Transcript Highlights:

• FROM THE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
• CAROL BOWEN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT, WAIVING IN SUPPORT, ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS CHRIS DAWSON
• FLORIDA ROOFING AND SHEET-METAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT, ADRIANA SOTO FLORIDA CHAMBER
• OF COMMERCE WAIVES IN SUPPORT, DAVID SHIP CONTRACTORS WAIVES IN SUPPORT, IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alarm and sprinkler projects sets deadlines for permits and inspections laws, contractors to begin work
• immediately after submitting a complete application requiring contractors to provide plans for onsite
• Within 3 business days of request, contractors must maintain plans and specs on site for fire alarm and
• So representing fire sprinkler contractors, engineer suppliers and again during the Lee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requesting agencies when they are conducting a base suitability or fitness assessment for federal or contractor
• federal<00:05:03.479> or asset assessment for federal or asset assessment for federal or contractor
• employees<00:05:05.800> under<00:05:06.280> five<00:05:06.880> USC contractor
• employees under five USC contractor employees under five USC section section section 9101<00:05:09.600

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then heard an announcement inviting members to the Kentucky National Guard’s annual legislator briefing and rotary-wing flight over Frankfort on March 10, with a Friday deadline to RSVP. After roll call, the committee took up House Bill 340, sponsored by Representative Tony Hampton, with testimony from Hampton and representatives of the Kentucky sheriffs and law enforcement community. HB 340 would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 requiring criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records information to requesting federal agencies conducting suitability or fitness assessments for federal or contractor employees under 5 U.S.C. 9101. The bill also allows a $25 fee to reimburse agencies for the cost of providing the records and makes a conforming change to juvenile justice records law. Supporters said the measure is needed to bring Kentucky into compliance with federal law, noting the state had been out of compliance and could risk federal funding; they also said sheriffs’ offices need statutory authority to charge the fee. Members asked about whether the bill covers all background checks, sealed or expunged records, and juvenile records. Testimony explained that the bill applies to federal security-related background checks, that federal law requires access to sealed or expunged records, and that juvenile information would remain in-house but could be relevant when applicants disclose past conduct. One example was given involving a juvenile firearms-related offense discovered during a federal suitability review. The committee then voted on the bill, and House Bill 340 passed with favorable expression, with the chair announcing it should do the same in the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• legitimate contractors. legitimate contractors.
• from the same dishonest contractor. from the same dishonest contractor.
• to expel this bad contractor. to expel this bad contractor.
• getting the job the contractor getting the job the contractor subsequently<01:18:24.760> cheats
• , contractor, contractor, which<01:18:34.240> is<01:18:34.360> not<01:18:34.600> an<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Bills: SB2256, SB2053, SB2090, SB2169, SB2245, SB2519, SB2765, SB3055, SB3102, SB3118, SB3144, SB3248, HCR43, HCR69, HCR188, HB2300, HB1605, HB2094, HB1166, HB1970, HB1969, HB2050, HB2165, HB2271, HB2338, HB2339, HB1972, HB2208, HB2310, HB1801, HB2498, HB2443, HB1976, HB2246, HB2319, HB1541, HB2606, HB2343, HB1853, HB1840, HB1785, HB1952, HB2551, HB2171, HB1661, HB1802, HB1663, HB1838, HB1960, HB1815, HB2599, HB1769, HB2315, HB1860, HB1891, HB2104, HB2158, HB389, HB1510, HB2089, HB2090, HB2099, HB1516, HB1548, HB1481, HB2452, HB2329, HB2275, HB1658, HB2272, HB2273, HB2276, HB2335, HB1656, HB2207, HB2289, HB1854, HB2581, HB20, HB2296, HB1707, HB2297, HB1890, HB2241, HB2474, HB1740, HB2472, HB1688, HB2345, HB2546, HB1574, HB1546, HB2218, HB1163, HB1523, HB2021, HB1524, HB2020

Keywords: Brother Joseph Dutton, Kalaupapa, historic recognition, observance, Hawaii history, salvage vehicles, vehicle title transfer, electronic signatures, insurance, administrative efficiency, child custody, mental health, evaluations, licensed counselors, family court, SB2245, Hawaii ethics, revolving door, state employee ethics, cooling-off period

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires covered local governments to establish a qualified contractor program by January 1, 2007.
• It limits the roles of those qualified contractors to ministerial and technical review functions only
• It requires covered local governments to establish a qualified contractor program by January 1, 2007.
• It does not authorize qualified contractors to exercise quasi-judicial or discretionary authority.
• It does not authorize qualified contractors to exercise quasi-judicial or discretionary authority.

Summary: The committee first considered CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment. A late-filed strike-all amendment narrowed eligibility to certain contaminated or brownfield properties in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, added adjacency and density/intensity limits, and excluded agricultural land, park land, land outside the urban growth boundary, and land near military installations. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote, with limited support and opposition noted in waived appearance forms. Members then took up CS/CS/SB 212 on sexual offenders and sexual predators. The strike-all added public swimming pools and related child-centered locations to residency and presence restrictions. Testimony was sharply divided: proponents argued the bill would help protect children and law enforcement, while opponents, including treatment experts and homelessness advocates, said there was no empirical evidence the restrictions reduce abuse and warned of retroactive punishment and increased homelessness. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-1. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after an amendment allowing certain enclaves adjacent to interstates to be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential uses and clarifying exclusions for protected areas. Opponents argued it would weaken zoning and comprehensive plans, while supporters framed it as a property-rights measure; the bill was reported favorably 10-0. SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, a technical update to nonprofit law modeled on prior for-profit corporate revisions, also passed unanimously after supportive waived testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1338 on charitable giving, which creates a donor remedy for endowment restrictions and limits state reporting burdens on certain regulated or exempt organizations; members discussed cy pres and the sponsor said further changes would be worked out later. CS/SB 532 on court fees was amended to let clerks retain all collections above revenue projections rather than half, with supporters saying clerks have been underfunded for years; it passed 10-0. The committee also favorably reported SB 218 on land use regulations, which restores normal land-use authority to counties not affected by recent hurricanes, and CS/SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability, which creates a presumption against liability for entities that comply with cybersecurity frameworks and reporting requirements; the cybersecurity bill drew concerns about retroactivity and the adequacy of compliance incentives but passed 9-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Weber Pierson and fellow senators, I am Rebecca May on behalf of the Contractor State License Board
• This bill would allow contractors to bypass an inspection performed by local building departments if
• provides essential oversight to protect consumers and business owners from harm by requiring a contractor
• However, I do have similar concerns as have been raised by the Contractor State Licensing Board.
• I am concerned about a contractor who does this work on your behalf, on an owner's behalf, self-certifying

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the SAU operation in its entirety, all employees and contractors, is a key administrator cost we'd
• :03:41.800> all<01:03:42.320> employees<01:03:43.320> and<01:03:43.600> contractors
• entirety, all employees and contractors entirety, all employees and contractors is<01:03:45.200>
• purposes of this subsection,” “Administrators” shall be defined by reference to all employees and contractors
• of the school administrative unit and all district employees and contractors covered by the definition

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The conference committee first discussed HB 1099, which creates a committee to study private business providing special education services and local school district reimbursement. Members explained that the issue is broader than special education alone, involving residential placements, foster care, court-ordered placements, and questions about which entity pays for education and care costs when students are placed in residential facilities. The House proposed an amendment to expand the study to include students placed in residential facilities by school districts as well as those placed through episodes of treatment or court order, and members agreed the existing commission would not resolve the issue before its July 1, 2026 expiration. Representative Coker raised concern about the phrase “but not limited to,” but members said the broader language was needed to capture placements beyond the existing statutory categories. The committee then agreed to accede to the Senate version of HB 1099 with a committee amendment, and the House voted unanimously to adopt amendment 2026-1845H. The bill was placed on the consent calendar, and the meeting adjourned. The transcript also includes a separate conference committee discussion on HB 1807, concerning mandatory reporting to voters. The main dispute was how to present administrator compensation: the House favored total administrative cost, while the Senate initially preferred average administrator salary. Members debated whether voters would be better informed by totals or averages, and whether the bill should define “administrator” more clearly by reference to DOE rules. The committee reached a tentative compromise to add both an average administrator salary graph and a total administrator cost graph, define administrators by reference to ED 501.02(B), scale the graph more precisely, and list the top 10 highest-paid administrators plus any employee earning over $100,000. Both chambers then gave unanimous support to the revised approach, with the understanding that the draft would be finalized and signed later.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Uniform Standards Code for Manufactured and Modular Housing, to provide for the Residential Contractors
• and factory-built housing developers, to provide for warranties, ...housing residential contractors
• Brad Hassert here with the Contractors Licensing Board who can help me with answering any questions you
• Amendments 1 and 2 provide that the definition of factory-built housing developer encompasses contractors
• Brad Hassert, on behalf of the Contractors Licensing Board. I don't...

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, two of the largest private prison contractors that work with ICE, GEO Group and CoreCivic,
• Matt Easley, on behalf of the California chapters of the Associated General Contractors, in opposition
• Matt Easley, on behalf of the California chapters of the Associated General Contractors, in opposition
• Without the software from Palantir, without the weapons provided from private contractors, or even the
• Without the software from Palantir, without the weapons provided from private contractors, or even the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• complicit in the corrupt scheme that ICE exploits for sweetheart deals with its favorite for-profit contractors
• , this bill is not focused on regulating the question of contracting directly between detention contractors
• We know that contractors, including CoreCivic, are heavily reliant on bringing people in on temporary
• To hold its contractors to. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair and Representative.
• sought to regulate their direct contracts between the federal government and private detention contractors

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you guys utilize private contractors for the construction, or is it all within your organization,
• Madam Chair and Representative Hernandez, we do private contractors, but we do a typical process.
• So, we have typically a half dozen or so contractors that we use regularly.
• Equally important, we're growing consistently and intentionally working to balance staff and contractors
• With a flat budget in the 300 category, In contract services, we will not be able to hire a contractor

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that some of the panelists after me today can provide perspective from the building officials, contractors
• Contractors are prevented from being able to mobilize on site.
• altered in a way that gives them the breathing room to perform quality review, as well as giving contractors
• “And then we have to coordinate between design teams, contractors, and building officials to avoid the
• for a hearings examiner, which is a person that's either a member of the local government or a contractor

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we do update a BEAD contractor list, and then finally we have 50 telecommuter-forward communities
• Um, I know we've looked at contractors and permitting and qualifying.
• What's driving the RFP to contractors?
• :42.720> and contractors and permitting and contractors and permitting and qualifying.<00:35:44.079
• they're creating their own contractors they're creating their own contractors or<00:36:05.040>

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In place currently based on the statute that it is an independent contractor that is outside of employment
• Is it an independent contractor that is currently contracted to audit on the state's behalf?
• Contractors and none allow for elected officials.
• And we know how many women-owned businesses would be or have been able to become contractors with the
• WE KNOW HOW MANY WOMEN OWNED  BUSINESSES WOULD BE OR HAVE BEEN 309 HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BECOME CONTRACTORS

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met to consider four conforming committee bills tied to the proposed 2026-27 House General Appropriations Act. Rep. Maggard presented PCB SAB 26-04, the annual retirement bill, which updates Florida Retirement System contribution rates based on the annual actuarial study and was said to produce a $31.7 million state savings. He also presented PCB SAB 26-02, which addresses collective bargaining impasses for state employees by tying resolution to spending decisions in the appropriations act or implementing legislation. Both bills drew brief questions, mainly from Rep. Gantt, and both passed favorably on roll call. Rep. Miller presented PCB SAB 26-03, which reorganizes state audit functions and creates the Florida Accountability Office, consolidating legislative audit work into four divisions and adding whistleblower protections and reporting requirements. Rep. Gantt asked whether the bill changed the use of outside auditors and whether it had a fiscal impact; Miller said the work would be absorbed within existing resources and that the Legislature would retain responsibility. A taxpayer witness supported the bill and urged stronger local-government audit standards and broader whistleblower coverage. The bill passed favorably. Rep. Abbott presented PCB SAB 26-01, a broader appropriations conforming bill focused on the State Employee Health Insurance Trust Fund, prescription drug formulary changes, a health insurance assessment on agencies and vacant positions, the $3 traffic violation surcharge for the State Law Enforcement Radio System, Capitol complex space management, and changes to the Office of Supplier Diversity. Much of the discussion centered on whether a closed formulary would make medications harder to obtain, with Abbott saying prior authorization would still allow access and that the change was needed to control costs and protect the trust fund. Rep. Gantt and Rep. Robinson raised concerns about employee health benefits and the repeal of supplier diversity provisions, arguing the committee lacked data on the impact to minority- and women-owned businesses; Abbott said the changes would still allow small businesses to compete and that the bill was intended to save money and modernize procurement. PCB SAB 26-01 also passed favorably, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also found that most of the programs we reviewed used a document to track when contractors completed
• objectives; and monitoring performance, including performance provisions in contracts and monitoring contractors
• for practice four, include performance provisions in contracts and grant agreements and monitor contractors
• Leading practices also recommend monitoring contracts, such as using a tracking tool to ensure that contractors
• in their contracts, as well as using an online system to track quarterly information to monitor contractor

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is around the administrative cost that goes to the contractor.
• between the contractor and the subcontractor or in some other way?
• According to the analysis, both the contractor and the subcontractor.
• My question is around the administrative cost for that goes to the contractor.
• between the contractor and the subcontractor or in some other way?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Electrical contractors are uniquely positioned among the licensed trades to be harmfully affected by
• <00:08:17.480> at and potentially leave a contractor at and potentially leave a contractor
• It will provide my member contractors It will provide my member contractors some<00:08:37.680>
• I'm a director of government and public affairs with Associated Builders and Contractors.
• The Associated Builders and Contractors has 146 firms that would be affected by this legislation, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, section one of the bill prohibits a school employee, independent contractor, or volunteer from
• or volunteer from independent contractor or volunteer from being<00:03:24.720> alone<00:03:25.040
• It sets a clear statewide expectation that no school employee, contractor, or volunteer is alone with
• , or volunteer is employee, contractor, or volunteer is alone<00:09:58.000> with<00:09:58.160>
• , employees, independent contractors, employees, independent contractors, volunteers.<00:18:03.840

Bills: HF3489, HF3550

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it also provides accountability, whether that's to contractors, electricians, and so on and
• There's two contractor members on the State Board. There is two journeyworker members.
• , contractors, contractors, uh<00:04:28.520> electricians,<00:04:30.000> uh<00:04:30.160
• contractor members on the State Board. contractor members on the State Board.
• ,<00:13:37.320> one engineers, pipefitters, contractors, one engineers, pipefitters, contractors

Keywords: 1187, senate, all