Transcript Highlights:

• that you choose, the food that you cook, and how you consume that food.
• We're talking about food is medicine. Yeah. Talking about food is medicine.
• </c> food is medicine. food is medicine.
• Talking about food is medicine. &gt;&gt; Yeah. Talking about food is medicine.
• And then doula supports. I think do. And then doula supports.

Summary: The task force opened with a moment of silence for the Louisville UPS plane tragedy, approved the October 15 minutes, and reminded members to submit policy recommendations before the December 16 meeting, when the group will discuss its report to LRC. The first informational presentation, from the Department for Public Health, focused on youth vaping. Elizabeth Good and Julie Brooks cited a recent Surgeon General report warning that youth vaping can harm brain development, mental health, lungs, asthma, and hormones, and noted Kentucky survey data showing 8.7% of students reported daily vaping and 19.7% used vaping products in the prior 30 days. They described prevention and cessation resources including Catch My Breath, I Can End the Trend, Not on Tobacco, My Life, My Quit, Quitline services, and the Kentucky TRUST retailer education program, which trained 3,371 individuals in 2024 and distributed 253 Tobacco 21 toolkits. The next presentation came from Kentucky ABC on implementation of SB 100, which created the division of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing. Commissioner Scotty Tracy and Jamar Carter said all retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must be licensed, regulations were filed October 31, 2025, and the online application portal is live. In response to questions about sales to minors, they said violations carry escalating fines for clerks and owners, with a fourth violation resulting in no license renewal for two years and unpaid fines also blocking renewal. They said complaints can be submitted through the portal, by phone, or on the ABC website, and enforcement investigates tips and may use underage compliance checks. The committee then heard from Kim McKenna Johnson of One Cross Community Health, who argued for a “deficiency-first” and holistic approach to care centered on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation. She said her clinic serves more than 7,000 patients in Taylor and Marion counties and described a model that includes primary care, behavioral health, functional medicine, addiction recovery, and chronic care. She cited Kentucky health rankings, claimed nutritional deficiencies cost the state billions, and said many children are overprescribed while undernourished. She urged broader insurance coverage for nutritional testing and supplements, rural demonstration grants, and Medicaid pilots for clinically prescribed supplements. Members asked about testing costs, dietitian support, long-term cost savings, compliance, and whether medications are often used to prevent damage from noncompliance; the presenter said the lab tests are generally covered, supplements are the main cost barrier, and seeing lab results can improve family buy-in. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we ask for your support. we ask for your support.
• Please support it in this third reading. food is still at levels that are not food is still at levels
• The Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Resiliency asks for your support.
• The Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Resiliency asks for your support.
• . support. support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Food deserts are a big issue. We have places where getting to food is a challenge.
• Food deserts are a big issue. We have places where getting to food is a challenge.
• </c> in the in the cottage foods industry. in the in the cottage foods industry.
• </c> moment for cottage food producers? moment for cottage food producers?
• Cottage Foods.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your support so far.
• </c><00:35:23.480><c> so</c> program thank you for your support so program thank you for your support
• One is food.
• to support the needs of our food entrepreneurs.
• We curated a lot of information for food safety and food guidance for our food entrepreneurs that they

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:01.759><c> putting</c> um the house actually supported putting um the house actually supported
• <00:05:35.639><c> waste</c> food waste food waste diversion<00:05:37.680><c> um</c><00:05:38.680><c>
• There are smaller food waste collectors and composters, and then we can also try to help to get food
• </c> ways that they can reduce their food ways that they can reduce their food waste<00:29:28.200><c>
• wasteband for the large generators food wasteband for the large generators of<00:37:52.400><c> food<

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It encourages healthier food options like fruit, vegetables, proteins, and dairy, while also supporting
• A lot of that stuff is available either at the food pantry or through food stamps.
• So I... ...or through food stamps. So I support your bill. That is truly available, yes.
• I thought food was food, but I guess not.
• order about food.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:05.119><c> public</c> has a long history of supporting public has a long history of supporting
• But, you know, for the past 10 years I've served on my local food shelf, being a food shelf volunteer
• I do a Friday morning food rescue, so I drop the kids off at school and I go to the local Cub Foods and
• food shelf served on my local uh food food shelf being<00:19:40.039><c> a</c><00:19:40.120><c> food<
• </c> Cub Foods and you know pick up that food Cub Foods and you know pick up that food that<00:19:55.280

