Transcript Highlights:

• the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire or to intrude upon the bodily integrity or personal safety
• Representative: Correct, "or to intrude upon the Representative: Bodily integrity or personal safety
• Representative: Yes, that's correct, for personal safety of the victim. Mr.
• The provision is not only counterproductive to public safety, but also harmful to youth.
• But the truth is Representative Romero: That this bill is about child safety, if anything else.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• prevention, planning... as well as wildfire prevention education, with an emphasis on public health and safety
• breaks in and around communities, and then forest health treatments around there in addition to fire safety
• , fire safety, 24-hour staffing requirements, and the delivery of mission-critical public benefits.
• will tackle critical areas essential for enhancing CAL FIRE's infrastructure, leading to increased safety
• Infrastructure issues such as dry rot, termite damage, and leaking roofs have created health and safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speed camera enforcement for school safety and construction zones. Senator from Belmont.
• This is authorizing speed camera enforcement in school safety zones.
• Authorizing speed camera enforcement in school safety zones and construction zones and also in there's
• sort of another general concept of safety zones that the municipality can implement, and this includes
• Our partners at the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Matt Douglas at Ways and Means, who

Summary: The Senate considered a large number of amendments to an economic development bill and adopted them one by one, with repeated brief recesses as members finalized language. Early amendments made permanent the option for hybrid public meetings and added procedures for alleged open meeting law violations, authorized speed camera enforcement in school and construction safety zones, and created a retirement credit option for part-time teachers who reduced hours to care for children. Other adopted amendments updated gateway municipality designations every three years, capped ticket resale prices and banned speculative “ghost tickets,” and addressed vulnerable road users, crumbling concrete, and a fund for seasonal communities housing. Members also approved amendments to create a new framework for responding to crimes against women, including better investigation of staged suicides and adding sex and gender to the hate crimes statute; to establish a trigger law protecting private-sector labor organizing rights if federal labor law is weakened; to create a bottom-up “Enough Act” fund to fight poverty; to allow airport restaurants and bars at Logan to operate during flight hours; and to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from financial scams by allowing temporary delays of suspicious transactions and reporting to protective agencies. Additional housing-related amendments were adopted for rural communities, residential PACE financing, and a five-community tenant opportunity to purchase pilot program. A Senate Ways and Means amendment was then adopted, the substitute draft was applied to the underlying bill, and the bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. The chamber also adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The Senate then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• $4,750,000 appropriation from the Highway Patrol Fund for operating expenses at the Department of Public Safety
• repeals the Civil Rights Division Advisory Board and delays establishment of the Department of Public Safety
• repeals the Civil Rights Division Advisory Board and delays establishment of the Department of Public Safety
• House Bill 4163 establishes the school safety threat identification pilot program in ADE.
• But outside of that, we need this money as a safety net for the state in case we have a recession.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are choosing to say that state and local law enforcement should be focused on public safety, not deputized
• This bill is pro-trust, it's pro-victim, it's pro-community safety.
• all people in our state, including our immigrant neighbors, that our priority is to fight for the safety
• Tarr, authority of courts to protect public safety. Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
• Tarr, authorized public safety actions. Question comes to adoption.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do ask for favor and safety for those who might be traveling. And favor.
• We do ask for favor and safety for those who might be traveling or even in the midst of storms, that
• Father, we pray for the safety of our president and all elected officials at a time when divisive rhetoric
• It also provides some safety for our state employees when they're crossing from the parking lots.
• I just want to stress that the state is working on the parking issue and the safety issue.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it requires the Mississippi Department of Education to develop a social media safety curriculum
• We're also going to require MDE to publish an internet safety publication on its website and allow...
• you know, they’ve been given an opportunity time... ...opportunity time and time again to implement safety
• here clean up language, going from the Department of Public Services to the Department of Public Safety
• Rules, SCR 546, recognize City of Greenville as a national model for innovative coordinated public safety

Keywords: MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no safety accident concerns, like core meltdown, like in Fukushima or, you know, Chernobyl
• That matters for public safety, infrastructure oversight, and space operations.
• personally identifiable information, sensitive state data, any data related to elections, public safety
• and just want to make sure that, mechanically, it can be carried out in the manner that does bring safety
• to make sure that like mechanically it can be carried out in the manner that does bring, you know, safety

