Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Rules will come to order.
• Ortega, we welcome you to the Senate Rules Committee.
• She thanked the committee.
• With that, we will adjourn the Rules Committee hearing.
• With that, we will adjourn the Rules Committee hearing.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and committee members.
• to this particular committee.
• There are very specific members that were assigned to this particular committee.
• </c> on this committee. on this committee.
• this committee.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the March 6, 2026 meeting and then received updates from the Legislative Budget Assistant audit staff on several ongoing audits. Christine Young reported that the special education audit was in report-writing stage with 39 of 80 observations completed and a draft expected in the second quarter, the education freedom accounts audit had 27 of 42 observations completed with a draft also expected in the second quarter, and the Doorway program audit had a draft report with 15 observations sent to DHHS on March 30, with responses due April 24 and presentation expected at the May fiscal committee meeting. Members asked about the size of the special education report, and staff estimated it would be over 800 pages and roughly three pounds. The committee then reviewed prior audit responsiveness from the Human Rights Commission. The commission reported that 22 observations had been completed, with remaining issues focused on timely case processing, a formal risk assessment, and a performance measurement system. Officials said staffing shortages were improving, a risk assessment manual had been drafted, a scorecard system was nearly complete, and the commission’s rules were moving through the public hearing process. Members asked about the timeline, and the commission said case processing was averaging 20 to 22 months and that the remaining items were expected to be resolved over time. Police Standards and Training also reported progress on prior audit items. The director corrected one status designation and said the job task analysis for curriculum development was substantially resolved, with findings and recommendations being prepared for the council. He said work on fitness testing was on hold pending legislative action, the performance measurement and strategic planning item remained a priority, and the council was focusing first on updating administrative rules. He also said the corrections advisory committee likely needed a statutory amendment to better reflect members with practical corrections experience. In response to questions, he said the council does not certify county correctional officers but reviews county curriculum annually, and he said the agency would be open to discussing consolidation or a pathway for county officers to become state-certified. The Department of Corrections then updated the committee on parole board-related audit items, saying 11 of 13 DOC-related findings were resolved. The remaining issues involved implementing a structured decision-making process for the parole board and improving data collection for recidivism tracking; the board had applied to the National Institute of Corrections for training, and manual data collection was underway. DOC also said it had created a HIPAA-compliant release form to share substance use disorder treatment information with the parole board. Finally, OPLC reported on the mental health workforce audit, saying six findings were fully resolved and six substantially resolved, with most remaining items tied to rulemaking and application processing. The office expects to complete its backend system migration and improve timeliness metrics by the end of the year, and it recently launched a jurisprudence exam for the mental health board. Under potential audit topics, staff said two items remained suspended because of litigation, and the committee discussed whether to keep DHHS contract management on the list. Representative [name unclear] proposed adding two new education freedom account audit topics: verification of residency and eligibility, and a record of educational attainment while preserving student privacy. Members supported adding them, but staff warned the expanded scope could delay the report and would require coordination with the Department of Education and approval by the Fiscal Committee. The chair said staff would work with the commissioner and LBA to draft the revised scope for further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Committee Resolution 29. I move that House Committee Resolution 29 be voted do pass.
• Lady, we're on the House Committee Substitute right now.
• So do you have any questions on the House Committee Sub? Okay.
• With seeing no other business before the committee, the Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions
• With seeing no other business before the committee, the Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first called the roll and established a quorum with nine members present. It then moved into executive session and took up House Committee Resolution 29, which was approved unanimously on a 9-0 roll call vote. Next, the committee considered House Bill 2414. After a brief motion and no discussion, the bill was voted do pass by a 6-3 roll call, with Chairman Mayhew, Vice Chair Cook, Representatives Davis, Dolan, Elliott, Faulkner, and Hovis voting yes, and Representatives Brown, Bush, and Kalberloh voting no. The committee then took up Senate Bill 945. Members adopted House Committee Substitute 0.04C, then adopted two amendments: one concerning the sheriff’s attorney fee language and another concerning treatment court administration and reimbursement. After rolling the amendments into a new substitute, the House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 945 was voted do pass by a 9-1 roll call vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, HB 1B will be heard in three committees this afternoon.
• the few of you might see it more than once, depending on your committee assignments, I will be creating
• three select committees... ...select committees on illegal immigration and will assign as many members
• to each committee as we can reasonably accommodate in our largest committee room, Webster Hall, in 212
• You will find your select committee assignment in your notebook as well.

Summary: The Florida House convened in Special Session 2025B after a quorum was established and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The Speaker announced that regular committee meetings were canceled for the week so the chamber could focus on special session work, including three select committees on illegal immigration that would hear HB 1B, along with a Rules and Ethics Committee meeting later that evening. Members were also told the bill filing deadline had been extended to Wednesday at 5 p.m. The main floor business involved the House’s effort to reinstate vetoed legislative operating funds from HB 5001, the 2024 appropriations act. After the clerk read the governor’s veto message, Representative Kennedy moved to reinstate specific appropriation 2802 and its related proviso on page 412, described as legislative services support funding. Supporters said the veto had cut essential legislative functions such as IT, economic forecasting, auditing, and accountability work, and argued the reduction was likely an oversight or improper interference with legislative independence. The motion passed 111-0. Kennedy then moved to reinstate specific appropriation 2803 and its related proviso, the second legislative support services line item. The House again approved the motion unanimously, 111-0. With no other messages, reports, or bills on the desk, the House adopted a motion to adjourn and reconvene on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 10 a.m. or upon the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee on credentials report.
• </c><00:50:36.359><c> of</c> that the report on the committee of that the report on the committee of
• assignments, that was provided to members of this body.
• assignments, that was provided to members of this body.
• </c> house leadership and committee house leadership and committee assignments<01:29:33.119><c> that<

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Meyer and the committee investigators and the members of both committees, the work required
• This committee will not rest.
• This committee will not rest.
• No specific assignments were given to staff or counselors, and no documentation specific assignments
• The speaker thanked the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the next two days, this committee intends to consider five interim charges assigned to us. ...assigned
• I'll ask our committee clerk to read the charges.
• I know members of this committee have been in the units, and staff of the committee have been in the
• He has investigators assigned to every facility.
• to this committee.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, committee Good morning, Mr. Chairman, committee members.
• Good morning, committee.
• Any other questions,<01:04:13.280><c> committee?</c> questions, committee? questions, committee?
• Felt like I was in judiciary committee. Good job, committee. All right.
• Good<01:16:25.600><c> job,</c><01:16:25.840><c> committee.</c> Good job, committee.

Bills: HB0159

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee.
• Committee.
• Senate Bill 83 has been assigned to the Senate Health Public Affairs Committee, then to the Senate Judiciary
• Third committee assignment. Yeah, Mr.
• Can you read the title of that and the committee assignments, Mr. President? Thank you, Senator.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, welcome everyone to the Judiciary Committee decision-making only agenda on this Wednesday, March
• granting a district boundary amendment or find a petitioner upon finding that a petitioner or successor assigns
• 04.640><c> successor</c> finding that a petitioner or successor finding that a petitioner or successor assigns
• :05.680><c> not</c><00:03:05.840><c> adhered</c><00:03:06.159><c> to</c><00:03:06.239><c> the</c> assigns
• have not adhered to the assigns have not adhered to the conditions<00:03:06.720><c> imposed</c><00:03

Bills: SB2981 , SB2982 , SB2983 , SB2986 , SB2991 , SB3001 , SB3010 , SB3014 , SB3032 , SB3033

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in decision-making only session and considered several Senate bills, generally following recommendations to pass measures with or without amendments. SB 2981 would prohibit minimum off-street parking requirements for new development in urban districts and was adopted unamended, with Senator Awa voting no. SB 2982, which bars foreign entities and foreign-influence business entities from making election-related contributions or expenditures, was adopted with an amendment adopting Attorney General language for required advertisement statements. The committee also advanced SB 2983, creating a misdemeanor offense for criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property; one member opposed it, suggesting a replanting requirement would be a better environmental remedy, but the bill was still adopted unamended. SB 2986, concerning Land Use Commission authority to amend or revise district boundary amendment decisions when conditions are not met, passed with an amendment addressing a defective effective date. SB 2991, on driver’s license revocations for certain alcohol-related offenses and re-examination requirements, passed with amendments clarifying revocation orders and re-examination procedures. Members then approved SB 3001, which regulates conversational artificial intelligence services by requiring disclosures and protocols to prevent suicidal ideation, with amendments incorporating AG and OCP recommendations, including a personal data definition and broader data minimization language. SB 3010, allowing officials and in some cases private citizens to enter unattended vehicles to protect endangered pet animals, passed with amendments. The committee also adopted SB 3014 on higher fines for taking or harassing protected turtles, SB 3032 clarifying beach and marine deposit prohibitions, and SB 3033 allowing petitions to review beach structure integrity despite a bad effective date; Senator Awa again voted no on SB 3033. The meeting adjourned after the committee noted a later joint hearing with Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• To our Judiciary Committee meeting.
• :40.040><c> for</c> Chairman, and this committee for Chairman, and this committee for allowing<00:13:
• </c> contacted Lonnie with the peer committee contacted Lonnie with the peer committee is<00:18:54.040
• </c><00:36:12.120><c> Um</c> uh passed out of this committee. Um uh passed out of this committee.
• </c> committee as well, did we not? committee as well, did we not?

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and other committee members. Nice to see you today.
• </c><00:06:56.400><c> Seeing</c> Questions from the committee? Seeing Questions from the committee?
• The original bill was dealing committee.
• committee.
• The bill as it came out of the Energy and Agriculture Committee.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll go to the Labor Committee and all the sort of stuff, right?
• It'll go to the Labor Committee and all the sort of stuff, right?
• It'll go to the Labor Committee and all the sort of stuff, right?
• </c><00:44:29.400><c> um</c> public Defender contract and assigned um public Defender contract and assigned
• </c> felonies that go that that are assigned felonies that go that that are assigned that<00:44:36.640

Summary: The committee first discussed a proposed increase to the annual elevator certificate fee in the Department of Labor. The commissioner said the fee had been $50 for years and generated just under $300,000 annually, while the Inspection Division’s broader revenue far exceeded its expenses. Members noted the fee only covered the certificate, not the inspection itself, which is billed separately at $100 per hour. After comparing the fee to neighboring states and discussing the department’s revenue and staffing, the committee agreed to rewrite the language to set the fee at $75 and to vote on an amendment later. The committee then took up Section 139, which would expand the list of labor-law violations that can be penalized without first issuing a warning. The Department explained the change was meant to align House Bill 157 with other chapters, including youth employment and workers’ compensation provisions, where immediate civil penalties are already allowed. The section was accepted unanimously. A longer discussion followed on the Second Injury Fund. The commissioner explained that the fund reimburses insurers for certain workers’ compensation costs tied to claims involving pre-existing conditions, is financed by assessments on insurers, and requires notice within 100 weeks of injury plus a $10,000 deductible before reimbursement. He said the fund currently holds roughly $16 million to $22 million, one full-time employee administers it, and total staff involvement is about five to six people. Members questioned whether the fund should be sunset, but the department said the current House Bill 2 language does not propose a sunset; instead, it addresses increased hearing and litigation burdens after a recent Supreme Court decision. Sections 140 and 141, dealing with hearings, were then accepted unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed fines for late insurance coverage reporting, with the department noting the current rubric allows up to $50 per day but uses $112 per day, and members suggesting a lower amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the hearing on the Joint Committee on Public Service.
• Welcome to the hearing on the Joint Committee on Public Service.
• Other than that, I thank the committee. And I take any questions.
• Good afternoon to the committee: the Senate Committee Chair, Mike Brady; the House Committee Chair, Dan
• Ryan; the Senate Vice Committee Chair, Mark Montigny—I don't think he's here today—and House Committee

