Video & Transcript : 'University of Montevallo' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Mar 23rd, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the academic excellence, professional ambition, and civic commitment of the California State University
- Big round of applause to all of them.
- with all of you.
- I know many of you have experienced the magic of animatronics at Disneyland and Disney World, many of
- File Item 6 is the confirmation of Paul Toopee for appointment as Director of the Department of Alcoholic
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a prayer recognizing World Water Day and the challenges of water scarcity, and then proceeded with several floor introductions. Members welcomed wildlife photographer Alice Cahill, outgoing California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, Avalon Fire Chief Michael Alegria, and a delegation of Cal Poly Pomona students participating in CSU advocacy activities. The chamber also received a message that the Assembly had passed AB 2156, and the Senate approved the March 16-19 journals as corrected.
The main floor action was on Senate Concurrent Resolution 132, which designates March 22, 2026, as California STEAM Robotics Day. The author and supporting senators emphasized the value of robotics and hands-on STEAM education for career readiness, problem-solving, and workforce development. The resolution passed by a 34-0 vote. Afterward, the author introduced student and industry guests connected to robotics education, including a Poway High School student and representatives from Garner Holt Productions.
The Senate then considered five gubernatorial appointments, all of which were confirmed unanimously: Paul Toopee as Director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Peter Britery to the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, Dr. Youngping Chen and Gregory Lung to the California Acupuncture Board, and Roy Mather to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The body also suspended Joint Rule 62A to allow the Governmental Organization Committee to hear AB 2156 on March 24 without sufficient notice. At the end of the session, the Senate adjourned in memory of Anne Colchin, a longtime Carlsbad city councilmember and public servant, and announced it would reconvene on March 26, 2026, after the State of the Judiciary joint convention.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Jan 7th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Transcript Highlights:
- very proud of.
- of the members of the Legislative.
- Finance Committee, all of the staff of the Legislative Finance Committee.
- How we sort of cap that. This year, I think, is going to be the subject of a lot of conversation.
- Now I wonder if we could return briefly to the subject of early childhood universal child care and what
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
- ALARMINGLY NURSES FACE TWICE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING RESPIRATORY COMPLICATION THAN THAT OF THE GENERAL
- FOR INSTANCE 22.9 PERCENT OF NURSES SUPPORT -- 11 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC.
- A COUPLE OF SPEAKER FORMS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISPRONUNCIATION AHEAD OF TIME.
- AND ADDRESSES MANY OF THOSE.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Next, we have County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development, followed by Agatha Joyce
- I am a graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing my master's in social work.
- My name is Jan, and I'm a graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- </c><00:02:49.040><c> of</c> graduate student at the University of graduate student at the University
- </c><00:05:21.080><c> the</c><00:05:21.360><c> of</c> homes that we like to be part of the of homes that
Committee:
Senate Housing
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Housing heard three bills. HB 1428 would appropriate funds for HHFC to distribute to HUD-certified housing counseling agencies and require a report to the Legislature. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including HHFC, the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development, and individual testifiers who said housing counseling, financial education, and one-on-one guidance can help keep residents housed. In response to a question, HHFC said there are five certified agencies in the state and requested $1.5 million for one year, noting uncertainty around federal funding. The chair recommended passage with amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously.
HB 833 would create a five-year Community Land Trust Equity pilot program through HHFC, using Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund money to provide lines of credit for acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, or construction of housing for certain households. Multiple organizations and individuals testified in support. HHFC said the needed funding depends on the size of the pilot and estimated that 50 homes at $500,000 each would require about $25 million; members discussed how the funds would revolve as loans are repaid. The chair recommended passage with amendments, including replacing the income restriction with qualified residents under HRS 20-32 and prioritizing applications requiring the lowest funds per unit per year. The recommendation was adopted.
