Video & Transcript Research : 'disaster declaration'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 18th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- perseverance, resiliency, and a reminder that the great ideals and promises of the Constitution and the Declaration
- perseverance, resiliency, and a reminder that the great ideals and promises of the Constitution and the Declaration
- from their homelands and then denied the inalienable rights called out by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration
- Vice Chair of the Black Caucus, for bringing this resolution forward and reminding us that freedom declared
- That freedom declared is not always freedom realized, and that this holiday asks us to remember painful
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved procedural motions, and recognized several guests and honorees, including CAUSE leadership academy participants, retiring FCMAT CEO Michael Fine, a Capitol intern, environmental leaders celebrating Black Conservation Week, family members of members, and NASA astronaut Captain Victor Glover Jr. The body also took up a number of routine file items and committee referral requests, with several bills referred to committees by unanimous consent and multiple items passed or retained on file.
The main floor debate centered on ACR 214, the Juneteenth resolution. Members from the Black Caucus and other caucuses spoke in support, describing Juneteenth as both a celebration of emancipation and a reminder that freedom and equality remain unfinished work. Speakers emphasized Black history, civil rights, solidarity across communities, and ongoing issues such as education, housing, health, incarceration, and economic inequality. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 coauthors were added.
The Assembly also considered AB 2285 on blockchain staking and crypto regulation. The author argued the bill would provide consumer protections and clear rules for banks, credit unions, and crypto exchanges, while an opponent warned it could weaken securities oversight and consumer safeguards. The bill passed 45-1, and the author requested immediate transmission to the Senate. Later, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment passed 55-0 after brief support for clarifying fee rules and reducing duplicative costs.
The chamber then adopted the second-day consent calendar, including resolutions for Women’s Equality Day and the International Day of Yoga, along with several Senate bills, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Assembly announced it would not meet on Friday, June 19, would reconvene Monday, June 22 at 1 p.m., and then adjourned.
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
American Revolution 250 Commission Apr 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But those institutional bedrocks that were enshrined in the Constitution, enshrined in the Declaration
- illuminating that the formation of the Constitution, all of those ideologies that were espoused in the Declaration
- And thank you for bringing some light to this situation in Virginia and our signing a declaration event
- will then go on to an event at Monticello, really commemorating Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration
- That is the first new American government that was stood up in the new, declared, independent United
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- testimony that led the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to issue a ruling declaring
- testimony that led the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to issue a ruling declaring
- ><00:25:09.760>
issue <00:25:10.000>a <00:25:10.159>ruling <00:25:10.480>declaring - of Alabama to issue a ruling declaring of Alabama to issue a ruling declaring the<00:25:10.960><
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Jan 28th, 2025
House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- And say that in a drought, right now, only the federal government has the right to declare which parts
- The MRCG, or whatever the irrigation water authority of your area is, can continue to declare drought
- supply based on factors that may not be adequately. ...represented in the USDA Federal Drought Declaration
- This is only allowing our water management systems to declare that for the purpose of tax assessment.
- So, this is not being declared a drought; it does not make them eligible for federal funding.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- We're a second responder to emergency disasters.
- New York and Florida have adapted laws after their disasters to support the backup needs for evacuation
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing on grid transmission and distribution, green financing, environmental justice, renewable portfolio standards, and clean energy workforce policy. Testimony on H. 352/S. 2268 focused on eliminating or scaling back the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, with Green Energy Consumers Alliance arguing it costs ratepayers about $30 million annually and largely subsidizes fossil-fuel combined heat and power, biodiesel blending, and woody biomass. Committee members raised concerns that a full repeal could affect heat pumps and solar thermal projects that currently receive APS credits, and the witness acknowledged those technologies are the strongest part of the program but said Mass Save would be a better home for them.
