Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 584 by Representative Sennepold, foster children rights, elimination practice, providing foster
• Sennepoyd, Foster Children Rights, Elimination Practice, providing foster children with garbage bags,
• Representative Byrabsen Miller, medical psychologist licensure, to eliminate certificate of advanced practice
• 747 by Representative Miller, medical psychologist licensure, to eliminate certificate of advanced practice

Bills: HR65 , HR66 , HR67 , HR68 , HR69 , HCR33 , HCR34 , HB1006 , HB1007 , HB1008 , HB1010 , HB1011 , HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , SCR2 , SCR5 , SCR6 , SCR11 , SCR16 , SCR17 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , SB8 , SB10 , SB12 , SB16 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB29 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB44 , SB49 , SB58 , SB68 , SB75 , SB77 , SB81 , SB97 , SB103 , SB159 , SB163 , SB172 , SB180 , SB182 , SB244 , SB248 , SB253 , SB254 , SB279 , SB306 , SB318 , SB334 , SB380 , SB385 , SB397 , HB53 , HB57 , HB64 , HB100 , HB102 , HB106 , HB111 , HB137 , HB152 , HB155 , HB177 , HB238 , HB256 , HB258 , HB272 , HB337 , HB350 , HB359 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB445 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB661 , HB697 , HB726 , HB727 , HB747 , HB752 , HB756 , HB758 , HB759 , HB765 , HB767 , HB825 , HB858 , HB930 , HB941 , HB957 , HB964 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB733 , HB875 , HB952 , HB868 , HB119 , HB140 , HB52 , HB901 , HB193 , HB570

Keywords: condolences, Sam Goodwin, Northwestern State University, football coach, athletic legacy, obituary, ShaMonica Huggins, Louisiana, community support, public service, law enforcement, memorial resolution, Louisiana Legislature, tribute, centenarian, community recognition, Louisiana history, birthday celebration, Jeanerette, French bread

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the morning on personal privileges recognizing guests and honoring individuals and organizations. Recognitions included the Zachary High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams for back-to-back state championships, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for Blue and White Day, visitors from Natchitoches Parish, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the Parish Presidents Association, Crime Stoppers of Greater New Orleans, student parents pursuing higher education, and a delegation from Alexandria honoring the late Dr. Joe S. Green. The House also adopted or laid over several condolence and commendation resolutions, including tributes to former Northwestern State football coach Sam Goodwin, Michael B. Jordan, Richard Williams, and others. The chamber received a large batch of Senate bills and House bills for referral, covering topics such as retirement systems, highway memorial designations, criminal justice, education, health and welfare, municipal governance, insurance, natural resources, and tax policy. Committee reports were read across multiple committees, with many bills reported favorably or with amendments, and several measures advanced to third reading or were recommitted to other committees. Among the actions taken, the House adopted resolutions honoring community figures and organizations, concurred in several Senate resolutions, and moved a number of bills forward, including measures on criminal penalties, school policy, environmental regulation, insurance, and public retirement. Near the end of the session, the Speaker outlined plans for the next day’s floor debate, noting 54 bills scheduled and explaining that questions on bills would send them to the bottom of the list rather than removing them. The House then recessed until 3:30 p.m., with members instructed to return for regular order and continued debate on the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her teaching is rooted in daily kilo practices, and by the end of the year, her students gain fluency
• rooted<00:11:58.800><c> in</c><00:11:58.960><c> daily</c><00:11:59.320><c> kilo</c><00:11:59.680><c> practices
• ,</c><00:12:00.720><c> and</c><00:12:00.839><c> by</c> rooted in daily kilo practices, and by rooted
• in daily kilo practices, and by the<00:12:01.120><c> end</c><00:12:01.280><c> of</c><00:12:01.360><c>

Bills: HB1166 , HB389 , HB644 , HB1509 , HB1692 , HB1842 , HB1878 , HB1926 , HB1949 , HB2116 , HB2581

Keywords: HB1166, automated speed enforcement, speed cameras, traffic enforcement, road safety, traffic safety, Department of Transportation, state highway fund, special fund, appropriation, fiscal year 2026-2027, camera enforcement, speeding citations, automated traffic enforcement, highway safety, HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS

Transcript Highlights:

• sustainability so that we have more sustainable design, more sustainable material, and more sustainable practices
• in our construction and maintenance practices.
• sustainability so that we have more sustainable design, more sustainable material and more sustainable practices
• in our construction and maintenance practices.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, a rule waiver, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved multiple appointments not required to appear, including members of the Board of Behavioral Science, the Contractors’ State License Board, and the Medical Board of California, with most votes either 3-2 or 5-0. It also approved a reference of bills to committees, a waiver of SR 55 to allow guests on the Senate floor for an adjourn-in-memory of former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Dina El-Tawansy as Director of Caltrans. In her opening remarks, she emphasized her 28 years at the department, and said her priorities would be safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and a multimodal transportation system. Senators questioned her on a range of transportation issues, including impacts from federal and state disputes over immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane, DBE certification changes, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate adaptation on coastal infrastructure, and the future of road funding as electric vehicles reduce gas tax revenue. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is pursuing project prioritization, climate vulnerability assessments, partnerships with local governments, DBE reevaluation guidance, recycling efforts, and research into road user charges. Members also asked about toll lane agreements, homelessness encampments and litter on Caltrans property, and the Los Angeles-San Diego rail corridor and broader transit integration. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is moving toward more consistent statewide toll agreements, has signed or is negotiating delegated maintenance MOUs with local agencies to address encampments and litter, and is expanding rail and transit planning. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with representatives from transportation agencies, contractors, local governments, labor, and technology firms backing the nomination. The committee voted 5-0 to move El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• then when you have a child that's 15, 16, 17, I think that's a potentially different situation in practice
• then when you have a child that's 15, 16, 17, I think that's a potentially different situation in practice
• services aren't, I guess, how, maybe there's somebody else that can talk about this today from the practical
• What is the practical result of that? I think there's a negative connotation for truancy.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• has a definition of covered caregiver to include medical doctors, physicians, registered nurses, practical
• Advisors include physicians who have completed residency training and individuals licensed to practice
• mental health services unless otherwise required by federal law or necessary to determine fitness to practice
• compact will allow the Board of Respiratory Care licensees to obtain compact privileges to legally practice

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• election— Madam Chair, through our election code, if there is an emergency, what is the current practice
• So along the emergency questions, in the line of practice, you're saying you've already put a lot of
• That's without question, but we've already been putting the procedure into practice when we've had these
• I think this is practice that we stay engaged. Madam Chair, thank you for the time.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a bill aimed at protecting New Mexico elections from outside interference and codifying emergency election procedures. The sponsor argued New Mexico already ranks first nationally in election administration, but said the bill was needed in response to threats of federal interference, including possible deployment of federal agents at polling places. The bill would create state prohibitions on stationing troops or armed federal personnel at polling places, interfering with election workers or voters, or changing voter qualifications or election rules contrary to state law. It would also create civil enforcement authority for the Attorney General, Secretary of State, county clerks, or affected voters, with injunctions and civil penalties, and make violations a fourth-degree felony. A second major section would allow emergency changes to polling locations and voting procedures during declared disasters such as wildfires or floods without first obtaining a court order, including use of mobile voting units and secure online ballot return options for some voters. The Secretary of State’s office said these procedures were already largely in rule and that the fiscal impact would be minimal, with existing voter education materials and law enforcement guides covering implementation. The office also said the bill would extend who may request law enforcement assistance and strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language and a new offense for intentionally obstructing access to a polling place. Committee members raised concerns about definitions, possible effects on military personnel, police, federal officers, county clerks, tribal jurisdictions, and polling places on federal property, as well as the scope of civil penalties and how intent would be proven. Several members questioned whether the bill was rushed, whether all analyses had been received, and whether the emergency provisions could disadvantage rural communities if notice requirements could not be met during disasters. The sponsor and Secretary of State representative responded that the bill would not prevent qualified voters, including military members, from voting, that local police were treated differently from federal personnel, and that courts would determine intent and appropriate defendants. No vote was taken; the chair said the hearing was being held as a subcommittee and would reconvene later, likely the next day, for a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• special education system has been fragmented across statutes, leadership structures, and inconsistent practices
• By creating a dedicated Office of Special Education and a deputy secretary, And inconsistent practices
• This bill is thoughtful, practical, and long overdue.
• us consider how we might bring gifted back somehow to special education types of policies and the practices

