Transcript Highlights:

• Our juvenile detention officers are expected to meet a professional uniform standard.
• Of course, they can earn a standard diploma or a GED, but when they are introduced to the trades and
• We have a whole fleet of vehicles at the Department of Corrections that is way below the DMS standard
• We have a whole fleet of vehicles at the Department of Corrections that is way below the DMS standard
• The DMS standard. They're breaking down full of incarcerated people. That's dangerous.

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 public safety budget, which totals about $8.2 billion within a $117.4 billion overall state budget. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget outlined funding and reductions across the public safety silo, including the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, FDLE, Legal Affairs, the courts, and related entities. Agency heads then presented their requests, with FDLE seeking funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert system upgrades, alcohol testing equipment, officer mental health, criminal alien detection, and statutory staffing needs; DJJ requesting money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential contract rate increases, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requesting major funding for correctional officer pay increases, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications and security technology, offender information system modernization, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members discussed staffing shortages, prison conditions, immigration enforcement, public records burdens, mental health and substance use treatment, and the need for continued investment in corrections. A member of the public also testified about poor conditions in some prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and maintenance issues. The committee then considered and passed CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would clarify that a person may not resist a law enforcement officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties and would increase penalties in cases involving violence against officers. The bill sponsor described the case of Officer Jason Rayner and said the measure was intended to prevent defendants from using claims about unlawful detention or arrest to justify violence. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after support was noted from several law enforcement and municipal groups. Next, the committee passed CS/SB 54, which addresses use of substances affecting cognitive function. An amendment narrowed the medical-records language to records relevant to investigations of violent offenders and clarified privacy protections. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from survivors and advocates emphasized the danger victims face when trying to leave abusive situations. Finally, the committee passed CS/SB 298, the public-records companion bill, which extends confidentiality protections for participants in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating violence victims as well. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing that this amendment does is it changes the standard of evidence from clear and convincing
• Probable cause is the same standard of evidence that police officers use to arrest people, so actually
• Probable cause is the same standard of evidence that police officers use to arrest people, so actually
• of evidence from changes the standard of evidence from clear<00:17:23.959><c> and</c><00:17:24.160><
• of evidence uh that police standard of evidence uh that police officers<00:17:32.960><c> use</c><00:

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not change existing licensing standards.
• Why do we have standards? Complied with. Why do we have regulations?
• those standards?
• It raises no new licensing standards. It imposes no new operational requirements.
• I believe that that's the minimum standard for every one of us that we could...

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not change existing licensing standards.
• Why do we have standards? ...complied with. Why do we have regulations?
• those standards?
• It raises no new licensing standards. It imposes no new operational requirements.
• I believe that that's the minimum standard for every one of us that we could...

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• map using the decennial data. ...to comply with the federal Constitution's one-person, one-vote standard
• You know that it's a tiered standard. It's a tiered architecture.
• So that's simply just part of the balancing of all of the standards.
• So that's simply just part of the balancing of all of the standards.
• They are certainly not a gold standard, and exact numbers can't be looked at again.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard a Governor’s Office presentation on a proposed congressional reapportionment map. The governor’s counsel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is legally permissible, that race should not be considered at all in drawing districts, and that the Florida Fair Districts provisions are inconsistent with federal equal protection law and should be treated as non-severable. The presentation also discussed the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Louisiana v. Callais and the Florida Supreme Court’s Black Voters Matter decision as part of the legal rationale for the map. Jason Parada, who said he drew the map alone, described the map as based on 2020 census block data, with county-level population estimates used only as a guide to identify faster-growing areas. He said the plan keeps 48 counties and 382 municipalities whole, has compactness scores similar to the current benchmark map, and uses traditional geographic and political boundaries such as roads, railways, county lines, and municipal lines. He walked through regional changes, emphasizing a race-neutral redesign that significantly altered South Florida, including changes to districts in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Everglades, while leaving several northern districts largely unchanged. Members questioned the witnesses extensively about the legal theory, the use of partisan data, the role of race, population growth, and the timing and review of the map. The witnesses said partisan data was considered along with other traditional redistricting criteria, but race was not used. They also said they could not speak to who else reviewed the map beyond EOG staff and counsel. Several senators raised concerns about the map’s compactness, county and city splits, the apparent partisan effects, and the fact that the map was released shortly before the special session. No vote or final action on the map was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• map using the decennial data. ...to comply with the federal Constitution's one-person, one-vote standard
• You know that it's a tiered standard. It's a tiered architecture...
• So that's simply just part of the balancing of all of the standards.
• So sometimes using those political and geographical features, which are also a redistricting standard
• It was all kind of a balancing of all of the standards, including compactness and some of the issues

