Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3325 by Alan Ring of the Public school transition of the alternative education program to a regular
• educational environment, including the parental rights relates to that transition and administration
• HB 3399 by money relating to the provision and procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender
• Schatz line relating to prohibiting a public school teacher from supporting a student's gender transition
• The provision of certain children of gender transitioning or reassignment procedures to treatments and

Transcript Highlights:

• replace OOT trip, which we oppose, and we are in favor of continued significant investments in transitional
• replace OOT trip, which we oppose, and we are in favor of continued significant investments in transitional
• we are in favor of continued significant investments<00:25:21.200> in<00:25:22.159> transitional
• <00:25:22.720> and investments in transitional and investments in transitional and permanent

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee convened at 10:00 a.m. and opened with instructions about live streaming, one-minute testimony limits, and the possibility of reconvening on March 31 if technical problems interrupted the hearing. The committee then took up HB 300, which drew extensive testimony from state agencies, commissions, nonprofits, and advocacy groups. Many agencies, including Budget and Finance, Education, Health, Housing, and others, said they stood on their written testimony and supported the measure. One witness from the Kohala Island Reserve Commission supported the bill and asked for funding for a CIP project at its Kihei site to consolidate offices and generate revenue for Maui. Several groups, including the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition and the Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, supported funding for mandated oral health services and higher ABA provider rates for children with autism. In contrast, the Re-imagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition and Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice opposed $30 million for jail planning and additional incarceration-related spending, urging more investment in housing, mental health, youth programs, education, and restorative justice. The chair noted the testimony totals for HB 300: 186 in support, 91 opposed, and 52 comments. The committee then heard brief testimony on HB 794 and HB 795. The Department of Budget and Finance supported HB 794, and the Tax Foundation was listed for HB 795 but was not present. No additional testimony was offered on either bill. After the testimony phase, the committee deferred all three measures—HB 300, HB 794, and HB 795—for decision making to March 31 at 10:00 a.m. in the same room.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill allows for a three-year phase-in or transition period for the bill that we passed last year
• operators couldn't get a bond due to financial reasons, and so they're having some issues with that transition
• But, I also think we need to work with the industry to have a slower transition period to get to the
• And so, at that point, they would have to come up to the new transition structure value if That makes

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This decision is made to facilitate my transition to the Senate, effective March 18, 2026, where I look
• relationships, and collaborative accomplishments we achieved together will remain with me as I transition
• also go to helping low-income reduced-fare programs, and another $10 million will go toward water transit
• And another $25 million will further support the workforce development of our regional transit authorities
• these allocations: $860 million for MBTA infrastructure and operations, $422 million for regional transit

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and received a resignation letter from Rep. Fana Howard of Lowell, effective March 17, 2026, as she transitioned to the Senate. The chamber then took up several procedural orders, including multiple unanimous or voice-vote suspensions of rules and concurrence with Senate petitions, such as referrals on housing and student transportation matters, and a suspension of Joint Rule 12 for a petition involving children served by DCF. The main substantive item was House No. 5264, a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $1.8 billion. Members discussed its use of Fair Share surtax surplus funds for transportation and education, including major support for the MBTA, special education circuit breaker costs, early education and child care, snow and ice costs, regional transit authorities, and other deficiencies such as GIC and sheriff costs. Members also explained the bill’s tax conformity provisions responding to recent federal tax changes, with debate over whether to delay conformity to limit state revenue exposure. The House adopted a consolidated amendment to the bill and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote, 150-3. The House also adopted a resolution commending the Admetek Foundation on Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. Several local bills were advanced, including a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee, a bill waiving the minimum age requirement for a Boston police officer, a Nantucket charter bill, a Stoneham public safety bill, and a Malden special police officers bill, the last of which was amended before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Amendment 43 to redistribute $100 million of Fair Share revenue more evenly to municipalities for roads and education; supporters argued the current distribution favored statewide priorities over local aid, while opponents said the formula would not adequately address rural road needs. That amendment was rejected 128-25. The House then recessed several times, observed moments of silence for local public servants, welcomed visiting youth sports teams, and finally ordered adjournment to meet the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• She later came to regret the decision to transition and now identifies as a woman.
• from a New York Times article that they're saying between 5 and 10% of minors who've undergone transitions
• of Plastic Surgeons became the first major medical association to shift its guidance on gender transition
• To be clear, gender transition procedures are an atrocity.
• that is guilty of perpetuating an atrocity in the same way we must interfere with these gender transition

