Transcript Highlights:

• are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in all conditions
• c> Whereas<00:17:38.320> access<00:17:38.640> to<00:17:38.880> quality conditions
• Whereas access to quality conditions.
• and provide another pathway to condition and provide another pathway to authorization<00:26:06.799><
• The fund may receive gifts, school.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, when we do accept gifts, they often are not necessarily monetary.
• <01:08:27.719> um typically when we do accept gifts um typically when we do accept gifts um
• So I think we could distinguish between gifts that are given for a specific reason and gifts that are
• for a specific reason and gifts given for a specific reason and gifts that<01:09:53.759> are<
• The Division of Finance has never received a gift, as far as I know.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first recessed briefly, then took up HB 570, the prescription drug affordability board (PDAB). The chair and several members discussed the House amendment to repeal the board, which removed the fiscal note. The main concern raised was that the PDAB had not yet produced a clear business case showing value for the taxpayer investment, despite several years of work and four annual reports. Supporters of the repeal said the board’s recent report was largely redundant and that the board should either demonstrate a strong return on investment or be shut down; others cautioned against discarding the program too quickly and urged more time to refine the mission and legislative language. No vote was taken, and the committee appeared to agree to retain the bill for further work, with the possibility of revisiting it in a formal executive session on Tuesday. Members also shifted into discussion of HB 2, beginning with Section 85 on opioid abatement trust fund dollars for shelter programs. Department of Health and Human Services officials explained that the provision would provide $10 million from the opioid abatement trust fund, replacing general funds in the governor’s budget, while also noting an additional $2.5 million prioritized needs request for shelter care that was already fully funded. Committee members asked about shelter bed capacity, job placement efforts, and the remaining balance in the opioid fund; DHHS said there are 934 contracted beds and that case management includes help with housing and employment. Officials also said the current proposed budget includes another $1 million later in HB 2 from the opioid fund. The committee then began discussion of Sections 86 through 87, which would preserve the department’s ability to transfer funds between personnel lines. DHHS said the provision is operationally critical and that losing it would make it extremely difficult to manage the department, though it would not have a direct fiscal impact. The next item introduced was Section 88, extending a suspension related to eligibility for services until July 1, 2027; DHHS indicated that if the suspension were not continued, it would likely increase expenditures for Community Mental Health Centers and potentially others. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's important, that we make the change on the gifts and donations.
• In regards to the proposed amendment, I do note that the increase in the introduction gifts and donations
• gifts and donations. gifts and donations.
• :49:28.040> seemed<00:49:28.280> to<00:49:28.360> me<00:49:28.560> was gifts
• and donations, it seemed to me was gifts and donations, it seemed to me was tied<00:49:29.200> back

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Introduction of gifts.<00:16:58.959> Senate.
• <00:16:59.680> Introduction<00:17:00.320> of<00:17:00.560> gifts. gifts.
• Introduction of gifts. gifts. Senate. Introduction of gifts.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 30 January, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Pastor Joe Thrasher, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. A national anthem was performed by Audrey Mapier, who was also recognized as a page for Senator Frazier. The chamber then dispensed with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill and resolution titles, and there were no messages or petitions. During the calendar, the Senate repeatedly took up items by motion to “pass and retain” across a long list of bills and resolutions, effectively postponing consideration of those measures. No substantive debate on individual bills was recorded in this segment. The body also recognized several guests in the gallery, including the pastor’s family, a newly appointed member of the State Cosmetology Board, and family members of senators. Multiple committee meeting announcements were made for later that day and for Monday, including Appropriations, Agriculture, Business and Financial Institutions, Medicaid, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Finance, Corrections, Universities and Colleges, Environmental Protection, Judiciary Division A and B, Tourism, Energy, Education, Highways and Transportation, Public Property, Municipalities, Economic and Workforce Development, and Ports and Marine Resources. Senators also requested that the chamber adjourn in memory of several individuals, including Miss Judy Fry, Rico Varnado, Pastor Ivon Lewis, and former state trooper and reverend David Ard. The Senate then voted to stand in recess until the last committee report is filed, with the journal to reflect adjournment until Monday at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we need to keep track of conditions over time in order to inform where investment goes.
• So right now, policies need to be right-sized and adjusted for local market conditions.
• which I can get to you in a second. policies need to be right-sized and adjusted for local market conditions
• existing buildings, and what relief but life-safety measures should exist in the code for those conditions
• It looked like all of their family members got together and contributed over $300,000 in gift funds just

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard a series of work-session presentations focused on transit-oriented development, commercial-to-residential redevelopment, building code implementation, housing market trends, and the Covenant Homeownership Program. The first presentation, from the Urban Institute, reviewed research on HB 1491 and TOD feasibility, arguing that Washington has made major progress but faces diverging conditions across transit areas. The presenter said rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and lower rents in some markets have made many projects less feasible, and recommended targeted infrastructure funding for lower-market communities, adjustments to MFTE and affordability requirements by local market conditions, more support for very low-income housing in high-market transit areas, minimum density standards near stations, expanded public land/joint development tools, and better tracking of TOD outcomes over time. Committee members asked about AMI calculations, immigration’s effect on construction labor, developer input, and whether a tracking mechanism had been removed from the bill. The Department of Commerce then outlined implementation of HB 1491 and demonstrated the new Washington Zoning Atlas, which is live and intended to help visualize zoning, overlays, and station-area conditions. Commerce said local governments will designate station areas, update zoning and MFTE policies, and handle anti-displacement measures, with Vancouver and Spokane first to implement and Puget Sound following later. Staff described a timeline for updated MFTE guidance, station-area implementation guidance, a TOD model ordinance, and later rulemaking on variances. The committee also heard from the Lieutenant Governor’s office on a report about converting commercial properties to housing, which found substantial potential for redevelopment on vacant or underused commercial land, especially near transit, but noted barriers such as ground-floor retail mandates, affordability requirements, infrastructure costs, private covenants, and slow implementation. The office urged by-right residential use on commercial land and faster rollout of new housing laws. The State Building Code Council updated the committee on its three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed actions, including minimum dwelling size, emergency shelters, and especially single-exit stairs and multiplex housing. Council staff said those code changes are nearing completion and will provide prescriptive solutions, while noting that elevator size and requirements were not changed and would require separate legislative direction if the committee wanted to revisit them. Members discussed the cost impacts of building and energy codes and the council said it is required to consider economic impacts and is increasingly looking at performance-based approaches. Later, the Washington Center for Real Estate Research presented its annual housing report, showing that higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced affordability, flattened house prices in many cities, and slowed single-family permitting and completions, while multifamily construction has recently cooled after a prior surge. Finally, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission reported strong first-year results for the Covenant Homeownership Program, which provides zero-interest down payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers with family ties to Washington before 1968; the program assisted 547 homebuyers in its first fiscal year, with more than $60 million loaned, and the agency said participation has continued to grow after income-limit changes enacted in 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, the main one that often comes up when it comes to this type of work is the prohibition of gifts
• The variable conditions from site to site across the state, even within a single school district, do
• whether or not there's actually a cost benefit of this because of code change updates the variable conditions
• Finally, the building condition assessment statewide: we recommended that that be updated.
• So the recommendation is to make sure that we understand the condition of all of the school facilities

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard presentations from the Department of Commerce, the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a consultant on the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) study. Commerce officials described their agency’s role in housing, energy, local government, broadband, and other capital programs, and reported on a $5 million pilot under Senate Bill 5200 that used trusted community messengers and technical assistance to help historically excluded organizations prepare for capital funding. They said 18 organizations received direct support and 79 smaller projects were also funded, but emphasized that statutory match rules, reimbursement-based payments, site-control requirements, insurance and audit costs, and extensive contracting rules remain major barriers. Commerce outlined efforts to expand outreach, digital modernization, internal contracting improvements, tribal MOUs, and innovation centers, and members asked about small business support, housing program placement, and outreach to Eastern Washington and communities of color. RCO described its grant programs for recreation, conservation, education, and salmon/orca recovery, and reviewed equity work done before and after a 2021-23 proviso. The agency had already created a small-communities carve-out in youth athletic facilities, piloted stipends for advisory committee members, and reduced match requirements where allowed. Under the proviso, RCO completed an equity review and a planning program that funded 54 projects across 34 counties, with many applicants being new or long-absent grantees. Staff said the review led to changes in scoring criteria, clearer application guidance, more objective data measures, expanded technical assistance, and targeted community engagement. Members asked about application burden, project sizes, outreach, and how the agency is broadening participation and representation on advisory committees. The final presentation summarized a planning study on SCAP, which examined rising construction costs, fragmented grant programs, local funding barriers, and uneven district capacity. The report recommended nine major changes, including stronger planning support, a new minor-modernization category, a mechanism to use unused funds more quickly, an education-specification prototype, a SCAP enhancement program for low-capacity districts, acceptance of non-SCAP funds, phased modernization, streamlined D-form and reimbursement processes, and revisions to the SCAP formula to better account for grade-band differences, enrollment projections, and regional cost factors. Additional recommendations included ongoing monitoring and evaluation, facilities-impact reviews, matching SCAP increases to construction-cost inflation, earlier locking of funding estimates, flexible program spaces, and updated statewide building-condition assessments. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• reason I think that this amendment helps is that um it sets up a fund uh that accepts donations and gifts
• that accepts sets up a fund uh that that accepts donations<01:24:35.600> and<01:24:35.920> gifts
• <01:24:37.360> And<01:24:37.679> I donations and gifts and grants.
• And I donations and gifts and grants.
• , correctional line personnel employed at DOC are entitled to Group Two status if the following conditions

