Transcript Highlights:

• And before we get started, I just want to thank our very hardworking staff.
• So I just want to publicly thank the staff for all of your contributions over the last few weeks.
• Alanis, I appreciated your working with committee staff on this bill.
• I just want to confer with staff. I don’t believe she was planning to attend.
• I just want to confer with staff. I don’t believe she was planning to attend.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• function is to provide oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, and training to the field staff
• As calls are made to the abuse hotline, DCF staff at the hotline will determine whether or not that report
• We also offer psychological evaluations, and most of our, I'd say just about all of our CPT field staff
• These are the staff that provide the medical evaluations and consultations.
• We still have some areas where the staffs aren't, you know, we still have some areas where there are

Summary: The Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee held a panel discussion on Florida’s child protection teams (CPTs), child advocacy centers (CACs), and related state systems. Testimony came from the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, a local CAC director, the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, a CPT medical lead, and a Jacksonville sheriff’s sergeant. Witnesses described how DCF investigations, CPT medical and forensic services, CAC multidisciplinary coordination, and law enforcement work together to assess abuse allegations, provide interviews and exams, and connect children and families to services. Several speakers highlighted telemedicine, co-location, and Jacksonville’s specialized investigative model as examples of stronger coordination. Committee members focused heavily on communication gaps, staffing shortages, and delays in forensic interviews and medical evaluations. Senators asked about implementation of Jordan’s Law, the timing of DCF and law enforcement notifications, whether law enforcement is always included in decisions about forensic interviews, and how quickly children are seen after a report. DCF and DOH representatives said referrals are generally made within 24 hours and that multidisciplinary staffings are used to share information, but law enforcement described cases where interviews were scheduled weeks out or reports arrived late, creating problems for probable cause and safety decisions. Members also raised concerns about turnover among CPIs and CPT staff, caseloads, and the need for more specialty providers. CAC representatives said the model reduces trauma by bringing services together in one place, but noted uneven access across the state, especially in rural areas and in counties without CACs. They said sustainable funding and workforce development are needed to maintain and expand services, and one speaker noted that some CACs have closed due to funding challenges. DCF said there are about 1,500 CPIs statewide and an average active caseload of about 12 per investigator, while CPTs serve roughly 22,000 to 23,000 children annually. The committee did not take any formal vote or action, but members requested follow-up information on staffing numbers, communication practices, CAC locations, and recommendations for statutory or budget changes. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would be remiss if I didn't also thank the Amazing Committee staff for all their help in getting
• And I just want to thank you for the opportunity to present this bill and the committee staff for their
• There is no requirement for the staff to try to identify what the issue is.
• But beyond that to try to get assisted living staff to identify individuals who are at risk I think is
• And it will require training of the staff in those organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to thank your staff for getting us in proper posture with the delete-all.
• And I want to thank your staff for getting us in proper posture with the delete-all.
• Harrow and his staff, and see you, you know, even making this possible. Thank you. Thank you.
• The public school has to continue to run, continue to have enough staff, including athletic staff, to
• continue to have enough staff, including athletic staff, to, as you know, a football team requires a

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee considered a long agenda of claims bills, housing and business measures, and court-administration legislation. It reported favorably several claims bills, including SB 20 for J.N., a minor, SB 14 for the estate of Pennial Janvier, SB 10 for Sidney Holmes, SB 8 for Marcus Button, SB 22 for Eric and Jennifer Miles, and SB 26 for Kristen and Leah McIntosh. Members also approved SB 520 on curators of estates, SB 386 on self-storage lien-sale notices, SB 362 on reusable tenant screening reports, SB 316 creating series LLCs in Florida, and SB 1650 and SB 1652 on vexatious litigants and related public-records issues. SB 248, expanding eligibility for private school and homeschool students to participate in FHSAA sports at public schools, also passed after amendment. Most of the claims bills were described as settled cases with amounts above sovereign-immunity limits, and several senators spoke in support of compensating victims of catastrophic injury or wrongful conviction. SB 10 drew comments about the 34 years Sidney Holmes spent incarcerated after a wrongful conviction, and SB 8 prompted discussion about the long delay in resolving Marcus Button’s injuries from a 2006 school-bus crash. SB 26 was presented as an uncontested claim arising from a DACS employee’s fatal crash that severely injured two teenage girls, and the committee adopted an amendment placing funds for the minor claimant into trust. The policy bills drew more substantive debate. SB 386 would let self-storage operators use websites instead of newspaper ads for lien-sale notices, with newspaper representatives opposing the change and storage-industry witnesses supporting modernization and lower costs. SB 362 would let renters reuse tenant screening reports for 30 days, with the sponsor saying it would reduce repeated application fees. SB 316 would authorize series LLCs while adding record-keeping protections, and SB 1650/1652 would broaden Florida’s vexatious-litigant rules and create a public-records exemption for certain stricken filings. SB 248 passed over concerns from private-school and public-education witnesses about instructional time, funding, and fairness in athletic participation. All measures were reported favorably, with recorded votes ranging from 7-2 on SB 248 to unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please let the committee staff know.
• And so there will be a period of hiring staff, developing training programs, developing the information
• So I mean I had staff that were down in Alpine till about 8:30 last night and it's about 3 hours from
• And so, um, CASA staff can also do screenings as well.
• Yes, they don't, they don't have, they don't have to hire additional staff to get this done. OK.

