Transcript Highlights:

• Line 167, the agreement contains one-time costs related to sustainable funding for federal data sources
• Lines 167 contains costs related to the package of proposals for detecting, preventing fraud, waste,
• ><00:05:08.320><c> to</c> contains one-time costs related to contains one-time costs related to sustainable
• funding for federal data sustainable funding for federal data sources.<00:05:12.240><c> Lines</c><00
• </c><00:05:16.720><c> of</c> tracked related to the package of tracked related to the package of proposals

Transcript Highlights:

• land and water resources is essential to maintaining the quality of life we all enjoy, as well as sustaining
• I think the question is the sustainability of the program, especially for our smaller community banks
• President, this is the road naming package for DOT.
• Their loved one was recognized within the road naming package, and I want to thank you for being here
• I understand that you are here in the House and this just ...naming package, and I want to thank you

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and moments of silence, including tributes to those affected by the Florida State University shooting and recognition of Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, John Thrasher, student advocacy groups, conservation organizations, and visiting school groups. Members also adopted Senate Resolution 1878 honoring Coach Abdur-Rahim. The chamber then moved into special order business and considered a series of bills, many of them with House companions substituted in and passed by wide margins or unanimously. Among the measures passed were bills updating child care and early learning provider regulation, imposing costs on false swatting reports, extending protections against extraordinary hospital collection actions, expanding hazardous walking conditions for schoolchildren, creating young adult housing support for foster and homeless students, clarifying school choice disclosure requirements under the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, adjusting interest rules for trust accounts supporting legal aid, revising transportation and traffic enforcement provisions, expanding public records exemptions for certain judicial and health care investigators and appellate clerks, changing municipal water and sewer utility rates in Miami-Dade, strengthening motor vehicle offenses involving impersonation and obscured plates, increasing trespass penalties at certain law-enforcement-controlled sites and large ticketed events, requiring refunds of patient overpayments, authorizing certain stem cell therapies, allowing relatives and direct support professionals to administer insulin in group homes, addressing rideshare impersonation and transit funding rules, and updating the Uniform Commercial Code for digital assets and emerging technologies. Several bills drew notable debate. The trust fund interest bill prompted extended discussion over legal aid funding, bank participation, and whether the measure would reduce support for legal services; it ultimately passed 28-10. The transportation bill was heavily amended, including removal of speed-limit increases and changes to school bus camera enforcement and micromobility rules, and passed 37-0. The Miami-Dade water and sewer rate bill sparked debate over fairness, fiscal impact, and accusations of racism, but passed 36-2. Public records bills protecting agency investigators and JQC employees also drew questions about accountability and transparency before passing. Most other measures passed with little or no opposition, and a few bills were temporarily postponed or set aside.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> significant package around strengthening significant package around strengthening our<00:05:07.520
• So, you'll see in our package, we have strategies in all of these lanes.
• . packages. packages.
• Implemented thoughtfully, it could advance equity and sustainability.
• </c> advance equity and sustainability. advance equity and sustainability.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Now when you're transporting that fuel, it's your packages, your transportation packages were really
• So developing these transportation packages that can go up to those HALU levels is also another area.
• But really, we've got—we want to use AI to accelerate sustainable fusion power, optimize advanced nuclear
• And the only way we can really do that and balance the third area of environmental sustainability is
• for them, moving that steam from an existing nuclear plant 20, 30 miles to replace a natural gas package

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Now when you're transporting that fuel, it's your packages.
• Your transportation packages were really only developed and designed for, you know, that 5%.
• So developing these transportation packages that can go up to those HALU levels is also another area.
• But really, we want to use AI to accelerate sustainable fusion power, optimize advanced nuclear reactor
• And the only way we can really do that and balance the third area of environmental sustainability is

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now when you're transporting that fuel, it's your packages, your transportation packages were really
• So developing these transportation packages that can go up to those HALU levels is also another area.
• But really we've got, we want to, you know, use AI to accelerate sustainable fusion power, optimize advanced
• And the only way we can really do that and balance the third area of environmental sustainability is
• for them, moving that steam from an existing nuclear plant 20, 30 miles to replace a natural gas package

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Packaging and paper compose about 40% of the weight of those products.
• We already know that two-thirds of our mostly recyclable packaging and paper waste end up in the trash
• A needs assessment would evaluate the quantity and types of packaging and paper waste generated statewide
• , Maryland, and Minnesota, have enacted product stewardship laws that shift the cost of managing packaging
• Finally, point-of-use filtration is the gold standard for sustainability.

