Transcript Highlights:

• of the entire operating room, including our patients.
• of air we breathe through the removal of this harmful smoke.
• of life to suicide.
• Allen Ackerman, Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. Dr.
• I am chairman of the advocacy committee for the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health Policy met with a quorum and heard five bills. SB 126, on prescription hearing aids, would remove Florida’s prohibition on mailing hearing aids when required tele-audiology testing and procedures are completed before sale. The sponsor said the bill would improve access, especially for people with travel or geographic barriers. The Florida Academy of Audiologists expressed support in concept but said it was still working with the sponsor on an amendment for consumer safety. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 152 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems during certain surgical procedures. Supporters, including the Florida Nurses Association and several nurses, described surgical smoke as a workplace and patient safety hazard containing harmful chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants, and said evacuation technology is available and already required in some settings. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 264 would expand step-therapy exemptions for severe mental illness, including certain postpartum and pregnancy-related mental health conditions, so physicians would not have to require patients to fail preferred drugs in specified circumstances. Support came from Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, NAMI Florida, and several medical and pharmacy groups, who argued that delays in effective treatment can worsen crises and increase hospital and crisis-care costs. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 342 would create a public-records exemption for current and former AHCA employees and certain family information, citing threats and harassment directed at inspectors and regulators. President Gaetz said he generally opposes such exemptions but supported this one because the employees are not elected officials and face real safety risks. The committee voted the bill favorably. SB 294 would limit the Board of Pharmacy’s ability to add heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac rhythm disorders to the list of chronic conditions eligible for collaborative pharmacy practice, keeping those conditions under direct physician management. The Florida Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, Florida Medical Association, and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology supported the bill, while the Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists opposed it. The committee voted the bill favorably. Senator Trumbull asked to be recorded in support of SB 126 and SB 152, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• those beds and some of those operations.
• The Senate will stand in recess until the hour of 6:40.
• of this law, ordinance or bylaw, or any rule or regulation aboard, enter at any reasonable hour any
• And they refer to the statute that's at play in that case and say the statute informs the operator of
• James Otis spent five hours arguing against the writs of assistance, arguing against provisions that

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of a special<01:17:23.840><c> operations</c><01:17:24.480><c> group</c><01:17:25.280><c> in</c><01:17
• 14,600 hours of lawyer work on this case. that's that's where you are now, trying that's that's where
• c> anyone</c> how many hours of attorney's fees anyone how many hours of attorney's fees anyone want<
• </c> investigator hours were 1,00 1,000 hours investigator hours were 1,00 1,000 hours of<01:30:58.800
• of hours with the mitigation specialist in the case that I was involved in.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• those beds and some of those operations.
• those beds and some of those operations.
• The Senate will stand in recess until the hour of 6:40.
• of this law, ordinance or bylaw, or any rule or regulation aboard, enter at any reasonable hour any
• James Otis spent five hours arguing against the writs of assistance, arguing against provisions that

