Transcript Highlights:

• As mentioned, my area is one of the main areas that’s affected by flooding.
• Yes, it’s a park tax, but we are trying to protect residential and commercial areas from flooding.
• perfection, my area is still dealing with derelict property that we have no real way forward with from the flood
• Flooding is not going away.
• for stormwater management, like buying land for greenways or building infrastructure that stops flooding

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have resources to go ahead and improve the fields, to secure fencing, and then also to work on the flooding
• development based on some of the local planning and zoning in Rio Rancho because we have some interesting flooding
• areas, non-flooding areas, and how we're going to do it.
• development based on some of the local planning and zoning in Rio Rancho because we have some interesting flooding
• areas, non-flooding areas, and how we're going to do it.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 211, which would appropriate $5 million for the Las Vegas Rodriguez Park. Senator Campos said the money would help continue upgrades to baseball, softball, and little league fields and address fencing, flooding, and other park improvements as part of a larger regional park plan. There was no public opposition, and the bill received a unanimous do pass recommendation, 7-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 131, a broad housing and zoning reform measure sponsored by Senator Maestas. The bill would allow more housing types by right, including accessory dwelling units, duplexes, townhomes, apartments in commercial zones, small-scale commercial uses in neighborhoods, and would eliminate minimum parking mandates; an amendment to remove height restrictions was adopted unanimously. Supporters, including Pew, housing advocates, chambers of commerce, builders, and some local officials, argued the bill would increase supply, lower costs, and modernize outdated zoning. Opponents, including the Realtors, Municipal League, neighborhood representatives, and several senators, argued it would preempt local control, ignore community differences, and could create infrastructure and neighborhood impacts. After extended debate, the committee tabled SB 131 by a recorded vote. Senate Bill 183 was next, proposing a feasibility study for a regional urgent care or emergency facility in Torrance County. The sponsor and local officials described long ambulance transports, heavy use of I-40, and the need for quicker access to care for rural residents and travelers. The bill drew support from a former hospital administrator and no opposition, and it passed 9-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 222, which would appropriate $20 million for physician residency programs outside the federal system to help retain doctors in New Mexico. The sponsor and supporters said the state loses many medical graduates because of limited residency slots, while one witness urged accountability for large hospital systems. Some senators questioned the premise and feasibility, but the bill advanced on a 6-4 do pass vote to Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we think about the city of Santa Clara and the indigenous communities, more recently, the flooding
• We had flooding, great lake levels, and rivers running.
• I know flooding; it was historic flooding there in Coyote Creek even just recently, as of a few months
• State parks are very vulnerable to things out of our control: wildfire, flooding, you know, all of those

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They were concerned that the Department of Transportation is no longer helping dig out flooded Asecas
• What's happened in the past six months, give or take, is there have been some flood events in the northern
• Arriba, and we have been holding monthly meetings just trying to bring together all the water, road, flood
• in the north, both the acequias and the ranchers and farmers that were impacted by the Metanolous flood
• We understand that the flooding that took place on the Santa Cruz Channel on the Rio Arriba side is subject

Transcript Highlights:

• The Columbus Flood Control Project is probably the biggest project that we have.
• It looks like down south in Columbus when there's flooding and there's no berm.
• on the border and so many possibilities, but if we don't have that berm project that prevents the flooding
• They're actually grants for water and wastewater particularly, but also for flood control, which does
• That water, that community, is built on a dry lake bed, so the flooding is actually water that wants

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• At the federal level, a pandemic, floods, and fire, and so much else that seems sometimes destined to
• After the fires here, the fires, the flooding, etc., did you see an uptick in physical and mental effects
• devastation, what I call the aftermath of COVID, and then on top of that here for our county, fire and flood
• It's growing on a foundation that was strong, but now we're in a flood.
• We're in a flood.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• a retired teacher of almost 30 years, uh, delighted to be back and hope that there's no lasting flooding
• damage, thank gosh, that we did not have that right now, and it, it, it had an impact of that, of that flood
• . 82 students became homeless as a result of the floods here in Travis County, uh, raising the number
• the, the, uh, southwest part of town, uh, that are still, you know, uh, uh, being impacted by that flood
• could be used to power emergency generator, emergency generators in case of something like a lot of flooding

Transcript Highlights:

• Mouse River flood control.
• Valley City flood control has been at $15 to $16 million, $14. They asked for $16 million.
• We've helped every community with flood control.
• help them out somewhere along the line, because they do have a lot of citizens now that are paying flood
• We just removed that language that basically said Bismarck was exempt from the stormwater flood control

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few weeks ago, we experienced devastating flooding that resulted in several deaths, hundreds needing
• I was born and raised in the Valley, and I've lived my life watching these flooding incidents come and
• that would allow people to live without the fear of losing everything they own to these biannual floods
• Our Rio Grande Valley community just... ...offered a historic flood, and the state does not even have
• of dollars that could have strengthened emergency response teams, supported local schools, funded flood

Bills: HB1320 , HB2012 , HB2293 , HB2655 , HB3174 , HB4108 , HB4661 , HB4799 , HB5534 , HB5580

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• She could not get out of the flooded retention pond herself without assistance from other adults. it
• </c><00:31:50.279><c> retention</c> not get out of the flooded retention not get out of the flooded retention
• The latest version of the Ala Wai flood risk management project has one detention plan planned for the
• risk management project has alaw flood risk management project has one<00:32:46.399><c> detention</c
• She had a decision to make, um, 21 years ago when she stood on the banks of a flooded detention pond

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Homeowners Association property governance disclosures, as passed the House, outlined and updated various
• requiring unit owners to provide written notice of certain items, requiring associations to transmit disclosures
• , and stipulating associations to transmit those disclosure packets as prescribed after receipt of the
• that the language is too restrictive and potentially conflicting with prosecution's duties for disclosure
• raised that media organizations might want to be able to get access to it, and... ...duties for disclosure

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to make sure we're protecting against flooding and, you know, water supply contamination, things
• We need to make sure we're protecting against flooding and, you know, water supply contamination, things
• allowed counties to establish drainage utilities, charge drainage fees, and regulate land use for flood
• management and flood infrastructure, or authorize counties to regulate impervious cover to address flood
• FEMA-proof certified levee around my neighborhood, so we don't have to worry about, you know, our flood

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in 2019, 2020 high waters and flooding in 2019, 2020 that<00:37:42.480><c> the</c><00:37:43.040><c>
• In addition, there are opportunities in looking at building sites for flood mitigation that can assist
• </c><01:01:15.600><c> mitigation</c><01:01:16.280><c> that</c> building sites for flood mitigation that
• building sites for flood mitigation that can<01:01:16.560><c> assist</c><01:01:17.040><c> with</c><01
• , lots of flooding rains that come<01:33:37.240><c> on</c><01:33:37.360><c> the</c><01:33:37.440><c>

Bills: HF4470 , HF2418 , HF3417 , HF3365 , HF3463

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF4470, Melissa Hortman, memorial, statue, memorial garden, State Office Building, Capitol Mall Design Framework, capital investment, appropriation, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Department of Administration, public art, commemorative monument, landscaping, artist selection, family consultation, Minnesota legislature, state building site, capital appropriation, political subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• law as well, there's again a balance for various types of information that are exempted from that disclosure
• So I just put a quick disclosure before I discuss these cases.
• And so ordered the disclosure.
• Further, the Court said compulsory disclosure of internal legislative deliberations under the Public
• It also includes language which creates two statutory exemptions to disclosure within the definition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with committee chairs explaining the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions’ role under Article 48 and outlining the process for initiative petition 25-14, H5-004, an act to improve access to public records. The first panel consisted of subject-matter experts. William Clark of the National Conference of State Legislatures gave an overview of public records laws across states, noting that all states have some form of open-records law but that exemptions for legislatures vary widely. He discussed common legislative exemptions, legislative privilege, and court cases showing that outcomes often turn on specific constitutional and statutory language. Rebecca Murray, General Counsel for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, described Massachusetts public records trends, saying state agency requests and appeals have risen sharply since the 2017 law update, with 2025 setting a record for appeals. She said the initiative would extend the public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s Office and add exemptions specific to those offices, while also noting resource concerns from the growing volume of requests and appeals.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just put a quick disclosure before I discuss these cases.
• And so ordered the disclosure.
• Further, the Court said compulsory disclosure of internal legislative deliberations under the Public
• It also includes language which creates two statutory exemptions to disclosure within the definition
• We have provided... ...disclosure certain records of the Secretary of Veterans Services.

Bills: H5004

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: public records, public records law, transparency, open government, government accountability, legislature, general court, governor's office, executive records, legislative records, constituent communications, policy drafts, deliberative process, freedom of information, FOIA, records access, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Chapter 4, veterans services records, initiative petition

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-14, H 5-004, “an act to improve access to public records.” Chairs Cindy Friedman and Alice Peisch outlined the Article 48 process and explained that the committee was hearing expert testimony, then proponents, then opponents, before any public testimony. The first expert, Will Clark of the National Conference of State Legislatures, gave a general overview of public records laws across the states, emphasizing that all states have some form of open-records law but that exemptions, timelines, fees, and coverage of legislatures vary widely. He discussed legislative exemptions, legislative privilege, and court cases showing that outcomes often turn on the exact language of state constitutions, statutes, and chamber rules. Rebecca Murray, General Counsel for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, testified about Massachusetts public records administration, saying requests and appeals have risen sharply since the 2017 law update, with state agency requests increasing from 22,572 in 2017 to 47,776 in 2025 and appeals reaching a record 4,051 cases in 2025. She said the initiative would extend the law to the General Court and the Governor’s office and add exemptions for those branches, while warning that the volume and complexity of requests could require more resources. The proponents, led by Jesse Littlewood of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, Scotia Hila of Act on Mass, and Auditor Diana DiZoglio, argued that Massachusetts is an outlier for exempting the legislature and governor from public records law and that the proposal would create needed accountability without exposing personal constituent communications or internal deliberations. They said the measure would make records such as committee votes, final bill drafts, amendments, expenditures, attendance records, minutes, and public testimony available, while preserving exemptions for constituent services, draft legislation, internal staff communications, and policy development discussions. DiZoglio emphasized that the initiative is aimed at basic administrative and financial records, citing her own difficulty obtaining receipts, contracts, and procurement documents, and said the public should be able to see how taxpayer dollars are spent. Committee members questioned the witnesses extensively about the scope of exemptions, constituent privacy, legislative privilege, and whether the measure could reach communications with nonprofits or lobbying-type interactions; proponents responded that privacy and constituent-service exemptions were intended to remain in place, though some members pressed for clearer statutory language. The hearing also included a contentious exchange over whether the initiative could affect legislative communications and whether the Senate had already taken a position against the measure. Some members raised concerns about separation of powers, legislative privilege, and the possibility of exposing constituent communications or internal deliberations, while proponents argued that the initiative was narrowly tailored and that any legal disputes could be resolved in court. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing. The committee concluded the testimony portion after hearing from the proponents and their questions, with the matter left pending for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we strongly oppose the sections of Article 1 that relate to the public disclosure of corporate
• </c> one that relate to the public disclosure one that relate to the public disclosure of<00:31:19.960
• </c><00:31:23.480><c> of</c> would require the public disclosure of would require the public disclosure
• section, a bill that would require disclosure of franchise tax information.
• The disclosure requirement would still apply to that corporation.

Bills: HF2274 , HF1932

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: taxation, income tax, property tax, corporate tax, homestead credit, local government aid, tax credits, economic development, taxpayer assistance, tax credit outreach, tax preparation, free tax help, IRS, Department of Revenue, general fund appropriation, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, volunteer income tax assistance, VITA, low-income taxpayers

Transcript Highlights:

• “We did do training and disclosure in 2025.
• And as a matter of fact, two weeks from tomorrow, we are doing the training and disclosure.
• This Friday, the board is doing their training and disclosure.
• And they did not Disclosure forms annually and at hire or appointment.
• Turning to the third finding, which relates to conflict-of-interest and disclosure requirements.

Committee: Senate Senate Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard the Arizona Auditor General’s 2025 sunset review of the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The audit found the board generally processed licenses and complaints timely and had adopted required school curriculum rules, but it also identified inconsistent disciplinary actions, gaps in required infection-prevention and law education for some reciprocity and instructor applicants, weak application review controls, and noncompliance issues involving open meeting law, public records, and conflicts of interest. Auditors also recommended statutory changes on esthetics scope of practice, cease-and-desist authority, and eyelash technician training standards. The board’s executive director said the agency agreed with the findings, had already implemented some changes including updated disciplinary parameters, conflict-of-interest training, lawful presence verification, and revised cash-handling procedures, and was working through the remaining recommendations. After questions, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend the board implement the audit recommendations and be continued for six years, until July 1, 2032. The committee then took up the combined sunset review and performance audit of the Arizona Department of Gaming, the Arizona Racing Commission, and the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission. The Auditor General reported that while the department distributed tribal gaming funds and issued some licenses appropriately, it failed to consistently obtain and review required independent audit reports for event wagering and fantasy sports operators, did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements, lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes, and had delayed some compact trust fund distributions. Additional issues included IT security documentation, horse-racing suitability checks, fee-setting reviews, rulemaking, and public records procedures; the Boxing and MMA Commission also had licensing and fee-setting deficiencies. The department and commissions agreed to implement the recommendations, and the department director said the agency was already making changes, including updated guidance to operators, a new complaint-tracking process, conflict-of-interest training, and work on trust fund distributions and rule changes. Committee members pressed both the auditor and the department on why fantasy sports audit reviews had not been completed, whether underpayments would be recovered, and why no distributions had yet been made to certain Category 3 tribes under the 2021 compact trust fund. The director said the department was now doing a look-back review, would seek any owed fees, penalties, and interest, and was helping tribes resolve the baseline-revenue formula needed for distributions. Members also asked about conflict-of-interest practices, problem gambling, and whether prediction markets fall under gaming regulation. The discussion continued into the department’s broader presentation, with the director describing the agency’s regulatory role and ongoing modernization efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• back in Austin passing legislation to support families in the Hill Country. after the devastating flooding
• What the state of Texas should be doing is figuring out why a flood warning to Kerr County a day before
• This special session should be used to help people impacted by the devastating floods—relief efforts,
• By placing a strictly political issue before the higher-priority flood disaster in Texas.
• relief and flood.

Committee: House Congressional Redistricting, Select

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the bill would still require, for every single tool, disclosure of the specific actual model
• One is, just so we all understand, the bill does not require public disclosure of any of this information
• Anything outside of the scope of the initial disclosure would not be included in that inventory.
• So to that end, the disclosure process isn't necessarily a pain point.
• The disclosure process is not necessarily a pain point.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the main discussion focused on AB 1705, AB 1898, AB 2076, and AB 2564. AB 1705 would require pornographic websites and uploaders to certify consent and age before sexually explicit content is posted, including AI-generated nude images, and would allow civil actions by nonconsenting individuals or minors depicted in the material. Supporters, including child advocacy, women’s groups, district attorneys, and university women’s organizations, said it would help combat nonconsensual sexual imagery and revenge pornography; there was no opposition testimony, and the bill drew favorable comments from members. AB 1898 would require employers to give workers advance notice before using AI-powered tools to surveil or manage employees, including disclosure of the purpose, data collected, decisions affected, and general locations of use. Labor groups and privacy advocates supported the measure as a transparency and worker-protection bill, while business and industry groups opposed it, arguing the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements could expose proprietary or security-sensitive information, and the private right of action could lead to litigation and overbroad compliance burdens. Members raised cybersecurity and scope concerns, and the author said the bill had already been narrowed and would continue to be refined, but the committee ultimately took a roll call and advanced the bill on a vote, leaving it on call for absent members. AB 2076 would add nitrous oxide to the list of products subject to online age verification under the Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act and increase penalties for large sellers that fail to comply. The author and supporters, including a parent, a deputy district attorney, narcotics officers, Children Now, labor, and the Children’s Advocacy Institute, described rising youth access, health harms, and online sales loopholes. Some opposition groups said they appreciated the amendments but remained concerned about other provisions. Members questioned the bill’s gift-card restrictions and whether they would unnecessarily limit adult purchasing choices; the author and committee staff explained the restriction was aimed at anonymous purchases of the most dangerous items. The bill passed on a 7-0 vote and was left on call for absent members. AB 2564 would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or using personal data to set individualized prices, while preserving certain transparent discounts and loyalty programs. The author and supporters from Consumer Reports, TechEquity, labor, and privacy groups argued the bill would prevent discriminatory pricing and protect consumers from opaque data-driven price manipulation. Retail, chamber, and industry opponents said the bill was too broad, could chill legitimate discounts and promotions, created compliance and litigation risks, and contained vague definitions. Members discussed the balance between consumer protection and business concerns, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on AB 2564.

Transcript Highlights:

• is to adopt... ...suspend, and this is to adopt placeholder trailer bill language to remove the disclosure
• The Governor's budget proposes to suspend a new mandate, the disclosure requirements and deferral property
• The trailer bill language requires appropriate data non-disclosure for both state and local entities.
• for elected officials and candidates to be designated as confidential voters while still allowing disclosure
• for elected officials and candidates to be designated as confidential voters while still allowing disclosure

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration heard a series of budget change proposals and trailer bill items, beginning with Housing and Community Development (HCD) requests. HCD sought permanent authority for seven existing temporary positions to support the HCD Connect IT system, and a separate proposal to fund implementation of eight 2025 housing-related laws with $4.2 million General Fund and 16 positions, plus $470,000 one-time General Fund. Members asked about how HCD Connect would interact with programs moving to the new Housing Development Finance Committee, and HCD also explained that the estimated cost to implement AB 1053 had been revised downward from about $6 million to $1.9 million because of shared implementation with CalHFA and the new committee structure. The committee also heard a Cal ICH proposal for $339,000 one-time General Fund to implement AB 678 on LGBTQ+ inclusive and culturally competent homelessness services, with testimony emphasizing data gaps and the need for a contract-based approach because HMIS cannot be changed unilaterally. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation presented three continuation proposals: $15.34 million and 53 positions for the California Consumer Financial Protection Law program, $13.5 million and 51 positions for the Debt Collector Licensing Act program, and $49,000 ongoing for two positions in the broker-dealer/investment adviser education program. Members and the public raised concerns about the size and fairness of debt collector assessments and licensing fees, while DFPI explained the pro rata fee structure, the current license count, and how larger assessments fall on larger firms. Public testimony also supported retaining funding for the Student Loan Empowerment Network and requested funding for a franchise broker registration program. The committee also considered a mandate item involving suspension of a disclosure requirement related to property taxation, and trailer bill language from the Government Operations Agency to amend AB 91 on MENA demographic data collection, with the administration emphasizing data nondisclosure, protection of federal funding, and delayed implementation. The Secretary of State’s office then presented Help America Vote Act funding requests: $10.3 million for VoteCal maintenance and operations and $4.492 million for HAVA spending plans supporting voter education, training, accessibility, auditing, and county assistance. The office also requested $660,000 General Fund to implement AB 1392, which would make voter registration information for elected officials and candidates confidential, and explained the need to modify VoteCal and county election systems. The committee also heard requests to continue the Cal-Access Replacement System with $11.8 million General Fund and to continue the Notary Automation Program Replacement Project with $9.75 million from the Business Fees Fund. Members asked about total project costs, testing, data migration, and the expected November 2026 go-live date for Cal-Access replacement. Votes were taken on the vote-only items once quorum was established, and the committee approved the items considered. The final informational item was an overview from the California Arts Council, which highlighted the agency’s 50th anniversary, its statewide grantmaking, and the economic impact of arts funding. Council staff described Creative Corps, cultural districts, and the role of arts funding in local economies, while members and public witnesses urged increased support, including a request to raise local assistance grant funding to $50 million and to provide additional funding for cultural districts. Testimony emphasized the arts as economic infrastructure, community infrastructure, and a source of civic and cultural vitality across California.