Transcript Highlights:

• interest from those donations goes back to the work where individuals are making the donations for.
• interest from those donations goes back to the work where individuals are making the donations for.
• interest from those donations goes back to the work where individuals are making the donations for.
• interest from those donations goes back to the work where individuals are making the donations for.
• the donations for.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you've never donated blood, it's really not that bad. You just don't look at the needle.
• You can save three lives by each donation.
• So thank you. donation. We need about 200 donors every donation.
• <00:39:04.520> or<00:39:04.680> Senate couple of Senate donation or Senate couple of
• Senate donation or Senate people<00:39:06.160> signing<00:39:06.480> up.

Bills: HR39, HCR43, HR178, HCR188, SB3144, SB3102, SB2053, SB3248, SB2256, SB3118, SB2245, SB2519, SB3055, SB2090, SB2765, SB2169, SB3136, SB2521, SB2851, SB3154, SB3262, SB2387, SB3001, SB2818, SB2972, SB2372, SB2108, SB888, HR63, HCR69

Keywords: pedestrian safety, crosswalks, traffic calming, school zone, Honolulu, community safety, raised crosswalks, traffic infrastructure, agritourism, agricultural tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, HTA, working group, farm tourism, regenerative tourism, working lands, agricultural land use, county ordinances, permitting, farm bureau

Transcript Highlights:

• because of the law, it would say to us, look, be real careful before going out there soliciting donations
• Similarly, the organization receiving the donation is unlikely to have any way of knowing a contribution
• because of the law, it would say to us, look, be real careful before going out there soliciting donations
• Similarly, the organization receiving the donation is unlikely to have any way of knowing a contribution
• under these circumstances was made due to a public appeal Thank you. the donation is unlikely to have

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 16, 2025, and heard five measures focused on election administration, voter participation, judicial retention elections, charitable solicitation by officials, and local transportation tax initiatives. The chair noted the committee’s rules for limited witness testimony and accepted written testimony through the legislative portal. Several authors presented their bills in person or through a committee member due to scheduling conflicts. SB 3 by Senator Cervantes would tighten and clarify the ballot signature-cure process, including requiring standardized forms from election officials and adding a reminder on vote-by-mail envelopes about signature matching. Supporters said the bill would reduce rejected ballots and make the process more reliable; there was no opposition. The committee voted do pass as amended and re-refer to Appropriations. SB 316 by Senator Reyes, presented by Assembly Member Pellerin, would expand high school voter registration and pre-registration outreach to students, with testimony from students, education groups, disability advocates, and civic organizations in support. One member opposed on the grounds that it could be an unfunded mandate for schools. The bill passed 4-1. ACA 8 by Assembly Member Pellerin would change appellate and Supreme Court judicial retention elections so justices would appear on the ballot only if voters file a petition requesting it. Supporters, including the Secretary of State, the League of Women Voters, and the California Judges Association, said it would reduce ballot length, voter fatigue, and costs while preserving accountability. One member raised concern about the future petition threshold and the possibility it could be set too high, and voted no. The measure passed 4-2. SB 760 by Senator Allen would narrow behested payment reporting requirements for public appeals to charities, especially in disaster response, while preserving disclosure where officials, family members, or staff have conflicts of interest. Good-government groups supported the bill as a balance between transparency and encouraging charitable appeals; it passed unanimously on the recorded vote. SB 512 by Senator Perez would clarify that voters in transportation districts may use citizen initiatives to propose transportation sales taxes where the district already has taxing authority. Supporters argued it aligns Elections Code with Proposition 218 and recent case law, while opponents from business and real estate groups objected to the measure’s implications for tax approval rules. The committee approved the bill 5-2. After calling absent members, the committee cleared the calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• in donations in order to be able to apply for that $100,000 of General Funds. donations and we have
• :31.279> in have raised that amount in donations in have raised that amount in donations in order
• about gifts and donations and how we received them.
• And are we good with gifts and donations?
• any donations any donations in<05:00:02.080> so<05:00:02.520> that<05:00:02.760>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:14.679> easement<00:31:15.200> value Twin Cities have donated easement value
• Twin Cities have donated easement value in<00:31:15.840> excess<00:31:16.159> of<00:31
• their easements allowing or fully donate their easements allowing Grant<00:35:04.599> dollars
• These donations provide funding for services that help connect people to critical community services.
• Despite our successful and creative efforts to divert millions of pounds of donations from landfills

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, current statute details the circumstances in which a commissioner's court of a county may donate
• process to ensure that the public purpose of the donation is accomplished.
• and allow for a broader reach of donations of county surplus property, thereby helping maximize the
• Um, at the time that we started looking at trying to donate property, we were not getting any sorts of
• We'll have a contract with those agencies that we're donating to, so it won't be just sort of a giveaway

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill encourages voluntary transfer of surface water rights. to the trust through lease, donation,
• The Texas Water Trust allows landowners to donate both groundwater and surface water rights currently
• This is the first-ever groundwater donation by a nonprofit to the Texas Water Trust, and we hope it will
• This would really incentivize landowners who want to donate their groundwater rights.
• This is a first-ever donation.

