Transcript Highlights:

• How many illegal summer camps ran for three- and four-year-olds since How many illegal summer camps ran
• The Louisiana Family Forum said that How many illegal summer camps ran for three- and four-year-olds

Bills: HB624 , HB1022 , HB1203 , SB82 , SB206 , SB305 , SB376 , SB441

Committee: House Education

Keywords: school safety, emergency operations plan, crisis management, active shooter, drills, training, classroom security, primary health services, behavioral health, school health providers, medical necessity, student health care, education, school week, instructional time, public schools, performance score, student athletes, cardiovascular health, sudden cardiac arrest

Transcript Highlights:

• He will never own it or he transferred.
• The won't own it after it's transferred.
• The ownership of the sign itself is what is being transferred.
• Is it allowed to be transferred in a sense?
• Is it allowed to be transferred in a sense?

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this allows a one-time transfer if the surviving spouse wants to move, and it's capped at whatever
• service-connected disability who receives an expanded property tax exemption to make a one-time transfer
• a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability who receives an expanded tax exemption to transfer
• service-connected disability who receives an expanded property tax exemption to make a one-time transfer
• a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability who receives an expanded tax exemption to transfer

Bills: HB79 , HB437 , HB646 , HB1089 , HB1099 , SB173 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: carbon capture, damages, environmental liability, legal liability, site restoration, expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award

Transcript Highlights:

• The trust land transfer program is a great example, because you can make a permanent investment in public
• The trust land transfer tool takes land out of the state trust at DNR and uses the capital appropriation
• This budget provides $430 million in bond revenues to offset the $375 million increased transfer from
• The budget also includes $10 million. $375 million transfer in the operating budget.
• If CCA transfers do occur, they should be repaid so that we can invest in things that will have lasting

Summary: The committee first heard a briefing on the proposed Senate capital budget, Substitute Senate Bill 6003, which would spend about $723 million total using debt-limit bonds, Climate Commitment Act funds, and other cash resources. Staff described major investments in housing and homelessness, human services, local infrastructure, flood response, water conservation and clean energy, K-12 school modernization and seismic work, and higher education projects. Members then took public testimony from a wide range of advocates and project sponsors, most of whom urged the Senate to preserve or increase funding for specific projects in the final budget, including affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, child care facilities, food banks, behavioral health and substance use treatment centers, tribal courthouse relocation, school modernization, community colleges, university projects, floodplain restoration, community forests, and local civic or cultural facilities. Several witnesses also asked the Senate to match or approach House funding levels on items such as the Housing Trust Fund, permanent supportive housing, the Community Forest Program, Floodplains by Design, and CCA-supported clean energy and water projects. The chair noted that amendments to the capital budget were due the next day at noon. The committee then received a briefing on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which would restructure Climate Commitment Act accounts by repealing three existing accounts and replacing them with two new accounts: a CCA operating account and a CCA capital account. Staff explained that the bill would preserve most existing uses while changing revenue distribution formulas, capping Ecology administrative costs, expanding allowable uses for EV-related costs, housing, and carbon capture/sequestration, and changing reporting and tribal consultation provisions. The bill also shifts some reporting from annual to biannual and modifies the thresholds for tribal-supported and overburdened-community investments. The fiscal note was described as relatively small, with the main impact being the revised revenue allocation structure. Public testimony on the CCA bill was mixed. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said the restructuring better aligns spending with the intent of the CCA and could improve investments for tribes and overburdened communities. Critics, including the Washington Policy Center, argued the bill still lacks strong requirements to ensure CCA spending is effective and objected to reducing the frequency of the state’s climate-spending report. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DNR are the state forest lands, which are sometimes called the County Forest Board lands or County Transfer
• and Review Committee, or JLARC, to review various aspects of the trust under which the county's transferred
• DNR are the state forest lands, which are sometimes called the County Forest Board lands or County Transfer
• and Review Committee, or JLARC, to review various aspects of the trust under which the county's transferred
• revenue in 28 years, going back to 1999, for the revenue back to these counties for state forest transfer

