Bills: HB2239, HB2304, HB2095, HB2248

Keywords: interment, location choices, remains, Washingtonians, funeral services, condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation, corporate filings, secretary of state, business entity filings, annual reports, foreign corporation

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2239, which would allow family burial grounds on privately owned land. Staff explained that the bill would permit private landowners to establish burial areas, including mausoleums or columbaria, with limits on size, setbacks, recording requirements, and construction standards, while leaving some questions about obligations of later property owners and local regulation. The sponsor said the measure is intended to help rural families and some Native communities keep burial sites on land with deep family and cultural significance. Testimony from a farmer and the Washington Cattlemen’s Association strongly supported the bill as a way to honor family roots and land stewardship. The committee then heard House Bill 2304, a follow-up to last year’s condominium warranty reform. The bill would expand eligibility for the 2-10 warranty option to stacked-flat and other condominium buildings up to four stories, rather than limiting it to lower-rise buildings. The sponsor and supporters from housing, builder, realtor, AARP, Habitat for Humanity, Seattle, and other groups said the change would help make condos and stacked flats more feasible to build, increase attainable homeownership, and improve accessibility for older adults and people with mobility challenges. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill but suggested technical language changes, saying the warranty product is not insurance under the insurance code. In executive session, staff reviewed House Bill 2095, which would add education requirements and civil-liability changes related to vulnerable users of public ways, and House Bill 2248, which makes technical changes to Secretary of State filing laws. The committee deferred action on HB 2095. It then voted 11-0, with two excused, to report the proposed substitute for HB 2248 out of committee with a do pass recommendation.

Bills: HB2248, HB2158, HB2178

Keywords: corporate filings, secretary of state, business entity filings, annual reports, foreign corporation, domestic corporation, nonprofit corporation, registered agent, trademark assignment, charities division, entity registration, foreign registration, ministerial filing duty, filing refusal, international student exchange, exchange visitor placement organization, doing business in Washington, remote worker, branch campus, notary certification

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2248, a Secretary of State cleanup bill covering business filings, foreign entity registration, trademarks, international student exchange program procedures, and authentication services. The prime sponsor and Secretary of State staff described it as a technical clarification measure that does not create new fees or policy changes. Testimony supported the bill, and a question from the ranking member focused on trademark assignment tracking; staff said the public record would still reflect ownership changes. No vote was taken on HB 2248 during the hearing. In executive session, the committee first considered House Bill 2178, which revises court rules and procedures and includes a substitute that removes a two-year extension for electronic submission of protection order petitions while adding statutory authority for the state treasurer to distribute LFO collection grants to county clerks. Members generally supported the substitute, though one member voted no without recommendation over concerns about how the change affects compliance with earlier legislation. The committee approved the substitute 10-2, with one excused, and reported HB 2178 out with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2158, which updates the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts for remote notarization of tangible records. The substitute narrowed the procedure for confirming a record’s identity, added the word “tangible” for clarity, delayed the effective date to January 1, 2027, and made a technical correction. Supporters said the changes improve clarity, address implementation concerns, and give the Department of Licensing time for rulemaking. The committee approved the substitute unanimously, 12-0 with one excused, and reported HB 2158 out with a due pass recommendation.

Bills: HB78

Keywords: Baldwin County, court proceedings, nonjury cases, branch courthouses, judicial authority, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The judicial branch.
• I'm the state court administrator for the branch.
• Um, from my own personal experience, what I was saying is that the judicial branch is a branch of government
• c> that the judicial branch is a branch of that the judicial branch is a branch of government<00:25:50.720
• Um, we have three chairs of three branches of government.

Bills: HF3874, HF962

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• current gap in how Florida's public universities communicate safety procedures when members of the campus
• This legislation strengthens campus safety by ensuring that when a threat occurs, no one is left guessing
• This does include everyone: students, faculty, staff, and visitors, so it's for everyone on campus.

Bills: S0176, S0816

Keywords: campus safety, higher education, university safety, college safety, student safety, threat assessment, violence prevention, credible threat, campus security, law enforcement notification, emergency response, public universities, Florida College System, student conduct, workplace violence, security escorts, incident reporting, title IX-like safety procedures, institutional safety policy, school violence

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear two bills and several confirmation appointments. Senate Bill 176, as amended, required public universities to maintain and publicize clear campus safety policies and reporting procedures for threats to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Senator Polsky said the bill was intended to close a gap in postsecondary safety guidance and mirror K-12 requirements. The committee adopted the amendment without objection, heard supportive comments about campus safety, and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard Senate Bill 116, which would codify the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to support research, prevention, education, collaboration, and outreach on diabetes; the bill drew supportive testimony from AARP and others and was also reported favorably. The committee then took up confirmations for multiple university and college boards of trustees. Nominees and appointees testified about their backgrounds and priorities, including FIU trustee Nestor Plana, UNF trustee Clarence Stephen Moore, UCF trustees Mark Philburn and Alan Flores, USF trustees Rick Piccolo and Nancy Watkins Hemingway, and Miami Dade College trustee Ismarie Monreal, among others. Their remarks emphasized student success, research growth, workforce development, financial stewardship, and institutional goals such as engineering, cybersecurity, health care, and preeminence. Several members asked about NCLEX nursing pass rates and university performance metrics, and one public commenter raised concerns about campus climate and student safety at UCF. After hearing the appointees and public comment, the committee voted to confirm the group of nominees in a block and reported the confirmations favorably. The meeting concluded without further business after a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's our campus utility manager. He'll be able to really answer any technical questions.
• So this, of course, is our campus.
• Just to give a little overview of our campus, we're up here in Bellingham, about 250 acres.
• all these new pipes crisscrossing through campus.
• Under the bill, the Campus Energy Upgrades Committee is established within Commerce.

Bills: HB2330, HB2338

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment, 904, all

Summary: The committee first received a Department of Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program purposes, eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and example projects such as an early learning center in Spokane, a new library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities had been built or retrofitted and how capital and operating funding are coordinated; Commerce said it could provide follow-up data and explained that it works on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about empty facilities and nonprofit financial accountability, and Commerce said it reviews applicants’ financials, relies on expert boards and partners, and uses monitoring and compliance staff to address problems. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. The presentation reviewed Washington’s clean buildings law, recent changes under House Bill 1543, compliance requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings, incentive programs, and district energy system decarbonization planning for state campuses. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, about 28,000 covered buildings statewide, and that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets. It also said 10 fellows had assisted more than 250 buildings in 16 counties and that 27 of 34 campus decarbonization plans were received, with common themes including electrification, geothermal, thermal storage, aging infrastructure, grid constraints, and high capital costs. Members asked what legislative action could help, and Commerce said it had just completed rulemaking under HB 1543 and was still learning what problems remain. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible district energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high maintenance costs, emissions, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received for a phased transition to a hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex described its existing low-carbon district energy system at the port, which uses waste heat and could potentially be extended to WWU and nearby properties, including possible sewer-heat recovery. Members asked about sewer-heat examples and the broader public responsibility for campus decarbonization. The work session ended with discussion of House Bill 2330, which would create a Campus Energy Upgrades Committee in Commerce to score and prioritize state campus district energy projects, report on barriers to energy-as-a-service and public-private partnerships, and align future capital budget requests with the committee’s recommendations. Testimony on HB 2330 included support from Washington State University, the University of Washington, and a mechanical contractor, with concerns about deferred maintenance, funding predictability, and the need for larger capital investment. The committee also heard House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects under Commerce’s low-income weatherization program. Staff explained that the bill would allow weatherization funding and match dollars to be used for neighborhood-scale projects serving multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households, and that the fiscal note estimates about $273,000 in FY 2027 and ongoing administrative costs. The prime sponsor said the bill would expand access without undermining the existing program and improve energy efficiency and household affordability. Testifiers from the Washington State Community Action Partnership and Spark Northwest supported the bill, saying it would help scale weatherization to mobile home parks and low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, improve health and safety, reduce utility bills, and make it easier to serve rural and remote communities. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Keywords: 00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:55 FB 2026-2028 Executive Branch Budget 15:17 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on budget instructions for the 2026-2028 state budget, as required by KRS Chapter 48. Staff from the Office of State Budget Director outlined three recommended changes: restructuring Form B4 for additional budget requests to emphasize the problem, solution, and quantitative data; adding page numbers to the Record P report so agencies’ additional budget requests can be located more easily; and updating the budget calendar to reflect the December 20 presentation of the consensus forecast to LRC under changes made by House Bill 360. Members asked follow-up questions about contribution rates, debt service template rates, and employee health rates. Staff said the fiscal 2026 KS non-hazardous contribution rate is 42.76%, but fiscal 2027 and 2028 rates have not yet been set; debt service rates would be posted later; and employee health rate assumptions are still being discussed with the Personnel Cabinet. Members also asked how program reductions or terminations would be handled, and staff explained that agencies base requests on statutory and federal requirements, while budget reductions are handled through the appropriations act. The committee discussed whether Form B4 should ask agencies to describe alternative options considered and how they were evaluated. Staff said the current instructions do not specifically require that, though some implications may appear in narrative responses, and members agreed to continue working on the instructions. The committee then adopted a motion directing the co-chairs to work with LRC staff to finalize the 2026-2028 budget instructions and present them for adoption, with the motion approved by roll call. Members also noted that federal budget developments, including possible SNAP cost shifts to states, are being monitored but are too early to incorporate into the instructions at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation strengthened campus safety, so no one is left guessing.

Bills: S0176, S0372, S0720, S0816

Keywords: campus safety, higher education, university safety, college safety, student safety, threat assessment, violence prevention, credible threat, campus security, law enforcement notification, emergency response, public universities, Florida College System, student conduct, workplace violence, security escorts, incident reporting, title IX-like safety procedures, institutional safety policy, school violence

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and considered several bills and one confirmation. Senate Bill 720, relating to resident status for tuition purposes for previously incarcerated Floridians, was presented by Senator Osgood and supported by testimony from Eddie Fordham, who described his own reentry and college experience and the difficulty of proving residency after long incarceration. Senators Jones and Rodriguez spoke in favor, emphasizing rehabilitation and access to education. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then approved Senate Bill 372, which would extend the state employee tuition waiver program to sheriff’s office employees on a space-available basis, with support noted from the Florida Sheriffs Association. Senate Bill 176, dealing with campus emergency management, conduct, and workplace violence policies, was also reported favorably after discussion focused on clearer reporting protocols, protective measures, and timely updates for students, faculty, and staff; several groups waved in support. Members also voted to recommend confirmation of Douglas Broxton to the Board of Governors of the State University System. Finally, Senate Bill 816, establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute to advance research, prevention, care, education, collaboration, and outreach on diabetes, received supportive testimony from medical and university representatives and favorable comments from senators, including remarks about research, federal funding, and improved outcomes. The bill was reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Bills: HB329, HB8, HB353, HB329, HB8, HB353, HB50, HB78, HB225, SB75, SB209

Keywords: military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, computer science, education reform

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we make in in the judicial branch. that we make in in the judicial branch.
• </c><00:29:40.960><c> to</c> uh somebody in the judicial branch to uh somebody in the judicial branch
• And so if we are to be advocates for the judicial branch, the judicial branch has to come and tell us
• </c> branch be published in newspapers. branch be published in newspapers.
• While there may be judicial branch.

Bills: HF3874, HF3875, HF3378

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch, judiciary, court notices, restitution, child protection, publication process, human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Bills: AB534, AB562, AB595, AB597, AB600, SB74, SB226, SB422, SB488

Keywords: election reform, voter accessibility, conditional ballots, voter registration, mechanical voting systems, election audits, voter access grants, provisional ballot, voting technology, AB562, Nevada, Secretary of State, elections, elections management system, HAVA, Help America Vote Act, automatic voter registration, AVR, election technology, state appropriations

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• They have rules prohibiting guns on campus.
• </c><00:18:49.840><c> Would</c> campus if it's a prohibited area?
• Would campus if it's a prohibited area?
• </c> this is related to off-campus this is related to off-campus employment.<01:44:45.840><c> Um</c><
• Our schools do struggle to find off-campus employment.

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• And someone in the executive branch too.
• </c><00:15:27.760><c> I</c> that might want to come on campus. I that might want to come on campus.
• </c> that wants to have an event on campus. that wants to have an event on campus.
• Kate's campus for school. Um, and St. Kate's campus for school.
• So having everyone into the campus area.

Bills: HF4479, HF4368, HF4889

Keywords: higher education, public university, college campus, postsecondary institution, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, town hall, town hall meeting, elected official, legislator, public forum, constituent meeting, campus access, free meeting space, parking fees, civic engagement, public outreach, chapter 135A, HF4368, Minnesota State

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:28.239><c> Um,</c> branch salary schedule adjustments.
• Um, branch salary schedule adjustments.
• And then second, we had executive branch salary schedule adjustment there.
• Great information that the executive branch is supplying us with.
• branch is supplying<01:19:41.679><c> us</c><01:19:41.840><c> with.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 State Health Insurance Plans 00:00:03 Executive Branch Salary Schedule Adjustments 00:29:15 Nutrition Program for the Elderly 00:34:52 Update on DORIS 01:05:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on November 5, 2025, and first approved the minutes after a moment of silence for the UPS airport tragedy. The main presentation was from the Personnel Cabinet on the state health insurance plans and executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Officials said the health plan covers roughly 265,000 active members and up to about 300,000 across all benefit offerings, including school board employees, retirees, and other eligible groups. They described rising claims and expenditures, especially from high-cost claimants and pharmacy spending, and said recent premium and benefit changes were intended to balance costs while preserving recruitment and retention efforts. They also explained that employee premiums had not increased for several years, while employer contributions rose sharply in recent years, and projected a 10% employer increase and 3% employee increase going forward based on actuarial analysis. Committee members asked about deductibles, GLP-1 drug costs, claims validation, and the causes of cost growth; officials said the plan uses multiple payment-integrity vendors and that the increases reflect utilization, drug trends, and high-cost cases rather than a change in coverage. The committee also discussed executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Personnel and budget officials explained that when the legislature approves annual pay increases, the salary schedule is adjusted by the same percentage through executive order so the minimum and midpoint stay aligned with approved compensation levels. They said the 2025 adjustment was a 3% match effective September 16 and that the change was costless because salaries had already been increased. Members raised concerns about salary compression, noting that new hires can sometimes be paid near the level of long-serving employees. Officials said the adjustment helps prevent compression from worsening but does not solve it, and they acknowledged prior RFP efforts to address the issue were unsuccessful because no qualified bidder met the requirements. After the health plan and salary discussions, the committee began a presentation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Kentucky’s senior meal program. Secretary Stack explained that the program is a federal-state-local partnership under the Older Americans Act, with area development districts helping deliver services. He outlined eligibility rules, noting that congregate meals at senior centers are available to people age 60 and older, with a spouse of any age allowed to join, and that home-delivered meals have additional homebound and assistance requirements. Members asked whether there was any means test for congregate meals, and the secretary said there is not; the only threshold is age for the center-based meals, while the home-delivered program has additional criteria.

Bills: SB292, HB351, HB141, HB273, SB292, HB351, HB141, HB273

Keywords: education oversight, subpoena authority, investigation, State Superintendent, school misconduct, ad valorem tax, road funding, local government, referendum, Choctaw County, HB141, Alabama, state employees, salary deductions, payroll deduction, State Comptroller, membership dues, voluntary contributions, insurance premiums, financial instruments

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill basically establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Act and the process by which any... the Campus
• awareness of the fact that there are hungry students... the fact that there are hungry students on campus
• and food insecurity on campus, but also to actually provide benefits to those students.
• The big thing is in order for them to have a food bank maybe on campus... have a food bank maybe on campus
• So, to be eligible for designation as a hunger-free campus, a public or private institution of higher

Bills: HB46, HB379, SB22, HB487, HB273, HB525

Keywords: rural physician, tax credit, healthcare access, physician recruitment, Alabama, HB379, Alabama income tax, nonresident exemption, remote workers, traveling employees, mobile workforce, withholding tax, state tax reciprocity, multistate employees, temporary work, work location tracking, time and attendance system, remote work taxation, professional athlete, professional entertainer

Bills: HF4148

Keywords: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources, 1183, house

Bills: SB1477, SB1480, SB1593, SB1633, SB1670, SB1725, SB1726, SB1735, SB1632

Keywords: education, concurrent enrollment, students, age restrictions, academic access, apprenticeship, career education, youth programs, employment, technology centers, SB1593, OSU Tulsa, Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Board of Trustees, higher education, university governance, A&M Board, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, presidential search, board rules

Bills: SB1477, SB1480, SB1593, SB1633, SB1670, SB1725, SB1726, SB1735, SB1632

Keywords: education, concurrent enrollment, students, age restrictions, academic access, apprenticeship, career education, youth programs, employment, technology centers, SB1593, OSU Tulsa, Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Board of Trustees, higher education, university governance, A&M Board, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, presidential search, board rules

Summary: The Postsecondary Education Committee considered a series of higher education and career-tech bills, with members asking mostly clarifying questions about eligibility, implementation, and alignment with existing law. House Bill 1477, requested by the State Regents, would limit concurrent enrollment to students age 21 or under; it passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1593 updated language on the Oklahoma State University Board of Trustees to reflect current practice and passed 6-0. Senate Bill 1725 addressed expressive activities on public campuses by allowing security fees for students or student groups, but not based on the content of expression, and also directed free speech training through the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee; it passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1670, a State Chamber priority bill, aimed to strengthen startup ecosystems, venture capital, and industry-embedded research to help move university research into private-sector jobs, and it passed 9-0. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1726, which would establish a baseline training course for graduate student instructors at colleges and universities. Supporters said it would standardize instruction across institutions and help ensure a consistent level of preparation for graduate instructors teaching undergraduates; it passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1633 would align Oklahoma statute with federal law following a consent judgment regarding tuition eligibility for individuals not lawfully present in the United States; members discussed how “lawfully present” would apply to DACA recipients and others with federal immigration status, and the bill passed 6-3. Senate Bill 1735, a cleanup measure shifting certain oversight of technology center career tech schools more directly under the State Board of Career and Technology Education, passed 9-0. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 1480, a pilot program for paid apprenticeships for 16-year-old students within career tech settings, despite questions about why a pilot was needed when career techs were already prepared to do similar work; it passed 9-0. Finally, an amendment to Senate Bill 1632 changed “shall” to “may” and allowed the State Board of Regents to use workforce assessments such as WorkKeys to award some entry-level college credit for students who score highly, especially those returning to community college or seeking an associate degree; after discussion about the limits of the credit, the amended measure passed 9-0. The meeting concluded with thanks to members as the committee’s final meeting.