Transcript Highlights:

• This is a limitation on the power of the Department of Revenue to reinterpret tax statute, and I'm just
• </c><00:37:55.079><c> from</c><00:37:55.760><c> uh</c> think they stand to benefit from uh think they
• stand to benefit from uh responsible<00:37:56.880><c> uh</c><00:37:57.000><c> tax</c><00:37:57.520><
• to levy limits.
• </c><01:12:47.760><c> um</c> maintain um that that tax benefit um maintain um that that tax benefit um

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
• Additionally, the bill revises the procedures for applying to the CTF benefit in tandem with a federal
• Additionally, the bill revises the procedures for applying to the CTF benefit in tandem with a federal

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Shriver, will you talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things
• that have Can you talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things that have been
• If you notice, we did that yesterday in the limits bill. There weren't specific vendors named.

Bills: SB1432 , SB1338 , SB1437 , SB1812

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: teacher certification, pilot program, education, state board, alternative pathways, education grants, competitive grants, revolving fund, State Department of Education, State Board of Education, Strong Readers Act, literacy instruction, reading intervention, dyslexia, science of reading, structured literacy, multisensory instruction, school districts, public education funding, education innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Schreiber, will you talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things
• that have Can you talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things that have been
• If you notice, we did that yesterday in the limits bill. There weren't specific vendors named.

Summary: The committee considered several education-related Senate bills. SB 1437 would direct the State Department of Education to establish physical fitness guidelines, administer fitness tests, and use student performance data to improve student health outcomes. Supporters argued early fitness and health habits are important to address childhood obesity and long-term health, and the bill was advanced on a due-pass recommendation after discussion and a vote. SB 1432 would remove sunset and pilot-program references from an alternative teacher certification program that has become a permanent pathway for qualified nontraditional candidates. Testimony emphasized the program’s intensive training, mentoring, and role in helping address teacher shortages. The committee voted to send the bill out with a due-pass recommendation. SB 1812 would require school districts to make benchmark assessment results for grades K-3 through 8 available to parents and guardians; it drew no questions and was also advanced due pass. The committee also took up SB 1338, with a PCS and amendment accepted without objection. The bill creates the Education Impact and Innovation Fund, a competitive grants pool intended to replace the practice of naming specific vendors in legislation and instead let the State Department of Education and State Board of Education select programs and vendors. Members referenced a recent State Auditor report as part of the rationale. The committee voted to advance the bill due pass and then concluded its meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill and the significance of that, to be clear, our concern is to ensure that we don't inadvertently limit
• It will also be a practical and sustainable way to strengthen fighter retirement benefits beyond what
• state in the country, but the only location in the world that provides fighters with a retirement benefit
• And for those who are able to access these funds, it can... ...with a retirement benefit.
• And thanks to your support, when we extended those benefits to our mixed martial artists, fighters, we

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• We use that rate to discount future benefit payments. It's also...
• We use that rate to discount future benefit payments.
• Funded and on course to provide benefits for everyone, and all the retirees will be able to manage that
• The retirees receive their payments as set when they retire, and it's based on their benefit formula,
• But then there's also what we call the triple P, the purchase power protection, which limits how far

Transcript Highlights:

• We use that rate to discount future benefit payments. It's also...
• We use that rate to discount future benefit payments.
• Yeah, in terms of keeping the pension plan funded and on course Funded and on course to provide benefits
• The retirees receive their payments as set when they retire, and it's based on their benefit formula,
• But then there's also what we call the Triple PA, the purchase power protection, which limits how far

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Iowa conducted a pharmacy benefit manager.
• The state of Iowa conducted a pharmacy benefit manager reverse auction 25.
• I'm the Vice President of Pharmacy Benefit Administration, or PBA, Markets at Capital Rx.
• What we see as the role of a PBM is really to be the PBA, a pharmacy benefit administrator on behalf
• I am supporting HB 938 because Louisiana's patients need pharmacy benefit manager reform.

