Video & Transcript Research : 'plain language'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • That is the more appropriate language.
  • <00:03:41.040> for aims to really update the language for aims to really update the language
  • some ability, some statute language some ability, some statute language changes<00:09:02.880>
  • needle on that that change to language. needle on that that change to language. question. question
  • exactly why this language is necessary. exactly why this language is necessary. being<00:30:36.799
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So, in the amendment, there is language to handle new campuses.
  • Does this bill include any language that legalizes same-day voter registration? ...No.
  • The statute that was written back in 1985 used permissive language.
  • That's why you have the language "shall" versus "may."
  • We've actually come to an agreement to have better language.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Please provide additional clarity so that the language will protect all Texans. Thank you.
  • Where we want to be with the bill, as the language stands, it's not.
  • So, and I've included the amendment language in it. For help, please contact me if I can help.
  • Explicitly into the language of the code, and that's what this bill does.
  • Maybe let's look at a substitute where I could add some of that language potentially here.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Local Government (Part II) Mar 24th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we've also put in language to identify business entities and unified business enterprises to prevent
  • And we've also put in language to identify business entities and unified business enterprises to prevent
Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony. SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government (Part I) Mar 24th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • this committee's attention to this issue and look forward to reviewing the committee's substitute language
  • I think for me I'd just like to see the language. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, thank you.
  • There is language on a House version of a different version of this bill, and we'd just like to kind
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, the, the plain language of, uh, 572002 says a state employee means an individual other than a state
  • So that plain language On its face appears to absolutely exclude.
  • Um, it says the, the opinion further says on page two that the plain language, the words and phrases
  • So that's the language they used was state officer.
  • They chose the language they use.
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session, 4/10/2026 #2

Maryland Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And an old-fashioned lawyer thinks that the plain language governs.
  • And an old-fashioned lawyer thinks that the plain language governs.
  • And an old-fashioned lawyer thinks that the plain language governs.
  • And an old-fashioned lawyer thinks that the plain language governs.
  • The plain language governs.
Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum and began by reading House messages and first-reading bills, including SB 8 on identity fraud and deepfakes and HB 145 on election misinformation and deepfakes, which was referred to Rules. The chamber then handled several concurrence and conference matters. On HB 154, the Open Meetings Act bill for county boards of education, the Senate initially moved to recede from its amendments and accept the House version, but debate centered on a Senate transparency amendment limiting school boards’ ability to censor recordings. A motion to reconsider the amendments was laid over for 15 minutes. On SB 514, a third-degree assault bill, the House refused to recede and a conference committee was appointed. A guest introduction also welcomed a 10-month-old visitor to the gallery. In second-reader business, the Senate adopted committee amendments and advanced SB 504, which strengthens data privacy protections and limits use of personal data for immigration enforcement, and SB 790, the Public Health Reform Act, which revises the Commission on Public Health, updates the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, adds health equity review processes, and makes related administrative changes. Both bills were reported favorably with technical and conforming amendments and ordered printed for third reading. The chamber then took up HB 191, which would require merchants to accept cash for essential consumer goods and set related rules and exceptions; members questioned its scope, exemptions, and enforcement, and the bill was laid over pending clarification about whether stadiums are covered. Finally, HB 564 on pet cremation and burial services added consumer protection and disclosure requirements for pet cremation providers; its technical amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered passed for third reading.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/23/26

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, I would be very amenable to the may language.
  • One, an oral amendment to switch to the may type of language.
  • That language is also included on page three, line 22.
  • That language is also included on page three, line 22.
  • That language 18 and page three line 27.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Education Finance (03/05/2025)

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • number of low- to moderate-income students who had access to the tax credit. ...the introductory language
  • builds language builds language would<00:14:30.120> have<00:14:31.000> done<00:14:
  • <00:14:41.079> you're w i don't object to the language you're w i don't object to the language
  • I have a question: does this mirror the language in the governor's budget?
  • I think the plain reading of that is that that is then the cap going forward. I see.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

March 2, 2026 - 05:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • But a plain reading of the rule would indicate that no, that would not be appropriate.
  • The language says if there is a fundraising activity that has previously been scheduled.
  • language of the rule.
  • I would just say the Florida Senate has managed to get by just fine with this exact language over the
  • This mirrors their language to make sure that both chambers are in alignment on this issue going into
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Information Technology Committee Jul 8th, 2026

Information Technology Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • We did that because we feel that they do a good job of being focused, prescriptive, and using plain language
  • I mean, in plain language, do we continue? Do we say, okay, we've got this covered in other places?
  • I mean, in plain language, do we continue? Do we say, okay, we've got this covered in other places?
  • So there's just a lot of room for improvement, both on the governance side and in plain language in the
  • In plain language in the statutes.
Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • arts, and the students' math, language arts, and the total<00:11:10.320> scores.
  • We did see the contract, and it did say in plain English that the data belongs to the state.
  • <00:28:10.880> English, what mean what it said in plain English, what mean what it said in
  • plain English, uh<00:28:12.400> but<00:28:12.720> secondly,<00:28:14.080> that
  • English that the data belongs in plain English that the data belongs to<00:29:22.960> the<00:
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The committee received an update from the LBA on three audits related to education programs. Christine Young reported that the special education audit is in report-writing, with 44 of 81 observations completed, and that a draft is expected early in the third quarter with a final report later in the summer. She also said the doorway program audit has a draft report with 12 observations, auditee responses were received May 14, an exit conference was held May 18, and the report is now expected to be presented at the June fiscal committee meeting. The bulk of the discussion focused on the education freedom accounts audit and a proposed expansion of scope. Beulah Skids explained that the original audit, required by the 2022 law creating the EFA program, would be expanded to examine whether students were New Hampshire residents at enrollment and throughout participation, and whether records of educational attainment satisfied program requirements. She described the current work, the draft cooperation agreement being developed with the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and the department’s concerns about the audit period and the term "educational progress," which the LBA said it would revise. The committee discussed that the expanded work would depend on a written agreement giving the LBA access to needed records, policies, and staff, with the Department of Education potentially serving as an intermediary for data access. Members raised concerns about the scope period and data access. Senator Lang asked that the residency review be limited to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, rather than the broader 2022-25 period, because those years captured the major program expansions; the committee appeared to agree, with clarification that the reference was to school years, not fiscal years. Members also discussed reconciliation of EFA funds, noting that the department has agreed to reopen rulemaking to make reconciliation more frequent so unused funds can be returned to the state sooner. Several members expressed frustration that access to data had been delayed, while LBA staff said the cooperation agreement is intended to prevent further roadblocks and that the AG’s office could review it if needed.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:08:37.680> clothes high school girls who wore plain clothes high school girls who wore
  • plain clothes under<00:08:38.640> their<00:08:38.839> gym<00:08:39.120> clothes
  • Uh, the language of these additions is also deceptive.
  • <00:14:11.480> to of the ER has absolutely no language to of the ER has absolutely no language
  • evolving Society this new er language evolving Society this new er language will<00:15:55.000>
Keywords: 1183, house
NY

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York State Senate Session - 06/04/2026

New York Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If more than one such amendment WORDS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE DESCRIBING THE CHANGE IN POLICY TO BE ADOPTED
  • It describes what they mean by plain language, and plain language shall mean the form of The ballot proposal
  • Then, it goes on to say how to evaluate whether the plain language is really plain.
  • THEN, IT GOES ON TO SAY, HOW TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE PLAIN LANGUAGE IS REALLY PLAIN.
  • >> It says it shall use best efforts to comply with the plain language requirements of 2 and 5, which
Keywords: 993, senate, all
Summary: The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games. The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually. The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 1st, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • strikes, the operative language.
  • , and instead it inserts intent language.
  • the language.
  • The plain language is not supportable, and because of that, I must respectfully ask for a no vote on
  • The language that I'm reading.
Keywords: 988, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PBS Info Briefing - Mon Apr 20, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 19th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I don't see anything in the language of the bill that would prevent that.
  • I don't see anything in the language of the bill that would prevent that.
  • Line 20, we're making clear that on deferred adjudication cases that the language didn't fit before,
  • Like this, from Twitter to town halls, the language around immigration is toxic.
  • This just cleans up some of the language and addresses these issues. I move passage.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-04 (4:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If it's not specifically defined, religious viewpoints, plain language would be the way to interpret
  • This caught off... defined religious viewpoints, plain language would be the way to interpret that.
  • So every part, every language that's on the, excuse me, the AJR is current statutory language.
  • language.
  • language.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Washington County administrator Alan Massey, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery recognitions. The chamber adopted the special order report and then took up a series of bills on the special order calendar. Early measures included CS/HB 967 on electronic payments to local governments, which passed 110-0, and HB 127 requiring cursive writing instruction in grades 2-5, which passed 111-0 after members spoke about literacy, signatures, and heritage. CS/HB 453 on high school diploma requirements passed 111-0 and would allow certain students to use Special Olympics participation for PE credit and marching band for PE and arts credit. The House also passed CS/HB 237 on use of professional nursing titles, which requires APRNs using the title doctor to clarify they are APRNs, by 111-0. The chamber then debated HJR 583, a proposed constitutional amendment on religious expression in public schools. Supporters said it would codify existing statutory protections for student and school personnel religious expression and let voters decide; opponents argued it was unnecessary, could create confusion, and risked constitutional problems involving school-sponsored prayer and the separation of church and state. After structured debate, the resolution passed 93-17. The House next passed CS/HB 363 on dental therapy, which creates a licensed mid-level dental provider and drew sharp debate over access to care versus patient safety; it passed 80-29. HB 375 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 78-28, and HB 301 on psychiatric mental health APRN autonomous practice passed 88-18. Later, the House passed HB 863 on arbitration for Citizens Property Insurance disputes, giving policyholders a choice between arbitration and court, by 105-3, and HB 1399 on property insurance affiliates, which increases oversight of insurer-affiliate transactions, by 160-3. Members also heard and advanced a local claims bill, HB 6517, for relief of Eribeito and Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg, describing severe injuries allegedly caused during an arrest and transport; the bill was rolled over for third reading at the end of the transcript. Throughout the day, members also paused for multiple recognitions of visiting students, local officials, professional groups, and community organizations.