Transcript Highlights:

• And then we'll have Shannon Shipp, who has worked with the Department of Citrus for almost 12 years,
• The department is charged with the marketing, research, and regulation of the Florida citrus industry
• So CRAFT Foundation was organized as a DSO under the Florida Department of Ag.
• Some of the districts also had recurring revenue streams from local government.
• , whether or not that was a municipal government, school districts, the Department of Agriculture, the

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture heard an update on the Florida citrus industry from Matt Joyner of Florida Citrus Mutual and Shannon Shepp of the Department of Citrus. Both described the industry’s steep decline over the past two decades due to citrus greening (HLB), hurricanes, freezes, and aging groves, but emphasized ongoing recovery efforts through research, replanting, and new therapies. They highlighted promising tools such as plant growth regulators, protective screens and covers, direct oxytetracycline application, CRISPR-based breeding, and the CRAFT program, which has expanded to more than 10,000 acres of solid-set plantings and over 20,000 acres including resets. Members discussed disaster relief, property tax pressures, grower participation, and the need for assessment relief and other state support. No votes were taken on the citrus presentation. Shepp also outlined the Department of Citrus’s marketing and research role, noting strong consumer demand for Florida orange juice, global advertising efforts, and clinical research tied to health messaging. She said the industry remains a major economic contributor, with thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact, and that the department is working to maintain demand while growers replant and reset groves. Senators asked about the CRAFT program, new grower participation, and how advertising and state policy could help sustain the industry. The committee then received a performance review of the Opa-locka Soil and Water Conservation Districts from David Jahossky of Malden and Jenkins. The review found wide variation among the 49 districts studied, with many lacking recurring revenue, staffing, proper meeting notices, records retention, formal performance goals, and timely financial reports. The report identified nearly 400 recommendations and noted that some districts had already dissolved or were considering dissolution. Senators questioned whether the districts were duplicative of other agencies and whether they still served a useful purpose; the presenter said there was overlap and collaboration but no duplication. A public commenter from Jefferson County argued that local boards still provide trusted, community-based support for producers and help connect them to cost-share and best management practice programs. The chair indicated the review would inform possible legislation to improve or restructure the districts, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• to disclosure under Chapter 552 of the Government Code.
• For example, in the Houston Police Department (HPD), the Houston Police Department has 143 meetings.
• Do more departments have a meet and confer process? Correct? Which one?
• Very few departments take advantage of a protective order.
• Since retirement, I've spent time advocating for good governance.

Bills: SB7 , SB14 , SB 7 , SB 14

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think government generally made... I'd love for that to work.
• I don't think government generally makes things better when they get involved.
• And that is basically the creation of an organization governed by the Department of Education, which
• would be called, sanction—this is a proposed idea—sanction athletics governed by the Louisiana Department
• In comparison, your Tier 1 proposal would create a complete new government entity governed by the State

Summary: The special legislative study committee met with seven members present, adopted minutes from prior meetings, and then heard public testimony from Terrell Butler and his father about a transfer-eligibility dispute involving Leesville High School and Anacoco High School. They described a family decision to move schools for broader educational and personal reasons, but said the student was ruled ineligible for varsity athletics despite strong grades and a desire to play basketball. Several members responded that the rule seemed to punish students for adult decisions and for transfers within the same parish, and they urged the family to keep working hard while the committee considered broader policy changes. The committee then reviewed a draft report containing factual findings about LHSAA and discussed recommendations. Members expressed concern about inconsistent enforcement, lack of transparency, limited accountability, and LHSAA’s repeated absence from committee meetings. The committee adopted findings for the report and approved three recommendations: creating a structured student-transfer eligibility process allowing one transfer through junior year; making the House and Senate representatives on the LHSAA executive committee voting members; and adding a governor-appointed voting member to the executive committee. Speaker Pro Tem Johnson then outlined broader options for legislative action. One proposal, adopted as the committee’s recommendation, would create a cooperative endeavor agreement framework between the Department of Education/BESE and a nonprofit to administer high school athletics, with public-records coverage subject to existing privacy exceptions and an option for nonpublic schools to participate. A second, more expansive proposal would create a state Office of Sanctioned Athletics within the Department of Education; the committee agreed to include that concept in the report for future discussion but not as a recommendation. The committee also authorized staff to finalize the report, incorporate the adopted findings and recommendations, make technical edits, and send the report to the House and Senate education committees and LHSAA. The meeting ended with closing remarks thanking staff and members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, I'd like to thank the Department of Revenue.
• But today, the federal government mandates they have to do it.
• They're the federal government, and this is our state government. I would like to hear that.
• The federal government, and this is our state government. I would like to hear an example or so.
• agencies to grow the government agencies.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• projects are not only selected by local governments but also funded using local government funds.
• You’re pulling that from a local government.
• Circa 2023, we built a model ordinance that local governments can use to govern the siting of shelters
• We’re working through this with those local governments.
• And we do a lot of one-on-one work with local governments.

