Transcript Highlights:

• Public records, exemptions, and meetings for mental health and substance abuse by Representative Maney
• Just very quickly, 26 other states license and regulate natural paths of physicians.
• This is a public records exemption connected to HB 325.
• They're going to face discipline action on their medical license.
• I think it's the corporations that are exempt from the been indemnified from all liability.

Transcript Highlights:

• property is exempt.
• So even if there is a property that is otherwise exempt, if it's used by a non-exempt entity or used
• So even if there is a property that is otherwise exempt, if it's used by a non-exempt entity or used
• So even if there is a property that is otherwise exempt, if it's used by a non-exempt entity or used
• And I'll note that that exemption for licensed child care facilities, uh, again, is ongoing, so there

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 120 to track compliance with the statutory licensing timeframes and submit certain licensing
• Basically, in that last section there, we're reviewing how many licenses are issued every year by the
• This is looking at, number one, the efficiency of how we're getting licenses out there.
• So again, it's a partial exemption.
• The exemption would cease to exist on October 2, 2025. Members, questions on the bill.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met and took up a long agenda of policy bills, local bills, and open government sunset review measures. The committee first heard HB 433 on administrative procedures, as amended by a strike-all that would create a five-year repromulgation process for agency rules, require review of guidance documents, add cost-benefit analysis requirements, and tighten licensing reporting. Members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing JAPC review functions and raised concerns about costs and the scope of agency authority, but the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably 12-3. The committee then approved HB 699, which increases penalties for certain traffic infractions when they result in a crash; CS/HB 404, a local bill updating the City of Tampa firefighters’ and police officers’ pension plan; HB 711, creating a statewide Spectrum Alert and law-enforcement training for missing children with autism; HB 4023, a local ethics-related charter change for the North Springs Improvement District; HB 583, requiring registration and disclosure for agents and organizations associated with foreign principals and foreign-supported political organizations; HB 251, recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida; and HB 749, extending medical benefits for firefighters who suffer catastrophic injuries during training. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony and were reported favorably by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee also considered several OGSR/open-records measures. PCB GOS-25-04 preserved exemptions for public safety communications system infrastructure records, PCB GOS-25-05 aligned cybersecurity-records sunset dates to October 2, 2026, and PCB GOS-25-06 narrowed exemptions for certain records held by the Department of Financial Services as receiver for insolvent insurers, making more information public. All three were reported favorably on 17-0 votes. The meeting adjourned after the final roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Professional licenses. 5. Office of Dispute Resolution.
• </c> shall be from the property tax exemption shall be from the property tax exemption fund<03:51:22.399
• This amount shall be from the general fund exempt account created in section 24-77-103.6, C.R.S.
• This amount shall be from the general fund exempt account created in section 24-77-103.6, C.R.S.
• </c> shall be from the general fund exempt shall be from the general fund exempt account<04:16:31.120

Transcript Highlights:

• The board offers one type of license, and there are 41 active licenses as of this time.
• And if so, how did y’all bring them before the board if they didn’t have a license and they’re not licensed
• Are they licensed or certified?”
• What are some other exemptions?” “The other exemption is your own items.”
• Do you license boats? We do not currently license boats, no, sir. That is done through DF&A.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Subcommittee reviewed four entities moved up from the July schedule: the State Board of Acupuncture, State Board of Pharmacy, Auctioneer Licensing Board, and Motor Vehicle Commission. For acupuncture, the board described its public-protection role, its small size and limited number of active licenses, and efforts to grow the profession through lower fees and online licensing. Members asked generally about what acupuncture treats, and the review was completed without objection. The Pharmacy Board discussion focused heavily on GLP-1 drugs, compounding pharmacies, home delivery of prescriptions, and enforcement against unsafe or unlicensed distribution. Members raised concerns about access to obesity and diabetes medications, mail-order restrictions, and whether compounding pharmacies and out-of-state entities were properly licensed. The director explained the difference between traditional compounding, sterile compounding, and 503B outsourcing facilities, said the board has issued cease-and-desist orders when needed, and noted that retail pharmacy inspections are currently on a 12- to 15-month cycle. Members also asked about pharmacist impersonation, complaint handling, pharmacy technician registration and training, and whether the state has enough pharmacists, with the board saying Arkansas has a pharmacy in every county but still needs to keep attracting new professionals. The Auctioneer Licensing Board reported no major issues, but members asked about dormant license numbers, exemptions from licensure for charity auctions, personal property sales, and livestock auction barns, and whether the profession has adequate numbers. The director said old license numbers cannot be reissued under the current system, charity auctions and sales of one’s own items are exempt, and the field is generally stable with online auctions helping growth. The Motor Vehicle Commission reported on its licensing of franchise dealers and manufacturers, discussed the revocation and fine against Superior RV after an administrative hearing, and said the business is currently shut down while the commission monitors for possible reentry under a different name. Members also asked about dealer licensing requirements, whether boats are licensed by the commission, and workforce shortages; the director said the biggest need is for service and repair technicians, and the commission awarded $250,000 in grants to 12 high school and college automotive programs this year. The committee concluded all four reviews without objection, asked members to email any recommendations for the final report, and announced the next meeting for September 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, it exempts the specified agricultural property... ...reports to property owners.
• Additionally, it exempts the specified agricultural property from on-site inspections for three years
• Additionally, it replaces the three-year exemption... ...and any prior year the improvement existed.
• Additionally, it replaces the three-year exemption from on-site agricultural inspections with an exemption
• . ...motorcycle only if at least one of the registered owners of the motorcycle has a Class M license