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion focused on tribal representation and natural resource management. On HB 2117, which would add a tribal representative to the Board of Natural Resources, the prime sponsor and DNR officials said the bill would strengthen government-to-government relationships without replacing existing consultation duties. Tribal leaders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation testified in support, as did the Commissioner of Public Lands and DNR’s tribal relations director. County and timber interests said they were not opposed to tribal representation but raised concerns about trust responsibilities, beneficiary interests, and whether the representative should come from a tribe with commercial forest management experience. The committee later closed testimony on HB 2117 and read into the record 192 pro, 124 con, and zero other sign-ins. The committee also heard HB 2516, which would impose a two-year moratorium on the use of certain anticoagulant rodenticides and bromethalin after a Department of Agriculture report and while the Washington State Academy of Sciences studies alternatives and impacts. The prime sponsor argued the bill balances rodent control with concerns about wildlife, groundwater, and human exposure, while opponents from the pest management industry warned it would remove effective tools and worsen rodent problems, especially for low-income and manufactured-home communities. Supporters included the Washington Poison Center, wildlife rehabilitators, Birds Connect Seattle, the Stillaguamish Tribe, and other advocates who cited poisonings in wildlife and children and pointed to non-toxic alternatives and integrated pest management. The committee read into the record 754 pro, 176 con, and five other sign-ins. For HB 2554, which would repeal RCW 77.110 and related language tied to Initiative 456 and tribal fishing rights, the sponsor and the Attorney General’s Office said the statute is unconstitutional and inconsistent with federal treaty law and court rulings. The Department of Fish and Wildlife also supported repeal, describing the measure as removing an unenforceable anti-tribal statute. The committee then moved on to HB 2327, a bill directing JLARC to audit the county forest board lands trust and DNR’s management of those lands. The sponsor, former Rep. Jim Buck, county representatives, and forest industry witnesses supported an independent review of the trust structure and performance; some asked for amendments to address reconveyance options, broader legal and ecological considerations, and consultation with tribes and the Board of Natural Resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:39.040><c> under</c><00:14:39.399><c> your</c> being transferred under your being transferred
• The first two are just transfer trade-offs or variances.
• For the record, we have transferred one patient, so I don't want to suggest there are no transfers.
• , no matter who the transfer goes to?
• So at that point it could be transferred here, you go, knock yourself out.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the bill protects against speculation while supporting the legitimate family land transfers.
• The five-acre minimum, Legitimate family land transfers and the five-acre minimum ensures that we're
• Appreciate the intent behind helping families transfer land.
• By carving out a narrow exemption for five-acre and larger family transfers, the bill reduces regulatory

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee met on March 5 and took up Senate Bill 1355, sponsored by Senator Harris. The bill would create a narrow exemption allowing landowners to gift or sell five-acre-or-larger parcels to immediate family members without going through the full subdivision process, with ownership and holding-period requirements intended to prevent speculation. Harris said the measure was meant to help farm and rural families keep land in the family and allow children to establish homes or agricultural operations, and he asked that the bill be sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. Testimony was mixed. Ada County Development Services Director Richard Beck and Blaine County land use director Rachel Martin opposed the bill as written, saying it could create parcels that still do not meet local zoning, building, or safety requirements, could be unbuildable, and could create enforcement problems around family relationships and holding periods. Martin also warned about hillside and avalanche hazards in mountainous areas and suggested an administrative review process or an agricultural-land limitation. In support, Teton County resident Tom Henson said current county minimums and lending practices make it difficult for his children to finance homes on family land, and Pacific Legal Foundation’s Reese Empey backed the bill as a way to reduce regulatory barriers to family housing and agricultural transfers. Idaho Association of Counties executive director Seth Grigg said counties could work with the sponsor on friendly amendments to address administrative concerns. After discussion, the committee voted to send Senate Bill 1355 to the 14th order for possible amendments. The committee then approved the February 19, 2026 minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the bill protects against speculation while supporting the legitimate family land transfers.
• Legitimate family land transfers, and the five-acre minimum ensures that we're not creating urban sprawl
• Appreciate the intent behind helping families transfer land.
• By carving out a narrow exemption for five-acre and larger family transfers, the bill reduces regulatory