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the greatest gifts of this experience has been meeting people from every walks of life.
• One<00:05:03.240> of<00:05:03.320> the<00:05:03.480> greatest<00:05:03.919> gifts
• <00:05:04.280> of<00:05:04.440> this One of the greatest gifts of this One of the greatest
• gifts of this experience<00:05:05.320> has<00:05:05.560> been<00:05:05.760> meeting

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Perryman of Stearns delivered a farewell speech to the House, explaining that she is leaving the chamber to run for the Minnesota Senate rather than retiring from public service. She thanked her district, family, friends, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and legislative staff for their support over her four years in the House, and reflected on the challenges, debates, and important decisions of her tenure. Her remarks emphasized gratitude, the value of public service, and the belief that people in office generally want to make a difference despite disagreements. She said she tried to lead with integrity, compassion, and empathy, and noted that one of the greatest gifts of the experience was meeting people from many walks of life and hearing their concerns. Perryman closed by expressing pride in what was accomplished, optimism for the future, and confidence that the next generation of leaders will continue the work. She ended with a personal saying, "don't take the bait, and watch your own bobber," and received applause from the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• California's retail sales band is an industry that makes cruel out-of-state breeding conditions profitable
• It is such a gift to serve in the legislature and be around colleagues that I can learn from, and that
• As noted, brokers are acting as middlemen for puppy mills where animals often endure inhumane conditions
• These animals often come to us with severe medical conditions, behavioral issues, or both.
• Right now, the board's only tool to address a physician's health condition that may impair their ability

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not gifts. They're not charitable handouts. You've earned them.
• We would never have passed the presumptive conditions that then set up the stage for the PACT Act.
• We think we know what those conditions are now, but I'm going to tell you that some of these conditions
• It's going to take a while for neurological conditions.
• TBI is a complex injury with a spectrum of short and long-term conditions.

Keywords: veteran services, homelessness, unemployment, VA funding, mental health, congressional oversight, testimonies, American Legion, Dole Act, suicide prevention

Summary: This meeting focused on veteran services, emphasizing the urgent need to address the alarming rate of unemployment and homelessness among veterans. Numerous testimonies were presented detailing the impact of mass furloughs and cutbacks at the VA on personnel, notably veterans who were serving as employees. Various representatives expressed deep concern over how these firings could drastically affect the quality of care available to those who have served the nation. There was a strong call for Congress to bolster funding for existing programs aimed at alleviating veteran homelessness and improving overall care quality, especially in mental health services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you would guess, these are gifts from generous donors for operations and for capital projects.
• What is the amount of the, is that the current expenditures or gifts or that's in... it goes straight
• So the... spent on the purpose that a donor gave the gift for.
• What is the amount of the, is that the current expenditures or gifts or that's in, Okay, sorry.
• There is a statute called the Major Gift Matching Program that was funded by the state through about

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a gifted student. He played trumpet in the marching band.
• <00:20:00.720> He<00:20:00.880> was<00:20:01.039> a<00:20:01.200> gifted<
• He was a gifted year of high school.
• We would have to look at road conditions and weather conditions and put those two together.
• c> and conditions and weather conditions and conditions and weather conditions and put<01:13:48.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has been a little more because of the conditions, some of the conditions we've talked about here
• And I think the last part of the answer would be flexibility on some of the terms and conditions.
• So the big thing here is that, yes, you'll see more of the gold and the gift cards come back.
• Gift cards, there's a way to try and claw that back.
• “They were asking for changes to the grant agreement terms and conditions.” “Okay.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the gift of life, for waking us up clothed in our right minds, and for traveling mercies
• justice efforts across Florida and worked to strengthen community resilience, improve environmental conditions

Summary: The Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to the budget, implementing bill, collective bargaining/state employee issues, retirement, DMS, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities financing, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, fuel taxes, and taxation. Chair Hooper outlined the process for moving Senate and House budget conforming bills into conference posture, noting that conference meetings would be on one-hour notice. The Senate then took up and passed a series of Senate conforming bills and House companion bills, generally by unanimous 32-0 votes, with delete-all amendments used to place Senate language onto House bills or to clear bills for conference. Measures addressed fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, judges, pre-K through 12 education, retirement, higher education, health care, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, state employees/collective bargaining, and the implementing bill for the 2026-27 budget. Senators repeatedly moved that, when the House version was not passed as received, the Senate request conference or accede to the House’s request for conference. The General Appropriations Bill was handled by substituting House Bill 5001E for Senate Bill 2500E, amending it with Senate substance, and passing it 32-0 before requesting conference. House Bill 7031E on taxation was also amended and debated; Senator Berman used the debate to urge consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax for summer relief, but the bill ultimately passed and the Senate requested conference after failing to pass the House version as received. The session ended with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, followed by adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the gift of life, for waking us up clothed in our right minds, and for traveling mercies
• efforts across Florida and worked to strengthen community resilience. ...improve environmental conditions

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the gift of life, for waking us up clothed in our right minds, and for traveling mercies
• justice efforts across Florida and worked to strengthen community resilience, improve environmental conditions

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the gift of life, for waking us up clothed in our right minds, and for traveling mercies
• justice efforts across Florida and worked to strengthen community resilience, improve environmental conditions

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed moments of silence for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget, implementing, collective bargaining, retirement, education, health, taxation, corrections, fuel tax, and related conference-report legislation. Chair Hooper then outlined the process for taking up Senate conforming bills first, followed by House bills once received, in preparation for budget conference. The chamber passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after delete-all amendments were adopted to place the measures in proper posture for conference. Measures taken up included fuel taxes (SB 2506E), the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge (SB 2508E), judges (SB 2512E), pre-K-12 education (SB 2514E), retirement (SB 2E/HB 5205E), higher education (SB 2516E/HB 5601E), health care (SB 2518E/HB 5301E), collective bargaining/state employees (SB 2504E/HB 5201E), government administration (HB 5203E), correctional facilities financing and capital improvements (HB 5403E), documentary stamp tax distributions (HB 5501E), petroleum cleanup programs (HB 5701E), and the general appropriations and implementing bills (SB 2500E/HB 5001E and SB 2502E/HB 5003E). In each case, the Senate either passed the bill as amended or, after failing to pass the House version as received, requested conference with the House. During debate on the tax package, Leader Berman urged lawmakers to consider suspending the motor fuel tax for the summer, citing high gas prices and the need for immediate relief at the pump. The Senate ultimately passed HB 7031E as a blank vehicle for conference and then requested conference with the House after failing to pass it as received. No substantive amendments were adopted beyond the conference-posture delete-all amendments, and no recorded opposition votes were cast on the measures considered. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair announced the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet that day or the next, and the Senate adopted a motion to establish the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session by website publication and secretary announcement. The Senate then adjourned upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the gift of life, for waking us up clothed in our right minds, and for traveling mercies
• justice efforts across Florida and worked to strengthen community resilience, improve environmental conditions

Summary: The Senate convened in special session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed a moment of silence for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer. The Secretary then read the special session proclamation, which limited the session to budget-related matters including the General Appropriations Act, implementing bill, collective bargaining/state employee issues, retirement, law enforcement radio system funding, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, corrections, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup, fuel taxes, and taxation. Chair Hooper outlined the process for handling Senate and House budget bills and conference posture. The Senate took up and passed several Senate bills, including SB 2506E on fuel taxes, SB 2508E on the state agency law enforcement radio system, SB 2512E on judges, and SB 2514E on K-12 education, each by 32-0. The chamber then received House bills and, for each, adopted delete-all amendments to place the Senate language onto the House vehicle or delete everything to prepare for conference. Bills addressed included HB 7031E (taxation), HB 5701E (petroleum cleanup programs), HB 5203E (government administration), HB 5207E (Department of Management Services), HB 5403E (correctional facilities financing and capital improvements), HB 5501E (documentary stamp tax distributions), HB 5001E (the General Appropriations Act), HB 5003E (implementing bill), HB 5201E (collective bargaining), HB 5205E (retirement), HB 5601E (higher education), and HB 5301E (health care). Most passed 32-0, with HB 5403E passing 31-0. During debate on HB 7031E, Leader Berman urged consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax to provide immediate relief at the pump, citing high gas prices. The Senate ultimately passed the House bill as amended and then acceded to the House request for conference on the taxation package and the other House bills. The Senate also substituted HB 5001E for SB 2500E and HB 5003E for SB 2502E, and similarly substituted House bills for the related Senate conforming bills before voting to send them to conference. At the close of business, the Senate observed a moment of silence for former Senator Bill Posey. The Rules Chair announced the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet that day or the next, and the Senate adopted a motion to establish the special order calendar for the remainder of the special session by website publication and Secretary announcement. The Senate then adjourned upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid, exempting those individuals who are suffering some sort of disability, some sort of health condition
• They can make that job application, have the work experience, and get involved in using their gifts and

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• summertime we have programs for minority kids that we give them lunch because of, uh, their economic condition
• Additionally, the program may receive support to gifts, grants, and donations, including federal grants

Bills: SB 231, SB 667, SB 689, SB 825, SB 965, SB 992, SB 1059, SB 1220, SB 2368, SB 2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start