Transcript Highlights:

• It's a pretty sad day. I can't believe we're doing this, J.B.
• When you say it was a sad day, it is a sad day.
• On that same day, the undersigned officer interviewed the complainant.
• So we've got, through Saturday, we still have days left on this.
• So we've got through Saturday; we still have days left on this.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you just elaborate on some of the roles, some of the day-to-day of what these people do?
• By having the Secretary in Paris away from day-to-day operations for so long, that's the first question
• The team was really great at explaining the agency structure, the day-to-day operations.
• As a result, the processing time was reduced to 1.3 days in 2024, down from 5.2 days in 2023.
• As a result, the processing time was reduced to 1.3 days in 2024 down from 5.2 days in 2023. Great.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency travel, budget reduction exercises, and member reports from agency meetings. Early discussion focused on the Department of Management Services (DMS), where members questioned the cost of travel for four out-of-state data/cyber staff and the secretary’s absence. DMS defended the hires as highly specialized enterprise cybersecurity and data personnel, said the positions were lawfully paid and posted, and explained that the staff work on statewide data cataloging and cyber risk reduction rather than agency-by-agency systems. Members also raised concerns about fleet inventory discrepancies and requested follow-up information on hiring, travel, and data inventory timelines. The chair said she would consider travel guardrails and possible reductions, and noted that DMS, the Lottery, and the Florida Commission on Human Relations did not meet the requested reduction target, while the Public Employee Relations Commission did not submit reductions. The committee then heard from the Florida Lottery about the secretary’s trip to Paris for the World Lottery Convention. Lottery staff said the trip was reimbursed through the multi-state lottery organization and was intended to share best practices and improve operations, though members questioned the value of the travel and requested reimbursement records and the trip agenda. The subcommittee also reviewed agency reduction exercises from several agencies. The Department of Revenue exceeded its target and was praised for frugality; DFS, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Office of Financial Regulation, the Office of Insurance Regulation, the Public Service Commission, the Division of Administrative Hearings, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation each described how they met or approached their reduction goals, often through vacancies, reversions, or expense cuts. OIR warned that further reductions could hurt insurance regulation capacity, while OFR and PSC said their reductions were based on historical reversions and lower post-COVID travel or vacancy levels. Members then reported back on agency meetings. DMS members raised fleet tracking, real property audits, salary studies, and health plan savings ideas, and asked for follow-up on the Florida PALM project, cybersecurity grants, and state IT modernization. DFS members said the agency was efficient and that its Palm-related work and insurance consumer programs were important. Lottery members emphasized the agency’s revenue generation for education and its low administrative overhead. Gaming Control members highlighted storage costs for seized gaming equipment and suggested technology-based alternatives. PERC members said a union-related law had doubled their workload and asked for more staffing and possible AI assistance. OIR members stressed the need for a Tampa satellite office and more resources to recruit and retain specialized staff. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue reviewing travel, staffing, and reductions with an eye toward taxpayer value and transparency.

Transcript Highlights:

• running two inhalers a day.
• could actually be processed within 90 days.
• clock that they just mentioned or the 90-day clock.
• clock that they just mentioned or the 90-day clock.
• It's going to be much more expensive. ...per day fines.

Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, I am mindful that as we continue to do anything day after day, it gets to be a grind.
• So veterans are well taken care of.
• and, during future sessions, provides for $20 per day for legislative leaders and $15 per day for assistant
• I don't care if they can find it on the Internet.
• I do care, but what I'm talking about is I don't care if they can find it in the local library or they

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. It then took up a series of appropriations and policy bills, with the most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The House approved amendments that shifted governance of the department and veterans’ home from ACOVA to the governor, citing concerns about ACOVA’s salary-setting actions and broader appropriation oversight. Members opposed to the change argued ACOVA had studied compensation and acted within its role. The amended bill passed 57-34, and the final bill passed 69-22 with the emergency clause carrying. The House also passed Senate Bill 2001, the legislative branch budget, which funds the 2027 session, legislative staff, chamber upgrades, IT improvements, and salary adjustments for legislative leaders; the bill passed 62-29, but the emergency clause failed. Senate Bill 2019, the Career and Technical Education budget, passed 82-10 with emergency clause. Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget, passed 75-17 after discussion of data center migration, service automation, mainframe transition, ERP study, and DPI’s move from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Other measures passed included Senate Bill 2228 for rural grocery store sustainability grants, Senate Bill 2390 creating a rural catalyst community grant program, Senate Bill 2188 adjusting the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, and Senate Bill 2265 authorizing a veterans national cemetery grant and line of credit with added reporting safeguards. Several House bills returned from the Senate were concurred in and then passed, including House Bill 1361 on mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, House Bill 1017 for the Game and Fish Department, House Bill 1588 on firearms and dangerous weapons provisions, House Bill 1429 on harassment and stalking involving robots, House Bill 1591 on county fair resiliency grants, House Bill 1537 on service agreement protection for water projects, House Bill 1203 on edible medical marijuana products, and House Bill 1027 transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to OMB. The House also rejected a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2307, which dealt with library materials and obscenity-related restrictions, by a vote of 48-51. In addition, the chamber appointed conference committees on several House and Senate measures where concurrence had failed, and laid over Senate Bill 2340 for two legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• And every other time that I’ve stood here on opening day, he’s administered the oath of office for me
• speech and the governor's opening day speech and the governor's State<00:22:26.279><c> of</c><00:22:
• I developed a deep respect for the legislature, a respect that continues to this day.
• office who are incredibly caring office who are incredibly caring hardworking<00:52:04.240><c> and</c
• It was the best day of my life.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's how many days?" "Sixty days." "And you understand?" "We understand. Yes, sir." "Okay.
• My last day was supposed to have been yesterday, but we found out that we were going to do this 60-day
• My last day was supposed to have been yesterday, but we found out that we were going to do this 60-day
• We just want the things taken care of.
• I'm looking, I don't care.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a busy three days. We are here. At the Stan Fulton Center at NMSU the next two days.
• Come alive for our students every single day.
• But we have a kiddo that... ...that requires four or five staff to watch throughout the day, all day
• One PLC day; it's not a full day, it's a period.
• there's a complaint or concern regarding the blurring of their responsibilities and involvement in the day-to-day

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> veterans we serve under the special care veterans we serve under the special care unit<00:13:01.440
• </c><00:14:33.839><c> having</c> this, I can spend all day having this, I can spend all day having discussion
• But I think at this time, it's best to take care of the folks we can right now.
• </c><00:38:24.000><c> uh</c> care of the folks we can right now. uh care of the folks we can right now
• to be able to take care of it at<00:40:22.880><c> this</c><00:40:23.040><c> moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wild rice cares for us, and so we must care for wild rice.
• <c> for</c> cares for us and so we must care for cares for us and so we must care for wild<00:46:51.760
• Our employees juggle child care at odd hours of the day and night.
• at odd hours of the juggle child care at odd hours of the day<01:09:11.080><c> and</c><01:09:11.240>
• We teach every day.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• before Election Day.
• before Election Day.
• before Election Day.
• </c> of an emergency on or near Election Day of an emergency on or near Election Day election<00:15:04.839
• The 14-day deadline is tough.

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER BIT THROUGHOUT THE AGES IT HAS BEEN FORETOLD OF THE DAYS WE CURRENTLY LIVE.
• IN ANESTHESIOLOGY AND CRITICAL CARE, ANY SENATORS WISHING TO MAKE INTRODUCTIONS?
• I RISE TO OFFER A RECOGNITION, IT'S A DAY EARLY BUT VERY MUCH IN A TIMELY SPIRIT.
• MAY OUR FOUNDERS DAY BE FILLED WITH PRIDE AND CONTINUED SERVICE, HAPPY FOUNDERS DAY LADIES. >>Pres.
• Albritton: WITHOUT OBJECTION THE SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that was our ribbon cutting day. We opened to the public two days later.
• the Ark earlier that day.
• </c> that were at the ark earlier that day. that were at the ark earlier that day.
• day at the Ark.
• </c> typical day at the art. So thank you. typical day at the art. So thank you.

Summary: The committee met for its second Interim Joint Committee on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology meeting, approved the June minutes, and then heard a presentation from representatives of the Ark Encounter on its 10-year anniversary. Eddie Lutz and Anna Katherine Scalf described the Ark as a major tourism anchor in Kentucky, citing nearly 9.3 million total guests, about 1 million annual visitors, 16,871 bus groups, and a largely out-of-region audience. They emphasized that the Ark and the nearby Creation Museum together draw about 1.5 million visitors a year and have helped drive hotel development, restaurant activity, and other tourism spending in Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas. They also previewed future expansion, including a large first-century Jerusalem model in the welcome center and a 40-day Christian music festival with more than 120 concerts. Members asked about the project’s financing, location choice, and business structure. The witnesses said no taxpayer dollars were used to build the Ark, but the project did receive a Kentucky tax incentive/rebate program, which they said helped bring the attraction to the state. They said Kentucky was chosen in part because of the available land off I-75 and because the Ark and Creation Museum are close enough to encourage overnight stays. In response to questions, they explained that Answers in Genesis is the nonprofit parent organization, the Creation Museum is nonprofit, and the Ark Encounter operates as a for-profit entity owned by a nonprofit; revenue comes from ticket sales and events, while development was funded through private donations. They also said staffing can reach about 1,400 employees seasonally, though they did not know the occupational tax details. Several legislators offered supportive comments and personal observations about the Ark’s draw for out-of-state and international visitors, including license plates from many states and stories of travelers extending their stays to visit. The witnesses and members also discussed broader tourism collaboration in Kentucky, including partnerships with Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky attractions, and nearby hotels and businesses that benefit from Ark-related traffic. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the June minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so, you know, we just need to be really careful when we're talking about protecting thoughts
• And so, you know, we just need to be really careful when we're talking about protecting thoughts and
• </c> getting a little heated because I care getting a little heated because I care about about about
• </c> ahead oh my gosh it's been a long day ahead oh my gosh it's been a long day thank<01:35:51.760><
• </c> keep up right now and meet that 30-day keep up right now and meet that 30-day turnaround<01:42:19.800

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Why haven't they already taken care of this, and why isn't this being taken care of now as opposed to
• of this why haven't they already care of this why haven't they already taken<00:20:16.400><c> care</
• :19.520><c> opposed</c><00:20:19.840><c> to</c> being taken care of now as opposed to being taken care
• 00:24:53.399><c> is</c><00:24:53.559><c> what</c><00:24:53.679><c> we</c> Numbers 22 a day or 22 a day
• is what we Numbers 22 a day or 22 a day is what we lose<00:24:54.000><c> in</c><00:24:54.120><c> the

Bills: HF192 , HF268 , HF1214 , HF494

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That's all day down and all day back.
• That's all day down and all day back.
• That's all day down and all day back.
• Paul, that's all day down and all day back.
• it's constitutionally required uh care it's constitutionally required uh Medical<01:10:38.360><c> Care

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• and second day of January.
• These dedicated professionals are at the heart and soul of our health care system, showing up every day
• These dedicated professionals are at the heart and soul of our health care system, showing up every day
• These dedicated professionals are at the heart and soul of our health care system, showing up every day
• And soul of our health care system, showing up every day with compassion, strength, and an unwavering

Transcript Highlights:

• We're breathing it every day.
• There's no more care for any of that. It's just full-blown. We've reported numerous times.
• They don't care. We suffered through... If they're young or if they're old, they go on top of it.
• So for seven days and seven nights, it was a slow fire with that, that is...
• So not just obesity, diabetes, heart disease, increasing the cost of long-term health care.

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections. The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections. House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections. House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a tight fiscal environment, we should be careful.
• These ranchers definitely need to be taken care of.
• And the ranchers, if we do not take care of them, they won't be here.
• These ranchers definitely need to be taken care of.
• They defend them all day, every day, and they go after them.

Bills: HB2013 , HB2026 , HB2056 , HB2098 , HB2113 , HB2156 , HB2158 , HCM2011 , HCR2057

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we turn to health care after the sale of our business in 2004 in in 2022?
• Are retired from health care as a hospital administrator after serving 32 years with that, that help
• My name is Michael Cushion and I am a registered nurse approach in my 30th year of caring for adults
• I was in healthcare leadership, health Care administration for nearly 20 years here in South Florida.
• It so success is in health care, education.

Transcript Highlights:

• ever<00:05:02.960><c> since</c><00:05:03.440><c> uh</c><00:05:03.600><c> from</c><00:05:03.759><c> day
• Follow-up: the education committee passed a bill two days ago.
• Um, but we &gt;&gt; two days when did we pass it?
• So at the end of the day within &gt;&gt; Okay.
• . care. care.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.