HB 286 would increase the maximum annual deduction and account limits for Individual Housing Accounts. The Department of Taxation testified, with support also noted from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and several individuals, and one individual in opposition. In response to questions, DOTAX said the change would likely have limited impact because fewer than 100 IHAs have been reported and suggested the deduction would need to be above the Roth IRA limit to matter. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments and reported the proposed limits as $10,000 for single filers and $20,000 for married filing jointly. The committee adopted the recommendation, and the hearing adjourned.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the first meeting of the 2026 session of the Ports and Waterways Committee.
- She goes to Auburn University at Montgomery. So we'll be seeing a lot of her.
- It'll be chaired by the Dolphin Island Sea Lab and involves, you know, other entities, University of
- It passed out of the out of the house.
- </c> uh the spreading of the of the sludge uh the spreading of the of the sludge back<00:11:53.920><c
Committee:
House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit
Keywords:
district attorneys, prosecutorial function, law enforcement, criminal procedure, legal advice, paternity, putative father registry, adoption, legal rights, parental rights, HB181, Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority, bond authorization, state bonds, capital improvements, public buildings, State Capitol, renovation finance, public office facilities, infrastructure financing
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- He was a collegiate athlete running the 100 meter sprint in undergraduate at the University of Cairo,
- He was a collegiate athlete running the 100 meter sprint in undergraduate at the University of Cairo,
- :10:23.920><c> soccer</c><00:10:24.280><c> player</c> University of Cairo, a D1 soccer player University
- He has 123 University of Alabama.
- ,</c><00:10:50.560><c> for</c> University of Alabama, Roll Tide, for University of Alabama, Roll Tide
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriation and Revenue. (1-28-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so we've had a national uh entity or the University of North Carolina, which looks at rural hospitals
- And so we've had a national uh entity or the University of North Carolina, which looks at rural hospitals
- University of North Carolina, which looks at rural hospitals across the country, had estimated Kentucky
- </c> Kentucky University has passed all of Kentucky University has passed all of the<00:32:37.360><c>
- One of the things that right now the Northern Kentucky University is renovating a facility that they
Summary:
The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations.
Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities.
He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Gervin Hawkins because of important business of the district on motion of Mr. Lopez of Baer.
- I mean, you mean, while the students in 11th or 12th grade, they can go over to the campus of a university
- of the University of Texas System and the transfer of certain powers and duties of the Department of
- The University of Texas at San Antonio is a national leader in cybersecurity.
- The University of Texas at San Antonio is a national leader in cybersecurity.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget.
A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes.
The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6.
Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Feb 12th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Group, chairperson of the New Mexico State Rural University, Universal Services... of the New Mexico
- State Rural University, Universal Service Fund advisory board, and is a member of Connect New Mexico
- Lopez also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in public policy
- Senate Memorial 29, introduced by Senator Pinto and others, a memorial requesting the University of New
- time the only use of that universal charge was the extinct telephone lines out into the rural areas.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- You all, if you didn't know, he's a graduate of Yale University, Oxford University as a road scholar,
- of Baltimore its at the University of Baltimore its brightest<00:04:55.120><c> students.
- </c><00:05:14.639><c> Yale</c><00:05:15.039><c> University,</c> he's a graduate of Yale University, he's
- a graduate of Yale University, Oxford<00:05:16.240><c> University</c><00:05:16.720><c> as</c><00:05:
- Maryland independent colleges and universities across the state of Maryland.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 29th, 2026 at 11:10 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- State University, and she is the fund development director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico
- Arts degree in Government at New Mexico State University, and she is the fun development director of
- She's a proud New Mexico State University graduate, holding a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- She's a proud New Mexico State University graduate, holding a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
- Our universities have been working on reducing the number of credit hours required for a degree down
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Indian Affairs Jul 16th, 2025
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I am the president of Navajo Technical University.
- We also have an unofficial partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, and we have
- We also have a mentoring model, and we just met last week with the University of New Mexico College of
- Yes, when we had the meeting last week at the University of New Mexico, they said they have two now.
- : University of New Mexico, NMSU, Highlands, and other universities.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 26, 2026 - 08:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Management, and the University of Chicago School of Business studying the role of newspaper notice on
- Banj. been conducted by researchers at Texas A&M, Yale, at Yale School of Management, and the University
- My daughter is a graduate of Florida State University.
- your promotion of that organization could result, after your due process through a college, university
- your promotion of that organization could result after your due process through a college university
Summary:
The committee took up a series of bills and reported several of them favorably, often after brief sponsor presentations, supportive public testimony, and unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Early measures included PCS for CSHB 1069 on background screenings for athletic coaches and qualified entities, CS/HB 365 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, and CS/HB 269 plus its linked public-records bill CS/SB 298 on domestic violence and dating violence. The domestic violence package focused on using NG-911 technology for discreet help-seeking, expanding protections to dating violence victims, and preserving confidentiality for participants in related programs. The committee also approved HB 6507, a claims bill for injuries involving DCF negligence, after limited discussion.
Members then considered PCS for CSHB 1159, which increases penalties and updates terminology for sexual offenses involving minors, child sexual abuse material, and related crimes. The bill was amended to replace “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” and to address childlike sex dolls, and it passed unanimously. The committee also heard CS/HB 529 on community-based care lead agency and subcontractor liability insurance. That bill would remove a statutory liability-insurance requirement for certain child welfare providers amid an insurance market crisis; it drew extensive debate, with supporters saying it would prevent agencies from shutting down and opponents warning it would reduce accountability and leave children vulnerable. It passed 15-4 as amended.
The committee next approved PCS for CSHB 277 on domestic violence and protective injunctions. The bill creates a Pinellas County pilot for electronic monitoring with victim notification, raises the victim relocation allowance, strengthens penalties for repeat injunction violations, and adds protections involving military orders and pets. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from survivors, and the bill passed 18-0 as amended. CS/HB 1009 on government publication of advertisements and public notices also passed, after an amendment requiring notices to remain publicly accessible; newspapers and press groups opposed it, arguing it would fragment access to notices, while the sponsor said it modernizes outdated posting rules. Finally, the committee heard PCS for CSHB 1471 on systems of law and terrorist organizations, which would create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and bar public support for them; the bill drew sharp constitutional objections from civil liberties, press, labor, and advocacy groups over due process, free speech, and viewpoint discrimination concerns.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 11th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- We're developing a large rocket by the name of Starship, mostly out of the state of Texas and Brownsville
- This may look like a piece of art, but it's actually representative of billions of points, laser points
- Here's an image of the Statue of Liberty.
- Our partnership is stronger than ever, and the work ahead of us will continue to open doors to a universe
- Just those three universities—it's not exclusive to them. It's available to the rest of the state.
Summary:
The committee met to hear presentations on Florida’s space economy and related infrastructure. SpaceX Vice President Kiko Donchev described the company’s Florida operations, launch cadence, reusable rocket program, Starlink service, and plans for future Starship activity at the Cape. Senators asked about Florida employment, expansion plans, satellite lifetimes, disaster-relief uses of Starlink, and recreational connectivity; members also praised SpaceX’s hurricane response and broader public benefits. Donchev said SpaceX’s Florida workforce has grown to about 1,600 and that the company hopes to add Starship pads and continue expanding in the state.
The committee then recognized Commander Dennis Baker for his military service and veteran advocacy, including his leadership of the Florida Veterans Foundation, grant work, the Walk of Honor, and the Gadsden Flag license plate program. Members highlighted that revenue from the plate helps fund veterans’ dental care and noted upcoming dental services for veterans in Volusia County. Baker received a flag flown over the Capitol and a framed gubernatorial proclamation.
Newview CEO Clint Grumman presented the company’s commercial satellite LiDAR mapping system, describing its Lake Nona headquarters, Florida ownership, planned jobs, and applications for infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. He said the company’s satellite data could improve accuracy and lower costs, and noted partnerships including a Department of Defense contract and a European Space Agency moon-mapping effort. Space Florida then outlined its role as the state’s aerospace finance and business development authority, emphasizing its pipeline of projects, spaceport improvement program, workforce academy, and efforts to address infrastructure constraints and seek tax-exempt bond authority for spaceports. NASA’s Kelvin Manning closed with an update on Kennedy Space Center, highlighting Artemis progress, rising launch demand, commercial partnerships, economic impact, and the Florida University Space Research Consortium. No bills were voted on, and the meeting adjourned after comments from members.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- D1A is the University of Arkansas Community College of Rich Mountain.
