Transcript Highlights:

• And I think this could go to infrastructure needs, ultimately reducing bond costs over the long term
• So, again, thank you to Rhett Barry for authoring this bill, bringing it forward.
• And then, but that was the appraiser had the authority to bring somebody outside and to do that.
• I mean, I guess, you know, I don't know if this is a question for you or the bill author, but, uh, I
• and, and, uh, the county and the, the other jurisdictions, Uh, our bond ratings would have probably

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to end by thanking the author for prioritizing this issue, and I respectfully ask for your
• This bond bill will drive targeted investments into small development, affordable housing, and climate
• I have also spoken to the author of the bill about potentially doing that to be able to support it today
• This bill would require a licensee who is a lawsuit financer to maintain a surety bond.
• The surety bond, we hope, will help protect those who might be impacted by unscrupulous financing companies

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But more than this, we immediately form bonds of love that are deep.
• But more than this, we immediately formed bonds of love that are deep.
• All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors.
• All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors.
• This is for co-authors. All members who desire to vote, vote. There are 54 co-authors added.

Summary: The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, after a quorum call and prayer, then proceeded through routine floor business and several ceremonial resolutions. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules to withdraw AB 844 from committee and bring it directly to the floor; that motion received 16 ayes and 45 noes. The body also unanimously approved a request to re-refer AB 341. Members then adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding coauthors: ACR 35 recognizing Greek Independence Day, ACR 17 honoring women in carpentry and the BOOTS apprenticeship program, ACR 50 designating March 24, 2025 as Special Olympics Day, and H.R. 21 proclaiming Transgender Week of Visibility and March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility. Each resolution drew supportive remarks from multiple members, while H.R. 21 also prompted extended debate, including opposition centered on girls’ sports, locker rooms, and claims about state policy affecting transgender Californians. In each case, the resolutions were adopted after the coauthor roll and voice vote. The session concluded with adjournment in memory of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr., who died in the line of duty on March 17. Several members spoke in tribute to his service, his work with youth football, and his family. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Friday, March 28, 2025 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, you know, this in some ways, you know, and I know, I've had conversations with the author.
• It sounds like you're very open author.
• I think of this as a very light-touch incentive, and I would encourage the author and the chairs and
• and the chairs encourage uh the author and the chairs and<00:08:06.319> members<00:08:06.639>
• strong housing in infrastructure bond strong housing in infrastructure bond position<00:16:04.399

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
• Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
• Sabine River Authority. And I think we have two items in front of y'all today.
• The whole resort was operated without River Authority monies.
• And by this project, I mean the Sabine River Authority making this decision to take it.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee received the May fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget, which reflected the updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecast. The revised forecast reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million and lowered projected revenues across the five-year baseline, including a drop in FY27 available funds and larger out-year imbalances. The statement was approved without objection. Members then considered several Facility Planning and Control items and approved them without objection: a $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans project to build out space in the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation; a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home warehouse in Jackson; and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Lenoir Law Center addition. The committee also received, for information only, five change orders over $50,000 but under $250,000. The committee approved contract extensions and funding actions for several agencies. Louisiana Economic Development received approval for one-year extensions and increases for marketing contracts with Zender Communications and Graham Group. The Department of Education’s contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey was reported favorably after questions about the procurement process and how the contract amount relates to student enrollment. The Sabine River Authority’s $9.5 million operating budget increase and its 2026–2027 budget were approved favorably, with members discussing the planned takeover of Cypress Bend Resort operations. The Department of Health’s HERO Fund round of 15 grant awards, totaling about $4.6 million and projected to create 541 new health care credentials, was also approved favorably. Finally, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were adopted, including an additional $619,850 for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and $1.5 million in emergency subfund assistance for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. The committee also reviewed a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and its facilities corporation related to Act 35 projects, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The concern from budget and finance when we utilize bond proceeds, because bond proceeds by definition
• uh bond proceeds because bond we utilize uh bond proceeds because bond proceeds<01:30:27.440> by
• It also provides tools that clarify the commission's authority, the Public Utilities Commission's authority
• <02:02:28.239> rate authority to establish automatic rate authority to establish automatic
• Hawaii Public Housing Authority in support. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is acceptable to the author.
• I do believe the amendment is acceptable to the author.
• Thank you, sir. ...author. Does the author yield? Senator Eckhardt, you're recognized.
• To ask the author a question. Senator Kolkhorst, do you yield? I do.
• Senate Bill 533 relates to the election date for the authorization of the issuance of bonds or a tax

Bills: SJR12, SJR37, SB7, SB8, SB16, SB27, SB108, SB125, SB207, SB251, SB318, SB371, SB379, SB396, SB406, SB472, SB503, SB533, SB578, SB599, SB608, SB617, SB621, SB689, SB707, SB763, SB836, SB854, SB856, SB857, SB875, SB878, SB906, SB922, SB942, SB965, SB985, SB988, SB1021, SB1059, SB1084, SB1098, SB1185, SB1188, SB1202, SB1207, SB1307, SB1321, SB1330, SB1366, SB1388, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1497, SB1498, SB1535, SB1563, SB1596, SB1610, SB1619, SB1737, SB1738, SB1741, SB1816, SB1822, SB1841, SB1939, SB2188, SJR36, SJR12, SJR37, SJR81, SJR50, SCR22, SCR12, SCR39, SB875, SB318, SB707, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB1029, SB1185, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB906, SB860, SB1563, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB836, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB1084, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1939, SB1589, SB397, SB1388, SB2230, SB1058, SB1036, SB1267, SB2112, SB1930, SB532, SB1035, SB2155, SB508, SB29, SB292, SB291, SB901, SB1333, SB1436, SB1494, SB964, SB779, SB1378, SB2312, SB1719, SB1386, SB287, SB2143, SB1245, SB261, SB1247, SB1948, SB2406, SB2407, SB1882, SB1197, SB1814, SB618, SB38

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, voter ID, citizenship, election integrity, voting rights, water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's why we're talking about let's increase bonding, let's increase licensing fees, because there
• And you mentioned bonding to prevent some sort of perverse incentive or pressure from these folks.
• Would the bonding be from your company or would it be through a third-party person?
• And much of the difficulty has been due to our lack of authority at the local level when it comes to
• And much of the difficulty has been due to our lack of authority at the local level when it comes to

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
• Number five, review and approval of the following for the Sabine River Authority.
• Sabine River Authority. And I think we have two items in front of y'all today.
• The whole resort was operated without River Authority monies.
• Everyone wants the River Authority to do what they can to make sure this project stays open.

Summary: The committee first heard a fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget showing that updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecasts reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million, with lower revenues across the five-year baseline and larger out-year imbalances. With no questions, the statement was approved. Members then reviewed several Facility Planning and Control items, including approval of a new $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center project in New Orleans funded by self-generated revenues, a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Leno Law Center addition. The committee also received informational change-order reports and approved Louisiana Economic Development contract extensions for Zender Communications and Graham Group, as well as a Department of Education contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey after questions about the contract’s up-to amount and procurement process. The Sabine River Authority sought approval for a $9.5 million increase to its operating budget and its 2026-2027 budget, explaining the increase was tied to taking over the Cypress Bend Resort hotel and related property; members asked about long-term self-sufficiency and local support, and the items were approved favorably. The Louisiana Department of Health received approval for 15 HERO Fund grant awards totaling about $4.6 million to support 541 new health care credentials statewide. The Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were also approved, including $619,850 more for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and emergency subfund support for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. Finally, members reviewed an agreement between the LCTCS Board and its Facilities Corporation under Act 35, and the meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a nationally Acclaimed children's author who is actually reading her book.
• You and I will forever be bonded in our cybersecurity drama, and it is life-changing.
• Does your office have any authority to change the requirements for those providers?
• Surety bonds—we're required to carry surety bonds for individuals... ...in like for notaries and that
• And some individuals are required to have a surety bond, like the Cabinet Secretary for DOT.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm authoring this legislation to help build that task force to ensure that we have a transparent process
• 02:46.800> I'm for a very variety of uses and so I'm for a very variety of uses and so I'm authoring
• legislation<00:02:48.400> to<00:02:48.560> help<00:02:48.760> build authoring
• this legislation to help build authoring this legislation to help build that<00:02:49.200> task
• Hunting and fishing share the same passion and bond to the outdoors as foraging does, all while supporting

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, authorizing committees and appropriation subcommittee chairs will now face even tougher spending
• Um authorizing administration.
• So you have state and local tax bonds.
• So that you tax status for those bonds.
• U that's it for the the slide and bonds.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:52.720> who I've counseled other uh authors who I've counseled other uh authors who
• Subdivision 5 authorizes a person's license in a major line of authority as an insurance producer to
• license in a major line of authority as license in a major line of authority as an<00:35:31.680> insurance
• you,<00:38:12.920> um, bill author, have you, um, bill author, have you, um, got<00:38:13.920
• Just a quick question for you, bill author, if that's okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their official authority to influence or interfere with an election or coercing or influencing another
• It says use his or her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election
• Unrated bonds simply clarifies that local governments may continue to invest in Israel bonds.
• The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to proceed with restoration process in
• Ladies and gentlemen, the author of the greatest campaign song in the modern era, please welcome back

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for Pope Francis. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to the special order calendar and took up a long series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills before final passage. Among the measures approved were bills creating an expedited DNA testing grant program for local law enforcement, adding aggravating factors in capital cases involving gatherings for religious, school, or government activities, requiring state health coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, authorizing indemnification for commuter rail providers, prohibiting abandonment of migrant vessels in Florida waters, and creating new specialty license plates. The Senate also passed bills on Alzheimer’s awareness, relocating the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter schools, sex offender registration, utility worker protections, juvenile justice, student mental health reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School, school readiness, sexual images involving children, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county property appraiser employees. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and Brownfields. Debate was especially extensive on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered but failed 13-23 after arguments over election-related communications and the scope of existing law. The certified recovery residences bill also drew notable debate, with supporters emphasizing housing as essential to recovery and opponents raising concerns about implementation and local control. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes, including the capital aggravating factors bill, charter schools, and the Office of Faith and Community measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:31.919> last for doing that as the author last for doing that as the author last session
• <00:22:02.159> of describing it um the original author of describing it um the original author
• Currently, it is only authorized for new projects.
• program currently it is only authorized program currently it is only authorized for<01:32:24.320
• Because is there any situation in which we would use a public bonding authority to erect sheriff's residences

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , institutions, and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond
• Elliott that the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized
• Elliott that the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized
• , institutions, and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond
• Elliott that the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters from the Committee on Rules, including ceremonial resolutions recognizing the Concord-Nenezi sister city relationship, the 35th anniversary of the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship, and congratulating Rachel Cohen on earning Eagle Scout. The House suspended the rules and adopted those resolutions. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 on a number of petitions, including proposals involving neuropsychology evaluations for persons with intellectual disabilities, pharmacists’ participation as preferred providers, a sick leave bank for a Department of Transportation employee, and land/easement authority for the City of Lowell. The main substantive issue was House Bill 4001, the fiscal year 2026 state budget, which came from the Senate with a full substitute amendment. The House suspended the rules but voted not to concur with the Senate amendment. The chamber then agreed to reappoint a conference committee, naming Representatives Michlewitz, Ferrante, and Smola to negotiate with the Senate. The House also considered and advanced several Public Service Committee bills establishing sick leave banks for state and local employees, including Kendra Winner, Dana Johnson, Stephen Forget, Daniel Yender, and Martin Kratman; each was ordered to a third reading after suspension of the rules. Later, the House took up Senate No. 2521, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. After suspension of the rules, the bill was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, passed to be engrossed, and then enacted. The emergency preamble was separately adopted by a recorded vote, and the bill was finally passed. The House also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And unless I maybe had a dream about that, I remember that was something that was bonded for.
• Is that something that was bonded for? Does that ring a bell to you?
• Is that something that was bonded for? Does that ring a bell to you?
• Is that something that was bonded for? Does that ring a bell to you?
• Is that something that was bonded for? Does that ring a bell to you?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee received an informational overview from Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) staff on the agency’s role and current operations as it transitions from DHS. DCT described itself as Minnesota’s unique state behavioral health system, serving about 12,000 people annually through treatment facilities, residential group homes, and vocational sites, with about 5,000 staff and five major service lines including forensic services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. The presentation also reviewed the new executive board required by statute and the 47 work groups created to support DCT’s move to separate-agency status, with staff saying the board is in place, has met, and the work groups are on track for the July 1 deadline. Committee discussion focused heavily on system capacity, staffing shortages, and discharge bottlenecks. DCT said recruiting and retaining staff remains its top pressure, with many vacancies and overtime contributing to burnout. Members also raised concerns about long waits for admission, lack of step-down and community-based placements, and the effect on county jails and hospitals. DCT said it has expanded some capacity, including increasing beds in Willmar, reopening the Ironwood unit in St. Peter, and repurposing the CARE program site to add 16 forensic beds, but emphasized that the broader problem is the lack of community-based options rather than just DCT beds. Members also discussed priority admissions and a prior task force process for handling jail referrals. DCT said the priority admissions framework began July 1 of the previous year, uses factors such as medical acuity and impact on referring facilities, and is intended to help with backflow, though it does not solve the underlying bed shortage. Staff said the priority admissions review panel’s report is due February 15. In response to questions about a high-cost one-to-one care placement, DCT said it had found a less costly alternative and that each case has unique needs. DCT also reported progress on an electronic health record rollout and said a substance use disorder report requested by the Legislature is nearing completion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charlie understands the unique and enduring bond between the United States and France, a bond that's
• As ambassador, I will strive to uphold and enhance these enduring bonds, advancing the relationship marked
• promoting academic collaborations, cultural initiatives, and tourism, we can further strengthen the bonds
• I authored the Bolster Act to encourage European engagement in support of Taiwan's security with one
• jurisdiction and it is illegitimately asserting power over nations that have not acceded to its authority

Keywords: diplomatic nominations, foreign policy, ambassadors, U.S.-European relations, Bilateral relationships, security, trade

Summary: The meeting focused primarily on diplomatic nominations, featuring discussions about the implications of these roles on U.S. foreign policy. Notable was the introduction of nominees for key ambassadorial positions, including ambassadors to the Dominican Republic, France, and the Netherlands. Senator Shaheen emphasized the importance of U.S.-European relations, particularly in light of current global challenges, while other members voiced their concerns regarding the nominees’ qualifications and the impact on bilateral relationships. Public support for these nominations was evident, as was the committee's commitment to fostering stronger connections with allied nations, particularly in addressing security and trade issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have the authority.
• So, there is current authority.
• have a law specifically authorizing have a law specifically authorizing CASA<00:45:49.280> CAJA
• pardons<00:49:10.800> and And it authorizes the pardons and And it authorizes the pardons
• <00:49:41.960> to<00:49:42.080> res- clear authority to res- clear authority to res

Bills: SB118, SB203, HB420, HB414, HB363, HB405, HB261, HB263, HB327, HB348, HB228, HB282, SB273, HB7, SB296, SB199, SB47, SB204, HB80, HB11, HB192

Keywords: bail, offenses, constitutional amendment, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, Baldwin County, local bill, education funding, school tax, privilege license tax, county tax revenue, municipal school board, Baldwin County Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we need more of them, we need more housing, and so thanks to the author and to the co-author
• So those are the three amendments that we have negotiated with the authors that the authors have accepted
• I don’t think we have another author present.
• I don't see another author at this time. I don't see another author at this time.
• I don't see another author at this time.

Keywords: 987, senate, all