Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is focused on creating a safe path for communities to opt in to legal street usage of
• Similar to some communities and municipalities where we license and allow golf carts to be driven, the
• or cities to opt in and accept this for their community.
• Now, if a community or municipality wants to offer a lower speed, they can do that.
• We also provide on fuel supply chain disaster preparedness.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework for counties and municipalities to allow utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain local roads with posted speed limits below 55 mph, subject to local safety determinations, licensing, insurance, and other restrictions. Supporters, including a retired sheriff and a Florida Sheriffs Association representative, argued the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and reflect the reality that UTVs are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are not designed for public roads and lack key safety features. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash risk, but the bill was reported favorably after debate, with Senators Martin, McClain, and Truenow expressing reservations. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port of Palm Beach, and Port Tampa Bay described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the importance of state and federal grants, private partnerships, and long-term planning. They also discussed challenges including limited land, bulkhead and berth maintenance, channel deepening, workforce needs, fuel access, resiliency, and intermodal connectivity. Senators asked about return on investment, trade patterns, financing, cruise-versus-cargo balance, and operational risks; the ports emphasized that they are largely enterprise-funded but still depend on public investment for major infrastructure. The committee also approved a block of appointments to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority without objection. In addition, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, recommending a coordinated statewide aerial imagery and LiDAR program, shared procurement and cost-sharing arrangements, and statutory updates to improve interagency coordination and access to geospatial data. Senators briefly discussed potential uses for the data in insurance, emergency management, and property assessment, and the presentation concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill represents a proactive step toward empowering local governments to safeguard their communities
• Did OSHA investigate the crane collapse that happened in your community?
• not under the purview or preempted by OSHA, and local worksite regulation regarding hurricane preparedness
• not under the purview or preempted by OSHA, and local work site regulation regarding hurricane preparedness
• Because I think the average was... ...communities back up within 24, 48 hours, because I think the average

Summary: The committee took up several bills and reported each favorably after brief debate and roll call votes. SB 578 would allow wine to be sold in recyclable containers, aligning wine with beer container rules; it had support from Americans for Prosperity. SB 606 clarified when nonpaying guests may be removed from public lodging establishments, updated notice and checkout provisions, and removed a mandatory arrest requirement, with support from Florida Realtors, the Asian American Hotel Association, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. SB 202 addressed a long-running dispute between Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach over a water utility surcharge, requiring the utility to charge residents in the city where the plant sits the same rate as its own residents; supporters argued it was a fairness issue, while North Miami Beach opposed it as a burden on its residents. All three bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 570, which updates and clarifies the scope of work for swimming pool and spa contractors, and CS/SB 928, which targets non-approved disposable nicotine devices by restricting advertising and display visible to minors, increasing inspections and penalties, and adopting an amendment to clarify the bill does not cover fully unlawful products and to add a 500-foot school buffer for smoke shops. SB 346, dealing with state preemption of local regulation of hoisting equipment, was reported favorably after testimony about the St. Petersburg crane collapse during Hurricane Milton; supporters said local governments need authority to address hurricane-related crane safety, while builders and contractors warned against patchwork regulation and urged a more targeted approach. The committee then considered SB 652, creating Veterinary Professional Associates to perform certain tasks under veterinarian supervision, including limited surgical procedures after an amendment clarified those procedures are limited to spay/neuter and non-cavity surgeries. Supporters said the bill would expand access to veterinary care and help shelters, while some veterinarians expressed concern about training and safety; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up SB 354 on the Public Service Commission, adopting a substitute amendment that would expand the commission, require stronger financial expertise and more detailed rate justifications, set rate-filing schedules, tighten storm-hardening review, and add transparency rules for nonprofit water and wastewater utilities; the bill drew support from consumer advocates and AARP, while Florida Rural Water warned of unintended consequences for nonprofit systems. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 354 is still underway, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities are still rebuilding.
• communities together.
• Assaults on our LGBTQ communities, our immigrant communities, our Muslim communities.
• community.
• They are communities of color voting for the election.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this bill is really about helping people in communities.
• And the communities would ask, why are you leaving?
• That's how you lose whole communities in these situations.
• And that's just not the level of preparedness that a community deserves, particularly a community that's
• defined as a high fire risk community.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have helped with the communication problem where you can fly.
• We're all concerned about communication, to give as much warning as we can.
• The only communication available in that part of Kirk County is satellite.
• There was no communication because satellite doesn't work when it's cloudy.
• So, you know, the theme of this hearing has been about disaster preparedness. preparedness, certainly

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The acutely mentally ill in our communities. And there is a better way.
• It allows local communities who want to adopt these model programs in their community to be able to apply
• It changes the dynamics in our underserved communities.
• Leading to emergency preparedness and response.
• This bill requires Our communities are rebuilding in a resilient manner.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects. Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Projects for 2026 were the CLEA Center for Active Shooter Preparedness.
• That's the one I talked about on the active shooter preparedness building.
• You know, how we can serve our communities with using, you know, being able to use the laws.
• So, we're Trying to make sure the agents have communication when they're out.
• And then the public safety partnership and Community policing grant for antiheroin task force.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill represents a proactive step toward empowering local governments to safeguard their communities
• Did OSHA investigate the crane collapse that happened in your community?
• not under the purview or preempted by OSHA, and local worksite regulation regarding hurricane preparedness
• not under the purview or preempted by OSHA, and local work site regulation regarding hurricane preparedness
• Because I think the average was... ...communities back up within 24 to 48 hours, because I think the

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, reporting each favorably after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions. SB 578 would allow wine to be sold in recyclable containers, aligning wine with beer container rules; it received support from Americans for Prosperity and passed without debate. SB 606 clarified when guests in public lodging or food service establishments may be removed for nonpayment, updated notice and checkout provisions, and removed a mandatory arrest requirement, with support from hotel and restaurant industry groups; it also passed favorably. Members then heard SB 202, which addresses a municipal water utility surcharge issue affecting Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach by requiring the utility to charge residents where the plant sits the same rate it charges its own residents. The sponsor and supporters described it as a fairness issue, while North Miami Beach argued it would shift costs and threaten utility finances; the bill was reported favorably. SB 570 modernized and clarified the scope of work for swimming pool and spa contractors, and SB 928, as amended, regulated non-approved disposable nicotine devices by restricting advertising and display, increasing inspections and penalties, and adding a school-buffer provision; both were reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 346, which repeals state preemption over local regulation of hoisting equipment and cranes, prompted by concerns after Hurricane Milton and a crane collapse in St. Petersburg. Supporters said local governments need authority to address storm-related crane safety, while industry representatives warned against patchwork regulation and said local oversight already exists in some areas. Finally, the committee took up SB 652, creating Veterinary Professional Associates to perform certain tasks, including limited surgeries under veterinarian supervision; animal welfare groups supported it as a way to expand access, while some veterinarians opposed the surgery provisions. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. The committee then began SB 354, a major overhaul of Public Service Commission oversight, including expanding the commission, adding financial expertise, tightening rate-setting and storm-hardening review, and increasing transparency for nonprofit water and wastewater utilities; the substitute amendment was adopted and public testimony was heard from consumer advocates and utility-related groups, but the transcript ends before final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , recovery operations, and community resilience.
• It takes a willingness to go beyond yourself and think about the community and the world at large.
• It takes a willingness to go beyond yourself and think about the community and the world at large.
• , helping our communities prepare for disasters.
• It's the quiet, determined service right here in our own communities. Think back to May 3, 1861.

Bills: HB1160, HB1289, HB1339, HB1604, HB1798, HB1002, HB1065, HB1155, HB1269, HB1916, HB2120, HB2123, HB2158, HB2178, HB2264, HB2309, HB2411, HJM4004

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Transcript Highlights:

• , recovery operations, and community resilience.
• It takes a willingness to go beyond yourself and think about the community and the world at large.
• It takes a willingness to go beyond yourself and think about the community and the world at large.
• , helping our communities prepare for disasters.
• It's the quiet, determined service right here in our own communities. Think back to May 3, 1861.

Bills: HB1160, HB1289, HB1339, HB1604, HB1798, HB1002, HB1065, HB1155, HB1269, HB1916, HB2120, HB2123, HB2158, HB2178, HB2264, HB2309, HB2411, HJM4004

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a National Anthem performance, and a prayer offered by Washington Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Cole. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 4675, honoring the Washington National Guard for its service in emergencies, search and rescue, disaster response, and military readiness. Members spoke in support, highlighting the Guard’s history, its role in recent flood and landslide responses, and the sacrifices of service members and their families. The resolution passed by voice vote, and Guard leadership and members present in the galleries were recognized. The House also recognized Congressman Dan Newhouse in a point of personal privilege, with remarks praising his service in state and federal office and his ties to agriculture. The chamber then moved to the Fourth Order of Business and debated a motion to suspend House rules to send two initiatives to the Education Committee for prompt public hearings. Supporters argued the Constitution requires precedence for initiatives and that the House should hear them promptly; opponents argued the Constitution allows the Legislature to take no action and that the motion was unnecessary. The motion to suspend the rules failed on a recorded vote, 38 yeas and 57 nays, with three excused. Next, members debated the routine motion to refer the bills, memorials, measures, and resolutions on the introduction sheet to committee. Some members again argued the two initiatives should be given priority and public hearings before other business, while others supported normal referral of the day’s measures. The motion passed on a recorded vote, 57 yeas and 38 nays, with three excused. Committee reports were then accepted and referred as designated, and the House adjourned until Thursday, January 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mesnard from District 13, which is most of Chandler, Gilbert, and Sun Lakes retirement community.
• Currently, I attend Mesa Community College, where I am the student body president, and I'm also an active
• It's a whole community issue, as sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere.
• together, they significantly boost survival rates, and many courses combine them for comprehensive preparedness
• together, they significantly boost survival rates, and many courses combine them for comprehensive preparedness

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard SB 1009, which would expand Arizona’s high school CPR instruction requirements to include training on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The sponsor, Sen. Kavanaugh, said the bill would simply add a short AED component to existing CPR programs, would not require schools to buy AEDs, and would improve student readiness to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Supporters included the American Heart Association and several students, who argued that AED familiarity can save lives and that training should be part of school safety education. Opposition came from the Arizona Education Association, which argued the bill creates an unfunded mandate, could take away from core instructional time, and may require staff time and resources beyond what schools can absorb. The Arizona School Boards Association was neutral but raised concerns about funding, training personnel, and the impact on rural and smaller districts. Sen. Miranda also questioned whether the bill was truly zero-cost and requested a fiscal note, though she said she would vote yes pending more information. After discussion, the committee voted 5-2 to give SB 1009 a do-pass recommendation. Senators Dunn, Mesnard, Warner, and Anger voted yes, while Senators Diaz and Brown voted no; Sen. Miranda voted yes with reservations. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean it's just called preparedness, I guess.
• I mean it's just called preparedness, I guess.
• I mean it's just called preparedness, I guess.
• I mean it's just called preparedness, I guess.
• I mean it's just called preparedness, I guess.

Bills: HB55, SB15, SB247, HB55, SB15, SB247

Keywords: fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama, regulations, sex offenders, employment restrictions, first responders, public safety, juvenile offenders, local laws, registration requirements, picketing, protesting, residential protest, noise amplification, amplified sound, residential picketing, harassment

Transcript Highlights:

• to know that, whether they go into the military or not, these skill sets are beneficial for job preparedness
• Yeah, so JROTC also creates a positive community, one that welcomes all students from any background.
• In doing so, in participation with the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, which is governor appointed

Bills: HB 1079, HB3651, HB4980

Keywords: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Leadership Officer Training Corps, public school, career education, military readiness, public school accountability, funding allotments, healthcare, insurance, cost control, patient access, regulation, affordability, public health, JROTC, automobile maintenance, high school education, elective course, student skills, practical knowledge

Transcript Highlights:

• would be for communities close to the Merrimack River to access the money.
• They hope they can help those communities going forward.
• They hope they can help those communities going forward.
• kind of resilience need that's very different from an urban community.
• The air quality in the communities that we serve is not where it needs to be.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a hearing on S. 2542, the Mass Ready Act, the Healey-Driscoll administration’s environmental bond bill. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper and Undersecretary Jen Sullivan described the bill as a $3 billion resilience package to protect drinking water, farms, fisheries, roads, bridges, parks, and communities from flooding, heat, drought, wildfires, and other climate impacts. They highlighted major authorizations for flood and coastal resilience, DCR infrastructure, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, PFAS remediation, open space and land protection, food security infrastructure, and a new Resilience Revolving Fund for low-cost loans to municipalities, tribes, and water districts. Committee members asked about project lifespans, flood and salt marsh permitting, wastewater and combined sewer overflow funding, parkway maintenance, land acquisition priorities, Quabbin stewardship, and how the revolving fund would be capitalized and administered. The administration said the fund would be modeled on the Clean Water Trust, use existing trust resources rather than new fees, and could later support special obligation bonds; they also said the bill would streamline certain permitting and improve flood-risk disclosure and climate-related building standards. Many witnesses urged the committee to strengthen the bill’s funding levels or add related policy provisions. Labor, contractor, and plumbing groups supported creating a water reuse and graywater recycling commission, saying it could conserve water, reduce stormwater and sewer burdens, and create skilled jobs. Boston Harbor Now asked for higher authorizations for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and resilient coast work, plus permitting reforms for nature-based and waterfront projects. The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance backed the bill but also urged inclusion of drought-management legislation, a water reuse commission, a statewide flood buyout program, and more support for community resiliency. Environmental justice advocates from Green Roots called for dedicated funding for outdoor and indoor air quality monitoring and indoor air quality improvements in schools and public housing, while conservation and tree advocates sought larger investments in urban forestry, local nurseries, and workforce training, along with clearer language to ensure municipal reforestation funds go to cities and towns. Agricultural and food system witnesses emphasized the importance of the bill’s food security and farmland provisions. The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership and the Mass Food System Collaborative supported the $125 million food security infrastructure grant program, saying it has funded critical facilities and equipment for farmers, fishers, processors, and food access organizations, but warned that without the bill there could be a funding gap in fiscal year 2027. They also supported farmland protection and asked for more funding for agricultural capital programs, used-equipment eligibility in grant programs, and a next-generation farmer fund. Water utility representatives said the bill still falls short of the state’s long-term drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs, citing EPA estimates of nearly $37 billion in needed investments over 20 years and urging dedicated recurring funding and broader eligibility for climate resilience grants. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate communications?
• . communication. communication.
• Amy Perruso worked on disaster preparedness, establishing radio communications between 35 neighborhood
• his community in City and educated his community in emergency<01:30:18.000><c> preparedness.
• </c> emergency preparedness. emergency preparedness.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities are still rebuilding.
• so they could theoretically map those communities together.
• , our, our immigrant communities, our Muslims.
• the community, and it's not just about redistricting.
• They are communities of color voting for the elected officials of their choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you need further accommodation, please communicate with Sergeant staff.
• On line 177, Madam Chair, we have the annual transfer in statute to the Community Justice Account of
• This is Representative Feist's House File 1769, which modifies how the community supervision formula
• Communities.
• largely impair my members' ability to balance caseloads, leaving communities less safe.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Florida National Guard is truly a community-based organization with 128 military units and 55 communities
• community is able to support our base community, or 20 base communities around the state.
• But if you go community to community, obviously there are some differences.
• Live Local, I think, has really changed options for communities, and so supporting communities through
• And so we have made communities the focal point, the center of our focus, and around that, Communities

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very proud to represent my community. It is a very tight-knit community.
• Benefit communities, and then we also see communities using technology to let people know which crossings
• Many times the railroad was there, and then as the community grew, the community, city, or county came
• And a lot of times where the rail yards are located are in humble communities, communities that have
• In my communities, particularly at the community college, I'm glad to know how many people have graduated

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:45.920><c> and</c> floods that devastate communities and floods that devastate communities
• </c> to uplift San Jose's Latino community. to uplift San Jose's Latino community.
• </c><00:35:47.839><c> She</c> jobs to our rural communities. She jobs to our rural communities.
• </c> Favaro and the entire Bodat community. Favaro and the entire Bodat community.
• </c> Afghan-American community in Virginia. Afghan-American community in Virginia.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all