Transcript Highlights:

• some service, and it is not apparent that it is performing this governmental function.
• >> It would be, I would say, subparagraph three, and for any entity that is performing a governmental
• a governmental function on as performing a governmental function on its<00:24:35.760><c> forward-f</
• </c><00:25:28.960><c> these</c> been in contract or performing these been in contract or performing these
• </c> persons, company or entity performing persons, company or entity performing any<00:52:44.800><c>

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division A

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The emergency management performance grant period of performance was less than three years prior.
• Our goals and key performance metrics: we had some foresight to understand what was going on with the
• Our goals and key performance metrics, we had some foresight to understand what was going on with the
• The Emergency Management Performance Grant is the biggest impact of our request.
• We've adjusted that down for FY27 to account for the loss of the Emergency Management Performance Grant

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The committee held a budget hearing for the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, with Director Annie Verst presenting the agency’s FY26/FY27 request and explaining the agency’s role in disaster response, recovery, preparedness, and mitigation. She said OEM remains a lean agency focused on coordinating resources for local governments, supporting recovery after disasters, and helping communities build resilience. She highlighted recent activity including wildfire response, multiple fire management assistance declarations, $83 million in public assistance payouts, use of the new state disaster revolving fund, and implementation of an Oklahoma resilient recovery strategy and ARPA-funded rural public safety grants. Verst emphasized uncertainty in federal funding and FEMA operations, saying hazard mitigation assistance has been canceled for the first time since 1988, some obligations were delayed under DHS’s “Defend the Spend” review, and the emergency management performance grant period was shortened before later being resolved. She said OEM has restructured by eliminating obsolete administrative work, repurposing positions to regional coordinators, ending warehouse leases, and assigning fleet vehicles more efficiently. Her budget request included $3.7 million to cover a possible loss of federal operating support, $1 million for a required state hazard mitigation plan update, $3.8 million for the state emergency fund to cover anticipated 12.5% state shares and replenish prior expenditures, and $800,000 for anticipated other-needs/temporary sheltering cost share. Members questioned her about Oklahoma Task Force One, the revolving fund, and whether OEM is shifting toward a response-focused agency. Verst said response remains local and OEM’s role is coordination, recovery, and mitigation, not replacing local emergency management. She explained Task Force One is used when local capacity is exceeded, is not currently funded by OEM for routine operations, and the revolving fund helps bridge reimbursement delays. She also said the hazard mitigation plan update would likely be done by an outside contractor or university partner. No votes were taken; the hearing ended after questions and thanks from the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• and performed correctly.
• It is also about protecting local repairs are actually performed and performed correctly.
• the repairs, verify the repairs when I'm done, and perform proper documentation of the repair.
• Verify the repairs when I'm done, perform proper documentation of the repair.
• There's a process for time, done, perform proper documentation of the repair.

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so at this time, we're evaluating the RFI responses to move forward with a vendor to do this work
• We do management evaluations with the counties where we review cases.
• It's what we think is appropriate, but hear you that we evaluate the budget on an ongoing basis.
• see, year two... ...I think it's easier to do that versus doing the opposite of, let's remove, re-evaluate
• Implement those ABOD time limit management evaluations statewide, including 1,000 case reviews that are

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extended briefing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on Medi-Cal and CalFresh, followed by testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and county officials. DHCS described major Medi-Cal changes in H.R. 1, including work/community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, reduced federal matching for some emergency services, narrower immigrant eligibility, reduced retroactive coverage, and limits on provider taxes and directed payments. CDSS outlined CalFresh changes, especially the expanded able-bodied adults without dependents time limit, reduced exemptions and waivers, and the new federal-state-county administrative cost split. Both departments emphasized implementation plans, automation, outreach, and county coordination, while acknowledging significant expected coverage losses and administrative burden. The LAO and an independent policy expert discussed how H.R. 1 could increase demand on county indigent care systems and public hospitals as people lose Medi-Cal. They reviewed the history of county indigent care, 1991 realignment, and AB 85, explaining that counties already rely on a patchwork of funding and that current realignment revenues are often used for public health rather than indigent care. They warned that counties may face large increases in uninsured residents, with wide variation in how counties respond, and raised concerns about equity, financing, and whether a more standardized state-county program should be created. Committee members pressed witnesses on county funding, exemptions, homelessness, older adults, undocumented residents, and the effect of administrative burden versus true ineligibility. County representatives from Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Tulare, and San Bernardino described the expected local impacts and asked for additional state support. They said H.R. 1 would drive major losses in Medi-Cal and CalFresh enrollment, increase uncompensated care, strain eligibility staff, and worsen homelessness and food insecurity. Several counties urged the Legislature to fund eligibility workers, preserve enrollment, and consider a CalFresh match waiver; Santa Clara and San Bernardino also cited local tax measures and staffing reductions already underway. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so at this time, we're evaluating the RFI responses to move forward with a vendor to do this work
• We do management evaluations with the counties, where we review cases.
• It's what we think is appropriate, but hear you that we evaluate the budget on an ongoing basis.
• the implementation of the ABOD time limit, which requires dedicated ABOD time limit management evaluations
• Implement those ABOD time limit management evaluations statewide, including 1,000 case reviews that are

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the upcoming key performance enhancements include the expansion of data reporting capabilities
• There were only about four to five transactions that a customer could perform online.
• The goal was to improve system performance and functionality by establishing...
• The goal was to improve system performance and functionality by establishing an integrated, modular,
• The goal was to improve system performance and functionality by establishing an integrated, modular,

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:25:54.880><c> acting,</c> singing, and vocal performance, acting, singing, and vocal performance
• </c><00:26:29.600><c> Uh</c> Performing Arts. Thank you so much. Uh Performing Arts.
• Performing Arts and I work with my four Performing Arts and I work with my four sisters<00:27:08.240>
• </c><00:27:13.279><c> and</c> artists and professional performers and artists and professional performers
• </c> provide new opportunities for performers provide new opportunities for performers to<01:01:02.640

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:24.159><c> performing</c><00:01:24.640><c> their</c><00:01:24.880><c> duties.
• </c> while perform performing their duties. while perform performing their duties.
• The bill would make assaulting an HRA employee or agent while they're performing their official duties
• </c><00:04:24.880><c> their</c><00:04:25.120><c> official</c> while they're performing their official
• while they're performing their official duties<00:04:26.080><c> a</c><00:04:26.320><c> gross</c><00:

Bills: HF4141 , HF3951

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing authority, criminal penalty, assault, public safety, redevelopment, submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the bill prohibits wagers on the performance or non-performance of an individual athlete who
• And I'm wondering if you have any thoughts on a similar prop bet ban, but on officials' performance,
• Washington collegiate officials' performance.
• I'm wondering what your thoughts would be on including Washington officials' performance during a match
• In particular, it clearly prohibits wagers on the performance of individual in-state college athletes

Bills: SB6084 , SB6137 , SCR8406 , SB5892 , SB5863

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• bit, and the bill would allow utilities to request access to private, state, or local property to perform
• mitigation work tied to approved plans. ...or local property to perform mitigation work tied to approved
• Condition on the receipt of funds, condition on performance?
• And I go and I buy a new car, and that's the performance.
• I mean, I don't exactly understand the condition on performance, how that works. Thank you, Mr.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the ability to perform vegetation management, the ability to get access to your lines.
• Condition on the receipt of funds, condition on performance?
• Conditions on performance?
• And I go and I buy a new car and that's the performance.
• I mean, I don't exactly understand the condition on performance, how that works. Thank you, Mr.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 55, which would expand New Mexico’s solar market development income tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal solar credit expired, raise the per-credit cap from $6,000 to $15,000, and keep the existing overall $30 million cap with a sunset in 2032. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would help stabilize the residential solar sector, protect jobs, and support consumers, small businesses, small agriculture, and tribal communities. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, though some members raised questions about fiscal capacity and the bill’s impact. The committee passed SB 55 on a 7-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 267, the Wildfire Mitigation and Liability Act, on a committee substitute. The bill would require utilities to file and maintain wildfire mitigation plans, obtain PRC approval, and receive a rebuttable presumption in civil actions if they substantially comply; it also includes access provisions for mitigation work on private and public property, cost recovery, damage limits, and a one-year statute of limitations. Utilities and co-op representatives supported the bill as a way to reduce wildfire risk and address rising insurance costs, while insurers, OSI, and wildfire-victim advocates opposed it, arguing it overly limits liability, shifts losses to homeowners and insurers, and does not fully compensate victims. Several committee members expressed concern about the liability standards, deemed approval, access to property, and the short limitations period, but the bill ultimately passed on an 8-3 vote after the chair corrected the motion and revote. Next, House Bill 320, the Industrial Carbon Reduction Act, was presented. It would create production incentives and capital grants for industrial materials made at least 40% cleaner than the industry average, with clawbacks for underperformance and competitive review by EDD and Environment. Supporters from the gas company and chambers of commerce said it uses performance-based incentives to encourage cleaner manufacturing, attract investment, and create jobs. One member raised an anti-donation clause concern, but the sponsor said the bill’s performance requirements and clawbacks address that issue. The committee passed HB 320 on a 10-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, a follow-up to last year’s wildlife agency reform bill. It would replace vetoed language by creating a process for a governor’s removal of a wildlife commissioner that includes notice, a hearing, and direct review by the New Mexico Supreme Court, while keeping the governor’s removal authority for cause. Ranching, angling, outfitter, and conservation groups supported the bill as a bipartisan fix that adds accountability and avoids political retaliation. Members asked about the removal process and direct Supreme Court review, and some who had initially been skeptical said the testimony changed their view. The bill was moving forward with support at the end of the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• performances.
• But there's... ...in case anyone wants to travel to the 27th to see these community performances, but
• So they just want to keep this community group performing where they can and throwing a bone to some
• local folks that want to see some cool performances by kids and others and not get dinged for it.
• to some local folks that want to see some cool performances by kids and others and not get dinged for

Summary: The committee began with a work session on aircraft fuel taxes, hearing from WSDOT Aviation about the FAA’s aviation fuel tax rules, Washington’s compliance history, and the potential consequences of noncompliance. WSDOT said the state has collected roughly $210 million in aviation fuel taxes since the federal compliance period began, and that FAA has questioned some of the state’s claimed offsets. Members asked about the federal authority behind the rules, who pays the taxes, and whether Boeing is affected. The committee then moved to public hearing on several bills tied to aviation fuel tax revenue. SB 5989 would redirect a small share of state sales and use tax on aircraft fuel to the aeronautics account and require reporting on airport project funding. Supporters, including port, airport, and pilot groups, said it was a measured step toward FAA compliance and airport investment; the bill’s staff summary said it would reduce general fund revenue and increase DOR costs. SB 5898 would redirect hazardous substance, petroleum products, and oil spill-related taxes on aircraft fuel to the aeronautics account. Supporters said it would bring Washington into compliance and help airports, while Ecology, counties, and ports warned it would significantly reduce MTCA and related environmental funding. SB 6240 would create a new noise and air quality mitigation account funded by a portion of hazardous substance tax revenue; airport and aviation groups opposed it as duplicative or noncompliant with FAA rules, while community and environmental advocates from Sea-Tac area cities supported it as a needed mitigation source. The committee also heard SB 6244, which would extend a hazardous substance tax exemption for certain pesticides used in Washington agriculture through 2038. Agricultural and logistics witnesses supported it as important for food security, storage, and competitiveness, and staff said it would have a small revenue loss and administrative cost. SB 6231, a governor-request bill, would repeal the sales tax exemption for data center refurbishments while keeping the exemption for original server equipment; OFM and local government groups supported it as a revenue-raising budget measure, while data center, labor, and business representatives opposed it, warning of lost investment, jobs, and competitiveness. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers; OFM supported it as an outdated preference, but pharmacies, wholesalers, and business groups argued the cost would be passed through to pharmacies, hospitals, insurers, and patients and could worsen pharmacy closures. The committee then heard SB 6220, which would narrow and clarify a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income homeownership property by allowing temporary community use and preserving the exemption when property is transferred to another exempt nonprofit. The sponsor said the bill was intended to let a community land trust host local performances without jeopardizing affordable housing plans. Finally, the committee heard SB 5880, which would allow blood and breath toxicology results to be admissible if tested by ISO/IEC 17025-certified labs, in addition to the state toxicologist process. Seattle’s city attorney supported it as a way to reduce a long toxicology backlog and speed DUI cases, while counties raised concerns about shifting costs to local governments and creating unequal access based on local resources. No votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not just about getting the personnel to perform the tox analysis and being able to testify to
• When testing is performed by an out-of-state laboratory or private clinic that refuses to participate
• I have performed the court-appointed duties of court visitor and guardian ad litem.
• I've been a guardian ad litem for approximately 19 years for adults, and have been performing duties
• We haven't heard today about our local law enforcement officers performing tactics in this manner.

