Video & Transcript : 'Italian immigrants' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 9th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Low-income patients, people of color, Black people, immigrants, young people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and
- well-documented pattern of President Trump's rhetoric and behavior that targets Black Americans, immigrants
- We've stood on this floor to defend immigrants, communities of We've stood on this floor to defend immigrants
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- March 1995, Cura's Grill, under the direction of brothers Jorge and Marco Garcia, who are recent immigrants
- They also added provisions stating that they may not issue provisional licenses blankedly to any immigrant
- This is the bill that would ban immigrants from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing
- If there is a single Chinese immigrant in that business, on the border. everything else, it's done.
Bills:
HB5560, HB2, HB24, HB3233, HB1397, HB2067, HB3133, HB5696, HB5680, HB2885, HB3966, HB3556, HB3595, HB144, HB26, HB2038, HB521, HB4, HB 1178, HB42, HB 1211, HB783, HB3963, HB2240, HB1690, HB 1234, HB3372, HB27, HB4211, HB2243, HB2853, HB4638, HJR7, HB 100, HB 126, HB3783, HB5138, HB2512, HB5616, HB4751, SB17, SB1637, SB1833, SB2155, SB21, SB2778, SB260, SB8, SB12, SB37, SB379, SB441, SB1566, SB2878, HB4112, HB3866, HB4749, HB2844, HB150
Keywords:
groundwater, civil penalties, water conservation, drought contingency, environmental protection, public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, zoning, public notice, local government, residential development
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm from Jacksonville, Florida, but I'm also a child of two immigrants and a military dad. consent.
- I'm from Jacksonville, Florida, but I'm also a child of two immigrants and a millerite.
- I'm from Jacksonville, Florida, but I'm also a child of two immigrants and a military dad.
- As a child of two immigrants, the conversation of sexual education was taboo. It wasn't common.
Summary:
The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education took up SB 1288, a parental rights bill by Sen. Grall, which would expand the Parents Bill of Rights to require written parental consent for minors’ medical care and prescriptions, give parents access to medical records, require parental review/consent for surveys and questionnaires, and restrict use of biofeedback devices without parental permission. The sponsor said the bill is intended to restore parents’ role in major medical decisions and to address concerns about schools or providers collecting sensitive information from children without parents’ knowledge. She said she was open to clarifying language, especially around exceptions and definitions, but maintained that parents should generally be the decision-makers.
Committee members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would affect minors who are abused, homeless, estranged from parents, or otherwise without a safe guardian, as well as access to STI treatment, mental health care, contraception, and care after sexual assault. The sponsor repeatedly said children in unsafe situations should come into the child welfare or law enforcement system and that she was open to changes for truly unsafe or unavailable parents, but she rejected the idea that the bill was merely about notification rather than consent. She also defended the survey provisions as a way to stop routine questioning of children about suicide and other sensitive topics without parental awareness, and said the biofeedback language was aimed at school settings where data about children’s anxiety or stress is allegedly being shared with classmates.
Public testimony was heavily divided, with many speakers opposing the bill and describing personal experiences with abuse, rape, mental health crises, lack of supportive parents, and the need for confidential access to birth control, STI testing, and counseling. Opponents argued the bill would delay care, endanger vulnerable minors, and reduce access to medically necessary services and surveys that can identify risk. Supporters said the bill would restore parental authority, improve transparency, and protect children from inappropriate surveys and biometric monitoring. During debate, Sen. Berman and Sen. Davis opposed the bill, saying it conflicts with existing law and could harm vulnerable youth, while Sen. Yarborough supported it, arguing that not all parents are bad actors and that the state should not treat all families as if they were. The transcript ends with debate underway and no final vote or action recorded.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Norwegian immigrants played a significant role in shaping Minnesota's communities, economy, traditions
- ancestral ties to Norway<00:41:12.640><c> uh</c><00:41:13.000><c> Norwegian</c><00:41:13.920><c> immigrants
- </c><00:41:14.880><c> uh</c><00:41:15.000><c> played</c> Norway uh Norwegian immigrants uh played Norway
- uh Norwegian immigrants uh played a<00:41:15.520><c> significant</c><00:41:16.040><c> role</c><00:41
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Micronesians United Big Island in support, Rose Bautista in support, and Liza Gil, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant
- 21:40.240><c> Hawaii</c><00:21:40.600><c> Coalition</c><00:21:41.000><c> for</c><00:21:41.240><c> immigrant
- </c> Gil Hawaii Coalition for immigrant Gil Hawaii Coalition for immigrant rights<00:21:42.039><c> in
Summary:
The joint hearing began with SB 59 on prescription drugs, which drew extensive testimony from insurers, pharmacies, patient advocates, and health organizations. Supporters argued the bill would address PBM practices such as spread pricing, unclear reimbursement, and patient steering, and would help independent pharmacies and lower patient costs by passing rebates through to consumers. Opponents from health plans and PBM-related groups raised concerns, while Walgreens supported the measure and suggested amendments to establish a reimbursement floor. After questions, the committee accepted the Hawaii Pharmacist Association’s proposed amendments, added technical changes and a defective date of December 31, 2050, and voted to pass SB 59 with amendments.
The remainder of the hearing focused on a series of nominations and reappointments to health, aging, disability, mental health, juvenile justice, and advisory boards. Nominees and agency representatives generally described their backgrounds and interest in serving, with support testimony emphasizing experience, continuity, and the value of volunteer service. Several nominees highlighted issues such as mental health access, substance abuse treatment, elder services, language access, disability access, and rehabilitation services. The Department of Health, SHPDA, DHS, and other organizations largely testified in support of the nominees.
No votes were taken on the nominations during the transcript excerpt, and the chair repeatedly thanked the nominees for their service and testimony. The hearing also included brief procedural remarks about time limits, Zoom testimony, and a possible reconvening date in case of technical difficulties.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Jan 23, 2025, 10:00AM HST - State of Judiciary
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They needed help on legal issues from housing to immigration, and many of them simply needed someone
- 59.600><c> to</c> help on legally issues from housing to help on legally issues from housing to immigration
- 01.240><c> many</c><00:21:01.440><c> of</c><00:21:01.600><c> them</c><00:21:01.840><c> simply</c> immigration
- and many of them simply immigration and many of them simply needed<00:21:02.520><c> someone</c><00:21
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Liza Ryan Gil, with the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, testified in support.
- She said the coalition represents 30 immigrant-serving and immigrant-led organizations across the islands
- </c><04:29:01.960><c> rights</c> Hawaii Coalition for immigrant rights Hawaii Coalition for immigrant
- /c><04:29:03.880><c> and</c> representing 30 immigrant serving and representing 30 immigrant serving
- </c><06:07:28.160><c> and</c> Administration stance on immigration and Administration stance on immigration
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:57:47.240><c> And</c><01:57:47.360><c> the</c><01:57:47.480><c> way</c> immigration enforcement
- And the way immigration enforcement.
- It prevents them from selling the data for civil immigration enforcement.
- It prevents them from selling the data for civil immigration enforcement.
- And those public reasons do not include sharing that data for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- is that they are arresting immigrants.
- And so it seems to me to be the opinion that if you are going to terrorize immigrants, you can wear a
- It's a reasonable ask and I think everybody here should support it. immigration enforcement and every
- </c><01:51:10.560><c> And</c> that they are arresting immigrants.
- And that they are arresting immigrants.
Keywords:
assault weapons, semi-automatic rifle, military-style firearm, gun ban, firearms regulation, gun control, public safety, BCA, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, background check, transferee permit, private gun sale, waiting period, felony possession, gross misdemeanor, AR-15, AK-47, Uzi, TEC-9, high-capacity magazine
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 3/17/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- When we immigrated over to this country, we were in slums in many cities in this nation.
- </c><02:25:10.399><c> and</c><02:25:10.520><c> their</c> Allen whereas Irish immigrants and their Allen
- whereas Irish immigrants and their descend<02:25:11.439><c> descendants</c><02:25:12.000><c> have</c
- descendants of those Irish immigrants and<02:25:31.560><c> now</c><02:25:31.840><c> therefore</c><02
- over to this country when we immigrated over to this country we<02:26:10.200><c> were</c><02:26:10.439
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 2 - 41st Legislative Day Jun 25th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Delaware House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- this bill expands and clarifies the office's responsibilities by developing strategies to retain immigrant
- and international students in Delaware, convening stakeholders to address immigrant exploitation and
- this bill expands and clarifies the office's responsibilities by developing strategies to retain immigrant
- and international students in Delaware, convening stakeholders to address immigrant exploitation and
- The office will serve as a central resource for immigration-related information, support language access
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- viewed more than 227,000 times and distributed through schools, health care providers, refugee and immigrant
- ><01:13:38.320><c> and</c> health care providers, refugee and health care providers, refugee and immigrant
- <01:13:39.120><c> networks,</c><01:13:40.000><c> WhatsApp</c><01:13:40.560><c> groups,</c> immigrant
- networks, WhatsApp groups, immigrant networks, WhatsApp groups, robocall<01:13:41.840><c> systems,</c
- As Vermont's immigrant and refugee communities continue to grow, S.243 ensures continued access to these
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Safety Committee Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- behalf of the coalition to abolish slavery and trafficking, the Survivor Justice Center, and the Immigrant
- funding for essential case-related defense services such as investigators, social workers, and immigration
- over 20 years has been supporting families and individuals navigate the criminal, juvenile, and immigration
- In a climate where immigrant communities are under unprecedented attacks from the Trump administration
- In the climate where immigrant communities are under unprecedented attacks from the Trump administration
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.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- cannot name any domestic terror organization; that's just not even within their purview under the Immigration
- cannot name any domestic terror organization; that's just not even within their purview as under the Immigration
Summary:
The Committee on Legislative Review met in executive session and voted House Bill 2408 due pass by an 8-0 roll call. It then considered House Bill 3092, where a House Committee amendment was adopted and rolled into a House Committee substitute despite objections that the amendment had not received a public hearing and would repeal significant insurance-related provisions. The substitute for HB 3092 was then approved 6-3. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 3004, which passed unanimously 9-0.
In open hearing, Representative Hausman presented House Bill 3090 as a transparency measure requiring the state treasurer to report annually on special treasury funds that have had no spending for five years and whether those funds were moved to general revenue. She said the bill would help lawmakers identify inactive accounts and unused money. Members asked how the reporting would work, what funds might be affected, and whether the bill would move unused balances into GR after five years; the sponsor said it would. No witnesses testified for or against, and the hearing closed.
The committee then heard House Bill 3205 from Representative Castile, which would regulate third-party litigation funding, require disclosure of outside and foreign-linked funders, restrict funding from foreign adversaries, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Members questioned the bill’s scope, including whether the foreign-terrorist language could be read too broadly and how liability and funding-risk provisions would work. Testimony in support came from Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Insurance Coalition/Missouri Civil Justice Coalition, and medical associations, all arguing that litigation funding can distort lawsuits, hide outside influence, and expose businesses and plaintiffs to abusive or foreign-backed financing. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded.
WA
WA
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Feb 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So I am a Haitian, a descendant of Haitian immigrants, Haitian, Cuban, Bahamian, and French immigrants
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first temporarily postponed SB 920 on mathematics education. The committee then took up SB 1216, which would revise public school personnel compensation rules to give districts more flexibility in using cost-of-living adjustments, recognizing advanced degrees, and adjusting performance pay limits for educators and other school personnel. Senator Rodriguez said the bill would add tools for recruitment and retention without replacing performance pay, and several members spoke in strong support, emphasizing teacher pay, retention, and the need to invest in education. The bill was reported favorably after roll call.
The committee next considered SB 1036 on school counselors. Senator Claudio explained that the bill addresses counselor shortages by removing a barrier tied to classroom-teacher certification requirements, which she said limits the applicant pool and makes it harder to recruit and retain counselors. Public testimony strongly supported the bill, including students and school personnel who described high counselor-to-student ratios, limited access to counseling, and the importance of mental health and academic guidance. Members also discussed related support roles such as BRACE advisors and the need for more efficient use of district resources and state support.
During debate, senators shared personal examples of how counselors can help students identify goals and access opportunities, while also noting that many counselors are overwhelmed by administrative duties and large caseloads. Senator Claudio closed by saying the bill removes barriers for direct-service professionals and could be paired with future efforts on ratios and streamlined services. CS for SB 1036 was reported favorably by roll call. At the end of the meeting, members recorded their votes on SB 1216, and the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Jan 29th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Many are immigrants. They are targeted because they're already vulnerable.
- What traffickers exploit is vulnerability: homelessness, poverty, foster care, domestic violence, immigration
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized guests in the gallery. The body then took up several gubernatorial appointments: confirmation of Hampas to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Diane White to the State Mining and Geology Board. Each appointment was presented by Senator Grove and approved by roll call, with later calls on the items lifted and the confirmations finalized by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The main floor debate centered on SCR 112, designating January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Senator Grove and several colleagues described human trafficking as modern-day slavery and emphasized survivor support, law enforcement tools, public awareness, and the vulnerability of foster youth, Indigenous women and girls, immigrants, and children targeted online or in hotels and other venues. Senators Rubio, Troy, Valadez, Arreguín, Wahab, and others spoke in strong support, citing local cases, online grooming, and the need for prevention and services. The resolution was adopted on a 38-0 vote.
The Senate also adopted SR 74, which amended the Senate’s standing rules to create two new committees: Emergency Management, and Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. Senator Ashby explained that the new committees would better address wildfire response, disaster preparedness, data privacy, artificial intelligence, and consumer protection. The chamber then approved a consent calendar containing SB 557, SB 57, SB 674, SB 623, and SB 837, all by 39-0 votes. The Pro Tem thanked members and staff for completing deadline-week work and announced the next floor session for February 2, 2026.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Jan 29th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
AZ