Joint committee adopts a broad slate of bills; SB 3000 drew several dissenting votes

The Senate joint committee on Ways and Means and Judiciary moved a wide slate of measures forward in a decision‑only meeting, adopting committee recommendations on bills spanning licensing, public health, water policy, housing finance and corrections.

Among the measures advanced were: SB 21‑14 (collective bargaining clarifications and grievability language), SB 21‑78 (industrial hemp), SB 26‑01 (procurement penalty adjustments), SB 26‑98 (cruise ship transportation provisions), SB 27‑57 (digital asset charters), SB 29‑48 (insurance fraud provisions), SB 31‑32 (syndromic surveillance reporting for hospitals), SB 31‑33 (preventive services advisory committee), SB 32‑19 (constitutional amendment allowing housing infrastructure growth bonds), and SB 32‑94 (wrongful imprisonment compensation clarifications). For many of these the committee adopted recommendations to pass either unamended or with technical or financing adjustments; committee members frequently noted committee report language would reflect additional points raised in written testimony or agency submissions.

SB 3,000, a bill authorizing the attorney general to bring civil actions to recover certain costs or obtain relief related to the hurricane relief fund, attracted more visible dissent. The transcript records the committee taking the measure up, sponsors proposing removal of a savings clause, and at least one recorded passage. During a later roll call sequence, multiple senators registered "no" votes while others registered "aye." The transcript shows several named roll‑call prompts followed by "no" or "aye" responses; members voiced concerns following the roll call. The committee record does not show a subsequent reversal of the committee action within the recorded segments.

Most items in the session were handled on a recommendation‑adopted basis in a compact, decision‑only format. The committee repeatedly noted that written testimony and agency comments would be reflected in the committee report when appropriate. The meeting closed after a final set of budget‑related and special fund adjustments were adopted with some members recording reservations.

Next steps: Bills advanced by the committee will proceed according to legislative calendar rules; the committee noted reconvening if necessary on Thursday, March 5, at noon in Room 211.