Transcript Highlights:

• WE DO HAVE A FEW PUBLIC APPEARANCE FORMS.
• IT CUTS OUT LOCAL VOICES AND PUTS PRIVATE INTERESTS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC GOOD.
• THIS DOES NOT IMPACT BELLEAIR BEACH THAT MUCH. >> Sen. Pizzo: FOLLOW-UP?
• WHAT IS SO WRONG ENSURING WOMEN HAVE BETTER ACCESS AT THE TABLE.
• I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN PARENTING A BEACH.

Transcript Highlights:

• PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
• PUBLIC TESTIMONY? DEBATE?
• WE CANNOT RESTRICT ACCESS.
• PUBLIC TESTIMONY?
• THE SCHOOLS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME DATA AND UNLIKE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT BOB WAS TALKING ABOUT, FEDERAL

Transcript Highlights:

• of the United Way of Palm Beach County.
• She graduated from the public university system, became a public school teacher for the next 25 years
• Care District of Palm Beach County.
• talk about access for As an example, because I know that when we talk about access, we talk about access
• For example, disability is an access challenge.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education first took up a block of confirmation hearings for trustees and board members at several public universities and state colleges. Appointees from Florida A&M University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, South Florida State College, Valencia College, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida described their backgrounds and emphasized themes such as governance, student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, research growth, and institutional reputation. Members asked a few questions, but most nominees received no substantive opposition. The committee then voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of the group of appointees on tabs 3 through 18 and forwarded them to Ethics and Elections. The committee next heard Senate Bill 114 by Senator Trumbull, which would create the Florida Center of Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at Florida State University, move the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide funding for the effort. Trumbull said the bill is intended to strengthen the state’s insurance research capacity and broaden study of insurance lines beyond wind risk. Senators asked about the impact on FIU and the distinction between the new center and existing FIU work; Trumbull said FIU’s Wall of Wind would remain and that the state-owned model would simply be contracted to FSU instead of FIU. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1624 by Senator Calatayud, a wide-ranging higher education bill addressing tuition, workforce programs, institutional operations, and naming changes. Amendments were adopted to create state college regional consortium service organizations for rural colleges, remove a proposed out-of-state fee change for nonresident online students, extend university master plan update cycles from five to 10 years, and rename Hillsborough Community College as Hillsborough College. The bill also changed several references from specific minority categories to “underrepresented,” revised aid and waiver provisions, adjusted adult education and career program rules, and made other technical changes. Senators Smith and Davis questioned the shift away from enumerated categories, arguing it could obscure disparities affecting groups such as Black students, women in STEM, and students with disabilities; Calatayud said the intent was to focus on socioeconomic access and flexibility for institutions. After debate, the committee voted 6-2 to report the bill favorably, with Senators Davis and Smith voting no, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Garcia companies has been in existence since 1952. started in Virginia, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and
• Violations to occur before a vessel is declared a public nuisance.
• Water access facilities enhances Florida's waterways by improving infrastructure and voting access locations
• And we will continue to administer state and federal grant funding to ensure greater access to public
• It said any harm calls from that's like to view such as beak beaching angry, Maureen grounding.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm convening our Committee on Public Safety.
• Thank you to the public who are here, and thank you to the public who are present via Zoom.
• Mahalo. see funding for language access planning see funding for language access planning at<00:18:20.520
• <00:18:25.000><c> coordinator</c> access coordinator access coordinator in<00:18:26.360><c> the</c><00
• </c> Public First Law Center via Zoom. Public First Law Center via Zoom.

Bills: SB2109 , SB2151

Committee: House Public Safety

Summary: The committee on Public Safety met on March 20, 2026, and the chair opened by noting severe rain and flooding conditions in Hawaii and said the committee would proceed with the hearing but defer decision-making until the next meeting on March 25. The first measure discussed was SB 2109, an omnibus bill on emergency preparedness communications. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from state agencies and advocacy groups such as the Disability and Communications Access Board, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and others. Supporters emphasized the need for funding and planning for multilingual emergency materials and language access, citing current evacuation notices that were not available in languages such as Ilokano or Tongan. The chair stated that action on SB 2109 would be deferred until March 25. The committee then heard SB 2151, relating to emergency management and changes to the governor’s emergency authority. Testimony was mixed but heavily focused on concerns about executive power. Earthjustice supported the bill with amendments, saying it should narrow extraordinary emergency powers, add definitions for emergency and disaster, preserve transparency under the Uniform Information Practices Act, and lower the legislative threshold to terminate an emergency proclamation from two-thirds to a simple majority. Other supporters, including the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and some individuals, also backed reform. Opponents, including Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and numerous individuals, argued the bill still gave the governor too much power, used overly broad disaster definitions, and did not sufficiently protect constitutional rights; several urged major amendments or repeal of portions of Chapter 127A. Some opponents specifically objected to the two-thirds termination standard and to provisions they said could enable compulsory immunizations or other mandates. Members questioned Earthjustice about whether the bill would suspend constitutional rights. Earthjustice responded that the bill would not authorize constitutional violations, but would allow suspension of laws enacted by the legislature, and pointed to existing statutory procedures for individuals to challenge emergency proclamations. The witness described a Mauna Kea case in which a three-judge panel granted relief to an individual under the current statute, and explained that the process could potentially affect a broader proclamation if allowed to run to completion. The hearing continued with additional testimony and questions, but no final vote or committee action on SB 2151 was taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, is there public testimony? Seeing none, is there debate?
• Seeing none, is there public testimony? Seeing none, is there debate?
• Now it can no longer be hidden from the public.
• I've been going there for 40 years to beautiful Crescent Beach.
• Or cooler temperatures on the beach?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee considered and reported favorably several bills, most of them sponsored by Senator Rodriguez. CS/SB 164 on vessel accountability was presented as a measure to help law enforcement identify vessel owners, create a free long-term anchoring permit program, increase penalties for derelict vessel violations, and authorize grants for local governments in FWC’s prevention program; it passed without amendment. SB 388, dealing with FWC trust funds, was also reported favorably after Senator Berman asked whether non-game wildlife funds would support immigration enforcement; Senator Rodriguez said they would not. CS/SB 1320 was amended to recreate the Resilient Florida Trust Fund and then passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System was amended to define new terms and reduce the maximum surcharge from 25 cents to 15 cents, then reported favorably. CS/SB 86 on peer support for first responders expanded eligibility to support personnel and passed with broad support from law enforcement and related groups. The committee also took up CS/CS/SB 92, a hit-and-run accountability bill by Senator Gruters. The adopted amendment added a front license plate requirement, lowered the damage threshold from $5,000 to $2,500, and retained reporting requirements for repair shops. NFIB testified in opposition to parts of the bill, citing concerns about the lower threshold, short reporting deadlines, and potential license revocation, while supporters argued the bill would improve accountability and help solve hit-and-run cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate. The final and most contentious measure was CS/SB 56 by Senator Garcia, which would prohibit geoengineering and weather modification activities in Florida, repeal older weather-modification statutes, create a public reporting system at DEP, and impose penalties for violations. Supporters, including individuals identifying with weather-watch and anti-geoengineering concerns, argued that the bill would address public fears and environmental risks. A cloud-seeding company representative testified that cloud seeding is distinct from solar radiation management and said permitting should exist for responsible weather modification, while warning the bill could hinder beneficial precipitation enhancement. Despite skepticism from some members about the bill’s premise and scope, the committee reported it favorably. The meeting then concluded after members recorded missed votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is something that we think is good public policy for the state. Oh, my apologies.
• I'm the president of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
• The majority of the coastal members and cities that have beaches in the state.
• We're already experiencing shortfalls in the beach funding program.
• We're already experiencing shortfalls in the beach funding program.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported favorably a series of bills after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and roll-call votes. Among the health and public safety measures, CS/SB 68 would require pediatric readiness standards in hospital emergency departments; CS/SB 340 would require nursing students to complete human trafficking identification training; CS/SB 32 and SB 210 would create a new injunction process and related public records provisions for victims of serious violence by a known person; and SB 418 would add autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with ASD. Each of these bills received supportive testimony and passed the committee. The committee also approved several child safety and community protection measures. CS/SB 606 would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials, and SB 428 would expand the state swim lesson voucher program to older children, with strong support from advocates and families concerned about drowning risks, especially for children with autism. CS/SB 302 would streamline permitting and incentives for nature-based coastal resiliency projects, and SB 636 would create an alternative beach management pathway for coastal communities, though beach preservation advocates warned about perpetual easement language and funding concerns. SB 628, designating Warrior Sacrifice Way in Pensacola, also passed unanimously. In addition, the committee advanced CS/SB 1734 on juvenile justice, with a late-file amendment updating definitions for juvenile probation and detention officers and codifying detention cost-share language. It also reported favorably CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and an additional first responders resiliency plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance Corporation clearinghouse procedures and related insurance market rules. Several witnesses testified in support or with technical concerns on the insurance bill, and members discussed competitive safeguards, clearinghouse scope, and Citizens’ assessment risk. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eileen Mitro is a climate advocate and former public educator.
• She worked as a public school teacher and administrator in Santa Rosa before relocating to Ukiah.
• She shapes policy on homelessness, public safety, and jobs.
• A longtime public servant and educator, Dr.
• She is dedicated to social justice and student access.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and prayer, then dispensed with the reading of the prior journal and handled routine motions, including re-referring AB 432 and AB 564 to committees. The main item of business was House Resolution 14, proclaiming March 2025 as Women’s History Month. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry opened on the resolution, and members from the LGBTQ, Native American, Asian American Pacific Islander, Black, Latino, Jewish, and other caucuses spoke in support, emphasizing women’s historical contributions, ongoing inequities, and the importance of representation and parity in public life. Assemblymember DeMaio also supported the resolution while urging attention to girls’ sports. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 78 coauthors were added. The chamber then held its annual California Women of the Year ceremony, with Aguiar-Curry and other members recognizing honorees from across Assembly districts for leadership in education, health care, public service, advocacy, business, and community work. The lengthy roll call highlighted a broad range of women’s accomplishments and community impact. Guest introductions followed, including Sacramento District Attorney Tien Ho, VSP Vision Care executives celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary, and EMTs and ambulance support staff being honored by the California Ambulance Association. The Assembly also took up the second-day consent calendar, which was adopted 71-0. Assemblymember Schultz then delivered an adjournment in memory of Barbara Beckley, founding member and artistic director emerita of the Colony Theatre Company, praising her contributions to Los Angeles theater and the arts. The House then adjourned until Thursday, March 13 at 9 a.m., with a Revenue and Taxation Committee hearing scheduled upon adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have public testimony.
• We do have public testimony.
• We do have public testimony.
• We do have public testimony.
• Access is fragile.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so during the time we lived there, we frequented the beach park.
• </c> in contact with the Eva uh Beach in contact with the Eva uh Beach Neighborhood<00:10:48.720><c>
• Um we swam frequented the beach park.
• </c> there regularly, frolicked on the beach there regularly, frolicked on the beach and<00:11:44.320
• And move out of our beloved community in Ewa Beach into town just because of that risk.

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection met on April 1, 2025, to hear three resolutions. The first, HR 27/HCR 28, sought to reconvene a working group on contamination remediation tied to the Pu‘uloa/Puoa Ranch Range training facility. Testimony was strongly supportive, with speakers from the Sierra Club of Hawai‘i and the community describing concerns about lead contamination, health risks to children and pregnant women, and the need for continued testing and coordination. The committee later recommended and adopted the resolution unamended by vote, with Rep. Quinnland excused. The second measure, HR 143/HCR 149, asked the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a working group to assess steps toward transitioning Volcano, Hawai‘i, into a biosphere area aligned with the Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve. Support came from community and environmental interests, including testimony from the Sierra Club and others, and DLNR offered comments. The committee recommended passage with amendments limiting the working group participants to the district representative and the Volcano Community Association, and that recommendation was adopted. The final measure, HR 191/HCR 199, urged DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife to prioritize restoration and protection of additional wetlands and an Ankuline pools. DLNR supported the intent but suggested technical clarifications, while community testimony emphasized wetlands’ role in flood control, sediment capture, and long-term environmental protection in South Maui. The committee recommended several amendments, including removing reference to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, revising agency references, changing “state waters” to “waters of the state,” and assigning the County of Maui as the responsible party for certain wetland protections. The amended resolution was then adopted, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They had lunch upstairs, visited the Senate public access room, and are now here to join us.
• </c><00:15:03.959><c> access</c><00:15:04.399><c> room</c><00:15:04.920><c> and</c> the Senate the public
• access room and the Senate the public access room and now<00:15:05.240><c> they're</c><00:15:05.480>
• fight traffic just coming out here, maybe in traffic about an hour and a half just getting to Ewa Beach
• </c> half just getting to evera beach half just getting to evera beach sometimes<00:38:25.960><c> on<

Transcript Highlights:

• However, without early access and early identification of these patients, they lose out on this access
• We're in public testimony. We have...
• We have public testimony.
• Mark Marciano, West Palm Beach, Florida and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
• So I understand access.

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up five health-related bills. HB 1089, which would add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to Florida’s newborn screening panel, was presented as a way to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment; a pediatric neurologist from Nemours testified in support, noting existing FDA-approved therapies and ongoing clinical trials. After supportive debate, the bill passed 17-0 and was reported favorably. HB 1083 would standardize patient access to medical records by setting deadlines for providers to produce or allow inspection of records and requiring electronic delivery when available. Supporters said it would reduce delays in care and costs, while two industry groups appeared in opposition. Members from both parties spoke in favor, and the bill passed 17-0 and was reported favorably. HB 1297, which aligns Florida’s electronic prescribing rules more closely with federal law and removes some state exceptions, drew opposition from physicians who argued paper prescriptions are still needed for emergencies, shortages, and price shopping. The sponsor said the bill’s goals were patient safety, fraud prevention, and efficiency; despite concerns, it passed 18-0 and was reported favorably. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1421, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which would create a statewide blood clot and pulmonary embolism registry, require hospital reporting and risk-assessment policies, and expand training requirements in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. The bill was presented with emotional testimony from Emily Adkins’ parents, who urged support and co-sponsorship in her memory. Members from both parties praised the family’s advocacy, and the PCS passed 18-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, HB 449 on optometry would expand optometrists’ authority to prescribe certain medications and perform specified laser and non-laser eye procedures after certification. The bill and amendment drew strong opposition from ophthalmologists and their association, who raised patient-safety, training, and delegation concerns, while optometrists argued the bill would improve access, especially in rural areas and counties without ophthalmologists. The amendment was adopted, and the bill as amended passed on a recorded vote and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Access should not depend on location.
• Access should not depend on location.
• The public schools, invest in your public schools.
• I am a public school teacher.
• I am a public school teacher.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• His commitment to public Long Beach.
• This is a simple bipartisan bill that expands access to our public lands, encourages public participation
• This bill ensures that consistent, transparent permitting data is available and accessible to the public
• It is well and accessible to the public.
• </c> This legislation does not expand the military footprint or limit public access beyond what is already

Transcript Highlights:

• We have public testimony.
• We have public testimony. Public testimony.
• We got no questions on the bill, no amendments, public testimony, no public testimony.
• We have public testimony, no public testimony. Debate on the bill.
• Do we have public testimony? Candice Erick's, Palm Beach County, waives in support.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard seven measures, including four bills and three proposed committee substitutes. HB 6033, repealing the Labor Pool Act, was presented as a cleanup measure to remove duplicative regulation; supporters argued workers would still be covered by OSHA, wage laws, workers’ compensation, and liability insurance, while opponents raised concerns about losing specific protections for day laborers. The bill was reported favorably on a 4-? vote, with several members voting no over concerns about worker protections. HB 453, dealing with pool and spa contractors, was described as a technical update to Chapter 489 that would better align licensing scopes with current industry practice and allow contractors to perform related work without stopping for additional licensed trades. An amendment making only drafting changes was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously. CS/HB 277 on veteran benefits assistance was also reported favorably unanimously after testimony focused on protecting veterans from predatory claims-assistance practices while preserving choice and requiring disclosures, fee limits, and data-security safeguards. The committee then approved PCS for HB 291, which would require personal mobility device batteries sold in Florida to meet an IPX-7 certification standard, after the sponsor cited fire risks from lithium-ion batteries; the measure passed unanimously. PCS for HB 709, allowing valid pari-mutuel permit holders to lease facilities to nearby high-li permit holders, was amended to require a minimum of 59 live performances and then passed unanimously. CS/HB 4011, expanding who may serve as a building official on Palm Beach County’s Building Code Advisory Board, passed unanimously as a good-government fix to fill vacancies. Finally, PCS for HB 499, allowing small craft breweries under 31,000 gallons to self-distribute, drew extensive testimony from brewers and distributors about small-business growth versus the three-tier alcohol system; despite concerns about weakening distribution safeguards, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-2 vote. The meeting then adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• include public safety telecommunicators in Senate Bill 774.
• and to include public safety telecommunicators in Senate Bill 774.
• Public safety telecommunicators save lives every single day.
• I am a 9-1-1 dispatcher from Palm Beach County, Florida, and I am proud to work for the Palm Beach County
• This bill seeks to repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption from cybersecurity

Bills: S0774 , S7028 , S7024 , S7026

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first heard Senate Bill 774, which would extend workers’ compensation medical benefits for employment-related mental or nervous injuries to 911 public safety telecommunicators, even without a physical injury. The sponsor and several dispatchers, a clinician, and communications directors testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, chronic understaffing, and the need for mental health treatment and retention support. Senator DiCeglie and Chair Mayfield praised dispatchers’ work, and the bill was reported favorably by committee vote, with Senator McClain later recorded as voting yes on the bill. The committee then took up SPB 7028, a retirement bill that sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, leaves the 3% employee contribution unchanged, allows certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions, and provides a 1.5% alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible special risk retirees. Firefighters, police, sheriffs, and chiefs’ groups spoke in support, emphasizing recruitment and retention. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both open-government-related bills. SPB 7024 would repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption for cybersecurity information and consolidate agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. SPB 7026 would repeal the current public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency and similarly consolidate specific trade secret exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. Neither bill drew testimony or debate, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Public
• health and human services, followed by education, then transportation, economic development, and public
• launching facilities, and other activities to improve boating safety and increase access, $13 million
• In your resilience budget with beach restoration, how do you, and I think it's very good that you're
• In your resilience budget with beach restoration, how do you, and I think it's very good that you're

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee first took up confirmation of five water management district appointees: Ted Everett and Jerome Pate to the Northwest Florida Water Management District, Michael Romano to the Big Cypress Basin Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Senator McClain moved confirmation, the roll was called, and the committee recommended all appointees favorably. Members then received the Governor’s Florida First budget presentations for environmental agencies. The environmental package totaled about $5.8 billion and emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, resilience, land conservation, state parks, hazardous waste cleanup, wildlife management, wildfire response, and citrus support. DEP highlighted more than $1.4 billion for water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state parks, and $221 million for contamination cleanup. FWC, Agriculture, and Citrus funding priorities were also outlined. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a reduction at the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and beach renourishment funding for storm damage. The committee also heard the General Government portion of the budget, which totaled about $2.9 billion and covered DBPR, Lottery, Financial Services, Management Services, Revenue, PERC, and the Gaming Control Commission. DBPR requested funds for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, fleet replacement, and IT retention. FGCC sought new enforcement squads and an IT licensing/enforcement system. The Lottery proposed marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding. DMS emphasized building modernization, fleet telematics, 911 and radio upgrades, cybersecurity, a local government cybersecurity grant program, and data interoperability. PERC described a sharp increase in labor cases and elections after SB 256 and requested staffing, election administration, and hearing officer pay increases. DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation. Revenue requested operational and IT funding and support for fiscally constrained counties. Questions focused on DBPR’s condo and HOA initiatives, cybersecurity grant reductions, and the My Safe Florida Home program’s abandoned grants and matching requirements. No additional votes were taken, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It expands eligibility for leave protections to include public officials and public employees who are
• It narrows the instances for which service members who are also public officials or public employees
• It's part of Palm Beach County.
• But I had great access.
• As part of the approval process, local government must consider access to public services, including

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• It expands eligibility for leave protections to include public officials and public employees who are
• It narrows the instances for which service members who are also public officials or public employees
• It's part of Palm Beach County.
• But I had great access.
• As part of the approval process, local government must consider access to public services, including

Transcript Highlights:

• Staffing public agencies faces challenges such as public budget constraints, competition...
• Members, now we will move to Tab 4, CS for SB 268 on public records, public officers by Senator Jones
• But there is no public interest. There is no public interest in exploiting elected officials.
• Public meetings, our offices are where public government business is to take place.
• Those dollars are used as a direct tourism driver for our beaches and to restore the beaches.

Summary: The committee took up several claims bills first and reported both favorably without debate. SB 20, relating to relief of J.N., a minor, would pay the remaining $400,000 of a $600,000 settlement after an 11-year-old was injured on a Hillsborough County sidewalk with a known defect; SB 14, relating to the estate of Pineal Januier, would authorize payment of the remaining $1.7 million of a $2 million settlement after a drowning at a Miami Beach youth center pool. Both bills were supported by the sponsors and the Senate Special Master’s favorable recommendations, and both passed on roll call votes. The committee then considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, SB 1512, both by Senator Avila, which would create a new property tax benefit for owners who lease a non-homestead residential property for more than six months in order to encourage more affordable rental housing. Local governments, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties opposed the proposal, warning of major revenue losses, impacts on public safety and services, and uncertainty for local budgets; several senators also questioned whether landlords would pass savings on to renters and whether the measure would worsen density and parking issues. Despite the opposition, both measures were reported favorably after the sponsor said the bills would be refined and revised. SB 674, by Senator Wright, was reported favorably with support from property appraisers who said it would let them budget and pay hiring or retention bonuses, similar to authority already given to tax collectors, to help compete for specialized staff. CS for CS SB 268, by Senator Jones, also passed after an amendment adding congressional members; the bill would create a public-records exemption for certain home-address information for elected officials, and debate centered on balancing transparency with safety after members described death threats and harassment. The committee then approved SB 100, by Senator Fine, which would bar government buildings from displaying flags representing political viewpoints and allow active or retired military or National Guard members to use reasonable force to stop desecration of the U.S. flag; the bill drew extensive opposition from transparency, civil rights, and LGBTQ advocates who argued it was vague, unconstitutional, and aimed at pride flags, while supporters said government should not endorse political messages. Finally, CS for SB 1664, by Senator Trumbull, was reported favorably after a strike-all amendment. The bill would require voter reapproval every eight years for certain local discretionary taxes, including tourist development taxes and some local option taxes, unless pledged to revenue bonds. Cities, counties, tourism groups, and the lodging industry opposed it, saying the measure would create uncertainty, threaten tourism marketing and beach restoration funding, and make long-term infrastructure and debt planning difficult. Senator Trumbull argued the proposal simply gives voters a recurring chance to decide whether they still support the taxes and the projects they fund.