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I now wave in support. Maya is happily waving in support. Susan Ferris is waving in support.
• I'm waving in support. Susan Ferris is waving in support. Kaylee Price is waving in support.
• Carter Brown waves in support. Carter Brown waves in support. Hunter Levine waves in support.
• Waves in support. Amy Dulella McBride. Waving in support. Wait. Waves in support.
• Waving in support. Ways in support.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took favorable action on a number of them. CS/CS/SB 54 by Senator Sharif would require district medical examiners to perform toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of identified violent offenders, consult treating providers when available, document findings, and report results to state agencies; it passed after brief questions and one opponent waived against. CS/SB 176 by Senator Polsky would require public colleges and universities to publish clearer campus safety reporting and response procedures for threats to students, faculty, or staff; it also passed favorably with no opposition. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Florida Farm Bill by Senator Trumbull, was the longest item and drew extensive testimony. The bill covers fair association rules, preemption of local limits on gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinarian loan repayment program, permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida, forest service training, signal jammer penalties, CDL exam cheating penalties, no-solicitation protections, inspector protections, biosolids rules, and contractor payment enforcement. Members adopted multiple amendments, including changes to contractor payment language, expanding vet loan repayment to equine vets, merging citrus research entities, technical updates to fair statutes and nonprofit definitions, and a late amendment removing the bill’s disparagement/free-speech section after significant public testimony and debate. A separate late amendment on biosolids delayed compliance timelines for Broward County, and the bill then passed favorably as amended. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 834 on nonprofit religious organizations, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement through amendment; the bill passed with support from some faith-based and consumer groups and one waiver against. SB 936 on temporary door locking devices passed without opposition. CS/SB 50 would expand veterans’ courts statewide as an option in all judicial circuits for service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse; it received broad support from veterans and advocacy groups and passed favorably. CS/SB 1004, in strike-all form, would regulate dog and cat sales by requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, adding a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and treating violations as unfair trade practices; an amendment removed an appropriation section, and the bill passed after questions about financing and pet retention. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 178, which directs the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide good-faith support to student-athletes for basic needs like food, transportation, and recovery services, while requiring reporting and preserving anti-recruiting enforcement; members discussed possible parental-consent language, and the bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks, with Senator Rouson explaining that it would regulate crypto kiosks to combat fraud, require operator registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics policies, and transaction limits, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We thank you for your continued support of the Rural Capacity Program and your support of Minnesota's
• learn how to cook their food.
• learn how to cook their food.
• learn how to cook their food.
• learn how to cook their food.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• I I support. Yes. Yes. Thank amendment? I I support. Yes. Yes.
• </c> food. Okay, followup. Um thank you. food. Okay, followup. Um thank you.
• food and freeze-dried foods freeze dry food and freeze-dried foods are<01:31:59.199><c> shelf</c><01
• I hope that you will support this bill and help expand the variety of foods that our local food processors
• Foods that our local food processors can make and bring to the market.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• At a scale that matters is something I support.
• Millions of people are in desperate need of food.
• Food beyond belief.
• Time producing food, growing food.
• The President has made food inflation and the cost of food one of his top priorities.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> going to be a mutually supportive going to be a mutually supportive experience<00:15:41.360><c>
• </c> respectfully ask for your support. respectfully ask for your support.
• We're encouraged by the support that S60 has earned so far and ask for the House's continued support.
• </c> The House Committee on Agriculture, Food The House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency,<00
• </c> supporting the people who care for them. supporting the people who care for them.

Transcript Highlights:

