Transcript Highlights:

• Long story short, me, an eligible voter, I was blocked from voting in the 2014 elections.
• Senate Bill 1334 would block eligible voters from participating in our elections.
• A similar law, as you heard earlier, in Kansas blocked the registration of more than 31,000 citizens
• Senate Bill 1334 would block eligible voters from participating in our elections.
• One out of every eight new and eligible residents in Kansas were blocked from registering to vote.

Bills: S0460, S0748, S1180, S1334

Keywords: special elections, vacancy, Governor authority, election timeframe, judicial determination, voting rights, felony, sentencing, civil rights, criminal justice, rehabilitation, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum and took up several election-related bills. CS/SB 1180 by Senator Arrington, which creates a recall framework for elected community development district board members and also addresses synthetic turf regulation and CDD eligibility, was presented briefly and then approved unanimously. SB 460 by Senator Polsky, requiring the governor to call special elections within set deadlines after vacancies and allowing judicial relief if deadlines are not met, also passed unanimously after members discussed flexibility for emergencies and the cost of delayed elections. The committee then heard SB 748 by Senator Bracy Davis, which would add constitutional voting-rights restoration language to the sentencing score sheet given to felony defendants. Supporters said it would improve clarity and notice without changing eligibility, and the bill was favorably reported unanimously. The committee also confirmed several appointees, including Jim Milliken and Alicia McShea to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Robert P. Estalas as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and additional gubernatorial appointees listed on the agenda, all by favorable votes. The longest discussion centered on Senator Grall’s strike-all amendment for SB 1334, an elections bill dealing with citizenship verification, Real ID and SAVE database use, paper-ballot voting, candidate qualification rules, and related election administration changes. Supporters argued it would streamline verification and ensure only citizens vote, while opponents warned it would create burdens, disenfranchise eligible voters, and impose costs and administrative confusion. After extensive public testimony both for and against, the committee adopted an amendment to allow supervisors of elections to observe holidays when not otherwise required to be open, then approved the strike-all as amended by a 6-2 vote, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. The meeting then adjourned after members recorded their votes on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Block, if you would please, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry, I was running.
• Good to see you, John Block, State Rep from House District 51 in beautiful Alamogordo.
• Thank you, Representative Block. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Chair, Representative Block, we could look at just the charter piece. just the charter piece.
• Okay, so page 6, the second to the last block of text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we would support a student support block grant.
• We would also encourage support for a block grant because of what's been happening since January and
• I would also love to see the discretionary block grant for the community colleges. Thank you.
• I also want to submit a budget letter request for a one-time student support block grant to be used for
• To create a block grant to support basic needs and other support programs would help.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to call up items 2, 3, 4, 18, and 19, and I'll call those up in block.
• I would like to call up in block items 5 through 16.
• And then I will go through items 20 through 40 and call those up in block.
• Does any member wish to have any of these resolutions set aside and not in the block?
• We will take those up in block. Does that conclude your explanation, gentlemen? >> Yes, sir.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 25 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer led by Pastor Darren Leech, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. After confirming a quorum, the chamber dispensed with reading the journal and handled routine introductions. Members welcomed several guests in the galleries, including Mick Bulock of NCSL and multiple youth and community groups. The House also recognized Pastor Leech’s remarks about public service and stewardship. A series of congratulatory resolutions were taken up and adopted, many by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. These included resolutions honoring Derek Hall for winning Super Bowl 60 with the Seattle Seahawks, the Columbia Academy Lady Cougars cross country and softball teams for state championships, and other special recognitions. The House also adopted STR 536 and several additional resolutions from the rules calendar, with votes reported at 118 yeas, 0 nays on multiple items. On the conference calendar, the House concurred in House Bill 1150, which merged the engineers and surveying boards, added an exception so title attorneys were not affected, and changed board member terms from six years to four years. The concurrence motion passed 122 yeas, 0 nays. The House also adopted a conference report on item 60 related to state security operations center language, removing a reverse repealer, by a vote of 117 yeas, 0 nays. Later, members continued introducing guests and honoring school groups, including the Winston Academy football team for its state championship, the Jeff Davis County Mayor’s Youth Council, Columbus High School’s boys basketball team and Mr. Basketball honoree Michael Hood Jr., Heritage Christian Academy, and Mississippi State basketball player Josh Huard, who was recognized for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Award. The House then adjourned until 10:00 a.m. the next day, with the journal left open until the last conference report is filed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The allocation includes both state general revenue and federal funding in the form of the block grants
• Thank you for that question. >> There was some we had supplemental block.
• So the intention of >> some of that supplemental block Grant funding was to support services that were
• Actually gets into one the intricacies of actual block grant funding.
• So before that, that brief supplemental block grant funding in ARPA funding, we were actually able to

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, we will, we will, we, OK, so, OK, so we will start with Senator Block and work our way this way and
• OK, Representative Block. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you guys.
• So what are some of the needs and gaps again, and, uh, Representative Block, you had brought this up
• Representative block. Ceno Lopez. Cakes.
• OK, we'll start with Representative Block, Senator Cedillo Lopez, and then Representative Gates.

Transcript Highlights:

• ANY OF THE 127 APPOINTEES LISTED ON THE BLOCK TAKEN UP SEPARATELY IN THE VOTE.
• THAT IS WHERE THE APPOINTEES ARE LISTED IN BLOCKS. YOU CAN SEE THE NAMES LISTED THERE.
• ARE THERE ANY APPEARANCE FORMS ON ANY OF THE NOMINEES WHO ARE ON BLOCKS? MR.
• BILL SNYDER ARE YOU SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST ANY OF THE APPOINTEES WERE LISTED ON THE BLOCK?
• ASK AGAIN, ALL THEY ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LISTED ON BLOCK

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an<00:14:55.640> investigation<00:14:57.000> um<00:14:57.400> and try and block
• an investigation um and try and block an investigation um and protect<00:14:58.000> those<00:
• see an effort to administration do we see an effort to try<00:15:38.120> and<00:15:38.320> block
• <00:15:39.200> our<00:15:39.360> BCA<00:15:39.880> from try and block our BCA
• from try and block our BCA from participating.<00:15:40.800> It<00:15:40.920> feels<00

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: A Senate DFL leader discussed the upcoming supplemental budget and said nearly half of it is being shaped by the federal budget bill passed last July, which he argued is driving hospital distress, higher county costs, and pressure on family budgets. He said the budget will focus on affordability, health care, and responding to federal actions, including an uncompensated care fund for hospitals in distress and possible one-time county technology upgrades to handle new Medicaid-related requirements. He estimated Senator Wiklund’s health and human services proposal includes about $50 million for those upgrades and said that item would likely be handled in an appropriation bill rather than a bonding bill. The leader also said bonding is a top priority this year and that public asset maintenance remains important, including projects tied to sports and civic facilities. On HCMC and broader hospital funding, he said he is confident the Legislature will act, but wants to address the hospital within the context of the statewide hospital delivery system. He also said the Senate has not yet taken a position on a proposed tax related to fraud restitution, but emphasized support for fraud prevention, an independent inspector general, and more resources for the Attorney General. School safety was another major topic. He said Senate Democrats plan to bring a comprehensive package to the floor that includes school safety funding, mental health care, and measures addressing weapons of war, and he expressed hope that some Republicans will support it. He said the Senate education finance bill already includes more school safety funding than the House GOP version, less funding for private school safety, and no weapons-of-war language, but that a broader package will come through the Finance Committee soon. He also said the Senate expects to take up a stand-alone building security package to cover ongoing screening and staffing costs, and he supported creating a special security response unit for threats against lawmakers. Other issues mentioned included support for banning NDAs for local governments, continued attention to public safety and accountability in response to federal immigration enforcement actions, and interest in a bill affecting Minneapolis sports-related taxes and PGA funding, though he said those proposals are still being worked on and may not pass this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tell, talk to me about block grants. Uh, Mr.
• Uh, the federal government, the Trump administration has elevated the concept of a block grant.
• Where the money would flow to us in one block of money, no longer through the four equations set up in
• But who ultimately makes the decision on where these grant blocks will be distributed?
• Chairman, Senator is, I think there's different considerations right now around block grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:07:50.639> to<00:07:50.800> the<00:07:50.960> starting<00:07:51.199> blocks
• ,<00:07:51.520> which<00:07:51.759> is to get to the starting blocks, which is to get
• to the starting blocks, which is we've<00:07:52.160> got<00:07:52.240> to<00:07:52.400
• makes a difference until we get the makes a difference until we get the starting<00:08:10.879> blocks
• Yeah, he's uh you starting blocks set.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• made to our derelict vessel grant program that make things easier is this most recent one: our DV block
• Here we have implemented a block grant program where applicants with the most experience in removing
• derelict vessels can apply for a block of funding where they receive that funding in advance and they're
• Again, one of the most recent changes was that block grant program, but we've also made changes over
• Again, one of the most recent changes was that block grant program, but we've also made changes over

