Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think the intention was for us to go into that direction.
• In direct... Party, Donald Trump's Republican Party, in direct violation of Florida's Constitution.
• They don't care what happened in California. They don't care what happened.
• They don't care what happened in California. They don't care what happened in Virginia.
• And I don't care if you're going to like me after I said.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D, later substituted with House Bill 1D, both establishing Florida’s congressional districts. The sponsor, Senator Gates, explained that the Governor had transmitted a proposed redistricting plan on short notice and argued that mid-decade congressional redistricting is legally permissible, citing population growth and the Governor’s view that race-based provisions in the Fair Districts Amendment are unconstitutional. He repeatedly said the Legislature was not being asked to prove the Governor’s legal theory, only to consider the proposal, and noted that no amendments were offered. A lengthy question-and-answer period followed, with senators raising concerns about the rushed process, lack of statewide public hearings, and the map’s effects on minority communities, compactness, communities of interest, and partisan fairness. Senators questioned whether the map cracked Latino and Black communities, whether partisan data was used, whether the Governor’s office had outside consultants, and whether the plan complied with the Florida Constitution, the Fair Districts Amendment, and the Voting Rights Act. Gates generally deferred on legal conclusions, said the Governor’s representatives had testified the map was race-neutral and used political data only as one factor, and emphasized that any constitutional challenge would be for the courts. After a motion to temporarily postpone failed by a recorded vote of 12 yeas to 23 nays, the Senate continued debate. Senators Rouson, Bernard, and others spoke in opposition, arguing the proposal was rushed, partisan, and harmful to communities of interest and minority voting power. Gates maintained that the Governor had a constitutional prerogative to propose the map and that the Legislature could accept, reject, or amend it. The House companion bill was then substituted for the Senate bill, read a third time, and the chamber moved into final debate on the congressional redistricting plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I'm directed to inform the House that the Senate.
• It also renames the Enhanced 9-1-1 fund as the 9-1-1 Emergency Service Fund and renames the Enhanced
• Senate Bill 199, having been read twice by title, is referred to the House Health and Human Services
• An interstate, a state highway, rail service, or airport service gives you the opportunity to start looking
• Members, I'll direct your attention to the screen for some cute baby pictures.

Transcript Highlights:

• sincere gratitude for a lifetime of exemplary service.
• on dementia care and best practices.
• It's also going to increase access to care for patients.
• I have seen firsthand that when transgender youth have access to appropriate, physician-directed care
• They don't get health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wonder if some of those organizations that provide direct services might get funding from federal grant
• it and determined it could no longer be serviced and had to be replaced. ...from Montana to try to service
• Be careful how you say that.
• services, those kinds of things?
• So we isolate those, and the victim service unit comes in and takes care of the victim, the medical,

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• About the Retiree Health Care Act in 1990, as you know, the legislature passed the Retiree Health Care
• Again, the purpose of the retiree health care We have a motto at retiree health care: "The New Mexico
• Again, the purpose for the Retiree Health Care Act and providing those services.
• These contributions support the retiree health care fund and help us to provide those services for our
• under the original 1990 Health Care Act, which required just five years of service at that time.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, under current law, insurance companies can preapprove service and pay in advance and have
• SB 944 would simply correct that oversight and put our health care providers back on the same page.
• SB 944 would simply correct that oversight and put our health care providers back on the same page.
• just said... ...in the right direction.
• SB 282, Home and Service Warranty Association Financial Requirements.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including state championship athletic teams, visiting chambers of commerce, apprentices, students, and other guests. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading calendar and special order calendar, with no committee reports or executive messages on the desk. A moment of silence was held for Walton County Deputy William Will May, who died in the line of duty. Among the major bills passed was SB 234, which strengthens restrictions on resisting law enforcement officers and increases penalties related to manslaughter of an officer; an amendment clarifying “good faith” in an officer’s duties was adopted, and the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed SB 7020 on open government review of certain cybersecurity information, SM 1488 urging Congress to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, SB 944 reducing the overpayment claim period for insurers/HMOs seeking reimbursement from licensed psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, SB 878 extending probation treatment options for misdemeanor offenses involving controlled substances, SB 538 updating the state court system, SB 480 expanding nonprofit agricultural medical benefit plans, SB 472 giving correctional education credit toward professional licensure, SB 86/House companion 421 expanding peer support for first responders to include support personnel, SB 164 on vessel accountability, SB 282 on warranty association financial requirements, SB 316 creating Series LLC rules, and SB 384 requiring notice to legislative delegations before municipal annexation of state-owned lands. The most debated measure was CS/CS/SB 56 on geoengineering and weather modification, which Garcia said would prohibit unauthorized atmospheric interventions, create reporting and enforcement mechanisms through DEP, and impose felony penalties; Polsky questioned the bill’s practicality, federal preemption issues, and agency capacity, while supporters said it would address public concerns and close loopholes. The Senate also passed CS/SB 166 on public school administrative efficiency after adopting several amendments affecting school purchasing timelines, third-grade retention exemptions, teacher contracts, certification, facilities planning, and an OPPAGA study of cost-per-student-station limits; senators debated testing, teacher evaluations, and school accountability. At the end of the day, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify all passed bills to the House, received budget process guidance from Appropriations Chair Hooper on SB 2500 and SB 2502 amendment deadlines, and then adjourned until April 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have some serious budgets to take care of.
• We still have some serious budgets to take care of.
• The program provides direct support dollars to help participants overcome barriers.
• who may not otherwise receive any services and would be ineligible for unemployment benefits.
• </c> are very diligent they're very careful are very diligent they're very careful with<01:00:59.200>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> way to fund basic services. way to fund basic services.
• welfare services.
• The cost of actually funding the services that get to the people that provide the medical care, the substance
• The cost of actually funding the services that get to the people that provide the medical care, the substance
• The cost of taking care of people who need care doesn't go away.

