Video & Transcript Research : 'bill drafting'
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FL
Transcript Highlights:
- That is the bill.
- So now we're back on the main bill, bill as amended. Are there any questions on the bill?
- bill and amendment.
- And that is the bill, Madam Chair. Are there any questions on the bill?
- Thank you for explaining the bill. Are there any questions on the bill?
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 108 on administrative procedures. That bill, as amended, would require agencies to review all rules on a five-year cycle, submit regulatory plans and annual reports, publish intended agency action within 90 days of new rulemaking authority, improve public access to incorporated materials, and streamline rule publication and correction procedures. After brief testimony from the Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and support from Americans for Prosperity and the James Madison Institute, the committee adopted two amendments and reported CS for SB 108 favorably.
The committee then approved several other measures, including the Senate veterans package (CS for CS for SB 116), which made technical changes and was supported by veterans and advocacy groups; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempts local barriers while preserving state and federal law and building codes; CS for SB 126 allowing mail distribution of prescription hearing aids after a Florida-licensed professional examination; CS for SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to abandon restrained animals during declared disasters; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice expansion for complex cardiac conditions; SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure; CS for SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property; CS for SB 348 on ethics, addressing false military rank claims and delinquent ethics fines; SB 356 designating January 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day; CS for SB 160 expanding CPA licensure pathways and clarifying administrative outsourcing; and CS for SB 50 promoting nature-based coastal resilience measures. Most of these bills received supportive testimony and were reported favorably.
The committee also considered and reported favorably the annual reviser bills SB 36, SB 38, SB 40, and SB 42, which adopt the 2025 Florida Statutes, conform statutory names, remove expired provisions, and clean up obsolete language and cross-references. Throughout the meeting, members asked questions on a few bills, but no roll-call votes were recorded as opposed; each measure was approved and reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested that a few missed affirmative votes be recorded, and the committee adjourned without objection.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPC-JHA Joint Public Hearing - Thu Feb 19, 2026 @ 2:01 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- bill. Thank you. bill. Thank you. >> Thank<00:14:27.120>
you. - [snorts] Uh one support this bill.
- language is not currently in the bill language is not currently in the bill and<00:36:30.000>
- However, we respectfully oppose the bill as currently drafted.
- <00:45:17.040>
that last year in bill House Bill 750. that last year in bill House Bill 750
Bills:
HB2384
Keywords:
student-athletes, compensation, name image likeness, NCAA, Title IX, transparency, education, Hawaii, athletic programs, 910, house, all
Summary:
The joint committees heard HB 2384, relating to student athlete compensation, with testimony largely in support from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Athletics, and several other supporters. UH Mānoa said the bill would create a framework for name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies, including education, financial literacy, agent regulation, transparency, and reporting. Supporters argued NIL is now a necessary part of college athletics to recruit and retain athletes, keep Hawaiʻi talent in-state, and remain competitive, while also helping student athletes develop as future leaders. One supporter also emphasized the need for financial guidance so young athletes do not mishandle NIL income.
Committee members questioned why the bill would direct public funds to NIL payments rather than broader athletic operations or other student groups, whether other states are funding NIL directly, and whether the approach could create a bidding war. UH representatives said the university already has NIL contracts in place, but the bill would strengthen and formalize policies. They said the requested funding model includes about $5 million for NIL and $10 million for athletics operations, with the NIL amount intended to supplement private fundraising; they also noted UH has raised roughly $1.5 million to $2 million for NIL since July 1 and is targeting $3 million this fiscal year. Members also raised concerns about fairness, public spending priorities, and whether the university’s policies adequately protect student athletes.
The committees voted to pass HB 2384 HD1 with amendments. The chair said the bill should be amended to explicitly state that allocated funds may be used by UH for NIL payments to student athletes, and asked the next committee to examine whether a different payment scheme, similar to those used elsewhere, might be more appropriate for public funds. One member announced a no vote, citing concerns about direct public funding of NIL and unequal treatment of student athletes versus other students. The JHA committee adopted the same recommendation, with some members voting with reservations. Afterward, the meeting moved on to HB 644 HD1 on single-use plastics, where the first testimony was in opposition from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Biodegradable Products Institute, both arguing the bill as drafted would improperly exclude certified compostable products and should better align with composting and certification standards.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- What this bill does is it combines really two bills into one bill for community solar subscribers.
