Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Griffith, absent. With quorum being present, we will begin.
• Representative Schupe, absent, Representative Romer, present, and Representative Griffith, absent.
• Representative Griffith: Absent.
• Representative Griffith? Absent.
• Motion is by Representative Griffith. Seconded by Representative Phillips. Thank you.

Bills: HB372, HB414

Keywords: HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met and heard three bills. HB 372 would reorganize Justice of the Peace Court resources by shifting the number of judges and court locations among counties, consolidating overnight operations into a single 24-hour court in Kent County, and adjusting staffing to address workload and efficiency concerns. Chief Judge Alan Davis said the change responds to increased civil filings, automated enforcement, and staffing shortages, and that a Sussex County pilot closing a 24-hour facility had worked without major issues. Some members raised concerns about impacts on Sussex and Kent County, bail processing, and local response times, while public comment included one supporter. The committee voted to release HB 372. The committee then considered SB 324, which amends Delaware’s permit-to-purchase law to allow constable agencies, including those serving institutions like Delaware Tech, to purchase handguns for newly hired constables without duplicative background checks. Sponsor Representative Cook said the bill aligns constable procurement with existing law-enforcement exemptions while preserving gun-safety requirements. Public testimony included support from Delaware Tech and comments urging broader fixes to the permit-to-purchase law, including exemptions for retired officers with federal 218 credentials and clarification on firearms returned from manufacturers, gunsmiths, or police departments. The committee voted to release SB 324. Finally, the committee heard HB 414, which clarifies that the Superior Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over certain destructive-weapon offenses applies only to adults, while juvenile cases would still begin in Family Court. Sponsor Representative Romer said the bill preserves the Family Court’s role in handling youth cases and allows referral to Superior Court when appropriate. The Department of Justice said it still believes Superior Court is the proper venue for these serious charges, while the Office of Defense Services supported keeping youth cases in Family Court first, arguing that rehabilitation and juvenile-specific dispositions are more appropriate. After public comment, the committee voted to release HB 414, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the list is Kevin Preston. All right, we'll circle back to Liam.
• Next on the list is Kevin Preston.
• Preston personally, and I know NAGE is in good hands. So has this been a refile? Three times. Okay.
• Preston personally, and I know an age is in good hands. So has this been a refile?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on a large group of bills carried over from the previous session, with Chair Jake Oliveira and House Co-Chair Paul McMurtry outlining the process and limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several labor and workplace proposals, including bills to harmonize employee definitions to address misclassification (SB 1338/HB 2141), expand bereavement leave (including H. 2189/S. 1354 and related bills), protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative employees (HB 268/SB 1306), expand commuter transit benefits (HB 2153/SB 1345), regulate employer use of credit reports (S. 1286), and require apprenticeship participation or OSHA-related workplace safety measures on public projects. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read into the record additional bills that did not receive testimony that day. Supporters of the misclassification bill, including Greater Boston Legal Services and the AFL-CIO, said aligning the employee-status tests across wage, unemployment, and PFML laws would reduce confusion, improve enforcement, and help workers wrongly treated as independent contractors or managers recover benefits and bargaining rights. NAGE and its representative argued that public-sector employees have been improperly reclassified into management titles to weaken unions, and that the bill would force the Division of Labor Relations to review those titles. On bereavement leave, advocates including the Louis E. Brown Peace Institute, a state representative, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and individual survivors described the impact of sudden loss and homicide on families, saying guaranteed leave would help workers grieve, make arrangements, and avoid losing jobs or custody-related stability. The committee also heard support for commuter benefits as a low-cost way to reduce emissions and increase transit use, and for restricting employer credit checks because of inaccuracies and discriminatory effects. There was opposition to some construction-related bills. The Associated Builders and Contractors and the Building Trades Employers Association supported apprenticeship training in principle but said current apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are outdated or misunderstood, and that the bills should be amended or clarified before advancing. The Massachusetts landscape and snow-removal industry strongly supported a snow-liability limitation bill, arguing that hold-harmless clauses and broad indemnification requirements force contractors to assume liability for conditions they cannot control, drive up insurance costs, and threaten business viability. The committee did not take any votes during the hearing, and the session ended with the chairs thanking members, staff, and the public before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. rural county people have the right to this? Representative Griffiths.
• Representative Griffiths. Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths, you're recognized for a motion. Representative Griffiths: Mr.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Representative Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed. On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Griffiths? Here. Here. Griffiths? Here. Gentry? Here. Greco? Here. Griffiths? Here. Nix? Placencia?
• Griffiths? Yes. Okay. Welcome? Yes. Next. Yes. Griffiths? Yes. Nix? Yes. Placencia? Yes. Rosenwald?
• Griffiths? Yes. Holcomb? Yes. Licencia? Yes. Rosenwald? No. Sapp? Yes. Yes. Rosenwald? No. Sapp?

