Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/10/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And certainly we like in Minnesota to enjoy our fairs and festivals.
  • And certainly we like in Minnesota to enjoy our fairs and festivals.
  • And certainly we like in Minnesota to enjoy our fairs and festivals.
  • And certainly we like in Minnesota to enjoy our fairs and festivals.
  • </c><01:13:18.639><c> in</c><01:13:18.760><c> Greater</c> add in in Greater add in in Greater Minnesota
Keywords: 1183, house
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • in-kind benefits.
  • share in taxes here in California.
  • in California.
  • Fair to say?
  • I wonder how much trust in our government in California and in the federal government that every Californian
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs May 7th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In this bill program, do we have to disclose projects that are not in the state of Texas or not in Irqqa'at
  • Our system where we can be in EEA-1 to EEA-3 in 20 minutes.
  • here in Texas.
  • state, you're shopping it in Oklahoma, you're shopping it in Arkansas, and in Louisiana.
  • In my view, being in a non-attainment area up in North Texas.
Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • to over $1 billion in two years, in 2027.
  • a delay in the program in a prior budget.
  • As you can see in the agenda, this trigger would not result in savings in the budget year.
  • As you can see in the agenda, this trigger would not result in savings in the budget year.
  • mitigate confusion about the appropriate use of AAP in these situations.
Summary: The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored. Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants. The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services. Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Public Safety Committee Jun 30th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • in the bill.
  • I was raised in the Hispanic culture of what happens in the house stays in the house.
  • This seems like something that should be solved in that realm so that something fair and adequate can
  • This seems like something that should be solved in that realm so that something fair and adequate can
  • And if you die in prison, you die in prison.
Summary: The Senate Public Safety Committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of bills. Early items included AB 2605, which would require statewide reporting on public defense services; supporters said California lacks basic data on how indigent defense is delivered and that the bill would help identify under-resourced counties, while no opposition appeared. AB 1650 would require rental vehicles used in law enforcement operations to display agency identification; supporters framed it as a transparency and community-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement tactics, while sheriffs and police groups opposed it unless amended, arguing it could compromise undercover and task-force operations and raise legal and indemnification concerns. AB 1930 would require notice to the Attorney General before business entities respond to subpoenas involving legally protected abortion or gender-affirming care information; supporters said it protects patient privacy and provider safety, while opponents raised constitutional, law-enforcement, and business-burden concerns. The committee also heard AB 458, directing state procurement guidelines for firearms and accessories so agencies buy from responsible vendors, with support from police chiefs, gun-violence prevention groups, and local officials, and no opposition testimony offered. The committee then heard AB 1588 on sideshows and street takeovers, which would update the definition of sideshows, include motorcycles and dirt bikes, and align penalties with street racing. Supporters, including police, city, transportation, and road-safety advocates, said the bill responds to dangerous events, property damage, and injuries; opponents from civil liberties and public defender groups argued higher fines and criminal penalties are ineffective and disproportionately harm low-income people, favoring roadway design and community-based prevention instead. AB 910, the Survivors Act, would expand affirmative defenses and vacature relief for survivors of trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence; supporters, including a survivor who described decades of abuse and wrongful conviction, said the bill gives survivors a chance to tell their stories and seek relief, while district attorneys opposed expanding relief to violent offenses and warned it could erase restitution and undermine victims’ rights. AB 2624 would expand Safe at Home confidentiality protections to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters described threats, doxxing, and harassment against immigrant-serving organizations, while opponents claimed the bill was prompted by investigative reporting on fraud and would chill journalism and transparency. The committee also heard AB 31, making the tribal police pilot program permanent and creating a missing and murdered Indigenous persons task force, which drew strong support from tribal representatives and no opposition. Later, AB 1959 sought to close a resentencing loophole tied to a 2001 Santana High School shooting case by restoring judicial discretion in resentencing for certain juvenile offenders; supporters said the current process can lead to automatic release even after parole denial, while opposition testimony began with concerns that the bill was responding to one case and lacked broader evidence. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly noted they supported several bills but could not formally vote because the committee lacked a quorum, so motions were held for later action.
