Transcript Highlights:

• And sometimes when the crop needs it, we can’t get the fertilizer onto it.
• </c> it, we can't get the fertilizer onto it. it, we can't get the fertilizer onto it.
• </c> animal fertilizers. animal fertilizers.
• And we're going to organic fertilizers.
• And then your other question about other sources of fertilizer other than...

Bills: HF4698 , HF4608

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And once they leave the treatment facility, they're regulated as a fertilizer product by the Department
• And once they leave the treatment facility, they're regulated as a fertilizer product by the Department
• And as far as looking at whether or not it's regulated, fertilizer is regulated.
• Class AA material will be treated as fertilizer and regulated as such.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and approved two bills. First, it took up CS for SB 290, an agriculture and consumer services bill, and adopted a strike-all amendment that covered a wide range of issues: density limits for certain small municipalities, a delay in biosolids rule changes from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028, higher insurance and penalty requirements for fumigation businesses, longer payment timeframes for contractors to pay subcontractors and suppliers, restrictions on county agritourism permitting ordinances, and renaming the Bonifay Forestry Station. Senators raised concerns about the contractor penalty increase, local government preemption, and the biosolids provisions. Audubon Florida testified in opposition to the state lands and biosolids sections, while several industry and agriculture groups waved in support. The committee then voted the bill favorably, with Senator Bracey Davis voting no. The committee next heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools. The bill would reduce district-level requirements in areas such as assessments, personnel, facilities, and budgeting; expand teacher apprenticeship and multi-year contracts; streamline salary supplements and testing calendars; give districts more flexibility with Title I and capital funds; update facility planning rules; and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs. Supporters from several school districts and education groups waved in favor. Senators generally supported the goal of reducing administrative burdens, though one question was raised about remedies if charter schools fail to respond directly to Department of Education inquiries. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a more direct reporting path and reduce unnecessary layers of regulation. SB 320 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And once they leave the treatment facility, they're regulated as a fertilizer product by the Department
• And as far as, you know, looking at whether or not it's regulated, fertilizer is regulated, Class AA
• material will be treated as fertilizer and regulated as such.
• Class AA material be treated as fertilizer and regulated as such.

Bills: S0290 , S0320

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first took up CS for SB 290, a broad Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment that, among other things, set density requirements for certain small municipalities, delayed biosolids-related changes from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028, required higher insurance coverage for fumigation businesses, increased fines for fumigation violations, extended the time contractors have to pay subcontractors and suppliers from 15 to 30 business days, preempted certain county agritourism permitting ordinances, and renamed the Bonifay Forestry Station. Senators raised concerns about local government preemption, the biosolids timeline, and especially the new felony penalty for nonpayment of subcontractors and suppliers. Audubon Florida testified in opposition to the state lands and biosolids provisions, while several agricultural and industry groups waived in support. The bill was reported favorably after debate, with Senator Bracy Davis voting no and Senator Jones expressing concern about the contractor penalty. The committee then heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools. The bill would reduce district-level requirements across assessments, personnel, facilities, budgeting, and early learning administration; expand teacher apprenticeship pathways; create longer instructional contracts and renewable professional certificates; simplify testing and evaluation rules; increase flexibility for Title I and discretionary capital funding; and streamline facility planning and architectural requirements. School district and education association representatives waived in support. Senators Osgood and others praised the deregulation and flexibility, while Senator Bracy Davis asked about remedies if charter schools fail to respond directly to Department of Education expenditure questions. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce administrative burden while preserving accountability. SB 320 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And once they leave the treatment facility, they're regulated as a fertilizer product by the Department
• And as far as looking at whether or not it's regulated, fertilizer is regulated; double A material will
• be treated as fertilizer and regulated as such.
• Class AA material will be treated as fertilizer and regulated as such.

Bills: S0290 , S0320

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Keywords: agriculture, landscape equipment, gasoline-powered, ecologically significant parcels, local government regulations, educational efficiency, public schools, district school boards, budget transparency, school accountability, instructional personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• :18.720><c> compost</c><00:30:19.360><c> basically</c><00:30:19.679><c> as</c><00:30:19.919><c> fertilizer
• </c><00:30:20.480><c> that</c> as compost basically as fertilizer that as compost basically as fertilizer
• 26.799><c> need</c> too much wastewater stuff and we need too much wastewater stuff and we need fertilizer
• 30:28.320><c> So</c><00:30:28.480><c> it</c><00:30:28.720><c> felt</c><00:30:28.960><c> like</c> fertilizer
• So it felt like fertilizer for fields.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 17, this is the green fertilizer grant reduction.
• section of the fertilizer soil amendment and<00:33:51.440><c> plant</c><00:33:51.679><c> amendment</
• . fertilizers. fertilizers.
• I'll also re-emphasize our strong support for the green fertilizer grant program.
• This is really fertilizer grant program.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• burn of a fertilizer container. 1.12 that uh relates to uh an old 1.12 that uh relates to uh an old
• open burn of a fertilizer. records of sewage Sledge records of sewage Sledge transfers<01:39:01.920>
• inate and container disposal fertilizer inate and container disposal um<01:39:44.040><c> there's</c>
• as a fertilizer because we could<01:44:38.719><c> inadvertently</c><01:44:39.560><c> because</c><01:
• He gives an example of a small empty cardboard box that had been holding a jug of fertilizer and asks

Bills: HF44 , HF2102 , HF2279 , HF2280 , HF2281

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF44, Casey Jones State Trail, Pipestone Trailhead, Currie Loop, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, trail rehabilitation, trail reconstruction, recreational trail, bike trail, hiking trail, infrastructure, state trail, Pipestone, Currie, bonding authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS AS YOU REGULATE THESE AND MOVE THESE TO CLASS AA THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS FERTILIZER
• NUTRIENTS WERE APPLIED TO PROPERTIES AND HOW THEY COULD BE VALUABLE IN THE UPTAKE OF THOSE NUTRIENTS AS FERTILIZER
• AND SO NOW AS WE MOVE INTO CLASS AA FERTILIZER THEY ARE NOT REGULATED AS STRONGLY AS THEY WOULD BE IF
• OUR SOLDIERS WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE FIELDS OF A FORMER BECAUSE THEY USED HUMAN FECES TO FERTILIZE

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, this amendment aims to protect the integrity of Florida's fertilizer and compost markets for
• Of Florida's fertilizer and compost markets for bulk Class AA biosolid products while preserving real
• The bill addresses situations where Class AA biosolids are labeled as fertilizer, but are not actually
• It's going to protect bona fide producers of compost and fertilizer products.
• It's going to protect bona fide producers of compost and fertilizer products, where if there's a sale

Bills: S0558 , S1294 , S1468 , S1474 , S1682 , S1628

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: stormwater systems, environmental standards, municipal infrastructure, engineering certifications, local compliance, Florida Department of Transportation, biosolids, agronomic rate, land application, environmental protection, Florida statutes, nutrient management, recordkeeping, farming, compost products, wastewater treatment, environment, sewage disposal, pollution control, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• inputs in return for getting a small stipend from the state: $5 to $10 an acre for reducing fertilizer
• </c><00:10:01.519><c> uh</c> reduce some of their fertilizer uh reduce some of their fertilizer uh inputs
• So those are fertilizer more efficient.
• <00:16:30.880><c> production</c><00:16:31.279><c> facilities</c> The fertilizer production facilities
• </c> establishes the bio fertilizer establishes the bio fertilizer innovation<00:23:06.000><c> and</c

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• So AB 643 is a narrow bill that allows for an agricultural fertilizer product to be added to the list
• And, secondly, the end product must be licensed by CDFA as an agricultural fertilizer and used in a beneficial
• districts to take that waste and convert it into a usable material that can be composted, used as fertilizer
• more tool as an in-use pathway for the products that we generate. that can be composted, used as fertilizer

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fertility is a major bodily function, as the Supreme.
• The court's rule that fertility is a major bodily function.
• Fertility is a major bodily function, but it has to be life-threatening.
• If fertility, if there's a fertility issue, and I'm not a medical professional, I'm hoping that a medical
• But the fertility systems are not just about having babies.

Bills: SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB4 , SB23 , SB1762 , SB34 , SB60 , SB706 , SB1814 , SB1220 , SB523 , SB565 , SB1253 , SB840 , SB764 , SB2383 , SB2155 , SB1535 , SB1423 , SB1566 , SB1804 , SB1728 , SB1816 , SB1952 , SB75 , SB2068 , SB1455 , SB213 , SB627 , SB2037 , SB670 , SB896 , SB917 , SB1184 , SB971 , SB1255 , SB1261 , SB1283 , SB991 , SB1733 , SB21 , SB231 , SB739 , SB1252 , SB1371 , SB646 , SB3 , SCR27 , SB552 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SJR1 , SB31 , SB33 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB10 , SB2581 , SB2570 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SB546 , SB647 , SB648 , SB1493 , SB1709 , SB2001 , HB5669 , HB3115 , HB5655 , HB5675 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HB5653 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB2775 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the moment of fertilization. the moment of fertilization.
• </c> from the moment of fertilization. from the moment of fertilization.
• People who are deciding how to control their own fertility, whether to use IVF to create a family or
• People who are deciding how to control their own fertility, whether to use IVF to create a family or
• Are giving that fetus, even if it was fertilized one day ago, it now has a right to life.

Transcript Highlights:

• do with promoting farm products, diseases, pests, grocery stores, and regulating feed mills and fertilizer
• Those are the blue things: pesticide, fertilizer, plant protection lab.
• </c> blue uh things pesticide fertilizer blue uh things pesticide fertilizer plant<00:03:04.239><c> protection
• It is a way to reduce the use of fertilizer in a proactive way by farmers.
• </c> &gt;&gt; is a way to reduce the use of fertilizer &gt;&gt; is a way to reduce the use of fertilizer

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:31:18.880><c> rending</c> disrupts natural soil fertility, rending disrupts natural soil fertility
• This is a bill from your side, decarbonizing fertilizer, creating a Silicon Valley for clean energy in
• Agriculture, we should be talking about soil health more and green fertilizer.
• Those have other benefits on fertilizer.
• With more investments in renewables, green steel, green fertilizer, green cement.

Transcript Highlights:

• So fertilizer, working with producers to become as efficient as possible in fertilizer use, putting it
• out at the right time, the right place, and utilizing the right source of that fertilizer, being efficient
• So fertilizer, working with producers to become as efficient as possible in fertilizer use, putting it
• out at the right time, the right place, and utilizing the right source of that fertilizer being efficient

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from all five water management districts for FY 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year largely because major projects were completed or because grant/appropriation funding is not yet fully reflected in preliminary budgets. Committee members repeatedly asked how districts project operations and maintenance costs, how projects are selected, and what share of staff and spending is devoted to core missions versus administration or regulatory work. Northwest Florida Water Management District said its preliminary budget is $93.4 million, down about 15%, with 97% of spending tied to core responsibilities and a request for additional regulatory services funding. Suwannee River Water Management District presented a $70.4 million budget, emphasized its rural/agricultural character and spring protection work, and highlighted the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water recharge project; members also discussed its need for an additional FTE to handle consumptive use permit reviews tied to a new lower Santa Fe rule. St. Johns River Water Management District presented a $181 million budget, highlighted major water supply, water quality, flood protection, and land management projects such as Taylor Creek Reservoir, Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Lake Jessup restoration, and said about 93% of its budget supports core missions. Southwest Florida Water Management District presented a $227.6 million budget, with major spending on alternative water supply, water control structure repairs, watershed projects, and land management; officials said 93.4% of the budget supports core missions and discussed rising construction costs for aging infrastructure. South Florida Water Management District presented the largest budget at $1.05 billion, focused on Everglades restoration, flood control, water supply, and ecosystem recovery; the director described major reservoirs and treatment projects, the EAA Reservoir, and ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The committee took no formal votes on the district budgets and adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a way for farmers to be proactive in trying to reduce their use of commercial fertilizer by way
• What it does is if a farmer can reduce his application of synthetic fertilizer nitrogen by 15% or up
• for that reduction, or is this an ongoing payment for as long as they maintain the reduction in fertilizer
• The next change you'll see is our green fertilizer reduction. That's on page 17.8.
• dollars that was made to us for grants to agricultural rural electric cooperatives to invest in green fertilizer

Committee: House Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• solar panels significantly reduces the land's water retention capacity and disrupts natural soil fertility
• Decarbonizing fertilizer creates business and new opportunities.
• We should also discuss agriculture, soil health, and green fertilizer, which have additional benefits
• could be a leader in green steel here with more investments in renewables, green steel, and green fertilizer

Transcript Highlights:

• Those four dams carry primarily the main products they carry are wheat, fertilizer, and wood.
• Those four dams carry primarily the main products they carry are wheat, fertilizer, and wood.
• And more recently, the two other products, the fertilizer model and the forest products model.
• I'm talking about all of the grain industry, fertilizer industry, all of those folks.
• I'm talking about all of the grain industry, fertilizer industry, all of those folks. fertilizer industry

Committee: Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had so much of it that we had a fertilizer plant that was operational.
• We had so much of it that we had a fertilizer plant that was operational in the member from District
• Speaker, we shut down the fertilizer plant in North Kenai a number of years ago.
• We had so much of it that we had a fertilizer plant that was operational. exported it for a long time
• Speaker, we shut down the fertilizer plant in North Kenai a number of years ago.