Transcript Highlights:

• Regents would still file full disclosures, fully subject to review and enforcement.
• This bill does not eliminate filing,<00:22:33.039> does<00:22:33.200> not<00:22:33.360>
• weaken<00:22:33.679> the<00:22:33.840> authority<00:22:34.080> of filing
• , does not weaken the authority of filing, does not weaken the authority of the<00:22:34.320> Hawaii
• Regents would still file enforcement.

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• The meeting briefly discussed the Speaker-designate election process, and since only one candidate appeared
• Evans is the only announced candidate for Speaker-designate. For nominees for Speaker-designate.
• The meeting briefly discussed the Speaker-designate election process, and since only one candidate appeared
• Evans is the only announced candidate for Speaker-designate. Representative Warren, recognized.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, recognized guests, and adopted consent-calendar resolutions before taking up House Resolution 1052 regarding Arkansas Girls State. Rep. Vaught explained that about 150 eligible girls were denied registration because a counselor missed the deadline, and said the House would instead host an “elite Girls State” program for them this summer. He then moved to withdraw the resolution, and the withdrawal was accepted. The chamber also presented a citation to Pastor Richard Hamlin for his service during the session. The House then considered several Senate appropriation bills. Senate Bills 3, 4, 7, 15, 21, and 31 all passed with broad support and emergency clauses. Senate Bill 77, an unfunded appropriation related to Arkansas Television Network/PBS matching funds, drew extended debate. Supporters said it would encourage private donations and could help with programming and infrastructure, while opponents argued the department had not requested the money and that the House should not force additional funding. The bill failed on the first vote, was brought back for a second vote after questions about the rules and the nature of the appropriation, and failed again. After the fiscal session business concluded, Rep. Meeks moved to adjourn sine die, and the House agreed. The House caucus then met to elect the Speaker-designate for the 96th General Assembly. The chamber suspended the formal election process by voice vote and unanimously elected Speaker Brian S. Evans as Speaker-designate. Evans thanked members, reflected on the 95th General Assembly, and pledged continued leadership and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• What happens now is that administrator preparation programs are trying to prepare candidates for all
• section C, and it's the Department of Education may grant a superintendent license to an out-of-state candidate
• who does not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that. license if the candidate and it
• lists four points for that candidate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me be very candid on this. I do practice in the probate and family court.
• We do ask for interpreters at the time of filing.
• We do ask for interpreters at the time of filing. Do you have an opinion on that?
• We do ask for interpreters at the time of filing. We contact the registry.
• When the bills were filed, we were facing a severe challenge on the heavy-duty truck side of things in

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again. The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't necessarily by choice, but a reflection of the dwindling pool of qualified candidates.
• This isn't necessarily by choice, but a reflection of the dwindling pool of qualified candidates.
• My colleagues have become experts at shuffling, adjusting of qualified candidates.
• Dakota, the majority of the paperwork that our special education teachers and directors are required to file
• Dakota, the majority of the paperwork that our special education teachers and directors are required to file

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• District for giving me the opportunity to serve them as their voice at the highest levels of Congress. candidate
• We need to make sure that we're running candidates, either American or allied.
• I think the success story of successfully having a candidate defeat China's candidate in the Intellectual
• I do appreciate the fact that you were courteous, informed, civil, and candid in the meeting with me.
• colleagues have asked about your plans for changing the staffing dynamics. and putting forward more U.S. candidates

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also allow agencies to electronically file proposed rules with the Department of State rather
• For proposed rules that are filed as a successor to an underlying emergency rule, the proposed rule must
• it a violation of Section 112, the Florida Code of Ethics, for anyone who is a public official, a candidate
• This bill is filed at the request of many Florida veteran organizations and with the support of the Department
• This bill is filed at the request of many Florida veteran organizations and with the support of the Department

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 108 on administrative procedures. That bill, as amended, would require agencies to review all rules on a five-year cycle, submit regulatory plans and annual reports, publish intended agency action within 90 days of new rulemaking authority, improve public access to incorporated materials, and streamline rule publication and correction procedures. After brief testimony from the Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and support from Americans for Prosperity and the James Madison Institute, the committee adopted two amendments and reported CS for SB 108 favorably. The committee then approved several other measures, including the Senate veterans package (CS for CS for SB 116), which made technical changes and was supported by veterans and advocacy groups; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempts local barriers while preserving state and federal law and building codes; CS for SB 126 allowing mail distribution of prescription hearing aids after a Florida-licensed professional examination; CS for SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to abandon restrained animals during declared disasters; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice expansion for complex cardiac conditions; SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure; CS for SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property; CS for SB 348 on ethics, addressing false military rank claims and delinquent ethics fines; SB 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day; CS for SB 160 expanding CPA licensure pathways and clarifying administrative outsourcing; and CS for SB 50 promoting nature-based coastal resilience measures. Most of these bills received supportive testimony and were reported favorably. The committee also considered and reported favorably the annual reviser bills SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42, which adopt the 2025 Florida Statutes, conform statutory names, remove expired provisions, and clean up obsolete language and cross-references. Throughout the meeting, members asked questions on a few bills, but no roll-call votes were recorded as opposed; each measure was approved and reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested that a few missed affirmative votes be recorded, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses filing fraud protection. businesses filing fraud protection.
• Niska, you have House File 20. I know Niska, you have House File 20.
• House File 20 or A10? House File 20 or A10?
• Let's see lawsuit filings, various filings that are all public.
• Senate file number 3045 as reading. Senate file number 3045 as amended.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First, check with Ashley and make sure that we comply with the Open Meetings Act, filed our notices,
• If the job posting is staying open for too long, that suggests that we don't have enough candidates to