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard three bills. HB 1479, by Rep. Baker, created a public records exemption for lethality assessment forms and the victims’ answers under the domestic violence lethality assessment law. The sponsor said the goal was to protect victims and keep the form consistent statewide; a question was raised about whether other agencies such as DCF could access the information. The only public testimony was in support, and the bill passed 17-0 and was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 317, by Rep. Fabricio, which would require complaints against law enforcement and correctional officers to be written and sworn, require officers to receive the complaint and supporting evidence before interrogation or discipline, and keep unfounded investigations out of personnel files and from being used for promotions or commendations. Supporters, including the Fraternal Order of Police and a state corrections PBA representative, argued the bill would protect officers from frivolous or retaliatory complaints. Opponents, including the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Florida Sheriffs Association, warned it would undermine transparency, early warning systems, accreditation, and accountability, and could discourage legitimate anonymous complaints. Several members debated the balance between officer due process and victim protection; the bill passed 11-6 and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 961, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles measure presented by Judge Maney. A strike-all amendment replaced the original language with a package aimed at improving customer service and efficiency in driver and vehicle services, including online title and registration requests, longer renewal periods for certain permanently handicapped persons, and a new misdemeanor offense for selling DHSMV appointment slots. The amendment and the bill as amended were supported by Florida tax collectors, adopted, and the committee passed HB 961 unanimously, 17-0, with a favorable report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Aaron Kelley here, Adam Griffiths, Ashley O'Dell, Melinda McGee here. Mr.
• A second from Adam Griffith. Roll call, please. Nick Roe, yes. Sean Barnett. The motion passes.
• Earrin Kelley, Adam Griffith, Ashley Waddell, Melinda McGee, Ben Curry, Brandon Reynolds.
• Eri Kelley Adam Griffith, Ashley, what all, Linda McGee, and curri a ran on re y n old s rissy Brown,
• Riley, Adam, Griffith, yes, Ashley, Woodall, Melinda, McGee, Ma, Ccurri.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Griffith.
• Griffith, Mr.
• Griffith.
• Griffith.
• Griffith.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Krista Griffith. Chair Deborah Heffernan will be here shortly if she's in another committee.
• Berry, Frank Burns, yes, William Bush, William Carson, Richard Collins, Ronald Gray, absent, Krista Griffith
• Representative Krista Griffith. Representative Krista Griffith. Mr. Gray.
• Representative Krista Griffith, Chair Debra Heffernan, Representative Jeff Pallowski, Representative
• Representative Griffith is absent. Representative Heffernan is absent. Representative Havlovsky.

Bills: SB287

Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, I have Alicia Preston. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
• My name is Alicia Preston.
• Next, I have Alicia Preston. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
• My name is Alicia Preston.
• <00:21:02.159> I committee my name is Alicia Preston I committee my name is Alicia Preston

