Video & Transcript Research : 'Developmental Disabilities Division'

Page 142 of 500
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Fiscal Committee (02/21/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:55:41.799> discrimination<00:55:42.480> claims<00:55:42.880> these disability
  • discrimination claims these disability discrimination claims these are<00:55:43.160> new<00:55
  • I guess I'm concerned because I said, as the division chair that received the request last session for
  • I value very much the audits that come from the audit division, and since we are the first legislative
  • <01:07:00.319> as thoroughness of the audit division as thoroughness of the audit division
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Deputy Director of HCD's Division of Codes and Standards.
  • HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
  • HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
  • Well, again, we're looking at that as the entire division.
  • I live in a manufactured home too, and I am disabled and on a fixed income.
Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Mar 6th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Where there is division, grant them a spirit of cooperation.
  • Act federally over allowing pregnant women to get disabled parking passes.
  • Obviously, we've had a situation where folks who are disabled can't find parking places, disabled parking
  • I appreciate the fact that you're women to get disabled parking passes.
  • find parking places, disabled parking places.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of the day’s doctor of the day, an intern, and a resolution honoring the late Bob Graham and firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber also adopted a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day. After routine announcements, the Senate moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, many of them with House companion bills substituted in place of Senate versions. The first major floor action was passage of a tax-related bill conforming Florida’s Internal Revenue Code to federal changes while excluding certain provisions from H.R. 1; it passed 34-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 1758 on public assistance and Medicaid, which proposed stronger fraud enforcement, a Medicaid work requirement for able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral health services, pharmacy and drug rebate reforms, and SNAP fraud reduction measures. A Berman amendment to require Medicaid expansion before work requirements was rejected, as was an Osgood amendment to add photo-ID protections and exemptions for certain SNAP users. The bill remained on the calendar for third reading after extensive debate and questioning about implementation, exemptions, and potential impacts on beneficiaries. The chamber also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on gold and silver legal tender, public records exemptions for financial institutions and custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government finance transparency, digital voyeurism, and insurance customer representative licensing. Most of these measures were adopted after brief explanation, minor amendments, or substitution of House companions, with votes generally in favor and several passing unanimously or by wide margins. Later, the Senate took up CS/SB 1756 on medical freedom, which would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin access, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition. The bill’s first amendments clarified anti-kickback rules for vaccine manufacturers and required informational materials to address risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy; the transcript ends during consideration of this bill, before final passage is shown.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • In FY26, about 10% of students with disabilities were classified as Class D, meaning their IEP requires
  • So you all have heard that autism is driving a lot of the increase in students with disabilities across
  • Chair, I would just like to introduce the new director of our Educator Pathways Division, and that is
  • And the student with a learning disability who... once believed she couldn't do math; she just wasn't
  • My name is Jennifer Boyd, and I am a parent of a child with a disability.
Keywords: 996, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 11th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I would like you to consider working with SNAP and expanding. that for our disability community.
  • When you're an individual with a disability, especially if you're in a group home situation, you're not
  • How do we help people with disabilities? Because you're absolutely right.
  • The Health Care Authority's Behavioral Health Services Division has already purchased three vending machines
  • We have one at the Income Support Division office in Anthony, New Mexico, and one at the emergency department
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Mar 20th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Speaker, and gentlemen, what's the plan for Division 2 DA's office? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  • Speaker, which dealt with veterans' property tax exemption for different categories of disability.
  • to Representative Alcon's piece of legislation, we were able to also do different categories of disabilities
  • Then you can go to the Oil Conservation Division, and after negotiations with the owner and so forth,
  • So we go to If that was a private lease, we just simply go to the Oil Conservation Division and say this
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES Feb 19th, 2026

ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Transcript Highlights:
  • Asperanza Masona Crane, Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division at AEDC.
  • I'm Mary Franklin, Director of the Division of County Operations with the Department of Human Services
  • We're on 7, 7A, and we'll invite the Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, to the
  • I'm Elizabeth Pittman, Division of Medical Services. Good morning.
