Transcript Highlights:

• and that the bill be re-passed as amended by the conference committee. >> All right.
• </c> explain what was done in the conference explain what was done in the conference committee?
• President, those summarize the changes made in the conference committee.
• </c> amended by the conference committee. amended by the conference committee.
• </c> hereby are appointed as a conference hereby are appointed as a conference committee<00:28:53.760

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 270 aligns the leadership agreement in the spreadsheet here for the allowable amounts of Health
• line 9 917 that provision<00:24:23.840><c> relating</c><00:24:24.320><c> to</c><00:24:24.559><c> aligning
• </c><00:24:25.039><c> the</c> provision relating to aligning the provision relating to aligning the collection
• Specifically, things like exempting how long a conference committee report can sit at the desk at the
• Specifically, things like exempting how long a conference committee report can sit at the desk at the

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you conference? Can you not conference if there's nothing there?
• the other side to meet with it.<00:02:21.600><c> Do</c><00:02:21.680><c> you</c><00:02:21.800><c> conference
• Do you conference? Can you not it. Do you conference?
• Can you not conference<00:02:23.600><c> if</c><00:02:24.080><c> there's</c><00:02:24.320><c> nothing<
• </c> conference if there's nothing there? conference if there's nothing there?

Summary: Senate leaders said they were in the final weeks of session, moving long days of floor and finance work focused on priorities they described as affecting Minnesotans’ cost of living, safety, and security. They said next week would bring major packages to the floor, including public safety, health and human services, Metro Surge, and a gun violence package, while negotiations continued with House leaders and the administration. They also highlighted a human services bill from Sen. John Hoffman as the final item completed that day. A major topic was the Senate’s response to H.R. 1, which leaders said would require about $1 billion in state budget adjustments to avoid federal penalties and Medicaid losses. They said the proposal would address federal compliance issues, support hospitals such as HCMC and other distressed providers through uncompensated care funding, and include food support for SNAP-related needs, food shelves, food grants, and prepared food. They also emphasized system modernization, especially IT upgrades, as both an implementation and anti-fraud measure. Leaders said several items appeared to have bipartisan support, including HCMC relief, the Office of the Inspector General, bonding, and IT modernization. They said they were arranging a meeting with House and Senate leaders and the governor to work through bonding differences, but noted that IT modernization and HCMC were unlikely to be financed through general obligation bonds this year. They also said the Senate would take up a bill on prediction markets after Sen. Klein’s recent platform suspension, describing the issue as a violation of platform rules and saying the chamber may need updated rules or statutes. In response to a question about an elections bill provision, they said the measure reaffirmed that a president should serve only two terms and that the language had moved through the normal committee process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Upon conferring with Madam Chair and then feedback that we had gotten from the committee during the public
• We changed it from Hope Act to Charity Act just so it aligns perfectly with the Senate version of this
• We changed it from Hope Act to Charity Act just so it aligns perfectly with the Senate version of this
• We changed it from Hope Act to Charity Act just so it aligns perfectly with the Senate version of this

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• President Trump's vision of peace through strength aligns explicitly with HB 930, emphasizing military
• This is the vision that aligns with Secretary Pete Hagseth. establishing deterrence by defending our
• .. supporting someone else's border, that is supporting someone else's missions, that doesn't even align
• HB30 aligns with that. and it will require legitimate constitutional authority before committing Texas
• in Libya, the gentleman who was the president at that time announced... announced it in a press conference

Bills: HB39 , HB227 , HB930 , HB 1078 , HB39 , HB227

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: highway designation, veteran recognition, commemorative, transportation, Brazoria County, Texas National Guard, combat duty, military activation, state requirements, emergency response, active combat duty, military service, Congressional action, Governor responsibilities, Congressional declaration, state law, conflict, armed forces, congressional approval, war declaration

Transcript Highlights:

• I move to reject House amendments to Senate Bill 1546, request a conference, and have Senate conferees
• I move to reject the CcR to Senate Bill 2 request further conference and senate conference to remain
• And they're going to reject and send a conference.
• Senator Green, you're recognized to explain the conference committee report for House Bill 2992.
• Will there be questions to the author on the conference committee report?

