Transcript Highlights:

• The final bill is House Bill 2168, facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information for
• We have Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2168, facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information
• We have Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2168, facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information
• We have engross substitute House Bill 2168, facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held a Friday morning hearing with several House bills and then took executive action on three measures. In executive session, the committee voted do pass on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2242, Substitute House Bill 2152, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2168, sending the first two to Rules and the overdose-mapping bill to Ways and Means. The committee also waived the five-day notice rule for several bills on the agenda. Public hearings focused on hospital inspections, continuing care retirement communities, radiologic technologist supervision, music therapy licensure, nursing regulation, ambulance billing after motor vehicle accidents, and EMT recertification. Representative Macri presented HB 2577 to require hospital inspections at least every 18 months, allow limited pauses during emergencies, and clarify when CMS or accrediting-body surveys may substitute for state inspections; DOH supported the bill, citing JLARC recommendations, while many people signed in opposed. Macri also presented Second Substitute HB 2384, which would require actuarial analysis review for certain CCRCs; OIC supported the transparency goal, while CCRC representatives opposed the added cost, though residents and association witnesses argued the oversight would protect seniors and their life savings. Representative Engel’s HB 2113 drew strong support from radiology, hospital, and provider groups for allowing virtual direct supervision for IV contrast procedures and aligning state law with CMS practice. Representative Ryu’s HB 1187 would bar ambulance services from sending motor-vehicle-accident medical debt to collections for 120 days; she described a personal experience with an ambulance collection issue, and the hearing was closed after no testifiers appeared. Representative Reed’s HB 2363 would let music therapy applicants practice under supervision for up to six months while exam results are processed; music therapy witnesses said it would prevent workforce gaps. Representative Simmons’ HB 2339 would update nursing title and transcript requirements and allow the board to issue interim permits directly, with the Board of Nursing and ARNP groups calling it a technical cleanup. HB 2540 would extend EMT recertification intervals to six years for long-tenured EMTs, and firefighters supported it as an administrative simplification without changing training requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• plan: develop strategies for habitat protection and restoration and priority corridors; incorporate mapped
• There are a number of maps in the actual plan that you've funded that I think really do speak more than
• And I think the important concept to take away before you've even seen the maps is that these priority
• And so it's powerful to be able to then look at the maps that I can follow up with you and share.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is why also we want to make sure that Nogales-Santa Cruz County is on the map.
• where one of the vineyards earned a New York Times bestselling award, and that helped put them on the map
• I've helped them put on the map for James Beard to be recognized for more of these entities that will
• One thing I have highlighted here on this map, of course, is the state of Sonora.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think I provided that kind of coverage map in my handout that I sent out on Friday.”
• And I think I provided that kind of coverage map in my handout that I sent out on Friday.
• I think I provided that kind of coverage map in my handout that I sent out on Friday.
• “Sure, and on the handout that I provided, there is a color-coded map.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs held a panel discussion on Florida’s child protection teams (CPTs), child advocacy centers (CACs), and the related roles of DCF, DOH, and law enforcement. Testimony from DCF, the Department of Health, a local CAC director, the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, a Pinellas County CPT nurse practitioner, and a Jacksonville sheriff’s sergeant described how the system is intended to work: hotline reports are screened by DCF, mandatory referrals are sent to CPT, forensic interviews and medical exams are coordinated through CPT/CACs, and multidisciplinary teams share findings with law enforcement and prosecutors. Speakers emphasized the value of co-location, telemedicine, multidisciplinary staffings, and trauma-informed practices to reduce repeated interviews and improve child safety and case outcomes. Committee members focused heavily on communication breakdowns, staffing shortages, and delays in response times. Senators raised Jordan’s Law and asked what had been done to improve coordination among DCF, CPT, and law enforcement. Several members questioned whether the promised 24-hour response standard is being met in practice, citing reports of delayed referrals, delayed forensic interviews, and bottlenecks that can affect medical evaluations and criminal investigations. Law enforcement testimony from Jacksonville described cases where CPT interviews were scheduled one to two weeks out and reports were not received for weeks, while DCF acknowledged average CPI caseloads of about 12 investigations and turnover commonly occurring within 12 to 18 months. The panel also discussed access gaps and funding concerns. The Florida Network of CACs said Florida has 26 member centers, with some counties lacking CAC coverage and some centers having closed due to funding challenges. Speakers said CACs are voluntary but critical for integrated services, and that workforce shortages in medical and mental health providers limit expansion. DCF and DOH representatives said they would provide follow-up information on the number of CPT medical staff and other requested data. No bills were voted on; the meeting ended with committee members requesting additional information and recommendations for statutory and budgetary changes, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We won't go into it with SIMS mapping. Do we understand that? Fair enough.
• They're helping with some of that SIMS mapping that the Chief mentioned. I also need to hire staff.
• For us to do the work, it's about an eight-week process to map those...
• what we're seeing at a national level as well, is sort of this three-year refresh on those community maps

Transcript Highlights:

• We received the Governor's proposed maps yesterday afternoon.
• It is my intention to bring those maps to the House floor for consideration by this body tomorrow.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also covers geographical maps, including those indicating the actual proposed location.
• It also covers geographical maps, including those indicating the actual proposed locations of 911, E911

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum present and took up three measures. First, it considered SB 160 on public accountancy, which would create additional pathways to CPA licensure in Florida without lowering standards. The committee adopted a technical amendment clarifying the licensure application process and effective date, heard a waiver in support from the Florida Institute of CPAs, and then reported the committee substitute favorably by roll call. Next, the committee heard SB 344 on telecommunications access system modernization. The bill updates the Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 to reflect newer technology, revise outdated terms, broaden eligibility for the advisory committee, and implement recommendations from the Public Service Commission. After adopting a technical amendment, the committee heard supportive testimony from Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., including comments that the law is outdated, landline use is declining, and the system should accommodate wireless and other modern accessibility options. The committee then reported the committee substitute favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 706, a proposed committee bill on public records and meetings exemptions for NG-911 systems. The bill continues exemptions for certain building plans, maps, and related records and meetings involving 911 and public safety communications infrastructure, while updating the language to include next-generation 911 systems and extending the exemption review period to October 2, 2030. After no questions or debate, Senator Calatayud moved to submit the proposal as a committee bill, the motion was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> committee the right to reject any maps committee the right to reject any maps that<00:45:13.119>
• County commission and district maps.
• They can say, "Go off, create us a map, and bring us back the final map," or they can say go off and
• final</c><01:31:24.320><c> map."
• </c><01:31:38.320><c> that</c> Um and they also may reject maps that Um and they also may reject maps

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you kind of remember... ...the map of where births were exceeding deaths, you'll kind of see it's
• I just decided to try to map these things together, and I was surprised at how closely they aligned,
• And here's that same information on a map.
• Now, as you probably expect from the maps that Jesse showed you, most of that demand is in the regions
• Now, as you probably, you know, expect from the maps that Jesse showed you, most of that demand is in

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion. Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you kind of remember the map of where births were exceeding deaths, you'll kind of see it's, you
• And if you kind of remember the map of where births were exceeding deaths, you'll kind of see it's, you
• I just decided to try to map the chart these things together, and I was surprised at how closely they
• And here's that same information on a map.
• Now, as you probably expect from the maps that Jesse showed you, most of that demand is in the regions

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is before the Supreme Court for the second time, and that's a challenge to Louisiana's congressional map
• The case is before the Supreme Court for the second time, and it challenges Louisiana's congressional map
• It seems to me that the results of the redrawn map of the 15th imply that the premise...
• We have all kinds of plans for accessible maps and table features, and so we’ll be getting the word out
• So that's something we can add the aggregation to our kind of map and table workflow moving forward.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some information about rural practice: this map shows the distribution and the needs from different counties
• Switching over to Medicaid, just to talk a little about that, on the map, you'll see that Medicaid providers
• So if you look at the next map, you'll see how we're really the worst in the region when it comes to
• slide number 8, just kind of distilled that last chart for you a little bit and gave sort of a heat map
• So where you're at, OC has built a model where we're trying to map out for the next 10 years how.

Transcript Highlights:

• Traffic on the left there in yellow—that's the intersection—and that's a heat map.
• So I'm going now to slide number, the slide with our map, and Basically, this is what Union Pacific is
• So, in an effort to save us some time, we'll see the map here shortly.
• The map will show you that we are the only railroad to serve the six rail gateways to Mexico.
• So this is the map here, as you can see it there. So our gateway here is El Paso.

