Video & Transcript Research : 'digital divide'
Page 12 of 319
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Apr 30th, 2025
Communications and Conveyance
Transcript Highlights:
- We cannot have a digital divide and a telecom divide.
- Amy Cortina with Unite LA and Digital Equity LA in strong opposition.
- Jorge Rivera, Healing and Justice Center, part of the Digital Alliance.
- During the pandemic, California made significant progress on closing the digital divide because of the
- I'm Shaina England, Director of the Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition, or DELA, and the Digital Equity
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband Apr 16th, 2025
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Transcript Highlights:
- It is an educational imperative that every child in Texas has access to the digital tools they need to
- We definitely appreciate Chairman Morales's efforts to close the digital divide for customers in multiple
- These companies are aggressively trying... ...to close the digital divide.
- divide.
- We are committed to bridging the digital divide and playing a meaningful part. ...of providing state-of-the-art
Keywords:
telecommunications, local exchange companies, universal service fund, rate maintenance, business expansion, broadband access, internet service, multiunit residential properties, urban areas, affordability programs, fiber-optic cables, public land, construction permits, environmental impact, notification requirements, municipal projects, infrastructure, facility relocation, public right-of-way, 1184
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- bold ideas pals awarded for presenting bold ideas to<00:16:32.079>
bridge <00:16:32.399>divides - <00:16:33.600>
or <00:16:34.000>solve <00:16:34.560>local to bridge divides - or solve local to bridge divides or solve local challenges.<00:16:36.399>
And <00:16:36.639> - literacy for older supporting digital literacy for older adults<00:17:18.880>
and <00:17:19.199 - literacy along with clean water digital literacy along with clean water solutions<00:17:45.039>
and
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, and that is to divide away.
- A divided government divided<03:30:14.720>
amendment. - To the A48 first half as<03:31:29.279>
divided. as divided. as divided. - <03:31:42.560>
Senator A48 as divided is adopted. Senator A48 as divided is adopted. - of the divided A48 amendment. of the divided A48 amendment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the digital divide in K-12 education.
- This bill is extremely timely as it will not only help address the growing digital divide that impacts
- I respectfully urge you to vote yes. ...digital divide and accelerate student learning.
- Avila Farias, for bringing this important measure of closing the digital divide.
- Avila Farías, for bringing this important measure of closing the digital divide.
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations.
The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members.
AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes.
The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- divide, to promote digital inclusion, and achieve...
- California faces an unprecedented digital divide of millions of low-income households.
- Assembly Bill 2279's goal is clear: to close the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and achieve
- The digital divide promotes digital inclusion and achieve true digital equity across California.
- Yet too many communities remain on the wrong side of the digital divide.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Higher Education Committee and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Aug 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- A key recommendation was to reduce the digital divide by providing inclusive access to a protected AI
- The CSU is reducing the digital divide and ensuring that AI opportunities are not limited to those who
- And what we were most concerned about is that we would be causing a digital divide with our CSU.
- And what we were most concerned about is that we would be causing a digital divide with our CSU access
- Some of it is housed in digital learning policies.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system.
CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts.
Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism REVISED Apr 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- It primarily updates the existing statute to include digital.
- to compensate their employees in a Manner that other advertising entities do, that would include digital
- water moves through somebody's land and then it looks as if what was once your whole land has been divided
- But you've got, because of this waterway, you now have a land that's been divided, and actually, you're
Keywords:
housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations, HB3369, food truck, food truck fire suppression, mobile food establishment, mobile food preparation vehicle, mobile food vendor, automatic fire extinguishing system, fire suppression, fire extinguisher, Class K extinguisher, NFPA 10, State Fire Marshal, Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration, Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, liquefied petroleum gas
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee REVISED: SB1403 - Added Apr 8th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
A&B Finance Subcommittee
Keywords:
sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, sales tax, tax exemption, tax refund, Oklahoma Sales Tax Code
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/25/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- So 2,000 divided into either 5,000 or somewhere around 8,000, so you're looking at somewhere around 40%
- In 2025, 30% of students reported experiencing cyberbullying via digital platforms.
- House Bill 2991 essentially cards every Arizonan at the digital door.
