Transcript Highlights:

• We are pleased to have with us today my friend Rabbi Yosei Harlig with Habad Center of Kendall, at the
• Rabbi Yosei Harlig with Habad Center of Kendall, at the invitation of Representative Blanco.
• We also pray for the safety and security of Israel and for all who seek peace.
• We are pleased to welcome our South Atlantic Regional Director, the Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell,
• By Government Operations Subcommittee and Representative Sapp, House Bill 703, a bill to be entitled

Summary: The House convened for opening-day business, with prayer, a moment of silence for Captain Bill Guston, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum established. The Speaker outlined a budget message emphasizing reduced spending and a proposed permanent 0.75% sales tax cut, and the chamber then received the Governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001. Members moved to reinstate several vetoed appropriations, including the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1, the Department of Corrections automated staffing/time management system, and Baldwin sewer and water main work; each reinstatement passed unanimously. The House also adopted a special order calendar and special amendment procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. On the special order calendar, several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including Lucy’s Law on boating safety (CS/CS/CS/HB 289), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process. These measures focused on boating safety, water infrastructure, utility-rate fairness, school walking safety, and procedural civil-law updates. A major floor debate centered on HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “Free Kill Law” limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-awaited justice measure for families who lost adult children or unmarried relatives to medical malpractice, while opponents were not recorded in the final vote tally; the bill passed 104-6 after extensive emotional testimony from sponsors and affected families. The chamber also heard a lengthy, highly divided debate on HB 759, which would lower the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18. Supporters argued the current law is inconsistent with adult rights and responsibilities and cited constitutional precedent, while opponents emphasized Parkland, youth gun violence, and public-safety concerns; the transcript ends during continued debate on that bill, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• CalVet operates in eight long-term care facilities from as far north as Reading to as far south as Chula
• We operate three state veteran cemeteries in the north near Redding, in the central coast near Monterey
• , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
• Co-located with VA regional offices in Oakland, LA, and San Diego.
• The illicit market continues to operate in the state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• region?
• region? Go Thank </font> <font color="aaaaaa">you. Mister Chair.
• region? Go Thank </font> <font color="aaaaaa">you. Mister Chair.
• ">Region.
• aaaaaa">Region.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you could run it without an operator or with an operator.
• So you could run it without an operator or with an operator.
• So you could run it without an operator or with an operator.
• can operate.
• can operate.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> into profit centers. into profit centers.
• ,</c> If that firearm is not properly secured, If that firearm is not properly secured, what<05:49:41.760
• We have an unarmed campus security.
• </c><05:50:56.080><c> in</c> with local law local campus security in with local law local campus security
• </c> relative to municipal data center relative to municipal data center zoning.<07:01:19.200><c> Having

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:09:25.960><c> location,</c> impact prices um by region, location, impact prices um by region
• When you try to ban offshore operators.
• So I think it's just to make sure that they operate smoothly.
• </c><00:26:05.120><c> development</c> NDAs, tied to data center development NDAs, tied to data center
• </c><00:26:50.440><c> projects,</c> before approving data center projects, before approving data center

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As Operation Epic Fury is America.
• I'm applying for Social Security.
• >> Right now, it's at Verona. >> Okay, at the Ag Center out there?
• </c> event that they might need uh security event that they might need uh security there.<00:45:03.120
• </c> &gt;&gt; let's operate on today. &gt;&gt; let's operate on today.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 4 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> kids around poverty and food in security kids around poverty and food in security um<01:43:24.920
• Moreover, food security promotes academic success.
• We can't take the risk that children miss this possibility for food security.
• </c> their school day moreover food security their school day moreover food security promotes<03:18:23.560
• </c> federal grants into their operating federal grants into their operating budget<04:38:29.680><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:34:50.800><c> So</c><00:34:51.040><c> there</c> for our operating money.
• So there for our operating money.
• Um, what do you mean by a performance center?
• </c><00:55:42.960><c> So</c> their respective region of service.
• So their respective region of service.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard several Senate concurrent resolutions related to University of Hawaiʻi programs, audits, and workforce development. Testimony on SCR 50, which urged establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Maui campus, was strongly supportive, with witnesses citing the state’s nursing shortage and Maui’s acute physician and nurse shortages. The committee later recommended passage with a technical HD1 amendment, and the measure was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee also heard SCR 137, SCR 138, and SCR 142, all involving proposed audits. SCR 137 sought a performance audit of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation; the Foundation opposed it, and the chair recommended deferral after noting the legislative auditor’s view that the office lacks jurisdiction over the private nonprofit. SCR 138 proposed a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy, and SCR 142 proposed an audit of the UH Mānoa athletics department. UH representatives provided comments on both, with athletics explaining existing NCAA-required financial audits, internal performance evaluations, and a strategic plan that includes self-review. The committee ultimately recommended passage of SCR 138 and SCR 142 with technical HD1 amendments. For SCR 192, which proposed a veterinary medicine expansion working group, UH and other witnesses discussed the idea of exploring a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, but the chair said a community college is not the appropriate venue for a doctoral program. The committee recommended substantial HD1 changes removing Windward Community College from the title and shifting the effort to the UH system level, adding the UH president or designee and a Hilo campus representative to the working group; the amended resolution was adopted. The committee also heard SCR 193, calling for community colleges to identify bachelor’s degree and workforce pathways aligned with regional needs, and SCR 203, which sought exploration of an Alzheimer’s disease research center and federal funding requirements; both drew supportive comments and no opposition. The meeting recessed briefly for lack of quorum, then reconvened for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chelsea Jones and also a presentation from the University of Washington Election Database Center.
• I am a researcher with the Brennan Center for Justice.
• And at the Brennan Center for Justice, I do research on the impacts of voting.
• And so we're really focused on changing the way government operates to be better.
• And then if you are a person in the LGBTQ community, you are centered as well.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• secure bonding uh in the state.
• secure bonding uh in the state.
• </c> that is designed to help operators that is designed to help operators secure<00:02:45.760><c> bonding
• That's how business operates.
• That's how business operates.

Bills: SJ0001 , SF0017

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, forestry management, good neighbor authority, state lands, employee funding, donations, revolving account, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary Hatch the to take several key actions to conduct financial and operational audit to evaluate
• But as life and and watch how he operated mental health court and I saw patients clients who are going
• And I wholeheartedly agree, I think that out of the 7 regions, there are a lot of managing entities that
• These key provisions are one prioritize and dignity and patient-centered care, which was recommendation
• These are recommendations. recommendation. 24 and recommendation. 26 this bill also establishes a center

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Miami-Dade to a coffee cart because 911 operators were left out.
• in Miami Day to a coffee cart because 911 operators were left out.
• Monitoring requirements for regional stormwater management systems.
• A significant portion of it is from AI data centers and other super users.
• But we've had data centers here in the United States since the 1940s.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Miami-Dade to a coffee cart because 911 operators were left out.
• in Miami-Dade to a coffee cart because 911 operators were left out.
• in Miami Day to a coffee cart because 911 operators were left out.
• Monitoring requirements for regional stormwater management systems.
• But we've had data centers here in the United States since the 1940s.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several introductions and announcements before moving to a long special-order calendar. Early bills passed included a trust law measure allowing a nonjudicial process for trustee settlement and discharge, a military affairs bill expanding leave protections and retirement eligibility for certain Guard and Coast Guard-related public employees, a penny-rounding bill for cash transactions, a podiatric medicine bill restricting certain cellular/tissue-based products and adding notice and consent requirements, a veterans’ courts bill expanding access to those courts statewide, an RV assessment clarification bill, a military-installation jurisdiction bill giving juveniles on bases access to state juvenile justice resources, an alcohol-tax deduction bill restoring DBPR’s authority to allow deductions for unsellable alcohol, a bail bonds bill revising training, fees, remission timing, and electronic procedures, an eyewear insurance bill updating definitions for modern products, a nursing education fund bill expanding support to health science programs, a recovery residences bill streamlining regulation and background-check rules, a felony battery bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, a child welfare bill extending visitor definitions, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices repository, and a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and, via the House version, adding a name-change disclosure provision. Most of these bills were substituted with House companions where applicable and passed on near-unanimous votes, with one recorded dissent on the bail bonds bill. Several measures drew brief debate or explanation. Senator Wright’s military affairs bill was amended to restore two Florida National Guard special project officer positions to retirement eligibility, and Senator Gates’ veterans’ courts bill was described as a way to better address PTSD, brain injury, and substance-abuse-related offenses through problem-solving courts. Senator Trunow’s bail bonds bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor saying the current statute would remain in place and that further discussion could occur later. Senator Massullo’s podiatric medicine bill was framed as a bipartisan patient-protection measure, and Senator Leak’s felony battery bill was presented as closing a loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders to avoid enhancement. The chamber also took up a candidate qualification bill that would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and, in the House version, restrict recent petition-based name changes for candidates. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell ceremony for Senator Lori Berman, with family, staff, former colleagues, and guests in attendance. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, Everglades restoration, and other constituent services. Berman’s own remarks reflected on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, and her belief in dignity, respect, and practical problem-solving. The Senate then adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and recessed before returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• E-Verify is a free web-based system operated by the U.S.
• Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration.
• It completely aligns with federal law and national security.
• Social Security cards, Mr.
• My name is Tim O'Donnell representing Secure Idaho.

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first introduced a new page, approved the January 27 and January 29 minutes, and then heard House Bill 703, which would consolidate multiple disciplinary provisions into a single procedural framework in Title 67 without changing substantive licensing standards. The sponsor said it was a cleanup measure building on prior code consolidation work, and a contractor group testified in support. The committee voted to send HB 703 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The main item was House Bill 704, a universal E-Verify bill requiring employers to verify new hires through the federal system. Sponsors said it would protect Idaho workers and businesses, align with federal law, and create a level playing field; they also said they were open to adjusting the implementation date. Supporters included business, law enforcement, immigrant, and advocacy witnesses who argued it would enforce existing law and reduce unauthorized employment. Opponents, including the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, small business and bookkeeping witnesses, and others, argued E-Verify is flawed, burdensome, and could harm agriculture, construction, household employers, and other sectors; they also raised concerns about biometric language, private complaints to the Attorney General, and possible unintended coverage of service relationships. After extensive committee questioning and testimony, a motion to send HB 704 to general orders failed 11-7. The committee then voted 16-2 to send HB 704 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation, with several members noting they reserved the right to change their votes on the floor. The committee then began House Bill 700, which would add criminal penalties for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers while providing a defense for employers who use E-Verify in good faith. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an enforcement measure, while opponents repeated concerns about E-Verify’s reliability and added burdens; the transcript ends during the sponsor’s closing remarks on HB 700, before any committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Sangita Shankar, and I serve as a California regional... Hi, good afternoon.
• I'm Sangita Shankar, and I serve as a California regional director for the Hindu-American Foundation.
• The government is not motivated to operate at the lowest possible price, in my opinion.
• It's about basic fairness and operational... ...by over 550 nonprofit leaders.
• I operate on a 5% margin.

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee heard a series of bills on holidays, procurement, public safety, and business regulation. AB 268 would add Diwali as an official state holiday and allow schools and state workers limited flexibility to observe it; supporters described it as a recognition of California’s large South Asian and Hindu communities, and there was no opposition. AB 770 would define “customary maintenance” for outdoor advertising displays to clarify what repairs and reinforcements are allowed; the bill was presented as a safety and consistency measure for the billboard industry. AB 783 would authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate bulk pricing for construction materials to help disaster-affected communities rebuild more affordably, with supporters from the housing and building sectors and some members raising concerns about state contracting, storage, and implementation. AB 381 would update state procurement rules to better prevent human trafficking and forced labor in supply chains, aligning state policy with federal standards and drawing support from anti-trafficking advocates, labor, and local government representatives. AB 668 would extend drink-spiking prevention measures to music festivals by requiring test strips, drink lids, and reporting procedures; supporters emphasized victim safety and underreporting, while venue operators opposed the bill unless amended, citing feasibility and cost concerns. AB 880 would require prompt payment and indirect cost coverage for nonprofits contracting with the state, with broad nonprofit support and no opposition. AB 989 would make California Native American Day a paid holiday, with tribal and allied support. AB 592 would extend and expand temporary outdoor dining and alcohol service flexibilities for restaurants, with strong support from restaurant and business groups and opposition from alcohol policy advocates who preferred a narrower or permanent grandfathering approach. Most bills advanced on committee votes, generally on party-line or broad bipartisan support. AB 770 was moved to Appropriations, AB 783 was passed as amended to the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management, AB 381 was sent to Labor, AB 668 and AB 880 were sent to Appropriations, AB 989 was sent to Public Employees and Retirement, and AB 592 was sent to Health. The committee also took up a consent calendar containing several additional bills, which was approved. The hearing ended with the roll left open for additional votes and adjournment at 3:17 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have some folks here from the MTO Center in Seattle.
• It's a life that is hard work, that is centered around weather.
• Every $1 generated on farm produces another $3.50 in the local and regional economy.
• More than 900 US companies currently operate in Ireland.
• He led by his values and his integrity, operating always with grace.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• operation of the department.
• But it does mean that every area of our operations is affected. Wonderful.
• We have nine regional boards and many organizations within the State Water Board.
• So how do we operate reservoirs better when we see these big storms coming in?
• So how do we operate reservoirs better when we see these big storms coming in?

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss budget issues related to vacant positions across several natural resources and environmental departments, with no votes taken and all items held open for a future hearing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance explained the administration’s proposal to eliminate about 6,000 vacant positions statewide, including roughly 293 positions in the departments before the committee, as a way to capture salary savings and reduce flexible funding tied up in vacancies. The LAO recommended retaining special-funded positions, while noting that eliminating General Fund positions would reduce savings. Finance argued that vacancy levels have remained steady statewide, that departments need flexibility to manage operations and hard-to-fill jobs, and that some vacant positions can be reclassified to higher-priority work. Members raised concerns that many of the proposed eliminations would affect core public-safety, permitting, and environmental-protection functions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cuts would affect permitting, environmental protection, and law enforcement, while State Parks said its proposed ranger reductions were chosen from historically vacant, hard-to-fill positions and would still leave many vacancies to fill through the academy. The Coastal Commission said its positions supported sea-level rise planning under SB 272. The Department of Pesticide Regulation and DTSC said the reductions would affect multiple program areas, though Finance said the special funds involved were not in structural deficit and the cuts could help avoid future fee increases. The State Water Resources Control Board said its proposed reductions were spread across programs, with public-health functions protected as much as possible. The committee then heard an overview from the State Water Resources Control Board on its responsibilities for water quality, water rights, drinking water, and funding for water infrastructure. Chair Joaquin Esquivel described ongoing work on the Bay-Delta Plan update, the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreements, and the need to actively administer water rights. Members also discussed the board’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, which narrowed federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The board requested $2.6 million and 12 permanent positions to address resulting permitting and enforcement gaps; the LAO said the request met its high bar for new proposals and was supported by the board’s data and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• go ahead and and secure some land for<00:44:09.200><c> it.
• So um the new student center at price.
• Now in this College Science Center.
• Ventilation is a the science center.
• ,</c><02:18:28.559><c> I'm</c> required uh uh regionalization, I'm required uh uh regionalization, I'm

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as a consideration, where an employer was offering microchips for the purposes of efficiencies, security
• I'm mainly worrying that the employees know that camera's there, like in the operating room—not only
• For the first layer, the Employment Security Department divides the total premium into two shares: a
• When a contractor is obligated to the city, the company is working with security.
• After that as well, it looks like we'll be hearing from Boris Gressley from the Western States Regional

Bills: HB2144 , HB2190 , HB2191 , HB2303 , HB2345

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: employee monitoring, workplace privacy, performance evaluations, notification, transparency, language access, collective bargaining, providers, healthcare, interpreters, social services, construction, wage theft, misclassification, independent contractor, employee classification, fringe benefits, prevailing wages, subcontractor liability, joint and several liability