Transcript Highlights:

• a tax on corporations or businesses, when applicable, 90 to 95% of those taxes get passed on to consumers
• a tax on corporations or businesses, when applicable, 90 to 95% of those taxes get passed on to consumers
• <00:03:24.519> um<00:03:25.040> and<00:03:25.280> as get passed on to Consumers
• um and as get passed on to Consumers um and as representative<00:03:26.120> Gomez<00:03:26.640
• , so those payments wouldn't need to be made in those two statutory appropriations. inflation and the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 950 by Representative Boyd is an act in Title 46 relative to consumer protection for the elderly
• of a bank supervisory agency, deletes the reference to the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Consumer
• Members, this bill is designed to say that an insurer's payment under the terms of a contract shall not
• determining a partial dissolution and the calculation of the increased unfunded accrued liability payment
• determining a partial dissolution and the calculation of the increased unfunded accrued liability payment

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Frankly, I'm concerned by any marijuana consumer in Oklahoma actually consuming pesticides and other
• You're saying within the Secretary Bailiffs there's not beyond again those longevity payments.
• Per diem payments that augment their budget, their $3.9 billion budget.
• And you're talking about the forgiveness plan, but this is actually a payment directly from.
• The budgeted delays where the CASTs there was a CAS payment that was delayed.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• payment withholds. payment withholds.
• The last recovering overp payments.
• national average in improper payment national average in improper payment rates.<00:48:10.480>
• stopped payment on? That would be great. stopped payment on? That would be great.
• benefits and provider payment. benefits and provider payment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Lots of consumer goods. We eat a lot of eggs in my household.
• I referred it to House Consumer Public Affairs, then it's House Taxation; it should be House Commerce
• Speaker, your Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, to whom has been referred House Bill 31, has had
• Speaker, your Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, to whom has been referred House Bill 38, has had
• Speaker, your Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, to whom has been referred House Bill 39, has had

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines 42, 43, and 44 are high dollar amounts from the executive: $50 million for a housing down payment
• It's to the Teacher Loan Payment Fund.
• We got federal approval to do the first round of payments late last year.
• Payments late last year, so as long as things go alright, the first set of those payments will go up
• Payments can be made on an ongoing basis, which is necessary for running a state.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the Senate is proposing to delete language that would have allowed consumers to delete their
• with the definition of consumer in the data privacy bill S71 that we just passed recently.
• We passed it as a consumer protection bill.
• So, Economic Development said, "Hey, this is a consumer protection bill.
• It belongs here in this consumer protection bill that we're proposing to update."

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just want to highlight why the Consumer Protection Fund.
• I also think it's vitally important that we protect Arizona consumers, and I think the Consumer Protection
• and Consumer Fraud Protection Fund is a big part of that.
• And then doesn't have, can make the payment, but doesn't have the money for a down payment.
• She's not going to participate in that down payment program.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides for a rounding of certain payments sums paid by a physical legal tender.
• Better records mean stronger disease prevention, increased consumer confidence, and more transparent
• And yes, if they want to come here, they need to make their own energy, not make you, the consumer, pay
• A precedent that government is going to mandate a salary payment for a private business and what it must
• appropriate business, but more importantly, communities, environmentalists, workers, trades, and consumers

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recognized several guests in the gallery, and then took up a series of committee reports, referrals, and floor actions. Early business included concurrence in committee reports on bills and resolutions from Game and Fisheries, Professional Licensure, Health, and Children and Youth, along with referral of Senate Bill 1377 to Transportation. The chamber also signed House Bill 1344 after the Senate returned it without amendment. Later, members announced caucus and committee meetings, including Rules, Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations, Insurance, and Appropriations, before recessing and then reconvening for floor votes. The House adopted several resolutions, including House Resolution 537 designating Rail Safety Week, House Resolution 449 recognizing the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and House Resolution 568 designating Javei Syndrome Awareness Day. The chamber also considered House Bill 2037 on cryptocurrency corruption, where Amendment A03882 narrowing the bill to public officials and immediate family members was adopted, while two later amendments were tabled or failed. House Bill 2198, repealing the sales and use tax exemption for computer data center equipment, was amended to take effect immediately and to bar KOZ use for data centers, then agreed to. House Bill 2559, concerning a university conveyance and other conveyances, was agreed to after out-of-order amendments were ruled on. A major portion of the session focused on data center policy. House Bill 2496, creating a 180-day pause on data center proposals to give municipalities time to update zoning and planning, drew extensive support from members emphasizing local control, environmental concerns, and the need for time to assess impacts; it passed final passage 201-1. House Bill 2650, creating the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development certification for data centers, also generated lengthy debate over energy use, water, community benefits, and tax treatment; it passed 134-68. The House also passed House Bill 2162 on temporary licensing for drug manufacturers before FDA approval, House Bill 2388 on rounding cash payments when pennies are unavailable, House Bill 2437 on county and municipal bridge repair funds, House Bill 2555 on equine dealer recordkeeping, and House Bill 2621 directing a Department of Health survey on maternal and infant outcomes. Other actions included final passage of House Bill 1006 on milk tester and wearer sampler certification periods, House Bill 2014 on opportunities for minors and emergency service organizations, House Bill 2512 prohibiting ride-share pricing based on device condition, House Bill 2644 authorizing itemized capital bridge projects, and Senate Bill 1058 updating the E85 flex-fuel reference. The House also adopted House Bill 2162, House Bill 2388, House Bill 2437, and House Bill 2555 by recorded votes, and several committee reports were agreed to throughout the day. The session ended with additional committee referrals, a motion to recommit several bills to Appropriations, and adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• These third-party reservations make it difficult for consumers to find available reservations at popular
• The bill will protect Florida consumers and restaurants by prohibiting the sale of restaurant reservations
• These objectives, if met, allow the dealer to receive compensation that can be passed on to the consumer
• disclosures and provisions, prohibited practices, i.e., initial or non-refundable fees, interest on payment
• actions by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, also known as ASCs, to all actions relating to payments

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and favorably reported several bills. SB 1672 removed duplicative state provisions related to labor pools; CS/SB 940 prohibited third-party sale of restaurant reservations without the restaurant’s consent; and CS/SB 1820 made changes to motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer franchise law, including disclosure of performance measures, anti-retaliation protections, and limits on franchise termination or nonrenewal. The committee also approved CS/SB 324, creating a revolving loan program to help small businesses affected by prolonged public works construction, and SB 936, which creates a recurring three-year study of the effects of AI, robotics, and automation on Florida’s workforce and economy. SB 1322, the Florida Rural Jobs Act, was amended and reported favorably to encourage private investment in rural small businesses through a state tax credit program. The committee also reported favorably on CS/SB 910, which regulates for-profit veterans’ benefit assistance services, and CS/SB 656, which extends protections from extraordinary collection actions to all bill-of-care payment actions by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 1264, a broad Department of Commerce agency bill. The strike-all amendment added or revised provisions on Secure Florida, the RISE venture capital tax credit program, data center tax exemptions, business development classifications, military land transfers, and other economic development matters, while also repealing regional planning councils from statute. That repeal drew extensive opposition from local officials and regional council representatives, who argued the councils are important for emergency management, grant writing, planning, and support for small and rural communities. Supporters of the amendment said the councils could continue locally without state statutory involvement. After debate, the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, though Senators Davis and Smith voted no. The committee also considered CS/SB 1238, which would tighten reemployment assistance rules by disqualifying claimants who fail to meet job-search requirements or refuse work, and by adding verification and reporting requirements. Supporters framed it as adding guardrails and preventing fraud, while opponents argued Florida’s unemployment system is already difficult to access and that the bill would add unnecessary barriers and costs. Despite opposition from labor and advocacy groups, the bill was reported favorably, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of Alexis Yarborough and John Gilbert to the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of Assembly Member Lowenthal, I am presenting AB 566, the consumer privacy-focused bill.
• On behalf of Assembly Member Lowenthal, I am presenting AB 566, a consumer privacy-focused bill that
• The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 gave California consumers important privacy rights, including
• AB 566 would significantly benefit consumers by granting them greater control over their personal data
• Becca Kramer-Mauter with Kaiser Advocacy on behalf of Consumer Reports, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 23, 2025, with a large regular-order agenda and first approved a consent calendar covering many bills. Several measures were then heard individually, with most receiving support from sponsors and stakeholder groups and no formal opposition in the room, though some bills drew respectful opposition or no votes. The committee also read and deemed approved a lengthy suspense calendar before taking up additional bills and public comment. Among the bills discussed, AB 263 would extend temporary flow regulations on the Smith and Shasta Rivers for five years or until permanent rules are completed; AB 309 would remove the sunset on pharmacists’ ability to provide sterile syringes without a prescription to support HIV and hepatitis prevention; AB 631 would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; AB 792 would allow consolidation of bargaining for court interpreters; AB 867 would ban cat declawing except when medically necessary; AB 1206 would require pre-approved housing plans for small residential projects; AB 787 would require health plans to better help patients find in-network providers; AB 596 would protect workers’ right to wear face coverings unless unsafe; AB 282 would allow housing providers to prefer voucher holders without violating source-of-income discrimination law; AB 738 would create a limited rebuilding exemption for disaster survivors from newer solar requirements; AB 566 would require browsers and mobile operating systems to make global privacy opt-outs easier; and AB 622 would clarify CDCR’s authority to award credits to people serving indeterminate sentences who complete rehabilitation programming. Most of these bills were reported out on roll calls, often with bipartisan or limited dissent. AB 309, AB 631, AB 792, AB 867, AB 1206, AB 787, AB 596, AB 282, AB 738, AB 566, and AB 622 all advanced, while AB 263 also moved forward despite opposition from the Siskiyou Board of Supervisors and the California Farm Bureau. AB 622 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters emphasizing rehabilitation, parole-board review, and cost savings, and opponents warning about public safety and the impact on serious violent offenders. The meeting ended after brief public comment on several other bills on the suspense file and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumers are often seeing 20, 30, or even 50 cents spread compared to regular 87.
• ,<01:20:21.200> communities,<01:20:21.720> and Minnesota's consumers, communities,
• and Minnesota's consumers, communities, and the<01:20:21.960> economy.
• Uh consumers<01:20:25.160> are<01:20:25.280> often<01:20:25.800> uh<01:20:25.880
• then we will talk about down payment then we will talk about down payment assistance,<01:42:58.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to hurt our consumers and our small businesses in our part of the world.
• So Senator, we are the consumer of last resort. other countries have to sell here.
• In the short-medium term, it will be the consumer. It will be the consumer.
• I mean, I could go on and on and every Sector consumers are freaked out.
• We've got consumers whose electricity bills are going up because of retaliation. from Canada.

Keywords: tariffs, Trump administration, economy, public testimony, trade policy, market access, export controls

Summary: The meeting focused on various significant topics concerning the recent tariff policies and their wide-ranging implications on the American economy. Members expressed their concerns regarding the negative impact of increased tariffs as proposed by the Trump administration, with specific emphasis on how families might suffer from higher costs and market access issues. The discussion was lively, with members questioning the clarity of the tariff plan and raising concerns about its potential effects on small businesses and American exports.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Minnesota<00:19:47.840> and million consumers in Minnesota and million consumers in Minnesota
• stories told and to grow their consumer stories told and to grow their consumer base.<00:30:31.600
• based on where they lived. comprehensive consumer data privacy law comprehensive consumer data privacy
• <01:01:25.280> a have private users, users that consume a have private users, users that consume
• There are a lot of consumers like.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
• SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
• Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
• I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
• I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have DCCA, Division of Consumer Advocacy, with comments.
• Uh, first we have DCCA, Division of Consumer Advocacy, and support. Thank you.
• Uh, first we have DCCA, Division of Consumer Advocacy, and support. Thank you.
• Uh, DCCA Division of Consumer Advocacy with comments. Pico's uh testimony as well.
• Uh, DCCA Division of Consumer Advocacy with comments. Ando. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• officer and firefighter recruitment bonus payment program, thereby expanding the program to include
• The bill administers a one-time bonus payment of up to $5,000 to each newly employed officer and newly
• Instead of addressing assessments, the bill tightens benefits and restricts payments to families.
• Next, we'll take up tab to Senate Bill 570 on task force on payment scams by Senator Polsky.
• to tackle the growing problem of payment-related fraud.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, beginning with SB 1286 by Sen. Wright. That bill expanded the state recruitment bonus program to include newly employed firefighters, created a DFS grant review panel, and established a PTSD institute within DFS for first-responder behavioral health. Fire chiefs, the Florida League of Cities, and others supported the measure, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee then considered SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks by Sen. Rousan. A substitute amendment was adopted that clarified daily transaction limits, registration requirements, expiration rules, and OFR authority to deny registrations. Testimony focused on protecting seniors from crypto-ATM scams while giving the industry regulatory certainty. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 198. Members next approved CS/SB 772, which allows portable electronics limited licensees to sell eyewear insurance, and CS/SB 1504, which updates insurance customer representative licensing pathways by allowing a high school insurance and personal finance course to count toward pre-licensure education. The committee also favorably reported Sen. Gruters’ CS/SB 1038 and CS/SB 1040, which together create the Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve and its trust fund framework, and CS/SB 1440, which expands public records exemptions and cybersecurity-related protections for financial institutions, loan originators, money service businesses, and credit unions. Sen. Burton’s SB 1668 on the NICA program drew extensive testimony from a NICA board member and family advocate, who urged stronger funding to preserve lifelong care for catastrophically injured children; the bill was reported favorably despite concerns from the Florida Justice Association about benefit restrictions and retroactivity. Finally, the committee approved CS/SB 570, creating a DFS task force on payment scams, after an amendment reduced FDLE’s required representation. At the end of the meeting, Sen. Burton requested to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 1286, and Sen. Passidomo requested affirmative votes on tabs 3, 5, and 9; the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also are disbursing over $43 million in annuity payments to more than 19,000 disabled veterans, both
• And as you know, like every one of our consumers, we have to live within our means.
• And that's a $2,000 annual payment, which has been increased through the work the legislature has done
• And that's a 2000 annual payment, which has been increased to the work the legislature was done.
• These resources will continue to provide more essential services to our consumers.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from Senate Chair Robyn Kennedy and House Chair Chynah Tyler, who emphasized that the fiscal year 2026 hearing was focused on the Health and Human Services budget, asked members to keep questions budget-related, and noted that no public testimony would be taken. They also highlighted the choice of Doherty Memorial High School as the venue to showcase Worcester’s investment in career and technical education. Committee members then introduced themselves before the first panel, the Executive Office of Veterans Services and the state veterans homes, began testimony. Secretary John Santiago said the governor’s FY26 proposal would support implementation of the HERO Act, which he said is now about 95% implemented, including higher disabled veteran annuities, expanded behavioral health benefits, and other service expansions. He described efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, including nearly $20 million in ARPA-funded housing and outreach initiatives, and said the agency has delivered more than 100,000 supportive services to nearly 8,500 veterans. Leaders from the Chelsea and Holyoke veterans homes reported on staffing, quality measures, electronic medical records, and major construction projects at both facilities, including a new Chelsea campus and the new Holyoke home. Members asked about funding transfers, geographic equity in access to the homes, outreach to women veterans and veterans of color, suicide prevention, Gold Star family support, and the impact of federal uncertainty; Santiago said the homes are now licensed and certified, that the current budget is sufficient, and that the agency is expanding engagement and data collection. The second panel, the Office of the Veteran Advocate, testified that its FY26 request is about $3.3 million, up from the current $2 million, to cover staffing, a larger office, and higher technology costs. Veteran Advocate Bob Notch said the office is a new independent oversight agency created in 2022 to examine systems, coordinate with local veteran service officers, and investigate fatalities or serious harm involving veterans in state care. He said the office’s work depends on research, data, and collaboration with other agencies, and that current funding is only enough for minimum operations. In response to questions, Notch and Deputy Commissioner David O’Callaghan discussed the difficulty of tracking veteran suicides, the need for better data across agencies, and the office’s role as an oversight body rather than a direct service provider. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Tamika Moss, and I'm the Secretary of our Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.
• The Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency will provide effective and efficient consumer protection
• The Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency will also be able to provide more direct support
• This is a consumer tax. Cannabis... This is a consumer tax. Cannabis consumers are price sensitive.
• These percentages underscore how material and integral the in-lieu VLF payment is.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational presentation on the May Revision’s proposed reorganization of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into separate housing-focused and consumer/business-focused entities. Administration officials said the split would improve oversight, streamline decision-making, and create a dedicated California Housing and Homelessness Agency with a new housing development and finance committee. The Department of Finance said funding was needed in 2025-26 to begin implementation, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal without prejudice because the Little Hoover Commission review was still pending and the plan would require ongoing General Fund costs. Members raised concerns about the timing, the lack of alignment with the budget process, and whether the reorganization would improve accountability for homelessness spending; several public witnesses supported the concept but stressed it could not substitute for new housing and homelessness dollars. The committee then took up the Department of Veterans Affairs. CalVet requested funding for phase three of its electronic health care record project and a trailer bill to preserve authority for federal background checks, but the May Revision withdrew requests for deferred maintenance and additional administrative support. The LAO noted deferred maintenance can prevent larger future costs, and the chair criticized the withdrawal of less than $1 million for veterans’ homes as short-sighted given existing repair needs. No vote was taken. Next, the Department of Housing and Community Development presented its budget. HCD said the May Revision provides no new affordable housing or homelessness funding, but does retain existing rounds of funding and proposes a $31.7 million reversion from undersubscribed housing programs. Members from both parties expressed concern about zeroing out ongoing housing and homelessness investments, especially for LIHTC, the Multifamily Housing Program, and HAP. HCD also defended its homelessness accountability and compliance work, saying the unit includes about 30 program staff and six attorneys, with three additional attorneys requested mainly to handle public records and litigation workload. Public commenters largely opposed the lack of new funding and urged continued support for housing and homelessness programs, while some supported the reorganization and accountability efforts. Finally, the committee heard Go-Biz proposals. The administration requested authority to increase funding for a federal trade program match if needed, plus reappropriations for administrative funds tied to the Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program, zero-emission vehicle operations, and the Women’s Business Center Enhancement Program. It also proposed withdrawing the Cal Competes grant request and reverting remaining funds from the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The LAO said Cal Competes is generally effective but could be cut as a budget solution, while warning that the performing arts fund was close to awards and should be considered carefully. Members objected to pulling back committed funds for performing arts organizations and questioned why the state would withdraw support after applications had already been submitted.