Bills:
HB2072, HB2251, HB2279, HB2308, HB2323, HB2342, HB2400, HB2408, HB2456, HB2660, HB2697, HB2868, HB2873, HB2877, HB2910, HB2946, HB2955, HB2991, HB4001, HB4010
Keywords:
Cesar Chavez, public holiday, state law, holiday repeal, Arizona Revised Statutes, midwifery, medication administration, healthcare, patient safety, advisory committee, licensed midwives, river trips, liability, outfitter, Grand Canyon, negligence, risk management, contractual waiver, dental practice, business registration
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 2308, which would prohibit dental insurers and their holding companies from owning dental practices or other businesses regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and payer control over provider care, while Delta Dental of Arizona opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create regulatory burdens. After discussion about private equity ownership in dentistry and whether nonprofit insurers should be exempted, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2308 a do pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, restricts youth-targeted marketing, and increases penalties for selling to minors or manufacturing/distributing without a license. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, and industry representatives, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency, curb illegal products, and strengthen youth access enforcement. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued the bill should instead create a full tobacco retail licensing system and include broader nicotine definitions, while also warning that enforcement resources would be insufficient. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 6-1.
House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The bill allows a person or organization that files a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before it qualifies for the ballot, with retroactive application to withdrawals filed beginning January 1, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality rules, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and board oversight of nursing education programs. The sponsor said the bill responds to long-standing audit findings and aims to improve fairness and timeliness, while nursing board officials opposed provisions affecting education oversight and warned about patient safety, costs, and liability. Nurses and other supporters described delayed investigations and the need for expungement relief. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote.
Additional bills heard included House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures and related installations; it passed 7-0 after supporters described a family hardship case and committee members criticized HOA overreach. House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor, attorneys, and a consumer describing repeated repair failures on a leased vehicle. The committee also began hearing House Bill 4010, which would establish a Board of Genetic Counselors under the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners and set licensure and disciplinary rules, but the transcript ends before any final action on that bill.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- program and the proposal here is rolling it into the base, but it says that on line one it will be divided
Bills:
SB1189, SB1295, SB1297, SB1330, SB1333, SB1338, SB1341, SB1344, SB1355, SB1377, SB1378, SB1546, SB1859, SB1946, SB1990, SB1998
Keywords:
school security, funding, public schools, security enhancements, resource officers, domestic violence, fatality review, revolving fund, database, public safety, Oklahoma, census accuracy, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, federal census, grassroots outreach, marketing campaign, water infrastructure, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, grants, environmental compliance
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/18/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- We also enacted legislation focused on content restrictions on digital advertising directed toward children
Bills:
SB1176, SB1186, SB1235, SB1286, SB1446, SB1458, SB1515, SB1616, SB1641, SB1668, SB1670, SB1678, SB1747, SB1787
Keywords:
stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, disclosure, state contracts, procurement records, donations, transparency, EMS, reciprocity, interstate compact, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, licensure, public safety, military personnel, veterinary telemedicine
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes and then heard Senate Bill 1668, which would extend the deadline for funeral establishments or responsible persons to submit required documentation from seven calendar days to 14 business days and make related changes involving disposition of unborn or stillborn children, minors, and abortion clinic forms. Funeral industry testimony said the current timelines are difficult to meet and create stress for grieving families, while a mother described problems caused by requiring an ex-spouse’s signature after her child’s death. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote, with some members supporting the timing and family-law fixes and others objecting to the abortion-clinic provisions.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 1286, on veterinary telemedicine prescriptions. An amendment shortened the telemedicine prescription period for non-antimicrobial drugs from 60 days to 30 days, allowed antimicrobial prescriptions for up to 14 days based on an electronic exam, and barred further antimicrobial prescriptions without an in-person exam. Veterinarians and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association moved to neutral on the amended bill but warned about safety, overprescribing, and the limits of telemedicine; supporters argued it would improve access for rural, elderly, and low-income pet owners. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended on a 4-3 vote.
Senate Bill 1235, creating the emergency services personnel licensure interstate compact, passed unanimously after sponsor testimony that it would improve reciprocity for EMTs and paramedics and help military personnel. Senate Bill 1446, which would change dialysis-center social worker documentation from monthly to quarterly, also passed unanimously, with DeVita Dialysis Services saying the change would reduce paperwork and align Arizona with federal and most-state practice. Senate Bill 1515, a cleanup bill for the Industrial Commission of Arizona that renames positions, removes outdated duties, and changes publication of fee schedules, passed after an amendment and supportive agency testimony.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 1678, which would require direct-care staff in certain facilities to complete patient information forms and reestablish the Vulnerable Adult Systems Study Committee. An amendment removed the form requirement and instead required DHS to investigate complaints from EMS personnel about missing DNR orders; first responders and provider groups supported the revised approach, though some members wanted minority-party appointments added to the study committee. The bill passed as amended on a 6-0-1 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 1747 on social media protections for minors, with the sponsor framing it as a child-safety measure and opponents from NetChoice, TechNet, and Meta warning about privacy risks, age-verification problems, constitutional concerns, and the possibility that teens would evade restrictions; supporters argued parents need stronger controls and pointed to app-store-based alternatives, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 12th, 2026 at 06:05 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- really get newspapers some time to better build their business plans to withstand the realities of a digital
- newspapers here in New Mexico for people to get their local news and information with limited high-speed digital
- access, slow digital adoption, and it just really makes it unsustainable at this time for a digital-only
- So I think a lot of people are leaving and they're going to the digital paper, which is the competitor
Keywords:
horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 12th, 2026 at 06:04 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Keywords:
horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 12th, 2026 at 06:04 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Keywords:
horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Ways and Means General Fund
Keywords:
Gulf of America, name change, state compliance, educational materials, local resources, historical reference, age verification, parental consent, consumer protection, app store regulations, data privacy, Internet filters, digital safety, minors protection, civil liability, device manufacturers, obscenity, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Transcript Highlights:
- c><00:43:30.160>
that <00:43:30.400>have <00:43:31.200>been <00:43:31.440>divided - numerous churches that have been divided numerous churches that have been divided and<00:43:32.960
Keywords:
driver license, English examinations, language requirement, immigration, testing standards, motor vehicles, window tint, law enforcement, prosecutors, vehicle regulations, medical condition, communication, first responder, invisible disabilities, anaphylaxis, day care centers, training, child safety, healthcare, parole
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee Feb 4th, 2026
State Governmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, House Bill 110 is a bill that deals with creating a digital driver's license. >> Mr.
- This bill is basically like it says it's a digital driver's license, and this is just something Aaliyah
Keywords:
elder abuse, financial exploitation, inheritance, joint tenancy, conviction effects, HB110, sunset bill, Alabama Sunset Law, State Board of Medical Examiners, Medical Licensure Commission, medical licensing, physician regulation, healthcare regulation, professional licensing, ethics law, state ethics code, public servants, board members, agency continuation, sunset review
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development May 14th, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- bill addresses last session's SCOPE Act, which the legislature passed to help protect children from digital
- "Digital providers" was a very broad term.
- specifically protected public schools and charter schools, but we did not protect private schools as digital
- We were very surprised to find out in the interim that private schools could be considered digital service
- In our increasingly digital society, consumer reports play a pivotal role.
Keywords:
DNA privacy, genetic privacy, genetic testing, genetic material, DNA ownership, property right in DNA, genetic consent, biological sample, genomics, genetic data, HIPAA, health information privacy, health care provider, research ethics, human subjects research, law enforcement DNA, forensic DNA, paternity testing, medical examiner, genetic discrimination
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- composed of 11 members, including representatives from manufacturers and experts in automation and digital
- Schneider Electric is a global leader in digital energy management and automation, with more than 4,000
- Modernizing manufacturing by adopting digital technologies and automation is essential.
- manufacturing, it is imperative that we remove barriers for midsize and small manufacturers that digitize
- The task force created by this bill would study how automation and digital technologies can strengthen
Keywords:
monuments, memorials, public property, historical significance, civil penalties, local governance, project financing zone, municipal tax revenue, convention centers, multipurpose arenas, infrastructure development, hike and bike trails, outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, Bicentennial Trail, Texas history, cultural heritage, unemployment benefits, eligibility, Texas Workforce Commission