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to provide 10% of HHR winnings to host municipalities as mitigation. Representative Om said the bill was intended to offset local costs associated with large gaming facilities, noting that prior gaming measures included opt-in provisions and that this proposal would leave charities and the state whole while taking the 10% from the operator’s share. Members questioned why 10% was chosen and whether municipalities were currently experiencing added costs; Om said the amount was meant to address projected future impacts, not broader municipal budget issues, and cited a study on casino-related community costs. Opponents from the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association argued the bill unfairly singled out one industry and said gaming facilities do not impose more municipal burden than other entertainment venues. The hearing closed without a vote, and a member clarified the bill would apply to existing and future casinos/facilities. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises the cap on reimbursements from the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and makes related changes to the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly described the funds as an insurance backstop for oil spill cleanup and low-income tank replacement, saying the program helps prevent environmental hazards and satisfies financial responsibility requirements. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill but noted that fee changes are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts explained that the bill would change reporting deadlines, raise the reimbursement cap for low-income homeowners, extend the fee collection period for 10 years, and adjust petroleum import fees based on an actuarial review. They said the funds cover spill response, prevention, and tank replacement, and that the fee structure was designed to keep the funds solvent while balancing costs across fuel categories. Committee members asked about the actuarial basis for the fee changes, why some fees would rise while others would fall, and how the funds are used. DES said the review used 10 years of claims and exposure data and that the fuel oil fee would otherwise need to rise sharply, so the board proposed a smaller increase and rebalanced other fees. Members also asked about the scope of covered oil imports, and DES explained that the fee applies to oil destined for use in New Hampshire, not merely passing through the state. The discussion also covered home heating oil spills, which DES said are often discovered by homeowners or fire departments and are usually caused by tank corrosion, piping, or overfills. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that the policy committee had already approved the bill before the finance-focused review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moved by Senator Griffith. All in favor, the bill is reported. 9458, inchie. And that's allowed.
• Griffith, I'll say by my favor, I'm opposed to bill's reported. 9458, inchie.
• Moved by Senator Griffith, seconded by Senator Helming.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to consider a long list of bills, mostly reported out without debate. The measures covered a wide range of subjects, including insurance, criminal procedure, social services, retirement, tax, education, military, civil service, public authority, and local authorization matters. For each bill, a member moved the item and another seconded it, followed by a voice vote; the transcript repeatedly notes that the bills were reported, with no recorded opposition or substantive discussion on the merits. After the bill list was completed, members briefly exchanged remarks about the chair and ranking member’s working relationship and the length and efficiency of the meetings. Senator Lansing offered thanks and praise for the bipartisan partnership, and the chair responded in kind, noting the long-standing friendship and cooperation across party lines. The meeting then adjourned. No amendments, roll-call votes, or other formal actions beyond reporting the bills were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Griffiths: Here. LaMarca: Here. Maggard: Here. Oliver: Here. Spencer: Here. We have a quorum, Mr.
• Griffiths: Yes. LaMarca: Yes. Maggard: Yes. Oliver: Yes. Spencer: Yes. All right.
• Griffiths: Yes. LaMarca: Yes. Maggard: Yes. Oliver: Yes. Spencer: Yes. All right. Thank you.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard two member bills. House Bill 313, by Representative Fabricio, would exempt Florida tolls for veterans who received a Purple Heart in combat and have a Purple Heart license plate. The sponsor said there are about 9,000 such plateholders in Florida and noted support from the veteran community; there was no public testimony or debate, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 793, by Representative Kendall Kuhl, which creates the Aerospace Innovation Fund to be administered by Space Florida. The sponsor described it as a $0 bill establishing a framework for collaborative aerospace R&D, workforce, commercialization, and international partnerships, with funding potentially coming from state, federal, or private sources. Space Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce appeared in support, and the bill also passed unanimously. After both roll calls, the committee concluded its agenda and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our eighth bill is Senate Bill 9197 by Senator Griffith: an act to incorporate the New Hartford Volunteer
• Our fourteenth bill is Senate Bill 9973 by Senator Griffith: an act in relation to the effectiveness
• Our 14th bill is Senate Bill 9973 by Senator Griffith.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The local government committee met for its fifth meeting of the year and considered 15 bills, with the chair noting there may be one more meeting to finish the agenda. Members present included Senators Baskin, Fahy, and Rolison, and the committee moved through the bills with brief motions and seconding throughout. The committee reported several measures, including bills on making housing a state policy, directing a study on real property tax saturation, requiring notice to adjacent municipalities for certain zoning changes, authorizing the Town of Huntington to alienate park land for the Huntington African American Museum, requiring CPR training for 911 dispatchers and call takers, allowing the Johnson City School District to create an insurance reserve fund, incorporating the New Hartford Volunteer, Exempt Firefighters, Benevolent Association, creating a Suffolk County real property tax exemption for certain volunteer auxiliary police officers, and extending various local finance and public authorities provisions. One bill, S4504 by Senator Griffo, which would prohibit unfunded state mandates on municipalities and school districts and create a Mandate Review Council, was reported to the Education Committee, with the chair noting opposition. Several bills extending the effectiveness of local finance-related laws were reported to the Finance Committee, including measures on statutory installment bonds, installment loans, refunding bonds, and Environmental Facilities Corporation powers. The committee also reported a bill on county tribal detention agreements and another on base adjusted proportions in the Real Property Tax Law. During discussion of the 911 CPR training bill, members noted an amendment was being worked on to require the training every four years. Most bills were reported unanimously or with no recorded opposition, and the meeting concluded after the final bill was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• The seventh bill is Senate Bill 9068A, by Senator Griffith.
• The seventh bill is Senate bill number S-9068A by Senator Griffith.
• The committee to write up. 9-068A by Senator Griffith. The committee director will lead to title.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on May 5, 2026, with a quorum present and eight bills on the agenda. The committee considered measures on a temporary task force on the Variable Supplements Fund (S1181), cost-of-living adjustments for certain retirees (S3414A), an optional 25-year retirement plan for Suffolk County fire marshals (S5754B), a heart disease presumption for certain NYC Police Department traffic enforcement agents (S8147B), a Civil Service Commission study of state agency job vacancies (S8209), employment of persons with autism spectrum disorder (S8640), an optional 25-year retirement plan for certain New York Power Authority employees (S9068A), and the effective date of a reclassification for accidental disability retirement benefits (S9909).