Bills: SB511 , SB512 , HB591 , HB909 , HB938 , HB1154 , HB1187

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: automobile repairs, insurance transparency, repair shop liability, non-OEM parts, policyholder rights, automobile insurance, appraisal process, insurance policyholders, dispute resolution, claim valuation, behavioral health, crisis services, mental health care, insurance coverage, healthcare access, pharmacy benefit managers, reimbursement standards, local pharmacies, drug pricing, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• It has some potential to create a future liability that's offset by the funds in the benefit account.
• Again, members, HB 1236 has gone over to y'all's side from our side concerning PBMs, pharmacy benefit
• Any cost to the overall benefit is going to ultimately get put into premiums. Okay. Okay.
• or annual plan of benefits for life, health, or other benefit programs offered by the Office of Group
• Benefits.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with eight members present and deferred HB 127. It then considered a series of bills, most of which were reported favorably without opposition. HB 22 revised COLA rules for the clerks of court retirement system, allowing more frequent COLAs when the system is better funded; HB 324 made judicial stipends permanent and added future COLAs subject to available funding; HB 233 increased jury mileage reimbursement; HB 47 reorganized assessor retirement COLA statutes; HB 533 allowed St. Tammany Parish to transfer unused witness-fee account balances to the 22nd Judicial District Court; HB 980 adjusted eligibility for the Firemen’s Supplemental Pay Board; HCR 45 urged Congress to clarify ARPA deadlines for water projects; HB 559 increased court costs in the 4th Judicial District; HB 290 recreated the Department of Treasury and related entities in statute; and HB 382 addressed Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget review authority over Group Benefits plans. The committee also reported HB 1157 favorably, creating a financing bank mechanism for infrastructure projects, and HB 575 favorably, giving youth aging out of foster care preferred access to surplus state vehicles through the Louisiana Property Assistance Agency. Several measures drew more discussion. HB 1236, dealing with pharmacy benefit managers and professional dispensing fees, prompted extensive testimony from the sponsor, the Legislative Fiscal Office, the Department of Insurance, independent pharmacies, and PBM representatives. Supporters said it clarifies and strengthens enforcement of existing PBM law and protects independent pharmacies; opponents argued the bill’s requirement that PBMs bear dispensing-fee costs would be difficult to implement and could raise premiums. The sponsor said he would work on amendments, including clarifying language and a delayed effective date, and the bill was nevertheless moved favorably. SB 25, on registrar of voters compensation, was amended to a revised pay structure and then reported favorably. HB 47 and HB 533 were also presented as funding and administrative cleanups for retirement and court-related accounts, with local support noted. The committee also heard HB 233 on jury duty mileage reimbursement, which the sponsor said updates a 1961 rate and would be funded locally at an estimated average increase of about $4,000 per judicial district. HB 324 on judicial salaries was described as self-funded by the judiciary and subject to available funding, with no budget impact. HB 575 on foster youth transportation was presented as a non-appropriation measure aimed at helping youth aging out of foster care by giving them preferred access to surplus vehicles. HB 382, which concerns the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget’s role in approving Group Benefits plans, was reported favorably with little discussion. The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, In
• order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will
• Under current law, the regional broadband consortium authorized limited funds are available.
• So there's some limited adoption activities that really help engage deployment.
• Let's be clear what CETNA funding does. limited amount of training has not been provided.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee met with two bills on the agenda after opening remarks on hearing rules and public conduct. AB 2279 by Assembly Member Gibson proposed changes to the California Advanced Services Fund for regional broadband consortia, including expanding their authority to support broadband deployment and adoption, increasing multi-year funding, and shifting grants from reimbursement-based to performance-based payments. Supporters, including representatives from Cal Poly Humboldt, Valley Vision, and several broadband and technology organizations, said the bill would help consortia better close the digital divide and reduce administrative burdens. There was no opposition, and members discussed the high audit and accounting costs under current rules. The committee passed AB 2279 with a due pass as amended recommendation and re-referred it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo, which would add existing dispatcher training requirements for pre-arrival medical instructions to the standards public safety agencies must meet to receive CETNA funding, without changing the funding amount or structure. Proponents, including emergency medical dispatch and ambulance representatives, argued the bill would help ensure consistent life-saving instructions for 911 callers. Opposition from CalNENA and a Riverside County Sheriff’s Office representative focused on the bill’s timing, since the underlying law from AB 645 does not take effect until 2027, and on concerns that withholding CETNA funds could harm PSAP operations. Members questioned where compliance gaps exist and whether education or other alternatives might work better. The committee ultimately passed AB 2041 with a due pass recommendation and re-referred it to the Committee on Emergency Management, with one member not voting at the time of the roll call. At the end of the hearing, the secretary completed roll calls on both measures after additional members arrived, confirming AB 2279 passed 9-0 and AB 2041 passed 8-0 with one not voting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public as possible within the limits of our
• time, In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public as possible within the limits
• Under current law, the regional broadband consortium has limited funds available.
• So there's some limited adoption activities that really help engage deployment.
• Let's be clear what CETNA funding does. limited amount of training has not been provided.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• This aligns with the federal rule for Congressional testimony which is limited to testimonial immunity
• The drawback, of course, is that in a limited set of circumstances is the two high courts might not agree
• This bill would address the confusion by allowing in limited circumstances where the Constitution is
• If you continue the work of simplifying and clarifying the jurisdictional limits of the Supreme Court
• You were limited by three minutes I believe or two minutes for this time for your testimony.