Bills: HB143, HB4530, HB4931, HB5559, HB5560

Keywords: election, bonds, authorization, financial governance, public funding, HB 143, bond election, debt authorization, November uniform election date, Texas Election Code, emergency election, voter approval, municipal bonds, local government finance, public debt, school bonds, special election, uniform election date, bond issuance, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4281 spells out the ability to collect 125% of the donations fraudulently collected.
• it's paying for college, say I've lost my job and I want to solicit to a large base of people to donate
• Induces someone fraudulently to donate, they're, you're saying they're they can be held liable as well
• But if I solicit that donation on, on, on behalf of on behalf of Representative Dyson, it allows the
• I received a $100 donation 50 times.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4281... ...spells out the ability to collect 125% of the donations fraudulently collected.
• And there are all these suspicious donations that are going into his account.
• Say, I've lost my job and I want to solicit a large base of people to donate $5, $10, $15, $20 at a time
• So if someone online induces someone fraudulently to donate, you're saying they can be held liable as
• I received a $100 donation 50 times; you know what the actual dollar figure is, so there's not...

Bills: HB5621, HB4904, HB5067, HB5076, HB5081, HB5354, HB4862, HB3847, HB4088, HB4157, HB2966, HB2287, HB4203, HB4803, HB4737, HB5093, HB783, HB5411, HB4281

Keywords: HB 5621, consumer protection, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code, attorney general, consumer protection division, district attorney, county attorney, local prosecutor, civil investigative demand, CID, voluntary compliance, financial institution records, bank records, privacy, protective order, in camera review, trade secrets, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• Will there be a time later in the summer where you ask for donations for the portrait?
• We need to talk about that because there may be people who would like to donate anyway and just say that
• they donated to the cause, because it is the painting of Senator Miller.
• But once the donations came, where did the money go?
• Madam Chair, we had a fund through the Capital Foundation, and they received the donations.

Keywords: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's incredibly generous of this private donor to donate money.
• So, I mean, yeah, somebody can donate money to schools for food. Okay, all right. Thank you.
• I think you have the private donations go to a nonprofit.
• I think you have the private donations go to a nonprofit.
• Is there a form for accepting a donation from a private individual?

Bills: LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• If they were to donate to other groups or subsidiary groups of a potential PAC or independent expenditure
• <00:04:33.759> they<00:04:33.880> were<00:04:34.120> to<00:04:34.520> donate
• <00:04:34.880> to<00:04:35.400> other um if they were to donate to other um if they
• were to donate to other groups<00:04:35.919> or<00:04:36.120> subsidiary<00:04:36.720>
• Any other type of association that is not a for-profit corporation and wishes to donate over $750 into

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So I know there are people out there that are living that would like to donate.
• So I know there are people out there that are living that would like to donate, but they do have to be
• their health insurance, life insurance, and any other number of factors being in place once they donate
• They save lives with an altruistic act of donating a kidney.
• Unfortunately, studies have shown that people who donate organs experience discrimination by insurance

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on a wide range of insurance-related bills. Topics included public adjusters (H. 1100/S. 785), electronic cancellation notices (H. 1123/S. 701), insurance rebates and loss-mitigation devices (H. 1233), flood hazard determinations (H. 1087 and related flood bills), organ donor insurance protections (H. 1248/S. 727), mental health parity in disability policies (S. 780), motor vehicle service contracts (H. 1139/S. 812), modernization of business-to-business insurance transactions (H. 1105), and a bill changing the GIC withdrawal notice deadline (H. 1150). Committee chairs set a three-minute testimony limit and heard from legislators, industry representatives, advocates, and affected consumers. Testimony on public adjusters was sharply divided. Insurance agents and property-casualty industry representatives argued that bills barring insurers from prohibiting public adjusters would interfere with policy terms, while public adjusters and several consumers described cases where adjusters helped secure substantially higher settlements and said some surplus lines policies already contain anti-public-adjuster endorsements. On electronic notices, the insurance industry supported consumer opt-in email communications, while agents warned that email-only cancellation notices could cause consumers to miss cancellations. On rebates/loss mitigation, insurers supported allowing risk-mitigation devices outside the policy to encourage innovation, while agents opposed the bill as an improper inducement. Flood-related bills drew opposition from insurers who said flood determinations are complex and federally governed. The committee also heard strong support for organ donor protections from a kidney transplant recipient and the American Kidney Fund, who said the bill would prevent insurance discrimination against living donors and could encourage more donations. On disability parity, a disability insurance specialist opposed S. 780, arguing that mental health limitations are a consumer choice that helps keep coverage affordable, while the bill’s sponsor said it would prevent unequal limits on behavioral health claims. The committee also heard support for H. 1139/S. 812 from the service contract industry, and support for H. 1105 from APCIA as a modernization measure for specialty commercial lines. No votes were taken; after testimony concluded, the chairs closed the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a challenge that it violates the Commerce Clause and the anti-donation clause.
• Excellent, which would solve the anti-donation problem.
• Trujillo brought up an issue that this could also violate the anti-donation clause.
• Which we hear about an issue that this could also violate the anti-donation clause.
• But this doesn't violate the anti-donation clause because there is a limit on who can receive it.

Bills: SB38, SB46, SB18

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, SB46, organic waste, solid waste, waste diversion, composting, compost feedstock, waste characterization study

Transcript Highlights:

• The department will also identify potential funding sources, including federal tax credits, donations
• It does not increase the funding; however, this is based on donations.
• There are private donations that are given to the program currently.
• Part of that down payment is from private donations that... Would assist with that. Okay, correct.
• All their donations to go towards social workers as well. I have not seen anything.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Another common practice is for the rent to be used as an in-kind donation, so we can use that as a match
• We did get six acres of land donated to us from Western New Mexico University out of Silver City.
• Going to be in-kind donation, and it was listed at $26,000 a year.
• So we used that $26,000 as a match to our federal funds as a donation from support from the county.
• The anti-donation clause says that we cannot give funds to nonprofits, and I said I understand that.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move on to the next measure, HB 1334, relating to meat donation.
• Jackie Keith not... safety requirements for donated Wild safety requirements for donated Wild game<00
• foods for human consumption, except for wild game donated pursuant to section 159.
• foods for human consumption, except for wild game donated pursuant to section 159.
• <01:36:44.000> to except for Wild game donated pursuant to except for Wild game donated pursuant

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of transportation and public safety bills, beginning with HB 706, which would require skateboard users under age 16 to wear helmets. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, and the chair noted written support from AAA Hawaii, Kulani Medical Center for Women and Children, and several individuals. No opposition was mentioned, and the bill appeared to draw no questions. Members then heard HB 860, which would grant immunity to the state or county that repairs or maintains a street when ownership or jurisdiction is disputed. DOT and DLNR supported the bill, with county support from Maui and a Hawaii Island county representative, while the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed it. The committee also heard HB 1162, requiring applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to complete an approved basic rider course, with DOT support and a recommended amendment to exempt motorcycles used for training; the Public Defender asked about the current process, and DOT explained the bill was intended to improve safety given motorcycle fatalities. HB 1259, allowing speed-limit reductions within 10 mph of the current limit without an engineering study, also drew DOT support and support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and individuals. The committee next considered HB 1158, a governor’s package bill limiting civil liability for people who provide firefighting services with vessels at commercial harbors or roadsteads to gross negligence or wanton conduct. DOT Harbors said the bill was prompted by lessons from the Lahaina fires and was intended to encourage privately owned firefighting-equipped vessels to assist without hesitation; the Hawaii Harbor Users Group and an individual supported it. HB 54, which would make a third or subsequent excessive speeding offense a Class C felony and allow vehicle forfeiture, drew DOT support but strong opposition from the Public Defender, who argued the bill was overly harsh, would force jury trials, and could create sentencing problems; the Public Defender also said existing penalties were already significant. The committee then heard HB 1334, which would exempt donations of wild game meat, including axis deer, to charitable and nonprofit organizations from certain meat inspection and transportation laws; DLNR and multiple community and food-related groups supported it, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 698 on animal cruelty, which would increase criminal penalties for various offenses. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the cases are rare, enforcement is limited, and the proposed penalties—up to Class A felony treatment in some cases—were too severe; animal welfare advocates strongly supported the measure, saying cruelty cases are widespread, underreported, and under-enforced, and that stronger penalties are needed as a deterrent. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the bills in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• or for donations to the Strong Readers Act or the Math Proficiency Act.
• That we can encourage more people to donate. And again, I think.
• Just to be clear, they could donate today for those purposes.
• The purpose of this tax credit is to encourage those donations.
• I I have donated to my local public school utilizing this program.

Bills: HB3329, HR1039, HR1040, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3420, HB3706, HB3711, HB4139, HB1268, HB3660, HJR1023, HB3298, HB3056, HJR1084, HB3934, HB3919, HB4118, HB4119, HB3791, HB4260, HB4178, HB4215, HB4324, HB3270, HB4352, HB4305, HB2955, HB3315, HB3066, HB1245, HB4125, HB3075, HB3129, HB3239, HB4153, HB3265, HB4491, SB680, HB4263, HB4268, HB1675, HB3885, HB2984, HB3697, HB2959, HB3671, HB3852, HB2933, HB3057, HB3802, HB4294, HB4285, HB3708, HB3979, HB3977, HB3986, HB3985, HB3588, HB3742, HB3845, HJR1070, HB3590, HB3595, HB3391, HB3183, HB3764, HB3765, HB1002, HB4434, HJR1086, HB4060, HB3881, HB3500, HB4408, HB3648, HB3127, HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Seventeen people die each day waiting for the gift of organ donation.
• forward to donate part of their liver.
• In my case, I donated roughly 65% of the liver.
• When donation became an option, there was no debate, no second thought.
• I'm looking at an NOLA.com article where there were 99 living donations in 2024.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first disposed of several measures without debate, including deferrals of House Bill 460, House Bill 561, Senate Bill 322, and another deferred Senate measure, before taking up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz. HB 819 would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with ODG by MCG, a private evidence-based guideline system used in other states. Cruz and Troy Prevo argued ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and could reduce claim duration, medical costs, and premium rates; Dr. Jason Picard said Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference for gaps in the state schedule and that the bill would not change appeals or variance procedures. Opponents, including injured-worker advocates Joseph Jola St. and Robin Crumholt, argued Louisiana’s current guidelines are working, that ODG is more cost-cutting and insurer-driven, and that the bill could increase denials and delay care. Members discussed amendments to add a two-year sunset, allow tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and raise the carrier’s burden to challenge care; the committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 819 favorably by a 7-6 vote. The committee then began Senate Bill 409 by Senator Myers, the Louisiana Living Donor Leave Protection Act. The bill would provide paid leave protections for living organ donors, set eligibility and verification procedures, and prohibit forfeiture of leave in certain circumstances for private employers. Myers said the measure is intended to remove job and paycheck barriers for people willing to donate organs and to support better transplant outcomes. Technical amendments were adopted at the start of the presentation, and the bill was introduced for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Organ donation is an essential and life-saving gift.
• This legislation strengthens rather than restricts organ donation.
• Over that time, we had many cases that dealt with organ donation.
• Over time, we had many cases that dealt with organ donation.
• And this bill is intended to strengthen organ donation.

Summary: The committee heard a personal privilege update on HB 1227, which Representative DeWitt said would return next week as a proposed HCR for a two-year study of the three-doctor panel after discussions with Dr. Nia Colotta. Better Louisiana also presented its new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, describing it as a data-driven leadership initiative focused on health care workforce, rural access, chronic disease, and other system issues; members discussed whether the program could also help generate policy research, including on managed care organizations. The committee then considered SB 427 on anatomical gifts. After adopting technical amendments, Senator Presley and Dr. Jeff White explained that the bill would strengthen organ donation law by creating a decision registry that records both yes and no choices, clarifying the legal effect of refusal, and codifying ethical principles such as the dead donor rule. Questions focused on organ viability, registry procedures, minors, and a Monroe case involving a disputed donor designation. Supporters included LOPA and the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 946, dealing with hospital price transparency and compliance with federal pricing rules, drew extensive testimony. Representative Landry and a witness from Patient Rights Advocate described it as a consumer transparency measure, but the Louisiana Hospital Association opposed the bill’s state-level enforcement and debt-collection provisions. Landry offered an amendment removing the debt-collection and affirmative-defense language, but after debate the substitute failed on a 5-6 vote and the bill was voluntarily deferred. The committee also reported favorably on SB 109, which revises membership qualifications for the Louisiana Emergency Medical Services Commission; SCR 20, urging federal flexibility on Medicaid redetermination for elderly and disabled beneficiaries; SB 216, allowing coroners to rely on licensed practical nurses for medical pronouncements of death; and SB 45, exempting certain gratuitous hospice houses from licensure, with testimony from hospice house operators and supporters. Finally, HCR 71 by Representative Chasson sought an LDH study of how Louisiana’s law and guidance on pregnancy-related emergency medications is working in hospitals, urgent care, and retail settings. Supporters said providers are hesitant to use medications such as misoprostol because of stigma and uncertainty, while opponents from Louisiana Right to Life argued the resolution was unnecessary and could create controversy. The discussion centered on whether the study should be narrowed or made more objective, but no final action on the resolution was reached in the portion provided.