Video & Transcript Research : 'reading difficulty'

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HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

LBT Public Hearing 04-04-2025

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the unlikely event that we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, the committee
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Labor and Technology Committee met on April 4, 2025, to consider four governor’s messages involving nominations to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Board and the Hawaii Workforce Development Council. Barbara Creek, nominated to the Retirement Savings Board for a term ending June 30, 2029, testified that she had already served two years on the board, had prior experience with deferred compensation plans, and wanted to help operationalize the program quickly and efficiently. In response to a question about Senate Bill 855, she explained that an opt-out auto-enrollment model is the gold standard for retirement savings programs, would increase participation and contributions, and would help Hawaii avoid being an outlier and improve the chances of joining a multi-state compact for a cost-effective program. Amber Aana, nominated to the Workforce Development Council for a term ending June 30, 2029, emphasized her maritime-industry background and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and training opportunities for women and underrepresented groups. Scott Collins, nominated to the same council for a term ending June 30, 2028, said he had served on the board since 2022 and could contribute public-sector and union experience to help address government workforce challenges. Pane Mayonga II, also nominated to the Workforce Development Council for a term ending June 30, 2029, was absent due to union travel, but the committee heard extensive testimony in support from labor, industry, and community representatives. Support testimony was recorded for all four nominees, including from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, United Public Workers, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Hawaii Ports Maritime Council, and other organizations and individuals. For Pane Mayonga II, the committee noted support from a broad coalition including labor unions, maritime and construction groups, and community advocates. No opposition testimony was presented, and members did not raise substantive questions on the Workforce Development Council nominees. After a brief recess, the committee reconvened for decision-making and voted to recommend advice and consent on all four governor’s messages: GM 727 for Barbara Creek, GM 744 for Amber Aana, GM 717 for Scott Collins, and GM 728 for Pane Mayonga II. Each recommendation was adopted unanimously, and the committee congratulated the nominees before adjourning with no further business.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

Hearings to examine defense mobilization in the 21st century. Mar 6th, 2025 at 08:30 am

Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yes, of course, that's one of the difficulties that we're in now and it creates all kinds of downstream
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (01/08/2026)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let me just read you what the last their assets under manager of of some of these large companies.
  • Let me just read you what the last their assets under manager of of some of these large companies.
  • Let me just read you what the last their assets under manager of of some of these large companies.
  • Let me just read you what the last their assets under manager of of some of these large companies.
  • The first one, an 80-year-old woman living alone. >> You don't need to read all of them.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Did you read the 2007 “Did you read the 2007 Holy Land Foundation case?” “No, sir, I did not.”
  • I remember in my childhood reading about the Salem Witch Trials, and you read about McCarthyism.
  • So no, I won't commit to hear a bill that I have not read.
  • I will read the bills as I do when we build the agenda.
  • Thank you for committing to read the bill, Mr. Chair. I read all the bills.
Summary: The committee met to hear several measures, beginning with HCM 2001 and HCM 2002, both memorials urging Congress to review and potentially designate the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters argued the groups have documented ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood’s stated goal of undermining Western civilization, citing the Holy Land Foundation case, FBI concerns, and testimony from national-security advocates. Opponents, including CAIR representatives, Muslim community members, and civil-rights advocates, said the memorials relied on guilt by association, would stigmatize Muslims, and lacked a factual or legal basis; they emphasized CAIR’s civil-rights work and warned of First Amendment concerns and community harm. After extensive debate and questions about the relationship between national and Arizona CAIR entities, the committee approved HCM 2001 and HCM 2002 on 4-3 votes, with members on both sides explaining their votes at length. Supporters framed the measures as simple requests to Congress based on existing federal findings, while opponents called them political theater and discriminatory. The committee then recessed briefly. When the committee returned, it heard HB 2009, which would prohibit committees primarily organized to influence constitutional amendments from accepting foreign national contributions and require donor verification and disclosure of out-of-state funding. The sponsor said the bill is meant to help voters understand outside influence on Arizona constitutional initiatives and suggested it could be broadened to all ballot measures. The bill passed 4-3. The committee then took up HCR 2001, a proposed constitutional amendment on elections that would limit voting to U.S. citizens, ban foreign contributions to candidate and ballot measure campaigns, require government-issued ID, and adjust early voting and mail-ballot rules. A late amendment clarified that the citizenship requirement applies to primary, general, and municipal elections, set early voting to end the Friday before an election, and refined mail-ballot rules while preserving federal overseas military voting requirements. The sponsor argued the measure would make Arizona elections more secure and efficient, while critics said it would create barriers and longer lines. The transcript cuts off during sponsor questioning on the amendment and ballot-access provisions.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Sep 24th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the interest of time, and to not bore you with other details, I will not read this.
  • I did say I wasn't going to read this whole thing, but so far I've read every single bullet point.
  • We talk to them about reading to their unborn child.
  • and read leisurely.
  • We want them to continue to read. We recognize that through third grade they're learning to read.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session - part 2 Apr 29th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The clerk will give the bill a third reading. There will be a second reading. The bill is amended.
  • The clerk will give the bill its third reading. Third reading, Senate File number 2216.
  • The chief clerk will give the bill its third reading.
  • Third reading, Senate File Number 2298, as amended. Third reading. Any further discussion?
  • The clerk will give the bill its third reading. Third reading. House Bill 2309 as amended.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • meeting is being streamed live on YouTube, and in the unlikely event that we experience technical difficulties
  • So the thousand-plus insurers that we do have, the way we read this bill is that it would put all of
  • Because I'm reading 158-7. Okay. Where does your discretion derive from in the statute?
  • Because I'm reading 158-7.
  • B4 should be corrected to read 158-5, B4 should be corrected to read 158-5, B4. B4. B4.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first heard several measures and took testimony without questions on SB 2431 relating to health savings accounts and SB 2797 relating to consumer protection. For SB 2797, the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection offered comments, Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed the bill over gift card fraud compliance costs and legal risk, and AARP Hawaii supported it. The committee also heard SB 2946 on foreclosures, where the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Collection Law Section and several lenders, associations, and individuals opposed the measure, while the Hawaii Bankers Association and others offered comments. SB 2961 on insurance drew comments from the Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurance Council, with NAMIC opposing and some individuals supporting. SB 2948 on insurance fraud received comments from the Insurance Division and support from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, with NAMIC and the Alliance for Responsible Consumer Legal Funding also commenting. No votes were taken during the hearing portion, and the committee recessed after testimony. The committee then reconvened for decision-making on the 9:30 agenda. SB 2431 was passed with amendments, including DOTAX-requested changes, a five-year limit on credit carryforwards, removal of an aggregate cap, a rural definition, transparent reporting, technical amendments, and a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. SB 2797 was also passed with DCCA-requested amendments, technical changes, and the same deferred effective date. SB 2946 was deferred because there was no testimony in support. SB 2961 was passed with amendments, but after Senator McKelvey raised concern that policy-limit language could undermine the bill, the committee removed two policy-limit amendments before adopting the recommendation. SB 2948 was passed with amendments deleting certain definitions, aligning penalties and public-records provisions, adding coordination and disclosure clarifications, and making technical changes; one no vote by Senator Awana was recorded, with the rest in favor. The committee also considered SB 3000 from a prior hearing and recommended passage with amendments clarifying the Attorney General’s authority, creating a special fund, and addressing concurrent actions, again with a deferred effective date and one no vote by Senator Awana. In a joint CPN/GVO agenda, SB 2258 relating to school agriculture procurement targets was passed with amendments after the Department of Education said it would need to follow up on whether changing the target period from calendar year to school year would create procurement or scheduling issues; the committee added technical changes, a deferred effective date, and routed the bill to Ways and Means, with a note that Education should also have received it. In a later joint CPN/AEN hearing, SB 2452 relating to climate-friendly insurers drew strong opposition from the Insurance Division and several insurance groups, who warned it could push insurers out of the authorized market and into the surplus lines market, raising costs; Senator Dela questioned whether the bill would worsen an already strained market, while the division said the legislature could make the policy choice but warned of market disruption. The hearing then moved to SB 2760 on invasive species, where DLNR, DAB, CGAPS, and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee generally supported broader inspection and quarantine authority, civil penalties, and longer interim-rule authority, while committee members asked about staffing, treatment capacity, and implementation for non-agricultural commodities such as building materials and vehicles.
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

