Video & Transcript Research : 'subsurface utilities'

Page 139 of 483
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Elections - 01/23/25

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:21:32.520> Commission with the Public Utilities Commission with the Public Utilities Commission
  • Then you have the opportunity as well to utilize an email, the control numbers, and an email receipt
  • Then you have the opportunity as well to utilize an email, the control numbers, and an email receipt
  • Then you have the opportunity as well to utilize an email, the control numbers, and an email receipt
  • Utilize, if you can.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
OR
Transcript Highlights:
  • , local court facility security accounts, and capital improvements at courthouses and facilities utilized
  • If awarded, the Commission would utilize grant funds to support community partners with existing civic
  • You actually utilize the entire system.
  • The new suite of applications will utilize a cloud-based architecture platform.
  • The new suite of applications will utilize a cloud-based architecture platform.
Keywords: 907, all
Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/09/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Colleagues, we have a group of folks who live in a utility that is the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
  • We have a group of folks who live in a utility that is the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
  • The electrical co-ops would like to purchase this utility.
  • And can you imagine during our monsoons when it is 105, when it's 110 degrees, your utilities are out
  • Arizona. ...untangle the federal government from power and utilities for the citizens of Arizona and
Summary: The House convened, approved the prior journal, received gubernatorial communications, and then moved into an additional Committee of the Whole to consider Senate bills on two calendars. In that committee, members adopted floor and committee amendments and reported SB 1100, SB 1160, and SB 1178 out as amended. On the second calendar, the committee considered SB 1200, SB 1560, SB 1627, and SB 1723, adopting amendments on SB 1200, SB 1627, and SB 1723 and reporting all four measures out, while SB 1725 was retained on the calendar. The House then adopted the committee reports and sent the amended bills to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. The chamber then took up a long series of third-reading votes. Several bills passed with recorded votes and some member explanations focused on public safety, parental rights, school safety, health care, local control, property rights, and wildlife management. Among the measures that passed were SB 1013, SB 1015, SB 1046, SB 1094, SB 1095, SB 1124, SB 1186, SB 1214, SB 1275, SB 1280, SB 1315, SB 1318, SB 1205 on reconsideration, SB 1327, SB 1416, SB 1418, SB 1582, SB 1613, SB 1662, SB 1664, SB 1670, SB 1711, SB 1741, SB 1821, and several concurrent memorials. A number of bills failed, including SB 1052, SB 1170, SB 1457, SB 1074, SB 1540, SB 1649, and SB 1663. Debate on several bills drew pointed partisan and policy disagreements. Members opposing health-related bills argued they targeted LGBTQ people or medical decision-making, while supporters framed them as protecting children or bodily autonomy. On SB 1170, members said the bill contained a drafting error that would create extreme penalties and strain prison capacity. On SB 1280, supporters and opponents split over Mexican gray wolf management and federal conservation efforts. On SB 1199, the Salt River horse herd bill, members discussed herd management, heritage, property impacts, and a required emergency clause; it passed with the needed two-thirds majority. The House also adopted a group concurrence motion on numerous House bills and passed several House bills on final reading, including HB 2013, HB 2016, HB 2028, HB 2086, HB 2118, HB 2140, HB 2170, HB 2226, HB 2244, HB 2248, HB 2249, HB 2327, HB 2379, HB 2380, and others, forwarding them to the Governor.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/09/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Colleagues, we have a group of folks who live in a utility that is the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
  • We have a group of folks who live in a utility that is the San Carlos Irrigation Project.
  • APS, SRP, the electrical co-ops, they would like to purchase this utility.
  • And can you imagine during our monsoons when it is 105, when it's 110 degrees, your utilities are out
  • Arizona. ...untangle the federal government from power and utilities for the citizens of Arizona and
Keywords: 1182, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Civil Law and Procedure Apr 27th, 2026

