Video & Transcript Research : 'queer studies'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JDC Public Hearing 02-10-2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • ensure that just because somebody's standing up with us, they automatically get labeled as part of the queer
  • of<00:22:09.760> the<00:22:10.080> our<00:22:10.559> the<00:22:10.799> queer
  • get labeled as part of the our the queer get labeled as part of the our the queer community.<00:
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2248 would expand financial disclosure requirements to certain gubernatorial nominees subject to Senate confirmation. The State Ethics Commission supported the measure, saying disclosures should be filed before confirmation so the public and interested parties can review them in advance. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with 22 supporters, no opposition, and one comment. SB 2530 would broaden Hawaii’s campaign contribution ban for state and county contractors to include officers and immediate family members, and would extend the ban to certain grantees and their officers and family members, with specified contract thresholds. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is its own proposal and would align the thresholds with procurement guidelines. Testimony was entirely favorable, with 30 in support, no opposition, and two comments. Members asked about conforming amendments and how the existing prohibition on soliciting contributions applies; CSC said the calendar-day language clarifies current practice and that the solicitation ban already applies to contractors, with the bill extending the same standard to officers and immediate family members. SB 2732 would require courts to consider a defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, including excluding public benefits from income calculations and clarifying the 40-hour affordability benchmark for those above 150% of the federal poverty level. The Office of the Public Defender, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, arguing that unaffordable bail creates wealth-based disparities, contributes to jail overcrowding, and can cause severe collateral consequences for people not yet convicted. There was one opposition testimony and 18 supporters. Committee discussion focused on when the 40-hour period should begin, how income would be verified, and whether misrepresentation could affect bail; the Public Defender said the measure should be read to start from initial appearance and that judges could address false statements through existing remedies. SB 2871 would prohibit discrimination based on perceived characteristics, association with someone who has or is perceived to have protected characteristics, and intersectional combinations of characteristics. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked for clear definitions, while the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said the bill does not add new protected classes and simply codifies the Lamb v. University of Hawaii decision on intersectional discrimination. LGBTQ+, civil rights, ACLU, and other advocacy groups testified in support, with one opposition testimony and a total of 27 in support, two opposed, and one comment. The committee then heard SB 2919, which appropriates funds for one full-time public deputy public defender position. The Public Defender’s Office said the position would provide statewide legal support and a centralized resource on constitutional, appellate, and immigration-related issues; several advocacy groups supported the measure, and committee questions focused on how the new position would complement existing training and keep staff updated on changing law.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill has been sent to study a few times, full well knowing that actually there would be no study
  • If they make sense, there's no reason to study them, no matter if it's the first time before you and
  • In recent years, House and Senate leaders have been great friends to the queer community, supporting
  • You need to study humans.
  • And I see no justification for any such studies in the future. They, what was I going to say here?
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (03/03/2025)

Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • and that was a huge study and more studies<00:46:43.240> like<00:46:43.440> this<00:46:
  • So we'll never see a study of that.
  • But if the study is not done to see how much benefit is derived and a similar study provided, then we
  • Thank you for the question. hasn't been a proper blind study uh or hasn't been a proper blind study uh
  • They're the ones that study this.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 24th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Additionally, studies show that transgender people... experience significantly higher rates of suicide
  • I'm grateful for the queer-led community staples in my own district, such as the Oakland LGBTQ Community
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 24th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Additionally, studies show that transgender people experience significantly higher rates of suicide and
  • I'm grateful for the queer-led community staples in my own district, such as the Oakland LGBTQ Community
  • many of our guiding principles, I think that we're going to be able to stay the course and be able to study
Summary: The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, after a quorum call and prayer, then proceeded through routine floor business and several ceremonial resolutions. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules to withdraw AB 844 from committee and bring it directly to the floor; that motion received 16 ayes and 45 noes. The body also unanimously approved a request to re-refer AB 341. Members then adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding coauthors: ACR 35 recognizing Greek Independence Day, ACR 17 honoring women in carpentry and the BOOTS apprenticeship program, ACR 50 designating March 24, 2025 as Special Olympics Day, and H.R. 21 proclaiming Transgender Week of Visibility and March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility. Each resolution drew supportive remarks from multiple members, while H.R. 21 also prompted extended debate, including opposition centered on girls’ sports, locker rooms, and claims about state policy affecting transgender Californians. In each case, the resolutions were adopted after the coauthor roll and voice vote. The session concluded with adjournment in memory of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr., who died in the line of duty on March 17. Several members spoke in tribute to his service, his work with youth football, and his family. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until Friday, March 28, 2025 at 9 a.m.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Apr 15th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And people along the way have said, hey, stop for this study, stop for that study.
  • And people along the way have said, hey, stop for this study, stop for that study.
  • Teabag has studied sandstone and other agencies across the country have studied limestone.
  • So these courses—introduction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies; a survey of
  • the histories and theories regarding LGBT And queer studies; a survey of the histories and theories regarding
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of H.B. 500, and a gubernatorial nomination for the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including SR 409 recognizing Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, SR 402 honoring the discovery of the woolly devil plant at Big Bend National Park, and recognitions for Operation Christmas RGV and Wilson County Day. The Senate also heard an announcement that the Committee on Senate Nominations action report had been placed on members’ desks. The body then took up and passed several bills. SB 2365 was passed to prohibit personal wireless communication devices by public school students during instructional time, with exceptions for health, special education, and safety needs. SB 1869 was passed to reaffirm the DSHS commissioner’s authority over controlled-substance schedule changes without rulemaking or judicial review. SB 1124 was passed to revise criminal discovery procedures in response to the Heath decision, with supporters saying it preserves exculpatory evidence protections while limiting suppression of inculpatory evidence when the defense already knew of it. SB 1758 was passed to create a Grayson County pilot study and temporary permitting hold concerning a cement kiln/quarry near a semiconductor wafer facility, and SB 2078 was passed to regulate composting in certain counties, after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed SB 33, barring governmental entities from transactions that support abortion assistance or out-of-state abortion procurement; SB 34, expanding wildfire preparedness measures, studies, equipment databases, and rural fire department funding; SB 1208, increasing the penalty for interference with public duties from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony; SB 1030, removing the maintenance, repair, and overhaul tax for general aviation; SB 505, creating processes to address election irregularities; SB 2411, updating the Business Organizations Code and changing filing-method requirements; and SB 1333, addressing unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, or conveyance of real property. Most measures advanced on voice vote or recorded roll call after motions to suspend the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule, with several members raising questions or objections, especially on the criminal justice, abortion, and public duties bills.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 21, 2026 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • THE 2023 STUDY LISTED ON THE WEBSITE REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY STATED IN SUMMARY THESE FINDINGS
  • THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF CENSORED BOOKS IN FLORIDA DEPICT BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR, QUEER
  • ALONE BUT RESTRICTING ACCESS TO MATERIALS THAT ARE LITERARY WORKS OF ART, CLASSICS THAT HAVE BEEN STUDIED
  • WITH PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND AS THE SPONSOR SAID WE KNOW STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THIS BASED ON STUDIES
  • DO YOU KNOW IF IN THE CURRENT STUDY OR WHAT UF HAS DONE BEFORE HAVE THEY LOOKED AT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session, 2/13/2026 #1

Maryland House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • [applause] >> And she says she is watching us queer. just want a second of your time.
  • /c><00:03:22.879> is<00:03:23.200> watching<00:03:23.680> us<00:03:25.040> queer
Summary: The House convened with 125 members present, heard a prayer and opening remarks, and then proceeded through the journal, committee assignments, and several consent calendars. Introductory House Bills 1358 through 1585 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, along with bond initiatives 34 through 37 and Senate Bill 14. House Bill 1215 was later reassigned to Appropriations. The House also recorded quorum calls showing 129 and later 131 members present. On third reading and final passage, House Bill 28, concerning higher education and private career schools advertising, passed 128-0. House Bill 226, establishing Department of Disabilities housing programs and affiliated foundations, passed 122-6. House Bill 229, increasing the Maryland Transportation Authority revenue bond limit, passed 96-33. No debate was recorded on these bills before the roll calls. The remainder of the session consisted largely of committee, subcommittee, delegation, caucus, and personal announcements. Committees announced upcoming voting sessions or cancellations, including Appropriations, Economic Matters, Environment and Transportation, Health, Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Rules. Members also made numerous recognitions and invitations, including a briefing on the Patuxent River sewer interceptor breakage, district nights, a Tourism Day lunch, and several birthday and family announcements. The protocol chair led a Valentine’s Day recognition of House staff, and the House then recessed until Monday, February 16 at 8:00 p.m.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-11 (4:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You referenced an NIH study. In that study, were they talking... Mr.
  • Speaker, you referenced an NIH study.
  • So again, in that study, the 2023 study, it specifically says regarding...
  • So again, in that study, the 2023 study, it specifically says regarding the effects of pornography.
  • And the study that continuously keeps being referred to, I pulled it up.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, moments of silence for former member Terry Fields and the Parkland victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests and visitors. The chamber then adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report setting the day’s calendar and debate times. The main measure taken up was HB 1119, relating to materials harmful to minors in public schools and charter schools, which the sponsor described as a clarification of existing law to keep pornographic or sexually explicit material away from minors and to give districts clearer standards for review and objection processes. The bill drew extensive debate over constitutional concerns, local control, litigation risk, and the scope of the definition of “harmful to minors.” Members supporting the bill argued it was needed to close loopholes and protect children, while opponents warned it could lead to overbroad book removals, conflict with federal court rulings, and costly lawsuits. A series of amendments sought to narrow or redirect the bill: proposals by Gant, Aristide, Bartleman, Eskamani, Nixon, Rainer, Woodson, and Harris would have preserved literary value review, protected educational and abuse-prevention materials, exempted LGBTQ-inclusive books, limited objections, preserved funding for districts, or delayed enforcement during ongoing litigation. Supporters of the amendments framed them as protecting parental choice, academic value, student safety, and district finances; opponents said they would weaken the bill’s child-protection purpose. All of the amendments failed. After the amendment process, the House waived rules, read HB 1119 a third time by title, and entered structured debate on final passage. Debate continued along the same lines, with opponents emphasizing book removals, First Amendment concerns, and the impact on students and schools, and supporters reiterating that the bill was intended to prevent minors from accessing obscene material. The transcript provided ends during structured debate and does not include the final vote on HB 1119.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • SENATOR, WHAT DATA OR WHAT STUDIES ARE EXAMPLES DO HAVE THAT SUPPORT THE PAIN BELOW MINIMUM WAGE AND
  • YOU WILL CONSENT OF THE BILL ON THE SPONSOR ADMITTED HE DID THAT YOU STUDIES OR DATA BUT FELT IT OUT
  • I;M A QUEER LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND STILL A SERIOUS NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR
  • PLEASE GO BACK TO SCHOOL, PLEASE STUDY YOUR HISTORY. >> NR HEINZ. WE HAVE AMY ADAMS. I'M SORRY.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
NY

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York State Senate Session - 05/13/2026

New York Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Member Simone, an act to authorize and direct the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to conduct a study
  • BUT YET, AN ONLINE RETAILER WOULD NOT REALLY CONSTRAINED BY THIS BECAUSE QUEER NOT ADDRESSING THE ALGORITHM
Keywords: 993, senate, all
Summary: The Senate opened with routine business, approved the prior journal, and received several motions to discharge identical Assembly bills from committee and substitute corresponding Senate bills. Members also offered brief recognitions for visitors, including Yemeni American community advocates and Cheri Davis, who was honored for her Alzheimer’s advocacy and support work. The chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Period Poverty Awareness Week, and Nurses Week, with senators speaking in support of each measure’s purpose and importance. The body then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing a wide range of measures on education, public health, correction law, environmental conservation, municipal law, agriculture, and consumer protection. Notable floor discussion included Senator Ramos explaining her support for a bill requiring salons and similar businesses to display multilingual domestic violence resource information, and Senator Gianaris and Senator Borrello debating a bill to prohibit electronic shelf labeling in stores over concerns about surveillance, dynamic pricing, and impacts on brick-and-mortar retailers. Senator May and Senator Skoufis also spoke on an environmental conservation bill concerning American eel management, with May supporting the species protections and Skoufis objecting to the bill’s structure. Most bills were adopted by wide margins, though several drew recorded negative votes. The Senate passed the domestic violence information bill, the electronic shelf-labeling bill, and multiple other measures, including bills on eviction notice procedures, surrogate court procedure, and environmental conservation. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until the next day at 11:00 a.m.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Bogus panics over immigration and queer people scare Americans into believing that their adversaries
  • This is a new dedicated account that will be guided by subject matter experts who will study the impact
Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Dynamic weekly worship services, Bible study classes, weekly prayer call, Sunday school, and programs
  • He holds master's and doctoral degrees in divinity studies.
