Transcript Highlights:

• This is referring to a bill that replaces the state restriction on tip pooling with the federal Fair
• <01:09:46.200> the<01:09:46.319> state >> a bill that replaces the state >
• > a bill that replaces the state restriction<01:09:47.560> on<01:09:47.799> tip<01:09
• Representative Cahill: Uh, I wish we had the money so we could fix the men's prison.
• . prison. prison.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know that state and local corrections officers are armed with tasers within prisons and jails
• officers are armed with<00:24:42.400> tasers<00:24:42.880> within<00:24:43.360> prisons
• <00:24:44.159> and<00:24:44.559> jails with tasers within prisons and jails with tasers
• within prisons and jails across<00:24:45.520> the<00:24:45.840> country.
• the handful of common sense replacing the handful of common sense Democrats<02:47:50.560> who

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amendment that replaces an underlying bill that will have a chilling effect on girls' athletics
• and replaces it instead with a policy that works.
• You want to get health care, you want to get a passport, you want to live in a prison in which you are
• You have invented a threat, and you have... a passport you want to live in a prison a passport you want
• to live in a prison in<01:35:00.960> which<01:35:01.199> you<01:35:01.480> are<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• thought about is the federal contempt of Congress penalty, which is up to $100,000 or one year in prison
• , 12 months in prison. few hundred dollars uh really at the end few hundred dollars uh really at the
• , 12 months in prison.
• We're asking for a $1,000 fine, but we're asking for a year in prison, which is very much exactly what
• is very, which is exactly prison, which is very, which is exactly what<01:18:32.719> the<01:18

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax raising, job-killing policies like defunding the police, shuttering prisons, massive unfunded spending
• bringing up all these facts because Madame Waters knew that the Cuban jails were full of political prisoners
• They have seen the jails full of Cuban prisoners." "Seen the jails full of Cuban prisoners.
• trying to locate their loved ones who have been hauled away to detention centers, for-profit makeshift prisons
• Prisons where women are denied cancer treatment and endure miscarriages while their screams are ignored

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

Transcript Highlights:

• personal empowerment, emotional intelligence that we do, and started teaching that class in the same prison
• employment opportunities for youth and adults by keeping them out of the juvenile justice systems and prison
• Justice keeping them out of the Juvenile Justice systems<01:11:02.800> and<01:11:03.000> prison
• systems<01:11:04.080> and<01:11:04.280> also<01:11:04.600> off systems and prison
• systems and also off systems and prison systems and also off the<01:11:04.960> streets<01:11:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think anything we can do to replace that, whether it's through T-Cup or whether it's through
• Will Texas start opening prisons for senior citizens and people with disabilities to help combat this
• And it is essentially the best way to think about it is a natural replacement for a melatonin gummy.
• T-Cup cannot replace the hemp market.
• He ended up going to prison for marijuana shortly later on, and he got out.

Summary: The House Committee on Public Health heard House Bill 5, a proposal to ban THC products outside the Texas Compassionate Use Program while allowing non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products under tighter regulation. Chair Van Deaver gave a lengthy background on the 2018 federal Farm Bill and Texas’s 2019 hemp law, arguing that the lack of guardrails allowed a large, unregulated THC market to develop. HB 5 would impose licensing fees, product registration, testing and inspection requirements, and restrictions intended to keep products away from children. Invited witnesses from law enforcement strongly supported the bill. Steve Dye of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Brian Hawthorne of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas argued that THC consumables are widely mislabeled, often far more potent than advertised, and linked to youth access, impaired driving, and organized crime. Both said regulation would be ineffective and would amount to legalization, while a ban would be easier for officers to enforce. They also emphasized support for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and said medical THC should remain available. Dr. Peter Stout of the Texas Association of Crime Lab Directors and Alice Amelot of Texas DPS testified as resource witnesses about forensic testing. They said current lab resources are already stretched thin, that quantitative testing for THC and related cannabinoids is expensive and time-consuming, and that a ban would simplify enforcement because labs could focus on presence/absence testing rather than concentration. Amelot said DPS labs are neutral on the bill but explained that mislabeled products and inaccurate certificates of analysis are common. Committee members asked about traffic safety, impairment, youth use, and the costs of enforcement and lab testing; witnesses repeatedly said the bill would reduce complexity for law enforcement but that any approach would still require more resources for labs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it'll go a long way to protecting those individuals who are willing to work in our prisons under
• I think it'll go a long way to protecting those individuals who are willing to work in our prisons under
• Excuse me, DNA evidence is advancing and is quickly replacing basically the fingerprint.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Louisiana program is literally the only school voucher program. that was ever repealed and replaced
• Even worse, many end up in the school to prison. pipeline because of the social-emotional damage they
• published report by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and UTMB indicates 48 percent of the prison

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• missions into North Vietnam, that live here in Minnesota, that served many years in North Vietnamese prison
• missions into North Vietnam, that live here in Minnesota, that served many years in North Vietnamese prison
• 17.279> Vietnamese served many years in North Vietnamese served many years in North Vietnamese prison
• prison camps. prison camps. those<00:27:20.559> uh<00:27:21.440> those those uh those

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't—there are also stories of little old ladies that were put in prison for months and months, awaiting
• Most pardons happen after someone has been sentenced, convicted, and served many years of a prison term
• sentenced convicted and served many years<00:27:52.720> of<00:27:52.840> a<00:27:53.000> prison
• term<00:27:54.320> or<00:27:54.679> have<00:27:54.840> already years of a prison
• term or have already years of a prison term or have already served<00:27:55.360> and<00:27:55.519

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal immigration officials would prefer to arrest criminal illegal immigrants from state prisons and
• Minnesota law enforcement, counties, jails, and prisons have always complied with the state law that
• <00:08:24.000> and enforcement, counties, jails, and enforcement, counties, jails, and prisons
• have always complied with the prisons have always complied with the state<00:08:27.440> law<00
• A concentration camp is a facility where large numbers of people, often political prisoners or members

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The hearing of the Minnesota Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability focused on federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, especially ICE and CBP operations, and their alleged constitutional and civil-rights impacts. Opening remarks from both parties emphasized the need for calm, cooperation, and public safety, though they sharply differed on the causes of the current situation. Republican members argued that violent criminal undocumented immigrants should be removed and that state and local officials should cooperate with federal authorities. Senator McEwen and other Democrats described the federal presence as abusive and terrorizing, citing deaths, family separations, and community fear, and called for accountability and truth-telling. The chair also held a moment of silence for Renee Mlin Good and Alex Prey before testimony began. Testimony from the ACLU of Minnesota and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota described what they said was a large-scale federal enforcement operation, including Operation Metro Surge, with widespread alleged violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Tenth, and other constitutional amendments. Witnesses cited alleged racial profiling, warrantless arrests, excessive force, denial of counsel, detention out of state, and failure to comply with court orders. They referenced specific cases involving Susan Tinure, Abdi Khadir Nure, Victor Manuel Diaz, and others, as well as reports of journalists and community members being threatened or detained while documenting ICE activity. The witnesses also said the federal government’s lack of transparency makes it difficult to know how many people have been detained or deported and argued that the harm extends to both immigrants and citizens. Committee members asked questions about ICE entering homes without judicial warrants, federal claims about constitutional limits, and access to counsel for detainees moved out of state. The witnesses said that out-of-state detention, poor locator systems, paid phone access, and lack of privacy make legal representation difficult or impossible, and that civil-rights remedies often come too late because people are removed before cases are resolved. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the committee moved from opening statements into testimony and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The truth is people like Justin are hard to replace, not because of the work they do, but because of
• I don't think you're replaceable.
• The 26-year-old is now serving a life prison sentence plus 60 years behind bars.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, opened with a moment of silence for Ted Williams, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then accepted the previous day’s minutes and moved into a series of recognitions, beginning with House Resolution 27 designating June 24, 2026 as Staff Appreciation Day. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber spent much of the meeting honoring legislative staff across both caucuses, with members and staff introducing themselves and being recognized for years of service and behind-the-scenes work. The House also recognized staff member Justin, who is leaving for a position with the Delaware State Board of Education, and later gave farewell remarks for Representative Kevin Hensley and Representative Charles Postles, both of whom are retiring. Numerous members spoke in tribute to their service, constituent work, and personal character, and both Hensley and Postles offered remarks thanking colleagues, staff, and family. The House then received communications from the Senate, including several bills and resolutions passed and returned, and a notice of Senate concurrence on other measures. Representative Wilson-Anton made a brief statement explaining her vote on Senate Bill 100 and reaffirming support for marriage equality and related civil rights issues. The chamber also took up Senate Joint Resolution 16 and Senate Joint Resolution 17, which set the official revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; both were read, called to roll, and passed by constitutional majority votes of 37-4 and 40-1, respectively. Finally, the House considered Senate Bill 335, the operating budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Representative Williams presented the budget on behalf of the Joint Finance Committee, describing major funding items including raises for state and education employees, health insurance and retiree benefit funding, developmental disability services, Medicaid growth, purchase of care, and maintenance of reserve funds. Several members praised the committee’s work, while Representative Shupe said he would vote no, citing concerns about the budget’s 6.3% growth despite appreciating the committee’s effort. After the budget presentation and comments, Leader Harris moved that the House recess for party caucuses, and the House stood in recess until the call of the bell.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please replace the fear and hate with love—for Texas, the people of Texas, and yourself.
• The Supreme Court has said that redistricting mid-decade to replace a court-ordered map is allowed, but
• But when Castro opened the prisons in 1980, we had an estimated 10,000 hardcore criminals that came across