Renew Northeast supported H. 3497 on renewable portfolio standard review and clean energy procurements, but urged an indexed renewable energy credit model like New York’s rather than an attribute-only arrangement, arguing it would reduce financing risk and consumer costs. Vote Solar and Senator Liz Miranda testified in support of H. 3540/S. 2303 on clean energy equity, saying environmental justice communities and renters receive too few benefits from clean energy spending and need stronger tracking, tenant protections, and measurable benefit allocation. Miranda described long-standing environmental harms in Roxbury and called for data and accountability to ensure benefits reach environmental justice communities.
A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 3475/S. 2276 on just transition and clean energy workforce standards. Labor representatives from the pile drivers, building trades, electrical contractors, SEIU, United Steelworkers, the AFL-CIO, and Climate Jobs Massachusetts Action backed the bill, emphasizing prevailing wage, project labor agreements, apprenticeship requirements, workforce transition plans, and protections for gas workers and other fossil-fuel employees as the state shifts to clean energy. They argued the bill would create family-sustaining jobs, support training, and prevent workers from being left behind during the transition. The hearing concluded after all sign-ups were heard, and the committee voted to close the hearing.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (01/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- One of them is a disaster recovery solution, as well as business continuity planning.
- the services that are being rendered, the amount of funding that we have to support it, because disaster
- 02:41:33.560>
a required to provide one of them is a required to provide one of them is a Disaster - Recovery Solution as well as Disaster Recovery Solution as well as well<02:41:36.560>
as <02:41 - and continuity disaster recovery and continuity planning<02:42:28.279>
the <02:42:28.680>the
Summary:
Finance Division 3 met for a work session on House Bill 519, which concerns funding for Waypoint. The chair noted general support for the organization but said the bill would likely need to be suspended and folded into the budget process because the committee did not yet know available revenues or what amount, if any, could be committed. Kya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, testified that the department supports the bill and the program, explaining that it had been funded with other available funds, including $100,000 for 2024 and $400,000 for 2025, under a contract running through June 30 of this year. She said the shelter serves a unique population of young adults and is part of the department’s children’s system of care and Mission Zero efforts to reduce barriers to psychiatric discharge and emergency department use.
Members questioned Fox and Waypoint representatives about the budget placement of the request, the difference between the efficiency budget and prioritized needs, and whether state budget documents would show any internal Waypoint revenues. Fox said the request appears as a general fund item and that the state would not see Waypoint’s internal financial operations in the budget. A legislative member explained that prioritized needs are critical services already in place but not necessarily included in the efficiency budget, and another member said the distinction is not strictly applied. The committee also raised a separate question about how DHHS would handle any future state or federal restrictions on DEI practices; Fox said that was a question for department leadership and legal staff, but that the department follows state law and contract requirements.
Waypoint CEO Bor Alvare and Director Mandy Lancaster then described the shelter and related services. They said the shelter serves ages 18 to 24, is a 14-bed open-room facility with half walls, and is staffed overnight by two full-time workers. They said admission is first come, first served, with some vulnerability factors considered, and that they do not discriminate by race, gender, or sexual orientation. They reported no known incidents of sexual violence, though some youth are turned away each night because the shelter is full. They also explained that Waypoint provides broader services beyond the shelter, including outreach, drop-in centers, housing support, rental assistance, and family mediation, and said they serve about 400 youth and young adults in Manchester alone. The discussion ended with questions about whether lowering the upper age limit would affect the program; Waypoint said most residents are already in the 18-to-23 range, but that housing shortages make the current age span important for helping young adults avoid chronic homelessness.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (02/04/2025)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- we don't have any skyscrapers or anything, but it is not inconceivable that we could have a true disaster
- the people testifying suggested that perhaps there should be no cap on this, because if you had a disaster
- It is not inconceivable that we could have a true disaster, where we would have multiple firefighters
- the people testifying suggested that perhaps there should be no cap on this, because if you had a disaster
- it says is the general court declares it says is the general court declares that<01:35:41.920>
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Rules REVISED Feb 19th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Administrative Rules
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1273, having received nine votes and no nays, is declared to have passed.
- I declare it to have passed. We'll move to the third agenda item, which is SJR or HJR 1032.
- HJR 1032 having received seven ayes and two nays is declared to have passed.
Keywords:
HJR1032, House Joint Resolution 1032, Service Oklahoma, administrative rules, rule repeal, joint resolution, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 670:15-1-10, OAC 670:15-1-14, agency regulation, legislative oversight, Secretary of State, Oklahoma Register, rulemaking, permanent rules, administrative code, guidance transparency, administrative procedures, public inspection, state agency accountability
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-03-19 - 11:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- without a CDL to operate heavy equipment, heavy trucks during certain emergencies when they are declared
- This would uh allow an operator to move equipment uh in a declared emergency on any state or municipal
- This would uh allow an operator to move equipment uh in a declared emergency on any state or municipal
- This would uh allow an operator to move equipment uh in a declared emergency on any state or municipal
- This would uh allow an operator to move equipment uh in a declared emergency on any state or municipal
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 53 (3-25-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- There being 95 members present, the quorum is declared, and the House is now open in session and ready
- Senate Bill 291 with House Committee Substitute 1, Senator Storm, an act relating to recyclers and declaring
- recyclers and declaring an emergency. recyclers and declaring an emergency.
- essential utility services and declaring essential utility services and declaring an<00:06:58.480
- Agriculture and declaring an emergency. Agriculture and declaring an emergency.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (10/17/2025)
State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- almost it's basically a war declaration. almost it's basically a war declaration.
- Um, I, there's no, uh, declaration of war here.
- Um, I, there's no, uh, declaration of war here.
- Um, I, there's no, uh, declaration of war here.
- <00:58:56.000>
of and should there be a declaration of and should there be a declaration of
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jul 17th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Assembly Bill 642 by Assembly Member Muratsuchi, an act relating to emergencies and declaring the urgency
- by Assembly Member Wicks, an act relating to state claims and making an appropriation therefor, declaring
- Senate Bill 611 by Senator Richardson and others, an act relating to land use and declaring the urgency
- Caballero, an act relating to payment of claims against the state and making an appropriation therefor, declaring
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved procedural motions including suspension of rules for same-day action on certain bills and removal of several measures from the consent calendar. Members also introduced guests and interns from their districts and offices. The chamber then moved through a large number of second- and third-reading items, with many bills deemed read and amendments deemed adopted, and several items passed or retained on file without debate.
On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 104, a budget measure making technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and extending loan repayment terms for two Imperial County hospitals, and to AB 138, which ratified additional collective bargaining agreements and related addenda. Members also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1114 on private ambulance toll fee waivers, AB 642 on emergencies, AB 1051 on state highways, AB 1533 appropriating funds for state claims, SB 611 on housing and land-use litigation delays, SB 251 appropriating funds to pay claims against the state, and AB 1459 on hazardous materials regulatory programs. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 611 and the claims bills were presented as urgency measures and passed unanimously or near-unanimously.
The consent calendar was adopted after ABs and SBs on the remaining list were approved, and the Assembly also re-referred SB 104 and SB 138 to the Budget Committee and moved SB 773 to the inactive file. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for James Raymond Bell, a juvenile justice reform advocate, and Gail Yolanda McGowan, followed by notice of committee meetings and an announcement that the House would stand in summer recess and reconvene on August 18, 2025, at 1 p.m.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And so mandamus, declaratory relief—if they've done an ordinance, they can have it declared.
- The court could declare it illegal because of the way they did it, right? Public hearings, correct.
- mandamus declaratory relief, declaratory relief, if they've done an ordinance, they can have it declared
- , the court could declare it illegal because of the way they did it, right, public hearings, correct,
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 2215, which would clarify that property owners may challenge municipal zoning ordinances that are adopted without following Chapter 211 procedures, and would expressly waive municipal sovereign immunity for declaratory, injunctive, and mandamus actions in those cases. The bill sponsor and witnesses argued it would simply enforce existing notice, hearing, and due process requirements and give landowners a practical remedy when cities fail to comply. Testimony in support came from attorneys and a landowner describing alleged zoning actions in Selma that they said occurred without proper notice or hearings and caused significant financial harm. After questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 2639, which would add disclosure and compensation requirements for local historic designations, including compensation based on the greater of repair/restoration costs or the difference in appraised value with and without the designation. The bill author said it was intended to address situations where historic designation delays or blocks redevelopment and to ensure property owners are fairly compensated. A property owner testified in support, describing an Austin case in which a demolition permit led to historic designation and what he said was a costly forced rehabilitation. Opponents, including a preservation advocate and an East Austin resident, argued the current process is already rigorous, rare, and balanced, and that the bill would undermine cities’ ability to preserve historic places and community heritage.
During closing on SB 2639, the chair raised a concern that Section 3B appeared to apply retroactively to pending cases, which he said could be unconstitutional under the Texas Constitution’s prohibition on retroactive laws. The committee did not resolve that issue during the hearing, and the bill was left pending. The committee then adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability Jul 20th, 2026
Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have experts on budgeting for natural disasters, federal funds management, infrastructure, including
- when the economy is not doing well, or there's some other short-term shock, like maybe a natural disaster
- Then on climate risks, we're certainly seeing increasingly severe natural disasters raising costs.
- Then on climate risks, you know, we're certainly seeing increasingly severe natural disasters raising
Summary:
The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory mandate under the 2025-27 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability will receive technical assistance from a nonpartisan organization, with work split into two phases: first on revenue growth, spending assumptions, and cost drivers in the four-year outlook, and later on staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting. Members broadly said they hoped the committee would build a shared factual understanding of the state’s fiscal situation, structural deficits, and budget processes, and identify a sustainable path forward for the operating budget.
Staff then gave a detailed presentation on operating budget basics. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, noting that most spending is concentrated in grants/client services and salaries/benefits, with K-12, DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOC, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They explained the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending, using examples such as K-12, Medicaid, collective bargaining agreements, court-driven obligations like McCleary and Trueblood, and one-time appropriations. They also walked through how the state uses incremental budgeting, carry-forward and maintenance-level calculations, caseload and per-capita forecasting, and the four-year balanced budget outlook, including reserve calculations and the budget stabilization account.
Members asked extensive questions about what is and is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care and compensation growth, tort and other liabilities, and whether the state could better distinguish mandatory from discretionary spending. Staff explained that current CBAs and other already-enacted obligations are included, but future CBAs are not; some liabilities are reflected as expenditures when appropriated, while broader long-term liabilities are not fully captured in the outlook because they depend on future policy choices. Staff also noted that the legislature and ERFC can adopt assumptions such as reversions and growth factors, and that an outlook accuracy report is produced every five years to compare projected and actual maintenance-level spending. The committee agreed to follow up on some of the more complex liability and assumption questions.
After a short break, Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts began a presentation on Pew’s role and approach to state fiscal sustainability. He described Pew as a nonpartisan organization with long-standing state fiscal research, emphasizing its 50-state comparative data, interviews with state officials and experts, and focus on long-term sustainability, reserve policies, and recession preparedness. The presentation was ongoing when the transcript ended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Aug 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- are deliberately trying to hurt California's economy by all of the actions we've seen, withholding disaster
- billion in COVID-19 stimulus funding awarded to major state programs, and coordinating COVID-19 direct disaster
- increases funding for various USDA programs, including the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster
- Our network helps stabilize families' food budgets during disasters, economic downturns, and day-to-day
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held its fifth hearing of the year to examine the newly enacted federal H.R. 1 and its effects on California. Members and the chair described the law as a major threat to state health, food, education, and climate programs, and emphasized that California would not be able to fully backfill the federal cuts. Several members also highlighted the bill’s tax provisions, including temporary deductions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, while warning that the largest benefits flow to higher-income taxpayers and that major cuts to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and clean-energy incentives are delayed or phased in over time.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance presented detailed overviews of the bill’s likely impacts and implementation timelines. They identified the main affected areas as health care coverage and financing, food assistance, higher education, personal income taxes, and clean-energy/electric-vehicle credits. They explained that H.R. 1 limits provider taxes used to finance Medi-Cal, adds work and redetermination requirements, restricts CalFresh eligibility and increases state costs, changes student loan and Pell Grant rules, extends and modifies federal tax provisions, and phases out many clean-energy credits. Finance also noted major rescissions of Inflation Reduction Act funds, new border and immigration enforcement spending, and the possibility of PAYGO sequestration if Congress does not act to offset the deficit increase.
During member questions, the committee focused on likely enrollment losses, administrative burdens, and fiscal exposure for the state and counties. Witnesses said many details still depend on federal guidance, but they estimated significant impacts on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and graduate/professional student borrowing, and noted that California’s high CalFresh error rate could increase state costs. UC testified that the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans would affect thousands of professional students, especially in health, law, and other high-cost programs. Members asked for follow-up data on county, health, and tax impacts, and staff agreed to provide additional tables and estimates as implementation guidance becomes clearer.
Public commenters from counties, early childhood advocates, health coalitions, disability rights groups, immigrant-rights organizations, and other stakeholders urged the Legislature to mitigate the law’s effects. They warned of higher county costs, reduced access to health care and food assistance, increased administrative burdens, and harm to children, immigrants, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Several urged new state revenue solutions and stronger protections for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, child care, and home- and community-based services. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with a commitment to continue monitoring federal guidance and to work on state responses in the budget process.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
WTL Public Hearing 03-07-2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I work as a policy researcher in housing affordability and disaster recovery at UHERO.
- 34.640>
and researcher in housing affordability and researcher in housing affordability and disaster - 36.440>
uiro <00:20:37.039>that's <00:20:37.200>the <00:20:37.360>day disaster - recovery at uiro that's the day disaster recovery at uiro that's the day job<00:20:38.600>
um
Summary:
The Committee on Water and Land opened with housekeeping remarks about testimony limits, video availability, and that decision-making would follow the hearing. The committee then heard and considered several SCRs authorizing long-term nonexclusive easements over state submerged lands for existing public or private infrastructure on Oahu, including stormwater outfalls, shoreline protection structures, concrete stairs, seawalls, and a rock revetment. DLNR supported each measure and generally requested only technical or clarifying amendments; for SCR 3, DLNR asked that the title be clarified to specify the easement would be granted to the City and County of Honolulu. After discussion, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations, passing SCR 3 with amendments and SCRs 4, 6, and 7 unamended, while SCR 5 was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. Senator Meli noted general concerns about seawalls and hardening but said he would support the measures because they involved repair of existing structures and public access, though he indicated a reservation on SCR 6.
The committee then took up governor’s messages for HCDA appointments. For GM 58, Gerald Gordner was nominated to the Kalaeloa district seat; HCDA’s executive director and another supporter praised his urban planning, housing, zoning, GIS, and collaborative skills, and Gordner described his interim service and background in housing affordability and disaster recovery. Members also discussed a former military hangar in Kalaeloa and possible future uses, with Gordner noting he understood there had been restrictions that were later lifted, while the chair raised concerns about airport operations and modular housing use. The committee also heard support for GM 559, nominating Micki Lidstone as cultural specialist; HCDA said she had been an active and reliable board participant and cultural resource, and Lidstone said she valued learning from Native Hawaiian testimony and helping balance community perspectives. Finally, GM 688 nominated Deborah Kabibi to the Leeward Oahu/Maui district seat; HCDA said her community ties would be valuable for South Maui planning, and Kabibi said she had learned a lot from the board’s collaborative process and was eager to represent her community. The transcript ends during discussion of GM 688, before any vote on the nominations is shown.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-PSM, CPN Public Hearings 02-10-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- and Consumer Affairs to plan and administer income tax credits relating to emergency management or disaster
- Emergency income tax credits relating to Emergency Management<00:02:19.360>
or <00:02:19.519>disaster - <00:02:19.879>
preparedness <00:02:20.400>and Management or disaster preparedness and - Management or disaster preparedness and grants<00:02:21.280>
for <00:02:21.480>lowincome
Summary:
The joint hearing first took up SB 696, which would create an emergency management office and fund tax credits, grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify homes, shelter development, and staffing. Supporters argued Hawaii needs a dedicated preparedness office and funding before the next hurricane season, while the Tax Foundation said the bill was too vague, especially on who would qualify for the tax credits and under what conditions. The Department of the Attorney General and the insurance division offered comments, and both committees recommended deferral of SB 696.
The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then heard SB 179 on construction defect remedies and the contractor repair act. Builders, Realtors, carpenters, and a mortgage industry witness supported the bill, saying it would reduce abusive litigation, speed repairs, and help housing production and affordability. Homeowner advocates and plaintiff attorneys opposed it, arguing it would weaken consumer protections, shift repair costs to homeowners, and delay or limit legitimate claims. One testifier suggested the Senate focus instead on stronger alternative dispute resolution, and the committee noted 105 written supporters, four opponents, and one comment submission.
The committee next heard SB 416 on allowing pets in rental housing, with the Attorney General recommending a non-impairment safeguard because of possible effects on existing contracts. SB 593 on commercial dog breeders drew support from the Hawaii Humane Society and others, with concerns raised that counties would be expected to enforce the new regime without funding. SB 641, creating a tax on low-alcohol-by-volume spirits beverages, drew opposition from the Wine Institute, which said it would create a tax break for one segment and likely reduce state revenue. SB 1048 on online crowdfunding received support from GoFundMe and comments from the Attorney General, with GoFundMe urging changes to reduce burdens on charitable fundraising. SB 1213, allowing businesses to accept service of process by email instead of maintaining a registered agent, drew DCCA comments and opposition from LegalZoom, which warned email service could be unreliable and vulnerable to phishing.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The American people tend to not take action until there's a major disasters, right?
- the American people are not going to come in or dji's become an apathetic until there's a cyber disaster
- And the problem is the next cyber disaster could be profound in terms of its effect on the United States
- We're in the planning phases of looking at natural disaster impacts on the child welfare workers themselves
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 12 February, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They are asking for the ability to increase their limits of transfers into the disaster trust fund from
- Um, the FEMA limits are likely going from a $5 million limit for a national disaster up to potentially
- a 20 to 22 to $25 million limit before a disaster is declared from FEMA.
- >> Yes, sir. >> Gentlemen, with this state management disaster plan, will we get a copy of it to know
- If you're opposed, vote nay. disaster plan, will we get a copy of to disaster plan, will we get a copy
Summary:
The House convened with a prayer led by Reverend Lewis Dixon of Crystal Springs and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Members also welcomed several guest groups, including the Hazerhurst Middle School girls basketball team, the Mississippi Society of Radiologic Technologists and students from several colleges, and Oakdale Elementary students visiting the Capitol.
On the calendar, the House first took up several rules-calendar items and adopted them overwhelmingly, including a Senate concurrence resolution and multiple resolutions, with votes such as 118-0 and 121-0. The chamber also tabled House Bill 965. Later, House Bill 517, the Mississippi Charter Schools Act, passed 88-10 after members explained it was a technical bill with no substantive changes. House Bill 644, an Administrative Procedures Act measure requiring agencies to report rules or actions costing over $100,000, passed 114-0.
The House then approved House Bill 1015, which replaces an inactive member on the Title 5 Advisory Council, by 119-0. House Bill 1314, dealing with contractor bonding and procurement thresholds, was amended to raise a bond amount from $25,000 to $75,000 and to increase a bidding threshold from $10,000 to $15,000; it passed 119-2. House Bill 1468, which narrows public-records access by excluding certain personal information, was amended with a reverse repealer to allow further work on the language and passed 118-1. House Bill 1529, a peer bill with a reverse repealer, passed 128-0. House Bill 1640 authorized DHS to use automated wage verification services and passed 115-2. House Bill 1754 created a fast-track option for cyber security software and hardware emergencies and passed 121-0.
The House also adopted a strike-all amendment to House Bill 1218, extending the MyKids youth-court software authority for one year, requiring a progress report, and allowing continued use of MyKids or a replacement system; the bill passed 128-0 after questions about the system’s outdated nature and the need to keep AOC accountable. Finally, House Bill 1225, concerning non-consensual towing, was explained as requiring tow operators to identify who requested the tow and to provide VIN and lienholder information so certified notices can be sent; the discussion was still underway at the end of the transcript.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Wed Feb 11, 2026 @ 8:30 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- testimony, but one of which is this has been a proposal before you; this has been a public policy disaster
- testimony, but one of which is this has been a proposal before you; this has been a public policy disaster
- has been a proposal before you this has been a public<01:37:29.679>
policy <01:37:30.080>disaster - public policy disaster in other states. public policy disaster in other states.
- :17.840>
under Chair recommends to add language under section 209E-4 that enables DEBED to declare
Keywords:
business development, arts, cultural affairs, Hawaii, commissions, administrative transfer, funding appropriation, Hawaiian culture, sense of place, land management, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, 910, house, all
Summary:
The committee heard several bills related to permitting and economic development. On HB 2603, relating to permits, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it supported the measure with comments. Committee discussion focused on the fact that the state’s facilitated permit process appears to have been rarely or never used, the need to identify specific projects that would use it, and whether DBEDT would need dedicated staffing to administer it. DBEDT said it had found no projects under the current process, had no capacity to run the program as structured, and estimated it would need about 7 to 9 FTEs, including permitting, coordination, data, systems, and possibly legal support. The chair suggested exploring a staff assignment and comparing the concept to federal FAST-41-style expedited permitting.
On HB 2140, relating to essential permitting positions, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development again supported the bill with comments. Testimony and questioning centered on a pilot program to help counties pay competitively for permitting staff. A DBEDT representative said the issue of competitive pay affected both county and state permitting offices and that the bill was intended as a temporary pilot, though a more permanent solution would be preferable. When asked how counties would fund the salary support, the witness said that was not yet discussed with the counties and agreed to follow up. The committee also noted the bill applies to participating counties.
On HB 2598, relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the State Procurement Office and HTDC offered comments, and the Department of the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns. The AG said the bill’s residency-based certification requirements, when tied to procurement, could implicate the dormant Commerce Clause, and that the required 1% contribution tied to state contracts raised unconstitutional-conditions concerns. In questioning, the AG characterized these as legal risks rather than automatic lawsuits. The committee did not take a vote.
The committee then heard HB 2141, relating to state enterprise zones. Taxation, DBEDT, HCDA, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and HTDC testified in support, while the Tax Foundation noted the program was intended to help economically depressed areas create jobs. HTDC said the bill would help preserve the Maui Research and Technology Center’s enterprise-zone status after rezoning. Committee discussion focused on whether the enterprise zone program is being used effectively, how the bill might attract businesses to areas where the state is investing, and whether the program’s labor requirements are too burdensome for new businesses. DBEDT explained that the program requires a 10% workforce increase in the first year, which must be sustained, and said it promotes the program through county coordinators and in-person outreach. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.