Video & Transcript Research : 'plain language'
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ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 14th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Appropriations - Education and Environment Division
Transcript Highlights:
- I'd like to put this language in on that $9 million.
- So, Rivers and Swantec, is the language in there then?
- If you want to remove that language, we certainly can.
- not familiar enough with the language for New Horizons to know is there language in there that's very
- We have some intent language in there.
Bills:
SB2003
Keywords:
higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all
Summary:
The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants.
Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions.
The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, Senator Pappas, the language in Senate File 3432 is your language, Senator Pappas.
- Chairman, Senator Pappas, the language in Senate File 3432 is your language, Senator Pappas.
- Chairman, Senator Pappas, the language in Senate File 3432 is your language, Senator Pappas.
- Chairman, uh, Senator Pappas, the language in Senate File 3432 is your language, Senator Pappas.
- is your language, Senator Pappas. is your language, Senator Pappas.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education (2-3-26)
Postsecondary Education
Transcript Highlights:
- :59.120>
and both speech language pathology and both speech language pathology and aiology<00: - It adds um some<00:07:13.039>
language. - The postsecondary some language.
- Uh language in the universities.
- And also there was language in out.
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 266, which would add audiology and speech-language pathology to the Kentucky Health Care Workforce Investment Fund as eligible credentials. Sponsor Representative Griffy and Dr. Kelly Ellis of Eastern Kentucky University testified that both professions are essential health care services, require advanced education and licensure, and face shortages, especially in rural areas. The bill passed favorably without opposition.
The committee then took up House Bill 379, a cleanup and policy bill for postsecondary education. As amended by a primary House substitute, it would exempt mandatory orientation and training for governing board members from open meetings requirements if no action is taken, allow preliminary university president evaluations to occur in closed session while final evaluations remain public, designate Northern Kentucky University as the permanent home of the Kentucky Center for Mathematics, and establish a process for collecting enrollment-related debt through universities and the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet. The substitute also removed provisions related to student body presidents and the Commonwealth Education Continuum.
Representative Baker and guests from NKU and the Council on Postsecondary Education said the changes were recommended by universities and CPE, noted that NKU has long hosted the Kentucky Center for Mathematics, and explained that no other institution has sought the role. Members asked about the center’s work, and supporters described it as a statewide organization that improves math education and teacher training. House Bill 379, as amended, passed with favorable expression and was reported to the House floor.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF2431 5/9/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Is there a motion to adopt this language?
- motion to adopt this language? motion to adopt this language?
- <00:02:48.239>
on Uh, next up we'll move language on Uh, next up we'll move language on R53 - <00:07:18.000>
Uh, language. Welcome, Miss Oliver. Uh, language. Welcome, Miss Oliver. - >
language.
Summary:
The committee first took up a series of “same and similar” provisions between the House and Senate higher education bills and adopted them one by one, with brief explanations from members and staff. The items included a cybersecurity addition for a doctoral degree program, Northstar Promise definitions and eligibility limits, self-loan provisions on institution eligibility and data disclosure, and dual training language requiring certificates, diplomas, or degrees to come from accredited postsecondary institutions. The committee also adopted an amendment to the private career school provisions that clarified exempt institutions remain within the act, and removed certain limited-license and renewal fees for institutions participating in dual training grants or the eligible training provider list. Each of these motions prevailed by voice vote.
The committee then moved into policy differences between the House and Senate bills, beginning with emergency grants and hunger-free campus grants. Members discussed shifting funding from OHE-administered competitive grants to direct appropriations for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, while the Senate retained competitive grant access for private and tribal colleges and added reporting requirements. OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson said the added reporting would be an extra administrative task but raised no significant concerns. Testifiers from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, and the private college sector supported faster, more direct funding and described the grants as important for emergency housing, transportation, food insecurity, and other student basic needs. A LeadMN representative also supported the changes, saying campus staff and students wanted funds delivered more quickly.
The committee also discussed direct admissions on R31. The Senate proposal would require public and charter high schools to participate in the direct admissions program by the 2029-2030 school year. Assistant Commissioner Wendy Robinson said OHE supports statewide expansion and that the program has improved FAFSA completion, college enrollment, and student retention in Minnesota. Members noted the bill had bipartisan support and heard from advocates such as Ed Allies and Students United. No votes were taken on the policy-difference items during this portion of the meeting, and the chair said further discussion of state grant and sexual misconduct policy differences would be held at a later hearing with additional OHE staff present.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Crime of residential protesting established 2/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >
or <00:08:53.320>more If language exempting that or more If language exempting that or - it's not clear to me from this language it's not clear to me from this language whether whether
- 21.280>
it <00:36:21.400>talks like that language because it talks like that language because - I rather than this very broad language.
this <00:39:53.480>bill the language of this bill the language of this bill does<00:39
Summary:
House File 2809 was taken up, and Representative Hudson moved the bill with a recommendation to the General Register. The committee adopted the author’s amendment A1, which changed the effective date from 2025 to 2026. Hudson described the bill as a narrow prohibition on protests at or around a person’s dwelling, arguing that homes deserve special protection from coercive or intimidating conduct and citing Supreme Court precedent on focused residential picketing. He said the bill would not apply to residences that also function as businesses or public meeting places and emphasized that it would apply equally to private citizens and public officials.
Several members raised constitutional and drafting concerns. Representative Curran said the bill appeared too broad and could sweep in lawful expressive activity, including people standing on their own property with signs, and questioned whether it would survive constitutional scrutiny. Representative Pinto argued the bill either duplicates existing criminal laws or goes beyond the conduct Hudson described, stressing that the law should focus on conduct rather than the label of protest. Representative Bentele and Representative Hollins asked for clearer definitions of “protest,” “residence,” and whether the bill would reach sidewalks, streets, Airbnbs, and other public or mixed-use spaces. Representative Watson noted existing laws on targeted residential picketing, harassment, and stalking and asked what gap the bill was meant to fill.
Hudson responded that the bill was intended to address coercive, disruptive activity and said he was open to amendments to clarify that constitutionally protected activity in places where a person has a right to be would not be affected. He argued that current laws are not always enforced consistently and that the bill would clarify legislative intent for law enforcement and prosecutors. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill itself, after members and the author indicated a willingness to continue working on the language.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- abilities in the school language.
- foundational to pb's Heritage language foundational to pb's Heritage language educator educator
- and students learning their language and students learning their language have<01:43:45.760>
- in the school language not abilities in the school language not surprisingly<01:44:10.360>
the native language in my native language native language in my native language and<01:54:52.119>
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/18/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- >
paragraphs <00:56:39.120>A recodified language from paragraphs A recodified language - six contains language from paragraph J. six contains language from paragraph J.
- recodified language from paragraph G. recodified language from paragraph G.
- recodified language of from paragraph E. recodified language of from paragraph E.
- language from paragraphs D, H, and I. language from paragraphs D, H, and I.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/26/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Lines 2.10 to 2.15 is just technical language cleanup to make the language read uh more clear.
- Lines 1.12 to 1.13 to the language.
- language cleanup to make the language language cleanup to make the language read<00:21:42.840>
- program grant language.
- would uh clarify language. would uh clarify language.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- the way I read the language for limited. the way I read the language for limited.
- ,<00:48:00.400>
which vote for American Sign Language, which vote for American Sign Language - language are only for their speech. language are only for their speech.
- English language proficiency. Uh it's English language proficiency.
- languages that are not recognized by languages that are not recognized by federal<00:58:44.799>
law
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 04/04/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:15:20.880>
that um a slight change in the language that um a slight change in the language - Tori. the sustainable aviation fuel language. the sustainable aviation fuel language.
- that this is an appropriate um language that this is an appropriate um language at<00:33:14.960>
- amendment um uh to delete this language. amendment um uh to delete this language.
- It is the same language.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 04/13/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- is for us to consider the the language is for us to consider the the language and<00:54:23.000><
- <01:19:42.520>
to with any language to with any language to solve<01:19:44.400>what <01:26:09.800>that comfort language that comfort language that addresses<01:26:11.320> - those or that language.
- language there or not, right? language there or not, right?
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-05-02 (11:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, so that's where I'm confused, because if I read the language on 572 to 582 in tandem with the language
- The language on 572 to 582...
- Then, when you look at the language on 572 to 582, that language is talking about co-locating a public
- The trespass language starts on page... Mr. Speaker, the trespass language starts on page 13.
- So, glad English is my first language.
Summary:
The House took up a series of Senate messages and concurred in several amendments before passing multiple bills. Early actions included unanimous passage of CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after removing a Senate-added trust-account provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties in business ownership after trimming registration requirements. The chamber also insisted on its housing amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 after the Senate refused to concur.
A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation. The House adopted an amendment restoring two teacher-prep courses, preserving the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College in partnership with USF, and modifying the teacher candidate testing framework and mentor qualifications. Supporters said it reduced barriers while keeping standards; opponents raised concerns about the remaining “identity politics” language and other provisions. The bill then passed 91-22.
The House also passed HB 1101 on out-of-network providers after adopting a House amendment that kept the original bill’s notice and referral provisions with a good-cause exemption, despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors. Later, the chamber approved CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, with members highlighting debris management, emergency planning, crane safety, and hurricane recovery provisions; it passed unanimously. The House then rejected concurrence in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration, and later spent substantial time debating CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, especially Schools of Hope, expanded co-location authority, funding, transportation, and school-district agreement terms. Critics argued the language was added late and could disadvantage traditional public schools, while supporters said it would expand options for students; the debate continued with the bill still under consideration at the end of the excerpt.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (05/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- ,<00:05:25.000>
um, <00:05:26.000>there language that they proposed, um, there language - been sort of tweaking um the language. been sort of tweaking um the language.
- <00:05:49.759>
that incorporate appropriate language that incorporate appropriate language - that language in in a floor amendment. that language in in a floor amendment.
- Uh that's right language and the like.
Summary:
The committee met to reconsider its prior vote on SB 148 and then take up a substitute amendment. The chair explained that members from both caucuses, along with the ranking member, were generally in agreement on the process: first a motion to reconsider, then a vote on amendment 20251922H, followed by a vote on the bill. He also noted late input from the attorney general’s office seeking language to ensure the bill would not affect criminal prosecutions, and said the final floor amendment language would be worked out with that office but would remain under legislative control.
Representative Coutab moved to reconsider the committee’s earlier vote on SB 148, and the motion passed by show of hands, 16-1, with the chair not voting. Representative Manos then moved amendment 20251922H, described as a substitute for the Birch-Lin amendment that removed a paragraph on page 2, lines 17-19. The amendment was adopted unanimously, 17-0.
The committee then voted on the main motion, to ought to pass SB 148 as amended. Members spoke in support, describing the bill as heavily revised through extensive work and research, with one member crediting Representative Coutab’s research for helping shape the revised proposal. The roll call passed 17-0. The chair said the bill could not go on consent because a floor amendment would be needed, and the committee would keep members apprised of the final language. The meeting then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-05-02 (11:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We've just added additional language.
- The language on 572 to 582. Okay.
- Then when you look at the language on 572 to 582, that language is talking about co-locating a public
- The trespass language starts on page... Mr. Speaker, the trespass language starts on page 13.
- That's new underlying language.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum established, and several recognitions, including a legislative intern, a guest in the gallery, and Representative Bruce Antone’s upcoming induction into the Tuskegee Athletic Hall of Fame. The Speaker also gave brief remarks about the end of session and the freshman class. The chamber then took up a series of Senate-returned messages and concurred or insisted on several amendments while moving bills toward final passage.
The House unanimously approved CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after adopting a House amendment to remove the IOTA-related provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties and business interests after a House concurrence motion. It also insisted on its amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 on housing. CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation was amended to restore House provisions on teacher-prep courses, the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College, and related testing and mentor-qualification changes; it passed 91-22 after debate over teacher certification, testing, and “identity politics” language. HB 1101 on out-of-network providers was amended to keep the House’s original notice and referral framework with a good-cause exemption; it passed 87-27 despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors.
After recess, the House took up CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response. Members described changes including removal of some homestead-assessment and debris-removal provisions, a study requirement for a post-hurricane county restriction concept, and a Florida Keys evacuation-time change paired with a 10-year cap of 900 permit allocations; the bill passed 116-0. The House also refused to concur in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration and requested the Senate recede. Later, the House returned to HB 1101 and insisted on its amendment after the Senate refused to concur.
The longest debate came on CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, where the House amendment replaced the Senate version with the substance of HB 1267, including Schools of Hope, higher education governance, and course transparency. Members questioned provisions expanding Schools of Hope co-location and sponsorship authority beyond traditional opportunity zones, the role of the Department of Education versus school districts, transportation and facility-cost issues, and performance-based agreements. Supporters said the changes would expand options for students and use vacant or underutilized facilities; opponents argued the language was added late, lacked transportation funding, and could allow charter operators to enter high-performing schools. The bill remained under debate at the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (3-18-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have agreed upon language here.
- We have agreed upon language insurers.
- a licensed certified speech-language a licensed certified speech-language pathologist.<00:03:56.800
- Um speech-language<00:04:46.960>
pathologists <00:04:47.720>and speech-language pathologists - The work of an SLP or speech-language The work of an SLP or speech-language pathologist<00:05:17.040
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 510, which passed with a favorable expression by unanimous roll call vote and then received consent without opposition. The bill’s specific subject was not discussed in the excerpt, but the chair congratulated the sponsor after the vote.
House Bill 176, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser with testimony from Corey Meadows of the Kentucky Medical Association, would create a framework for insurers to offer waiver programs that reduce prior authorization requirements for health care providers. The sponsor said the bill was intended to cut red tape and improve transparency, and noted that the language had been worked out with insurers. The committee voted unanimously to pass the bill with favorable expression and then approved consent.
House Bill 266, sponsored by Rep. Peyton Griffee with testimony from Dr. Kelly Ellis of Eastern Kentucky University, would add audiology and speech-language pathology to the credentials eligible for the Kentucky Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund. Supporters said these professions are critical to care across the lifespan and that their education and licensure requirements fit the fund’s purpose of retaining health professionals in Kentucky. The bill passed unanimously with favorable expression and consent, with Sen. Nemes briefly explaining his support based on workforce development experience.
House Bill 393, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Raymer with testimony from McKenzie Wallace of the Alzheimer’s Association, made cleanup changes to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council, added a caregiver council slot, and required the council to develop and distribute an early detection and diagnosis toolkit for health care providers. The committee passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression and consent. Sen. Mills explained his yes vote in memory of his father, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- That contains special language. Refer to special language.
Summary:
The committee met to quickly review a long agenda of agency and governor’s letters, with the stated purpose of referring items to the appropriate subcommittees and passing over the rest until next Tuesday. Under agency communications, letters from the Auditor of State, Supreme Court, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor were referred to personnel because they contained positions.
Under the governor’s letters, a series of items were referred either to personnel or special language. Personnel referrals included letters involving the Department of Education, Department of Health, DHS divisions and offices, Department of Finance and Administration, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Public Safety. Special language referrals included items for the Department of Finance and Administration disbursing officer, Department of Correction, Department of Shared Administrative Services, Department of Commerce/Workforce Services, Energy and Environment, and other related requests; one education item and one public safety item were referred to both personnel and special language.
No substantive debate or votes were described beyond the referral decisions. The chair then announced a busy schedule for the following week, including personnel, JBC, claims, peer review, and special language meetings on Tuesday through Thursday, and adjourned the meeting.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
Summary:
The committee met briefly to organize a long agenda and stated that its main purpose was to refer letters and requests to the appropriate committees, while passing over items not needing referral until the following Tuesday. No substantive debate on policy issues occurred; the discussion was procedural and focused on routing agency and governor’s letters.
Under agency communications, letters from the Auditor of State, Supreme Court, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor were referred to the Personnel Committee because they contained positions. Under the governor’s letters, numerous items were referred either to Personnel or Special Language, including requests involving the Department of Education, Finance and Administration, Health, DHS divisions, Correction, Agriculture, Public Safety, Shared Administrative Services, Commerce/Workforce Services, Energy and Environment, and the Finance Disbursing Officer. Several items contained positions, several contained special language, and some contained both.
The meeting concluded with notice of a busy schedule for the following week: Personnel at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, JBC at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Claims after JBC on Tuesday, Peer Review after JBC on Wednesday, and Special Language at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. No votes or substantive actions beyond referrals were recorded, and the meeting adjourned.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
- Refer to special language.
Summary:
The committee met briefly to review a long list of agency and governor’s letters and determine which items should be referred to subcommittees. The chair explained that the main purpose of the meeting was referral only; any letters not acted on would be carried over to next Tuesday’s agenda.
Under agency communications, letters from the Auditor of State, Supreme Court, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor were referred to personnel because they contained positions. Under the governor’s letters, several items were referred to personnel or special language, including requests involving the Department of Education, Department of Health, multiple DHS divisions, the Department of Correction, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Public Safety, Shared Administrative Services, Workforce Services, Energy and Environment, and the Department of Finance and Administration.
No substantive debate or votes were described beyond the referral decisions. The chair then announced a busy schedule for the following week, with personnel, JBC, claims, peer review, and special language meetings set across Tuesday through Thursday, and the meeting adjourned.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Administrative Rules Committee Jun 11th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Administrative Rules Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We removed the language related to...
- Throughout the rules, they added speech-language pathology assistants to the language.
- They do license speech-language pathology assistants.
- The final decision, the board accepted the language as proposed.
- The final decision of the board was to accept the language.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Permanent Joint Rules 2025-2026 Jun 21st, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- So we'll agree to the House language.
- The Senate has no similar language.
- I think we give you a new version of language.
- The House accepted the Senate language.
- You have language going back and forth.
Summary:
The conference committee on legislative rules, led by House Chair Michael Moran and Senate Chair Senator Creem, reviewed the many differences between House and Senate versions of the rules and reported that the branches had agreed on 24 of 52 disputed items. Members said they were moving closer to a final compromise, with several provisions already settled and others still being negotiated offline. The discussion emphasized transparency, committee administration, and ways to move bills through the process earlier in the session.
Items agreed to included committee name changes such as adding fisheries to Agriculture and changing elder affairs to aging and independent, adopting House language on joint rules, making committee reports and bill/resolution materials available electronically and online, allowing public access to summaries, and several technical or administrative updates. The committee also agreed on rules for executive sessions, temporary employees, committee travel, favorable/unfavorable reporting, joint petitions, home rule expiration, and special commission meetings. Some provisions were tabled for further discussion, including Mason’s Rules, notice and posting timelines, hearing scheduling, in-person hearings, bill reporting deadlines, and several other administrative topics.
A few issues remained unresolved, especially who should draft bill summaries, how to handle notice periods for hearings and postings, and how to structure committee votes and reporting deadlines. The committee also discussed Rule 35, agreeing in principle to a public hearing and broader public comment on rules review, which members said would improve transparency. At the end of the meeting, members praised the work of the committee and staff, said there was “light at the end of the tunnel,” and adjourned after a motion and second.