Transcript Highlights:

• of Health that pertain to the operations of public water systems.
• It turned out that we had to repair three water reservoirs that were of imminent failure.
• of money, and it turned out the Department of Health also wanted us to put in a lot of work to make
• It requires requests for approval of a manufacturer of a specific model of meter-mounted device to be
• It requires the owner of a facility to certify its use of clean energy by July 1 of each year.

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to pay the share of the cost of removal the state is entitled to receive in the form of reimbursement
• and may incur debt of up to 1.5% of the value of taxable property within the RTA boundaries.
• With the approval of at least 60% of the voters within the district, an RTA may incur debt of up to 5%
• of the year.
• I'm Councilmember Kelly Jang, and I'm here on behalf of the city of Issaquah in support of SB 6148.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Second Substitute Senate Bill 5690, which would require WSDOT to improve coordination with utilities on fish barrier removal projects and utility relocations, provide advance notice when feasible, and seek to maximize federal funding for relocation costs. Staff described the bill’s background, including the federal culvert injunction and WSDOT’s fish barrier work, and noted fiscal impacts tied to grant monitoring and possible revenue changes. Senator McEwen said the bill was narrowed from a prior version to reduce fiscal concerns and cited a district example where poor coordination allegedly wasted public and ratepayer funds. Utility representatives from PUDs testified in support, emphasizing better communication, advance notice for budgeting, and access to federal funds; no opposition was presented on this bill before the public hearing was closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6148, which would extend the maximum term for regional transit authority bonds from 40 years to 75 years and remove eligibility for regional mobility grant funds if an RTA uses bonds longer than 40 years. Staff and committee fiscal discussion focused on how longer terms reduce annual debt service but increase total interest paid over time, with examples comparing 25-, 40-, 50-, and 75-year bonds. Supporters, including Sound Transit board members, local officials, labor, and transit advocates, argued the bill would give Sound Transit flexibility to manage inflation, preserve project schedules, and align financing with long-lived infrastructure and the federal TIFIA loan program. Opponents argued the bill would increase long-term costs, shift burdens to future generations, and is premature because Sound Transit is still revising its plan and already has substantial cash and bonding capacity. The hearing ended after questions about debt safeguards, refinancing, and how the proposed authority would interact with TIFIA loans.

Transcript Highlights:

• TO REPAIR COLLEGE READINESS, EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK INCLUDE 100 PARTICIPATION RATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
• INCLUSION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISSM INSTITUTES OF SCIENCE MEDICINE AT FSU HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF
• WERE UNAWARE OF.
• OFTEN TIMES WE THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
• OF REBUILDING OUR MAPS AND BEST PRACTICES AND THAT IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT THEY DO ALREADY IN TERMS OF

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that moment of kind of optimism maybe to where you are now?
• And any sort of investigation, trial, jury of their peers, like, we should stay out of it, right?
• of fraud.
• of carbon.
• We've got a lot of roads and infrastructure to repair.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, reacting to Governor Ferguson’s State of the State address and outlining their priorities. They said the top issue is affordability, and argued the governor and Democratic majority are responding with more taxes, regulation, and government spending rather than restraint. They criticized the prospect of a state income tax, calling it unconstitutional, politically unpopular, and likely to expand beyond high earners over time. They also said the state should avoid raiding the rainy day fund and instead look for savings through tighter budget management, reduced middle management, and a focus on core services. The leaders also discussed public safety, immigration enforcement, child care oversight, transportation, housing, and the Climate Commitment Act. On immigration, they said law enforcement coordination is essential and criticized mixed messages from state leaders about federal enforcement and sheriffs. On child care, they said allegations of fraud in subsidy programs should be investigated through audits and oversight, and rejected the idea that looking for fraud is offensive to honest providers. They said there is some bipartisan agreement on using Climate Commitment Act revenue for the Working Families Tax Credit, transportation, and wildfire prevention, but argued the tax itself is regressive and should be redirected to better uses. On the budget, Republicans said the current deficit will not be solved by a future income tax and that the state will likely need spending cuts or savings. They said there is some limited agreement with moderate Democrats against further tax increases and against using the rainy day fund as a first step. On housing and transportation, they said the real solutions are permitting reform, changes to the Growth Management Act and energy code, and more stable transportation funding, rather than more state spending on affordable housing or piecemeal fees. No votes were taken, and the event ended as a press availability with questions from reporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• As of this year, the funding only supports half of an investigator and less than half of a deputy prosecutor
• only participate in a handful of times over the course of their lives.
• of Prosecuting Attorneys, here in strong support of Senate Bill 5109.
• Another of those separate funds is the transportation vehicle fund, which is used for purchases and repairs

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the mortgage lending fraud prosecution surcharge on recorded deeds of trust from $1 to $5 and remove the 2027 sunset on the surcharge and account. Committee staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors; King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in strong support, saying the current funding has eroded and the bill would better sustain mortgage fraud prosecutions. A question was raised about whether other budget funding could serve a similar purpose, but supporters said the dedicated surcharge/account structure was the best fit. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study in addition to the market rate survey. Testifiers from Child Care Aware of Washington, child care providers, and the early education design team supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the true cost of providing quality care. Staff said the bill would have a small fiscal impact for DCYF. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 5834 and Senate Bill 5835, both Department of Retirement Systems request bills: one would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses beyond the 2025-27 biennium, and the other would raise the threshold for lump-sum payment of small monthly benefits from $50 to $250. Neither bill drew public testimony, and staff said the fiscal impacts were minimal. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which would create the Pre-K Promise Account for ECAP funding and allow gifts, grants, and donations to be used solely to expand the program. Supporters including rural health coalitions, the Balmer Group, and Snohomish County said the account would help expand access to early learning, especially in child care deserts; DCYF estimated staffing costs to administer the account. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 would direct WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a reported cost of about $234,000; there was no public testimony. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019 would clarify home care agency rate-setting and require that no more than 20% of Medicaid home care rates go to administrative costs, with DSHS saying there would be no fiscal impact. Labor and caregiver witnesses supported it as a parity and accountability measure. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education representative supported the bill, and staff said OSPI would incur only modest administrative costs. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the minutes.
• the types of products and the types of more...
• The city of Chatham. The city of Chatham. The city of Chatham.
• interest, kickbacks, and insurance fraud that can drive up the cost of repairs, maintenance, and monthly
• Of a larger package of bills.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• A modest tax rate of 1% or even a fraction of 1% could generate tens, high tens, if not hundreds, of
• A modest tax rate of 1% or even a fraction of 1% could generate tens, high tens, if not hundreds, of
• It's a broad form of tax. It covers all forms of digital advertising.
• And the range at 1% or sub 1% would be in the neighborhood of the high tens of millions of dollars, up
• So that's one of the examples of how small businesses would use this.

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:

• Senator Hinojosa of Nueces. and Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo. All right.
• , we'll talk principles of war here for a moment, unity of command.
• on some of these.
• I'm here on behalf of the ACLU of Texas. And so, first of all, you know, we are not opposed.
• of commission or some kind of body with a a number of good faith stakeholders from across the state,

Bills: SB825

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: illegal immigration, economic impact, environmental impact, financial impact, annual study, Texas, government report, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A modest tax rate of 1% or even a fraction of 1% could generate tens, high tens, if not hundreds, of
• A modest tax rate of 1% or even a fraction of 1% could generate tens, high tens, if not hundreds, of
• It's a broad form of tax. It covers all forms of digital advertising.
• And the range at 1% or sub 1% would be in the neighborhood of the high tens of millions of dollars, up
• Thank you. ...be in the neighborhood of the high tens of millions of dollars, up to $300 to $400 million

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we own three of them here in the state of Florida.
• That is a lot of fire in a state of 22 million-plus people.
• So with that, I know it's a lot of words, a lot of pictures, a lot of discussion, but for sake of time
• But once we took those out of service, we took them off of our inventory, and some of them went to the
• I think what we have to do a better job of is the messaging piece of it, because a lot of folks that

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture received a presentation from Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan on the agency’s wildfire response, forest management, and emergency support roles. He described the service’s four regions and 14 districts, its year-round wildfire response, use of bulldozers, helicopters, and drones, and the current high fire danger due to drought conditions. Dolan also highlighted prescribed burning, fuels mitigation, state forest management, the pine seedling nursery, and the agency’s role in hurricane response and incident management. Members asked about equipment loans and whether more prescribed burning could reduce wildfire impacts; Dolan said Florida already leads the nation in prescribed fire and emphasized public education and fuels reduction. The committee then considered and unanimously reported favorably Senate Bill 386, which creates a farm-equipment consumer protection process similar to a lemon law, allowing purchasers to seek repair or replacement of defective major farm equipment at no cost. The committee also took up Senate Bill 290, the Agriculture and Consumer Services omnibus bill. The bill would modernize fair association rules, preempt local bans on gas- and diesel-powered farm and landscape equipment, allow surplus of certain state-owned lands for bona fide agricultural use while excluding parks, forests, and wildlife lands, create a veterinary loan repayment program, make Farmers Feeding Florida permanent, expand Forest Service training opportunities, criminalize signal-jamming devices, increase penalties for CDL and English-proficiency exam cheating, restrict certain door-to-door solicitation, protect food safety inspectors, clarify biosolids rules, and add criminal and vendor-list penalties for contractors who fail to pay subcontractors. The committee adopted three amendments to align dates and technical language and to authorize native seed research and marketing through the Florida Wildlife Foundation. Testimony on SB 290 included support from several industry groups, concerns from the Home Builders Association about the new contractor-payment criminal penalties, and opposition from a citizen worried about the new surplus-land process for conservation lands. Despite concerns, CS/SB 290 was reported favorably. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of the appointees listed on tabs 4 and 5, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many hours of oral testimony were taken from dozens of external stakeholders, and volumes of written
• rights of their basin of origin.
• One of the key elements of this bill, as Mr.
• A couple of things, just kind of more informational.
• the day out of D.C.

Bills: SB7

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let us highlight some of these. This is just a picture of some of those services.
• Our total of all of our members got an opportunity now to go to school, whatever kind of school they
• of us.
• To all of us.
• their own out of a total of 5,000.

Summary: A joint hearing of the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee was held on an amendment to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Gaming Compact. The Washington State Gambling Commission and Puyallup Tribal representatives described the compact as a restatement of the tribe’s 1996 agreement, updated to reflect prior amendments and current gaming operations. Commission staff outlined several changes, including authorization for electronic table games, extension of credit with customer-protection safeguards, removal of per-facility limits, changes to wager limits, a stepped increase in the tribe’s player-terminal allocation, and new licensing/eligibility/registration and definitions appendices. They also noted added provisions on responsible gaming, non-smoking areas if smoking is offered, emergency-services access, and community commitments. Puyallup Tribal leaders gave extensive testimony on how gaming revenue has supported tribal self-governance, cultural preservation, education, housing, health care, elder services, youth programs, environmental protection, and charitable giving. They said gaming revenue has funded tribal facilities, a school, a longhouse, housing projects, a funeral home, health and behavioral health services, substance-use treatment, and donations to nonprofits and local public health efforts. Tribal economic development staff also described diversification efforts funded by gaming, including businesses in hospitality, fuel, construction, manufacturing, logistics, and a planned terminal partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance. The casino CEO emphasized responsible gaming, compliance, self-exclusion tools, staff training, and a problem-gambling campaign. Committee members asked about the compact negotiation process and the state’s interests. Gambling Commission staff explained that compact changes are negotiated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, with the governor’s office, commissioners, and ex officio members providing policy input, and that the current hearing was required within 30 days of completion of the state process. Staff said the commission would hold a public meeting on Thursday to take comment and then vote whether to forward the restated compact to the governor or return it for further negotiation. No public testimony was signed up at the hearing, and no vote was taken by the legislative committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• California is one of the highest-cost-of-living states in the nation due to a variety of factors.
• California is one of the highest-cost-of-living states in the nation due to a variety of factors, including
• of AB 2366.
• Cost of living is also added to the list of factors the Office of Administrative Law must evaluate.
• Cost of living is also added to the list of factors that the Office of Administrative Law must evaluate

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact heard several bills focused on trade, affordability, and public finance. AB 2745 (Fong) would update California’s international trade and investment strategy, add a public advisory process, and allow regional trade hubs; supporters from the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and California Forward said it would help California compete globally and attract investment, while no opposition testified. AB 2366 (Avila Farías) would require state agencies to analyze cost-of-living impacts when adopting regulations and direct the LAO to develop guidance; supporters from the New California Coalition and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association argued it would improve transparency and help address affordability, while members noted concerns about implementation and unintended consequences. The committee also heard AB 2243 (Haney), which creates a commission to study whether California should establish a state public bank and how it might be structured. Supporters from the California Public Banking Alliance, climate groups, and other organizations said a public bank could reduce borrowing costs and finance housing, climate, and small business needs; the California Bankers Association and credit unions opposed the bill, arguing it could compete with private banks, duplicate prior studies, and raise unresolved regulatory and cost issues. Several committee members said they would support the study concept but wanted the bill amended so any final decision would return to the Legislature, and the author agreed to clarify that point and remove language related to extending local public bank licensing timelines. The committee also took up consent items AB 2048 (Calderon), AB 2583 (Hoover), and ACR 129 (Haney), which were approved without opposition. After quorum was established, the committee voted AB 2366 out on a 7-0 basis to Judiciary, AB 2745 out on a 7-0 basis to Appropriations, and AB 2243 out on a 7-0 basis to Finance, with the consent calendar also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would, instead of expiring at the end of 2025, it would expire at the end of 2027.
• It has a tendency of being way below either one of the two levels—the levels that have been kind of defined
• of Texas.
• Some of these fences, especially one that I think was some of the genesis of this, is right from a boat
• With rising costs of equipment, supplies, and repairs, this bill is necessary. the threshold has become

Bills: HB334 , HB583 , HB605 , HB1327 , HB1646 , HB2115 , HB2379

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, if a student drops out of school and they are W-2'd out, they are now outside of the system
• They taught me, of course, the importance of standing up against hate, and with the rise of and he Me
• , they taught me, of course, the importance of standing up against hate.
• impacts of the Holocaust, Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the instruction of the harmful impacts
• of the bill.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee met with a quorum and heard four bills. CS/HB 1145 on workforce education clarified that public charter schools may receive CAP grant funds, expanded the number of college system money-back programs from three to six, and standardized eligibility rules while allowing institutions some flexibility. Supporters said it would help students access career training without adding new funding in the bill. The committee also heard CS/HB 1079, which expands dropout retrieval program eligibility to any individual who has withdrawn from high school and is not engaged in education, while resolving statutory conflicts about program structure; some members raised concerns about FERPA, student privacy, and third-party funding, but the bill was reported favorably despite one no vote from Rep. Valdes. The committee then considered HB 251, which would designate January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a response to rising antisemitism and emphasized education, remembrance, and opposition to hate. Testimony came from a Miami-Dade school board member, a student, and other supporters, and members spoke strongly in favor of the measure. The bill was reported favorably with no opposition. Finally, the committee heard CS/HB 261 on middle and high school start times. The bill revises the earlier mandated later-start-time law by allowing districts to comply through a report to DOE detailing start times, planning efforts, public input, and impacts, rather than requiring immediate uniform implementation. Supporters from small school districts, Miami-Dade, PTA, and other organizations said the change preserves the health goal while giving districts flexibility to address transportation, dual enrollment, athletics, and staffing constraints. Members debated the need for parental involvement and detailed reporting, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably on a unanimous vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's roughly 40% of our energy.
• to ensure that we are taking care of our youth by taking care of the threatening portion of the threats
• provisions to ensure that we are taking care of our youth by taking care of the threatening portion of
• So this is a list of the federal list of the drugs, class one drugs.
• I know I'm a registered Republican, as many of the members of this committee are.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Monday, March 2, by voice vote. It then considered RS 33585, a resolution on Idaho energy policy that emphasized energy sovereignty, reliable and dispatchable baseload generation, protection of the Snake River Plain Aquifer, and support for hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas generation. Members discussed the phrase “responsibly developed natural gas”; after debate, the committee unanimously adopted an amended substitute that moved “responsibly developed” to modify all listed energy sources and struck the phrase from the natural gas line. Next, the committee took up RS 33601, which proposed a task force to study sex torsion, its impact on victims, prevention, and response. Representative Boyle objected to the term “task force” because it is not in committee rules, and Representative Green agreed to change it to “interim committee.” The committee then approved the motion to introduce the resolution with that change and send it to second reading. The committee also considered RS 33587, a proposal to add kratom-related substances to Schedule I. Representative Pohanka cited law enforcement concerns and deaths in his district, while Representative Scott argued kratom is used by some people to get off opioids and urged limiting the bill to synthetic forms. The committee rejected Scott’s substitute amendment 12-1, then approved the original motion to introduce the resolution, with Scott recorded as voting no. Finally, House Bill 638, which would restore Idaho’s presidential primary to March and include a $50,000 ballot-access fee to offset costs, was heard with testimony from Secretary of State Phil McGrane and others; the committee sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Representative Scott voting no. The committee also held RS 3347 subject to the call of the chair and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As it turns out, I was an original member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Debate Initiative
• As it turns out, I was an original member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Debate Initiative
• So I was present of the creation.
• Of course, of all people, you would know about all those provisions. So thank you.
• Senator Yarborough moves to recommend confirmation of Laila Collins as a member of the State Board of

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 considered several education-related measures and one election-related bill. The committee first took up CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, which was presented as a statewide effort to expand and institutionalize competitive speech and debate through a Hall of Fame, a designated Speech and Debate Week, teacher endorsement options, Florida Virtual School programming, statewide coursework and credentials, and annual district reporting. Supporters, including a parent and representatives of the Florida Debate Initiative and school groups, emphasized student benefits and the need for funding; the committee adopted a delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee next heard SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, aimed at reducing administrative delays for initial certification and reinstatement while preserving standards. An Orange County school administrator supported the bill but requested language to allow educators to bank professional learning hours for a future renewal cycle. The bill was reported favorably. SB 1646 on educational facilities followed, revising how facility funding is calculated and prioritized, with attention to safety, maintenance, renovation, and planning requirements; it also received support from school district and advocacy witnesses and was reported favorably. Members then considered CS/SB 564, which would allow registered or pre-registered high school students to volunteer at polling locations and count the service toward community service hours. After an amendment clarifying that the hours could count toward graduation or postsecondary financial aid requirements, the sponsor and a county supervisor of elections explained the bill as a way to encourage civic engagement and future poll workers. The committee also heard SB 1340 on coordinated screening and progress monitoring for dyslexia and dyscalculia, requiring early screening, support plans, and rulemaking; it was reported favorably after questions about how the support plans would interact with IEPs. Finally, the committee recommended confirmation of Laila Collins to the State Board of Education and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Six of them are support.
• of facilities.
• This isn't because of our lack of investments.
• SB 1266 redefines the value when assessing copper wire theft costs to include the full cost of repair
• My dad, you know, lived out of a car for some time. Both of my parents lived out of a hotel.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This pace of growth is not sustainable. $119 billion, an increase of almost 30%.
• The Department of Education has the Division of Early Learning, but frankly, the Division of Early Learning
• And I signed a piece of paper.
• But it was the restrictions and it was all of the overhead on top of it.
• Safety of the child and quality of education will always be my North Star.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee began with a roll call confirming a quorum, then heard a presentation of the proposed health care budget. The chair said the overall health care budget would total $46.7 billion, a 2.1% decrease in total spending and a 3% increase in general revenue, while reducing 3,585 state FTE. He highlighted funding for Medicaid, KidCare, developmental disabilities services, opioid settlement spending, mental health facilities, senior services, school health nurses, veterans’ dental care, and veterans nursing home improvements. The chair also presented PCB HCB 25-01, a conforming bill that eliminates the Health Care Innovation Program, the Health Care Innovation Council, and the revolving loan program; makes changes to cancer research and graduate medical education provisions; and adjusts Medicaid rebate-related language. The conforming bill passed favorably after no questions, public testimony, or debate. The committee then considered CS/HB 47 on child care. The bill, as explained by Rep. McFarland, would reduce regulation for child care providers in good standing, speed background screening for child care workers, allow provisional hiring status in some cases, create license-exempt status for certain employer-provided child care facilities and DOD child care facilities, and remove outdated paperwork requirements such as the flu brochure. An amendment restored language protecting large family child care homes from being dropped by residential insurers and cleaned up statutory language; it was adopted. Members debated the bill at length, with supporters emphasizing common-sense deregulation and helping working parents, while some members raised concerns about safety, early learning quality, and the loss of informational reminders to parents. The bill was reported favorably. The subcommittee also heard HB 1553 on a uterine fibroid research database. Rep. Dunkley explained that the bill would require health care providers to submit identified fibroid data to DOH so it can be de-identified for a research database, after the department had been unable to use prior de-identified submissions reliably. An amendment removed the current appropriation and was adopted. Members spoke in strong support, noting the prevalence of fibroids and the value of better diagnosis and treatment data. The bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1529, which addresses the home health aide program for medically fragile children. Rep. Tremont said the bill would direct AHCA to seek a federal waiver so parents’ earnings from caring for their children would not count against Medicaid eligibility, and would revise training requirements and remove mandated annual program assessments. The bill drew supportive public testimony from home care stakeholders, had no debate, and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, work on a design of a blockchain... effective date of the of the chapter was effective date of the
• </c><00:10:37.680><c> of</c> when this is brand new type of of when this is brand new type of of business
• of a stem or half an inch of of a piece of a stem or a<00:25:16.000><c> piece</c><00:25:16.159><c> of
• It's really hard to get rid of. of. of.
• </c> of the home. We became aware of that. of the home. We became aware of that.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all