Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Regulated Industries will now come to order.
• Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the committee.
• We appreciate the opportunity to share with the committee today.
• Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
• Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the committee.

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and voted on several bills. SB 986 would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and also restrict smoking in rooms and bars; the sponsor said it is intended to protect public health and outdoor spaces, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on designated smoking areas, and cannabis advocates warned about unintended effects on patients and property rights. The committee reported SB 986 favorably. The committee also passed SB 678, which restores statutory authority for DBPR’s long-standing rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise taxes; a strike-all amendment was adopted, including retroactive application to January 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 800, which increases penalties for repeat unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts, was amended and reported favorably as well. Members then considered SB 408 on vaccine advertising and liability. The sponsor argued the bill would address declining public trust in vaccines by allowing claims against manufacturers that advertise in Florida, while opponents said the measure is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, and would create unnecessary litigation. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported SB 408 favorably. The committee also heard SB 484 on data centers, which would set PSC tariff requirements so large load customers pay their own costs, preserve local planning authority, and limit water permits for large data centers; testimony was mixed, with supporters emphasizing ratepayer protections and economic benefits and critics warning about overregulation and confidentiality limits. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1118, which creates a time-limited public records exemption for certain data center development information held by local governments, after the sponsor said it was meant to prevent extended NDAs while still allowing local notice and input. SB 1050, requiring veterinarians to provide written prescriptions so pet owners can choose their pharmacy, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after several members recorded votes on bills they had missed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committees where we deal with product Committees where we deal with product standards<00:02:32.120><c
• </c><00:12:09.760><c> Thank</c> Labor Committee. Uh thank you. Thank Labor Committee. Uh thank you.
• <00:34:03.560><c> seeks</c><00:34:03.800><c> to</c> committee, Senator Maye Quade seeks to committee,
• So um this committee, correct?
• Please proceed. this is what committee it goes to, an this is what committee it goes to, an algorithm

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• As a veteran, I was in military intelligence, specifically as a human intelligence collector.
• It goes to the whole committee. I think that's a fairness issue.
• Thank you, committee.
• Thank you, committee.
• Thank you, committee.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced six bills. The first, PCS/HB 1073 by Rep. Koster, would give individual school board members timely, free access to district documents and budget information, require agendas and supporting materials to be kept as public records, and prohibit school districts from requiring or incentivizing nondisclosure agreements. Testimony from a Volusia County school board member and a former educator described difficulty obtaining records and concerns about NDAs; some members raised chain-of-command concerns, while others argued the bill was needed for transparency. The bill passed 15-3. The committee then approved HB 4049, a local bill for Jacksonville/Duval County that changes how the Duval County School Board’s attorney is selected, and OGSR/HB 7021, which extends and clarifies the public-records exemption for education examination and assessment instruments through 2031. HB 4049 passed 17-1 after debate over whether the board should use the city’s general counsel process; HB 7021 passed unanimously with no debate. Members also approved CS/HB 753 on school counselors, which removes certain certification barriers while keeping degree and counseling requirements in place and allows districts to choose whether to require the removed certificates. Supporters said the bill could help address counselor shortages and free counselors to focus on students; it passed 18-0. Finally, HB 157 created a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program for D- and F-rated schools, using high-performing current or retired teachers as mentors with stipends funded from an existing allocation. Members discussed mentor limits, funding, and oversight, but the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The meeting adjourned after committee members recognized visiting officials and students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 560, a bill to
• Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate
• Committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for Senate
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 482, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Artificial Intelligence
• Committee substitute for Senate Bill 482, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the artificial intelligence

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and memorial remarks, including a moment of silence for service members killed in the conflict in Iran. The chamber then moved to special orders and took up a series of bills, with many measures passing unanimously after brief explanations and, in several cases, substitution of House companions. Early bills included CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, which drew extensive supportive debate about the civic value of debate programs and passed 37-0, and SB 1072 on an anti-Semitism task force, which was amended to clarify that criticism of Israel is not prohibited and then passed 37-0. The Senate also approved CS/CS/SB 1230/HB 1019 on PFAS chemicals and firefighting foam, with discussion focused on phasing out AFFF, testing requirements, exceptions for federal aviation and military uses, and support for firefighters and water quality; the bill passed 37-0. Other measures passed without opposition included SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 186 on student health and safety and seizure response training, SB 598 on funeral and cemetery services, SB 990/HB 883 on protected cell captive insurance companies, SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, SB 560 on child welfare and foster care medication procedures, SB 684/HB 961 on electronic signatures for salvage titles, and SB 778/HB 569 on forensic client services. Two bills, SB 432 on intoxicating substances and SB 928 on dangerous crimes, were temporarily postponed. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to SB 1134 on official actions of local governments and DEI-related activities. The sponsor argued the bill would prevent counties and municipalities from funding or promoting DEI efforts he described as discriminatory or indoctrinating, while opponents offered amendments to narrow the bill to spending only, add an intent requirement for penalties, and preserve local proclamations and observances. Those amendments were debated at length but were not adopted. The sponsor then continued explaining the bill’s exceptions, including references to holidays, heritage sites, and the Pulse Memorial, and the chamber was still in debate on the underlying measure when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want Silicon Valley deciding how artificial intelligence and other new technologies will impact
• Vance determining who wins and who loses. artificial intelligence and other new artificial intelligence

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice will now come to order.
• Anyone wishing to speak before the committee should complete an appearance form and hand it to a member
• That is in the Division of Statewide Intelligence.
• Good morning, Chair Garcia, Vice Chair Martin, and members of this committee.
• Good morning, Vice Chair Martin and members of the committee. I'm happy to be here.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding. FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed. The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aims to address the growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in the insurance
• The bill provides that an artificial intelligence system not service the sole basis for determining whether
• Chairman vice chair ranking members, members of the committee.
• So thank you very much, committee members. >> Thank you.
• That's okay. >> Good Morning Committee and good morning chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee is back in order.
• </c> Judiciary Committee. Judiciary Committee.
• </c><00:49:01.599><c> So</c> and committee committee m members.
• So and committee committee m members.
• </c> committee or any amendments. committee or any amendments.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the co-chair of the committee.
• Committee, I am going to just say we also have from the Senate today we have Senator John Keenan.
• First, into the charge of the committee.
• The charge of the committee that we're all here for today: There is hereby established pursuant to Section
• Do we have any other questions from other committee members, commission members?

Summary: The commission met for its fourth hearing on emerging firearm technology, focused on personalized firearms and related privacy issues. Co-chairs noted the commission’s charge to study personalized firearm incentives, risks from digital manufacturing codes and AI, and the costs of requiring personalized firearm and microstamp technologies, and said the report deadline is being extended to July 31. They also announced the next public hearing for April 17 at 11:00 a.m., limited to Massachusetts residents. The first witness, Kai Kloepfer of Biofire, described the company’s personalized 9mm smart gun and argued it is designed to prevent unauthorized use through biometric authentication, local encrypted data storage, no wireless connectivity, and automatic disarming when released. He said Biofire opposes any mandate requiring personalized firearms, calling such mandates a de facto gun ban that would stifle innovation, limit consumer choice, and burden a still-developing market. He said the company has a patent portfolio, has received thousands of pre-orders, is shipping in all 50 states, and is approved for sale in Massachusetts; he also said the gun costs about $1,500, is currently sold online, and is intended mainly for home defense. Members questioned him about sales, manufacturing, battery life, repairability, transfer of ownership, possible expansion to other firearms, and whether microstamping could be incorporated. A Massachusetts firearms roster official, Michaela Dunn, explained the state’s testing and approval process for handguns and confirmed that the Biofire firearm is now on the Massachusetts roster and commercially available for retail sale in the state. Kate Crockford of the ACLU of Massachusetts testified only on facial recognition, warning that commercially available systems show significant demographic bias and that Massachusetts lacks comprehensive biometric privacy protections. She urged passage of pending data privacy and biometric privacy bills, including the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and related measures, before any broader use of biometric verification in firearm laws. Commissioners discussed privacy concerns, and Biofire said its system is zero-knowledge and would likely comply with stronger biometric privacy laws. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported beyond the scheduling announcement and the extension effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, and the committee members. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and the committee members.
• If we can't rely on the native intelligence of our own people, we'll go to artificial intelligence.
• This committee was the line in the sand.
• This committee is corrupt.
• Chairman Buckley and members of the committee, my Chairman Buckley and members of the committee, my name

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of environment and agriculture committee of environment and agriculture committee in<00:59:07.599
• </c><01:00:03.200><c> support</c> support and also my committee support support and also my committee
• ,</c><01:07:38.960><c> this</c> in the letter to the committee, this in the letter to the committee,
• /c><01:28:32.639><c> freely</c> knowing, intelligently, and freely knowing, intelligently, and freely
• Chair and committee.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• with the committee this afternoon.
• I'm happy to answer any questions that the committee Might have for me.
• Thank you, Chairman and committee members, for your time.
• I think I mentioned the intelligent mail barcoding.
• Committee members, any questions? Senator Starid, you're recognized. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE OTHER COMMITTEE BARELY ENDED AND HERE WE ARE!
• I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND I WOULD LIKE
• THIS MASTER CREDENTIALS LIST WHICH IS VETTED THROUGH THE CREDENTIALS REVIEW COMMITTEE TAKES A LOOK AT
• WE WILL SHARE IT GENERALLY ACROSS THE COMMITTEE. FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
• IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE?

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand there is a committee substitute. Senator Perry sends up the committee substitute.
• I understand there is a committee substitute. Senator Perry sends up the committee substitute.
• I understand there is a committee substitute.
• I understand there is a committee substitute.
• The committee substitute makes clarifying changes.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, everybody, for joining us for the April meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee.
• We're all also thinking about artificial intelligence, although the scope of outcomes that are possible
• So these are things to think about, you know, we're all also thinking about artificial intelligence,

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee received an update on the state revenue forecast and broader economic conditions. Staff said the April forecast was more cautious than January’s, citing greater uncertainty from the Iran conflict and other macroeconomic risks. Available general fund resources for the four-year period were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in April, with no change to expenditure estimates. George Hammond of the University of Arizona then presented on the national, state, and local economy, emphasizing risks from geopolitical conflict, tariffs, federal policy uncertainty, labor supply constraints, and elevated housing costs. He said Arizona job growth had been weak and driven mainly by health care, while inflation in Phoenix remained moderate but shelter and consumer commodity prices were still elevated. He also noted that population growth is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenue outlook still had some support from tourism and a strong spring season, but rising fuel costs and the duration of the Middle East conflict could pressure discretionary spending and revenues. Jim Rounds argued the economy was likely headed for a soft landing, though he warned that federal borrowing, inflation, workforce shortages, and energy reliability remain concerns; he also criticized leaving the Rainy Day Fund unused. Danny Court said the housing market remains under pressure on the ownership side, while rental supply and industrial demand have been relatively strong, and he noted sticky inflation and immigration declines as additional risks. Doug Walls explained that large employment benchmark revisions were affecting Arizona’s job numbers, and said the latest report showed slower but more balanced growth, though labor force declines and a higher unemployment rate were concerning. Lorenzo Romero added that business activity appears resilient in the low-hire, low-fire environment, but warned about debt burdens, uneven wage growth, and ongoing uncertainty. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• last minute, but maybe some information that can send us off in the right direction of how this committee
• associated with the use of digital firearm manufacturing code for machine learning and artificial intelligence

Summary: The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology convened its fifth hearing, led by co-chairs Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Senator Michael Moore, with a quorum present. The co-chairs reviewed the commission’s charge to study emerging firearm technologies, including personalized firearms and microstamping, and to assess their feasibility, utility, legal issues, commercial availability, and potential costs and impacts in Massachusetts. They noted prior hearings on smart guns and microstamping and said this session was for public testimony. The only registered speaker was Matthew Nugent of Beverly, who urged the commission to recommend microstamping legislation. He argued that microstamping could help identify crime guns, solve shootings, and hold traffickers accountable by imprinting a unique code on cartridge casings when a firearm is fired. He cited other states, including New Jersey, California, and New York, as having adopted similar requirements and asked Massachusetts to follow suit. No other oral testimony was offered, though the co-chairs reminded the public that written testimony would continue to be accepted and posted for commissioners. Senator Moore thanked attendees for their input, and the commission then voted to adjourn without any substantive action or recommendations taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our final Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meeting for the 2026 legislative session.
• Perry to be able to present to the committee. Thank you, Mister Perry.
• With that, you're recognized to make comments to the committee.
• Thank you, committee.
• Well, everyone, to be less intelligent.

Committee: Senate Veterans and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• His talent, experience, and intelligence coming off the bench was the reason the war.
• Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted.
• AB 42, Bryan, from the Revenue and Taxation Committee to the Human Services Committee.
• And AB 253, Ward, from the Local Government Committee to the Housing and Community Development Committee
• And then back to the local government committee. Without objection, such shall be the order. . . .

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2746, Trade Office study committee. Finance.
• Here is the Education Committee amendment. Mr.
• report: your committee recommends the bill do pass.
• There is a Judiciary Committee amendment. Mr.
• There is a HHS committee amendment. Mr.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a series of personal privilege introductions recognizing guests including the Doctor of the Day, realtors visiting for Realtor Day, and the family of former Senator Barbara Leff. The chamber also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 264 honoring Barbara Leff, followed by a moment of silence in her memory. The Senate then moved through a large number of bill introductions and first readings, as well as Committee of the Whole consideration of several measures. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered and advanced multiple bills, often with technical or negotiated floor amendments. Among those reported out as do pass or do pass as amended were SB 1494, SB 1497, SB 1503, SB 1535, SB 1544, SB 1580, SB 1582, SB 1584, SB 1585, SB 1602, SB 1632, SB 1723, and SB 1798. The amendments addressed topics such as technical corrections to mining and pension language, classical learning tests, sex trafficking record sealing, probation reporting, school safety funding, kinship foster care stipends, DES credentialing, domestic violence release conditions, and a school safety/threat identification pilot program that was revised into a FAFSA awareness recognition program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several bills. HB 4115, SB 1012, SB 1213, SB 1416, SB 1474, SB 1511, SB 1549, SB 1573, SB 1634, SB 1647, SB 1649, SB 1664, and SB 1725 were considered, with most passing on party-line or near-party-line votes; SB 1416 and SB 1664 passed unanimously, while SB 1549 passed with broader support. Several members explained votes on immigration enforcement, concealed carry in establishments serving alcohol, commercial driver licensing, campaign finance, and a digital asset reserve fund. HB 2993, dealing with DPS legal representation funding, passed 16-13 after debate over constitutional concerns, funding sources, and the use of the Attorney General’s consumer fraud fund. The session ended with the Senate adopting the Committee of the Whole report and transmitting the passed bills to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2746, Trade Office study committee — Finance.
• We're on the HHS Committee amendment as amended. Mr.
• Here is the Education Committee amendment. Mr.
• There is a Judiciary Committee amendment. Mr.
• All right, there is a HHS committee amendment. Mr.