Bills: HB 451 , HB 645 , HB 1041 , HB 1151 , HB 1155 , HB 1536 , HCR 12

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Trust Fund Staff Salaries. Trust Fund Staff Salaries.
• I also want to join him in thanking all of the CIP staff who tirelessly worked on this budget.
• who tirelessly worked on this staff who tirelessly worked on this budget.<00:52:29.920><c> The</c><00
• , their hardworking staff that are here early mornings and late at night. >> Weekends as well. >> And
• realized that now, more way I'm staff realized that now, more than<00:56:09.640><c> ever,</c><00:56:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you for the work our staffs have done and the members of both the Senate and the House to make these
• We're going to engage with Dean of Students staff first.
• We're going to engage with Dean of Students staff first.
• As would any staff or faculty member, they would go through a disciplinary process.
• Close to half of these arrested at UT were not students, faculty, or staff.

Summary: The joint Senate and House Select Committee on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education convened for its first public hearing, adopted its proposed rules without objection, and framed the hearing as an organizational, invited-testimony-only session. Members repeatedly condemned political violence and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, saying the committee was created in response to concerns about civil discourse, intimidation, and hostility on college campuses. Several members emphasized that the goal was not to suppress speech but to protect open expression while maintaining order, due process, and institutional accountability. The first witness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Wyn Rosser, outlined implementation of Senate Bill 37. He described the General Education Advisory Committee, which is reviewing broad core-curriculum knowledge and skills and may recommend reducing the current 42-hour core, while leaving review of specific courses to individual institutions. He also explained the new Office of the Ombudsman, the board’s role in supporting it, and existing training and certification requirements for governing board members. Members asked about enforcement tools, transparency, and whether the ombudsman would investigate complaints involving censorship, retaliation, or political bias; Rosser said some enforcement exists in certain laws, but he deferred on the exact scope of the ombudsman’s investigatory authority and on issues outside the agency’s role. University of Texas at Austin President Jim Davis testified that UT Austin supports free speech, academic freedom, and civil discourse, and he described three areas of focus: speech on campus grounds, classroom discourse, and how people treat one another. He said the university enforces time, place, and manner rules, expects professors to present alternative views on controversial topics, and has created internal reporting and appeal processes for students and faculty. Members questioned him about heckler’s veto incidents, protests, off-campus participants, complaints about professors, hate speech, and whether the university would protect speakers and students from disruption or unfair targeting. Davis said the university would not tolerate disruptions, would use due process and factual review, and is working to align campus practices with the new law and regents’ expectations. Ricky Adam Jr. of Turning Point USA’s Club America described the group’s campus and high-school organizing, praised Charlie Kirk’s approach to open debate, and said the organization is expanding in Texas. He raised concerns about school administrators and a counselor at an Early College High School in Killeen allegedly interfering with a student club and withholding footage, and committee members said they would seek information and, if necessary, use legislative process to investigate. Members from both chambers reiterated support for free speech, criticized political violence and campus suppression of viewpoints, and stressed that future hearings would continue examining implementation and enforcement issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I accept the committee amendments to this bill and appreciate the work put in by committee staff.
• Also would like to add that... ...amendments to this bill and appreciate the work put in by committee staff
• And a special thank you to the committee staff for their work on this bill.
• legislation, you know, it's one I think that's important both of us, but the engagement from the committee staff

