Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I reserve the right to close. OK, any questions for Mr. Cortez? We appreciate it.
• They're very difficult to recover and once they're in the wind, they're kind of in the wind.
• , uh, Chairman and members, and I believe we have witnesses, so I yield for witness testimony and reserve
• Um, I, I have to express the same reservations Representative Jones has about a student.
• Just this past summer, a vehicle in the River Center Mall parking lot was being broken into when the

Bills: HB268 , HB305 , HB307 , HB380 , HB548 , HB727 , HB268 , HB305 , HB307

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I welcome any questions and reserve the right to close.
• All right, I'll let you reserve your right to close.
• All right, we'll let you reserve your right to close, and, uh, the chair calls Frank Malinac.
• We'll let you reserve your right to close. We, we have a witness, John Hawkins.
• Or if not, with that, I'd like to reserve to close. All members, any questions?

Bills: HB1845 , HB2192 , HB2438 , HB2529 , HB2607 , HB2658 , HB3348 , HB3505 , HB3305

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The expansion of the urban Indian... I'm probably saying that wrong.
• The urban Indian organizations, that is where the...
• out, but we included this money for non-Indians.
• It's because non-Indians are spouses in the Indian community, and sometimes these traditional healing
• And so that's how the non-Indian folks would come in.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on March 25 for what was described as its last regular meeting, with a possible special meeting the following week. The committee first took up Senate Bill 1112, adopting a Livingston strike-everything amendment that appropriates $1 million from the special services fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of Corrections for holistic, studio-based rehabilitative programming and requires a report on spending, self-harm, discipline, and recidivism by June 30, 2028. Supporters from Art of Our Soul testified that the trauma-informed art and music therapy program has reduced disciplinary violations, self-harm, and mental health watches, and members described it as a rehabilitation effort with documented benefits. The bill, as amended, received a due pass recommendation by a 16-2 vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1776, which would expand AHCCCS coverage for traditional healing services to include urban Indian organizations. AHCCCS testified neutrally but said the change would require a waiver amendment, would not qualify for 100% federal match, and would carry an estimated $1.3 million general fund impact. The sponsor argued the bill would align Arizona with federal policy and correct an omission of urban Indian organizations from the existing waiver. After discussion about costs and whether the bill should proceed with a committee of the whole amendment, the committee gave SB 1776 a do pass recommendation by a 9-6-2-1 vote, with several members expressing concern about AHCCCS growth and the funding source. Senate Bill 1537, which would rename the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund and repeal its advisory commission, failed. Testimony explained that the commission has not met in years and that the bill was largely a cleanup measure, but the Arizona Police Association opposed the change and some members wanted the commission reformed rather than repealed. The committee voted it down 6-9, with members split over whether the fund should remain tied to its current structure. The committee next adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1584 that shifted a $1 million appropriation for Department of Corrections recruitment and training from the general fund to the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. Supporters said DOC remains understaffed and that the training/recruitment program has worked elsewhere; some members questioned whether the fund could legally be used for that purpose, but the amendment passed and the bill received a do pass recommendation by a 10-5-2-2 vote. Finally, Senate Bill 1673, which funds the law enforcement crime victim notification system, was amended to reduce the appropriation from $5 million general fund to about $2.595 million from the victim compensation fund. Testimony from the Arizona Sheriffs Association, victim notification vendors, and Phoenix officials emphasized the program’s importance, while others argued the amendment would raid victim compensation resources. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed, and the committee adjourned after noting the next calendar had not yet been posted.

Transcript Highlights:

• , 58, Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act, Sunset<00:29:25.279><c> Repeal.
• Repeal, an act relating to Indian child welfare.
• Repeal, an act relating to Indian child welfare.
• Repeal, an act relating to Indian child welfare.
• Repeal, an act relating to Indian child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of these facilities is being... ...put on the banks of the North River, one of the only protected
• scenic rivers in all of New England, which is very historic as well as feeds into our oceans and protects
• The most affordable forms of energy generation, of course, are solar and wind, and those are the things
• Solar energy, wind power, and advanced battery storage technology are no longer experimental.
• from the Merrimack River.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The area along the banks of the river was heavily overgrown.
• Another difference regards investment of reserves.
• Lucie River Water Control District, St. Lucie County.
• Lucie River Water Control District, St. Lucy County.
• Because I live on the Miami River.

Summary: The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, and a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. After routine business, the Senate took up several special-order bills. The first major bill, transportation offenses involving death, increased penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenses. An amendment added penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing and required law enforcement to notify suspects of those penalties. The bill passed 37-0. The Senate then passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours and holiday access to care and setting network standards for Medicaid managed care plans, also by a 37-0 vote. The chamber next considered a major condominium and cooperative associations bill responding to post-Surfside safety and financial concerns. Senators described the measure as balancing building safety with financial relief, extending reserve-study deadlines, allowing temporary reserve relief after inspections, tightening oversight of managers and inspectors, and adjusting voting, resale, and reserve rules. After extensive debate and praise from members for the bill’s sponsors and staff, the bill passed 37-0. The longest discussion centered on a constitutional amendments/petition process bill aimed at curbing fraud in citizen initiative petitions. Sponsors argued that the 2024 petition process was plagued by fraud and identity theft and proposed tighter rules for circulators, faster submission deadlines, voter notification, penalties, and limits on petition handling. Senators offered and adopted multiple amendments, including changes to petition-circulator definitions, invalid-signature thresholds, and voter notification procedures. After a substitute amendment was withdrawn, the Senate continued debating the underlying amended bill, with members split between concerns about election integrity and worries that the bill would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizen initiatives to qualify.

Transcript Highlights:

• treatment, and... ...and everything that's full, you know, what a lot of folks in the industry and Indian
• casino that you're passing by, that kind of get maybe the population match up to Hawaii and Native Indian
• tribal models is that the more successful tribal casinos are the ones that are on the edge of a reservation
• about that in on upcoming... ...a little about that in upcoming tourism coming in to us at a Native Indian
• it differently, and I think the political status of Native Hawaiians against federally recognized Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• We did tap into our reserves as far as we could and still say fiscally healthy.
• Reserve. Low. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two questions if you don't mind.
• Money sitting in reserve in our account, and we built up about $4 million dollars to be able to make
• So you have to have that $4 million or so in reserve. And we did that.
• And since they were online, we began reserving that money, thinking that our...

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• No other state in the union does this, taxing of reserves.
• And for those nonprofits that do have the reserves, this is their only way that they can source capital
• And with the cumulative effect of what we ask the carriers, plus we've also voted to tax their reserves
• And with the cumulative effect of what we ask the carriers, plus we've also voted to tax their reserves

Bills: HB1073 , HB1128 , HB1316 , HB1408 , HB1591 , HB1592 , HB1634 , HB1906 , HB1960 , HB2073 , HB2145 , HB2248 , HB2266 , HB2301 , HB2333 , HB2365 , HB2401 , HB2416 , HB2421 , HB2438 , HB2474 , HB2475 , HB2515 , HB2517 , HB2523 , HB2548 , HB2597 , HB2637 , HB2640 , HB2660 , HB2675 , HB2685 , HB2720 , HB1742 , HB2104 , HB2186 , HB2405 , HB2557 , HB2593 , HB2636

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: national guard, military support, defense, state security, veteran services, child care, workforce standards, education, child development, training requirements, postsecondary education, homelessness, foster youth, education access, support programs, community preservation, development authorities, funding, local governance, state resources

Bills: SB115 , SB131 , SB93 , HB319 , HB163 , HB268 , SB115 , SB131 , SB93 , HB319 , HB163 , HB268 , HB181 , HB153 , SB132 , SB26 , SB189 , SB196 , HB140 , SB197 , HB117 , HB181 , HB153 , SB132 , SB26 , SB189 , SB196 , HB140 , SB197 , HB117

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: SB115, Alabama, impersonating a peace officer, peace officer, law enforcement impersonation, police impersonation, unauthorized police officer, fake cop, certification revoked, certification suspended, Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, APOSTC, Class C felony, law enforcement hiring, appointment of officers, federal law enforcement, arrest authority, public order, criminal offenses, Judiciary Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is on offshore wind.
• They're batteries, geothermal, solar, and wind.
• that are in the strategic reserve be moved out?
• floating offshore wind.
• Just really quick points on offshore wind.

Transcript Highlights:

• Angus, a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and Executive Program Director. for the Case Western Reserve
• I'm a- Professor with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine's Master of Science in Anesthesia
• I'm a first year student at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, in strong support.
• for decades they have suffered from cannabis grows on their lands and have polluted the streams and rivers
• and become the next generation leaders that we would like to see for all of our people, not just Indian

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• charter schools and Renaissance schools through the establishment of charter and Renaissance school reserve
• charter schools and Renaissance schools through the establishment of charter and Renaissance school reserve
• within traditional public schools we'd like to see this legislation I believe it's its own school reserve
• You're casting a wide net and going to wind up catching folks that this promulgation was not intended
• Johnson, a company that was born in New Brunswick 140 years ago, chose to invest billions just over the river

Committee: Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, please reserve your questions until we finish hearing from the... entirety of the panel.
• River that you know downstream farmers need to pull out of for their senior water rights to irrigate
• And then at the end, you wind up with an operator that's not financially capable.
• areas of the state now where there's not a lot of new drilling. as the methodology for accessing reserves
• And those reserves will otherwise be stranded.

Bills: SB1150 , SB763 , SB1061 , SB1146 , SB1198 , HB279 , HB310

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• , 365 days a year, fully dispatchable, as opposed to other kinds of renewable energy like solar or wind
• It's very different than solar and wind in that you can see the sun and feel the wind, whereas geothermal
• Solar and wind and other renewables can play a role Base load power to supply these types of needs, and
• So, our rivers, our arroyos, and our surface water bodies have.
• Places that don't have a river flowing through them are probably the most concerning, thinking about

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to thank Senator Cynthia Creem, who listened to the Charles River Dining Collaborative over
• credit cards, especially those with rewards, have driven a shift away from cash, which the Federal Reserve
• I think the Federal Reserve Risk Officer survey from 2024 reflected that banks' biggest losses are related
• You may have noticed that Chair Murphy and I were having a conversation early in the Indian panel's testimony

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Robbie Brackett, District 34, which includes Indian River County and part of Rivard County.
• The defense attorney can give an opening statement at that time, or they can reserve.
• Defense attorneys can give an opening statement at that time, or they can reserve.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee held its first meeting of 2025, took roll, confirmed a quorum, and heard member introductions before turning to an informational panel on how a criminal case moves through Florida’s system. The chair emphasized respectful committee process and introduced staff, then invited the panel to explain the path from arrest through prosecution, first appearance, arraignment, discovery, trial, plea negotiations, and sentencing. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described law enforcement discretion, probable cause, misdemeanor and felony arrest rules, pre-arrest diversion, jail operations, and the statewide uniform bond schedule. He also discussed jail overcrowding, supervised release, mental health and substance abuse issues in jails, and the need for better case management and diversion resources. Judge Frank Allman explained first appearance, bond setting, arraignment, trial procedures, plea colloquies, and sentencing under Florida’s punishment code, including downward departures and victim impact statements. State Attorney Jack Campbell outlined charging decisions, the higher proof burden prosecutors must meet, coordination with law enforcement, Baker Act proceedings, victim notification, informations versus grand jury indictments, and the role of diversion and treatment courts. Public Defender Matthew Mets described indigency screening, discovery, the growing volume and technical complexity of evidence, mitigation work, and the importance of treatment-based resolutions. Members asked about time-served credit for supervised release, mental health recidivism, homelessness enforcement, ICE holds, and sentencing discretion; no votes were taken and the meeting ended after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and you'll see lake or a river.
• /c><00:20:47.919><c> leaves</c><00:20:48.159><c> and</c><00:20:48.320><c> the</c><00:20:48.480><c> wind
• </c> pile of leaves and the wind blew it in. pile of leaves and the wind blew it in.
• Hampshire Lakes, and one from the rivers Hampshire Lakes, and one from the rivers management<00:21:32.480
• Without access to external power reserves, shortages are more likely to put residents at risk.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we need to get there, and our reservation begins at 12:00 noon.
• The energy density of nuclear is superior to solar and wind.
• ,</c> one would think that solar, wind, one would think that solar, wind, whatever<00:15:25.040><c> other
• MIT is in downtown Cambridge across the river from Boston.
• Would not directly uh solar wind. Okay.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Blackwater River State Forest, up in Pensacola.
• Blackwater River is our largest state forest. It's 250,000 acres, and it's beautiful.
• I have Blackwater River; I have the forest; I have Cantonment.
• on the county line between Seminole and Volusia, there was an old friend of mine, an old American Indian

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met with a quorum and heard two Department of Agriculture presentations. First, the Director of Rural and Family Lands described the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which buys development rights through perpetual conservation easements on private agricultural land to preserve farming, wildlife habitat, water resources, and open space while keeping land taxable and avoiding state maintenance costs. He said the program has expanded rapidly since 2023 through streamlined applications, templates, and an online portal, increasing acreage protected from about 66,000 acres through 2022 to more than 210,000 acres, with a higher share in the Florida wildlife corridor. He also said review times were reduced by more than 85 days and that projects under $5 million can move faster under statutory authority. The department is seeking $200 million in nonrecurring funding on top of $100 million recurring, citing 203 existing projects and 224 new applications totaling nearly $2 billion in estimated need. Members asked about the scientific ranking process, South Florida participation, project prioritization, maintenance responsibilities, and whether landowners can exit the program; staff said land remains privately owned, easements are in perpetuity, and partnerships and cost-sharing are prioritized. The committee then heard from the Florida Forest Service director, who outlined the agency’s dual mission of wildfire response and land management. He said the service responds to roughly 2,200 to 2,500 wildfires annually, manages 38 state forests and one ranch totaling more than 1.1 million acres, and receives about 15 million visitors each year. He highlighted the impact of Senate Bill 1638 gaming compact funds, which provided $32 million for land management, recreation, equipment, roads, invasive species control, habitat restoration, prescribed burning, reforestation, and staffing support. He said Florida leads the nation in prescribed fire, with 277,818 acres burned on state forests last year and 2.47 million acres burned statewide, and noted ongoing restoration work such as Picayune Strand. He also described challenges including aging equipment, deferred maintenance, contractor availability, and timber market instability caused by hurricanes and mill closures, and suggested longer-term funding and a higher capital asset allowance. Members discussed timber markets, public communication and marketing, recreation fees, and coordination with other agencies and FDOT. The meeting ended with the chair noting that next week’s meeting would report out agency conversations and budget recommendations, and the committee rose.