Summary: The Senate considered a broad environmental bond bill with amendments touching climate resilience, coastal infrastructure, housing, plastics, wildlife protection, and public health. Early in the debate, Senator Keenan withdrew an amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program, explaining that the program had been enacted without funding and that he hoped to secure money through the budget process instead. The Senate then adopted his amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packaging. The chamber also debated and rejected a Republican amendment to remove the paper bag fee; supporters argued the 10-cent charge would burden working families, while opponents said it was a necessary environmental measure. The amendment failed on a standing vote, 5-10. Several environmental and coastal amendments were adopted, including measures on ocean acidification and nutrient pollution, a statewide carbon sequestration goal that includes salt marshes and seagrasses, a study of banning polystyrene, restrictions on rodenticides with local control and emergency-use exceptions, and indoor air quality improvements. Senators also approved amendments to create a Massachusetts Climate Bank, establish a trust fund and on-site housing for the Manuel F. Corrella State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard, increase the Douglas State Forest entry fee from $1 to $2, and clarify procedures and oversight for housing priority projects. Some proposals were withdrawn, including a special commission on resilient urban coasts and a conservation commission proposal, while others were rejected, including a local-priority housing confirmation amendment and a warrantless-entry amendment that raised Fourth Amendment concerns. The Senate also adopted a series of coastal resilience and permitting amendments, including streamlined permitting for urban coastal projects, a pilot for nature-based solutions, dredging and sand placement in general permits, and a Salisbury Beach trust fund clarification. A New Bedford state pier redevelopment amendment and a harbor protection amendment were adopted, as were amendments related to public and private water utility reporting and equitable representation. The session concluded with notice that only two amendments remained before a roll call, followed by an adjournment in memory of James A. Jim Sheets, former Quincy mayor and educator.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of just a hand, a For three years we operated under a member-driven budget.
• They explained it to us, and in a short period of time, we created four courses, four credit hours, one
• rules for the operation of the entire 57th Legislature...
• The Senate adopted rules for the operation of the entire 57th Legislature.
• Who came all the way down here from LD 30, a four-hour drive, every single one of them.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened for opening day of the second regular session of the 57th Legislature with ceremonial prayers, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. Senate President Warren Petersen gave a farewell-style address highlighting his efforts to shift power toward members and committee chairs, preserve conservative policies, and deliver annual tax cuts, including a projected $1 billion cut this year. The chamber then recessed for an opening-day speech by Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller, who spoke about Arizona’s labor-force needs, workforce training, and GCU’s role in expanding access to education and middle-class jobs, including apprenticeships and technical programs tied to local employers. After returning to order, the Senate adopted its organizational rules for the session, including suspending rules so bills and resolutions could be read by number and short title only on first and second reading and by number and title only on third and final reading. Members also approved a motion to notify the House and Governor that the Senate was organized and ready for business, and the House later reported that it was likewise organized. The chamber then adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced committee assignments for standing and statutory committees, including Appropriations, Education, Finance, Government, Military Affairs and Border Security, Natural Resources, Rules, Legislative Council, Legislative Audit, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The remainder of the session focused on points of personal privilege, with senators introducing family members, constituents, local officials, school leaders, law enforcement officers, tribal leaders, and advocacy guests. Several members used the occasion to emphasize issues they expect to work on this session, including education, public safety, housing, water, early childhood services, veterans, border security, and workforce development. The Senate also received a motion to request House consent for an adjournment schedule, and the body adjourned until Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. after announcing upcoming committee meetings and the first batch of bill introductions and references.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sustain them in the long hours of hearings and committees and deliberation, and give them time to breathe
• One of the reasons for that is because we know that cooperative extension services, which operate under
• One of the reasons of that is because we know that cooperative extension services, which operate under
• of the Eastern Plains Council of Governments.
• Some of our local governments and the spending of our capital out of lay mispresident.

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered an invocation and pledges, and then spent much of the session on ceremonial recognitions and guest introductions. Certificates and remarks highlighted the 30th anniversary of 529 education savings plans and 4-H Day, with senators praising 529 plans as a family education-savings tool and 4-H as a major youth leadership program in all 33 counties. Members also recognized Scouts in America, including Michaela Kern as the first female Eagle Scout from Eddy County, and heard additional presentations tied to New Mexico State University, the College Assistance Migrant Program, and regional councils of government. Several senators used the floor to introduce students and community members from across the state, especially 4-H participants, NMSU CAMP students, and local youth leadership groups. Comments emphasized agriculture, leadership development, public service, and the importance of volunteer support. One senator also raised concerns about a prior Indian Day incident involving the Navajo Nation being placed at the back for the pledge, urging better decorum and respect in the chamber. The Senate then processed a governor’s message authorizing Senate Bill 149 for consideration and adopted multiple committee reports moving bills and memorials through the process, including measures referred to education, health and public affairs, tax/business/transportation, rules, finance, and judiciary committees. The body also introduced Senate Memorials 24 and 25 and Senate Joint Memorial 4. A call of the Senate was ordered after objection to moving to third reading, and the sergeant-at-arms reported Senators Sanchez and Tobiassen missing; the chamber remained under call while other business continued. The session ended with committee schedule announcements and a recess until noon the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Approval of this request is vital to ensure the continued operation of state correctional facilities
• Is vital to ensure the continued operation of state correctional facilities and to maintain the critical
• The passage of this bill as a standalone will ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of our
• about $2 an hour, the ability to pay for these phone calls, the cost of confinement, and any restitution
• to go down and sit down to listen to a couple of hours of jail phone calls, that might change your mind

