Act, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access

Summary: The committee heard two veterans-related bills. Senate Bill 2026 would allow county clerks to retain military discharge papers and expand who may access them after a veteran’s death from the current family members to include grandchildren. The bill sponsor said the change is voluntary and intended to help grandchildren handle burial and benefits matters. After a brief question about who could access the records, the committee voted 8-0 to report the bill due pass. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1533, which would require the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to provide burial services for an Oklahoma veteran who dies out of state, so long as the veteran remains an Oklahoma resident. The sponsor explained that current law does not obligate the state in those circumstances. With no questions or debate, the committee voted 8-0 to pass the bill. At the end of the meeting, the chair noted that these were the last bills expected for the committee at that time, unless additional measures were brought forward later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The emergency preamble is adopted, two to zero. Senate will be in a brief recess.

Summary: The Senate took up several committee reports and bills, including a petition to repeal an archaic law criminalizing pregnancy, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee, and a bill designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, which was placed in the Orders of the Day. The chamber also passed several local and special bills on third reading, including changes to the Tewksbury town manager residency requirement, a Boston Police age waiver for one applicant, a gender-neutral charter change for Nantucket County, and a sick leave bank for a Department of Correction employee. A House petition concerning the tax treatment of certain foreign government pensions was referred to the Revenue Committee after suspension of Joint Rule 12. The Senate adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Ralph Edward Pascarelli, followed by a moment of silence. Members also adopted an emergency preamble for a Warren election validation bill. Later, the Senate gave final passage to three bills: one expanding powers of the Cotuit Fire District water commissioners, one authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise money for the Historical Society of Sandwich and Cotuit, Inc., and one regulating compensation for the Salem licensing board. The chamber then considered and passed to enactment, by the required two-thirds vote, a bill validating the results of the annual election held in Bourne on May 20, 2025. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Wednesday at noon in a formal session without a calendar, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, with four ayes and zero nays, will report your bill out as due pass. Thank you, Mr.

Committee: House State Powers

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it said you wanted to adjust performance measures to account for, so it was a zero line item. and

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote of 17 ayes and zero noes, you have voted House Committee substitute for House Bill 1915

Committee: House Economic Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote of eight ayes, zero noes, and two present, you have voted due pass House Committee Substitute

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By your vote of eight ayes, zero noes and two present, you have voted due pass House committee substitute

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, entered executive session, and considered two House bills. House Bill 21-24, offered by Representative Banderman, was moved for do pass and approved on a roll call vote of 6 ayes and 3 noes. The transcript does not include the bill’s substance, only the motion and vote. The committee then took up House Bill 3383, offered by Representative Vernetti, along with a committee substitute. The sponsor explained that the substitute expanded nonprofit-related provisions, including additional designation language, coverage for certain nonprofit organizations that register only in Missouri, and added financial penalties for organizations that fail to comply with E-Verify or residency verification requirements. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted do pass on the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3383 by an 8-0 vote, with two members present. With no further business, the committee exited executive session and adjourned. The chair noted that no Senate bills had yet been referred and asked members to watch for email updates on the schedule for the coming weeks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, with four ayes and zero nays, will report your bill out as due pass. Thank you, Mr.

Committee: House State Powers

Summary: The State Powers Committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 4193, as amended by a proposed committee substitute (PCS), which the committee adopted as the working draft without objection. Representative Chapman explained that the revised bill removed references to political subdivisions and would apply only to state contracts and state purchasing. He said the bill’s purpose was to prevent state tax dollars from going to countries or entities that do not have the best interests of the United States or Oklahoma at heart, with particular concern about foreign adversaries such as China. During questions, members asked how the foreign-adversary list would be determined and enforced. Chapman said the list is a federal issue and that the state purchasing director would reference it, with enforcement largely left to the purchasing director’s discretion and whistleblowers. He said contracts could be terminated if a prohibited entity were identified. OMES was referenced as the agency involved in the purchasing process, and Chapman indicated the bill had been revised after discussions with OMES. After discussion, the committee moved to a vote and passed the bill out of committee by a 4-0 vote, reporting it as “do pass.” The meeting then adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• With six ayes and zero nays, House Bill 2594 will be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation

Bills: HB2217

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: law enforcement, bullet-resistant, grant program, safety equipment, peace officers, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being nine ayes and zero no's, the bill will be reported.

Bills: HB206 , HB1238 , HB2890 , HB2970

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, injection wells, environmental regulation, water quality, site inspection, geoscientist, satellite imagery, interstate compact, liquefied natural gas, energy resources, Gulf Coast, regulatory coordination, HB 2970, Gulf Coast Protection District, Special District Local Laws Code, governor appointment

Transcript Highlights:

• In zero nays. And the Alabama State 911 Board appointees are approved. Moving.

Committee: Senate Confirmations

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Move it to zero? No.
• Please introduce yourself. rule would do what, move it to zero?
• But the alternative is we have zero integrity, zero accountability, zero transparency, and then it gets

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a long agenda of agency rules, with most items approved without objection after brief presentations and no public comment. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s electronic odometer disclosure rule, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and RV parks, lead-based paint, counseling board revisions, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental examiners, nursing, pharmacy, medical board, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these changes were described as updates to match recent acts, federal standards, compact participation, fee adjustments, or cleanup/clarification, and the committee repeatedly approved them without objection. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing’s broad set of rule changes implementing multiple 2025 acts. Those changes included creating a dialysis patient care technician registry, updating contact information requirements, expanding APRN authority to delegate certain tasks, clarifying death certificate and pronouncement authority, allowing substitution of therapeutically equivalent medications, permitting purchase of compounded products, and updating certified medication assistant rules and training standards. Members asked detailed questions about the meaning of therapeutically equivalent substitutions, delegation limits, compounded products, and how often medication lists would be updated; the board said it would review rules annually and use future rulemaking as needed. The committee also approved new nursing rules for declaratory orders and the new dialysis registry. The Department of Education’s rules drew the most discussion, especially the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify eligible expenses, and streamline approvals. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting certain technology purchases and requiring extra justification over $1,000, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about oversight, appeal timelines, sports equipment, provider credentialing, and whether the rules were too restrictive; department officials said the rules were meant to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility, and they noted the program had received extensive public comment. The committee also approved Education rules for scholarships, residency classification, teacher programs, accelerated learning, and graduate medical education, as well as Labor and Licensing rules on wage and hour standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Move it to zero? No. You still have the... ...rule would do what? Move it to zero? No.
• But the alternative is we have zero integrity, zero accountability, zero transparency, and then it gets

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Keywords: 1204, all