Video & Transcript Research : 'continuous enrollment'

Page 70 of 500
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Jun 26th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • In continuing the Sublocade upon release, we're hoping to gather more substantial statistics in that.
  • We're excited and I appreciate you continuing to monitor that. Thank you.
  • And on the next page, we want to talk a little bit about how we're going to continue to expand.
  • We're gonna continue working on that project.
  • We also have record enrollment among Native Americans in BeWell New Mexico.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • in child is the continued rise in child maltreatment<00:13:56.760> deaths.
  • opt out, whether the center can continue opt out, whether the center can continue to<01:45:50.840
  • guardians enrolled.
  • And I'm renewing my effort, or my offer, I'm sorry, to continue doing that because I want to continue
  • And I'm renewing my effort, or my offer, I'm sorry, to continue doing that because I want to continue
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, June 25, 2026 - PM

Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're happy to continue... We're happy to continue exploring it.
  • ...educators, which are supposed to be secured for now and continuing into the future?
  • Does that continue to rise? Years. Does that continue to rise?
  • And you could continue on down that list for just about every activity.
  • last... ...numbers today based on enrollment last year from the WDE's website.
Keywords: 916, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (01/29/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:13:23.920> in<00:13:24.160> private students enrolled in private students enrolled
  • <00:46:32.800> knowledge<00:46:33.119> and continue to bring more knowledge and continue
  • for continuing education for students. for continuing education for students.
  • <05:00:16.560> to training um so that things continue to training um so that things continue
  • I prior to the EFA program enrolling.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held a hearing on House Bill 1571, which would direct the Department of Education to review and revise statewide academic standards and curriculum and make an appropriation. Representative Kristen Noble, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to update outdated standards, especially in math, and to have the department create a list of high-quality curriculum and materials aligned to the revised standards. She noted she would likely amend the bill to change a requirement that districts “shall” select from the list to “may,” and said a misplaced crossed-out section would need to be restored and moved by amendment. She also said assessments would need to be updated to match any new standards. Testimony from Marie Banfield strongly supported the bill and the move away from a mandate, arguing that current standards are outdated and that Common Core and related standards have not improved student outcomes. She criticized the math standards for emphasizing multiple strategies and written explanations over computation, and said stronger standards would better support students, including those with learning or communication challenges. She also argued that New Hampshire should follow examples such as Massachusetts, which she said used rigorous standards successfully. Nate Green of the Department of Education did not take a position on the bill but explained that the bill would affect statewide academic standards, state assessments, and potentially federal compliance. He distinguished academic standards from minimum standards in statute, said any standards revision would require work with content experts, State Board approval, and then a corresponding assessment update that could take about two years. He estimated assessment development costs could range from about $200,000 to $500,000 for minor revisions and $1 million to $2 million for a wholesale new set of standards. He also said the bill would apply to public and charter public schools, not private or homeschool students, and that the department does not currently provide a statewide list of curriculum materials because curriculum decisions have historically been local.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Legislative Administration (02/19/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • and the enrolling process is led process and the enrolling process is led by<01:33:53.800> the
  • > mentioned the um the enrolling process mentioned the um the enrolling process now<01:58:40.280>
  • There has to be somebody from the House Enrolled Bills Committee, the Senate Enrolled Bills Committee
  • There has to be somebody from the House Enrolled Bills Committee, the Senate Enrolled Bills Committee
  • <02:19:27.240> to continue to come in they continue to continue to come in they continue to
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first dealt with scheduling and housekeeping, including a plan to take a hard break at 2:00 p.m. for an early bill, hold a brief executive session, and then continue with the remaining afternoon bills. The chair also noted the next likely meeting date would be March 12, when the committee expected to take up the remaining bills before crossover deadlines. The main substantive item was House Bill 142, which would recognize the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and related remembrance purposes. Prime sponsor Rep. Michael Moffett described the bill as a bipartisan measure revised to address earlier concerns, arguing that the flag honors fallen service members, can be personalized with names, and complements rather than detracts from the American flag. He said many other states have already adopted it and suggested the committee could amend details such as the number of days and locations for display. He also raised practical issues about flag dimensions and whether the bill should use "shall" or "may" for display requirements. Testimony was divided. Janine Nutter opposed the bill, saying she supports Gold Star families but objected because the flag resembles the Viet Cong flag and because she believes the American flag should remain the sole symbol representing servicemembers. Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee under RSA 115:8, also opposed the bill, saying the committee believes the American flag is the only symbol needed, while still praising the work of Honor and Remember in creating personalized flags for families. Committee members asked questions about where the flag would be flown, whether the State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen is already displaying it, and how the bill’s language would interact with cemetery policies and committee discretion. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education Apr 29th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • It requires post-secondary education management boards to continue to comply with the conditions on all
  • ...effect and be able to continue to be managed the way it has been so far.
  • Taylor, continued question.
  • That's my concern, that we still have the same oversight and that this could still continue.
  • So it's ...an associate teacher, they have to be enrolled in a teacher prep program.
Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, and heard several education-related bills. SB 234, which would change Louisiana medical schools from pass-fail grading to letter grading, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142, dealing with the management of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in outstanding match requests; it was also reported favorably. SB 482, which expands the use of career coaches in middle and high school individual graduation plans and adds reporting requirements for career development funds, received support from BESE and other groups, with members asking about counselor shortages and whether districts would be required to contract with outside vendors; it was reported favorably. SB 64, requiring two people to be present for the initial viewing of video from special education classroom cameras, was supported as a safeguard for students and staff and was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 1063, a broad higher education governance bill that would require board review of core curricula, increase transparency in hiring and board actions, limit faculty senate authority to advisory status, and restrict spending without board certification. The bill prompted extensive questioning about whether it would create new boards, how it would be funded, and whether boards could realistically handle the workload; the author said the committee would not vote that day and moved to voluntarily defer the bill, which passed without objection. HB 818, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments used by schools, including their purpose and results; after amendment adoption, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 28 lowered the minimum age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage, with department staff saying it could expand the pipeline of candidates; it was reported favorably. The committee also announced its next meeting would be Wednesday, May 6, and adjourned.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Transportation Apr 1st, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we've seen where an existing school—the enrollment of that existing school in St.
  • Counties and cities can only do stacking and traffic with regards to limiting enrollment; that's where
  • So it's only with regards to enrollment.
  • because of traffic or limit enrollment because of stacking.
  • because of trafficking or limit enrollment because of stacking.
Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several bills dealing with roadway safety, utility relocation, emergency vehicles, motor vehicle services, charter school siting, and specialty license plates. SB 1782 by Senator Pizzo, as amended, would expand reckless driving per se to include certain extreme speeding behaviors and retain mandatory court appearance while removing impound language; it was supported by AARP and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and reported favorably. SB 818 by Senator McLean would streamline utility relocation for road and rail projects and shift certain relocation costs to the authority in some cases; county groups opposed it as an unfunded mandate, while Charter Communications supported it, and the bill was reported favorably after amendment. SB 1644 by Senator Rodriguez, as amended, would expand warning-signal privileges for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and related vehicles responding to emergencies; it was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1348 by Senator Trumbull, which revises Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and tax collector processes for title/document delivery, driver licensing, disabled parking permits, and related services; a strike-all removed penalties and some CDL retesting provisions, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 636 by Senator Martin would restrict use of the far-left lane on high-speed roads except for passing, exiting, move-over compliance, or traffic/environmental conditions, with a civil fine and DOT signage requirements; it was reported favorably. SB 1152 by Senator Arrington would raise the cost of the Florida Wildflower specialty license plate from $15 to $25 to generate more funding for wildflower research, education, and habitat programs; it was reported favorably. SB 1188 by Senator McLean, which would limit local government authority over charter school siting and concurrency-related restrictions, drew the most debate. Supporters argued local ordinances were being used to block or delay charter schools, while opponents said the bill would tie the hands of local governments and could create traffic and public-safety concerns. After extensive discussion, the bill was reported favorably, with recorded no votes from Senators Arrington and Davis. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of multiple appointments to transportation-related boards and authorities, including the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and Florida Transportation Commission.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE Jan 12th, 2026

ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • and aspirations, but also doing it in a way that prepares them for the next phase, whether that’s continuing
  • You know, everybody that is eligible for work on SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid should be co-enrolled and take
  • part of that same process because that's where you're going to find... ...should be co-enrolled and
  • I mean, and that's... ...one thing we invested in and continue to do.
  • We have sent a recommendation to the governor's office to continue holding the current rate.
Summary: The committee heard testimony from Nick Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career and Technical Education, on efforts to better align workforce, education, and human services programs. Moore argued that WIOA, Perkins, and ESSA were designed to function as an integrated talent system, but that federal and state bureaucracy has kept them siloed. He said the Department of Labor and OCTAE are working on more integrated state plan guidance, including a 2026 plan modification timeline, combined Perkins/WIOA plans, and greater use of labor market information to align training with in-demand jobs and Workforce Pell. Moore emphasized reducing overhead, cross-training staff, using common intake and integrated case management, and focusing on the “shadow labor force” of people facing benefit cliffs, child care barriers, or other obstacles to work. He repeatedly urged states to use waivers and flexibility where possible, to consolidate or streamline local workforce structures, and to hold programs accountable through measures such as labor force participation, training-related employment, retention, and cost per successful outcome. Members asked about the balance between flexibility and accountability, the role of employers versus postsecondary institutions, rural “training deserts,” state waivers, and data systems such as Mississippi Spark and Arkansas Launch. Moore said states should use technology and integrated intake to co-enroll eligible participants in multiple programs and better match people to jobs. In response to questions, Moore said some federal rules cannot be waived, but many reporting and administrative requirements can be streamlined, and he encouraged Arkansas to propose ideas for waivers or state-level integration. He also discussed the need for enhanced wage records and state longitudinal data systems to improve workforce planning and economic development. After Moore’s presentation, DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Director Jay Hill gave a brief update on reimbursement rates, saying the department had compiled more than 100 public comments, recommended holding the current rate, and was awaiting executive review; they estimated the process could take 30 to 60 days. The committee then adjourned, noting a later audit presentation scheduled for the afternoon.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Continue, please. >> On to the education freedom accounts audit. We're writing observations.
  • Continue,<00:04:41.240> please. Continue, please. Continue, please.
  • in the FA program during state enrolled in the FA program during state fiscal<00:11:40.960> years
  • I'm happy to continue. I don't have a problem with that, but I'm not sure what we're voting on.
  • I'm happy to continue. I don't have a problem with that, but I'm not sure what we're voting on.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The committee received an update from the LBA on three audits related to education programs. Christine Young reported that the special education audit is in report-writing, with 44 of 81 observations completed, and that a draft is expected early in the third quarter with a final report later in the summer. She also said the doorway program audit has a draft report with 12 observations, auditee responses were received May 14, an exit conference was held May 18, and the report is now expected to be presented at the June fiscal committee meeting. The bulk of the discussion focused on the education freedom accounts audit and a proposed expansion of scope. Beulah Skids explained that the original audit, required by the 2022 law creating the EFA program, would be expanded to examine whether students were New Hampshire residents at enrollment and throughout participation, and whether records of educational attainment satisfied program requirements. She described the current work, the draft cooperation agreement being developed with the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and the department’s concerns about the audit period and the term "educational progress," which the LBA said it would revise. The committee discussed that the expanded work would depend on a written agreement giving the LBA access to needed records, policies, and staff, with the Department of Education potentially serving as an intermediary for data access. Members raised concerns about the scope period and data access. Senator Lang asked that the residency review be limited to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, rather than the broader 2022-25 period, because those years captured the major program expansions; the committee appeared to agree, with clarification that the reference was to school years, not fiscal years. Members also discussed reconciliation of EFA funds, noting that the department has agreed to reopen rulemaking to make reconciliation more frequent so unused funds can be returned to the state sooner. Several members expressed frustration that access to data had been delayed, while LBA staff said the cooperation agreement is intended to prevent further roadblocks and that the AG’s office could review it if needed.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Consumer and Public Affairs Feb 4th, 2025

House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can decide today if we continue to ignore sexual child abuse.
  • Abusers should not continue to hide behind the law.
  • So continuing on, Madam Chair, here, can you go a little bit on page four?
  • It would expand enrollment to at least a minimum of six credits at the time of enrollment.
  • to continue here.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House passes commerce policy, finance bill during special session 6/9/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:13:56.560> And<00:13:56.800> so<00:13:56.959> this somebody to open enroll
  • And so this somebody to open enroll.
  • <00:14:29.040> and<00:14:29.199> ensure able to have open enrollment and ensure able
  • to have open enrollment and ensure guaranteed<00:14:30.079> renewability<00:14:30.880> for
  • And we'll continue to look to make sure that this does work the way that it should.
Keywords: 1183, house
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Education Finance (02/12/2025)

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, may I continue, Mr. Chairman? Thank you.
  • <00:55:11.720> to immigration status Norway continues to immigration status Norway continues
  • <00:56:50.400> to burden as school spending continues to burden as school spending continues
  • <00:56:53.960> yet rise despite declining en enrollment yet rise despite declining en enrollment
  • will uh continue that type of<02:20:26.319> continue<02:20:26.720> to<02:20:27.000>
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Feb 4th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a plan that enrolls all the local... One way or the other.
  • This is a plan that enrolls all the locals.
  • This is a plan that enrolls all the local One way or the other.
  • This is a plan that enrolls all the locals.
  • That's why we're enrolling everybody and putting a Elsewhere in Florida to open a dam.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS/SB 796, which would create Veterinary Professional Associates as a new supervised veterinary role, expand telehealth prescription timeframes, and set training and scope limits. Supporters said it would improve access to care, lower costs, and create a career path, while opponents argued the proposal lacked a clear regulatory framework, could create liability and federal-law conflicts, and would not address the real shortage in rural large-animal practice. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Members also heard and favorably reported SB 1682 on local authority over derelict and abandoned vessels, CS/SB 1028 on a commercial Citizens clearinghouse for property insurance, SB 394 on exempting certain reinsurance underwriting managers from licensing, SB 636 on beach management and erosion designations, CS/SB 546 on public notice for conservation land sales or exchanges, CS/SB 302 on Biscayne Bay nature-based solutions and related coastal resiliency provisions, SB 1050 on pharmacy choice for pet medications, and SB 774 extending workers’ compensation benefits to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental and nervous injuries. Testimony on these bills generally focused on access, regulatory clarity, environmental protection, or workforce support, with some concerns raised on insurance consumer protections and beach-management language. Senator Harrell’s bills were also taken up and reported favorably: CS/SB 480, a major overhaul of state IT governance creating DIGIT and new procurement, reporting, and workforce structures; CS/SB 1230, restricting PFAS-containing firefighting foam and adding testing, inventory, and disposal requirements; and CS/SB 1288, a naming bill designating the Andrew Red Harris Shoal and requiring markers. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on SB 1066 regarding restoration of the Oklawaha/Rodman system, with supporters emphasizing ecological restoration, flood-risk reduction, and economic benefits, and opponents warning about local impacts, water quality, and the loss of a world-class fishery. The transcript ends during testimony on that bill, before final action is shown.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • ALL I CAN SAY IS WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET INPUT.
  • WE HEAR QUESTIONS TALK ABOUT THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION IN A WAY THAT CONTINUES THE STIGMA.
  • I LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU AS WE CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS CONTINUING TO MAKE MORE SERVICES
  • I WAS ENROLLED AT A STATE SCHOOL WHERE I STRUGGLE TO FIND THE STRUCTURE AND NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO SUCCEED
  • YOU HAVE TO REMEDIATE OR THEY DON'T CONTINUE. THIS IS YOU HAVE TO REMEDIATE THEM.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jun 11th, 2025

Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our North Star is continuing.
  • We provide enrollment targets for UC and CSU for more students.
  • This work will unfortunately continue beyond the adoption of this current budget as we continue to track
  • Even charging a $1 premium likely would have some effect on enrollment.
  • agreements and ensure that we can continue our vital work.
Keywords: 988, house, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session-Day 14, February 25, 2026-AM

Wyoming House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The district will continue to receive full funding as long as the student is enrolled in school.
  • The district will continue to receive full funding as long as the student is enrolled in school.
  • The district will continue to receive full funding as long as the student is enrolled in school.
  • This isn't more funding for the district Representative Jarvis continued: as long as the student is enrolled
  • So let's continue that effort.
Keywords: 916, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • committee team and every member in their staffs for working with us to hear this important bill and your continued
  • Continue. Senator West, you are continued to be recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  • Members, this bill relates to measures to support the enrollment of students with a non-traditional secondary
  • Certain school districts and open enrollment charter schools to participate in the Uniform Group Coverage
  • then you want our... our institutions and our education to adopt a policy that prohibits a student enrolled
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance (03/31/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • We need them to help us continue to advocate for our children who unfortunately in various contexts continue
  • <01:47:34.320> to need them to help us uh continue to need them to help us uh continue to
  • We need them to help us continue to advocate for our children who unfortunately in various contexts continue
  • This is a CTE and concurrent enrollment.
  • <05:03:19.760> than<05:03:19.920> you enrollment than you enrollment than you anticipate
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Finance Committee met to review Division One of a very large budget package, with the chair explaining that the budget was being analyzed in three divisions over multiple days. Members first discussed procedure, including when amendments and line-item votes would be taken, and agreed to proceed with the division’s presentation before questions. Representative Maguire then outlined the division’s approach as a series of tradeoffs to close a large budget gap, emphasizing cuts, some revenue changes, and a focus on overall spending levels as well as individual reductions. The presentation covered a wide range of agencies and policy areas. Major proposed changes included cuts or eliminations to several boards and commissions viewed as costly or duplicative, such as the Housing Appeals Board, Board of Tax and Land Appeals, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Aging, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Personnel Appeals Board, with some functions consolidated into other boards. The division also proposed back-of-the-budget cuts to the Information Technology Department, Judicial Branch, Justice Department, Retirement System, Corrections, and Environmental Services, along with fee increases in several areas. Other notable items included ending marketing for Paid Family Leave, reducing job advertising and tourism promotion, defunding the Arts Council, moving liquor enforcement functions out of the Liquor Commission, and shifting some funds such as the College Savings Commission money to Division Two. Several members questioned specific cuts, especially the elimination of the Council on Aging, the reduction in regional planning commission grants, and the large cut to tourism advertising. Maguire defended the choices as necessary budget tradeoffs, arguing that some programs duplicated work done elsewhere, that regional planning grants were not among the most essential items, and that tourism promotion was a form of spending he viewed skeptically. He also explained that the public defender’s budget was partially restored after a credible claim of a governor’s budget error, and that the committee would continue refining corrections-related cuts because the House was only halfway through the budget process and further changes could still occur in the Senate and conference committee.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • So if you want this to continue the way it is, then so be it.
  • So if you want this to continue the way it is, then so be it.
  • The program will not have monthly fees just for enrolling people.
  • Damien, what is the capacity for the enrollment on this?
  • It won't allow it to continue.
Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes and then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain laboratory services when a member was referred by a contracting provider, and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services and retaliation tied to such referrals. AHCCCS testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create fiscal and federal compliance concerns. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement to no more than contracting-provider rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee next took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require AHCCCS to contract with an administrative services organization for program integrity and case management functions for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping AHCCCS ultimately responsible. The chair’s amendment expanded the ASO’s duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed AHCCCS claims payment authority, added more tribal observers, and exempted IHS and tribal facilities. Testimony strongly supported reforming the system after fraud and overcorrection harmed Native members and providers, but AHCCCS raised concerns about the fast timeline, possible duplication of fraud-fighting functions, and the need for 45 days of tribal consultation. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1630 would create a Medicaid-funded home and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness, capped initially at 250 members under the Angius amendment, with semiannual reporting and a process for future expansion only if costs are reduced or neutral. Supporters said the bill would help the sickest SMI patients avoid repeated hospitalizations, jail, and homelessness, and could save the state general fund by shifting costs to federal Medicaid funding; AHCCCS was neutral and said it was finalizing the fiscal estimate. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 unanimously. The committee also passed SB 1193, protecting emergency medical care technician personal information from disclosure; SB 1318, repealing an outdated state dense-breast notification requirement to align with FDA language; and SB 1345, restricting anonymous complaints against health care institutions, though AHCCCS warned that federal law may still require investigation of complaints from any source and that the bill could reduce reporting and invite litigation.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session B Jan 28th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It does not say they can't continue to attend.
  • We have open enrollment. We have open enrollment. So what kind of message?
  • We should continue that. We shouldn't reverse that progress. We should continue that progress.
  • I continued. These children don't have a way. They have to continue.
  • That grudge from 2018 continued.
Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.