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the exemption though? By the valuation net of the homestead exemption.
• </c> places in the property tax exemptions. places in the property tax exemptions.
• </c> &gt;&gt; and that's local PT exemptions. &gt;&gt; and that's local PT exemptions.
• veterans exemption as well.
• </c> veterans exemption as well. So, yeah. veterans exemption as well. So, yeah.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those are really increasing the homestead exemption from...
• However, a $40,000 homestead exemption is probably a $3.3 billion...
• We need to be looking at the rollback limits because... ...exemption limits.
• The Texas Forensic Science Commission provides enforcement of forensic licensing, analyst licensing,
• The Texas Forensic Science Commission provides enforcement of forensic licensing, analyst licensing,

Bills: SB 1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• if you're in a residential treatment facility would only be a 90-day exemption or a six-month exemption
• This is the underlying bill for the public records exemption we just passed.
• , whereas HB 1087 expands the same public records exemptions to exempt newly regulated qualified payment
• The amendment revises the license plate reader provisions to exempt certain private investigative entities
• They have 38% participation, 42% participation, but they're exempt.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day in Florida. Later, the Senate adopted a memorial-style recognition of the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on health care coverage, veterinary licensure, and affordable housing. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a public assistance/Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described five major changes: stronger anti-fraud authority, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services through a waiver, pharmacy program changes to reduce costs, and a SNAP fraud-reduction plan with photo ID and work requirements. Democrats offered amendments to condition the work requirement on Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP photo ID use by caregivers, seniors, disabled people, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators then questioned implementation details, exemptions, and eligibility impacts. The bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed CS/HB 7031 on taxation, substituting it for the Senate bill and adopting a technical amendment, by a vote of 34-0. The chamber passed a series of other bills, generally after substituting House companions and adopting technical amendments. These included a computer science education bill adding digital literacy and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry bill and related public records exemption, a bill designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, a local government electronic payments bill, a legal tender bill repealing a sunset on gold and silver recognition, public records exemptions for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a stablecoin pilot program, local government spending transparency requirements, a digital voyeurism bill expanding privacy protections to private fenced yards, an insurance licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework, and a medical freedom bill addressing vaccine information, conscience exemptions, ivermectin access, and the mRNA mandate sunset. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, with recorded votes ranging from 31-3 to 34-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• It exempts above-ground public and semi-public cold plunges from regulation as spas under the existing
• House Bill 2189 mandates that the State Board of Nursing revise the rules or create the rules for licensed
• medical provider attesting that a single patient is suitable for licensed health aide care for a licensed
• It also defines a licensed medical provider as one of the following: a physician, a nurse practitioner
• The Senate amended the bill to remove business taxpayers from exemption from a late filing penalty for

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills with Senate amendments, with members generally indicating the sponsors intended to concur on most measures. Topics included public health and medical regulation (HB 2086 on face coverings/vaccinations, HB 2140 on gold and silver bullion investments, HB 2195 on nursing facility complaint timelines, HB 2189 on licensed health aides, HB 2932 on Access reimbursement and prior authorization, HB 2557 on medical records timing, and HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam), criminal justice and courts (HB 2673 creating an inmate mental health study committee, HB 2028 on community restitution for indigent homeless defendants, HB 2662 on expert testimony in parenting-time cases, HB 2440 on prisoner transition services, and HB 2594 on address confidentiality in family court), and education-related bills (HB 2830 on prenatal development instruction, HB 2249 on parents’ rights and social transitioning, HB 2481 on school district financial record compliance, HB 2482 on school construction job-order caps, HB 2895 on Native American language proficiency, HB 2423 on automatic advanced math enrollment, HB 2621 on special education and certificates of educational convenience, HB 2592 on AI rules, HB 2379 on school board training, and HB 2380 on out-of-state travel and public meeting materials). Other bills addressed transportation, development, housing, and local government issues, including HB 2909 on distracted driving, HB 2369 on photo enforcement citations, HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 2946 on development fees, HB 2999 on infrastructure finance districts, HB 2244 on eviction record sealing, HB 2342 on HOA shade structures, and HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices. Several members raised concerns or asked questions on bills such as HB 2932, HB 2249, HB 2830, and HB 2028, but no formal votes were taken in the transcript; the meeting ended with adjournment after brief discussion of the final bills on Caucus Calendar 19, including HB 2248 on medical intervention requirements for businesses and schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• that license plate for the rest of her natural life or until she remarries or he remarries.
• that license plate for the rest of her natural life or until she remarries or he remarries.
• <00:14:39.440><c> for</c><00:14:40.160><c> a</c><00:14:40.399><c> 501c3</c> exemption for a 501c3 exemption
• The substitute, all it does is exempt the local entities from it.
• It does not exempt their sales tax, only the state. >> Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that have no exemptions. that have no exemptions.
• </c> vaccine exemptions honored. vaccine exemptions honored.
• religious exemptions exemptions or religious exemptions without<00:54:08.079><c> any</c><00:54:09.119
• No unchecked power, no exemptions.
• </c><01:02:56.000><c> Our</c> No uncheck power, no exemptions. Our No uncheck power, no exemptions.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, currently in Minnesota rules there is a special exemption where if an individual's been free of those
• So what the bill before the body does as amended is that it would create, uh, two additional exemptions
• Failure to provide and return the requested data in 30 days will result in the denial of your license
• </c> necessary uh they would also be exempt necessary uh they would also be exempt from<00:03:03.480>
• </c> PA asked for a person's driver's license PA asked for a person's driver's license and<00:31:15.720

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, you know, we license these professionals.
• We don't need a complete exemption from the bill.
• It creates a broad exemption that weakens one...
• You can lose your license.
• They're exempt from the Public Records Act.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Right, the commercial marine licenses—sorry, okay—so the Kapili case? Yeah, okay.
• Right, the commercial marine licenses—sorry, okay—so the Kapili case? Yeah, okay.
• </c> have to have a CML license have to have a CML license so<00:33:29.320><c> if</c><00:33:29.480><c
• Justice is going to sit here and act like we didn’t go after the commercial marine license.
• The kanaka are ... exemptions to any laws from the United States, yeah.

Summary: The joint committees first heard SB 1146, which would appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi to develop an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan for debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai Watershed. Testimony was largely supportive from DLNR, a UH student, and a special improvement district representative, while one speaker suggested the work should be coordinated with existing efforts to avoid duplication. Committee discussion focused on the multi-jurisdictional nature of the watershed, existing debris-trap work that captures only about 20 to 30 percent of debris, the role of the university in capstone projects and recommendations, and the relationship to the existing Geni project and other community efforts. Members also asked about costs, tracking progress, and the difference between water-quality improvements and the larger debris problem. The committees then voted to pass SB 1146 with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation and deferring the effective date to July 31, 2050. The motion passed in both committees, with votes recorded in support and no opposition noted during the decision-making. The committees also heard SB 321, which would deem certain fee simple privately owned lands transferred to adjacent property owners or community associations if specified conditions are met. Testimony was in support from several individuals, but members raised concerns about the lack of input from counties and the state, and about how the bill might affect roads already used by the public or maintained by local governments. After discussion, the committees voted to advance SB 321 unamended to the next committees, with the measure adopted in both committees despite one recorded no vote in the Water and Land committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are actually licensed as an endorsement to the hospital license that they’re affiliated with.”
• as a sub-license category, they can keep the same license as just a sub-license underneath what they're
• They said no. same license is just a sub-license underneath what they're currently at.
• as a sub-license category, they can keep the same license as just a sub-license underneath what they're
• They said no. same license is just a sub license underneath what they're currently at.

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill first increases the value of exempt property from $100 to $1,000.
• The bill first increases the value of exempt property from $100 to $1,000 and requires that the exemption
• license to legally practice in every other state.
• The bill allows licensed cosmetologists to obtain a multistate license to legally practice in every other
• Engrossed House Bill 5323, relating to indexing and license and stamp fees.

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Council, is something that um licensed Council, is something that um licensed professionals,<00:
• </c><01:31:33.720><c> uh</c> do you have a licenser uh do you have a licenser uh program<01:31:35.760
• a licenser system because establishing a licenser system because you<01:31:47.680><c> know,</c><01:31
• </c> university's request to be exempted university's request to be exempted confusing<01:36:27.200><
• </c> relating to administrative license relating to administrative license revocation.<01:53:39.720><

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing either support or comments rather than opposition. HB 2395, relating to taking marine deposits for research, education, management, or propagation, received support from the University of Hawaii and DLNR. HB 2585, relating to agricultural tourism, drew broad support for its intent to keep agritourism secondary to farming, but agencies and farm groups raised concerns about enforcement, county authority, and the rebuttable presumption language. Testifiers included OPSD, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, a small farm operator, and others, with some urging clearer definitions, simpler registration, and protections for bona fide farms and hosted farm stays. HB 1728, on rainwater catchment systems, was supported in principle by DLNR, which cited drought conditions and said it deferred to counties and the Department of Health on safety and regulation. HB 1881, which would prohibit passenger ropeways on mountain lands, drew strong support from community testifiers who said it would help prevent development disguised as agritourism and protect forests and country lands. HB 1990, establishing penalties and possible foreclosure for unresolved zoning violations, received comments from the Attorney General recommending removal of AG references and more county-centered enforcement, while the Hawaii Association of Realtors warned the 30-day timeline could create problems for absent or unaware homeowners. The committee also heard HB 1712, which would expand and make permanent certain seats on the State Building Code Council. The Plumbers and Fitters union supported the bill, but BIA Hawaii requested amendments to add “licensed contractor” language, and architects and other professionals opposed the measure, arguing that increasing the council from 12 to 15 voting members would make it less efficient and harder to reach quorum. Finally, HB 2151, relating to hempcrete, was supported by a Kauai workforce development advocate and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, who said hempcrete could support agriculture, manufacturing, and affordable housing while reducing carbon and reliance on imported materials. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill increases the license renewal fee and license renewal ceiling fee, and permanently eliminates
• the initial license fee.
• It updates the exempt practice settings.
• Finally, SB 1363 exempts federally recognized tribes' licensed establishments from maintaining good standing
• This bill extends the operations of the board until, SB 1363 exempts federally recognized tribes license

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development met as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later established quorum and took up a series of bills, mostly sunset extensions for licensing boards. SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1304, SB 1363, and SB 1368 all dealt with extending board operations to January 1, 2031 and making related technical or policy changes. SB 1303 for the Board of Naturopathic Medicine added a fictitious name permit program and other administrative changes, while SB 1304 for the Respiratory Care Board drew significant testimony over whether licensed vocational nurses should be allowed to perform basic respiratory tasks in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals. SB 1363 updated barbering and cosmetology apprenticeship and licensing rules, and SB 1368 added a retired license category and strengthened continuing education oversight for speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers. The committee also heard SB 865, which would create a California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program to support large independent multi-day music festivals. Supporters, including Visit Sacramento and festival promoters, said the bill would protect jobs, tourism, hotel nights, and local tax revenue; opponents raised concerns about using state funds during a deficit year and questioned whether profitable events should receive subsidies. The committee also heard SB 1297, which would create regional public-private partnerships and financing tools for wildfire mitigation projects; the author and supporters said it would help address the state’s large wildfire prevention funding gap by leveraging local and private investment, while members asked how the bonds would be repaid and whether the state would bear costs. SB 993, presented on behalf of Senator Ochoa-Bogue, would restore privacy protections for mental health professionals working in correctional and state hospital settings by limiting routine disclosure of identifying information while preserving a complaint process. Supporters described safety threats, stalking, and staffing concerns, and the bill passed unanimously. SB 1304 also passed after committee discussion, with members and the author noting ongoing negotiations over LVN scope and training in higher-acuity settings. SB 865 passed on a 9-1 vote, SB 1297 passed 10-0, and the sunset bills SB 1302, SB 1303, SB 1363, and SB 1368 all advanced unanimously to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 1333 was not heard, and SB 1445 was on the consent calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• um let's say I an amendment to exempt um let's say I could<00:45:34.640><c> exempt</c><00:45:35.280>
• </c> occupational license. occupational license.
• </c><01:23:01.280><c> We</c><01:23:01.520><c> exempt</c><01:23:01.840><c> out</c> license for an occupation
• We exempt out license for an occupation?
• </c> graduate, you will get your licensing. graduate, you will get your licensing.