- And they are, we drafted this bill using Maryland's bill as a model.
- Yeah, I think this is a good bill. As we say, when it's our bill, it's a good bill.
- Representative Bill Bush. Representative Bill Carson. Yes. Representative Bill Bush.
- And both bills, because both bills, the first bill and this bill, the committee... they're both released
Bills:
SB9
Keywords:
wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process
Summary:
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met to consider two Senate bills. SB 321, with Senate Amendment 1, would change community solar billing so subscribers receive one consolidated utility bill instead of separate bills from the utility and the solar provider. Supporters said the bill would simplify enrollment and payment, improve customer retention—especially for low-income customers—and include safeguards such as guaranteed savings and an escrow mechanism to prevent cost shifts to other ratepayers. After public testimony from solar developers, the Public Advocate, the Sierra Club, and others, the committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, so the vote was circulated to absent members and the bill was later reported out for floor action.
The committee then heard SB 9, with Senate Amendment 1, a long-negotiated wetlands protection bill. The sponsor and DNREC explained that it would create a state non-tidal wetlands program with exemptions for certain agricultural, conservation, and routine activities, general permits for some lower-impact projects, and individual permits for higher-value wetlands. Witnesses described the bill as a compromise among environmental, agricultural, development, and local government stakeholders, while some members raised questions about flooding, landowner impacts, wetland delineation, and the role of the regulatory advisory committee. Public testimony was broadly supportive from environmental groups, the Farm Bureau, builders, engineers, and affordable housing advocates. The committee then voted to release SB 9 from committee.
At the end of the meeting, members offered thanks and remarks recognizing the chair’s service and leadership on environmental and energy issues. Both bills were ultimately released from committee and reported out.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- We affectionately refer to that bill as the community solar bill.
- What this bill does is combine really two bills into one bill for community solar subscribers.
- We drafted this bill using Maryland's bill as a model.
- Yeah, I think this is a good bill. As we say, when it's our bill, it's a good bill.
- And both bills, because both bills, the first bill and this bill, the community solvers, they'll both
Bills:
SB9
Keywords:
wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process
Summary:
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and first considered SB 321 with Senate Amendment 1, the community solar utility billing bill. The sponsor explained that it would consolidate the two-bill system for community solar subscribers into one utility bill, with the utility forwarding the subscriber fee to the solar facility through an escrow mechanism so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers. Testimony from the solar industry, the Public Advocate, and environmental advocates supported the measure, emphasizing easier enrollment, fewer barriers for low-income customers, and guaranteed savings. The committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, but after a roll call vote it was released from committee.
The committee then heard SB 9 with Senate Amendment 1, a wetlands protection bill creating a state non-tidal freshwater wetlands permitting program. The sponsor and DNREC described a framework of exemptions, general permits, and individual permits based on wetland type and value, with an advisory committee to develop regulations. Witnesses explained that “exceptional value” wetlands would include unique wetland communities and high-functioning wetlands, and that the bill was intended to preserve important habitat while allowing farming, drainage, and other exempt activities to continue. Some members raised concerns about flooding, land classification, and the balance of the advisory committee, while supporters said the bill was the product of broad stakeholder consensus and would protect wetlands without unduly harming agriculture or development.
Public comment on SB 9 was strongly supportive from environmental groups, the Delaware Native Species Commission, the Home Builders Association, the Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and affordable housing advocates, who said the bill balanced conservation with practical land use concerns. After remote testimony, the committee took a roll call vote and SB 9 was released from committee. The meeting concluded with remarks thanking the chair for her service and instructions for members to sign the backers before adjournment.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 02/05/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >> THE BILL IS PASSED.
- The bill is passed.
