Transcript Highlights:

• </c> land of liberty this land where our land of liberty this land where our fathers<00:08:34.039><c>
• Well, here's our chance.
• Well, here's our chance.
• We want to fix it. This bill is not the correct fix.
• Each year on March 6th, we who have lost a loved one to overdose make our presence, our grief, and our

Transcript Highlights:

• The very fact that our country had to pass the 14th and 19th Amendments and later the Voting Rights Act
• We owe it to our children to do everything in our power to keep them safe.
• We owe it to our children to do everything in our power to keep them safe.
• These are our children, our neighbors, and our future. Why do we focus on schools?
• As our economy is growing rapidly, outpacing national trends, we face a critical need to fix the structure

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

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and considered a wide range of education-related bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved CS/SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funding, CS/SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School updates, and CS/SB 430 requiring public schools to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, train students and staff in CPR/AED use, and maintain accessible AEDs. Testimony on the cardiac bill came from the American Heart Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology in support, and the chair noted a survey suggesting many districts already have AEDs in schools. The committee also approved CS/SB 1528 on educational opportunities for military children, which expands coordination and training under the interstate compact, and CS/SB 364, which would move the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University for research and administrative support. The committee then adopted amendments and favorably reported CS/SB 1590 on educator preparation, which modernizes teacher standards and certification pathways, including updates to FEAPs, a revised teacher exam, and an alternative certification program. The SPLC testified in opposition to part of the bill, arguing that language on historical instruction and systemic racism was contradictory and could limit accurate teaching of history. The committee also approved CS/SB 1702 on education, incorporating a wireless-device-in-schools pilot and other education provisions, with support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and others. CS/SB 444 on human trafficking awareness was amended to require no-cost training for school employees and charter schools; FSU law students testified in support, emphasizing the need for school personnel to recognize trafficking indicators. The committee also approved CS/SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions, expanding transportation eligibility for students walking near limited-access facilities, though members noted the bill carried an indeterminate fiscal impact and no dedicated funding. Later, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1102 on school readiness, which expands how disabilities can be identified for early learning services and ties additional funding to training on early identification of delays. It also approved SB 1382 on access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households, revising eligibility and priority tiers to use state median income rather than federal poverty level and refining the waitlist and forecasting process. Several members recorded votes on bills they had missed during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after reporting all of the above measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• you place in our hands.
• Make our work meaningful, our relationships peaceful, and our actions pleasing to You. Amen.
• It includes making sure the people who cook our food, care for our loved ones, stock our shelves, and
• Our residents spend the money; our neighboring states collect the revenue.
• seen on our streets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beaches funding is our most important issue.
• For rental property, we have our homestead.
• state, not just on our farmers, but also on our businesses.
• It tries to give a lot of those hard-earned dollars back to our families, our residents, to give a lot
• of those hard-earned dollars back to our families, our residents, our farmers, our businesses.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met and first heard SB 674, which would allow county property appraisers, like tax collectors already can, to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses if approved in their Department of Revenue budget. Support came from property appraiser representatives, who said the bill would help them compete for specialized staff without requiring new funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SJR 318, a proposed constitutional amendment on tangible personal property used on agricultural land, along with an amendment clarifying the exemption’s scope and allowing the Legislature to set conditions by general law. Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the joint resolution favorably. Members also took up CS for SB 1664, which would require voter reapproval of local discretionary taxes when they expire; an amendment changed the bill to require expiration dates and tied reapproval to tax expiration rather than a fixed eight-year cycle. Local government and tourism groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, transportation surtaxes, beaches funding, and long-term financing, while supporters argued voters should periodically affirm local taxes. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill SB 1512, both dealing with a homestead-style property tax benefit for certain long-term leased residential properties. After multiple amendments narrowed the proposal substantially, limiting it to one qualifying property and then to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominium units, counties and cities still opposed the measures as a tax shift to other taxpayers. The sponsor said the changes reduced the scope and fiscal impact, and both measures were reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions, multiple tax holidays, motor vehicle fee reductions, a property tax study, rural investment tax credits, a freeze on local communications services tax rates, and other tax changes, with an estimated $2.1 billion revenue reduction. Testimony was mixed: property appraisers supported the property tax study, while many public commenters opposed the firearm and ammunition tax holiday and urged inclusion of gun safes and locks instead. County, city, tourism, and lodging representatives raised concerns about tourist development tax limits and other local revenue impacts, while supporters emphasized tax relief and the study’s value. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to submit SPB 7034 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray for our Speaker, DeVillier.
• Father, in all matters, both small and large, we ask that your will be done and not ours. Amen.
• Freeman: Is it true that our Attorney General used to be a prosecutor?
• Forest.
• We cannot fix what we cannot measure. You have an amendment, Madam Clerk?

Bills: HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HCR112 , HR307 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR79 , HCR104 , HB75 , HB410 , HB719 , HB750 , HB944 , HB1098 , HB1220 , HB1252 , HB359 , HB210 , HB468 , HB1117 , SB382 , HB368 , HB552 , HB732 , HB870 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB208 , SB274 , SB300 , SB312 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB258 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469

Transcript Highlights:

• We bring to our projects, our construction building projects, and our communities.
• I appreciate our Budget Committee, especially our Chair and our Budget Staff, for hearing those requests
• Did we do our part? Did we do our share to address climate change?"
• Our default rates.
• We're going to need to act much more boldly to deal with our tax structure and the tax system as Washington

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just vital for our state and especially for our rural hospitals.
• I know our property tax, our home, is reevaluated and goes up 3%.
• And our program is new.
• Our average wage is $40 an hour. Our customers represent a wide range of income levels.
• We survey our customers, and household income levels below $100,000 a year represent about 20% of our

Bills: SB101 , SB58 , SB55

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 101, which would repeal the July 1, 2030 sunset on the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and make the hospital provider-tax program permanent. The sponsor, the Health Care Authority secretary, and the New Mexico Hospital Association said the program has generated substantial federal Medicaid matching funds and has supported hospital workforce, quality, and infrastructure investments, especially in rural areas. Members asked why the sunset existed originally and whether federal changes under H.R. 1 would phase the program down; the secretary explained the sunset was meant as a review point, but that federal law now prevents creating a new similar program if this one expires. The committee heard support from hospital and business representatives, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 58, as amended, which extends the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from a fixed seven years to up to 14 years. The sponsor and Albuquerque redevelopment officials said the change would give local governments more flexibility to structure projects based on financial need, while still preserving current tax payments and encouraging redevelopment of blighted or underused areas. Several supporters, including realtors and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, argued the longer window would improve certainty for developers and help spur housing and other reinvestment. Some members raised concerns about lost revenue for schools and whether the tool could be overused, but were told the program applies only in designated redevelopment areas and is intended to leverage future higher assessments. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 7-0. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 55, which increases New Mexico’s state solar tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal credit was reduced, and raises the individual cap from $6,000 to $15,000 while keeping the overall annual program cap at $30 million. The sponsor and numerous solar industry, business, and clean-energy advocates said the change is needed to prevent layoffs, stabilize the rooftop solar market, support local jobs, and preserve grid and affordability benefits for customers. Members asked about permitting, certification, consumer protection, and whether battery storage was included; the sponsor said the bill covers rooftop solar only, the credit is refundable, and EMNRD certifies systems before credits are issued. The committee heard broad support, no opposition, and voted due pass 7-0 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is our job as legislators to protect our citizens.
• don't just threaten our forests, plains, and valleys.
• don't just threaten our forests, plains, and valleys.
• </c><02:59:42.880><c> forests,</c><02:59:43.439><c> plains,</c><02:59:43.840><c> and</c> threaten our
• forests, plains, and threaten our forests, plains, and valleys. valleys. valleys.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is House Bill 843, which is an act is House Bill 843, which is an act relating<00:05:53.600><c>
• Our topic is state permit reform.
• Our topic is state noon in room 10. Our topic is state permit<00:15:32.240><c> reform.
• The member from Pney moves that we suspend our rules in order to message our action on House Bill 790
• You have suspended our rules and messaged our action on House Bill 790 to the Senate forthwith.

Transcript Highlights:

• Protecting our water areas provide.
• </c><00:17:13.280><c> are</c><00:17:13.520><c> becoming</c> our lakes and rivers are becoming our lakes
• Um, to help our communities, our lake associations, our water suppliers, take proactive measures to reduce
• Um, to help our communities, our lake associations, our water suppliers, take proactive measures to reduce
• Um, to help our communities, our lake associations, our water suppliers, take proactive measures to reduce

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• and strengthen our agricultural community.
• We have our Forest Hill nursery industry, which is in my district, which I have the privilege of the
• And a lot of you know our story, the way God built our family through the gift of adoption.
• Now, this is a ticket. on our shared past and look forward to the next chapter of our nation's history
• workforce, and enriching our communities.

Bills: HR39 , HR40 , HR41 , HCR19 , HCR20 , HCR21 , HB2 , HB3 , HB15 , HB441 , HB976 , HB977 , HB978 , HB979 , HB980 , HB981 , HB982 , HR19 , HR20 , HR21 , HR22 , HR23 , HR24 , HR25 , HR26 , HR27 , HR28 , HR29 , HR30 , HR31 , HR32 , HR33 , HR34 , HR35 , HR36 , HR37 , HR38 , HCR15 , HCR16 , HCR17 , HCR18 , SCR10 , HB115 , HB208 , HB465 , HB964 , HB965 , HB966 , HB967 , HB968 , HB969 , HB970 , HB971 , HB972 , HB973 , HB974 , HB975 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB78 , HB112 , HB148 , HB149 , HB190 , HB221 , HB346 , HB354 , HB355 , HB356 , HB358 , HB384 , HB427 , HB657 , HB675 , HB716 , HB207 , HB300 , HB331 , HB428 , HB464 , HB587 , HB618 , HB629 , HB801 , HB853 , HB891 , HB901

Transcript Highlights:

• Will our friends in the gallery please arise.
• And our passage today is from Solomon, Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
• I pray that you'll give all of our leaders strength to overcome things that may try to get in the way
• House Bill No. 502, by the Resources and Conservation Committee, is an act relating to the Idaho Forest
• These are parents who are serving up to support our kids.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's vote yes for our kids, for our teachers, and for our future. Thank you all.
• Our communities have real immediate needs: accessible parks, restored beaches, healthier forests, clean
• that are at stake, and the Mass Ready Act prioritizes the safety of our communities by replenishing
• It starts with our financial commitment to our food systems.
• From our historic cities, like my hometown of Lowell, to our coastal communities, from our working families

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed student ambassadors from Robinson Middle School in Lowell, and adopted several resolutions honoring the Gaudet family and Patricia Rappucci. Members also agreed to extend the reporting deadline for the Health Care Financing Committee on House No. 5505 and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a condominium-related petition to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The chamber then dealt with Senate No. 2619, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act. The House did not concur with the Senate’s position and instead appointed a committee of conference. It also took up Senate No. 3064, the major climate and infrastructure bond bill known as the Mass Ready Act, which Ways and Means reported with a House amendment. After debate emphasizing resilience, clean water, PFAS remediation, coastal protection, agriculture, and municipal preparedness, the House adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to a third reading. Later, the House considered and overwhelmingly approved a conference report on H. 5511, the early literacy and teacher preparation bill. Supporters said it would require evidence-based reading instruction, restrict three-cueing methods, expand educator training, and support paid teaching apprenticeships. The report was accepted 152-0. The House then returned to S. 3064, adopted a consolidated amendment, and passed the bill to be engrossed by a vote of 151-0, before adjourning to meet the next day in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's vote yes for our kids, for our teachers, and for our future. Thank you all.
• that are at stake, and the Mass Ready Act prioritizes the safety of our communities by replenishing
• Twenty years for our environmental and water infrastructure, 30 years for our buildings and our housing
• It starts with our financial commitment to our food systems.
• From our historic cities, like my hometown of Lowell, to our coastal communities, from our working families

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's vote yes for our kids, for our teachers, and for our future. Thank you all.
• that are at stake, and the Mass Ready Act prioritizes the safety of our communities by replenishing
• It starts with our financial commitment to our food systems.
• From our historic cities, like my hometown of Lowell, to our coastal communities, from our working families
• of our drinking water, and the future of our natural resources.

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed several student and community guests, including ambassadors from Robinson Middle School in Lowell, visitors honoring the Gaudet family and Patricia Rappucci, Scottish visitors celebrating Scotland’s World Cup appearance, Top-Notch Scholars students from Lawrence, and the King Philip Regional High School baseball team after its first state championship. The chamber also adopted several routine resolutions and orders, including extending the reporting deadline for the Health Care Financing Committee and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a condominium-related petition. The House then rejected concurrence with the Senate on the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and instead voted to appoint a committee of conference. The major policy action was on Senate Bill 3064, the Mass Ready Act, a large climate resilience and environmental bond bill. Members speaking in support emphasized flood protection, clean water, PFAS remediation, municipal vulnerability preparedness, coastal resilience, parks, trails, housing, and agricultural and food-system investments. The bill was described as authorizing roughly $3.8 billion in general obligation bonds, with discussion of specific funding for the Clean Water Trust, PFAS remediation, coastal infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy homes, and farmland preservation. A consolidated amendment was adopted, and after debate the House passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote. The House also took up the conference report on H. 5511, the early literacy and teacher preparation bill. Supporters said the measure would require evidence-based reading instruction, move away from three-cueing approaches, support educator training and apprenticeships, and improve student literacy outcomes statewide. The conference report was accepted on a roll call vote of 152-0. Later, the House considered amendments to the Mass Ready Act, including one proposal to increase PFAS remediation funding that was ultimately withdrawn, and adopted another consolidated amendment before passing the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned to an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have White Bear Lake, Centennial, Mameidi, Mounds View, and Forest Lake in our school districts, and
• c><00:05:31.199><c> districts,</c><00:05:31.680><c> and</c> Forest Lake is in our school districts, and
• Our government is disappearing our students, our family members, our friends, our neighbors, our community
• ><c> our</c> Our government is disappearing our Our government is disappearing our students,<00:32:45.440
• Our teachers, our parents, our fear.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to our meeting of February 9th.
• forests.
• That will free up our tax dollars to be able to do more to preserve our roads and our bridges, and make
• expect, to free up our tax dollars so we can do more to preserve our roads and our bridges and make good
• That concludes our report, but it's also always a good time to thank our wonderful staff for getting

Bills: HB2092 , HB2114 , HB2172 , HB2251 , HB2374 , HB2410 , HB2552 , HB2588 , HB2718 , HB2722 , HB2727

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: passenger rail, transportation, committee, advisory, infrastructure, defective license plates, vehicle registration, Department of Licensing, state regulations, route jurisdiction, abandonment, local governance, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a variance on what our insurance covers as far as our co-insurance. Okay.
• the Class and Comp Act.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• So we stay on top of our subgrantees.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm deeply rooted in our community, and I'm passionate about opportunities for our residents.
• So many of our water sources originate in national forest lands.
• These vast forests are basically the lungs of our state, soaking up carbon and helping keep our air clean
• You don't need a reservation or much planning to enjoy most of our national forests.
• This forest and other national forests in my district sustain tribal communities and thousands of rural

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard two items: AB 1016 by Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez and AJR 10 by Assemblymember Rogers. AB 1016 would expand the local permitting pilot for geothermal power plants in Imperial County, increasing the eligible generating capacity and extending the program through 2030. Gonzalez said he accepted committee amendments and emphasized the bill’s potential to create jobs, generate school and local tax revenue, and support California’s clean energy and baseload power goals. Imperial County officials and supporters from the State Building Trades and Independent Energy Producers Association testified in strong support, citing the county’s long geothermal permitting history, high unemployment, and major economic benefits from proposed projects. No opposition was presented. Committee members asked a few questions, including about the bill’s capacity range and ongoing coordination with labor. Gonzalez said he was continuing to work with the building trades on amendments, and the trades indicated they were now in support. The committee then took a roll call and passed AB 1016 on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members and later additional aye votes recorded. AJR 10 called on the federal government to oppose Forest Service staffing cuts and highlight the importance of national forests for water, wildlife, wildfire prevention, recreation, and rural economies. Rogers argued that reduced staffing would worsen wildfire risk and harm rural communities, and the committee heard no opposition. The resolution was adopted on a roll call vote, with the roll also held open and later additional aye votes added. The hearing concluded after both measures received enough votes to move forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• > concerning the continuation of the concerning the continuation of the Colorado<00:36:12.359><c> Forest
• Health</c><00:36:12.800><c> Council,</c><00:36:13.200><c> and</c><00:36:13.280><c> in</c> Colorado Forest
• Health Council, and in Colorado Forest Health Council, and in connection<00:36:13.760><c> therewith<
• We went to try to do things to support our farmers markets.
• : Senate Bill 1, Workforce following acts: Senate Bill 1, Workforce Housing<00:59:45.080><c> and</c><