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session - 2026-03-24 - 9:30AM

Vermont Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • now. dollars that went in um in the past year dollars that went in um in the past year in<00:55:35.240
  • Uh<01:28:24.440><c> in</c><01:28:25.240><c> in</c> Uh in in Uh in in uh<01:28:26.400><c> another</c><
  • . in. in.
  • in the committee in the hesitation in the committee in the Education<01:52:41.560><c> Committee</c><01
  • </c> fill out and get in in a timely fashion. fill out and get in in a timely fashion.
Keywords: 927, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

Natural Resources Aug 11th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • How much investment have we already made in Hidalgo County in order to address flood mitigation?
  • Senate Bill 8 was passed in 2019, and the funding program for flood management and mitigation.
  • Senate Bill 8 was passed in 2019 and the funding program for flood management and mitigation.
  • planning and mitigation framework, and in between those sessions, coincidentally, Harvey hit.
  • 900 flood mitigation solutions or strategies, excuse me, in those regional plans.
Summary: The House Committee on Natural Resources met to focus on flooding issues across Texas, with particular attention to South Texas and the recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. Chair Harris and Vice Chair Martinez emphasized that flooding is a statewide problem requiring continued legislative attention. The committee heard invited testimony from Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes and Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 General Manager Raul Sassine, who described the March flood event in Hidalgo County, including more than 20 inches of rain, six deaths, over $100 million in local damage, widespread road flooding, and repeated shutdowns of Interstate 2 and its frontage roads. They argued that existing drainage systems are under capacity, that TxDOT projects must account for downstream drainage impacts, and that local governments have already invested heavily in mitigation through bonds and partnerships. Fuentes and Sassine also described the county’s long-term flood mitigation and water-reuse efforts, including the Delta region water management project, which would capture stormwater, runoff, and treated effluent, reduce flooding, and create potable water supply. They said the drainage district manages about 780 miles of channels and 1,100 acres of detention facilities, has used prior Flood Infrastructure Fund and GLO grants, and has ongoing applications for additional state and federal assistance. Members discussed the need for TxDOT coordination, emergency access on frontage roads, local “skin in the game,” and the possibility of combining flood control with aquifer recharge and water supply projects. Texas Water Development Board Executive Administrator Brian McMath then presented an overview of the state’s flood planning and funding framework, including the post-Harvey legislative changes that created the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund, and the regional/state flood planning process. He summarized the first state flood plan adopted in 2024, noting that about one in six Texans live or work in known flood hazard areas and that regional plans identified 4,609 flood risk reduction solutions with an estimated cost of $54.5 billion. He also reviewed TWDB programs for flood grants, community assistance, flood insurance compliance, stream gauges, TexMesonet, flood mapping, and the TexasFlood.org viewer. Members asked about drainage fees, technical assistance, gauge placement, the relationship between flood maps and FEMA FIRMs, and whether flood mitigation funds could support aquifer storage and recovery or recharge projects; TWDB staff said such projects can be eligible if they include flood mitigation components, but direct technical assistance cannot be paid from Flood Infrastructure Fund dollars. The committee concluded by expressing interest in further study of combining flood mitigation with aquifer recharge, and then adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - Senate Government

Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Then they're spending extra money to put these wheel locks or other mitigating measures in place.
  • in 2000.
  • I live in District 10 in Mesa.
  • We'll start in 2023, so in 2023... Let's do this. We'll start in 2023.
  • in your dumpster in the neighborhood, especially in the summer season, you know?
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 18, 2025 - 03:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • came with fairness.
  • Notice tenants, and they did so in a way that came with fairness and equity in the sense that they require
  • Obviously, in the life we live in, there's so many notifications we get and we get to enroll in, opt
  • In closing, HB 365 is a necessary step towards ensuring stability and fairness in affordable housing.
  • We want a faster, fair, concealed carry license process in Florida.
Summary: The Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee heard and advanced several bills. HB 615, allowing landlords to send required notices electronically with tenant written consent, was amended to allow either landlords or tenants to send messages electronically and passed favorably after testimony from legal aid and tenant advocates urging stronger opt-in, opt-out, and notice protections. HB 665, dealing with local government impact fees and development permits, would limit certain art-related impact fees, define “extraordinary circumstances,” and require more public process before fee increases; it passed after local government and industry testimony focused on refining the extraordinary-circumstances definition and concerns about public art funding. HB 365, a tenant protection bill for affordable housing units receiving public incentives, was amended to apply only to leases of 13 months or less and to take effect in July 2026; it passed with support from housing advocates and AARP and was described as preventing mid-lease rent increases while preserving renewal-time adjustments. HB 381, requiring issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers within a set timeframe, was amended to extend the deadline to 20 business days and shift the fee consequence to the address fee rather than the building permit fee; it passed after discussion about delays affecting developers and local government responsibility.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> us in executing uh intelligent tools in us in executing uh intelligent tools in technology<00:10
  • business</c> to make uh in workplaces in in business to make uh in workplaces in in business and<00:
  • in private in most that's developing in private in most cases<00:45:49.599><c> with</c><00:45:49.839
  • </c><00:53:03.440><c> that</c> actually regulate in a AI in a way that actually regulate in a AI in a
  • There's a bill called the No Robo Bosses Act, and in Massachusetts there's the FAIR Act, both of which
Bills: HF1316, HF4369
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:36:59.839><c> applications</c> what in many cases in many applications what in many cases in
  • </c><00:44:17.400><c> district</c> I had an in a situation in my district I had an in a situation in
  • and Mayo. seriousness in in attaining Fidelity um seriousness in in attaining Fidelity um in<01:10:45.440
  • in the chest in and then uh leave space in the chest in which<01:19:30.440><c> the</c><01:19:30.520>
  • </c><01:20:12.360><c> in</c> one of the key um observations in in one of the key um observations in in
Keywords: 1183, house
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • we have been fortunate to be able to use that for areas in Comanche County, Oklahoma, and working in
  • disasters: the mitigation plan.
  • We do plan to use that as a vehicle to also make sure that every county in this state has a hazard mitigation
  • It's the in-state need.
  • In regard to the... quick in getting those reimbursements out of the door as well. Thank you.
Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from Emergency Management Director Annie Verst for the General Government appropriations budget. She described the agency’s core role as coordinating disaster response, recovery, preparedness, and mitigation, emphasizing that local governments lead initial response while the state supports recovery and resource coordination. Verst highlighted recent activity including wildfire-related declarations, $83 million in public assistance payouts, use of the new state disaster revolving fund, implementation of an Oklahoma resilient recovery strategy, and restructuring efforts that repurposed positions toward regional coordination and reduced administrative overhead. A major focus of the presentation was uncertainty around federal funding. Verst said FEMA programs and obligations have been delayed or canceled in some cases, including hazard mitigation assistance and disaster case management, and that the agency is seeking state support to cover possible gaps. She outlined requests for a $3.7 million federal funding loss contingency, $1 million for updating the state hazard mitigation plan, $3.8 million for the state emergency fund and 12.5% public assistance obligations, and $800,000 for anticipated other needs/temporary sheltering cost share. She also explained that most of the agency’s large revolving and pass-through balances cannot be used for operating costs. Members questioned her about Oklahoma Task Force One, including whether it is funded by OEM and whether the agency is shifting toward response rather than mitigation. Verst said Task Force One is used when local capacity is exceeded, that out-of-state deployments are reimbursed, and that the agency sees its role as coordination and recovery rather than replacing local response. She also explained the revolving fund for disaster advances, the timing of reimbursements, and the purpose of the hazard mitigation plan update. No votes or formal actions were taken, and the hearing concluded with thanks and adjournment.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Aug 11th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • in zero homes affected in the March 2025 event.
  • They have been leaders in ensuring that flood mitigation is addressed, protecting homes and businesses
  • How much investment have we already made in Hidalgo County to address flood mitigation?
  • Senate Bill 8 was passed in 2019, establishing the funding program for flood management and mitigation
  • The state flood assessment in 2017 found that anticipated statewide flood mitigation costs over the next
Keywords: 997, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Nov 4th, 2025

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Carolyn Mann waves in support. Luis Fasquez waves in support. Theresa Niemeyer waves in support.
  • in 2026.
  • in 2026.
  • Although Elevate Florida is new in design, it builds on decades of mitigation experience, which I've
  • Florida has been a national leader in flood mitigation efforts since 1996, administering multiple federal
Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum and heard two bills, a confirmation, and two agency presentations. SB 48 by Senator Gates would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead exemption for the owner-occupied portion, limit parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum leases, extend density bonuses for military-family housing, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call. SB 34 by Senator Sharief would expand the Historic Cemetery Program, particularly to help historic African-American cemeteries preserve and maintain themselves by allowing sale of excess vacant land only if proceeds are used for long-term upkeep; it also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors by unanimous vote. In addition, the Department of Commerce presented on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida, describing more than $4.3 billion in HUD disaster recovery funds since 2017, housing repair and replacement efforts that have completed more than 5,200 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects across the state. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and clawbacks from a prior vendor; Commerce said it had ended the earlier vendor relationship, imposed about $3.6 million in financial consequences, and now uses stronger oversight and competitive procurement for contractors. The Division of Emergency Management then presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds used. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is intended to reduce repetitive flood losses, keep homeowners in their communities, and serve as a national model; he reported more than 12,000 applications, about 1,500 prioritized for review, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about assistance for seniors who cannot meet the 25% match, the wait-list process, contractor selection, and the mix of project types, and Guthrie said contractors were selected through competitive procurement and that most projects are elevations, though some may become reconstructions or acquisitions depending on inspection results. The committee adjourned after the presentations.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 29, 2026 - 03:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • In my home county, in 2003, in Pinellas County, we had over 9,100 homesteaded properties that were sold
  • And it does this in a few ways.
  • Right way to get out in front and let people calibrate to that buying expectation coming in.
  • So in 2021, D.P. question.
  • All the BMPs are still in place. Nothing changes with regards to that in this move.
Summary: The Housing, Agriculture, and Tourism Subcommittee heard five bills and reported all of them favorably. House Bill 827, by Rep. Anderson, would require online real estate listings to disclose estimated ad valorem taxes based on the listing price rather than the seller’s current taxes, to reduce surprise tax increases for homebuyers. The bill drew support from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida, the Florida League of Cities, and the Florida Association of Counties, and passed unanimously after a technical amendment. House Bill 483, by Rep. Cobb, aimed to support Florida’s manufacturing sector by formally recognizing the chief manufacturing officer, creating a workforce development grant program, launching a voluntary promotional campaign for Florida-made products and manufacturing careers, and requiring biennial reporting. The bill received broad support from manufacturing, economic development, and business groups, was amended with technical cleanup language, and passed unanimously. House Bill 675, by Leader Driscoll, sought to expand affordable housing efforts by limiting Live Local Act incentives to affordable housing, extending affordability periods from 30 to 50 years, lowering the income cap for eligible units, and eliminating documentary stamp taxes for certain first-time homebuyers. After two amendments and supportive testimony from United Way Suncoast, the bill passed on a party-line style roll call with all members voting yes or excused. House Bill 495, by Rep. Albert, transferred golf course best management practices certification from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services without changing the underlying BMP requirements. After an amendment clarified that all BMPs remain in place, the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association testified in support, and the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 1497, by Rep. Hunschofsky, revised the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program by narrowing eligibility to lower-income associations, removing a coastal-only requirement, and tying grants to completion of opening protection for all common elements; two amendments further refined eligibility and grandfathered pending applications. The Community Associations Institute supported the measure, and it also passed unanimously. The committee ended with remarks about the prior night’s softball game and then adjourned.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Jan 22nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the meantime, Prop 4 dollars intended for water reuse, recycling, wildfire mitigation, long-duration
  • And any primary witnesses in support? Anyone else in the room? Great.
  • Any, uh, folks in opposition, primary witnesses in opposition?
  • Any folks in opposition, primary witnesses in opposition?
  • With that, do we have any other witnesses in support in the room?
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Jan 22nd, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the meantime, Prop 4 dollars intended for water reuse, recycling, wildfire mitigation, long-duration
  • And any primary witnesses in support? Anyone else in the room? Great.
  • Any, uh, folks in opposition, primary witnesses in opposition?
  • Any folks in opposition, primary witnesses in opposition?
  • With that, do we have any other witnesses in support in the room?
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Border Security May 22nd, 2025

Border Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • Offenses that are included in here that are really overly broad to be placed in the terroristic part
  • As far as leaving these in here as an act of terrorism, there's in certain instances there's equal as
  • here, and my understanding is that's the risk you're trying to mitigate for overreach in that in this
  • But in the instances in which you have terrorism or potential terrorism, um, that's likely to be a part
  • in possession of guns.
Bills: HB 214
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Transcript Highlights:
  • Helpline calls in the main iGaming states have skyrocketed: 320% in Pennsylvania, 277% in New Jersey,
  • taking in $436,000 in eye gaming deposits.
  • in 2018, and Encore in 2019.
  • in 2026.
  • In person, actually, another Scanlon, Jason Scanlon, in person here in support of House Bill 356.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on a range of gaming, racing, horse protection, problem gambling, and lottery bills. A major focus was H. 356 and related horse-racing legislation, which drew strong support from residents and animal-welfare advocates who argued that proposed racetrack and simulcast developments should require upfront traffic, environmental, public health, and economic studies, plus stronger local approval and transparency. They said past proposals in several communities had lacked adequate information and had imposed costs on towns. Opponents, including the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, argued that the bills would harm racing, breeding, farms, and related jobs, and said horse racing is already heavily regulated and that claims about slaughter and safety were overstated. Several speakers also supported S. 280, which would protect horses and phase out or restrict horse racing, citing animal cruelty, injuries, and deaths. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 235 and HB 332 to authorize regulated online casino gaming (iGaming). DraftKings, FanDuel, IDEA, and the Sports Betting Alliance supported the bills, saying iGaming is already occurring illegally in Massachusetts and should be brought into a regulated, taxed market with age verification, responsible gaming tools, and consumer protections. They projected substantial annual tax revenue and argued legal iGaming would not cannibalize brick-and-mortar casinos, instead creating a “rising tide” effect. Opponents, including Local 26, the National Association Against iGaming, and problem-gambling advocates, warned of job losses, casino cannibalization, increased addiction, and greater harm to vulnerable players, citing experiences in other states and rising helpline calls. The committee asked for follow-up information on revenue and market-size estimates. Later, Rep. Scanlon testified in support of S. 240 and S. 241, which would standardize gambling disclaimers and require annual reporting on problem-gambling treatment funded through the Public Health Trust Fund. He said the bills would make it easier for people to find help and improve oversight of treatment programs. Rep. Garcia testified in support of H. 434, which would change the formula for distributing lottery revenues, arguing that gateway and lower-income communities such as Chelsea contribute heavily to lottery sales but receive too little back in local aid. After hearing additional testimony and reading into the record bills that received no testimony, the committee recessed briefly, then closed the hearing by motion and vote.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Feb 5th, 2025

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, FFA is in a world, and in a world, Mr.
  • In the fall of 1968, I was a sophomore in high school, growing up in a little West Texas town.
  • In bustling for charity, and more of it when needed, in being happy myself, in squaring up others' happiness
  • , in becoming me, I believe that in being happy myself, in squaring up.
  • in New Mexico.