Transcript Highlights:

• "Resolution 2102, commemorating the anniversary of Interfaith Works of Central New York."
• for Dialogue in Action, the longest-standing communitywide dialogue on racism in the country, the Center
• How it's generated in Pennsylvania or wherever else, you're saying that that is still going to count
• COUNTING AND ACCOUNTING FOR OUT OF STATE EMISSIONS AS OPPOSED TO IN-STATE EMISSIONS.
• HOW IT'S GENERATED IN PENNSYLVANIA OR WHEREVER ELSE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT IS STILL GOING TO COUNT

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then moved through a series of budget-related and ceremonial items. The chamber accepted Rules and Finance Committee reports and took up several budget extender and budget implementation bills, including the main appropriations extender and later a transportation, economic development, and environmental conservation budget bill. Senators questioned the sponsor extensively about the status of the remaining budget bills, the use of messages of necessity, and the absence of joint budget conference committees. The extender bill passed 59-2, and later budget-related measures were advanced after reconsideration and amendment. A major portion of the session focused on the environmental and energy provisions in the budget bill, especially changes to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Senators debated extending emissions targets, the role of cap-and-invest, utility affordability, ratepayer impacts, and the structure of a proposed blue-ribbon commission. Supporters said the changes were needed to give the state more time to implement the law and to protect affordability, while opponents argued the bill was a political delay that would not lower energy costs and relied too heavily on subsidies and future planning. The bill also drew questions about electric vehicle rebates, thermostat control programs, emergency diesel generation for Micron, and how imported electricity and out-of-state emissions would be treated. The Senate also adopted several previously adopted resolutions honoring the 50th anniversary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, India Independence Day, the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame, and the 50th anniversary of Interfaith Works of Central New York. Senators spoke in support of each resolution, highlighting the contributions of Black legislators, Indian-American communities, veterans, and refugee and interfaith service organizations. The Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony was specifically noted as a chamber event, and guests were recognized from the floor and gallery. In addition, the Senate restored recalled bills to the third reading calendar through reconsideration votes and amendments, including a highway law bill and another recalled bill, and then stood at ease for scheduled conferences and a Veterans Hall of Fame ceremony before resuming session. The transcript ended with discussion of a separate bill affecting automobile insurance serious-injury standards, with questions about what claims would remain available and whether the change would improve affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're putting all this in this amazing center that we're not creating.
• The innovation that's coming out of the Lassinger Center is amazing.
• It also adds an appropriation to the Data Center to implement...
• This center will conduct research into all lines of insurance.
• This center will conduct research into all lines of insurance.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The central question the Founding Fathers sought to answer was not about taxation, representation, or
• Now, we have programs like the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University
• We see so much bluster on cable news yet so little follow-through when it counts.
• many Americans out of work, and with consumers footing the bill for the cost of power-intensive data centers
• Some have even suggested that this technology will displace human beings as the central players on Earth's

Summary: The Florida House and Senate met in joint session to receive the Governor’s annual message. After opening formalities, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the appointment of a committee to notify the Governor that the Legislature was ready, the chamber recognized special guests and then received Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis. In his address, the Governor reviewed what he described as seven years of major accomplishments in Florida, emphasizing fiscal restraint, tax relief, economic growth, education reforms, environmental restoration, disaster response, public safety, and immigration enforcement. He highlighted a larger rainy day fund, reduced debt, record job and business growth, universal school choice, higher teacher pay, Hope Florida, Everglades restoration, stronger hurricane response, and tougher laws on crime and illegal immigration. He also warned about property tax burdens, called for a constitutional path to property tax relief, urged informed consent in medical policy, and raised concerns about artificial intelligence. The Governor pointed to several bills already filed and urged lawmakers to send him legislation eliminating DEI in local government, further discouraging illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and blocking the spread of Sharia law. He closed by asking the Legislature to continue advancing his agenda. After the address, the joint session voted to dissolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• The central question the Founding Fathers sought to answer... ...was not about taxation, representation
• Now, we have programs like the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University
• We see so much bluster on cable news yet so little follow-through when it counts.
• many Americans out of work, and with consumers footing the bill for the cost of power-intensive data centers
• Some have even suggested that this technology will displace human beings as the central players on Earth's

Summary: The transcript is of a Florida Legislature joint session convened to receive the Governor’s annual message. After the House and Senate were received, a committee was appointed to notify the Governor that the joint session was ready, and the Governor and First Lady were introduced. The Senate President presided, a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were offered, and the joint session then recessed to await the Governor’s arrival. Governor Ron DeSantis delivered a lengthy address reviewing his administration’s record over the past seven years. He highlighted fiscal restraint, larger reserves and rainy-day funds, debt reduction, tax cuts, business and job growth, school choice expansion, education reforms, higher teacher pay, civics initiatives, environmental restoration efforts in the Everglades, hurricane response improvements, public safety and immigration enforcement, and opposition to DEI and other ideological policies. He also urged lawmakers to send him bills on issues such as eliminating DEI in local governments, further restricting illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and addressing what he described as the creep of Sharia law. The Governor additionally called for property tax relief through the constitutional amendment process and for legislation emphasizing informed consent in medical decision-making. He warned about risks posed by artificial intelligence and said new technologies should align with American values. No substantive votes were taken on policy matters during the session; after the Governor’s remarks, the joint session adopted a motion to dissolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• The central question the Founding Fathers sought to answer was not about taxation, representation, or
• Now, we have programs like the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University
• We see so much bluster on cable news yet so little follow-through when it counts.
• many Americans out of work, and with consumers footing the bill for the cost of power-intensive data centers
• Some have even suggested that this technology will displace human beings as the central players on Earth's

Summary: The transcript captures a Florida legislative joint session convened to receive the Governor’s annual message. After the House and Senate formally received the Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet, and Supreme Court, a committee was appointed to notify the Governor, and the Governor was introduced and delivered a lengthy address. The Governor framed Florida as a model of conservative governance and highlighted accomplishments over the past seven years, including budget reserves and rainy day fund growth, debt reduction, tax cuts, economic growth and job creation, universal school choice, teacher pay increases, civics education, higher education reforms, Everglades restoration, hurricane response, public safety measures, immigration enforcement, and opposition to DEI and COVID-era mandates. The Governor also outlined priorities for the coming session, urging lawmakers to send him bills on issues such as eliminating DEI in local governments, further discouraging illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and blocking Sharia law. He additionally called for action on property tax relief, saying homeowners should not pay “perpetual rent” to government, and asked the legislature to place a tax-relief measure before voters. He emphasized emerging concerns about artificial intelligence and medical freedom, arguing for informed consent and ethical limits on new technologies. After the Governor concluded, the joint session took up a motion to dissolve. The motion was approved, and the joint session adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The central question the Founding Fathers sought to answer was not about taxation, representation, or
• Now, we have programs like the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University
• We see so much bluster on cable news yet so little follow-through when it counts.
• many Americans out of work, and with consumers footing the bill for the cost of power-intensive data centers
• Some have even suggested that this technology will displace human beings as the central players on Earth's

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:51.959><c> cousin</c> of Engineers and my other count cousin of Engineers and my other count
• The grants program has run out of our central office, so we've got the two divisions and then our central
• That is our central office operations.
• People are at the center of the organization.
• </c> state in the in the way they they count state in the in the way they they count their<01:28:55.600

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I owned a mammogram center. I know how this works.
• I'm just wondering, practically the count ability ultimately sits with the legislature and the budget
• Florida statute, 282-0201, to provide that the Northwest Regional Data Center must meet or exceed the
• So we're very it central to our whole for has gone through this bill.
• We've advocated for centralized enterprise approach in Florida for many years.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk with American Job Centers of California.
• I am a member of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
• I'm a member of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
• I am from the Ella Baker Center, and I am a human advocate.
• I am from the Ellis Baker Center, and I am a human advocate.

Summary: The hearing focused first on sexual abuse, harassment, and retaliation in California’s women’s prisons, with testimony from CDCR wardens, the Office of Inspector General, advocacy groups, and formerly incarcerated survivors. Legislators and witnesses described a pattern of staff misconduct, fear of retaliation, gaps in reporting, and the need for stronger accountability, better investigations, and more outside access for survivor support organizations. CDCR said it has expanded training, body-worn and stationary cameras, outside partnerships, and PREA-related response procedures, while the Inspector General requested additional funding and staff to monitor more grievances and staff sexual misconduct cases under SB 1069. Members pressed CDCR on why accused staff are not always placed on leave, how cases are referred to prosecutors, and whether current protections are enough; several members argued the state should aim to investigate all complaints and do more to prevent retaliation and repeat abuse. The second issue was rehabilitative and reentry programming in women’s prisons. CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs and the wardens highlighted education, vocational training, substance use treatment, peer support, and community reentry programs, citing increased enrollment and recent graduates earning diplomas, degrees, and certifications. They said these programs are intended to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Formerly incarcerated advocates and community providers argued that current offerings are still too limited, outdated, and not aligned with today’s job market, especially around digital literacy and transferable credentials, and they urged more funding for community-based, trauma-informed, gender-responsive programming. A coalition representative asked for a $20 million continuation and expansion of the Wright Grant program, and members discussed additional budget requests for reentry and related women’s services.

Transcript Highlights:

• took the count every day in my elementary classrooms.
• Thursdays were hamburger days, and that was the biggest count day, okay?
• They have a centralized kitchen where they cook everything from scratch.
• And a lot of schools it is based on your free and reduced lunch count.
• So, it's kind of hard to count how many people are staying.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• C that centralize the applicants' required primary source verifications.
• To the health-related information in that centralized database.
• Together created a system called Patient-Centered Data Home.
• Center to provide trainings annually and semi-annually.
• We had the most recent two last year, partnering with the Southwest ADA Law Center.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• At Hearts of Hope, our organization houses a children's advocacy center, a sexual abuse response center
• And let me go back: the center that is now serving three children really is not a child care center anymore
• That means we are not a DV center.
• So, yes, sexual assault centers are not the same as domestic violence centers or child.
• Centers are not part of, or the same as, domestic violence centers or child advocacy centers, but they

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the deputy director of policy at UC Berkeley's Turner Center for Housing Innovation.
• We've used AB 101 to permit a navigation center.
• We've used AB 101 to permit a navigation center.
• Some clarity about whether the grassy median in the middle of the corridor counts.
• And I believe the Central Valley housing person would be able to explain that to you.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• center in Dublin.
• It's victim-centered. It's survivor-centered.
• It's victim-centered. It's survivor-centered.
• Glenn Backus, Ella Baker Center, supports GTFO. Juan Bacchus, Ella Baker Center, supports GTFO.
• Center, CARECEN, in support.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reforms that center the dignity and reality of families in need.
• I retired from the Disability Law Center at the end of last year. Can I just ask you?
• I retire from the Disability Law Center at the end of last year. Can I just ask you?
• Okay, next we'll welcome Linda Landry, also from the Disability Law Center.
• We work side by side in social work and in the Central Mass. President with Rep.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting foster youth, child welfare oversight, homelessness services, juvenile justice, social work licensure, and human services workforce supports. Committee co-chairs Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone opened the hybrid hearing by outlining testimony procedures and accessibility measures. Several members and legislators participated throughout the day, and many witnesses were invited to submit additional written testimony after speaking. A major portion of the hearing focused on House 227/Senate 105, which would protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care. Supporters, including advocates from Hopewell, the Disability Law Center, CPCS, the Children’s Law Center, More Than Words, Friends of Children, and youth witness Onyx Rosario, said DCF had already ended the practice of taking most Social Security and SSI benefits and now conserves them in accounts for youth, but argued the policy should be codified to prevent future reversals. Witnesses described how conserved benefits help with basic needs, housing, education, transportation, and transition to adulthood, and several noted the bill also adds financial literacy and transparency requirements. Senator Joan Comerford and others said the change would protect vulnerable youth, especially children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. The committee also heard testimony on House 225, which would expand the grandparents-raising-grandchildren commission by adding appointments and helping with quorum and representation. The committee also took testimony on Senate 136, which would improve emergency housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness by easing documentation requirements, allowing use of existing state data to verify eligibility, requiring notice before benefit reductions, and creating an ombudsperson. Senator Adam Gomez and other supporters said the bill would reduce barriers for families in crisis. On House 262/Senate 148, an omnibus child welfare bill, witnesses supported provisions on data reporting, education coordination, and Office of the Child Advocate reforms, while CPCS raised concerns about expanded access to sensitive records and the OCA’s role in certain proceedings. The Office of the Child Advocate supported codifying current practices and also backed child fatality review changes in House 234/Senate 133. The committee additionally heard support for Senate 108, which would require attorneys and audio/video recording during juvenile custodial interrogations, and for House 247/Senate 116, which would update the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board to add supported lived-experience seats. Finally, the committee heard competing testimony on Senate 135, a bill to ensure parity in social work licensure. SEIU Local 509 and supporters argued the current exam requirement disproportionately harms Black, Latino, multilingual, and multicultural applicants and worsens workforce shortages, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, saying the exam is a necessary public-protection measure and that removing it would conflict with interstate compact efforts. The hearing also included testimony in support of a loan repayment program for human service workers, with providers and workers describing low wages, high student debt, and the need to retain staff in essential services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the Central Coast, so San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz area, but also talk quite a bit
• I work at Emanuel Medical Center. I've been a respiratory therapist for 23 years.
• I work in a local trauma medical center, and we took care of patients with trachs and vents, and they
• I work in a local trauma medical center, and we took care of patients with tracts and vents, and they
• A central component of that plan is our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are true community-centered events.
• that already can. ...hospitals, FQHCs, and academic medical centers that already can.
• That their experience doesn't count?
• That their experience doesn't count. Their businesses don't matter.
• I stopped counting many years ago.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vote-by-mail ballots are currently counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days
• The bill also increases voter access by expanding vote center hours, opening ballot drop-off locations
• SB 884 updates vote-by-mail procedures to ensure ballots postmarked on or before Election Day are counted
• One of them was to make a ballot result be counted in a shorter time than it currently is in California
• “My vote would not be counted.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related measures. SB 884 by Senator Umberg would expand electioneering buffer zones around polling places and ballot-processing sites, restrict law enforcement activity near voting locations except for crimes against persons or property, expand ballot drop box and vote center access, and extend the vote-by-mail receipt deadline. Supporters said it would protect voters from intimidation and interference; county election officials opposed it as operationally burdensome and difficult to enforce. The committee discussed amendments narrowing some provisions, and the bill was ultimately advanced on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Choi voting no. The committee also heard SB 1164 by Senator Cervantes, part of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 package, which would codify and expand state voting-rights protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, add preclearance for certain jurisdictions with recent violations, and direct courts to interpret election laws in favor of voter access. Support came from civil rights and voting rights groups, while one city representative raised concerns about effects on pending litigation. Senator Choi questioned the bill’s concepts, but the measure was moved to Judiciary and later recorded as passing 4-1. SB 900 by Senator McNerney would shorten and streamline campaign-ad disclosure language, allow abbreviations, and increase the number of top funders listed on political mailers from three to five. Outdoor advertising and good-government groups supported the bill as improving readability while preserving transparency. It passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The committee also considered SB 1225 and SCA 3 by Senator Niello, which would shift responsibility for initiative titles and summaries from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst’s Office; supporters argued this would improve neutrality, while labor groups opposed the change as unnecessary and less accountable. Both measures were advanced to Appropriations after divided votes. Finally, SB 1360 by Senator Cervantes would expand election language-access requirements beyond current federal thresholds and add a petition process for undercounted language communities. It drew broad support from civil rights and advocacy organizations, with county election officials seeking amendments over implementation details; the bill passed 5-0 after the committee completed roll calls on the absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 828 reinforces the central role of local fire and building officials by requiring verification of
• Benjamin Henderson with the Western Center on Law and Poverty in support. Thank you.
• Matt Klavenstein, on behalf of the Center for Sustainable Energy, in support. Thank you.
• We're counting on that, relying on that. I appreciate everybody who showed up today.
• We're counting on that, relying on that. I appreciate everybody who showed up today.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For nearly two decades, Daniel has served with distinction at the Central Intelligence Agency, the White
• INS should be the central advocate for the DOD's intelligence priorities and the central orchestrator
• There are people in the military who are left, right, center, and maybe even more who are completely
• I mean, a great center fielder for the Red Sox is not necessarily qualified to be general manager, and
• It's not as easy as counting tanks from a satellite.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Department of Defense, nominations, Matthew Lohmeyer, Justin Overbaugh, global security, military readiness, NATO, Russia, China, defense infrastructure

Summary: The meeting was primarily focused on discussing nominations for key positions within the Department of Defense, specifically for roles such as the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Senators expressed urgent concerns about global security threats, the need for robust military readiness, and the emphasis on effective collaboration with NATO allies amidst rising tensions with adversaries such as Russia and China. Several senators highlighted the challenges facing military infrastructure and defense capabilities, suggesting a critical need for improvements and investment in these areas to ensure national security.