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2781 builds on the standard that is already recognized as responsible policy in Arizona, extending
• It doesn't take away a local government's ability to set its own decommissioning standards or permit
• As was described in the testimony, decommissioning standards are great.
• Oxygenate blenders from compliance with the statutorily prescribed standards for the sale of gasoline
• Relaxing our environmental standards in the name of a temporary emergency, Relaxing our environmental

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2787, which would bar the state and its political subdivisions from using personnel or financial resources to enforce or cooperate with the federal Mexican wolf reintroduction program, while exempting the Livestock Loss Board’s livestock loss program. Sierra Club and animal welfare advocates opposed the bill as harmful to wolf recovery and unnecessary given the livestock loss reimbursement data. The committee approved HB 2787 on a 4-3 vote. Members then considered House Bill 255, which would create a Brackish Groundwater Recovery Program Fund and authorize the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to administer projects using long-term water augmentation funds. Opponents argued brackish groundwater is still groundwater and pumping it could cause localized impacts and land subsidence, while supporters framed it as a water-supply solution. The bill failed on a 2-4 vote. The committee next advanced House Bill 2782, requiring disclosure rules for regulatory assets included in utility rates, and House Bill 2781, which would impose financial assurance, insurance, decommissioning, and site-restoration requirements on solar energy power plants. HB 2781 drew stakeholder testimony from solar industry, utilities, and local-government interests; an amendment to revise financial assurance and remove a remediation fund was adopted, but the bill itself then failed on a 4-4 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2975, which would suspend State Land Department solar scoring maps and require new mining and housing resource maps, despite opposition that it would reduce transparency and favor certain land uses over solar. Later, the committee approved House Bill 2696, as amended, directing the Arizona Commerce Authority to prioritize fuel and gas price reduction and create a fuel resiliency task force, after debate over whether the bill should focus more broadly on energy resilience and whether the ACA was the right agency. The committee also passed HCM 2009, urging Congress to streamline mining access, compensate states for subsurface mineral rights, and require legislative approval for new national monuments, and HB 2889, which would fund ADEQ monitoring of uranium contamination and create a statewide registry and tribal-partnered monitoring program. Finally, the committee heard HB 2763, which would require a legislative joint resolution before the Game and Fish Commission could close a shooting range; Game and Fish said it would add another step to the closure process and mainly affect the Ben Avery facility, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It balances voter rights with reasonable standards for maintaining election integrity.
• The standard is ambiguous, subjective, and ripe for abuse.
• This is satisfying the standard but gives an inaccurate representation.
• That's kind of the standard for personal knowledge right now.
• But I can say, under the existing personal knowledge standard...

