Transcript Highlights:

• c><04:15:41.040><c> deterredc><04:15:41.439><c> byc><04:15:41.600><c> ac><04:15:41.760><c> class
• c><04:15:42.000><c> Ac> criminals will be deterred by a class A criminals will be deterred by a class
• A misdemeanor<04:15:42.960><c> byc><04:15:43.279><c> merelyc><04:15:43.600><c> possessionc> misdemeanor
• c><04:17:13.359><c> Ac><04:17:13.600><c> misdemeanorc><04:17:14.640><c> ifc> charged with a class
• A misdemeanor if charged with a class A misdemeanor if they're<04:17:15.199><c> goingc><04:17:15.359

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If there are two domestic assaults, that's a gross misdemeanor.
• If there are two domestic assaults, that's a gross misdemeanor.
• If there are 2 domestic assaults, that's a gross misdemeanor.
• A felony has a 12-person jury; misdemeanors have a 6-person jury.
• In my experience, it's actually much more common when in doubt to go with a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor

Bills: HF3489, HF3990, HF3825, HF3826, HF3827, HF3822

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• Initially, it included a misdemeanor penalty.
• No. they're going to break a sweat and go back to class.
• Not enough time to go to the gym and change clothes and get sweaty and go back to class.
• She's asked me to protect that class at all costs. Move for adoption. Yield to questions.
• In paragraph C, section two, it describes what obscene means.

Bills: HR1036, HB2975, HB3026, HB3297, HB2981, HB2978, HB4144, HB1322, HB1818, HB3194, HB3767, HB3342, HB3344, HB4170, HB3287, HB3288, HB4454, HB3264, HB3266, HB3268, HB4095, HB4115, HB4316, HB3530, HB3428, HB4272, HB4273, HB4274, HB3405, HB3406, HB3467, HB3469, HB3931

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, kindergarten, military families, education policy, school districts, international military dependents, age eligibility, towing services, Oklahoma Wrecker and Towing Services Fund, Department of Labor, vehicle storage fees, consumer protection, nonconsensual towing, open meetings

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> wineriesc><01:36:39.200><c> andc> beverages, class three wineries and beverages, class three
• wineries and class<01:36:39.680><c> fourc><01:36:39.960><c> limitedc><01:36:40.480><c> wineries,
• c><01:36:41.000><c> bulkc><01:36:41.360><c> wine,c> class four limited wineries, bulk wine, class
• And so, this was and a misdemeanor.<01:47:48.520><c> Thisc><01:47:48.760><c> isc><01:47:48.880><c
• > ac><01:47:48.960><c> civilc><01:47:49.320><c> finec><01:47:49.760><c> andc> misdemeanor.

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, March 21, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 126 members present, heard the prayer, approved the previous day’s journal, and then took up a series of Senate messages and committee reports. Senate bills on consent calendars 21 and 22 were read the first time and referred to committees. The House then adopted favorable reports, often without amendment, on a wide range of bills including workers’ compensation evaluation procedures (HB 1325), a state shark designation (HB 97), several local alcoholic beverages measures, commemorative months for Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage (HB 661), and local license commissioner changes in Anne Arundel, Worcester, Harford, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s counties. Several bills were amended before being ordered printed for third reading. HB 121 (Baltimore County alcohol sales) was amended to change the sponsor to the Baltimore County delegation. HB 1335 on Department of Information Technology workforce recruitment and retention was amended to convert the measure into a study and recommendations report. HB 1037 on PSC oversight of broadband and VoIP was similarly amended from direct oversight to a study and report. HB 1164 on water and sewage rate consolidation and limited-income mechanisms was amended to remove rate-consolidation provisions, require a PSC study, and delay implementation. HB 1381 on stopping or parking in bike lanes added exceptions for emergency, transit, disability pickup/drop-off, disabled vehicles, loading/unloading, and construction or maintenance; HB 1504 prioritized sidewalk and bicycle pathway projects near highways with complete streets or Vision Zero policies; HB 912 adjusted community cat trap-neuter-return rules; and HB 969 clarified electric vehicle charging billing and service fees. The most extended debate centered on HB 639, the Transportation Aviation Passenger Health and Safety Act. After amendments turned it into a reporting measure for fixed-base operators and aviation service companies regarding flights carrying detained individuals, warrants, refueling, and emergency-response documentation, members questioned its practical operation, safety implications, and possible federal preemption issues. The floor leader explained the bill as amended was intended to gather information for Maryland safety and emergency planning. On motion of the committee chair, the House agreed to special order HB 639 until the end of the session for further clarification. The House also amended and advanced HB 1063 on hunting management, including deer damage permits and Sunday hunting rules, and heard a brief statement from an Eastern Shore delegate about the Rural Caucus’s approach to offering amendments rather than opposing bills outright. The session ended with HB 972, creating the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, amended to rename the bill in honor of the late Delegate Charles Otto and to replace lottery funding with an annual appropriation; the House adopted the amendments and the favorable report.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, I mean, subsection C is a criminal penalty, because you're guilty of a misdemeanor.
• It used to be, under current law in West Virginia, it's a misdemeanor. Correct.
• We had a professor, and he had up on the board, first day of class, had 98%.
• And then it goes down in subsection C. And so there's that process.
• And then you could have, you know, double A, double B, double C that are right ends.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> class.
• c><00:44:28.960><c> alwaysc><00:44:29.119><c> pullc> misdemeanor and felony, we always pull misdemeanor
• c><00:44:41.359><c> Uhc><00:44:41.599><c> butc> with misdemeanor and felonies.
• <01:17:46.800><c> ac><01:17:47.120><c> classc><01:17:47.520><c> ofc><01:17:47.840><c> pesticides
• ><c> ac><04:24:40.159><c> classc><04:24:40.479><c> calledc> farmers switched to a class called

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• law enforcement officers actually exist in many of these areas, particularly those that are larger, class
• one to possibly class three municipality sizes.
• If you have not submitted that information, there will be a penalty of a misdemeanor, as well as a fine
• So, I know, let representative get C... So, I know, let representative get C...
• But those are municipalities, and especially our class one and class CL municipalities.

Bills: HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36, HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36

Keywords: law enforcement, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, education, property acquisition, municipality, land use, annexation, competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• as a class one misdemeanor.
• as a class one misdemeanor.
• Madam Whip, members, currently it is a class one misdemeanor to lend someone a vehicle that requires
• one misdemeanor.
• This offense is classified as a class 6 felony. The bill is on the third-read consent calendar.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style run-through of many bills and resolutions across Appropriations, Commerce, Education, Federalism/Military Affairs/Elections, Government, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, ENRU, Public Safety, and Rural Economic Development. Measures discussed included housing and HOA rules, school policy and funding, health care licensing and records timelines, public safety and corrections funding, election and campaign rules, water and environmental policy, and several criminal justice and juvenile justice changes. Many items were described as being on third-read consent or consent calendars, with staff often noting that no questions were raised and no sponsor was present. Several bills drew sponsor explanation or member discussion. In education, members reviewed bills on teacher strikes, school safety, math placement, student outcomes, free school meals, parent permission for clubs, and school bond ballot disclosures. In health, bills covered prior authorization data reporting, nursing board rules and complaint procedures, pharmacist testing/treatment authority, opioid antagonist expiration dates, board continuations, and a constitutional amendment on refusing medical mandates. In government and public safety, members discussed DCS legal representation, inmate medical records, public safety parity funding, sheriff authority, border support funding, and a resolution supporting county sheriffs. In commerce and housing, bills addressed condominium and HOA authority, shade structures, pet restrictions, insurance certificates, apprenticeship definitions, automatic renewal contracts, and a state housing affordability district. There was notable discussion on House Bill 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and DOC salaries using interest from the state rainy day fund and other revenue sources. The sponsor argued it would provide a reliable way to fund public safety pay, while others objected that it would consume interest needed to preserve the fund’s value and that a general fund appropriation would be more appropriate. The bill prompted extended back-and-forth, with some members supporting the concept and others saying it was fiscally irresponsible. Another point of discussion came on House Bill 2775, where staff noted a possible misprint in the bill history, and on House Bill 467, where staff clarified that the inactive voter list changes related to e-poll book status categories. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, and the meeting appears to have been a review of measures before floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:00:54.879><c> So,c><00:00:55.440><c> butc><00:00:55.760><c> justc><00:00:55.920><c> bec>
• c><00:00:58.239><c> Andc><00:00:58.559><c> withc><00:00:58.800><c> that,c><00:00:58.960><c> we'll
• c><00:01:13.680><c> Thec><00:01:13.920><c> firstc><00:01:14.080><c> billc><00:01:14.320><c> for
• 03.680><c> classc><00:53:04.160><c> crimec><00:53:04.800><c> onc><00:53:05.119><c> somec><00:
• 53:05.280><c> occasions,c> um, upper class crime on some occasions, um, upper class crime on some occasions

Bills: HB0008, HB0009, HB0028

Keywords: stalking, minors, felony, protection orders, criminal penalties, grooming, sexual offenses, child protection, sexual exploitation, law amendment, explicit conduct, sex crimes, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> excusec><00:01:46.840><c> Senatorc><00:01:47.200><c> Roc><00:01:47.960><c> Senatorc><00:
• ><c> classc><00:42:24.720><c> ofc><00:42:24.960><c> firearmsc><00:42:25.520><c> we'rec><00:42
• :25.680><c> Banningc> whole class of firearms we're Banning whole class of firearms we're Banning unintentional
• c><00:52:15.799><c> ac><00:52:16.400><c> misdemeanorc> Parts shall be guilty of a misdemeanor Parts
• shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and<00:52:17.520><c> itc><00:52:17.640><c> wouldc><00:52:17.799

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 547 on water conservation, a deferred agenda item that had already been considered by the other joint committees and received no public testimony. The chair recommended adopting Department of Taxation and Department of Health amendments, passing the bill, and adding a defective date of July 1, 2050. The committee voted to adopt the recommendation; the vice chair voted yes, two senators were excused, and the recommendation was adopted. The main hearing focused on SB 1030, which would define election fraud intimidation to include carrying any firearm or weapon at or near a voter service center, place of deposit, or polling place. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill duplicated existing sensitive-places law, raised Second Amendment concerns, and could create confusion for lawful concealed carry holders using ballot drop boxes. A smaller number of supporters, including gun violence prevention advocates and labor representatives, argued the measure would improve voter safety. The committee heard more than 1,560 total testimonies for the hearing overall, and for SB 1030 staff noted over 10 in support and over 80 in opposition; no vote on SB 1030 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard SB 38, which would extend Hawaii’s ban on high-capacity magazines from pistols to any firearm with a detachable magazine over 10 rounds. Supporters, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Brady, and other gun violence prevention advocates, said the bill would close a loophole, improve consistency in the law, and reduce the harm caused by mass shootings. Opponents, including gun owners, veterans, and Second Amendment advocates, argued the bill would criminalize lawful owners, be difficult to enforce, and would not reduce crime. The committee reported receiving over 40 testimonies in support and over 400 in opposition. Finally, the committee began SB 401, which would add rifles capable of firing .50 caliber or higher ammunition to the list of prohibited weapons, excluding antiques and muzzle loaders. HPD and Everytown testified in support, describing the weapons as military-grade and dangerous, while Jerry Yuan and others opposed the bill, saying it was overbroad and would sweep in firearms and ammunition types that are not used in crime. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 401, before any committee action or vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates a new criminal charge as a Class A misdemeanor for operating an unlicensed business that facilitates
• And then a Class B misdemeanor explicitly criminalizes selling and providing these products to individuals
• It creates new criminal charge as a Class A misdemeanor for operating an unlicensed business that facilitates
• And then Class B misdemeanor is explicitly criminalizes selling and providing these products to individuals
• There are class action suits filed in 2023.