Civil Law and Procedure

Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, it's just a different card that's being utilized.
  • to purchase qualifying medical expenses and the transaction is declined, the judgment creditor may utilize
  • to purchase qualifying medical expenses and the transaction is declined, the judgment creditor may utilize
  • to purchase qualifying medical expenses and the transaction is declined, the judgment creditor may utilize
  • care account who shall provide an alternative means for paying for the qualified medical expense utilizing
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 476, which would add clearer warning language for garnishees responding to interrogatories and create a limited procedure for a new trial when a garnishee can show it never held property or owed the debtor during the garnishment period. After brief questions about how garnishment works, the bill was reported favorably without objection. Senate Bill 260, a youth athletics coaches training bill, was then amended to remove language about the department using donated funds to purchase courses and was reported as amended. House Bill 79, by Chairman Carter, would remove the damages cap for carbon capture release claims. Carter argued carbon capture should be treated like other industries and not receive special liability protection, and the committee reported the bill favorably without objection. The committee also took up Senate Bill 424, which clarifies that electronic service applies only to counsel of record representing a party, and Senate Bill 180, a constitutional amendment allowing a surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to make a one-time transfer of an expanded property tax exemption to another qualifying homestead. SB 180 received a ballot-language amendment and a 6.88 report before being reported as amended. The longest discussion centered on House Bill 1089, which creates “care accounts” for future medical damages in delictual actions. Supporters said the bill would ensure future medical awards are used for medical care, reduce abuse, and function like a restricted account with a card or similar payment mechanism; opponents raised concerns about the account being owned by the judgment debtor, possible reversion of unused funds to the wrong party, administrative confusion, and impacts on survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse who may need flexible, trauma-informed care outside standard billing codes. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee adopted an amendment set and reported the bill favorably by a 6-1 vote, with Representative Carter voting no. Finally, House Bill 437 was heard and amended. The bill would prohibit expert witnesses from having a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the case, while still allowing inquiry into an expert’s prior testimony history. An amendment excluded criminal traffic and juvenile proceedings, and the committee continued discussion with testimony from supporters and opponents as the transcript ended.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Housing Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have a long history of working very cooperatively with our municipalities on issues such as utility
  • In Hayward, we were hit with unexpected costs when we had to redesign our utilities plan late in the
  • In Hayward, we were hit with unexpected costs when we had to redesign our utilities plan late in the
  • But there was a fund that would allow tenants to utilize the money to buy the park and to pay back some
  • I don’t know whether utilizing leasehold value or trying to reference an interest in the contract is
Summary: The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so I hope that that includes some of that work product could be utilized for the report. Okay.
  • CalFresh assistance and prepared food were the next most utilized services.
  • In-depth analysis of students who utilize campus basic needs services and campuses who do not utilize
  • So there wasn't always as close of a tracking of the students utilizing those services. Okay.
  • Okay, I’ll have to ask about the utilization of ASSIST because I assume not every student knows to go
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Ethics and Elections Mar 2nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Z-Pak, okay, erythromycin, and it was labeled as ivermectin because its first utility was as an antiparasitic
  • The model utilizes expenditure data.
  • The model utilizes expenditure data from community-based care organizations and data sources such as
  • More specifically, the co-team structure is being utilized to bring focused, collaborative action and
  • We would utilize the existing infrastructure that we operate under SNAP if that bill were to be successful
Summary: The committee first considered the confirmation of Dr. John Lattell to the Board of Medicine. In questioning, senators focused heavily on his views about abortion, vaccines, ivermectin, and the role of CDC/FDA guidance in board discipline cases. Dr. Lattell said the board applies Florida statutes and works through probable cause panels and legal counsel, but he also expressed strong pro-life views, skepticism of federal health guidance, and criticism of vaccines and some medical practices. Supporters praised his long medical career, military service, and family medicine background, while opponents argued his views could prevent him from being objective in disciplinary matters. The committee voted to recommend him for confirmation to the full Senate, with Senators Polsky and Ruson voting no. The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Hatch described her background in state human services and outlined priorities centered on accountability, data, lived experience, and improving service delivery. Senators asked about SNAP error rates, Hope Florida, legislative analyses, staffing, and the department’s handling of child welfare and medically complex cases. Hatch said the department was reducing SNAP error rates, that Hope Florida uses navigators to connect people with community resources and self-sufficiency supports, and that DCF is working with the Department of Health and other partners to improve investigations and accountability in child welfare. She also said the agency is reviewing medically complex cases and strengthening oversight of community-based care providers through contracts, audits, and proposed funding-model changes. A substantial portion of the Hatch discussion centered on whether the department had been responsive to legislative requests and whether it had provided timely bill analyses. Senators also pressed her on Hope Florida staffing, the number of participants served, and the Hope Florida Foundation’s compliance and legal oversight. Hatch said the foundation is undergoing a financial audit and that the department is relying on required reports and ongoing investigations. The transcript ends amid continued questioning about a community-based care contractor’s finances, related-party transactions, and whether further forensic audits or repayments are needed.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Fri Feb 20, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 19

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I hope this will prompt us to utilize our agricultural lands in this manner to start growing our beautiful
  • So, I would prefer a more direct action and method of utilizing the funds for this education.
  • So, I would prefer a more direct action and method of utilizing the funds for this education.
  • <00:51:34.160> the<00:51:34.480> funds action and method of utilizing the funds action
  • and method of utilizing the funds for<00:51:35.680> this<00:51:36.079> education.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee Aug 1st, 2025

Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • When we pull their utilization, we check that they're actually paying at that floor.
  • Once we ensure that they're paying at the floor, we look at their utilization, their costs, and then
  • So then you would probably see more utilization of services down the road.
  • And with that more utilization of services, you might see the Medicaid budget grow in the long term.
  • There was lower utilization, so they were profitable.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Jul 21st, 2025

Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • HUD defines housing as affordable when no more than 30% of monthly utilities and insurance.
  • One of the things we changed was looking at development from a utilities land use perspective.
  • That is right there, next to the utilities and so forth. I appreciate that.
  • You could have water utility improvements. You could have MAFGA improvements.
  • So all those things need to be done, including the public utilities, the private utilities, electricity
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Jun 1st, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • plans subject to review and approval by the Public Utility Commission.
  • The removed provisions regarding an affirmative defense and a limit on liability for utilities that adopt
  • The language provides that limited liability only extends to utilities that receive PUC approval of their
  • The House requested a conference committee report to restore language clarifying that a utility may only
  • rely on limited liability if a trier of fact first determines the utility was in compliance with the
Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several recognitions and memorial resolutions, including honoring retiring Senate staffer Kelvin Bass and Secretary of the Senate Patsy Spaw and her staff. Members also adopted a series of local and honorary resolutions, including designating Rockport as the Redfish Capital of Texas, San Antonio as Military City, Texas, and Bridge City as the Corn Dog Capital of Texas, along with memorial and medal-of-honor resolutions for Texans and service members. The chamber also received messages from the House reporting passage of various measures and conference committee actions. The bulk of the meeting focused on conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions. The Senate adopted reports and/or out-of-bounds resolutions on SB 293, SB 1610, HB 46, HB 145, HB 1545, SB 650, SB 1660, HB 40, SB 2217, HB 119, HB 493, HB 3642, HB 2963, SB 2024, SB 2972, HB 2516, HB 2885, and SB 2753, among others. Topics included the Texas Civil Commitment Office, the T-Cup prescription program, wildfire mitigation and utility liability, sunset scheduling, alcohol ID swiping at retail and package stores, business court jurisdiction, election administration and data consistency, foreign adversary lobbying, poll watcher qualifications, road naming, right-to-repair, disguised vape pens, and campus expressive activity rules. Several measures passed with near-unanimous votes, while others drew more opposition, including SB 268 on medical board enforcement and SB 2753 on election procedures. There was extended debate on SB 268, which would shift enforcement authority for scope-of-practice complaints to specialty boards rather than the Texas Medical Board. Senators raised concerns about whether the bill would weaken the Medical Board’s ability to stop unlicensed practice of medicine, while supporters argued that specialty boards should police their own licensees and that criminal referrals remain available for unlicensed practice. The Senate also discussed SB 2972 on expressive activities at public universities, with questions about content-neutral restrictions, who counts as the university community, and whether the bill provides a mechanism to challenge campus time, place, and manner rules. Both bills ultimately passed their conference reports, and the Senate later adopted a large package of resolutions by voice vote before adjourning further business.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Health May 12th, 2025

Public Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • To be clear, we are... ...are committed to the respectful, ethical sourcing and utilization of human
  • It's truly a gift to be able to utilize human tissue to further medicine in the state of Texas.
  • , a new device, they would utilize a specimen or shoulder to do the arthroscopy.
  • engineers, and industry really relies on labs as well, where oftentimes the human specimens are utilized
  • Accepted by the Joint Commission, the National Committee of Quality Assurance, the Utilization Review
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Business and Professions Committee Apr 22nd, 2025

Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:
  • threat to public infrastructure, disrupting essential services like communications, public safety, utilities
  • Safety hazards for drivers, pedestrians, vandalism, utility boxes plunge neighborhoods into darkness.
  • Trent Smith on behalf of the California Municipal Utilities Association in support. Thank you.
  • This is not uncommon with utilities.
  • Utility conflicts and future safety issues that could have been avoided with professional oversight.
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Every student and every classroom in the education building was utilized.
  • Members, law enforcement officers are legally justified to utilize force in many situations to bring
  • This bill will ease fears associated with new technology and would allow law enforcement to utilize a
  • They utilized the equipment that they were required to use that was issued to them by their department
  • The chairman pointed out that an officer who utilizes non-lethal equipment inappropriately or not within
MO
Transcript Highlights:
  • And I think the data supports that individuals who utilize syringe service programs are four to five
  • I think it's a really... that utilize syringe service programs are four to five times more likely to
  • And we utilize it to the best that we can.
  • We are authorized to draft legislation, to utilize capital staff, to utilize these types of spaces, to
  • “We are authorized to draft legislation, to utilize capital staff, to utilize these types of spaces,
Summary: The meeting focused on Missouri’s substance use prevention and treatment system, with repeated emphasis on recovery support services, peer support, recovery housing, transportation, and harm reduction. Dan Haniken of Into Action described his own recovery from addiction and incarceration and argued that treatment alone is not enough; he urged greater investment in recovery housing, peer support, employment, and community-based supports that help people stay sober and avoid relapse. Members asked about funding sources, program capacity, referrals, treatment court, transportation, and how Into Action supports people on medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Haniken said the organization is funded through a mix of federal, state, county, city, foundation, and private donations, and that housing and transportation remain major barriers, especially because support is often funded for too short a period compared with the longer time people need to stabilize. Matt Cushman of the Raytown Fire Protection District gave a strong endorsement of harm reduction, including naloxone distribution, syringe service programs, and broader decriminalization of harm reduction tools. He argued that stigma is a major barrier to care and that Missouri should expand access to clean needles, test strips, and other services, while also improving access to MAT in jails and communities. Committee members questioned the evidence base, the role of faith-based providers, and whether safe consumption sites should be pursued; Cushman said syringe exchange decriminalization should be the immediate priority, while safe consumption sites are a longer-term issue. He also described community paramedicine and mobile integrated health as valuable but funding-dependent, and said naloxone distribution is improving but still uneven, especially in rural and minority communities. Representatives from Central Ozarks Medical Center and Four Rivers Community Health Center highlighted the importance of peer support specialists, community health workers, care coordinators, and wraparound services in rural health centers. COMC’s Morgan McClure and Monet Lehman described a jail reentry program in Pulaski County, with Lehman sharing her trauma and recovery story and explaining how she helps incarcerated people prepare for release with housing, employment, benefits, transportation, and treatment connections. Four Rivers’ Devon Polarys and Cassandra Trout said their CEO would change Missouri policy to allow FQHCs to receive reimbursement for peer support and community health worker services similar to CCBHCs, arguing that these roles are essential for addressing barriers like transportation, housing, food insecurity, and insurance. Members discussed confusion over reimbursement rules, the differences between FQHCs and CCBHCs, and the need for better funding and clearer policy for peer and community health worker services. No votes were taken; the discussion ended with a suggestion to bring in a subject matter expert on community health workers for a future session.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Anonymous threat reporting 3/24/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • When MDE collects data, we have responsibilities to ensure utilization of these reporting systems utilization
  • The data, however, would be fairly limited in utility and validation without resources to provide the
  • The data, however, would be fairly limited in utility and validation without resources to provide the
  • The data, however, would be fairly limited in utility and validation without resources to provide the
  • <00:36:03.359> in um would have limited uh utility in um would have limited uh utility in
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard House File 3764, as amended by the DE1 amendment, which would allow school districts and charter schools to create local anonymous threat reporting systems. Representative Nadeau described the bill as an optional framework that would support 24/7 anonymous tips through an app, hotline, or website, use trained crisis counselors and school-based teams, coordinate with 911 and law enforcement when needed, require public awareness efforts and student training, and direct districts to report usage data to the Department of Education. The chair adopted the DE1 amendment, and the bill was moved before the committee with the intent to place it on the general register. Testimony was largely supportive. Chris Linquist of St. Francis Area Schools said his district has used the Sandy Hook Promise reporting system since 2023-24 and credited it with helping identify bullying, mental health crises, and other safety concerns outside school hours. Alexandra Fitz Simmons of Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota said anonymous reporting systems are an important prevention tool because students are often the first to see warning signs before violence occurs. Representative Lawrence also praised the bill for being encouraged rather than mandated and emphasized local control. Rick Kaufman, speaking for several school organizations, supported the concept but said the bill still lacked clear standards for how tips are evaluated and shared with school officials, and he urged stronger coordination and funding for staffing and training. Joe Oonie of the Department of Education said the department supports anonymous reporting systems but raised concerns about the costs of building data collection and reporting infrastructure, FERPA safeguards, and the need for resources to implement the bill effectively. Chair Bennett pushed back on the funding objection, arguing the department should be able to handle the reporting within existing resources, and Representative Roach later asked whether the department had higher-priority uses for its carryover funds. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE1 amendment.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight May 28th, 2025

Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • assistance to new buyers, uh, the $10,000 what does that translate into in terms of, uh, is that utilized
  • And the reason I say that is because the utility costs in the world of utilities is going in that direction
  • And stay in their home, we need to level off, uh, and make their utilities more affordable.
  • The high utilities.
  • So maybe you own your home but you can't afford your property taxes, you can't afford the utilities,
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:35:44.160> Um,<00:35:44.800> you utilizing a certain service.
  • Um, you utilizing a certain service.
  • our workforce systems to the data centers that are, um, looking to come and get a blank check and utilize
  • <00:47:03.280> and come and get a blank check um and come and get a blank check um and utilize
  • our resources that it sends a utilize our resources that it sends a strong<00:47:06.319> incentive
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 3117, which would impose an excise tax on social media companies based on Minnesota monthly users and data-mining activity, and adopted an A1 amendment that added clarifying language identifying social media platforms. Chair Gomez described the bill as a way to tax companies profiting from data mining and social media use, citing concerns about child bullying, misinformation, and wealth concentration. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2025 taxes bill. Supporters testified that the measure would help raise revenue from a highly profitable industry and better align the tax code with the social costs of data collection and social media use. Pastor Julie Thompson, MAPE representative Tanner Fritzinger, Council Member Sue Bud, and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota all backed the bill, arguing that social media companies extract value from users’ data, contribute to mental health and social harms, and should pay more toward public needs. Bernstein also framed the tax as a way to broaden the tax base and fund schools and other services. Opponents warned that the bill could sweep in local broadcasters, newspapers, and other businesses that use digital platforms and collect some user data, and that costs would likely be passed on to consumers. Wendy Pollson of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association said the definitions were too broad and could unintentionally include local media. Deb Peters, speaking for Americans for Digital Opportunity, argued the tax would raise costs for small businesses and consumers, create legal risks, and amount to double taxation. Several members echoed concerns about regressivity, administration, and whether the bill actually addresses online bullying or data privacy, while supporters said it is a first step toward taxing a new, lightly taxed industry.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Juvenile Justice Apr 7th, 2025

S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • much so that you have young people who were once inside the prison now actually working as staff utilizing
  • And the other side of that is indeterminate sentencing can sometimes be utilized too liberally and so
  • And so the three procedural mechanisms that we do utilize in this bill first of all is to, number one
  • What I got, what I asked for last session that I received, I have been able to utilize and build out
  • So while I would welcome more, I don't have a plan of how I would effectively utilize that that I could