  • Dynamic weekly worship services,<00:08:53.200> Bible<00:08:53.519> study<00:08:53.920><
  • c> classes,<00:08:54.720> weekly services, Bible study classes, weekly services, Bible study
  • doctoral degrees in divinity studies. doctoral degrees in divinity studies.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (02/02/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have not consulted the Department in regard to that study.
  • education regarding that study? education regarding that study?
  • I have worked in regard to that study.
  • I studied in Germany.'
  • I studied in Germany." I studied in Germany."
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:
  • Without algorithmic feeds, you can imagine a situation in which a kid, say a queer kid at school, is
  • Say a queer kid at school is bullied all day, comes home, seeks some refuge, some community on social
  • I'm not our actuary, but there was a MassINC study that kind of looked into this.
  • The MassINC study was looking at numbers of approximately $1,000 per unit to wire these buildings for
  • I did link a study in my testimony that addresses the impacts of costs for your reference.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Health and Human Services Mar 5th, 2025

House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is a roundtable of roughly 71 statewide organizations that center, serve, or work with queer and trans
  • Thank you very much for your answer and for always keeping the community in mind and sharing your own studies
  • They have that are studying behavioral health and/or addiction counseling.
  • Research over the last year overwhelmingly indicates that these folks are studying behavioral health
  • I have a study that is under review right now, but basically, one-third of the patients surveyed said
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2183, Emergency Medicine Study Committee, establishes an emergency
  • study committee with the state legislature.
  • Madam Chair, members, Houseville 2183 Emergency Medicine Study Committee establishes an emergency study
  • of gasoline blends identified by... ...Services Division to conduct a feasibility study of gasoline
  • It requires the ACA to collaborate with members of the oil and gas industry to study outlined topics
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Commerce and Economic Development Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:14 pm

House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, we have independent study figures here that say it's going to cost the state north of $9 to $14
  • and minority New Mexicans, who are at most at risk. ...hurt queer and minority New Mexicans, who are
  • We studied with a team of independent academics.
  • We studied roughly 10,000 ATF trafficking cases that were initiated between Independent academics, we
  • studied roughly 10,000 ATF trafficking cases that were initiated between 2017 and 2021 nationally.
Bills: SB48, HB250, SB17
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • And and you can study this all this.
  • And and you can study this all across<00:58:19.839> the<00:58:20.000> world<00:58:20.240
  • friends of mine from Bible studies friends of mine from Bible studies from<03:05:17.040> decades
  • Queer people deserve to live openly and safely in Black and Brown and Indigenous communities.
  • Queer<04:00:18.239> people<04:00:18.560> deserve<04:00:18.960> to<04:00:19.199><
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The House took up a motion to suspend the rules so House File 5140 could be recalled from committee, given second and third readings, and placed on passage. Representative Long and Representative Greenman argued the bill was an urgent, comprehensive gun violence prevention package that had already passed the Senate and should be acted on immediately in response to recent shootings, including Annunciation School, Burnsville, and Accent Signage. They said families, students, survivors, doctors, and community members had been pressing legislators to act, and Greenman described the bill as including mental health, intervention, anonymous threat reporting, bans on weapons of war, ghost guns, and binary triggers. Representative Heintzeman opposed the urgency motion and focused on specific bill language, arguing that parts of the proposal were unclear or overly broad. He questioned whether the language on protruding grips would effectively ban all handguns, whether the penalties section could turn lawful gun owners into felons for possessing multiple noncompliant items, and whether the firearms assembly language could criminalize routine cleaning and reassembly of guns. He said these issues should have been addressed in committee and argued members needed clearer answers before voting on urgency. Greenman responded that the language was intended to target additional protruding grips, not ordinary handgun grips, and said she was willing to adopt an amendment to clarify that point. On the penalties and assembly questions, she said the bill was aimed at certifying existing weapons, banning ghost guns, and preventing harm, and repeatedly urged members to vote for the urgency motion so the full bill could be considered. The exchange remained focused on the motion to suspend the rules and on the substance of the gun violence prevention package; no final vote or other action is shown in the transcript excerpt.