Bills: SR44 , HCR1027 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HB1185 , HB1937 , HB2035 , HB2137 , HB2166 , HB3148 , HB3323 , HB3466 , HB3498 , HB3661 , HB3678 , HB3710 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB4104 , HB4108 , HB4142 , HB4191 , HB4274 , HB4275 , HB4322 , HB4336 , HB4484 , HB3880 , HB1687 , HB3673 , HB1170 , HB2959 , HB3718 , HB3021 , HB3443 , HB3501 , HB4143 , HB4326 , HB2992 , HB3660 , SB171 , SB1325 , SB1980 , SB2045 , HB4422 , HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:40:01.359><c> drafts</c> conference reports and conference drafts conference reports and conference
• conference draft to conference committee.
• </c> Conference Committee report number 220. Conference Committee report number 220.
• </c> conference committee report number 208. conference committee report number 208.
• </c> draft to conference committee. draft to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's fully aligning uh with it.
• </c><00:54:13.040><c> Um</c> this back up in conference committee.
• Um this back up in conference committee.
• </c><00:54:22.800><c> committee</c> always fix this in conference committee always fix this in conference
• but you know I want to make conference but you know I want to make sure<00:55:38.079><c> that</c><00

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• It is Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. here in Conference Room 325 at the State Capitol.
• </c> alignment with that strategy. Thank you. alignment with that strategy. Thank you.
• This is the 2 p.m. agenda, March 20th, here in conference room 325, March 20th, 2025.
• </c><01:27:35.920><c> Questions</c><01:27:36.239><c> or</c> forward to conference.
• Questions or forward to conference. Questions or concerns,<01:27:37.239><c> members?

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 1296 HD1, relating to disaster recovery, would exempt reconstruction of lawfully constructed structures damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster from special management area permits under certain conditions. OPSD, DLNR, the County of Maui, Front Street Recovery, and the Grassroot Institute supported the bill, saying it would speed rebuilding after disasters like the Maui fires; one witness noted the bill would not cover shoreline parcels unless amended, and members asked about the five-year rebuild window, the meaning of “lawfully constructed,” and whether unlawful structures were excluded. Testimony was also heard on SB 1413, which would allow the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to dispose of abandoned property in federal public housing projects after notice and within five days; HPHA said the bill would help address illegal dumping and clarify procedures. SB 31 HD1, concerning discriminatory restrictive covenants, was briefly described and had support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and comments from the Uniform Law Commission, with no in-person testimony. The committee then heard SB 1341, which would add HEMA and the Office of Homeland Security to agencies allowed to review energy industry information and would expand the program’s emergency-management purpose. The Hawaii State Energy Office supported the measure, saying the data is important for emergency response and fuel-supply planning. SB 10008 HD1 would authorize counties to adopt ordinances enforcing accessible parking space requirements and clarify county enforcement of EV-related parking provisions; the Disability and Communication Access Board strongly supported the accessible-parking provisions, saying current enforcement is weak, while noting section three on EV spaces is already largely in statute and could be struck if the committee preferred. Tina Yamaki of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in opposition. Finally, the committee heard SB 1028 SD1 HD1, which would eliminate fees, fines, and court costs for offenses committed by minors, discharge existing related debt, limit community service for minors to 72 hours, and repeal certain penalties tied to minors and their parents or guardians. The Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council, Community Alliance on Prisons, and DebtFree Justice Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that youth fines burden families, worsen poverty, and disproportionately affect Native Hawaiian youth. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments, raising possible constitutional title issues because the current draft incorporates material from HB 129 and includes sections that may relate more to restitution or curfew than to fines and fees; supporters responded that the title is sufficient and cited case law. No votes or final actions were taken on the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator, is there a schedule for the Joint Budget Conference Committees to meet?
• &gt;&gt; SENATOR, IS THERE A SCHEDULE FOR THE JOINT BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO MEET?
• They have traveled from 23 counties across the state for the annual Capital Days conference.
• LEADING OF THE TEAM PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE CONFERENCE.
• Also proudly serves as treasurer of the conference.

