Transcript Highlights:

• our playground and it'll be fenced in and all that great stuff for our kids to have a place just to walk
• And when I walked in, I'm going to get emotional, but some of my children ran to me and told me to put
• You know, walk of life, wherever you come from, that you be proud of your culture and that students,
• Good thing I wear boots and jeans to school, got a stick, and I'm walking the cattle.
• Last week, I was in a classroom saw some coyotes just walking.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:50:22.160> for<00:50:22.319> your and to you, Senator Mory Walke, for your and
• to you, Senator Mory Walke, for your collaboration<00:50:23.119> on<00:50:23.359> this
• Senator Mory<00:50:25.040> Walke,<00:50:25.520> it<00:50:25.680> has<00:50:25.839
• > been<00:50:26.000> a<00:50:26.240> pleasure Mory Walke, it has been a pleasure
• Mory Walke, it has been a pleasure working<00:50:26.800> with<00:50:27.040> you,<00:50

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just come walking up to you.
• I would hate to know that somebody could walk into a voting precinct and say, "I'm not on the roster
• You don't think a non-US citizen over here with a foreign national's license should walk into a polling
• So yesterday I was actually walking my dogs back home, and a police officer stopped me and asked, "What
• You know, because you walk in the store and you see all that... ...walk in the store and you see all

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The closest hotel to our convention center is about a 40-minute walk away and hinders efforts to host
• You've been working diligently on this bill, been walking on the floor, and explaining to our colleagues
• I want to thank Senator Milton for taking the time to walk through the intent behind his version of H.B
• People can walk, bike, and access the area it becomes part of everyday life.
• People can walk, bike, and access the area in ways that are healthy, safe, and sustainable.

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, most of them expanding or adjusting hotel occupancy tax or qualified hotel project authority for specific local governments. Measures discussed included HB 2404 for Childress County; HB 3066 for Allen’s Kalahari resort project; HB 4682 for Plano; HB 4683 for Anna; HB 3076 creating a project finance zone in Frisco; HB 3567 for Wichita County; HB 3715 for McAllen; HB 1039 for Alpine; HB 3182 for Burleson; HB 4926 for Grimes County; HB 4222 for Victoria County; HB 3377 for Katy; HB 4659 for Addison; HB 3241 for Georgetown; HB 4098 for Taylor; HB 3178 for Kerr County; HB 3179 for Mason County; HB 2289 for New Braunfels; HB 4412 for Kermit; HB 5165 for Monahans; HB 3500 for Bastrop; and HB 3169 for Carrollton. In each case, authors and local officials described tourism, convention, hotel, airport, or mixed-use development needs and argued the bills would help attract visitors, investment, and jobs. One non-hotel-tax bill, HB 4226, would exempt Texas food banks from sales tax on vehicle purchases and rentals, with testimony emphasizing the scale of food bank operations and the savings’ impact on meal delivery and disaster response. Testimony was generally supportive from city officials, economic development representatives, and industry groups such as the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Several witnesses described major private projects, including Kalahari in Allen, a proposed hotel and conference center in Addison, a mixed-use project in Georgetown, and a large development tied to Samsung growth in Taylor. For HB 4226, food bank representatives said the bill would help them purchase refrigerated trucks and other delivery vehicles, while an opponent questioned the fiscal note and the scope of the exemption. HB 4926 drew opposition from Camp Allen, whose representative argued a new county hotel tax would raise costs for guests and could hurt the retreat center’s operations. HB 3178 also drew an objection from a Kerr County resident who argued the tax would grow county government and pointed to event center losses, though the author said the revenue would support tourism-related county uses. The committee took no final votes on the bills in this transcript. After each bill was laid out and testimony concluded, the chair repeatedly asked whether there was objection to leaving the bill pending; in each instance, no objection was heard, and the bills were left pending. Several committee substitutes were offered and then withdrawn or noted as conforming drafts, but no bill was reported out or otherwise acted on beyond being left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• These activities include things such as biking, walking, or playing outside near their home unsupervised
• I can't even walk around my block twice without being in some level of discomfort.
• Anthony was 11 years old, just walking across the street, had the right of way, had the walk sign, and
• But a gentleman just walked up to the front door and said, 'Hey, I want to talk to Senator Simon.'
• But a gentleman just walked up to the front door and said, 'Hey, I want to talk to Senator Simon.'

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 678, which would allow pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; it drew support from a business representative and was reported favorably. Members then heard several bills by Senator Leak, including SB 466 to designate St. Johns County as the site of the Florida Museum of Black History and create a board to work with the museum foundation and Florida Memorial University; the bill drew supportive testimony about preserving accurate Black history and the significance of the site, and it passed favorably. Leak’s CS/SB 578 would let Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers for larger wine sales, and it also passed favorably. SB 582 would increase penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, limiting the higher penalties to certain nationally or internationally recognized historic properties; it was supported by preservation advocates and reported favorably. CS/SB 1168 would create an aggravated offense for installing or using tracking devices or apps in furtherance of crimes such as murder, domestic violence, or robbery, and it passed favorably after a brief discussion about stalking and violent crimes. CS/SB 806 would make the Florida Attorney General the exclusive public official with standing to enforce Florida charitable trusts, limiting out-of-state attorneys general from suing over Florida-administered trusts; members debated whether this would burden out-of-state beneficiaries, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1228 would advance spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee Springs and Santa Fe spring flows and allow a utility compliance plan amendment to deliver reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 304 would require a qualified medical opinion in child protective investigations involving infants and young children with possible genetic or medical conditions that can mimic abuse, and it drew emotional support from parents and advocates before passing favorably. SB 1286 would clarify that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities like biking or playing outside do not constitute neglect absent reckless endangerment, and it was reported favorably. SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, generated the most extensive debate: it renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the prohibition to handheld device use, and adds penalties in work zones and school zones; supporters cited fatal crash statistics and personal loss, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, racial disparities in traffic stops, and the need for broader distracted-driving and insurance reforms. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably after amendments. The committee also approved two claims bills, SB 14 for the estate of Penao-Hanvier against Miami Beach and SB 20 for J.N. against Hillsborough County, both settled claims recommended favorably by the special master. Finally, CS/SB 68 would modernize health facilities authority financing for private not-for-profit health systems, and CS/SB 172 would restrict misuse of health care specialty titles while preserving titles authorized under existing practice acts; both were discussed with questions about doctors, optometrists, and CRNAs, and both were reported favorably after amendment and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• These activities include things such as biking, walking, or playing outside near their home unsupervised
• I can't even walk around my block twice without being in some level of discomfort.
• Anthony was 11 years old, just walking across the street, had the right of way, had the walk sign, and
• But a gentleman just walked up to the front door and...
• But a gentleman just walked up to the front door and said, 'Hey, I want to talk to Senator Simon.'

Summary: The Committee on Rules took up a long agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included CS for SB 678, allowing pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital, and SB 466, which designates St. Johns County as the site for the Florida Museum of Black History and creates a board to work with the supporting foundation and county officials. Senators and public speakers largely supported the museum bill, though some members asked about feasibility studies and long-term planning. The committee also approved CS for SB 578 on wine containers, SB 582 on penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, CS for SB 1168 creating an aggravated offense for unlawful tracking-device use in furtherance of crimes, CS for SB 806 clarifying that only the Florida Attorney General may represent beneficiaries of Florida charitable trusts as a public official, and SB 1228 to support spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee and Santa Fe springs. The committee then heard and favorably reported CS for CS for SB 304, which addresses child protective investigations involving infants and young children with genetic or other pre-existing medical conditions. The bill requires a qualified medical opinion before permanent removal in cases where injuries may be explained by an underlying condition, and it drew strong support from the sponsor and several speakers. Members also approved SB 1286 clarifying that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities, such as biking or playing outside, do not by themselves constitute neglect unless reckless, and SB 1318, a hands-free driving bill that renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the handheld-device prohibition, and adds penalties for handheld use in work and school zones and for certain serious crashes. The hands-free bill prompted the most debate, with supporters citing crash and fatality data and families sharing personal losses, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, and potential disparate impacts on lower-income and minority drivers; the bill was still reported favorably after amendments. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 14 and SB 20, two claims bills for injuries and deaths involving local governments, and CS for SB 68, which updates health facilities authority financing rules to reflect modern hospital structures. The committee also approved CS for SB 172 on health care practitioner specialty titles and designations after adopting an amendment protecting CRNA titles; the bill generated questions about whether licensed practitioners with doctoral degrees may still use the title doctor under their practice acts. Throughout the meeting, most bills were adopted without opposition, and the committee repeatedly voted to report them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• you through what we did and what we continue to do. ...walk you through what we did and what we continue
• I'll walk back what they do, starting with our youth and community programs.
• Next Monday, I'll be in D.C., walking the halls of Capitol Hill, seeing our congressional delegation,
• Thirty-five percent reported walking mobility problems or other ailments, among other things.
• So I walked around, grabbed the employment counselor, and said, we need to have this guy here.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs held an informational hearing focused on the effects of federal budget cuts and policy changes on veterans, military readiness, and California’s veteran support systems. The chair and members emphasized that federal reductions to the VA, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, SNAP, and the federal workforce are disproportionately harming veterans by threatening health care, employment, housing, crisis lines, and suicide prevention services. The chair also highlighted California’s progress on veteran homelessness and the importance of preserving state programs that leverage federal dollars. Major General Matthew Beavers of the California Military Department described the department’s structure, its response to the Los Angeles fire emergency, and concerns that federal cuts could reduce readiness through less training, older equipment, and fewer resources. He also discussed state programs such as Work for Warriors, STARBASE, youth and community schools, and the counterdrug task force, saying they are valuable but vulnerable if funding is redirected away from readiness. Members asked about the impact of federal changes on the Guard and how the Legislature could help, and Beavers said the state should advocate for recapitalized equipment and continued support for key programs. A second panel focused on veterans’ benefits and claims support. CalVet, Los Angeles County, and Swords to Plowshares testified that county veteran service officers, legal aid, and community-based partnerships are essential to helping veterans access VA benefits, especially after the PACT Act expanded eligibility and increased claims volume. Witnesses said these services bring substantial federal dollars back to California, but county offices and legal providers are underfunded and overburdened. Members discussed data sharing, staffing shortages, and the need for more resources to reach veterans who are not connected to VA care. In the final panel on mental health and suicide prevention, CalVet and nonprofit providers described state-funded programs such as the Veterans Support Self-Reliance program and the California Veterans Health Initiative, which place services in permanent supportive housing and provide no-cost counseling statewide. Witnesses said these programs are showing measurable improvements in health, medication adherence, and emergency room use, but they depend on sustained funding and are vulnerable to step-down grants and federal instability. Committee members expressed support for the programs and raised questions about access, staffing, and the role of non-veteran family members in Vet Center services.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not really that we're trying to slow walk any one particular allocation pot.
• I'd be happy to have our team sit down and kind of walk through the analysis, but again, I don't want
• Two, we built an assessment tool that's on our website that any of us can go and walk around our homes
• I think it was brought up as I was walking out a little bit ago about the issue of the Department of
• I will let them walk up here, but I will tell you they have been an enormous partner.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But walk us through where the digital service fits in this project. You're recognized.
• But walk us through where the digital service fits in this project. You're recognized.
• And currently the only way you can get a fuel tax decal is online, through the mail, or walking into
• And currently the only way you can get a fuel tax decal is online through the mail or walking into the
• Can you walk through that whole process? You're recognized.

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we walk through everything that's being added, like whose bills they are and what it is? Okay.
• Can we walk through everything that's being added, like whose bills they are and what it is? Okay.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first considered a House committee substitute for Senate Bill 1067, a jurisprudence omnibus measure. The substitute combined several bills: House Bill 1711 on the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which streamlines out-of-state subpoena and deposition procedures; House Bill 2666, an anti-SLAPP bill intended to protect speech by allowing early dismissal of certain lawsuits; House Bill 3116, which included changes related to workers’ compensation attorney substitutions and domestic LLC deadlock procedures to reduce litigation and court costs; and House Bill 3289, which addressed court operations, including a statewide automation fund and a treatment court administrator position for circuits lacking a commissioner or administrator. Members discussed each component briefly, with sponsors or other members explaining that the package was designed to eliminate unnecessary litigation, reduce attorney fees, and improve court administration. The committee adopted the House committee substitute by voice vote. The committee then voted on House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1067 and approved it do pass by a roll call vote of 11 ayes and 0 noes. The hearing then concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we could walk through the details, but I don't necessarily think we need to.
• And we could walk through the education.
• So, I'm going to walk through in time.
• Um, Senator Rothus did a wonderful job walking through this bill.
• wonderful job walking through this bill. wonderful job walking through this bill.

Bills: HB0076, HB0102, HB0115

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, cardiac emergency, defibrillator, school safety, training, public health, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cinder block construction, three-story walk-ups, bad shape, not pleasant to look at, not good to live
• Cinder block construction, three-story walk-ups, bad shape, not pleasant to look at, not good to live
• ,<01:04:57.160> bad<01:04:57.480> shape, walk-ups, bad shape, walk-ups, bad shape, not<
• And then we walked through it and we carved it up.
• walked through it and we carved it up. walked through it and we carved it up.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our craft was the only one that I know of that allowed the troops to walk off onto the pebbles without
• At high tide, it was very difficult to walk on the beach without walking over dead bodies. onto the pebbles
• 56:15.920> to At high tide, it was very difficult to At high tide, it was very difficult to walk
• <02:56:17.600> over walk on the beach without walking over walk on the beach without walking
• To kiss the girl I'm on a date with after she walks me to my car, to stand up in front of 400 people

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll walk you through the process.
• , isn't aware, walks in.
• , isn't aware, walks in.
• isn't aware, walks in, potentially that's how they find out.
• I don't practice law in this space, so just walk me through it real quick.

Summary: The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work. The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours. The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns. The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Mcu had texted me as I was walking in saying he was two minutes away. Okay.
• take a minute to read the opening paragraph on the first page, and then we'll flip it over and I'll walk
• take a minute to read the opening paragraph on the first page, and then we'll flip it over and I'll walk
• page, and then we'll flip it over and page, and then we'll flip it over and I'll<00:33:07.679> walk
• you through the balance of the I'll walk you through the balance of the chart<00:33:11.039> on

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So walk us through what that means for small businesses.
• What is an emergency if you're walking around with chlamydia?
• We don't want children walking around with STIs. So please vote up this amendment.
• But when I turned 18, in 2008, I walked into my first ever medical appointment by myself.
• But that being said, I walked around here.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• As soon as you walk out of that room, you may not know again.
• As soon as you walk out of that room, you may not know again.
• As soon as you walk out of that room, you may not know again.
• Those two who are coming, um, like walking, come here inside.
• He walked for months and months crossing over many countries in Europe.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a woman who was disabled and had real trouble walking upstairs.
• <00:16:24.759> had<00:16:24.959> real<00:16:25.240> trouble<00:16:25.959> walking
• disabled and had real trouble walking disabled and had real trouble walking upstairs<00:16:27.240
• years and then people started to walk years and then people started to walk away<00:31:37.919>
• It's much more efficient; they can walk to class.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:11.440> down inites like him will never walk down inites like him will never walk down
• Life without parole is a form of walking death, offering no hope for a future.
• Life without parole is a form of walking death, offering no hope for a future.
• So you can imagine we're never allowed to walk her dog in our neighborhood.
• She saw them pass by her house to take our dog for a walk.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am frustrated that a person who is not impacted by this bill, who himself walked out of here saying
• he doesn't understand how insurance works, is able to just walk in here and say, 'Hey, I understand
• in here and works is able to just walk in here and say<02:26:03.240> hey<02:26:03.520> I
• As I walk up, I see scraps of all the dead bills on the floor here, and I hope we don't have to join
• The doctor walked in the room and kept asking me if he really had to bring it in.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 437, which would change New Hampshire law on undischarged mortgages by creating a shorter period after which certain old mortgages would be treated as unenforceable. Prime sponsor Representative Bill Boyd said the bill was developed with input from bankers, lawyers, realtors, the Attorney General’s office, and the Banking Department, and he noted a drafting correction needed on line 18. He explained that the proposal would replace current law with a new framework modeled partly on Massachusetts, including a five-year expiration after a stated maturity date and a 35-year period for mortgages without an expiration date. Supporters said the bill would help clear obsolete title defects, reduce costly quiet-title litigation, and make real estate transactions easier for consumers, attorneys, and conveyancers. Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, Susan Cole of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, and Michelle Coffin all testified in support, describing the bill as a consumer protection measure. They said undischarged or improperly discharged mortgages often surface during title searches, causing delays, legal expenses, and failed or delayed closings. Coffin and Hakken-Phillips emphasized that many of these cases involve old, effectively obsolete mortgages and that the current process often requires expensive court action even when no one contests the title. Cole described a recent transaction in which a title defect caused a buyer to walk away and later restart the financing process, creating costs for both buyer and seller. A committee member asked about notice to mortgage holders; the response was that the lender bears responsibility for recording and extending the mortgage, and that due process rights would remain if a lender later contested the discharge. Ryan Hill of the New Hampshire Bankers Association said the banking industry had reviewed the bill and was generally comfortable with it, while requesting a delayed effective date so members would have time to adjust their recording practices. He said the bill’s January 1, 2028 effective date reflected that request. After closing the hearing on HB 437, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 721, the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act. Representative Juliet Harvey-Bolia introduced it as a bipartisan economic justice bill intended to recognize gold and silver as legal tender, protect against inflation, and address concerns about trust, taxes, and government taking. She argued that gold is a stable store of value and discussed tax treatment in neighboring states, federal history, and digital gold platforms. The hearing on HB 721 was still in progress when the transcript ended, with the chair limiting questions because of time.