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, they're just going to go out and, uh, dump money into a wire transfer of cryptocurrency.
• So, they're just going to go out and, uh, dump money into a wire transfer of cryptocurrency.
• So, they're just going to go out and, uh, dump money into a wire transfer of cryptocurrency.
• So, they're just going to go out and, uh, dump money into a wire transfer of cryptocurrency.
• They also are going to ask for money transfers through wires, gift cards, and cryptos.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on fraud in the community, with presenters from ARP, CoinFlip, HPD, the Hawaii Bankers Association, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the Department of Law Enforcement. The chair described widespread scams targeting kupuna and other residents, including impersonation of grandchildren, lottery/inheritance schemes, romance scams, online shopping fraud, investment scams, and tech-support scams. Members emphasized the emotional manipulation used by scammers, the difficulty of getting victims to report losses, and the need to educate the public on warning signs and available resources. ARP said scams are an epidemic and highlighted national data showing major losses among older adults, including $4.8 billion lost by people age 60 and over in 2024. ARP focused especially on cryptocurrency kiosks as a growing scam channel in Hawaii, citing 64 complaints totaling $922,000 in 2024 and noting that complaints nearly doubled from the prior year. ARP urged stronger safeguards such as limits on transactions, refunds, live customer support, and a law-enforcement contact for operators, and said its Fraud Watch Network can help victims freeze credit, identify next steps, and track current scams. The chair said he intends to introduce legislation to lower and ultimately eliminate the amount of Bitcoin that can be purchased through ATMs. CoinFlip said it supports consumer-protection regulation and described its compliance practices, including scam warning screens, anti-money-laundering controls, blockchain analytics, wallet pinning, transaction monitoring, and cooperation with law enforcement. The company said it is registered as a money services business, files suspicious activity and currency transaction reports, and holds money transmitter licenses in many jurisdictions. It also pointed to Illinois-style refund protections for new users and said it refunds fees to scam victims, though not the underlying funds. In response to committee questions, members and the company discussed whether crypto kiosks are necessary, how scams can be traced, and whether banks and kiosks can better intervene when suspicious activity is detected.

Transcript Highlights:

• This arose out of a class seeking to obtain retroactive payment of interest when these members transferred
• from TERS 2 membership to TERS 3 membership. when these members transferred from TERS 2 membership to
• in the complaint, but in theory it would be both the closure and restatement of the plan and the transfer
• It may be that it's just the transfer of funds. That's a problem to the complaint.
• That it's just the transfer of funds. That's a problem to the complainant.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Executive Committee approved the April minutes by roll call vote, with members present voting aye and the minutes adopted. The committee then received an Attorney General update on several pension-related cases. Counsel discussed the newly filed Dawson class action, which seeks to invalidate Gross Second Substitute House Bill 2034 on federal and state constitutional grounds; she said the pleadings were unclear, the committee’s involvement was uncertain, and the case would need monitoring. She also reported that the Dolan case appears concluded after the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s ruling on constructive payment of attorney fees, and that the Fowler case remains pending after an oral ruling for plaintiffs on retroactive interest and possible disgorgement of state gains, with a written ruling still awaited. The actuarial update said June would include the preliminary 2025 valuation results and contribution-rate discussion, along with commentary on the demographic experience study, and staff noted actuarial resources were limited for additional items until later in the summer or fall. The committee then discussed the interim work plan and correspondence, including letters supporting a Plan 1 COLA recommendation, retiree organization comments, and a request from Senator Robinson to study whether certain animal control technicians should be included in PERS. Members emphasized the need to keep working on an ad hoc COLA for Plan 1 retirees while also exploring a longer-term COLA mechanism, including possible budget proviso language to require COLA consideration each budget cycle. Staff also explained changes to correspondence handling: materials will no longer be posted publicly on the website, but will still be available through public records requests and distributed securely to members by email or form submission. The committee agreed to add a June briefing on the PERS animal control technician issue and an introductory discussion of Plan 3, and to bring back COLA proposals in July for further executive committee review. The agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in so doing, we, I myself understood conveyance to mean transfer money. And we did not do that.
• This bill is one of two that is just designed to put a little bit of guardrails on the transfer.
• membership structure, the governing board members, and any information that is material to a potential transfer
• two, starting in line 32, they would cease to have been a nonprofit if control of the hospital is transferred
• starting in line 32 they they would cease to have been a nonprofit if control of the hospital is transferred