Transcript Highlights:

• We then map them and connect them with resources that they can use. They participate in a survey.
• We then map them and connect them with the resources that they can use, whether that's the training if
• Our intention with this was to map this initial program to the NIST framework that Jeremy mentioned earlier
• And members also, just for a little bit of road mapping, as we move through the subcommittee process,
• We're building the highways through which the data will travel, and we're identifying the map points

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to examine Florida’s information technology governance, budgeting, cybersecurity, data management, and telecommunications operations. Chair Schneider and other members framed the panel as a new joint policy-and-budget forum focused on reducing jargon, improving accountability, and asking whether technology investments are feasible, aligned with state goals, cost-controlled, and secure. State Affairs Chairman Will Robinson and members emphasized that the committee should avoid buying “shiny new objects” without clear business cases and should focus on long-term value, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. Florida Digital Service and Department of Management Services leaders provided an overview of the state IT enterprise. Secretary Pedro Allende described DMS as the state’s business, workforce, and technology service provider, while State CIO Warren Spanholz outlined Florida Digital Service’s four core areas: cybersecurity, project success, data interoperability, and enterprise architecture. Chief Data Officer Ed Ryan said the state data catalog is about 400,000 elements and roughly half of agencies are participating, and he described efforts to identify authoritative data sources and improve interoperability. Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rogers discussed the state cybersecurity operations center, enterprise risk management, incident response exercises, and a recurring $35 million cybersecurity resiliency budget. Chief Technology Officer Leo Schoonover described oversight of major IT projects over $10 million, updated project management standards, and a shift toward smaller phased implementations and more flexible methodologies to reduce delays and overruns. Other presenters covered telecommunications, data center operations, and cybersecurity workforce development. Director Denise Atkins said the Division of Telecommunications manages Suncom and MyFloridaNet, with nearly $336.9 million appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25, and is procuring the next network contract while emphasizing security controls and vendor flexibility. Tim Brown said the Northwest Regional Data Center operates on a chargeback basis, serves state and local customers, and returned surpluses to customers in recent years. Cyber Florida Director Ernie Ferraroso described training, workforce pipelines, K-12 outreach, a cyber range, and research programs aimed at building Florida’s cyber workforce and improving public-sector readiness. Members asked about budget setting, project delays, change orders, cybersecurity reporting, data catalog participation, interoperability, and expanding cybersecurity operations centers. Officials said chargeback rates are based on actual direct and indirect costs, project delays often stem from unclear scope and insufficient upfront planning, and cybersecurity success is measured by mean time to detect, respond, and recover. They also said the state is moving toward more modular project delivery, broader agency participation in shared cybersecurity services, and expanded CSOC locations within existing staff and budget where feasible.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm wondering, you know, we have the MPCA environmental justice maps that prioritize where air quality
• Is this area part of any of those existing overlay maps, or how does it fit into work that the MPCA is
• maps that prioritize<00:13:16.360><c> where</c><00:13:17.240><c> um</c><00:13:17.360><c> air</c><00:
• or where How does it fit overlay maps or where How does it fit into<00:13:26.560><c> work</c><00:13:
• I would have to double-check the maps, but those are publicly available on our website for anybody to

Bills: HF4211, HF3426, HF4819, HF3466, HF3793, HF3339

Keywords: air pollution, lead emissions, continuous emissions monitoring system, CEMS, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, MPCA, environmental monitoring, emission compliance, air quality, public health, industrial pollution, permitted facility, residential exposure, toxic metals, emission limits, pollution control, stack monitoring, real-time emissions monitoring, natural resources, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• But if that is not mapped out in a way that logistically shows the opportunities to do that, because
• But if that is not mapped out in a way that logistically shows the opportunities to do that, because
• But if that is not mapped out in a way that logistically shows the opportunities to do that, because
• But if that is not mapped out in a way that logistically shows the opportunities to do that, because
• </c> development areas to map that out. Yes. development areas to map that out. Yes.

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The map in your packet is Laketown Township. The 2011 systems are highlighted.
• Phase one are the area circled in black marker on the map.
• I still don't understand why there are two separate requests even looking at the map.
• I still don't understand why there are two separate requests even looking at the map.
• I still don't understand why there are two separate requests even looking at the map.

