Transcript Highlights:

• Our members serve cities and towns and neighborhoods across the state from Cape Cod to the Berkshires
• and towns. 17,000 acres conserved across 155 cities and towns.
• I represented the city of Brockton for several years, and when I was a lot younger on the city council
• I work in the city of Worcester.
• None of those have happened in the city of Worcester because of the price of land.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city of San Diego right now, the city council has been going back and forth on permitting and permissiveness
• So how can we help with being that I represent part of LA, not city of LA, which is part of L.A.
• With L.A. being that I represent part of L.A., not the city of L.A., which is part of L.A. County.
• We've invited labor, business, cities, counties, nonprofits together at the same time.
• I represent seven of those 88 cities, so not quite even a quarter of those, but that L.A.

Summary: The committee held an information hearing on California’s economy and household affordability, with the first panel focusing on inflation, housing, energy, wages, and the likely effects of new federal tariff policy. PPIC’s Sarah Bone said Californians remain deeply pessimistic about the economy, with inflation the main driver of concern; she noted prices are still about 23% higher than in January 2020, with especially large increases in food, energy, and housing costs. LAO’s Brian Euler emphasized that housing is the largest household expense and pointed to insurance, electricity, gasoline, and health care as other major cost pressures, urging the Legislature to review whether existing policies are actually reducing costs and to consider studies of why recent housing laws have not produced more units. UC Davis economist Catherine Russ warned that tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and potentially broader imports could raise consumer prices, disrupt supply chains, and hurt California exporters, farmers, and small businesses; she suggested monitoring prices, strengthening food assistance, and preparing transition support for affected workers and producers. Members pressed the panelists for concrete, near-term policy ideas, especially on housing and tariffs. Questions centered on whether accessory dwelling units are making a meaningful dent in affordability, how to improve implementation of pro-housing laws at the local level, and how to measure the impact of tariffs on consumers, health care, and agriculture. Panelists said ADUs help but are limited, that state laws can be undermined by local implementation and litigation, and that tariff effects may show up quickly in prices and later in hiring and investment. Several members stressed that the tariff issue is not a minor disruption for constituents and asked for more data on consumer impacts, food aid needs, and crop-specific farm losses. The second panel shifted to regional economic development and small business support. Go-Biz’s Derek Kirk described California Jobs First and the state economic blueprint as a first-in-decades, regionally informed strategy to create good-paying jobs, support key sectors, and align workforce and business development across 13 regions. The California Association for Local Economic Development’s Gerbach Sahota argued that local governments need practical tools, stable policy, and stronger partnerships with the state, while warning that prosperity is not always perceived as shared and that rural communities can be left behind. He urged the Legislature to use hearings, local input, and existing funding streams more effectively, including for recovery and infrastructure. David Fitzgerald of the Small Business Development Centers said California’s SBDC network serves hundreds of thousands of clients, many of them women and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, and has generated billions in economic impact, capital access, revenue, and jobs. He said the biggest gaps are outreach to the state’s many self-employed businesses with no employees, better labor data on those workers, and more flexible support for direct services. Committee members then asked what small businesses need most in the face of inflation and tariff shocks, including lower licensing costs and other relief, and the discussion continued on how to better target state support to businesses and households under pressure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The basis of the lawsuit was vagueness related to violations of the educator code of conduct and what
• If you were going to seek an educator code of conduct violation or something of that kind, I continue
• </c><04:41:23.760><c> in</c> actually cities I take it back cities in actually cities I take it back
• Supreme Court and is in 20 U.S.C. code 9134.
• </c> USC code USC code 9134 9134 9134 F7<05:24:51.400><c> is</c><05:24:51.600><c> where</c><05:24:51.798

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 763, an early bill concerning AED access at athletic events and venues. Representative Morris offered amendment 0743H to clarify the bill by removing charter schools from the language and tying AED placement to American Heart Association guidance, emphasizing that AEDs should be readily accessible within a reasonable walking distance rather than mandated on every field. The amendment and then the bill as amended both passed 17-0, and the bill was reported out as Ought to Pass with Amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 781, requiring school districts to adopt cell phone-free education policies, and a related bill, House Bill 131. HB 781 was amended to include charter public school boards, cover other personal electronic communication devices, require at minimum restrictions on student personal cell phones during class instruction, allow superintendent-approved exceptions for medical or language needs, protect students with medical needs or disabilities under Section 504, and set an effective date of July 1, 2025. Some members argued the amendment was too prescriptive and limited local control, while supporters said it still left districts flexibility outside classroom instruction. The amendment passed 16-1, and the bill then passed Ought to Pass as Amended 16-1. HB 131, described as a mirror bill, was then retained by a 17-0 vote. House Bill 398, a title bill requiring Holocaust and genocide studies to include impacts on people with disabilities, was moved to ITL after Representative Selig reported the genocide commission believed the topic was already being covered. That motion passed 17-0. The committee also agreed to hold several bills for later consideration, including HB 754, HB 1221, HB 360, and HB 699, citing the need for more review or missing copies. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 361, prohibiting mandatory mask policies in schools. Supporters argued the bill would preserve individual choice while preventing statewide or districtwide mandates in future public health emergencies, and cited a Department of Health and Human Services letter saying masks remain effective but decisions should be based on individual choice and risk assessment. Opponents emphasized local control and the need for districts to respond to different public health conditions. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 361 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we city clerks around the state.
• Thank you. not in compliance with 18 US code not in compliance with 18 US code section section section
• Our criminal code, some other people have already talked about it.
• Our criminal code, some other people have already talked about it.
• Our criminal code, some other law.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, the Wyoming code says that we can dissolve an entity that has filed a fraudulent document
• And again, the Wyoming code says that we And again, the Wyoming code says that we can<00:02:29.720><c
• The authority to dissolve entities, which right now under the code is very, very weak.
• code for withdrawing<00:14:13.120><c> the</c><00:14:13.200><c> bill.
• </c> That goes to the city of Rawlins, right? Um, last week, they had a large power outage.

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bills will be laid over upon motion of the Majority Leader, and the code rule is relaxed.
• </c> and certainly know the criminal code. and certainly know the criminal code.
• </c> And if provisions of the criminal code And if provisions of the criminal code are<01:03:14.440><
• Rocky Mountain Recycling in Commerce City is where I go. Anderson Salvage in Greeley is where I go.
• Rocky Mountain Recycling in Commerce City is where I go. Anderson Salvage in Greeley is where I go.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code is speech, a laptop running open-source software, a digital asset node, an AI model.
• Code of speech, a laptop running press.
• </c><00:54:33.920><c> What</c> codes, and commercial regulation.
• What codes, and commercial regulation.
• </c><02:33:26.800><c> act,</c> the age appropriate design code act, the age appropriate design code act

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and a lot of cities are going ahead and doing those. >> and this would include state agencies.
• So, and a lot of cities are going ahead and doing those. >> and this would include state agencies.
• So, and a lot of cities are going ahead and doing those. >> and this would include state agencies.
• :10.320><c> and</c> basically have cities, towns, and basically have cities, towns, and villages.<00:
• </c><00:13:31.440><c> of</c> implementation date for cities of implementation date for cities of January

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would, that class code say it was $100.
• So it does, you know, the challenges of each class code do affect it.
• but it but those the dividends are codes but it but those the dividends are independent<00:30:06.760
• </c><00:30:52.799><c> do</c> the challenges of each class code do the challenges of each class code do
• So I just—we don't have offices in every city to get there to pick up checks for it.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:07:50.480><c> of</c><01:07:50.640><c> military</c><01:07:51.039><c> justice</c> uniform code
• None of them right now are on public property or city property.
• None of them right now are on public property or city property.
• None of them right now are on public property or city property.
• None of them right now are on public property or city property.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate to return to the House the bill H.R. 3426 entitled "An Act to amend title 40, United States Code
• title<01:58:13.119><c> 40</c><01:58:13.520><c> United</c><01:58:13.840><c> States</c><01:58:14.080><c> Code
• 01:58:14.560><c> to</c><01:58:14.800><c> limit</c><01:58:15.040><c> the</c> title 40 United States Code
• to limit the title 40 United States Code to limit the construction<01:58:15.599><c> of</c><01:58:15.760
• achieve the highest level of proficiency as similarly situated students in district schools in New York City

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, September 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the six items that are part of Education Code 61.031(c), I defer to the ombudsman on how
• So I was born and raised in Bridge City, Texas.
• And I was amazed that, I guess, the liberal city of Austin would give them a permit to do that, but they
• So criminal trespass, and my iPad's gone dead, so in code is defined as?
• I think it's important for us to understand the difficulty for the state, the city, and, in this instance

