Transcript Highlights:

• They all have their own systems.
• But having software that talks to the system that we're going to create.
• Then you have to put it in a data point system that they have a way to account for, and then you have
• I mean, you can build the system and it's certainly going to take away more than $500,000.
• And, I mean, On that system, how do you get that information in a format that's usable?

Bills: HB1329

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: government spending database, public expenditure transparency, open data, government transparency, school district spending, state spending, local government finance, education finance, budget database, expenditure reporting, salary transparency, benefits data, public records, Legislative Management study, North Dakota, school board training, superintendent, principal, business manager, higher education spending

Summary: The Education Division met with all members present and first took up House Bill 1329, which would create a transparency database and website for school spending information. Senator Schaible offered Amendment 0204 to turn the bill into a study, citing concerns that the proposal would impose major data-collection burdens on 168 school districts, require new data standards and privacy protections, and likely cost far more than the $500,000 in the bill. Several members supported transparency but agreed the implementation costs and technical feasibility were unclear. The committee adopted the amendment 4-1, then passed HB 1329 as amended on a 5-0 vote, with Senator Shively to carry the bill. The committee then discussed House Bill 1540, the education savings account/voucher bill. Representatives from the Bank of North Dakota and the Department of Public Instruction explained that they had not been consulted on the original drafting and outlined needed administrative changes, including clarifying the Bank as administrator, using a third-party program manager, involving DPI in rulemaking, adding audit and appeal procedures, and adjusting language on eligible purchases and school disqualification. They also said the current timeline was likely too aggressive to launch by the 2026-27 school year and estimated the program would require about 15 months to implement, with a fiscal note now around $5.1 million. Members also discussed policy-related amendments on means testing and application timing. Senator Shively proposed a 300% of poverty-level means test and a sign-up period to reduce costs and limit open-ended enrollment, while Senator Axman proposed a tiered approach that would keep all students technically eligible but phase in funding levels by income, preserving access for students who qualify for other federal supports. DPI said it could not currently disaggregate some data by family income and that the appeal process and procurement timeline still needed work. The committee did not move HB 1540 out that morning and instead recessed to continue discussion later after members had time to review the administrative and fiscal issues separately from the means-testing proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• The U.S. health care system is different; that's a needed requirement.
• Everything, this is not chipping away at the three-tier system.
• Everything, this is not chipping away at the three-tier system.
• every all away at the three- tier system every all these<00:12:43.959><c> packages</c><00:12:44.360>
• </c><00:12:46.800><c> and</c><00:12:46.920><c> we've</c><00:12:47.160><c> also</c> three- tier system

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 27, 2025, with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 255, relating to physical therapy. The bill sponsor and representatives of the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and APTA Kentucky said the measure is mainly a cleanup and modernization bill that updates outdated statutory language, changes PTAs from “certified” to “licensed,” gives the board authority to purchase liability insurance, moves fee and fine caps into regulation without changing current fees, renames temporary permits as provisional licenses, and creates a pathway to more easily recognize some internationally trained physical therapists already practicing in other states. Senators asked whether the bill changed training, scope of practice, Medicaid, or supervised practice standards; witnesses said it did not, and that supervised practice requirements remain in place with out-of-state practice accepted only when equivalent or more stringent. The committee approved HB 255 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 618, an alcoholic beverages measure with a Senate committee substitute. The bill was described as having three parts: allowing restaurants to buy limited quantities of alcohol from retail outlets to meet customer demand while keeping the three-tier system intact and requiring quarterly reporting; creating a temporary auctioneer license to auction previously retail-sold alcohol in original packaging, such as estate or bourbon collections; and giving quota bar license holders the same opportunity restaurants already have to sell barrel picks by the bottle. Testimony supported the bill as a way to help restaurants, auctioneers, and bars, while a senator raised a question about sales tax on auction sales and another noted that nonprofit or church-related alcohol auctions already require permits under existing law. One senator suggested future guardrails to encourage local purchasing, but no amendment was adopted. The committee passed HB 618 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY NEEDS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WITHOUT CAUSING HARM TO THE RESOURCES OR NATURAL SYSTEMS
• TO REDEVELOP AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE SPACE CONSTRAINTS AND DIFFICULTY TO FIT IN A NEW STORM WATER SYSTEMS
• SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS, ANYTHING FROM SWELLS, FILTRATION SYSTEMS, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE
• LITTLE AREAS AROUND STORM WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, THE WET SYSTEMS.
• VALUE OF THE LAND COME INTO THE ANALYSIS FOR THE COST, IN ADDITION AS THIS IS A PERFORMANCE-BASED SYSTEM

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• systems over time.
• All of the rest of us have access to the system, unless it's workers' comp.
• This amendment creates a caste system of compliance and will This amendment creates a caste system of
• Her spirit was just as exhausted as her immune system.
• SB 1756 solves two systemic issues in the state of Florida.

Bills: S0036 , S0620 , S0796 , S0934 , S1080 , S1096 , S1366 , S1536 , S1548 , S1580 , S1588 , S1620 , S1756 , S7034 , S7044

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: nursing title, advanced practice registered nurse, advertising, professional standards, disciplinary action, candidate qualifying, federal office, election integrity, regulatory compliance, political candidacy, veterinary medicine, telehealth, veterinary professional associate, animal health, public safety, access to veterinary services, payment bond exemption, Habitat for Humanity, Florida Forever Act, land acquisition

Summary: The committee first took up SB 354, the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, which creates a framework for large planned communities on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area and a streamlined local review process. Senator McLean presented the bill and a strike-all amendment, and members raised concerns about local control, conservation enforceability, data centers, concurrency, multi-county projects, and whether reserve lands could later be converted. Audubon Florida and 1,000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill, arguing the conservation protections were not permanent enough and that the reserve areas could be changed later; small-county representatives also worried about tax-base impacts. Supporters argued the bill would better manage growth, preserve green space, and provide a more orderly alternative to sprawl. After debate, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judiciary, school, and school board offices to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship. Amendments added disclosure about whether federal candidates intend to trade stock if elected and adjusted 2026 congressional qualifying procedures in the event of redistricting, including a new qualifying window and petition rules. The bill was reported favorably after brief support from a member of the public and discussion about candidate vetting. The committee also reported favorably CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill with amendments addressing My Safe Florida Home notices, condo pilot eligibility, firefighter hiring, unclaimed property, and related financial-services provisions. Next, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1620, a school board members’ bill of rights. A substitute amendment narrowed the bill to access to records, fiscal transparency, and nondisclosure agreements, while preserving board members’ rights to timely documents, budget information, and public comment, and setting deadlines for records requests. Superintendents and a school board member testified in support, saying the bill clarifies roles and prevents board members from being frozen out. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material”; one senator supported the terminology change but warned about preserving legal precedent and avoiding appellate issues. The committee then reported favorably SB 1548, an update to the Live Local affordable housing law expanding eligible sites and clarifying setbacks, airport proximity, and fair-housing protections. Finally, the committee took up the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates. The bill allows trained master’s-level VPAs to perform limited veterinary services under a veterinarian’s supervision, and an amendment tightened the standard to immediate supervision on premises. Supporters said the measure would expand access to care, especially in rural areas with vet shortages, while opponents argued it added unnecessary regulation. After testimony from veterinary educators and others, the bill continued with support expressed by committee members, including praise for the direct-supervision amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems over time.
• All of the rest of us have access to the system, unless it's workers' comp.
• All of the rest of us have access to the system, unless it's workers' comp.
• Her spirit was just as exhausted as her immune system.
• SB 1756 solves two systemic issues in the state of Florida.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• and for terrestrial systems.
• and for terrestrial for aquatic systems and for terrestrial systems.<00:23:37.120><c> Um</c><00:23:37.520
• </c> systems. Um so very uh very important. systems. Um so very uh very important.
• Without the extensive trail system.
• </c><01:39:16.159><c> in</c> be no alternative use trail system in be no alternative use trail system

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• roles in strengthening and administering Minnesota statewide pension systems.
• data from all the pension systems in Minnesota.
• </c><00:45:45.079><c> in</c> from all the pension systems in from all the pension systems in Minnesota
• </c><00:47:26.920><c> overall</c> these systems overall these systems overall liabilities<00:47:28.839
• I'm legislative liaison from the Minnesota State Retirement System.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just by improving our collection system, we can create 1,700 jobs in our state.
• Manufacturers will need to implement system changes and investments statewide.
• Manufacturers will need to implement system changes and investments statewide.
• So there would be—we're trying to consolidate and bring efficiency to the system.
• </c> belied we wanted a more efficient system belied we wanted a more efficient system and<01:06:44.319

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:18.040><c> about</c> the public and Health Care Systems about the public and Health Care Systems
• Clearly, the public health system is a system that really relies on local public health departments and
• uh the public health system is a system<00:57:43.880><c> that</c><00:57:44.480><c> uh</c><00:57:44.680
• This is a current system that we currently use.
• This is a current system that we currently use.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CS for HB 679 updates Florida's trademark registration system by requiring the Department of State to
• This extends the date the online system is required by the Department of State to give them more time
• to implement the online system.
• HESITANT TO DO SO AND IN SOME&nbsp; REPORTS PILOTS ARE TREATING THE&nbsp; 926 SAFETY SYSTEM, THAT CAN
• People get reelected by going on TV, and they get reelected in the federal system by clicks and likes

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1137, which would codify a long-standing DBPR rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct excise tax for broken or spoiled products. The sponsor said the rule had been nullified for lack of statutory authority, and industry representatives waved in support. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. Members then approved PCS for HB 797 on nonprofit corporations, described as a broad update to the nonprofit statute that tracks prior for-profit corporation changes and model act language. A technical amendment was adopted, and testimony from the Florida Nonprofit Alliance and a Bar business law section representative was supportive. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also passed CS for HB 679 on trademark registration, which updates the state trademark system to align with federal classifications and create an online application; an amendment extending the implementation date was adopted before the bill passed. The committee next heard several bills related to licensing and regulation. CS for HB 1433 would create an optional high school financial literacy course focused on property and casualty insurance and allow graduates to satisfy pre-licensure requirements for an entry-level license; it passed with support from insurance and free-market groups. HB 929 clarified local permitting for tiki huts, including electrical and plumbing permits, decks, fasteners, and setbacks, and passed without opposition. HB 99 exempted certain underwriting managers handling limited reinsurance business from reinsurance intermediary manager licensing requirements and also passed. A major portion of the meeting focused on gambling enforcement in the strike-all for CS for CS HB 155, which would strengthen penalties for illegal gambling operations, expand oversight of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, clarify fantasy sports and internet sports wagering language, and allow destruction of seized slot machines. Supporters argued the bill would help shut down repeat illegal internet cafés and related criminal activity; one homeowner group opposed it. The committee adopted the strike-all and the bill passed, with several members speaking in favor and a few voting no. The committee also passed HB 1307 on unauthorized aliens after adopting a strike-all that clarified provisions affecting licensing, housing assistance, workers’ compensation, employment enforcement, and related financial services; the bill drew substantial opposition testimony about language barriers and immigrant families, but also support from proponents citing public safety and victim stories. Later, the committee approved DS for HB 387, which would restrict the use of ADS-B aviation data for automatic billing at airports while preserving landing fees and safety functions. It passed after supportive testimony from a private pilot. HB 865, as amended, would require professional management for community associations above a higher budget threshold, add timeshare-specific language, and impose additional licensing and insurance requirements for managers; supporters cited fraud and lack of enforcement in large associations, while one member opposed it as government overreach. The bill passed with one recorded no vote. Finally, the committee passed PCS for HB 885, a transportation facility designation bill naming several roads and bridges, and began debate on CS for HB 33, which would designate a portion of SR 895 near FIU as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and also codify a Donald Trump boulevard designation. That bill prompted sharp debate, with supporters praising Kirk’s influence and opponents objecting to honoring a non-Floridian and to his public statements; the transcript ends during that debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll address that situation immediately and make sure it's in the PTC system.
• Our traffic safety system—you're going to talk about photo radar later—we believe in it.
• And it says the photo radar system functioned properly.
• So she can only talk about the court system.
• Our systems are placed using data and community input.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2669, which would limit railroad train length in Arizona to 8,500 feet. The sponsor and several witnesses argued that very long trains create public safety risks, block rural crossings, delay EMS and fire response, and can worsen hazardous materials incidents, citing derailments and blocked crossings in places such as El Mirage, Holbrook, Sanders, and Santa Cruz County. Railroad representatives opposed the bill, saying train length does not cause derailments, that railroads already use tracking and crossing-management systems, and that shorter trains would increase congestion and delays. After debate, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2669 a do-pass recommendation, though some members said they supported the safety concerns but had constitutional concerns about interstate commerce. The committee then considered HB 2369, as amended, which requires photo-enforcement citations to be signed by the presiding judge, with the amendment limiting the requirement to photo-enforcement citations and allowing an electronic signature. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by a Mesa issue involving thousands of citations signed by the wrong judge after that judge had left the bench. A Paradise Valley court representative said their photo citations already include a judge/clerk signature and that the form had long been approved. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. HB 2256, a technical cleanup bill for salvage auction dealers, was also passed unanimously. It allows a salvage auction dealer to receive title to an abandoned vehicle tied to a denied or unpaid insurance claim and sets out notice and title-release procedures; the amendment clarified that insurers may request actions rather than taking possession of a vehicle and that storage fees must be paid. HCM 2007, which urges renaming sections of State Route 69 in honor of veterans from five former wars, also received a 7-0 do-pass recommendation, with members discussing whether World War I should be included and how the memorial highway designation would work alongside the existing route number. HB 2772, which would place a pre-hospital medical care directive indicator on driver licenses and state IDs, generated extended discussion and was ultimately held over after a recess. Supporters said it could help first responders and families quickly identify a DNR/advance directive, while opponents and committee members raised concerns about liability, whether first responders or bystanders would be protected, whether the bill should instead reference advance directives, and whether ADOT and EMS stakeholders had been fully consulted. The committee then heard HCR 2004, a proposed voter-approved prohibition on photo enforcement systems. The sponsor argued photo radar is unconstitutional and cited Mesa and Paradise Valley problems with erroneous or dismissed citations. Scottsdale and Phoenix police opposed the resolution, saying photo enforcement reduces serious injury and fatal crashes, supports local traffic safety efforts, and is especially useful amid officer shortages. The Phoenix commander noted the department has more than 600 sworn vacancies and said automated enforcement helps augment roadway safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them is to create a quantum systems and application targeted industry center.
• And it Requires the whole system pulling together at once to bring this forward.
• Now, in New Mexico, we also serve about 117,000 students in our public higher education system.
• Where Raytheon has a facility that builds the guidance systems for 15 different missile systems.
• We have over 19,000 students in our system.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we operate our programs through six different systems.
• Let's do the integration for this system.
• or small system planning where we could use a different process than small system funding versus large
• system funding.
• We do that through three primary systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do not want to impose an unfunded mandate on our school systems.
• Beauregard has been on a four-day system for a while.
• That was the system in place before Act 409, the same system that failed our daughter.
• Right now, we have a system where the same child They're in.
• We are not creating one clear system.

Bills: HB624 , HB1022 , HB1203 , SB82 , SB206 , SB305 , SB376 , SB441

Committee: House Education

Keywords: school safety, emergency operations plan, crisis management, active shooter, drills, training, classroom security, primary health services, behavioral health, school health providers, medical necessity, student health care, education, school week, instructional time, public schools, performance score, student athletes, cardiovascular health, sudden cardiac arrest

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:23.960><c> or</c> never thought of when systems or never thought of when systems or buildings
• </c> timelines are misaligned, and systems timelines are misaligned, and systems that<00:37:24.200><c
• </c> actually function as a system. actually function as a system.
• It ensures that the systems we already fund work together.
• </c><01:03:48.400><c> inequities</c> that we address the systemic inequities that we address the systemic

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , or graywater systems, where it's clear to the homeowners.
• It is important to keep the water in the system where it is and not off-site.
• Parkland is a safety net health system in Dallas County.
• Sure, I'm concerned about certain costs to the health system.
• Revenue, first to fund the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System.

Bills: HB26 , HB73 , SB 14 , HB46

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• system.
• It's very rare for us to direct curriculum inclusion at the university system and the college system,
• </c><00:18:54.320><c> It's</c><00:18:54.559><c> very</c> system, university system.
• It's very system, university system.
• </c> University System New Hampshire. University System New Hampshire.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this conversation takes place in the backdrop of a housing shortage that really is a result of a system
• An internal chargeback accounting system is monotonous. It's very cumbersome.
• An internal chargeback accounting system is monotonous. It's very cumbersome.
• An internal chargeback accounting system is monotonous. It's very cumbersome.
• </c> jurisdictions um we could have a system jurisdictions um we could have a system that<00:42:36.599

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The request for the waiver is based on the history with the vendor, the system used by the vendor.
• The base for the project carries a longer warranty than other systems, and it's a good system for our
• And it's a good system for our project.
• district, and they have a good working relationship with the district based on past results of the same system
• We expect a great system and great service at a good price, which is extremely important to our district

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first approved an emergency rule change from the Department of Education to update consolidation and annexation rules to reflect Acts 919 of 2025 and 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. The rule implements the creation of new isolated school districts after local detachment votes, and officials explained the funding structure for parent districts: they retain foundation funding, declining enrollment funding, and local tax revenue, while 90% of the foundation funding generated by detaching students is forwarded to the new districts. Members discussed the financial impact in detail, and the emergency rule was approved without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026. The Department of Human Services then presented an emergency rule allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. The rule was approved without objection, and Senator Irvin requested that the topic be placed on a future public health agenda for an update. The committee also approved Whitehall’s waiver request to exceed $1 million through cooperative purchasing for construction services related to a project using a vendor with prior experience and a longer-warranty system. In addition, members voted to keep committee per diem, mileage, and expense allocations unchanged for the new fiscal year. Finally, the committee approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting, allow only subcommittee meetings with imminent matters through July 31, and treat July subcommittee actions as final for reporting at the August 21, 2026 meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The request for the waiver is based on the history with the vendor and the system used by the vendor.
• The base for the project carries a longer warranty than other systems, and it's a good system for our
• Arkansas and other states, along with professional sports teams around the country. ...and it's a good system
• district, and they have a good working relationship with the district based on past results of the same system
• We expect a great system and great service at a good price, which is extremely important to our district

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all