Bills: HB3057, HB3130, HB3310, HB3314, HB3985, HB4113, HB4486

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, marijuana tax, public service impact tax, county funding, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight to be operated by a public entity or university for passenger transit
• 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight to be operated by a public entity or university for passenger transit
• And the department may restrict or suspend operations if the Federal Transit Administration issues a
• And so now that we're transitioning to uncrewed commercial AVs, will that transition alter the standard
• And so now that we're transitioning to uncrewd commercial AVs, is that transition, will that alter the

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard an informational hearing on California’s newly finalized autonomous vehicle regulations, with DMV and CHP officials describing the updated framework and committee members pressing them on safety, enforcement, and first-responder impacts. DMV said the rules, effective April 28, 2026, expand reporting, create a phased permitting system from testing to deployment, add requirements for safety cases, remote operations, and first-responder coordination, and open a path for heavy-duty AV testing and deployment while still prohibiting oversized loads and hazardous materials. CHP said it worked with DMV on enforcement tools, first-responder interaction plans, and training local agencies on the new notice of noncompliance process. Members asked about crash data, immobilizations, freeway and construction-zone safety, weigh-station enforcement, and whether foreign licenses can qualify for remote assistants or drivers; DMV and CHP said the rules are intended to keep AVs accountable and that heavy-duty AVs will be held to the same roadway standards as human-driven commercial vehicles. A second panel focused on data collection and enforcement. Consumer attorneys argued the prior rules were too limited because DMV stopped collecting meaningful data once AVs moved from testing to deployment, making it difficult for the public and litigants to understand incidents; they supported the new regulations but urged that the collected information be made public. The industry association said California now has the nation’s most robust AV oversight, with monthly or quarterly reporting of collisions, system failures, immobilizations, harsh braking, vehicle miles traveled, and notices of noncompliance, plus broad DMV authority to restrict or suspend operations. In response to questions, the industry said it generally supports the new framework, believes the regulations are clear, and does not favor full federal preemption of state AV rules, though it wants federal standards for design, construction, and performance. A third panel addressed first-responder interaction and remote operations. The San Francisco Fire Department described repeated AV interference with emergency scenes and said AVs have generated hundreds of “sleeper calls,” where passengers fall asleep and trigger 911 responses; the department said these incidents consume significant staff time and it wants better protocols to reduce unnecessary dispatches. Waymo said it has trained thousands of public-safety personnel, maintains a 24/7 emergency line, uses geofencing/avoid-the-area messages, and can allow first responders to manually override or move vehicles when needed. Committee members asked about sleeper-call prevention, remote assistant licensing and drug testing, communication redundancies during outages, and how manual overrides work for vehicles without traditional controls; Waymo said it is collaborating with responders and that its vehicles are designed to reach a safe stop if connectivity is lost. The final panel began with testimony on heavy-duty autonomous vehicles. A transportation researcher said freight is essential to California’s economy and that heavy-duty AVs pose distinct safety risks because of their weight, stopping distance, and the potentially severe consequences of crashes or immobilizations on highways. He said the new regulations are important because they create a regulated pathway for heavy-duty AV deployment, require a safety case, set mileage thresholds, and add reporting categories that can serve as leading safety indicators. The hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended, with additional testimony expected from labor and industry witnesses on heavy-duty AV deployment.

Transcript Highlights:

• If after three years they complete the transition of practice, they apply to our board.
• How many are transitioning and moving up in the profession? That's number one.
• California should maintain the requirement for an in-state transition to practice.
• When we did transition, I was here when we transitioned from no direct access to temporary direct access
• And then we transitioned through the pandemic.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kind of basic fairness, access to programs, timely transition to services, more understandable processes
• We need to prepare for a transition administration.
• I think that's going to be a key transition point that The legislature is going to have to fill in that
• Working together along with Cal HHS, the department successfully tracked and transitioned Individuals
• Just as a reminder, what SB 639 did was transition into competitive integrated employment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um it is a forecast where transition um it is a forecast where we're<00:12:46.320> making<00:
• to the waiver they will um transition to the waiver thank thank thank you<00:13:03.480> Senator
• over to CFSS from PCA, and that is notable in the forecast because once somebody has transitioned to
• They'll focus their efforts on supporting transitions to more expensive provider-owned residences.
• They'll focus their efforts on supporting transitions to more expensive provider-owned residences.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:38:08.960> to 3892 if time is needed to transition to 3892 if time is needed to transition
• So we recommended not only that key fobs and the solder therein be given three years of transition time
• We did recommend an additional three years for key fobs to transition to lead-free solder, which was
• the solder therein be given three years of transition time, but also all internal electronic products
• possible for a transition of<00:41:28.319> all<00:41:28.640> pens<00:41:29.200> to<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022 and 2023, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, Metro, worked with communities across
• And with me today to testify and support is Corey Aldridge, CEO of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit
• I'm Corey Aldridge, and I'm the CEO of Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District.
• Why isn't the transit district or board just putting this on the ballot themselves?
• Why isn't the transit district or board just putting this on the ballot themselves?