Summary: The joint Senate and House Select Committee on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education convened for its first public hearing, adopted its proposed rules without objection, and framed the hearing as an organizational, invited-testimony-only session. Members repeatedly condemned political violence and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, saying the committee was created in response to concerns about civil discourse, intimidation, and hostility on college campuses. Several members emphasized that the goal was not to suppress speech but to protect open expression while maintaining order, due process, and institutional accountability. The first witness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Wyn Rosser, outlined implementation of Senate Bill 37. He described the General Education Advisory Committee, which is reviewing broad core-curriculum knowledge and skills and may recommend reducing the current 42-hour core, while leaving review of specific courses to individual institutions. He also explained the new Office of the Ombudsman, the board’s role in supporting it, and existing training and certification requirements for governing board members. Members asked about enforcement tools, transparency, and whether the ombudsman would investigate complaints involving censorship, retaliation, or political bias; Rosser said some enforcement exists in certain laws, but he deferred on the exact scope of the ombudsman’s investigatory authority and on issues outside the agency’s role. University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis testified that UT Austin supports free speech, academic freedom, and civil discourse, and he described three areas of focus: speech on campus grounds, classroom discourse, and how people treat one another. He said the university enforces time, place, and manner rules, expects professors to present alternative views on controversial topics, and has created internal reporting and appeal processes for students and faculty. Members questioned him about heckler’s veto incidents, protests, off-campus participants, complaints about professors, hate speech, and whether the university would protect speakers and students from disruption or unfair targeting. Davis said the university would not tolerate disruptions, would use due process and factual review, and is working to align campus practices with the new law and regents’ expectations. Ricky Adam Jr. of Turning Point USA’s Club America described the group’s campus and high-school organizing, praised Charlie Kirk’s approach to open debate, and said the organization is expanding in Texas. He raised concerns about school administrators and a counselor at an Early College High School in Killeen allegedly interfering with a student club and withholding footage, and committee members said they would seek information and, if necessary, use legislative process to investigate. Members from both chambers reiterated support for free speech, criticized political violence and campus suppression of viewpoints, and stressed that future hearings would continue examining implementation and enforcement issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I never agreed with them on what they voted on HART, on the city, on the rail.
• I never agreed with them on what they voted on HART, on the city, on the rail.
• I never agreed with them on what they voted on HART, on the city, on the rail.
• About four years ago, a code was created so that schools could offer it as an option.
• was created so that schools a accn code was created so that schools could<00:48:34.599><c> offer</c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 110, HD1, which would clarify local food purchase goals for the Department of Education. DOE said it supports the measure and will work toward the 30% local food mandate by 2030. The Department of Agriculture also supported the bill, and outside advocates from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network strongly backed it as consistent with prior farm-to-school laws and helpful for measuring progress toward the goal. The committee then took up House Bill 293, which would exempt certain DOE purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products from electronic procurement rules and allow written-quote purchasing thresholds, including a lower quote requirement for some rural schools. DOE, the Department of Agriculture, the State Procurement Office, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported the measure, describing it as a tool to help the department test and add local products and meet the 30% goal. However, members pressed DOE on the bill’s purpose and mechanics, questioning why the department could not simply add products to vendor lists or use existing procurement flexibility. DOE explained it was trying to test new local products, including products not yet on the USDA-approved list, and said the bill would allow limited pilot purchases while it works through USDA approval and vendor-list updates. Members also raised concerns about whether the bill was being used to bypass procurement and whether small farmers or aggregators could realistically supply the needed volume. House Bill 1069, which would add two voting members representing DOE and the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority, also drew support from DOE and the Board of Education. Supporters said the change would improve accountability, strategic input, and communication on school facilities matters. SFA testified that it has already increased coordination with DOE through regular meetings and that recent discussions have been more robust. Committee members questioned whether voting seats were necessary given that DOE and BOE could already attend meetings and receive updates, and they raised concerns about how a voting representative would report back and whether the measure would actually solve communication problems. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in my district, say, the city of Susan City, where my... ...you know, a city in my district, say, the
• city of Susan City, where my, one of my favorite assembly members was the former mayor, if Susan City
• of Bakersfield, the City of Beaumont, the City of Belmont, the City of Carlsbad, the City of Corona,
• the City of El Cerrito, the City of Merced, the City of Rancho Cucamonga, the City of Redwood City,
• the City of San Mateo, the City of Thousand Oaks, and the Madera County Council of Mayors and Council

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was joined today, and earlier, and now they are in the gallery by the City of Maricopa Youth Council
• We also have Katie Proctor up there, who represents the City of Maricopa.
• Why don't you guys stand up, give a wave, and let's welcome some of the members of the City of Maricopa
• It will now also include their occupation, and we put back their employer and the city that they live
• in and the zip code.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recorded quorum, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced several guest groups in the gallery, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, a student shadowing Sen. Gonzalez, Gilbert EduPrize students, InterWest Energy Alliance representatives, and Kingman city leaders. The chamber adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the Senate also approved a motion to request House consent to adjourn after Wednesday, March 11, until Monday, March 16. A large number of bills were introduced on first reading, and standing committee reports were ordered entered without being read aloud. The Senate then took up numerous third-reading measures. Bills passed included SB 1654 (elections funding), SB 1711 (school safety/age-appropriate information), SB 1743 (campaign contribution address privacy), SB 1747 (assistive technology content), SB 1212 (health insurance reimbursement rules), SB 1284 (moving violations), SB 1336 (State Land Department-related changes), SB 1365 (property tax exemptions/veterans park discounts), SB 1655 (juror summoning/poll worker recruitment), SB 1662 (probation), SB 1803 (veterans’ services), SB 1818 (vehicle statutes), SB 1494 and SB 1497 (school insurance-related changes), SB 1503 (pension benefit plans), SB 1584 (Department of Corrections staffing), SB 1632 (Department of Economic Security), SB 1723 (bail), SB 1206 (insurance claims on reconsideration), and SB 1827 (aviation appropriations on reconsideration). SB 1134 on political signs initially failed, but the Senate later reconsidered and passed it. SB 1544 (probation) and SB 1585 (sex offender monitoring funding) failed. Several votes were close, and members offered explanations for both support and opposition on issues such as election administration, campaign privacy, health care incentives, veterans’ claims assistance, and criminal justice policy. The chamber then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for a long series of bills, adopting committee and floor amendments and recommending do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672. Testimony in committee focused on topics including high school training standards, veterans’ state park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS reimbursement and workforce issues, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug access. Later, the Committee of the Whole also considered SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, and SB 1611. SB 1173 drew debate over whether additional fingerprint/background checks were needed for AHCCCS providers; SB 1234 and SB 1295 addressed juvenile court representation and inmate medical release; and SB 1611, on the American Indian Health Program, prompted extensive discussion about fraud in the program, tribal consultation, and whether the program should be moved out of AHCCCS. The committee adopted amendments and advanced these bills with do pass recommendations, while members on SB 1611 emphasized both the need for reform and concerns about consultation with Arizona tribes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was joined today, and earlier, and now they are in the gallery by the City of Maricopa Youth Council
• We also have Katie Proctor up there, who represents the City of Maricopa.
• Why don't you guys stand up, give a wave, and let's welcome some of the members of the City of Maricopa
• It will now also include their occupation, and we put back their employer and the city that they live
• in and the zip code.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But 50% of all homes in the cities of Arizona fall into HOAs, and when you have that many homes falling
• into HOAs... ...in the cities of Arizona fall into HOAs, and when you have that many homes falling into
• a firefighter, was actually recognized, and they put his name on one of the memorials down at the city
• Yeah, I just met with a lot of stakeholders, cities, and different people.
• All it does is move the petition forward in the process so that the cities and developers aren't doing

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and introductions of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jane Peterson, and a University of Arizona presentation featuring meteorites and space-related materials. The chamber also adopted a proclamation honoring Mama Luisa’s Italian restaurant for 70 years of family ownership and service. After routine committee and Senate message announcements, the House moved into third reading and floor action on a large number of bills. Several bills passed on third reading, including HB 2041 on child neglect, HB 2128, HB 2251 on midwifery, HB 2342 on planned communities/HOAs, HB 2402 on emergency medical services, HB 2403 appropriating money to AHCCCS, HB 2615 on parenting time, HB 2641 on firefighting foam, HB 2673 on incarcerated persons and mental illness, HB 2700 creating a Technology First Study Committee, HB 2951 on subscription cancellation/consumer protections, HB 2991 on minors’ access to technology content, and HB 4070 on human trafficking. Members’ comments reflected support for maternal care, consumer protection, parental controls, public safety, and services for incarcerated people with mental illness, while some members raised concerns about licensing, overbreadth, or unresolved amendments. HB 4018 on county officers failed on a 26-24 vote. The House then reconsidered and sent HB 4018 back to third reading, but a subsequent motion challenging the chair’s ruling on whether a division had been called failed. The chamber also entered additional Committee of the Whole sessions to amend and recommend passage of HB 2136 and HB 2923, both of which were reported out as amended. In later Committee of the Whole work, the House recommended passage of HB 2188, HB 2239, HB 2437, HB 2445, HB 2502, HB 2620 as amended, HB 2931 as amended, HB 4004, and HB 4064, with some bills retained on the calendar and several measures referred to engrossing. The transcript ended while the House was continuing through consent-calendar and additional Committee of the Whole proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• office is not otherwise required to be open to fulfill official duties under the Florida Election Code
• I'm Janarian Hubbard from the city of Jacksonville. Jenerian Hubbard. I'm sorry. All right.
• I'm Janieri and Hubbard from the city of Jacksonville. I am 65 years old.
• Reverend Rufus Wood, followed by... from Panama City, so I should know. Maria, something.
• And now I apologize, Maria from Panama City. Is there a lady from Panama City named Maria?

