Video & Transcript Research : 'litigation transparency'
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AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Legislative Budget Hearings (AM) Feb 6th, 2025
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- that the Hawaii state has secure handling of the ballots, that the tallying system allows for transparency
- and a paper trail, and for transparency and a paper trail, and the<00:14:48.480>
results <00:14 - shared it with over the course of time will become the focus of the litigation.
- The litigation will focus on the plaintiff's conduct, their choices, the decisions they made, and the
- shared it with over the course of time will become the focus of the litigation.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1552, which would make the attorney general the interim chief election officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, saying it could create a conflict of interest if the attorney general were both the state’s lawyer and the chief elections officer in any related litigation. The League of Women Voters supported having some interim backup for the office, but said it was not necessarily advocating that the attorney general fill the role. Several other testifiers, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, opposed the bill, arguing the current law already provides for a prompt commission appointment and warning about partisan bias and concentration of power. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said an interim mechanism is needed to ensure election certification in a crisis. The chair also asked whether any statutory acting capacity already exists, and the attorney general said none was known.
The committee then took up House Bill 2125, which would bar corporations operating under state law from engaging in election activity. The attorney general opposed the bill, citing Citizens United and arguing that corporations have First Amendment-protected political speech rights and that the bill would likely be unconstitutional. Indivisible Hawaii supported the measure, saying it would keep elections focused on the will of the people rather than corporate influence. Libertarian Party testimony was mixed: one witness supported the goal of reducing corruption but warned the bill could suppress organized dissent and sweep too broadly by treating many associations as corporations. The bill’s introducer asked whether the legislature could still enact it as a policy matter, but the attorney general maintained federal constitutional law would control. No vote was taken on either bill during the portion of the hearing provided.
The committee also heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment, which would set procedures and compensation for people whose convictions are reversed or vacated on grounds consistent with innocence and whose charges are dismissed. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the bill’s intent but objected to language assigning it responsibility for helping released individuals secure housing, identification, health coverage, and other reentry needs, saying it no longer has jurisdiction after release and suggesting the courts or a community-based contractor handle that role. The Office of the Public Defender strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the harm of wrongful conviction and the need for compensation, case management, and medical coverage after release. No action or vote was reported on this measure in the excerpt.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Apr 23rd, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You don't think that you're going to embroil the state in endless litigation behind this?
- You don't think you're going to embroil the state in litigation for years to come?
- “It's litigation for years to come. I don't think it'll be years to come.
- I've already heard from some colleagues that litigation is expected.
- How much do you think that litigation across the state of Louisiana?” “I don't know.
Bills:
HR192, HR193, HR194, HCR80, HCR81, HCR82, HCR83, HCR84, HCR85, HR188, HR189, HR190, HR191, SB134, SB140, SB281, SB331, SB384, SB389, SB415, SB451, SB458, SB479, SB504, SB523, HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, SCR19, HB316, HB549, HB578, HB646, HB748, HB798, HB824, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1032, HB1081, HB1108, HB1129, HB1140, HB1157, HB1186, HB1192, HB1195, HB1198, HB1222, HB1244, SB73, SB89, SB128, SB149, SB191, SB196, SB238, SB318, SB340, HB225, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HCR32, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB745, HB749, HB752, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, SB256, HB911, HB306, HB366, HB1161, HB1230, HB59, HB481, HB772, HB897, HB1003, HB1008, HB1112, HB1180, HB1189, HB181, HB1118, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB525, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB864, HB996, HB1035, HB1058, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234, HB1240
Keywords:
ACOG, maternal health, healthcare professionals, patient-physician relationship, obstetrics, gynecology, condolences, military service, veteran, community, memorial, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, property rights, carbon dioxide sequestration, expropriation, Landowner Bill of Rights
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I think some of them took issue and thought that they would have to re-litigate a lot of different cases
- Also, as you've heard me say, the state is 22 years into the Olivia Y litigation, with a price tag of
- Without systemic changes, the state cannot exit this litigation, and it risks inviting additional litigation
- Senator Chairman Hobson and I have repeatedly talked to you about the Olivia Y litigation.
- >> Senate Bill 2747, Mississippi Transparency in Consumer Legal Funding Act and Act.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (02/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- It's basically for transparency.
- concern is the 10% and the transparency concern is the 10% and the transparency of<01:41:13.760>
- This bill is not about transparency.
- This bill is not about transparency.
- transparency transparency um<03:36:41.720>
all <03:36:41.960>of <03:36:42.199>that<
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on HB 402, a bill to repeal a provision in RSA 194-F:2 stating that Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds “shall not constitute taxable income” to the parent or student. The bill sponsor argued the current language is misleading because the state cannot determine federal tax liability, and said the bill would simply remove inaccurate tax advice from state law. He cited IRS guidance and prior federal legislation, including a Ted Cruz proposal, to suggest some EFA uses may be taxable under federal law, while others may not, and said the bill could be amended if needed to avoid confusion.
Testimony was sharply divided. Py Campbell opposed the bill, arguing it would unfairly single out EFA students and could amount to a tax on education funds, including for self-employed families, and recommended it be voted inexpedient to legislate. Stephen Matthew French, a tax preparer, also opposed the bill, saying IRS Publication 970 already makes clear that scholarship-type payments used for tuition and related expenses are not taxable, and that the bill addresses a problem that does not exist. He warned that adding tax reporting requirements could create administrative costs for families and the program administrator.
Bill Ardinger, a tax attorney, supported the repeal of the statutory language, saying the state should not place potentially incorrect tax advice into law. He explained that under federal tax law, only certain scholarship-like uses are exempt, while many EFA-eligible expenses may not be, especially for families using the program for homeschooling or other nontraditional expenses. He said the current statute could mislead families into thinking all EFA payments are tax-free and could expose the state to future legal problems. The hearing ended after questions from committee members; no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-PSM, CPN-EDT, CPN Public Hearing 02-05-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- I do agree that arbitration is costly, and that's just another form, in my opinion, of litigation.
- I do agree that arbitration is costly, and that's just another form, in my opinion, of litigation.
- I do agree that arbitration is costly, and that's just another form, in my opinion, of litigation.
- litigation litigation is<01:01:04.000>
you <01:01:04.160>want <01:01:04.280>to < - in condominium disputes, mediations, and litigation for 30 years.
Summary:
The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes.
Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted.
A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782.
The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (03/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We are not some state that welcomes out-of-state multi-district litigation.
- <01:32:35.920>
we outof State multi-district litigation we outof State multi-district litigation - or anti-SLAPP litigation are going to come up with a solution that is SLAPP litigation, so I'm not sure
- who clearly oppose to slap litigation who clearly oppose to slap litigation that<01:40:32.639>
- This bill is now about transparency and disclosure.
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on HB 584, which would bar New Hampshire and its political subdivisions from enforcing mandates, orders, or similar directives from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum. Prime sponsor Representative Green described the bill as a sovereignty measure and offered an amendment to clarify language, including replacing a reference to entities that “create and enforce policies” with language covering enforcement of policies, mandates, orders, requirements, edicts, or directives. Supporters argued the bill was a preemptive safeguard against outside influence and cited concerns about pandemic-era public health measures and international organizations. Opponents, including the American Heart Association, warned it could chill local policymaking and limit the ability of communities to use outside research or guidance. The chair closed the hearing on HB 584 after testimony concluded.
The committee then moved to HB 580-FN, relative to retaliatory defamation in domestic violence and sexual violence cases. Representative Anita Burroughs, the prime sponsor, said the bill is intended to protect people who report sexual assault, sexual harassment, abuse, or domestic violence from retaliatory defamation suits, so long as statements are made in good faith and without malice. She also said the bill preserves the ability of accused persons to defend their names. Burroughs explained that the proposal was prompted by a survivor’s experience and was meant to address the chilling effect of expensive litigation on reporting misconduct.
Testimony on HB 580 was generally supportive. Witnesses said the bill would help survivors speak out without fear of meritless lawsuits and described retaliatory defamation as a tool used to silence or intimidate accusers. Burroughs noted the bill was informed by anti-SLAPP principles and referenced high-profile defamation cases as examples of the cost and pressure of litigation. No vote was taken in the portion of the transcript provided; the hearing on HB 580 was opened and testimony began.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (02/25/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- However, if you're concerned about future legal litigation, being clear doesn't hurt anyone. means it
- If you're concerned about future legal litigation, being clear doesn't hurt anyone.
- It just takes off the, um... for one thing, it creates transparency because we do not say anymore that
- And I think it gives us... it makes the adequacy aid more transparent, and there's it just basically
- "Serious stuff, and we're, uh, we know that litigation that, uh, litigation has come and gone, and right
Summary:
The Education Funding Committee met to review a large package of bills, with the first four—HB 717, 742, 773, and 603—focused on special education aid, formerly called catastrophic aid. Chair Ladin explained that the committee needed to move a special education bill forward by March 4 and was trying to determine which bill would serve as the vehicle. He described the current formula and the difficulty of estimating the fiscal impact of lowering the threshold from 3.5 times the statewide average cost per pupil to a lower level, noting that DOE did not have reliable data on how many students would fall into the lower-cost bands. The committee also noted that several other bills in the package addressed SWEP and adequacy issues, and that HB 510 dealt with due process rather than funding.
