Transcript Highlights:

• on its website a list of all sister city and sister state affiliations, along with copies of all agreements
• It prohibits a linkage institute from entering into an agreement or participating in activities with
• It prohibits those institutes from entering into any agreement with a foreign country of concern or any
• coming from a foreign country of concern, that company would not be able to enter into a business agreement
• are doing something that users are not made aware of and that they would not agree to when they purchase

Bills: S1622 , S1178

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senator Garcia. The bill would expand state restrictions on foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including creating a state registration framework for foreign agents, banning gifts to public officials from covered foreign entities, requiring ethics training on foreign influence, tightening procurement limits for information technology and critical infrastructure, restricting sister-city/sister-state encouragement, revising linkage institute rules and tuition provisions, and criminalizing certain conduct tied to foreign governments or unauthorized enforcement of foreign law. Members asked extensive questions about how the bill would affect election technology, software development, federal foreign-agent registration, educational exchanges, and the treatment of organizations such as CARE; the sponsor said the bill focused on ownership/control and foreign countries of concern, not specific components or general participation in events. An amendment by Senator Grall was adopted to clarify definitions, align penalties with willful violations, and specify that new ethics training content is additive. The committee then heard supportive testimony from Kelly Curry of State Armor and Rob Pierce of American Global Strategies, both of whom argued the bill would help Florida counter foreign influence, protect data and infrastructure, and improve transparency. CS for SB 1178 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure under specified conditions, including that the filer submitted the disclosure before the maximum fine accrued and had not previously received such a waiver. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified in support, saying the bill preserves transparency and compliance goals while making the fine and appeals process more workable. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. Finally, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments in tabs 3 through 26. No separate votes were requested, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointees was recommended favorably to the full Senate by roll call vote. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Commerce Committee, House Bill 2397 revises the information that is required to be given to a purchaser
• membership generated by CTE satellite campus students and requirements for an intergovernmental agreement
• the bill prohibits institutions of higher education in Arizona from entering into any gift grant agreement
• Seeing none, sponsor, representative point in agreement. consent calendar with that I'm available for
• agreement with specified entities and was in service before the bill takes effect.

Summary: The meeting was a lengthy caucus-style review of many bills and resolutions across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and most items placed on consent or third-read consent calendars. Topics included appropriations, commerce, education, government, health and human services, environment, public safety, and transportation. Measures discussed ranged from school policy and board continuations to housing, water, public safety, licensing, and election-related changes. Several bills were noted as strike-everything amendments or as having been amended in committee. A number of bills drew sponsor comments or brief questions. In education, members discussed bills on teacher strikes, school math placement, school meals, student clubs, bond election disclosures, and a proposed commission on student outcomes. In health and human services, members discussed nursing board rules, pharmacist testing and treatment authority, medical records timelines, opioid antagonist expiration dates, and a proposed constitutional amendment on the right to refuse medical mandates. In government and public safety, members debated funding and staffing issues for DPS and corrections, including a proposed public safety parity fund, as well as bills on county sheriffs, legal representation for DPS, and corrections oversight funding. There was also discussion of election and local government measures, including inactive voter list procedures, circulator disclosure rules, and committee termination filings. Other topics included housing affordability districts, development fees, historic-area middle housing exemptions, water and groundwater management, environmental compatibility siting, and trade-related commissions. One notable exchange involved HB 4044, where members debated whether using rainy day fund interest for public safety pay was fiscally responsible; supporters argued it was a practical way to fund raises, while opponents said it would weaken the fund and should instead be handled through the general fund. No roll-call votes were taken in the transcript, and most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or third-read consent calendars.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our pet agreements say, 'Please attach a document for a qualified veterinarian indicating the animal
• Um, our pet agreements, say, please attach a document for a qualified veterinarian indicating the animal
• While investor ownership existed prior to the fire, investor purchases of lots surged afterward.
• In the year before the fire, about 8% of purchases were made by corporate entities.
• Purchase your burnt-down lot for a full cash offer.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The higher interest rates go, the less attractive the purchase of a solar system.
• And then also 3rd party ownership, which is known as leasing or power purchase agreements.
• There are things that we found agreement on, Mr.
• Chairman, and there are things that we didn't find agreement on.
• So there was agreement that it should exist, but there wasn't necessarily agreement on what the specifics

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if you'll move with me to slide 16, what types of food is SNAP being used to purchase?
• Chair, members of the committee, regarding the food that's eligible to purchase.
• And Mark Hickman, as long as it's not, I guess, a hot food item, in theory, direct producer purchases
• TechSystems provides work to HCA through an IT-focused statewide price agreement.
• And I've Never seen an agreement about what the right amount is either.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:12.959><c> uh</c><00:16:13.040><c> from</c><00:16:13.199><c> the</c> Lans may be purchased
• uh from the Lans may be purchased uh from the private<00:16:13.720><c> Market</c><00:16:14.720><c> uh
• from Canada um now we've been purchasing from Canada um now that<00:19:04.799><c> I</c><00:19:04.919
• </c><00:58:28.160><c> with</c> in statute our our our agreement with in statute our our our agreement
• </c><01:02:30.920><c> and</c> the formal process in the agreement and the formal process in the agreement

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's an agreement between the buyer and seller. I don't understand agreement.
• entering into nondisclosure agreements themselves.
• separation agreement is a nondisclosure agreement, does this affect that?
• And these agreements are amended as they provide.
• So we are in agreement on that.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• This exemption applies to purchases made within 20 years of the first qualifying purchase.
• This exemption applies to purchases made within 20 years of the first qualifying purchase.
• This exemption applies to purchases made within 20 years of the first qualifying purchase.
• This exemption applies to purchases made within 20 years of the first qualifying purchase.
• This exemption applies to purchases made within 20 years of the first qualifying purchase.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are purchased. are purchased.
• </c> and involve the monitoring of purchases. and involve the monitoring of purchases.
• </c> data on food and beverage per purchase data on food and beverage per purchase consumption<01:12:
• </c><01:12:22.239><c> habits</c> qualitative data on purchasing habits qualitative data on purchasing
• They have the agreements retailers. They have the agreements directly. directly. directly.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or what someone could get with a developer's agreement and what you're proposing here?
• Or what someone could get with a developer's agreement and what you're proposing here?
• Thank you. get with the developer's agreement and what you're proposing here.
• But that can be done through a developer's agreement.
• agreement.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE ARE PURCHASES OF GOODS AND SERVICES TOTALING HAVE A MILL ADULT IS NOT SELECTED INFORMAL BIDS PURCHASES
• PURCHASES EXCEEDING WERE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
• PURCHASE ORDERS WERE USED FOR PURCHASES EXCEEDING $20 THE CITY RECORDS EVIDENCE RECEIVED GOODS AND SERVICES
• Gossett-Seidman: YOUR PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES WITHOUT PURCHASE ORDERS. >> Rep.
• Gossett-Seidman: YOUR PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES WITHOUT PURCHASE ORDERS.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this, you know, what I think we all are in agreement... motion.
• I'm largely in agreement with Co-Chair Bajji.
• I'm largely in agreement with Co-Chair Bajji.
• ,</c> sign non-disclosure agreements, sign non-disclosure agreements, right?
• ,</c><01:12:42.160><c> but</c> increased the size of home purchase, but increased the size of home purchase

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, of course, ...arbitration clauses embedded in an agreement that they've signed.
• This is a book that I purchased 20 years ago, professional genealogy.
• But non-public data exchanges are only one way to infer the illegal agreement.
• And dozens of those are from people whose cars break down a day or two after purchase.
• Banks and other lenders purchase auto loans.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote. The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:17.200><c> hospital,</c> Mississippi to purchase hospital, Mississippi to purchase hospital
• The N agreement allows for state law to take precedence over the N agreement.
• Therefore, this legislation clarifies a written agreement takes place prior to writing an offer to purchase
• agreement takes place prior to writing agreement takes place prior to writing an<01:40:18.159><c> offer
• </c> agreement prior to writing a contract. agreement prior to writing a contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are contracts between the third-party provider and the purchaser.
• So it's actually an agreement between the two.
• We have Tim Meehan, the Florida Service Agreement Association, Domestic and General.
• We have Tim Meehan, the Florida Service Agreement Association, Domestic and General, is the proponent
• I'm Tim Meehan, and the Florida Service Agreement Association is comprised of companies that offer auto

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard several insurance- and financial-services-related bills. HB 315 was temporarily postponed. The chair also noted that, following the speaker’s remarks, members should expect additional special meetings as the committee investigates insurance-related issues and seeks transparency and the truth. HB 497, relating to nonprofit agricultural organization health coverage, was presented as a way to give Florida Farm Bureau members—especially farmers, ranchers, and small business owners—more affordable health coverage options. An amendment added statutory placement changes, disclosures that the product is not commercially sold, and annual financial audits. Members discussed ACA-related protections, fraud, and insolvency concerns, and the bill received support from Florida Farm Bureau and was reported favorably 16-0. HB 379, the annual securities package, updated exemptions, foreign jurisdiction rules, the Florida Invest Local Exemption, merger-and-acquisition broker rules, fingerprinting requirements, and technical issues in the Securities Guarantee Fund. Three amendments clarified entity definitions and fingerprint/live-scan requirements; the bill drew support from industry and OFR and passed favorably 17-0. The PCS for HB 147 on consumer debt collection clarified prohibited communications during nighttime hours, with the sponsor and supporters explaining the intent was to allow email while restricting other forms of contact and reduce litigation over passive communications. Members and public witnesses discussed ambiguity in the wording, and the sponsor said further cleanup language may still be needed; the PCS was reported favorably 17-0. HB 655 on pet insurance and wellness programs created a regulatory framework for pet insurance, drew support from industry and humane society representatives, and passed favorably 17-0. HB 367 on home and service warranty association financial requirements allowed financial compliance through multiple contractual liability insurance policies and alternative parent-company documentation; an amendment corrected cross-references and duplicative language, and after questions about consumer protections and insolvency, the bill was reported favorably 17-0. Finally, HB 7003 preserved a public-records exemption for sensitive financial technology sandbox application materials; members discussed the sandbox concept and possible future issues, but no amendments were taken and the bill passed favorably 17-0. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• OVER 21,000 FAMILIES TO PURCHASE THEIR FIRST HOME AND THEN YOU WILL SEE THE TOP NUMBER, THE 331 MILLION
• RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP, FOR EXAMPLE REHABILITATION OR PURCHASE EXISTENCE.
• THERE IS A COUNTY/MUNICIPALITY PART, THAT WAS EIGHT COUNTIES THAT HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND SHIP
• INTERLOCAL COOPERATION MAY OCCUR THROUGH FORMAL AGREEMENTS MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING, CONTRACTS AND
• INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS OR INFORMAL AGREEMENTS SUCH AS JOINT INITIATIVES AND SHARED PROGRAMS. 44% OF SURVEY

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, before purchasing or acquiring real estate, a school board must have a plan for how to use that
• If I can, so if I'm somebody that opted in and you're saying it's like a cell phone agreement, you're
• And, Chair, my last question to you is, it pertains to when the plant was purchased.
• What do you mean that the plant was purchased?
• When the plant was purchased, you purchased a plant that was outside of the city boundaries of North

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• they have purchased from a...
• United Rural College is in a position to purchase that property.
• As I mentioned before, they just recently purchased it from the private landowner.
• Are looking at the possibility of purchasing with the settlement money.
• NMDOT has 54 agreements in place with ECEQA to do. And they're still happening.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> licensing agreements on the trade port. licensing agreements on the trade port.
• </c><01:03:09.200><c> that</c> and our airport joint use agreement that and our airport joint use agreement
• Agreement with the city of Portsmouth.
• Um the sixth fund you'll that agreement.
• </c><02:00:23.199><c> that</c> individuals that have purchased that individuals that have purchased that

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• to ensure that reliability of the grid is still paramount, even with those power purchase agreements
• Yes, it's physical power, but yes, power purchase agreements. Right. Okay.
• That's going to start getting new long-term purchase power agreement signed and new generation being
• So large customers can do a long-term purchase power agreement with a wind or solar developer.
• These purchase power agreements are all competitive. There's no regulated price.

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held its third interim hearing on Texas electric grid reliability and 765 kV transmission lines/private property rights. Chair Schwertner opened by noting record ERCOT summer demand of 91,089 MW and emphasized the committee’s focus on managing rapid load growth, ensuring adequate generation, and protecting homeowners, businesses, landowners, and ratepayers. The committee also adopted strict two-minute limits for public testimony and planned to hear invited witnesses first, then public testimony. PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and OPUC Chief Counsel Benjamin Barclay testified on Senate Bill 6 implementation, large-load interconnection, transmission cost allocation, and market design. Gleeson said the PUC has adopted or is finalizing rules on net metering/co-location, large load interconnection standards, and a transmission cost recovery rule that would move from 4CP to 12CP, lengthen the interval to 30 minutes, and add a minimum demand charge to better allocate costs to large loads. Vegas explained ERCOT’s new batch process for large loads, saying it provides year-by-year capacity allocations, clearer financial obligations, and a transmission plan; he reported 205 GW eligible for Batch Zero, with 65 GW classified as baseload, 25 GW in an intermediate category, and 114 GW as allocated load. Barclay supported the changes as better protection for residential and small commercial customers, while warning that the minimum demand charge may need an exit-fee concept to address stranded costs if large loads leave. Members pressed witnesses on whether additional market changes are needed to attract dispatchable thermal generation and whether DRS/DRRS Plus could become a capacity-market substitute. Gleeson and Vegas said the current market still favors solar, batteries, and other low-variable-cost resources, and that more incentives may be needed for gas and other thermal generation; Gleeson said the commission’s reliability standard assessment will begin this year and conclude next year with a 2029 outlook. They described DRS as an ancillary service for intraday reliability and DRS Plus as a proposed real-time revenue mechanism for thermal resources during scarcity, not a forward capacity market. Senators also questioned whether 12CP could still be gamed, whether curtailment authority under SB 6 should be expanded from EEA 2 to earlier stages, and whether the batch process should be bifurcated so traditional industrial loads are handled differently from data centers. Witnesses said the batch process is intended to prevent speculative projects from driving transmission costs, that most large-load projects are data centers, and that future rules may need to better distinguish among types of large loads.