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The meeting opened with routine business: confirmation of Open Meetings Act compliance, roll call, approval of the prior minutes, and no public comment. The main presentation was a detailed update on OK WIRE and a new workforce-gap validation model. Staff described moving from a simple job-posting approach to a four-factor method using wage growth, time-to-fill, occupation growth relative to the state average, and the ratio of postings to existing jobs. Examples were given for registered nurses, industrial occupations, software developers, and accountants to show how the model would identify validated workforce shortages or areas needing only monitoring. The team said the new dashboard would be added to the existing OK WIRE system, include links to training programs, and be completed by the end of August without additional cost under the current vendor contract. An agency report followed, covering the work of 929 Strategies on a 30-60-90 day plan, office relocation, contract terminations, grant administration, and budget cleanup. Staff said they had moved out of Film Row, were temporarily in Denver Davidson, and would move into permanent space in the Jim Thorpe building in October. They also discussed the rapid response grant, ARPA grant spending, and a planned data tool to support layoffs response and rural health workforce planning, including work with the Healthcare Workforce Training Commission and health partners. The board then voted to enter executive session under the cited Oklahoma statutes to discuss employee evaluations, possible salary increases, and confidential legal/operational matters. After returning, the board thanked staff for their budget work, decided not to hold the July 9 meeting, and adjourned, planning to resume discussion at the August meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• As someone who contested a candidate running against me one time because he was still registered to vote
• in Colorado, had run for city commissioner there, had barely moved to Oklahoma in time to file for my

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And is it possible for them to get the Epstein files?
• I get text messages from candidates that are states away. I've never even heard of them.
• I get text messages from candidates that are states away. I've never even heard of them.
• We do know that on the Do Not Call list, the exemption is for nonprofits and political candidates are
• Otherwise, you can file a lawsuit. Right. Obviously, they don't care.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the lines moved, and they find themselves in a different district voting for perhaps different candidates
• effectively eliminates Hispanic voting power in Central Florida and prevents them from electing the candidate
• You were respectfully asked to file the bill, and you believe the governor, I'm paraphrasing, of course
• you can't inspire the voters, when you can't defend your record, when you can't ignore the Epstein files
• Let's start with a gubernatorial candidate that today I won't call the name, but I'm sure you know, says

Summary: The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D, later substituting identical House Bill 1D, to establish Florida’s congressional districts. The opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were followed by procedural remarks, then extensive floor discussion focused almost entirely on the redistricting proposal, its timing, and its legal basis. Senator Gaetz, explaining the bill, said the Governor had transmitted the map two days earlier, argued that mid-decade congressional redistricting is not prohibited by law, and said the Governor’s stated reasons were to address population growth and to draw race-neutral districts. He also said the legislature could accept, reject, or amend the proposal. Much of the debate centered on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana decision and whether it affected Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Senators Smith, Rouson, Sharief, Polsky, Arrington, Bracey Davis, Bernard, Nathan, and others questioned the short notice, lack of public hearings, the use of partisan data, the absence of sworn testimony, and whether the map diluted minority voting strength or fragmented communities of interest. Gaetz repeatedly said he was not offering legal opinions, that the Governor’s counsel believed the Fair Districts race-based provisions were inconsistent with federal law, and that any legal challenge would be for the courts. He also said the Governor’s mapmaker reported using census and demographic data, along with political data as one of many inputs, and claimed the map’s compactness was comparable to the current map. A motion by Senator Smith to temporarily postpone consideration of the bill failed on a 12-23 vote. After the Senate returned from a 30-minute break to review the new Supreme Court decision, debate continued. The chamber then substituted HB 1D for SB 8D, read the House bill, and advanced it to third reading. The transcript ends during debate on final passage, with Senators Rouson and Bernard speaking in opposition and arguing the map was procedurally rushed, legally vulnerable, and politically motivated.

Transcript Highlights:

• So no voter files or estimates were used? For the population data? For the population data.
• have to show that that minority community votes cohesively for a particular group and a particular candidate
• have to show that that minority community votes cohesively for a particular group and a particular candidate
• You would agree sometimes, erroneously, that the public conflates the idea that the candidate is actually
• So as Chair of Ethics and Elections, I have filed the bill that you have just heard explained, so that

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we still don't have the rules for them to file their taxes.
• You know, I filed my first tax return in 1973.
• In all those years, I've never filed an amended tax return.
• In all those years, I've never filed an amended tax return.
• So, seemingly, we would be telling a taxpayer not to file with those forms.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and routine journal and guest items, then moved into the Committee of the Whole to consider bills on the calendar. The main substantive item was SB 1106, a tax conformity bill tied to federal tax changes. Senators debated it extensively, with supporters arguing it would provide tax relief, certainty for taxpayers filing returns, and pro-growth benefits for workers and businesses, while opponents said it would reduce state revenue, favor wealthier taxpayers and corporations, and should be handled in broader budget negotiations. Several senators also objected to provisions they said were added late, including child care, senior deductions, and education-related tax credit language. The bill was ultimately passed in open session by a vote of 17 ayes, 12 nays, and 1 not voting, and was transmitted to the governor. After SB 1106, the chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole report and then heard a proclamation in support of law enforcement, read by Senator Bolick and signed by Senate leadership. The proclamation cited officer safety, assaults, fatalities, and mental health concerns, and called for continued support, equipment, training, and resources for law enforcement. Senators spoke in favor of honoring police and “backing the blue.” The Senate also handled routine floor business, including a message from the House, transmission of SB 1106 to the governor, and a long list of first-reading bill introductions and committee references covering topics such as public safety, health and human services, education, finance, elections, immigration, border issues, and appropriations. The meeting concluded with committee announcements and adjournment until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Bills: SB2969, SB3263, SB2602, SB3229, SB3199, SB2550, SB2877, SB3325, SB2024, SB2614, SB2613, SB3063, SB2319, SB2800, SB2892, SB2321, SB2407, SB2805, SB2153, SB2595, SB2781, SB3233, SB2360, SB1432, SB2543, SB2599, SB3053, SB2001, SB2041, SB3247, SB3253, SB2401, SB2673, SB3067, SB411, SB2934, SB3219, SB2919, SB2239, SB2532, SB2601, SB1032, SB2446, SB2152, SB2721, SB3076, SB3140, SB2671, SB2338, SB2268, SB99, SB2930, SB3069, SB3096, SB3097, SB3090, SB2060, SB3028, SB2544, SB2069, SB2552, SB3218, SB3022, SB148, SB2259, SB2578, SB2928, SB2816, SB2580

Keywords: SB2969, Maui wildfire, Maui wildfires, wildfire exposure, Maui Health Registry, University of Hawaii, public health, biomonitoring, medical screening, mental health services, trauma recovery, disaster recovery, first responders, kupuna, children's health, medically vulnerable, environmental exposure, toxic exposure, respiratory illness, community health

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, would they open a file for these people even though they haven't been convicted of anything?
• Sundays and holidays, so that's amending down so that would just be Sundays and holidays between the filing
• One, it adds a space to indicate yes or no for those filing out an application to vote to indicate if
• filing for office, and voter registration statistics.
• In my notes, I have it that this bill says that claims must be filed within four years.

Bills: SB1450, SB1458, SB1232, SB1238, SB1325, SB1209, SB1362, SB2072, SB1451, SB1540, SB1581, SB1535, SB1266, SB1927, SB1460, SB2084, SB2182

Keywords: criminal court costs, court fees, fines, assessments, waiver, ability to pay, indigent defendants, post-release relief, probation compliance, parole, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, restitution, child support, municipal court, district court, criminal justice reform, court debt, legal financial obligations, fee waiver

Transcript Highlights:

• APD SINCE THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION A DAILY FILE COMPLETE REFRESH WITH INDIVIDUALS ON
• MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY, THAT TOP ARROW ISSUING AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION ASCENDING A NIGHTLY FILE
• ANY NEW MEMBERS ADDED WE FILE FROM APD.
• THE PROVIDERS MAY NOT YET HAVE IN MIND I'M STARTED FILING CLAIMS.
• I KNOW WE HAD SPOKEN BEFORE AND I AM LOOKING AT THE FILES TO BE SENT FROM OCCA WERE DCF.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, my comments actually go to every candidate that's running for governor.
• I'm not inclined to tell gubernatorial candidates what to do.
• I'm not inclined to tell gubernatorial candidates what to do.
• Force Base and the proximity to Rose State College and Tinker Air Force Base makes him the perfect candidate

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• issues, there's things that people have differing opinions on and we have to make sure we're having a candid
• c><00:01:44.960> we're<00:01:45.200> having<00:01:45.280> a<00:01:45.439> candid
• have to make sure we're having a candid have to make sure we're having a candid conversation<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pursue this issue because I know that other young-onset Alzheimer's patients like Tim are the best candidates
• the<00:10:15.240> best patients like Tim are the best patients like Tim are the best candidates
• 16.240> drug<00:10:16.760> but<00:10:17.279> are<00:10:17.560> unable candidates
• for this drug but are unable candidates for this drug but are unable to<00:10:18.160> receive

Keywords: 1187, senate, all