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Transcript Highlights:

• whatsoever but again that's just something somebody four-unit packaging whatsoever but again that's
• To sustain the veto, vote no. The reading clerk will call the roll of the Senate.
• The changes to the filibuster in that rules package made this a supermajoritarian institution.
• Vote aye to sustain the veto, vote no. The clerk, please ring the bell. Veto vote.
• To override, vote aye; to sustain, vote no. The clerk will please ring the bell.

Transcript Highlights:

• position authority for 12 positions in fiscal year 25-26 and ongoing, and this is to address the sustained
• We need to continue to scale, integrate, and sustain, so that hopefully we can see the improvements I
• Today, I will highlight some of these work streams and pathways to sustain this extraordinary investment
• So, the November estimates don't reflect the final approved waiver package.
• During that six months, we want to work on developing sustainable housing plans for the individuals who

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not huge in the context of your total Proposition 98 package, but it is a powerful way to hedge
• So the more ongoing spending you commit to in this package, the more important it is to have a larger
• Districts can't afford to sustain that long term. So there's that tradeoff.
• Maybe someone would use the flexible resources of the 1.44% to sustain it, but that would be subject
• Districts can't afford to sustain it long term, so there's that tradeoff.

Transcript Highlights:

• years, I've become increasingly concerned with the trajectory of our Medicaid budget and the sustainability
• Could you address what discussions and plans are out there to try to make these programs sustainable
• Because I know we have a tax package and there was some pushback on A tax package.
• So Madam Chair and Senator Block will offer up the compensation package that we have for the current
• residents and fellows without this $2 million. on. package that we have for the current residents and

Bills: SB4 , SB7 , SB9 , SB17

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This package forms a key down payment on delivering meaningful health cost reduction for all Americans
• This package forms a key down payment on delivering meaningful health cost reduction for all Americans
• This package forms a key down payment on delivering meaningful health cost reduction for all Americans
• This package forms a key down payment on delivering meaningful health cost reduction for all Americans
• This package forms a key down payment on delivering meaningful health cost reduction for all Americans

Transcript Highlights:

• More on the packaged products. Rather than your farm fresh produce. Local farmers are small.
• Beef packages up, and I can also buy that packaged meat from a supplier. But if you price...
• Beef packages up, and I can also buy that packaged meat from a supplier. But if you price...
• Mexico, it was pretty apparent that we're just breaking ground in terms of understanding the sustainability
• Mexico, it was pretty apparent that we're just breaking ground in terms of understanding the sustainability

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, sustained. Mr. Chair, Mr. Gress, I'll rephrase.
• reason that I'm supporting this budget. ...in this budget package.
• So that's what we are able to do with this package.
• We can fund So that's what we are able to do with this package.
• What we do agree on is the middle-class tax cuts focus packages.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm glad to see that that is not in the final negotiated package.
• So that's the number one thing that I'm excited about with this budget package.
• with the spending that is included in this budget package, and I highlighted this before.
• What we have here today is a budget package that will spend $18.2 billion in ten years.
• I'm pleased to support this balanced budget package for fiscal year 2027.

Summary: The joint House and Senate Appropriations committees met to hear the FY 2027 budget package, beginning with the General Appropriations Act (HB 4154/SB 1847). Staff outlined the overall budget, including one-time fund transfers, lump-sum reductions, funding for state employee health insurance, school facilities, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, education and child care, and other ongoing and supplemental items. Members briefly discussed the absence of a requested $1.5 million for the oversight office, but the chair said no amendments would be taken in committee and that only limited technical changes were likely later in the process. Public testimony on the feed bill was largely supportive but focused on specific funding concerns. Testimony highlighted school safety funding, Alzheimer’s services, small business tax expensing provisions, disability oversight for group homes, county use of opioid settlement dollars, adult education/community college funding, victim notification funding, and ESA oversight. Several speakers praised the budget for funding DDD and other services, while others opposed or sought changes to items such as the COMIT group home monitoring program, Maricopa Community Colleges’ lack of operating aid, and a possible cut to the victim notification program. The chair repeatedly emphasized that changes to the negotiated budget would be difficult and should be routed through leadership. The committee then moved quickly through the remaining budget reconciliation bills. Staff summarized bills covering amusement and wagering, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, and K-12 education. Notable provisions included continued wagering assessments, highway and building renewal funding, defense innovation and economic development changes, corrections and wrongful conviction provisions, groundwater and water banking measures, health insurance oversight and opioid settlement provisions, higher education funding and ABOR operating caps, SNAP and housing trust fund changes, and a 2% inflation increase for K-12 formula components. The K-12 bill also included a biometric school safety pilot and a child sexual abuse prevention pilot. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue through the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that their testimony would be that not this bill in isolation, but the package of PBM bills
• stand up this division, but that they do not have the expertise on staff to handle the collective package
• programs that provide additional reimbursement to independent pharmacies in order to help promote and sustain
• It's almost impossible to get to class and to build a sustainable, independent life.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with eight members present and deferred HB 127. It then considered a series of bills, most of which were reported favorably without opposition. HB 22 revised COLA rules for the clerks of court retirement system, allowing more frequent COLAs when the system is better funded; HB 324 made judicial stipends permanent and added future COLAs subject to available funding; HB 233 increased jury mileage reimbursement; HB 47 reorganized assessor retirement COLA statutes; HB 533 allowed St. Tammany Parish to transfer unused witness-fee account balances to the 22nd Judicial District Court; HB 980 adjusted eligibility for the Firemen’s Supplemental Pay Board; HCR 45 urged Congress to clarify ARPA deadlines for water projects; HB 559 increased court costs in the 4th Judicial District; HB 290 recreated the Department of Treasury and related entities in statute; and HB 382 addressed Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget review authority over Group Benefits plans. The committee also reported HB 1157 favorably, creating a financing bank mechanism for infrastructure projects, and HB 575 favorably, giving youth aging out of foster care preferred access to surplus state vehicles through the Louisiana Property Assistance Agency. Several measures drew more discussion. HB 1236, dealing with pharmacy benefit managers and professional dispensing fees, prompted extensive testimony from the sponsor, the Legislative Fiscal Office, the Department of Insurance, independent pharmacies, and PBM representatives. Supporters said it clarifies and strengthens enforcement of existing PBM law and protects independent pharmacies; opponents argued the bill’s requirement that PBMs bear dispensing-fee costs would be difficult to implement and could raise premiums. The sponsor said he would work on amendments, including clarifying language and a delayed effective date, and the bill was nevertheless moved favorably. SB 25, on registrar of voters compensation, was amended to a revised pay structure and then reported favorably. HB 47 and HB 533 were also presented as funding and administrative cleanups for retirement and court-related accounts, with local support noted. The committee also heard HB 233 on jury duty mileage reimbursement, which the sponsor said updates a 1961 rate and would be funded locally at an estimated average increase of about $4,000 per judicial district. HB 324 on judicial salaries was described as self-funded by the judiciary and subject to available funding, with no budget impact. HB 575 on foster youth transportation was presented as a non-appropriation measure aimed at helping youth aging out of foster care by giving them preferred access to surplus vehicles. HB 382, which concerns the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget’s role in approving Group Benefits plans, was reported favorably with little discussion. The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony from people inside and community members, they've said that $25 is insufficient to really sustain
• To really sustain someone inside, and then folks resort to other activities to get these essential items
• When I was incarcerated, you could buy yarn packages and beads in order to do things with your hands,
• When I was incarcerated, you could buy, like, yarn packages and beads.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard several House bills. Substitute House Bill 2539 would raise the indigent inmate account threshold from $25 to $100, allowing incarcerated people to retain more money for commissary items like hygiene products, postage, and medications before deductions for legal financial obligations, child support, and other debts. Representative Street said the bill is meant to better cover essentials without stopping debt repayment. Testifiers from Civil Survival, incarcerated people, and family advocates supported the bill, describing current commissary prices, low prison wages, and the burden on families. The committee also heard that the Department of Corrections expects some indeterminate implementation costs and IT expenses. No vote was taken. House Bill 2510 would require the Department of Corrections to supervise anyone sentenced to community custody for stalking, regardless of risk classification. Representative Burnett said the bill is intended to protect victims and give them peace of mind. Staff explained that the bill is narrower than a related measure heard earlier because it applies only to people sentenced to community custody, typically at the superior court level. Victim advocates and survivors testified in strong support, describing stalking cases that escalated to severe threats and violence and arguing that mandatory supervision could prevent future harm. The hearing was closed without action. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2319 and Substitute House Bill 2350, both concerning residential habilitation centers. HB 2319 would rename Fircrest School and Rainier School to remove the word “school” and better reflect their current role as residential habilitation centers; supporters said the old terminology is outdated and confusing, while the sponsor said the bill is a clarification only and does not change services or funding. HB 2350 would require DSHS to notify residents, guardians, and other designated people when an RHC falls out of compliance with federal CMS requirements, and to post plain-language notices at the facility. Supporters from Disability Rights Washington, The Arc, and self-advocates said the bill would improve transparency and accountability. The committee closed public hearing on both bills, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think you or I realize just how big this package would be in health care.
• When we had our initial... ...Realize just how big this package would be in health care when we had our
• This bill sustains safeguards and strengthens Florida's universal school choice program.
• Senate Bill 318 will sustain, strengthen, and safeguard Florida's school choice program, and that is

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then received and adopted, by a 39-0 vote, a committee report confirming 52 gubernatorial executive appointments to various state, regional, and local boards and commissions. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities, described as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package. Sponsor Senator Simon outlined provisions creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties facing population loss, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care support. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping grant language tied to new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties generally supported the bill, though some raised questions about eligibility for certain rural areas and how funds would be accessed. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then took up CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General findings by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance-based business plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including changes to the stabilization fund and documentation requirements. Senators from both parties debated transparency, accountability, and implementation concerns, with some also urging future attention to declining-enrollment school districts and the quality of scholarship providers. The bill passed 38-0. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House, welcomed Palm Beach County visitors in the gallery, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have more attractive-to-children packaging than us. But we see room for improvement.
• There should be legislation that limits packaging to one serving.
• But I think if packaging is required to be one serving, then there would be...
• That was an— Cannabis packages designed to look like candy and sweets.
• So we have established a team internally dedicated to package review because it can be quite subjective

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee approved several non-appearing gubernatorial appointments and routine agenda items by 4-0 votes, including Frank Damrow Jr. to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, Michelle Eddger to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and David Galavis to the State Park and Recreation Commission. The committee also approved bill referrals, a rule waiver to allow SB 1447 to be heard after the policy deadline, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard the appointment of Clint Kellam as Director of the Department of Cannabis Control. Members focused heavily on cannabis regulation, especially illicit market activity, consumer education, labeling, and youth protection. Kellam said the department’s goal is to shift consumption from illicit to legal sources, not increase use, and described efforts such as the Real California Cannabis website, the required educational pamphlet for new users, inspections, and package review. Senators raised concerns about attractive-to-children packaging, high-dose beverages, and the need for tighter labeling rules; Kellam said the department is open to legislative changes, is working on an AI tool to help licensees review packaging, and uses recalls, citations, and administrative actions when products violate rules. He also described enforcement efforts against illegal cultivation and retail, including the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force and cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies. The committee voted 4-0 to advance the appointment. The committee next heard Jennifer Osborne’s appointment as Director of the Department of Industrial Relations. Osborne described her background in state administration and said she aims to remove barriers, improve systems, and support workplace safety, wage enforcement, workers’ compensation, and apprenticeship programs. Senators asked about PAGA enforcement, Cal/OSHA audit findings, backlogs, staffing shortages, and complaint handling. Osborne said DIR’s role in PAGA is limited, but the department is working on Cal/OSHA policy revisions, training, additional investigation staff, centralized intake, IT modernization, and possible use of outside administrative law judges to reduce delays. She also said the department is addressing vacancy and backlog issues through classification changes and new hiring strategies. Public commenters from employer groups and labor organizations spoke in support, and the committee approved the appointment 4-0 for full Senate confirmation.

Transcript Highlights:

• stakeholders and a lot of technical input and after the locals determine their GSP groundwater sustainability
• seeing it succeed TNC to develop science to better understand what groundwater levels are necessary to sustain
• communities, priority species, and ecosystems, is concerned when adjudications seek to alter the sustainable
• yield is established in a validated groundwater sustainability plan. in the basin.
• With me to support this bill today is Holly Framini. track housing package.

Committee: House Appropriations