Video & Transcript Research : 'virtual school'
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KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 41 (3-6-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It includes exemptions for virtual school instruction and feedback, emergency situations, field trips
- It includes exemptions for virtual<00:41:11.040>
school <00:41:11.440>instruction <00:41 - :12.120>
and <00:41:12.320>feedback, virtual school instruction and feedback, virtual school - Hayes Middle School Dance Team. Hayes Middle School Dance Team.
- middle school in the competition. middle school in the competition.
Summary:
The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The clerk also announced Senate passage of Senate Bills 59, 137, 177, and 199 and requested concurrence. The chamber then moved into second reading, reporting a slate of bills and resolutions on health care, energy, child welfare, Medicaid, workplace violence, and coal/energy assessment, before proceeding to third reading and passage of several measures.
A major focus was House Bill 542 on eminent domain. The sponsor described it as a transparency measure to improve communication with property owners, require better notice, prohibit misleading statements, allow owner-paid appraisals to be used throughout negotiations, and account for agricultural improvements and access. Members discussed the bill’s intent to treat property owners fairly and reduce court costs; the House adopted House Committee Substitute 1 and passed the bill 89-0. House Bill 565 on fire protection was presented as technical cleanup to clarify enforcement authority for local fire appeal boards created last year, and it passed 91-0.
The House also passed House Bill 611 on domestic relations, which creates a 10-year interpersonal protective order for certain felony assault convictions involving family members, unmarried couples, or dating partners, and updates domestic violence data reporting requirements; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 91-0. House Bill 657 on professional licensing background checks was explained as giving five licensure boards authority to obtain FBI ORI numbers so they can receive fingerprint background checks and comply with interstate compacts; it passed 91-0. House Bill 762 on legal representation was amended on the floor to avoid excluding appellate attorneys, then passed 91-0; it was described as clarifying Department of Public Advocacy representation and related salary provisions.
The House also passed House Bill 108 on solid waste management, which its sponsor said closes a loophole allowing residual waste landfills to be sited in a different county from the industry without local input; it passed 79-8. House Bill 67 on schools, a cleanup measure to prior legislation requiring traceable communication systems for school employees, was introduced with a committee substitute and discussed as clarifying definitions and exemptions while preserving protections for students; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll move on now to Item Number 6, AB 257, Flora, specialty care network, telehealth, and other virtual
- specialty health care access for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and underserved communities through a hybrid virtual
- Medi-Cal beneficiaries and underserved communities through a hybrid virtual care model addressing a clinician
- integrate on-demand access to a very, very rural, arguably frontier health center, using e-consults and virtual
- We were again compelled to spell his name incorrectly in the school enrollment system, as it must match
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding and initially operating as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The committee heard several health-related bills, including AB 73 on creating a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 on lowering the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 on aligning California health insurance language-access rules with federal standards, AB 257 on a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services for Medi-Cal and underserved communities, AB 64 on allowing diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 on clarifying that emergency services include reproductive health services such as abortion. Testimony generally emphasized disparities in access, culturally competent care, language access, rural provider shortages, and the importance of preserving or expanding programs that help vulnerable populations.
Supporters included authors, state and local health organizations, advocacy groups, and affected individuals. AB 73 was backed as a way to address stigma, mistrust, and culturally competent mental health access for Black Californians. AB 499 was described as helping keep a self-insured farmworker health plan operational while maintaining a low-cost, labor-management model. AB 843 was supported as a way to prevent children and families from having to translate sensitive medical and insurance information and to protect limited-English-proficient Californians. AB 257 drew support as a demonstration project to improve specialty care access through California-based clinicians and virtual care, with examples of reduced wait times and costs. AB 64 received emotional testimony from the author, a child and his family, and others about the importance of accurately recording names with accents and other marks. AB 315 was presented as a cost-neutral or cost-saving way to expand home- and community-based care for medically fragile people, with strong support from disability, health, and provider groups. AB 40 drew support from reproductive health and medical organizations, while one opposition witness argued it could conflict with emergency care standards and overburden emergency departments.
The committee took roll-call votes and advanced AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and AB 40 to Appropriations, with AB 40 receiving some no votes. The committee also adopted its 2025-26 rules and approved a consent calendar that included AB 225, AB 304, AB 403, AB 688, and AB 951. Several measures were initially placed on call and later lifted and recorded as passing out of committee before adjournment.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-17 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , making sure that monies are going into the schools.
- HB 1073 ensures that individual school board members have timely access to school district documents
- school board members for?
- school board members for?
- It's school board members, so is it documents that are pertinent to running the school board?
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Joseph Di Alessandro, the Pledge of Allegiance, and announcements confirming a quorum. Members also adopted the special order report and recognized several guests in the gallery, including former Speaker Dan Webster and law enforcement and civic visitors. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar of bills, mostly on third reading, with several measures passing unanimously or by wide margins.
Among the bills considered were measures on civil procedure and estates, including C.S. HB 1407 on commencement of civil actions, HB 895 on trustee settlement and discharge, C.S. HB 1337 on estates, HB 131 on curators of estates, and C.S. HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations. The House also passed C.S. HB 441 on conservation lands, which would lengthen notice and increase transparency for land swaps involving conservation property, and C.S. CS HB 919 on commercial service airports, which created a statutory definition for major airports and preempted local naming authority for several airports. HB 919 drew extensive debate over the proposed naming of Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald J. Trump, with amendments to delay or alter the naming failing before the bill passed.
Other bills approved included HB 409 requiring K-12 schools to observe Veterans Day, CS HB 461 allowing certain students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours, CS HB 1115 creating grants for genetic counseling education, HB 569 revising forensic client services, CS HB 505 regulating virtual currency kiosks to address fraud, and HB 271 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers. The House also passed HB 191 on re-employment assistance eligibility verification after extended questioning about its effects on benefits, appeals, and suitable work standards. One bill, CS HB 243 on electric bicycles, was temporarily postponed, and CS HB 1073 on school districts was also postponed.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- The decisions we make here ripple outward into homes, schools, farms, and businesses across Vermont.
- Is virtual attendance or partial attendance at a meeting considered? What constitutes that 50%?
- <00:30:31.840>
Is <00:30:32.080>virtual <00:30:32.559>option <00:30:33.520>- Is virtual option is that's presented?
- Um, attendance does include virtual and physical attendance.
Summary:
The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day.
The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal.
In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 2nd, 2025 at 01:00 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We have some students in the chamber this afternoon, students from the Bowman School, who are guests
- Speaker, and members of the Assembly, House Bill 1447 deals with virtual currency kiosks.
- House Bill 1447 deals with virtual currency kiosks, and in Section 1 the Senate made just a couple of
- To amend and reenact Section 13-09.1-14 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to virtual currency
- This is really honed in on the virtual currency kiosks that you're starting to see in various retail
Summary:
The North Dakota House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then received a gubernatorial veto message on Senate Bill 2261. The governor vetoed the bill creating a prison industries workforce development tax credit, citing dormant Commerce Clause concerns and arguing the tax credit would create an unfair market advantage and not meaningfully help Rough Rider Industries. The House agreed to place SB 2261 on the next day’s calendar for a possible veto override. The chamber also re-referred Senate Bill 2159 to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and appointed a conference committee for Senate Bill 2133 after the Senate refused to concur with House amendments.
The House then took up a series of Senate amendments and final passage votes on several bills. It concurred in amendments and passed House Bill 1140 naming the Specialist John P. Fettig, Iraq Bridge; House Bill 1241 allowing funeral home vehicles to display flashing purple lights and clarifying emergency vehicle lamp rules; House Bill 1316 imposing additional penalties for repeated violations of temporary restricted licenses; House Bill 1127 expanding Department of Financial Institutions authority and data security provisions; House Bill 1564 on Indian child welfare; House Bill 1167 requiring AI disclosure statements in political communications; House Bill 1170 on state employee annual leave; House Bill 1447 regulating virtual currency kiosks; House Bill 1278 creating a cash management board for state treasury funds; House Bill 1024, the deficiency appropriation bill; House Bill 1205 on newborn safety devices; House Bill 1204 expanding false-information rules for political ads to text messages and telephone calls; House Bill 1001, the governor’s budget; House Bill 1206 increasing penalties for DUI offenses involving a minor; House Bill 1088 on insurance penalties and restitution; and House Bill 1515 on motor vehicle warranty work compensation. Most passed with strong margins, though HB 1170 and HB 1024 drew notable opposition, and HB 1447 and HB 1204 also had several nays.
The most extended debate came on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, which proposed a constitutional amendment to change legislative term limits from the current structure to four four-year terms and repeal a constitutional restriction on proposing such changes. Supporters argued the measure would preserve institutional knowledge, allow voters to reconsider the 2022 term-limit decision, and let the public decide on the ballot. Opponents said the people had already spoken, the measure was confusing or unnecessary, and it could distract from other ballot issues. After reconsideration was granted, the House passed SCR 4008 by a vote of 53 yeas to 39 nays. The session ended with announcements, committee meeting notices, and adjournment until April 3, 2025.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25 - Part 1
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- of public policy and Global the school of public policy and Global Affairs<00:10:31.360>
at <00 - Virtual power plants already supply over 1,500 megawatts of electricity from 3.9 million homes in the
- Virtual power plants already supply over 1,500 megawatts of electricity from 3.9 million homes in the
- Virtual power plants already supply over 1,500 megawatts of electricity from 3.9 million homes in the
- <00:32:41.320>
bus reservation to catch the school bus reservation to catch the school bus
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, now, with any exemption, OK, with the exception of school, because we’re going to pick up
- all the school costs, OK, then when you’re looking at a city, there is a shift if you raise a homestead
- Last time we did it virtually, it was a lot of fun. I know that's not 97% of your members.
- Last time we did it virtually, it was a lot of fun.
- Last time we did it virtually, it was a lot of fun. Okay. Any more questions from this panel?
Bills:
SB1331, SB1375, SB1443, SB1578, SB2251, SB2519, SB2553, SB2655, SB2764, SB2907, SB3030, SB3033, SB3035, SB3036, SB3037, SB3043, SB3047, SB3050, SB3051, SB3056, SB3057, SB3063, HB9, HB467, HB331, HB1244, HB1399, HB2559, HB2730, HB3307, HJR1, HJR99, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SJR78, HB1327, HB2723
Keywords:
civil service, firefighters, police officers, municipalities, local government, repeal, voter petition, health care, provider participation, continuation programs, population-based regulation, health care provider participation, Medicaid, hospital funding, voluntary compliance, mandatory payments, public health, healthcare program, county participation, nonpublic hospitals
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Local Government heard several bills, most of them left pending after brief public testimony. House Bill 331, by Rep. Patterson and sponsored by Sen. Hinojosa, would create a presumption that firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who suffer a heart attack or stroke within eight hours after a strenuous shift were injured in the line of duty for workers’ compensation purposes; testimony from a firefighters’ association supported the bill, and it was left pending. Senate Bill 2655, by Sen. Flores, would authorize Burnet County to establish a local provider participation fund to help support local hospital services; a hospital administrator testified in support, and the committee substitute was left pending. Senate Bill 1443, by Sen. Hughes, would extend the Northeast Healthcare Provider Participation District in three counties, and House Bill 3307, by Rep. Noble, would allow property tax arbitrators to complete required continuing education online; both were left pending without opposition. Senate Bill 3048, by Sen. Birdwell, would create the Bluebonnet Hills Municipal Management District in Midlothian and was also left pending.
The committee then took up House Bill 9 and HJR 1, sponsored by Sen. Bettencourt, which would raise the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000 and place the constitutional amendment on the November 4, 2025 ballot. Business groups, realtors, and taxpayers’ advocates testified in strong support, saying the change would provide meaningful relief to small businesses and help balance earlier homeowner tax relief. The City of Fort Worth testified in opposition, warning of a revenue shift to homeowners and budget impacts, but the committee adopted the committee substitutes and reported both measures to the full Senate on 6-0 votes.
The committee also heard House Bill 1399 and HJR 99, by Sen. Nichols, to exempt animal feed from property tax when it is already sales-tax exempt; no one testified against them, and both were left pending. Senate Bill 2553, by Sen. West, would let owners of historic archaeological sites protest land and structure appraisals separately, and it was left pending after supportive testimony. Senate Bill 2907 and SJR 78, also by Sen. West, would exempt certain perishable inventory, including food and some prescription drugs, from property tax if approved by voters; pharmacists, business groups, a researcher, and a coalition of retailers and food/medicine advocates supported the bill, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 1331, by Sen. Hancock and explained by Sen. Middleton, would lower the population threshold for certain municipal civil-service-related petition restrictions from 950,000 to 70,000; law enforcement representatives and a San Marcos police association supported it, and it was left pending. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Administration (05/06/2026)
Legislative Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- He did find that virtually every state uses the same three terms as New Hampshire: reprimand, censure
- uses did find that virtually every state uses the<00:26:26.159>
same <00:26:26.400>three - [clears throat] My high school class ring had the Star of David in the center.
- >
class [clears throat] My high school class [clears throat] My high school class ring<00:49:36.720- Um, reprimand is virtually meaningless in my opinion.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Texas Ethics Commission Dec 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- difficult it was during the pandemic and, and having to, uh, you know, uh, in the middle of everything go virtual
- , all virtual, and then some virtual and, and, uh, in addition to all the difficulties of the pandemic
- a graduate of Southwestern University and a graduate of the University of Southern California Law School
- Amanda is a graduate of Texas A&M and the University of Texas Law School.
ND
Transcript Highlights:
- or Y school.'
- Barr schools work differently. In Barr schools, selected teachers, Barr schools work differently.
- The three schools that started, we had our two elementary schools and then our middle school, central
- We've had a series of schools that we've had virtual visits with to find out what's going well and what
- school board.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Community Affairs Mar 11th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- By your vote, CS for SB 180 is reported favorably, and I will gladly hand back the gavel or the virtual
- And I will gladly hand back the gavel, or the virtual gavel, to Senator McLean.
- Augustine, Fort Mose, a cultural center, and the other high school there for many, many years that was
- Now I will pass the virtual gavel back to President Pasadomo so that I'm allowed to run a few bills.
- You can have your virtual gavel back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met and took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with SB 262 on trust law technical changes. Senator Berman explained four clarifications involving trust decanting, successor trustee actions, ademption by satisfaction, and homestead/community trust definitions; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SJR 174 and SB 176, which together would prevent certain homestead tax assessment increases when owners elevate flood-prone homes, and SB 180, a hurricane preparedness and response bill that included a strike-all amendment addressing FEMA reimbursement, mutual aid, hazard mitigation, and post-disaster rebuilding issues. Supporters from emergency management, beaches, counties, and local business groups testified in favor of SB 180, and it was reported favorably.
Members then approved SB 608, which renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, despite questions about cost and an appearance in opposition. SB 1002, dealing with utility service restrictions and local government limits on energy-related policies, drew opposition from Earthjustice and Florida for All over possible unintended consequences and fossil-fuel favoritism, but was still reported favorably. SB 466 on the Florida Museum of Black History generated extensive testimony, with strong support from St. Augustine, Florida Memorial University, pastors, local officials, and the museum foundation for locating the museum in St. Johns County; one witness argued for Eatonville instead, but the bill was reported favorably.
The committee also passed SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings after an amendment clarified local zoning review and added insurance and liability protections for design professionals. SB 582, increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, was reported favorably with support from preservation advocates. SB 1202, extending family health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training exercises, also passed without opposition. Finally, SB 1242 on community redevelopment agencies prompted the most debate: supporters argued CRAs can be valuable tools for affordable housing and redevelopment, while opponents warned the bill would effectively end all CRAs by 2045 and block new projects; after extensive discussion, the bill was reported favorably. At the end, senators recorded additional votes on several tabs, and the committee adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- introduce us to Pamela Taylor, who's a senior advisor for the authority, who will be joining us virtually
- As I mentioned, we have Rutgers University School of Nursing, which will lead our workforce development
- We have a consortium of schools that are going to work on diversifying our perinatal workforce.
- increased number of prenatal visits, or including breast pumps and other support items, as well as virtual
- really, we have mother and baby item benefits, we have nursing mother support items, and we have virtual
Summary:
The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives.
Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Mar 25th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Club at Seminole High School. Microphone.
- I'm the vice president of the Seminole High School Wildlife Conservation Club.
- My name is Tommy, and I'm a junior at Seminole High School.
- My name is Tommy, and I'm a junior at Seminole High School.
- Fifth, at the virtual public meeting on March 13, Fifth, at the virtual public meeting on March 13th,
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of environmental and natural resources bills. It reported favorably SB 1784 on sewer collection systems, allowing municipal sewer revenues to be used for expansion; SB 1388 on vessels, which prohibits random vessel inspections without probable cause, creates a five-year safety decal, bars local fuel-type boat bans, and expands funding options for boat ramps and marinas; and SB 880, which designates the American flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the Florida scrub jay as the state songbird. SB 946, as amended, was also reported favorably; it restricts certain waste facilities and incinerators near the Everglades, with the amendment narrowing the focus to the Broward/Miami-Dade area near the C-9 impoundment project. SB 1792 on dry sandy beaches was reported favorably after amendment, creating a pilot and process to inventory beaches and explore voluntary public access or conservation arrangements with private owners. SB 866 on anchoring limitation areas was reported favorably despite opposition from cruisers and boaters who argued existing law should be used instead of new county-specific restrictions. SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably with amendments that removed language about the necessity of phosphate mining and clarified that landowners requesting a radiation study must pay for it. The committee also reported favorably SB 1326 on hurricane evacuation clearance times and permit allocations in the Keys, and SB 1580, after a delete-all amendment, which authorizes DEP to use public-private partnerships for coastal resiliency projects. Finally, SB 1300 on oil and gas drilling permits was introduced to require DEP to consider potential harm from accidents or blowouts to natural resources when reviewing drilling permits, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill. The committee also took up confirmations, temporarily postponing the vote on Rodney Barreto’s FWC reappointment after public criticism of his leadership, while recommending favorably the other listed appointments.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
Transcript Highlights:
- , elementary schools, and high schools.
- She's on virtual. Is she on virtual? I want to, what's that? Okay.
- Two of them are virtual.
- We have virtual testimony.
- , at the School for Marine Science and Technology.
Summary:
The committee on Economic Development held a hearing on the DRIVE Act, a proposal to invest $400 million in Massachusetts research and innovation without new taxes. Governor Healey and administration officials said the bill would direct $200 million to public higher education research and regional partnerships and $200 million to a research funding pool for hospitals, universities, and other institutions, with the goal of retaining talent, leveraging private and philanthropic dollars, and offsetting major federal R&D cuts. They argued that research is a core economic engine for the state, supporting jobs across labs, construction, services, and surrounding businesses, and said the bill would help protect the Commonwealth’s tax base and competitiveness during a period of federal uncertainty and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs.
Committee members raised concerns about whether Fair Share surtax dollars should instead be used for K-12 and other community needs, whether the proposal is enough given the scale of lost federal grants, and how the money would be allocated. The governor responded that the funds are one-time surplus dollars, that most surtax revenue already supports education, and that the bill is meant as a bridge to stabilize public higher education and research. She also said the legislation includes a review board and could support a revolving or matched-fund approach in some cases. Several members pressed for more detail on selection criteria, future funding, and whether private companies and large endowments should contribute more.
University of Massachusetts leaders and researchers testified that federal grant cancellations and delays are already causing layoffs, furloughs, rescinded admissions, and lost research capacity. UMass officials said the bill would help preserve faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and research programs in medicine, climate science, marine science, Braille instruction, and AI decision-making. They emphasized that the funding should be merit-based and that the state needs to act quickly to prevent talent from leaving Massachusetts. Business, labor, and industry groups, including MassBio, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, AIM, the AFL-CIO, and Building Trades, supported the bill, saying it would protect jobs, sustain the innovation ecosystem, and reinforce Massachusetts’ national leadership in research and life sciences. No vote was taken in the hearing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/26
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesotans want to live in a place that has strong public schools, that has quality health care.
- <00:59:17.120>
testifier, And next, we have a virtual testifier, And next, we have a virtual - First up, we have virtually Bev Adrian, president of Woodlawn Terrace Cooperative.