• We give them $20, we get a $20 food card. You give them $50, you get a $50 food card.
• I'm going to give them more food.
• Or I've run out of food during the holidays because we only could collect so much food in our food bank
• We're in support of this bill, of course, because we believe that this bill strengthens We're in support
• Members, peer support changes lives.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 12 and considered a wide range of health, social services, and licensing measures. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably HCR 98, which asks the Louisiana Department of Health to study whether SNAP recipients should be allowed to use benefits for grocery delivery fees. The author said the proposal would not change SNAP rules directly, but would examine access issues for elderly, disabled, rural, and transportation-limited residents. The committee also advanced SB 273, a hospice patient-protection bill requiring documentation of hydration, nutrition, and care decisions in inpatient licensed facilities where hospice is provided, with LDH oversight and enforcement authority; members discussed how responsibility is shared between facilities and outside hospice providers, and adopted technical amendments. The committee then approved SB 415, creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, a privately funded charitable food-card program intended to let nonprofits distribute food-only cards to people in need. Members and the author discussed whether the cards would be reloadable, which retailers could accept them, and whether prepared foods could be included; LDH said the program could use all SNAP-authorized retailers, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. SB 437, a cleanup bill for judicially referred residential substance abuse treatment facilities, was also reported favorably with amendments after LDH clarified that facilities providing treatment must be licensed, while residences only housing individuals would not be. SB 451, updating newborn hearing screening terminology and reporting requirements, was reported favorably after testimony that the bill would strengthen early detection and follow-up for deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Later, the committee advanced SB 426, which modernizes the addictive disorder regulatory authority and creates a formal peer support specialist licensing pathway. Supporters said the bill would strengthen the behavioral health workforce, improve accountability, and create a progression from peer support to higher credentials; the committee adopted technical and transition amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. SB 236, requiring LDH annual reviews and reports on kidney disease treatment services in Medicaid, was also reported favorably with amendments. Additional measures approved included SB 39, allowing provisional licenses for massage therapy graduates; SB 190, which tightens oversight of poor-performing nursing facilities in the CMS Special Focus Facility Program and sets an 18-month improvement timeline; SB 124, allowing hospitals within the same health system to share peer review records without waiving privilege; HR 174, urging study of fenbendazole as a possible cancer treatment; SB 270, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health care facilities; SB 359, changing terms for certain Morehouse Parish hospital district commissioners; and HR 194, requesting de-identified school visual acuity screening data for research. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably, several with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here in support of Bill 1241."
• I want to support, and I think folks here want to support agriculture, the outfitters and guides, the
• It's an argument for honest, real food, real natural food. Real natural food.
• And so not only is this an important food, but it's an important food to the economy.
• to food, body to food, is really important.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• , 80% of them across the state, with affordable food, clean food, wholesome food that people can count
• They're growing food, and they're learning to grow it. It's good food.
• They consume food. They buy food.
• That's a food desert.
• Every food store has closed in that area. to get to food.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its October 27 meeting and then heard testimony from Clinton Ballard of Milk and Honey Hill Farm about the impact of Act 698 on raw dairy producers. Ballard said the law allowed his farm to expand from one cow to 12, serve about 150 families, increase sales by roughly $50,000, and sell about $10,000 in raw cheese and other products through retail outlets. He argued the law improved farm income, food security, and local supply, and he asked for an optional state inspection/certification path for raw milk producers so they could access USDA grants and other opportunities available to licensed dairies. Committee members asked about herd management, safety practices, bee production, market channels, and whether such certification should remain voluntary; Ballard said he follows Grade A-style sanitation, chills milk quickly, removes sick cows from production, and supports optional training or inspection but not mandatory regulation. Members also raised food safety concerns, especially for children and pregnant women, and Ballard responded that raw milk producers rely on cleanliness, rapid cooling, consumer feedback, and truth in labeling. He said the health department currently inspects commercial dairies but not raw milk producers who do not sell through a cooperative, and he believed state inspection would help producers distinguish themselves and qualify for funding without changing interstate rules. Several members discussed the balance between consumer choice, safety, and possible “mission creep” if the state created a certification system. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Terence Bolden of TLB Enterprises on hydroponic and container farming as a response to food insecurity and food deserts. Bolden described a three-year workforce and career-technical program built around retrofitted shipping containers, drones, robotics, agribusiness, and AI, with partnerships involving schools, universities, Farm Bureau, UAPB, the Little Rock School District, and other entities. He said the model could create year-round local food production, support school cafeterias and community markets, and generate jobs and economic impact, estimating at least four jobs per container and potentially significant regional economic benefits. Members asked about costs, target communities, energy needs, crop types, and implementation timelines; Bolden said the first containers for school sites could be in place by late summer or early fall, with pilot projects already underway in Arkansas and Orlando. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because you can only buy food with SNAP benefits. Who grows that food?
• The Grain Standards Act supports U.S. trade.
• I'M PROUD THIS LEGISLATION IS WIDELY SUPPORTED, BIPARTISAN IN I urge my colleagues to support and yield
• As such, I'm proud to support this commonsense piece of legislation, and I urge support of this bill
• As such, I'm proud to support this commonsense piece of legislation, and I urge support of this bill