  • These are the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation DAPSAF rules.
Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates and had no questions, so both were filed. The Department of Commerce sought repeal of rules tied to the minority and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act, explaining the rules were repealed by implication or duplicative of statute; all were reviewed and approved. The Insurance Department presented a new rule implementing Act 426 of 2025 for online marketplace guarantee providers, using Airbnb-style host damage protection as an example, and it was approved. The Department of Education updated the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program rule to reflect statutory payment amounts for milestones and diplomas, and it was approved. DFA presented a rule creating a reporting method for the Arkansas rice beer and sake excise tax credit; members asked about verification of Arkansas rice use, and the rule was approved. DHS presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes to work requirements and energy assistance counting, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64 and removing some exemptions; it was approved after questions about terminology and waiver-related issues. The committee also approved DHS Medicaid rules allowing rehab hospitals to bill for psychiatric units and exempting Arkansas from the federal recovery audit contractor requirement, citing other program integrity measures already in place. The State Board of Public Accountancy, under Labor and Licensing, presented rules implementing Act 428 of 2025, including a new CPA licensure pathway with a bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience, substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of the government not-for-profit accounting requirement; despite some negative comments, both rules were approved. The committee then granted the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, and approved its request to retain all 18 Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation rules under Act 781 review. Remaining outstanding 2023-session rulemaking and monthly updates were noted in packets with no questions, and the meeting adjourned.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • . disability. disability.
  • students with disabilities. students with disabilities.
  • it's a non-disabled student. it's a non-disabled student.
  • Disabilities.
  • directly to the child's disability. directly to the child's disability.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The commission on the costing of special education met to review several documents and updates, including draft materials on residential placements, an LBA dispute resolution report, prior minutes, rate-setting rules, and a letter involving Senator Hassan. The minutes from March 16 were approved by motion, second, and one abstention. Members also received an update that the LBA special education performance audit is still pending; the report is expected to be very large, NHED and the Board of Education must review and comment before release, and it likely will not be available until late summer or early fall. The separate EFA audit was also noted as still unreleased, and members said they may return later to issues involving EFA costing and differentiated aid. A major focus was HB 1099, which would create a committee to study the cost and liability of providing educational services to students placed in residential facilities. The chair explained that the House version had passed unanimously and the bill was headed to a committee of conference. Members discussed a proposed amendment to add the phrase “including but not limited to” so the study would cover not only court-ordered or treatment-related placements but also other residential placements, including those tied to school district decisions. Some members said this was a substantial expansion, while others said it would simply give the committee broader latitude. Jason Stock of the Winnisquam Regional School Board described how the issue arose during budget work at Winnisquam, where the district was trying to determine who should pay for educational services for students living at Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield. He said the district had 10 students attending Winnisquam, including three foster students and seven students connected to Spaulding, and that Spaulding-specific invoicing for 2024-2025 totaled $141,417.05 for eight students. Members also discussed rising private placement tuition costs and the difficulty of determining residency and fiscal responsibility for students placed in residential settings. Department counsel explained that under RSA 193:27 and 193:28, children placed in a home for children may attend the local district school, and that special education cost responsibility depends on whether the student is identified as disabled and on the nature of the placement. Spaulding representatives had not yet presented by the end of the excerpt, and the committee was still working through the residency and funding questions.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's age or disability related. Yes. So, there's a disability issue.
  • It's age or disability >> It's age. It's age or disability related.<00:37:47.200> Yes.
  • So, there's a disability issue. >> Yes. So, there's a disability issue.
  • It says you may also be able to get services if you have a disability.
  • <01:16:55.120> within special investigations division within special investigations division
Summary: The committee met on November 5, 2025, and first approved the minutes after a moment of silence for the UPS airport tragedy. The main presentation was from the Personnel Cabinet on the state health insurance plans and executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Officials said the health plan covers roughly 265,000 active members and up to about 300,000 across all benefit offerings, including school board employees, retirees, and other eligible groups. They described rising claims and expenditures, especially from high-cost claimants and pharmacy spending, and said recent premium and benefit changes were intended to balance costs while preserving recruitment and retention efforts. They also explained that employee premiums had not increased for several years, while employer contributions rose sharply in recent years, and projected a 10% employer increase and 3% employee increase going forward based on actuarial analysis. Committee members asked about deductibles, GLP-1 drug costs, claims validation, and the causes of cost growth; officials said the plan uses multiple payment-integrity vendors and that the increases reflect utilization, drug trends, and high-cost cases rather than a change in coverage. The committee also discussed executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Personnel and budget officials explained that when the legislature approves annual pay increases, the salary schedule is adjusted by the same percentage through executive order so the minimum and midpoint stay aligned with approved compensation levels. They said the 2025 adjustment was a 3% match effective September 16 and that the change was costless because salaries had already been increased. Members raised concerns about salary compression, noting that new hires can sometimes be paid near the level of long-serving employees. Officials said the adjustment helps prevent compression from worsening but does not solve it, and they acknowledged prior RFP efforts to address the issue were unsuccessful because no qualified bidder met the requirements. After the health plan and salary discussions, the committee began a presentation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Kentucky’s senior meal program. Secretary Stack explained that the program is a federal-state-local partnership under the Older Americans Act, with area development districts helping deliver services. He outlined eligibility rules, noting that congregate meals at senior centers are available to people age 60 and older, with a spouse of any age allowed to join, and that home-delivered meals have additional homebound and assistance requirements. Members asked whether there was any means test for congregate meals, and the secretary said there is not; the only threshold is age for the center-based meals, while the home-delivered program has additional criteria.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Jul 18th, 2025

Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, in partnership with the General Services Department Facilities Management Division, which typically
  • We sought approval from the Construction Industries Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department
  • But ultimately, if there is a member of the public who is disabled and they need access, they needed
  • The definition of the, I'm sorry, not the definition but clarification on whether or not a disabled member
  • would continue to receive a disability adjustment, which is slightly higher than the overall cost of
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Finance (01/28/2025)

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's people with a disability who have been homeless for a year or more.
  • people with a disability who have been<00:41:13.480> homeless<00:41:13.960> for<00:41:
  • I am the finance director for the Division for Behavioral Health and the Division of Long-Term Supports
  • :03:43.960> division<01:03:44.240> of<01:03:44.359> long-term Health and the division
  • <01:45:39.760> director ahead Melissa white division director ahead Melissa white division
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-03 (12:30PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It replaces references to the term Division of Investigative and Forensic Services with the term Division
  • This proposed legislation benefits individuals with disabilities who require additional stability in
  • This is an important step for all Floridians, for those with disabilities, to increase safety on the
  • Safe and Smart Florida was just sent a letter by the Division, whereas they aren't even complying with
  • The fines will be determined by the Division of Elections. Leader Driscoll. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Deputy Will May of the Walton County Sheriff’s Department, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and CS for HB 947 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee. The chamber then took up several special-order bills, mostly reviser and technical measures, including SB 36, SB 42, SB 40, and SB 38, all of which passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief explanations that they updated or cleaned up Florida statutes. Members also passed HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders, requiring clerks to send certain petitions, notices, summonses, and orders within six hours, including Baker Act, Marchman Act, and risk protection orders. HB 615, on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email when both parties agree in writing, passed after adoption of a tenant-protection amendment offered by Rep. Gottlieb. HB 655 establishing a regulatory framework for pet insurance and wellness programs passed unanimously. HB 1145 on workforce education passed 100-4, expanding CAP grant eligibility to public charter schools for CTE startup/expansion and increasing minimum program offerings tied to a money-back guarantee program. HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements passed unanimously, and HB 649 on autonomous practice by certified registered nurse anesthetists passed 77-30 after structured debate. The most extensive debate centered on CS for HB 1205, which would significantly revise Florida’s citizen initiative process. The bill would require a $1 million bond after 25% of required signatures are collected, require petition handlers and circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose background checks and training for paid circulators, shorten petition turn-in deadlines to 10 days, increase penalties, add signature revocation notices, require more identifying information on petition forms, and create felony penalties for certain misconduct. Supporters argued the changes were needed to combat fraud and protect petition integrity; opponents said the bill would burden First Amendment activity and make ballot initiatives harder for ordinary Floridians to pursue. Multiple amendments sought to roll back or soften the bill’s requirements, protect personal information, restore longer deadlines, lower validation thresholds, and bar public funds from being used to advocate for or against amendments. Some amendments were adopted, but several key ones failed as debate continued.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/02/25

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Secondarily, I serve as division director for Integrative Health.