Bills: HF3396

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Adult and 12 percent, I believe, is dedicated to the youth services.
• So instead of DOCR fully staffing those, it's going to be a combination of contracting services and also
• The goal is to deflect at-risk populations to treatment and behavioral health services before a crisis
• Section 6 is this $5 million from the community health health care.
• New England facility if that contract would get taken care of.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee reconvened in the afternoon and took up only Senate Bill 2015, the Department of Corrections budget. Representative Steeman explained that the budget reflected major changes from the Senate version because bed contracts with Grand Forks and Burleigh-Morton were still unresolved when the Senate acted. He described rising inmate populations, added county/regional jail payments, deferred maintenance and repair funding, planning money for a new Missouri River Correctional Center, software and equipment upgrades, victims of crime grants, and a one-time diversion/deflection center grant for Fargo funded through the Community Health Trust Fund. He also outlined funding for body cameras, tasers, and protective vests, and a Native American reentry program/report provision, along with a legislative management study on sentencing, corrections, and parole oversight. Members asked about the possibility of private or design-build alternatives for the new Missouri River Correctional Center. After discussion, the committee adopted language directing the steering committee to oversee design and construction and to explore other options. There was also discussion of the importance of maintaining North Dakota’s correctional rehabilitation culture, the cost and availability of out-of-state placements, and the current number of inmates housed in regional, county, and interstate facilities. The committee adopted the amendment to engrossed Senate Bill 2015 and then approved the bill as amended on a 21-0 vote, with two members absent and not voting. Representative Steeman was designated as the carrier. The chair then thanked members for their work and announced the committee would reconvene the next morning to continue with remaining bills and budget work before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT'S WHAT DROVE US TO PRIVATIZING FOOD SERVICE.
• TO TAKE CARE OF MY STAFF.
• WE DO A GREAT JOB TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDS AND THAT IS HOW WE LOOK AT THEM. THEY ARE OUR KIDS.
• SO WE ARE ASKING OUR STAFF TO BE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF THEM.
• SO WE CAN CARE FOR THEM. THE SECOND IS TO ADD BEDS.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what do you see as successful services?
• Detention is a population-based service.
• Detention is a population-based service.
• providing care.
• So our care is increasing, the quality of care is increasing, and we think part of that has to do with

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Summary: The committee held a work session on juvenile rehabilitation capacity, services, staffing, and related county and early learning issues. DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redmond described Green Hill School, Echo Glen, Harbor Heights, community facilities, and community transition services, emphasizing that JR is operating above safe capacity, that long adult sentences and limited placement options are driving overcrowding, and that staffing, programming space, contraband control, and safety are all affected. She said Harbor Heights has opened as a short-term step-down facility, a new behavior management system has reduced law-enforcement referrals and use-of-force incidents, and staffing and injuries have improved somewhat, though Green Hill remains well above its safe operating capacity. Members asked about success metrics, developmental disabilities, mental health needs, college access at Echo Glen, future capacity planning, and a proposed mental health facility; Redmond said JR is seeking additional resources and is reviewing broader capacity options, including Mission Creek. The committee then heard from Team Child and youth advocate Gisela Gonzalez about the youth perspective. They argued that success should be measured by access to education, mental health care, family connection, safety, and community reintegration, not just confinement. They said community transition services and community facilities are underused, criticized sentence extensions and new criminal referrals from JR to Lewis County, and raised concerns about limited phone and visitation access, delayed or inadequate mental health treatment, lack of college opportunities for young women at Echo Glen, and the treatment of youth with disabilities. Gonzalez described her own experiences in county and state facilities, saying she felt mistreated, undereducated, and unable to access therapy without first reporting suicidal ideation. Members asked follow-up questions about telehealth, county-versus-state services, and educational access. The final major presentation came from juvenile court administrators Christine Simon Smeyer and Judge Rachel Anderson on county-level juvenile court services. They outlined the juvenile court continuum from prevention and truancy work through diversion, detention, and community supervision, stressing that courts aim to keep youth out of detention whenever possible and use evidence-based, trauma-informed, and restorative practices. Clark County was used as an example of a court with restorative justice programming, school partnerships, behavioral health probation, detention alternatives, and specialized supports such as a psychologist, educational advocates, and family-centered services. They also discussed funding, saying county juvenile court services are heavily dependent on local dollars, with state support averaging about 21 percent across courts, and warned that recent cuts to early intervention funding reduced staffing and services even though the need remained. Members asked about detention for status offenses, supports for youth with developmental disabilities, and restorative justice practices. The meeting concluded with DCYF Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Head Start/ECAP representative Katie Warren discussing early learning and child care. Rose said Fair Start for Kids Act investments increased child care access, provider participation, and kindergarten readiness, but recent budget reductions will raise co-pays for many families, delay eligibility expansions, reduce ECAP slots, eliminate some provider supports, and cut infant and early childhood mental health consultation capacity. Warren said ECAP remains an important two-generation anti-poverty and workforce-support program, but providers are seeing children and families with greater needs and more complex challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your service to our team, the House, and most importantly, thank you for your service to
• </c> faithful service. faithful service.
• </c> technology and services supply chain. technology and services supply chain.
• </c> Services. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker. Services. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker.
• </c> services because of seniority. services because of seniority.

Bills: HB2853 , HB2071 , HR1259 , HB8352 , HB2267 , HR1252 , HR1251 , HB4478 , HB3709 , HB4437

Keywords: organized retail crime, retail theft, cargo theft, supply chain crime, shoplifting, organized theft groups, cargo diversion, stolen goods, fencing, online marketplace, e-commerce, gift cards, prepaid cards, money laundering, Homeland Security Investigations, HSI, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, interstate theft, transnational crime

Transcript Highlights:

• As an amendment, since it has to do with sewage and septage, to the managed care cleanup bill that you
• The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to no longer issue or reissue permits for
• The bill also provides an avenue of protection for our veteran service organizations by allowing them
• This amendment prohibits a money service business from avoiding disciplinary...
• Josh Alba Shan, American Financial Services Association, waiving in support. Thank you, sir.

Bills: S0204 , S0540 , S0772 , S1294 , S1474 , S1504 , S1708

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:

• But what this does, what SB 872 does, What SB 872 does is direct $150 million a year to fix the subsidence
• They provide the critical infrastructure for everything from financial services in health care to advanced
• Data centers provide the critical infrastructure for everything from financial services in health care
• for health, knowing that we're also stripping away some of the health care affordability in the state
• I think we could do more in that direction, especially... ...and elsewhere.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 3,000 people traveled to attend his service.
• Over 3,000 people traveled to attend his service.
• They remind us that public service is not just about policy.
• that supports healthy aging and preventative care.
• This bill also directs the CPUC to create clear timelines for IOUs to process utility service connection

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest and retirement recognitions, including tributes to long-serving Assembly staff Liz Foster and Teresa Trujillo. Members also made procedural motions, including placing SB 546 on the inactive file, re-referring SB 716 to the Local Government Committee, and rescinding prior actions on SB 1344 and SB 1273 to return them to the third reading file. The body then took up a long series of concurrence and third-reading items, with most measures passing overwhelmingly. Among the bills discussed were AB 442 on working forest management plans, AB 2042 on civil actions, AB 1145 on vehicles, ACR 162 honoring Congressman Doug LaMalfa, AJR 17 on immigration registry renewal, SB 941 limiting commissary markups in private detention facilities, SB 1306 on controlled substances and semiconductor manufacturing, SB 1169 extending tentative map validity, SB 1211 on conviction integrity units, SB 971 on older adult education, SB 1193 on Alameda County discretionary funds, SB 1115 on public cemetery district trustee removal, SB 1187 removing language-access provisions from a Brown Act transparency measure, SB 505 on money transmitter security, SB 799 on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, SB 994 banning NDAs for local officials and staff, SB 1405 on unclaimed retirement distributions, SB 881 extending food-bank-related tax incentives, SJR 18 on campaign finance reform, SB 1307 on forged real estate documents, and SB 1196 on utility hookup timelines. Most measures were approved with little or no opposition; SJR 18 passed 43-14, and several items required urgency or 54-vote thresholds and were adopted. The Assembly also adopted HR 136 designating Home Hardening Week and the consent calendar, including ACR 228. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory presentations for David and Lupe Navarro and Rachel Summers, followed by an announcement that the Assembly would reconvene the next day at 9 a.m. for a floor session recognizing departing members, and the House adjourned until Tuesday, August 18 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks for the important work you do, also for your service to this country and as law enforcement as
• I tell that to any group that's coming and asking about similar direct appropriation.
• Uh, I have a question I'd like to direct.
• So again, Representative Mohler, I understand your concern about direct payment.
• </c> appropriation rather than a direct appropriation rather than a direct appropriation<00:57:12.200

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Um, Lance Nakamura, Development Services Um, Lance Nakamura, Development Services Administration
• </c> would be a dedication to public service would be a dedication to public service with<00:46:50.240
• So, it's not public service already.
• </c><00:50:12.240><c> reform</c> around an overall civil service reform around an overall civil service
• </c> human service. human service. &gt;&gt; Thank<04:01:13.279><c> you.

Transcript Highlights:

• space, but certainly there are impacts beyond health care, which we will hear about.
• funds supporting other services, including counseling, academic support, and basic needs services.
• Without this restoration, services will be significantly impacted, as Ms. Ross just said.
• Without this restoration services will be significantly impacted, as Ms. Ross just said.
• Restoration services will be significantly impacted, as Ms. Ross just said.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what did it for me, just knowing that these people care about Angela Gonzalez and not just
• There are times that small schools has more services than we do in Nahant.
• And for kids like my daughter who require a school nurse at school, that require services at school,
• , or previously in foster care.
• We care very deeply about all kids.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a lengthy hearing on a large slate of bills focused primarily on charter school policy and vocational technical education. Committee members opened with ground rules for testimony, including a two-minute limit, written testimony acceptance, and a live-streamed format. The committee then heard testimony on bills to expand collective bargaining rights in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools, reform charter school funding and reimbursement, allow enrollment preferences for high-need students in charter lotteries, and require BESE to consider district impacts when approving new or expanded charters. Several witnesses, including union leaders, parents, educators, and legislators, argued that charter growth has strained district budgets and that funding formulas should be reworked to better protect public schools; charter advocates and alumni countered that charter schools serve high-need students well and should not be penalized for their success. A major portion of the hearing focused on vocational technical education bills, including proposals to expand access and capacity, create a large grant program, and increase MSBA reimbursement rates for vocational school construction. Supporters described long waitlists, strong labor-market demand, and the higher cost of building and maintaining vocational schools, while municipal officials emphasized the tax burden on local communities. The committee also heard testimony on charter school reimbursement bills that would extend the state’s reimbursement schedule, with witnesses from districts such as Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford describing large net losses to charter tuition and arguing for longer reimbursement periods and structural reform. The committee took no final votes during the hearing. In one instance, the chair said a bill would be held open until a missing senator could testify. Members asked several detailed questions about charter admissions lotteries, special education placements, funding formulas, and the practical effects of proposed charter caps and reimbursement changes. The hearing remained informational, with witnesses and committee members presenting sharply different views on whether the bills would improve equity and opportunity or harm existing public school systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our culture and climate work is centered on connection, communication, and care.
• And so, as services... ...is increased, more staff is needed, etc.
• We have kiddos right now where our funding is based on our levels of service. ...services.
• New strategic plans, new direction.
• I don't have the funds to reach out in these other directions.