Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB6044, SB6132, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Bills: SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298, SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298

Keywords: sunset law, Alabama Surface Mining Commission, environmental regulation, mining, state commission, Alabama Private Investigation Board, regulatory oversight, agency review, continuation, sickle cell disease, healthcare, regulatory commission, public health, regulation, electrical contractors, state agencies, home medical equipment, board continuation, boards, commissions

Transcript Highlights:

• league opposes costly and cumbersome mandates that strip local governments of their decision-making authority

Bills: SB23, SB71, SB105, SB109, SB115, SB131, SB148, SB165

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the Coast Guard went by and the person just kept going out. Beach?
• <01:00:54.400><c> Uh</c><01:00:54.880><c> the</c><01:00:55.040><c> Coast</c><01:00:55.280><c> Guard</
• Uh the Coast Guard went by and going?"
• Uh the Coast Guard went by and the<01:00:56.400><c> person</c><01:00:56.720><c> just</c><01:00:56.880
• Finally, the Coast Guard came and intercepted that person, even though they went past it at one point

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 27FN, which would change how improvements to dwellings over water are handled and align those projects more closely with the state building code. The bill was presented by Trisha Milo on behalf of Senator Lang, and attorney John Cronin explained that it arose from a specific New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving the Newcombs’ lakeside property, but that it could affect a small number of older waterfront homes statewide. He said the intent was to give the Department of Environmental Services (DES) limited waiver authority for improvements that do not harm water quality, plant life, or fish, while still requiring DES review and local permits. Committee members asked several questions about the scope of the bill, including whether it was tied to one case, how many properties might be affected, what counts as “living space,” and whether the language could allow larger decks or other expansions. Cronin said the bill was meant to be narrow, focused on access and egress and not on creating new living space, and that DES would still be able to deny unreasonable requests. He also described the Newcombs’ project as a rehabilitation of an older structure that had been approved locally and later challenged by DES, leading to the current dispute. Darlene Forst, the Wetlands Bureau administrator at DES, testified in opposition. She said the department was surprised the bill was being heard because it believed the Senate had sent it to interim study, and she argued the language was unclear and could have broader statewide effects than intended. Forst also said the underlying case was still active and should not be effectively re-litigated through this bill. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida originally enacted captive insurance legislation in 1982, but has yet to authorize protected
• Nonprofit organizations do not have that authority.
• Guard.
• A copy of the authorization must be submitted to the local building official.
• District school boards are not required to invoke the authority that we're giving them.

Summary: The committee first confirmed six appointees in a single vote, then took up a series of bills, most of them reported favorably. The early debate centered on SB 208, a land-use bill by Sen. McLean that would require development fees to reflect review costs and create more objective compatibility standards for residential development denials. An amendment adding housing-related provisions, including an OPAGA study of urban development boundaries, drew extended discussion over the Everglades and local control; it was adopted, while a late-filed amendment on rural boundaries was withdrawn. The bill was then reported favorably after supporters and opponents, including Miami-Dade and housing groups, weighed in. The committee also favorably reported SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after amendments adding conservation, wildlife corridor, and Everglades-related protections, with one amendment specifically preserving stronger protections in counties covered by the Northern Everglades/Indian River Lagoon plan. Several criminal justice and public records measures also advanced. SB 436 would add resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense for battery enhancement and include certain felony battery offenses in prison release reoffender status. SB 830 would extend public-records protections to county and city administrators and related family information. SB 990 would authorize protected cell captive insurers in Florida. SB 600, on bail bonds, drew the most debate: an amendment by Sen. Rouson preserved the current treatment of charitable bail organizations’ deposits, with supporters arguing nonprofits help low-income defendants and critics saying the bill should distinguish commercial and nonprofit bonding; the amendment was adopted and the bill reported favorably. SB 914 on dry needling and SB 1434 on infill redevelopment also passed, the latter with an amendment removing a 10% markup requirement for buyback provisions. The committee then moved through a large education and health agenda. SB 1504 would let high school students who complete an insurance/personal finance elective qualify later for a customer service representative license. SB 1718 would expand educator preparation and temporary certification options. SB 7038 was a broad education package covering tuition waivers for Florida State Guard members, residency rules, consumer protections, dual enrollment, grading, and college funding; amendments clarified workforce licensure and exempted certain dental training from new licensure rules. SB 1092 on podiatric medicine added definitions and restrictions for cellular/tissue-based products. SB 1138 on qualified contractors created a pre-application review program for certain local governments, with historic-preservation carveouts. SB 186 on student health and safety required seizure-training and action plans in schools, and SB 560 on child welfare streamlined psychotropic-medication procedures for children in state care while adding youth advisory meetings and insurance-data review. SB 902, a broad Department of Health bill, addressed medical marijuana facility setbacks, practitioner discipline, autism microcredentials, marriage and family therapy licensure, a neurofibromatosis grant program, and family home health aide delegation; it passed after two amendments. Finally, SB 218 on land-use regulations limited hurricane-recovery restrictions to affected counties, SB 1002 expanded child-neglect definitions tied to parental drug abuse, SB 1474 tightened biosolids land-application rules, SB 1708 eased out-of-state veterinary licensure by endorsement, and SB 314 established a Florida regulatory framework for payment stablecoins aligned with federal law. Most measures were reported favorably by committee vote after brief testimony or no debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are waiting on authority. Are you able to share if you have any... We are waiting on authority.
• So when we talk about service authorization, the authorization is there.
• So when we talk about service authorization, the authorization is there.
• In its place, it authorizes the department to establish service standards, ...it authorizes the department
• of Redwood Coast.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Coast Guard-approved lifejacket before entering a pool.
• Coast Guard-approved life jackets. that jacket because they're sometimes expensive, and we want to make
• Your doctors had the authority to do that.
• That's part of our prescriptive authority.
• I guess I need to ask the bill author or general counsel.

Bills: HB 265, HB25

Keywords: youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid, public health, child protection, camp operator, camp counselor, Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• These are banks like Coastal Heritage Bank, Rockland Trust, Eastern Bank, OneLocal Bank, and Bay Coast
• Card authorization networks are built to process single raw total dollar values in milliseconds.
• The system will trigger communications between the coffee shop’s bank and your card issuer to authorize
• The system will trigger communications between the coffee shops bank and your card issuer to authorize
• Make Visa and Master Guard be fully transparent about their network fees.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission studying the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what leaders described as its last public hearing, though they said the commission would continue meeting to develop a report and recommendations. Chair Paul Feeney and other members noted the issue is complex and that they had sought testimony from a wide range of stakeholders before moving into a more deliberative phase. The commission adjourned after hearing from several in-person and virtual witnesses. Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, the Electronic Payments Coalition, and others, argued that payment cards provide major benefits to consumers and merchants, including convenience, fraud protection, fast settlement, and broad access to electronic commerce. They warned that state-level changes to interchange rules could create a patchwork of conflicting requirements, disrupt global payment systems, and especially affect state-chartered community banks and small businesses. Several also said recent federal actions and litigation, including OCC and NCUA preemption rules and the Illinois interchange-fee litigation, have limited the practical reach of state laws. Restaurant, retail, and convenience-store witnesses pushed for relief from swipe fees, saying independent businesses operate on thin margins and pay fees on amounts that are not really their revenue, such as sales tax and gratuities. They urged transparency, the ability to surcharge, vendor compensation for tax collection, and limits on interchange or related fees. Some witnesses said merchants bear significant fraud and chargeback costs and that banks and card networks have not offered enough direct relief. Commissioners asked questions about surcharging, fee regulation, fraud, and whether industry should share more of the burden. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjourning the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually have a contract with the Coast Guard, and we provide T-shirts for them.
• The bill enhances financial control for districts and authorizes school districts to determine make-up
• The bill enhances financial control for districts that authorized school districts to determine.
• The bill enhances financial control for districts that authorize school districts to determine make-up
• And finally relating to early learning, the bill gives school districts the authority to oversee And

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're outside of the regulatory authority of the federal government.
• , and so we don't have the authority over the courier entity.
• Again, we have no authority over these entities.
• The recommendation is to provide UB authority for proceeds and any unissued authority remaining at the
• our Port Authority Advisory Committee.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Guard.
• We need to defend this nation, and the Coast Guard will be better off.
• He disapproved the head of the presidential authority to close it back down.
• It focuses on a nursing home regulation, not on a spending authorization.
• I helped author that provision when I was Ranking Member of the Labor H.A.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Central Coast, new jobs in aerospace, defense, semiconductors, quantum, and ag tech.
• County, all moving forward, but also moving forward under California's new fast-track permitting authority
• that you authorized two years ago.
• It's not just because of the fires, not just because we get to the federalization of the National Guard

Summary: The joint convention convened to receive Governor Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State address, with legislative leaders introducing the Governor and welcoming constitutional officers, judges, and other guests. The proceedings opened with a moment of silence honoring Renee Nicole Good and other immigrants affected by detention and due process concerns. After introductory remarks from the Speaker, Senate President pro Tem Monique Limón, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Governor Newsom delivered a wide-ranging address reflecting on his administration and California’s response to recent crises. The Governor highlighted California’s economic performance, tax structure, minimum wage increases, education funding, child care and school meal investments, housing reforms, apprenticeships, infrastructure projects, clean energy progress, and efforts on homelessness, mental health, and public safety. He also discussed state action on artificial intelligence regulation, climate resilience, insurance reform, and wildfire recovery, while sharply criticizing the federal government and President Trump on immigration, health care, food aid, disaster response, and other issues. He announced that his upcoming budget would include major education spending, a five-year extension of the CalCompete tax credit, additional community school funding, a rebuilding fund for fire survivors, and other policy proposals. At the close of the address, the Legislature formally ordered the Governor’s State of the State speech printed in the journal as a special appendix. The joint convention then adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the Central Coast, new jobs in aerospace, defense, semiconductors, quantum, and ag tech.
• County, all moving forward, but also moving forward under California's new fast-track permitting authority
• that you authorized two years ago.
• It's not just because of the fires, not just because we get to the federalization of the National Guard

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The joint convention convened to receive Governor Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State address, with formal introductions of legislative leaders, constitutional officers, judges, and other guests. A moment of silence was held in memory of Renee Nicole Good and other immigrants the presiding officer said had been detained or denied due process. The Speaker and Senate President pro tem both praised the governor’s tenure and framed California as a model of action, resilience, and partnership. In his address, Governor Newsom focused on California’s response to federal actions and on the state’s policy record. He criticized the Trump administration on immigration, health care, food aid, and disaster response, while highlighting California’s lawsuits against federal overreach. He also emphasized the state’s economic strength, tax structure, minimum wage increases, AI regulation, infrastructure investment, and support for clean energy, housing, education, child care, and public safety. He pointed to recent gains in school performance, reductions in unsheltered homelessness and crime, and ongoing efforts on mental health, insurance reform, and wildfire recovery. The governor previewed elements of his upcoming budget, including a $248.3 billion General Fund, higher-than-expected revenues, reserve rebuilding, pension payments, and record per-pupil education funding. He also announced plans to seek reauthorization of tax credit programs, expand community schools, continue housing reforms, and create a rebuilding fund to help wildfire survivors bridge the gap between insurance payouts and reconstruction costs. After the address, the joint convention ordered the speech printed in the journal as a special appendix and adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• Captain Seth Ohio National Guard.
• </c> to put clear guard rails in place. to put clear guard rails in place.
• But we have failed to exercise such authority responsibly.
• But we have failed to exercise such authority responsibly.
• </c><04:36:59.119><c> The</c> wildlife management authority. The wildlife management authority.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Authorizing a funding activities.
• Caught me off guard. Thanks.
• </c><00:31:48.320><c> forward</c><00:31:48.640><c> these</c> authors who have brought forward these authors
• </c><01:16:05.520><c> uh</c> support for the Big Sky North Coast uh support for the Big Sky North Coast
• </c> Sky North Coast Passenger Rail Corridor. Sky North Coast Passenger Rail Corridor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, to give praises to Your holy and righteous name, to acknowledge Your presence, Your authority,
• It says: Whereas, throughout his 38 years in public office and nearly 20 years thereafter, as an author
• In the absence of Chair Avila, who is in deployment with the National Guard, and we wish him well and
• Under this bill, Medicaid will create preferred drug lists exempted from standard prior authorization
• It also repeals the statutory authorization for expectant mother parking permits, authorizes FDOT to

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:16:51.000><c> anymore</c> know the requisite Authority anymore know the requisite Authority anymore
• </c> the states then are given that Authority the states then are given that Authority The<01:18:47.440
• No, you don't have that authority.
• </c> convention is to reassert your Authority convention is to reassert your Authority because<01:34:
• </c><02:15:00.400><c> of</c><02:15:00.559><c> our</c> direction the authors of our direction the authors

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My sense is the county doesn't have any real authority. They can say all they want.
• People are going to throw fecal matter at each other They get mad at the guards.
• over those individuals, that authority is residing with President Trump in El Salvador.
• And President Trump said I've got No authority for those.
• The authority belongs to the president of El Salvador. How do we get here?

Transcript Highlights:

• normal budget that the commission has awarded, and projects from the Tennessee line down to the Gulf Coast
• ><00:08:59.760><c> issue,</c><00:09:00.000><c> a</c><00:09:00.160><c> damaged</c><00:09:00.480><c> guard
• </c><00:09:00.800><c> rail,</c> any type of issue, a damaged guard rail, any type of issue, a damaged
• guard rail, a<00:09:01.600><c> dead</c><00:09:01.839><c> animal</c><00:09:02.160><c> in</c><00:09:02.399
• Whether it's MIMA, whether it's MDOT, whether it's the National Guard, whether it's the Department of

Keywords: Highways and Transportation - Room 216, 18 February, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Current funding is prioritized for Coast Guard regulatory compliance items and to perform critical preservation
• I think that when I read this authorizing statute for that capital vessel replacement account, it talks
• were issued, and the expenditures weren’t there that were eligible in the ferry system, so you authorized
• It was okay within the larger authorization, but it was just the way that was authorized in the budget
• highlighted on the right, and that is a public information campaign that is currently being used on the East Coast

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.