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met to consider a series of RS introductions, mostly sponsored by Representatives Barbieri and Scott, along with measures from Furness, Petske, Ehart, and Monks. Barbieri presented three related proposals concerning hospital conveyances and nonprofit conversions: one on libel/slander retractions and punitive damages (RS-33606), and two aimed at adding transparency, notice, and limits on transfers of former public hospitals to nonprofit or other entities (RS-33609 and RS-33610). The committee also introduced RS-33614, an internal House rules resolution, after a substitute motion to send it to the second reading calendar. RS-33624, another internal House ethics rules proposal, drew the most discussion and concern over confidentiality and attorney participation; it was introduced with amendments, with Representative Birch recorded as voting no. The committee also introduced RS-33630, which would place the Department of Finance under the Department of Insurance to seek cross-departmental efficiencies beginning in July 2027, and RS-33646, which would extend Idaho residency requirements for lifetime hunting licenses from six months to five years. Representative Scott’s measures were all introduced: RS-33651 would expand prohibitions on the sale, purchase, or lease of human remains artifacts; RS-33666, RS-33667, and RS-33668 were part of a split-up parental rights/custody package, addressing parental access to records, court-appointed professionals serving only in an advisory role, and make-up parenting time when custody is lost due to unsubstantiated allegations. Representative Ehart’s RS-33615 updated the 2024 medical parental rights law to clarify treatment standards, 988-related language, and evidence collection in child-crime allegations. Finally, the committee introduced RS-33675, which would allow universities to apply for a share of tourism-related bed tax grant funds currently distributed through the Department of Commerce to nonprofit tourism-promoting organizations. Several members asked clarifying questions on the various RSs, but no bills were advanced beyond introduction except RS-33614, which was also recommended to the second reading calendar. The committee then adjourned, with the chair noting more measures may return later in the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE'S A PIECE THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE TRUST FUND YET.
• THIS HAS TO DO WITH FUNDS FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
• SO WE USED A THREE-YEAR AVERAGE OF WHAT THE TRANSFERS HAVE TYPICALLY RUN AND THEN CARRY THAT THROUGH
• USUALLY WE FOCUS ON ONE-TIME TRUST FUND TRANSFERS AND MAKING A REVENUE ADJUSTMENT WITH THAT PIECE.
• THE AMENDMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO BE OPERABLE TO TRANSFER A QUALIFIED EXPENDITURE CATEGORY OF $949,565

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly on this agenda, SB 1522, relating to vehicle title transfers.
• And then lastly on this agenda, SB 1522, relating to vehicle title transfers.
• And lastly on this agenda, SB 1522, relating to vehicle title transfers.
• And lastly on this agenda, SB 1522, relating to vehicle title transfers.
• And lastly on this agenda, SB 1522, relating to vehicle title transfers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You start to have a grasp of how to transfer the data to discernible actions on behalf of the board and
• You start to have a grasp of how to transfer the data to discernible actions on behalf of the board and
• $11,000 in student debt because they went to two years first at the community college and then transferred
• Broadcast licenses quietly transferred to administration allies, which I'm sure none of us want that
• Both preparing students and then transferring them into the HBCU system, but then a lot of them, obviously

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, rule-waiver requests, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved a series of non-appearing appointments, including Peter Briar-T to the Southern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, multiple appointments to the Acupuncture Board, Roy Mathur to the Board of Pilot Commissioners, and Davina Hurt to the California Water Commission, with most votes unanimous and Hurt’s appointment approved 3-2. The committee also approved bill referrals, rule waivers for guests on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard testimony from Lillian Corral, appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Corral emphasized her background as a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, and said her priorities would include helping students connect to livable-wage jobs, supporting Vision 2030, improving data and digital infrastructure, expanding dual enrollment, and considering regional bachelor’s degree programs at community colleges where workforce needs justify them. Senators questioned her about achievement gaps, the role of data in improving student outcomes, the expansion of community college bachelor’s degrees, faculty staffing, and her employer New America’s positions on privacy, age verification, and TikTok. The committee voted 3-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Paul Tupi, nominated to lead the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Tupi described a career in law enforcement and said he would focus on public trust, timely licensing, licensee education, and enforcement against irresponsible operators. Senators asked about ABC’s enforcement tools, including decoy operations, shoulder-tap checks, delivery compliance, and investigations tied to alcohol-related crashes; funding stability; delivery alcohol violations during COVID; and ABC’s approach to entertainment zones and other alcohol-policy changes. Support testimony came from industry and advocacy representatives, who praised his responsiveness and open-door approach. The committee approved his appointment 5-0 for consideration by the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill be transferred to the Senate. We will now have before us House Bill 658.
• The title is approved, and the bill will be transferred to the Senate.
• The title is approved, and the bill will be transferred to the Senate.
• The title is approved, and the bill will be transferred to the Senate.
• Then it goes to pupils seeking transfer from another Idaho public charter school, and then the students

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, there's a section of language associated with this motion for a cash transfer, which is on
• The agency submitted a cash transfer request of $458,700 from the general fund to the administrative
• This is a one-time cash transfer and will not be needed in future years.
• This is a one-time cash transfer and will not be needed in future years. Mr.
• And because we have a statutory transfer in Title 67-451.

Summary: The committee began with a general fund update from Legislative Services, which reviewed the latest green sheet, explained where to find budget information and hearing schedules online, and noted that JFAC actions had updated the FY 2026 and FY 2027 ending balance estimates. Members asked about tracking workgroup progress and were told to consult analysts and workgroup members rather than circulate a public daily summary. The update also noted several bills moving between chambers, including House bills 503, 556, 684, 737, and 759, and Senate Bill 1226. The committee then considered and approved several agency budgets and supplemental requests. The Idaho State Tax Commission budget was reconsidered and approved with a revised FY 2027 motion that removed funding for the chief operating officer salary and set aside funding for property tax education, tax automation, fast tax collection services, seasonal employees, replacement items, and OITS hardware; accompanying language restricted the fast tax collection money to that purpose and required any unused amount to revert to the general fund. The Office of Information Technology Services received approval for FY 2026 supplemental funding for Chinden campus furnishings and the E-CORE grant, and FY 2027 enhancements for enterprise security, the E-CORE continuation, and the final IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, along with cash-transfer language tied to SWICAP costs. The Military Division’s request for indirect cost recovery funds passed, but a proposed add-on for the state education assistance program failed. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets also passed with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund costs, and replacement hardware. The Department of Fish and Game budget was approved with a large package of dedicated and federal fund enhancements for fishery habitat work, Good Neighbor Authority projects, hatchery and lab inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and equipment replacement, along with reappropriation authority. The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services drew the most debate: one motion would have funded home visiting, immunization assessment restoration, lab testing, ARPA grants, HIV and hepatitis prevention, and related items, while a substitute motion sought to keep some funding but move the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development and restore additional public health items. Both motions failed, leaving that budget unresolved in committee. The meeting ended with new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer requiring monthly cash reconciliations between Luma and TATERS, reporting to JFAC and LSO, and retention of supporting documentation for audit purposes. The committee adjourned after being reminded that budget setting would continue through the week and that Monday’s agenda would include education, administration, building fund, and lottery budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill be transferred to the Senate. The House will now have before it House Bill 556.
• And I think our problems shouldn't be transferred to the counties. We're the better...
• And I think our problems shouldn't be transferred to the counties. For debate on the motion.
• Bill will be transferred to the Senate. The House will now have before it House Bill 602.
• The bill will be transferred to the Senate. The House will now have before it House Bill 654.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I come in the next day, at that point, I asked for a transfer.
• I was refused a transfer, telling me that he was too unstable.
• After I've been told that morning, he couldn't be transferred.
• I took my mom to a hospital where the emergency doctor immediately put forth a transfer that was never
• I have found criminal behavior in covering up for a failed transfer.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard three bills. SB 514, by Senator Harrell, clarified that medical quality review committees used by managing entities are treated like other medical review committees for purposes of civil liability and public records protections. The committee adopted a Harrell amendment removing the word “malpractice” from the title, heard support from the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Association of Managing Entities, and Florida Smart Justice Alliance, and then voted 11-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 734, by Senator Yarborough, which would repeal the current wrongful death exception that bars certain parents and adult children from recovering non-economic damages in medical negligence cases. The bill drew extensive testimony from families describing deaths they said were caused by medical negligence and from supporters including AARP and the Florida Justice Association, while opponents from the health care, insurance, and business sectors argued it would raise malpractice premiums, increase litigation, worsen physician shortages, and reduce access to care. After debate, the committee voted 9-2 to report the bill favorably. Finally, SB 538, by Senator Bradley, was presented as the state courts legislative package. It updates court operations by clarifying duty judge requirements, removing a location limit on duty hearings, repealing a cap on arbitrator compensation in court-ordered non-binding arbitration, and allowing alternative judicial authentication of oaths and acknowledgments when a court seal is unavailable. The bill received supportive waiver forms from the Florida Bar ADR section and several judges, and was reported favorably on an 11-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $27.3 million in interagency transfers comes from the Office of Risk Management for tort claims and
• In statutory dedications, the $1.6 million has a net increase, and it includes the transfer of funding
• The $5.8 million in interagency transfers are largely to provide payments for rent, risk management,
• The $5.8 million in interagency transfers are largely to provide payments for rent, risk management,
• Here you can see their statutory dedications and interagency transfers.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a massive transfer of wealth from the rich who can afford to fund tax credits and their wealthy
• And it does mean a massive transfer of wealth to private schools, which, by the way, can pick and choose
• Like I said, this is a massive transfer of wealth to private schools here or private schools elsewhere
• That signifies a massive transfer of wealth, especially understanding that this is uncapped.
• They should agree that the property would transfer, and we're just asking for you to support this bill

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a series of bills, many dealing with cryptocurrency and tax administration. SB 1042 would allow certain state retirement and treasury funds to invest up to 10% in virtual currency; SB 1043 would let state agencies accept cryptocurrency payments; SB 1044 and SCR 1003 would exempt virtual currency from property tax, with SB 1044 contingent on voter approval of the referral. All four measures advanced on 4-3 votes, with Democratic members largely opposing them as risky, speculative, and favoring wealthy crypto interests. The committee also considered SB 1221, which would require the Department of Revenue to notify legislative tax chairs before adopting a new tax interpretation or application that would adversely affect taxpayers and to testify if a hearing is held. Supporters framed it as transparency and good governance, while opponents worried about added red tape and administrative burden. The bill passed 4-3. Another major item, SB 1142, would opt Arizona into a new federal scholarship tax credit program administered through certified scholarship-granting organizations; supporters said it would expand scholarship opportunities for public, charter, private, and homeschool students, while opponents argued it would deepen inequities, lack accountability, and divert resources from public schools. That bill also passed 4-3. A lengthy discussion followed on the Department of Revenue’s press release about tax conformity and the governor’s executive order. DOR explained that the forms were issued assuming conformity with federal changes, including the standard deduction and certain below-the-line adjustments, and said taxpayers generally should file on time but may need amended returns if the Legislature later changes the law. Members pressed DOR on the cost and clarity of the guidance, with estimates that widespread amendments could cost the department about $20 million. Finally, the committee heard SB 1254, which would require both grantor and grantee signatures on real property conveyances before recording; county assessors said it would reduce deed-fraud risk and fix recording gaps. County officials from Maricopa and Mohave supported the bill.