Summary: The committee began with introductions and then heard Senate Bill 5865, which would repeal statutory garnishment answer forms and require use of Washington Pattern Forms Committee forms instead. Staff, the prime sponsor, and judges’ association witnesses said the bill is a technical fix that would make garnishment calculations more accurate and efficient without changing substantive law. A collectors’ association witness said the current statutory form can be used if needed until new forms are available and raised concerns about the timeliness of pattern form updates, but was open to working on language. The public hearing on SB 5865 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 5880, which would allow blood and breath toxicology results to be admissible if tested by an ISO/IEC 17025-certified or accredited forensic lab. The sponsor and supporters, including the Seattle city attorney and traffic safety experts, described severe backlogs at the state toxicology lab, with some DUI blood results taking many months or longer and cases expiring before charges can be filed. Counties, prosecutors, sheriffs, and defense representatives generally agreed the backlog is a serious problem, but several warned the bill could shift costs to local governments, create uneven access to private testing, and raise due process concerns unless discovery cooperation is required. The committee then closed the hearing on SB 5880. Senate Bill 5912 would reinstate the indigent defense task force to study Washington’s public defense system and report recommendations by 2028. Supporters from counties, cities, public defense offices, and tribal interests said the statewide shortage of defense attorneys and rising costs are straining local budgets and delaying access to counsel, especially in rural and eastern Washington. Some witnesses urged the bill be amended to add more stakeholder representation, including clients and practitioners, and cautioned that the task force should not delay immediate action on funding and caseload standards. The hearing on SB 5912 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5837, a broad update to guardianship, conservatorship, and protective arrangement procedures. The bill would lower the minimum age for a proposed guardian from 21 to 18, expand notice options, clarify appointment of counsel, and streamline service and hearing procedures. Testimony was largely supportive, especially from kinship caregivers, legal aid, and estate-law practitioners who said the bill would reduce costly publication requirements and improve access to justice, though some witnesses requested amendments on notice, waiver language, emergency procedures, and counsel provisions. The committee reported 40 pro and 70 con sign-ins on the bill, then moved on. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 5855, which would prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing facial coverings during public interactions except in limited circumstances such as undercover work, SWAT operations, or health and safety needs. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to increase transparency, accountability, and trust, especially for immigrant and marginalized communities, while opponents argued it could endanger officers, conflict with federal authority, and is tied to ongoing litigation over similar California legislation. Testimony was sharply divided, with some witnesses emphasizing public fear and trauma from masked officers and others arguing the bill would make officers more vulnerable and create constitutional problems. The hearing continued with additional public testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code, there is a requirement that the germane chairs invite the agency heads to talk about their performance
• measures to make sure that they are performing the duties to your good eyes and understanding and make
• measures to make sure that they are performing the duties to your good eyes and understanding and make
• It has to do with strategic planning and performance measures. Okay, thank you. You bet. All right.
• From December... ...he wasn't performing as strongly as we had expected.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• protects the identity of minors who are a victim in a case involving the use of minors in sexual performances
• protects the identity of minors who are a victim in a case involving the use of minors in sexual performances
• involving the use of minors in in a case involving the use of minors in sexual<00:05:03.560><c> performances
• </c><00:05:04.760><c> Those</c><00:05:04.960><c> are</c><00:05:05.040><c> in</c> sexual performances.
• Those are in sexual performances.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Are allowed to perform injections under the supervision of a licensed physician.
• There have been an increase in unauthorized and unsafe injections being performed by ethnicians on friends
• As a result, regulatory agencies are unable to pursue disciplinary actions against such who perform unauthorized
• Employees to perform mold assessments and remediation activities under the supervision of a license holder
• strengthen advisory board duties, and repealing the provision that allows unlicensed individuals to perform

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• While under current law, ethicists and cosmetologists are allowed to perform injections. supervision
• of a licensed physician, there have been an increase in unauthorized and unsafe injections being performed
• As a result, regulatory agencies are unable to pursue disciplinary actions against such who perform.
• Current law unnecessarily requires mobile protocols that delay. and rebuilding efforts. employees to perform
• strengthen advisory board duties, and repealing the provision that allows unlicensed individuals to perform

Bills: HB2450 , SB378 , SB764 , SB917 , SB1254 , SB1255

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, we are seeking detailed answers to questions including: how did the department evaluate
• It requires follow-through and evaluation.
• It requires follow-through<00:09:17.760><c> and</c><00:09:17.920><c> evaluation.
• So let me follow-through and evaluation.
• , evaluating outcomes, and determining<00:10:10.480><c> whether</c><00:10:10.800><c> adjustments</c><

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• creative workspace for individual artists to create their work and for organizations and artists to perform
• Murals, installations, and performances express our values about wildlife, diversity, climate change,
• around the world and across the Commonwealth, a place where choreography has been created, studied, performed
• We are losing those, and it is even harder for us to find spaces to perform, which impacts our ability
• We've seen hundreds of artists, both visual and musical and other performing artists, leave Massachusetts

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development held a hearing on October 21, opening with a moment of silence for former committee chair Senator Edward Kennedy. Chairs Senator Paul Mark and Representative Sean Garballey then heard testimony on several bills related to tourism funding, arts infrastructure, public art, Native heritage, and a choreographer laureate. A major focus was legislation to require earlier distribution of regional tourism council grants from the Tourism Trust Fund, with testimony from regional tourism leaders from North of Boston, Metro West, Cape Cod, and Senator Joan Lovely. Witnesses said delayed grant allocations make it difficult to plan fall, winter, and shoulder-season marketing, and they argued that an October 1 or September 1 deadline would help preserve tourism’s economic impact without increasing appropriations. They cited tourism’s role in jobs, tax revenue, and regional economic development, especially for smaller and less prominent tourism regions. The committee also heard strong support for the Creative Space Act and the PLACE Act, which would help municipalities preserve affordable creative workspace and create a public art funding mechanism tied to state construction projects. Testimony from MassCreative, MAPC, arts organizations, muralists, and local arts leaders emphasized loss of workspace, displacement of artists, and the economic and community benefits of public art. Additional testimony supported bills to protect Native American heritage by preventing the sale of funerary and sacred objects in public or nonprofit collections, and a bill to establish a first-in-the-nation choreographer laureate of the Commonwealth. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• select scholarship funding organizations and hold scholarship funding organizations to specific performance
• requirements and require them to establish user-friendly operating... ...performance requirements and
• Right now, you know, there is performance, but there are not always performance requirements, and as
• a consequence there has been some ragged performance, candidly.
• And that plan has to include competitive selection, and it has to include specific performance requirements

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 executive appointments. After explanation by Ethics and Elections Chair Don Gates, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties losing population, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care measures. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health provisions in light of a new federal rural health grant and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties spoke in support, while also asking about eligibility and access to grant funds. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General concerns 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 plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision for later conforming legislation and changes to enrollment documentation and withdrawal procedures. Senators from both parties supported the bill while raising concerns about accountability, student oversight, and school quality. The bill passed 38-0. Afterward, the Senate waived rules so SB 250 and CS/SB 318 could be immediately certified to the House. The session ended with announcements, including Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and a reminder about the chamber group photograph, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled meeting.