Transcript Highlights:

• Army mountain warfare unit, trained intensely at Camp Hale to acquire rock climbing, skiing, and other
• Our lives revolved around war: training cycle, deployment, training cycle, deployment.
• Training<02:30:13.040><c> cycle,</c><02:30:13.760><c> deployment,</c><02:30:14.479><c> training</c> Training
• cycle, deployment, training Training cycle, deployment, training cycle,<02:30:15.439><c> deployment,
• </c><02:30:16.080><c> training</c><02:30:16.479><c> cycle,</c> cycle, deployment, training cycle, cycle

Transcript Highlights:

• We have done over 300 live and virtual training sessions across the state with over 3,700 training participants
• local key staff.
• However, I can tell you Senator Sigley, when we did the training in the St.
• So if we have state staff doing work, a lot of my state staff in this bucket is OPS staff.
• The training from June 1 to 5—is it a five-day class or is it one? No, sir.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I really want to thank the chair and our committee staff as well from both committees for helping
• One of the films that we funded was Crip Camp, you know, and that went to Netflix.
• We were going to hire an evaluation associate and train our staff to actually listen to youth in real
• Thank you to your staff as well.
• I'm an economist by training. And I'm here because I'm concerned.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, I'm Helen Roberts from the House Fiscal staff.
• But this, uh, um, and our staff, Susan LeChewski and her team, just do incredible work.
• My future plans are, as of right now, I’ve got some military training up at Camp Ripley this summer that
• My future plans are, as of right now, I’ve got some military training up at Camp Ripley this summer that
• My future plans… My future plans are as of right now, I’ve got some military training up at Camp Ripley

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> thank you make God and your training thank you make God and your training keep<00:11:28.920><c>
• </c><01:49:21.040><c> and</c> hesitation he used his training and hesitation he used his training and
• </c> work and played a key role in training work and played a key role in training new<01:52:11.920><
• </c><02:28:04.760><c> aircraft</c> and fuel for vehicles trains aircraft and fuel for vehicles trains
• ><c> stop</c><03:08:46.520><c> in</c> do that other trains they can stop in do that other trains they

Transcript Highlights:

• David survived four concentration camps by the time he would. 7th.
• David survived four concentration camps by the time he was 15.
• Let's talk about actual training. Let's talk about mental health evaluations.
• It's not the training you get in the military.
• We even took away trainings from concealed carry permits.

Summary: The House convened for opening-day business, with prayer, a moment of silence for Captain Bill Guston, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum established. The Speaker outlined a budget message emphasizing reduced spending and a proposed permanent 0.75% sales tax cut, and the chamber then received the Governor’s veto message on portions of HB 5001. Members moved to reinstate several vetoed appropriations, including the Florida Senior Veterans and Crisis Fund, Rockledge Advanced Water Treatment Phase 1, the Department of Corrections automated staffing/time management system, and Baldwin sewer and water main work; each reinstatement passed unanimously. The House also adopted a special order calendar and special amendment procedures for the General Appropriations Act and related bills. On the special order calendar, several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including Lucy’s Law on boating safety (CS/CS/CS/HB 289), HB 735 on water access facilities, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates, CS/CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions, and CS/HB 157 on service of process. These measures focused on boating safety, water infrastructure, utility-rate fairness, school walking safety, and procedural civil-law updates. A major floor debate centered on HB 6017, which would repeal Florida’s “Free Kill Law” limiting wrongful-death damages in medical negligence cases. Supporters described the bill as a long-awaited justice measure for families who lost adult children or unmarried relatives to medical malpractice, while opponents were not recorded in the final vote tally; the bill passed 104-6 after extensive emotional testimony from sponsors and affected families. The chamber also heard a lengthy, highly divided debate on HB 759, which would lower the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18. Supporters argued the current law is inconsistent with adult rights and responsibilities and cited constitutional precedent, while opponents emphasized Parkland, youth gun violence, and public-safety concerns; the transcript ends during continued debate on that bill, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff Director, Thank you, Chair Truenow, for having us this afternoon, Staff Director Becker for coordinating
• that happen throughout each of our counties, and also at our three residential camps: 4-H Camp Timpoochee
• That's why camp has been so special.
• 4-H camps and one of the first 4-H camps in the nation.
• So I could go to camp, and every year I made sure that I raised enough money to go back to camp.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff?
• Camps. Any questions for Mr. Camps? Okay, thank you very much.
• Any questions for staff? Okay.
• Any questions for staff?
• Questions for staff?

Bills: SB1246 , SB1338 , SB1428 , SB1443 , SB1501 , SB1566 , SB1571 , SB1645 , SB1646 , SB1663 , SB1688 , SB1805 , SB1808 , SB1825 , SCR1023 , SCR1029 , HB2079 , HB2080 , HB2130 , HB2239 , HB2324 , HB2375 , HB2610 , HB2619 , HB2620 , HB2716 , HB2745 , HB2749 , HB2837 , HB2857 , HB2968 , HB4064 , HB4066 , HB4087 , HB4130 , HCR2048 , HCR2058

Committees: Senate Government , Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Keywords: homeowners associations, foreclosure, common expense liens, condominiums, special assessments, unit owner, public benefits, eligibility, immigration status, documentation, Arizona law, county governance, supervisorial board, population-based representation, local government, elections, noise pollution, environmental nuisances, building permits, urban development

Transcript Highlights:

• 40 elementary and secondary school emergency relief, care items, classroom supplies, specialized training
• our lawsuit challenging the dismantling of AmeriCorps reinstated $2 million in program funding. and staff
• I know there's one program in particular that's very near and dear to me, that's the NMSU CAMP program
• , and the CAMP program offers that first year of support for students who are either farm workers themselves
• Could you share that information with our staff so it can be distributed to the committee?

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, states that are holding these investments find themselves on the train tracks as the United
• He was silenced to his grave by Canuck Ministries, a Christian summer camp and global enterprise based
• And the leadership of Kennecott camps, including Joe White.
• It's actually on the approved list of trainings under Jenna's Law in Texas.
• I'm utterly disgusted to hear that of all the different trainings—there's hundreds, if not thousands

Bills: HB34 , HB 128 , HB621 , HB748 , HB2259 , HB2960 , HB3113 , HB4749 , SB835 , HB128

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• witness affirmation forms on the registration If you have any issues filling out the form, please ask staff
• It's that people want to live, work and play, and we're very proud that with our 14 staff members at
• So as part of our organization, there are five full-time staff members.
• And we're using that facility as a future preservation research and training facility. facility.
• If I can be a resource to you or your staff anytime during session or after, please let me know.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any questions for staff regarding the amendments?
• Are there any questions for staff regarding the amendments?
• Berg, committee members, I'm Rochelle Harris, committee staff.
• Staff explained how many It will streamline the process.
• Any questions for staff?

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The four-month hunting, fishing, and camping holiday is amended to include the firearm accessories that
• Is there some particular reason why you decided to combine it with the hunting and fishing, camping?
• I first want to take a moment to thank the Ways and Means staff for all of their work.
• I just want to join the ranking member in recognizing our staff, our Ways and Means staff, Kimberly Burr
• The members and staff of this institution with professionalism, integrity, and dedication.

Transcript Highlights:

• Got out as a staff sergeant.
• Soldiers work and train at 65 armories or buildings.
• We support them with training.
• And so we also train, we also train organizations in suicide prevention and in mental health.
• There's a lot of staff, there's heavy equipment.

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I hear you and I we train.
• </c><00:32:27.360><c> Ripley</c> Detroit Lakes um one by Camp Ripley Detroit Lakes um one by Camp Ripley
• </c><00:40:05.280><c> Thank</c> staff. So support the amendment. Thank staff.
• And wanted to thank our partisan staff and our nonpartisan staff again for the immeasurable help that
• </c><00:45:08.000><c> again</c> staff and our nonpartisan staff again staff and our nonpartisan staff

Bills: HF2431 , HF2438 , HF2783 , HF1943

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had cases where I've had train incidents and I bring in experts about safety.
• So if you're not living there, even if it's a summer camp or something, I couldn't?
• Well, if it's your camp, I think it would be considered your home.
• So if you're not living there, even if it's a summer camp or something, I couldn't.
• Well, if it's your camp, I think it would be considered your home.