- Next, virtually, we have Skip Duchaine, president of D.W.
Skip <01:20:05.280>Duchaine, Next, virtually, we have Skip Duchaine, Next, virtually,
Keywords:
housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The virtual scratch-off, under what authority is that being done, can you tell me? Absolutely not.
- to the majority of that goes to the foundation school fund.
- On the virtual scratch off so so not aware of I guess what I'm aware of is that couriers are selling
- Ask the question, is this legal, how is it legal to sell virtual scratch offs?
- Well, you know, the commission did change their rules on the courier services, but... on the virtual
Keywords:
lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts
Summary:
The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:19:03.800>
power the conversation around virtual power the conversation around virtual - <01:19:09.040>
that I think about a number of schools that I think about a number of schools - Every school will be different, every school building will be different, just like every farm, every
- schools schools um<01:39:46.560>
I <01:39:46.639>don't <01:39:46.840>have <01:39 - school will be different every school school will be different every school building<01:40:12.960
Bills:
HF845
Keywords:
net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, the fun thing about this—they are all green in color, just like a color back to old school.
- two animals are some of our animal ambassadors, so animals that come out and visit the public at school
- col and so you'll back to Old School col and so you'll find<00:03:30.840>
some <00:03:31.080>< - <00:04:45.919>
kids <00:04:46.400>visitors visit the public at school kids visitors - , so we are thinking about reenvisioning physical space and virtual space as well.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Nov 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- year 24 to school year 25.
- Now, typically, EPPs begin by creating long-standing partnerships with school districts and charter schools
- Finally, school districts and charter schools should support EPP recruitment efforts by encouraging promising
- and charter schools and our EPPs.
- It's a beautiful school, but it is a private. school.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on State & Local Government (3-5-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- uh right currently in law uh school uh right currently in law uh school districts<00:38:01.000><
- There's one provision in here that just strikes the word “Kentucky” virtual high school.
- The reason I do that is because the Kentucky Virtual High School no longer exists.
- There's one provision in here that just strikes the word “Kentucky” Virtual High School.
- The reason I do that is because the Kentucky Virtual High School no longer exists.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:05
Attendance Roll Call: 00:17
HB 30 (Rep. Blanton): 01:12
HB 27 (Rep. Osborne: 05:22
HB 45 (Rep. Hodgson): 08:29
HB 211 (Rep. C. Lewis): 15:54
HB 441 (Rep. Tipton): 36:38
Adjournment: 41:20, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up House Bill 30, which addresses pension spiking and retired state troopers returning to work. The sponsor and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority staff said the bill would codify court language clarifying that across-the-board raises from the General Assembly do not count as pension spiking, and the committee substitute would also give retired troopers rehired on a year-to-year basis the same vacation, sick leave, and bereavement benefits as new troopers. The committee adopted the substitute and a title amendment, and HB 30 passed 9-0.
The committee then considered House Bill 27, which removes an arbitrary 2023 date from the Planned Communities Act that had created confusion over political signage rules in HOA and planned community phases. The sponsor said the change would preserve HOA authority to regulate sign size, duration, and placement while eliminating inconsistent treatment of neighboring properties. The bill passed 10-0.
House Bill 45 followed, proposing to ban foreign funding in Kentucky elections and ballot measures and to require disclosure for express advocacy ads related to ballot measures. Supporters said the bill would put ballot measures on the same footing as candidate and PAC restrictions and prevent foreign nationals from influencing Kentucky elections; one senator raised concerns that the language could unintentionally chill participation by noncitizens, especially in one-on-one discussions, and the sponsor said he would work on that issue. The committee adopted the bill as amended, and it passed 8-1.
The final major item was House Bill 211, which would create a narrow exemption allowing cigar bars under defined conditions, including a revenue threshold, age restrictions, ventilation requirements, and local permitting options. The sponsor said the bill would not roll back general smoke-free laws but would allow tightly regulated cigar bars and grandfather existing ones from some requirements. Public health witnesses, including a nurse, a physician, and a thoracic surgeon, opposed the bill, warning it would weaken strong smoke-free protections, harm workers and patrons, and reverse progress against tobacco-related disease. The transcript provided did not include a final vote on HB 211.