Transcript Highlights:

• Florida faces gaps every year in the cybersecurity workforce due to a lack of job readiness and time
• The Department of Commerce will work with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida to further
• Senate Bill 998 is the Department of Commerce package for the 2026 session and is composed of the following
• During the House’s AI week in December, Leo Genova, of the Florida Department of Health, chief information
• This is the necessary public records exemption as a result of giving the Department of Legal Affairs

Bills: S0214 , S0482 , S7030 , S0554 , S0994 , S0998 , S1004 , S1074 , S1076 , S1266

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million, with the higher cap first applying to the 2027 allocation; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1266 would create a Cybersecurity Experiential Internship and Clearance Readiness Program with the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida, but an amendment removed the bill’s funding appropriation; the amended bill was reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was also reported favorably after support testimony from the Bar and others. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive financing and undisclosed health conditions at retail pet stores, drew strong support from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, was reported favorably as well. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package. The bill would modernize the small cities CDBG program, clarify rural community eligibility to include certain unincorporated areas, exempt military conveyances from a reverter clause, and revise E-Verify enforcement and penalties. Members questioned the E-Verify provisions, including the fine structure, treatment of workers incorrectly flagged, and whether the bill could affect gig workers or retroactive cases. Senator Smith opposed the bill during debate, arguing it created unequal treatment for employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably. SB 214 would expand the rural economic development initiative to include special districts in rural counties and was reported favorably. SB 482, the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, generated the most extensive discussion; it would create consumer protections for companion chatbots, require parental consent and access for minors, mandate disclosures and de-identification rules, restrict unauthorized use of name, image, and likeness, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Supporters emphasized child safety, privacy, and the need for guardrails, while opponents and some informational witnesses raised concerns about privacy, age verification, enforcement, and the bill’s breadth. The bill was reported favorably, and the committee also approved SPB 7030, a committee bill creating a public records exemption for Department of Legal Affairs investigations tied to the AI enforcement provisions.

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• CIO for the state of Iowa, as well as for the city of San Antonio.
• the Department of the Air Force and the first General Counsel of the Space Force.
• More than a third of our Firefly's workforce have. hired from the greater Austin area.
• I'm pleased to be here laying out HB 4936 relating to the the creation of the Department of Marketing
• the workforce is eligible for retirement and 50% of the workforce has less than four years on the job

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

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• I suspect it was because of lack of lines of communication.
• Department of Agriculture.
• Members, House Bill 143 provides relative to the per diem rate paid by the Department of Public Safety
• DOTD, I mean, Department of Corrections, and sheriffs typically talk about how much it costs to hold
• local sheriffs and the Department of Corrections interact.

Bills: HB82 , HB143 , HB145 , HB160 , HB222 , HB430 , HB445 , HB490 , HB603 , HB619 , HB670 , HB672 , HB763 , HB773 , HB781 , HB810 , HB874 , HB981

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: DWI, driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, penalties, criminal justice, inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, firefighters, law enforcement, medical expenses, dental expenses, disability benefits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, battery of a dating partner, domestic abuse battery, strangulation

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• Additional testimony in support from the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, seven
• Department of Research and Hawaii Department of Research and Development,<04:22:09.640><c> seven</c>
• Additional testimony in support from the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, as
• Department of Research and Hawaii Department of Research and Development, Development, Development,
• There's additional testimony in support from the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development

Bills: HB2459 , HB1616 , HB1799 , HB1604 , HB1732 , HB1736 , HB1931 , HB772 , HB2153 , HB2122 , HB2009 , HB2012 , HB1779 , HB2296 , HB2397 , HB2398 , HB1596 , HB2233 , HB1976 , HB1563 , HB815 , HB1655 , HB1851 , HB1941 , HB2037 , HB1635 , HB2201 , HB1943 , HB1163 , HB2452 , HB2429 , HB2148 , HB2306 , HB2007 , HB2049 , HB2616

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: food innovation, agribusiness, food safety, market access, branding, economic diversification, performance indicators, agriculture, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, housing development, commercial projects, county authority, public works, construction standards, exemption, zoning, housing

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• So, what this would do is we would establish in the Department of Workforce a grant program.
• </c><00:28:06.960><c> of</c><00:28:07.200><c> Workforce</c><00:28:08.320><c> a</c><00:28:08.640><c> grant
• </c> the Department of Workforce a grant the Department of Workforce a grant program.<00:28:10.399><c
• You also then, after you do that, must submit the application to the Workforce Department.
• , a lot of money into Innovate Alabama, a lot of money into economic<00:32:30.960><c> development,</c

Bills: SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354 , SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: SB62, Alabama, conservation and natural resources, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife heritage license, license identification, government-issued ID, residency determination, in-state residency, student residency, tuition classification, public higher education, domicile, resident status, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, Section 9-11-32, Section 9-11-33, Section 16-64-3

