Video & Transcript Research : 'legislative rules'

Page 120 of 500
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • by state and federal um legislative by state and federal um legislative bodies<00:50:51.119>
  • . legislation. legislation.
  • of uh proposed legislation. of uh proposed legislation.
  • submitting the legislation. submitting the legislation. Thank<02:31:46.000> you.
  • legislation can be kind of confusing. legislation can be kind of confusing.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee opened hearings on SB 69, including a germane amendment on school board votes to accept or reject gifts and donations, and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Prime sponsor Rep. Glenn Cordelli said the literacy program was modeled on earlier HB 671, would be funded through gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements to the governor and legislature. Members questioned changes from the earlier bill, including the move away from center-based language, the lack of a dollar threshold for school board action on donations, anonymous gifts, and whether the amendment preserved enough evaluation data. Testimony on the donation provisions raised concerns about broad language, timing, and public-meeting requirements. Rep. Timothy Han and Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association both noted that school districts already have policies and asked how the bill would work for routine donations, anonymous gifts, and situations that might require non-public discussion under right-to-know law. Wilson cited examples such as field-trip scholarships, backpack drives, and sports uniforms, and said the association was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails. Rep. Han said school boards may need to discuss some gifts in non-public session and that the bill should better address those circumstances. On the early literacy amendment, Wilson and others questioned whether the program was sufficiently developed, whether it was appropriate to rely on a primarily online model for very young children, and how it would interact with special education services and IEPs. A representative from Waterford.org, Rob Riley, testified in support, saying the program would be supplementary, adaptive, and family-engagement based, and that Waterford could provide devices and internet access for families who need them. He said the program would work alongside school districts and IEP teams rather than replace existing services. No vote was taken during the hearing; the chair said the committee would later exec the bills and try to get reports in for the calendar.
NJ

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

Senate Session Jun 18th, 2026

New Jersey Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Joint legislative resolution by Senator Diegnan, Assembly members Karabinchak and Stanley.
  • So continuing with our week on the Secretary's desk, joint legislative resolution by Senator...
  • The existing... ...and Appropriations Committee regarding this legislation.
  • Substitution motion by Senator Cruz-Perez: Resolved that pursuant to Rule 17:3, Assembly...
  • Motion by Senator Lagana: Resolved that pursuant to Rule 17:3, Assembly Bill A-40...
Keywords: 1146, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Energy Resources Apr 14th, 2025

Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas House Rules.
  • This legislation for that? No, sir. No, sir.
  • . ...through their own rules.
  • or they have not complied with the rule.
  • One of the rules... in the Railroad Commission is that all the rules are highly favorable to the oil
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session F Jun 1st, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Rules Chair, you're recognized for motions. Mr.
  • President, I move that rules be waived and SJR 2F and SB 4F be placed on the...
  • Madam Rules Chair, you're recognized for another motion. Thank you, Mr. President.
  • Madam Rules Chair, you're recognized for another motion. Thank you, Mr. President.
  • Madam Rules Chair, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. President.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Insurance - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 9:00 AM

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Any questions on this legislation?
  • Any questions on this legislation?
  • Any questions on this legislation?
  • Any questions on this legislation?
  • There's no legislative appropriation. There's no legislative appropriation.
Summary: The committee took up several insurance and health-related bills. Earlier discussion focused on metastatic cancer step therapy and biomarker testing, with the sponsor explaining that the bills would prevent insurers from requiring patients to try less effective treatments first and would require coverage for biomarker testing to better target treatment. The biomarker bill was described as a product of a summer study committee and was reported favorably. The committee also advanced a bill setting standards tied to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and a private residence elevator bill requiring licensing, inspection, and permitting for elevator installers, with an amendment exempting those elevators from annual inspections after the initial inspection. Members then considered a mitigation program for retrofitting homes, with the sponsor saying the Department of Insurance and industry were close to a workable statewide program. The bill would be funded by increasing a fee paid by insurance companies, not policyholders, and would allow use of a third-party administrator capped at 5% of program funds. The committee also reported bills extending the state health plan repealer, extending the LOSAP volunteer firefighter program repealer, and creating a fraud detection trust fund at the Insurance Department to address AI- and cyber-related fraud. The fraud fund bill drew questions about whether it would raise premiums and how it would help investigators; supporters said the fund would support staffing and equipment and that the existing fund had been dormant. Additional bills included a transparency measure for dental insurance spending, which would require reporting on the share of premiums spent on dental services beginning in 2027, and a bill expanding access to self-funded group health plans for members of legitimate professional and trade associations. The committee also heard a Mississippi Patient Protection Act aimed at strengthening willing-provider protections and limiting insurer discrimination against qualified providers; an amendment was proposed to clarify that vision benefit managers would not be treated as pharmacy benefit managers. Most measures were moved by title sufficient due pass and reported without opposition.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight Dec 3rd, 2025

Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • Washington State Legislative Assembly Days.
  • Nicole Macri, House Rep., 43rd Legislative District, Seattle.
  • Hello, Lisa Callan, Fifth Legislative District, House.
  • I don't think we have a legislative need at this point.
  • And the other theme is, and I know this is probably hard for legislators, having been a legislative staffer
Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who introduced herself and described her background in public service, federal and state legislative work, and health and human services leadership. Members emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with her and noted her focus on protecting services, using strategic approaches in a tight budget environment, and improving partnerships with the Legislature. Ramirez said she wanted to keep communication open and that her priorities would be shaped by what she learns from lawmakers and agency partners. The next work session focused on the West Coast Health Alliance and the broader Governor’s Public Health Alliance. Department of Health and governor’s office staff said the West Coast alliance, involving Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, was formed to coordinate science-based public health guidance, especially around vaccines, return-to-work guidance, and responses to federal changes. They said the alliance is intended to reduce confusion, counter misinformation, and preserve access to evidence-based recommendations, with early actions including vaccine guidance for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, a statement rejecting any vaccine-autism link, and preparation for possible ACIP changes. Members asked about workload and coordination with other regional alliances, and staff said there is informal coordination but no formal regular meetings. The committee then heard from the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange about open enrollment and the effects of federal policy changes. Exchange leaders said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, HR1 provisions, and immigration-related eligibility changes are affecting affordability and enrollment, with some customers facing large premium increases and some counties becoming harder to serve. They reported early open-enrollment traffic increases, nearly 10,000 new sign-ups, and nearly 12,000 active coverage drops so far, while noting that many more people may disenroll later if subsidies are not extended. They also described mitigation efforts such as silver loading, Cascade Care Savings, outreach through navigators and community partners, and planning for future HR1 requirements like ending auto-renewal and adding verification steps. In the final work session, staff from the Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner’s office reviewed Washington’s health reform history and the state’s current affordability and access efforts. They highlighted past ACA-related coverage gains, continued work on prescription drug affordability, PBM oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, and a pending legislative proposal to preserve access to preventive services. They also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and the exchange, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, and the need to coordinate across agencies to implement new rules. Members raised concerns about network adequacy, provider access, and the complexity of the health care system, while staff said they are trying to mitigate harm, simplify administration, and keep coverage and access as stable as possible.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 33 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Donahue of Worcester moves to suspend Rule 47 in order to... Mr.
  • Rules are suspended.
  • These restrictions are consistent with a recent ruling of the U.S.
  • That would be compliance with this legislation.”
  • That's why I filed H-715 legislation to support phone-free schools, legislation that is now part of the
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House first recognized several student athletes and teams, including East Bridgewater cheerleaders, Medway athletes and teams, and the Housatonic Valley basketball team, and adopted a resolution congratulating the William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps on its 25th anniversary. Members also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance a petition concerning an extension of a lease authorization for conservation land. The chamber then took up Senate 2581, as amended, a major education and youth technology bill. The bill was rewritten to promote safe technology use and distraction-free education, including restrictions on personal electronic devices in public schools and limits on social media access for children. Members debated whether the policy should be bell-to-bell or allow more local flexibility, and several amendments were offered. An amendment from Attleboro to preserve district-specific policies was rejected, while a consolidated amendment tightening social media restrictions and related protections was adopted. The House also considered and passed several other bills, including measures amending the Sandwich charter, authorizing Springfield to help certain residents with local tax obligations, authorizing charity alcohol auctions, and directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for a specific police applicant. In addition, the House rejected concurrence on a Senate version of a higher education infrastructure bill and instead appointed a committee of conference. Later, the House accepted a conference report on modernizing cannabis laws after debate focused on regulatory streamlining, equity, ownership caps, and hemp regulation. The report was adopted by roll call, and the House then passed the amended education bill to be engrossed before adjourning to the next day.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • A new rule from the CFPB regarding payday lending was set to go into effect nationwide in March.
  • <00:10:37.279> would Nationwide in March this rule would Nationwide in March this rule would
  • The new rules would cap them at $5, or whatever cost is incurred.
  • <00:21:26.080> session the course of the legislative session the course of the legislative
  • differently um at the State Legislative differently um at the State Legislative level<00:21:33.679
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Feb 26th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This legislation is needed because, without concurrent legislative jurisdiction, juvenile misconduct
  • and the passage of this legislation, and that is the bill.
  • Lori, I've known you my entire legislative career.
  • Thank you for making us better legislators.
  • Even I, Miss Rule Follower, broke a caucus position to support this legislation.
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.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Informal House Session 89 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Report of the Committee on Rules.
  • Rules are suspended. Question now is on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye.
  • Joint Rule 12 is suspended.
  • Rule 7A is suspended.
  • Rule 7A is suspended.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Wellesley High School girls tennis team, which was recognized for winning its second consecutive Division I state championship. The chamber then adopted several resolutions, including one commending the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance for recognizing October 15, 2025 as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day and another congratulating Topsfield on its 375th anniversary. The House also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including proposals related to law enforcement masks, a sick leave bank for a Department of Correction employee, Agent Orange Awareness Day, and an orange star license plate for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The House next took up scheduling and advanced several local and private bills. House Bill 667 on school absences, House Bill 4381 regarding the Norwood town moderator term, and House Bill 4565 establishing a sick leave bank for Marie Latendry were ordered to a third reading. House Bills 3914 and 3963, concerning disability retirement for a Randolph police officer and retirement for a former Westfield firefighter, were also advanced to third reading. The chamber then passed House Bill 360, which further regulates on-premises alcohol licenses in Holyoke, to be enacted. After a moment of silent tribute to Clara Fallon of Fall River, the House continued with third-reading action on several bills, passing Senate Bill 2566 on fisheries commission matters, House Bills 3899, 42010, 4348, and 4514 to be engrossed, and House Bill 4243 on Ipswich’s town manager residency requirement. On House Bill 4243, Representative Walsh offered and the House adopted an amendment striking Section 2 before passing the bill as amended. The House also adopted an order to adjourn and then adjourned to meet Monday at 11 a.m. in an informal session.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/20/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The committee rules recommend the following bill for proper consideration.
  • I'm concerned that Representative Weninger brought us this legislation.
  • They've been following the rules.
  • So this is the kind of legislation, resolution...
  • We cannot continue to do these kinds of legislation.
Keywords: 1182, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 05/12/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • > into<00:05:50.400> your Legislate our higher selves into your Legislate our higher selves
  • hour and change all the rules. hour and change all the rules.
  • the rules and talking through the rules. the rules and talking through the rules.
  • necessitating this legislation?
  • that's necessitating this legislation that's necessitating this legislation legislation legislation
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
  • rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
  • rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
  • rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
  • rule, Insurance Rule 1000, part of the rule that pertains to P&C insurance, Insurance Rule 1002, and
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee took up HB 297 with a non-germane amendment proposed by the Insurance Department to create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Commissioner DJ Beton explained that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce rising insurance premiums and avoid surplus lines coverage by funding proactive home and property improvements such as roof fortification, exterior and foundation work, flood protection, and tree removal. He said the proposal was developed after leadership asked for more statutory detail and for the idea to be vetted through policy committees rather than handled only in the budget process. Beton said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. He described the program as modeled on similar efforts in other states, with means testing tied to the Department of Energy’s weatherization/home heating assistance criteria. He also said the department would administer the program using one existing staff position, with coordination through Treasury, and that unspent funds would roll over for several years before reverting to the general fund. Members asked about the unusual use of a non-germane amendment and how the bill would be handled procedurally, since the underlying bill and the new insurance proposal were unrelated. The chair explained that the amendment was being used as a vehicle to move the department’s proposal through the committee process and that the committee could later accept one part, both parts, or neither. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting shown; the discussion ended with questions about administration, staffing, and the relationship between the underlying bill and the amendment.
PA

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session (Jul 11 2026)

Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • meeting, which will be held immediately in the Rules Room.
  • Attention, all members of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, please report to the Rules Room
  • I rise to seek a ruling from the chair under Rule 20 as to whether I can vote on Amendment A4183 to House
  • Senator Rothman requests a ruling of the chair pursuant to Rule 20 to see whether the member has a direct
  • Pursuant to Rule 10, the remarks will be submitted.
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine administrative business, including approval of the June 1, 2026 journal and several leave requests. The chamber then took up a series of bills and committee referrals, with House Bill 1042 initially sent to Appropriations and later re-referred to Rules and Executive Nominations after committee action. Several other measures were either passed, held over in their order, or re-referred, including House Bills 36 and 513 to Appropriations and various Senate and House bills set aside for later consideration. The most substantive floor debate centered on House Bill 96, where Senator Yaw offered Amendment A4096 to clarify the legal effect of historic tax sales of unseated lands. The amendment would treat certain historic tax-sale deeds as conveying full fee simple ownership, including severed subsurface rights, unless those rights were separately assessed, and would require documentary proof for claims of redemption. The amendment passed 36-14. The Senate also adopted Amendment A4183 to House Bill 1862 after a ruling that Senator Rothman had no conflict of interest and was required to vote; that amendment passed 46-4. Later, Amendment A4173 to House Bill 2559 was adopted 49-1, and House Bill 2559 then passed as amended. Several bills received final passage by unanimous 50-0 votes, including House Bills 482, 1102, 1830, 1860, and 2426, while House Bill 1862 and House Bill 96 were advanced as amended. The Senate also returned a slate of gubernatorial nominations to the governor on motion of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. During petitions and remonstrances, Senator Tartaglione urged action to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, arguing the budget should not ignore low-wage workers. The session also included recognition remarks for Ed Sheehan’s retirement and a submission to the record on the Treaty of Paris. The Senate then recessed until July 12, 2026, at noon, and several bills were signed in the presence of the Senate before recess.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Apr 9th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • All those not entitled to the privilege of the floor under the rules of the House, please.
  • God help each legislator and staff here in these hallowed chambers.
  • I move to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider House Resolution 825.
  • I'm not suspending the rules. I'm not suspending the necessary and unnecessary rules.
  • The rules are suspended. Call the resolution. The clerk will read the resolution.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Insurance Jun 4th, 2026

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • soon as he gets the legislation written, bring it to us.
  • For legislation passed in the 89th session, we have several rule projects, including four proposals that
  • We're really grateful for that legislation.
  • Participation rules, right?
  • consider transparency legislation before you move forward with any legislation that would significantly
Keywords: 1184, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 21st, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those rules and standards should be upheld.
  • rule.
  • and creating a comprehensive set of rules and regulations.
  • So thank you for your time in hearing this legislation.
  • This legislation is more than a policy fix.
Bills: HB240
Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of county and regional government bills, with most measures left pending after testimony. HB 2097 would let counties that opt in give sheriff’s deputies an alternative appeal route for certain discipline cases through an independent hearing examiner instead of the Civil Service Commission. The author and a CLEET witness said it would be faster, cheaper, and fairer; questions focused on why the bill was needed and whether sheriffs could already use such a process. No opposition testified, and the bill was left pending. HB 4642 drew extensive testimony after the author said it was prompted by a death involving an out-of-state jail contract. The bill would require counties contracting with out-of-state jail facilities to include Texas-like jail standards and oversight provisions. The author, a former detainee held in Louisiana, his wife, and a Texas Jail Project advocate described poor conditions, lack of accountability, and multiple deaths of Texans housed out of state. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards director said five counties are currently housing 1,251 Texas inmates out of state, mostly because of staffing shortages, and said the bill would give the commission more authority and oversight. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4350, which would allow peace officers to request redaction of personal information from online real property records. Supporters said officers face retaliation risks and should have protections similar to judges and other officials; a title industry witness cautioned that redaction should not compromise the integrity of land records. The bill was left pending. HB 3687 would require county fire marshals in counties over 100,000 to meet specified training and certification standards, and HB 4105 and HB 4205 would give Harris County preferences in construction contracting and require pay parity for comparable law enforcement ranks within the county, respectively; all drew support from county officials and were left pending. HB 5403 would repeal a special rule requiring Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs to get commissioners court approval for commissary disbursements, and it was also left pending. Later, HB 4462 would let elected county officials in large counties choose outside counsel in civil cases involving them, rather than relying solely on the county attorney. Supporters argued this would reduce conflicts of interest and protect officials’ reputations; questions centered on who qualifies and whether it could conflict with county interests. Finally, HB 240 would restore a five-member quorum requirement for Harris County tax levies, effectively requiring all commissioners to be present before a new tax rate can be adopted; supporters framed it as a taxpayer protection, while the Conference of Urban Counties opposed it as giving one member a de facto veto and potentially disrupting the budget process. Both bills were left pending.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Feb 18th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House for the sixth legislative day.
  • She is an IT consultant for our legislative website and will be observing the legislative process.
  • So, the teeth of this legislation... will this have to...
  • Um, what legislative day is this? I think... oh, the seventh. Seventh legislative day, yes sir.
  • the next legislative day.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • I will remind the committee that, due to our own rule of not making any committee substitutes within
  • It's been hit in seven different states; have filed legislation.
  • different states have filed legislation different states have filed legislation but<00:04:24.080
  • So this is very important that we put in some type of rules, regulations, and guardrails.
  • Help them learn about the legislative process, and it is next Tuesday.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The committee met to hear a bill aimed at regulating paid veterans’ claims consultants and protecting veterans from bad actors. Chair Denine opened by emphasizing transparency, the need to hear concerns, and that the meeting was a hearing only, with no immediate vote expected. Senator David Yates, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to protect veterans by requiring clear written disclosure when a veteran uses a for-profit consultant, including that the consultant is not accredited or affiliated with VA or veterans’ service organizations. He said the proposal was based on best practices from other states, would include guardrails rather than a total ban, and was being slowed to allow further review and possible amendments. Testimony reflected both support for the bill’s intent and disagreement over its scope. A committee member and later witnesses stressed that veterans should be able to make informed choices and that some private consultants and law firms have helped veterans, but they also acknowledged bad actors and the need for rules, accreditation, and fee limits. James Toby of the VFW opposed the bill as written, arguing it conflicts with federal rules by allowing fees on initial claims and urging the committee to reject it in favor of legislation that mirrors federal law and imposes real penalties. Mark Christensen of Veterans Guardian said veterans need more options because Kentucky has too few VSO representatives, supported guardrails and accreditation reform, and suggested the bill could be improved with a dollar-based fee cap, no late fees or interest, and clearer ethical rules. Daryl Casey of JVO said his organization supports the bill’s goal of leveling the playing field, noting that veterans service organizations do not charge fees and that any limits should apply consistently across providers. The chair did not take a final vote during this hearing and instead encouraged the sponsor to circulate committee substitute language and continue discussions with veterans’ organizations and committee members before the next meeting. The sponsor said he was not pushing the bill forward that day and wanted more time to address concerns, especially around accreditation and disclosure.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session 4/7/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Report from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.
  • The House Rule 2.3, subdivision 1, offensive words in debate.
  • We are on the suspension of rules for house file. 26 85.
  • House Rule 2.3.1, offensive words in debate.
  • Keep your point of order. >> I could use the same rule, House Rule 2.3.1, offensive words in debate.
Keywords: 1183, house