Video & Transcript Research : 'polygraph examination'

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NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Education Funding (11/13/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, the due process, as Representative Burton mentioned, when you're cross-examining the person being
  • accused does not have the opportunity to cross-examine the victim.
  • cross-examining the the person<02:48:18.640> being<02:48:18.960> accused<02:48:19.520>
  • is not cross-examining is not cross-examining it<02:49:47.359> read<02:49:47.840> the<
  • But there was one cross- examination.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The work session began with HB 656, as amended, which would treat federal funds received by school districts as unanticipated money unless already listed in the annual report, and would require notices and school board minutes to identify the grant and summarize any obligations attached to accepting it. Supporters said the bill was aimed at transparency so voters would understand the “strings attached” to grants, while opponents raised concerns that the amendment was new, potentially vague, and could require districts to publish lengthy or redundant information, increasing costs and administrative burden. Several members suggested alternative approaches, such as a state-level list of common grant obligations or posting grant documents online. No vote was taken, and some members argued the bill was not ready for action. The committee then moved to HB 665, which would expand eligibility for free school meals to households at up to 300% of federal poverty guidelines and use education trust fund money to cover the added cost. Representative Damon strongly supported the bill, citing food insecurity and arguing the fiscal note likely overstated costs because the bill requires at least one free meal, not necessarily both breakfast and lunch. The discussion was just beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote or final action on HB 665 was recorded in the excerpt.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Executive Departments and Administration (04/01/2026)

Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • lack of a radiographic examination lack of a radiographic examination results<01:32:31.160> in
  • <01:41:15.880> Sometimes write their own examinations.
  • Sometimes write their own examinations.
  • It means the vet has examined the animal and has given instructions for treatment.
  • > and<02:05:22.000> has<02:05:22.080> given examined the animal and has given examined
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Energy and Natural Resources (02/03/2026)

Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Nobody has examined the prudency of the costs to ensure that the costs that hit ratepayers' bills are
  • It's an automatic charge to the ratepayers with no examination of the cost whatsoever by any agency.
  • <00:10:07.839> these<00:10:08.160> projects have examined these projects have examined
  • Nobody<00:10:45.279> has<00:10:45.519> examined<00:10:45.920> these<00:10:46.240
  • > projects<00:10:47.120> to Nobody has examined these projects to Nobody has examined these
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Session (05/22/2025)

New Hampshire Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And in this work with that youth suicide prevention review committee, we examined, we used this data
  • And in this work with that youth suicide prevention review committee, we examined, we used this data
  • And in this work with that youth suicide prevention review committee, we examined, we used this data
  • <04:36:57.279> Um, position is being closely examined.
  • Um, position is being closely examined.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Election Law (03/07/2025)

Election Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's no longer that mandate; only that students have to take a federal naturalization examination
  • There's no longer that mandate; only that students have to take a federal naturalization examination
  • The machine can't sort; they can't do an examination of the ballot.
  • The machine can't sort; they can't do an examination of the ballot.
  • And so this is now morphed into the examination of all of our rights.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 46 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These returns have been duly canvassed by the Governor and Council and are now transmitted for examination
  • Governor and Council and are now transmitted for examination by the House as required by the Constitution
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House met with several welcoming and ceremonial items at the start, including recognition of visiting school groups and a special order to escort Representative-elect Hannah L. Bowen to the Governor’s Office to be qualified. Members also observed moments of silence honoring former Senator Louis P. Bertinazzi and former Representative Evelyn B. Chesky, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s notice of the 6th Essex District special election results was placed on file, with congratulations extended to Representative Owen of Beverly. The main business was consideration of House 4150, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill totaling about $529.8 million. The House suspended rules, advanced the bill through second and third reading, and later passed it to be engrossed. A consolidated amendment was adopted by a vote of 149-1, and the bill itself passed to be engrossed by 149-1. The House also took up Senate 2508, establishing a sick leave bank for Andrew Cetra of the trial court, and ordered it to a third reading. Two floor amendments drew debate and were adopted by roll call. Amendment 61, offered by Representatives Peisch and Moran, codified protections and practices for English language learners and students with disabilities, including district responsibilities for identification, services, assessments, and nondiscrimination; it passed 148-1. Amendment 27, offered by Representative Rogers, clarified that post-certified law enforcement officers at private colleges and universities are included in firearms-related exemptions under the state’s firearms modernization law; it passed 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Representative Chesky.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Apr 14th, 2025 at 03:00 pm

Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • want to make sure that we're not prohibited from having the discussion in this study or having it examined
  • Well, let me... ...the discussion in this study or having it examined in this study.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The committee discussed a draft amendment to consolidate two proposed studies into one Legislative Management study on sentencing, corrections, and parole oversight. Representative O’Brien explained that the revised language would cover the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s inmate classification, housing, placement authority, and transitional services, including work or educational release, while avoiding confusion over separate study proposals. Members also discussed whether issues such as earning good time, meritorious time, parole eligibility, and release decisions would be included; the chair and members concluded those topics would be covered under the parole board and related study language. Several members raised concerns about recidivism data, including the difficulty of counting people who are incarcerated in other states or in the federal system after release from North Dakota custody. Representative Murphy noted that DOCR appears to be using the best available national-study-based method, but that the data limitations remain a problem. The chair and others said the study should focus on what can be measured and that interagency communication is important, while Representative Burke noted that incorporating federal data would be difficult because comparable state-level data would be lacking. The committee then moved and approved the amended study language, with a technical correction changing “early release” to “placement authority.” The motion passed 8-0. The committee later took up further amendments to engrossed Senate Bill 2015, approved those amendments 8-0, and then passed engrossed Senate Bill 2015 as amended on an 8-0 roll call. Members briefly discussed a minimum security facility planning number, confirming the pad/landing number at 20, and the chair said the bill would be sent to Legislative Council for final drafting and could be ready as soon as the next day.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division I (02/05/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is housed under the DOJ umbrella.
  • Justice uh the way the medical examiner Justice uh the way the medical examiner puts<06:10:04.798
  • the assistant Deputy medical examiners the assistant Deputy medical examiners who<06:53:35.360><
  • The ADMEs, the assistant deputy medical examiners, they're all paid for.
  • The assistant deputy medical examiners, they're all paid for.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Legislative Audit Committee Jun 1st, 2026

Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we also have three audits underway under our state high-risk program examining the state's late financial
  • They're supposed to be regular things that agencies do and examine in order to correct problems as they
  • They're supposed to be regular things that agencies do and examine in order to correct problems as they
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to consider new audit requests and received a status update from the State Auditor, who reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, several statutory audits underway, and that all audits approved in 2025 are moving forward. The committee first approved a consent calendar covering audits on University of California library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. One requested audit on local law enforcement and human trafficking had been withdrawn before the hearing. The committee then debated and approved an audit request from Assembly Member DeMaio on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and its road project management and use of transportation funds. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to examine whether restricted funds, voter-approved revenues, and project commitments were properly used, while SANDAG officials said the agency already undergoes extensive oversight and that its funding sources and project uses are governed by multiple existing audits and reporting requirements. Several members questioned whether the audit would duplicate existing reviews, but the motion passed after roll call. Next, the committee approved Senator Valadares’s audit request on Board of State and Community Corrections Proposition 47 grant administration. Supporters said the audit would assess whether grant recipients and BSCC oversight are producing reliable outcome and recidivism data and whether the funds are achieving public safety goals; BSCC responded that it already has internal controls, that the State Controller conducts biennial audits, and that its reported outcomes show reductions in homelessness, unemployment, and recidivism among participants. The committee also approved Senator Cortese’s audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and contract oversight, prompted by concerns about stagnant annual maximums, provider network losses, and out-of-pocket costs for employees and retirees. CalHR said its current dental network remains strong, that it recently completed an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier beginning in 2027, and that it maintains performance guarantees in its contracts. All three regular-calendar audit requests were approved, and the committee then completed add-on votes approving the earlier consent calendar items before adjournment.
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-05-20 - 1:22PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • While I believe Vermont<00:11:58.040> should<00:11:58.240> continue<00:11:58.680> examining
  • Vermont should continue examining Vermont should continue examining whether<00:11:59.720> annual
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House first took up Senate Bill 214, relating to pre-kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts. After third reading, the chamber voted by voice to pass the bill in concurrence. The House then recessed briefly before returning to Senate Bill 326, a motor vehicle bill with several proposed amendments. On S. 326, the House adopted an amendment from Representative Burke clarifying that the DMV could not use the bill to change emissions-inspection rules. It then adopted an amendment from Representative Tomlinson adding a website-based public notice step to the abandoned-vehicle process, intended to supplement certified-mail notice and help owners protect their property; the committee reported support for the change, and the DMV testified in favor. Representative Noise then offered an amendment to move non-commercial vehicle inspections to every other year while keeping annual emissions compliance unless federal approval is obtained, but after explaining the proposal, he asked leave to withdraw it, and no objection was made. The House then passed S. 326 in concurrence with proposal of amendment and suspended the rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith. Finally, the House considered House Bill 674, relating to the Vermont Sister State Program. On a procedural motion, the chamber voted to commit the bill to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. A member asked whether the referral was intended to fix the bill or delay it, and the chair said the committee was working on another way to address the governor’s concerns and would revisit the issue the next day. The House then recessed until 3:30 p.m.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Reviewing the AgriGrowth Research and Innovation BioCenter program to examine the policies and procedures
  • Reviewing the AgriGrowth Research and Innovation BioCenter program to examine the policies and procedures
  • Reviewing the AgriGrowth Research and Innovation BioCenter program to examine the policies and procedures
Keywords: 1183, house
NE

Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 9th, 2026

Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There have been multiple examinations of our committee structure since 1986: 1995, 1998, 2005, and 2017
  • redefine terms of the just personal property, light, or tenant, and act, for certain certification, examination
  • For certain certification examination county process, for out-of-state property tax, to change the duties
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/18/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can actually ask questions, cross-examine their witnesses, and have discovery.
  • You can actually ask questions, cross-examine their witnesses, and have discovery.
  • There are also usually questions, cross-examine their witnesses, and have discovery.
Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency approved the March 11, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2686, a patient-protection measure for outpatient surgical facilities, would require surgeons to file and update a call-coverage plan for hospital complications; the sponsor said it would improve continuity of care and reduce emergency room confusion, and the committee recommended it do pass. HB 2051 would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to CMS approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation services in multiple settings; supporters described it as a maternal and infant health measure, AHCCCS was neutral and noted a projected state cost of about $1.8 million, and the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-0 vote with one member not voting. The committee also approved HB 2837, which requires compensation disclosure for testimony or written comments in municipal zoning matters and requires certain municipal board members or hearing officers to disclose and recuse for recent conflicts involving entities they served; the sponsor framed it as a transparency and conflict-of-interest bill, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2875, concerning commercial drone delivery systems, was amended to allow local regulation of drone facilities near medium and large hub airports within a 2.5-mile buffer and to require consultation with airports; Zipline and industry groups supported the measure as providing regulatory clarity, and the committee adopted the amendment and recommended the bill do pass. HB 2324 would let cities with their own fire codes, through an intergovernmental agreement, have city fire inspectors enforce those codes on county-owned buildings in city limits when state enforcement is burdensome; county and fire officials said it would resolve jurisdictional confusion, and the bill passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2439 would exempt single-user public or semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules, and an amendment removed ADEQ rulemaking authority; county health representatives said the change would reduce confusion, but one member raised public-health concerns, and the amended bill passed 4-2 with one not voting. HB 2457 would allow utilities to bypass the certificate of environmental compatibility process for new plants co-located with large electricity users after notice and a public comment session; the Sierra Club opposed it as reducing public review, while supporters said it preserved some local input and improved efficiency, and it passed 4-2 with one not voting. Finally, HB 2953 would cap certain nondisciplinary and civil penalties imposed by the Board of Pharmacy at $25,000 and allow lower penalties based on prior activity; a supporter said it matched limits used in other regulatory contexts, and the committee recommended it do pass unanimously.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • There have been grants to Arizona State University to examine alternative governance approaches and institutions
  • University to examine alternative governance approaches and institutions associated with geoengineering
  • University to examine alternative governance approaches and institutions associated with geoengineering
Summary: The Natural Resources Committee approved the minutes from January 20 and January 27, 2026, then heard several bills related to weather modification, water policy, wildlife, cosmetics, and groundwater management. SB 1278 would ban intentional solar radiation management in Arizona and bar public entities or recipients of public funds from supporting related technology development. Supporters argued it was needed to stop harmful geoengineering, while opponents said it would block research and distract from real pollution problems. The committee voted 5-2 with one not voting to give SB 1278 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered SB 1279, which would regulate weather modification licenses, require ADWR and ADEQ review of chemicals, public notice, and public meetings, and—under a proposed strike-everything amendment—shift complaint enforcement to ADWR and require rulemaking. Testimony was largely in support from stakeholders and SRP, while ADEQ was neutral but warned it lacked standards, resources, and expertise to develop the required chemical limits on the bill’s timeline. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 5-2 with one not voting. Members next passed SB 1005, which would prohibit the sale of cosmetics developed with animal testing, with supporters citing cruelty concerns and industry alternatives; the bill received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. SB 1202, requiring ADWR to include more detailed data in five-year groundwater supply-and-demand assessments, drew opposition from ADWR over feasibility, cost, and the risk of misleading conclusions, but still received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. The committee also passed SB 1280, which would bar Game and Fish from using public funds to transport Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona; wildlife advocates opposed it as harmful to recovery, while Game and Fish said it would not affect core responsibilities and was neutral. Finally, SB 1287, with a conforming amendment, was approved 5-1 with two not voting to extend certain irrigation grandfathered-right groundwater uses to subsequent active management areas. The committee then adjourned.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

October 15, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • the requirements for House Bill 875, was the development of the new Florida teacher excellence examination
  • than July 2027 at the department, we will begin the development of the Florida teacher excellence examination
  • some extensive field testing that we're doing, but also be stakeholder review to ensure that the examination
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Oct 8th, 2025

JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

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

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Insurance May 20th, 2025

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those who later joined the industry conducted 9% fewer financial examinations annually during their term
  • They were also 13.6% less likely to initiate early examinations when those insured showed signs of financial
  • provision in the bill that takes away loss adjustment expenses, basically the cost carriers pay to examine
Summary: The committee first took up several bills and voted them out favorably without amendment: SB 2857, relating to prescription drug purchasing proof for certain health benefit plan issuers and employers; SB 1307, relating to the biennial health coverage reference guide; and SB 527, relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia for certain pediatric dental services. Each of those motions passed on a 7-0 roll call. The main discussion centered on SB 1643, which would require prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance for property and casualty rate changes above 10% from a previously filed rate. The chair framed it as a response to rate volatility and rising homeowners and auto premiums, while several members questioned whether it would slow a market that is already stabilizing and could encourage insurers to file repeated increases just under the threshold. Witnesses from consumer groups supported tighter oversight and argued for a lower threshold, while insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, saying Texas’s file-and-use system and competitive market work better and that the proposal could increase costs or create uncertainty. After testimony, SB 1643 was left pending. The committee then heard SB 1642, which would replace the single Texas Department of Insurance commissioner with a three-commissioner structure and an executive director. Supporters said it could improve accountability and transparency, while opponents argued the current single-commissioner model is more efficient and avoids confusion and added cost. Witnesses also raised concerns about open meetings issues, administrative expense, and the lack of a clear model from other states. SB 1642 was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2530, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association omnibus bill. The bill would make a number of changes to TWIA’s governance and finances, including exempting TWIA from certain taxes, moving its headquarters to a coastal county, changing board composition and voting rules, and lowering the probable maximum loss standard from 1-in-100 to 1-in-50. Supporters said the bill would strengthen TWIA’s reserve funding and improve local relevance, while opponents warned it could increase assessments, reduce reinsurance protection, and create operational risks by relocating the headquarters to the coast. The bill was left pending, and the committee then adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • happens with that is you have a scenario where the state-regulated lenders are constantly being examined
  • If we were out making tons of loans that failed, that would be noticed through the examination process
  • Mind me of loans that were made when I was a young examiner 35 years ago.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Energy Resources Mar 31st, 2025

Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Railroad Commission of Texas employs a staff of administrative law judges and technical examiners
  • public information request for certain communications from an administrative law judge or technical examiner
  • protection... protection inhibits open discussion among the administrative law judges and technical examiners
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Agriculture Mar 3rd, 2025

Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • transition and now with the new secretary and the new head of the Food and Drug Administration to examine
  • transition and now with the new secretary and the new head of the Food and Drug Administration to examine
  • transition and now with the new secretary and the new head of the food and drug administration to examine
Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.