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hybrid hearing focused on insurance and retirement-related bills. Representative Hendricks testified in support of H.2874, which would create a Medicare buy-in program for certain state retirees age 65 and older who are not currently Medicare eligible, with the Commonwealth paying Part A premiums and late penalties. He argued the bill would reduce retiree health costs for the state and municipalities while improving benefits for retirees. Don Buckley also testified in support of H.2874, describing his own situation as a long-serving state retiree without Medicare coverage and urging passage of the bill. Paul Jakes of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Michael Riley of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems testified in support of H.2999/S.1862, which would provide fair worker representation on joint purchasing group committees. Riley also supported H.2933/S.1816, which would add a seat on the PRIM Board for non-state teacher retirement systems, and H.2954/H.1813, which would change the criteria and duration for systems considered underperforming in the public employee retirement system funding rules. He said the changes would better reflect current conditions and limit forced participation in PRIT to five years rather than in perpetuity. Committee members asked no questions during the hearing. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee. Uh, Mr.
• >> Committee questions for Dr. Brown. Committee questions for Dr. Brown.
• and paper assignment, you know.
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• So, I just kind of wanted the committee to focus back in... ...wanted the committee to focus back in

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• of four members of the House to meet with a like committee appointed...
• </c><00:08:25.599><c> The</c> conference committee be appointed.
• The conference committee be appointed.
• </c> Senate has appointed a such committee. Senate has appointed a such committee.
• The message assigned Wesland, and Lang. The message assigned Thomas<00:08:35.200><c> S.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee then moved to committee members, and none were heard.
• Good afternoon, committee members.
• All right, committee members. All right, committee members, seeing nobody comment.
• Well, we've been crystal clear with the committee analysis and with the committee chair that it's not
• Well, we've been crystal clear with the committee analysis and with the committee chair that it's not

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1921 on video game shutdowns. The author and Consumer Reports supported requiring game operators to give 60 days’ notice before ending server support and to offer a menu of remedies, including refunds or playable/offline alternatives, while the Entertainment Software Association opposed the bill as an unwarranted new standard for digital products and raised safety and legal concerns about community servers. Members questioned the scope of refunds, copyright, and community-server issues, and the author said he was open to further amendments. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. AB 1965, dealing with cannabis testing, was presented as a measure to strengthen the Department of Cannabis Control’s authority over testing labs and improve product safety and transparency. The California Cannabis Operators Association supported the bill, saying it would help ensure consistent standards and protect consumers in a market with a large illicit component. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2141, which would allow the Board of Pharmacy to resolve certain disciplinary matters through a voluntary pre-accusation settlement process. The author and a supporting pharmacist said it would speed resolution of smaller, technical cases and reduce costs, while a member raised concerns about transparency and whether the public would have less information about licensee misconduct. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, with Senator Menjivar voting no, and was placed on call. AB 2163, creating strategic clean energy and critical mineral development zones, was supported by the author and Imperial County as a way to prioritize geothermal and lithium development in areas like the Salton Sea region; it passed on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, AB 1990 on compounded weight-loss drug advertising drew significant debate. Supporters argued it would curb misleading ads and require disclosures about risks and non-FDA approval, while opponents from the compounding pharmacy community said it would create burdens, duplicate existing false-advertising law, and could harm patient access. Members questioned whether the bill actually addressed targeting minors and whether it would force use of FDA-approved labeling; the author said the bill was meant to add specificity and guardrails. The bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Senate Judiciary, with some no votes, and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 2783 on court reporters, which would add a national certification pathway and extend a remote reporting pilot; it drew support from court reporting stakeholders and passed unanimously on a due-pass motion to Senate Appropriations, placed on call. Finally, AB 2771, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education sunset bill, and AB 2772, the interior design certification sunset bill, were presented and heard with mixed testimony: AB 2771 received support from student and borrower advocates and was moved to Senate Education, while AB 2772 drew both support and strong opposition over CCIDC governance and accountability, with the committee hearing extensive public comment before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Keith Thornberg.
• I note that the Senate Committee substitute for, or Senate Bill 835, passed out of the committee with
• Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Jason Peach.
• Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Jason Peach.
• A lot of these assignments happen once you sign that paper.