- D1A is the University of Arkansas Community College of Rich Mountain.
- G1B is a letter from the Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas.
- G1B is a letter from the Division of Agriculture at University of Arkansas. It's where I file.
- B is a letter from the Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas.
Committee:
All ALC-PEER
Summary:
The committee reviewed a large slate of appropriation, transfer, and continuation requests across multiple sections. In Section B, members considered temporary FY27 appropriations for agencies including Health, DHS, Education, Treasury, Public Safety, State Police, Emergency Management, Aeronautics, Military, Economic Development, Game and Fish, and others, covering items such as maternal health outreach, LIHEAP overpayment returns, Wynne High School tornado rebuilding, senior food services, cybersecurity, crime victim claims, airport grants, conservation incentives, and emergency tower maintenance. Questions focused on the DHS senior services carry-forward and Treasury custodial banking fees tied to lower balances after COVID funds were spent down. All Section B items were approved.
The committee then approved continuation requests, ARPA reallocations, and federal grant-related items in Sections B2, C1A, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1A, G1, H1A, I1A, J1/J2, K1/K2/K3, L1/L2, M1/M2, N1/N2, O1A, and P1A. These included university nursing and workforce programs, environmental and recycling grants, highway safety and emergency management grants, a transfer to the Merit Teacher Incentive Program, restricted reserve transfers for military, agriculture, UAPB, Game and Fish, and AETN, and various cash-fund and budget classification transfers. Several members asked for more detail on the State Police highway safety grant, VOCA victim compensation funding, the NSGP nonprofit security grant, and the Office of State Technology’s E-Rate-related transfer; agency officials explained the uses and noted that some funding levels depend on federal awards and collections.
A notable discussion occurred on the Department of Commerce reallocation, which shifts 68 positions and $3 million among divisions to support an organizational realignment and avoid shortfalls. The committee also reviewed a state central services deduction request to keep the rate at 2%, a DHS overtime request for child protection caseloads, and a year-end adjustments request authorizing up to $1 million in temporary actions to close FY26 books without disrupting payroll or vendor payments. Most items were approved or, in some sections, simply reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was the first
- of them.
- It's kind of hard to keep track of hundreds of thousands of students if we don't know who they are and
- I would say it's probably one of the best things our state's ever done is to have universal school choice
- of them in the state of Florida.
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.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Capital Budget Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- . ...needed to run it at a minute because of the number of testifiers we have.
- Members of the committee, I'm David Biorari from Eastern Washington University.
- I'm Steve DuPont with Central Washington University, here in support of the House Capital Budget.
- I'm the CEO of Homestead Community Land Trust, speaking on behalf of the Washington Coalition of Community
- Chair, ranking members of the committee, I'm Morgan Hickel with the University of Washington testifying
Summary:
The Capital Budget Committee held a hearing on Proposed Substitute House Bill 2295, the supplemental capital budget. Staff said the proposal totals nearly $911 million, including about $400 million in bonds and $511 million from other state and federal sources, with much of the increase over the governor’s proposal coming from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. Major spending areas include housing and homelessness, K-12 construction, human services facilities, and CCA-funded clean energy, decarbonization, and habitat restoration projects. The chair said the committee would not take amendments at the hearing and planned to vote out the budget on Thursday, with a technical fix striker expected.
Testimony was largely supportive of the House proposal, with many witnesses asking the committee to preserve or increase specific items in final negotiations. Housing advocates urged support for the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and projects such as Alliance Place, Cloverdale Cottages, Cherry Street Village, Somos, and the Thrive Center. Education and public facility witnesses backed investments in school seismic safety, small district modernization, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, community college and university maintenance, and projects at Cascadia College, WSU, CWU, and UW. Health and human services testimony supported behavioral health, Tubman Center, HealthPoint, pregnant parenting treatment, and the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub.
Natural resources, climate, and infrastructure witnesses praised funding for Flood Plains by Design, community forests, trust land transfer, salmon recovery, the Skokomish land purchase, and the Lower Columbia River dredging project. Several local governments and organizations requested additional support or Senate-level funding for specific projects, while Climate Solutions cautioned against using CCA dollars to backfill existing obligations. The committee heard no votes during the hearing, and the chair closed by saying the budget would be executed on Thursday.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- The City of Lennon applied to the public. illustrative example of the impacts of that suite.
- My name is Kevin Chang with the University of Washington, and I am testifying in opposition today.
- Callan, members of the committee, Steve DuPont, with Central Washington University.
- I am the mayor of the city of Toppenish.
- Members of the committee, Connor Hagerty with Washington State University here today, signed in other
Bills:
HB2295
Committee:
House Capital Budget
Keywords:
Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I've also been a previous owner of a Jeep CJ5 and a rider of a motorcycle.
- doing general trail riding, some of them are into more of the idea of climbing things with them.
- There's a lot of safe ways to travel, and there's a lot of unsafe ways of travel, and I think that your
- Rosen also was a charter member of UCF's Board of Trustees, served on the board of directors for the
- of Central Florida.
Committee:
Senate Transportation
Summary:
The Transportation Committee met and first considered SB 88, which would allow local governments to authorize utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain low-speed county roads and municipal streets, with limits on who may operate them and where they may travel. An amendment from Sen. Wright was adopted to require minimum motor vehicle insurance, keep a registration certificate in the vehicle, and delay the effective date to January 1, 2026 for implementation. The bill drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would create a safe, locally controlled path for UTV use and reflect how the vehicles are already being used, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Florida Justice Association argued UTVs are designed for off-road use and lack the safety features needed for public roads. After debate, the committee reported CS/SB 88 favorably, with Sen. Davis voting no and several members expressing support while noting safety concerns for future work.
The committee then heard SB 274, which designates a portion of International Drive in Orlando as Harris Rosen Way in honor of the late hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen. Sen. Arrington described Rosen’s business success and extensive charitable work in Central Florida, and the bill received supportive comments from committee members and a representative from UCF. The committee voted the bill favorably without opposition.
The final item was a discussion on transportation workforce issues led by FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, with remarks from Florida Transportation Builders Association president Dan Hurtado. Perdue said Florida’s growing transportation needs, an aging workforce, and projected retirements require a broader workforce strategy, including a proposed Transportation Academy, craft and trade programs, learning labs, and a transportation research institute. He said FDOT has already reduced vacancies through recruit-and-retain efforts and hiring events, but still needs more skilled workers. Hurtado said FTBA supports expanding workforce development efforts and noted the industry’s own Florida Connect Academy. No vote was taken on the workforce discussion, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-01-14 (4:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was the first
- of them.
- Looking through some of the lines of this bill and seeing some of the things my...
- It's kind of hard to keep track of hundreds of thousands of students if we don't know who they are and
- I would say it's probably one of the best things our state's ever done to have universal school choice
Summary:
The Senate convened with a prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day, a visiting debate student, and later Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol. The chamber then took up committee reports and confirmed a slate of 52 executive appointments by a 39-0 vote.
On special order, senators considered SB 250 on rural communities. The bill, described as a “Rural Renaissance” package, would create an Office of Rural Prosperity, establish a Renaissance Grant Program, increase housing and transportation support, and direct new funding to rural education and health care. Two amendments were adopted to update rural health funding and hospital estimates. Members from both parties spoke in support, while raising questions about eligibility and access to grants for certain rural areas. The bill passed 39-0.
The Senate then debated CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. 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, tightening payment and audit procedures, and creating a stabilization fund for scholarships. Three amendments were adopted to remove a district declining-enrollment provision from the bill, adjust private-school documentation timing, and clarify withdrawal form and parent-attestation procedures. Senators from both parties supported the measure while noting concerns about oversight, school quality, and future conforming legislation. The bill passed 38-0, and both SB 250 and CS/SB 318 were certified to the House before adjournment.