Transcript Highlights:

• They have become some of the most foundational early literacy building blocks and family building blocks
• They have become some of the most foundational early literacy building blocks and family building blocks
• They have become some of the most foundational early literacy building blocks and family building blocks

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution 54, sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, was heard in committee on expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Kentucky. Testimony came from Libby Settles, Bill Shy, and Lindsay Westerfield, who described the program’s impact on early literacy and family reading habits, and outlined ways to increase enrollment. Proposed expansion ideas included automatic enrollment for children in foster care, outreach through WIC and health departments, and exploring enrollment through the birth certificate process. Witnesses also highlighted related efforts such as bilingual books, Braille Tales, and a prison-based reading space program tied to Imagination Library books. Supporters emphasized the program’s low cost and broad educational benefits, citing statewide coverage, 52% enrollment of eligible children ages birth to five, and a goal of reaching 65%. Members asked about sustaining local matching funds and handling children who move between counties. Witnesses said local partners use a five-year cost estimator, diversify funding through grants and foundations, and rely on postal change-of-address systems to transfer enrollments seamlessly. Senator Chambers Armstrong also noted that about 2,200 foster children eligible for the program were not enrolled and said the resolution would help address that gap while protecting confidentiality. The committee adopted a small oral amendment removing the word “is” from line 19 on page two, then approved the resolution as amended on a 10-0 vote with favorable expression. Members spoke in support of the measure, praising the program’s literacy benefits and bipartisan history, and the committee then voted to roll the amendment into the committee report. The resolution was reported favorably and was said to be expected to pass the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• In December, a citywide power outage in San Francisco caused 1,500 Waymo stoppages that blocked intersections
• officials are not stepping in and saying, hey, this car needs to move, when it's just not moving and blocking
• We think that having the local incident technician... ...and blocking traffic and disrupting the public
• , which is critically important given the latency time between the U.S. and other countries. and blocking
• We've had examples of them entering into live fire incidents, running over fire hoses, blocking ingress