Bills: HB2442 , HB3697 , HB4288 , HB5256 , HB5337 , HB5362 , HJR161

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: HB 2442, Texas Election Code, Election Code Section 84.001, early voting, ballot by mail, mail ballot, absentee voting, runoff election, primary runoff, general runoff, voter application, election administration, county election officials, opt-out, voter choice, mail voting, ballot application, voting by mail, Election Code, size requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards as well.
• The Division of Apprenticeship Standards, also known as DAS, supports apprenticeship programs.
• Over time, the program has included more lax eligibility standards for these benefits.
• Yes, so Adele Burns, I'm the chief at the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
• Garcia Brower from the Labor Commissioner with the Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement, Mr.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When California enacted the CCPA, our state set the standard for privacy.
• We have an opposed unless amended to add the knowingly standard for retailer liability protection.
• This bill gives children whose images were featured prominently along those same standards a pathway
• Sierra Club and our environmental justice partners spent years advocating for clean air standards at
• A materiality standard would improve focus on disclosures that matter the most.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee convened for its first hearing, took roll, and heard several privacy- and AI-related bills. SB 1106 by Senator Cabaldon would shorten the Delete Act data broker deletion deadline from 45 days to 30 days; it drew support from a technology and democracy group, no opposition testimony, and was moved out on a due pass to Appropriations vote. SB 923 by Senator Becker would expand the CCPA deletion right to cover all personal information held by a business and require online-only businesses to offer a web form or similar method for privacy requests; supporters included the California Privacy Protection Agency and privacy advocates, while business groups raised concerns about scope, compliance, and the email/web-form requirement. The bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations, with some members noting they were laying off or wanted further amendments. The committee also heard SB 1142, the Digital Dignity Act, which would regulate digital replicas and deepfakes on large online platforms, including takedown and revocation procedures and penalties. Supporters said it would protect Californians from fraud, harassment, and nonconsensual synthetic likeness use; opponents, including the Motion Picture Association, CCIA, TechNet, and others, raised First Amendment, due process, Section 230, and overbreadth concerns, especially around deceased persons and the 48-hour takedown process. Members said they supported the bill but wanted further work before Judiciary, and it passed 6-0 as amended to Judiciary. The committee also adopted its rules without objection. Later, SB 867 by Senator Padilla would impose a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacture of AI chatbot-powered toys for children, citing research showing unsafe, sexually explicit, or privacy-invasive behavior; child advocacy and consumer groups supported it, while retailers and civil justice groups sought narrower definitions and liability protections. It passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1247 would give child influencers, once adults, a right to request deletion or modification of images and likenesses used in monetized social media content; it drew no support testimony but was opposed by a civil justice group over the creation of a new private right of action, and it passed 7-0 to Judiciary. SB 930, the consent-calendar item, was approved 7-0. The committee then heard SB 1114, which would restrict sharing of state-collected data related to LGBTQ Californians absent an enforceable order, with supporters arguing it would protect sensitive data from misuse by federal agencies and preserve trust in state programs. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 1159 would let local governments treat AI bots and agents differently from people for Brown Act, public records, and related civic participation laws, in response to AI-generated comment floods; supporters from environmental, local government, and nonprofit groups said it was needed to preserve human participation, while opponents argued the bill should focus on fraud rather than AI and warned about overreach. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1050 would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements; labor and consumer advocates supported it as a truth-in-advertising measure, while media and industry groups objected that it was overbroad and should be narrowed to misleading ads and aligned with existing law. Members signaled support for the bill’s goal but also raised concerns about scope and consistency with current false-advertising rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• For most of our labor standards, the process is often arduous and lengthy for a worker to demand, written
• For most of our labor standards, the process is often arduous and lengthy for a worker to For most of
• our labor standards, the process is often arduous and lengthy for a worker to get what is rightfully
• So we would ask the same standard be held to our Attorney General’s office as well.
• That made it clear to me that statewide standards are essential, and I support this bill's intent.

Bills: SB5925 , SB5906 , SB6070 , SB6002

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: Attorney General, civil investigative demand, CID, subpoena-like demand, investigative authority, consumer protection, civil enforcement, pre-suit investigation, document production, interrogatories, deposition, oral testimony, confidentiality, trade secrets, judicial review, enforcement action, Washington RCW, law enforcement powers, government transparency, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 11 removes a requirement that PELSB, which is the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards
• </c> health standards. health standards.
• </c><00:10:28.640><c> board</c><00:10:29.360><c> to</c> licensing and standards board to licensing and
• standards board to annually<00:10:30.160><c> report</c><00:10:30.560><c> certain</c><00:10:30.959><c
• </c><00:32:10.240><c> as</c> should be held to the same standards as should be held to the same standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I want to do is make sure we have gold standard science.
• A gold standard is 12-step programs.
• That is the standard of practice now.
• We need to go to standard science.
• Old standard science and make America healthy.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requirement for food safety standards requirement for food safety standards regarding<03:35:28.040
• There's a higher standard for the processing, right?
• There's a higher standard for the processing, right?
• The bill sets standards for production, and those standards can be reinforced by information provided
• </c><04:45:21.000><c> for</c> machines the bill sets standards for machines the bill sets standards for

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• doing. standardized processes for we're doing. standardized processes for evidence<00:15:20.079><c> collection
• Why did the other six fail to meet prosecution standards?
• </c> admitted market uh is the standard admitted market uh is the standard insurance<01:14:47.120><c>
• </c><01:23:54.320><c> uh</c> fortified um roofing standard uh fortified um roofing standard uh describing
• And so roofs to hurricane standards.

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• “Qualification of accounting standards” — is that a term that is accepted and acknowledged by AICPA,
• The national standard is 60 days.
• The bill also creates a subjective remaining useful life standard.
• do burn, the newer buildings built to the higher standards are much less likely to burn.
• Hardening and mitigation standards cannot be denied coverage within the pilot communities.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:28.320><c> and</c> the New Hampshire Police Standards and the New Hampshire Police Standards
• </c><00:31:22.800><c> and</c> will be before the Police Standards and will be before the Police Standards
• type of interfacing or the newer model of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard so
• </c><00:44:41.320><c> type</c><00:44:41.520><c> of</c> using an HL7 standard type of using an HL7 standard
• so that we know that resources standard so that we know that we<00:44:49.000><c> can</c><00:44:49.160

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 20 minutes and then adopted the remainder of the consent calendar, after removing two items for separate discussion. On item 26071, members questioned a $95,000 DoubleTree Manchester contract for a two-day conference. Department staff said the hotel was the only bidder, the conference typically draws more than 500 attendees, most of the cost is food offset by registration fees, and attendees pay their own lodging except for presenters. The committee then approved the item. On item 26068, members asked for clearer reporting on remaining federal funds in continuing items. DHHS said about $10.3 million remained as of February 28, 2026, and agreed to provide the original award amounts and a reconciliation later. The committee approved the item. The committee then took up a DHHS transfer item for the developmental disability system, where officials said projected costs had risen because of delayed pandemic-era billings, new individuals entering the system, and higher individual service budgets. They said the budget was built on older assumptions, that carryforward funds had fallen from about $94 million to $72 million, and that the transfer would not affect lapse because it shifts general funds while federal Medicaid funds are accepted in return. The item was adopted. The committee also approved a hiring request and then a late Corrections item tied to overtime and recruitment. Corrections officials said the department is about 50% staffed for corrections officers, typical overtime is an eight-hour shift, inmate populations are beginning to rise again, and the department is using academy blitzes, out-of-state recruiting, targeted advertising, and a $10,000 sign-on bonus paid after academy completion and one year of service. Senator Gray said the late item was intended to help reduce a larger request expected in June, and the committee adopted the item. Finally, members questioned DHHS item 26074 on the New Hampshire Care Connection system and its interoperability with provider and managed care systems. DHHS said the system already has SMART on FHIR integration, single sign-on, and deeper integration options, and that managed care organizations are working with the contractor on use cases and data exchange. Officials said the project has been multi-phase, including the 988 crisis-response migration, privacy/security work, a provider network of more than 100 organizations, and a searchable resource portal managed by Granite United Way. They said the closed-referral solution is funded largely with Medicaid federal funds and is planned to continue in the base budget, not the rural health grant. The discussion ended without further action noted in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:24.720><c> academic</c> generating gold standard academic generating gold standard academic
• </c> Labor-Management Reporting Standards Labor-Management Reporting Standards Act.<00:31:56.920><c>
• It raises the standard of living for the entire community.
• </c> our nursing homes workforce standards our nursing homes workforce standards board<00:48:29.080><
• We have our nursing home workforce standards board that we've created.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not eliminate safety standards; it layers multiple safety standards beyond the baseline.
• These designs were common historically in American cities and remain standard practice in many other
• This bill would allow multifamily housing to be built in commercial zones subject to some standards.
• This bill would allow multifamily housing to be built in commercial zones subject to some standards.
• It requires compliance with local siting and design standards, provides that they are clear and objective

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates Montgomery County Municipal District Number 263 and provides an... district with standard
• The legislation follows the standard template framework for MMDs and will be governed by an elected board
• The bill provides for the standard powers of financing for water, sewage, and drainage infrastructure
• This is a template bill and uses your standard template language. Thank you.
• This bill uses the standard template currently used for MUDs, but instead of granting MUD powers, it

Bills: HB103

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 1185, senate, all