Transcript Highlights:

• You have a constitutional right to get bond, except in very, very limited situations under Florida law
• And if somebody... ...except in very, very limited situations under Florida law.
• This change allows occupational therapists to receive dry-needling supervision from an occupational therapist
• This bill makes a limited, targeted change to Florida's veterinary licensure by endorsement statute.
• So the limitations are very narrow in this circumstance.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a limit, so it really goes against...
• We have a limit, so it really goes against our goals and public policy of trying to increase residency
• to publish the revised list of those occupations based on labor market data that we look at annually
• We have limits on the number of foreign students that can stay here and be licensed.
• We're using wage data to inform our high-demand occupation list, so we're using that information...

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are limiting our testimony to two minutes per speaker today.
• Today is day 79 of the ICE occupation of Minnesota. I'm Flannry Clark.
• Our schools should be off limits.
• </c> Our schools should be off limits. Our schools should be off limits.
• Limiting DHS access to schools is about protecting<00:50:43.040><c> children.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this compact is much like other occupational compacts and that it would allow some flexibility for
• So, this compact is much like other occupational<00:01:56.240><c> compacts</c><00:01:56.640><c> and</
• </c> unencumbered meaning it can't be limited unencumbered meaning it can't be limited or<00:02:38.959
• </c><00:24:47.919><c> And</c><00:24:48.159><c> so,</c> limits and and things like that.
• And so, limits and and things like that.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> difficult to fill occupational difficult to fill occupational Specialties<00:25:35.679><c> uh</c
• </c> difficult to fill occupational difficult to fill occupational Specialties<00:25:45.039><c> many<
• The current limit is $15 million.
• </c><00:29:33.000><c> on</c> equivalent of increasing the limit on equivalent of increasing the limit
• </c><00:42:55.359><c> on</c> to get rid of the 8-year time limit on to get rid of the 8-year time limit

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• contain the names of all covered employees, wages, number of hours worked, and applicable standard occupational
• However, a penalty only applies for failure to report a standard occupational classification or job title
• failure of any electronic software to properly produce a tax and wage report with the standard occupational
• The scope of collective bargaining for language access providers is limited to economic compensation,
• Language access providers is limited to economic compensation, health and welfare benefits, and other

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several labor-related bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5874, staff and Senator McEwen described a proposal to let the Employment Security Department waive penalties for minor quarterly reporting errors by employers, especially inadvertent electronic filing issues involving occupational codes and job titles. No one testified in opposition, and the public hearing was closed. The committee then heard extensive testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical providers, allow medically appropriate departures from L&I treatment rules, prohibit employers from requiring treatment from a specific provider, and set timelines for utilization review. Supporters, including workers’ advocates and union representatives, said the bill would improve access to care and reduce delays, while business groups opposed it as weakening the provider network and raised concerns about costs and claim duration. L&I said it could implement the bill with a technical fix and noted that the fiscal note was still being updated. A previously adopted claims-manager staffing amendment was discussed but not included in the version heard. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5061, the committee heard testimony on requiring public works contracts to update prevailing wage rates annually rather than freezing them at bid time. Labor groups supported the bill as protecting workers from wage erosion on long projects, while contractor groups opposed it unless amended to allow change orders for wage increases above 5 percent, citing unpredictable jumps in prevailing wage rates and added risk for small contractors. L&I requested a delayed effective date to July 1, 2028 because of IT changes. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 5944, which would make missed or canceled appointment payments bargained economic compensation for language access providers, and on Substitute Senate Bill 5972, which would extend interest arbitration rights to correctional employees in city and county jails regardless of county population. Labor groups supported both bills; counties and a city representative opposed 5972 over cost concerns and asked for fiscal safeguards. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302, which would require L&I to investigate possible misclassification when three or more independent contractors are used for the same type of finishing work on a public works project. Labor and contractor groups both supported the amended version, saying it targets misclassification without banning legitimate independent contractors. The hearing ended after testimony, with no votes or final committee actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• these small schools to operate in existing buildings like daycares, mercantile spaces, or assembly occupancies
• , but only if the facility meets the standards for an existing educational occupancy under the Florida
• allow local governments to request... ...would you be open to allow local governments to require limited
• We were told he needed extensive speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, adaptive therapy, and social
• The sky is going to be the limit for you. Okay?

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered several education-related bills. CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity was presented as a measure to codify an existing grant program that has helped secure more than 200 local governments, especially rural and fiscally constrained ones; Florida League of Cities supported it, and it passed 15-0. PCS/HB 371 on patriotic displays at public schools would require, subject to appropriation, display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in school common areas for America’s 250th anniversary; one opponent argued it would create complaint-driven enforcement and pressure educators, but the sponsor said the PCS narrowed the original classroom requirement, and the bill passed 16-0. PCS/HB 833 on private school facilities would deem small private schools of 150 students or fewer a permitted use in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts and allow use of certain existing buildings if fire and occupancy standards are met. Supporters said it would reduce local red tape and expand school choice, while opponents warned it would divert public resources and weaken public education; several members raised concerns about local traffic and safety authority. The sponsor said she was open to further amendments, and the bill passed 13-3. PCS/HB 1147 on school district unimproved real property would require districts to submit annual inventories of vacant, unimproved land to the Department of Education for transparency and planning; some members and a Monroe County school board member questioned the need for a state registry, while supporters said it would improve data and accountability. The bill passed 12-3. The committee then considered HB 615 on individualized education plans (IEPs), which would strengthen parent notification and access to service logs, require individualized orientation for newly eligible students, and standardize district service logs. An amendment removed notification requirements when a missed service was due to student absence, and it was adopted. The bill drew emotional testimony from a student and parent describing missed accommodations, along with support from Disability Rights Florida and several members who emphasized parent partnership and accountability; one ESE teacher said the bill was a good start but more staffing and support are needed. The bill passed unanimously 15-0, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Albert: HB 4059 is a local bill also that limits the reimbursement on medical or medical
• Representative McFarland: I suppose the local government could look at DBPR occupational licensing.
• its wisdom looked toward the local government as a partner to Charles Chapman: help make sure occupational
• Charles Chapman: A wide variety of different services including checking on the local occupational license
• I do my corporate filing every year and fictitious name filing, an occupational Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to be able to hear as much from the public within the limits of our time, In order to be able
• So it's not necessarily a bill limited to the public place. Correct. Happy to support you.
• So it's not necessarily a bill limited to public employees. Correct. Happy to support you.
• What are its risks and limitations? Is it working? But we aren't getting any answers.
• What are as risks and limitations and is it working? But we aren't getting any answers.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• Please limit your comments to your name, your affiliation and position on the bill only.
• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much as possible, within the limits of our time, we will
• Please keep your comments limited to your name, affiliation, and age. In your position on the bill.
• The Philippines and the Kingdom of Hawaii who understand illegal occupation. Good afternoon.
• We were not able to do that because of the time limit. I'm about to read them.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• of Occupational Examiners for four years, until 2030.
• Just out of curiosity, how many pets are we limited to?
• Oh, this is like you can't limit, like a pit bull? Yes.
• Oh, this is like you can't limit like a pit bull? Yes.
• HB 2231, firefighters' occupational diseases, passed the Public Safety Committee unanimously.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large Minority Caucus Calendar and moved quickly through many bills, with staff often noting whether items were unanimous, party-line, or pulled from consent. Early items included HB 2130 on ADOA personnel financial systems, HB 2749 on felony sentence-completion designation, HCR 258 on Medicaid claim audits, and several agency or board continuation bills. Members also discussed HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 4027 naming Loop 202 the Charlie Kirk Highway, HB 2601 on Interstate 11 studies, and a number of education, health, labor, and public safety measures. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for later discussion, including HCR 258, HB 4027, HB 2375, HB 2601, HB 2408, HB 2444, HB 2923, HB 2182, HCR 2048, HB 2750, HB 2765, HB 2838, HB 4043, HB 2290, HB 2940, and others. Testimony and caucus debate focused on a range of policy concerns. Members objected to bills involving school strikes, weapons detection systems, public records fees for legislators, union activity, school safety felony penalties, and restrictions on school clubs. Education bills drew extended discussion, including HB 2423 on automatic advanced math placement, HB 2478 creating a student outcomes commission, HB 2579 for free school meals, HB 2992 on child sexual abuse prevention, HB 4041 on spending authority for low-reading-performing districts, and HB 4043 requiring CPR/AED training. Health and professional regulation bills also prompted debate, including HB 2408 on nursing board investigations and expungement, HB 2444 on pharmacist testing authority, HB 2697 on expired opioid antagonists, and HB 4010 establishing a genetic counselors board. Members raised concerns about fiscal impacts, stakeholder opposition, and whether some measures were unfunded mandates or needed more amendment work. The caucus also discussed immigration, labor, and public safety measures, including HB 2416 for DPS local border support, HB 2811 on obstructing governmental operations during lawful arrests, HB 2862 on unlawful masking penalties, HB 4070 on nonprofit incorporation restrictions tied to offenses, and HB 4117 creating a crime for disturbing religious services. Water, energy, and land-use bills were reviewed as well, such as HB 2099, HB 2263, HB 2330, HB 2341, HB 2492, HB 2757, HB 2782, HB 2912, HB 2918, and HCR 2020. The meeting ended with announcements, including an Affordability Award for Brian Garcia and a March 12 breakfast update on the Colorado River, before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the biggest barriers to expanding the workforce is the limited number of available preceptors
• DHSS requested this approach due to limited internal capacity to administer the program directly.
• The number of students who can enter the workforce is often limited by the availability of qualified
• So we are finally at a point that House Bill 165 authorizes physician associates, occupational therapists
• , occupational therapists, and APRNs from advertising themselves as acupuncturists unless they are licensed

Bills: HB359 , HB385 , HB165

Committee: Senate Health & Social Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Social Services Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior two meetings, and briefly acknowledged the tragedy at Christiana Care before moving to legislation. The committee heard House Bill 385, which creates a statewide nurse preceptor grant program to expand clinical training placements for nursing students; testimony from nursing organizations, health care associations, and educators emphasized workforce shortages, the need for preceptor stipends and training, and the bill’s potential to help students complete programs and remain in Delaware. Members asked about eligibility and reporting, and several senators asked to be added as co-sponsors. Public comment was uniformly supportive, and the bill was advanced out of committee. The committee then considered House Bill 424, which repeals Delaware’s Autism Surveillance and Registration Program and requires DHSS to expunge protected health information collected through the registry. The sponsor and DHSS said the registry is no longer used for research or policy development and that repeal would reduce outdated reporting burdens; Autism Delaware, the Delaware Health Care Association, and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities support the change. A committee member raised the question of whether families would be notified before records are expunged, and DHSS said that process was not yet clear and would need further verification. Members discussed the issue, and the bill also moved forward. House Bill 419 was next, making children in foster care automatically eligible for the Purchase of Care child care subsidy and extending the same treatment to certain kinship and safety-plan placements through House Amendment 1. The Children’s Department and advocacy groups said the bill would provide immediate stability for children and caregivers, reduce delays from applications and income verification, and support working foster and kinship families. The committee also heard House Bill 359, which would allow cremation as an option for unclaimed and indigent remains when there is no family objection or next of kin cannot be found, addressing a shortage of burial plots and lowering costs; funeral industry testimony focused on preserving next-of-kin rights. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 475, creating a Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund financed by a $10 surcharge on nursing licenses and disciplinary fines to support workforce data collection and analysis through a nonprofit partner, and House Bill 165, authorizing physician associates, occupational therapists, and APRNs to perform dry needling under training and practice standards set by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. All of the bills received supportive testimony, several members added their names as co-sponsors, and the committee adjourned after moving through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• can you Can you explain what you meant by with no limit?
• On DirecTV streams, so 5% on each and every streaming product without any limit. Thank you.
• We charge for use of the right-of-way, not necessarily tied to physical occupation of the right-of-way
• The citizens passed that constitution, and it's a limitation on the legislature. as I was reading it.
• The Texas Department of License and Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, Title 16.

Bills: SB264 , SB542 , SB924 , SB1008 , SB1029 , SB1036 , SB1057 , SB1058 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1376 , SB1569 , SB1664 , SB1697 , SJR50

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a number of testifiers, so if testifiers can please limit your testimony to 2 minutes or less
• We do have a number of testifiers, so if testifiers can please limit your testimony to 2 minutes or less
• standard of requiring payment if the owner sells the property or converts the unit to non-owner occupancy
• <00:50:05.079><c> building</c><00:50:05.960><c> in</c> ...occupancy building in Rochester.
• </c> an exe exemption to the income limit an exe exemption to the income limit requirements<01:04:54.359

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• When remote participation is due to a personal matter, that participation is limited to two meetings
• They are also limited to two meetings per calendar year, and those two meetings cannot be held consecutively
• But the fact that there's no standardized occupational classification by the Department of Labor... .
• ..occupational classification by the Department of Labor is why Mark Miller and Bright Point, well, he
• No data has been kept on this occupation. It's like it doesn't even exist.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the sheriff must verify the claim and serve a notice on the lawful occupants.
• On February 6th, we were contacted regarding unlawful occupancy of residential property.
• I say this initially because the Florida Bar's advocacy role in Tallahassee is very, very limited, both
• The bar operates only, once again, under the limited authority granted to it by the Florida Supreme Court
• And the Bar is governed also by state and federal laws limiting its authority.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and Senator Thompson excused. The committee first considered Senate Bill 48 by Senator Garcia on judicial sales and procedures. Garcia explained a delete-all amendment that would create clearer statewide procedures for alternative judicial sales, increase transparency, remove bidding credits, extend sale timelines, and add oversight for auctioneers and escrow agents to prevent fraud and collusion. After no questions or opposition, the amendment was adopted, Senator Pasadoma said the rewrite addressed many of his concerns, and the committee then voted CS for SB 48 favorably with unanimous yes votes from members present. The committee then received a presentation from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on the effectiveness of Florida’s recent anti-squatting law, House Bill 621/SB 888. Presenters described several cases in which deputies used the new process to remove unlawful occupants, including a false landlord report, a long-term fake lease situation, and a more recent unlawful occupancy case. They said the law has helped protect property owners and potential victims, but suggested technical changes: clearer authorization for deputies to enter and use force if needed, and a fix to the affidavit penalty provision because false statements are currently being charged as false reports rather than perjury under the existing wording. The Florida Bar also presented on its role in regulating lawyers, lawyer advertising, and the unlicensed practice of law. Bar leaders explained that the Bar operates under the Florida Supreme Court’s authority, is funded by member fees, and handles complaints through a multi-step process involving intake, branch offices, grievance committees, referees, and final Supreme Court review. They described advertising review procedures, discipline statistics, consumer assistance, the Clients’ Security Fund, and enforcement against unlicensed practice. Senators asked about the Legislature’s authority over lawyer advertising, the prevalence of legal ads, the role of public members on grievance committees, and how those members are selected and used.

Transcript Highlights:

• 24 clarifies the department's authority to require regulated companies to answer questions is not limited
• to verbal responses but is not limited to verbal responses but also<00:08:08.000><c> includes</c><00
• So this bill would establish a web-based occupational license application portal.
• So this bill would establish a web-based occupational license application portal.
• :09.119><c> license</c> a web-based occupational license a web-based occupational license application

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• CDL, and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle the person is driving, subject to certain limited
• The council is authorized to exercise powers necessary to carry out its purpose, including, but not limited
• We're going to ask folks to try to limit their testimony to one minute.
• U.S. agencies are increasingly testing smartphone toll payment apps and occupancy declaration apps.
• Existing applications for vehicle occupancy declaration could be leveraged in future testing, which we

Bills: HB2347 , HB2410

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: luxury aircraft tax, tax reduction, economic impact, business aviation, state revenue, HB2410, commercial truck safety, commercial vehicle safety, trucking industry, truck driver training, driver education, highway safety, traffic safety commission, Washington State, commercial motor vehicles, vehicle registration fee, IRP fee, state patrol highway account, safety enforcement fee, public-private partnership

Transcript Highlights:

• CDL, and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle the person is driving, subject to certain limited
• The council is authorized to exercise powers necessary to carry out its purpose, including, but not limited
• We're going to ask folks to try to limit their testimony to one minute.
• U.S. agencies are increasingly testing smartphone toll payment apps and occupancy declaration apps.
• It was a much more challenging environment for the smartphone app to perform because of limited cell

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on House Bill 2410, which would establish a commercial truck safety and education council, increase the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32, and direct the new revenue to a dedicated account for truck safety and training programs. Committee staff outlined the bill’s CDL and training requirements, council structure, confidentiality provisions, and fiscal impacts. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to improve truck safety through industry-led education and noted that a substitute was expected because details still needed work. Testimony from the Washington Trucking Associations, insurers, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission was generally supportive of the safety goals, though the commission said operational details and agency roles still needed clarification. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2347, which would repeal the recently enacted luxury aircraft tax on non-commercial aircraft valued above $500,000. Staff explained that the tax is scheduled to take effect April 1 and that repeal would reduce revenue to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel account. Representative Dent, the sponsor, argued the tax is harming business aviation, emergency services, wildfire response, agricultural operations, and rural access, and said aircraft and related jobs were already leaving the state. Most public testimony came from aviation businesses, airport operators, industry associations, and related employers, all urging repeal and warning of aircraft departures, lost hangar tenants, reduced fuel sales, and job losses. One witness from the Port of Seattle supported addressing the tax’s impact but urged working toward a narrower fix rather than full repeal so sustainable aviation fuel funding would remain stable. After closing the hearing on HB 2347, the committee received a work session on tolling technology. Transportation Commission staff presented the results of a pilot using a smartphone app to support toll collection, explaining that the current tolling system remains accurate but that new technologies could reduce costs and improve flexibility over time. The pilot found high accuracy when the app was paired to a vehicle by Bluetooth, lower accuracy without pairing, strong customer satisfaction, and some privacy concerns. The commission recommended keeping the current system in place for now, conducting a more fully operational smartphone-based pilot in the near term, and eventually developing a broader technology marketplace for future tolling systems. Members asked about the role of tags versus apps, video tolling accuracy, and the timeline for replacing existing tolling methods. The meeting ended with adjournment for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• My second example involves a child whose funding source imposes weekly limits on both direct treatment
• However, despite having authorized hours available, weekly utilization limits prevent us from doing so
• My second example involves a child whose funding source imposes weekly limits on both direct treatment
• However, despite having authorized hours available, weekly utilization limits prevent us from doing so
• This limitation directly impacts our ability to hire qualified individuals, as we are mandated to bill

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health met in Room 2100 and first handled its consent calendar, which included several bills and resolutions with amendments. The committee established a quorum, approved the consent calendar 6-0, and placed it on call. AB 2233 by Assemblymember Taw was then heard; the bill would clarify that authorized ABA therapy for autistic patients should remain usable across the authorization period rather than being effectively reduced by weekly utilization caps. Supporters, including behavior analysts, family advocates, and health organizations, described missed sessions caused by provider shortages, scheduling conflicts, and family disruptions. Health plans and insurers initially expressed fraud and utilization-management concerns but said they would remove opposition after the amendments preserved utilization management. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 2233 as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call. The committee next heard AB 96 by Assemblymember Jackson, which would remove the high school diploma or equivalent requirement for Medi-Cal peer support specialist certification. Supporters from county behavioral health agencies, nonprofits, and local governments argued that lived experience, communication, empathy, and cultural competency are the key qualifications for peer work, and that the current education requirement excludes capable candidates and worsens workforce shortages. One opposition witness from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals raised concerns, but the bill’s proponents explained that peer certification still requires 80 hours of training, testing, and recertification on core competencies. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 96 and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call. AB 1876, the Fair Care for All Act by Assemblymember Addis, was then heard. The bill would codify federal nondiscrimination protections into state law to ensure people are not excluded from health care coverage or services based on a protected class. Support came from transgender health advocates, psychologists, county and state health groups, and other organizations, who said the bill would help protect access to gender-affirming and other medically necessary care. Opposition testimony argued the bill would force coverage of sex-rejecting interventions and weaken insurer safeguards, while the author responded that the measure simply mirrors existing federal nondiscrimination law and does not expand coverage. The committee voted 7-1 to pass AB 1876 and re-refer it to Judiciary, placing it on call. After the roll was reopened for absent members, the committee also finalized votes on the earlier bills and adjourned after concluding its business.