Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :

Page 116 of 500
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/26

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • fair pricing and fair members to protect fair pricing and fair markets.<00:30:33.880><c> Thank</c><00
  • We have seen this in a lot of places throughout the country, and we've heard this in other places in
  • </c> back in. back in. Thank<00:57:23.720><c> you.
  • In<00:58:16.400><c> in</c><00:58:17.120><c> uh</c> In in uh In in uh uh uh uh Are<00:58:19.200><c> we
  • in in the<01:05:58.360><c> language.
Bills: HF3794, HF3408
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Feb 26th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In daylight, in sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, and strife?
  • For those of us in this chamber, we measure in committee weeks, in session, in special session, in days
  • in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in a In days in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in
  • attending rubber chicken dinners, in parades, in constituent meetings, in chamber events, in city and
  • You are thoughtful and fair, and you lead in a way that invites everyone's input.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-26 (9:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In daylight, in sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, and strife?
  • For those of us in this chamber, we measure in committee weeks, in session, in special session, in days
  • in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in a In days in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in
  • attending rubber chicken dinners, in parades, in constituent meetings, in chamber events, in city and
  • You are thoughtful and fair, and you lead in a way that invites everyone's input.
Keywords: 998, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Feb 26th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In daylight, in sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, and strife?
  • For those of us in this chamber, we measure in committee weeks, in session, in special session, in days
  • in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in a... ...in days in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning
  • , in attending rubber chicken dinners, in parades, in constituent meetings, in chamber events, in city
  • You are thoughtful and fair, and you lead in a way that invites everyone's input.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no weekend conference. The chamber then took up a long special-order calendar of bills, generally moving each measure through third reading and final passage, often by substituting House companion bills. Early measures included trust law modernization (SB 786/HB 895), military affairs changes and Guard retirement corrections (SB 474), rounding rules for cash transactions as pennies phase out (SB 1074), podiatric medicine regulation and informed-consent requirements (SB 1092), veterans court expansion (SB 50/HB 199), RV park special assessment clarification (SB 118), concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile offenses on military installations (SB 502/HB 351), alcoholic beverage loss deductions (SB 678/HB 1137), and bail bond/pretrial release revisions (SB 600). Most passed unanimously or near-unanimously; SB 600 passed 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and an amendment aligning with the House version and prosecutors’ concerns. The Senate also considered bills on portable electronics and eyewear insurance (SB 772), the linking industry to nursing education fund and health science workforce programs (SB 1246), recovery residences and behavioral health licensing (SB 1030, with a technical amendment on background checks and probationary licenses), felony battery enhancements for repeat offenders and offenses against law enforcement (SB 436), and child welfare changes including foster-home visitor screening, a permanent statewide Step Into Success program, and a best-practices repository (SB 1718). These measures were explained by sponsors as efforts to streamline regulation, improve workforce and health-care training, strengthen public safety, and reduce administrative burdens while preserving safeguards. Votes on these bills were overwhelmingly favorable, with final tallies typically 36-0 or 37-0. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a farewell tribute to Senator Lori Berman. Members from both parties praised her leadership, collegiality, policy work, and advocacy on issues including voting rights, women’s rights, Israel and antisemitism, school safety, breast cancer, and family law. Berman delivered a lengthy farewell reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her caucus leadership, and the importance of dignity, respect, and public service. The Senate adopted a motion to spread her remarks upon the journal and then recessed before returning to continue the calendar.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Feb 26th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In daylight, in sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, and strife?
  • For those of us in this chamber, we measure in committee weeks, in session, in special session, in days
  • in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in a In days in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in
  • attending rubber chicken dinners, in parades, in constituent meetings, in chamber events, in city and
  • You are thoughtful and fair, and you lead in a way that invites everyone's input.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-26 (9:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In daylight, in sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, and strife?
  • For those of us in this chamber, we measure in committee weeks, in session, in special session, in days
  • in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in a In days in Tallahassee, in months of campaigning, in
  • attending rubber chicken dinners, in parades, in constituent meetings, in chamber events, in city and
  • You are thoughtful and fair, and you lead in a way that invites everyone's input.
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Apr 9th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • in its 130th year as the newspaper of record in Hempo County.
  • And whether those take place in, uh, legislatively or in the, in the rulemaking, um, is, you know, part
  • It's known as the Fair Chance Hiring Act. Uh, in 2023, we passed House Bill 1215.
  • Only 23% of wind facilities covered in the study reported using any mitigation practice practices to
  • Uh, and we've seen that in the last year, so in 2024.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • The $4 million reduction that was included in the FY26 budget is requiring us to use one-time fair share
  • in math.
  • in math.
  • A three- to five-year phase-in starting now would be a strong commitment to mitigate the growing needs
  • It is a money issue that needs to be addressed in a very fair, equitable way.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Thu Mar 5, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, you have our testimony in strong support of this measure. Um, this is fairness.
  • Um, this is fairness.<00:48:22.000><c> The</c><00:48:22.240><c> legislature</c><00:48:22.880><c> in</
  • The legislature in their fairness.
  • </c> you in future hearings to indicate in you in future hearings to indicate in your<01:26:17.280><c
  • that</c> the the section in the in the bill that the the section in the in the bill that we're<01:44:
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1531, HD1, which would require the governor or county mayors to provide American Sign Language interpreters during official emergency announcements broadcast on television or the internet, ensure the interpreter is visible, and provide a primary pool feed with picture-in-picture so rebroadcasters would not need to add the feature themselves. Testimony from the Disability and Communication Access Board and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities strongly supported the bill, emphasizing effective communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents and noting that interpreter placement and size can make broadcasts inaccessible. The council requested an effective date of July 1, 2027 to allow implementation time. Members raised concerns about interpreter availability and emergency logistics on Hawaiʻi Island, but the chair moved to pass the bill with amendments reflecting the picture-in-picture recommendation and the later effective date. The committee adopted the motion, with several members voting aye and others voting with reservations. The committee then heard House Bill 1880, HD2, which would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2027, the use or application of pesticides containing 1,3-dichloropropene, such as Telone. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that pesticides are already regulated at both the federal and state levels, with EPA risk assessments and state enforcement of label restrictions, reporting, and school-buffer requirements. The Hawaii Public Health Institute supported the bill, citing cancer and respiratory risks and arguing that safer alternatives exist. In opposition, Dole Food and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said Telone is important for controlling nematodes in pineapple production, that it is applied underground under EPA conditions, and that no comparable registered alternative exists for pineapple; they also said the bill’s 2027 start date is too short for growers to adjust. A representative from the Y Alliance for Progressive Action and Support supported the measure, citing statewide usage data and concerns about drift and chronic health impacts. Committee members questioned both sides about drift monitoring, groundwater impacts, alternative methods, and whether a transition period or research into resistant varieties could reduce reliance on the chemical.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (02/17/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I think that it's fair to ask that it be included in the state's 10-year plan.
  • </c> have in Northern that they have in have in Northern that they have in Northern<00:46:50.160><c>
  • uh</c> that suffice in uh in answering uh that suffice in uh in answering uh representative<01:07:47.599
  • ><c> and</c><01:11:07.120><c> I</c> language um in in a proposed bill, and I language um in in a proposed
  • populations in in systems serving large populations in in New<01:41:39.760><c> Hampshire.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Democrats have a different vision, a vision rooted in fairness, rooted in the words of Franklin Roosevelt
  • Democrats have a different vision, a vision rooted in fairness, rooted in the words of Franklin Roosevelt
  • Democrats have a different vision, a vision rooted in fairness, rooted in the words of Franklin Roosevelt
  • Democrats have a different vision, a vision rooted in fairness, rooted in the words of Franklin Roosevelt
  • c> the</c> vision rooted In fairness rooted in the vision rooted In fairness rooted in the words<07:42
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2012, she courageously led her union in a successful and historic seven-day strike for a fair contract
  • Housing Ordinance, increasing fair housing protections for LGBTQ+ people in Chicago.
  • Housing Ordinance, increasing fair housing protections for LGBTQ+ people in Chicago.
  • I rise in support of H.R. 1549, the China Financial Threat Mitigation Act, sponsored by Mr.
  • <07:47:38.478><c> and</c> Um he was born in 1898 in in Japan and Um he was born in 1898 in in Japan and
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Mar 25th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • So it's the closest thing we have to be in a fair comparison is a convenience store price because of
  • So I just think it's not a fair balance and I'm unfortunately not in a position to support this proposal
  • Regardless, AB 528 is in tension with the state and federal Constitution's right to a fair trial.
  • Regardless, AB528 is in tension with the state and federal constitution's right to a fair trial.
  • We, like John Adams, quoted in the committee analysis, believe that the right to fair trial runs through
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.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, February 10, 2026

Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> in the state and what condition it's in. in the state and what condition it's in.
  • in this in this Wyoming is not alone in this in this pressure.<00:32:36.960><c> National</c><00:32:37.360
  • </c> especially in our role in small especially in our role in small communities. communities. communities
  • </c><01:03:38.160><c> particular</c> involved in the past in this particular involved in the past in
  • </c> back in 2005. back in 2005.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • short uh in in a defective date in short uh in addition<00:11:08.880><c> to</c><00:11:09.000><c> the
  • in strong support in committee stand in strong support in particular<00:16:50.000><c> of</c><00:16:50.240
  • Ten people out of a thousand here in Hawaii... Ten marriages end in divorce in Hawaii.
  • Ten people out of a thousand here in Hawaii... Ten marriages end in divorce in Hawaii.
  • </c> don't even have here in in Hawaii but if don't even have here in in Hawaii but if you're<01:20:52.040
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures on the 1 p.m. agenda. SB 817, relating to out-of-state offices, drew support from DBEDT and several community groups, with questions focused on the requested funding, staffing level, whether the office would expand broadly, and whether the Philippines was being singled out. SB 1578, relating to international affairs, received support from DBEDT and the Attorney General, with the chair noting the bill was intended to help DBEDT analyze Hawaii’s international partnerships and plan next steps. SB 1639, establishing Hawaii Beach Day, had limited testimony and was moved along without substantive debate. SB 582, relating to DBEDT, was also heard with support from state agencies and a few individuals, and was described as a vehicle for organizational and funding changes affecting the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, including moving some positions and programming to general funds and narrowing the works-of-art special fund's uses. The committees then took up recommendations. All three measures were advanced with amendments: SB 817 was amended to include technical changes and a defective effective date of July 1, 2025; SB 1578 was amended to address the Attorney General’s concerns, make the commission subject to Senate confirmation, and add technical changes and a defective date; and SB 582 was amended to incorporate provisions from SB 1577, clarify SFCA authority over performing arts, shift SFCA positions and programming to general funds, restrict the works-of-art special fund, and add a defective date. Each committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendations, with no reservations or no votes noted in the Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee and only Senator Dela Cruz voting no on SB 817 there; in the Economic Development and Tourism committee, SB 817 passed with Senator Kim in reservation and Senator Awa voting no, while SB 1578 and SB 582 passed with Senator Awa voting no. The later 10:00 a.m. agenda hearing focused on SB 1589, relating to the stadium development special fund, and SB 1629, relating to taxation. On SB 1589, the Attorney General asked for clarification of section 3, particularly the proviso about remaining monies lapsing to the general fund if the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District is terminated before completion; the interim stadium manager explained the bill would allow spending of $49.5 million already in the special fund for consultant, construction management, quality assurance, and contingency costs. On SB 1629, testimony was sharply divided: supporters, including film industry and business representatives, said the measure would support local film production, restore prior GET treatment, and help attract studio development; opponents argued the bill was vague, overly favorable to a specific project, and lacked oversight and accountability. The hearing ended with extensive questioning about whether the bill was effectively tailored to a particular studio project and how it related to other film tax credit measures, but no final committee action on SB 1589 or SB 1629 was included in the transcript excerpt.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Apr 24th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the that's in the talk to us that's in the that's in the talk to us that's in the that's in the talk
  • in in most professions there because in in in most professions there because in in in most professions
  • in make and one of the things that's in in make and one of the things that's in in this bill also is
  • in so you've done really good work in in so you've done really good work in in helping us to to deal
  • And in. And in.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

House in Session Apr 24th, 2025

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Please join me in prayer.
  • WE OUTLINE, I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S BASED ON FAIR MARKET VALUE.
  • IN ESSENCE, IT IS FAIR MARKET VALUE. REP. GANTT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR A QUESTION.
  • In communities they are not a part of, in communities they don't even live in, causing so much stress
  • To me, when I was in eighth grade, it was in the bargain bin at the book fair.
Summary: The Florida House of Representatives conducted legislative business including prayer, pledge, and voting on multiple bills. Key legislation included HB 1105 expanding Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, HB 443 on charter school regulations (passed 83-23), and HB 1539 on materials harmful to minors (passed 81-29) after extensive debate about book challenges in schools. Other bills addressed education funding, law enforcement benefits, parole guidelines, and various local issues. The Speaker announced budget negotiations with the Senate have stalled, with disagreements over spending levels and tax cuts. The House will not meet this weekend as originally planned. Session adjourned until tomorrow at 10 AM.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Apr 24th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • in committee business.
  • state employees, a sense of humor and a sense of fair play in Deardberry to legislators legislative
  • He didn't live in the big city of Texarkana. He lived in DeKalb, a suburb.
  • We grant them peace in their sorrow. and hope in their faith.
  • and justice in our courtrooms day in and day out.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 2nd, 2026 at 09:02 am

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • We approved $92 million in bonding to do several things to acquire the southwest corner of the Fair,
  • Regardless of where the State Fair goes, we need investments in pedestrian safety and traffic calming
  • And outside of the state Fair, anyone who drives around in that area is probably frightened.
  • So whether or not we move. the state fairs in the future and it's not up to this board anyway.
  • the which income would be translated in the state fair district, that is state land.
Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session (Part I) Apr 10th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In Dallas? In Dallas. Several of them or one of them?
  • in that.
  • in this state.
  • statute in order to be included in any new programming.
  • Aligning with federal law, this provision in the bill will mitigate conflicts of interest and strengthen
Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, received a House message that H.B. 422 had passed the House, and heard gubernatorial nominations for the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups and adopted a resolution designating June 20, 2025, as Texas Nuclear Legislative Day. Members then considered and passed several bills and resolutions, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. SB 311 passed to final passage on the Texas Supreme Court’s writ power. SB 883, on off-label prescription access for COVID-19 treatment, passed to engrossment. SB 1706, creating an Open Meetings Act exception for certain defense, military, and aerospace deliberations, passed despite concerns from Sen. Eckhardt that the bill’s use of “deliberate” could weaken open-government protections. CS SB 1677, directing a study on diabetes-related amputations, passed with support from Sen. Menendez. SB 1967 expanded flood infrastructure fund eligibility to certain multipurpose projects, and SB 1255, a cleanup bill on mold assessor and remediator regulation, passed unanimously. The Senate also approved CS SJR 40 and CS SB 871, which would change emergency and disaster law to require legislative involvement after prolonged or widespread emergencies and to limit gubernatorial suspension powers, with Sen. Eckhardt questioning whether the bill could slow urgent business closures during a disaster. Additional measures passed included SB 1426 transferring management of the First Capital State Historic Site to the Texas Historical Commission, SB 249 requiring TxDOT to fund memorial markers for fallen peace officers, SB 1592 centralizing collection of hotel occupancy taxes from accommodation intermediaries, SB 1271 allowing concurrent jurisdiction on military installations for certain juvenile matters, SB 745 creating a higher penalty for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, SB 365 shortening the academic fresh start waiting period at public colleges, and SB 1171 adjusting compensation and standards for certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspector general employees. CS SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, passed after questions about its relationship to federal homeland security and its focus on border security and critical infrastructure. The latter part of the session focused heavily on CS SB 38, a major eviction and squatter-related bill. Sen. Bettencourt described widespread squatter cases and argued the bill, with a Moody amendment, would clarify notice and eviction procedures while balancing property-owner and tenant rights. Sen. West said he supported addressing squatters but worried the broader eviction changes could harm vulnerable renters, especially single mothers, and said he would vote present not voting. The discussion continued with additional testimony from Sen. Kolkhorst about the need for a balanced eviction process.