Transcript Highlights:

• There are no other questions; we'll open public testimony. Who is here to testify?
• I have some written testimony.
• I'm looking at your testimony, and as usual, it's very complete.
• Howard Ramblett, you may start your testimony.
• If not, public testimony is closed.

Bills: SB3, SB 3

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency funding, flood management, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power

Transcript Highlights:

• We submitted written testimony, so I'll just be very brief.
• their testimony. Very much appreciated. their testimony. Very much appreciated.
• testimony when you're ready. testimony when you're ready.
• I know I'm repetitive on some of the testimony, but sorry.
• some of the testimony, but sorry. some of the testimony, but sorry.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Great, thank you for your testimony. We do have a couple of questions.
• I appreciate your testimony. We do have a couple of questions.
• Thank you, Chair, and thank you all for your testimony.
• Thank you very much, and I appreciate your testimony.
• sponsor and work on some more testimony sponsor and work on some more testimony is<01:03:43.559>

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:35 SB 22 Discussion 00:01:20 SB 22 Vote 00:11:45 SB 100 Discussion 00:15:07 SB 100 Vote 00:38:53 SB 88 Discussion Only 00:42:11 Adjournment 01:03:52, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 18, 2025, and first took up Senate Bill 22 by Senator Reginald Thomas, which was presented as a cleanup measure following prior cosmetology reforms and a Legislative Oversight and Investigations report. The bill would allow cosmetologists to retake exams multiple times with a one-month wait, authorize the Board of Cosmetology to immediately close facilities that intentionally use unlicensed workers while preserving due process, give the board flexibility to hire an executive director based on qualifications rather than licensure, and recognize certain out-of-state or territorial cosmetology licenses. Board officials said the changes were intended to improve fairness, equality, and administrative due process. Senators asked about retesting fees and whether partial retests could dilute standards; Thomas clarified that the exam is cumulative and must be retaken in full. The committee approved SB 22 with all favorable votes, and Senator Meredith explained his support as a workforce and fairness issue. The committee then heard Senate Bill 100 by Senator Jimmy Higdon, as substituted, concerning tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product retail licensing and enforcement. Youth advocates from the University of Kentucky testified in support, describing youth nicotine use as a public health crisis and urging stronger enforcement, annual compliance checks, retailer licensing, and tougher penalties for illegal sales to minors. Higdon said the bill would create a Division of Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vapor Products Licensing within ABC, require licenses for retailers, authorize inspections and confiscation of contraband, impose escalating criminal and civil penalties for unlicensed sales and sales to minors, publish a list of licensed retailers, and dedicate fine revenue to enforcement and youth education. He said the measure targeted bad actors rather than responsible retailers. A retailer witness also supported licensing but raised concerns about contradictory product definitions that could sweep in hemp and medical marijuana vapor products, and asked that the bill be delayed until after an expected Supreme Court decision affecting federal vapor-product rules. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 100, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cindy, if you would introduce yourself for the committee and proceed with your testimony.
• Cunningham, for your testimony today.
• <00:25:23.600> today cuningham for uh um your testimony today cuningham for uh um your testimony
• think that you have uh some testimony think that you have uh some testimony that<00:26:06.919>
• would like to uh share the testimony would like to uh share the testimony that<00:26:54.559>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Children and Families Committee met with a quorum, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes, and then focused on child care shortages and the pressures facing family child care providers across Minnesota, especially in Greater Minnesota. Chairing members noted the issue affects both rural and metro areas and introduced testimony from Cindy Cunningham, a St. Paul family child care provider and public policy chair for the State Association for Family Child Care. Cunningham argued that family child care is in crisis despite state investments, saying provider numbers continue to decline and that the system is not working. She raised concerns about food reimbursement tiers, special licenses that may not qualify for the family child care food program, the need for supplemental support for lower-tier programs, and the burden of upfront grant spending and delayed reimbursement. She also said providers receive little financial benefit for their own children in care and described a recent DHS decision affecting supervision of providers’ own children as an example of poor communication. Her broader message was that unclear, inconsistent, and poorly implemented licensing rules are driving providers out of the field. She recommended implementing the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations, improving DHS communication with both licensors and providers, updating public guidance and training materials, and considering more direct county funding and support for family child care. She also suggested reevaluating support for certified centers and other state-funded programs that she said operate under different standards. Committee members thanked her for the detailed testimony and said they wanted to follow up with her. The committee then moved on to letters and additional testimony from providers around the state, with members emphasizing the goal of identifying specific regulations that are hindering child care startup and continuation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, public testimony was closed.
• Seeing none, public testimony was closed.
• Seeing none, public testimony was closed.
• Seeing none, public testimony was closed.
• <00:48:05.480> is testify seeing none public testimony is testify seeing none public testimony

Bills: HF1662, HF2115, HF2159, HF1095, HF2160

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to give testimony, please fill out your witness card, sign it, and hand it over, excuse me
• Your signature is an affirmation that the testimony you give is true.
• We are here primarily for public testimony.
• We are here primarily for public testimony.
• All we're here for today is public testimony on the maps that have been filed.

Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have any public testimony, Julia? Yes, we do.
• Any other testimony from the... Okay. Any other testimony from the audience? All right.
• I don't see any public testimony on the amendment. We have none. Members, we're in debate.
• Is there any public testimony? We have Katie... Is there any public testimony?
• All right, no other public testimony. Members, anyone wishing to debate on the bill as amended?

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and considered two bills. HB 145, by Rep. McFarland, would update sovereign immunity financial liability caps for claims against government entities, raising them to $500,000 per person and $1 million per incident, with a future automatic increase, aligning the statute of limitations with private claims, and allowing governments to settle valid claims above the cap without further legislative action. Several local government and related organizations waived in opposition. The bill passed on a 12-2 vote and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS for HB 199, by Rep. Maney, which makes a short change to veterans treatment court law to align its procedures with mental health and drug courts and emphasize the state attorney’s role in the multidisciplinary review process. An amendment clarifying the state attorney’s role was adopted without objection. Public testimony on the bill was in support, and the committee reported the bill favorably as amended on a 14-0 vote. After completing both measures, the chair thanked members and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have public testimony.
• Seeing no more public testimony members.
• We do have public testimony.
• But I appreciate that testimony. Let me see. Get get back on track because it's so real.
• We have an questions members. >> We have public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• testimony that I'm going to pass out testimony that I'm going to pass out thank<01:05:54.799> you<
• haven't touched on that in my testimony haven't touched on that in my testimony other<02:38:00.600
• You have a full written testimony.
• <03:45:12.239> we job um and since it's her testimony we job um and since it's her testimony
• <04:03:23.720> that integrity of those testimonies that integrity of those testimonies that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 702, which would change how extra or special duty pay for retired police officers is treated for retirement and work-limit purposes. Supporters argued the bill would let retirees work more special-duty hours, helping municipalities fill traffic-detail and similar assignments without added state cost, and said it would not prohibit retirees from working but would simply stop those hours from counting toward the return-to-work threshold. Opponents argued the change would be inconsistent with the retirement system’s 2011 reforms, could increase pension liabilities, and would treat the same compensation differently for active employees and retirees. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect current and future retirees, the role of municipalities, and whether the policy amounted to “policing for profit.” The subcommittee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB 702, sending it to the full committee with that recommendation. The committee then discussed House Bill 581, which would create a Group Three retirement plan for new state employees hired after the bill’s effective date. The chair outlined a housekeeping amendment to delay implementation, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026, and noted a sponsor amendment addressing health insurance group inclusion and medical and surgical benefits so those benefits would not be put at risk for the new group. Testimony and discussion focused on the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution, with supporters citing Michigan examples and arguing the bill would help recruit and retain employees while giving them more flexibility. Opponents said the change could weaken retirement security and increase unfunded liability, though supporters responded that the bill still requires employer contributions toward accrued liability and is intended to keep the state on track to pay off its unfunded liability by 2039. The transcript ends with continued discussion of the bill and no final vote shown on HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony will be limited to three minutes per person and not per issue.