Committee: House Aging and Long-Term Care

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would ask staff to prepare the previous motion made by Senator Howell as a committee report to the
• </c><00:04:10.480><c> I</c><00:04:10.600><c> would</c><00:04:10.760><c> ask</c><00:04:11.000><c> staff
• I would ask staff favorable expression.
• I would ask staff to<00:04:11.320><c> prepare</c><00:04:11.720><c> the</c><00:04:11.840><c> previous<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate committee met under Rule 39 to consider proceedings related to the impeachment of Judge Julie Muth Goodman of the Fayette Circuit Court. Chair Storm explained that the House had transmitted impeachment articles on March 24, 2026, and that the Kentucky Constitution requires the Senate to address them. He also noted a preliminary Kentucky Supreme Court order issued April 6, 2026, in Judge Goodman’s separate lawsuit against the House, and said the Court revealed she is also facing a parallel Judicial Conduct Commission proceeding on the same issues. The chair emphasized that the committee’s actions were guided by constitutional duties and fairness to the defendant. Senator Howell moved that the committee recommend to the full Senate that impeachment proceedings be stayed indefinitely pending completion of the Judicial Conduct Commission investigation, with the understanding that the stay would not waive the Senate’s constitutional authority. Senator Carroll seconded the motion. Senator Chambers-Armstrong said she would vote yes on the stay but preferred the body explicitly dismiss the complaint or otherwise state it would take no further action, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling as unconstitutional for further action. The committee voted 7-0 in favor of the motion, with all members present voting aye. Chair Storm then directed staff to prepare the motion as a committee report to the full Senate and stressed that the action should not be construed as an acquittal or as the Senate relinquishing any constitutional rights or duties.

Transcript Highlights:

• PCBs are the first of a series of proposed committee bills and are based upon studies performed by staff
• We appreciate our staff so very much.
• PCBs are the first of a series of proposed committee bills and are based upon studies performed by staff
• We appreciate our staff so very much.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to consider five proposed committee bills under the Open Government Sunset Review Act, which requires certain public record and public meeting exemptions to be reenacted before automatic repeal. Each bill was briefly explained by its sponsor or a member presenting on behalf of the sponsor, with no amendments or public testimony offered on any of the measures. The subcommittee favorably reported PCB GOS 26-01, preserving the Florida Gaming Control Commission exemption; PCB GOS 26-03, preserving the public emergency shelter address and phone number exemption; PCB GOS 26-04, preserving exemptions for financial information used in small business loan administration; PCB GOS 26-02, preserving the conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information exemption; and PCB GOS 26-05, preserving a Public Service Commission meeting exemption for portions involving proprietary confidential information. During discussion on the Public Service Commission bill, members asked about transparency and utility rate increases, and the sponsor responded that the exemption is narrow, has never been used, does not affect public discussion of rate increases, and does not limit lawsuits or discovery. All five PCBs were reported favorably by roll call vote. The chair then thanked members for their participation, noted that more bills were being referred to the committee, and adjourned the meeting without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Get this bill ready, and it was truly a collaborative team effort, and I absolutely appreciate the staff
• We've had very good conversations with the author and his staff, and certainly with your staff and Supervisor
• Kelly's staff.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met as a subcommittee because a quorum was not present, and the chair announced 16 measures on the agenda, nine of them on consent. The committee then took up AB 1016 by Assemblymember Gonzalez, which would create a five-year pilot program allowing certain counties with geothermal elements in their general plans to locally permit geothermal plants up to 150 net megawatts through 2030. The author and Imperial County representatives argued the bill would streamline a duplicative permitting process, support local control, and bring jobs, tax revenue, and clean baseload energy development to Imperial County, which they described as facing high unemployment and poverty and having significant geothermal potential. Supporters included Imperial County officials, Rural County Representatives of California, Independent Energy Producers, and local community representatives. They emphasized the county’s long history of geothermal permitting, its planning efforts, and the economic benefits of projects that could support schools, health care, and community colleges. Opposition came from labor organizations including the California State Pipe Trades Council, Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, California Coalition of Utility Employees, State Association of Electrical Workers, and State Building Trades. Their main concern was that shifting permitting from the California Energy Commission to local governments could remove the skilled-and-trained workforce requirement that currently applies to CEC-permitted projects. Committee members asked about that labor issue, and the author said he intended to work with the opposition coalition to ensure local workers are prioritized and that projects use skilled, trained, California-licensed labor. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration; no vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have three resolutions that we’re submitting to honor some of our staff who have service dates and
• Just again, that is for recognizing service and what they've done for the House of Representatives as staff
• Staff members. Okay, all of them are...
• I know it's a little loud in here, but what he says is we're recognizing staff members that have retired

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, in the gallery were members of my staff, our office manager, Ruben Sierra, our committee clerk,
• </c><00:01:59.360><c> members</c><00:01:59.680><c> of</c><00:01:59.840><c> my</c><00:02:00.079><c> staff
• ,</c> the gallery were members of my staff, the gallery were members of my staff, um,<00:02:01.200><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also been disagreements between people who are kind of on my staff or, like, working with me,
• kind</c><00:02:01.799><c> of</c><00:02:01.920><c> on</c><00:02:02.000><c> my</c><00:02:02.200><c> staff
• </c><00:02:02.439><c> or</c> um people who are kind of on my staff or um people who are kind of on my
• staff or like<00:02:02.759><c> working</c><00:02:03.119><c> with</c><00:02:03.280><c> me</c><00:02:03.920

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I need 360 commissioners to fully staff my precincts.
• My staff is trained to provide that guidance as part of their job.
• Every clerk in the state is struggling to fully staff their precincts.
• I need about 1,300 to 1,400 to fully staff this election, and we couldn't make it happen.
• Any money over that $6 million rolls into our ETF fund and then it pays for staff and stuff.

Bills: HB27 , HB143 , HB205 , HB308 , HB311 , HB417 , HB430 , HB562 , HB812 , HB1129

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation, hazardous waste, cleanup fund, environmental protection, state treasury, Consumer Price Index, law enforcement, firefighters, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't believe so, but I'll double-check that with staff just to make sure. Follow up.
• I'll double-check with staff and make sure. I don't believe that it would cover them now.
• There again, I don't believe that it would, but I'll double-check with staff just to see.
• I will go to staff, talk to staff, and see what we need to do on that.
• But if we need to make changes, Staff and see what we need to do on that.

Bills: HB4125 , HB2951 , HB3082 , HB4142 , HB4106 , HB1752 , HB3268

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: firearm rights restoration, nonviolent felons, Oklahoma firearm laws, gun ownership, pardon, expungement, public safety, transportation of inmates, Department of Corrections, correctional facilities, sentencing, health records, firefighters, sex offenders, employment restrictions, Oklahoma laws, bomb, explosive device, incendiary device, simulated bomb

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met to consider several executive nominations and a series of bills. The committee advanced Joel Franks to the Polygraph Examiner Board, Julie Pittman to a full term on the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Commission, and Justin Ferris to serve as Director of Corrections. Each nominee was introduced by a sponsoring senator, gave brief remarks, and was advanced on unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls. On legislation, the committee passed House Bill 4125, which would restore certain rights to nonviolent felons after completion of sentence and includes an expungement component; members focused heavily on whether the language could unintentionally allow firearm possession by people still on probation or deferred sentences, and the author said he would work with staff on clarifying language. House Bill 2951, as amended, renamed a correctional facility after Chief James Smith; House Bill 3082 barred sex offenders from serving as firefighters; and House Bill 4142 expanded the crime involving unlawful use of bombs or explosives to include conspiracy. All three advanced with little opposition. The committee also passed House Bill 4106, which lowers the grand larceny threshold by $100 and adds an escalator for repeated thefts, though the author struck the title to continue working with the Attorney General’s office on retail theft issues. Members debated whether the change conflicted with the voter-approved theft threshold and whether it would meaningfully deter crime. House Bill 1752 exempted the Attorney General’s Office and the District Attorneys Council from the OMES vehicle requisition process and passed unanimously. House Bill 3268 made knowingly displaying a false or fictitious license plate a felony; members questioned its scope, including whether it could affect temporary tags or other situations, and it passed on a 5-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• To better understand the range of requests, MMB staff visited some project sites and projects that had
• </c> To better understand the range of requests, MMB staff visited some project sites and projects that
• Peter for replacing the water, sanitary, and storm sewer infrastructure to ensure clients and staff have
• ,</c><00:18:40.000><c> excuse</c> that we have received from staff, excuse that we have received from
• staff, excuse me,<00:18:40.400><c> and</c><00:18:40.559><c> from</c><00:18:40.720><c> you</c><00:18:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's why the staff really work with people to make sure that there's no hiccup in that process
• And so what that is designed to do is allow the certificate of need staff to work with applicants to
• It's just for the agency or title staff users, but we can modify it for the public as well so they can
• But the staff of the agency, they can...
• , whatever the agency provides the credentials for the staff.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we start with the presentation, I would just like to thank all the committee members, staff, and
• LFC staff.
• Legislative education staff for helping on all of this.
• It's a possibility that we will not be reimbursed for some staff payments if we make those.
• So this is a committee discussion that staff is passing out to everyone.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• The key constraint on expanding program capacity is the ability to attract and retain faculty and staff
• sister institutions in large metropolitan areas, we cannot meet that need with contingency faculty staff
• This challenge also extends to our administrative and professional staff as we try to recruit for senior
• administrative positions. and technical staff positions, such as those in information technology and
• I do love my staff, and I would love for you to look at us and see if you can find efficiencies.

Keywords: 999, senate, all