- This bill is indeed germane, though the bill in chief because The bill in chief requires the Public Service
- Let's lower people's energy bills today. Yesterday, you passed a number Of bills.
- On the bill." "Senator Borrello on the bill." "Thank you, Senator Kavanagh."
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors.
The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness.
Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Our role in the committee is to draft bills and amendments for the committee, write bill summaries—descriptions
- <00:07:02.360>
bills <00:07:02.680>and committee is to draft bills and committee is - to draft bills and amendments<00:07:03.199>
for <00:07:03.360>the <00:07:03.560>committee - We had two conformity bills, and the state had two conformity bills in 2023.
- bill is dead.
Summary:
The House Tax Committee met for an organizational and orientation session. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several lawmakers noting their districts, business backgrounds, and interest in tax policy. Chair Greg Davids then opened the committee’s first substantive item: a presentation from House Research and House Fiscal staff on how the committee works and on basic tax concepts.
House Research staff Sean Williams and Chris Clayman explained their roles in drafting bills and amendments, writing bill summaries, answering legal and policy questions, and modeling tax proposals. They also described the committee’s key documents, including partisan and nonpartisan bill summaries, revenue estimates, fiscal notes, and supporting materials. Their presentation covered core tax concepts such as tax bases, rates, deductions, exemptions, credits, tax revenues, and tax expenditures, emphasizing that tax expenditures function like spending through the tax code and are reviewed by a legislative commission.
The staff then reviewed Minnesota’s major taxes, focusing on the individual income tax and business taxation. They explained that Minnesota’s individual income tax starts with federal adjusted gross income, then applies state additions, deductions, subtractions, and credits, and that the state’s income tax brackets and rates are set separately from federal law. They also outlined the difference between corporate franchise taxes for C corporations and individual income tax treatment for pass-through entities, and discussed how the federal SALT cap led Minnesota and other states to adopt pass-through entity taxes so businesses could preserve federal deductibility of state taxes. Members asked questions about a duplicate “marriage penalty” entry on a slide, the purpose of Minnesota’s marriage penalty credit, comparisons with other states, and the timing and effect of the pass-through entity tax; staff answered that the duplicate was a mistake, the credit offsets bracket-related marriage penalties, and the pass-through entity tax was adopted in response to the federal SALT cap.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 2523, uh, is, uh, Senator Betancourt's, uh, bill.
- The bill is left pending.
- So that, that is one concern that uh tab would have about the, the current draft of the bill.
- change into the bill.
- So I am for this bill.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EIG-HHS, EIG-GVO Public Hearings 04-01-2025
Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And so, uh, there was a House bill that was introduced and that came over to the Senate and it wasn't
- Well, the concept that DAB and I had discussed, as I say, uh, to be perfectly honest, that when the bill
- So I think it was a little confusing, and so, uh, especially since the bill was not heard, it seemed
- So I think it was a little confusing, and so, uh, especially since the bill was not heard, it seemed
- Let's set back moving this as a Senate draft 1, shall we? Um, recommendation is a Senate draft 1.
Summary:
The joint committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Health and Human Services heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 58 and Senate Resolution 42, which urge counties to install special-needs recreational playground equipment in parks and playgrounds. Testimony came from the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability Rights Center, Autism Moms of Kona, and a Pacific Disability Center representative, all supporting the resolutions. Several testifiers asked that the term “special needs” be replaced with “access and functional needs,” and one requested language broadening the measure to explicitly include developmentally and intellectually disabled youth. A committee member also discussed the need for inclusion and the benefits of accessible play for all children.
After questions, the chairs said they would adopt amendments from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Autism Moms of Kona, and Tina Marie Kira, along with technical, non-substantive changes. Both committees then voted to recommend passage of SCR 58 and SR 42 with amendments, with members voting aye and some excused.
