Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there seems to be at the federal level a move to get away from foreign sources of that.
• Um, we'd love to have a conversation about how we can assist our, uh, more rural and unincorporated communities
• communities, how might EDD, what are the plans they might have specifically to help these, um, to assist
• in that would be, and I think I'll leave this for later, but the, um, LEAD, the Local Economic Assistance
• It's the business accelerator for foreign businesses focusing on foreign investment in New Mexico, um

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> programs, and in the outreach to assist programs, and in the outreach to assist those<00:09:02.560
• <c> to</c><02:31:21.760><c> participate</c> If foreign actors expect to participate If foreign actors
• </c> 2026. specified harmful foreign 2026. specified harmful foreign activities<04:14:42.479><c> of</
• </c> referred to the committee on foreign referred to the committee on foreign affairs<04:15:54.159><
• </c> to the national security and foreign to the national security and foreign policy<04:17:10.800><c

Bills: HB5103 , HR1131 , HR1135

Keywords: appropriations, Department of Homeland Security, local beautification, navigable waters, government oversight, House committees, membership, legislative process, election, governance

Transcript Highlights:

• We assist survivors of sexual abuse. I apologize.
• A foreign adversary is defined as an individual or a government identified as a foreign adversary in
• adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary?
• adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary?
• HB 192 proposes to prohibit a private entity that is a foreign adversary, or an agent of a foreign adversary

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up HB 51 by Rep. Villio, a constitutional amendment to prohibit post-conviction bail for people convicted of aggravated offenses against minors. Members adopted a technical amendment to simplify the ballot language, heard a 6.8A report explaining the committee’s authority over constitutional amendments, and then adopted the report and passed HB 51 with amendments. Support was noted from law enforcement and district attorney groups. The main item was HB 526 by Rep. Dickerson, which would cap general damages in civil cases at $500,000 in most cases and $1 million for severe permanent injury, while leaving economic damages uncapped. The bill drew extensive testimony from trucking, logging, business, and insurance-reform advocates who argued that unpredictable verdicts and “nuclear verdicts” drive up commercial insurance costs and push businesses out of Louisiana. Opponents, including attorneys and victims’ advocates, argued the bill would unfairly limit recovery for seriously injured people and could harm sexual assault survivors and families in wrongful death cases. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying the cap applies per individual plaintiff rather than to the action as a whole, but then rejected a motion to report the bill; the roll call was 4 yeas and 5 nays, so HB 526 remained in committee. The committee then heard HB 173 by Rep. Bamberg, which would bar recovery for bodily injury or property damage by a driver who had failed to maintain required auto insurance for at least 30 days before the crash. Supporters said uninsured motorists contribute to higher premiums and should not recover large awards, while opponents warned the bill would punish innocent spouses, children, and other people who may be unaware coverage lapsed. An amendment was adopted to add the 30-day uninsured requirement, and the bill moved to opposition testimony, but the transcript cuts off before any final vote on HB 173.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assistance for businesses seeking climate-friendly expansions, which is line item 7-002-8079, provides
• It's a very complicated process and all the clinical hours, all the process to get a foreign nurse to
• relicense here and to be able to serve here... ...foreign nurse to relicense here and to be able to
• So with that, in closing, I offer my assistance to the committee and its members as you work through
• I serve as the Assistant Directing Business Representative for IAM District 15.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H. 5386, also referred to as the Mass Winds Act, focused on global investment, talent, innovation, housing, and business competitiveness. Governor Healey, Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz described the bill as a response to federal uncertainty and global competition, building on the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They highlighted proposed investments in a Global Mass initiative, including a $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for sites to help international companies locate or expand in Massachusetts, along with support for AI, quantum, robotics, defense innovation, climate tech, downtown revitalization, and creative/cultural economy projects. They also emphasized measures to lower business costs, including reducing the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, and streamlining housing and development rules. Committee members questioned the administration about non-compete reform, AI and data-center infrastructure, housing affordability, and whether the bill would help retain workers and companies in Massachusetts. The governor and secretaries argued that the non-compete changes would restore the original compromise by requiring any alternative to garden leave to be negotiated at separation, and they said the bill’s housing and workforce provisions are intended to help young workers stay in the state. They also said Massachusetts is already investing in AI training, an AI hub, and energy-related planning, while acknowledging that data-center growth will require careful attention to water, electricity, and ratepayer impacts. Several witnesses testified on specific sections. Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, saying experiential learning helps students gain jobs and remain in Massachusetts. The Latino Empowerment Advisory Council supported the waiver of redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses, saying it would speed entry into the workforce without lowering clinical standards. Russell Beck opposed the non-compete changes, arguing they would undermine the 2018 compromise and could reduce other forms of employee compensation. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, citing revenue loss and fraud concerns. Municipal and regional groups, including the MMA and the Metro Mayors Coalition, supported site plan review codification and downtown/arts investments, while urging continued municipal input. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor protections if federal law changes, and business and industry witnesses generally supported the bill’s competitiveness and global investment provisions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with written testimony invited after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rebecca Riner, committee legislative assistant. Dwayne Quam.
• language pages that have been foreign language pages that have been available<00:13:58.759><c> on</c
• Our office also assisted with the planning of Youth Day at the Capitol.
• </c><00:25:42.760><c> commission</c> Federal elections assistance commission Federal elections assistance
• </c><01:35:22.760><c> induced</c> was about foreign induced was about foreign induced uh<01:35:24.679