Summary: The committee heard three informational presentations. First, Lieutenant Rob Rowe of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discussed derelict vessel removal, explaining the legal definition of derelict and at-risk vessels, the causes of vessel abandonment, and the impact of recent hurricanes on the number of cases. He said FWC has nearly 1,000 active derelict vessel cases, with 576 ready for removal, and described the agency’s use of ARPA funds, grants to local governments, contractor lists, and the V-TIP vessel turn-in program to speed removals and prevent vessels from becoming derelict. Senators asked about how to expedite removals, insurance coverage, due process timelines, and storage challenges; Rowe said the 21-day process is constrained by constitutional due process and that more staffing and prevention funding would help. Next, Stephen Fielder of the Department of Financial Services presented on the My Safe Florida Home program, which provides grants for homeowners to harden homes before storms. He reviewed program eligibility, grant types, reimbursement averages, and performance data, and said the program has received $633 million in appropriations overall. He noted that the program is outsourced to private vendors, has low administrative overhead, and has processed large numbers of inspections and reimbursements. Senators questioned contractor requirements, permits, overhead costs, and whether the program should be brought in-house; Fielder said permits are required before reimbursement, contractor licensing is verified, and the department is considering several administrative clarifications, including townhome roof work, inspection expiration, and whether grants should be limited per person or per home. A retired educator also testified in support of more assistance for homeowners facing insurance problems. Finally, Tom Berger of the Department of Management Services outlined the Florida Facilities Pool and the state’s real estate development and management work. He described the bonded facility program, the state’s 112 managed facilities, lease administration, parking contracts, maintenance operations, and more than $1 billion in active construction projects. He highlighted major projects such as the Emergency Operations Center, Capitol complex upgrades, a new visitor screening center, and facilities for other agencies including veterans’ services, juvenile justice, and the courts. Senators asked about lease terms, appropriation language, vacancy in leased space, and whether the state uses a uniform lease form; Berger said the lease document is standardized and that agencies determine their space needs. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment by motion.

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB 2, SB 3, SB 4, SB 5, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 9, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 14, SB 15, SB 16, SB 17, SB 18, SB 34, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts

Transcript Highlights:

• Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Block. Yes. Blanco. No. Blanco. Mr. Campbell.

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB 2, SB 3, SB 4, SB 5, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 9, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 14, SB 15, SB 16, SB 17, SB 18, SB 34, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB9, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB15, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts

Transcript Highlights:

• TxDOT's current agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the management of state block
• It updates the Texas statute to align with FAA's language and current practices under the state block
• TxDOT's current agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the management of state block
• It updates the Texas statute to align with FAA's language and current practices under the state block

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• that states rely on through block that states rely on through block grants.<03:48:29.439> This
• local DC laws and to repeal or block local DC laws and policies. policies. policies.
• I don't go there blocks from here?
• <06:04:49.440> 800 leadership has blocked over 800 leadership has blocked over 800 amendments.
• They block 98 out of 100 ideas they received. Uh, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hail Jenner and Block and Perkins Coyle<00:48:14.800> continue<00:48:15.440> to<00:48:
• The No Rogue Rulings Act is about stopping unelected judges from blocking a president's entire agenda
• Without this fix, activist judges will keep blocking policies on national security, the economy, and
• <02:43:56.880> nationwide another bill um to block nationwide another bill um to block nationwide
• are using this vote to block are using this vote to block Representative<03:30:51.840> Luna

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:52:20.400> and Parks Department, Adopt a Block, and Parks Department, Adopt a Block,
• say wants to block it. say wants to block it.
• impacts of their big ugly bill and block impacts of their big ugly bill and block Americans<03:28
• , things that they're actually blocking, things that they're actually blocking, like<03:31:37.040
• repeatedly blocked our ability to do so. repeatedly blocked our ability to do so.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does anyone need to pull any of them out of the block? Any of them out of the block.
• Seeing none, can I get a motion on the block of Senate Joint Resolutions before us? So moved.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• control what comes to the floor blocked control what comes to the floor blocked any<00:59:01.040
• Uh, uh, Congresswoman Mace, 76% of her amendments have been blocked.
• Uh, Steube, 79% have been blocked. I go right down the list.
• 71% of his amendments have been blocked. 71% of his amendments have been blocked.
• So I mean just routinely get blocked. So I mean enough<01:03:27.280> enough.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We, uh, I'm trying to get this so it's not blocked off.
• We, uh, I'm trying to get this so it's not blocked off.
• We, uh, I'm trying to get this so it's not blocked off.
• But either way, um you not blocked off.
• seclusion room, you were blocking seclusion room, you were blocking egress.<00:41:06.800> And

Keywords: 1187, senate, all