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on March 25, 2026, with nine measures on the agenda and three bills taken on consent. The committee approved the consent calendar for AB 1736, AB 1853, and AB 2153. The committee also heard several election-related bills, including AB 1993 on ballot-envelope privacy, AB 1788 on nonprofit disclosure of travel payments for elected officials, AB 1560 on barring people convicted of public corruption from lobbying, AB 1539 on presidential and vice-presidential ballot eligibility certifications, AB 1919 on Santa Cruz Metro local tax initiative procedures, and AB 1562 on county selection of poll workers. The chair also noted membership changes and welcomed new and returning members and staff. AB 1993 drew the most debate. The author argued it was a common-sense safeguard to prevent voters’ choices from being visible through ballot-envelope holes, citing a Sacramento County incident and public concern about ballot privacy. County election officials, the Secretary of State’s office, and Disability Rights California opposed the bill, saying the holes also serve accessibility and processing functions, that existing voter instructions already address privacy, and that the measure would create implementation problems and an unfunded mandate. After extended discussion, the committee voted the bill out on a 2-6 roll call and it failed. AB 1788 was supported by the FPPC and the League of Women Voters and passed as amended to Appropriations, with members emphasizing transparency while seeking to avoid unintended coverage of organizations like NCSL and CSG. AB 1560 passed 6-0 despite the Secretary of State’s implementation concerns about how the office would learn of relevant convictions. AB 1539, which would require party representatives to certify presidential and vice-presidential nominees’ constitutional eligibility, passed 7-0 as amended. AB 1919, which would clarify procedures for a Santa Cruz Metro voter initiative to place a transit tax on the ballot, passed 6-2, and AB 1562, which would allow counties to randomly select poll workers, passed 7-1 after discussion about civic engagement, guardrails, and election administration. The committee then completed roll-call adjustments for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At CalVet, we view transition from military to veteran as an ongoing process.
• Not only one that happens when service members leave the active duty and transition to veteran status
• life, and through our California Transition Assistance Program, over the years we've made great strides
• So the strategy around that, of course, is to use our California Transit Assistance Program and get them
• So there still may be folks that, you know, decide that they want to start their transition in another

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And sometimes they just need a little help to get transitioned and back on their feet or transitioned
• Learning from our past and preparing for our future comes that transition period, and that's what our
• Lastly, Hurricane Milton, now that we have transitioned from post-Hurricane Aline to pre-Milton, Hurricane
• Under your committee's jurisdiction, we have outstanding performance from those transitioning from the
• We're an industry partner for the SkillBridge program, and once we ingest individuals who are transitioning

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session, with members introducing themselves and expressing support for veterans, military families, first responders, space industry growth, and domestic security. The first presentation was from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and recovery efforts. Officials described response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, including sheltering, meals, water, tarps, power restoration, flood control, debris removal, and public assistance funding. They emphasized that recovery is ongoing, that mitigation and resiliency investments are critical, and that Florida’s shelter space remains in deficit in many counties, especially for special needs populations. Senators asked about improving logistics capacity, technology for grant processing, HOA/private property debris issues, drainage and culvert maintenance, and ways to expand shelter capacity; the witness said more technology, better local coordination, and county-by-county planning would help, while noting limits on state authority over private property and county emergency manager qualifications. Committee members praised FDEM’s response and asked how the Legislature could help, including whether more logistical hubs, pumps, and flood-control equipment were needed. The witness said technology investments could reduce fatigue and improve grant and recovery processing, but that manpower would still be necessary. The committee also discussed the statewide emergency shelter plan, the use of schools as shelters, and the need to identify vacant commercial space and other facilities for future sheltering and special-needs needs. The witness said FDEM works with counties and commerce partners to identify available space and uses legislative funding for shelter retrofits and new construction when needed. The second presentation was from Blue Origin on its Florida operations. The company outlined its work in New Glenn, New Shepard, Blue Ring, lunar landers, and engine production, highlighting its Space Coast presence, more than 3,600 Florida employees, and over $3 billion invested in facilities. Blue Origin also described partnerships with Space Florida, public school Space Academies, internships, SkillBridge, and STEM outreach through Club for the Future. Members asked about the upcoming New Glenn launch window, which the company said was targeted for later that week, and the committee expressed interest in Blue Origin’s role in Florida’s space economy. The meeting ended with no further business and a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:20.800> to<00:15:21.280> a transition to a transition to a off-the-shelf<00:15:23.760
• those funds directly to MDH transition those funds directly to MDH instead<00:35:55.320> of<00
• So, with this proposal, we're seeking to transition to a different model, the administrative service
• I hope you'll find a way in the coming weeks to consider removing the transition to practice barrier
• That have also full practice authority like Minnesota, but no transition to practice requirements.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that these members have transitions that these members have transitions<01:21:12.080> between
• <01:21:12.480> behavioral<01:21:13.040> health transitions between behavioral health transitions
• <01:21:15.080> from and medical care transitions from and medical care transitions from hospital
• Our work takes our care coordinators to hospitals, to nursing homes, transitional care facilities, to
• Our work takes our care coordinators to hospitals, to nursing homes, transitional care facilities, to