Bills: HB30 , HB120 , HJR1 , SB210 , SB306

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 64, which would codify the existing Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department, create a deputy secretary position, and formalize responsibilities for enforcing special education law, monitoring disability protections, and supporting a statewide online IEP system. The sponsor and PED officials said the bill would provide continuity, improve compliance with IDEA, help students who move between schools, and keep gifted education unchanged in its current curriculum-and-instruction placement. An amendment requiring quarterly consultation with superintendents and charter school leaders was also described as a way to improve collaboration and continuous improvement. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from educators, disability advocates, parents, superintendents, unions, and charter school representatives, who said the bill would improve accountability, transparency, and services for students with disabilities. One parent testified in opposition to the gifted-education language, warning that removing gifted students from the special education umbrella could weaken protections and services. Committee members asked about cost, the office’s current structure, the role of 504 plans, and how the bill would affect military and foster students; PED said the office is already staffed and funded primarily through federal IDEA dollars and that 504 enforcement remains separate, though the office may monitor related protections. The committee then voted do pass. The committee next heard House Bill 256, which would require schools to include cardiac emergency response procedures for athletic activities and ensure AEDs are clearly marked and accessible at those events. Supporters, including the American Heart Association, nurses, and school leaders, emphasized that AEDs and trained staff can dramatically improve survival in sudden cardiac arrest cases. Questions focused on how many AEDs schools would need, whether schools already have them, and how the bill would affect middle school athletics and budgets; the sponsor said schools would determine the best placement, with at least one AED available for athletic events. The committee voted do pass. Finally, the committee heard House Memorial 43, which asks LESC and PED to study how New Mexico and other states measure school performance, including the use of the Lexile reading framework. Superintendents argued that Lexile provides a more consistent, apples-to-apples comparison than some state accountability measures and could better reflect student growth. There was no opposition, members asked about possible study costs, and the memorial passed on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• shield, is it going to cause companies to only do what's legally required and not do what may be best practice
• And I would also add that you I often find the best practices within the industry that is actually producing
• So, in no way will this undermine the standards or best practices.
• And that if we adopt this in Oklahoma, it will indeed be shown as a best practice to other states of

Bills: SB1191 , SB1314 , SB1319 , SB1333 , SB1346 , SB1439 , SB1509 , SB1510 , SB1613

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, groundwater, indemnity fund, well drilling, pollution prevention, regulatory compliance, SB1319

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a person who owned a home, and they used the home for their law practice.
• There was a person who owned a home, and they used the home for their law practice.
• came forth to our city and asked for us to allow them to make half of the home a use for their law practice
• dispensary being housed in a home with a business that is also a law office for the attorney to practice

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee considered several bills dealing with municipal regulation, penalties, incentives, fireworks, and tax increment financing. Senate Bill 1519 would allow low-impact home-based businesses to operate without additional municipal permitting or zoning restrictions, while still requiring compliance with state and federal laws and applicable professional boards. Members questioned how the bill would define “no-impact” businesses, how it would affect short-term rentals and home-based services like nail salons or dispensaries, and whether it reduced local oversight. The bill passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1775 clarified that municipalities may impose penalties for traffic-, alcohol-, and drug-related offenses that are less than or equal to the state statutory penalty, and set caps for other municipal fines. After extended questioning over whether the bill lowered or matched state penalties, a legislative analyst was brought in to explain that the measure was intended to resolve confusion about municipal authority. The bill passed 10-0. Senate Bill 1900 would direct 5% of the value of state economic development incentives to cities or counties for infrastructure, with members raising concerns about how the funds would be split, whether counties or cities would control them, and how the bill would apply in unincorporated areas. The author said he was open to revising the language, and the bill passed 11-0. Senate Bill 1948 would expand the time frame for licensed fireworks sellers to sell consumer fireworks year-round and would also bar counties from prohibiting private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, subject to burn bans and other safety limits. Questions focused on safety, county zoning, and whether the bill relied on an outdated building code reference. The bill passed 8-2. Senate Bill 2080, a request bill from county assessors, would require assessors to be included as an information resource in TIF/TID processes, align district boundaries with parcel lines, and allow administrative fees to cover assessor costs. Members debated the justification and size of the fee and whether it would burden local governments, but the bill passed 8-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Practically, that's from the Medicaid management scenario.
• Practically, that's from the Medicaid management scenario.
• So practically, that's how this packet is structured for the committee.
• So practically what you're seeing is the impact from the agency-specific reduction on the general fund

Summary: The committee met to review materials in preparation for Friday votes on the 2026 Budget Rescission Act, related cash transfers, and statewide budget decisions. Keith Bybee of budget policy analysis walked members through packets showing the governor’s recommended 3% holdback rescissions, plus additional 1% and 2% reduction scenarios. He explained that the governor’s recommendation included general fund, dedicated fund, and federal fund reductions tied to agency holdbacks, long-term vacant positions, unallocated CEC, and school funding adjustments, and that the committee would be voting on which level of rescissions to adopt. He also identified agencies exempted or largely held harmless in the additional reduction scenarios, including public schools, Medicaid, corrections, and Idaho State Police, while noting the Secretary of State’s request to return $850,000 one-time through contract renegotiation. Members discussed why the committee was considering additional cuts despite revenue assumptions and a possible tax conformity bill, with co-chairs and others emphasizing uncertainty around conformity, revenue, and policy bills, and the need to right-size the budget with ongoing reductions rather than one-time fixes. Some members supported the process as a way to set clearer targets for work groups, while others expressed concern that broad cuts before agency hearings could create uncertainty and whipsaw agencies. Bybee also clarified that the Friday votes would include rescissions, cash transfers, and statewide decisions that would shape maintenance budgets and 2027 budget structure. The committee then reviewed a separate package of recommended cash transfers totaling about $106.7 million to help balance fiscal year 2026, including transfers from the In-Demand Careers Fund, Water Pollution Control Fund, Strategic Initiatives Fund, Idaho Opportunity Scholarship Fund, and Permanent Building Fund. Bybee said the transfers would be voted on individually and that the legislature has authority to move cash in the treasury for these purposes. Finally, the committee reviewed statewide decisions affecting all budgets, including personnel benefit cost increases, contract inflation, statewide cost allocation, military compensation CEC, and base budget reduction options. Members discussed options to fund health insurance increases at reduced levels based on fill rates, and Bybee explained that the Friday vote would set the base for maintenance budgets, with any later changes handled through supplements or enhancements. The meeting ended with plans to continue work group discussions and reconvene the next morning for additional agency presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Practically, that's from the Medicaid management scenario.
• So practically,... ...the Military Division, for instance.
• So practically, that's how this packet is structured for the committee.
• So practically what you're seeing is the impact from the agency-specific reduction on the general fund

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees met to review budget rescission options and related statewide budget decisions for fiscal year 2026. Keith Bybee of DFM walked members through a packet outlining the governor’s recommended rescissions, plus two additional agency reduction scenarios of 1% and 2%. He explained that the governor’s package would reduce appropriations by about $177.5 million and nearly 100 FTEs, while the added 1% and 2% scenarios would deepen reductions further. He also clarified that some agencies were exempt or partially exempt from the additional cuts, including public schools, Medicaid services, corrections, and Idaho State Police, and that the Secretary of State had proposed a one-time contract savings instead of participating in the full additional reduction. Members discussed why the committee was considering further reductions despite existing reserves and a balanced budget outlook, with supporters emphasizing uncertainty around tax conformity, revenue forecasts, and other policy bills that could affect the budget. Several members expressed concern that the proposed cuts were ongoing, broad, and could create instability for agencies, while others said the process would give work groups a clearer target and more flexibility to adjust budgets later. Bybee and the co-chairs repeatedly stressed that the goal was to right-size the budget and preserve flexibility as more revenue and policy information becomes available. The committee also reviewed proposed cash transfers totaling about $106.7 million to help balance the budget, including transfers from the In-Demand Careers Fund, Water Pollution Control Fund, Strategic Initiatives Fund, Idaho Opportunity Scholarship Fund, and Permanent Building Fund. Members asked whether those transfers were legally permissible and were told the legislature has authority to move money in the treasury for balancing purposes. Finally, Bybee outlined statewide decisions for maintenance budgets, including personnel benefit cost increases, contract inflation, statewide cost allocation, a small military CEC adjustment, and options for a 3%, 4%, or 5% ongoing base budget reduction. The co-chairs said motions would be brought forward on Friday, and the committee adjourned with plans to continue hearings the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that this is a practical, practical reason. ...benefit from the use of nitrous oxide.
• I believe that this is a practical, practical, reasonable amendment. Thank you.

Bills: HB1239 , HB2310 , HB2490 , HB2508 , HB2510 , HB2532 , HB2539

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: reentry, reentry readiness, recidivism, earned release time, good time credits, graduated reentry, community custody, partial confinement, home detention, work release, electronic monitoring, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, corrections, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, sentencing, release date recalculation, transition services

Transcript Highlights:

• How would that practically work for somebody that may be serving a 360-day sentence where you can’t go
• The practicality of that is complicated, and I’m just wondering if y’all had talked about that before
• The practicality of that is complicated. Take that back.
• The practicality of that is complicated, and I'm just wondering if y'all had talked about that before

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He is a practicing attorney in Idaho Falls and currently works as the deputy prosecutor for Bonneville
• This piece of legislation codifies a practice that the state has been using for our presidential searches
• The legislation codifies a practice the state has been using for presidential searches at colleges and
• process has been consistent for our other university searches, and in this we discovered that the practice

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would end that practice. That is the bill.
• So the conference practice has always been to develop five-year impacts.
• secondary impacts, with anticipated increase in activity that could offset some of this, but our practice
• Whenever we develop and score bills, any proposed language, that has been our practice.

Bills: S0110 , S0434 , S0856

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Keywords: property assessment, wind damage, home improvements, real estate, tax exemption, Florida statutes, ad valorem taxes, property listings, tax estimation, disclosure, Florida, residential property

Summary: The committee heard and passed three bills before moving to a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSantis? [sic], would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes for residential properties using prescribed methods and DOR-developed formulas rather than the current owner’s tax bill. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency and help homebuyers avoid surprise tax and escrow increases. The bill was reported favorably after debate about making sure the estimate appears on realtor and platform sites for first-time buyers. SB 110, by Senator Arrington, was amended and then reported favorably. The bill clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead tax exemption even if the lease ends upon the tenant’s death, aligning those leaseholds with life estates for estate-planning purposes. The amendment, supported by the Florida Bar’s real property, probate and trust law section, clarified that lease provisions terminating at death are valid under current law. SB 434, by Senator Leak, was also reported favorably; it would prevent property tax assessments from reflecting increased just value attributable to wind-hardening improvements such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and roof-to-wall reinforcements. The committee then received an update from staff director Azar Khan on the new general revenue forecast. He said collections had been running slightly above estimate overall, but the Revenue Estimating Conference reduced corporate income tax projections because of weaker recent collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while increasing some other revenue sources. Members then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which staff said would significantly reduce Florida corporate income tax revenue, with a large first-year impact driven by retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation, research expensing, and business interest deductions. Senators and the appropriations chair said the forecast and federal changes would affect budget planning, and the committee adjourned after noting the bills had been favorably reported and the meeting was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you sort of do things that you learned that you didn't want to do out of the historic practices?
• that was bipartisan in its request through the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of some particular practices
• that was bipartisan in its request through the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of some particular practices
• Maybe closer to best practices, and we've been able to do that.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and routine committee actions. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, appointments to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, the appointment of Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, a reference of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Members then heard testimony from Trista Gonzalez, nominee to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, who described her long career in tax administration, efforts to improve taxpayer compliance and service, readiness for the state’s lithium extraction tax, and the department’s work on online sales tax, cannabis, and tobacco enforcement. Senators asked about responsiveness to legislators, small business support, accountability, and enforcement; public commenters from tax and accounting groups supported her nomination. Her appointment advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, nominee to lead the Board of State and Community Corrections. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention-facility inspections, large grant programs for violence intervention and reentry, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audit transparency, statutory authority for in-custody death reviews, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, site visits, audits, and compliance reviews to reduce fraud and ensure grant funds are used appropriately, and that trailer bill language had clarified access to records for death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in some juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with counties and the courts to improve conditions. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. His appointment also advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 697, the PRICE Act, will set up a most favored nation drug cost for our state, address price practices
• nbsp; 262 WILL SET UP A MOST FAVORED NATION&nbsp; DRUG COST FOR OUR STATE ADDRESS&nbsp; 263 PRESSES PRACTICES
• And I recognize the law of the state that we are recognizing PBM practices and their reimbursing us under
• PRACTICES AND THEIR REIMBURSING&nbsp; US UNDER COST 430 BUT IT'S LIKE A TUG-OF-WAR FOR WHERE WE WILL

