Transcript Highlights:

• So we lead in that. So I just love the committee, and I'm just thankful to be on it.
• As we come into this session, I admire Chair Rivera on how he leads our committee with educating both
• community colleges, just to show students that there are opportunities to grow your skill sets here and, leading

Committee: House House International Trade Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Committee on International Trade held its first meeting of the session with member introductions and opening remarks emphasizing Arizona’s interest in foreign relations, border commerce, and collaboration with trading partners, especially Mexico. Chair Tony Rivera noted the state’s trade offices in Mexico and framed the committee’s work as a way to strengthen Arizona’s international relationships. Staff were introduced, and members were reminded of amendment deadlines, though no bills were heard. The committee then heard a presentation from the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District. Chamber representatives described Nogales as a major gateway for trade, tourism, agriculture, and logistics, and said the region is investing in entrepreneurship support, bilingual business resources, digital and e-commerce training, and workforce development tied to mining and logistics. They also highlighted tourism promotion efforts and said infrastructure, housing, and pedestrian access at the ports of entry are major needs. Committee members asked about regulatory and infrastructure improvements, housing and health-care challenges, and tourism data. Greg Lucero of the provisional community college described the district’s unusual status, its contract with Pima College to provide instruction, and the impact of South32’s mining project on enrollment and workforce training demand. He said the district is focusing on AI, advanced manufacturing, trades, and ESL support, while working toward accreditation. Members asked about industry partnerships, certificate timelines, and programs tied to Arizona-Mexico trade. The committee also heard from Cattlemex, T4 Ranch, Arizona Cattle Feeder Association, and J.M. Fletcher Cattle Co. on the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to live cattle imports because of New World screwworm concerns. Testimony argued that Sonora cattle are safe, that Arizona ports are strategically important, and that reopening the ports would support feedlots, packing plants, jobs, and lower beef prices. Witnesses urged a state-by-state USDA reopening, especially for Sonora, and said Arizona should not be penalized for outbreaks elsewhere in Mexico. Members asked about industry support, the effect of grazing restrictions, the future of Arizona’s livestock sector, and whether a Sonora-specific carve-out could be safely implemented. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• big culminating event, highlighting all the different pieces that we've done throughout the year leading
• big culminating event, highlighting all the different pieces that we've done throughout the year leading
• the performers, the stage, all the materials to come together to do this and all the work that's leading