The committees then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 163 and Senate Resolution 132, which request counties to adopt flexible setback requirements for state buildings and facilities to improve land use efficiency and public service delivery. Testimony in support came from the Grassroots Institute and the Department of Accounting and General Services. The chairs moved the resolutions forward with technical, non-substantive amendments, and both committees adopted recommendations to pass SCR 163 and SR 132 with amendments before adjourning.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Capital Planning Advisory Board (8-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- So, based on Senate Bill 4, even though the universities are excluded, it's still at least in physical
- House Bill 352 allocated $2 million to the Office of the Attorney General for a number of technology
- So these five different offices were not considered in that 2020 bill allocation.
- And so, that bill uh in allocation.
- we'll update the draft. we'll update the draft.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:11
Approval of Minutes 00:02:00
Information Items 00:02:25
CPE Special Report 00:03:26
Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:31:48
A. Attorney General 00:32:10
B. Court of Justice 00:36:41
C. Cabinet for Economic Development 00:50:44
D. Kentucky Public Pensions Authority 00:56:06
E. Board Discussion of Planning Issues 01:05:12, 958, all
Summary:
The Capital Planning Advisory Board opened its fourth meeting, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior meeting’s minutes by unanimous voice vote, and then heard information items and agency presentations. The main substantive presentation came from the Council on Postsecondary Education, which outlined its capital planning recommendations for the 2026–28 biennium. CPE staff described the role of Kentucky’s research and education network (Kron), including connectivity to cloud services, Internet2, identity services, and new local AI/inferencing capacity, and argued that the network is now essential to higher education, health care, and extension services. They said the network’s recent upgrades were driven by privacy, security, redundancy, and the need to support modern research and AI workloads at lower cost than commercial providers.
CPE also presented its broader higher-education capital request: $700 million for asset preservation and $1.73 billion for new construction, for a total recommendation of about $2.4 billion. Staff said they do not plan to recommend IT projects or equipment in this cycle, despite reviewing 48 IT submissions totaling nearly $1.4 billion and equipment requests totaling $322.6 million. For asset preservation, they said the recommended allocation method would remain based on each institution’s share of Category 1 and 2 square footage, and they noted that the state’s prior facility assessment is now 12 years old, with deferred maintenance still estimated in the $7–9 billion range. For new construction, they said the requests are heavily focused on STEM and health-related facilities that are difficult to retrofit into older buildings.
Board members asked about how asset-preservation amounts were determined, including why Northern Kentucky University’s request was much larger than its prior allocation. CPE staff responded that campus size, building age, and institutional prioritization affect the requests, and that schools are asked to submit more projects than are likely to be funded. The board then moved on to an Attorney General capital plan overview, where senior counsel Will Schroeder began describing the office’s technology needs and the office’s prior reliance on a 2020 appropriation to replace legacy systems and improve security.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Feb 3rd, 2026 at 08:29 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Banking and Finance Committee Jul 7th, 2025
Banking and Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill is on call. We will leave the roll open for absent members. Moving on to the next bill.
- This bill is a modest motion to bring California's First in the Nation Truth in Lending Bill up to par
- As drafted, the bill would require an APR disclosure as part of any communications, which my clients
- In this bill forward.
- I plan to support the bill today.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources & Energy. (3-11-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- all struggling to pay their bills. all struggling to pay their bills.
- >> Bill >> Bill >> Bill 22 22 22 Oh,<00:34:46.639>
yeah, <00:34:46.879>< - Thank you for this bill.
- you for bringing the bill. you for bringing the bill.
- So, uh uh uh Senate<00:45:42.720>
Bill Senate Bill Senate Bill 222<00:45:45.160>has <00
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee, February 16, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Nethercott, you want to take us through your proposed draft rules? Mr.
- Chairman, I may— they're not my proposed draft rules, but they are our proposed draft rules based on
- we voted out last week to the Senate, there was continued concern over some of the language in the bill
- rule that was previously voted out. ...there was continued concern over some of the language in the bill
Summary:
The Senate rules committee continued work on a proposed rule restricting campaign fundraising in the Capitol and during session or special session. Senator Nethercott and LSO attorney Mr. Shaw explained that the draft was revised to add clarity after concerns that the earlier language could unintentionally penalize a senator who merely received a contribution without affirmatively soliciting it. The committee discussed two options: option one, which would prohibit knowingly soliciting a contribution and accepting it by affirmative act, and option two, which would prohibit knowingly soliciting or accepting a legislative campaign contribution by affirmative act. A new subsection C was also added to make clear the rule would not apply when a senator merely discovers that a contribution was made and took no affirmative act to solicit or receive it.
