Video & Transcript Research : 'referendum'
Page 12 of 34
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Communications, Technology and Innovation Mar 9th, 2026
Communications, Technology and Innovation
Transcript Highlights:
- have all seen the number of AI-generated videos that have come out around elections, including referendums
- that have started their voting right now. ...including referendums that have started their voting right
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 2 - 41st Legislative Day Jun 25th, 2026
Delaware House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Districts are being asked to do more with budgets that were approved years ago through referendum.
- And finally, any increase beyond 2% would require voter approval through the referendum process.
- And I've got three—I've got two that took the 10% at the conclusion of the referendum, one that took
- And I've got three—I've got two that took the 10% at the conclusion of the referendum, one that took
- Currently, the way it works is at the conclusion of a referendum—or, excuse me, at the conclusion of
Summary:
The House convened with Girl State participants presiding for part of the session, including introductions of the student leadership and a unanimous voice vote passing House Concurrent Resolution 152 honoring the young women participating in Delaware Girl State. The chamber also welcomed congressional interns and other guests, accepted the prior day’s minutes, and observed a moment of silence for Nathan Cynix and Kara Feeley before prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes for Representative Ron Gray, who was recognized for his 14 years of service and his work on issues such as bond bills, dredging, bike paths, small business, constituent service, and agriculture-related funding. Multiple members from both parties praised his humor, honesty, mentorship, and dedication to the House and his district. Gray responded with extended remarks reflecting on his family legacy, legislative service, and appreciation for colleagues and staff, and the chamber later sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at his request.
The House then received communications, including Senate messages returning several bills and informing the chamber of Senate passage of additional measures. Members were also told that the FY27 bond bill, House Bill 500, had been placed on desks as a gift for review. The House read in Consent Agenda S, which included House Bill 476, House Joint Resolution 13, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 168, Senate Bill 297, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, and Senate Joint Resolution 21, and began a roll call vote on the consent agenda.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2021, the city of Westbrook followed Portland's example, with the city council sending a referendum
- is now in its second session, waiting for approval, and the local results in the 2020 statewide referendum
- In my hometown of Belmont, we saw 60% demonstrated support for RCV in the 2020 referendum, and it would
- greatly help encourage more... ...demonstrated support for RCV in the 2020 referendum, and it would
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy.
A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay.
Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. (3-5-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- This is not a referendum on climate.
- This<00:09:31.880>
is <00:09:32.000>not <00:09:32.200>a <00:09:32.280>referendum - This is not a referendum on here.
- This is not a referendum on climate.<00:09:33.600>
This <00:09:33.880>is <00:09:34.160><
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:25
HB 667 Discussion 01:21
HB 667 Roll Call Vote 03:56
HB 677 Discussion 05:01
HB 677 Roll Call Vote 11:51
HB 535 Discussion 13:33
HB 535 Roll Call Vote 34:46
HJR 77 Discussion 38:33
HJR 77 Roll Call Vote 44:23, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first considered House Bill 667, described by the sponsor as a cleanup measure to a 2024 solid waste law. Testimony said the bill would clarify issues involving indirect access to protected information, contractors and consultants, Open Records Act interactions, and remedies when protected material is obtained. The committee voted 13-0 to pass the bill favorably and recommended it for passage on the House floor.
The committee then took up House Bill 677, which would establish Kentucky’s legal and regulatory framework for carbon dioxide geological sequestration and help the state seek EPA primacy over Class VI injection wells. Supporters said the bill was the product of 18 months of work among industry, landowner, environmental, and cabinet stakeholders, and argued it would promote economic development, protect landowners, and support carbon-capture investment and related infrastructure, especially in Western Kentucky. An amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill then passed favorably with committee amendment attached.
Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 535 as amended by a committee substitute. The bill would authorize securitization for certain investor-owned utilities with out-of-state assets, including Kentucky Power, to refinance assets such as the Mitchell plant and certain regulatory assets, with a two-year rate freeze and PSC review for net savings. Sponsors and supporters framed it as an affordability and jobs measure that could finance new natural gas generation at Big Sandy, create several hundred construction jobs, and support long-term economic development in Eastern Kentucky. Members raised concerns about utility fees, PSC discretion, and transparency; sponsors said the proposal would not be approved without overall savings and that applications would also be reviewed by the legislature, the Attorney General, and EPIC. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed House Bill 535 favorably, with several members explaining their votes and some noting continued reservations for floor consideration.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- It would be a statewide referendum if it was applying to the state.