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• with about three of them working some of the time on business and workforce attraction currently.
• </c> of the time on uh business and workforce of the time on uh business and workforce attraction<00:
• Again, this did expand, but um a lot of the funding went into developing materials, which are sort of
• Again, this did expand, but um a lot of the funding went into developing materials, which are sort of
• </c> at the Department of Labor and Industry. at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Bills: HF1007 , HF1152 , HF1671 , HF2258

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: tourism, World Junior Hockey Championships, funding, economic impact, sports events, Minnesota, economic development, livability, marketing, partnerships, labor and industry, electrical licensing, electrical inspection, continuing education, online course approval, Internet continuing education, power limited technician, maintenance electrician, master electrician, technology circuits

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• , Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Workers
• ' Compensation, and Department of Public Safety.
• It modernizes existing statutes to streamline the operations of the Office of Economic Development and
• following the creation of the Broadband Development Office at the Comptroller's Office in 2020. ...of
• following the creation of the Broadband Development Office at the Comptroller's Office in 2020. of the

Bills: HB 1240 , HB2768 , HB2788 , HB3146 , HB4850 , HB5032 , HCR90

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met without a quorum, so no votes or formal actions were taken. The chair laid out several bills and resolutions for explanation and public testimony, with each item left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early items included House Bill 1240, a cleanup measure to create a single uniform definition of the Texas-Mexico border region across state law, and House Bill 2768, which would establish an IT apprenticeship credential through junior colleges and technical institutions to help fill state government technology jobs. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 90, which would encourage establishing a Texas trade and investment office in Jerusalem. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided: one witness opposed it on foreign policy and values grounds, while a Texas Association of Business representative strongly supported it, citing Israel’s innovation and trade potential. Another major item was House Bill 4187, a committee substitute for legislation affecting the Texas Historical Commission; the sponsor described changes expanding use of trust fund money for historic sites, allowing more affiliated nonprofits, clarifying retail operations, and creating a framework for training and consistent interpretation at historic sites. A Texas Historical Commission witness explained that the bill would shift responsibility for maintaining many state-owned historical markers and monuments, including markers on private land, to the commission. Additional measures included House Bill 2788, which would shield Texas Workforce Commission fraud-prevention methods from public information requests; House Bill 5032, directing state agencies to plan for public display of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texas Constitution, and the Victory or Death letter at the Capitol Complex; House Bill 3146, which would eliminate outdated memoranda-of-understanding requirements for certain State Office of Administrative Hearings arrangements; and House Bill 4815, a cleanup bill modernizing economic development statutes, revising the Made in Texas standard to 51% Texas-origin content, repealing the Governor’s Broadband Development Council, and making other conforming changes. The committee ended by recessing, with members indicating they would likely vote on pending business later when a quorum was available.

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• My name is Evan R., Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
• of Employment Economic the Department of Employment Economic Development<00:04:01.400><c> um</c><00:
• of the department and at the request of the department and then<00:16:24.680><c> I</c><00:16:24.800>
• I'm not convinced Paid Family Medical is ready to leave the Department of Economic Development as they've
• of uh Economic to leave the department of uh Economic Development<00:33:55.279><c> as</c><00:33:55.440

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Evan Row, Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
• of Employment Economic at the Department of Employment Economic Development<00:03:50.120><c> thank</
• questions to the Department of Economic Development was alarming, and that fiscal notes requested over
• the Department of Economic Development that were not answered was alarming to him.
• of Economic Development that Department of Economic Development that were<00:20:43.520><c> not</c><00

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

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• and talking about Washington State Department of Transportation.
• Department of Licensing at $459 million and they are another agency that also has funding out of the
• to go look and develop some options of how do we address bridge strikes.
• So the largest part by far of this is for the Department of Transportation.
• We also need to talk about workforce development.

Bills: HB2306

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

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• of the nursing workforce pipeline.
• Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S.
• So we have the department. department, a whole department of environmental and toxicology over there,
• DOD and Department of Energy directed resources.
• our workforce as being. the chairwoman of our House Trade, Workforce, and Economics. development and

Bills: HB 1105 , HB1527 , HB1787 , HB1972 , HB2081 , HB3296 , HB3976 , HB4071 , HB4234 , HB4438 , HB4701 , HB5092 , HB5150 , HB5180 , HB5265 , HB5333 , HJR203

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, laboratory fees, emergency medical services, peace officers, criminal justice, law enforcement, degree programs, public institutions, HB 1787, HPV, human papillomavirus, college health, university health, student health, public health education, prevention program, screening, early detection

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• United States Department of Education.
• By the United States Department of Education.
• Department of Education for institutional accreditation.
• Department of Education is trying to do in terms of broadening competition, focusing on... The U.S.
• Department of Education, institutions in Louisiana can change.