Members focused on how the term “solicit” should be understood, including whether a campaign website donate button or online promotion would count as solicitation. Mr. Shaw said the rule does not define the term and suggested it should be applied reasonably, noting that a static donate button may be treated differently from actively promoting donations. Several senators said subsection C addressed the main concern about accidental receipt of a mailed contribution, but that further guidance may still be needed on passive receipt and how to handle donations connected to pending legislation. Senator Duro said the committee was responding to an unacceptable incident that occurred in the building and wanted to make clear such conduct would not be tolerated.
After discussion, Senator Rothfuss moved option two and Senator Gierau seconded. The committee voted to adopt option two, with Senators Gierau, Nethercott, Salazar, and Chairman Biteman voting aye; Senator Rothfuss also voted aye. The committee then adjourned, and it was noted that the adopted rule would become part of the permanent Senate rules unless changed at the start of a future session.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 10, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- off the shelf cots and software as a service or SaaS offerings and aligned with the governor's AI Bill
- classification officer to complete this assessment tomorrow, we would look to use to to help assist with drafting
- And so we don't want to sit there and have money sitting in a position that I can't bill.
- credit felony criminal division, I'm going to immediately need for new assistant state attorneys to draft
- I when I was drafting my lbr in June, one of my attorney showed the at an advertisement for a starting
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Children and Families May 11th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Children and Families
Transcript Highlights:
- It was part of several bills that went forward, the heartbeat bill...
- of the heartbeat bill.
- These types of bills were drafted by anti-abortion lobbyists, not medical professionals, and were designed
- , the bill is unconstitutional.
- bill what is practically unprecedented, a non-severability clause for the whole bill.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- and getting this bill into a place where we could move it along the process... ...getting this bill
- of the heartbeat bill.
- This is not an abortion bill.
- These types of bills were drafted by anti-abortion lobbyists, not medical professionals, and were designed
- , the bill is unconstitutional.
Summary:
The Committee on Children and Families heard testimony on Senate Bill 999, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson. Hudson said the bill was a revised substitute combining the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act with language from other bills dealing with domestic violence/no-contact orders, the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Board, and cyber-harassment. He argued the born-alive provisions were needed to ensure infants born alive during or after an abortion receive the same care as any other child, and he cited a Canadian study and Missouri infanticide law as support. Committee members questioned him about the study, the scope of the bill, the medical duty of care, and the bill’s non-severability clause and multiple-subject concerns.
Supporters included Missouri Right to Life, which said the bill was needed to protect babies born alive after abortion attempts and prevent confusion in medical settings. Opponents, including Abortion Action Missouri, argued the bill was a “trap law” designed to restrict abortion access, said no such situation was being documented in practice, and cited opposition from numerous medical organizations. An informational witness from Campaign Life Missouri said he supported the born-alive language but warned the added provisions and non-severability clause could make the bill vulnerable to a constitutional challenge and could jeopardize other enacted provisions if struck down.
During executive session, members debated the bill’s purpose and political implications. Several members said they would vote no because they trusted Missouri medical providers and opposed adding more law to an already regulated area, while others said they supported the bill as a protection for children born alive. The committee then voted 12-4 to send Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 999 do pass.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee Mar 19th, 2025
Children and Senior Advocacy
Transcript Highlights:
- So I will call up first for the bill, Terry Le Point. bill, Terry Le Point.
- Are we opposing this bill?
- This bill would children have. And this bill would compromise child abuse investigations.
- The reason I'm bringing the bill, um, my original draft bill of...
- The reason I'm bringing the bill, um, my original draft bill I think is much stronger.
Keywords:
Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 2/12/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The larger policy bill is in its final stages of drafting.
- <00:18:56.919>
from in the Senate um there is a bill from in the Senate um there is a bill - It sounds like the bills that are coming so we can be ready to have a discussion on these bills.
- committee for it sounds like the bills committee for it sounds like the bills that<00:25:13.399>
- It sounds like the bills that are coming so we can be ready to have a discussion on these bills.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Surveillance-based price and wage discrimination prohibited 3/4/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- your bill as amended. your bill as amended.
- That's why we need this bill.
- bills today. So I appreciate the time. bills today. So I appreciate the time.
- I can't fathom being against this bill. I can't fathom being against this bill.
- That's what this bill does. That's what this bill does.
Summary:
House File 3794, as amended by the A4 amendment, was heard in committee. Representative Greenman described the bill as a ban on surveillance-based pricing and wage discrimination, with a disclosure requirement for companies using automated data to set individualized prices or wages. The A4 amendment was adopted; Greenman said it updated language based on attorney general and stakeholder feedback and added a burden-shifting provision that would let consumers or workers establish a presumption, which companies could then rebut with data. Greenman and supporters argued the bill would stop companies from using personal data and AI tools to charge different prices to different people, while still allowing ordinary market-based discounts and clearly offered group discounts such as those for veterans, students, or teachers.
Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Farmers Union, a neighborhood bookstore owner, Consumer Reports, and a small business owner. They said surveillance pricing undermines fairness, transparency, and competition, and cited examples such as different online prices based on location, browser history, or loyalty-program data. Testifiers also warned that AI-driven pricing and discounting can be opaque and discriminatory, and that small businesses cannot compete with large firms that control more data. Consumer Reports said consumers should not have to use workarounds like VPNs to compare prices and noted that some discounts based on personal data may also need sunlight and guardrails.
Opposition came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Progress. They argued the bill’s definitions are too broad and could sweep in ordinary business analytics, loyalty programs, targeted promotions, inventory tools, and even spreadsheets, creating compliance risk and discouraging innovation and investment. They also warned the bill could burden small businesses and interfere with workplace management and compensation decisions. During member discussion, several legislators voiced support for the bill as a transparency and fairness measure, while one member noted that the most egregious examples appear to be in e-commerce and said the committee was laying the bill over for further consideration.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Industry and Business Apr 2nd, 2025 at 02:45 pm
Industry and Business
Transcript Highlights:
- or any challenges to this bill.
- the agencies that the legislature says that we have to bill, and we don't bill the agencies that the
- So typically we don't bill general fund agencies, and we do bill special fund agencies.
- So, yes, this bill was not a department bill. You've heard a lot about that probably already.
- I think that if you look at the bill, there's a number of funding sources outlined in that bill to help
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Industry and Business reconvened to work on House Bill 1584, which would create a new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulatory structure within the Insurance Department. Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey and Deputy Commissioner John Arnold explained a revised set of amendments negotiated with Representative Casper and the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. They said the bill largely kept the House policy intact but added technical corrections, narrowed some references in Chapter 19-02, created a separate PBM licensing class, set a delayed effective date for licensing, and established emergency authority so the department could begin building the new division. They also described the proposal to fund the program through existing trust fund resources, PBM license fees, and a transfer of about $1.6 million from the prescription drug transparency program fund, while allowing the department flexibility to hire needed attorneys, pharmacists, and examiners.
A major point of discussion was Section 10, which would have required the Attorney General to represent and bear costs for lawsuits related to the bill. Chief Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness said the language was too broad and would go beyond normal constitutional defense work, potentially obligating her office to cover all lawsuits against the commissioner or state under the section. Representative Casper said the intent was only to avoid the Insurance Department having to seek emergency funding for litigation, and both he and department officials said they were open to removing the section or narrowing it. After further discussion, the committee agreed to remove Section 10 from the amendments.
The committee then voted 4-0 to adopt the amended amendment package, and then voted 4-0 to give House Bill 1584 a do pass recommendation as amended and refer it to Appropriations. Members noted the bill was still a work in progress, but said the revised version was intended to move the PBM regulation issue forward while continuing discussion in the appropriations process.