• Thank you, Senator Cyr, for your testimony. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Thank you, Senator Seer, for your testimony. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Thank you guys so much for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you so much for your testimony.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on alcohol licensing, sales, and consumption issues affecting bars, restaurants, package stores, and local communities. The chair outlined hybrid hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits and instructions for written testimony. The committee heard a local bill for Milford, H. 4169, authorizing an additional off-premises all-alcohol license for Charlie’s Mini Mart, with the understanding that the existing wine and malt license would be surrendered if the new license is granted. A major topic was the long-running debate over happy hour. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association opposed bills such as S. 217, H. 349, and H. 443, arguing that discounted alcohol would intensify competition, create pressure on restaurants to participate, and potentially raise liquor liability and insurance costs. In contrast, Senator Julian Cyr testified in support of repealing the happy hour ban through a local-option framework, saying the bill includes safeguards such as no discounts after 10 p.m., fixed pricing during promotions, and advance posting requirements, and that it could help downtowns and seasonal businesses without creating a public health risk. The Massachusetts Package Stores Association testified on a broad package of bills, opposing measures to reinstate happy hour, allow supplier control over retail shelf space (H. 350), impose a transfer fee on licenses (H. 351), authorize alcohol coupons or discounts (H. 381 and S. 219), and permit Thanksgiving alcohol sales (H. 428). It supported bills requiring beverage alcohol training for off-premise licensees (H. 344), restricting self-checkout for alcohol (H. 366), changing Section 15 grocery-store license rules (S. 213), and several other regulatory changes. The Distilled Spirits Council supported H. 350 on private label spirits, while acknowledging concerns about disclosure and preferential treatment; package store witnesses defended private labels as lawful products they create with manufacturers, and the council argued the bill should address consumer confusion and unfair competitive advantages. The hearing concluded with Chair Chan announcing committee poll results on other bills, including a number of favorable reports and study orders, and the committee then voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we do that, let's just stop and see if any members have questions about your testimony so far.
• And furthermore, we provide opportunity for public testimony as we have time, and that testimony will
• Kellam has not been requested by any member to be here, but we will take testimony.
• Kellam has not been requested by any member to be here, but we will take testimony.
• We await your testimony. Yeah.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, per House procedure rules, witness testimony must be limited to the.
• All right, thank you for your testimony. All right, thank you.
• Thank you for your testimonies, Ms. Epner. Members, are there any questions?
• Hearing none, we'll move to testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. OK.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so just a few housekeeping: we're going to try to keep the testimony to a two-minute time limit,
• Uh, you have our written testimony, and I stand by it.
• is that while we do have testimony is that while we do have reservations<00:14:10.880> about<
• I stand on my written testimony and offer these brief comments.
• I stand on my written testimony bill.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've been hearing testimony from people across the state on homeowners associations.
• from people across the state testimony from people across the state on<00:06:13.360> homeowners
• <00:06:52.319> public we've heard in forms of testimony public we've heard in forms of testimony
• public testimony<00:06:53.680> experts<00:06:54.080> in<00:06:54.240> different
• <00:06:54.520> areas testimony experts in different areas testimony experts in different areas

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Eric Lucero testified about Minnesota’s housing affordability challenges, arguing that rising interest rates, insurance costs, property taxes, and construction expenses are being passed on to renters and homeowners. He said the core problem is supply and demand: demand has risen while supply has not kept pace, in part because fewer homeowners are selling or downsizing. Lucero said the legislature should look for ways to reduce costs without creating major new state expenses, especially in a budget year with a projected deficit. Lucero highlighted several policy ideas and bills. He said he has introduced a bill to exempt sales tax on building materials, which he argued would lower the final cost of new homes. He also said he is interested in reducing permit costs and examining other factors that affect construction costs, including materials and labor. On insurance and property taxes, he suggested lawmakers should consider reforms or relief measures, while noting that interest rates are largely beyond state control. The discussion also focused on homeowners associations and common interest communities. Lucero said he has been part of a bipartisan work group for about six months that reviewed public testimony and expert input, and that the group has now issued recommendations. He said he and other legislators plan to turn those recommendations into one or more bipartisan bills aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and reducing costs for homeowners. He closed by saying housing affordability affects everyone and that he believes there is momentum this year for reforms that support homeownership and generational wealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:48.920> both<00:16:49.200> in<00:16:49.360> the testimony both in the testimony
• on on this where there was testimony on on this where there was written<01:43:31.000> testimony
• So, we did take some testimony from insurance companies originally when we took testimony on this bill
• testimony from take any testimony from uh<01:44:25.960> any<01:44:26.360> insurance<01
• <01:47:16.240> on the Senate did not take testimony on the Senate did not take testimony on

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll open this up to public testimony. We'll open this up to public testimony.
• Okay, thank you for testimony. Okay, thank you for testimony.
• Further testimony. Anybody online? All right. Well, that will close public testimony.
• Appreciate your<01:02:34.640> testimony. your testimony. your testimony.
• Appreciate that testimony. Further testimony here in the room? Anybody online? Okay.

Bills: SF0050, SF0068, SF0084, HB0087, HB0029, HB0061, HB0090

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• For public testimony, there are a few key witnesses.
• For everyone else in the public testimony, there will be given up to two minutes for that testimony,
• Appreciate your testimony.
• Your testimony is very powerful.
• Thank you for your testimony. You looked specifically at me.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you'd identify yourself for the record, please present your testimony.
• If you'd identify yourself for the record, we're happy to have your testimony.
• Um, thank you, Senator Nelson, or—questions before we proceed to the testimony?
• We welcome your testimony.
• Shel, welcome to the committee, and we're pleased to have your testimony.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. Thank you.
• Thank you for your testimony.
• Thank you for your testimony. James Beasley, ACFS, waves in support.
• Thank you for your testimony. Let's see. James Beasley, ACFS, waves in support.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early measures included CS/SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would allow qualified candidates or political parties to sue over violations of party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and impose a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of it, arguing the bill removed existing limits on force and erased sentencing distinctions. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including CS/SB 7014, SB 7016, CS/SB 7012, SB 7000, SB 7002, SB 7004, SB 7006, and SB 7008, all of which extend or preserve public records or meeting exemptions for topics such as social media investigations, small business loan records, motor vehicle enforcement records, emergency shelter information, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, Public Service Commission proceedings, and Gaming Control Commission records. The committee also approved SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and opponents not appearing in the excerpt. HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably after supporters from the Florida Chamber and Associated Industries backed the bill, which limits strict liability claims involving natural geological substances on former phosphate mines but not phosphogypsum stacks. CS/SB 48 on housing, as amended, would require local governments to allow accessory dwelling units, limit certain local barriers, and extend housing incentives; it drew broad support from housing, business, real estate, and advocacy groups. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, CS/SB 364 on CPA licensure modernization, SB 292 on public records protection for appellate court clerks, CS/SB 296 and CS/SB 298 on domestic and dating violence protections and related public records exemptions, and SB 386 on farm equipment warranty protections were also reported favorably, generally with supportive testimony from affected industries, advocacy groups, or public safety stakeholders. Later, the committee approved SB 168 expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increase penalties and enforcement tools. It also heard but temporarily postponed CS/CS/SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services after the chair allowed public testimony because many stakeholders had traveled to attend; one opponent, a longtime builder, argued the bill could criminalize contractors who withhold payment for deficient subcontractor work. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes on selected bills and then adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And instructions for providing testimony can be found on the agenda.
• Is there anyone wishing to provide testimony in support of SB 507?
• And then we will move on to testimony in neutral.
• Public comment is not an opportunity to rehear testimony.
• Each person will have up to two minutes to provide testimony, and you may also submit written testimony

Bills: SB507

Keywords: SB507, Nevada, governmental administration, Office of Nevada Boards Commissions and Councils Standards, Department of Business and Industry, professional licensing boards, occupational licensing, regulatory fees, state account, nonreverting fund, Commission on Postsecondary Education, taxicab, taxi technology fee, Nevada Transportation Authority, Taxicab Authority, transportation network company, TNC, rideshare, Uber, Lyft