Video & Transcript Research : 'directed trust'

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MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 4/2/25

Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • Trust me, it ain't there anymore. Anyway, thank you very much for bringing this forward.
  • Trust me, it ain't there uniform.
  • using<01:22:03.440> evidence-based direct result of using evidence-based direct result of
  • I trust the system.
  • Older generation Black veterans like don't trust the system. I trust the system.
Keywords: 1183, house
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • Or we use the money to expand our local community land trust portfolio.
  • So far, the community land trusts have used $2 million to acquire homes.
  • It's my understanding through kind of a trusted source that I follow.
  • And so those, you know, I trust that those... Also public document.
  • I think the critical thing is that things are going the right direction on this project.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Budget Section Regulatory Division Mar 18th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Or we use the money to expand our local community land trust portfolio.
  • So local community land trusts exist in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot, and so we partner with them to
  • So far, the community land trusts have used $2 million to acquire homes.
  • It's my understanding through kind of a trusted source that I follow.
  • And so those, you know, I trust that those... Also public document.
Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Ethics and Elections Feb 4th, 2025

Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't trust that to, you know, a new guy who just showed up.
  • Chair, and I'm not sure this is probably directed to the whole panel.
  • You know, are they just supposed to—are we just supposed to say, oh, trust the supervisors, trust the
  • So this concept is trust but verify, that relates to your vendors.
  • She said something that is very important: we trust but verify.
Summary: The committee heard a presentation from several county supervisors of elections and the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association on the 2024 election cycle and priorities for the 2025 session. They described very high turnout in the presidential election, major operational planning needs, and the heavy reliance on seasonal workers, list maintenance, ballot-on-demand systems, and secure chain-of-custody procedures. They also discussed the impact of recent legislative changes on voter-roll maintenance, including inactive voter removal, and said Florida’s election administration has improved to what they called a “platinum standard.” The supervisors outlined several legislative requests: allowing more than one non-government “wild card” early voting site to improve access and emergency flexibility; requiring newly naturalized citizens to update driver’s license information so voter records match DHSMV data; exempting home addresses of certain election workers and ballot transporters from public records to improve safety and recruitment; restoring a checkbox on vote-by-mail return envelopes so voters can stay on the vote-by-mail list for the next cycle; aligning base salaries for supervisors, property appraisers, and clerks with other constitutional officers; and reducing ballot length by removing precinct committee races from the ballot. They also said they expect a committee bill to carry some of these proposals. Members questioned the panel about ballot transport security, signature verification, vote-by-mail expiration, public records transparency, and the petition process for constitutional amendments. The supervisors said ballots are transported under detailed county plans with tamper-evident seals, chain-of-custody logs, trained workers, and in some cases two-person transport teams. On petitions, they said the process is labor-intensive and expensive, that fraud has occurred in some cases, and that they favor reforms such as requiring more personal identifying information and having initiative sponsors mail petitions to voters rather than making supervisors handle the mailing. They also said signature mismatches can be cured within 72 hours after Election Day and that voters are notified when possible. After the supervisors’ presentation, the committee also heard brief public testimony from Kathleen Griffiths, who urged adoption of commercial-style risk management standards in election systems and referenced several election-related bills her group supports.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The substitute further directs that the Sunset Commission shall make such recommendation to the Legislature
  • Members, questions about Senator Hall's committee substitute for direct interconnects to the Texas grid
  • This legislation is in direct response to alarming practices by certain state contractors involving the
  • of Texans and is a direct assault on the integrity of this state's governance.
  • And so it seems to me if we're going to spend money, we ought to be moving it in that direction.
Summary: The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified. The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, March 19, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ownership Land trust keeps home ownership Land trust keeps home ownership affordable<01:50:11.600
  • This direct transfer of money from one person to another.
  • <02:58:16.880> transfers they're making these direct transfers they're making these direct
  • In six and a half years, the Medicare trust fund is empty.
  • Social Security trust fund is empty.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Thu Feb 27, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • conflict with the federal court direct conflict with the federal court stipulation<00:22:20.039>
  • I mean, we should be looking at public trust duties.
  • I mean, we should be looking at public trust duties.
  • We should be looking at public trust duties.
  • Um, does the state have a duty to protect the public trust resources under the DLNR? Yes.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. On HB 211 relating to stream maintenance, DLNR supported the intent but requested amendments to clarify that responsibility for removing abandoned property rests with the entity that has jurisdiction or ownership of the stream, and asked for appropriations to help cover cleanup costs. Members discussed existing county authority to clean streams and then seek reimbursement from private owners, and the City and County of Honolulu’s written testimony was noted as arguing the bill conflicts with a federal court stipulation requiring notice and storage of personal property before disposal. On HB 502 relating to land use, OPSD and the Land Use Commission supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the short timeline and the need for rule changes, with OPSD recommending a more permanent county plan-based district boundary amendment process instead of a temporary one. The Department of Agriculture asked counties to make concurrent revisions to ordinances and rules affecting agricultural land partitioning. Testimony also noted the bill is aimed at legacy agricultural subdivisions and would require Land Use Commission rulemaking. On HB 510 relating to declaration of water shortage and emergency, DLNR and the Board of Water Supply strongly supported the measure, saying it would give CWRM a more timely tool to respond to emergencies outside designated water management areas and would require rulemaking, permit classifications, and criteria for declaring shortages. In response to opposition concerns from the Land Use Research Foundation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, DLNR said the rulemaking process would allow public input and that permit classifications could help balance agricultural and other water uses. On HB 511 relating to public lands, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported removing the survey requirement before setting aside public lands between state agencies, saying it would speed Act 90 transfers and save time and money, though one testifier cautioned against misuse of agricultural lands. No votes were taken during the excerpted portion of the meeting.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session-Day 1, February 9, 2026

Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lord, then Christ will make his home in their hearts as they trust you.
  • /c><00:06:31.120> hearts<00:06:31.360> as<00:06:31.600> they<00:06:31.840> trust
  • home in their hearts as they trust you. home in their hearts as they trust you.
  • I direct the chief clerk to notify his excellency, the governor, that the 2026 budget session of the
  • trust uh bill and generally goes to TRW. trust uh bill and generally goes to TRW.
Keywords: 916, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (01/21/2026)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh and that is a direct exercise.
  • section two opioid abatement trust fun. section two opioid abatement trust fun.
  • The opioid abatement trust fund... The opioid abatement trust fund.
  • trust fund.
  • Uh do you know if this trust trust fund.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • , except unless otherwise directed by applicable law.
  • So that directive informed the agency's decision making here.
  • And the agency recognizes here that this directive is consistent with sound public policy.
  • I understand that you're trying to comply with the governor's directive or executive order.
  • I understand that you're trying to comply with the governor's directive of executive order.
Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee reviewed several agency rules and objections under Chapter 120. First, the committee revisited prior objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules containing sunset provisions. AHCA’s general counsel said the agency amended 26 of the objected rules but declined to amend five others, arguing sunset provisions are lawful, are not themselves rules, and were consistent with a 2019 gubernatorial directive. Committee members questioned that position, especially for licensing and certificate-of-need rules, and urged the agency to consider legislative changes; no formal action was taken on that item during the discussion. The committee then considered an objection to Department of Management Services Rule 60G-1.001 defining the Governor’s Mansion grounds. Committee staff argued the rule is vague and improperly refers to future land acquisitions without updating the rule since 1998. DMS defended the rule as a general definition tied to publicly recorded property and a master lease, but said it would not object if the Legislature chose to codify the definition in statute. After discussion, the committee voted to file the objection. Members also received informational updates from the Department of Environmental Protection on the Solaris state lands inventory system, and from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on its response to the Tampa Bay Downs unadopted-rule litigation, in which the commission said it has stopped relying on the prior tax interpretation and will not promulgate a rule on that issue. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation said it would remove an unsupported cigar wholesale dealer permit reference, repeal an obsolete excise-tax deduction rule, and amend penalty guidelines and an affirmation in its alcohol, beverage, and tobacco rules. Finally, the Division of Administrative Hearings’ interim director discussed case-processing times, possible changes to ALJ status, and whether the Florida Rules of Evidence should apply in administrative proceedings, emphasizing the need to weigh costs, independence, and impacts on pro se litigants. The chair noted this was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary (04/14/2026)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • We pointing him in different directions.
  • HB 1793 moves my community in the wrong direction.
  • It makes students, especially direction.
  • should trust them to be able to vote. should trust them to be able to vote.
  • You've been sitting there long enough. trust that we can enforce that in a way trust that we can enforce
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 05/06/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll just direct answer to my question.
  • c><02:21:34.960> directly identified 23 deaths directed directly identified 23 deaths directed
  • They are trusted of our constituents.
  • Can this be someone I know and trust?
  • and of course that community trust and of course that community trust that's<04:41:07.360> involved
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/9/26

Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:05:24.560> appointments<00:05:25.560> from<00:05:25.760> the ...of direct
  • System by directing DVS to accept electronic signatures and electronic documents.
  • [clears throat] However, most of my comment wants to be directed toward the A4 amendment.
  • According to research from Pew Charitable Trusts, there are 23 other states that report a funding gap
  • <01:45:19.040> Fund, in revenues for the Highway Trust Fund, in revenues for the Highway Trust
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/11/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Anchor our trust in you.
  • will direct their path.
  • We mentioned the housing trust fund being secure; that's so important.
  • We mentioned the housing trust fund being secure; that's so important.
  • It should not be the direction of our state budget. I also, Mr.
Keywords: 1182, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Culture, Recreation & Tourism Apr 8th, 2025

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm here appearing in my own capacity though as a trust and estates attorney. OK.
  • And self-trust in the state's attorney. Yes, you may proceed.
  • Uh, I've served as chair of the state bars real estate propane trust law section and was the liaison
  • Committee substitute House Bill 5032 directs the state.
  • This bill is just directing the new method of finance within Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Bills: HCR6
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (01/14/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • >> it can't possibly be trusted. >> it can't possibly be trusted.
  • Uh, we're mitigation trust program.
  • And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.
  • And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.
  • And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/05/26

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, and again, this is directed in federal law and rule.
  • <00:03:19.519> us<00:03:19.880> to directed us to directed us to do<00:03:21.239> this
  • <00:35:30.080> The load boxes and direct traffic. The load boxes and direct traffic.
  • :40:48.280> is outreach is completely trusted is outreach is completely trusted is completed<00
  • completed by trusted community partners completed by trusted community partners who<00:40:50.280
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (10/06/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • So there there'd be no direct >> Yeah.
  • Um, I trust and looking at these issues.
  • Um, I trust and trust<01:54:26.159> the<01:54:26.560> chairman<01:54:26.960> for
  • <01:54:28.719> Um, trust the chairman for his comments.
  • Um, trust the chairman for his comments.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first took up HB 155, which drew a lengthy debate over an amendment to delay implementation until tax year 2027. Supporters said the delay would give lawmakers time to see whether projected revenues materialize and to reconsider the policy if needed; opponents argued it would reduce money available to services and local governments at a time of tightening revenues. Members also discussed broader revenue trends, including tobacco, rooms-and-meals, real estate transfer, and lottery revenues, and disagreed over whether tax cuts tend to increase revenue. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2983H on an 11-9 vote, then voted 11-9 to report HB 155 ought to pass as amended. The bill was sent to the consent calendar, with a majority and minority report to be filed. The committee then considered HB 224, with members expressing concern that the bill would redirect money collected for one purpose to another and should receive more study. A motion for interim study was made and seconded, and the committee approved interim study unanimously, 20-0, sending HB 224 to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up SB 83, which the Lottery described as a vehicle for technical corrections to gaming law. The Lottery requested changes to remove a bond cap, reconcile inconsistent free-play/promotional-play language, redirect problem-gambling funds to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention, and revise background-check language after the FBI declined to conduct checks under the existing wording. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2984 unanimously, 20-0, then voted 20-0 to report SB 83 ought to pass as amended and placed it on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began work on HB 524, a bill to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Representative Yuli said members had received many emails and calls both supporting and opposing the program and that he had questions about transparency and the dollars involved. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 524.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 29th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • And just on a personal note, I want to say thank you for trusting the process.
  • This is a small start, a small deposit in the right direction to help victims.
  • So they can be trusted with a child again, even if they've killed a child by abusing them.
