Transcript Highlights:

• So I have a sample form here that I'm going to hand out. So you can look at it with me.
• not There's handwashing facilities available after students go to recess, and there's a from 2016 sampling

Bills: HB367, HB497, HB549, HB983, HB 1188, HB 1290, HB1368, HB2243, HB2310, HB2849, HB3099, HB3546, HB3629, HB3627

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the ballot question would either say reduced or the ballot question would say increase, right?
• And so the ballot question would either say reduced or the ballot question would say increase, right?
• And so the ballot question would either say reduced or the ballot question would say increase, right?
• This makes it judge so each individual judge can carry one ballot from outside the polling location and

Bills: HF4319, HF3295, HF3589, HF3587, HF3588, HF4295, HF3571, HF3895

Keywords: public utilities commission, Lake City, port authority, Red Wing, terms of appointment, local government, elections, open meeting law, transparency, public engagement, social media, government accountability, voter access, polling place, ballot, unexpected needs, election judge, public information, political parties, HF4295

Transcript Highlights:

• ASSAULT OF REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ARE GOING TO BE MAD AND NOT GOING TO BE FORGETTING WHEN THEY GO TO THE BALLOT
• I told the people of Ohio's 13th District, it may be my name on the ballot, but we are all going to Congress
• I told the people of Ohio's 13th District, it may be my name on the ballot, but we are all going to Congress
• DISTRICT, IT MAY BE MY NAME ON THE BALLOT BUT WE ARE ALL GOING TO CONGRESS TOGETHER.
• Neal: I remind the gentlelady the SALT deduction we offered in our tax bill on a secret ballot would

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 98 members present. Chair sees a quorum.

Summary: The Arkansas House Caucus met for the sole purpose of considering House Caucus Resolution 1001, which would authorize access to and use of the House chamber for the 2026 meeting of the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute. After confirming a quorum and granting leave for Representative Stephen Meeks, the resolution was read and Representative Vaught explained that it was intended to keep the chamber-use process consistent with prior practice, including arrangements previously made for Girls State. No one spoke against the resolution, and it passed by voice vote. After the vote, members made several announcements. Representative Gazaway said state agencies would meet 15 minutes after adjournment in Big Mac Room B. Representative Hudson reminded members about the May 21 Serving Up Solutions event and asked those who had not returned their cards to do so. Representative Vaught announced that desks should be cleared and locked because Girls State, Arkansas Civic Leadership, and Boy State would be on the floor in two weeks, and asked interested members to contact Malicia to participate in the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute. Representative Eubanks added that, although ALC would not be held during the Serving Up Solutions week, Senator Irvin had scheduled a public health meeting. With no further business, the caucus adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 98 members present. Chair sees a quorum.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 98 members present. Chair sees a quorum.

Summary: The Arkansas House Caucus met for the sole purpose of considering House Caucus Resolution 1001, which authorizes access to and use of the House chamber for the 2026 meeting of the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute. A quorum was established, leave was granted for Representative Stephen Meeks, and the resolution was read three times. Representative Vaught explained that the resolution was intended to keep the chamber-use process consistent with prior practice, noting that Girls State had previously been approved but needed a mechanism to access the floor. No one spoke against the resolution, and it passed by voice vote. After passage, members made several announcements, including that state agencies would meet 15 minutes after adjournment in Big Mac Room B, that Serving Up Solutions would take place on May 21, and that members should clear and lock their desks because Girl State, Arkansas Civic Leadership, and Boy State would be on the floor in two weeks. Representative Vaught also asked members interested in participating in the Arkansas Civic Leadership Institute to contact Malicia so they could be added to the list. Representative Eubanks noted a public health meeting scheduled by Senator Irvin during the week of Serving Up Solutions. The caucus then adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• impede, hinder, or interfere with the peaceful conduct of the election or reading and counting of ballots
• of Elections Office or any meeting of the Board of Canvass when an election is occurring or when ballots

Summary: The Senate received House communications listing numerous House-passed bills, substitutes, amendments, and concurrent resolutions, and then took up committee reports and a consent calendar. Consent Calendar 65 passed unanimously with 20 yes votes and included Senate Resolution 26 recognizing Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, House Concurrent Resolution 131 on apprenticeship programs for school-based mental health professionals, House Concurrent Resolution 137 on mathematics instruction review, and House Concurrent Resolution 148 on a statewide menopause education strategy. Later, Consent Agenda N also passed with the required two-thirds vote and included a large group of bills on evidence and witnesses, Family Court jurisdiction, theft by impersonation, realty transfer tax, auto insurance practices, child services and educational services, STD prevention, agricultural and forestry matters, menstrual disorder materials, a Smyrna charter change, massage/body work, dry needling, and lead poisoning screening. Several substantive bills were debated and passed. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 314, modernizing Delaware’s rape shield law and clarifying how courts handle evidence of prior false sexual assault allegations, passed 21-0. Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill to the Medical Debt Protection Act that expands prohibited collection actions and requires disclosure when a collector is a large health care facility, also passed 21-0. House Bill 300, creating a statewide Title IX coordinator in the Department of Education to support compliance and data collection for interscholastic athletics, passed after debate; Senate Amendment 1 to the bill, which would have required athletes to compete according to biological sex, was defeated 6-14 with one absent, and the underlying bill then passed 20-0 with one absent. The Senate also passed House Substitute 1 for House Bill 84, which limits mandatory employee attendance at meetings where employers convey political or religious views, after questions about employer, union, and exemption coverage; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 301, which clarifies criminal penalties for violence, threats, and intimidation at polling places and election-related sites, passed after discussion of what conduct it would cover; House Bill 63, addressing fireworks disclosures and related regulation, passed 19-2 after senators discussed enforcement and impacts on veterans, children, and pets; and House Bill 348, updating the electric vehicle rebate program to give DENREC more flexibility and expand eligibility, passed 16-5. The chamber then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Ballot, there's three people here to speak on it? I just asked them.
• Representative Ballot, there's three people here to speak on it? I just asked them.

Bills: HB2424, HB2608, HB2775, HB2805, HB2908

Keywords: Arizona political parties, precinct committeeman, precinct committeemen, proxy voting, party bylaws, county committee, state committee, qualified elector, election administration, political party rules, precinct representation, adjoining precinct, county party meeting, proxy attestation, notary public, witnesses, transitional housing, military veterans, grant program, housing services

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2908, which would impose criminal penalties on faithless Arizona Article V convention delegates, require delegates to take an oath, and direct the legislature and governor to ratify any approved amendment through the normal legislative process. The sponsor argued the bill adds guardrails to any future convention, while Common Cause Arizona opposed it as ineffective and insufficient to prevent a runaway convention. After debate about whether the bill could meaningfully constrain delegates, the committee voted 5-2 to return HB 2908 with a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2608, a veterans housing measure creating a military transitional housing grant program at the Arizona Department of Housing with a $7 million General Fund appropriation in FY 2027 and changes to the military transitional housing fund. Testimony focused on revisions to the bill, including limiting use of funds to new construction and requiring veteran-led or veteran-managed organizations. Several members said the bill was too similar to prior versions and had not gone through the Veterans Caucus process. On a motion to table, the committee voted to lay HB 2608 on the table. After a recess, the committee took up HB 2805, as amended, which creates a secure online portal for nomination petition signatures for local governing board candidates and related election administration changes. The sponsor said the bill was intended to give school board candidates and other local candidates equal access to the state’s electronic signature system, while members debated whether requiring candidates to declare party affiliation would undermine nonpartisan races. The Gillette amendment was adopted, and the committee then voted 5-2 to return HB 2805 as amended with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard HB 2775, which would bar the state and its subdivisions from using state assets or money to implement or enforce rules, taxes, or policies of international organizations, and would add restrictions on Arizona public universities’ dealings with certain foreign entities. Members discussed a proposed amendment to create oversight of foreign funding at Arizona State University and the Board of Regents, but raised concerns about rulemaking authority and constitutional issues. The committee ultimately voted to hold HB 2775 for further work, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's recorded on the ballot, so we often request or receive requests from inmates.
• For a copy of the ballot, which will say next to each board member's name why they voted no, alternatively

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1188, Ortega, ballot and petition disclosures: holding committee.
• AB 699, Stephanie, Local Ballot Measures: do pass on a B roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• guarantees of the Gann limit, and something that we would likely oppose vigorously should it be on the ballot
• Thank you. ...and something that we would likely oppose vigorously should it be on the ballot.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• last election there may have been issues with how people were talking about issues that are on the ballot
• last election there may have been issues with how people were talking about issues that are on the ballot

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken. The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• community organizers, et cetera, to ask them to work on fighting against amendments that were on the ballot
• In this case, the ballot must inform voters of the intent to bond the revenues and explain what the bond

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislators, I believe your state government will be forced to provide rate stabilization at the ballot
• legislators, I believe your state government will be forced to provide rate stabilization at the ballot

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met under suspense-file procedures, with the chair explaining limits on testimony, position letters, and that bills with fiscal impacts of $150,000 or more would generally be sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. Several bills were pulled from hearing, and a consent calendar of committee bills later passed 4-0. AB 761 by Addis, the only item initially slated for a vote, was ultimately held over to the next hearing. The committee heard testimony on a series of tax-related proposals. AB 232 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax money for wildfire, flood, or earthquake-related expenses; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, but was sent to suspense. AB 1443 would exempt tips from state income tax for five years and was supported by the California Restaurant Association and a restaurant owner, but also went to suspense. AB 1435 would provide relief to businesses and property owners facing cleanup and security costs from unauthorized encampments and illegal dumping; it received broad support from business, real estate, trucking, retail, and local government representatives, and was referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 1428, which would create a California Affordable Child Care Fund financed by a 0.5% tax on income above $10 million; child care workers and SEIU-backed witnesses supported it, while taxpayer and business groups opposed it as harmful to competitiveness and affordability. AB 691 proposed a tax credit for adopting shelter pets and covering veterinary costs, AB 1219 proposed a middle- and low-income personal income tax cut, AB 1354 proposed a credit for increased homeowners insurance premiums, AB 19 proposed an education savings account/voucher-style program, and AB 567 proposed insurance rate stabilization and related tax/fund changes; each drew testimony for and against where present, but all were referred to suspense. The meeting ended with the committee adjourning after the held-over AB 761 item was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• that a majority of them would have to be president the that the election would have to be or the balloting
• enrolled in the school provided that the majority of the parents eligible to vote participate in the ballot

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I believe all of the ballots are on Friday, and I believe there are four of them: Livestock

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're generally seeing here, obviously it's a small sample size, but the general observation is
• back to your watershed basin boards then, if you're going to do a project then, do you put it on the ballot

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're generally seeing here, obviously, it's a small sample size, but the general observation is
• getting back to your watershed basin boards then, if you're going to do a project, do you put it on the ballot

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting. Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made. In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jaramillo's redistricting bill or resolution to make it a constitutional resolution to get it on the ballot
• And they are responsible for taking samples of the communities across the country.

Transcript Highlights:

• was referred House Bill 557, an act relative to the information that appears on the school budget ballot
• The bill would require school budget ballots to display information pertaining to the average cost per
• Instead of rigging ballots, we should be setting our cities and towns the support they constitutionally
• Election Law and Municipal Affairs, to which was referred House Bill 217, an act relative to absentee ballots
• They set up ventilators, draw arterial blood gas samples, and a wide variety of other really important

Keywords: 1191, senate, all