Summary: The committee first took up CS/House Bill 981, which would restore the Ocklawaha River and related natural resources. Supporters, including environmental groups, Save the Manatee Club, business owners, and Reunite the Rivers advocates, argued the bill would improve manatee habitat, fish passage, flood protection, tourism, and long-term economic returns while reducing dam maintenance costs. Opponents and skeptics focused on concerns about water quality, nutrient loading in the St. Johns River, loss of the Rodman Reservoir’s habitat and water-supply value, and potential ecological and economic harms. Members in debate largely supported the restoration effort, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee then heard HB 697, the PRICE Act, which would use international reference pricing to set a drug cost benchmark, address pharmacy benefit manager practices, and require health plans to keep drug prices stable for the year. The sponsor said the bill would lower costs and improve access, especially for uninsured Floridians. Supporters, including independent pharmacists, argued PBMs are squeezing pharmacies and that the bill could help lower prices. Opponents from BioFlorida and PhRMA warned the proposal could disrupt the national drug supply chain, fail to pass savings to patients, and lead to shortages, reduced access, and less innovation. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with Rep. Chambliss voting no. The committee also considered CS/HB 1081, which was amended to include private colleges and universities with NCA designation in the program. After brief discussion and support from United Way Miami, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, CS/HB 177 was introduced as a framework for Florida’s regional councils to cross-assign bills among regions; it received supportive testimony and was also reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those amounts were not in either the LFC or executive rec it's typical practice for those fund balance
• Chair and Representative, so the typical practice of the department is to divide that evenly by district
• And so this is just common practice that we do in case that we use all our budget authority in the prior
• And so it's common practice that we've done for the past I want to say 10 years.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've practiced as a behavior analyst in Massachusetts for 22 years and currently serve as senior clinical
• I've practiced as a behavior analyst in Massachusetts for 22 years and currently serve as senior clinical
• workforce pipeline because they will have more mentored hours before being launched out into independent practice
• bill, 4623, ensures that that license that Massachusetts already has created is fully recognized in practice

Bills: H4353 , H4425 , H4453 , H4623 , H4770 , S2587 , S2737

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Keywords: behavioral health, Medicaid, reimbursement rates, healthcare providers, service delivery, accreditation, Medicare, end-stage renal disease, healthcare access, patient coverage, renal failure, MassHealth, asset limit, personal vehicle exemption, vehicle value, healthcare, autism, ABA services, assistive technology, children

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 52, an act relating to ensuring fair permitting and licensing practices.
• ><c> licensing</c> ensuring fair permitting and licensing ensuring fair permitting and licensing practices
• </c><00:05:00.479><c> Senate</c><00:05:00.800><c> Bill</c> practices. Senator Rawlings.
• Senate Bill practices. Senator Rawlings.

Keywords: 958, all