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is one indication of it, or an example of this, was in 2001.
• Most of the largest depositors, account and a separate account from their operating account.
• I'm the CEO of Community Legal Services, one of the recipients of IOTA funds. Okay.
• This amendment just further clarifies that it applies to each phase of the TNC operations.
• Regardless of how much insurance they have—billions and billions and billions of dollars of assets—and

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee heard several bills and amendments, beginning with CS/SB 498 on trust fund interest for IOTA accounts. The sponsor said a 2023 Florida Supreme Court rule sharply increased interest paid into legal aid funding, creating a windfall and making participation difficult for banks. An amendment was adopted requiring savings institutions to pay the higher of 0.25% or the highest comparable rate offered on certain non-IOTA accounts, and the bill then passed favorably after testimony from banks, legal aid representatives, and other stakeholders both supporting and opposing the measure. The committee also approved CS/SB 232, which clarifies Florida’s consumer collection law applies only to phone calls during restricted hours and not emails or text messages, after a delete-all amendment and supportive testimony from industry groups. It then approved SB 132, as amended, to designate gold and silver as legal tender and set rules for custody, audits, electronic transfer, and government acceptance of payments; supporters called it a sound-money measure, while the banking association said it still had unresolved technical concerns. Later, the committee passed SB 1466 to create a trust fund for the My Safe Florida Home Program, with an amendment funding it from 20% of collected insurance premium tax revenue. It also considered SB 1206 on transportation network company insurance, reducing coverage during the “dead-leg” period before a rider is picked up from $1 million to lower limits; the bill drew sharp opposition from trial lawyers and support from insurers and some business groups, and the committee adopted a clarifying amendment before reporting the bill favorably. Finally, CS/SB 924 on fertility preservation for cancer patients was amended several times to narrow scope and clarify coverage rules, then passed favorably after debate over cost, preauthorization, and post-treatment storage obligations. The committee adjourned after allowing technical and conforming changes to implement the adopted amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any person operating within this restricted airspace will be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined $2,000
• My name is Chad Page and I serve as Chief of Institutions and Operations for the Idaho Department of
• This issue is about the safety of our staff, of those in our custody, and of Idaho communities.
• You can also detect the location of the operator and the drone and the controller, the launch location
• Detected location of the operator and the drone and the controller, the launch location.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE OVER 12,000 MILES OF STATE ROAD IN FLORIDA AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST WELL MAINTAINED MILES
• ON TOP OF THIS THE OPERATING BUDGET COMPARED TO THE OVERALL BUDGET HAS REMAINED CONSTANT OVER THE LAST
• A COUPLE OF RECENT EXAMPLES ARE CHANGING THE SEQUENCE OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PHASES LIKE THE SUGGESTION
• OF LANES ON I FOUR.
• IS IT A PEEK HOUR DRIVE?

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh just as a matter of business, I don't know if you've been watching how we've been operating.
• And uh just as a matter of business, I don't know if you've been watching how we've been operating.
• the statewide CAMA system to be operating 24 hours a day, um, as a fiscal point.
• the statewide CAMA system to be operating 24 hours a day, um, as a fiscal point.
• operates a little differently than the operates a little differently than the rest<03:25:34.640><c> of