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every December I go to a conference for real estate at the Javits Center in New York City, and every
• Our request for $7.576 million would complete the Haines City-Davenport campus, which is designed to
• Regardless of a student's ZIP code or life circumstances, I see that principle in action at Tallahassee
• And before that, I was a city council member. I think we have lost you. We have lost you on Teams.
• I worked in ERs throughout the city.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider a large slate of confirmations and reappointments to boards of trustees for Florida’s colleges, universities, and the Florida Prepaid College Board. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the importance of trustee appointments to maintaining Florida’s higher education system, and the committee heard brief testimony from each nominee about their background, ties to the institution, and priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, and community partnerships. Several nominees highlighted personal connections to their schools, including alumni status, family legacy, or prior service on the board, while others emphasized experience in business, law, education, health care, or public service. Testimony focused heavily on workforce development and institutional growth. Speakers cited nursing, dual enrollment, applied programs, military and veteran support, broadband access, agriculture, law enforcement, and technical training as key areas for colleges to meet regional labor needs. University nominees discussed research expansion, affordability, strategic planning, and partnerships with industry and government, with Florida Atlantic, Florida Polytechnic, the University of West Florida, and the University of South Florida each described as being in periods of growth or transition. Miami-Dade College, Tallahassee State College, Polk State College, and other state colleges were praised for enrollment, economic impact, and job placement outcomes. The committee also heard from the Florida Prepaid College Board reappointee, who described the program as a long-term promise backed by public trust and reported recent technology and customer-service improvements. After testimony, the committee took up the nominations as a group. One nominee, Drew Weatherford, had withdrawn and was not voted on. The remaining trustees were approved unanimously by roll call and reported favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Nuremberg laws were drafted after the Black Codes and the Jim Crow laws of the South here in
• you know, that we would have some of the hatred that we have seen on our own campuses and our own city
• Lester was elected twice to the Beverly Hills City Council, served two terms as mayor, and continues
• Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act allows the department to enter into an agreement with a county or a city
• The developer can use a city hall as a one-stop shop and need only deal with the state for the Joshua

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled several procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow committee hearings and guest access, re-referring bills, and removing one bill from the consent calendar. The chamber also observed Holocaust Remembrance Day with a lengthy ceremony and remarks from many members across caucuses, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust, combating antisemitism and other forms of hate, and supporting survivors and descendants. ACR 59, the California Holocaust Memorial Day resolution, was adopted by voice vote after 76 coauthors were added. After the ceremony, the Assembly took up the daily file. AB 390, which strengthens California’s “slow down, move over” highway safety law, passed 64-0. AB 439, making small changes to the Coastal Act and reporting requirements, passed 44-11 after debate over Coastal Commission oversight. The body also approved a rules waiver to allow the Education Committee to meet on AB 1468. Later, AB 50, allowing Medi-Cal enrollees to access over-the-counter contraceptives without a prescription, passed 67-0 urgency and 67-0 overall; AB 55, streamlining alternative birth center licensing, passed 68-0; AB 596, protecting workers’ right to wear masks or respirators unless there is a direct safety hazard, passed 53-8; AB 631, requiring animal shelters to post intake and outcome data, passed 60-0; and AB 792, allowing consolidated negotiations for court interpreter contracts, passed 52-1. The Assembly also passed AB 867, banning cat declawing, by 68-0 after bipartisan support; AB 1089, expanding local permitting authority for Western Joshua Tree projects, by 16-0; and AB 1154, clarifying ADU rules, by 63-1. SCR 57, proclaiming Dolores Huerta Day, was adopted 66-0. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 71-0. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory remarks for Mary Hammer, a longtime San Lorenzo Valley community leader and environmental advocate, followed by recognition of her family and friends in the chamber.