Mark Mello of the Bureau of School Finance testified that the department only has reliable data for special education expenditures above $70,000 per student, since claims are submitted for reimbursement at that point. He said the bureau was trying to estimate how many students might fall between 2.5x and 3.5x or 3x and 3.5x the average cost, but that the basic answer was they did not know and that any estimate would be difficult. He explained that moving the threshold from 3.5x to 2.5x would create a minimum additional cost of about $13.6 million based on existing claims, not counting new students who would enter the range. Members discussed whether districts already had the underlying data, whether a survey should be required, and how districts know when to begin tracking costs for reimbursement.
The committee also discussed proration and the state’s share of special education aid. Mello explained that the current 80% state share is modeled in the formula, but the actual payment has been prorated because appropriations have not matched the statutory liability; he said the state liability was about $50 million, while the budget had provided $34 million, resulting in a 68% payment rate. HB 742 was described as a bill that would eliminate proration by paying the liability directly from the education trust fund with an overflow mechanism. Members also discussed possible alternatives such as changing the state share, using a lower threshold in a transition period, or requiring districts to submit data. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the committee was still in discussion and considering which bills to advance.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:24:08.560>
for and it provides more transparencies for and it provides more transparencies - <03:21:26.720>
and creates lack of transparency and creates lack of transparency and accountability - He said this opens up a lot of bad litigation.
- <03:33:30.800>
on litigation on litigation on this<03:33:33.520>and <03:33:33.640>I'm - Transparency in government is extremely important now, more than ever.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/25/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- responsible and sell products that are responsibly sourced, and we think that the supply chain transparency
- Excessive litigation and insurance costs make it harder to offer this experience to families and visitors
- And we think it's important to continue, again, to provide transparency and predictability for these
- So we appreciate how the current process is transparent and driven by input.
- I've been opposing the board in this litigation for five years. I'm representing myself, Dr.
Bills:
HB2072, HB2251, HB2279, HB2308, HB2323, HB2342, HB2400, HB2408, HB2456, HB2660, HB2697, HB2868, HB2873, HB2877, HB2910, HB2946, HB2955, HB2991, HB4001, HB4010
Keywords:
Cesar Chavez, public holiday, state law, holiday repeal, Arizona Revised Statutes, midwifery, medication administration, healthcare, patient safety, advisory committee, licensed midwives, river trips, liability, outfitter, Grand Canyon, negligence, risk management, contractual waiver, dental practice, business registration
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 2308, which would prohibit dental insurers and their holding companies from owning dental practices or other businesses regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and payer control over provider care, while Delta Dental of Arizona opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create regulatory burdens. After discussion about private equity ownership in dentistry and whether nonprofit insurers should be exempted, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2308 a do pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, restricts youth-targeted marketing, and increases penalties for selling to minors or manufacturing/distributing without a license. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, and industry representatives, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency, curb illegal products, and strengthen youth access enforcement. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued the bill should instead create a full tobacco retail licensing system and include broader nicotine definitions, while also warning that enforcement resources would be insufficient. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 6-1.
House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The bill allows a person or organization that files a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before it qualifies for the ballot, with retroactive application to withdrawals filed beginning January 1, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality rules, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and board oversight of nursing education programs. The sponsor said the bill responds to long-standing audit findings and aims to improve fairness and timeliness, while nursing board officials opposed provisions affecting education oversight and warned about patient safety, costs, and liability. Nurses and other supporters described delayed investigations and the need for expungement relief. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote.
Additional bills heard included House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures and related installations; it passed 7-0 after supporters described a family hardship case and committee members criticized HOA overreach. House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor, attorneys, and a consumer describing repeated repair failures on a leased vehicle. The committee also began hearing House Bill 4010, which would establish a Board of Genetic Counselors under the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners and set licensure and disciplinary rules, but the transcript ends before any final action on that bill.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (02/10/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:07:41.280>
annual utilities to provide transparent annual utilities to provide transparent - . transparency. transparency.
- consumer bills and greater transparency consumer bills and greater transparency here<00:09:19.200
- Transparency. Absolute goal. Okay.
- <00:14:05.680>
Transparency. >> That is the absolute goal. Transparency.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, December 3, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- this position in all litigation this position in all litigation concerning<00:29:56.960>
this - Act ensures transparency, Trace Act ensures transparency, strengthens<02:42:27.120>
parental < - reached out to DHS demanded transparency reached out to DHS demanded transparency on<07:47:56.478
- transparency, and accountability. transparency, and accountability.
- . transparency. transparency.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Jul 16th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Separate from that, as mentioned earlier, the booking fee is a transparent way for where insurance costs
- sit today and figuring out how we can leverage a level of transparency to let riders know the benefit
- They said they had seen a 600% increase in litigation abuse over the last nine years, citing data shared
- I think the companies have been very transparent with their pricing.
- But in terms of transparency and where it will exist, you'll be able to see it on every single trip.
Summary:
The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote.
The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1.
The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Michael Faulkender, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Mar 6th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Finance Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Efficiency related work at Treasury and the IRS, and it is important that Treasury and the IRS be transparent
- You want to be able to actually provide greater transparency and for some reason saying that Treasury
- So now in this upside-down world, more transparency at Treasury is now a problem and you're being attacked
- The previous administration also came up with a Corporate Transparency Act, the CTA, which broadly would
- Yeah, I would argue that it is not simply rural. world, but we can litigate that another time.
Keywords:
nomination, Deputy Secretary of Treasury, economic policy, inflation, tariffs, tribal nations, government relations
Summary:
The meeting convened to consider the nomination of Mike Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. During the session, multiple members voiced concerns regarding current economic policies under the Trump administration, particularly around inflation, tariffs, and the impact on small businesses. Discussions frequently centered on the administration's approach to tariffs and taxation, and how these factors contribute to the rising cost of living and potential job losses. Additionally, the importance of bolstering government-to-government relationships with tribal nations was emphasized, highlighting the need for specialized offices focused on tribal affairs within the Treasury Department.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Safety Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- which a bomb threat occurred at multiple court locations and shut down the courthouse, limiting litigants
- bill that increases transparency in California when we look at segregated confinement.
- Family members of individuals affected by police violence have a reasonable expectation of transparency
- The suggestion is arrogant, insulting, and recklessly counters our true motivation to seek transparency
- of the police actions against our loved ones, ...true motivation to seek transparency of the police
Summary:
The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations.
The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes.
Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Feb 5th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm so into transparency. I think this is marvelous.
- We value transparency and efficient government spending.
- So the transparency is not even there.
- So the transparency is not even there.
- And we have given up oversight and transparency.
Summary:
The committee took up four bills before moving to a broader discussion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund. SB 434, which would prohibit counties from increasing a home’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation measures, was presented as a homeowner protection measure and reported favorably. CS/SB 110, clarifying that certain 98-year-or-longer residential leaseholders remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends at death, was also reported favorably without opposition. SB 856, requiring online real estate listing platforms to display estimated ad valorem taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew supportive testimony from property appraisers, Zillow, and local government groups; members emphasized transparency for buyers, especially first-time homebuyers, and the bill was reported favorably.
The committee then spent most of the meeting on SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Supporters, including the Division of Emergency Management, argued the fund is needed for hurricanes, flooding, other disasters, and rapid response operations, and said the extension preserves legislative oversight that would otherwise lapse. Opponents from advocacy and policy groups argued the fund has been used too broadly, especially for immigration-related detention and enforcement activities, and criticized the lack of tighter guardrails and transparency. They cited deaths in detention facilities, the use of emergency dollars for non-disaster purposes, and concerns about political favoritism and public accountability.
Director Kevin Guthrie testified at length in support of the extension, explaining that the fund is used for natural, man-made, and technological emergencies, that reimbursements from federal and other sources are returned to the fund, and that the state has used it for hurricanes, flooding, civil unrest, international evacuations, and immigration-related operations under Operation Vigilant Sentry. He said the division has sought federal reimbursement for some expenses and that the fund helps the state respond quickly when emergencies arise. Members questioned the size of the fund, the amount spent on immigration-related activities, the status of federal reimbursements, and whether lawmakers should have more oversight or unannounced access to detention facilities. The bill discussion remained ongoing in the portion provided, with no final vote on SPB 7040 shown in the transcript excerpt.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- It was just a fait accompli in the tax package and it was designed to forestall litigation challenges
- And if the penny of release production, Florida should already have a fair, transparent and consumer-friendly
- This bill updates Florida's pet dealer laws by strengthening requirements for transparency and consumer
- modernizes governance and election procedures for rural electric cooperatives while increasing transparency
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 18, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- So I'm not sure if the plans really like litigating necessarily.
- So here's some priorities of fiscal efficiency, access to care, transparency, accountability and sustainability
- This this individuals, these measures will improve accountability, increased transparency for families
- report shows the department is striving hard to manage behavior, health funds with discipline with transparency
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- happened, and so I just want to make the point these quotation marks didn't... are not quoting litigation
- That kind of transparency empowers families and builds trust.
- knowledge and skills, the TEKS standards, are created by our State Board of Education through a public, transparent
- Schools should follow those because, like it's been said, it's a transparent process with a lot of input
Keywords:
parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We saw it started with the video game litigation that resulted. to be compensated for their name, image
- whether they've been receiving it directly from universities, under the table from boosters or now, transparently
- able to, through their hard work, make a difference. talents, monetize that in a fair, legal, and transparent
- have been first movers in this regulatory structure, so that they can, in a safe, legal... in a transparent
Keywords:
education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education