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to limit speaking to two minutes per person.
• And so this will allow for public discussion rather than limit it.
• It would never be his intention to limit anybody's First Amendment right.
• The current ban limits consumer education and raises First Amendment concerns.
• The current ban limits consumer education and raises First Amendment concerns.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took favorable action on a number of them. CS/CS/SB 54 by Senator Sharif would require district medical examiners to perform toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of identified violent offenders, consult treating providers when available, document findings, and report results to state agencies; it passed after brief questions and one opponent waived against. CS/SB 176 by Senator Polsky would require public colleges and universities to publish clearer campus safety reporting and response procedures for threats to students, faculty, or staff; it also passed favorably with no opposition. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Florida Farm Bill by Senator Trumbull, was the longest item and drew extensive testimony. The bill covers fair association rules, preemption of local limits on gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinarian loan repayment program, permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida, forest service training, signal jammer penalties, CDL exam cheating penalties, no-solicitation protections, inspector protections, biosolids rules, and contractor payment enforcement. Members adopted multiple amendments, including changes to contractor payment language, expanding vet loan repayment to equine vets, merging citrus research entities, technical updates to fair statutes and nonprofit definitions, and a late amendment removing the bill’s disparagement/free-speech section after significant public testimony and debate. A separate late amendment on biosolids delayed compliance timelines for Broward County, and the bill then passed favorably as amended. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 834 on nonprofit religious organizations, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement through amendment; the bill passed with support from some faith-based and consumer groups and one waiver against. SB 936 on temporary door locking devices passed without opposition. CS/SB 50 would expand veterans’ courts statewide as an option in all judicial circuits for service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse; it received broad support from veterans and advocacy groups and passed favorably. CS/SB 1004, in strike-all form, would regulate dog and cat sales by requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, adding a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and treating violations as unfair trade practices; an amendment removed an appropriation section, and the bill passed after questions about financing and pet retention. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 178, which directs the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide good-faith support to student-athletes for basic needs like food, transportation, and recovery services, while requiring reporting and preserving anti-recruiting enforcement; members discussed possible parental-consent language, and the bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks, with Senator Rouson explaining that it would regulate crypto kiosks to combat fraud, require operator registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics policies, and transaction limits, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we are limited in where we can draw from to immediately offer savings.
• energy charges. ...recover any public benefit energy charges.
• The programs that are run by public benefits like Mass Save are large programs.
• Twenty-one percent of the average gas bill right now is public benefit charges.
• A program that returns three dollars in benefits for every dollar invested.

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership. The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development. One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess I'm still how it benefits you.
• </c><01:38:22.719><c> to</c> it, uh is there is a public benefit to it, uh is there is a public benefit
• </c> this uh unequivocally uh would benefit this uh unequivocally uh would benefit the<02:11:59.119><
• And I guess I'm asking why is this just limited to kids and not vulnerable adults as well?
• Um, I think there is some benefit there. You talk about bloodborne disease...

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendments were offered that would limit eligibility to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
• Amendments were offered that would limit eligibility to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
• Amendments were offered that would limit eligibility to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
• Amendments were offered that would limit eligibility to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
• </c> which you know um 88% of these benefits which you know um 88% of these benefits go<01:42:15.600>

Transcript Highlights:

• . limitations. limitations.
• If folks limited equity cooperative.
• . procedural uh limitations.
• </c> fiscally benefit from not merging. fiscally benefit from not merging.
• It also creates a fairness benefit?

Transcript Highlights:

• So, just you'd be limited to 2 minutes.
• </c> Hinckley Aquafer to allow limited Hinckley Aquafer to allow limited agricultural<00:18:09.280><c
• Let's call that the limited area.<00:20:25.760><c> The</c><00:20:26.000><c> limited</c><00:20:26.400>
• The limited recharge is caused area.
• And allowing limited reality.

Bills: HF4253 , HF4257 , HF3236 , HF4264 , HF4149 , HF4019

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: boat storage structures, public waters, natural resources, rule amendments, watercraft canopy, PFAS, environmental regulation, manufacturers, public health, product safety, groundwater, water appropriation, water-use permit, water permit, aquifer test, aquifer, well construction, groundwater permit, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• He said there is benefit to those licenses as well.
• I can benefit to those licenses as well.
• 48:42.800><c> to</c><00:48:43.359><c> those</c> reason why it's limited to those reason why it's limited
• Maybe you can comment on that for the committee's benefit. >> Miss Hawkins, correct?
• . benefit. benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• in obtaining benefits, also known as<00:07:42.440><c> welfare</c><00:07:42.800><c> fraud,</c><00:07:
• </c><01:02:43.640><c> efforts,</c> and their community benefit efforts, and their community benefit efforts
• </c><01:34:48.560><c> If</c><01:34:48.680><c> they</c> poverty limit is our threshold.
• If they poverty limit is our threshold.
• ,</c><01:35:13.560><c> they</c> under that federal poverty limit, they under that federal poverty limit

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services