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to our Zoom testifier, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Lauren Zerel, in support.
• support.
• We have the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support in Zoom.
• We have the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support in Zoom.
• We have the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support in Zoom.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 5, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills related to economic development, broadband, tax policy, and family support. HB 455 drew support for a startup-business loan program, with DBEDT, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Hmua Collective among those in favor; Tax Foundation Hawaii questioned the need for a special fund. HB 437, concerning Hawaii trade/investment offices, received support from DBEDT and Hawaii Friends for Civil Rights, and members asked DBEDT about how to measure return on investment from the overseas offices. HB 650, dealing with broadband-related administration, was supported by DBEDT, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, and others, while committee discussion focused on the role of the state’s trade and investment offices and broadband administration. HB 935, on digital navigator support, received testimony in favor from DBEDT, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii system, and others, but also drew comments about consumer representation and the need for service on neighbor islands. The committee also heard strong testimony on tax and family-related measures. HB 572, which would remove the grocery tax, received overwhelming support from groups including the Hawaii Food Industry Association, AARP Hawaii, and others, with testimony emphasizing food insecurity and cost-of-living relief; Tax Foundation Hawaii offered technical comments. HB 701, a caregiver tax credit bill, was supported by AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and others, with AARP stressing the burden on family caregivers and Tax Foundation Hawaii suggesting the credit percentage be reduced to preserve price-shopping incentives. HB 753, another child and dependent care tax credit measure, drew support from AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and others; Tax Foundation Hawaii again raised technical concerns, this time about the complexity of the formula. After testimony, the committee took up decision-making. HB 455 was passed with amendments, including transferring administrative responsibility from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to the Community-Based Economic Development Program, blanking out the appropriation, adding one business loan officer FTE, and noting a $95,000 cost. HB 437, HB 650, HB 934, HB 442, and HB 572 were all advanced with amendments, generally involving blanking out appropriations, moving amounts into committee notes, technical cleanup, and setting effective dates to July 1, 3000. HB 935 was deferred because of overlap with public library programs and uncertainty about federal funding for digital navigator positions. The chair also indicated HB 7 would be amended to add a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit and related technical changes, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they don't, the foods they eat will exacerbate the disease, as they'll be consuming unhealthy foods
• noise in their head telling them to eat more food, or to specifically seek out the really savory foods
• , the high-fat foods, or high-sugar foods.
• And then the convenient food is the food that's quick and tasty and high in calories.
• Fast food and junk food, and there’s never a combination of recipes from those three things. ...that

Bills: HB231 , HB231 , HB475 , HB488 , HB632 , HB821 , HB1786 , HB1955 , HB2036 , HB2060 , HB2659 , HB2677

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Transcript Highlights:

• I now wave in support. Maya is happily waving in support. Susan Ferris is waving in support.
• Caden Johnson, waves in support. Paul Mnogian? Yep, wave in support. Waves in support.
• Wave and support. Waves in support.
• Waves in support. Amy Dulella McBride. Waving in support. Wait. Waves in support.
• Waving in support. Waves in support.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Rules Committee heard and voted on a series of bills, beginning with SB 54 on toxicology screenings in autopsies of violent offenders, which requires medical examiners to screen for psychotropic and intoxicating substances, consult treating providers when possible, and report findings to state agencies; it passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 176 on public postsecondary campus safety policies, requiring colleges and universities to publish clearer reporting and response procedures for threats to students, faculty, and staff. Both bills were reported favorably without major opposition. The largest portion of the meeting was devoted to CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Florida Farm Bill. The bill covers a wide range of agriculture-related issues, including fair association rules, preemption of local restrictions on gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food and animal veterinary loan repayment program, permanent Farmers Feeding Florida funding, forest service training expansion, signal-jamming device penalties, CDL English proficiency enforcement, no-solicitation protections, food safety inspector protections, biosolids regulation, and contractor payment enforcement. Members adopted several amendments, including changes to contractor payment language, expanded veterinary loan eligibility, citrus foundation consolidation, technical corrections, removal of outdated fair references, a nonprofit definition fix, and a late amendment deleting the bill’s disparagement clause after extensive testimony and debate about free speech and agricultural speech protections. A separate late amendment delayed biosolids compliance deadlines. The bill drew strong support from farmers, agritourism groups, food donation advocates, and some utility and wastewater interests, while conservation groups and biosolids operators raised concerns about land surplus provisions and biosolids restrictions. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then approved SB 834 on nonprofit religious organizations, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while an amendment added written disclaimer requirements; it passed favorably. SB 936 on temporary door locking devices also passed, directing the Building Commission to incorporate standards into the Florida Building Code. SB 50 on veterans’ courts was approved, allowing judges in all circuits to use veterans’ courts for cases involving service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse. Finally, SB 1004 on the sale of dogs and cats passed after amendments removed an appropriation and kept the bill’s disclosure, financing, and consumer protection provisions, and SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed with discussion about coaches providing basic support to student-athletes and possible parental-consent language. The committee also began hearing SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks, which would regulate crypto kiosks with registration, fraud warnings, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections; an amendment to that bill was adopted, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully urge you to support AB 1690 to ensure that more families can access this critical support
• and this is support.
• We are in support.
• The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is proud to support this measure and urges you to support it
• Our driver's taxpayer association is proud to support this measure and urges you to support it at the

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation