Transcript Highlights:

• I have to share that over the years when I lived in another state, I would come here came here.
• Finally, I truly appreciate this opportunity to share my thoughts today with the with the committee.
• with our school counselors and then share with the parents because the school counselors, in my opinion
• So it's a matter of exposure not just to the kids but to the parents.
• As you mentioned, we did a study with the folks over and the space coast on parent perceptions.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AS A PARENT MY HEART BREAKS FOR THE MURPHY FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
• AS WE SIT AND SHARE OUR JOURNEYS I SEE THAT ALL THE LACK OF PROPER TREATMENT HAS NOT ONLY ON THE LOVED
• WE SHARE THE SAME BACKGROUND WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR FAMILIES.
• THANK YOU CODY FOR SHARING. JUST A TRAGEDY ON YOUR SPOKE TODAY. THANK YOU CODY FOR SHARING.
• WE KNOW PARENTS THAT ARE NOT GOOD PARENTS THAT MY KIDS ARE FRIENDS WITH AND THEY TAKE SHELTER IN OUR

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:15.279> about going to have anything to share about going to have anything to share
• :14.480> provides and parenting leave uh provides and parenting leave uh provides employees<00
• Um it reflects here to share with you.
• But then also parenting leave rights.
• Uh supporting pregnant and new parents Uh supporting pregnant and new parents in<00:58:46.319>

Bills: HF3707, HF3732, HF2581, HF3731

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1284 expands Florida's Wrongful Death Act to allow parents of an unborn child to recover economic
• Could those parents sue for the wrongful death of their 17-year-old?
• To clarify, does Senate Bill 1284 give not only parents, but also grandparents, a cause of action for
• If expectant parents already have the right under existing Florida law to seek justice and financial
• This bill isn't about justice for grieving parents.