Transcript Highlights:

• Who by Senator Griffiths, Senator Gallo, all in favor, opposed, bills report, 7038, inch sheet, Netville
• Moved by Senator Griffithful, second, Senator Gallo, all in favor, opposed. The bill is reported.
• Moved by Senator Griffithful, second, Senator Gallo, all in favor, opposed. The bill is reported.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The transcript appears to be a committee vote session on many bills across a range of subject areas, including media rules, highway law, education, health, social services, business, insurance, real property, arts and culture, banking, navigation, and vehicle traffic. For each item, a senator moved the bill, another seconded it, and the chair repeatedly announced that the motion carried, with bills being reported out of committee. The transcript is heavily garbled, so many bill titles and bill numbers are unclear, but the overall pattern is consistent: sequential consideration and reporting of numerous measures. Most items were approved without recorded opposition, though the transcript occasionally notes “all in favor” or “all in favor, opposed,” suggesting routine voice votes or unanimous consent. A few specific references are legible, such as the highway law, education law, health law, insurance law, social services law, business law, and arts and cultural affairs law, indicating the committee was processing amendments or related bills in those areas. The session also includes repeated references to particular sponsors or bill numbers, but the text is too distorted to reliably identify them all. No substantive debate, testimony, or amendments are clearly described in the transcript. The main action was procedural: motions, seconds, and repeated announcements that bills were reported out. The meeting ends with additional garbled references to later bills, again suggesting continued routine reporting of measures rather than extended discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moved by Senator Griffiths, seconded by Senator Tedisco. The bill is reported, 40,230.
• By San Francisco, Senator Griffith, all favor, opposed, the bills reported in 19,221 Ryan.
• By Senator Helmick, second, Senator Griffith.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The meeting was a lengthy floor session in which Senator Loo’s Senate Bill 82B and a large number of other bills were taken up and reported. The transcript repeatedly notes bills being moved and seconded by various senators, with most items described as enacted or reported under different laws, including Education, Labor, Capital, Executive, Vehicle and Traffic, Tax, General Business, Social Services, Public Service, Public Health, Retirement and Social Security, Local Finance, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Civil Service, Penal, Judiciary, Senate, and Supreme Court-related laws. The discussion appears to have been a rapid series of bill readings and motions rather than substantive debate on the merits of each measure. For many of the bills, the record states that there was no opposition or that the bills were reported after a voice vote. A few items note opposition before being reported, but no detailed arguments or testimony are included in the transcript. The session also references amendments and chapter-law updates, suggesting the chamber was processing a broad package of legislative actions. The main action taken was the reporting of the bills, with the transcript indicating that the measures were advanced out of the chamber or committee. No roll-call vote details, amendments adopted, or defeats are clearly described beyond the repeated “all in favor, opposed?” style of proceedings and the final statement that the bills were reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hannah Preston. Are you present on Zoom?
• Hannah Preston, are you present on Zoom?
• Council in support um Dr Hannah Preston Council in support um Dr Hannah Preston P<00:39:14.800><
• Hannah Preston: Yes, I am. Good afternoon. My name is Dr.
• Hannah Preston, and I'm here in strong support of SB 851.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Griffiths. Democratic Ranking Member Daley, here.
• Chair Jock's, Vice Chair Griffiths, Rob Daly, thank you all for having me.
• Vice Chair Griffiths. I use it for sellers. Vice Chair Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I mean, and sometimes it gets to that, and Vice Chair Griffith said it.
• Representative Griffiths mentioned it is a third of what our cost is, and I tried to be nice, and it

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the 2026 session and took up impact fees, with an opening overview from Eric Poole of the Florida Association of Counties. Poole explained that impact fees are one-time charges on new development used only for new infrastructure capacity, not existing deficiencies or maintenance, and must satisfy the dual rational nexus test. He traced their history in Florida and described how comprehensive plans, concurrency, and later mobility fees relate to local infrastructure funding. He argued that impact fees are restricted, tied to capital improvements, and are one tool for paying for growth. Panelists representing counties, cities, builders, and community developers largely agreed that growth creates real infrastructure costs but differed on how those costs should be allocated. County and city representatives said impact fees are a necessary, targeted way to fund roads, water, sewer, fire, schools, and parks without spreading costs across all taxpayers. They pointed to long periods without fee updates, rising construction costs, and examples of large increases justified by studies. Builder and developer representatives argued that fees are often unpredictable, can be doubled or tripled, and contribute to housing affordability problems; they also said the system can be inconsistent across jurisdictions and may encourage sprawl. Several witnesses emphasized that fees must be transparent, proportional, and tied to actual benefits, and some suggested a statewide framework or mobility-fee model with more consistency and peer review. Members asked about how long local governments can hold fee revenue, whether fees can generate profit, what they can be spent on, and whether they can pay for police stations, fire stations, or other public safety facilities. Witnesses said the funds must be used for capital projects and cannot be used for salaries or unrelated purchases, and that refunds may be required if money is not spent within the local ordinance’s timeframe. The discussion also covered examples of local fee increases, the use of impact fees versus direct construction or “pipelining” of infrastructure, and concerns about level-of-service changes and extraordinary-circumstance increases. No votes were taken; the meeting ended after the panel discussion and member questions, with the chair noting the conversation would continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Griffiths? Here. Holcomb. Joseph? Here. Maggard? Here. Mayfield did excuse. Nixon. Here. Here.
• Griffiths? Yes. Holcomb. Joseph? Yes. Maggers? Joseph, yes. Magrne, yes. Mayfield excused.
• Griffiths? Yes. Holcomb. Joseph? Yes. Yes. Magard? Hulcomb? Joseph? Yes. Maggard? Yes.
• Griffiths? Yes. Holcomb. Joseph? Yes. Maggard? Yes. Mayfield, excuse. Mooney? Yes. Nixon? Yes. Yes.
• Griffiths? Yes. Holcomb? Yes. Joseph? No. Maggard? Yes. Mayfield: excused. Mooney? Yes. Nixon? No.

Summary: The committee heard and approved several measures. HB 735 expanded Florida’s boating improvement program to fund parking for boat trailers at public ramps and offered a 10% sovereign submerged land lease discount for manufacturers using environmental best management practices; it passed unanimously. HB 4021 expanded the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County by 640 acres and was reported favorably. CS for HB 371, which promotes nature-based methods and green/gray infrastructure for coastal resilience, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from resilience and environmental groups and committee members. The committee then took up HJR 1325, a proposed constitutional amendment to create an elected Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE) with authority to audit, investigate, and report on waste, fraud, and abuse in state and local government. The proposal would eliminate the lieutenant governor position, the Government Efficiency Task Force, and the legislature’s current auditor appointment, with many implementation details deferred to a future bill. Members debated the scope of the new office, its relationship to the Auditor General and inspectors general, whether it should cover the legislative and judicial branches, staffing, and the comparison to federal DOGE efforts. An amendment making a minor wording change was adopted, and the resolution passed 23-? with a favorable report after a split vote. The committee also approved two Gulf of America bills. HB 575 redesignated the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and CS for HB 549 required Florida’s academic standards and newly adopted instructional materials to reflect the federal designation for materials acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Both measures drew criticism from members who argued the renaming was politically motivated, historically insensitive, and potentially confusing for students, while supporters said Florida should align with federal action. HB 575 passed and CS for HB 549 passed 18-7. Finally, HB 4071, a local bill adjusting the boundary between Coral Springs and Parkland in Broward County by about 8.7 acres, was amended and reported favorably with support from both cities and the Broward delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Griffiths? Here. Gentry? Greco? Here. LaMarca? Here. Magard? Here. We have a quorum. Mr.
• It's actually over in Representative Griffith area, the city of Lynn Havens board chambers actually is
• Griffiths. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And a quick comment.
• I know Representative Chof has come by the EOC, Representative Griffiths, come by the EOC.
• I know Representative Chof has come by the EOC, Representative Griffiths, come by the U.C.

Summary: The Economic Development Budget Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster costs, recovery operations, sheltering, and major capital projects. He reviewed the 2024 hurricane season impacts from Debby, Helene, and Milton, explaining how FEMA public assistance and state reimbursement work, how cost shares can shift from 75/25 to 90/10 after a federal threshold is reached, and how Florida uses prior storm data and inflation to estimate recovery costs. He also described the state’s faster reimbursement timelines, crediting legislative investments in technology and digital field documentation, and said the division is working to reduce disaster closeout timelines from decades to about seven years. Members asked about debris removal, FEMA de-obligations, local preparedness, and whether regional shelters or co-located emergency operations centers could be used more efficiently. Guthrie said debris assistance is complicated and should generally remain tied to local contracts and planning, though the state will help fiscally constrained communities when needed. He explained de-obligations as FEMA clawing back previously approved funds after later review, and said Florida’s FROC program is helping local governments reduce those risks through standardized documentation, procurement review, and training. He also urged more mandatory emergency-management training for local and state officials and cautioned against weakening the FEMA 50% rule for rebuilding damaged structures. Guthrie provided updates on the new central Florida warehouse in Auburndale and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. He said the warehouse will improve logistics, include cold and ultra-cold storage, and be run by a private vendor with virtual inventory tracking, while the new EOC is designed for Category 5 conditions and expanded partner capacity. He acknowledged budget pressures that reduced the size of the EOC project and said an additional IT request was needed because those costs were not originally included. The meeting ended with praise for FDEM’s work and no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Griffith present. Representative Johnson present. Representative Romer present.
• Representative Griffiths, John. Vice Chair Carson? Representative Griffith Johnson.
• Representative Griffith, absent. Representative Johnson, absent. Representative Romer.

Summary: The House Revenue and Finance Committee met to consider two tax-related measures sponsored by Representative Holofsky. The first was House Substitute 1 for House Bill 386, the Tipped Worker Tax Relief Act of 2026, which would allow a temporary Delaware income tax deduction of up to $15,000 for qualified tips for tax years 2027 through 2029, with phaseouts at higher incomes and a refundable credit for lower-income workers. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill applied to residents and non-residents, whether credit-card tips were included, the need for an updated substitute, and the expected fiscal impact. The Office of the Comptroller General said the bill would likely reduce general revenue and that the fiscal note had not yet been fully reviewed, while Deputy Secretary Goldsmith said the Department of Finance could administer it and that implementation costs would be modest. After public comment, the committee voted on a motion to release the bill, but it did not receive enough votes, so the chair said she would walk it for additional signatures. The committee then heard Senate Bill 219, which would phase in an increase in the military pension income exemption from $12,500 to $25,000 by tax year 2029. Representative Holofsky argued the measure would help attract and retain military retirees, support the economy, and provide a strong return on investment through spending, taxes, and community participation. Members raised concerns about whether the benefit should be income-based, with one member arguing that higher-income retirees may not need the tax break, while supporters emphasized the multiplier effect and the value of veterans to the state. Public testimony from Veterans of Foreign Wars representatives strongly supported the bill and described how the exemption could influence retirement decisions and local economic activity. A motion to release the bill also failed to get enough votes, and the chair said she would walk it for signatures before adjourning the meeting.