- <00:23:45.679>
It referendums in New Hampshire. It referendums in New Hampshire. - Uh, so this is from the 1999 opinion of the justices tax plan referendum.
- Given the democratic nature referendum.
- was a case about a statewide referendum was a case about a statewide referendum on<01:39:55.840>
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This is relating to advisory referendums.
- would authorize the legislature to adopt any concurrent resolution proposing a non-binding advisory referendum
- :05:20.240>
certain <01:05:20.599>number <01:05:20.880>of <01:05:21.480>referendum - <01:05:22.480>
on to a certain number of referendum on to a certain number of referendum on
Summary:
The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing.
During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- You're referring to statute, not the referendum. And that's been a challenge for the...
- You're referring to statute, not the referendum.
- You're referring to statute, not the referendum. And that's been a challenge for the...
- You're referring to statute, not the referendum.
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around the project’s recent changes: a new CEO, revised delivery strategy, loss of federal funds, renewed interest in private financing and value capture, and proposed adjustments to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. He also raised concerns about statutory compliance, transparency, and whether the draft plan fully reflects required elements and true costs and timelines.
Authority CEO Ian Chaudhry said the project has made substantial construction progress in the Central Valley and is moving toward track installation, with the state’s $1 billion annual cap-and-invest funding providing a stable base. He argued the plan uses design optimization, direct procurement of materials, and revised sequencing to reduce costs and support an early operating segment by about 2032-33. He also promoted broader commercialization of the corridor through real estate, energy, broadband, logistics, and public-private partnerships, saying private sector interest is now real. Several senators pressed him on station locations, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can realistically reach Los Angeles and San Francisco on the current timeline and budget.
The LAO and Inspector General were more skeptical. LAO analyst Helen Kirstine said the draft plan assumes major scope changes, including a shorter segment, a Merced station outside downtown, more single-tracking, and several statutory changes that have not yet been enacted. She warned that the plan may not comply with recent legislative requirements, that funding may still be insufficient even for the reduced segment, and that borrowing against future cap-and-invest revenues is risky because those revenues are uncertain and volatile. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan fails to comply with newer statutory requirements, especially regarding the Merced-to-Bakersfield scope, the funding plan, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the presentation obscures cost increases and schedule delays and limits the Legislature’s ability to compare current estimates with prior reports.
Committee members generally supported continued oversight and some form of project delivery reform, but several expressed concern that the plan relies on legislative changes that have not been approved and on private financing that may not materialize. Chaudhry said the authority would address the Inspector General’s findings in the final business plan and continue to pursue federal grants, private capital, and corridor commercialization. No vote was taken at the hearing.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Legislative Session - Session 2 - 41st Legislative Day Jun 25th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Delaware House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Districts are being asked to do more with budgets that were approved years ago through referendum.
- And finally, any increase beyond 2% would require voter approval through the referendum process.
- or in this case, several districts and our state budget, is going to—it's part of the reason why referendums
- And I’ve got three, I’ve got two that took the 10% at the conclusion of the referendum, one that took
- Currently, the way it works is at the conclusion of a referendum, or excuse me, at the conclusion of
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 44 Morning Session Apr 21st, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Bill 4063 by Caldwell-Trey of the House and Hall of the Senate, an act relating to legislative referendums
- So what we have instead is this piece of legislation with a referendum referral from this body.
- Bill 4063 by Caldwell Trey of the House and Hall of the Senate, an act relating to legislative referendums
Bills:
HB4028, HB4075, HB4077, HB4074, HB4076, SB1221, SB1921, SB2118, SB1932, SB2134, HCR1025, SB1432, HCR1024, HCR1022, SB1122, HB4029, HB4063, HB4073, HB4078, SB1936, SB44, SB237, SB248, SB1360, SB985, SB1204, SB1239, SB1307, SB2143, SB1428, SB1390, SB1400, SB1405, SB1732, SB1832, SB1859, SB1989, SB2018, SB1427
Keywords:
tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, water resources, appropriations, funding, state treasury, infrastructure projects, emergency act, emergency management, disaster relief, pandemic response, state appropriations, HB4074, Health Care Workforce Training Commission, Health Care Workforce Revolving Fund, health workforce, health care workforce
Summary:
The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including Deer Creek students, Skiatook Chamber members, Sand Springs youth leaders, and international visitors studying U.S. energy policy. The chamber also honored the Nurse of the Day, Marla Lyceum, and heard a lengthy farewell speech from Minority Leader Munson reflecting on her service, constituent work, leadership, and bipartisan relationships.
Members then took up several special presentations and resolutions, including HCR 1024 recognizing Route 66 Day and its economic importance, HCR 1022 honoring National Lineman Appreciation Day, and a citation for Langston University Day at the Capitol. The House also recognized Deputy Kenton Blumenthal as Oklahoma’s 2025 Officer of the Year for heroic actions during a dangerous pursuit. Later, the House introduced the pages of the week.
On legislation, the House passed SB 1122 on ad valorem tax, which supporters said would equalize tax treatment for broadband infrastructure and promote business fairness, over some concern about tax policy and revenue impacts. The chamber also passed HB 4029, HB 4063, HB 4073, HB 4078, and SB 1936, with emergency clauses adopted on the first four. HB 4063, which referred two previously approved state questions to a special August election, drew extended debate over ballot timing, turnout, and whether combining the questions was appropriate; it ultimately passed and the special election referral was approved. SB 1936, which elevates falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer to a D1 felony, passed unanimously.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Education Finance Committee hears HF2210 3/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- with little disruption, property-poor communities will struggle, especially those unable to pass referendum
- with little disruption, property-poor communities will struggle, especially those unable to pass referendum
- with little disruption, property-poor communities will struggle, especially those unable to pass referendum
MN
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House bill aims to align transit, road projects and housing development 4/14/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Or if the local city wants more broader input, they can put it on a referendum at a general election,
- put<00:13:50.080>
it <00:13:50.200>on <00:13:50.320>a <00:13:50.400>referendum - <00:13:51.000>
at input they can put it on a referendum at input they can put it on a referendum
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/12/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- For the courts how they should rule if there's two distinct ballot referendums that pass.
- I don't blame teachers or anybody else for being angry about the referendum, referenda that are being
Bills:
HCR2048
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 2124, sponsored by Representative Banderman, having to do with initiative petitions and referendums
- By Representative Banderman, having to do with initiative petitions and referendums. We do pass.
Summary:
The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee met with a quorum and first voted to recommit Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 889 to the House committee of origin after the chair said language in the bill appeared to be aimed at banning corporal punishment in public schools and needed closer review. That motion passed 9-2. The committee then took up a long list of House bills and several committee substitutes, with members briefly discussing a few measures, including school discipline, emergency panic buttons in schools, unemployment administration, and initiative petition rules.
Among the bills advanced were measures on tourism funding (HB 1671), county health officers (HB 1699), library boards (HBs 1728, 2161, and 1830), child maintenance related to DWI fatalities (HB 1910), foreign law/Sharia law (HBs 2139 and 2175), post-conviction relief (HB 2254), local taxation (HB 2431), licensed child care facilities (HB 2506), administrative rules and the Secretary of State (HB 2563), workforce training grants (HB 2585), water resources (HB 2693), water service line fees (HB 2732), hospital zones (HB 2753), prepaid wireless emergency telephone charges (HB 2767), military leave (HBs 3083 and 2940), health care provider networks (HB 388), mobile food vendor licensing (HB 3157), school emergency response devices (HB 3174), property owner compensation in larger cities (HB 32110), youth driving offenses (HB 3220), insurance regulations (HB 3314), obsolete tax credits (HB 3329), public water supply districts (HBs 3351 and 3371), downtown redevelopment incentives (HB 3395), workplace violence prevention in health care settings (HB 3401), pass-through entity taxation (HB 3405), county development disability resource board levies (HB 3467), county finances (HB 3496), the Seal of Civic Recognition Award (HCR 31), and the America 250 Commission resolution (HCR 52). The committee also advanced HB 3383 on nonprofit hiring practices and a Senate property tax measure combining Senate Bills 1066 and 1088.
Not all measures passed: HB 1734 on the Soil Erosion Control Fund failed 5-6. Most other bills were reported do pass, often unanimously or by wide margins, though several had dissenting or present votes. The chair closed by thanking sponsors and noting the committee likely would meet again later in the week, probably Thursday, before adjourning.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Mar 26th, 2025
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Section 2 establishes the aid and offsets voter-approved operating referendum levies in districts with
- It would reduce voter-approved school district referendum rates by up to 50% in school districts with
- > would reduce voterapproved school would reduce voterapproved school district<00:54:55.599>
referendum - rates by up to 50% district referendum rates by up to 50% in<00:54:57.920>
school <00:54:58.160 - voter-approved operating referendum voter-approved operating referendum levy.<00:55:35.119>
Um
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- So in 2014, I believe they actually had a referendum.
- So in 2014, I believe they actually had a referendum.
- had a a referendum they asked their<00:48:35.760>
taxpayers <00:48:36.280>if <00:48:36.440 - Was that one referendum enough to do all of this work? Jason Pinsky: Yes, it was.
- Let me know, or let anyone else know. that um was that one referendum enough that um was that one referendum
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- foreign dollars being funneled to influence ballot issue campaigns like constitutional amendment referendums
- foreign dollars being funneled to influence ballot issue campaigns like constitutional amendment referendums
- like ballot issue campaigns like constitutional<00:59:44.640>
amendment <00:59:45.200>referendums - constitutional amendment referendums constitutional amendment referendums across<00:59:46.240>
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then approved the prior journal and allowed bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber received multiple committee reports, including favorable reports on several finance and taxation bills, confirmations, local bills, and a series of resolutions. The Senate also confirmed several appointments to higher education and university boards, including Nicholas J. Balden, Jennifer Wit, Ronnie Stalworth, and Rex Reynolds, using long or previous roll calls as applicable.
The Senate adopted a special order calendar that set up floor consideration of several bills, including measures on physician assistants, seafood/aquaculture, motor vehicles, campaign practices, property insurance and energy reduction, child custody, and school bus drivers. During debate on the special order calendar, Senator Smitherman raised concern that no bills on the calendar were sponsored by minority members, noting a prior understanding that minority-sponsored bills should be represented; Senator Wagner responded that the calendar was prepared based on legislation rather than sponsor party, and the exchange ended with an agreement to continue moving forward. The Senate then adopted the special order calendar and began taking up the listed bills.
On the special order calendar, the Senate advanced House Bill 156 on physician assistant compacts, House Bill 277 on seafood/aquaculture tastings, and House Bill 42 on motor vehicles, with supporters describing each as consumer-friendly or supportive of industry. The chamber also considered local legislation, including bills for Madison, Tallapoosa, and Shelby counties; House Bill 337 for Madison County was amended and carried over, while House Bills 490, 491, and 493 passed after roll-call votes. Throughout the meeting, the Senate also adopted several commendatory and memorial resolutions, including measures honoring individuals, recognizing organizations and events, and naming a highway, with most adopted by voice vote and no recorded opposition.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:38:30.240>
a restore normal Market forces into a restore normal Market forces into a referendum - <00:38:31.720>
a <00:38:31.880>referendum <00:38:32.359>that <00:38:32.480>towns - <00:38:32.839>
have referendum a referendum that towns have referendum a referendum that towns - ><00:38:41.560>
optional that actually had this optional that actually had this optional referendum - and votes it down would now referendum and votes it down would now be<00:38:44.880>
continuing
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Special districts are allowed to increase the exemption as well, but through a referendum approved by
- The Legislature would allow for them, if they needed to, by referendum... ...The Legislature would allow
- for them, if they needed to, by referendum, make any adjustments in terms of referendum, or by referendum
- more, the local entity would have to approve such increase by a supermajority, unanimous vote, or referendum
Summary:
The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.