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It could still potentially encompass some of the task force operations that our officers are a part of
• Boards of supervisors are required to fund the day-to-day operations of county jails, and counties pay
• operation of county jails.
• Boards of supervisors cannot pass operational policies that apply to the jail.
• the operation of the county jails to the board.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and heard several bills in subcommittee format. AB 1546, which would increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders by allowing a third DUI within 10 years to be charged as a wobbler, requiring a fifth DUI to be a felony, and lengthening ignition interlock and license revocation periods, drew strong support from law enforcement and district attorney groups and opposition from public defenders and reform advocates who argued the bill would further criminalize substance use and mental health issues. No vote was taken because there was no quorum at the time. AB 1595, aimed at standardizing post-conviction procedures for wrongful conviction claims and clarifying courts’ authority to consider new evidence, was supported by innocence and public defender organizations and opposed by district attorneys, who said existing habeas law is already clear and that the bill would add complexity and burden courts. AB 292, which would impose mandatory jail time for repeat felony domestic violence offenders within seven years, was supported by sheriffs, prosecutors, probation officers, and local governments, but opposed by domestic violence survivor advocates and public defender groups who warned it would not deter abuse and could criminalize survivors and divert resources from services. AB 1816, allowing courts to extend probation up to one additional year for sex offenders who have not completed required treatment, drew support from probation and law enforcement groups and opposition from public defenders and civil liberties advocates concerned about longer supervision, technical violations, and barriers such as poverty and treatment access; the committee later took a roll call and passed the bill 3-1, with one member not voting, sending it to Appropriations. After quorum was established, the committee also passed AB 1627, which would bar people with misconduct in immigration enforcement from becoming California peace officers, and AB 1927, which would create a misdemeanor for falsely impersonating a bail agent to solicit bail, both on due pass motions to Judiciary/Appropriations as amended. AB 1854, a shield-law measure expanding protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care providers, patients, and related businesses from out-of-state legal process, was supported by the Attorney General’s office and reproductive rights groups and opposed by anti-abortion and family policy organizations; it was moved on a due pass motion to Judiciary. The committee then heard AB 1872, which would make repeat adult swatting offenses a felony/wobbler and require restitution for property damage, with support from law enforcement, prosecutors, and civil liberties advocates and opposition from public defenders and justice reform groups who argued the bill would not deter conduct and could disproportionately affect people with mental illness or undocumented status. A motion to advance AB 1872 was made, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the CEO of Natal Black Cultivation, which is the first black-owned, operated medical cannabis cultivation
• I'm here on behalf of CRC of Alabama.
• I'm also one of the top cannabis experts in the country, having operated and worked in research facilities
• of work into this.
• Because they put countless hours of work into this process to get to this point, it's not to bring in

Bills: SB185 , SB194 , SB72

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: veterinary medicine, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, prescription refills, animal care, regulatory compliance, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, medical cannabis, cannabis license, integrated facility license, Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, medical marijuana, dispensary, cultivation, processing, license appeal

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to provide you all with a brief outline of how I'd like to proceed over the next two hours.
• of that we've done and some of our plans for the future.
• We employ 16,000 people at the Department of Health, and we have an operating budget of approximately
• They get $17 per hour, $15 goes to the health care worker, and they are left with just $2 for the operation
• It's a short course, 40 hours, maybe even less than that. ...and then it's offered in the language of

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care. Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services. The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We restricted her use of social media to one hour a day, not realizing that these restrictions were broken
• Right now, it's about 120 hours of setup required of a parent, between initial setup and setting up every
• single... ...hours of setup required of a parent, between initial setup and setting up every single
• Did you say 120 hours? 120 hours a year. Yeah.
• of you.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a 15-year veteran of law enforcement, when seconds count, cops were minutes to an hour away.
• The boat was being operated by one of the other girls.
• Statistics show 80 percent of operators in fatal boating accidents had no formal boater education.
• In 75 percent of Andy Fernandez: those cases, operators were older than 36 years old, a group currently
• David Marco Junior: One third of your rural hospitals in the state are operating at a negative margin

Transcript Highlights:

• the program, spending countless hours mentoring and inspiring generations of pages who will long remember
• of the State of Minnesota.
• Without real oversight Of the rules, we are in a state of spiral out of control.
• The department oversees the financial operation of grain buying.
• It's because of this anachronistic relic where we skip ahead an hour of time in the spring, and we fall

Transcript Highlights:

• We have no anticipation of taking, you know, more than 24 hours at most, I would think, to be able to
• takes all of that off of you at that point and... ...them.
• You know, it kind of takes all of that off of you at that point and at least puts the committee process
• I think within, like, the first two hours I got a burst pipe in the middle of summer, and then we had
• the first reflection of the success of that work.

Committee: All ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Finance, and Mr.
• We have no anticipation of taking, you know, more than 24 hours at most, I would think, to be able to
• If not, all those in favor of approval of review of items eight and nine on these rules, let it be known
• It is on a contingency fee structure of 20% of any claim recovery obtained pre-suit and 25% of any recovery
• And this is kind of the first reflection of the success of that work. Thank you, Mr. Wallace.

Committee: All ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee met on June 17 and reviewed a series of Employee Benefits Division and Office of Property Risk items. Grant Wallace presented March and April formulary changes, explaining that the updates favored lower-cost generics, re-tiered some drugs, left several new-to-market drugs uncovered pending more evidence, and added quantity limits in some cases. The committee approved those formulary recommendations. The subcommittee also approved a cell and gene therapy policy that would exclude automatic coverage of those therapies and route them through prior authorization and review, with members noting the process should not delay urgent cases and that appeals remain available. Members then discussed a UAMS professional consultant services contract amendment for pharmacy benefit consulting. The discussion focused on confusion over the dollar amount and scope, with Wallace clarifying that the committee was being asked to approve up to $2.596 million, including optional services related to coupon and rebate management that could be used later without returning for another approval. Several members raised concerns about matching the written contract to the approval amount and about the relationship to the current pharmacy benefit manager, but the committee ultimately approved the item with the understanding that any use of the optional services would return to the committee. The committee also reviewed, without objection, a Blue Cross/Blue Advantage third-party administrator contract, a CompSack employee assistance program contract, and approved proposed 2027 employee and public school health plan rates of 9.8% and 4.9% increases, respectively. Wallace also said the UnitedHealthcare rebid was in final negotiation and would return in August. On the property risk side, the committee reviewed permanent rules for the property insurance program, a contingency-fee subrogation contract with Denenberg-Tuffly, and extensions for Sedgwick Claims Management, Actuarial Advantage, and Stevens Capital Management. Members asked about claim-adjustment delays after a major winter storm, and Wallace said performance guarantees and communication requirements had been added, with claims still expected to vary by case. The committee also approved 2026-27 captive insurance program rates, which included no change to minimum deductibles, lower rates for K-12 and higher education, a higher rate for state agencies, and an overall 10% reduction. Wallace said the reductions reflected improved actuarial foundations, better claims management, and the program’s first-year performance. The meeting adjourned after approving the rate item.

Transcript Highlights:

• thousands of federal workers. on behalf of AFSCME.
• that transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans and tens of millions of Californians
• We also operate a significantly large conference center at our campus in Riverside, and all of our food
• They handle all of the catering for events that are held there, as well as operating a cafe that serves
• We operate quite a few... ...provider of early education services in the county.

Summary: The committee heard several labor and employment measures. AB 465 would require local public employers, at a union’s request, to negotiate minimum disciplinary and grievance procedures in MOUs, including progressive discipline, just-cause protections, grievance appeal rights, and paid release time for representatives. Supporters, including AFSCME and SEIU, said it would create fairer and more consistent due process protections for local government workers; opponents from county and city groups argued it would impose binding arbitration and rigid discipline rules that could undermine local flexibility and accountability. The bill passed on a 5-0 vote and was re-referred to Appropriations. AB 792 would allow court interpreter bargaining to be consolidated when multiple regions are negotiating at the same time. The author and the California Federation of Interpreters said the change would reduce repeated bargaining, improve efficiency, and help address interpreter recruitment and retention. There was no opposition, but some members questioned whether the proposal would really solve wage and staffing problems; the bill passed 5-0 and was placed on hold. AB 1309, which would improve Cal Fire firefighter compensation by tying salaries more closely to comparable local fire departments, drew strong support from firefighters and no opposition. Members praised Cal Fire’s work and the bill passed 7-0 and was held for add-ons. The committee also approved AJR 8, a resolution urging protection of Social Security and opposing federal cuts or office closures. Supporters said Social Security is essential to seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and children, and warned that reductions would increase poverty and homelessness. One member objected to naming political figures in the resolution, but the measure still passed 7-0 and was held. AB 1247, which would require contracted-out school classified workers to meet the same training and qualification standards as direct hires and address related retirement contributions, passed 5-2 despite opposition from county superintendents and school administrators who said it would add costs and limit contracting flexibility. Finally, AB 288, which would authorize PERB to act when the NLRB fails to remedy labor claims by a deadline, passed 6-0 with strong union support and no opposition.