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability will now come to order.
• Should you choose to waive your speaking time, your position will be entered into the committee records
• Okay, members, welcome to the first meeting of the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee.
• Good morning, Chairman and members of the committee.
• But anyway, is there any other business before the committee?

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met for its first meeting of the session, took roll, and heard a presentation from Ken Plant of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on SB 108, the 2025 law overhauling Florida rulemaking. The presentation focused on new deadlines for agencies to begin and publish rules, limits on automatic sunset provisions, changes to emergency rule procedures, expanded public input on statements of estimated regulatory costs, a five-year review cycle for existing rules, and new licensing-reporting requirements. Members asked about the review timeline and emphasized the need to keep agencies accountable for meeting the new requirements. The committee then reviewed the Department of Management Services’ response to Auditor General Report 2025-1096 on fleet management. DMS said the audit found 10 issues, most of which it believes it has addressed, and described the statewide fleet system as tracking about 27,000 assets with limited staff. DMS highlighted two major improvement ideas that would require funding: an enterprise telematics system to automate vehicle data and improve tracking, and centralized fleet procurement to reduce duplication and save money. Members questioned the status of FleetWave implementation, missing vehicle records, integration with other state systems, and access controls for separated employees. DMS explained that FleetWave is fully implemented but still relies on manual data entry, that discrepancies with the state accounting system largely reflect mismatched or inconsistent entries, and that policies and procedures were updated after the audit. The department said it now works more closely with People First to deactivate access when employees leave. After discussion, no further business was raised, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they are not on active duty assignment, a member has 45 days to respond if they're being charged.
• If they are not on active duty assignment, a member has 45 days to respond if they're being charged.
• It passed out of Veterans Committee unanimously.
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee.

Bills: HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee opened with prayer and then heard a series of bills, most of them request bills from state agencies or related to veterans and military matters. House Bill 3043 would let the Oklahoma Dental Board Association hire temporary or PRN workers during peak periods; it passed 11-1. House Bill 3044 would continue an existing tax-return checkoff for donations and passed 12-0. House Bill 3078 would create an online donation option for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs during license and tax transactions and passed 12-0. House Bill 3940 made a number of cleanup and policy changes to a prior Oklahoma National Guard measure, including retention, benefits, discipline, museum operations, and state active duty pay issues; it passed 11-0. House Bill 4117 would define family resource centers in statute and emphasize faith-based partnerships, workforce development, and braided funding; it passed 12-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 3428, which would require certain businesses to post information about veterans’ benefits in a conspicuous place to help more eligible veterans enroll in benefits; members discussed raising the employee threshold from 50 to 100, but no amendment was adopted during the meeting, and the bill passed 10-2. House Bill 4275 would allow counties and cities to employ case managers and peer support specialists while maintaining certification, to support sheriffs and first responders, and it passed 12-0. House Bill 3257 would treat 100% disabilities caused by VA medical malpractice as service-connected for state benefit purposes, aligning state law with federal treatment, and it passed 12-0. Two public health bills also advanced. House Bill 3901 would authorize psychological autopsies in suicide and overdose cases to better understand causes and improve prevention; members discussed whether the process should include notifying prescribing physicians when patients die from opioid overdoses, and the bill passed 12-0. House Bill 4298 would allow DHS child care rule changes to be distributed by mail and electronically, reflecting current practice, and it passed 12-0. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures do pass.