Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill: An act amending the means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption in

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we will go into the bill and then we'll have a test fires, members questions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1497, Classical Learning Test Examinations. Education.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder anyone present wishing to test before the committee, please register at the kiosk located

Bills: HB451 , HB645 , HB 1041 , HB 1151 , HB 1155 , HB1536 , HCR12 , HCR12

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are aligning, as the legislature authorized a classical learning test as an entrance exam, qualified

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard two bills. First, it considered Senate Bill 312 relating to the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. The committee took up a strike-all amendment and then a secondary amendment offered by Senator Fine to clarify that the current University of West Florida Board of Trustees chair would have no role in the organization. Members described the changes as friendly, and both amendments were adopted. The bill, as amended, was then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1624 on higher education, which was presented as a broad higher-education package. The bill would set market-rate out-of-state fees for nonresident online students, revise financial aid and support program language, provide tuition and fee waivers for Florida State Guard members, change rules for adult and career education programs, redirect certain workforce-related funds, rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough State College, rename the Florida Educational Equity Act as the Florida Educational Equality Act, adjust appointments to certain boards and councils, update admissions and scholarship references to include the classical learning test, broaden the definition of opioid antagonist, repeal a grandparent-based out-of-state fee waiver, and strengthen FIU’s Office of Ocean Economy. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The meeting concluded after both measures were approved and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a psych test. never know how long it's going to be. never know how long it's going to be.
• And we do uh, we have to do psychological pre-testing before we hire anybody.
• And that's tested through, uh, evaluated by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.
• ><c> evaluated</c><01:26:33.840><c> by</c><01:26:33.960><c> a</c> that's tested through uh evaluated
• by a that's tested through uh evaluated by a licensed<01:26:34.560><c> psychologist</c><01:26:35.200>

Committee: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would it be means-tested in any way?
• Yes, it is means-tested, and the owner would have to provide an estimate first.
• Yes, it is means-tested, and the owner would have to provide an estimate first.
• Would it be means-tested in any way?
• Yes, it is means-tested, and the owner would have to provide an estimate first.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.

Transcript Highlights:

• enable individuals with a master's degree in veterinary clinical care to perform certain veterinary tests
• We don't require private schools to give the assessment test that we require in public schools.
• In 2026, we have over 110 confirmed cases with tests still pending, and it's only March.
• I know many people who have been injured, and there are DNA factors that should be tested for in order
• things that you may want to consider is how many childhood vaccines on the schedule were actually tested

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• enable individuals with a master's degree in veterinary clinical care to perform certain veterinary tests
• We don't require private schools to give the assessment test that we require in public schools.
• In 2026, we have over 110 confirmed cases with tests still pending, and it's only March.
• I know many people who have been injured, and there are DNA factors that should be tested for in order
• things that you may want to consider is how many childhood vaccines on the schedule were actually tested

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requires TB screening but does not clearly outline a process when incarcerated individuals refuse testing
• This</c><00:10:46.160><c> bill</c><00:10:46.480><c> clarifies</c><00:10:47.120><c> both</c> refuse testing
• This bill clarifies both refuse testing.
• It also updates the statute to reflect modern, medically accepted TB testing methods.
• texting with my I was actually just test texting with my testifiers<01:06:04.079><c> about</c><01:06

Bills: HF3405 , HF3413 , HF3769 , HF3768 , HF3771 , HF3465

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Use of Force Investigations Unit, federal agents, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, officer-involved death, use of force, law enforcement accountability, police oversight, independent investigation, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers

Transcript Highlights:

• Every time they're like, "We need a new test," I'm like, "Who's the test vendor?"
• </c><01:37:12.480><c> I'm</c> they're like, "We need a new test."
• I'm they're like, "We need a new test."
• I'm like, "Who's<01:37:13.040><c> the</c><01:37:13.119><c> test</c><01:37:13.360><c> vendor?"
• </c><01:37:14.080><c> These</c> like, "Who's the test vendor?" These like, "Who's the test vendor?"

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.

Transcript Highlights:

• and identifying the person responsible for referring the student athlete for further evaluation and testing
• The heart is a complex organ and there's no single test that can detect all indicators of heart conditions
• </c><00:19:46.720><c> Um</c><00:19:47.360><c> we</c> further evaluation and testing.
• Um we further evaluation and testing.
• </c> complex organ and there's no single test complex organ and there's no single test that<00:20:56.799

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third is construction and testing.
• projects, it looks like construction could begin at some point in 2027, with, uh, you know, possible testing
• Third is construction and testing.
• Third is construction and testing.
• Third is construction and testing.

Committee: Senate Capital Budget

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my mom's case, we did go through cognitive testing.
• figure out where things were, her mental status, nothing was ever definitively diagnosable based on her test
• 58:56.800><c> the</c><01:58:57.040><c> we</c><01:58:57.159><c> knew</c><01:58:57.320><c> there</c> testing
• we didn't at the we knew there testing we didn't at the we knew there had<01:58:57.599><c> been</c><
• </c> diagnosable basing based on her test diagnosable basing based on her test results<01:59:13.960><

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work with the DEES and we do monthly sampling of water from our lake, and it gets tested in the labs
• lake and we bring it down here and it lake and we bring it down here and it gets<00:30:08.159><c> tested
• in the labs very e very aly gets tested in the labs very e very aly run<00:30:11.279><c> by</c><00:30
• and</c><00:33:35.840><c> and</c><00:33:36.159><c> assessed</c><00:33:36.480><c> at</c> year to be tested
• and and assessed at year to be tested and and assessed at state<00:33:36.960><c> labs</c><00:33:37.679

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are the last 60 or 80 projects you don't fund, do they kind of fail and not meet the test, or is it that
• will lead to the production of various kinds of products; experimentation to validate it from the test
• tube few grams to kilog from the test tube few grams to kilog stages<01:32:46.000><c> and</c><01:32:
• Just a fantastic story of young people developing entrepreneurial places by doing those types of tests
• Just a fantastic story of young people developing entrepreneurial places by doing those types of tests

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

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to work with MnDOT and MDA on a hemp erosion control project where we worked with MnDOT and had a test
• mot</c><01:09:41.000><c> and</c><01:09:41.080><c> had</c><01:09:41.199><c> a</c><01:09:41.359><c> test
• </c> where we worked with mot and had a test where we worked with mot and had a test site<01:09:41.719
• </c><01:12:17.960><c> their</c><01:12:18.120><c> machines</c> to move forward and test their machines
• to move forward and test their machines against<01:12:19.199><c> some</c><01:12:19.320><c> of</c><01

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

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: HB2979 , HB3790 , HB3142 , HB3463 , HB4143 , HJR1086 , SB392 , HB3087 , HB3037 , HB3581 , HB4058 , HB2959 , HB4227 , HB2997 , HB4125 , HB1453 , HB3521 , HB3691 , HB2015 , HB2940 , HB1016 , HB3267 , HB3695 , HB3697 , HB3045 , HB3662 , HB3453 , HB3053 , HB3301 , HB3495 , HB3584 , HB3586 , HB3587 , HB3845 , HB4198 , HB4425 , HB2970 , HB3338 , HB3443 , HB3783 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB1242 , HB1752 , HB2961 , HB2967 , HB2973 , HB2988 , HB3031 , HB3240 , HB3047 , HB3052 , HB3066 , HB3086 , HB3175 , HB3177 , HB3178 , HB3429 , HB3548 , HB3638 , HB3404 , HB3704 , HB1590 , HB3759 , HB3831 , HB3904 , HB4092 , HB1979 , HB1983 , HB1250 , HB2952 , HB3671 , HB3920 , HB4118 , HB3944 , HB3969 , HB3973 , HB3975 , HB3976 , HB3978 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3942 , HB4203 , HB2588 , HB3024 , HB3383 , HB3279 , HB3919 , HB3883 , HB4193 , HB3431 , HB3435 , HB4352 , HB4484 , HB1245 , HB3172 , HB3306 , HB4294 , HB3880 , HB2929 , HB3128 , HB2956 , HB3015 , HB3114 , HB3567 , HB3749 , HB4229 , HB4237 , HB4253 , HJR1046 , HJR1084 , HB3411

Keywords: HB2979, Talyn Bain Act, school zone, school safety, speed limit, 45 mph, state highway, Department of Transportation, ODOT, flashing beacons, traffic enforcement, speeding violation, public school, private school, K-12, drop-off, pick-up, highway safety, municipal maintenance, county commissioners

Bills: HB2979 , HB3790 , HB3142 , HB3463 , HB4143 , HJR1086 , SB392 , HB3087 , HB3037 , HB3581 , HB4058 , HB2959 , HB4227 , HB2997 , HB4125 , HB1453 , HB3521 , HB3691 , HB2015 , HB2940 , HB1016 , HB3267 , HB3695 , HB3697 , HB3045 , HB3662 , HB3453 , HB3053 , HB3301 , HB3495 , HB3584 , HB3586 , HB3587 , HB3845 , HB4198 , HB4425 , HB2970 , HB3338 , HB3443 , HB3783 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB1242 , HB1752 , HB2961 , HB2967 , HB2973 , HB2988 , HB3031 , HB3240 , HB3047 , HB3052 , HB3066 , HB3086 , HB3175 , HB3177 , HB3178 , HB3429 , HB3548 , HB3638 , HB3404 , HB3704 , HB1590 , HB3759 , HB3831 , HB3904 , HB4092 , HB1979 , HB1983 , HB1250 , HB2952 , HB3671 , HB3920 , HB4118 , HB3944 , HB3969 , HB3973 , HB3975 , HB3976 , HB3978 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3942 , HB4203 , HB2588 , HB3024 , HB3383 , HB3279 , HB3919 , HB3883 , HB4193 , HB3431 , HB3435 , HB4352 , HB4484 , HB1245 , HB3172 , HB3306 , HB4294 , HB3880 , HB2929 , HB3128 , HB2956 , HB3015 , HB3114 , HB3567 , HB3749 , HB4229 , HB4237 , HB4253 , HJR1046 , HJR1084 , HB3411

Keywords: HB2979, Talyn Bain Act, school zone, school safety, speed limit, 45 mph, state highway, Department of Transportation, ODOT, flashing beacons, traffic enforcement, speeding violation, public school, private school, K-12, drop-off, pick-up, highway safety, municipal maintenance, county commissioners

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, heard an invocation from Chaplain Ronnie Wilson, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Representative Alonzo Sandoval. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Faulkner, and several guest groups in the galleries, including visitors from Ireland, ABATE, Darnaby Elementary student council members, and students from High Plains Technology. Members then considered several bills. HB 2979, directing the Department of Transportation to establish 45-mile-per-hour school zones on certain highways near schools, passed 85-0. HB 3790, a consumer protection measure allowing homeowners to cancel certain contracts within five business days, passed 82-0. HB 3142, an industry-request bill on liquefied petroleum gas that also drew questions about food truck permitting and inspection fees, passed 65-22. HB 3463, updating municipal audit procedures for small communities and codifying modern agreed-upon procedures, passed 89-0 and also received the required emergency vote. HB 4143, which raises the accident-reporting threshold from $300 to $3,000 before police involvement is required, passed by a large margin. The House also adopted a motion to suspend House Rule 4.4F to allow denim on the floor on specified dates in 2026, by a vote of 79-9. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings, caucus events, and a devotional, and one member thanked colleagues for concern after a bus accident involving Elgin Public School students. The House then adjourned until Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Bills: SB2138 , SB2054 , SB2987 , SB2908 , SB2702 , SB2924 , SB3248 , SB2635 , SB3127 , SB3001 , SB2294 , SB2037 , SB2797 , SB2765 , SB2961 , SB2210 , SB2948 , SB3108 , SB3240 , SB2045 , SB2675 , SB2338 , SB2451 , SB2552 , SB2553 , SB3089 , SB3176 , SB3285 , SB2234 , SB2219 , SB2312 , SB2336 , SB2343 , SB2849 , SB2928 , SB2930 , SB3332 , SB2927 , SB2983 , SB2906 , SB2353 , SB2848 , SB2340 , SB2845 , SB3246 , SB3077 , SB3254 , SB2934 , SB2571 , SB2248 , SB2471 , SB2298 , SB2413 , SB2425 , SB3045 , SB2843 , SB2595 , SB2907 , SB3204 , SB2311 , SB2532 , SB2528 , SB2313 , SB3300 , SB2530 , SB2693 , SB2010 , SB3156 , SB2697 , SB2991 , SB3153 , SB2812 , SB2527 , SB2376 , SB3081 , SB3218 , SB3219 , SB3333 , SB2232 , SB2192 , SB2378 , SB2070 , SB3011 , SB2676 , SB2957 , SB2434 , SB2673 , SB3301 , SB2247 , SB2453 , SB2457 , SB2075 , SB2811 , SB2601 , SB2258 , SB2612 , SB3263 , SB3261 , SB3334 , SB2613

Keywords: SB2138, Hawaii National Guard, state tuition assistance, STAP, graduate degree, graduate education, tuition assistance, University of Hawaii, UH, Department of Defense, adjutant general, enlisted personnel, warrant officers, company grade officers, military education, veterans benefits, higher education, state residency, professional development, retention