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long agenda of criminal justice, public safety, victims’ rights, and related bills. SB 984 on aggravating factors in capital cases was reported favorably after debate over its focus on religious, school, and government gatherings; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters said it was about accountability rather than deterrence. CS for SB 1140 creating a Hillsborough County substance abuse pilot program for offenders, CS for SB 1180 broadening child sexual image protections, CS for SB 10 compensating Sidney Holmes for a wrongful conviction, CS for SB 500 creating a Spectrum Alert system for missing children with autism, and SB 1054 on tampering with electronic monitoring devices all passed favorably, with the substance abuse bill drawing supportive testimony about treatment and recovery and the Holmes bill receiving emotional support from Holmes himself. The committee also approved SB 1072 on expedited DNA testing grants, CS for SB 240 on domestic and dating violence victims, CS for SB 494 creating a statewide animal abuse database, and CS for SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure and weaponized drones. SB 240 drew extensive testimony from advocates describing a feasibility study for a discreet emergency alert system and the need to align domestic and dating violence protections; SB 494 drew strong support from animal welfare groups and county officials who described local registries and the link between animal abuse and violence toward people, while members discussed whether the bill should also bar known abusers from adopting animals. SB 1422 passed after questions about “reasonable force” against drones and concerns about firearms use, with the sponsor saying the bill was meant to protect privacy and property rights. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 1268 updating Department of Law Enforcement statutes and increasing reimbursement for retired police dogs, CS for SB 1344 revising juvenile status-offender procedures, CS for SB 1252 creating a feasibility study for a statewide pawn data database, CS for SB 1386 increasing penalties for assault and battery on utility workers, CS for SB 1084 strengthening sexual cyber harassment laws for intimate and digitally forged images, CS for SB 1654 revising sex offender/predator registration and reporting rules, CS for SB 1650 expanding the vexatious litigant law, and CS for SB 1652 creating a public records exemption for stricken court filings. The final and most heavily debated bill, CS for SB 1284 on wrongful death of an unborn child, drew extensive testimony from supporters who framed it as recognizing unborn life and opponents who warned it could be used to harass abortion patients, providers, and supporters and could increase malpractice exposure; the sponsor said the bill would allow parents to recover damages while protecting mothers and lawful medical care. The transcript ends before the roll call on SB 1284 is completed, but the committee had already reported the other measures favorably by recorded votes, generally along party lines with broad support from members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• As shared, I'm Greg Sacks.
• What I learned from working with parents at POND is that under the current system, most parents do not
• This bill is about shared accountability.
• But I do share the concerns that the professors have.
• But I do share the concerns that the professors have made.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Be Proud mobile workshop is a proven way to connect the dots for students, their parents, teachers
• There's also the opportunity for those students and their parents to sign up what they call Join the
• There's also the opportunity for those students and their parents to sign up what they call Join the
• There's also the opportunity for those students and their parents to sign up what they call Join the
• parent engagement. Uh thank you for the parent engagement.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met without a quorum and heard presentations on several workforce and school-safety funding requests. The first item was a proposal for a school mapping data program, presented by Rep. Steve Bratcher with law enforcement and mapping partners. They said the plan would move money to the 911 system so school maps could be embedded there and kept current for all schools, public and private, to improve response times and officer, student, and teacher safety. The request was described as a $10 million one-time appropriation, with an estimate that the work could be completed in about a year. The committee then heard testimony on the Be Proud Initiative, a mobile workshop program aimed at exposing students age 13 and up to skilled trades and related education and career opportunities. Speakers from the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, MI2, the Kentucky Treasury, and the Associated General Contractors said the program would improve perceptions of manufacturing, construction, and metals careers, connect students to training and employers, and help build the workforce pipeline. They said private industry would contribute $1 million in FY 2026-2027 before state funds are released, and requested $3 million in state funding in FY 2027-2028 contingent on that match. A Treasury official said handling the funds through the Treasury would have minimal impact on the office. Committee members responded favorably, including a comment from Rep. Bojanowski about the value of hands-on learning for students who struggle with test-focused instruction. Speakers also explained that the program includes classroom materials before and after the truck visit and ongoing outreach for students and parents. The final presentation was on an MI2 metals career pathway proposal, which cited economic impact data for Kentucky’s metals industry and asked for a $3 million one-time investment for FY 2027-2028 to pilot a middle- and high-school pathway in Carroll and Logan counties. The proposal would be matched by industry funds and used for curriculum, equipment, dual-credit and apprenticeship connections, student stipends, and parent outreach. The chair closed by noting it was the final scheduled meeting of the session and moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• is, because under the federal requirements, IMDs are not eligible for a federal share.
• Parents would call us.
• Parents would call us.
• Parents would call us.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, positive parenting strengthens families' relationships, increases parents' confidence, and helps
• At Foothill Family, they have found when we are able to support parents in building their parenting skills
• threat to LGBT children because I consider that a smear on our parents or that parents somehow shouldn't
• , positive parenting. education.
• These are our parent-teacher associations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• parent, and child.
• My name is Vanessa McCarty, and I'm a foster parent.
• I want to share a story of a little girl named Patty.
• So we might have parents that are in Guatemala.
• I want to thank all the parents who came to testify.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and considered five bills. SB 1174, by Senator Jones, would simplify the process for transferring a family foster home license when a foster parent moves within Florida. A friendly amendment clarified that the transfer applies to the same licensed person, not a different individual, and directs DCF to prioritize amended licenses. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 558, by Chair Grall, created a framework for voluntary post-adoption contact agreements between adoptive and biological parents, including contact with siblings, with court filing and enforcement procedures. A strike-all amendment changed the child’s party status age from 14 to 12, required court filing in the adoption case, set a preponderance standard, and moved the effective date to January 1, 2026. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 1626, also by Chair Grall, was substantially revised by a strike-all addressing unaccompanied alien children reporting and custody procedures, military family child protective investigations, domestic violence shelter certification, children’s services councils, criminal-background exemptions, group home rates, subcontractor indemnification, child care licensing extensions, small residential group home fire suppression rules, and missing-child jurisdiction issues. After testimony both supporting and opposing parts of the bill, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 738, by Senator Burton, updated child care and early learning licensing rules, including expedited licensing for compliant providers, faster background screening and provisional licensure, online training/testing, exemptions for certain military and employer-provided child care, and removal of a residential insurance provision from the bill. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 304, by Senator Sharief, known as Patterson’s Law, addressed child abuse investigations involving rare genetic or metabolic conditions that can mimic abuse. The strike-all required more detailed medical analysis in reports, allowed second opinions, and set procedures for experienced physician review and judicial resolution. After extensive testimony from affected families, advocates, and DCF, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. At the end, Senators Harrell and Rouson asked to be recorded as voting favorably on additional bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• would refer to this as a a parental would refer to this as a a parental rights<00:13:31.240>
• for conversion therapy allowing parents for conversion therapy allowing parents to<00:18:30.000>
• <00:20:44.760> eventually thankfully my parents eventually thankfully my parents eventually
• <00:24:20.799> that's self that's our job as parents that's self that's our job as parents
• I personally had to call that child's parent to inform them, and thankfully that child's parents were

Keywords: Consideration of HB 9 00:02:20 Consideration of HB 495 00:08:53 Consideration of HB 520 00:46:51 Consideration of HB 622 00:54:39 Consideration of HB 635 00:59:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 9, which would create oversight for Medicaid-related policy through a board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. Sponsor Rep. Adam Bowling said the measure was intended to bring legislative, executive, and stakeholder voices together to vet issues and make better-informed Medicaid policy. Members generally supported the concept, though some questioned the proposed board’s party breakdown and whether the language should be updated now rather than later. After discussion, the committee voted 19-0 to pass HB 9 favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 495, which Rep. Hail said would protect mental health care professionals, institutions, and ordained ministers from discrimination when providing what the bill calls protected counseling services. He described the bill as a parental-choice measure that would allow counseling aligned with family values and said it also creates a civil cause of action for harmed parties. Opponents argued the bill would shield conversion therapy, with Dr. Eric Russ, Brandon Long, Dr. Brandon Creech, Brenda Rosen, Chris Hartman, and Dr. Bobby Glass testifying that conversion therapy is discredited, harmful, and associated with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide risk. They said professional medical and counseling organizations oppose such practices and urged rejection of the bill. During questions, Rep. Layman pressed the sponsor on whether the bill would protect therapies even if a child was not in distress and on whether the committee should be endorsing a practice discredited by professional organizations. Rep. Hail responded that he viewed the issue as a parental choice and said he believed the bill protects providers offering those services. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 495, with no final vote shown on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I listened to several of the representatives earlier and I share the concerns.
• This adoption assistance program passed to help those parents in the long haul.
• Uh, I share that heart and I and I'm so excited for you guys.
• be very difficult for adoptive parents to.
• You have to discuss what parenting looks like. You have to discuss grief and loss.

