Transcript Highlights:

• There's a number of factors that we look at to determine whether it's navigable and whether or not it's
• a public waterway, but one of the most... ...public waterway, but one of the most decisive factors for
• Virtually impossible—I mean, it's a trust factor in allowing that.

Bills: HB471 , HB473

Committee: House Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Keywords: water authority, sewer management, fire protection, local governance, board of directors, local officers, water recreation, public access, water bodies, recreational use, water commissions, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if I'm an insurer and I'm worried about environmental factors like flooding and hurricanes, am I prohibited
• under that from using that as a factor to refuse to insure agricultural crops?
• Senator Truenow, are you prohibited under that from using that as a factor to refuse to insure agricultural

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard a presentation on its 2025-2026 budget recommendations and adopted the proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The chair highlighted major funding items including more than $1.2 billion for water quality and Everglades work, citrus recovery, food bank and pantry grants, wastewater and drinking water loans, beach restoration, flood and sea level rise projects, rural land protection, disaster loans, state facilities repairs, SLERS, accounting system replacement, and continued funding for My Safe Florida Home. Staff were authorized to make technical adjustments, and members were told final proviso project lists would be printed later in the week. The committee then considered several bills and reported them favorably, including SB 796 on DEP general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems to help local governments address failing septic-related water quality problems; SB 1162 expanding boating improvement and water access facilities programs; SB 466 implementing the Florida Museum of Black History task force’s selection of West Augustine as the museum site; SB 178 creating a FAMU agronomic study on viable crops for land taken out of production; CS/SB 678 allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; and CS/SB 736 updating the Brownfields program, with a technical amendment adopted. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with speakers from affected industries, local governments, and advocacy groups. The committee also took up CS/CS/SB 700, the comprehensive Florida Farm Bill, which included technical agency changes and major policy provisions such as restrictions on additives to public water supplies, labeling requirements for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, drone-related protections for farmland, disaster recovery loan updates, an honest services registry for charities, FFA scholarship and school infrastructure provisions, and a mechanism for state purchase of former solar-converted agricultural land. The water-additive provisions drew extensive debate and testimony from supporters and opponents, including dental professionals, public health advocates, and groups arguing for medical freedom and local control. Despite the controversy and a no vote from Senator Arrington, the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1226 creating a regulatory framework for pet insurance was also reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after members recorded additional votes on several bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• is pushing TDI out of anything that relates to the extent of an entity's harm from climate-related factors
• similar concerns about limitations on considering the entity's exposure to harm from climate-related factors
• extensive work underway on climate risk, race and insurance, corporate governance, and other related factors

Bills: SB 21 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB372 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB764 , SB842

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: emergency alerts, weather alerts, public safety, local government, municipality, county, website posting, online notice, emergency management, disaster preparedness, evacuation, National Weather Service, NOAA, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, localized alerts, hazard warnings, severe weather, watch warning advisory, public information

Transcript Highlights:

• As we move through, we'll be setting priorities based on several factors.
• type of calendar will be a rarity where we're put into a little bit of a time crunch due to other factors
• So there's a lot of factors that lead into us doing three-day weeks to get the process going.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The end of the year was $759 million after reversions were factored into that.
• As we see the fourth-grade NAEP scores, there are a lot of factors that have contributed to this.
• There are a lot of factors that have contributed, including hard work over the past and recent years.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another factor that we looked at, whether or not and whether their contracts with the Florida Department
• look at the findings and we cried to group these, as we mentioned earlier, no adverse of rural had a factor
• the districts with something that we have noted in the reports, mainly because there are several factors

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to be instances where districts have to do shortage sharing or manage their supply based on factors
• And then there are two factors. Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• Considering health and environmental factors is crucial to protecting the climate, water, and future

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• :37:30.000><c> and</c><00:37:30.200><c> underlying</c><00:37:30.760><c> risk</c><00:37:31.040><c> factors
• </c><00:37:31.480><c> that</c> access and underlying risk factors that access and underlying risk factors
• We need rigorous, Minnesota-specific research to understand risk factors, effective interventions, and
• But they're not, but half the crimes are or the deaths are attributed to that factor.
• </c> deaths are attributed to that factor. deaths are attributed to that factor.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In our investigations with appraisers, we used the factors in Minnesota Statutes 14.045, subdivision
• matrix, the matrix also lists aggravating factors that apply to investigations.
• matrix, the matrix also lists aggravating factors that apply to investigations.
• matrix, the matrix also lists aggravating factors that apply to investigations.
• matrix, the matrix also lists aggravating factors that apply to investigations.

Bills: HF3604 , HF2236 , HF3709 , HF3766 , HF2400

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: bulk fuel, nonoxygenated gasoline, environment, exemption criteria, transportation, HF2236, Minnesota commerce, obsolete language, statutory cleanup, retail installment contract, consumer credit, vehicle financing, auto loans, retail buyer, retail seller, delinquency charge, collection fee, attorney fees, assignment notice, payment receipt

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a factor, but it’s the ABV plus the raw material of the producer.
• It is a factor, but it’s the ABV plus the raw material of the producer.
• The cost factor is not where we want to go.
• Um, so I guess there's multiple factors.
• The contractor there's multiple factors.

Bills: HB1991 , HB1776 , HB1897 , HB1900

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: liquor tax, alcohol, inflation adjustment, small craft breweries, public health, tenant rights, housing stability, landlord-tenant code, eviction prevention, multilingual resources, condominium, dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, attorneys' fees, common expenses, construction defects, building code, statute of repose, statute of limitations

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1991, which would change Hawaii’s liquor excise tax structure to an ABV-based system. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii took no position and stood on written comments. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and an individual testifier who described surviving a drunk-driving crash, argued that higher alcohol taxes reduce alcohol-related harms, save lives, and generate additional state revenue. The public health witness cited alcohol-related harms as a major preventable cause of death and said the tax increase would have only a small annual cost for most consumers. Most industry testimony was in opposition. Representatives of Lanikai Brewing Company, Maui Brewing Company, the Wine Institute, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association said the bill would sharply raise taxes on beer and wine, squeeze already thin margins, and threaten local jobs and businesses. They argued Hawaii producers already face high costs for labor, energy, shipping, and compliance, and said an ABV-based tax would be difficult to administer, would require additional testing and labeling work, and could reduce consumer choice. Several industry witnesses urged lawmakers to instead adopt a small-producer or class 18 carveout, with one suggesting a cap tied to 60,000 barrels. Committee members questioned the brewers about alcohol content testing, labeling, and whether smaller producers already measure ABV. Witnesses said many local producers do not certify ABV for in-state sales, that yeast and fermentation can vary by batch, and that an ABV-based system could require more testing than current practice. No vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But there are other factors that went into choosing here.
• We talk about a very temperate climate, available airspace, and then one of the factors that drove us
• But, there There other<01:09:00.600><c> factors</c><01:09:01.440><c> that</c><01:09:01.560><c> went</
• c><01:09:01.720><c> into</c><01:09:01.920><c> choosing</c> other factors that went into choosing other
• factors that went into choosing here.<01:09:02.480><c> We</c><01:09:02.600><c> talk</c><01:09:02.839

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met on October 14, confirmed a quorum, and adopted the September 16, 2025 minutes. Members then received a Kentucky Air National Guard 101 briefing from Brigadier General Bruce Bancroft, commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard, who described the Guard’s structure, missions, and statewide role. He emphasized that Kentucky is a single-wing state centered at Louisville’s 123rd Airlift Wing and highlighted several unique capabilities, including the Contingency Response Group, critical care air transport teams, medical detachment for chemical environments, explosive ordnance disposal, fatality search and recovery, and special tactics personnel. General Bancroft also discussed staffing and readiness, saying the Guard has 1,273 authorized positions, with a mix of AGR, Title 32, and Title 5 personnel. He noted that AGR positions are funded at about 96 percent, while technician positions are funded at about 53 percent, leaving the organization to operate at roughly 75 percent of authorized manpower overall. He said the wing converted from the C-130H to the C-130J in 2021 and completed the transition in about 2.5 years, ahead of the original three-year timeline. The briefing further covered the Guard’s operational tempo and community role. Bancroft said the unit has earned 21 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, has deployed about 500,000 days since 9/11 across 45 countries, and routinely supports federal and domestic missions. He described the C-130J’s tactical airlift, airdrop, and blacked-out operations as directly useful for disaster response in Kentucky, and he pointed to strong ties with UPS and other aviation employers. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or when you factor in that mortality likelihood, is it just all the environment?
• Men are attributable to THC, making it the number one environmental risk factor for this devastating
• We didn't have the data on heart attacks, strokes, and the risk factor for dementia, which we've seen
• Alcohol sales are down in Texas, and this could be a contributing factor to that.
• That factor is not in play with the other two aspects, right?

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB 5 , SB 11 , SB 12

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• So Section 4 increases the equalization factor to meet that zero levy vote.
• reduced the state aid or taken the reduced the state aid or taken the inflation<00:14:50.160><c> factor
• out of state aid inflation factor out of state aid formula.<00:14:52.800><c> Uh,</c><00:14:53.040><c
• It did not decouple other automatic inflationary factors in the K-12 formula.
• And I I want factors in the K12 formula.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in on a employee when those are factored in on a market<00:57:31.280><c> value</c><00:57:31.559><c>
• layers or different amortization periods, I guess you could say, and they are going to be used to factor
• They've also been noting that it's harder to find auditors and the cost of the audit is a factor.
• </c><01:19:38.400><c> uh</c><01:19:38.840><c> but</c> cost of the audit is a factor uh but cost of the
• audit is a factor uh but we're<01:19:39.120><c> also</c><01:19:39.280><c> reaching</c><01:19:39.600>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, in an open primary funded with taxpayer dollars, there would be a far more robust fairness factor
• fairness factor for those 61,000<01:33:53.920><c> voters.
• Caldwell continued that the prototype block boundaries are generated through a number of factors.
• based on factors other than race.<03:49:09.279><c> And</c><03:49:09.439><c> the</c><03:49:09.680><c>
• </c> on those factors. on those factors.

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Electronic reporting: we can move down into the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.
• It comes through the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.
• survey we have behavioral risk factor survey we have our<00:52:45.480><c> cancer</c><00:52:45.920><c
• In both of the cases of the behavioral risk factor survey, which is adults, and the youth risk behavior
• so we all know about lifestyle factors so we all know about the<04:05:25.359><c> medications</c><04:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:58:12.000><c> into</c> and I don't think that's factored into and I don't think that's factored
• The general fund um factor in there, Mr. Carlson.
• The general fund um factor in there, Mr. Carlson. >> Yeah. Mr.
• The general fund um factor in there, Mr. Carlson. >> Yeah. Mr.
• </c> &gt;&gt; factor in there. Mr. Carlson. &gt;&gt; factor in there. Mr. Carlson.

Bills: HF4693

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation, license plates, validation stickers, replacement fees, government fees, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Keeping people on probation longer is a significant cost to the state and was a contributing factor for
• And so it was structured in the way of requiring the court to make a finding based on the factors of
• And obviously, you know, those factors are laid out in rules of court and statute.
• I am saying, however, that there are a confluence of factors that can indicate to a reasonable person
• Access to employment is a crucial factor in reducing recidivism rates, and having a driver's license

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The estimate is based on two factors. The first is previous denials.
• The second factor we looked at was shifts from generic to these brand medications. 692,302 prescriptions
• I know there are questions on rebates and other factors. Questions? Madam Chair, please.
• I mean, you can see somebody, Costs is not factored in.
• We visit based on two factors.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to radiation protection in cardiac catheterization labs and later a stem cell/regenerative therapy bill. On SB 1121, which would allow hospitals with radiation protection systems to let clinicians forgo lead aprons if they work in the designated safety area and use real-time dosimetry, testimony was largely supportive or neutral after a late amendment gave radiation safety officers discretion to require protective gear if exposures approach thresholds. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1121 on a 9-1 vote. SB 1120, a more prescriptive bill requiring at least 50% of cath lab rooms in hospitals to be equipped with the radiation protection system, drew divided testimony: sponsors and several physicians argued it would reduce orthopedic injury and radiation exposure and improve recruitment and retention, while hospital and radiology groups objected to the mandate, cost, limited vendor pool, and lack of clarity in the bill’s definitions. After adopting an amendment excluding children’s hospitals, the committee deadlocked 6-6 and SB 1120 failed to pass. The committee then considered SB 1118, which would appropriate $3 million to help rural hospitals install radiation protection systems in cath lab rooms. The sponsor said the funding would help rural facilities meet the same safety goals, and the committee passed the bill 6-5. The committee also heard SB 1214, a “guardrails” bill regulating non-FDA-approved stem cell and regenerative therapies, requiring informed consent, sourcing and reporting standards, advertising limits, and civil penalties for violations. Supporters said it would protect patients while allowing access to promising therapies; some members raised concerns about evidence and commercialization, but after adopting a technical amendment, the bill passed 9-3. The transcript ended as the committee moved on to SB 1630, which would seek federal approval for a home- and community-based service benefit for adults with serious mental illness; the sponsor described it as a capped, Medicaid-based community care option, and Access testified neutral while estimating a fiscal impact, but no final action on SB 1630 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• 26.320><c> hearing</c><00:24:26.960><c> due</c> Until well after the return hearing, due to various factors
• doesn't identify it as extortion because what we have learned is that sex is not always the motivating factor
• motivating</c> is that sex is not always the motivating is that sex is not always the motivating factor
• </c> factor behind this particular offense. factor behind this particular offense.
• </c> most modifiable risk factors we have. most modifiable risk factors we have.

Bills: HB1546

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: Medicaid, health insurance, healthcare access, insurance subsidies, pilot program, affordable care, preventive services, low-income, community engagement, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.