Summary: The Housing Committee held work sessions on federal Continuum of Care homelessness funding and on state step-housing siting rules before moving into public hearings on House Bill 2266 and House Bill 2489. Commerce staff said HUD’s late and restrictive Continuum of Care funding notice put about $120 million a year in Washington operating support for existing homeless housing projects at risk, but a lawsuit led by the Attorney General forced HUD to restart renewal funding. Commerce also reviewed how local governments are implementing step-housing requirements, including model ordinances, planning updates, and ongoing compliance reviews under recent state law. House Bill 2266 would require cities and counties to allow step housing in all nonindustrial zones, apply the same permitting and environmental review as other residential uses, limit design review to administrative processes, and remove certain local standards and conditions on existing buildings and affordable housing. Supporters, including Plymouth Housing, Disability Rights Washington, King County, the Attorney General’s Office, and Catholic Community Services, argued the bill would reduce discriminatory barriers, protect people with disabilities, and make it easier to site shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Several city representatives and the Association of Washington Cities opposed or sought amendments, saying the bill was too broad and could limit local authority over operational agreements, safety plans, spacing, community engagement, and funding conditions; some asked for clearer carveouts for emergency shelters and related uses. House Bill 2489 would bar local governments from enforcing public-space anti-camping or similar laws unless adequate alternative shelter space is available, with “life-sustaining activities” and “adequate alternative shelter space” defined in detail. Rep. Gregerson said the bill would create a statewide floor and prevent punishment for survival conduct when no real shelter option exists. The ACLU, service providers, and shelter operators supported the bill, citing displacement from fragmented local ordinances, enforcement costs, and the need to align enforcement with actual shelter availability. Testimony also described low-barrier shelter operations and examples of people stabilizing once housed. The hearing on HB 2489 began with staff explanation and initial testimony; no votes were taken on either bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Developmental Disabilities
• , the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Education, the
• of Children Families, Department of Mental Health, the Department of Developmental Disease, Department
• of Children Families, Department of Mental Health, the Department of Developmental Disabilities, the
• Department of Youth Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Education, the Office

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The hearing was an informational and oversight session of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, with chairs and members hearing agency updates from several commissioners. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition described its maternal and child health work, including home visiting, early intervention, WIC, newborn hearing screening, and cross-agency efforts on prenatal substance exposure, respite care, children’s vision, and maternal health initiatives. DPH emphasized that federal grant cuts, layoffs, and the loss of data systems such as PRAMS would weaken services and planning, and members asked about Title V funding and the impact of federal uncertainty. The Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing highlighted communication access services, interpreter and CART referrals, emergency after-hours support, family navigation, and independent living services. Commissioners and members discussed the shortage of ASL interpreters and the need to expand training pipelines, including partnerships with colleges and possible ASL programming for younger students. The Department of Developmental Services reported serving nearly 50,000 people and focused on youth and adult services, transition-age supports, autism services, self-direction, respite, and new high-acuity residential models. Members asked about respite availability, self-direction outcomes, and workforce shortages; DDS said it was expanding clinical capacity and provider rates while monitoring possible federal Medicaid, SNAP, and immigration-related impacts. The Commission for the Blind described services for about 28,000 legally blind residents, most of whom are older adults, including social rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, children’s services, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 supports. The commissioner discussed a UMass-based effort to build the workforce pipeline for blindness services and said the agency was watching federal restructuring but had not yet seen direct cuts. MassAbility’s leadership then warned about major federal changes affecting Social Security disability determinations, including staff restructuring, office closures, and a new overpayment repayment policy, and said the agency was preparing for possible increases in claims and uncertainty around reallotment dollars that help fund services. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission closed the hearing with an update on its abuse investigations and protective services for adults with disabilities. DPPC reported rising hotline calls and investigations, a growing caseload, its sexual assault response team, the abuser registry, and a new interagency protective services integration system funded by ARPA dollars through 2027. The agency also flagged new federal rules that could affect funding eligibility and said it may need statutory changes to comply. Members asked about funding, reporting pathways, and how complaints reach DPPC, and the commissioner said the agency uses both mandated reporting and proactive outreach to identify and respond to abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• Periodically, not just in education, but other parts of state government, the federal government will
• So the $14 million appropriation, it's coming from the federal government, Department of Homeland Security
• It comes from the federal government through us, the Department of Public Safety.
• With Kansas City Police Department.
• It's probably one of my favorite departments, no shade to the Department of Corrections.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And locally authorized and locally governed. Thank you, Mrs. Romer.
• Amendment Number 5 gives the Blanco Center, the Department of Education, other departments, and partners
• I'm Ashley Townsend with the Louisiana Department of Education.
• It provides transparency to government decision-making.
• It provides transparency to government decision-making.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first heard HB 690 by Rep. Amedee, which would prohibit education agencies and vendors from contracting with foreign adversaries, foreign terrorist organizations, or their agents, and would apply to education service providers, vendors of educational products, and some schools. Supporters argued the bill would protect school tax dollars and prevent foreign influence, especially from the Chinese Communist Party, citing similar actions in Florida and Texas. Some members raised questions about due process, how ineligibility would be determined, and whether payments would stop before appeals were resolved. A technical amendment changing “terrorists” to “terrorist” was adopted, and HB 690 was reported as amended without objection. The committee then took up HB 1078 by Rep. Freiberg, which would allow higher education institutions to offer standalone online courses, not just online programs tied to a degree, and to offer online programs even when there is no equivalent on-campus program. LSU officials said the bill would give flexibility for professional and workforce-related courses and certificates. Members asked about tuition-setting, prerequisites, and whether non-degree students could enroll. The bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 113 by Rep. Phelps, which sought retroactive application of the uniform 10-point grading scale to students who were ninth graders in 2023-2024, drew significant concern. Members questioned fairness, inconsistency if only some districts could recalculate grades, and the fiscal impact of retroactivity. Phelps said he had intended to capture that cohort and was willing to work with the Department of Education, but after debate the committee voted 2-9 against reporting the bill, so the motion failed. The committee also heard HB 632 by Rep. Spell on LA FIRST data sharing. The bill would streamline how student data is shared for the state’s longitudinal data system, and amendments were adopted to remove a five-year look-back and clarify data matching and de-identification. Members debated privacy, opt-out rights, and whether the bill should require or merely allow districts to participate; concerns were raised about sharing personally identifying information and the lack of clear opt-out protections. Rep. Carlson offered an amendment to change “shall” to “may,” but later withdrew it so the bill could be deferred for further discussion. Finally, HB 1132 by Rep. Carver, carried by Rep. Carlson, was introduced to expand lab school authorization within the University of Louisiana system; an amendment was offered to limit the change to new schools established after August 1, and discussion began on that amendment as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um, proposed by the department. um, proposed by the department.
• </c><00:35:48.280><c> of</c> better, cuz this was a Department of better, cuz this was a Department of
• relations for the director of government relations for the Department<00:35:59.720><c> of</c><00:35:
• </c> Department of Health. Department of Health.
• ,</c><00:40:58.400><c> but</c> We need a referee, the government, but We need a referee, the government

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Keyes to turn the Treasury Department into an ATM for the ultra-wealthy.
• He's been in the building working at the Commerce Department for a while.
• I have not been part of the Treasury Department. I am not a consultant to the Treasury Department.
• Certainly the Treasury Department does.
• So the role of the Treasury Department. and is in estimating tax provisions.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.

Transcript Highlights:

• and establishing technical assistance and training networks to support schools, supporting the Department
• of Health decision package to maintain the 988 program’s operations, and authorizing the Department
• of Health. of legislation that impacts health care and facility regulation work at the Department of
• . 2,062 children sought behavioral health care in our emergency department in 2025.
• I'm Chief Public Affairs Officer for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Bills: HB2429 , HB2171 , HB2314 , HB2364 , HB2415

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: behavioral health, youth support, mental health services, children's health, support services, foster youth, child welfare, education, mental health, dental care, habilitation centers, residential services, healthcare access, patient rights, poverty, task force, legislative, executive, social programs, fatalities

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:10.360><c> of</c> will allow the Minnesota Department of will allow the Minnesota Department
• For the record, my name is Cole Trace, and I am the Government Affairs Liaison for the Minnesota Department
• For the record, my name is Cole Trace, and I am the Government Affairs Liaison for the Minnesota Department
• </c><00:19:08.200><c> data</c> 1836 relates to the government data 1836 relates to the government data
• </c><00:20:08.760><c> of</c> private at the department of private at the department of administration

Bills: HF1662 , HF1224 , HF1836 , HF1367 , HF1168 , HF1999 , HF1792 , HF102 , HF2127 , HF104

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• During that time, our Department of Health and Welfare submitted an application to the federal government
• Yes, it would be through the Department of Health and Welfare.
• Yes, it would be through the Department of Health and Welfare.
• Cain: If you're a government hospital, you can't make that recommendation at all.
• These laws were put in place by the very government that my tax dollar supported.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• DOR anticipates department expenditures for the current biennium to be around $250,000... ...department
• However, the Department of Revenue would retain 1%...
• As counties, we are the least revenue-diversified government in the state.
• As counties, we are the least revenue-diversified government in the state.
• As counties, we are the least revenue diversified government in the state.

Bills: HB2559 , HB2135 , HB2133 , HB2442

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, local government funding, housing programs, community development, financial assistance, adaptive housing, disabled veterans, tax preferences, housing affordability, retail sales tax, property tax, senior citizens, tax exemption, permanent legislation, local government, tax authority, sales tax, use tax, real estate excise tax, REET

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially, there is a department, and I have the budget book sheet here for the Department of Insurance
• So essentially, there is a department, and I have the budget book sheet here for the Department of Insurance
• The act would force Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare and Department of Pharmacy to create and
• The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would force Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare and the Department
• They are required to cooperate with the federal government, local governments, and private parties to

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Department for Local Government, we remove language identifying line item appropriation for area
• </c> increase the necessary government increase the necessary government expense<00:07:29.920><c> cap
• :07:56.440><c> and</c> Local Government Economic Assistance and Local Government Economic Assistance
• Agriculture,</c><00:09:00.000><c> once</c> In the Department of Agriculture, once In the Department of
• State</c><00:21:31.640><c> Police,</c> In the Department of State Police, In the Department of State

Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• by uh by the federal governments by uh by the federal government<00:03:01.440><c> in</c><00:03:01.560
• ><c> the</c><00:03:01.640><c> 2025</c><00:03:02.440><c> budget</c> government in the 2025 budget government
• Minnesota Department of [snorts] Health. Minnesota Department of [snorts] Health.
• </c> to local and tribal health departments. to local and tribal health departments.
• </c> governments in running human services. governments in running human services.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The department The department in the past, my understanding, has put out assumptions based on conformity
• Rory Wilson, Arizona Department of Revenue.
• Rory Wilson, Arizona Department of Revenue.
• We already know that the Department of Education and the Department of Economic Security are requesting
• We already know that the Department of Education and the Department of Economic Security are requesting

Summary: The joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees met to hear identical conformity bills, HB 2153 and SB 1106, which would align Arizona tax law with the federal Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2026, including some retroactive provisions for tax year 2025. Staff explained that the bills would exclude three federal provisions: the higher federal SALT deduction, the new senior deduction as written in H.R. 1, and the deduction for interest on new car loans. They would instead include a $6,000 retirement-income deduction for taxpayers age 60 and older, a $6,000 Roth IRA contribution deduction, a higher dependent tax credit, and a deduction for child and dependent care expenses above the federal credit. JLBC estimated the package would reduce general fund income tax revenue by about $441.3 million in FY 2026. Members also discussed that the Department of Revenue’s forms had been issued assuming full conformity, and staff and supporters argued the bills were needed quickly to avoid confusion and amended returns during filing season. Committee members and sponsors largely framed the bills as tax relief and a way to provide certainty for taxpayers and preparers. Supporters said the package would help families, seniors, and workers, and noted that the Arizona version was negotiated to keep the overall tax relief roughly comparable to full conformity while shifting benefits away from the SALT deduction and toward child credits, retirement income, and child care. The sponsors also criticized the governor’s executive action and urged prompt passage so taxpayers would know how to file. Opponents argued the bills would reduce state revenue, worsen the budget outlook, and disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations. Several witnesses and members also raised concerns about the child care deduction, the retirement-income deduction, and the business expensing provisions, while supporters responded that the bill was designed to help working families and encourage saving and investment. Public testimony was mixed. The Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club supported the bills, emphasizing early conformity, filing certainty, and reduced confusion for taxpayers and software providers. Opponents included Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Opportunity Arizona, and several individuals, who argued the package would deepen budget problems and favor the wealthy. One witness objected to a federal school-choice-related provision she said was being tied to the bill, though committee members said the measure before them was a tax conformity bill and not a school finance bill. The hearing included extended debate over the fiscal impact, the governor’s prior requests for some of the same tax changes, and whether taxpayers would need to file amended returns if the legislature later changed course. The transcript ends during testimony from NFIB, with no final committee vote or action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• in possible conflict with the SEC's jurisdiction to govern these matters?
• And also it clarifies that no local government can require.
• It kind of indicates how local governments are charging additional fees.
• I appreciate and honor what the health department. do.
• You see, the whole thing is that a department in a city as large as Houston.

Bills: SB264 , SB542 , SB924 , SB1008 , SB1029 , SB1036 , SB1057 , SB1058 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1376 , SB1569 , SB1664 , SB1697 , SJR50

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• That the Department of Correction hears this.
• The men and women of the department do extraordinary work, and the department, for the most part, is
• The fact is that our department has the death of human beings on the hands of the Department of Corrections
• It's not the Missouri Department of Vengeance. It's not the Missouri Department of Punishment.
• It's not the Missouri Department of Retribution.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first took up several bills in executive session. House Committee Amendment No. 1 was adopted and rolled into a substitute for House Bills 3292 and 2171, which then received a do pass recommendation by a 10-2 vote. House Bill 2753 also received a committee substitute and was voted do pass 10-2. House Bill 2912 was voted do pass by an 11-1 vote. During this portion, one member criticized the Department of Corrections for not responding to inquiries or attending earlier hearings, and the chair acknowledged the concern. The committee then heard testimony on House Bills 1616 and 2832, sponsored by Representatives Allen and Collins, which would create an independent corrections oversight structure, including an Office of Corrections and Transparency or ombudsman-style advocate with authority to inspect facilities, investigate complaints, access records, and report publicly. The sponsors argued that DOC currently lacks independent oversight and that internal review is insufficient. They cited deaths, unsafe conditions, medical neglect, and the need for confidential reporting by staff and incarcerated people. Committee members questioned whether the bills would duplicate existing processes, what the fiscal impact would be, and whether the proposal had enough enforcement power; the sponsors said the office would be small, likely around $300,000, and were open to amendments. Supporters testified that independent oversight is needed because of repeated deaths in custody, lack of trust in internal complaint systems, retaliation concerns for staff, and large taxpayer costs from lawsuits and settlements. Witnesses from Empower Missouri, Missouri Justice Coalition, the NAACP, ACLU of Missouri, and FAMM all supported the bills, with several emphasizing that prisons are closed institutions with inherent power imbalances and that external oversight would improve transparency, safety, and accountability for both incarcerated people and staff. The hearing ended after testimony in support, with no opposition presented and the committee adjourning without taking final action on the oversight bills.