Bills: HB305, HB395, HB341

Keywords: hemp, marijuana, THC regulations, cannabis products, adult-use industry, public health, youth protection, child support, reunification, Department of Services for Children, family court, liability

Summary: The committee met in late June with Senators Hansen, Buckson, Siegfried, Townsend, and Huxable present, and first approved the meeting minutes by voice vote. The opening bill, HB 341, would limit DFS from filing child support in foster care cases unless doing so would not hinder reunification; Children’s Department staff said the department has already decided to stop filing in all such cases, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $140,000 annually. Public testimony from the League of Women Voters supported the bill as a compassionate measure to help families reunite. The committee then heard HB 446/related anaphylaxis legislation for colleges and universities, which would allow institutions to stock and use intranasal epinephrine alongside auto-injectors and update training and reporting requirements. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America supported the measure, emphasizing the need for needle-free options and faster treatment of anaphylaxis. The committee also took up HS1 for HB 356 on PFAS, which would ban firefighting foam containing PFAS beginning in 2028, require disclosure if PPE contains PFAS, and address recalls; DNREC and the fire service supported it, saying most departments have already transitioned away from PFAS foam. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 305, a diabetes wellness pilot program that would use continuous glucose monitoring, app-based care coordination, lab testing, and DHIN data analysis to shift care toward prevention and remission. Sponsor Senator Siegfried described the bill as a response to Delaware’s high diabetes costs and prevalence, and the Medical Society of Delaware supported it as a proactive model. The committee also discussed HB 395, which would regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products and synthetic cannabinoids by classifying products over a THC threshold as marijuana and creating penalties for unlicensed sales; the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner supported the bill, while hemp industry representatives and Senator Hoffner warned it could harm legitimate hemp retailers and access to hemp products. The final item, HS1 for HB 332, would ban sales and marketing of kratom products to those under 21 and direct the state to study testing and regulation of kratom and synthetic variants. Supporters, including the Delaware Healthcare Association and several recovery advocates, said age-gating is a reasonable first step and that synthetic products are the main concern; opponents and some senators argued the bill should go further and fully ban kratom or better distinguish synthetic products from natural leaf kratom. No formal roll-call votes were taken on the substantive bills during the transcript, and the meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:44:27.680><c> Representativec> gross misdemeanor? Representative gross misdemeanor?
• ><c> ac><00:44:47.040><c> grossc><00:44:47.359><c> misdemeanor.
• c><02:27:10.240><c> classc><02:27:10.479><c> ofc> because if you create a felony class of because
• ><c> toc><03:06:52.000><c> theirc><03:06:52.800><c> classes.
• ><c> classc><04:11:23.920><c> 4Ac><04:11:25.120><c> statec> win the high school class 4A state

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House first adopted a conference committee report on House File 3426, a natural resources bill. Representative Jordan said the report largely reflected the House position, with changes including removal of the word “random” regarding DNR checks, clarification of minimum grant amount limits for trail maintenance and other projects, a two-year sunset on those caps, and repeal of obsolete language requiring DNR approval of ENRTF-funded acquisitions. Representative Heintzeman said the changes were technical and supported the bill. The motion prevailed, and the bill was given third reading. The House then concurred in Senate amendments to House File 4239, the campaign finance bill, and House File 4240, the elections bill. Representative Fryberg said HF 4239 addressed campaign disclaimers and privacy of addresses on campaign documents, with a compromise $10,000 security spending limit, authority for the Campaign Finance Board to dismiss frivolous complaints, and limits on sharing addresses with caucus leaders. HF 4240, the Secretary of State’s administrative bill, added an immediate effective date for a Three Rivers Park Commissioner disclosure requirement, removed an appropriation and related policy language, included amendments on special school district elections and betting on elections, and corrected a discrepancy with public safety language. Both bills were passed as amended by the Senate, with 118-15 and 127-6 votes respectively. The House also passed Senate File 3720, the workers’ compensation advisory council recommendations. Representatives Baker and Berg described bipartisan, unanimous council recommendations updating the workers’ compensation reinsurance process, allowing appellate judges to be assigned when needed, adding psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners as PTSD diagnosticians, updating attorney fee notice rules, increasing compensation for permanent partial disability, clarifying witness rules at employer medical exams, extending the time for employers to deny liability from 60 to 90 days, and correcting a prior error affecting DLI commissioner authority. The bill passed 132-1. Finally, Representative Long moved to suspend the rules to recall House File 5140, the comprehensive gun violence prevention package, from committee and bring it directly to passage. Long and Representative Greenman argued the Senate had already passed the bill and urged immediate action, citing the Annunciation shooting and other gun violence incidents. Representative Heintzeman raised concerns about the bill’s language, arguing a provision on protruding grips could make all handguns illegal and questioning other penalty provisions. Debate on the motion and bill continued, but no final vote on HF 5140 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:20.960><c> Um,c><00:01:21.200><c> soc><00:01:21.360><c> Ic><00:01:21.600><c> canc>
• classes,<00:58:00.880><c> assignments,c><00:58:01.960><c> concentration,c> classes, assignments,
• concentration, classes, assignments, concentration, academic<00:58:03.799><c> concerns.
• c> itc><01:50:17.119><c> ac><01:50:17.280><c> misdemeanorc><01:50:17.920><c> toc><01:50:18.560
• ><c> abandonc><01:50:19.199><c> ac> it makes it a misdemeanor to abandon a it makes it a misdemeanor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our recruiting, our last four or five classes—really the last three years—our classes are majority minority
• Our two classes right now, we have 280-some-odd recruits in class right now as we speak.
• Our two classes right now, we have 280 some odd recruits in class right now as we speak.
• But 60 cents per percent of our classes now seem to every class seem to be from Region 3.
• Or just for another Schedule C or three?

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:06:16.240><c> Butc><00:06:16.319><c> Ic><00:06:16.560><c> havec><00:06:16.639><c> myc
• <00:50:30.400><c> Isc><00:50:30.559><c> itc><00:50:30.640><c> ac><00:50:30.800><c> misdemeanor?
• c><00:50:32.160><c> Ic><00:50:32.319><c> believec> charge? Is it a misdemeanor?
• Is it a misdemeanor? I believe it's<00:50:32.640><c> ac><00:50:32.800><c> misdemeanor.
• :03.680><c> misdemeanorc> would actually put that misdemeanor would actually put that misdemeanor penalty

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:04.799><c> planc><01:03:05.440><c> wherec><01:03:05.760><c> middlec><01:03:06.000><c> class
• It<03:44:46.160><c> alsoc><03:44:46.479><c> createsc><03:44:47.359><c> ac><03:44:47.600><c> misdemeanor
• c><03:44:48.239><c> forc> It also creates a misdemeanor for It also creates a misdemeanor for harassment
• :57.359><c> classes.
• c><04:32:58.080><c> Thisc><04:32:58.319><c> isc><04:32:58.479><c> ac> strengthening um classes

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:11.200><c> Andc><00:01:11.360><c> soc><00:01:11.600><c> I'llc><00:01:11.760><c> be
• c> havec><00:01:17.920><c> anc><00:01:18.159><c> opportunityc><00:01:18.640><c> toc> motions.
• <c> umc><00:02:58.000><c> somec><00:02:58.160><c> ofc><00:02:58.239><c> thec><00:02:58.319><c
• :19:34.960><c> uhc><00:19:35.200><c> itc><00:19:35.520><c> classc><00:19:36.000><c> itc><00:19
• And so it uh it class it has to<00:19:36.640><c> doc><00:19:36.799><c> withc><00:19:36.960><c> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:08:55.959><c> noc><00:08:56.560><c> okayc><00:08:57.600><c> umc><00:08:58.600><c> soc
• :49.920><c> ac> days old uh and that would be a days old uh and that would be a misdemeanor<00:37:51.400
• ><c> crueltyc> misdemeanor uh under an animal cruelty misdemeanor uh under an animal cruelty same<00
• :43:18.559><c> misdemeanorc><00:43:19.240><c> forc><00:43:19.440><c> ac> person is guilty of a
• misdemeanor for a person is guilty of a misdemeanor for a first<00:43:19.880><c> offensec><00:43:20.640

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a work session on HB 505, which would allow the sale of freeze-dried foods produced in homestead food operations. Members raised concerns about the bill’s broad language, especially the provision stating freeze-dried food would not be considered potentially hazardous. Several suggested narrowing the bill to specific products such as processed foods, berries, fruit, dairy products, ice cream, or vegetables, and requiring use of commercial freeze-drying equipment rather than dehydrators. There was also discussion of oxygen absorbers, moisture control, sanitation, and whether the issue should be handled in statute or rules. By the end of the discussion, members generally agreed the topic should be treated in a separate section of law rather than folded into the existing homestead food license, and the chair said the matter would be sent to the food safety subcommittee, with the possibility of a study committee if more time was needed. The committee then moved to HB 277, a technical correction to the animal cruelty statutes. Representative Bixby explained that current law refers to a “colt,” which applies only to male baby horses, leaving fillies unaddressed; the bill would replace “colt” with “foal” and make related wording changes so the restriction applies to any horse under 90 days old not being nursed by its dam. The New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the change was requested to clarify and modernize the statute and that the issue had been identified during work on related animal cruelty legislation. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The chair recessed the work session until 11:00 a.m. and announced that Representative Ktoa would take over the hearing on HB 277.

Transcript Highlights:

• As background, in 1990, an expansion was made to the class of survivors entitled to recover non-economic
• With a $7,500 fine and education classes on blood clots, this was not enough.
• Tab 8, SB 878 on probation for misdemeanor offenses.
• Tab 8, SB 878 on probation for misdemeanor offenses.
• What basically changes is a second-degree misdemeanor upgrades to a third.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard extensive debate on SB 734, which would repeal Florida’s wrongful-death medical malpractice exception that bars certain adult children and parents from recovering noneconomic damages. Senator Yarborough presented the bill as a fairness and accountability measure, while many family members testified in support, describing deaths they believed were caused by medical negligence and arguing the current law denies equal justice. Opponents, including physician and insurer representatives, warned the bill could increase malpractice exposure, premiums, defensive medicine, and physician shortages. The committee also considered two late-filed amendments: Senator Burton’s amendment would make Department of Health investigative findings admissible in court, and Senator Martin’s amendment to that amendment would broaden admissibility/discoverability to additional disciplinary and prior-adverse-incident records and insurance coverage facts. After debate, the Martin amendment was adopted, but the Burton amendment as amended failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported SB 734 favorably without the amendment. The committee next unanimously reported CS for SB 86 favorably. That bill, by Senator Burgess, expands peer support protections for first responders to include support personnel; there was little debate and several law-enforcement-related organizations indicated support. The committee also took up SB 316 on series limited liability companies. Senator Berman explained that the bill creates rules for series LLCs in Florida, and a late-filed amendment, requested by the Secretary of State, delayed implementation by one year. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for CS for SB 384, which requires municipalities seeking to annex state-owned land to notify the relevant county legislative delegation when the first public hearing is advertised. Senator Burton presented the bill briefly, there was no opposition or debate, and the committee proceeded to vote on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was her first from freshman up class.
• I mean, his sister Amy graduated my class.

Bills: SB514, SB346, SB1593, SB1782, SB1366, SB1497, SB366, SB1895, SB2048, SB2005, SB2006, SB710, SB1480

Keywords: SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility