Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a priority of the Indigenous legislative agenda, and I won't detail the major statewide
• What can we learn from schools like mine, and how can we adapt these lessons statewide?
• Beyond regulating cell phone use, we must also prioritize...
• Beyond regulating cell phone use, we must also prioritize the education of healthy device utilization
• The three most critical elements of this bill are the statewide bell-to-bell restriction on all...

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• also the regulation of lawyer advertising.
• that regulate the bar's activities.
• In fact, though, our regulations have been weakened over time by the U.S.
• The regulation has to directly advance that interest, and the regulation can be no more than is required
• in adopting regulation on the constitutional law involved.

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:

• The $664,000 could prepare CSAC to create, for example, emergency regulations.
• have been published... ...and now that the regulations have been published.
• This is a program that has trained 28,000 teachers statewide.
• I think it goes back to this really being a statewide issue.
• The statewide program is run by the Employment Development Department.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the statewide chair of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association Community Service Committee
• Instead, it establishes a uniform statewide guideline coordinated through the Office of Equity so that
• All state and local entities are urged to review their statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other
• LCYC provides services statewide to over 1,000 young people annually through our programs.
• In 2012, I ran a statewide write-in campaign, and it was successful, and I was able to move on to the

Bills: HB1759 , HB2632 , HB2574 , HB2235 , SGA9267

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: designation, commemoration, December 12, local observance, cultural significance, citizenship, immigration, terminology, rights, legal status, election, ballot, candidates, deceased, voting law, public records, concealed pistol licenses, firearm purchases, transfers, exemptions

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning briefly to land use, cities and counties engaging in comprehensive planning may regulate the
• Regulations can include things like location and height of construction.
• My name is Brianna Diltz, staff member at Faith Action Network, a statewide multi-faith organization.
• My name is Molly Gallagher, here with the statewide Poverty Action Network.
• The Direct Cash Coalition is a statewide group with the goal of making sure that every individual and

Summary: House Finance heard testimony on two affordable housing bills. House Bill 1859 would expand an existing density bonus for housing on religious organization property by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to at least 50% affordable units, requiring local policies to implement the bonus upon request, and creating a new state and local sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects with at least 50% affordable units maintained for 10 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help projects on church-owned land pencil out amid high construction and financing costs, while a county association raised concern that the bill would create an unfunded mandate for local planning departments. Several witnesses also asked that homeownership projects be explicitly included, and staff confirmed the exemption would be administered through an exemption certificate. The committee then moved to House Bill 1717, which would authorize cities and counties to create a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing developments. Staff said the remittance would cover 100% of local taxes paid after project completion, with a 50% affordable housing threshold and 40-year affordability requirement, and the sponsor and local government and housing advocates supported it as a flexible tool to reduce development costs. Testifiers generally backed both bills, with some asking for more flexibility on income targeting and clarification on county-city interactions under HB 1717. No votes were taken; both public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned after a separate work session on the Working Families Tax Credit, where advocates urged broader eligibility, higher benefit amounts, and easier access, and a California researcher described data-linking methods used to improve tax credit take-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are making a high priority To ensure that our rules and regulations are not only up to date but
• New Mexico currently has 1 259 educator vacancies statewide, including 737 teacher vacancies.
• Legislation like HB 71 and HB 224 would regulate student loan services and private education lenders
• I know that my students learned self-regulation, their reading skills improved, and their confidence
• Do we currently have a statewide kind of tiered system?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> statutory Authority that um a Statewide statutory Authority that um a Statewide oig<00:20:29.480
• </c> are programs that uh Federal Regulations are programs that uh Federal Regulations or<00:31:10.840
• </c> um I've U I've served in two Statewide um I've U I've served in two Statewide positions<00:59:48.400
• </c> your time obviously in a Statewide your time obviously in a Statewide position<01:02:42.119><c>
• </c> brief um there are there are regul brief um there are there are regul functions<01:18:25.639><c>

Bills: HF1 , HF1384

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not statewide at this point, but we hope to get partners to service those counties.
• If we were interested, are there people looking at some kind of a statewide solution?
• I don't believe there are statewide zoning codes.
• If you have a home, you can add another unit, but there are still regulations.
• are the right direction to go, and to strip away regulations.

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It adopted an air cleaner regulation to limit ozone pollution.
• 2279 it adopted a air cleaner regulation to<00:03:13.120><c> limit</c><00:03:13.519><c> ozone</c><00
• </c><00:19:19.120><c> I'm</c><00:19:19.280><c> available</c> blind vendors uh Statewide I'm available
• blind vendors uh Statewide I'm available for<00:19:19.720><c> any</c><00:19:19.880><c> questions</c>
• </c> agricultural practices for Statewide agricultural practices for Statewide application<00:33:33.600

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee heard five bills on January 24, 2025. SB 1 would phase out disposable air filters and require reusable air filters by 2030; testimony was limited, with one supporter urging clearer definitions of fiberglass and paper and several opponents listed, and the committee later deferred the bill indefinitely for lack of support testimony. SB 13 would create an aquaculture investment tax credit beginning in 2026; state agencies and several industry groups supported it, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about loose definitions, internal inconsistencies, and blanks that made the bill hard to estimate or vet. The committee passed SB 13 with amendments and technical changes, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2015 as stated on the record. SB 177 would shift aquatic livestock import and movement permitting to the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division, require a risk-based assessment and biocontainment standards, and seek a $1 million appropriation for research and staffing. The Department of Agriculture said the bill would help expand aquaculture while managing risks to native species; aquaculture and farm groups supported it, while Animal Rights Hawaii was listed in opposition. The committee passed SB 177 with amendments, blanking the appropriation for committee report consideration, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 184 would raise the beverage container deposit and refund from 5 cents to 10 cents. Supporters said the higher deposit could improve recycling and environmental outcomes, while opponents, including the Tax Foundation, cited fraud concerns, the program’s existing fund balance, and practical challenges in redemption; the Department of Human Services also noted potential impacts on blind vendors. The committee took the bill up but deferred decision-making until Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:01 p.m. in Room 224. The committee also heard SB 250, which would increase the income tax credit for interisland transportation costs for agricultural products. Agricultural and industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to offset rising shipping costs and preserve access to markets, while the Tax Foundation preferred direct appropriations over tax credits and objected to missing bill details. The committee passed SB 250 with amendments from the Department of Agriculture and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. Separately, a joint hearing on SB 240, the Right to Farm bill, drew mixed testimony: the Department of Agriculture supported further study and raised concerns about the bill’s fragmented approach, while farm, cattle, and other industry witnesses split between support for protecting customary Native Hawaiian subsistence farming and opposition to excluding CAFOs and certain business structures. No vote was taken on SB 240 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023 alone, there were 105,000-plus statewide hit-and-run incidents.
• Hit-and-run crashes are, quite frankly, as Senator Gruters touched upon, a statewide epidemic.
• Hit and run crashes are quite frankly, as Senator Gruders touched upon, a statewide epidemic.
• The Florida Highway Patrol has repeatedly gone up and down the state warning, statewide epidemic.
• We had the doctor pill-shopping problem that was occurring statewide, and we had... Thank you.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met with a quorum present and considered several bills. It first took up SB 232 on debt collection, where the sponsor explained a strike-all amendment and the committee adopted a Gruters amendment clarifying that email communications may be sent at any hour while other off-hours communications remain restricted. Testimony was sharply divided on a proposed change from “any person” to “debt collector,” with consumer advocates, legal aid, and the Florida Justice Association warning it would narrow Florida’s consumer protections, while supporters said the bill and amendment would address ambiguity affecting businesses. After debate, the committee rejected the broader amendment, adopted the email-only clarification, and reported CS for SB 232 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard and unanimously reported favorably CS for SB 126, which would allow prescription hearing aids to be sold and distributed by mail after a Florida-licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts the required examination, including remotely through telehealth. Supporters said the bill would improve access and reduce barriers for seniors and others with hearing loss, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 600 and SB 602 on manufacturing, which would create and fund a statewide Office of Manufacturing, a promotional campaign, workforce grants, and related fees; multiple industry and economic development groups appeared in support, and both bills were reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 92 on hit-and-run accountability in vehicle repair shops. The sponsor described the bill as a response to rising hit-and-run incidents and explained that repair shops would have to complete a transaction form or retain a crash report for certain repairs, with a clarifying amendment adopted without objection. Prosecutors and law enforcement supporters said the bill would help identify offenders, while auto dealer representatives argued it could impose burdens and penalties on repair shops. The committee nevertheless reported CS for SB 92 favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 412, the Motorized Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts to owners and independent repair providers under fair and reasonable terms. Disability advocates and wheelchair users testified that repair delays can leave users stranded for weeks or months, and the committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• variances from our regulation so that they can safely use the new technology.
• You know, we don't have a regulation about robots, for example.
• . ...trends and ensure contract compliance statewide.
• Statewide.
• We support the May revision. and statewide union of court interpreters.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:30:06.119><c> governing</c> currently the regulations governing currently the regulations governing
• There is, with all of this, the complexity of federal regulations and state regulations and just needing
• There is, with all of this, the complexity of federal regulations and state regulations and just needing
• </c> of you know federal federal regulations of you know federal federal regulations and<01:54:27.400
• :54:28.400><c> needing</c> and state regulations and just needing and state regulations and just needing

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• That's statewide. That is industry-wide.
• This bill creates regulations for UTVs to be operated on designated roads where local municipalities
• This will empower law enforcement to more effectively regulate and enforce the safe use of UTVs.
• But the state doesn't allow them statewide. They have to opt in. Thank you.
• But the state doesn't allow them statewide. They have to opt in like they would on this bill.

Bills: S0216 , S0246 , S0356 , S0388 , S0470 , S0488 , S0490 , S0528 , S0584 , S0594

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We represent 3,000 private security employers and 350,000 licensed security professionals statewide.
• SB 936 builds on these local efforts by establishing a clear statewide standard.
• We also know other counties have followed, but SB 936 is something that will help us with a statewide
• We've already seen real-world consequences of inadvertently regulated AI in the mental health sphere,
• And so it's time to regulate. And with that, I think the bill hasn't even been moved.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government, the Federal Railroad Administration owns the regulation for railroads.
• Number two, develop a statewide strategic advanced air mobility plan.
• And from Amarillo to Alamo, it's a statewide problem. And look, I've got questions.
• It is a problem; it is a statewide problem.
• This is a statewide problem. It's a nationwide problem, particularly since COVID.

Bills: HB341 , HB791 , HB1564 , HB1695 , HB1722 , HB1729 , HB1772 , HB2003 , HB2954 , HB2989 , HB3084 , HB3134 , HB3135 , HB3309 , HB3611 , HB3679 , HB3727 , HB3832

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Inaccurate and incomplete data limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board's capacity for data-driven regulation
• We reviewed LCB's studies of the canopy statewide.
• We reviewed LCB's studies of the canopy statewide. These studies are from 2019, 2020, and 2024.
• LCB's estimates of the total statewide canopy range from 4 million square feet to 13.8 million square
• We also found that LCB's data system does not support a data-driven approach to regulation.

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• If children are to be transported at all, they should be provided with a regulated safe passage that
• If children are to be transported at all, they should be provided with a regulated safe passage that
• Those regulations, specifically referring to AB 1777, just went into effect today, I believe.
• We have CHP and DMV managing regulations and adjusting those regulations as time goes on and as technology
• and state regulation.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• We license and regulate doctors of optometry at the end of January.
• Can you think of any area where you regulate the practice of medicine?
• of Texas is regulated by y'all.
• So you had an employee of a regulated entity being placed, paid simultaneously by the... by the regulated
• entity and by the state of Texas to regulate Texas positions.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• Massively delayed, and cash-strapped state agencies often purposely scale back their regulations.
• These regulations went into effect almost 10 years later, in 2023.
• A big part of that is these regulations that come from unaccountable boards and agencies.
• A big part of that is these regulations that come from unaccountable boards and agencies.
• And then we decided to regulate them where we never regulated their competition.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved prior journals, and moved through confirmations and floor items. Doreen DiAmico was confirmed to the State Water Resources Control Board by a 34-1 vote, Dr. Anne Maria de Mars was confirmed to the State Athletic Commission by 36-0, and Ronald Fiore was confirmed to the State Athletic Commission by 36-0. The body then took up SB 73 on election security, with supporters arguing it would protect ballot chain of custody and prevent intimidation or unauthorized access to voting materials, while opponents raised concerns about transparency, federal preemption, and the bill’s impact on investigations. SB 73 passed on concurrence and urgency with 29 ayes and 8 noes on both the urgency clause and the measure. The Senate also approved SB 929 on annual Energy Commission oversight (37-0), SB 1370 on wildfire-related testimony/oversight (28-5), SB 983 authorizing Port of San Diego job order contracting (28-8), SB 1367 restricting local approval of new or converted private detention facilities (28-8), SB 1257 requiring annual reporting on immigration enforcement incidents (28-8), and SB 1103 requiring large home improvement retailers to report immigration enforcement activity and related records (23-8). SB 1399, which removes the sunset on DOJ reviews of immigration detention facilities, passed 28-7, and SB 873, “ICE Out of Courts,” passed 28-7 to limit arrests near courthouses without a judicial warrant. Later, the Senate passed SB 1292 creating a pilot for camera- or sensor-based curb management with human review and privacy safeguards, despite opposition over privacy and automation concerns, by 28-7. SB 878 strengthened prompt-payment insurance penalties for delayed claims after disasters and passed 29-6. SB 958, a CEQA clarification related to housing and building height impacts, passed unanimously 37-0. SB 924 modernized low-income energy assistance services and passed 35-1. SB 1057 on certification for nurse assistants and home health aides passed, as did SB 1092 giving mobile home residents a chance to bid on park sales (29-7), SB 1123 requiring agencies to consider consumer and other benefits in rulemaking (26-8), SB 1233 increasing utility rate transparency (29-8), SB 1237 strengthening pay data reporting enforcement (28-6), SB 886 shifting data center infrastructure costs away from existing ratepayers (28-6), SB 905 reforming utility incentives and performance metrics (28-8), and SB 909 strengthening public works wage enforcement (28-7). The final item shown, SB 925 on fusion energy roadmap development, passed unanimously 37-0, while SB 954 on CEQA and advanced manufacturing drew extensive debate over environmental guardrails versus economic competitiveness; the transcript cuts off during closing remarks before the vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I do think there is room to tighten our rules in our regulated space.
• Do you, you're a regulator, your job is to... Are you, do you, you're a regulator.
• Your job is to make sure that these dispensaries are following the law and the regulations.
• It's just functionally getting into the protected environment that we regulate. Okay.
• The statewide law enforcement, what kind of interaction are you having with the governor specifically

Committee: Senate Rules