Bills: HF201, HF217, HF314, HF315, HF406, HF408, HF425, HF426, HF730, HF731, HF652, HF761, HF1079, HF928, HF1017, HF1056, HF1081

Keywords: HF201, Minnesota income tax, tax subtraction, tax deduction, volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire and rescue, emergency responder, ambulance service personnel, EMR, EMS, search and rescue, canine search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, paid-on-call, part-time volunteer, tax relief, state tax law, section 290.0132, drivers license, identification card

Transcript Highlights:

• Community schools engage key stakeholders in asset mapping and needs assessment, matching barriers to
• Timeline for integration of some of these changes, and specifically mapping advisory councils in their
• But on the certification, accreditation, to me, you know, we can't just do this work, the mapping, the
• We do like a heat map. There's more community school grantees currently there now.
• I've also seen a map Bellwether Research prepared for us, so by adding the 65%, there will be community

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On November 17th, he ordered the Legislature to create a new map, but we failed to do so in the time
• On January 8th, the U.S. district judge imposed a new map, the one used in the 2024 election.
• And the U.S. judge, a U.S. judge ruled in favor of the tribes, finding that the 2021 map violated the
• On November 17th, he ordered the legislature to create a new map, but we failed to do so in the time
• On January 8th, the U.S. district judge imposed a new map, the one used in the 2024 election.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call and a review of special-session procedure: bills would be heard in filing order, with related school-lunch bills grouped together, and any bill advancing would require a motion, second, and majority vote to be introduced. Members also discussed that the committee was functioning much like a delayed-bills committee, with final referral to either Appropriations or Policy depending on the bill’s fiscal impact. The first major proposal was Senator Schibley’s bill to create a narrow, statewide Bank of North Dakota bridge-loan program for struggling nonprofit medical facilities, prompted by Jacobson Memorial Hospital’s financial crisis. He argued the hospital and surrounding EMS services could close without short-term help, while committee members questioned the added language, the population cap, the $10 million fund with $5 million per applicant limit, and whether the program could open the door to future requests. Representative Headland then presented two cleanup bills from the prior property-tax session: one to fix notice and tax-certification issues for local taxing districts, and another to correct how the primary residence credit is applied so taxpayers receive the full benefit rather than counties retaining part of the reimbursement. Members asked about township hearing timing, the estimated $10–15 million annual impact, and whether the credit issue could be fixed retroactively; Headland said the bill was intended to correct the problem going forward. Three school-lunch bills drew extensive discussion. Representative Vetter proposed a small administrative appropriation to add an FTE to help eligible families enroll in the existing free/reduced lunch program, saying the goal was to ensure needy children are signed up and that the state should not subsidize meals for wealthy families. Representative Nathe offered a broader bill mirroring the pending initiated measure but placing the program in statute instead of the Constitution, moving implementation up a year, and funding it with a one-time $65 million from the strategic investment fund; he said this would preserve legislative flexibility and avoid constitutional entrenchment. Representative Dressler proposed raising the state-funded eligibility threshold from 225% to 300% of poverty, arguing it would expand access while still preserving federal reimbursements and encouraging better enrollment systems. Members debated costs, future budget pressure, whether the bills set a precedent for responding to ballot measures, and whether the program should include breakfast and other operational details. Other proposals included Senator Powers’ bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen board and support rural access to hyperbaric chambers for wounds, concussions, PTSD, and other conditions; Representative Tolman’s reporting-requirements bill to force new or expanded programs to justify purpose, alternatives, evaluation methods, and full implementation costs; Representative Frelich’s bill addressing the ongoing redistricting litigation and what happens if the Supreme Court or lower courts alter the current map; and a bill requested by the Public Service Commission and ITD for FERC litigation support and ADA website/document compliance. The committee also heard a rural-health eligibility bill from Representative Twait aimed at steering federal rural health dollars toward rural providers, with questions focused on whether the mileage limits would exclude some communities. One Holocaust education item was deferred until the sponsor could be located.

Transcript Highlights:

• Four, a map showing existing uses and condition of real property in the district.
• Five, a map or description showing proposed improvements and uses therein.
• Four, a map showing existing uses and condition of real property in the district.
• Five, a map or description showing proposed improvements and uses therein.
• </c> This bill came from our rural road map that many of us participated in over the summer.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.