Video & Transcript Research : 'state waters'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

GVO DEFER, GVO Public Hearings 02-05-2026

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um given the state building projects.
  • through the state.
  • <00:21:48.559> Ethics Robert Harris, Hawaii State Ethics Robert Harris, Hawaii State Ethics
  • the state. the state.
  • for that state SAR coordinator. for that state SAR coordinator. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
Summary: The committee met for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week and took up a series of government operations, procurement, public records, public meetings, and related bills. Several measures were deferred one week to February 12, 2026, including bills on state construction projects, government accountability, gubernatorial appointments, the legislature, public procurement, and a bill on Hawaiian lei sales, largely so the committee could compare similar measures, address concerns, or integrate related reports. The committee also deferred SB 2449 on public meetings for the year, citing concerns that the proposed business-day definition was overly prescriptive and unnecessary. The committee passed several bills with amendments. These included measures clarifying UIPA applicability to records created or maintained by agencies, with amendments changing “government function” to “agency function” and committee report language noting Attorney General concerns and exempting ERS for now; SB 2811 on state building projects with technical amendments and a delayed effective date; SB 2809 on budget-related reports; SB 2336 on trees, with a Senate draft and removal of “political subdivision”; SB 2308 on small purchase vendor compliance, setting the threshold at $5,000 and adding a delayed effective date; SB 2601 on procurement, reorganizing misdemeanor language and leaving funding/FTE issues to Ways and Means; SB 2219 on a capital visitor center working group; and SB 2849 on public meetings, with technical amendments and a delayed effective date. Bills on neighborhood board concerns and public notice were also adopted, with SB 2929 drawing testimony both for and against. Testimony was generally supportive on procurement and small business measures, especially SB 2928 establishing permanent small business procurement coordinator positions, which drew strong support from the State Procurement Office, DBEDT, the Chamber of Commerce, DOT, the Ethics Commission, and others. On public notice, the County of Maui supported allowing website posting, while another witness raised concerns about accessibility, centralized notice locations, and impacts on kūpuna and people with disabilities. On search and rescue, the committee heard support for creating a statewide coordination structure, along with discussion of where such an office should reside; the Attorney General raised constitutional and placement concerns, while witnesses suggested law enforcement, DLNR, or DoD as possible homes. The committee also heard support for a bill protecting home addresses of covered public servants and candidates, though the Public First Law Center urged broader coverage and a better fit with existing law.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

GVO Public Hearing 02-03-2026

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • This establishes within DAGS, um, the office of the state architect to be directed by a state architect
  • state procurement office. state procurement office.
  • state managers managing state projects, and that I think might be one of the reasons why we have this
  • Um we have state coming in via Zoom. Um we have state librarian.
  • center within the state capital. center within the state capital.
Summary: The committee heard several government operations measures, beginning with SB 2064 on state construction projects, which would create an office of the state architect within DAGS to oversee design review and approvals for state construction. DAGS said it stood on its written testimony, DECAB supported the bill, DOT supported it, and HGA opposed it. No audience testimony or member questions were taken, and the chair moved on. The committee then took up SB 2312 on government contracts, which would make records held by private contractors performing government functions subject to UIPA. The State Procurement Office, Attorney General, OIP, ERS, DHS, and HGA offered comments or opposition, while the League of Women Voters, Public First Law Center, All Hawaii News, Grassroots, and several individuals supported the bill. Public First Law Center argued the bill closes a loophole and does not expand or reduce existing exemptions, while OIP and others raised concerns about privacy, confidential information, and the need for clearer procedures. Members discussed possible clarifying amendments, including changing “government function” to “agency,” and the bill was left for further consideration. Other measures discussed included SB 2662 on government accountability, which would require justification and caps for external consultants; ERS and DOT opposed it, while the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii and Airlines Committee of Hawaii argued consultants are often more efficient and necessary for major projects. The committee also heard SB 2744 on due process, for which no testimony was received; SB 2809 on budget-related reports, with comments from B&F and the Tax Foundation; SB 2862 on gubernatorial appointments, opposed by the Governor’s Office and the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission and supported by one individual; a bill on continuous legislative sessions, with comments from B&F, LRB, and Hope for Hawaii; SB 2336 on tree management standards, supported by an individual and the Outdoor Circle; and SB 2075 on public procurement local preferences, which drew broad support with comments from SPO and the Attorney General and discussion of simplifying the preference structure. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly moved measures along after testimony and questions.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Administrative Rules Apr 27th, 2026

Administrative Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the State Medicaid Director with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
  • Other states do not have this.
  • We've done listening tours across the state.
  • So it's not impacting the state appropriations.
  • So it's not impacting the state appropriations.
Bills: SJR50, SJR51, SJR52, SJR53, SJR54
Summary: The Senate Committee on Administrative Rules met with a quorum and considered five Oklahoma Health Care Authority and OMMA rules resolutions. Senate Joint Resolution 50 was presented as a federal-law conformity change allowing licensed professional counselors, LBHPs, and licensed alcohol and drug counselors to work as eligible providers in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics; despite questions about the fiscal estimate, it passed 9-0. SJR 51 was amended to correct rule citations related to human genome sequencing, then failed on a 4-5 vote after members noted an estimated $860,000 fiscal impact tied to legislation. SJR 52, removing physician visit limits in Medicaid, was described as an access-to-care and rural health measure that could reduce ER use; it passed 8-1. The committee then took up SJR 53 from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which would align rules with statutes requiring prepackaging of medical marijuana products and other provisions. Members questioned OMMA extensively about the economic impact, the discrepancy between the agency’s estimate and Loft’s much larger estimate, and whether the rules were already being implemented under emergency authority. OMMA said the rules mirrored existing statutes and that the cost would fall on the industry and ultimately consumers, not the agency. After debate about regulatory fairness and the effect on the industry, the resolution passed 5-4. Finally, SJR 54, a non-major OMMA rule change renaming the adjudicator from administrative law judge to hearing examiner to match the Administrative Procedures Act, drew concerns about independence and whether OMMA should be required to contract for outside adjudicators. The director said the change was only a terminology alignment and would not alter current practice, and Senator Bergstrom said he would pursue legislation next year to require outside contracting. An amendment changed the committee’s position from disapprove to approve, but the underlying resolution still failed 4-5. The committee then adjourned.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 1437 is directing the State Department of Education to establish certain guidelines, administer
  • obesity plan. ...or information from these results to work on the state obesity plan.
  • talk to us a little bit about the benefits and the wonderful things that have been happening in our state
  • Department of Education and the State Board of Education to select those programs and those specific
  • While I wasn't there, there wasn't a lot to glean from the audit... ...by the State Auditor.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • or local government, two, contributed to the residents of this state in an extraordinary way through
  • And three, contributed to the residents of this state in an extraordinary way as a member of the Texas
  • Okay, go ahead and state your name, your position on the bill. Jose Padilla.
  • Dan Post Company to come work as a master bootmaker here in the States.
  • SCR 23 does not create any mandates or new costs. for schools or the state.
Bills: SB2053, SCR19, SCR23, SCR29
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 3/24/26

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • main add a second water tower and water main add a second water tower and water main loop. loop.
  • water main to connect it to our water system.
  • Um, we've, as I previously stated, probably $350,000 into water main extension and land purchase.
  • this water main, about 3 mi of water this water main, about 3 mi of water main,<00:29:24.000>
  • around the state. around the state.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Transportation, Highways and Public Works Mar 23rd, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then for a state ID, you go to OMV to get a state ID, correct.
  • It's the state, right? The state pays for the maintenance of state-owned buildings? Yes.
  • It was a state school.
  • It's state by state by state that had to pass this type of... Louisiana-specific.
  • It's state by state by state that had to pass this type of recognition.
Summary: The House Transportation Committee heard an update from Office of Motor Vehicles leadership, who said the agency had achieved efficiencies, was operating in the black, had improved employee morale and staffing, and expected to begin testing the driver’s license portion of its modernization project in September. Members then took up several OMV-related bills. HB 781, creating a fleet vehicle registration program, was amended to delay implementation until January 1, 2028 or until the OMV registration system is updated, and was reported with amendments. HB 712, which waives OMV fees for driver’s licenses and state IDs for homeless persons who meet eligibility requirements, drew support from homelessness advocates and some members who said it would remove a barrier to work, safety, and housing; concerns were raised about verification and workload, but the bill was amended to require the department to waive fees and to require proof of homeless status, then reported by a recorded vote. HB 372, requiring OMV public education on roundabouts, was discussed as a safety and awareness measure, but the author agreed to voluntarily defer it in favor of pursuing a resolution or other approach. The committee also advanced HB 746 on oversized trucking permits after amendments clarified a one-year moratorium on new local permit requirements while preserving existing permits, and HB 732, which would allow the OMV commissioner to waive or reduce certain fees in humanitarian cases such as hospice, was reported favorably. HB 722, providing for automatic reinstatement of driver’s licenses after payment of fees and fines except for DUI-related suspensions, was amended and reported with amendments. HB 593, increasing the maximum local service fee for certain OMV field offices, prompted debate over costs to motorists and local control; an amendment exempted Shreveport, and the bill was reported with amendments by a 9-5 vote. HB 613, adding an eagle image to indicate U.S. citizenship on licenses and IDs, was amended and reported with a recorded 8-5 vote after members questioned its practical effect and recognition outside Louisiana. The committee also heard HB 582 and HB 762 on insurance lapse fees and debt recovery, with HB 582 reported favorably after the author agreed to work with another member on a similar bill, while HB 762 was discussed as a way to avoid adding a 15% Office of Debt Recovery fee to OMV-related debts.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House State Government Committee Feb 12th, 2025

State Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • State and federal mandates that must be addressed in addition to that.
  • It happened all over the state.
  • Not a part of the national agenda that's coming down from state to state that you have to promote because
  • You do well with your agendas; you get it state by state. When I look at this, you can stand...
  • Saw a need in our states and started pursuing it.
Bills: HB141, HB161, HB231, HB67
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Apr 7th, 2026

Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 3621 creates the Oklahoma State Data Center within LSP.
  • The state demographer will still be the employee from Commerce, as my understanding.
Bills: HB3622
Summary: The Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism committee met and laid over items 4 and 5 before taking up three census-related bills. House Bill 3620 was presented as creating the 2030 Census Committee and was advanced after brief questions and a unanimous 5-0 roll call vote. House Bill 3621 was then considered; the author requested and received unanimous consent to strike the enacting clause, then explained that the bill would create an Oklahoma State Data Center within LSP to centralize census data. A question from Minority Leader Kurt clarified that the state demographer would remain with Commerce, while the new center would aggregate data for transparency. The bill passed 6-0. House Bill 3622 was next, creating a census revolving fund with an initial appropriation of about $500,000. In response to a question, the author said the funding was expected to be included in the current budget/allotment for policy items still moving through. After no further debate, the committee approved the bill 7-0. The meeting then adjourned.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Mar 4th, 2026

Military and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • us and direct us and guide us for all that they are and what a great service they have given to the state
  • I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
  • 01:06.720> United allegiance to the flag of the United allegiance to the flag of the United States
  • 08.760> and<00:01:08.960> to<00:01:09.120> the<00:01:09.240> republic States
  • of America and to the republic States of America and to the republic for<00:01:10.000> which<
Bills: SB216, SB229, SB216, SB229
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Mar 20th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 1470 is a simple bill to allow the Secretary of State to obtain data from DPS regarding cross-state
  • There are resource witnesses from DPS and the Secretary of State. ...for the Secretary of State to use
  • As you mentioned, this is a rare system among the states. Most states have one single high court.
  • The only other state that has two high courts is Oklahoma.
  • State your name and position. My name is Allen Place.
Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs met and heard several bills related to legislative process and court jurisdiction. Senate Bill 1386, by Senator Huffman, would change compelled legislative testimony from blanket transactional immunity to testimonial immunity, allowing compelled statements or documents to be used against a witness in criminal prosecution only if not derived from the compelled testimony, while preserving protection against perjury and false statements and retaining the right to counsel. No public witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1470, by Chairman Hughes, which would require DPS to share existing data on cross-state driver’s license cancellations with the Secretary of State for voter-roll maintenance. Hughes said the bill does not create new data collection and is intended to improve list maintenance. A DPS resource witness was present, there was no substantive opposition, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1210, also by Hughes, would address conflicts between the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals on constitutional questions by making the Supreme Court the final arbiter in limited circumstances. Chris Hilton supported the bill, but Allen Place, Jack Rohde, and Philip Furlow opposed it, arguing it was unconstitutional, unnecessary, and could create practical problems in criminal post-conviction litigation. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 311, which would conform the Government Code to the Texas Constitution by clarifying the Supreme Court’s original writ authority against lower courts and officials other than the governor. Justice Evan Young and Chris Hilton supported the bill as a clarification of existing authority, while no one testified against it; the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed to allow the chamber to rearrange for the Senate session.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Finance (Part I) Feb 13th, 2025

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • I want to make sure we don't get back into those troubled waters again.
  • We have done what we have done for the state of Texas.
  • , and so I hope that represents the state of Texas well.
  • I am the presiding officer of the Texas State Dental Board.
  • Yu stated.
Bills: SB1
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings. The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors. The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Jan 22nd, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Father, we come before you humbly asking your hand of protection upon those in our state that are dealing
  • We ask your hand of protection across our state for wisdom and discernment for our members of the Senate
  • and the legislature, our state leaders, that maybe we may be... ...and the legislature, our state leaders
  • Members, as you know, some parts of the state are still experiencing hazardous travel conditions from
Bills: SJR36, SB1
Summary: The Senate convened briefly with an opening prayer by Senator Birdwell, who asked for protection and wisdom for Texans affected by severe weather, as well as for state and national leaders. The chair noted hazardous travel conditions from the winter storm and advised that attendance was not essential for affected members and staff; the journal was to reflect the weather event. The chair announced the signing of Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 in the presence of the Senate. On first reading and referral, the secretary read Senate Joint Resolution 36 by Hall, proposing a constitutional amendment related to appropriations for preserving certain items of historical moment, and Senate Bill 1 by Huffman, the General Appropriations Act. A motion in writing was then offered by Senator Zaffirini to recess the Senate until 10 a.m. Friday, January 24. With no objection, the motion carried and the Senate recessed until that time.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Jan 21st, 2026

Ways and Means Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's all covered in current state law.
  • That's all covered in current state law.
  • State certified.
  • or 20% reduction of federal or state or 20% reduction of federal or state receipts.<00:15:24.000
  • Other states do this. By consolidate. Other states do this.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 4/14/26

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Clean water is an issue that touches every corner and every community in our state.
  • I think states and regions that get water right are going to win the century, attract people to move
  • I think states and regions that get water right are going to win the century, attract people to move
  • uh states and regions that get water uh states and regions that get water right<00:51:22.319>
  • > billing state assessment systems, state billing state assessment systems, state billing systems
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/04/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's already been done in many, many states.
  • And this has been being done for many decades in many other states.
  • And this is a good idea, tried and done in other states. And so I'm so glad to see you.
  • Police are required to wear body cameras in most states.
  • One of my children whose story is still very much on the state is Rebecca Baptiste.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

AdministrationAudio only. May 23rd, 2025

Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Not sure if y'all know a lot about it, but it was a nuisance to the state of Texas.
  • They were bypassing a lot of the laws that the state of Texas put in place.
  • The state of Texas allows the officers to give it to their discretion.
  • People just think, oh, people just got to get to to work and they have to live their lives and the state
  • capability and aerospace technology, and these contributions have brought profound benefits to our state
Bills: HCR 10, HCR 9
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee Apr 16th, 2025

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill converts those four to one at-large seat in the United States and three at-large in the state
  • I understand completely because you remember the 1963 state Senate districts.
  • We know four state at-large, and then y'all have them in state Senate districts.
  • We represent the 14 public four-year universities in the state.
  • You are the future of this state. ...state. You are the future of this state.
Bills: SB278, HB459, HB61