Transcript Highlights:

• It's a real, it's a huge struggle for our resources—for law enforcement, for fish and wildlife, for our
• They live in a stage of high caloric demand, so it's easier for them to take in livestock if they have
• So we are asking for $31 million for that program.
• So we are asking for $31 million for that program.
• I also work for Women for Wolves.

Summary: The hearing focused on human-wildlife conflict in California, especially predator management involving bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves. The chair and Assemblymember Hadwick framed the issue as a balance between protecting people, livestock, and property while preserving wildlife and biodiversity, citing habitat loss, development, drought, wildfire, and climate change as drivers of conflict. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials described their conflict-response work, including public education, depredation permits, wildlife incident reporting, and coordination with sheriffs, counties, and other agencies. They also noted that wildlife sightings and conflicts are increasingly common in both rural and urban areas, including recent mountain lion activity in San Francisco and ongoing bear conflicts in places like Tahoe and Sierra Madre. CDFW staff outlined the department’s human-wildlife conflict program, including the WEIR reporting system, a public toolkit, limited-term staff, and regional response efforts. They said the program grew out of drought-related incidents and later state funding, but that one-time money has expired, creating service gaps. Officials also discussed specific management approaches such as Tahoe’s trap-tag-haze bear program, DNA-based incident tracking, and the use of nonlethal deterrents before lethal action. For wolves, they explained that the species is protected and managed differently from bears and lions, that there is no general depredation-kill process for wolves, and that the department is working on data-sharing agreements, county liaisons, compensation programs, and improved coordination with ranchers and local law enforcement. Members pressed the department on underreporting, trust in state agencies, the need for sheriffs to participate in investigations, and whether more authority should be given for public-safety removals or hazing. Assemblymember Gonzalez also raised wildlife trafficking and border enforcement issues in Southern California. The panel repeatedly emphasized that more resources, technology, and local partnerships are needed. Officials gave budget context, saying roughly $17 million in one-time funding over several years supported conflict response and wolf compensation efforts, but that staffing and program capacity remain limited. The chair concluded by noting interest in further work on technology, funding, and institutionalizing collaboration, and the hearing then moved to a second panel of university researchers who presented on wolf and mountain lion conflict, habitat planning, trust, and the need for flexible, science-based, locally tailored mitigation strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• For us, the balance of it is for marketing and out-of-pocket expenses.
• For us, the balance of it is for marketing and out-of-pocket expenses.
• And so when we initially developed this contract with Voices of Hope for the original amount, which was
• </c><00:20:42.960><c> which</c><00:20:43.120><c> was</c> Hope for the original amount which was Hope
• </c><00:31:33.600><c> for</c><00:31:33.840><c> that</c> It is for that specific for that It is for that

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• The outgoing chair, Representative John Black, thank you very much for the work you've done for the last
• And my hope is we haven't really decided for the last hearings of this summer that we may be able to
• some for alcohol.
• And I guess my question is, do you think that is the reason for the effectiveness or the high motivation
• And I guess my question is, do you think that is the reason for the effectiveness or the high motivation

Committee: House Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for for &gt;&gt; Mr.<00:40:53.359><c> Chairman.
• Uh, thank you for taking my question and for being here for your bill.
• For example, if you are, the criminal statute would be, for example, criminal negligence, for example
• > the criminal statute would be for the criminal statute would be for example<01:09:46.159><c> for</c
• </c> program for a summer camp or for program for a summer camp or for something<03:23:29.840><c> else

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's an important consideration, and particularly for high electricity users, which oftentimes are
• He said this is especially important for high electricity users, often in the manufacturing sector, and
• for high electricity users particularly for high electricity users which<04:07:45.760><c> often</c><
• Boore, want to thank you for for Mr.
• I hope you look into the funding of Americans for Prosperity because, as I understand it, the Koch Network

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for coming up to speak for every child, the swimmer, and now for
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for coming up to speak for every child, the swimmer, and now for
• And the cost for that, like I said, on the high end, $5,000, but yes, it would require it would apply
• It's meant for liquids, not meant for an area of smoke.
• for us.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills focused largely on drowning prevention, surgical smoke, human trafficking training, and chiropractic patient funds. SB 428 would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; the sponsor and supporters from Nemours and the YMCA emphasized Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be more widely accessible. Senator Harrell noted the need to revisit funding levels as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 606, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum education provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and home birth providers. A mother who lost her daughter to drowning testified in support, describing the bill as an early opportunity to educate parents. An amendment removed home birth providers from the compliance-proof requirement, and the bill was adopted as amended and reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 162 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already used in many facilities, while several senators raised concerns about the lack of supporting data, possible burdens on rural and smaller facilities, and whether the mandate should be narrower. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with the sponsor saying more data would be provided later. The committee also approved SB 340, requiring a two-hour human trafficking course for nursing students before licensure, after amending it to make the requirement apply to students rather than nursing programs. Finally, SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin, removed the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation reviewing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system and comparing board oversight, rulemaking, funding, appointments, and term-limit models in other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark Anderson speaking for. >> Thank you for the amendment.
• This will will hope.
• My hope is that that will be something you would consider. >> Thank you for the question where I'm absolutely
• Hb 438 provides comprehensive rules for it for testing, which is new for distribution sale and promotion
• Senator Brandes and thanks for for letting us clarify that.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For somebody that I like deliver at least one thing for somebody that I can. Exactly.
• For at least one thing, for somebody that's a birthday or something.
• Thank you, and I’m open for any questions. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you and I'm open for any questions. thank you and I'm open for any questions thank you for your
• Thank you for that. Awesome. Okay.

Committee: House Emergency Management

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Time for the tie to go on, Representative.
• my community or even for myself, right?
• Right now, the cattle market's really high.
• It works well for us.
• Thank you and for Representative Boyle for bringing this. So I really appreciate it.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The House Agricultural Committee approved the minutes from its March 10 meeting and then took up several bills. House Bill 826 would shift regulatory functions of the Honey Commission to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture while leaving marketing and publicity with the commission; the sponsor and Idaho Honey Industry Association said the change largely codifies an existing memorandum of understanding, and the committee advanced the bill on a do-pass recommendation after questions about the $10,000 penalty, consultation with producers, and whether a misdemeanor penalty remained in the code. The committee also heard and advanced Senate Bill 1242, a DOGE cleanup bill removing obsolete definitions and duplicative public records language, and Senate Bill 1243, which removes outdated Soil and Water Commission/Idaho One Plan language; both were described as code cleanup and passed without opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1283 on direct-to-consumer sales for small producers. Representative Boyle said the bill is intended to help small Idaho producers sell directly to consumers, with labeling, recordkeeping, and food-safety requirements, while exempting them from rules aimed at large commercial operations. Testimony was largely supportive from producers, Fair Idaho, Farm Bureau, and livestock groups, who said the bill would expand local markets and help smaller operations, though Food Northwest opposed it over concerns about labeling, training, and foodborne-illness protections. Committee members raised questions about dairy, catfish, raw milk, animal shares, safety, and the bill’s revenue cap; supporters said the bill keeps existing protections for milk and dairy and includes recordkeeping and temperature standards. The committee then voted to send Senate Bill 1283 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with members noting potential conflicts and support from their districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The law does not provide similar protections for physicians who accompany tactical units during high-risk
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for being here.
• Thank you so much for your time for allowing me to share my daughter Willow's story, and for considering
• Through this initiative, the hope is to reduce warrant issuance for failure to appear and ensure that
• This bill maintains high standards while expanding eligibility for volunteers.

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, let's start with issue number one: Proposition for climate bond expenditure plan for clean
• energy for consumers will be.
• It would be good for the climate, good for California. Thank you. Thank you.
• I want to echo the comments of Advanced Energy United and hope to see $75 million for the DSGS program
• I want to echo the comments of Advanced Energy United and hope to see $75 million for the DSGS program

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 2, we've said this for years, and I'll say it. I hope it's on my tombstone.
• The tanker for, for what it costs and for what you're investing into a tanker, the reward is not much
• For Texas, contracting means faster protection for our communities, predictable budgeting for taxpayers
• for, for 270 days of the year.
• We don't want to necessarily, uh, hand aircraft over and hope for a follow-on contract to maintain and

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for being here today, gentlemen. I thank you for your service. That is at $7.6 million.
• Miami Northwestern Senior High School was established in the fall of 1955 and was the first new high
• There are alumni associations all across the state for Miami Northwestern High School.
• Okay, thank you for your testimony. Okay, thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you so much for bringing this bill. I'm so excited to vote for one of your bills.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The committee first reviewed the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal for transportation, tourism, and economic development, which totals about $18 billion and includes major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, affordable housing, library/cultural/historical initiatives, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. Members approved staff technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard and approved CS/SB 666, which creates a specialty license plate for the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, with proceeds supporting scholarships and school academic, athletic, and arts programs. CS/SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, drew extensive testimony from the sponsor, law enforcement, advocates, and victims’ families. Supporters argued it would create a clearer, easier-to-enforce prohibition on holding a wireless device while driving and help reduce crashes and deaths; some senators raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways for Tampa Police Officer Jesse Madsen and Charlotte County Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, which would create the International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills had supportive testimony and no opposition noted. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for one, for an average male or female, they would, with one standard drink, reach 0.02 for men or
• time for that.
• And we would hope a better way can be found. Thank you very much for your testimony. Mr.
• For example, I have seen firsthand at her school kids riding at high and unsafe speeds around school
• It's our hope that the study group contained in SB 6110 will develop and propose rules for the safe use

Bills: SB5234 , SB6110 , SB6176

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: snowmobile, snowmobile registration, vehicle registration fees, registration fee, Department of Licensing, DOL, recreational vehicles, winter recreation, vintage snowmobile, parks and recreation, vehicle license fee, RCW 46.17, fee schedule, renewal fee, initial fee, Washington state, electric-assisted bicycles, electric motorcycles, transportation regulation, safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• It's designed solely for fire suppression or primarily for not solely but primarily for fire suppression
• We've said this for years and I'll say it. I hope it's on my tombstone, all disasters are local.
• For Texas, contracting means faster protection for our communities, predictable budgeting for taxpayers
• We don't want to necessarily hand air. over and hope for a follow-on contract to maintain and operate
• I think for for the night before.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than 20 years, including just last weekend, Arkansas Mission of Mercy has provided free, high-quality
• of Mercy has provided free, high-quality dental care for families who would otherwise go without.
• PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL LANDS AND THE COMMUNICATION Providers who are trying to bring high-speed
• prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding. >> Pursuant to the rule, the
• I believe this legislation will help address critical gaps in the vetting process for high-cost recipients

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for being here.
• This is a very busy time for these members and for us, so again, I ask for unanimous consent to adjust
• for House Bill 14.
• I thank the tax committee for all of their work, and hopefully, I really hope that in the future, we
• Thank you, Senator Block for doing the shout out for the Lieutenant Governor's dad.

Transcript Highlights:

• for federal funds.
• I always appreciate you for that. Is there any questions for Ms. Russell?
• I just want to say thank you for your support. For that mobile home project.
• A bill for us for $500 million for the Housing Trust Fund that will allow us to do a lot more across
• Assessments for businesses in rural areas that might be facing very high energy costs.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• You are a model for me.
• But, you know, I just, I'm really happy for her. I'm happy for her.
• And thank you for that and appreciate all of the things that you've done for the state and for our community
• Rising to ask for your vote for this bill on final passage.
• and reduced-cost replacements for up to five years for when this happens.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, we still allow for the provision to do that. ...for the beneficiaries.
• Are there questions for Representative Raibald? Representative Mickelson. For a motion, Mr.
• So, you know, for instance...
• Thank you so much for a follow-up. Just one question for you.
• Chairman, for a comment.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33178, a proposed constitutional amendment to change how state endowment and public lands are managed. Representative Raibald said the measure would shift the focus from maximum long-term financial return to a broader approach that prioritizes ongoing revenue generation, preserves public access for recreation and hunting/fishing/trapping where possible, and still allows sale or exchange only when needed and at appraised value. He also said the amendment would create a framework for any future federal land transfers, account for existing rights and obligations, and direct revenues into a dedicated fund for managing those lands. Members raised questions about wildfire impacts, tribal rights, land exchanges, and whether the proposal could lead to sales of valuable land; Raibald said the legislature would retain policy authority and that the measure was meant as a backstop. The committee voted to introduce RS 33178. The committee then heard House Bill 542, which would regulate social media use by minors. Representative Crane and legal counsel Chelsea Yeoman argued the bill is aimed at addictive design features rather than content, citing harms to youth mental health, privacy, and attention, and saying the bill would use existing age-estimation technology to default minors off platforms unless parents give verified consent. The bill would also require removal of features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, public like counts, and algorithmic targeting for covered minors, and it would create a private right of action and Attorney General enforcement. Supporters said it would empower parents and protect children from harmful platform design; a remote industry witness opposed it, arguing it would violate First Amendment rights, conflict with precedent, and invite litigation. Committee members asked about constitutional issues, Section 230, age estimation, parental controls, enforcement, and the bill’s $1 billion coverage threshold. Supporters responded that the bill was drafted to be content-neutral and to fit existing case law, while opponents said it still functioned as speech regulation. After public testimony from Idaho Family Policy Center in support and CCIA in opposition, the committee debated the bill. Several members spoke in favor, emphasizing child safety and parental control, while others noted likely litigation and costs. The committee then voted to send House Bill 542 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.