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a budget extender. Senator Serrano’s appropriation bill was recalled from the Assembly, reconsidered, amended, and sent through Rules to the floor. During debate, senators discussed the ongoing delay in finalizing the state budget, the 13th extender, school aid payments, the Yonkers school district payment, and unresolved issues such as Tier 6 retirement changes and other budget policy items. The extender was passed 57-2 after debate, with senators pressing for more transparency about the budget negotiations and the majority responding that those issues were not germane to the extender. The chamber then recognized several resolutions and guests. Senators spoke in support of Resolution 1948 honoring New York State 4-H and its Capital Days participants, Resolution 2054 commemorating Italian American Day, and Resolution 1620 mourning Denis Michael Troy of Rockland County. The Italian American Day resolution drew extensive remarks from many senators about family histories, immigration, cultural contributions, scholarships, and community traditions, and the Senate welcomed honored guests from the Italian American community. The Rosalyn Yalow Charter School fencing team was also introduced, along with the family of Denis Troy. The Senate then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing measures on public service, city administrative code, municipal law, correction law, criminal procedure, real property tax, education, social services, public health, executive law, parks, judiciary, and alcoholic beverage control, among others. Several members explained votes on bills related to ratepayer protection, hip-hop lyrics in criminal cases, sovereign nations and gaming compacts, and the Traveling with Dignity Act requiring adult changing stations in public facilities. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew notable negative votes. The Senate completed the calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Joint Committee hearing in Conference Room 229 at the State Capitol between the Committees on Public
• State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection in Conference Room 229 to hear a number of
• The Senator might not be surprised that I am thinking that something more aligned with early neutral
• The Senator might not be surprised that I am thinking that something more aligned with early neutral
• Hearing in conference room 229.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The joint hearing first took up SB 696, which would create an emergency management office and fund tax credits, grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify homes, shelter development, and staffing. Supporters argued Hawaii needs a dedicated preparedness office and funding before the next hurricane season, while the Tax Foundation said the bill was too vague, especially on who would qualify for the tax credits and under what conditions. The Department of the Attorney General and the insurance division offered comments, and both committees recommended deferral of SB 696. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then heard SB 179 on construction defect remedies and the contractor repair act. Builders, Realtors, carpenters, and a mortgage industry witness supported the bill, saying it would reduce abusive litigation, speed repairs, and help housing production and affordability. Homeowner advocates and plaintiff attorneys opposed it, arguing it would weaken consumer protections, shift repair costs to homeowners, and delay or limit legitimate claims. One testifier suggested the Senate focus instead on stronger alternative dispute resolution, and the committee noted 105 written supporters, four opponents, and one comment submission. The committee next heard SB 416 on allowing pets in rental housing, with the Attorney General recommending a non-impairment safeguard because of possible effects on existing contracts. SB 593 on commercial dog breeders drew support from the Hawaii Humane Society and others, with concerns raised that counties would be expected to enforce the new regime without funding. SB 641, creating a tax on low-alcohol-by-volume spirits beverages, drew opposition from the Wine Institute, which said it would create a tax break for one segment and likely reduce state revenue. SB 1048 on online crowdfunding received support from GoFundMe and comments from the Attorney General, with GoFundMe urging changes to reduce burdens on charitable fundraising. SB 1213, allowing businesses to accept service of process by email instead of maintaining a registered agent, drew DCCA comments and opposition from LegalZoom, which warned email service could be unreliable and vulnerable to phishing.

Bills: HB146 , HB322 , HB469 , HB1183 , HB1481 , HB1509 , HB1510 , HB1511 , HB1514 , HB1515 , HB1516 , HB1520 , HB1522 , HB1524 , HB1531 , HB1535 , HB1548 , HB1550 , HB1559 , HB1573 , HB1574 , HB1590 , HB1593 , HB1601 , HB1603 , HB1615 , HB1628 , HB1643 , HB1644 , HB1645 , HB1648 , HB1663 , HB1667 , HB1671 , HB1678 , HB1679 , HB1682 , HB1688 , HB1691 , HB1692 , HB1695 , HB1696 , HB1697 , HB1716 , HB1721 , HB1724 , HB1725 , HB1728 , HB1730 , HB1733 , HB1737 , HB1738 , HB1739 , HB1740 , HB1741 , HB1742 , HB1752 , HB1753 , HB1764 , HB1768 , HB1769 , HB1777 , HB1782 , HB1790 , HB1799 , HB1810 , HB1823 , HB1824 , HB1832 , HB1839 , HB1840 , HB1844 , HB1845 , HB1850 , HB1851 , HB1858 , HB1860 , HB1864 , HB1870 , HB1873 , HB1875 , HB1877 , HB1878 , HB1880 , HB1881 , HB1886 , HB1888 , HB1890 , HB1892 , HB1893 , HB1898 , HB1921 , HB1934

