Transcript Highlights:

• And so will the Office of Childhood do some research in terms of the impact of this bill, hopefully once
• They're kind of the administrator of it.
• Jim Malley with Align, I'm the Director of Policy of Missouri.
• of Greater Kansas City.
• Chairman, members of the committee, Ray McCarty, President of Associated Industries of Missouri, here

Committee: House Economic Development

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the state of Florida.
• So here in the state of Florida, we have the Division of Public Schools that serves as the sponsor of
• placement rate of 91%, and a licensure pass rate of 98%.
• that does not work because of the sections of that.
• Because of the technical education, many of those courseworks are longer periods of time.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received an overview of Florida’s career and technical education (CTE) system from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, who described the state’s CTE pathways, program types, enrollment and completion growth, quality audit metrics, and the Master Credentials List used to identify credentials of value. He highlighted record postsecondary CTE enrollment and completions, strong statewide performance in talent attraction, and several funding tools supporting expansion, including Open Door, the Florida First Responder Scholarship, Workforce Development Capitalization grants, Perkins funding, CAPE performance incentives, and apprenticeship grants. Senators asked about eligibility for Open Door and first responder aid, top industry certifications, and the teacher apprenticeship initiative. A panel of college and technical school leaders then described how state and federal funding has supported local program growth and facility expansion. Santa Fe College, Palm Beach State College, North Florida Technical College, Lake Technical College, Florida Gateway College, and Manatee Technical College each cited increases in enrollment, high placement or licensure pass rates, and new or expanded programs in nursing, welding, CDL, automotive, manufacturing, public safety, and apprenticeship. Several speakers emphasized partnerships with hospitals, employers, school districts, and local governments, and noted that grants helped fund equipment, renovations, and new training hubs. Palm Beach State also raised a request to broaden line funding beyond nursing to other health science fields, and multiple presenters asked for more flexibility, multi-year support, and continued or increased funding to sustain growth. Members discussed broader challenges, including the difficulty of sustaining grant-funded growth after initial awards, the lag between enrollment growth and funding formulas, and alignment problems for dual enrollment and technical programs with high school schedules. Senators also noted the need to balance support for high-demand core programs like nursing and welding with the ability to respond quickly to emerging industries such as AI and space. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• the residents of this state as **Attorney General** of the state of Minnesota.
• Your letter inviting me here today asked me to provide an overview of the state of Minnesota. of the
• success of a certain course of action might be.
• nature of the fact of meeting with constituents.
• So I just think we can be very proud of the actions of MDE and proud of the actions of our Attorney General

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• As I understand it, it's a small business owner who owned an automotive repair shop in the city of Dallas
• It is all currently in the city of Dallas. All of that goes through the Board of Adjustment.
• Yeah, a lot of it is that it is one of the scenarios.
• It would be in front of the Board of Adjustment.
• Any one of these examples can add tens of thousands of dollars to the.

Bills: HB24 , HB2015 , HB2149 , HB2559 , HB2701 , HB2797 , HB3172 , HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here on behalf of the Water Environment Association of Texas and Texas Association of Clean Water
• , and a greater level of sophistication of treatment.
• Parts of the district, parts of Harris County, big, huge parts of Harris County are, um, if you're not
• of of how this process, the, the investor owned utility.
• Who obviously aren't gonna have the same type of, um, capital to be able to assess and to repair and

Bills: HB 29 , HB 685 , HB 1633 , HB 1689 , HB 1690 , HB 1918 , HB 2010 , HB 2500 , HB 2608 , HB 2626

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• YOU SPOKE A LOT OF PROBLEM THAT SHE SPOKE A LOT OF THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND IS THE
• OF IT.
• OF FLORIDA.
• THEY COULD REPAIR THEIR PROPERTY BUT THEY COULD NOT ELEVATE AND THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS
• THE WEAKEST POINTS OF ENTRY JUST BECAUSE OF THE VIRTUE OF WHAT IT IS DOING.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of standing committees. Reports of select committees.
• And librarians are remarkably adept at all of the huge range of kinds of demands that they IN AMERICA
• AND LIBRARIANS ARE REMARKABLY ADEPT AT ALL OF THE HUGE RANGE OF KINDS OF DEMANDS THAT THEY Are presented
• OF It is not the library of 1974 for me; it is a library for the community of today.
• OF COLOR.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and discharged several identical Assembly/Senate bills from committee so they could be substituted on the calendar. The chamber then took up and previously adopted two commemorative resolutions: one designating April 2026 as Sikh Heritage Month and another honoring Korean War veterans. Senators from both parties spoke in support of the Sikh resolution, emphasizing the community’s contributions, service, and the need for recognition and inclusion; the resolution was opened for co-sponsorship and the Sikh guests in the gallery were recognized. The Korean War resolution drew remarks from members recalling family service and the sacrifices of veterans, with repeated calls to preserve their stories and honor their legacy. The Senate then moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills. Among them were measures related to charter bus safety and seat belt awareness, coverage for doula services under insurance, social services/EBT-related changes, education, navigation, highway, public service, and hospital-closure reporting. Several bills passed unanimously or with only one dissenting vote; the social services bill drew the most opposition, with Senator Murray objecting that New York should first address EBT chip technology and skimming before adding new vendor requirements. One bill on the calendar was laid aside for the day. The chamber also adopted a supplemental bill authorizing the South Country Central School District to finance certain deficits, described by Senator Murray as a necessary rescue to keep the district operating and pay staff. Senators discussed the state budget impasse during debate on an extender bill, with the sponsor explaining it was a “clean extender” to keep government running through May 4 and cover payroll, health, education, and other essential payments. Senator Helming raised concerns about the lack of rural health transformation funding and the consequences of the delayed budget for schools, local governments, and hospitals. The extender passed, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, May 4, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I sit on the board of Which is an affiliate of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.
• I'm here today on behalf of Renew Missouri, in support of both of these bills.
• We want to applaud both Representatives... ...on behalf of Renew Missouri, in support of both of these
• I'm here on behalf of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment and in favor of both of these bills.
• Lack of information from Amazon, Google. and a lack of transparency, lack of information from Amazon

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , of, of, of...
• of view.
• needs of repairs.
• I mean, we're thinking about bushes of cocaine, marijuana, kilos of cocaine—something half the size of
• I mean, we're thinking about, you know, bushes of cocaine, you know, of marijuana, kilos of cocaine,

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Michelle Whitworth to the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Whitworth described her 30 years of criminal justice experience, and the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably. The committee then took up SB 1692 on material harmful to minors, adopting a delete-all amendment that shifted the focus to K-12 instructional materials and objections by parents or residents. Supporters argued it would create clearer standards and protect children from pornographic content, while opponents warned it would worsen book bans and remove consideration of literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. After extensive debate and public testimony, the bill as amended was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on several criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 1422 increased penalties for certain drone-related offenses near critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones; SB 1360 clarified xylazine’s veterinary use while creating stronger trafficking penalties; and SB 1732 increased penalties for animal cruelty involving minors and for contributing to a minor’s delinquency. SB 776 added an aggravating factor for the assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, and SB 984 added aggravating factors for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for religious, school, or government activities. SB 1640 made domestic violence lethality assessment forms confidential, and SB 1268 updated FDLE operations and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. All of these bills were reported favorably after brief debate and mostly supportive testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, with a strike-all amendment addressing digitally forged intimate images and extending prosecution time limits. SB 1654 updated sexual offender and predator registration rules, including definitions of residence and online reporting for in-state travel, though one witness raised concerns about vague language and employer privacy. SB 1774 created a rebuttable presumption in certain second-degree murder cases when the victim had a controlled substance in their system, drawing criticism that it could devalue victims who used drugs. Finally, SB 1838 strengthened protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, with an amendment adding magistrates, hearing officers, and related staff; defense attorneys warned the tampering language could inadvertently reach zealous advocacy. Each of these measures was ultimately reported favorably, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• of of septic tanks.
• What we think of is we think of a bright flamingos, we think of the sun and all of these wonderful things
• It accounts for almost 20% of the GDP of the state of Florida. 10% of what generated in tolls in Miami-Dade
• the some of the more important areas of our state.
• city of marathon in the city of Key West.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• out of bad faith.
• I mean, you're in favor of a penalty of 50%? 100%?
• All of which... Seven acts of bad faith, right?
• And a lot of times, the penalty is an important part of getting the threat of the penalty in many cases
• In terms of the amount of the awards or the penalties that can be— even the frequency of the judgments

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Committee on Insurance met on March 25 and took up House Bill 577 by Representative Glorioso, which would change Louisiana’s bad-faith insurance penalty language from a flat 50% to “up to 50%,” giving judges discretion to award a lower penalty in cases involving minor or technical delays. Glorioso argued the bill would correct an omission from the 2024 consolidation of the bad-faith statutes, reduce unnecessary litigation over nominal delays, and potentially help lower reinsurance and homeowners’ insurance costs. Committee members questioned whether the change would weaken consumer protections or reward insurer misconduct, especially in catastrophe claims after storms, and whether any real rate relief would follow. Opposition testimony came from the Louisiana Association of Justice and Real Reform Louisiana. They argued the current penalty provisions are important guardrails that help force timely payment and fair handling of claims, especially after hurricanes, and that the bill would reduce deterrence without producing meaningful premium reductions. They also said insurers already have substantial time and procedural protections under the law, and that penalties are rarely awarded but serve as leverage in settlement negotiations. Supporters and the Department of Insurance said Louisiana’s penalty structure is an outlier compared with other states and that the bill could make the market more competitive, though the department said it did not have court data on bad-faith judgments and could not quantify the bill’s effect on rates. After debate, Representative Glorioso closed by saying he was open to further language changes but asked the committee to advance the bill. The committee then voted 10 yeas and 6 nays to report House Bill 577 favorably. Afterward, the committee moved on to the next item, House Bill 955.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of bad faith.
• is one of those.
• I mean, you're in favor of a penalty of 50%. 100%?
• All of which... Seven acts of bad faith, right?
• And a lot of times, the penalty is an important part of getting the threat of the penalty in many cases

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Suja Lowenthal, and I am the city manager of the City of Linwood, here in strong support of AB 1338.
• I am the city manager of the City of Linwood, here in strong support of AB 1338.
• of safe operating practices of OHVs, and require operators of OHVs to take this course in order to access
• repairs as well as the longevity of the tenants, et cetera.
• My name is Sheila Rossi, and I'm the mayor of the city of South Pasadena, and I'm here in support of

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a long agenda of transportation-related measures, with testimony focused on housing, safety, environmental access, and fuel affordability. Several bills dealt with Caltrans surplus or former freeway properties in the Los Angeles area: AB 1338 would let the City of Linwood transfer a public-purpose covenant to another parcel to enable 55 units of affordable housing; AB 1594 would remove a net-equity repayment requirement for Ronald McDonald House’s purchase of former SR 710 properties in Pasadena; and AB 2329 would create a more transparent process for tenants and cities to facilitate sales of former SR 710 homes, with support from South Pasadena and Pasadena officials and tenants. AB 2679 addressed safety and access around Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay corridor by allowing Caltrans and local Tahoe agencies to manage parking and improve pedestrian, transit, and public access infrastructure. The committee also heard several public safety bills aimed at impaired driving. AB 1685 would increase DMV points for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated from two to three, and AB 1687 would extend the license revocation period for a third DUI conviction from three years to eight years, with an interlock option after four years. Both measures drew strong support from law enforcement, MADD, and victims’ families, including emotional testimony about repeat offenders and drunk-driving fatalities. AB 1613 would require an off-highway vehicle safety and stewardship course before access to off-highway lands beginning in 2029, with supporters describing it as an education-first response to rising OHV injuries and fatalities. Other bills focused on transportation efficiency and affordability. AB 2046 would allow EPA-approved E85 conversion kits in California, which supporters said would give drivers a cheaper, lower-carbon fuel option and improve fuel resiliency. AB 2168 would revise the Active Transportation Program to better prioritize transit-connected biking and walking projects and add stronger accountability for grantees that do not spend funds on time. AB 2263 would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to reserve some affordable housing units for its employees, and supporters said it would help workers live closer to their jobs and reduce long commutes. The committee reported no opposition on most measures, and after quorum was established it approved the bills, sending them onward mostly to the Committee on Appropriations, with AB 2679 sent to Natural Resources and Water. Several votes were unanimous, while AB 1613 and AB 2168 drew some no votes but still advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you heard this last year. Some of you heard that last year.
• I don't think so because of the consequences of those kinds of actions. Okay. Okay.
• So I'd kind of say 95% of all the—I don't know.
• That is kind of the crux of where we are at with this.
• The city of St. Charles owns... The city of St.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was diagnosed with stage 3 lipedema and paid tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for surgical
• And it was already such a part of the lexicon of women in Ireland who understood the importance of it
• Manufacturers of those drugs negotiate, as part of their contract.
• of life.
• Status of Women, to be a part of this hearing and testify today.

Bills: H4796 , H4838

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: organ transplant, emergency vehicle, transportation, medical personnel, regulation, organs, menopause, perimenopause, healthcare access, female health, public health, medical education, workplace policies, discrimination, accommodation, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But a lot of this seems to be kind of reactive.
• Andrea Smiley here on behalf of the Building Industry Association of Washington in strong support of
• the board of directors of ICC, and I am very strongly in support of this bill.
• At the core of America's most foundational legal document is a declaration of the negative impacts of
• We just completed six years of work, tens of thousands of hours, many of which were volunteers, on updating

Summary: The committee opened public hearings on House Bill 2141, concerning building codes, and House Bill 2573, concerning community access to food, medicine, and health services, then later took executive action on several bills. HB 2141 would impose a 10-year pause on new state building and energy code updates after the 2024 codes, limit local amendments until the 2036 codes, then move to a six-year update cycle and remove the current energy-code 70% reduction target. Supporters, including the sponsor, builders, local government groups, and some code officials, argued the bill would reduce regulatory churn, lower housing costs, and give builders and local governments more certainty. Opponents, including environmental groups, architects, fire marshals, and code organizations, said the freeze would raise long-term energy costs, undermine safety and climate goals, and delay adoption of new technologies. No action was taken on HB 2141 during the hearing. HB 2573 would require advance notice before grocery stores or pharmacies close in communities that relied on them for planning under the Growth Management Act, add a health and food access goal and a healthy communities element to the GMA, and authorize cities and counties to use zoning, excise taxes, and nuisance fees to discourage long-term vacancies and preserve access to food and medicine. The sponsor and supporters said the bill responds to recent store closures that created food and pharmacy deserts, especially in overburdened communities, and would give local governments tools to prevent blight and protect access to essential services. Opponents from grocery and retail industry groups argued the bill would punish businesses and property owners, create a chilling effect on investment, and unfairly burden independent landlords. The committee heard testimony on HB 2573 but did not take final action in the portion provided. During executive action, the committee reported several bills out with do-pass recommendations. HB 2517, on permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects, passed 4-3 after one proposed amendment was rejected and another was adopted to require property-owner consent before certain permits on property not owned by the transit authority. HB 2588, expanding county ferry district authority beyond passenger-only ferries, passed 4-3. HB 1529, allowing cities to use county resources for road construction and maintenance, passed 6-1. HB 2223, creating a limited exemption for irrigation district directors’ spouses’ contracts, passed unanimously. HB 2006, extending the deadline for certain rural counties to designate industrial land banks, passed unanimously after adoption of an amendment narrowing eligibility and adjusting timing requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was diagnosed with stage 3 lipedema and paid tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for surgical
• is one of the most impactful aspects of this bill.
• And it was already such a part of the lexicon of women in Ireland who understood the importance of it
• of life.
• Status of Women, to be a part of this hearing and testify today.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing during a snowstorm, with members participating both in person and via Teams, and the chairs said testimony would be kept open for an additional week. The first bill heard was H.4796, an act relative to organ transplant vehicles. NORA New England testified in support, arguing that dedicated organ transport vehicles need authority to use lights and sirens so time-sensitive organs can be moved more quickly and safely without relying on EMS systems already stretched by 9-1-1 calls. No opposition was heard and the bill was then set aside as the committee moved to the next item. The bulk of the hearing focused on H.4838, an act expanding access to perimenopause and menopause care. Chair Decker, who filed the bill, said it was the product of a year of meetings with dozens of individuals and organizations and was intended as a starting point to identify gaps in care, training, access, and coverage. Testimony overwhelmingly supported the bill and described widespread misdiagnosis, dismissal of symptoms, limited clinician training, insurance barriers, medication access problems, and workplace impacts. Speakers included patients, clinicians, advocates, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and out-of-state and international experts, many of whom urged better education, public awareness, research, and workplace accommodations. Several witnesses emphasized that menopause affects whole-body health, including cardiovascular, bone, mental health, and work outcomes, and that Black women and other marginalized groups face greater barriers and worse outcomes. Some speakers noted the bill is important but largely a framework that will need further work to address coverage and access more directly. Blue Cross Blue Shield said it supports the bill and already covers menopause-related care and training, though the chair used the exchange to criticize broader insurer and state decisions on GLP-1 coverage for obesity. The committee took no vote during the hearing, and the chairs closed by thanking witnesses and stating that additional written testimony would be accepted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Impact aid may include construction grants to help pay for the construction and repair of school buildings
• of Senate Bill 5901.
• pay right now, frankly, given the number of hours that many of you know because several of you have
• all of us, exist educated about history and educated about the importance of all of us existing here
• as an act of love.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5901, which would change the school construction assistance program so that instructional space on military bases is excluded from a district’s available space inventory when calculating state construction aid. Staff explained the bill would also require state assistance to equal approved project cost minus federal funding received. Senator Christian said the measure is intended to prevent military-base facilities from unfairly reducing districts’ ability to modernize or build schools. Testimony in support came from OSPI, Clover Park School District, and Medical Lake School District, which said the current formula penalizes districts serving military families and can leave them unable to secure needed renovation funding. No opposition was heard, and the bill was later described as having an indeterminate fiscal impact. The committee then took up Senate Bill 5860 on school board compensation. The bill would raise director pay from $50 to $100 per day, increase the annual cap, allow child care expenses to be reimbursed, require OFM to periodically adjust compensation, and direct WASDA to develop finance training for school directors. Senator Cortez said the changes are needed to broaden who can serve on school boards and to help working families participate. Supporters from OSPI, WASDA, and South Sound superintendents said compensation could improve diversity and help recruit and retain board members, though WASDA noted concerns about diverting district funds and said its members do not have consensus on mandatory training. Opponents argued the bill would misuse levy funds and that child care and other expenses should not be paid from local education levies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5956 on artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in schools, which would bar automated systems from being the sole basis for discipline decisions, prohibit risk scores and biometric surveillance, require OSPI guidance updates, and direct WASDA to create model policy. Senator Nobles and supporters said the bill is needed to protect students from discriminatory and inaccurate AI-driven decisions; no vote was taken in the hearing. Finally, the committee heard a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5574, which would require districts to include instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Latino American, and Black American history in required social studies courses during the regular curriculum review cycle, with reporting beginning in 2030. Senator Nobles said the bill is meant to address exclusion and bias in history education and to help students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. Testifiers from education, student, parent, and community groups overwhelmingly supported the measure, saying it would improve belonging, reduce bullying, and build on existing curriculum resources without creating a new course or major new cost. The hearing ended without a vote or other formal action on SB 5956 or SB 5574.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator, can you also kind of provide, I guess maybe some examples of like what kind of coverage
• So units of the best way for me to to to kind of laid out this bill really speaks to kind of the the
• If I'm a farmer, I live in a rural part of Tennessee are old world part of the state of Florida and having
• that are required of reasonable effort. links and bounds of that are required of reasonable effort.
• And and that's someone did out of the worst possible of of human reasons.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, who is responsible for the potable water lines, the maintenance repair and replacement of potable
• However, I am also a resident of the city of Miami Gardens.
• of our statute.
• So both because of the cyclical nature of the interest rates and in the camp market and because of the
• We had a lot of you know, we've had a lot of storms. We had a lot of hardening.

Keywords: 999, senate, all