Transcript Highlights:

• Agriculture and tourism... Natural and working lands are not separate from the economy.
• Our culture and tourism generate $10.5 billion annually.
• Those waterways depend on active stewardship of the private land surrounding them.
• Once certified, control over a very limited but important set of activities returns to the city.
• It gives those cities much more authority to govern development and activities.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Navy JAG officer by background, served on active duty, and continued... Flagler County.
• I'm a Navy JAG officer by background, served on active duty and continued to serve in the reserves.
• We are seeking actively a deliberate recruiting campaign across all counties.
• We actively canvassed businesses around the state this past year.
• Our passenger boardings are growing with our exponential population growth and tourism.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• ISOLATION LEADS TO HIGHER COSTS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES, AND THEIR ECONOMY IS HEAVILY RELIANT ON TOURISM
• FTC and the CFPB have done important work in identifying the most pressing scams and fraudulent activities
• ironic that the same Republican colleagues want to advance this legislation while our President actively
• She's an active member of the New Rochelle Bar Association as part of that commitment to the law.
• Active in her neighborhood, Sutton Manor Residents Association, and an ever-present participant at major

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> NEP</c><03:51:49.840><c> initiatives</c> there are 28 active NEP initiatives there are 28 active
• ,</c> businesses depend on them for tourism, businesses depend on them for tourism, recreation,<03:53
• </c><04:42:22.480><c> It</c> subsistence and tourism areas. It subsistence and tourism areas.
• But it's monitoring volcanic activity.
• c> effectively</c> monitor volcanic activity effectively monitor volcanic activity effectively and<04

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that are traveling down, plus the folks going down to visit the conservation areas, you know, for tourism
• And we've talked a lot about tourism. This helps out tourism as well.
• Well, and... ...is, you know, for tourism. And we've talked a lot about tourism.
• This helps out tourism as well. Well, and to a very popular site, the George O.
• This helps tourism. That's what I'm going for here. Absolutely. Yeah.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alternative ways in which the state may respond to that change in federal support and activity.
• The legislation also requires many adults to engage in what are called community engagement activities
• It appropriates $6.8 billion to the US Department of Justice. for immigration enforcement activities,
• in support of safeguarding U.S. borders and immigration enforcement activities.
• For the 4% credits, it lowers the private activity bond financing threshold from 50% to 25%, and for

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First on the agenda, we have SP 1536 SD2/HD1 relating to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
• So, first on SB 1536 SD2 HD1 relating to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, we're going to be passing this
• relating<00:16:27.920><c> to</c><00:16:28.000><c> the</c><00:16:28.160><c> Hawaii</c><00:16:28.480><c> Tourism
• </c> relating to the Hawaii Tourism relating to the Hawaii Tourism Authority,<00:16:29.839><c> we're<

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Bills: HR204 , SB2925 , SB2798 , SB2320 , SB2800 , SB1230 , SB2706 , SB3233 , SB2405 , SB3320 , SB2543 , SB3097 , SB3096 , SB3140 , SB2593 , SB2567 , SB2466 , SB2140 , SB2088 , SB3090 , SB608 , SB2795 , SB3294 , SB3263 , SB3001 , SB2907 , SB3251 , SB2074 , SB2360 , SB2354 , SB2908 , SB2353 , SB3045 , SB2047 , SB3254 , SB3246 , SB3133 , SB2425 , SB2671 , SB3229 , SB2969 , SB1166 , SB896 , SB2391 , SB2125 , SB3118 , SB3325 , SB2613 , SB2614 , SB494 , SB2376 , SB3326 , SB2001 , SB2599 , SB3048 , SB3169 , SB2002 , SB3247 , SB3253 , SB2155 , SB2192 , SB3187 , SB2190 , SB2398 , SB2424 , SB3028 , SB2338 , SB3219 , SB2981 , HCR14

Keywords: H.R. 204, House Resolution, Hawaii LifeSmarts, LifeSmarts State Competition, student competition, academic recognition, congratulatory resolution, Iolani School, Kalani High School, Waipahu High School, personal finance, consumer rights, health and safety, technology education, environmental education, National Consumers League, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Credit Union League, youth achievement, high school teams

Bills: HR204 , SB2925 , SB2798 , SB2320 , SB2800 , SB1230 , SB2706 , SB3233 , SB2405 , SB3320 , SB2543 , SB3097 , SB3096 , SB3140 , SB2593 , SB2567 , SB2466 , SB2140 , SB2088 , SB3090 , SB608 , SB2795 , SB3294 , SB3263 , SB3001 , SB2907 , SB3251 , SB2074 , SB2360 , SB2354 , SB2908 , SB2353 , SB3045 , SB2047 , SB3254 , SB3246 , SB3133 , SB2425 , SB2671 , SB3229 , SB2969 , SB1166 , SB896 , SB2391 , SB2125 , SB3118 , SB3325 , SB2613 , SB2614 , SB494 , SB2376 , SB3326 , SB2001 , SB2599 , SB3048 , SB3169 , SB2002 , SB3247 , SB3253 , SB2155 , SB2192 , SB3187 , SB2190 , SB2398 , SB2424 , SB3028 , SB2338 , SB3219 , SB2981 , HCR14

Keywords: H.R. 204, House Resolution, Hawaii LifeSmarts, LifeSmarts State Competition, student competition, academic recognition, congratulatory resolution, Iolani School, Kalani High School, Waipahu High School, personal finance, consumer rights, health and safety, technology education, environmental education, National Consumers League, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Credit Union League, youth achievement, high school teams

Transcript Highlights:

• On tourism. The Special Committee on Tourism will come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
• This is the Tourism Committee. We do have fun here, and that's on purpose. So I appreciate that.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• line six shows transfers of $8 million in 2026-27 and $8 million in 2028-29 for Explore Minnesota tourism
• Turning to the last page for Explore Minnesota Tourism, the general fund appropriations here, on line
• </c> Minnesota tourism Minnesota tourism um<00:17:20.640><c> the</c><00:17:20.880><c> general</c><00:
• ago in order to make sure that we could have a fund so that corporations and businesses who were actively
• going after federal funds would actively going after federal funds would have<00:19:51.360><c> revenue

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:13:12.079><c> and</c> Minnesota, 60% of tourism and Minnesota, 60% of tourism and hospitality<00
• You brought up—and I'm very thankful that you brought up—the subject of tourism.
• On the tourism front, is there any kind of breakdown?
• On the tourism front, is there any kind of breakdown?
• </c><00:42:54.400><c> dismantling</c> president is actively dismantling president is actively dismantling

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's specifically so that we can have lakes where boating and tourism and swimming are possible
• </c><00:51:56.280><c> industry</c> course for a tourism industry course for a tourism industry is<00:
• That's a little bit difficult because we do have some active cases, so I'll generalize.
• cases so I'll we do have some Active cases so I'll generalize generalize generalize um<03:18:58.720>
• or commercial activity has has uh<04:05:42.840><c> maybe</c><04:05:43.080><c> a</c><04:05:43.159><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 332, a bill to add protection and remediation of surface waters as a new authorized purpose for New Hampshire village districts. Prime sponsor Rep. Rosemary Rung said the bill is intended to give local voters in lake communities a voluntary tool to address cyanobacteria blooms and other water-quality problems through village districts, including the ability to raise revenue, adopt ordinances, and pursue treatments or watershed management measures. She emphasized that the proposal is meant to complement, not replace, state law and that any district action would still need to comply with existing permitting and environmental requirements. Supporters, including Andrea Laro of New Hampshire Lakes and Elizabeth Harper of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the bill would help municipalities collaborate on lake protection when state resources are limited. They argued that local districts could bring subject-matter expertise, access grants and technical assistance, and respond more quickly to problems such as septic impacts, runoff, culvert repairs, and in-lake treatments. They also suggested clarifying the bill’s wording around “protection and remediation” to better define the scope of authorized activities. Opponents, including Steve Wolf and Chris Norwood of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, argued that village districts can already be overly broad and sometimes expand beyond their original purposes. Wolf said existing town and state agencies already handle shoreline protection and warned that village districts can impose ongoing taxes and create governance problems. Norwood urged a study bill instead, citing concerns about the scope of village districts and examples where some districts have taken on planning and zoning powers beyond their original mission. No vote or final action on HB 332 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's about any other type of activities that may come up.
• This will negatively impact private businesses and the tourism industry.
• This will negatively impact private businesses and the tourism industry.
• This will negatively impact private businesses and the tourism industry.
• We hope that that's going to be some activity in the near future at that level.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to hear SB 2-C, a major immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Senator Gruters and co-introduced by Senator Fine. The sponsor described the bill as a response to federal immigration priorities and said it replaces a single immigration officer with a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, expands local-federal cooperation, increases penalties for crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants, requires detention in certain cases, broadens information sharing, funds detention-bed expansion and law-enforcement training, and ends in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. The bill also includes provisions related to sanctuary policies, voter fraud, transport of unauthorized aliens, and driver’s license-related offenses. The sponsor said the bill appropriates roughly $300 million overall, including $250 million for grants and $48 million for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for interdiction and border-related enforcement work. Committee members questioned the bill’s scope, costs, and implementation. Senators focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, asking how many students would be affected and whether the bill would harm students who have long lived in Florida. They also pressed on whether the bill should include stronger E-Verify provisions, how sanctuary-policy enforcement would work, whether local officials could be penalized for policy choices, and how immigration status would be verified in court and jail settings. The sponsor and Senator Fine said the tuition waiver would be removed for undocumented students, that the bill does not address E-Verify, and that the measure is intended to make immigration status a factor in detention and sentencing. Questions also addressed detention-bed capacity, reimbursement rates, and whether corrections staff would receive bonuses or salary increases; sponsors said bonuses are included for participating law enforcement, while broader salary issues would be handled in the regular budget process. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters and information-only witnesses, including Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and former officials, said the bill would help Florida coordinate with federal authorities, expand bed space, and close loopholes in existing immigration enforcement. Opponents from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Florida, Florida Policy Institute, labor groups, and immigrant advocates argued the bill is unconstitutional, likely to trigger litigation, and harmful to families, schools, and the economy. They warned that the pretrial detention provisions could lead to wrongful detentions and that the tuition changes would reduce access to higher education and cost the state tuition revenue. No final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee continued through public comment and extended the meeting to complete the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are traveling down, plus the folks going down to visit the conservation areas, you know, for tourism
• And we've talked a lot about tourism. This helps out tourism as well.
• Well, and... ...you know, for tourism. And we've talked a lot about tourism.
• This helps out tourism as well. Well, and to a very popular site, the George O.
• This helps tourism. That's what I'm going for here. Absolutely. Yeah.

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 43rd day by roll call vote, 122-1. Members also used points of personal privilege to honor former state representative and St. Louis public servant Edward L. Bushmeyer with a moment of silence, and to recognize Jean Carnahan during Women’s History Month. The chamber then welcomed numerous guests, including students from California Middle School, Missouri Centers for Independent Living, Southern Boone cheer teams, Conservation Day participants, Project Home woodworking students and veterans, Coro Fellows, YMCA advocacy day participants, Easter Seals guests, and others. The House then took up several appropriations bills. House Bill 2017, the reappropriations bill, was explained as carrying forward previously approved capital and other projects into a new fiscal year; members raised concerns about unspent general revenue and the large $186 million storm-recovery item for St. Louis, but the bill was adopted and perfected. House Bill 2018, the maintenance and repair bill for state facilities, was described as routine upkeep of state buildings and was also adopted and perfected. House Bill 2019, the capital improvements bill, drew more debate over new projects, the $104 million transfer from the Capital Commission Fund, and whether some projects had been adequately vetted; an amendment by the gentleman from Texas to shift $3 million from the Conservation Commission Fund to help repair a state-owned road to the George O. White Nursery was adopted, and the bill then passed through committee substitute adoption and perfection. House Bill 2020, the ARPA spending bill, was described as the final year for spending federal pandemic funds, with any unspent amounts to flow to the foundation formula; members discussed how much might remain and whether funds could be used to offset education costs, and the bill was adopted and perfected. The House also considered House Bill 2760, the “Praise Act,” which would bar government from imposing stricter emergency restrictions on houses of worship than on comparable private entities, while preserving emergency carve-outs for disasters, terrorism, and civil unrest. Supporters framed it as a religious liberty bill and argued it would prevent unequal treatment during emergencies; opponents warned it could undermine public health protections during pandemics and noted past restrictions on church gatherings. The debate included extended exchanges over whether churches were treated differently from airports and other venues during COVID-19. The transcript ends during continued discussion of House Bill 2760, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, first is a line-item appropriation increase for the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Department
• </c> appropriation increase for the tourism appropriation increase for the tourism arts<00:03:57.280>
• And the last is the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, Department of Parks, Lake Barkley Lodge Main
• ,</c><00:08:40.959><c> Arts,</c><00:08:41.279><c> and</c> the last is the Tourism, Arts, and the last
• is the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage<00:08:41.760><c> Cabinet,</c><00:08:42.240><c> Department</c><00:

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:49 Approval of Minutes 02:06 Information Items 03:48 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 14:38 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 18:50 OFM – Ky Infrastructure Authority 26:40 OFM – Cabinet for Economic Development 31:50 Office of Financial Management 40:40 Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates 41:25 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and a quorum call, then the committee approved the prior meeting minutes. Staff reported several informational items, including University of Kentucky medical and research equipment purchases, school district debt issues, leasehold improvements, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System bond allocations. The committee then approved a line-item appropriation increase of $350,000 in federal funds for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Cumberland Forest Conservation Program, along with two Department of Military Affairs projects: the Ashland Readiness Center window replacement and the MATES HVAC replacement at Fort Knox. It also approved four larger maintenance-pool projects without further action: HVAC and smoke evacuation work at the Kentucky State Penitentiary, HVAC and hot water tank replacements at Oakwood, a Green Bank energy-savings performance project across state facilities, and roof replacement at Lake Barkley Lodge. Members asked about the prison project, the roof procurement process, and whether minority-owned firms receive special bidding preference; staff said capital projects are awarded through open low-bid procurement with qualification and warranty requirements, and that minority participation is preferred but not a bidding criterion. Two lease modifications were approved for Franklin County agencies: an expansion and renovation for the Auditor of Public Accounts and a downsizing and renovation for the Kentucky Workers Compensation Funding Commission. The committee also approved Kentucky Infrastructure Authority items, including a Monticello sewer loan, several Cleaner Water Program grants and reallocations, and a House Bill 1 water grant that required no action. Members questioned engineering costs and were told the KIA board reviews technical details and anomalies before approval. Finally, the committee approved six economic development grants: one EDF grant for V Simple in Jefferson County and five KPDI EDF grants for projects in Breckinridge, Erlanger, Todd, and Washington counties. The last action item was approval of Western Kentucky University’s up-to-$10 million general receipts revenue bond issue for athletic facilities. An informational Kentucky Housing Corporation multifamily bond item prompted concern from members about rising per-unit costs for affordable housing, and they requested further explanation from the housing corporation at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• all look forward to the summer tourist season because we all benefit economically from the tourist tourism
• benefit not just the Pueblo, But also the town of Taos and neighboring communities by drawing on the tourism
• And I am certain the tourist, tourism industry in our state and around the world are familiar with the
• So, I also want to ah give you some updates about the research and development activities at New Mexico
• Our, our, you know, tourism and skiing is our biggest industry, so that's what we track.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, but we are commending them on winning the 2025 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class
• Association Class 1A state Activities Association Class 1A state championship.<00:05:40.560><c> So,<
• You want to try to do your tourism? >> Item 32, House Bill 1612.
• They added someone from the tourism industry, and that's their change. >> Questions?
• If you're opposed, vote nay. tourism industry and that's that's their tourism industry and that's that's

Keywords: MS House Floor - 18 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• some of those things that we do in our or, God forbid, an active shooting.
• Yeah, I mean, I can't speak to the active shooting, but... An emergency action plan.
• It increases activity in sectors such as retail, restaurants, recreation, tourism, and entertainment.
• We are blessed with lakes, rivers, tourism. We have a ton of it. We are an outdoor state.
• Supporting daylight saving time provides for outdoor recreation, exercise, and family activities.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and took up House Bill 2330, reconsidering a prior due-pass vote and then voting the House Committee Substitute due pass by roll call. It then considered House Bill 2291, where an amendment meant to clarify municipal building-code and zoning authority was discussed at length and ultimately withdrawn after members raised concerns that it would undercut the bill’s purpose; the bill itself then received a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 2336, dealing with state property conveyances and title issues, also drew questions about unclear title and the status of several properties, but the committee adopted the House Committee Substitute and voted the bill do pass. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 3136, which would remove the state prohibition on creating a Missouri-based health insurance exchange; the sponsor and a witness argued it could save money, keep exchange fees in-state, and give Missouri more control, while several members objected that it would reverse the 2012 voter-approved prohibition and could entrench federal health-care policy. No action was taken on that bill in the hearing. The committee next heard House Bill 1833, which would let certain state employees opt out of the state health plan and receive a partial cash payout if they have other coverage. The sponsor argued it could be cost-neutral or save money and give employees more flexibility, while members and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan raised concerns about fiscal impact, adverse selection, administrative burden, and whether the proposal turns a benefit into an entitlement. The witness for the plan said the fiscal note was based on about 4,112 active employees who already opt out, warned the stipend would be taxable and could create a new benefit that is hard to remove, and said proof of outside coverage would need to be maintained. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2506, which would require DESE to post QR-code placards at licensed child care facilities linking parents to existing inspection and complaint records; supporters said it would help parents make safer choices at no fiscal cost, while DESE explained the portal already exists and complaints are investigated quickly, and a witness described serious problems at one facility to illustrate why the information matters. Finally, the committee opened public hearing on House Bill 1758, a proposal to move Missouri to permanent daylight saving time once federal law allows it. The sponsor argued it would improve safety, boost economic activity, and avoid the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year, while members raised concerns about darker mornings for schoolchildren and commuters and questioned whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The hearing was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on House Bill 3136, 1833, 2506, or 1758 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• money, and it will send it back to nonprofit organizations who have as their main goal promoting tourism
• money, and it will send it back to nonprofit organizations who have as their main goal promoting tourism
• money, and it will send it back to nonprofit organizations who have as their main goal promoting tourism
• money, and it will send it back to nonprofit organizations who have as their main goal promoting tourism

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all