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• And also, please do not use the chat for anything other than technical assistance.
• He's also an assistant administrator in another community.
• regulatory environment, in a fear-based process that has no feedback loop, against highly resourced foreign
• able to work one day, to steward, to take care of, be bought up and leased and salivated over by foreign
• able to work one day, to steward, to take care of it, to be bought up and leased and salivated by foreign

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy. Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, please do not use the chat for anything other than technical assistance.
• He's also an assistant administrator in another community.
• regulatory environment, in a fear-based process that has no feedback loop, against highly resourced foreign
• be able to work one day, to steward, to take care of, to be bought up and leased and salivated by foreign
• be able to work one day, to steward, to take care of, to be bought up and leased and salivated by foreign

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused primarily on two local measures: Senate Bill 3026 concerning voting procedures for a proposed six-town regional school district, and House Bill 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year moratorium on large-scale solar development. Committee members reminded speakers of testimony limits and remote participation rules, then took testimony from local officials, residents, and advocates. On S. 3026, supporters from the Six Town Regionalization Planning Board and local boards said the bill would create a fairer, equal voting process across all six towns for a major regional school district decision. They argued the measure would expand voter access, address concerns about unequal polling opportunities, and help communities respond to declining enrollment and financial pressures affecting school sustainability. Testifiers thanked the bill’s sponsors and urged the committee to advance it. On H. 5294, Worthington officials and residents strongly supported the moratorium, saying it was not anti-solar but a needed planning pause for a small rural town facing industrial-scale solar and battery proposals. Witnesses cited limited municipal staff, volunteer fire and health services, water-supply and groundwater concerns, wildfire risk, decommissioning and oversight costs, land-use and ecological impacts, and the strain on rural communities from state energy mandates. Several speakers said the town needed time to develop zoning and safety regulations before projects moved forward, and they asked the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed testimony after the final speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Assistance Road Plan. Assistance Road Plan.
• </c> liquor corporations owned by foreign liquor corporations owned by foreign companies<01:10:33.560
• countries, will that tax that we will lose, the people of Kentucky will lose, go back to the foreign
• A respected instructional assistant with the Spencer County Public School District, Ms.
• :32:01.320><c> with</c> A respected instructional assistant with A respected instructional assistant

Transcript Highlights:

• contributions, foreign independent expenditures, and foreign electioneering communications, to provide
• This adds foreign-minted gold and silver to that statute.
• So America has a rich history of using foreign-minted gold and silver bullion as legal tender.
• Imagine being in a wheelchair, you have to have somebody assist you to the restroom, to shower, to get
• And if it does, I hope this body is ready to spring to assistance quickly and make sure that folks with

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:35.199><c> small</c> $10 million package to assist small $10 million package to assist small
• </c> case, uh, provided a lot of assistance case, uh, provided a lot of assistance to<00:42:28.480><c
• need assistance right public assistance need assistance right now.<00:44:44.640><c> So</c><00:44:44.880
• </c> in requested assistance. in requested assistance.
• </c> million dollars in assistance. million dollars in assistance.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We had in Washington what is called a back channel, and the then foreign minister, Luis Videgaray, he
• And these engagements have enabled our team to connect with hundreds of foreign visitors across North
• This is not a foreign relationship. It is a binational community.
• If you're familiar with that, it's the largest no-cost technical assistance program that the SBA and
• If you're familiar with that, it's the largest no-cost technical assistance program that the SBA and

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, foreign nationals target putting vape shops around military bases.
• And we've lost, at least in Fargo, a significant number of foreign workers.
• In Cass County, we have 500 families waiting for assistance.
• So without child care assistance, the actual providers are cutting their slots.
• The Netherlands' action, therefore, has implications beyond foreign policy.

Summary: The committee first approved minutes from prior meetings and then filled a vacancy on Legislative Management by appointing Senator Braunberger after a caucus recommendation. Members then took up an unusual appeal from the North Dakota Gaming Commission after the Administrative Rules Committee voided a rule that would have raised the poker tournament entry fee from $300 to $1,500. Legislative Council explained the administrative rules process and the grounds for voiding a rule, while Gaming Commission representatives argued the commission had statutory authority and that the issue should be left to the full Legislature. Several members raised concerns about legislative intent, precedent, and whether the matter should wait for the regular session. On a motion to disapprove the Administrative Rules Committee’s finding and restore the rule, the committee voted no, so the voiding of the rule remained in place. The committee then reviewed the fiscal impact statement for Constitutional Measure No. 1 on congressional age limits. Staff reported no current fiscal impact because no litigation had been filed, though members noted the possibility of future legal challenges if the measure were enforced. After that, the committee began hearing proposed bills for the upcoming special session, starting with several kratom-related measures. Representative Wolff withdrew her bill, saying it was redundant, while Representative Heinert presented a bill to legalize and regulate natural kratom for adults 21 and over under the Attorney General, with licensing, labeling, penalties, and a public health campaign. Senator Axtman presented a companion bill targeting synthetic kratom derivatives, placing them on the controlled substances list with penalties similar to marijuana. Legislative Council later outlined Representative Johnston’s separate kratom bill, which would regulate kratom under the Department of Agriculture with product registration, licensing, and enforcement provisions. The committee also heard Senator Hogue’s bill to address funding for the State Historical Society’s military museum project. He argued the state was in breach of contract and that delaying action would increase costs, so his bill would authorize a $35 million line of credit to keep construction moving while fundraising continued. Members questioned the relationship between the proposed line of credit, existing SIF funding, and the private fundraising requirement, but no vote was taken before the meeting moved on. Finally, Representative Sue Ann Olson began presenting a bill requiring the Class D driver’s license test to be administered in English, arguing it was a safety measure because road signs are in English and law enforcement encounters can be complicated by language barriers. The transcript cuts off before her testimony concluded or any action was taken on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are some foreign government assistance programs that help to exacerbate that differential.
• I think the regulations, I mean, certainly as a foreigner, I've come to the conclusion that you can't—you
• For example, foreign governments often subsidize wine production, allowing those wines to be exported
• And, you know, we invited an assistant deputy director of Kihar today really to celebrate—probably a
• And, you know, we invited, we invited an assistant deputy director of Kihaar today really to celebrate

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on California’s wine industry held its first meeting at Napa Valley College, with opening remarks from Chair Senator Christopher Cabaldon and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry emphasizing the wine industry’s importance to California’s economy, communities, and tourism. The chair said the hearing was intended to gather information and ideas, not to take legislative action that day, and to prepare for future work on legislation, budget, and oversight. The first panel focused on research and trends, with experts from Sonoma State, UC Davis, and Terrain describing a major structural downturn: falling wine production and sales, rising costs, labor shortages, housing pressures, changing consumer habits, tariffs, and the loss of younger consumers. They argued the industry needs to shift toward new-customer acquisition, more accessible products and messaging, evidence-based business decisions, and greater investment in research, education, and innovation, including work on disease, climate stress, and health-related consumer questions. Committee members pressed the panel on whether the industry’s future depends on adaptation by existing producers or market-driven consolidation, and on how California can reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining standards. Witnesses said the state’s universities are a “superpower” but are underfunded for wine research, especially on the business and regulatory side, and they urged review of outdated rules, better data collection, and more efficient compliance systems. They also discussed trade competitiveness, especially with imports and the collapse of exports to Canada after tariffs, and raised the need for transitional support for vineyard removals and replanting. The chair and majority leader emphasized that regulations should be evaluated for effectiveness and that California should use its research capacity to improve both industry practices and regulatory implementation. A second panel included representatives from growers, the Wine Institute, and family winemakers. Michael Miller of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers described a severe grower crisis: grapes left unpicked, vineyards abandoned or removed, falling vineyard values, and a need for relief on regulatory costs, trade barriers, water policy, and vineyard removal expenses. Honor Comfort of the Wine Institute focused on consumer outreach, especially younger drinkers, and described the Share Wine Co-Lab, an open-access marketing platform with research, webinars, case studies, and office hours to help wineries better reach Gen Z and millennials. Jane Lisa Tamayo of Family Winemakers of California was present but her remarks were largely garbled in the transcript. Committee members again stressed the need for education, better messaging, and caution about simplistic policy fixes, while also noting the importance of Canada as an export market and the risks of tariffs. The final panel addressed tourism, farmworker impacts, and water regulation. Visit Napa Valley CEO Lindsay Gallagher said Napa’s tourism economy remains relatively strong but is feeling the same international headwinds as the wine sector, including reduced Canadian visitation; she said Napa is broadening its message beyond wine to cuisine, wellness, and outdoor experiences. Sonia DeLuca of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation said declining sales and rising costs are reducing hours, wages, and training opportunities for farmworkers, and urged targeted relief, removal of barriers to sales, wage-loss support, and continued bilingual workforce training. She also said Napa’s workforce-development model is ready to support technology adoption if legal changes allow more automation. Finally, State Water Board official Annalisa Kihar gave an update on the Winery General Order, explaining that it was created in 2021 to streamline and standardize wastewater permitting, with tiered requirements and exemptions for very small wineries; she said 56 wineries have enrolled and 122 are under review, and that the board is working with industry and regional agencies to improve compliance support and flexibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes clear that Florida courts may not be asked to enforce foreign or religious law in a way that
• Courts cannot apply any law, foreign or religious, in a way that violates constitutional rights, and
• And there was another variant of anti-foreign law bill.
• Florida is not obligated to tolerate foreign legal...
• Now, if your membership results in knowingly, willfully, and intentionally assisting that organization

Summary: The subcommittee took up a long agenda of civil justice measures and claims bills. HB 1407, on commencement of civil actions under the Florida Civil Rights Act, was presented as a fix to conflicting appellate decisions about whether an EEOC no-probable-cause notice can start the clock for filing suit; the bill would allow an EEOC determination to suffice and permit filing within 18 months of the complaint. It passed 16-0. HB 1337, an estates bill reducing court involvement in decedent asset distribution by expanding personal representative authority over safe deposit boxes and increasing small-estate thresholds, also passed unanimously, 17-0. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1553, which would change what medical expense evidence juries may see in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with supporters saying it would clarify the law and let both sides present evidence, and opponents arguing it would roll back 2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical bills. After extensive testimony from business, insurance, trucking, and plaintiff-side interests, the PCS passed 13-4. HB 1423, dealing with negligent security in multifamily residential properties, would remove a presumption against liability when two or more specified crimes were reported in the prior 24 months; an amendment clarified that the crimes must have been reported to the owner or principal operator. Supporters said it would help crime victims and restore balance, while opponents warned it would undermine incentives for property owners to maintain security. The amended bill passed 14-4. Several claims bills also advanced unanimously: HB 6527 for Patricia Armini and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6531 for the estate of McKenzie Navarra and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6507 for L.E. and the Department of Children and Families, and HB 6521 for Jose Carrera and Miami-Dade County. Each was described as providing compensation for serious injuries or death after prior government negligence, and each was reported favorably without opposition votes. Finally, the committee heard HB 1471, a controversial bill on systems of law and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would bar enforcement of foreign or religious law over the U.S. and Florida Constitutions, create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations, and prevent state funds from supporting terrorism. Members raised extensive concerns about vague definitions, First Amendment and due process issues, and the lack of a predesignation hearing; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with supporters arguing the bill was needed for public safety. The transcript ends during public testimony on HB 1471, before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering, please see Bennett Mitchell, our assistant clerk, who is seated
• no question that Texas is experiencing a systemic cement shortage and is increasingly relying on foreign
• Unfortunately, the passage of Senate Bill 1758 would make Texas dependent on foreign cement, but that's
• Unfortunately, the passage of Senate Bill 1758 would make Texas dependent on foreign cement, but that's
• So when, uh, Chairman Birdwell asked for our assistance and maybe resolving this situation.

Bills: SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1898 , SB2050

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2203, relating to certification of discovery issues in TCEQ contested cases referred to SOAH. The chair noted the House had already passed the companion HB 3249, then moved SB 2203 without amendments. The motion prevailed on a 5-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full House. The committee then heard SB 1898, which would prohibit the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam for testing and training, while still allowing it in emergency firefighting. The sponsor described PFAS as “forever chemicals” and said the bill would protect firefighters, water supplies, and public health. Testimony in support came from Environment Texas, which cited contamination concerns and noted other states and federal actions restricting PFAS foams. No one testified against the bill, and after closing testimony the committee left SB 1898 pending. The remainder of the hearing focused on SB 1758, a Grayson County pilot program aimed at addressing potential conflicts between Global Wafers’ semiconductor wafer facility and a proposed Black Mountain Cement/aggregate operation. Supporters, including Global Wafers, Grayson County officials, and manufacturing groups, argued that vibration from mining or blasting could threaten a major national-security semiconductor investment and that an independent BEG study was needed to set safe parameters. Opponents from Black Mountain Cement and related industry groups argued the bill would improperly interfere with a lawful permitting process, pick winners and losers, and harm Texas’ pro-business climate; they also said they had already revised operations and removed blast mining. The discussion included extensive questioning about geology, vibration, the permitting timeline, and whether the issue was really about mining rather than the air permit. No vote was taken on SB 1758 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're a foreign, internationally trained physician or internationally trained nurse, yeah, you'd be.
• It's a very complicated process and all the clinical hours, all the process to get a foreign nurse to
• Foreign nurse to relicense here and to be able to serve here.
• So with that, in closing, I offer my assistance to the committee and its members as you work through
• I serve as the assistant directing business representative for IAM District 15.

Bills: H5386

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: economic development, innovation, investment, housing, small business, global trade, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee assistant, please call the roll. Senators Cabaldon? Cabaldon, aye. Ochoa Bogh?
• How does this bill help with foreign countries? It does not.
• Committee assistant, please call the roll. Senators Cabaldon: Aye.
• With that, committee assistant, please call the roll. Motion is due pass to Judiciary.
• Committee assistant, please call the roll. Motion is due pass to the Judiciary.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• He's accompanied by his city manager, City Manager Benson, as well as the assistant city manager, City
• The tools we currently have to assist our veterans in transition in earning the benefits that they have
• An honest service registry will prohibit Florida charities from soliciting contributions from foreign
• An honest service registry will prohibit Florida charities from soliciting contributions from foreign
• I don't think in our state that we should be basing such an important decision on foreign studies that

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions recognizing guests, family members, and a USF Day at the Capitol presentation. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar, where it first passed two Open Government Sunset Review bills: CS/SB 7010, preserving a public records exemption for certain Department of Financial Services receiver information, and SB 7008/HB 7003, preserving confidentiality for financial technology sandbox application records. Both measures passed unanimously. The Senate also passed CS/SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings relating to terrorism, a bill intended to help victims enforce judgments against terrorist entities, and CS/CS/SB 910 on veterans benefits assistance, aimed at improving veterans’ access to benefits and transition support. Additional measures passed included CS/CS/CS/SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems, CS/CS/CS/SB 700, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, and several claims bills, including relief for Darlene Angerville and J.R., Eric and Jennifer Miles on behalf of EEM, and Marcus Button. SB 994 on driver’s license education requirements also passed after an amendment making texting while driving a moving violation with points and a distracted-driving course requirement. The most extended debate centered on CS/CS/CS/SB 700, where senators discussed provisions on fluoride in drinking water, labeling of plant-based products, drone penalties, charity registration, agricultural housing, and other agriculture-related policy changes. Several amendments on fluoride were offered and defeated, while a technical amendment on financial institution definitions was adopted. Senators also briefly discussed the policy implications of the bill’s fluoride language and its relationship to local control and public health. Several other bills on the calendar were temporarily postponed, and at the end of the session the Senate adopted motions to certify passed bills to the House, retain postponed bills on the special order calendar, and remove CS/SB 7016 from the special order calendar. The Senate then adjourned until April 16.

Transcript Highlights:

• and California veterans are too often targeted by unaccredited claim representatives offering to assist
• 2006, Congress amended federal law in a way that eliminated prohibitions that made it a crime to assist
• Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thank you. And principal opposition? Testify?
• The organization of Veterans of Foreign Wars...
• And I just want everybody to know, I'm also the assistant national service director for the NAC VSO,

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met with a quorum and first approved its consent calendar, including AJR 15, SB 56, SB 296, and SB 855, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then heard SB 694 by Senator Archuleta, which would require VA accreditation for veterans’ claims representatives and prohibit unaccredited persons from charging fees or otherwise handling VA claims, with the author and supporters arguing the bill would protect veterans from predatory “claims shark” businesses and restore accountability. Support came from county veterans service officers, veterans organizations, National Guard representatives, and several individual veterans, who said accredited public services are free and that unaccredited firms often charge large fees, delay claims, or use questionable practices. Opposition testimony came from a veterans advocate and representatives of private claims companies, who argued that some for-profit consultants provide useful, performance-based assistance, that veterans need choice, and that the bill could eliminate access for those who cannot get timely help from public or nonprofit providers. Committee members debated whether the bill would unlawfully restrict services already operating in a gray area under federal law, whether there is enough data on the impact of private claims assistance, and whether amendments could preserve “good actors” while targeting bad practices. The author and supporters responded that federal law already bars the conduct, that the state lacks oversight over these companies, and that the bill is a first step toward stronger protections. SB 694 was ultimately passed out of committee on a 6-0 vote and referred to the Committee on Judiciary; the consent calendar also passed with eight votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also attracts outside financers such as foreign entities influencing lawsuits.
• It also attracts outside financers such as foreign entities influencing lawsuits.
• And so what we're saying is, if it's a foreign—if it's a foreign trans... your no, your bets off that
• </c><00:17:00.920><c> if</c> we're saying is if it's a foreign if we're saying is if it's a foreign if
• No, these are folks that have already been adjudicated as foreign actors.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later. Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not. Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.