  • Secondarily, I serve as division director for Integrative Health.
  • HAST division director with the Department of Human Services.
  • 00:56:34.640> a disorders in newborns and children a disorders in newborns and children a division
  • of HHS that oversees the division of HHS that oversees the addition<00:56:37.280> of<00:56:37.440
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 6th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Where there is division... ...grant them a spirit of cooperation.
  • Act federally over allowing pregnant women to get disabled parking passes.
  • Does it add new eligibility for individuals to get disabled parking permits?
  • Obviously, we've had a situation where folks who are disabled can't find parking places, disabled parking
  • find parking places, disabled parking places.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (03/14/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • relative to Disability Services determination.
  • <00:51:42.280> uh in Workforce Innovation division uh in Workforce Innovation division uh
  • <00:51:44.799> Services relative to De uh Disability Services relative to De uh Disability
  • clear would it's not a decision division clear would it's not a decision division two<01:05:24.400
  • <01:27:44.920> 2<01:27:45.480> website division 2 website division 2 website too<01:27:
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The Finance Division II work session focused on organizing the committee’s remaining budget work and reviewing a set of recommended changes to House Bills 1 and 2. Mr. Landrian explained the committee’s tracking sheets and draft amendment package, noted that the division was being asked to find roughly $200 million in reductions, and said the governor’s lottery proposal in House Bill 2 could help offset part of that target. Members also discussed how revenue estimates tied to fee changes would be handled, with the chair saying the committee could seek Ways and Means input but would ultimately decide the estimates itself. The committee then considered four mostly technical amendments to House Bill 2. It voted unanimously to delete Section 81, which duplicated CCSNH dual and concurrent enrollment language already moving in House Bill 192; to delete Sections 143 and 144, which duplicated police standards and training extra-duty language already in House Bill 778; to adopt a correction to Section 151 that removed an inadvertently repeated sentence; and to delete Section 178 because the same Lottery Commission language already appears in House Bill 1. The committee also agreed to approve Section 4 of House Bill 1, the Lottery Commission boilerplate language, while deferring action on Section 2 of House Bill 1 until the university and community college budget is settled. A substantial portion of the meeting was spent planning upcoming work sessions and discussing possible revenue measures. The committee planned to invite Fish and Game on Monday to review a large set of follow-up materials and to discuss a possible amendment requiring hunters and trappers to pay the license fee before taking free training classes, with a second chance to retake the class if needed. Members also discussed possible fee adjustments for Safety and Fish and Game, including using dedicated-fund fees to reduce reliance on general funds and help stabilize the Highway Fund and Fish and Game Fund. The chair emphasized that all actions were recommendations until the committee’s final deadline and encouraged members to review draft language carefully before voting.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Feb 23rd, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These are often life-threatening or severely disabling conditions, and while there are more than 10,000
  • director of the California Seismic Safety Commission, Paul McGuinness with the Legislative Affairs Division
  • at Cal OES, Paul McGinnis with the Legislative Affairs Division at Cal OES and Tanya Black, staff at
  • director of the California Seismic Safety Commission, Paul McGuinness with the Legislative Affairs Division
  • at Cal OES, Paul McGinnis with the Legislative Affairs Division at Cal OES and Tanya Black staff at
Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum call at the start, then proceeded with Black History Month observances, including a libation ceremony, the Pledge of Allegiance, and remarks emphasizing remembrance, ancestry, and the importance of honoring Black history. The chamber also handled routine procedural matters, including dispensing with the journal, re-referring certain Senate budget items to the Budget Committee, and allowing guest introductions and other unanimous-consent requests. The main floor action was on Assembly Concurrent Resolution 134, recognizing Black History Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the historical contributions of Black Americans, the ongoing effects of slavery and segregation, the need to protect voting rights and education, and the importance of solidarity across communities. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 74 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 132, declaring February 28 as Rare Disease Day. Members shared personal stories about ALS and other rare diseases, described barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and insurance coverage, and called for more research and support. The resolution received broad bipartisan support, with 71 co-authors added before adoption by voice vote. The chamber then recognized a series of Black History Month Unsung Heroes honorees, including community leaders, health professionals, advocates, and public servants, and later heard additional guest introductions. The meeting concluded with adjournments in memory of Peyton Trilling and John Jackson, followed by announcements and adjournment until February 26 at 9 a.m.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Deputy Director of HCD's Division of Codes and Standards.
  • HCD's Codes and Standards Division is funded by fees for services.
  • Well, again, we're looking at that as the entire division.
  • Codes and Standards, that's a division that's well within HCD.
  • I live in a manufactured home too, and I am disabled and on a fixed income.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Governor’s housing reorganization proposal and trailer bill language that would consolidate several affordable housing finance programs under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC). Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplication, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits so projects can move from award to construction more quickly. The proposal would also shift some positions and reallocate portions of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program and other housing funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the concept has merit but raised concerns about the proposed bond set-aside floor and recommended more flexibility and earlier reallocation of unused bonds. Several senators questioned the structure and, especially, the proposed changes to the climate-related ASIC program, arguing that it could weaken the program’s original transportation-and-housing integration and that the budget lacks enough direct funding for core housing production programs. The item was held open. The committee then received an update from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal tax credit changes and state housing finance tools. Staff explained that federal H.R. 1 increased the 9% low-income housing tax credit allocation and reduced the bond-financing threshold for the 4% credit from 50% to 25%, allowing California to finance many more projects. They reported that emergency regulations were adopted quickly to implement the new federal rules, resulting in awards for 195 projects and more than 25,000 units in the 4% program, while the 9% program funded 58 projects and nearly 3,000 units. Members discussed the importance of state enhanced low-income housing tax credits, with committee questions focused on how much additional leverage state credits provide and how they help fill remaining financing gaps. The final portion of the hearing focused on the Civil Rights Department’s response to federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing the end of limited-term funding: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal civil rights enforcement has been weakened by closed offices, shuttered programs, and reduced support for fair housing organizations, while CRD’s open caseload has grown from about 8,700 to more than 12,000 matters. He said the department is using overtime, triage, and process reengineering to manage the surge and to direct people to the right services. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern that California is being asked to do more with less as federal protections erode. No votes were taken on the informational items, and the committee discussed the vote-only budget requests for CRD separately.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - Part 3 - 05/16/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><03:24:09.600> report So we formally established the capital security unit or section or division
  • c><03:24:34.399> or<03:24:34.800> section<03:24:35.120> or<03:24:35.359> division
  • security uh unit or section or division security uh unit or section or division uh<03:24:36.640>
  • That's probably the centerpiece of this legislation within the capital security division.
  • Clearly when courses are developmental, meaning that they won't count toward credit for their graduation
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 04/28/26

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • I believe that our kids that are under age 16 are developmentally unprepared for the addictive architecture
  • our kids that are under age<00:01:42.680> 16<00:01:43.200> are<00:01:43.280> developmentally
  • <00:01:44.080> unprepared age 16 are developmentally unprepared age 16 are developmentally
  • The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, in partnership with the Division of Indian Work, supports Senate
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, if a household has a member with a disability.
  • The Healthcare Authority's Income Support Division has a Quality Assessment Office that is responsible
  • Now, this Office of Inspector General is separate from the Income Support Division.
  • And there's about, in answer to your earlier question, the Income Support Division has...
  • My question is on the staffing for the Income Support Division.
Keywords: 996, all