Bills: HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunity to share our story. opportunity to share our story.
• instability while children and parents instability while children and parents are<00:28:31.520><
• To<00:35:13.280> the<00:35:13.400> parents. To the parents. To the parents.
• Thank you for the opportunity to share Thank you for the opportunity to share how<00:57:52.680><
• The fact that we cannot have a shared The fact that we cannot have a shared prosperity<01:28:27.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• For parents, it's hell. It's like an Olympic sport.
• Again, it's not a partisan issue, it's a parenting issue.
• Again, it's not a partisan issue, it's a parenting issue.
• I'm very pro-family and pro-parent.
• I'M VERY PRO-FAMILY AND PRO-PARENT.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 694 also ensures that even when a parent cannot be located or when a parent hasn't participated
• We helped parents involved in the CPS system.
• I did try back then, 10 years ago, to get the parents' attorneys added.
• I had parents in my office, more than one set of parents, who had been turned into DFPS where the FACN
• I'm with Parent Guidance Center.

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• > permission,<00:20:45.600> it the parent does give permission, it the parent does give
• Representative Scott, if the parent Representative Scott, if the parent decides<00:20:56.400>
• currently, the parental bill of rights. currently, the parental bill of rights.
• . parents. parents.
• Empowering of parents.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4138, a bill aimed at limiting harmful social media features for children and requiring social media companies to report potential mass-shooting threats to the BCA. Members first reconsidered and then adopted the Smith amendment (A13), while a proposed amendment to that amendment (A18) failed on a 67-67 tie. Representative Bonner then introduced a technical amendment (A14) but withdrew it after explaining it needed further work to avoid liability and legal problems. The bill was then read for third reading as amended. Debate centered on the bill’s approach to child safety online. Supporters, including Representatives Scott, Eng, Feist, Greenman, and Gilman, argued that social media is addictive, harmful to children’s mental health, and too often exploits kids, and they said the bill is an important bipartisan first step. Several members also emphasized that parents should be involved, though some questioned whether parents can realistically understand the technology and legal terms well enough to make informed decisions. Representative Leeing raised concerns about location privacy, parental consent, possible liability waivers, and whether the bill should instead restrict addictive features for all children rather than only those whose parents consent. The discussion also broadened to related public-safety issues. Representative Greenman contrasted the difficulty of advancing this bill with the Legislature’s inability to move gun-related provisions, arguing that organized interests like the gun lobby and big tech are blocking stronger protections for children. Representative Bonner later described specific cases of children harmed through social media, including sextortion and fentanyl-related deaths, to argue that the bill does not yet cover all vulnerable youth and should be strengthened. No final vote on passage is included in the transcript excerpt, but the amended bill advanced to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the next section, I'll share how the Office of Special Education is putting this vision into action
• We wanted to share some key quotes from the stakeholder engagement.
• Um, So I wanna share a couple of things we're doing related to shared accountability.
• So I'll share all that with you. And then second of all, Um, so, uh, Mr.
• We have shared this with our superintendents and charter school leaders.

Transcript Highlights:

• My parents divorced when I was young, and money was tight.
• My parents divorced when I was young, and money was tight.
• Chair, for sharing your story.
• <01:38:19.239> have formula because our student parents have formula because our student parents
• <01:38:50.960> your<01:38:51.119> story sharing your story sharing your story next<01:38

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The vice may speak further. parental alienation in parental rights parental alienation in parental rights
• , a parenting plan, or a parenting schedule.
• > plan, a parenting plan, a parenting plan, or<01:29:38.600> a<01:29:38.640> parenting
• or a parenting schedule. or a parenting schedule.
• time or parenting involving parenting time or parenting schedule,<01:32:45.320> I<01:32:45.400

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Data sharing specifically around this component.
• For criminal justice purposes, whose immigration status is it we want to share?
• with one child and that parent will be deported.
• Imagine coming here, you get here and you are here because your parents are here.
• I think sometimes, Senator Osgood shared it.

Bills: SJR36, SR8, SR14, SR15, SR17, HCR54

Keywords: accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, advocacy, legislation, business issues, memorial, law enforcement, sacrifice, tribute, community support, service, community, Holocaust, remembrance, antisemitism, human rights, education, Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorialization, sexual assault

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next slide, I wanted to share with our Quitline campaign some creative samples and also share
• I wanted to share with you that for our campaign "Vaping is Not a Vibe," we message across reasons why
• Many parents are using it at home, leading to kids sneaking it into schools.
• I'm not sure what that means, but I wanted to share that with you. Secondly, and this is...
• Will be to each of the states after those adjustments based on each state's allocable share.