Transcript Highlights:

• Hemp products continue to proliferate across not just the state of Florida, but the United States.
• states.
• Some states are taking the position of totally outlawing hemp products in their states.
• Matter of fact, we have a senator working with the lieutenant governor of the state of Texas right now
• All over the state being sold.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard a presentation from Florida FFA state officers Gabby Howell and Macy Jordan, who described FFA and agricultural education as a three-part model of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development. They highlighted FFA membership growth, Florida’s more than 60,000 members, industry certifications, and state funding that allows all agriculture education students to participate at no cost. Members praised the students and the organization’s role in developing future agricultural leaders. The committee then took up SB 438, which would regulate hemp and hemp extract products, including THC-infused beverages, by adding testing, labeling, retail location, age, and event restrictions, along with penalties and $2 million for testing equipment. Senator Burton said the bill is intended to address public safety, prevent products with illegal THC levels from reaching consumers, and respond to the governor’s prior veto concerns, especially store location and regulation. An amendment clarifying final batch testing was adopted without objection. Testimony was mixed. Supporters, including beverage distributors, law enforcement, and some hemp beverage businesses, backed regulation and said the bill would improve safety and clarity, though some asked for changes to avoid treating specialty beverage retailers like liquor stores. Opponents and some hemp industry representatives argued the bill was too restrictive, would hurt small businesses, and could push products into the black market; they also objected to THC limits, event restrictions, and the proposed regulatory structure. After debate, the committee voted 6-0 to report CS for SB 438 favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• me of how fortunate we are to be in the state.
• to try to market the state.
• We're also a very, very large state.
• Events into the state as opposed to them going to another state.
• Other states have woken up and said we have a financial incentive to get those events into our state

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hold more than half of the state prisoners in this state, in excess of 15,000 inmates.
• Many states have done so.
• We got this idea from my neighboring state of Texas, which has been doing this since 2009.
• We got this idea from my neighboring state of Texas, which has been doing this since 2009.
• The Texas Lottery has contributed more than $296 million to veteran programs in the state of Texas.

Committee: Senate Judiciary B

Summary: The Senate Committee on Judiciary B met on May 14, established a quorum, approved the May 5 minutes, and then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions. The committee first heard House Bill 1252, which would expand and modernize local court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish by enlarging the Marksville and Bunkie city courts, adding small claims, misdemeanor, juvenile, and civil jurisdiction, and allowing online payments and virtual appearances. Supporters said it would keep justice local and reduce pressure on district court, while opponents urged more study and warned about impacts on existing courts and funding. The committee adopted Amendment Set 3835 and reported HB 1252 with amendments. It also reported HB 167, requiring state prisons to provide release documentation to inmates; HB 1038, after amendments and continued negotiation with marshals and constables; HB 1077, allowing microbreweries to sell at certain special events; HB 1204, changing administration of the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program to the Office of Juvenile Justice; HB 492, placing the Governor’s Impaired Driving Task Force into statute; HB 175, dedicating $500,000 in lottery proceeds annually to a veterans service grant fund; HCR 41, directing ATC to allow electronic beer rebates; HB 833, creating a Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force; HB 656, creating a pilot program for inmate-administered services; HB 978, raising the population threshold for mayor’s courts to remit indigent defender fees; and HB 969, updating and expanding the crime victim compensation program. The committee also approved HB 985, which adds QR codes to sex offender identification cards, after adopting Amendment Set 3861, and HB 579, updating the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, after adopting Amendment Set 3830. Several bills drew notable opposition or requests for further work. HB 968, which creates a framework for electronic monitoring providers to notify courts before removing ankle monitors for nonpayment, drew objections from the ACLU and a vendor representative who argued it would turn criminal courts into debt-collection forums and could lead to jail for inability to pay; the author said the bill was intended as a public-safety framework, not debt collection. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 968 favorably and agreed to move a 10-day-to-15-day notice change on the floor. HB 525, requiring DOC to publish more incarceration data, especially from local facilities, was opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, which said the bill would impose substantial new reporting burdens; DOC said it was already posting most of the data and would continue updating it. The committee ultimately deferred HB 525, with members encouraging further work. HB 1005, a cleanup-and-restructuring bill for the Office of the State Public Defender, was reported favorably after the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about substantive changes, including removal of board approval for the state public defender and changes to district defender protections; Vice Chair Harris said he would work with stakeholders on those issues. HB 1029, a local alcohol-permit moratorium bill for House District 3, was voluntarily deferred to next week so the author could address concerns about the length of the moratorium. The meeting ended after all scheduled business was completed, with the committee agreeing to revisit the deferred items later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution, the laws ratified treaties of the United States and the territories of the United States
• The law is enacted by the state enforced by our courts.
• We have conducted a state-by-state analysis of presidential elector provisions.
• United, it still needs to come back to the state. It is not a federal thing. It is a state thing.
• The senators representing Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Washington State, Texas would say, 'Oh, no, you're

Committee: Senate Senate Federalism Committee of Reference

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the state representative for District 66B. That's the northern neighborhoods of St.
• I'm a state senator from Senate Stewart.
• </c> I'm a former Minnesota state I'm a former Minnesota state representative,<00:13:33.080><c> a</c>
• </c> Minnesotans in every part of the state Minnesotans in every part of the state are<00:19:28.840><
• </c><00:22:56.240><c> auditor's</c> some level the the state auditor's some level the the state auditor's

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents. In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my question to you is, in the states of Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, is there a cap on the amount
• are coming from attorneys outside of the state, in particular from the state of Texas?
• How did I select the states?
• But yet we're an aging state.
• That is a state decision.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• In here in the state of Minnesota.
• Many other states have done it. Uh, it's bipartisan from Washington state to Texas.
• c><00:20:54.160><c> to</c> bipartisan from Washington state to bipartisan from Washington state to Texas
• Texas. Texas.
• </c> Uh and other states are looking at it. Uh and other states are looking at it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are other states that just recently—I know Texas, and I think Arizona—have dealt with specifically
• There are other states that just recently—I know Texas, and I think Arizona—have dealt with specifically
• That means that every state is the lowest common denominator, which means that every state is going to
• to state.
• state believes they can do this, and every state deserves the prerogative.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:05.760><c> your</c> joining us and if you could state your joining us and if you could state
• and in our state um a state<00:20:36.200><c> line</c><00:20:36.440><c> is</c><00:20:36.640><c> a</c>
• <00:20:36.799><c> much</c><00:20:37.000><c> easier</c> state line is a much easier state line is a much
• And if it's a contribution made in the state, we would keep the current rules.
• What they can do is say, is this a contribution made outside the state?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's make sure that Florida joins the majority of states, and we are one of the top solar states in
• , because our state looks a little different.
• Affordability is in the statute in other states, not just Vermont, but other states.
• Other states, not just Vermont, but other states, and it can be defined.
• We can't be like some of those other states.

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and considered four bills, all of which were reported favorably. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives was presented as a negotiated “glitch bill” to narrow statutory language so co-ops can choose generation and power purchases based on cost and reliability without exposure to lawsuits aimed at banning fuel sources; it was supported by the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association and passed without debate. SB 364 on public accountancy was described as a modernization and licensure-efficiency bill to increase the supply of CPAs; an amendment correcting a drafting error and restoring automatic mobility language was adopted without objection, and the bill as amended was reported favorably. A public comment on the bill was briefly redirected after it appeared to address a different subject. The committee then took up SB 200 on utilities, which addresses solar decommissioning and storm protection plans. Chair Bradley said the bill would authorize counties to require decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar facilities at the end of their useful life, direct DEP to develop best management practices, and require the Public Service Commission to consider whether storm protection plan costs are reasonable relative to expected customer benefits. County and consumer groups spoke in support, and the Small County Coalition said the bill was a needed step that did not restrict solar development; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 126 on the Florida Public Service Commission, which was presented as a reform and “glitch” bill and amended to add CPA and financial analyst expertise, require stronger PSC order explanations, tighten intervention requirements, cap returns on equity at the national average for comparable utilities, set periodic ROE review schedules, and require affordability to be considered in rate-related proceedings. The PSC staff deputy executive director answered extensive questions about storm hardening, cost recovery, risk, and affordability. Several members and public speakers supported the bill’s goals but raised concerns about the affordability standard, the ROE cap, and comparisons to other states; others said the bill would improve transparency and accountability. The amendment was adopted, and CS for SB 126 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Are the state parks open right now? Are the state parks open right now?
• However, the state society said that was too arduous for New Hampshire because we're a smaller state.
• It would be fine for a larger state like Texas or California, but we have a smaller population.
• It would be fine for a larger state<00:24:19.840><c> like</c><00:24:20.080><c> Texas</c><00:24:20.400
• Texas or California but we state like Texas or California but we have<00:24:21.679><c> a</c><00:24:21.760

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with routine business, approving the prior meeting minutes and adopting the consent calendar without objection. It then postponed the Board of Licensed Dieticians and the Board of Accountancy items to next month, with a waiver granted for the dieticians item so it could be carried over. The committee also noted that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources interim rule would be discussed further, and staff flagged a specific concern about authority over kindling size for category 3 fires under NCR 5601.04. The Board of Registry and Optometry received conditional approval. Staff said the board had addressed editorial comments, but raised one substantive issue about the drug formulary: the statute requires posting it online but does not clearly exempt it from rulemaking, suggesting a possible legislative carveout may be needed. The committee agreed to add that issue to a list of legislative suggestions for later consideration. The DNCR interim fire rule was the main contested item. Committee members and staff discussed whether the rule exceeded authority by regulating kindling for category 3 fires, and the agency explained that the regular rules had expired and interim rules were needed quickly for public safety and permit enforcement. The committee ultimately granted conditional approval on the interim rule 25-4, with the understanding that the agency would continue regular rulemaking and address the objection. The Board of Examiners’ dental rules were then reviewed. The agency explained that it revised the rules to address prior concerns about anesthesia and sedation for children, including a pathway for oral surgeons and dentist anesthesiologists to obtain exemptions for under-13 patients, a pediatric minimal sedation permit, and a moderate sedation permit with pediatric qualification. Members also discussed whether the rules were consistent with House Bill 470; staff and members concluded they appeared compatible and would not require additional rulemaking. The committee approved the dental rules, and then adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:23.800><c> my</c> part of the United States my part of the United States my grandfather's<
• </c> and Native American families face state and Native American families face state sponsored<01:06:
• </c><03:26:35.600><c> of</c> Services and research in the state of Services and research in the state
• </c> thousands of border patrol agents Texas thousands of border patrol agents Texas state<07:10:43.638
• Every state became a border state, including my home state of Wisconsin.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It became a state hospital. It used to be run by the feds. The state took it over.
• We're talking about 200 million to 280 million to equip all of the crossings. across the state.
• So this fund will really help our smaller cities and railroads across the state. Thank you.
• It does list the exceptions of like to carry out a function of the state agency. required.
• Which connects New Mexico 404 to the Texas state line.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I tried to get into our databases, Minnesota and 20 other states, 21 total at first, and then other states
• </c><00:02:52.840><c> 21</c> Minnesota and 20 20 other states 21 Minnesota and 20 20 other states 21
• Dealing with nation-state actors, no one state can be a match for them. They just can't.
• state statute.
• </c> leave a state agency head of a state leave a state agency head of a state agency<01:30:29.639><c

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:12.959><c> of</c> their graduation rate in the state of their graduation rate in the state
• <00:59:22.480><c> know,</c><00:59:23.359><c> renowned</c> state, a state, as you know, renowned state
• employees in this state.
• employees in this state.
• employees in this state.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to care in the state of Kentucky. to care in the state of Kentucky.
• </c> would be to the state. would be to the state.
• </c> great opportunity for the state great opportunity for the state legislator,<01:20:10.640><c> state
• states? states?
• legislatures or state their state legislatures or state executive<01:47:24.880><c> branches</c><01:47

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and housekeeping, including moving standing attendees to an overflow room and asking the audience to avoid interruptions. The task force then heard testimony from Allison Adams of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who presented statewide health trend data showing Kentucky ranked 41st overall and 44th in health outcomes, with especially poor performance on premature death, chronic disease, diabetes, and vaccination rates. She emphasized that Kentucky has the highest rates of residents with multiple chronic conditions, that diabetes remains above the national average, and that childhood immunization rates have worsened. She also highlighted major provider shortages in rural areas, noting that 43 of 120 counties meet shortage criteria and that more than half of primary care providers are concentrated in Fayette and Jefferson counties. Adams urged the task force to focus on prevention, early intervention, access to care, physical activity, and healthier school and community environments, and said the foundation is prepared to share results from its demonstration projects. Task force members asked follow-up questions about the age range for chronic-condition data and whether the diabetes figure reflected type 1 or type 2 diabetes; Adams said the chronic-condition measure spans all ages and that the diabetes figure likely reflects type 2, though she offered to provide the full report. The task force then approved the minutes from the prior meeting. The committee next turned to SNAP benefits and heard from Lisa Dennis, commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, and Roger McCann, director of the Division of Family Support. They explained that SNAP is not only a food assistance program but also a public health and family stability tool, arguing that poor diet contributes to chronic disease and that food insecurity is linked to family stress, child welfare involvement, and neglect-related CPS referrals. They cited research showing that more generous SNAP policies are associated with fewer CPS reports, fewer substantiated reports, and fewer foster care placements, and said SNAP helps reduce risk and promote stability across vulnerable populations including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. They also described SNAP-Ed as the nutrition education component that teaches healthy eating, cooking on a budget, and how to use fresh produce, but warned that recent federal legislation eliminates federal funding for SNAP-Ed beginning in federal fiscal year 2026. McCann outlined the remaining SNAP outreach and employment-and-training components, noting that outreach is typically run by nonprofits with a 50% match and that employment and training funds job-skills programs to help recipients move toward better jobs and self-sufficiency. The discussion emphasized that access to nutritious food, education, and job supports are all part of improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:53.199><c> the</c><00:12:53.360><c> third</c> library the third library the third component<00
• The way current state law works is that the state must be a pass-through for these federal funds, and
• The way current state law works is that the state must be a pass-through for these federal funds, and
• Why do we do the state come off?
• Fund match, $8,846,360; Superfund State match, $829,000; and Clean Water State Revolving Fund State

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25A, the capital improvements appropriations bill, which Representative David Mills said was based on Governor Ayotte’s budget and included appropriations for capital improvements and extensions of prior appropriation lapses. The hearing drew testimony on several requested additions to the bill, with the chair noting the unusually large turnout and moving quickly through speakers. No questions were taken on the initial bill presentation, and the public hearing on HB 25A was later closed. The Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million, including $800,000 for IT infrastructure, $1.3 million for critical maintenance, and $500,000 for energy management systems. The witness said the money would address cybersecurity and online learning needs, replace failing boilers and a roof at several campuses, and prevent costly damage such as frozen pipes. The New Hampshire Veterans Home requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements, including floor replacement and wider doors, citing an upcoming VA inspection and the importance of preserving federal funding. Testimony also focused on career and technical education and airport funding. Milford CTE sought to keep $9.9 million in the budget for renovations after a local vote fell short, explaining the project had been scaled down from an earlier $60 million concept and that the school board wanted another chance to seek voter approval. On aviation, Concord, the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and Department of Transportation representatives urged restoring state matching funds for FAA airport grants, saying roughly $3.6 million in state money would leverage about $62 million to $65 million in federal funds for safety and infrastructure projects at public airports. Committee members asked about project selection, matching requirements, and the airport priority process, and witnesses said the program is driven by FAA-approved capital improvement plans and safety needs rather than business-return rankings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> comprehensive analysis requires State comprehensive analysis requires State data<00:10:18.320><c
• resources and state data.
• Revenue due to theft while the State Revenue due to theft while the State lost<00:13:23.720><c> $100<
• </c> Superior analysis necessitates State Superior analysis necessitates State resources<00:14:16.519
• ><c> this</c><00:14:18.000><c> will</c> resources and state data while this will resources and state

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that uh Governor walls and the State that uh Governor walls and the State Medicaid<00:04:25.000>
• We operate in both states.
• that we work in we work in over states that we work in we work in over 45<00:26:33.640><c> States</c
• </c><00:26:58.399><c> of</c> the state of Minnesota um state of the state of Minnesota um state of Wisconsin
• That's not the state I live in. I hope it's not the state that we live in right now.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> need of services people the state need of services people the state committed<00:03:22.760><c> to
• </c> the state the state legislature<00:20:20.360><c> um</c><00:20:20.919><c> I</c><00:20:21.159><c>
• <00:24:47.360><c> my</c><00:24:47.600><c> final</c><00:24:48.480><c> um</c> library my final um library
• The state grants are critical in helping the MPTA... states and we think that's a good thing states and
• </c> you Mr he uh miss me um please state you Mr he uh miss me um please state your<01:21:45.679><c>

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all