State Affairs (Part I) Aug 4th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • This shows the difficulty even the authors of this bill have in defining sex.
  • You say you're for limited government, yet here you are controlling what people read, how they vote,
  • So I have a word to read today. It's very short, but it's true, and we can stand on it.
  • So I have a word to read today. It's very short, but it's true and we can stand on it.
  • But I have some concern that this bill, which, if I'm reading it correctly, allows for the creation of
Bills: SB7, SB14
Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, with the author and committee substitute explaining that the bill would require public facilities to designate multi-use private spaces by biological sex, restrict access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping quarters, shelters, and correctional facilities, and create civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Members asked about how the bill would apply to family violence shelters, children in mixed-family settings, venue layout, and venue for lawsuits; the author said the bill was similar to prior legislation but with stronger penalties and the 15th Court of Appeals as the exclusive intermediate appellate court for challenges, while clarifying that trial venue should generally be local except for state agencies. The committee also heard that the bill would be amended to better address local venue concerns and shelter-related issues. Invited testimony was largely in support of the bill from witnesses who described personal experiences in women’s sports, prisons, shelters, and public facilities, arguing that single-sex spaces are necessary for privacy and safety. Supporters included parents, former incarcerated women, a Republican county chair, a legal advocate, and a prison educator, who cited incidents involving transgender-identifying individuals in locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and restrooms, and said the bill would restore sex-based boundaries and protect vulnerable women and girls. One witness from Texas Values said the bill was needed despite the recently enacted Women’s Bill of Rights, and another ADF witness said the measure would protect privacy in schools and shelters. Opponents testified that the bill would harm transgender and intersex Texans, create harassment and “gender policing,” and expose cisgender women and children to invasive enforcement. Several witnesses argued there is no evidence that transgender women pose a restroom safety threat, while others said the bill would worsen mental health, employment, and school conditions for trans people and could conflict with prison standards and federal law. Family violence advocates urged changes to protect shelter operations and clarify that children can stay with parents, while other witnesses said the bill would create barriers for victims seeking help. The hearing featured extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 02/25/26

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • When I was a kid and I went to the library, I had a friend that always knew what I wanted to read and
  • <00:05:30.800> and always knew what I wanted to read and always knew what I wanted to read
  • I'm reading these remarks on High.
  • If children aren't in school, they can't learn to read.
  • I'm here to read a statement of a parent. Um, my name is Nidia Sallaya. I am a resident of St.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Insurance Apr 9th, 2025

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let me just read that. I don't know if there's anybody else on this; I don't care.
  • I'll be honest, I'm in the chairman's shoes here, reading a ton of things about 340B.
  • And I've read some of the stuff about and heard from...
  • I'm just going to read the last page. This is the real meat and potatoes of the whole bill.
  • And then they can ask questions, but you're reading a statement now.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation (01/20/2026)

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • And if this were to move forward, and I'm inclined to like what I read... is<00:15:37.519> a<00
  • I'm not going to read the whole handout, but I will pull out some highlights of it. Oh, I'm sorry.
  • Rather than reading my testimony, you've had a chance to look at it.
  • Um, they just really are having some difficulty with that. So they asked me to put in the bill.
  • really um are having some difficulty really um are having some difficulty with<02:12:10.800>
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Fish and Game and Marine Resources (02/12/2025)

Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yes, I'm reading that right now, so okay, thank you. Representative Smith: Thank you, Mr.
  • <03:05:32.840> that reasons thank you yes I'm reading that reasons thank you yes I'm reading
  • I believe they would be beneficial if you would read them, for you to decide on this matter.
  • Let me just read you what the amendment says and ask your question.
  • Representative Harvey, um, so in reading the bill, um, Mr.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

GVO Public Hearing 03-18-2025

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:04:08.599> a practices I'm sorry I didn't read a practices I'm sorry I didn't read a description
  • That's not how we read the bill.
  • That's what this reads as: it prohibits us from...
  • I don't read that bill as saying that.
  • I don't read that bill as saying that.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 412 HD1, which would expand the definition of lobbying to include certain communications with high-level officials about procurement decisions and create presumptions regarding lobbying on behalf of private clients. The State Ethics Commission and State Procurement Office supported the measure, saying it would improve transparency and align Hawaii with other states, while the Hawaii Primary Care Association opposed it over concerns that employers and others could be swept in too broadly. No public testimony or questions led to any action on the bill during the hearing. The committee then took up House Bill 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain research purposes and clarify the Office of Information Practices’ rulemaking authority. OIP and the Public First Law Center supported the bill, arguing it would create uniform standards and that concerns could be handled through rules. The University of Hawaiʻi system, DBEDT, DHS, DLNR, and others raised concerns about the breadth of the terms “research” and “researcher,” privacy, confidential information, and possible misuse; Hawaiian Electric also warned about access to sensitive infrastructure information. Members questioned whether the bill was premature and whether definitions should be narrowed in statute, and OIP said it would consider working with agencies and the University on clearer definitions. House Bill 792 HD1, relating to the Office of the Legislative Analyst, drew no testimony beyond a late written support from the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the committee moved on without discussion. The committee then heard House Bill 1424, which would restrict transfers between appropriated funds for positions and operating expenses. Budget and Finance explained that current practice allows transfers from payroll to other current expenses when there are savings, but legislative appropriations for specific purposes must still be spent for that purpose. Several agencies expressed opposition or concerns, saying the bill could reduce flexibility, especially in response to federal funding changes or vacant positions, though members emphasized transparency and accountability. Budget and Finance suggested a reporting approach instead, and the committee discussed quarterly reporting as a possible alternative. Finally, the committee began House Bill 1153 HD1, which concerns funding adjustments for state programs and capital improvement projects and establishes a protocol fund. Budget and Finance, DAGS, and the State Procurement Office supported the measure, while the General Contractors Association and several construction-related groups opposed section two, arguing it would undo recent procurement protest-bond safeguards adopted in Act 162. The hearing then moved on toward House Bill 1297, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was fully discussed.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:30 am

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I can send you links to that report if you would like to read it, and I'm definitely happy to set
  • John Gasky, and I'd like to read it in its entirety: "Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby repealed
  • I'd like to read it in its entirety, too: "Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby repealed."
  • I am going to read from this.
  • I want to read bills that there was no testimony before the committee today into the record.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing focused heavily on firearms legislation, especially bills to repeal Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (including H. 2618/S. 1671 and related repeal measures) and bills on firearm industry accountability (H. 2672/S. 1653). Supporters of repeal, including Senator Peter Durant, Rep. Ken Sweezey, gun owners, instructors, sportsmen, and women’s gun-rights advocates, argued that Chapter 135 overreaches, creates confusion in licensing and training requirements, burdens lawful gun owners, restricts pepper spray and semi-automatic firearms, and is being enforced in ways they said criminalize responsible conduct. Committee members defending the law said it was the product of years of work, public listening sessions, and multiple drafts, and argued that Massachusetts remains the safest state for gun violence and that implementation issues, such as live-fire training, had been delayed to allow time for regulations and infrastructure. Several witnesses also testified on H. 2672/S. 1653, which would create firearm industry standards of conduct and allow civil actions against manufacturers, distributors, and dealers that engage in unsafe or unlawful practices. Supporters from the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, Brady, Giffords, and survivors described the bill as a way to hold the industry accountable, reduce the flow of crime guns, and give victims and the Attorney General a path to sue bad actors. They cited data on crime-gun traces, disproportionate impacts on communities of color, and examples from other states that have enacted similar laws. Opponents, including gun dealers and industry representatives, argued that existing law already punishes illegal sales, that most crime guns are stolen or diverted after lawful sale, and that the bill would improperly target manufacturers for the actions of others. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to remove the non-resident ban on semi-automatic firearms for hunting (H. 2710/S. 1676), with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers supporting the change as a way to restore access for returning residents, veterans, and hunting programs that had been displaced. Later testimony returned to repeal and related gun-law bills, with sportsmen’s groups arguing Chapter 135 was rushed, confusing, and harmful to youth hunting and lawful ownership. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; it was a public testimony session with extensive questioning by committee members.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (03/10/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yeah, read what you're reading. And in it says, um, letter R.
  • Yeah, read what you're reading. And in it says, um, letter R.
  • Yeah, read what you're reading. And in it says, um, letter R.
  • Yeah, read what you're reading. And in it says, um, letter R.
  • positions that we are having difficulty positions that we are having difficulty filling<01:43:11.920
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Session (05/14/2026)

New Hampshire Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill is ordered to third<06:08:43.280> reading. third reading. third reading.
  • to third reading. to third reading.
  • The bill is on second reading. The bill is on second reading.
  • is ordered to third reading. is ordered to third reading.
  • second reading. The first order of second reading.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • David did not learn to read even in the first grade because there was neither remedial reading specialists
  • grade able to read read and that was grade able to read read and that was with<00:06:00.560>
  • read and when you don't know how to read read and when you don't know how to read it<00:39:05.760
  • We read books that involve those subjects in reading.
  • We read books that involve those subjects in reading.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee began by announcing that afternoon hearings, including House Bill 283, would be moved to Representatives Hall because of expected public interest. It then took up House Bill 671, which would establish a kindergarten literacy readiness program. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, described the measure as a way to close gaps in early reading readiness and said it was intended as a first step, with only a placeholder appropriation while details are developed. He framed it as a targeted effort to help children who are not entering first grade ready to read. Testimony on HB 671 was largely supportive. Representatives asked about the bill’s structure, whether a specific program had been identified, how it would interact with play-based learning, and why the provider was limited to a registered nonprofit. Waterford.org representatives Teresa Rosenberger and Rob Riley testified in support, describing Waterford Upstart as a home-based, evidence-based early learning program already used in New Hampshire. They said the program provides adaptive instruction, family coaching, and technology support, including computers, tablets, internet access, and translation services in more than 100 languages. They also said the model has been successful in New Hampshire, including a Nashua pilot and later statewide efforts, and that similar legislation has existed in other states. Rep. Jonah Wheeler also spoke in support of the bill. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 671. After a fiscal note for HB 671 was distributed, the committee moved to House Bill 781, which would require school districts to adopt policies for a cell phone-free education and includes an appropriation. The transcript cuts off as Rep. Litchfield was introduced to testify on that bill, so no testimony, debate, or vote on HB 781 is included in the excerpt.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm

Transcript Highlights:
  • Just read the word. But when... Just read the word.
  • The case never actually even goes to court; people can read and participate in restorative justice.
  • Well, yeah, we definitely try to read the needle.
  • That is where people are reporting they’re having the most difficulty.
  • This is a question for us to read the medical system. This is a constant.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The meeting was a special commission hearing on antisemitism held off-site at Kerem Shalom Synagogue in Concord, with commissioners approving prior minutes and noting a quorum, a rescheduled October 27 meeting, and the addition of a new commissioner. The co-chairs and host speakers emphasized the personal and communal significance of holding the hearing in a synagogue and the importance of confronting antisemitism while protecting free speech, academic freedom, and civil discourse. The commission heard from former SJC Justice and current UMass General Counsel David Lowy, who discussed the IHRA definition of antisemitism, said its use as nonbinding guidance does not raise First Amendment concerns, and described UMass’s response to a discriminatory academic conference policy. Commissioners also asked about campus speaker vetting, protest rights, and university practices for addressing antisemitism and protecting students’ access to education. District Attorney Marian Ryan testified about restorative justice as a tool for addressing hate incidents, saying it can help victims be heard, reduce reoffending, and be used in criminal, school, and community settings. She described local programs, online reporting forms, and the need for better statutory tools, including changes to restitution and education requirements in hate-crime cases. Commissioners asked whether restorative justice affects charging decisions, and Ryan said it should not alter whether a hate crime is investigated or charged. She also identified model programs and said the commission’s work aligns with the national strategy it is charged with implementing. Three rabbis then described the rise in antisemitic incidents in schools and communities, the emotional toll on Jewish families, and the need for stronger school responses, clearer language in incident communications, and better training for educators. Rabbi Brad David recounted repeated incidents in Acton-Boxborough and praised the district’s improved partnership and response, while Rabbi Tom Shah described parental anxiety, concerns about classroom materials lacking context, and the need for balanced instruction. The rabbis also discussed synagogue security costs and measures, including volunteer security teams, police support, grants, and physical protections. Commissioners said the testimony would inform forthcoming recommendations, and DESE staff noted they are developing instructional-materials guidance and a rubric for educators. The final witness, Professor Christina Miller, outlined hate-crime prosecution issues in Massachusetts, including mixed-motive cases, the need for clearer statutes and jury instructions, better training for police and clerk magistrates, guidance on sentencing and diversity-awareness programs, and the use of community impact statements.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • We've seen a real difficulty in recruiting judges.
  • Uh, it seems a reading of the bill as currently structured has a very limited focus.
  • Uh, I hope you got a chance to read my testimony that uh I had written and sent to you.
  • It could be the General Motors reading room at the Aliʻa Public Library.
  • It could be the General Motors reading room at the Aliʻa Public Library.
Keywords: 910, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 26th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:
  • Ayala's president. pursuits, and so I read the article.
  • And it is really, really. great work, and so if you haven't read it, please go ahead and go read it,
  • But we will read it all. OK. Go ahead. Hi. My name is Maddie.
  • And I know. that it's hard to find the time to read that. So I'm gonna read a little bit of it.
  • I did read 80 pages, I just wanted to let you know. 2472 Thank you.
Keywords: 1184, house, all