Keywords: judiciary, Hawaiian language, Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, language access, cultural preservation, voter registration, automatic registration, state agencies, electoral participation, opt-out system, disability, parking, travel placard, accessibility, mobility, retirement, pension, law enforcement, public safety, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Bills: SR44 , HCR1027 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HB1185 , HB1937 , HB2035 , HB2137 , HB2166 , HB3148 , HB3323 , HB3466 , HB3498 , HB3661 , HB3678 , HB3710 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB4104 , HB4108 , HB4142 , HB4191 , HB4274 , HB4275 , HB4322 , HB4336 , HB4484 , HB3880 , HB1687 , HB3673 , HB1170 , HB2959 , HB3718 , HB3021 , HB3443 , HB3501 , HB4143 , HB4326 , HB2992 , HB3660 , SB171 , SB1325 , SB1980 , SB2045 , HB4422 , HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aligns the number of signatures required for presidential preference primary candidates with
• This is to align with our federal partners who use that terminology.
• This bill made it through the entire process last year, ended up in a conference committee, and then
• This bill made it through the entire process last year, ended up in a conference committee, and then
• we ran out of time, so we process last year, ended up in a conference committee, and then we ran out

Bills: HR218 , HR219 , HR220 , HR221 , HR222 , HCR91 , HCR92 , HCR93 , HR210 , HR211 , HR212 , HR213 , HR214 , HR215 , HR216 , SCR29 , SCR38 , SB100 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , SCR23 , HB276 , HB508 , HB512 , HB599 , HB632 , HB656 , HB998 , HB1052 , HB1084 , HB1171 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1204 , HB1209 , HB1250 , SB2 , SB19 , SB24 , SB50 , SB70 , SB96 , SB101 , SB103 , SB104 , SB114 , SB122 , SB159 , SB160 , SB173 , SB180 , SB182 , SB260 , SB412 , SB418 , SB424 , SB442 , SB460 , SB476 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , HCR63 , HCR69 , HCR86 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB624 , HB689 , HB708 , HB804 , HB906 , HB926 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1187 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , HB730 , HB225 , HB175 , HB198 , HB437 , HB457 , HB488 , HB646 , HB763 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1089 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231 , HB1246 , HB1248 , HB1249 , SB47 , SB82 , SB106 , SB206 , SB210 , SB248 , SB305 , SB376 , SB397 , SB441 , HCR32 , HB59 , HB617 , HB897 , HB911 , HB1223 , HB798 , HB824 , HB989 , HB1140 , HB1166 , HB1244 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1180 , HB1234 , HB1240 , SB89

Summary: The House met with 89 members present and began with prayer, the pledge, and routine journal and leave requests. The early part of the session was largely ceremonial, with multiple personal privilege remarks recognizing visiting groups and special days at the Capitol, including St. Bernard Parish Day, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association Day, ARPEC members, retired public servant Barney Arsenault, Deaf History Month, Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Young Farmers and Ranchers, Louisiana Housing Corporation participants, and Louisiana Hospital Day. The chamber also received Senate messages, including concurrence in several House concurrent resolutions, Senate passage of a number of bills, and a list of Senate resolutions lying over. The House then moved through a long series of resolutions and bills, many of them adopted without objection. Among the measures approved were resolutions designating or commending various observances and groups, and bills addressing inmate documentation upon release, court filings on letter-sized paper, safe harbor protections for trafficking victims, public benefits verification, travel meal reimbursement limits for state employees, the Governor’s Task Force on Impaired Driving, school emergency operation plans, justice of the peace jurisdiction in East Baton Rouge Parish, unaffiliated voter participation in party primaries, electronic monitoring rules, crime victims’ compensation terminology, the indigent defender fund threshold for small municipalities, sex offender identification procedures, the Office of State Public Defender, microbrewery special-event permits, alternative power sources for nursing facilities, relay attack device penalties, and a capital-case intellectual disability bill. Several of these passed overwhelmingly; some were temporarily returned to the calendar or tabled after passage. A few bills drew more discussion. HB 335 on citizenship verification for public benefits passed 77-17. HB 398, limiting meal reimbursements for state travel to GSA rates with an exception process, passed 62-32 after questions about scope and lodging. HB 906 on presidential preference primary qualification and party rules for unaffiliated voters passed 68-19. HB 897, protecting health data collected by pregnancy centers and imposing fines for unauthorized disclosure, passed 94-0 after an amendment and questions about its application. HB 1107 on intellectual disabilities in capital cases passed 75-11 after amendments informed by disability advocates. HB 1187, allowing Citizens Property Insurance to direct certain emergency assessment overages to the Fortify Homes Program or reserves, passed 87-9. HB 1220 on the State Board of Medical Examiners passed 95-0. The House also reconsidered and successfully revived HB 225 after suspending the rules, and several bills were returned to the calendar for later consideration, including HB 689 before it was later brought back and passed 84-7 after amendment. The session concluded with notice of additional Senate messages and upcoming floor scheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move the Senate recede from its amendments to House Bill 4026 and that a conference committee be appointed
• I move the Senate recede from its amendments to House Bill 4026 and that a conference committee be appointed
• Senator from Lewis moves that the Senate recede from its amendments to House Bill 4026 and that a conference
• This expanded list of professionals aligns with the types of providers permitted to render opinions in
• This expanded list of professionals aligns with the types of providers permitted to render opinions in

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• challenges in terms of how you build out infrastructure to serve that growth that phases in over time and align
• challenges in terms of how you build out infrastructure to serve that growth that phases in over time and align
• I was at a couple of conferences in the off-season focused on AI, and one presentation talked about how
• I was at a couple of conferences in the off-season focused on AI, and one presentation talked about how

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The House AI and Innovation Committee first heard a presentation from APS on its data center strategy and the rapid growth of AI/data center demand in Arizona. APS said it is trying to protect reliability and affordability for existing customers while preserving capacity for other growth, and emphasized that “growth should pay for growth.” APS described its current peak load, projected growth, and the scale of potential data center demand, and explained that data centers differ from other customers because they use large amounts of power around the clock and require major new infrastructure. APS said it has proposed two ways to serve them: a revised data center tariff filed with the Corporation Commission and separate bilateral contracts with upfront customer contributions. Committee members asked about whether residential customers are subsidizing data centers, the proposed 45% increase for the data center rate class, possible impacts on development, self-generation behind the meter, seasonal load, and APS’s longer-term resource plans, including nuclear, gas, renewables, and possible SMRs. APS said residential customers are not intended to subsidize data centers and that the proposal is designed to assign costs directly to those customers. The committee then took up House Bill 2133, which requires commercial entities that knowingly distribute or publish sexual material online to obtain reasonable consent and age verification, including for synthetic or AI-generated or altered images, and authorizes civil penalties for violations. A five-page amendment in Representative Kupper’s name narrowed the bill by excluding internet service providers, affiliates, subsidiaries, search engines, and cloud providers from responsibility for content they do not create or directly host. Representative Kupper said the bill is intended to protect people in adult content from exploitation and non-consensual use, including trafficking-related material and revenge porn, and compared it to existing age- and consent-verification practices in the physical adult-content industry. He said the penalties mirror those used in related laws, including a $10,000-per-day structure. During debate, several members said they supported the bill’s intent but wanted to reserve the right to change their votes after further stakeholder discussions, citing First Amendment and implementation concerns. One member noted a similar federal proposal with a higher fine structure. After no public testimony was offered, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted 5-0 with two members present to give HB 2133, as amended, a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's something actually that the Florida Supervisors of Elections Conference supports.
• It's something actually that the Florida Supervisors of Elections Conference supported that legislative
• Kellum has shown that his ethics are not really aligned with what we’re looking for in the FWC.
• push toward making sure that hunting and fishing is a birthright in this state, it doesn’t really align

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• research, and economic development needs, and would make the Commonwealth a national model for how to align
• which we call a vote one in the process, requires a project rationale and business case, project alignment
• These are not yet authorized or approved mainly because of lack of funding, but they are aligned with
• with the governor's vision Clean energy modernization, and sustainable campus initiatives that align
• However, I'm currently about an hour and 15 minutes beyond the time that we had for this conference room

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the BRIGHT Act, a higher education capital bill that would use Fair Share surtax revenue to fund major repairs, modernization, and decarbonization projects across UMass, state universities, and community colleges. UMass leadership described a $4.8 billion deferred maintenance backlog, aging buildings, and the need to modernize facilities, improve accessibility, and reduce emissions. Administration officials said the bill would authorize $2.5 billion in capital funding, split roughly 50-50 between UMass and the rest of public higher education, plus additional targeted funding for housing planning, smaller modernization projects, campus master plans, and workforce skills grants. They emphasized that the financing structure is modeled on the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and would not raise student costs, while also supporting affordability through financial aid and free community college. Members raised questions about regional equity, the distribution of funds among the five UMass campuses and the 24 state university/community college campuses, project labor agreements, whether the bill would unlock private or federal matching funds, and how the system is preparing for AI and changing workforce needs. UMass officials said project selection is data-driven, based on deferred maintenance, safety, accessibility, sustainability, and programmatic needs, and that the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts would likely receive a large share because of its size and needs. They also said UMass Boston would receive its own share and would not be shortchanged by the Bayside project. On labor, they said PLAs are commonly used and they would follow existing board and building authority policies. On affordability, they said the university has shifted hundreds of millions into need-based aid and that the state’s recent support has helped keep tuition low for many students. DCAMM and higher education officials said the state’s public campuses account for a large share of state-owned building space and a disproportionate share of operational carbon emissions, making decarbonization a major driver of the bill. They said the legislation would allow larger, more comprehensive projects that can address deferred maintenance, energy efficiency, and program needs at the same time, while also making some projects shovel-ready through the Fair Share supplemental funding already appropriated. A later panel from the State Universities Council of Presidents argued the bill’s authorization is still too small to meet long-term needs and urged the committee to increase the bond cap and ensure a more equitable distribution among segments. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I'd like to see this alignment as it moves.
• Just aligning my comments with Mr. Stivers who came before me.
• This request is to align the encumbrance period with the original appropriation.
• Chairman. align in the budget solutions.
• And so, I'm sorry, but I understand that the governor needed a press conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Chair's had a conferred the— we're going to pass this with amendments to defer the date to July 1st
• Moving up 2 years align all the goals.
• conferred uh Chairs having conferred uh the<00:41:05.760><c> decision</c><00:41:07.240><c> will</c><
• This bill will come back to you in the conference committee, um, Chair, and that's my request.
• This bill will come back to you in the conference committee, um, Chair, and that's my request.

Bills: SB2706 , SB2320

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committees first heard SB 2371, which would prioritize lease offers on agrivoltaics parcels for beginning farmers, require annual compliance reports to DAB, authorize penalties for noncompliance, and allow solar facilities on certain agricultural lands. DAB, the State Energy Office, PUC, and Hawaii Farm Bureau generally supported the intent, while OPPSD recommended amendments to preserve agricultural lease affordability and strengthen food-production language. Members questioned whether the bill would meaningfully encourage solar on ag lands, whether beginning farmers would have enough information to use such parcels, and how the bill would interact with Land Use Commission review. The Farm Bureau said agrivoltaics remains challenging and largely in pilot form, and noted the Mililani project as a promising example of dual use. The committees voted to pass SB 2371 with amendments, with one member expressing a preference that it be opened to all farmers rather than only beginning farmers. The next measure, SB 2800, appropriates funds to DAB, DLNR, and ADC for acquisition, repair, and maintenance of irrigation systems. All testifying agencies and the Farm Bureau supported the bill, and members pressed them for estimates of needed funding and the condition of existing systems. DAB cited major repair needs, including Waimea, Molokai, Kahuku, and Kawailoa, and said its backlog could total roughly $65 million; ADC estimated about $35 million for several systems; and DLNR said its current needs for three systems were about $35 million, with the largest cost tied to piping in Kekaha. The committees amended the bill to defer its effective date to July 1, 2050 and to blank out the appropriation amounts in the bill text, with the agencies’ requested amounts to be included in the committee report for consideration. SB 2800 then passed in AEN, Water and Land, and EIG. The final measure discussed was SB 2718, a food hub pilot program beginning in 2028 that would require state departments and UH to source 30% of certain food purchases from local agricultural products, create a nutrition- and ʻāina-based school program, and have DAT partner with a regional aggregator for Native Hawaiian staple crops. DAT, DOH, the Farm Bureau, Food Plus Policy Group, HAPA, and others supported the bill’s intent, while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation opposed it, saying it is already struggling to meet the current local procurement percentage and faces procurement and quantity barriers, especially for staple items used daily. The testimony focused on whether agencies could realistically meet the higher local purchasing target and whether smaller farms could supply the needed volumes.