Transcript Highlights:

• Issue number 4 is laboratory testing.
• The definitive test for CWD is a postmortem test where you have to take the, the brain stem out to test
• There's a lot of AI testing, avian influenza testing that goes on.
• The name of that is the National Milk Testing surveillance strategy.
• In response to the virus, cleaning, virus elimination, and testing phases.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• These grant increases, as well as the increase in access to affordable testing, treatment, risk-reduction
• The test is whether the amendment to the amendment expands the scope of the amendment by introducing
• So in April 2020, when there was no testing available, no testing available, I noticed that my voice
• The state finally opened up the first drive-up testing that was available.
• And they did a test. Immediately, he's like, "You've got COVID."

Transcript Highlights:

• They undergo repeated testing, sometimes invasive testing, invasive surgeries.
• He had to be tested for this, as did his siblings.
• And these lab tests, the lab tests that exist today will still exist tomorrow and after this bill's been
• State-licensed laboratories are required to test a controlled substance.
• State-licensed laboratories are required to test the controlled substance, test the substance that the

Summary: The House first established a quorum after introductions of the Freedom of the Road Riders and Warsaw High School students. Members then took up House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on alpha-gal syndrome. The sponsor described the bill as a public health surveillance measure to add alpha-gal to Missouri’s reportable conditions, require lab reporting to the Department of Health and Senior Services, and send aggregated data to the CDC. Supporters said the bill would help identify hotspots, guide education and funding, and address a serious tick-borne condition affecting rural and urban Missourians alike. Opponents raised concerns about cost, false positives/negatives, and privacy, but the sponsor and others said the system would be HIPAA-compliant and de-identified at the federal level. Two amendments to HB 1855 were debated. An amendment changing the department’s follow-up authority from “may” to “shall” was adopted, with supporters arguing that if the legislature funds follow-up, the department should be required to do it. A second amendment creating an opt-in/opt-out consent process for reporting was rejected 41-10 after extensive debate over privacy, data collection, and whether consent would undermine disease surveillance. The House then adopted the House committee substitute for HB 1855 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Bills 2230 and 2978, a revised education measure aimed at reducing screen time in K-5 classrooms and encouraging handwriting and cursive instruction. The sponsor said the bill was based on research linking heavy screen use to poorer educational and behavioral outcomes, and supporters emphasized local control, parent access to screen-time policies, and the need to bring experts together through a state-level focus group. An amendment to exclude virtual school programs was adopted. The House then adopted the committee substitute for HB 2230 and 2978 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2355, the Food Is Medicine Initiative. The sponsor said the bill would let Missouri use federal funds through 1115 waivers to pilot medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition counseling, and related interventions to improve health and lower Medicaid costs. Members generally supported the concept, citing food deserts and the benefits of better nutrition, but an amendment adding vitamin therapies and cleanup language prompted concern from one member about supplement quality and regulation; the transcript ends during that amendment discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1199 by Representative Jordan, relative to health insurance, requires coverage for genetic
• testing of SCN2A-associated disorders and provides for medical necessity determinations and coverage
• House Bill 1199 by Representative Jordan, relative to health insurance, requires coverage for genetic
• testing of SCN2A-associated disorders and provides for medical necessity determinations and coverage

Bills: HR195 , HR196 , HR197 , HR198 , HR199 , HR200 , HR201 , HR202 , HR203 , HR204 , HR205 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR209 , HCR87 , HCR88 , HCR89 , HCR90 , HR192 , HR193 , HR194 , HCR80 , HCR81 , HCR82 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR85 , SB235 , SB416 , SB425 , SB435 , SB439 , HCR15 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , SCR3 , HB91 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB264 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB623 , HB624 , HB660 , HB689 , HB708 , HB719 , HB802 , HB804 , HB884 , HB906 , HB926 , HB934 , HB940 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1022 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1185 , HB1187 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HCR32 , HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , SCR19 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB745 , HB749 , HB752 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , HB316 , HB549 , HB578 , HB748 , HB798 , HB824 , HB988 , HB989 , HB1001 , HB1032 , HB1081 , HB1108 , HB1129 , HB1140 , HB1157 , HB1192 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1244 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340 , HB306 , HB366 , HB911 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB59 , HB481 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1003 , HB1008 , HB1112 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB525 , HB1058 , HB181 , HB1118 , HB1082 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB225 , HB284 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB864 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1240

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, adopted the journal, and then spent much of the day on recognitions and resolutions. Members recognized NAMI and proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month, honored fourth graders from Alpine Christian School, Hunter Nation supporters, Vermilion Parish visitors, and Louisiana Young Heroes. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for Martha Odom, a Lafayette student killed in the Mall of Louisiana tragedy, and heard remarks condemning political violence and social-media harassment. Several resolutions were adopted or advanced, including measures on rural mental health day, domestic violence prevention, nurses’ day, wildlife studies, child abuse reporter training, privacy/FISA reform, and Law Institute studies on property, foreign-entity terminology, and carbon sequestration issues. The House then moved through a long series of committee reports and floor actions on bills covering criminal justice, education, health, insurance, transportation, alcohol regulation, wildlife, elections, retirement, and public benefits. Many bills were advanced unanimously or near-unanimously, including measures on school emergency plans, impaired driving, victims’ compensation, sexual assault response, Medicaid dental coverage tied to other procedures, TOPS Tech eligibility, early childhood student IDs, highway priority program deadlines, CDL rules, and toll dispute procedures. Some bills were recommitted to Appropriations or returned to the calendar, and several were amended before being sent onward. On final passage, the House approved H.R. 1 adopting the annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for FY 2026-2027 by 101 yeas, and also passed H.R. 17 on TOPS return-on-investment study, H.C.R. 4 suspending certain feeding and baiting restrictions in chronic wasting disease areas by 63-30, H.C.R. 47 on child abuse reporter training, H.R. 30 on FISA reform, H.B. 12 expanding death benefits for reserve auxiliary law enforcement officers, H.B. 205 allowing parish supplementation of election commissioner pay, H.B. 224 on Medicaid dental coverage for related procedures, H.B. 324 on judicial salaries, H.B. 325 on TOPS Tech eligibility, H.B. 350 expanding a charter school’s grade levels, H.B. 745 extending special vehicle permit sunsets, H.B. 797 creating the Bayou Gold Program, H.B. 807 creating a workforce instructor capacity investment program, H.B. 821 moving the Center for Safe Schools, H.B. 896 on toll signage and customer service, H.B. 979 increasing first responder survivor benefits to $404,000 via amendment, H.B. 992 assigning early childhood student IDs, H.B. 1000 on highway priority program administration, H.B. 1024 creating a Democratic Party license plate, H.B. 1050 on CDL age and hazmat rules, and H.B. 1173 on installment agreements for OMV fines and late fees. Several other bills were reported favorably, amended, or recommitted, with no recorded opposition on most of the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jordan, relative to health insurance, to require coverage for genetic testing of SCN2A-associated disorders
• Jordan, relative to health insurance, to require coverage for genetic testing of SCN2A-associated disorders

Bills: HR195 , HR196 , HR197 , HR198 , HR199 , HR200 , HR201 , HR202 , HR203 , HR204 , HR205 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR209 , HCR87 , HCR88 , HCR89 , HCR90 , HR192 , HR193 , HR194 , HCR80 , HCR81 , HCR82 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR85 , SB235 , SB416 , SB425 , SB435 , SB439 , HCR15 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , SCR3 , HB91 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB264 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB623 , HB624 , HB660 , HB689 , HB708 , HB719 , HB802 , HB804 , HB884 , HB906 , HB926 , HB934 , HB940 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1022 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1185 , HB1187 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HCR32 , HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , SCR19 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB745 , HB749 , HB752 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , HB316 , HB549 , HB578 , HB748 , HB798 , HB824 , HB988 , HB989 , HB1001 , HB1032 , HB1081 , HB1108 , HB1129 , HB1140 , HB1157 , HB1192 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1244 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340 , HB306 , HB366 , HB911 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB59 , HB481 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1003 , HB1008 , HB1112 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB525 , HB1058 , HB181 , HB1118 , HB1082 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB225 , HB284 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB864 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1240

Keywords: Louisiana Young Heroes Day, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, LPB, house resolution, ceremonial resolution, special observance, youth recognition, student achievement, community service, public service, high school students, youth leadership, disability advocacy, autism, diabetes, epilepsy, foster care, STEM, robotics, literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• that would prompt and necessary testing that would prompt and allow<00:42:22.240><c> criminal</c><00
• and I know you later on say that tested and I know you later on say that you<01:04:35.880><c> know</
• ><c> screening</c><01:04:44.359><c> test</c><01:04:45.359><c> and</c><01:04:45.559><c> newborn</c> a
• newborn screening test and newborn a newborn screening test and newborn screening<01:04:46.359><c> tests
• for I think they're over screening tests for I think they're over 60<01:04:48.960><c> different</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• Genetics are part of the picture in understanding Parkinson's, but environmental exposures play a significant
• And none of us have a genetic link to the Parkinson's.
• And none of us have<00:30:07.600><c> a</c><00:30:07.840><c> genetic</c><00:30:08.320><c> link</c><00:
• </c> have a genetic link to the Parkinson's. have a genetic link to the Parkinson's.

Summary: The meeting focused on two Parkinson’s-related bills in Minnesota: one to ban paraquat and another to create a state Parkinson’s research trust fund. Rep. Christy Purcell said the research bill would create a dedicated pot of money to coordinate and fund Parkinson’s research in Minnesota, with Sen. Mann as the Senate author. Supporters said Minnesota should act because Parkinson’s is growing rapidly, there is no cure, and state institutions could serve as a research hub. Several people living with Parkinson’s testified about the personal and family impact of the disease, including early-onset diagnoses, loss of work, mobility challenges, and the burden on caregivers. Speakers from the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation supported both bills, arguing that paraquat is strongly linked to Parkinson’s, that exposure can affect farmers and nearby residents, and that prevention and research are both needed. The paraquat bill was described as especially important because alternatives exist and the chemical is reportedly used very little in Minnesota. During the discussion, Rep. Hansen said the paraquat bill would be held over and not voted on that day because a fiscal note was requested. He said the committee would hear the bill later that day and urged colleagues to keep an open mind. In response to questions, supporters said they anticipated little opposition beyond chemical-industry interests, and they emphasized that the bill was aimed specifically at paraquat rather than other chemicals. The research bill was discussed as a possible $25 million request, though no vote was taken on that proposal in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also evidence suggesting potential integration of the vaccine-derived genetic material into
• cellular... ...derived genetic material into cellular DNA.
• which that is supposed to work, but there is some concern when it is... when they find that this genetic

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy met to review its mission, approve prior minutes at a future meeting, and discuss materials related to COVID-19 vaccination guidance. Members examined a pediatric vaccination handout from a private pediatric practice and compared it with New Hampshire DHHS and AAP/AAFP immunization guidance, focusing on how COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are presented for children and adults. Committee members also discussed the scope and accuracy of the committee’s endnotes and supporting documents. The main business was a draft letter urging the governor to direct state agencies to stop recommending COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Members revised the letter paragraph by paragraph, including changing wording about age ranges for children, clarifying references to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and adding discussion of vaccine safety concerns, alleged suppression of safety data, and federal investigations. They also debated whether to reference specific reporting systems such as VAERS and V-safe, and whether to include examples from other states, including Tennessee, Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida, as evidence of broader concern about mRNA vaccines. After the edits were completed, Representative Villio moved to accept the letter as amended, Representative Leroy seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote 4-0. The chair said the revised letter would be finalized and distributed later in the week. The meeting then adjourned at approximately 11:57 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• daughters, the only mothers they'd ever known, and yet because they were not both technically, genetically
• It entails an enormous investment financially, emotionally, and in time, often for both the test taker
• Technology innovation is crucial, but our children cannot be used as guinea pigs to test the safety of
• The bill will make sure that the public has access to lead test results for schools and child care.
• I realize I'm testing everyone's patience right now.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and began with prayer and a moment of silence in response to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, with members and the presiding officer condemning political violence and urging decorum. The body then recessed briefly for caucuses and later resumed floor business, including a series of procedural motions to move bills to the inactive file, suspend rules, and allow committees to meet on specified measures. No substantive committee votes were taken in the opening portion beyond those procedural suspensions and referrals. The main floor action was on Senate third-reading bills and later concurrence items. Members approved a wide range of measures covering consumer protection and privacy (SB 709 on self-storage contracts, SB 683 on unauthorized use of name/image/likeness, SB 361 on data brokers), family and health issues (SB 450 on adoptions, SB 418 on health care coverage and hormone therapy, SB 313 on birth certificate confidentiality), public safety and government operations (SB 47 on the State Bar exam audit, SB 509 on transnational repression, AB 1370 on legislative NDAs), energy and environment (SB 630 on state parks acquisitions, SB 500 on Energy Star alternatives, AB 527 on geothermal projects), labor and education (SB 578 on the Workplace Outreach Program, AB 563 on child care planning, SB 472 on Holocaust and genocide education), and transportation, taxation, and elections-related bills. Several measures were passed unanimously or with broad bipartisan support, while others drew some opposition, including SB 630, SB 825, SB 418, and SB 578. The Assembly also took up multiple concurrence items from the Senate, including AB 64 on diacritical marks in vital records, AB 260 on reproductive health care, AB 288 on collective bargaining rights, AB 515 on civil procedure, AB 524 on agricultural land, AB 543 on Medi-Cal and field medicine, and AB 1370 on transparency and NDAs. Most of these were concurred in by comfortable margins. The chamber also adopted several rule waivers and committee meeting notices, and moved some items to the inactive file at the request of authors. Toward the end of the session, the Assembly paused for adjournment-in-memory tributes honoring Ermilo Don Rodas, John Burton, Nina Chomsky, and Barbara “Bobby” Samperey, with members highlighting their public service, community advocacy, and lasting impact. After the memorials, the House recessed and later returned to continue concurrence votes on additional bills, including SB 472, SB 820, SB 243, and a series of Assembly bills, with recorded roll-call votes generally showing passage and concurrence in Senate amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what you had over about an eight-week period was a stress test to the criminal justice system
• little bit of context: it was the first case in the First Judicial District that was solved with genetic
• The case ran cold until 2020, when genetic genealogy and the perpetrator dropping glasses and a flashlight
• glasses came back with an unidentified source of DNA, but two years later, with some innovations in genetic

Bills: SB100 , SB100

Committees: Senate Senate Judiciary , Senate House Judiciary

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires stronger safety testing of aging pipelines, clarifies the Coastal Commission's authority
• Tony Aiton taught us that your zip code is more important than your genetic code, that the communities
• Tony Aiton taught us that your zip code is more important than your genetic code. that the communities
• Tony Aiton taught us that your zip code is more important than your genetic code, that the communities

Summary: The meeting began with procedural announcements, a vote change on SB 414, and adoption of the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range. Members also agreed to take several Senate messages up without reference to file. A point of order was raised urging members to respect staff by arriving on time after a late-night session. The main floor debate centered on SB 237, a major oil and gas measure. Supporters said it would help stabilize fuel supply and prices, address refinery closures, strengthen offshore pipeline safety, clarify Kern County oil permitting, and allow possible suspension of the summer gasoline blend. Opponents argued it was a giveaway to big oil and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. The Assembly then passed SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package that would reduce ratepayer costs, strengthen the wildfire fund, and speed utility infrastructure and clean energy permitting; it passed 58-0. SB 840, the cap-and-invest reauthorization and spending framework, drew the most divided debate, with supporters emphasizing climate policy, transit, housing, and community investments, and opponents calling it a tax increase and slush fund; it passed 54-15 on the urgency and 54-15 on the measure. AB 1207, the Assembly’s cap-and-invest reauthorization bill, also passed, 55-10 on both urgency and the measure. Members also approved SB 352 to make the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and require more reporting on air quality and AB 825 to create a Westwide electricity market, which supporters said would lower costs, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; AB 825 passed 67-2. AB 8, a cannabinoids bill with Senate amendments, was concurred in 66-0, and AB 383, a firearms cleanup bill, was concurred in 66-0. The session ended with immediate transmittals of the major measures to the Senate or Governor as applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• PWS is a rare and complex genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 15,000 births.
• This law fails that test and is clearly unconstitutional. This is not about fraud prevention.
• environmental laboratories run by the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories within DOH from utilizing genetic
• underlying bill that passed through committees and that we sent over to the House, and included the genetic

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• PWS is a rare and complex genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 15,000 births.
• This law fails that test and is clearly unconstitutional. This is not about fraud prevention.
• environmental laboratories run by the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories within DOH from utilizing genetic
• underlying bill that passed through committees and that we sent over to the House and included the genetic

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• PWS is a rare and complex genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 15,000 births.
• This law fails that test and is clearly unconstitutional. This is not about fraud prevention.
• environmental laboratories run by the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories within DOH from utilizing genetic
• underlying bill that passed through committees and that we sent over to the House and included the genetic

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, and retiring Senate staff, including Pastor Gary Austin. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators would not need to plan on being in Tallahassee the following week. The chamber then moved to third reading and returned messages from the House later in the day. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, the citizen initiative/constitutional amendment bill. Sponsors said the measure was intended to address fraud in the petition process, citing investigations, arrests, pleas, and open cases involving paid circulators and invalid petitions. Opponents argued the bill would make citizen-led amendments far more difficult, expensive, and risky, warning it would chill grassroots participation, burden supervisors of elections, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed efforts. Supporters responded that the bill preserved grassroots petitioning, placed reasonable guardrails on paid circulators and sponsors, and included a provision barring public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot initiatives. The bill passed 28-10. The Senate also passed several education measures unanimously, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy. Later, the chamber concurred in House amendments on several bills: stem cell therapy legislation clarifying permitted therapies and penalties for improper use of fetal or embryonic tissue; an EKG requirement bill for student athletes with exemptions and partnership options for districts; and a cardiac emergency response bill that renamed the school emergency plan and removed a bill title honoring Rafe McCrone. These measures passed by wide margins, generally 37-0 or 38-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> testing around avian influenza? testing around avian influenza?
• test positive very slightly.
• </c> test the amount in the area. test the amount in the area.
• Is there any testing?
• Is there any testing? of of detection? Is there any testing?

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• the wolves in general, This bill is a direct attack on the current federal efforts to improve the genetic
• anything like the system that we have in Arizona and our universal voucher program, there will be no testing
• I just want to test that out. Representative Liguori. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned racist literacy tests as a requirement for voting, but today states
• I went through dozens and dozens Of tests all over the place. We couldn't figure out why.
• Many people, it is hereditary or genetic.

Summary: The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity. A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections. The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• results, including genetic marker testing.
• Cancer test results and genetic marker testing are held up to 72 hours.
• Cancer test<02:11:13.360><c> results</c><02:11:14.159><c> and</c><02:11:14.480><c> genetic</c><02:11:
• 15.119><c> marker</c><02:11:15.520><c> testing</c> test results and genetic marker testing test results
• and genetic marker testing are<02:11:17.440><c> held</c><02:11:17.679><c> up</c><02:11:17.920><c> to

Transcript Highlights:

• private well water, we go down and do blood testing.
• Data or in the mid June time frame about uh our PFOS blood testing, PFOS water testing, uh, and, and
• water for the cattle and and the the dairies have been testing the milk products, etc. so that we are
• We haven't spent that much at Holloman, blood testing, etc. OK, thank you, Mr.
• I carry several genetic mutations. My mother died of cancer and so did my grandmother.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We must also strive to provide the testing that assists most in solving cases.
• In cold case testing identifying unidentified human remains, a missing persons such as familial searching
• And genetic genealogy researching the expanded tools for search databases related to friends 6 that could
• offices that they do not cover to ensure the entire state has a friend of services needed alcohol testing
• program ensures the alcohol testing insurance used across the state by our law enforcement agencies