Bills: HR223 , HR224 , HR225 , HR226 , HR227 , HR228 , HR229 , HR230 , HR231 , HR232 , HR233 , HR234 , HR235 , HR236 , HR237 , HR238 , HR239 , HR240 , HR241 , HR242 , HR243 , HCR94 , HCR95 , HCR96 , HCR97 , HCR98 , HCR99 , HCR100 , HR218 , HR219 , HR220 , HR221 , HR222 , HCR91 , HCR92 , HCR93 , SCR41 , SCR42 , SCR43 , SCR44 , SCR45 , SCR46 , SCR47 , SCR48 , SCR49 , SCR50 , SCR51 , SCR52 , SB259 , SB347 , SB398 , SB469 , SB483 , SB518 , HR37 , HCR64 , SCR11 , SCR22 , HB89 , HB341 , HB451 , HB456 , HB541 , HB579 , HB595 , HB621 , HB818 , HB841 , HB1064 , HB1101 , HB1165 , HB1191 , SB1 , SB23 , SB32 , SB42 , SB43 , SB46 , SB51 , SB110 , SB113 , SB150 , SB154 , SB161 , SB218 , SB220 , SB221 , SB253 , SB289 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB502 , SB123 , SB125 , SB387 , SB401 , HB730 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , HCR63 , HCR69 , HCR86 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , HCR72 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB175 , HB198 , HB437 , HB457 , HB488 , HB646 , HB763 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1089 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231 , HB1246 , HB1248 , HB1249 , HB276 , HB508 , HB512 , HB599 , HB632 , HB656 , HB998 , HB1052 , HB1084 , HB1171 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1204 , HB1209 , HB1250 , SB47 , SB82 , SB106 , SB206 , SB210 , SB248 , SB305 , SB376 , SB397 , SB441 , SB2 , SB19 , SB24 , SB50 , SB70 , SB96 , SB101 , SB103 , SB104 , SB114 , SB122 , SB159 , SB160 , SB173 , SB180 , SB182 , SB260 , SB412 , SB418 , SB424 , SB442 , SB460 , SB476 , HCR32 , HB911 , HB1223 , HB798 , HB824 , HB989 , HB1140 , HB1166 , HB1244 , HB459 , HB617 , HB804 , HB926 , HB225 , HB955 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB59 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1180 , HB1203 , HB1234 , HB1240 , SB89

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and a series of personal privileges recognizing visitors and honorees, including Northside High students, the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, Literacy Day, Special Olympics Louisiana, a 75th wedding anniversary, police jurors, Young Marine Sergeant Valerie Uitt, Elmer’s, and other community guests. The chamber also received Senate messages, including refusal to concur in House amendments to SB 149, concurrence in several House measures, adoption of Senate resolutions, and passage of multiple Senate bills. House resolutions were introduced and many were adopted without objection, including measures honoring local events, organizations, and individuals, as well as resolutions on literacy, municipal day, firefighters appreciation, and sports-related commendations. Committee reports moved numerous House and Senate bills and resolutions forward, and members were urged to monitor the Senate calendar to ensure House bills had Senate sponsors before being returned late in session. Several bills were debated and passed. HB 175 created a Veterans Service Grant Fund funded by $500,000 annually from Louisiana Lottery net proceeds, overseen by a board within the Department of Veterans Affairs to award grants to eligible veteran-serving nonprofits, colleges, JROTC programs, veteran courts, and local governments; it passed after questions about the use of lottery proceeds and the role of nonprofits. HB 198 authorized ambulatory surgical centers to perform certain procedures and be reimbursed at Medicare rates, and HB 437 restricted expert witnesses from receiving contingency-style compensation tied to case outcomes after debate over ethics and whether the bill was necessary. HB 488 created the Bell Chase Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund to support the bridge toll buyback effort. HB 763 required a centralized public database of government settlement agreements and consent decrees, with confidentiality protections preserved, and passed after questions about sensitive cases. HB 989 required commercial health coverage for behavioral health crisis services, HB 971 addressed Medicaid reimbursement parity for rural health clinics, HB 981 created a law enforcement recruitment/retention incentive stipend for campus police at public postsecondary institutions, HB 1066 clarified that campus police are not eligible for state supplemental pay, and HB 1089 established care accounts for future medical expense awards, with amendments limiting certain case types and providing for reversion of unused funds. The House also reconsidered and defeated HB 225, a constitutional amendment to impose a lifetime gubernatorial term limit, and HB 730, concerning airport authority regulation of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast systems. Several resolutions were adopted, including HCR 76 continuing a health inequities task force, HJR 77 urging federal action on H-2B seasonal employer designation for the crawfish industry, HJR 67 creating a task force on military drivers without civilian licenses, and HCR 69 urging DOTD to study Interstate 12 safety improvements. The chamber adopted numerous additional commemorative resolutions and concurred in Senate resolutions recognizing sports figures, Mental Health Awareness Month, state observances, and school achievements. Overall, the day featured a mix of ceremonial recognitions, committee reporting, and floor action on veterans, health care, transparency, labor, transportation, law enforcement, and court-related legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Which would require more psychiatric staff, legal staff, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, and recovery
• Which would require more psychiatric staff, legal staff, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, and recovery
• ,</c> investigators, the additional staff, investigators, the additional staff, what's<01:28:33.280><
• </c> effort to protect residents and staff. effort to protect residents and staff.
• </c> different NOS's all with the same staff different NOS's all with the same staff and<04:13:45.359

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• , job training, mental health services, but it's also voluntary.
• Finding people for sleeping or camping is a cycle of failure.
• I want to respond to camping.
• So if you're going to arrest people for camping because you don't like where they camped, then you've
• We have people all the time who are complaining because we swept up those camps.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee took up several bills, beginning with HB 519, which would require special masters appointed in complex consolidated litigation to comply with judicial conduct and federal appointment/disqualification standards, subject to Louisiana law. After a technical amendment clarifying that the provision applies to cases designated under Supreme Court rules, the bill was moved favorably without objection. HB 29, creating the Ascension Parish Retired Employee Insurance Fund, was then heard and also advanced favorably without objection. The committee next considered HB 324 on judicial salaries. The bill would make the 2024 and 2025 judicial supplement stipend permanent and add future cost-of-living adjustments, subject to available funding and approval by the Louisiana Supreme Court and Judicial Budgetary Control Board. Members asked about funding sources and whether the stipend could be made permanent without a constitutional amendment; after discussion, the bill was moved favorably without objection. The longest discussion centered on HB 211, the Homelessness Court Program, later named the Streets to Success Act. Amendments were adopted to limit the bill to licensed group homes and to remove enforcement language that would have created civil actions against local governments for failing to remove encampments, while setting staggered effective dates. Supporters, including the bill author and governor’s office representatives, said the measure would create a coordinated court-and-services response for people experiencing homelessness, especially those with substance use or mental health issues, and would allow designated camping areas and diversion into treatment. Opponents, including housing advocates, legal aid groups, and people with lived experience, argued the bill would criminalize homelessness, increase jail and court involvement, and fail to address root causes such as unaffordable housing, lack of shelter capacity, and inadequate wraparound services. The bill drew extensive testimony but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for staff? Thank you.
• We have 22 veterinarians on our staff.
• We have 22 veterinarians on our staff.
• It seems to me like a lot of on-the-job training.
• Susie seems to me like a lot of on-the-job training.

Summary: The committee first approved the January 28, 2026 minutes and held Senate Bill 1241 for a later hearing because a witness was unavailable. It then took up Senate Bill 1144, which would create an alternative pathway for veterinary technician certification through supervised on-the-job training and board-approved skills standards. Supporters, including the Arizona Humane Society, a high school student in a veterinary program, and other advocates, said the bill would help address workforce shortages, reduce student debt, and improve access to care, especially in rural and low-income areas. Opponents, including the Arizona Veterinary Technician Association and several veterinarians, argued the bill could weaken training standards, increase liability, and create safety risks; the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association ultimately moved to neutral after amendments added supervision and affidavit requirements. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 1144 as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee next passed Senate Bill 1247 unanimously. That bill would allow a person who does not receive care services to live with a resident in an assisted living center, and would bar the Department of Health Services from imposing requirements on that person that the resident would not face. Supporters said the bill was needed to fix a recent agency interpretation that could force spouses or other companions to separate or pay for services they do not use, and noted a possible floor amendment to extend the same treatment to assisted living homes. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1286, which would extend from 14 days to 60 days the period for veterinary prescriptions and renewals issued through telemedicine. Supporters said the change would improve access in underserved and rural areas and reflect how telemedicine is already used in human medicine, while opponents warned that longer telemedicine prescriptions could delay necessary exams and diagnostics, increase the risk of misdiagnosis, and create animal welfare and liability concerns. After testimony, the sponsor asked that the bill be held for a possible amendment next week, so no vote was taken. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1164, which would allow Medicaid claims to continue under a prior owner’s billing number during a skilled nursing or assisted living facility change of ownership until new enrollment is complete; supporters said this would prevent long reimbursement delays, while Access raised concerns about federal-law conflicts and said it needed advance notice to process ownership changes. The bill passed 6-0 with one member not voting. Finally, the committee passed Senate Bill 1181, which expands CPA licensure pathways by allowing combinations of degree and work experience and updates reciprocity and rulemaking provisions, and Senate Bill 1415, which creates a licensing path for salaried insurance adjusters with out-of-state credentials, subject to an amendment clarifying exam and employment requirements. Both bills were supported as workforce and mobility measures, and both were reported out of committee on unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> girls YMCA Camp Huckins and um Camp girls YMCA Camp Huckins and um Camp Robin<01:08:44.159><c> Hood
• </c><01:11:35.239><c> out</c> days we have camps um we have camps out days we have camps um we have camps
• in the state or have my staff go to every camp in the state to get a picture of what these 100, little
• in the state or have my staff go to every camp in the state to get a picture of what these 100, little
• </c> Every camp in the state or have my staff Every camp in the state or have my staff go<01:34:00.080

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration