Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but in most of our districts, there is no security at the district or the magistrate at all.
• What is the mitigation of risk look like?
• I'm the district attorney in the first judicial District, which is Santa Fe, Rio Ariba, and Los Alamos
• Those are the rules in our district.
• The district attorneys are represented here.

Transcript Highlights:

• , at that same LEA, school district, at that same LEA, school district, charter<00:03:11.280>
• 12 school districts in the pilot group. 12 school districts in the pilot group.
• the district to another district or left out of state, for example.
• Our district implemented a responsive safety plan designed to mitigate the impact of ICE activity.
• Our district implemented a responsive safety plan designed to mitigate the impact of ICE activity.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, members, this is a fairly straightforward template mud in my district.
• Members, this bill creates Water County Municipal Utility District Number 70.
• , indeed restriction enforcement from a special district.
• The special districts became limited districts after the forced annexation.
• The developer has already advanced money to that district.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate amendments remove the exemption and mitigate the potential risk of federal highway fund reductions
• It also does a lot to mitigate any loss of federal highway funds, because we also care very deeply, and
• And you're creating a special district.

Summary: The Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee before quorum was established, then heard three measures. AB 770 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez would authorize the City of Los Angeles to create a flexible signage framework at the Los Angeles Convention Center to generate revenue for renovation and modernization tied to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Support came from labor, business, and SEIU representatives, who cited jobs, tourism, and financing benefits; there was no opposition testimony. Members asked about the job estimates and the connection between signage revenue and convention center expansion. SB 451, presented by Senator Archuleta, would clarify that a 50-50 charitable raffle may be conducted at a championship game held at a designated venue where an affiliated sports team plays home games, addressing a Super Bowl-related ambiguity. Supporters from the NFL and the 49ers said the change would preserve charitable fundraising for Super Bowls 60 and 61 and would not alter other raffle rules. CalNonprofits raised concerns about fairness, gambling expansion, and the special treatment of pro sports raffles, while members discussed how charities receive funds and the program’s audit process. AB 831 by Assemblymember Valencia would prohibit online sweepstakes using dual-currency models that allow cash payouts, while leaving non-cash social sweepstakes untouched. Supporters, including several tribes, the Sports Betting Alliance, the California Chamber of Commerce, and other stakeholders, argued the bill closes a loophole, protects consumers, and preserves tribal gaming sovereignty; opponents, including the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance and numerous tribal members and representatives, argued it would eliminate a legal industry, harm smaller and less advantaged tribes, and was advanced without sufficient consultation. After extensive debate about consumer protection, tribal equity, and online gaming regulation, all three bills were approved, and the committee adjourned at 9:55 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All other requirements of applications are still in place, including mitigation.
• In terms of approximate numbers for Rosie Irrigation District and their leases, that was just over a
• The Clallam Conservation District, it’s approximately 215K.
• And then Benton Conservation District was about 800K.
• Well, I'm not aware of anybody as any, as far as municipalities for the irrigation districts for the

Summary: The committee heard first from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco, who reviewed the weather and snowpack conditions that contributed to Washington’s 2025 drought. She said the state had a very warm and dry water year, with April through September ranking among the warmest and driest periods on record, and that three straight years of below-normal snowpack and precipitation had compounded drought impacts, especially in the Yakima Basin. She also explained that a weak La Niña could bring a wetter-than-normal winter, though temperature forecasts were less certain, and noted that long-term climate projections point to continued snowpack decline and earlier runoff timing. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then described the state’s drought declaration process and response. They said Washington’s statutory drought threshold is less than 75% of normal water supply plus a hardship finding, and that Ecology extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it statewide in June. They discussed reliance on federal monitoring data and staffing at NRCS, USGS, Reclamation, and NOAA, and said federal staffing and funding instability has created concerns for snowpack and water data. They also reviewed drought response funding, noting that grants have supported projects in the Yakima and Dungeness basins and that the drought emergency account still has a balance available for current needs. Burns gave a detailed update on the Yakima Basin, saying it experienced unprecedented conditions this year, including nearly empty reservoirs, curtailment orders sent to about 1,500 water users, and the first time even the most senior 1855 surface water rights were turned off. She said widespread compliance occurred, though the process exposed areas for improvement, especially coordination with federal partners. Committee members asked about the long-term basis for climate projections, the 75% drought threshold, federal impacts, drought insurance, reservoir storage, and whether the state should consider more drought funding or new storage projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I think my concern is hurricane forecasting, hurricane risk—what are we doing to mitigate that
• What are we doing to mitigate that if that is going to be interrupted or disrupted in this transition
• One of the questions that's come up with members in my district... ...focus, which I appreciate.
• I see these in my district all the time. I still don't know what they're necessarily used for.
• I see these in my district all the time. I still don't know what they're necessarily used for.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard five bills. HB 1097 would rename the Florida Catastrophic Storm Center at FSU as the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management, transfer the public hurricane loss projection model from FIU to FSU, and provide recurring and nonrecurring appropriations to support independent insurance research and collaboration with OIR and other universities. Members discussed university roles, model oversight, independence from industry funding, and student/workforce benefits. The bill passed favorably on a roll call vote. HB 319 would create a regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosk businesses, requiring registration with the Office of Financial Regulation, consumer disclosures, and penalties for violations. Much of the discussion focused on fraud prevention, especially for seniors, and whether the bill should include transaction caps or stronger recovery tools; AARP supported the bill but urged additional protections. The bill passed favorably. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and Community Property Trust Act, including decanting, trustee claims, redemption by satisfaction, and homestead transfer treatment; an amendment conforming to the Senate version was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. CS/HB 97 would allow service of process for exploitation injunctions against unascertainable scammers through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text or social media, and would let courts freeze funds temporarily while the matter is heard. Testimony from elder law practitioners and AARP supported the bill as a tool against scams, while some members raised due process and overreach concerns; the bill passed favorably. HB 839 would shorten the overpayment recovery window for claims submitted to psychologists and HMOs to match other health providers, with the goal of improving parity and access to mental health care; an amendment was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. The meeting concluded with adjournment after the final roll call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• plan and we would Wildfire mitigation plan and we would need<01:23:21.320> to<01:23:21.520>
• to review the Wildfire safety mitigation to review the Wildfire safety mitigation plans<01:25:00.199
• If you've ever been down to the K area and then the Puna District, there's not a whole lot of health
• If you've ever been down to the K area and then the Puna District, there's not a whole lot of health
• <06:37:25.558> just businesses on the Winward District just businesses on the Winward District

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And over 20,000 communications were received by the district about it.
• We have already seen this with the South Coast and Bay Area districts.
• Erin Avery, California Special Districts Association, in support. Good afternoon, Madam Chair.
• Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Erin Avery, California Special Districts Association and support.
• That we have raised have pretty much been mitigated by the amendments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to take part in the budget process, evaluate the proposals, assess the impacts to our respective districts
• I had an opportunity to be out with your agency at Cal State Los Angeles in my district, get a chance
• And when's the next time you're in my district? I'm just kidding. We can arrange that.
• From constituents as well as our team in the district office around faster turnaround times from EDD,
• It supports over 250,000 dispute hearings annually across 23 district offices and houses millions of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• revenues from the district.
• or in my assembly district.
• or in my assembly district.
• Again, this is a district bill.
• public cemetery districts.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• revenues from the district.
• Water District, in support.
• or in my assembly district.
• Again, this is a district bill.
• public cemetery districts.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with testimony often centered on regional coordination, permitting reform, and local control. SB 802 by Senator Ashby would require Sacramento-area jurisdictions to form a joint powers authority to coordinate homelessness and housing response; supporters argued the region has long lacked accountability and coordination, while Sacramento County, Folsom, and others opposed the mandate as an unprecedented state-imposed JPA. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, business groups, service providers, and advocates, and opposition from county, city, and nonprofit representatives who said a local process was already underway. Committee members expressed support for the concept, but the bill was held pending a quorum and later discussed again with strong encouragement for regional collaboration. The committee also heard SB 222, SB 677, SB 908, SB 226, SB 828, and SB 1193. SB 222 would streamline permitting for residential heat pump and water heater installations; supporters said it would lower costs and speed clean-energy adoption, while local government groups argued the main barrier is upfront cost, not permits. SB 677 would curb what the author described as abusive appeals and delays in affordable housing approvals, with developers testifying about frivolous subdivision map appeals and TEFRA hearing delays; the California Native Plant Society sought an amendment to preserve appeals on habitat lands. SB 908 would simplify permits for energy-code-compliant window replacements, and SB 226 would clarify financing authority for a West Sacramento baseball stadium proposal; both passed unanimously. SB 828, prompted by the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion, would tighten fireworks storage and licensing rules, expand inspection and seizure authority, and increase fines; it also passed unanimously after testimony from fire officials and a pyrotechnic operator who opposed it unless amended. SB 1193, a county-specific Alameda County transparency bill, generated the sharpest debate. The author argued it would prevent waste, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in discretionary spending by requiring board approval, a public spending log, and clearer whistleblower procedures. Alameda County and county associations opposed it as overly broad and burdensome, saying existing processes already provide transparency and that the bill would reduce flexibility during fiscal stress. After committee questions about the bill’s purpose and the county’s current practices, the measure passed 7-0, with the author indicating willingness to accept an amendment restoring a four-fifths vote threshold. The committee then moved out of order to SB 1090, which would impose a temporary moratorium on state housing density laws in Altadena through 2030 in response to post-fire displacement concerns. The author said the bill is intended to protect long-term residents from investor-driven redevelopment after the Eaton Fire, while acknowledging amendments to align the moratorium with affordable housing development timelines. The transcript cuts off during the presentation of this bill, so no final action is shown for SB 1090 in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is mitigating electric grid ignited wildfires.
• We also mitigate the consequences of those wildfires by modeling the wildfire spread, for example.
• Investment decisions to mitigate wildfires.
• They are dedicated to wildfire risk mitigation.
• And managing that risk by the criticality and the opportunity to mitigate it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill Weber, Senate District 21.
• Judy Seeberger, District 41.
• <00:01:10.720> 14 uh I'm Eric I represent C district 14 uh I'm Eric I represent C district
• senator Mary Kunes I represent District senator Mary Kunes I represent District 39<00:01:21.119>
• Jee Dor, District 23.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water Conservation District, located entirely in Jackson County and within my Senate district, from
• There's no opposition to the creation of the district.
• Lastly, districts should share campus maps with the local emergency service districts.
• The district does not have the authority to charge fees.
• The district does not have eminent domain authority.

Bills: HB4, HB20, HB40, HB46, HB101, HB112, HB117, HB121, HB127, HB146, HB150, HB186, HB229, HB426, HB521, HB541, HB549, HB632, HB713, HB796, HB1052, HB1106, HB1135, HB1234, HB1306, HB1403, HB1523, HB1532, HB1690, HB1960, HB2035, HB2217, HB2399, HB2488, HB2517, HB2594, HB2655, HB2686, HB2731, HB2757, HB2820, HB2963, HB3005, HB3053, HB3073, HB3225, HB3320, HB3333, HB3336, HB3441, HB3483, HB3516, HB3520, HB3697, HB3748, HB3793, HB3848, HB4099, HB4134, HB4144, HB4158, HB4233, HB4236, HB4285, HB4350, HB4359, HB4464, HB4580, HB4690, HB4730, HB4848, HB4904, HB4995, HB5196, HB5294, HB5381, HB5435, HB5437, HB5509, HB5606, HB5646, HB5658, HB5661, HB5663, HB5666, HB5672, HCR40, HCR59, SB867, SB2919, SJR5, SJR27, SB4, SB6, SB7, SB9, SB13, SB15, SB23, SB27, SB30, SB40, SB57, SB66, SB140, SB268, SB293, SB331, SB413, SB447, SB457, SB467, SB506, SB510, SB512, SB571, SB650, SB763, SB777, SB785, SB800, SB850, SB863, SB865, SB973, SB974, SB1191, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1494, SB1522, SB1540, SB1567, SB1579, SB1580, SB1610, SB1660, SB1723, SB1760, SB1838, SB1923, SB1946, SB1957, SB1964, SB2018, SB2024, SB2121, SB2167, SB2217, SB2221, SB2321, SB2337, SB2368, SB2373, SB2407, SB2431, SB2477, SB2587, SB2615, SB2753, SB2807, SB2900, SB2965, SB2972, SB2986, SB3039, SB3047, SB3059, SB3070, SB1, SB17, SB21, SB260, SB379, SB509, SB1198, SB1405, SB1506, SB1637, SB1833, SB2155, SB2308, SB2601, SB2778, HB300, HB2011, HB2525, HB5246, HB100, HB101, HB119, HB227, HB252, HB322, HB346, HB654, HB705, HB718, HB721, HB824, HB1094, HB1234, HB1306, HB1506, HB1523, HB1629, HB1690, HB1868, HB1960, HB1973, HB2012, HB2035, HB2037, HB2078, HB2128, HB2213, HB2240, HB2348, HB2520, HB2598, HB2686, HB2694, HB2820, HB3005, HB3057, HB3092, HB3112, HB3171, HB3181, HB3185, HB3333, HB3388, HB3516, HB3546, HB3619, HB3623, HB3629, HB3642, HB3686, HB3697, HB3749, HB3793, HB3812, HB3815, HB3848, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4157, HB4158, HB4170, HB4202, HB4211, HB4214, HB4233, HB4285, HB4350, HB4361, HB4463, HB4464, HB4466, HB4559, HB4630, HB4748, HB4765, HB4848, HB4894, HB4904, HB4995, HB5093, HB5196, HB5320, HB5437, HB5624, HB5650, HB5651, HB5652, HB5654, HB5655, HB5656, HB5658, HB5661, HB5662, HB5664, HB5665, HB5666, HB5670, HB5672, HB5674, HB5677, HB5679, HB5682, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694, HB5695, HB5698, HB5699, HCR46, HCR76, HCR81, HCR83, HCR84, HCR111, HB748, HB5652, HB3395, HB180, HB1306, HB5650, HB4894, HB1629, HB5698, HB3171, HB2694, HB5664, HB4690, HB4464, HB3623, HB2520, HB2213, HB252, HB146, HB5596, HB3619, HB5320, HB5651, HB5670, HB5665, HB5437, HB5679, HB5661, HB5662, HB5654, HB5672, HB5656, HB2035, HB721, HB346, HB5695, HB5694, HB5674, HB3185, HB2348, HB1135, HB101, HB5666, HB5677, HB5682, HB5658, HB4144, HB3642, HB3815, HB2686, HB2012, HB1960, HB227, HB654, HB4158, HB4630, HB1523, HB1973, HB3333, HB3697, HB3546, HB3225, HB2820, HB186, HB119, HB4466, HB4170, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4285, HB4463, HB4995, HB5624, HB1449, HB2598, HB3629, HB4361, HB824, HB1868, HB4848, HB40, HB117, HB3686, HB3793, HB112, HB104, HB718, HB4904, HB4202, HB4765, HB4559, HB4350, HB4214, HB3388, HB3112, HB5196, HB3516, HB3092, HB4233, HB1094, HB2037, HB3005, HB3848, HB121, HB3336, HB5294, HB5646, HB4236, HB1052, HB5509, HB5435, HB3520, HB3320, HB2517, HB2488, HB5663, HB2731, HB3073, HB2655, HB2399, HB541, HB4099, HB111, HB1532, HB3483, HB2963, HB4580, HB3748, HB713, HB632, HB426, HB4730, HB127, HB5690, HB5689, HB5655, HB3385, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB20, HB123, HB549, HB5606, HB2217, HB2594, HB796, HB1057, HB3664, HCR141, HCR40, HCR59, HCR76, HCR81, HCR46, HCR111, HCR83, HCR84, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3045, SB3071, HB40, HB117, HB121, HB426, HB541, HB713, HB1052, HB1532, HB2217, HB2488, HB2517, HB2655, HB2757, HB2963, HB3073, HB3697, HB4099, HB4144, HB4158, HB4236, HB4285, HB4848, HB5435, HB5437, HB5509, HB5646, HB5666, HB14, HB1240, HB796, HB1523, HB5294, SR559, SR587, SR614, SCR53, SJR59, SB10, SB22, SB25, SB34, SB36, SB38, SB261, SB777, SB924, SB1188, SB1318, SB1333, SB1398, SB1448, SB1621, SB1862, SB2405, SB2406, SB8, SB12, SB37, SB441, SB1566, SB2878, HB300, HB2011, HB5246, HB101, HB119, HB227, HB252, HB346, HB654, HB718, HB721, HB824, HB1306, HB1629, HB1868, HB1960, HB1973, HB2012, HB2035, HB2037, HB2213, HB2348, HB2520, HB2598, HB2686, HB2694, HB2820, HB3005, HB3092, HB3112, HB3185, HB3333, HB3388, HB3516, HB3546, HB3619, HB3623, HB3629, HB3642, HB3686, HB3815, HB3848, HB3909, HB4081, HB4145, HB4170, HB4202, HB4214, HB4350, HB4361, HB4463, HB4464, HB4466, HB4559, HB4630, HB4765, HB4894, HB4904, HB4995, HB5196, HB5320, HB5624, HB5650, HB5651, HB5652, HB5654, HB5655, HB5656, HB5658, HB5661, HB5662, HB5664, HB5665, HB5670, HB5672, HB5674, HB5677, HB5679, HB5682, HB5695, HB5698, HCR46, HCR76, HCR81, HCR83, HCR84, HCR111, HB1094, HB3171, HB3793, HB4233, HB5689, HB5690, HB5694

Keywords: applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Zahn, can you introduce yourself and let us know what district you're from? Yeah.
• My name is Ron Banner, and I'm the superintendent of the Clover Park School District.
• My district... And why don't we hear from Superintendent Banner first?
• My name is Ron Banner, and I'm the superintendent of the Clover Park School District.
• My district... ...of Senate Bill 5814 on public schools.

Summary: The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved. The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers. The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , importance of this bill for my district, importance of this bill for my district, for<00:42:15.640
• <01:34:08.040> at<01:34:08.200> mitigation<01:34:08.720> efforts loss mitigations
• at mitigation efforts loss mitigations at mitigation efforts do<01:34:09.200> not<01:34:09.600
• . districts. districts.
• prized ranches within my district. prized ranches within my district.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from March 9, 2026, and made several announcements about committee meetings and visiting student groups. Members also moved out of order to consider Senate Joint Resolution 11, which designates a portion of U.S. Highway 34 in memory of Sergeant John Jack Thurman. Supportive remarks highlighted Thurman’s Marine Corps service at Iwo Jima and his later work in Colorado. The resolution passed unanimously, 61-0, with four excused. The chamber then took up third-reading bills. House Bill 1213, continuing the Biomass Utilization Grant Program, and House Bill 1185, continuing the Cold Case Task Force and updating its sunset review, both passed 61-0. Senate Bill 7, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health facilities, drew supportive remarks about patient choice and district support and passed 49-12 with four excused. House Bill 1137, concerning requirements for campaign consultants, prompted extended debate. Supporters argued it would address conflicts of interest and protect candidates from unethical consulting practices, while opponents said the issue should be handled by contract rather than law and warned against further regulation. The bill failed on third reading, 26-35, with four excused. The House then moved to Senate Bill 1 on housing policy; the transcript cuts off during debate, with concerns raised about housing shortages, vacancies, and the risk of a housing bubble.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so you're mitigating the issues. Yes, yes. We've been doing it for about three years now.
• Okay, so you're doing, you're mitigating the issues. Yes, yes.
• I serve as the state senator for District 2, representing North Phoenix.
• Don Bowles is somebody that was killed in my district at the Clarendon Hotel.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• letter to the Fish and Wildlife Commission before the vote, asking them to please consider trying to mitigate
• Senator Smith continued: “Asking them to please consider trying to mitigate some of the harms that we
• problems in different areas, just as you and I discussed today in our areas of the state and all of our districts
• We send it to the applicable counties, to the water management districts, to the Coast Guard, Army Corps

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first considered the appointment of Joshua Kellam to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellam described his background with Garcia Companies, emphasized his conservation interests and land stewardship work, and addressed concerns about his development ties, the commission’s composition, the recent black bear hunt vote, and a prior Yes on 2 campaign supported by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Supporters said he is a conservation-minded landowner and good steward of large acreage, while opponents argued the commission is already overrepresented by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend his confirmation, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no and the rest of the members present voting yes. The committee then received an FWC implementation update on recently enacted boating and waterways legislation. FWC staff reviewed five laws: the Boater Freedom Act (SB 1388), Vessel Accountability (SB 164), Lucy’s Law/Boating Safety (HB 289), Disposition of Migrant Vessels (SB 830), and Water Access Facilities (HB 735). The presentation covered new rules on vessel stops, safety decals, Springs Protection Zones, derelict and at-risk vessel enforcement, long-term anchoring permits, tougher boating penalties, removal of migrant vessels, and grants for boating access infrastructure. Staff said rulemaking and officer training were underway, with some provisions already effective and others scheduled to take effect later in 2025 or January 2026. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and the new Springs Protection Zone standard. FWC explained that responsible owners must reimburse removal costs and can lose vessel registration privileges if they do not pay. On Springs Protection Zones, staff said the new law raises the threshold from any harm to significant harm and requires vessel activity to be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make that determination. Senator Smith questioned whether the higher standard makes protections harder to establish and asked about Silver Glen Springs; FWC said that proposal was paused and would be revisited under the new criteria. The committee took no further action and adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Steve Green, Senator for District 2. Andrew Lang, Senate District 16.
• Nathan Wesenberg, Senate District 10.
• Uh, >> Steve Green, senator for district 2.
• Andrew Lang, uh, Senate District 16. No. Andrew Lang, uh, Senate District 16. No.
• , In terms of risk assessment, mitigation, In terms of risk assessment, mitigation, and<00:43:02.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are the school districts going to get to oversee the hearing procedures?
• Are those same districts going to be hiring, supervising, and studying... ...programs?
• Come on, stand up, give him a big Senate welcome from my home district.
• The bill protects homeowners and developers from unverified school mitigation fees.
• I want to see a live-local project in my district built.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and moments of silence, including tributes to those affected by the Florida State University shooting and recognition of Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, John Thrasher, student advocacy groups, conservation organizations, and visiting school groups. Members also adopted Senate Resolution 1878 honoring Coach Abdur-Rahim. The chamber then moved into special order business and considered a series of bills, many of them with House companions substituted in and passed by wide margins or unanimously. Among the measures passed were bills updating child care and early learning provider regulation, imposing costs on false swatting reports, extending protections against extraordinary hospital collection actions, expanding hazardous walking conditions for schoolchildren, creating young adult housing support for foster and homeless students, clarifying school choice disclosure requirements under the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, adjusting interest rules for trust accounts supporting legal aid, revising transportation and traffic enforcement provisions, expanding public records exemptions for certain judicial and health care investigators and appellate clerks, changing municipal water and sewer utility rates in Miami-Dade, strengthening motor vehicle offenses involving impersonation and obscured plates, increasing trespass penalties at certain law-enforcement-controlled sites and large ticketed events, requiring refunds of patient overpayments, authorizing certain stem cell therapies, allowing relatives and direct support professionals to administer insulin in group homes, addressing rideshare impersonation and transit funding rules, and updating the Uniform Commercial Code for digital assets and emerging technologies. Several bills drew notable debate. The trust fund interest bill prompted extended discussion over legal aid funding, bank participation, and whether the measure would reduce support for legal services; it ultimately passed 28-10. The transportation bill was heavily amended, including removal of speed-limit increases and changes to school bus camera enforcement and micromobility rules, and passed 37-0. The Miami-Dade water and sewer rate bill sparked debate over fairness, fiscal impact, and accusations of racism, but passed 36-2. Public records bills protecting agency investigators and JQC employees also drew questions about accountability and transparency before passing. Most other measures passed with little or no opposition, and a few bills were temporarily postponed or set aside.