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House File 3939, a bill to support a Helping Paws service-dog litter named in honor of Gilbert and the Hortman family. Testimony from Helping Paws and service-dog graduate Angie Foley described the organization’s work, the significance of the “Guided by Gilbert” litter, and how the funding would help train dogs that provide independence and support to people with disabilities, veterans, and others. Members from both parties spoke warmly about Speaker Hortman’s connection to the organization and Gilbert, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then considered House File 3769, the Department of Corrections’ technical omnibus bill, with an A1 amendment adopted to clarify tuberculosis testing language. The bill updates TB screening procedures in correctional facilities, including how refusals are handled, and adds Quantiferon Gold Plus testing as an option alongside existing methods. Members discussed whether the bill would create costs for counties and jails, with some noting added testing and segregation costs and others arguing the changes would improve accuracy and reduce time in restrictive housing. The bill, as amended, was recommended to the general register. House File 3978 was next, a technical cleanup bill for a provider wellness program created last year. The bill expands eligibility and confidentiality protections from physicians to all health care providers, while supporters said the program is meant to address burnout and mental health strain in the workforce and does not require new money. Some members questioned whether the change was redundant or would broaden the program without additional funding, but the Minnesota Medical Association testified that the program is separate from insurance and was intended to serve all providers. The bill was recommended to the general register. Finally, the committee began House File 3476, which Rep. Liebling described as a cleanup bill related to Minnesota’s Medicaid managed care system and public program oversight. She argued that the state spends billions through managed care organizations and that the system has never been proven better than direct payment, setting up a broader discussion of the bill’s purpose and the state’s oversight of public health care spending.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:41:15.920> ensuring vital for a just transition, ensuring vital for a just transition
• I strongly transition to clean energy.
• So don't make this transition harder and more expensive.
• I transition harder and more expensive.
• <01:08:56.719> to should be accelerating the transition to should be accelerating the transition

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have watched the commission make critical decisions to advance our state's clean energy transition
• I have watched the commission make critical decisions to advance our state's clean energy transition
• <00:06:59.720> while state's clean energy transition while state's clean energy transition
• utilities across the energy transition utilities across the country<00:07:18.560> must<00:07:
• them in their transition I think Additionally<00:18:49.200> the<00:18:49.840> um<00:18

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from our current financial systems. are the interfaces, reporting, training, and transition required
• Since the transition of the VR program to TWC.
• The State of Good Repair program replaces aging transit vehicles and completes bus facility projects
• allowing for the construction of new transit facilities in Amarillo, Sherman, San Angelo and Alice,
• Transition plan that involves a map of every single textile facility in the state and whether or not

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• theory and kind of where our students should be at at different stages in the semester, in their transition
• theory and kind of where our students should be at at different stages in the semester, in their transition
• It's what used to be the library school training librarians, but in 2001, it transitioned to becoming
• when 5243 was passed in 2023, OSPI was tasked with selecting a vendor and then implementing the transition
• Paul, you asked about that post-graduation transition support.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under 295.21, we are the state's initial point of military transition assistance.
• We want to keep those that are transitioning out of the military here out of our 20-plus bases.
• It's the best place to be for veterans, for active duty military, for transitioning service members,
• It's the best place to be for veterans, for active duty military, for transitioning service members,
• So this initiative allows transitioning service members to earn while they learn by participating in

Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.