Bills: HR175 , HCR81 , SB105 , SB290 , SB304 , SB374 , SB522

Committee: House Education

Keywords: TOPS, education funding, workforce development, postsecondary education, Louisiana Works, tech training, declining enrollment, public schools, school districts, Louisiana Department of Education, state superintendent, school closures, budget cuts, teacher layoffs, school consolidation, education policy, enrollment decline, birth rates, migration, private schools

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• The department stands on of Education.
• 18.159><c> workforce</c> workforce readiness and workforce workforce readiness and workforce development
• Shan Bacon speaking on behalf of the Department of Education.
• We stand of the Department of Education.
• of the department between several areas of the department between Office<00:46:25.680><c> of</c><00:

Bills: HB1559 , HB2012 , HB2297 , HB2122 , HB2345 , HB2398 , HB2534 , HB2621

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: telecommunication devices, student use, public schools, student engagement, educational outcomes, confiscation policy, mental health, statewide policy, community literacy, education, Title I funding, reading proficiency, underserved communities, family engagement, tutoring, literacy support, adult education, community education, literacy programs, workforce development

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• Economic development, workforce, and tourism will come to order. You guys, I'm so proud of you.
• The bill ensures that Oklahoma's use of economic development incentives promotes.
• I believe the Department of Consumer Credit did say that should help cover further questions.
• , so this will only be in place for future developments beginning on January 1st of 2027.
• I think one of the most important things of this bill is that we are adding the CEO of the workforce

Bills: SB1327 , SB1372 , SB1403 , SB1937 , SB277 , SB2131 , SB1749 , SB1348 , SB1469 , SB2018 , SB1931 , SB1530 , SB2155

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: tourism, recreation, economic development, Oklahoma Commission, executive director, probation, credits, educational advancement, Oklahoma Statutes, criminal justice reform, job incentives, tax rebates, Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, employment growth, wage requirements, labor organization, incentives, employer practices, union neutrality, worker rights

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• It says that the Department of Workforce will handle this...
• It says that the Department of Workforce will handle this… The Department of Workforce will handle this
• It says that the Department of Workforce will handle this… The Department of Workforce will handle this
• It says that the Department of Workforce will handle this… The Department of Workforce will handle this
• It says that the Department of Workforce will handle this… The Department of Workforce will handle this

Bills: SB137 , SB164 , SB165 , SB49

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

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• It discontinues clean alternative fuel vehicle reporting requirements for the Department of Revenue and
• guidance from the Department of Revenue on the implementation of the tax.
• So as it relates to the luxury vehicle tax, this is based on comments received from the Department of
• Revenue about how best to execute the tax. ...received from the Department of Revenue about how best
• The chair is just to indicate that this is in consultation with the Department of Revenue.

Bills: HB2306 , HB2711

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

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• Moving on to the Department of Licensing, there's a number of changes to the project.
• Moving on to the Department of Licensing, there's a number of changes to the Department of Licensing
• funding, the department is required to disperse funding to cover the costs of the tow, storage, and
• Regarding the other provisions, the Department of Revenue reporting requirement is discontinued, and
• guidance from the Department of Revenue on the implementation of the tax.

Bills: HB2306 , HB2711

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

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• district on motion of representative Lopez of Bayer.
• You are at the front line of voting rights, of civil rights, of equal pay for equal work of so many things
• The athletic departments are independent. ticket sales, suites, concessions, that sort of thing. not
• I'm not advised, and there also might be other sections of code that handle student-athletic department
• Texas in directing the Texas Department of Agriculture to promote the tomahawk ribeye steak as part

Bills: HJR5 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HB2143 , HCR64 , HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

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• Cade Brumley with the Department of Education.
• This legislation proposes that the Department of Health develop and implement a statewide trauma-informed
• So this bill asks the Department of Health to develop an evidence-based curriculum that would provide
• I'm Ashley Townsend with Department of Education.
• Ken Bradford, Chief of Staff, Department of Education.

Bills: HR249 , HR251 , HB395 , HB902 , SB83 , SB132 , SB157 , SB338 , SB450 , SB484 , SB501 , SB507

Committee: House Education

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, content standards, K-12 education, public schools, curriculum, digital literacy, computer science, STEM, technology education, student privacy, ethical AI, workforce development, future-ready workforce, instructional resources, education policy, school standards, Louisiana education

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• This replaces the Department of Labor Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as
• </c> Department of Accounting and General Department of Accounting and General Services.<00:12:53.279
• I'm Brena Hashimoto, Director of the Department of Human Resources Development.
• impact the department or the workforce<01:07:19.520><c> development</c><01:07:19.920><c> council</c><
• > department</c><01:10:20.560><c> of</c><01:10:20.719><c> accounting</c> director of the department of

Bills: SB2198 , SB2140 , SB3055 , SB3090 , SB3091 , SB3092 , SB2761

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue