Transcript Highlights:

• We are in support of this legislation.
• And I stand in support, and our community Mayor Wayne Messam: Stands in support of this bill.
• Then you Martinez, Americans for Prosperity, waives in support.
• So with that, I ask for your favorable support. Thank you.
• I would ask for your favorable support. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here in strong support of AB 796, the Social Media Accountability Act.
• Anyone in the audience wishing to speak in support of AB 796, please line up.
• Please give me your name, your organization, and this is support only. Mr.
• Chair, Esfan Nunez, on behalf of Parents Anonymous, in support. Thank you.
• Nora Angel is with Children Now, in support. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard two bills. AB 796 by Assembly Member Lowenthal proposed a California Social Media Accountability Act that would impose a recovery fee on social media platforms’ advertising revenue and direct the proceeds to a Social Media Safety Trust Fund for education, mental health care, research, and social services related to youth harms from social media. The author and supporters, including a Long Beach Unified School District administrator and a pediatric emergency physician, argued that social media is contributing to youth mental health crises, cyberbullying, self-harm, and related school and health system costs, and that platforms should help pay for mitigation. Opponents, including taxpayer, business, and industry groups, argued the fee would raise costs for businesses and consumers, especially small businesses that rely on targeted digital ads, and warned of likely legal challenges under federal law, including the Internet Tax Freedom Act. Committee members discussed the bill’s legal distinctions from Maryland’s digital advertising tax, the potential pass-through of costs to advertisers, and whether the proposal would meaningfully address youth harms. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal and concern about social media’s effects on children, while others raised questions about how the revenue would be allocated and whether the tax burden would fall on small businesses. After testimony and debate, AB 796 was held in committee and referred to the suspense file. The committee also took up AB 1265 by Assembly Member Haney, which was already on the suspense file. The chair recommended an aye vote on the bill as amended, with a clarification to reporting requirements, and the committee approved it 5-0, sending it to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Wagner, Florida League of Cities, in support.
• Cameron Fink, Associated Industries of Florida, in support.
• Jennifer Kelly with TechNet waves and support.
• Sam Wagner, Florida League of Cities, waves in support.
• So I hope I can get your favorable support. We'll see.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1183, by Rep. G. Lombardo, as amended by a strike-all. The bill would provide liability protection for local governments and private-sector entities that substantially comply with certain cybersecurity practices, including multi-factor authentication, disaster recovery plans, and related policies and procedures. Rep. Lombardo said the measure is intended to create incentives for better cybersecurity and to limit class-action exposure after incidents, while still allowing suits where negligence can be shown. Supporters included TechNet, the Florida Justice Reform Institute, the Florida League of Cities, Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, and Dr. Edward Long of the James Madison Institute; Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Blanco, and Rep. McFarland also spoke in favor. Ranking Member Bracy Davis opposed the bill, saying she was not comfortable granting liability protections to entities that may have contributed to breaches and questioning whether substantial compliance would be self-attested. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably by a 14-2 vote. After the vote, the committee shifted into an extended discussion about Florida’s state IT governance structure, procurement, and project management. Members criticized the current federated model as fragmented and lacking clear accountability, with repeated references to long-running problems such as cost overruns, weak vendor oversight, workforce shortages, and the troubled I-Connect system. Several members argued that the state needs a single accountable leader or stronger enterprise authority over agency technology decisions. Ranking Member Bracy Davis raised concerns about the impact of broken systems on vulnerable populations and asked about the role of advisory councils. Rep. G. Lombardo, Vice Chair Steele, Rep. Miller, and Rep. Groh all emphasized the need for centralized leadership, better alignment of authority and budget, and more disciplined procurement and integration practices. A public witness, Victoria Zep of Team 180, testified in support of a more enterprise-wide approach and said the private sector also wants more organization and transparency. She criticized short procurement timelines, limited competition, and poorly written scopes, and urged the state to post procurements more openly and seek broader vendor input. She also discussed the need to respect agency-specific federal requirements while still improving statewide coordination. The chair closed by asking members to bring forward ideas for immediate and long-term reforms, including review of Senate Bill 7026, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, we had great bipartisan support for an initiative called the Keep It Clean, which now enforces
• I think there's a good amount of support for this, and I do want to say thank you.
• I think there's a good amount of support for this, and I do want to say thank you.
• We are here to offer support to this bill, as we have in the past.
• So I'd ask members for your support and am always open for future conversations from anybody.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1120, the follow-up “Keep It Clean” bill from Representative Andrew Myers, which would create grant funding for local governments and organizations to improve garbage removal and related clean-water programs, especially around frozen lakes and winter recreation areas. Myers said the earlier Keep It Clean effort to enforce litter laws on frozen lakes had already reduced garbage in the water, and he framed this bill as a way to expand that success with additional resources. Testifier Robin Dwight of the Upper Red Lake Area Association and Keep It Clean Coalition described growing problems with trash and human waste on ice, said the coalition now has 60 members representing more than 10,000 lakes, and explained that local programs use dumpsters and separation systems to manage waste. Tom Johnson of the MPCA and Assistant Commissioner Bob Myers of the DNR both testified in support, saying improper disposal of human and solid waste is a real and growing problem and that the public education campaign has changed behavior on the ice. Members asked about the bill’s results and funding needs. Representative Pelz asked for more context on the coalition’s impact, and Dwight said the group has been active for about three years and recently launched a survey to gather more data on infrastructure needs for wheelhouse users. Representative Fiser asked what dollar amount would be needed, and Myers said the bill seeks general fund dollars, with a rough ideal range of one to two million dollars, though he emphasized he wanted to work with the committee on the final amount and funding mechanism. The discussion also noted a second related bill with a $10 wheelhouse fee as another possible funding option. No opposition testimony was presented. After discussion, the chair renewed the motion to lay over House File 1120 for possible inclusion in a future bill, and the bill was laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:18:36.640><c> planning</c> that early education supports planning that early education supports
• </c><01:23:02.880><c> ongoing</c> funding to support ongoing funding to support ongoing implementation
• Please support SB 441.
• Please support<01:57:38.320><c> SB441.</c> support SB441. support SB441.
• </c> For those reasons, I urge you to support For those reasons, I urge you to support patient<04:33:

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they're all very supportive of it.
• Thank you for your continued support.
• It begins with on-the-ground direct education and support.
• This is at no cost to them, fully supported.
• I would say that sounds like a great idea, and I fully support you.

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support local food systems. support local food systems.
• </c> think deeply about supporting this bill. think deeply about supporting this bill.
• </c><01:20:48.400><c> so</c> soil or other growth media supports so soil or other growth media supports
• </c> our strong support for House File 4085. our strong support for House File 4085.
• </c><01:31:44.560><c> We</c> for their strong support of E15. We for their strong support of E15.

Bills: HF3898 , HF3957 , HF4372 , HF4350 , HF3692 , HF4085

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to support this bill.
• I urge you to support this bill.
• We urge you to support this bill.
• I’m planning to support it.
• I’m planning to support it.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:47.680><c> uh</c> therapies the education to support uh therapies the education to support
• We are in support of it.
• We are in support of it.
• We are in support of it.
• We are in support of it.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please support this bill.
• I'm here in support of HB 142.
• I support them 100%.
• I support them 100%.
• I support them 100%. every day. I support them 100%.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also rise in strong support of SCR 181 by the great senator.
• I also rise in strong support of SCR 181 by the great senator.
• As policymakers, we must continue to support victims and assist in our lives.
• Because every survivor deserves to be heard, supported, and be safe.
• I also rise in support of SJR 18 as a coauthor.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, I want to thank everyone and ask everyone to please support ACR 191.
• I also rise in strong support of ACR 191.
• I also rise in strong support of ACR 191.
• First of all, let me let you know I am rising in strong support.
• Please support ACR 191.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark Figenbaum with the Missouri Farm Bureau, testifying in support of this bill.
• We are here in support of this legislation.
• We appreciate Representative Riggs' efforts on this issue, and we are in support.
• You know, at the end of the day, we are in support of private property rights.
• We'd also like to go on record in support of this legislation.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues met with a quorum and heard testimony on several measures focused on agriculture, broadband, public health administration, and utility eminent domain. Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1383, sponsored by Senator Barbara Washington, would expand a DESE agricultural education pilot program from 20 schools to allow voluntary K-12 agriculture curriculum statewide. Washington said the bill builds on a successful pilot and is intended to help students understand agriculture as a STEM field and broader community issue. Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri N.A., Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and Missouri Pork Association all testified in support; there was no opposition, and the hearing closed without a vote. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 38 from Representative Louis Riggs, which urges that Missouri’s broadband funding remain in the state and be used for deployment. Riggs said Missouri received $1.7 billion in broadband funding but that more than half had been cut or left uncertain, and he argued the money should stay in Missouri to bridge the digital divide. Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Electric Cooperatives supported the resolution, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 1699 from Representative Maisie Christensen, a constituent-driven bill to clarify when county health officers/directors’ authority ends if they are not reappointed. Christensen explained the bill addresses ambiguity in older statutes governing different county public health structures; no witnesses testified for or against the bill. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2169 from Representative Brad Pollitt, which would bar electrical corporations from using eminent domain for wind or solar generation facilities while still allowing grid connection. Pollitt and Farm Bureau argued the bill closes a loophole and protects landowners from having property taken for large renewable projects; Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association also supported the measure. Ameren testified for informational purposes only, saying it has no plans to use eminent domain for wind or solar and appreciates the grid-connection language. Several members debated whether the bill should also address nuclear energy or broader utility siting concerns, and one witness noted transmission and battery-storage limitations as reasons renewable projects are not built everywhere. The hearing on HB 2169 closed with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• As mentioned, this compact is supported and started as...
• Yeah, I think I support this bill.
• This is a good piece of legislation, and I urge the body to support it. Okay.
• I speak in support of this legislation. Thank you for your testimony.
• We support our partners in health care.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 1233. Members adopted several amendments, including language allowing the Boards of Therapeutic Massage and Chiropractors to seek emergency suspension of licenses when there are criminal indictments or charges that could harm citizens; extending the RX CARES for Missouri prescription drug abuse prevention program by removing its sunset; updating pharmacy distributor licensing language to reflect national licensing practices; clarifying pharmacist immunization authority, including RSV immunizations and board oversight for future immunizations; allowing certain long-term care facility employees to administer additional subcutaneous medications; and adopting agreed-upon language related to interior designers. The committee then rolled those amendments into a committee substitute and voted the bill do pass by a 16-1 roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bills 2618 and 2644, which would join Missouri to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. The bill sponsors said the compact would improve licensure portability for respiratory therapists, help address workforce shortages, and allow Missouri to be among the first states shaping the compact’s commission. Supporters, including respiratory therapists, a hospital association representative, a student and military spouse, and a nursing association representative, said the compact would speed access to qualified therapists, aid rural and hospital care, help during emergencies like COVID-19, and benefit military families. Several witnesses emphasized that participating states would still retain their own licensing standards and scope-of-practice authority. Opponents argued that the compact would surrender state sovereignty to an unformed commission, create a “blank check” before the rules are written, and potentially allow rules to supersede state law. They also raised constitutional concerns about interstate compacts and questioned whether a reciprocal licensing approach would be preferable. Committee members asked about sovereignty, the legal basis for compacts, and whether Missouri could preserve its standards; sponsors and supporters responded that the compact would not remove state authority and that Missouri could still require its own standards. The hearing concluded without a vote on the respiratory compact bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Strong support of House Joint Memorial 11.
• We help families access mental health support. We support early learning and after-school programs.
• They ask whether their kids are safe, fed, supported, and learning.
• State support can turn intention into reality. State support can turn intention into reality.
• They support us. They welcome us.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's made an effort now to support other veterans.
• Counties were not providing the level of support for public defense that was necessary.
• The act also directly supports the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution by supporting the mandate that
• People are free to practice whatever they wish to practice, and I wholeheartedly support that.
• , I would posit that this bill strongly supports freedom of religion.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee first considered the gubernatorial appointment and reappointment of Alan Kavanaugh to the Pardons and Parole Commission, but no vote was taken at this meeting. Kavanaugh, a longtime law enforcement officer, described his approach as conservative on parole, strongly victim-focused, and centered on public safety, fair hearings, and helping people succeed after release. Senators asked about workload, decision-making, and successful outcomes; Kavanaugh highlighted a veteran who used parole to rebuild his life and support other veterans, and he also praised a work-release program in eastern Idaho as a model for reducing recidivism and increasing employment. Members expressed support for the commission’s work and noted the importance of adequate funding, but deferred the appointment vote to the next meeting. Eric Fredrickson, the Idaho State Public Defender, then gave an update on the statewide public defense system. He reviewed the history of public defense reform in Idaho, the creation of the State Public Defender office, and the transition from county-based to state-based operations. Fredrickson said the office faced a difficult rollout in October 2024, including a backlog of more than 1,300 cases and staff departures, but that the system has since stabilized. He reported that increased funding in 2025 allowed salary adjustments, higher contract rates, new institutional offices, and significant hiring, including 34 attorneys, 13 legal assistants, and 11 investigators. Senators asked about the effects of budget holdbacks, backlog recovery, judge relations, and future needs; Fredrickson said holdbacks led to reduced travel, training, and tighter spending on experts and billing, and said the office’s next priorities are an Idaho-specific workload standard, more attorneys, and more social workers. The committee then printed two bills. RS 32880 C1, by Senator Foreman, the “Constitutional Courts Act,” would prohibit Idaho courts from enforcing or applying judgments based on religious or cultural law that do not conform to the U.S. and Idaho Constitutions. Foreman said it was intended to prevent any outside body of law from replacing Idaho’s legal system, while not restricting private religious practice. Senators debated whether the proposal was necessary, whether it conflicted with religious liberty protections, and whether it would treat some religions differently; the motion to print passed. RS 33006 C1, by Senator Nichols, would update Idaho’s Son of Sam law to prevent criminals from profiting from notoriety through modern media and digital monetization while protecting free speech and due process. Nichols said the current statute is outdated and constitutionally vulnerable; the motion to print also passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's made an effort now to support other veterans.
• And so I really support that program in that it's making a difference in a lot of the I really support
• Counties were not providing the level of support for public defense that was necessary.
• The act also directly supports the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution by supporting the mandate that
• People are free to practice whatever they wish to practice, and I wholeheartedly support that.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another program started in 2021 and it currently supports 280 hospitals throughout the state.
• This funding supports activities such as but not limited to staffing and operating costs that supports
• One salaries that supports your FT ease 34 points.
• This workforce supports the following activities.
• The Legislature invested in the customer call center based on increased and to support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We support Senator Gates's bill overwhelmingly.
• Murphy Kennedy Gearing is waving in support. Derek Tabor Schofer is waving in support.
• Colton Medill is waving in support. Michael McLean is waving in support.
• Carolyn Mann is waving in support. Luis Fasquez is waving in support.
• Theresa Niemeyer is waving in support. Zane Smith is waving in support. That is everyone.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So thanks for the hard work, and I'll be supporting the bill.
• And so I respectfully ask for your support.
• I would urge members to support this conference report adoption.
• And tested market thanks to this bill, so I'd urge support.
• So, it's important that we support them in that.