Summary: The committee approved minutes from October 21, 2025, and after discussion and a recorded no vote from Treasurer Ellsworth, also approved the December 19, 2025 minutes. Members then received an America 250 financial update showing commemorative fund balances, grant spending, and remaining unobligated funds, followed by a subcommittee discussion about Jane Palacki’s contract. The committee clarified and then approved a motion to retain her on an as-needed basis at $125 per hour, not to exceed $8,600 per month, to help with approved projects by the committee chairs. Updates were provided on several America 250 initiatives. Secretary McGrane and Treasurer Ellsworth discussed Celebration Fund grants, the Foundations of Freedom Tour, and a proposed July 4th Capitol celebration tied to the Boise parade, with stages, exhibits, vendors, and performances planned around the Capitol grounds and rotunda. Treasurer Ellsworth also reported on ambassador programs, the Liberty Bell, flags, quilts, the Heritage Fountain, and a service challenge, and the committee extended $30,000 in spending authority for ambassador programs. The committee later approved grant disbursements for multiple counties and cities. The Institute for Advancing American Values presented a civics curriculum initiative with the State Board of Education and a public-facing “Reading the Republic” project using founding documents and student video responses. The America 250 State Agency Task Force reported on museum exhibits, an Initial Point event, and the Their Story oral-history effort. National updates covered America’s Field Trip, America Gives, federal merchandise and story-capture efforts, and a national time capsule. Idaho Parks and Recreation described America 250-related events at state parks, the Move 250 challenge, and volunteer tracking, emphasizing that it was using existing resources rather than requesting committee funding. The committee set its next meeting for February 5 and adjourned after noting written testimony from David Johnson.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that the Governor has championed, and DBPR will lead the hotline.
• That question, though, leads me to...
• That question, though, leads me to question if you understand the full context of Hope Florida.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Senator Mayfield explained that current law only allows pre-tax contributions, and the bill would let the Department of Financial Services and local governments offer post-tax Roth options. The bill had one support appearance card, no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended “Floridians First” budget, totaling $117.4 billion and $53.2 billion in general revenue. The presentation highlighted reserves, debt paydown, tax relief, and proposed reductions and efficiencies, along with major spending areas in education, health care, public safety, corrections, transportation, and economic development. Key proposals included higher K-12 funding, teacher salary increases, funding for Everglades and water quality projects, emergency preparedness, corrections staffing and facility funding, cybersecurity, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserves, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and spending, the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and federal reimbursement, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, animal abuse hotline funding, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and teacher pay. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV medication program, with senators and a public witness expressing concern about access to life-saving medications and possible misuse or redirection of funds. The committee did not take further action on the budget presentation, and the meeting ended after additional comments supporting the budget and the corrections funding, with SB 7010 already approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• a woman, and as a Yurok person will help give me significant insight to make mistakes, but also to lead
• So you have someone that really has wonderful credentials and lived experience to lead this office.
• Thank you. ...and lived experience to lead this office. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened, established quorum, and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear: Courtney Welsh to the California Housing Partnership Corporation Board, Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board, and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, each by 3-0 vote. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees, the 2026 committee chair/member assignments, the 2026 session schedule, the 2026 holiday schedule, and floor acknowledgments, all by unanimous votes. The committee then heard and advanced two appointments requiring testimony. Dr. Hernando Garzon, nominated as chief medical officer for the Emergency Medical Services Authority, discussed his background in emergency medicine, disaster response, EMS data modernization, local flexibility within statewide standards, ambulance offload time regulations, stakeholder engagement, and alternatives to emergency transport such as community paramedicine and telehealth. Members pressed him on strategic planning, rural and climate-related disaster response, ambulance rate reporting, and how EMSA can better protect vulnerable people during evacuations; his appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the Senate floor. Stephanie Weldon, nominated as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, described her tribal background, prior public service, and focus on health equity, behavioral health, tribal consultation, data, and community-led programs. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, serving rural communities, balancing equity work amid federal DEI opposition, youth mental health, and preventing fraud or waste through transparency. Public commenters, including tribal, health, and community advocates, strongly supported her nomination. Her appointment was also approved 4-0 and forwarded to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that leads to most developers proposing primarily market-rate projects, which at the end of the day
• And that leads to most developers proposing primarily market-rate projects, which at the end of the day
• Thank you. ...cost of land, and that leads to most developers proposing primarily market-rate projects

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• technology existed, the committee has to ask whether it wants to create more bureaucracy that could lead
• He asked whether a clear license plate cover that becomes cloudy from sun damage could lead to a traffic
• understand those nuances of our language, to be able to make that mandatory, I genuinely believe would lead

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I won't be able to pay the experience lead attorneys.
• in particular and we're looking for people that want to stay and do the work because we promote our lead
• When you're lead attorney, I hope that answers your question. I'm sorry. >> Get your yeah.

Transcript Highlights:

• In some instances, a small increase in income can lead to an individual losing a sizable amount of public
• A small increase in income can lead to an individual losing a sizable amount of public benefits, such
• transparency, and service through our programs and assist families with greater success and services that lead

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I just want to correct the record; it’s not Chair Pinto, but Lead Pinto.
• Thank you, and I know you want to go, Lead Pinto, but Mr.
• Lead Pinto.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He has served in various capacities, administrative, and most recently has been the lead.
• This leads into an additional document in your exhibits called 'The Evolution of Teacher Housing,' which
• We had some great lengthy discussion on it at the AMS subcommittee, which leads to chairs, and I think

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Morgan Stanley was the lead underwriter, and we have the official statement pretty well done for the
• John's, anywhere that they're doing research to be able to help lead them in how to commercialize that
• partners, but we're working on being able to share the dialogue. the communication, whether it be leading

