Transcript Highlights:

• various boating-related violations, elevating many violations that were previously misdemeanors to felonies
• funding to ensure greater access to public waters and enable Florida to remain the fishing and boating capital

Summary: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first took up the appointment of Joshua Kellum to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellum described his background in diversified land, agricultural, materials, and real estate operations and said he views himself as a conservationist. Senators questioned him closely about his development background, the balance of perspectives on the commission, his vote supporting the black bear hunt, and the use of Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds for the “Yes on 2” campaign. Supporters argued he is primarily a land steward and conservation-minded landowner, while opponents said the commission is already dominated by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend Kellum’s confirmation, with Senator Smith voting no and the rest of the voting members in favor. The committee then received a presentation from FWC on implementation of recently enacted boating and vessel laws. Bill Holcomb outlined changes under SB 1388 (the Boater Freedom Act), including limits on vessel stops and boarding, a new Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection decal, and revised rules for Springs Protection Zones. He also reviewed SB 164 on derelict and at-risk vessels, including new enforcement tools, a long-term anchoring permit, and updated penalties; HB 289, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties and education requirements; SB 830 on the disposition of migrant vessels; and HB 735 on water access facilities and boating infrastructure. Holcomb said FWC is in rulemaking, training officers, and updating forms and permitting systems to implement the laws. Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and whether penalties go back to the state, and about the Springs Protection Zone standard. Holcomb said the state can recover removal costs from responsible owners and that the new springs standard requires “significant harm” and that vessel activity be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make those determinations. He said Silver Glen Springs remains a proposed zone but was paused pending the new criteria and rulemaking. The committee took no further action on the presentation and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Justin Banta, just a few weeks ago, earlier this summer, was charged with capital murder after slipping
• establish criminal offenses for those who engage in disaster scams related to missing relative fraud felonies

Bills: SB 8 , SB 1 , SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB20 , HB18 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , HB20 , HB18 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB1 , SR85 , SR87 , SB8 , SB5 , SB2 , SB10 , HB27

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to take a moment to welcome constituent Ken Ring to the capital with fellow educators from East
• strengthened enforcement penalties, and violations of this provision are classified as third degree felonies

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we'll emphasize in the committee report that false name contributions are already a felony.
• </c><00:30:27.360><c> So</c> contributions are already a felony.
• So contributions are already a felony.
• that<00:30:42.880><c> is</c><00:30:43.120><c> already</c><00:30:43.360><c> a</c><00:30:43.600><c> felony
• and has been that is already a felony and has been for<00:30:44.799><c> years.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first considered Governor’s Message 574, confirming Michael Tenoi to continue serving on the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation through June 30, 2028. Several supporters testified, and Tenoi said he valued working with Hawaii and national commissioners and hoped to focus on emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data security. The committee recommended advise and consent and adopted the measure, with a photo taken afterward. The committee then heard HB 1519 on campaign contributions, which would require disclosure of compensated officers and immediate family members of certain state contractors and grantees. The Campaign Spending Commission and State Procurement Office supported the bill but asked for clarifying amendments; several advocacy groups supported the measure but urged stronger language, including removing branch-of-government limits and narrowing loopholes. The chair proposed amendments to remove monetary thresholds, limit the bill to paid officers, add appropriations for the Campaign Spending Commission and State Procurement Office, define “officer” more broadly, and note that false-name contributions are already felonies. The committee voted to pass HB 1519 with amendments. HB 2250, the claims against the state bill, drew testimony from the Attorney General and multiple departments in support, but members raised extensive questions about why many claims would be paid from the general fund, how corrective action is being pursued, and the handling of several specific claims, including wrongful imprisonment, a cesspool citation, Department of Corrections deaths, a large special education settlement, a charter school lease dispute, and an outdated check. Because of those outstanding questions, the committee postponed decision-making on HB 2250 until Tuesday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 016. Later, the committee also considered Governor’s Message 725, confirming Daniel M. Gluck as an associate judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; the committee recommended consent and adopted the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The current statute of limitations for these felony offenses is three years.
• The current statute of limitations for these felony offenses, been digitally created or altered.
• The current statute of limitations for these felony offenses is three years.
• No, because we litigate felony DUI cases all the time. And those are heavily litigated.
• Almost every felony has blood.

Committee: House Community Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, use is prohibited for certain serious crimes by limiting ALPR use to felony investigations only
• We also ask to uphold the guidance at the felony warrant standard.
• The bill allows law enforcement to use ALPRs to investigate felonies and to locate vehicles that are
• Misdemeanor DVs, for example, are generally precursors to felony DVs and even homicides.
• This is a huge issue in our county, and we need this tool. ...felony DVs and even homicides.

Bills: SB6011

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll have to because it's a felony if it's charged in district court, have to have a preliminary hearing
• It'll have to because it's a felony if it's charged in district court, have to have a preliminary hearing
• It'll have to because it's a felony if it's charged in district court, have to have a preliminary hearing
• It'll have to because it's a felony if it's charged in district court, have to have a preliminary hearing
• </c> service personnel under the felony service personnel under the felony assault<00:25:28.720><c> statute

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• reminder that it was a 2021 Washington State Supreme Court decision that invalidated Washington's felony
• Today, roughly 59% of felony superior court cases, 82% of misdemeanor district court cases, and 50% of
• to resolve cases, which puts less burden on victims and the courts, and particularly in areas like felony
• For example, the felony caseload standard for the State Supreme Court is, over 10 years, supposed to
• So if you had 150 misdemeanor cases, felony cases, now you're going to have 50 under these standards.

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Summary: The committee heard a series of updates on behavioral health, criminal justice, and public defense issues. Tisha Kirshbaum of the Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth coming soon, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive outpatient treatment model that depends on coordination among courts, counties, and treatment providers. She also reviewed Joel’s Law, which allows family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes to petition for involuntary detention when they disagree with a crisis responder’s decision, and judges from Snohomish and Chelan counties said petitions have increased significantly, though follow-through beyond initial detention is limited and the process remains fragmented. Committee members raised concerns about inconsistent standards, bed shortages, and the difficulty of aligning courts, law enforcement, and treatment systems. The Attorney General’s office then updated the committee on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. Minna El-Gamel said the hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties in July 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027, and that an advisory committee helped design referral processes, intake questions, outreach materials, and the hotline’s branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with about 42% requesting follow-up and only about a quarter of those seeking law enforcement referral; most callers instead wanted services such as counseling, housing, or other support. She said common challenges include public confusion about hate crimes versus bias incidents, limited law enforcement bias-response capacity, and gaps in pro bono legal services. Roger Rogoff of the Office of Independent Investigations reported that the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatal police use-of-force investigations while maintaining family, community, and tribal liaisons. He said the office is now handling only fatality cases, has opened one region of the state, and plans to announce another regional opening and a statewide roadmap, but will need additional investigators to expand further, especially east of the Cascades. He also said the office has reviewed 29 requests to reinvestigate prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and require new evidence. The final major topic was public defense caseload standards and the related Blake resentencing work. OPD’s Grace O’Connor said resentencings under State v. Blake are nearly complete, but thousands of vacates remain, and funding reductions in the next biennium would force OPD to scale back direct representation. Tara Nevitt of the Washington State Bar Association and Jason Schwartz of the Snohomish County Office of Public Defense said the new caseload standards reflect modern practice but will require more attorneys, support staff, and technology, while Cindy Aaron Zelsbury of the Washington Defender Association reported that most counties cite lack of funding as the main barrier and that attorney attrition remains high. County and city representatives argued the standards amount to an unfunded mandate that could force dismissals or releases when counsel is unavailable, and they urged substantial state funding to avoid what they described as a public safety crisis.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this does is it increases the penalty from a two-year felony to a three-year felony and a $6,000
• It is page R16, Article 4, and it increases the felony for assault of an EMS personnel or firefighter
• with demonstrable bodily harm from a two-year felony and a $4,000 fine to a three-year felony and a
• It increases the felony for assault of an EMS personnel or firefighter with demonstrable bodily harm
• from a two-year felony and a $4,000 fine to a three-year felony and a $6,000 fine.

Transcript Highlights:

• Felony is already reclassified in this manner.
• immigrant who votes in any election and anyone who helps them can be charged with a third-degree felony
• It's a third-degree felony right now. Senator Polsky, you're recognized. I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman.
• This third degree felony is a level four, as I was talking about with staff.
• This third degree felony is a level four, as I was talking about with staff.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee took up SB 2B, a major immigration bill by Senator Gruters, described by supporters as a Trump-aligned package to strengthen Florida’s role in immigration enforcement. The bill would create a grant program for local law enforcement, expand jail-ICE agreements beyond sheriff-operated jails, establish a chief immigration officer and a state immigration enforcement council, require more coordination on E-Verify and detention-bed reporting, allow immigration status to be considered in bail decisions, increase penalties for certain offenses tied to illegal reentry and voting, and repeal in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Much of the sponsor’s presentation and debate emphasized focusing on criminal offenders, improving coordination with federal authorities, and using state resources to support detention and enforcement. Committee questioning focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, reimbursement for jail costs, E-Verify coverage, and whether the bill could lead to street-level immigration enforcement in schools or churches. Senator Smith, Senator Pizzo, Senator Polsky, Senator Sharief, and others challenged the tuition repeal as unfair to students who were brought to Florida as children and argued for grandfathering current students or studying the fiscal impact first. Senator Fine defended the repeal as ending a state subsidy for people who are not lawfully present and argued the change would save tens of millions of dollars. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified that the bill was limited to jail-based enforcement, said there was no current street-level 287(g) program in Florida, and stated he did not believe the bill raised concerns for law enforcement or schools/churches. A representative of the Florida Supervisors of Elections supported the voting-related section, while a Florida Highway Patrol representative said state agencies would need additional funding if they were expected to take on more enforcement duties. The committee adopted Senator Gruters’ late-filed amendment correcting a drafting error. Senator Smith’s amendment to require an OPAGA study on the tuition-waiver policy was withdrawn after discussion, and his handwritten amendment to delete the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students failed on a roll-call vote. The bill then advanced as amended, with several members speaking in debate both for and against it. Supporters framed it as a focused public-safety and enforcement measure; opponents criticized the special-session process, the cost, and the tuition repeal’s impact on students already enrolled.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it removes the provision that violation of this is a felony.
• ><00:20:04.080><c> on</c><00:20:04.240><c> a</c><00:20:04.320><c> lot</c><00:20:04.400><c> of</c> felony
• I think that based on a lot of felony.
• </c><00:21:37.120><c> that</c><00:21:37.360><c> was</c><00:21:37.520><c> the</c><00:21:37.679><c> felony
• </c> No, it didn't say that was the felony No, it didn't say that was the felony part. part. part.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't believe either one of you mentioned, but in the bill it states that this is Class C felony
• No Class B, no Class A felonies. I just wish I thought of this. And thank you both again.
• of set up, it seems like they get sentenced to Department of Corrections for something on a D or C felony
• I would think that would become more complicated because we would go into higher felonies. Okay.
• complicated because, I would think that would become more complicated because we would go into higher felonies

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't believe either one of you mentioned, but in the bill it states that this is Class C felony
• No Class B, no Class A felonies. I just wish I thought of this. And thank you both again.
• of set up, it seems like they get sentenced to Department of Corrections for something on a D or C felony
• I would think that would become more complicated because we would go into higher felonies. Okay.
• complicated because, I would think that would become more complicated because we would go into higher felonies

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions heard testimony on House Bill 2912, House Bill 2753, and a joint hearing on House Bills 2171 and 3292. HB 2912 would expand the state’s use of master agreements for small projects, raising contract thresholds and adding architects, engineers, and surveyors to standing agreements for work under $100,000. Supporters from the Office of Administration and private engineering/architecture firms said the bill would reduce delays, lower costs, and avoid repeated RFQ/RFP processes for small projects. There were no witnesses in opposition, and the hearing closed after favorable testimony. HB 2753 would create a hospital zone designation, similar to school or work zones, allowing municipalities or counties to establish reduced-speed areas around hospitals when local conditions warrant it. The bill was presented in response to traffic and safety concerns around a rural hospital expansion and a state highway running through the campus area. Hospital representatives, the Missouri Hospital Association, and another hospital system supported the measure, emphasizing pedestrian, staff, ambulance, and visitor safety; committee members questioned the proposed penalties and whether the bill could create a statewide mandate, but supporters stressed it was permissive and locally initiated. No opposition testimony was offered. HB 2171 and HB 3292, identical bills, would direct the Department of Corrections to create a motivational boot camp program for offenders ages 17 to 21 convicted of nonviolent offenses, with the goal of rehabilitation and possible expungement after completion. Sponsors said the program would emphasize discipline, physical activity, and therapy, and could be a cost-saving alternative to prison; they noted a federal issue requiring changes for DWI/CDL cases and discussed a six-year sunset. Committee members raised questions about eligibility, screening, expungement language, program design, and how the proposal would interact with other sentencing bills. No witnesses testified in favor or opposition, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• currently works as the deputy prosecutor for Bonneville County, responsible for reviewing and charging felony
• And over time, that has been amended since 1997 to include all felony crimes and some sex offenses.
• Laboratory identified a few high-profile offenders in our state whose samples were not collected despite a felony
• Because in this case, those two felony convictions, one was a serial killer, Joseph Duncan, and the other
• federal funds, and they have been going back retroactively and collecting this kind of evidence from felony

Transcript Highlights:

• going to set it at $20," or, you know, yeah, usually we're not talking about substantially large felonies
• These are basically misdemeanors and lower-level felonies. And lower-level felonies.
• No, on felonies we have a schedule that's followed, and especially on significant felonies, there's a

Bills: SB210 , SB225 , HB280 , HB287 , HB94 , HB88 , SB157 , HB7 , HB8 , HB42

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> which is 633 col 7 and that has felonies which is 633 col 7 and that has felonies for<00:22:28.000
• </c><00:22:32.320><c> and</c> increased the penalties for felonies and increased the penalties for felonies
• <00:22:41.280><c> is</c><00:22:42.080><c> um</c> felony is um felony is um trying<00:22:44.159><c> to
• </c><00:23:05.440><c> Um,</c> a lot of felonies here as well. Um, a lot of felonies here as well.
• </c><00:25:11.600><c> ones</c> an argument for those other felony ones an argument for those other felony

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• So what it does is it changes the blanket disqualifier from any felony to a violent felony.
• The fiscal year 27 capital budget highlights are that it provides $1.25 billion in capital investments
• This debt limit statement is to be attached to the fiscal year 2027 Bond and Capital Improvements Act
• The fiscal year 2027 Bond and Capital Improvements Act, as required by 29 Delaware Code Section 7422,
• in capital investments throughout Delaware.

Summary: The House convened on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, and moments of silence for Gerlindy Lancelotti and Iva Durham. Members then took up a long agenda of bills and resolutions, including consent calendar items and several measures related to agriculture, lottery reporting, health care, fire service membership standards, inmate work, telecommunications, rent increases, youth camp licensing, primary elections, respiratory care practice, and marriage equality. The chamber also heard extended debate on Senate Bill 233, concerning removal of snow and ice from vehicles, and on House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary while barring participation in both parties’ primaries. Among the notable actions, House Concurrent Resolution 157 passed as amended, directing the State Lottery to report on options to support traditional lottery retailers. Senate Bill 53, preserving the Delaware Farm to Community Program if federal support declines, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 307, giving the Public Service Commission authority to designate eligible Lifeline carriers, and Senate Bill 339, clarifying advance health care directives, also passed. Senate Bill 235, removing a sunset on manufactured home rent increase calculations, passed, as did Senate Bill 325 after House Amendment 1 narrowed disqualifying offenses for fire service membership and adjusted related background-check rules. Senate Bill 309, discharging remaining incarceration-cost balances, and Senate Bill 324, addressing constable-related firearm permit provisions, both passed. The chamber tabled Senate Bill 233 once to consider a proposed amendment for trucks and other hard-to-clear vehicles, but the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended by the Senate. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was tabled pending legal review. Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry, passed after extensive floor debate and personal statements from members on both sides. Senate Bill 293, creating a licensure pathway for summer camps to participate in purchase-of-care, passed after House Amendment 1. House Bill 188 on open primary access for unaffiliated voters passed 22-17, and Senate Bill 94, concerning respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery, passed after House Amendment 2. The transcript ends as the House begins consideration of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404.

Transcript Highlights:

• aware of the issues and challenges related to homelessness in Texas, whether it's here in Austin, the capital
• Whether it's here in Austin, the capital city, or in many other areas of our state, it's crucial to delve
• For a felony, it's 120 days.
• So an individual has to be a class, their offense has to be class B misdemeanor or class A felony, so
• So, $100 million capital outlay, what's your annual operating cost? $30 million. $30 million.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• year in the House to reduce the penalty for the possession of personal amounts of psilocybin from a felony
• personal amounts of psilocybin<01:24:54.320><c> from</c><01:24:54.560><c> a</c><01:24:54.719><c> felony
• </c><01:24:55.040><c> to</c><01:24:55.199><c> a</c> psilocybin from a felony to a psilocybin from a felony
• </c> psilocybin and and it's kind of a psilocybin and and it's kind of a venture<01:25:18.719><c> capital
• That's not what venture capital effort.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• into a residence or structure in which a vulnerable adult resides and classifies it as a class four felony
• unless it is accompanied by a sexual offense, in which case it is classified as a class three felony
• on a residence in structure in which a vulnerable adult resides and classifies it as a class four felony
• unless it is accompanied by a sexual offense then is classified a class three felony with that avail

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.