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee met with several bills on the agenda, beginning with SB 739 (Arreguín) on the Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program for transportation network companies. The author and supporters from Lyft, Uber, and TechNet said the bill would update EV miles traveled and greenhouse gas targets to reflect current market conditions, add flexibility for CARB and the CPUC, and protect drivers from losing platform access while also creating a path for future electrification. Opponents including the American Lung Association, Sierra Club California, and NRDC argued the bill would weaken a program meant to accelerate EV adoption and should retain stronger targets. Members discussed affordability, charging infrastructure, and the need to balance climate goals with feasibility. The committee approved SB 739 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations, later recording a 9-0 vote when the roll was completed. The committee then heard SB 1190 (Grove), the “Safe Passage for Youth Act,” which would regulate private youth transport services used for out-of-state residential placements. The author and sponsor testimony described abusive practices such as nighttime pickups, blindfolds, restraints, and emotional trauma, and said the bill would require CPUC permitting, TrustLine background checks, training, parental consent, and bans on certain practices. Support came from youth and disability advocates, with no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended recommendation and later passed 9-0. SB 1191 (Ochoa Bogh) would extend the sunset for California High Cost Fund A and B universal service programs that help provide affordable telephone service in rural and high-cost areas. Supporters from rural telecom companies and industry groups said the funds are essential for maintaining service, 911 access, and emergency communications in remote communities. There was no opposition, and the committee advanced the bill on a due pass recommendation; it later passed 9-0. The consent item, SB 985 (Strickland) on the 911 emergency system, was also approved. Finally, the committee heard SB 1246 (Cortese) on autonomous vehicles and emergency response. The author and supporters from SEIU California and the California Professional Firefighters said the bill would require AV companies to provide incident response, notify local jurisdictions during system failures, ensure U.S.-based remote drivers, and prevent public safety workers from having to manage AV breakdowns. Industry opponents argued the bill intrudes on federal vehicle standards, gives local governments enforcement authority they should not have, and could create overly broad notification and response requirements. Members raised questions about local control, response times, and whether the bill was premature given existing DMV regulations. Despite those concerns, the committee passed SB 1246 on a due pass as amended recommendation, later recording a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed and returned to complete roll calls before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• if you're in a 1,200-square-foot manufactured home, I cannot put you in a 2,000-square-foot center block
• And my presentation today is about our community development block grant disaster recovery programs,
• So the community development block grant disaster recovery funds that... Awarded to the state.
• So the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds, they're a little different than the
• This is in Miami, a concrete block home, 3-2. And every home is built to local building codes.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard two hurricane-recovery presentations focused on Florida’s response and long-term recovery efforts. Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reviewed response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including meals, water, sheltering, search and rescue deployments, power restoration, debris removal, flood-control efforts, and generator distribution. He also described ongoing public assistance and mitigation funding, the state’s FROC system for standardizing and speeding reimbursement documentation, and the Elevate Florida residential mitigation program, which will use about $400 million to elevate or reconstruct eligible flood-insurance properties and may expand to county-run programs. Senators asked about manufactured homes, school shelter hardening, mobile home tie-downs, reimbursement for USAR teams, debris hauling, regional sheltering, and FEMA review delays; Guthrie said the state is trying to move recovery faster and more proactively, while acknowledging some limits and federal bottlenecks. The committee then heard from Justin Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce, on HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. He explained that Commerce administers long-term recovery funds through its Office of Long-Term Resiliency for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, with funds used as a last resort after FEMA and insurance. Domer outlined the process for the most recent $925 million allocation covering multiple disasters, including Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, Broward flooding, and North Florida tornadoes, and said the state currently manages about $3.4 billion in DR funds, rising to over $4 billion with the new allocation. He highlighted completed and ongoing housing programs for Hurricane Irma, Michael, and Ian, plus workforce recovery programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants. Senators asked about Broward and Fort Lauderdale funding, homeowner turnaround times, and mobile home eligibility; Domer said Broward and Fort Lauderdale will have separate HUD-directed programs, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when I started working on that bill, the cost for infrastructure for a block of houses was about
• infrastructure<00:02:54.720> for<00:02:55.680> a<00:02:56.000> a<00:02:56.720> block
• <00:02:57.200> of<00:02:58.080> houses infrastructure for a a block of houses infrastructure
• for a a block of houses was<00:02:59.360> about<00:02:59.760> 30<00:03:00.680> 33,000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Blocked entrances, endless construction, limited parking, and reduced foot traffic for months, sometimes
• that would be required, demonstrating that there's restricted parking, demonstrating that there's blocked
• that would be required, demonstrating that there's restricted parking, demonstrated that there's blocked
• The small business doesn't have to be completely blocked and obstructed.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development considered a full agenda of transportation, economic development, housing, emergency services, and specialty license plate bills. Several measures were explained and advanced without opposition, including the Department of Transportation agency bill (CS/CS/SB 1662), a Purple Heart toll exemption bill (CS/SB 574), a Florida Highway Patrol specialty plate bill (CS/SB 824), a construction disruption assistance loan program for small businesses (CS/CS/SB 324), a manufactured housing assistance bill for local housing plans (CS/SB 1714), a foreign agents registration bill (CS/CS/SB 766), military academy specialty plates (CS/SB 1024), a Safe Coastal Wildlife specialty plate (CS/SB 1246), an emergency services warning-light bill (CS/SB 1644), the Florida Wildflower specialty plate (SB 1152), and a toll exemption bill for 100% disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients (CS/SB 532). The committee adopted amendments on several bills. On CS/CS/SB 1662, Senator Collins’ strike-all amendment made a range of DOT-related changes, including the Florida Transportation Academy, seaport and airport accountability provisions, and allowing cranes to move under special blanket permits at night. On CS/CS/SB 324, the committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and a further amendment removing liability language; the bill would create a revolving loan program for small businesses harmed by public works construction, with members raising concerns about eligibility, verification of losses, and public records issues for financial documents. On CS/SB 766, an amendment clarified definitions and aligned the bill with federal FARA standards, including a 20% beneficial ownership threshold. On CS/SB 532, an amendment added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Testimony and debate were generally supportive, with several outside witnesses appearing in favor of the bills, including Florida PBA, the Florida Manufactured Homeowners Federation, the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, the Center for Security Policy, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. Members highlighted constituent impacts and policy concerns on a few measures, especially the construction disruption loan bill and the disabled veteran toll exemption, where some senators suggested narrowing the scope or adding protections. All bills considered were reported favorably, and senators later requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected tabs before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Blocked entrances, endless construction, limited parking, and reduced foot traffic for months, sometimes
• that would be required, demonstrating that there's restricted parking, demonstrating that there's blocked
• that would be required, demonstrating that there's restricted parking, demonstrated that there's blocked
• The small business doesn't have to be completely blocked and obstructed.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to consider a full agenda of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 1662, the Department of Transportation agency bill. Senator Collins presented a strike-all amendment that retained creation of the Florida Transportation Academy, clarified the Florida Transportation Research Institute, restored legislative budget commission review for certain work program amendments, adjusted small-business and supply-chain grant provisions, added airport and seaport accountability measures, and allowed special blanket permits for oversized cranes to travel at night under FDOT safety protocols. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 574, allowing Florida Purple Heart license plate holders to pass tolls free, and CS/SB 824, creating a specialty plate supporting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and scholarships. The committee then took up CS/SB 324, which creates a revolving low-interest loan program at the Department of Commerce for small businesses harmed by significant public works construction. Senator Smith described a local example involving prolonged sewer work in Orlando that hurt businesses in the Lake Ivanhoe district. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, eligibility standards, proof of loss, business age, and whether financial records should be protected from public disclosure. The bill was amended to remove a hotline, add a webpage, and refine liability language, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 1714, requiring local housing assistance plans to include support for mobile home owners, including lot-rent assistance; CS/SB 766, revising registration requirements for agents and organizations tied to foreign countries of concern; and CS/SB 1024, creating specialty plates for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Additional measures approved included CS/SB 1246, authorizing a Save Coastal Wildlife specialty plate with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation; CS/SB 1644, expanding warning light use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and organ transport vehicles, with discussion focused on Hatzalah emergency services; SB 1152, increasing the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee to support conservation, research, and native seed industry development; and CS/SB 532, exempting 100% disabled veterans from tolls. An amendment to SB 532 also added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Several members requested to be recorded voting in the affirmative on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that intended to block the license plate reader, and does it block the license plate reader?
• The LPR has some technology built into it that uses infrared, and if those do not block infrared, it
• I think what I heard you say is maybe it could block the reader if it was the right technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Block. Senator Boone. Senator Brandt. Senator Branley. Senator Campos. Senator Cervantes.
• We have Senator Block followed by Senator Brandt. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Thank you, Senator Block. We do have other announcements.
• They actually allow large blocks of time to supporters in opposition, but require they organize themselves

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Brian Block. I represent House District 8 in Valencia. County. Good morning, Mr.
• If you all would please represent Block. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Good morning.
• late; I'm jumping between the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee, so good to see you, John Block

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, the hospital's currently sitting in eight square blocks.
• Secondly, the hospital's currently sitting in eight square blocks.
• Secondly, the hospital's currently sitting in eight square blocks.
• It is sitting in eight square blocks.
• <01:07:56.400> old property owner of that eight-block old property owner of that eight-block

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:26.000> people because we're only blocking people because we're only blocking people
• So, there's no way that somebody can tell you they're being blocked.
• <00:40:57.920> That<00:40:58.040> door they're they're being blocked.
• That door they're they're being blocked.
• I cannot see a case, and I know you all know this, that you all would be blocked from coming.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:38 SB 213 Discussion 00:01:23 SB 213 Roll Call Vote 00:20:45 SB 8 Discussion 00:26:23 SB 8 Roll Call Vote 00:58:16, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and first heard Senate Bill 213 from Senator Phillip Wheeler. He described the bill as a response to rising electric bills, especially in Eastern Kentucky, and said it would give the Public Service Commission more tools to push utilities toward least-cost planning, require stronger integrated resource plans, and address utility service territories, utility sales, and generation contracts. He argued that monopoly service territories are privileges granted by the Commonwealth, not irrevocable rights, and said the bill would help prevent ratepayers from bearing the cost of poor utility decisions or sale premiums. He also said the bill would allow large new loads, such as data centers, to choose alternative power sources in certain areas to encourage economic development. Members asked questions about how the bill would work, especially the section stating that service territory rights belong to the Commonwealth and the provision dealing with utility sale premiums. Senator Wheeler explained that if a utility is sold at a premium, that premium should not simply be passed on to customers, and he said the bill aims to reduce costs for ratepayers and create more competition. Several members spoke in support of the bill’s goals while noting the complexity of utility regulation. Senator West said some companies had not been responsive to concerns about rates, Senator Williams said he would pass but wanted utilities to have enough generation to serve Kentucky users, and Chair Smith said the bill was a smart approach within the legislature’s limited authority. The committee then voted to report Senate Bill 213 favorably with the expression that the same shall pass. The committee then took up Senate Bill 8 from Senator Brandon Smith, which would modernize the Public Service Commission. He said the bill and committee substitute were intended to help the PSC handle increasingly complex utility regulation, infrastructure investment, and rate cases by expanding the commission from three to five members, with three gubernatorial appointees and two appointed by the Auditor of Public Accounts. He also said the bill would adjust the threshold for PSC review of electric transmission construction from one mile to five miles, to reduce delays while preserving oversight of major projects, and would update appointment terms and other language in the substitute. Smith said the changes were meant to improve staffing and expertise at the PSC and speed transmission buildout. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on Senate Bill 8 appears in the provided excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• You said if somebody blocks traffic, they violate the law, but if they do so holding a sign, well, now
• And I was we permits blocking streets.
• It's illegal to block the street, it's illegal to block the sidewalk. Okay.
• It's illegal<01:05:27.280> to<01:05:27.440> block<01:05:27.680> the<01:05:27.839
• > street, illegal to block the street, illegal to block the street, >> right?

Bills: HF1567, HF2809, HF3380

Keywords: public safety officer, peace officer, correctional officer, law enforcement, police privacy, officer safety, doxxing, personal information, data privacy, government data practices, private data, internet posting, online disclosure, residential address, phone number, email address, family member protection, child safety, school information, public records

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bergman, Senator Block, Senator Boone, Senator Brant, Senator Brantley, Senator Campos.
• I ask for unanimous consent to excuse Senator Brant, Senator Rizzo, Senator Block, and Senator Sanchez
• ask unanimous consent to excuse Senator Brandt (member_22665), Senator Rizzo (member_22677), Senator Block

Transcript Highlights:

• We filed legal action to enable access to blocked internet resources for vulnerable students.
• We filed legal action to enable access to blocked internet resources for vulnerable students.
• We filed legal action to enable access to blocked internet resources for vulnerable students.

Keywords: student advocacy, SB12, SB13, public education policy, youth engagement, marginalized communities, legislative representation

Summary: Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) held an advocacy event at the Texas Capitol focused on youth participation in policymaking and opposition to recent education-related legislation. Speakers, including student organizers and SEAT leaders, argued that students should have a direct voice in decisions affecting public schools, curriculum, and school governance. Representative Donna Howard briefly attended to support the group, praised their advocacy, and referenced the idea that if young people are not given a seat at the table, they should “bring your own chair.” Several student speakers criticized the newly passed school vouchers bill as a threat to public education and said it would divert resources from public schools. Others opposed bills such as Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 13, describing them as harmful to LGBTQ+ students and inclusive education. One speaker also condemned book bans and library censorship, arguing that students need access to diverse books and truthful, inclusive curricula. The speakers framed these issues as matters of student rights, belonging, and free expression. SEAT executive director Cameron Samuels closed by describing the organization’s history of student-led activism against book bans and exclusion from school policymaking. Samuels said the group had distributed challenged books, pursued legal action over blocked internet resources, and delivered a Student Bill of Rights to superintendents and legislators. The event ended without any formal legislative vote or committee action, serving instead as a press conference and advocacy rally urging lawmakers to listen to students.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is, of course, blocking inappropriate content for minors and then routing to crisis resources.
• There is, of course, uh blocking use.
• There is, of course, uh blocking inappropriate<00:19:53.080> content<00:19:53.480> for<
• That's currently blocked within our student work network and they would access it. >> So that's in a
• <01:34:21.120> and to have that same um blocking and to have that same um blocking and monitoring

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move that we accept the Governor's recommendations on the following block of bills: HB 308, HB 391,
• which is now out of the block.
• This is the 12 bills and the uncontested block. Should the Governor's amendments be agreed to?
• This is the 12 bills and the uncontested block. Ten bills, sorry. The House—sorry. Close the roll.
• We just adopted a block now.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would the confidentiality provisions of this kind of block the ability to call that person or to do..
• Do the confidentiality provisions kind of block your ability to do that? No, sir.
• It doesn't block it. No. It doesn't block it, especially if you are a... It doesn't block it. No.
• It doesn't block it, especially if you are a current elected official; you are required to show your
• Courts have already blocked the president’s prior attempt to impose election rules by executive order

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related measures. AB 2592 would transfer lobbyist training from the legislative ethics committees to the FPPC starting in 2029 and make the training available online and on demand; it drew support from the FPPC and a request that the Legislature retain final approval over harassment-prevention content. AB 2573 would clarify and expand California’s confidential voter registration protections for elected officials and candidates, with support from the Secretary of State and county election officials; members raised questions about family-member coverage and possible misuse by candidates, and the bill was supported as amended. AB 1664 would require election officials to notify the Secretary of State and Attorney General within one business day of any warrant, subpoena, or investigation involving election records or voting systems, and would let the Attorney General intervene to protect election materials; it passed unanimously out of committee. AB 2691 would add felony sexual assault and human trafficking convictions to the list of offenses that disqualify a person from running for or holding state or local office; supporters framed it as a public-trust and prevention measure, while members discussed second chances and concerns about overbreadth, and it also passed unanimously. The committee also approved AB 2413, which would bar public funds from being used for large-format public advertisements featuring elected officials, and AB 2281, which would have the Office of Election Cybersecurity assess whether additional resources are needed to replace lost federal cybersecurity support and allow consultation with academic researchers; both passed without opposition. AB 2484 would let San Diego voters approve a local transactions and use tax for the Metropolitan Transit System through the initiative process and exclude it from the existing statutory cap; supporters said it would help address a looming transit fiscal cliff, while an opponent argued it created a special tax rule and questioned why a Prop. 218 process was not used. The bill passed 6-1. The committee also took up AB 2230, which would prohibit immigration enforcement from entering within 100 feet of voting centers and child care facilities. Supporters said it would protect voters and children from intimidation, while opponents questioned enforceability, federal jurisdiction, and whether there was evidence of the problem; the discussion became contentious, with members citing recent ICE activity and concerns about racial profiling. The transcript ends before the final disposition of AB 2230 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representative Block. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm gonna go to the LFC.
• Thank you so much, Representative Block for the question.
• So, Representative Block. Thank you, Madam. And I would love to have advisory members on that too.
• Representative Block. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you guys so much for.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, Representative Block.

Transcript Highlights:

• process, what it might mean for our budget development, and then the biggest item on the chopping block
• If they come up with, like, there's a lot of discussion about a form of a block grant, which is a per
• On Friday, that was on the chopping block.
• If you asked me on Friday, I would have said that's potentially on the chopping block.
• It's like, you know, Title One's on the chopping block for 10%.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's see, Bobby Block is going to speak. Amy Keith, you will be on deck. You're recognized.
• My name is Bobby Block.
• John Labriola, and Bobby Block will be on deck. Good afternoon, Chair McClain, Vice Chair Fine.
• Bobby Block? Yes, you recognize for a question. Hey, John. Hey. So, quick question.
• Bobby Block. Thank you. Bobby Block. Very quickly.

Summary: The committee took up several claims bills and tax-related measures. It reported favorably SB 20, providing $400,000 in relief to J.N., a minor injured on a Hillsborough County sidewalk, and SB 14, providing $1.7 million to the estate of Pineal Januier after a drowning at a Miami Beach youth center pool. It also approved SB 674, which would let property appraisers, like tax collectors, budget for hiring and retention bonuses with Department of Revenue approval. In each claims bill, the sponsor described the underlying incident, the settlement amount, and the remaining payment sought under sovereign immunity limits; there was no opposition on the claims bills. The bonus bill drew support from property appraisers who said it would help them compete for specialized staff without requiring new appropriations. The committee then considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, which would create a new homestead-like property tax benefit for owners who lease a non-homestead property for more than six months as residential rental housing. Supporters said it was intended to encourage more affordable rental housing by extending a $50,000 exemption and Save Our Homes-style assessment cap to qualifying properties. County and city representatives, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties opposed the proposal, warning of major revenue losses, reduced public safety funding, and tax shifts to other property owners and businesses. Several senators also raised concerns about density, parking, and whether landlords would actually pass savings on to renters. Despite the opposition, both the constitutional amendment and the implementing bill were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for CS SB 268, as amended to include congressional members, creating a public-records exemption related to certain residential information for elected officials. The First Amendment Foundation opposed it, arguing the bill lacked a sufficient public purpose and could hinder transparency, while senators supporting it cited real threats and harassment against themselves and their families. SB 100, which bans government display of flags representing political viewpoints and allows active or retired military members to use reasonable force to stop desecration of the U.S. flag, also passed after extensive debate. Opponents argued it was vague, unconstitutional, and aimed at pride and other identity-related flags; supporters said government buildings should not display political messages and that the bill protects neutrality. Finally, the committee approved CS/SB 1664, which would require voter reapproval every eight years for local discretionary taxes such as tourist development taxes and local option taxes, with exceptions for pledged bond revenues. Cities, counties, tourism groups, and the restaurant/lodging industry opposed it, saying it would create uncertainty, threaten tourism and infrastructure funding, and complicate long-term planning; Senator Sharief and others said the measure would disrupt existing surtax-backed projects and revenue streams.