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met with a full audience and began with brief introductions, including an intern from Arizona State University. The committee heard two presentations before taking up its only bill. The University of Arizona’s Thomas Diaz de la Rubia spoke about fusion energy, describing it as a potential clean, safe, baseload power source and arguing Arizona should build the talent, supply chains, and research infrastructure to commercialize fusion. Members asked about timelines, regulation, competition with China, and the relationship to small modular reactors; he said fusion could be commercially relevant in roughly 12 to 15 years if public and private investment continues, and that the U.S. should avoid losing manufacturing and supply chains as it did in other technologies. He also discussed the university’s broader space and national security work. XRDNA CEO Charles Ableman then presented a spatial addressing and coordination system called EVA, describing it as a way to align data about where and when physical objects exist across systems, with a security layer called a sphere of influence. He said the company is testing with space and logistics partners, uses AI provenance tools, and sees its near-term use case in space operations and interoperability. The committee then considered HB 2809, which would require state agencies handling sensitive or protected data to implement post-quantum encryption meeting or exceeding CMMC 2.0 standards, using a U.S.-based vendor and U.S.-developed or maintained components. The bill would place the master encryption key with the Auditor General and set procedures involving the Auditor General and Attorney General. Sponsor Rep. Gillette explained that the bill was simplified from a prior version after concerns that agencies would have to connect offline systems to the internet; the amendment clarified that encryption can be installed without internet connectivity and without requiring other systems to be online. He argued the measure is needed to modernize weak legacy systems and protect data after prior breaches and failed IT projects. Members generally supported the concept but raised questions about implementation, costs, vendor neutrality, and the Auditor General’s role; the Secretary of State’s office was described as neutral and still evaluating implementation. The committee adopted the Pingarelli amendment and then passed HB 2809 as amended on a 9-0 vote, with several members explaining that they supported the bill but wanted continued stakeholder input and careful attention to execution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. Thank you so much.
• Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. I'll entertain a motion.
• Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. I'll entertain a motion. Vice Chair Grove made the motion.
• Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. That is Item 2F, Vincent Wells, for the Alfred E.
• Alquist Seismic Safety Commission. Thank you very much. We have a motion by Vice Chair Grove.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll now open up Senate Bill 6031, enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance
• applies the duty to certified public accountants, state or local law enforcement agencies, public safety
• applies the duty to certified public accountants, state or local law enforcement agencies, public safety
• you for the opportunity and say that I am here in support of Senate Bill 6031 that enhances public safety
• you for the opportunity and say that I am here in support of Senate Bill 6031 that enhances public safety

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on an amended and restated tribal-state gaming compact with the Squaxin Island Tribe. Washington State Gambling Commission staff explained the compact amendment process and said the restatement consolidates six prior amendments, updates several appendices, and adds new provisions including high-limit room options and electronic table games. Squaxin Island representatives said the changes clarify the existing compact, improve casino regulation and management, and support tribal economic development and community services. Committee members expressed support, and the compact will next go through additional commission and legislative review before possible governor approval. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5831, which enacts the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act. Staff and the bill sponsor said the measure creates safe harbors for common mortgage modifications, clarifies when modifications must be recorded, and preserves the priority of modified mortgages in foreclosure without preempting other mortgage or lending laws. A Uniform Law Commission representative testified that the bill would advance protections by reducing uncertainty and costly attorney opinion requirements. There was no opposition testimony, and the public hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6178, requested by the Insurance Commissioner, would prohibit contractors and others from soliciting or requiring post-loss assignments of property insurance benefits from insureds, making such agreements void and enforceable by the commissioner with civil penalties. The sponsor, Insurance Commissioner, and several supporters said the bill would protect homeowners after disasters from losing control of their claims and help prevent contractor abuse; a consumer attorney, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau also supported it. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6031, which expands and modernizes the state’s insurance fraud laws, classifies insurance fraud as a Class B felony, broadens reporting and investigative authority, and extends the fraud program to related crimes affecting insurers and consumers. The Insurance Commissioner, anti-fraud groups, and industry representatives supported the bill, while the Washington Society of CPAs said concerns about CPA language would be addressed by amendment. After public hearings, the committee moved to executive session, adopted a proposed substitute for SB 5928, and voted do-pass recommendations for SB 5928 as amended and SB 5919, sending both to Rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Project 2025, record tax breaks for huge corporations, rollbacks of social safety net programs like Medicaid
• Counting on increasingly unreliable federal grants to fund basic services like public safety and climate
• Well Washington Fund asks corporations to join in with their employees in contributing to the social safety
• Well Washington Fund asks corporations to join in with their employees in contributing to the social safety
• staffed, health care systems are stretched beyond breaking, and this impacts everyone, everyone's safety

Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would help with safety assessments, chronic disease management, and connecting you with needed resources
• They would help with safety assessments, chronic disease management, and connecting you with needed resources
• Complete and accurate medical records promote patient safety and facilitate coordination between care
• Complete and accurate medical records promote patient safety and facilitate coordination between care
• question for any of you to answer is: are any of the departments planning on utilizing the new public safety

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2012 building codes are over a decade old and do not reflect modern safety advances.
• The 2021 and 2024 building codes offer significant benefits, including improved safety... ...efficiency
• Building code advancements as stronger regulations improve building safety, resilience, and energy efficiency
• codes, why not implement them statewide, ensuring that every Texan... ...can benefit from modern safety
• Members, this bill serves to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

Bills: HB407 , HB871 , HB882 , HB2011 , HB3572 , HB3578 , HB4038 , HB4866 , HB4897 , HB4978 , HB5380 , HB5555 , HB5668 , HB5670 , HB5674 , HB5676 , HB5679 , HB5688 , SB673

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: solar energy, residential construction, building code, municipal regulations, energy compliance, building codes, interconnection, education, funding, teacher support, student resources, school infrastructure, municipal requirements, environmental sustainability, municipalities, construction, agricultural operation, International Code Council, county regulations, construction fees

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology, science, and best practices are essential to mitigate such safety risks and to develop sensible
• criminal activity is increasing and causing significant challenges and concerns from a financial and safety
• However, there's an inherent safety risk with long-term holding by the state of petroleum products.
• All right, sir, you're a captain for the Texas Department of Public Safety, and you are registered neutral
• Sean Hallett, captain with the Texas Department of Public Safety, is here to just serve as a resource

Bills: HB1647 , HB2612 , HB3125 , HB3158 , HB3240 , HB3506 , HB3516 , HB3707

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: carbon sequestration, environmental policy, Texas, energy, climate change, regulatory council, geothermal energy, workforce development, education and training, energy industry, apprenticeship, energy production, energy policy, renewable energy, state council, administrative law, public information, transparency, government accountability, judicial process

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, it's just another toolbox and a tool for Floridians to protect their health and safety.
• So we've been looking at some ways that we can perhaps enhance the safety, if you will, the care, and
• It will require each nursing home to conduct a patient safety culture survey at least biannually.
• In addition, when it comes to safety, which is really what the medical director issue is all about.
• I also think it helps ensure safety.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Committee on Health Policy met with a quorum and considered three bills. Senate Bill 526 on nursing education programs, sponsored by Senator Harrell, would tighten oversight of nursing schools by requiring admission criteria, exit exams, remediation plans, annual reporting, on-site inspections, and stronger action against programs with poor NCLEX results or adverse actions in other jurisdictions. After testimony from the sponsor and several committee questions, a late-filed amendment restored a two-year probation period instead of one year, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 714, also by Senator Harrell, would create a voluntary non-opioid advance directive allowing patients to document a wish not to receive opioids, including when incapacitated, with the form developed by the Department of Health and potentially included in electronic medical records. The sponsor said it would not prevent treatment discussions and would provide liability protection for providers who lack actual knowledge of the directive in emergencies. The bill drew no opposition in the meeting and was reported favorably. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Senator Burton, would add nursing home quality and transparency measures, including consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, electronic health record requirements, reporting to the Florida Health Information Exchange, a $10,000 fine for failure to submit required financial data, and reporting on Medicaid quality payments. An amendment clarified the fine’s application to both facilities and home offices. Testimony from AARP and the Florida Health Care Association supported the bill, and it was reported favorably after discussion about implementation and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Food safety is the paramount concern of the CPG industry, and we support the proven science and risk-based
• important for both the manufacturer, the distribution, and the resale of goods, and obviously health and safety
• structures, inflating already heightened food costs, and undermining... ...consumer confidence in the safety
• We just want safety and... ...the most bipartisan bill that I've ever run.
• We just want safety and we also want to make sure that Floridians, regardless of whether we agree with

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• 138, introduced by Representative Cates, an act relating to health, enacting the Hospital Patient Safety
• relating to railroads, mandating the use of wayside detector systems, requiring the reporting of railway safety
• violations, and prohibiting retaliatory action, providing a administrative penalties for railway safety
• Hill, an act relating to motor vehicles, enacting the Autonomous Vehicle Act, providing safety requirements
• providing requirements for a human operator of an autonomous motor vehicle, requiring testing and safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The department worked with the Department of Safety criminal records unit on the language, and it reflects
• She deferred to the Department of Safety regarding how much information they would receive if they received
• defer to the pending that I would um defer to the Department<00:06:04.440><c> of</c><00:06:04.600><c> Safety
• ><00:06:05.000><c> regarding</c><00:06:05.520><c> how</c><00:06:05.759><c> much</c> Department of Safety
• regarding how much Department of Safety regarding how much information<00:06:06.680><c> we</c><00:06

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, due to privacy and safety, I’ll introduce myself as Miss Carlson.
• </c> due to privacy and safety. due to privacy and safety.
• </c><01:13:16.400><c> net</c> resources, it's a critical safety net resources, it's a critical safety
• With thousands of miners out of work, our food was a critical safety net for their families.
• due to safety concerns in the<01:53:12.719><c> Latinx</c><01:53:13.360><c> community.

Bills: HF45 , HF1148 , HF3624 , HF3586 , HF777

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> same level of safety same level of safety as<00:31:24.640><c> the</c><00:31:25.400><c> as</c><00
• </c> of food safety. of food safety.
• </c> the penalty for failure in food safety the penalty for failure in food safety can<00:54:55.600><
• </c> that's not wading into the food safety that's not wading into the food safety aspect<01:07:17.920
• </c> for food safety. for food safety.

Committee: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: 916, all