  • Each incident erodes the community's trust and raises the risk of avoidable incidents.
  • I think it's toward the right direction.
Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, beginning with housekeeping items and the adoption of a four-bill consent calendar. Bills on the consent calendar included AB 476 on metal theft, AB 619 on California Conservation Corps training for formerly incarcerated people, AB 1192 on child abuse or neglect reporting, and AB 1239 on human trafficking data. Several bills were pulled by the authors before hearing, and the committee also announced that AB 379 would be heard with a file notice waiver and AB 63 would be for testimony only. The most extensive discussion was on AB 366, which would require ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of DUI. The author, Senator Archuleta, and a MADD representative gave emotional testimony about family members killed by drunk drivers and argued the bill would save lives. Support came from law enforcement, fire, medical, auto club, and safety groups. Opposition from public defenders and criminal justice advocates focused on loss of judicial discretion, costs for low-income drivers, and concerns about vendor oversight and effectiveness. The committee voted to pass AB 366 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1380, which would create a permanent pathway into firefighting careers for formerly incarcerated people who served on Cal Fire hand crews. The author and supporters said the bill would recognize service, improve reentry, and reduce recidivism; a fire labor group withdrew its opposition after amendments were discussed. The measure passed to Appropriations, though it remained on call pending one additional vote. AB 461, which would remove criminal penalties for parents of truant K-8 students and replace them with supportive responses, drew broad support from education and justice advocates but no opposition testimony; it was also passed to Appropriations and left on call pending one more vote. ACR 60, recognizing the Downey Police Department’s special-needs communication program for interactions with people with disabilities or sensory challenges, was adopted unanimously. The committee then heard AB 746 on creating an inmate cooperative program and a green reentry reserve for incarcerated workers. Supporters said it would build job skills, dignity, and reentry success; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed to Appropriations and was left on call pending votes. Finally, AB 379 on human trafficking drew strong support from survivor advocates, law enforcement, and local officials for creating a survivor services fund and targeting buyers, but also strong opposition from survivors and civil liberties groups who warned it would criminalize vulnerable people and revive harmful loitering enforcement. The committee discussion continued with members weighing survivor support, public safety tools, and concerns about the bill’s amendments and scope.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/28/2026 - Senate Government

Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • It should be topical, and we need to move in that direction.
  • And we need to move in that direction. Yes, there's naturally occurring fluoride.
  • I ask you, who do you trust to check your kids' gender?
  • And who do you trust to be the one to do that? Hold on, hold on, hold on.
  • It builds trust and creates a welcoming, affirming environment for everybody.
Summary: The committee first handled Senate Bill 1045, which would bar cities, towns, and counties from taxing or charging fees on the use of blockchain technology in residences, with limited exceptions. The sponsor said the bill was a repeat of a measure vetoed the prior year and framed it as a tax-preemption issue. There was no testimony, and the bill was moved and passed out of committee on a 4-3 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1019, which would prohibit the addition of fluoride to public water systems. Senator Shamp argued the bill was about health freedom, informed consent, and emerging research she said raised concerns about fluoride’s benefits and possible neurodevelopmental risks. Opponents, including representatives of Arizona dental and public health groups, testified that community water fluoridation is safe, effective, and especially important for low-income and rural communities with limited dental access. After extended debate, the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. Senate Bill 1050 would provide free lifetime state park passes to Arizona veterans. State Parks testified neutrally but warned the measure could reduce revenue used to support park operations and rural economies; the sponsor said the bill was prompted by a park visit where veterans were charged admission. The committee also approved SB 1050 on a 4-3 vote. Later, SB 1078, dealing with de novo review in public records denial cases, passed unanimously after support from the Goldwater Institute, and SB 1083, which would prevent HOAs and condo associations from banning certain lighted home address devices for emergency response, also passed after testimony from the sponsor and a homeowners coalition.