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill unfortunately replaced trust with suspicion, access with red tape, and democracy with deterrence
• have committed a third-degree felony, where their voting rights will be revoked and they may go to prison
• It replaces school supervision hours with a fixed window that is current law, dealing with 30 minutes

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill unfortunately replaced trust with suspicion, access with red tape, and democracy with deterrence
• have committed a third-degree felony, where their voting rights will be revoked and they may go to prison
• It replaces school supervision hours with a fixed window that is current law, dealing with 30 minutes

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This replaces the Department of Labor Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as
• Health to establish a plant-based-by-default program for food and drinks offered at state-operated prisons
• We'll also be replacing the reference to the University of Hawaiʻi with participating institutions.
• We'll also be replacing the reference to the University of Hawaiʻi with participating institutions.
• <01:26:08.400> the appropriate we'll also be replacing the appropriate we'll also be replacing

Bills: SB2198, SB2140, SB3055, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2761

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we worried about the prisoner? The detainee?
• The detainee or are we the prisoner?
• Do you have a prisoner in there that's detained and shackled?
• Do<00:20:38.800> you<00:20:38.920> have<00:20:39.120> a<00:20:39.160> prisoner
• in there that's Do you have a prisoner in there that's detained<00:20:40.880> and<00:20:41.040

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, March 21, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 126 members present, heard the prayer, approved the previous day’s journal, and then took up a series of Senate messages and committee reports. Senate bills on consent calendars 21 and 22 were read the first time and referred to committees. The House then adopted favorable reports, often without amendment, on a wide range of bills including workers’ compensation evaluation procedures (HB 1325), a state shark designation (HB 97), several local alcoholic beverages measures, commemorative months for Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage (HB 661), and local license commissioner changes in Anne Arundel, Worcester, Harford, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s counties. Several bills were amended before being ordered printed for third reading. HB 121 (Baltimore County alcohol sales) was amended to change the sponsor to the Baltimore County delegation. HB 1335 on Department of Information Technology workforce recruitment and retention was amended to convert the measure into a study and recommendations report. HB 1037 on PSC oversight of broadband and VoIP was similarly amended from direct oversight to a study and report. HB 1164 on water and sewage rate consolidation and limited-income mechanisms was amended to remove rate-consolidation provisions, require a PSC study, and delay implementation. HB 1381 on stopping or parking in bike lanes added exceptions for emergency, transit, disability pickup/drop-off, disabled vehicles, loading/unloading, and construction or maintenance; HB 1504 prioritized sidewalk and bicycle pathway projects near highways with complete streets or Vision Zero policies; HB 912 adjusted community cat trap-neuter-return rules; and HB 969 clarified electric vehicle charging billing and service fees. The most extended debate centered on HB 639, the Transportation Aviation Passenger Health and Safety Act. After amendments turned it into a reporting measure for fixed-base operators and aviation service companies regarding flights carrying detained individuals, warrants, refueling, and emergency-response documentation, members questioned its practical operation, safety implications, and possible federal preemption issues. The floor leader explained the bill as amended was intended to gather information for Maryland safety and emergency planning. On motion of the committee chair, the House agreed to special order HB 639 until the end of the session for further clarification. The House also amended and advanced HB 1063 on hunting management, including deer damage permits and Sunday hunting rules, and heard a brief statement from an Eastern Shore delegate about the Rural Caucus’s approach to offering amendments rather than opposing bills outright. The session ended with HB 972, creating the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, amended to rename the bill in honor of the late Delegate Charles Otto and to replace lottery funding with an annual appropriation; the House adopted the amendments and the favorable report.

Transcript Highlights:

• two children were returning from Alabama in October of 2023 was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison
• two children were returning from Alabama in October of 2023 was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison
• Another example, person up in Worland was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing machine guns
• ><00:42:38.880> for<00:42:39.599> possessing<00:42:40.319> machine months in prison
• for possessing machine months in prison for possessing machine guns<00:42:41.040> in<00:42:41.280

Bills: SF0101

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearm regulation, state legislation, public safety, civil penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• will find very high incidence of mental illness, people who are in your jails, people who are in prison
• when they're coming out of prison, extremely high acute care costs as well.
• people<01:25:37.200> who<01:25:37.360> are<01:25:37.440> in<01:25:37.520> prison
• who are in prison when they're coming<01:25:38.640> out<01:25:38.800> of<01:25:38.880>
• prison, coming out of prison, coming out of prison, extremely<01:25:41.040> high<01:25

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.