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The adequacy standards were established in response to the 1999 Zuni lawsuit, leading to the development
• Improved facility conditions will lead to a reduction in unnecessary costs.
• of the States and some other things next year about how we're doing this so that we can continue to lead

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• about today, is so much about the impact on people—that they have the health care that they need to lead
• Thank you, Chair Robbins, Lead Pinto, and members of the committee.
• In particular, we worked closely with Chair Robbins, lead Chairs Schumacher and Noor, Chairs Backer and

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• body and we have that responsibility to oversee and make sure that these dollars as they go out do lead
• That access uh leads to better outcomes, um, in terms of the, the rankings that you're discussing right
• Um, first of all, thank you very much for this information, and I think this will lead our committee

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I lead our rideshare operations in California and a few other states.
• I'm also here with my colleague John Finley, public policy, he leads public policy from right here in
• underpin public trust and confidence in the industry, and California has the ability to continue to lead

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• Let the spirit of submission shape the way we lead, the way we legislate, and the way we serve the people
• The Chair recognizes the Honorable Caroline Fairley of Potter County to lead us in the Pledges of Allegiance
• The firefighters he leads aren't just emergency responders... ...They are educators, mentors, and trusted

Bills: HB149 , HB2017 , HB705 , HB223 , HB 1056 , HB2854 , HB4623 , HB3000 , HB46 , HB 117 , HB3619 , HB4464 , HB5646 , HCR84 , HB500 , HB2963 , HB5509 , HB1973 , HB3909 , HB718 , HB252 , HB5666 , HB 119 , HB346 , HB5624 , HB5658 , HB5677 , HB1545 , HB3073 , HB4081 , HB 121 , HB4236 , HB3848 , HB4144 , HB40 , HB5682 , HB3697 , HB3333 , HB3642 , HB20 , HB549 , HB2731 , HB4233 , HB4690 , HB 127 , HB2525 , SB1637 , SB1 , SB1198 , SB509 , SB13 , SB15 , SB30 , SB268 , SB331 , SB441 , SB447 , SB457 , SB568 , SB650 , SB763 , SB1540 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2217 , SB2337 , SB2753 , SB2900 , SB2972 , SB3059 , HB14

Transcript Highlights:

• recognize the fiscal impact, or the fiscal outlook looks cloudy, but strong families are going to lead
• We do not support extending the moratorium that is found in this bill, as we believe this could lead
• This issue would have made affordable housing unaffordable for its tenants, potentially leading some

Bills: HF2730 , HF2257 , HF2768 , HF1932 , HF2437

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• In the division, the division will lead multi-agency and public-private collaboration on terrorism preparedness
• Most of our seizures are on the corridors leading in and out of the Rio Grande Valley.
• This will certainly lead into a state-wide issue, and that's something that is going to encompass the

Bills: HB 1065 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB3009 , HB3420 , HB3626 , HB3649 , HB4956 , HB4993 , HB5293 , HB5308 , HB5528 , HCR118 , SB36 , HB4023 , SB 36

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• That leads to the infrastructure investment.
• productions like the one that I'm lucky enough to be on if we're in charge of it, if we're the ones leading
• I'm going to hand it over now to Mike Berry, who leads Hillwood's Alliance Texas because there's probably

Bills: HB4568 , HB5458 , HB4543 , HB2703 , HB3728 , HCR113 , HCR126

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Overall, the bill maintains Texas' position as a leading... ...advanced business law state by keeping
• The bill promotes Texas as a leading and attentive business state, which in turn attracts business operations
• Furthermore, errors stemming from insufficient training can lead to legal disputes or... ...or challenges

Bills: HB5621 , HB4904 , HB5067 , HB5076 , HB5081 , HB5354 , HB4862 , HB3847 , HB4088 , HB4157 , HB2966 , HB2287 , HB4203 , HB4803 , HB4737 , HB5093 , HB783 , HB5411 , HB4281

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence