Video & Transcript Research : 'transformation program'

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FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • SOMETIMES THEY ARE FUNDED FROM FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS SO THE ONE I HIGHLIGHTED AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
  • THERE ARE RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN CANCER DISEASES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AS PART OF THIS CENTER.
  • PART OF THIS IS TO TRANSFORM AND REVITALIZE FLORIDA'S ECONOMY FOR RESEARCH CREATIVITY AND REVITALIZE
  • OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN ACTIVE DRUG DISCOVERY PROGRAMS AS PART OF THE CENTER.
  • AND BASKETBALL PROGRAM.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Select Committee on Tribal Relations, January 27, 2026 - PM

Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • and cancer program, tobacco program, the community health workers, the diabetes education program, and
  • would be really good for us as a program to start building that type of program.
  • We were also working hand in hand with our Congress on the rural house transformation program, which
  • rural house transformation rural house transformation transformation<00:58:30.240> program
  • program which I know will transformation program which I know will there<00:58:32.240> was<00
Keywords: 916, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • At this point, we believe there are about 66 cities that fall under this program.
  • It's a 10-year rebate period and Right now, there are about 22 cities under this program.
  • The center hotel tax rebate program to the City of South Padre Island.
  • We're here in support today of a project that represents a transformational opportunity not only for
  • Does the substitute do something with respect to the prohibition on the use of funds for programs that
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Mar 18th, 2025

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this is a local grown program.
  • Any program that doesn't meet that standard will make all those provisions in the codes unusable.
  • Uh, program, uh, of working families tax credit.
  • And while some of the programs in this bill are not without merit, this punitive tax increase does not
  • It continues the transformative work you all have done these past few years in enacting targeted and
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

MS Senate Floor - 11 March, 2026; 10:00 AM

Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • for the entire program year. for the entire program year.
  • <02:55:57.000> The<02:55:57.280> so programs and for CTE programs.
  • The so programs and for CTE programs.
  • House Bill 1067, Rural Health Transportation Program Transformation Program.
  • President, this is the piece of legislation that deals with the rural health transformation program.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Reverend Anthony Phillips, and dispensed with the reading of the journal and committee reports. The chamber also recognized several guests in the galleries, including family members of senators, medical professionals for Early Childhood Day, and advocates and local officials. After introductions, the Senate moved into the calendar and began considering bills and motions. Among the measures taken up, the Senate passed House Bill 1393 to create the Mississippi Energy Infrastructure Fund, with the sponsor explaining it would allow MDA to support energy projects and require compliance with state procurement laws. The Senate also passed House Bill 420, which provides a full homestead ad valorem tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans age 85 or older and allows an unremarried surviving spouse to keep the exemption; senators asked about eligibility, age limits, and safeguards against improper exemptions. Another bill passed was House Bill 1941 on the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, which would allow funding through bonds or other means in addition to direct appropriation and raise the DFA processing cap from 2% to 3%; several senators raised concerns about state debt and the funding mechanism. The Senate concurred in Senate Bill 2906, which gives the Secretary of State additional time to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for county election systems. It also adopted motions to table reconsideration on several House bills, including House Bill 908 on absentee ballot receipt dates, House Bill 525 on mandatory minimum penalties for sexual battery, and House Bill 538 on sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement. The chamber voted to reconsider and then again pass House Bill 1613, described as a bill on aggravated trafficking weight and pill counts that also included a chemical abortion ban, after some senators who were absent earlier asked to go on record. For House Bill 2409, dealing with a comprehensive mitigation program for retrofitting insurable homes, the Senate voted not to concur and invited conference. The Senate also passed and retained numerous other items as it worked through the calendar.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, do we have any information program.
  • Uh again coverage in some other program.
  • um advocating for a reinsurance program um advocating for a reinsurance program or<00:46:54.240>
  • c><00:58:36.160> the health economics program in the health economics program in the department
  • and transformational idea a reality. and transformational idea a reality.
Keywords: 1183, house
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Ritz, runs an outstanding program.
  • They have a really tight program, how they operate everything.
  • Office of Multimodal Commerce has enough capacity to take on this as well as all the other priority programs
  • And as we go through the transformation, if we need to look at job descriptions or positions, we can
Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several transportation-related bills. HB 988 by Rep. Bagley, which changes the fee distribution for current and retired legislators’ special prestige license plates so the proceeds would support the Pentagon, was reported favorably without objection. HB 1001 by Rep. Marcel, designating a portion of US 190 as the Jesse Jackson Memorial Highway, was also reported favorably without objection after brief remarks honoring Jackson’s civil rights legacy and a moment of silence. The committee then considered HB 989 by Rep. Boyer, which updates fees public license tag agents may charge. After testimony from the Louisiana Public Tag Agent Association and Commissioner Keith Neal, Rep. Phelps offered an amendment to exclude Shreveport from the fee increase; the committee rejected that amendment on a 13-2 vote, and the bill itself was then reported favorably on a 13-2 vote. HB 1192, creating a Louisiana Dental Hygienist Association specialty license plate, was amended to remove language narrowing eligibility to association members and then passed favorably without objection. HB 1032 by Rep. Wiley, clarifying statutory references related to operating a motor vehicle under the influence, was amended technically and reported favorably without objection. Later, HB 748 by Rep. Brough, exempting school board-owned and leased vehicles from tolls on bridges and highways, was amended to include leased vehicles and an effective date. Testimony from Plaquemines Parish school officials and the district attorney described toll costs tied to the Belle Chasse bridge, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1108 by Rep. Omade, creating a homeschool pride specialty license plate, was reported favorably without objection after discussion of the plate design and the intended recipient organization. Finally, HB 1081 by Chairman Wright, restructuring the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission under the Office of Multimodal Commerce, was amended to clarify administrative placement and terminology and then reported favorably without objection. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 22nd, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Transcript Highlights:
  • Ritz, runs an outstanding program.
  • They have a really tight program, how they operate everything.
  • Office of Multimodal Commerce has enough capacity to take on this as well as all the other priority programs
  • And as we go through the transformation, if we need to look at job descriptions or positions, we can
Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several transportation-related bills, many involving license plates, toll exemptions, and administrative changes. The committee first advanced HB 988 by Rep. Bagley, which changes the fee distribution for current and retired legislators’ special prestige license plates so the proceeds support repairs at the Pentagon/first LSU building rather than going to the state. It then heard HB 1001 by Rep. Marcel, designating a portion of U.S. Highway 190 as the Jesse Jackson Memorial Highway; the bill was supported with remarks honoring Jackson’s civil rights legacy, and the committee observed a moment of silence before reporting it favorably without objection. The committee next considered HB 989 by Rep. Boyer, which updates and clarifies fees charged by public license tag agents. Rep. Phelps offered an amendment to exempt Shreveport from the fee increase, but it failed on a roll call vote, and the bill was then reported favorably by a 13-2 vote. HB 1192, also by Rep. Boyer, creating a Louisiana Dental Hygienist Association specialty license plate, was amended to remove a restriction limiting issuance to association members and then passed favorably without objection. HB 1032 by Rep. Wiley, which clarifies the substances referenced in DUI-related motor vehicle statutes, received technical amendments and was reported favorably without objection. The committee also advanced HB 748 by Rep. Brough, exempting Louisiana school board-owned and leased vehicles from tolls on bridges and highways, including the Bell Chasse toll bridge area, after testimony from Plaquemines Parish school officials and the district attorney describing toll costs and operational burdens; the bill was amended to include leased vehicles and then reported favorably without objection. HB 1108 by Rep. Omade creating a homeschool pride specialty plate was also reported favorably without objection after discussion of the plate design and proceeds going to Homeschool Louisiana. Finally, HB 1081 by Chairman Wright, restructuring the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission under the Office of Multimodal Commerce and DOTD for administrative support, was amended at the request of the Governor’s Office and reported favorably without objection. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

December 10, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE PUT SOFTWARE OUT THERE TO MAKE IT OPEN TO WORK ON AND TRANSFORM
  • APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU COMING UP HERE TO ENLIGHTEN US ABOUT AI IN FARMING AND I WANTED TO MENTION A GOOD PROGRAM
  • THESE KIDS TAKE THIS ROBOTIC FARM MACHINE AND GROW THEIR OWN FOOD AND I THINK IT'S SUCH A WORTHY PROGRAM
  • TO JOB, TO A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE, THAT IT'S SO VAST THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING FROM DESIGNING THESE PROGRAMS
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • permitting and cut red tape for businesses and housing development, and renewed our first-year free program
  • New restaurants and nightlife would help transform downtown into a 24/7 destination, driving foot traffic
  • revenue generated by local taxes from these businesses and shopping centers is critical for community programs
  • revenue generated by local taxes from these businesses and shopping centers is critical for community programs
Summary: The Committee on Governmental Organization heard several bills related to outdoor advertising, open meetings, and San Francisco economic development. SB 364 by Senator Strickland would speed up processing of outdoor advertising permits by allowing Caltrans to act on applications as freeway projects are completed in segments, and clarifies customary maintenance of signs. Supporters said the bill would reduce permit backlogs and help local governments and the billboard industry; there was no opposition. The committee passed SB 364 to Appropriations, with the roll left open for additional votes. SB 470 by Senator Laird would extend until January 1, 2030 the sunset on the alternative Bagley-Keene open meeting rules adopted in SB 544, allowing state boards and commissions to continue using remote participation under specified conditions. Supporters from the Little Hoover Commission and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities said the current law has increased public participation, saved money, and improved access for people with disabilities and caregivers. Opponents, including ACA of California Action, the California News Publishers Association, and media and transparency groups, argued the bill weakens in-person public access and accountability. The committee approved SB 470 to Appropriations, with some no votes and the roll held open. SB 395 by Senator Wiener would let San Francisco create a hospitality zone in Union Square/Yerba Buena with up to 20 additional non-transferable liquor licenses for restaurants to support downtown recovery. City and business representatives said the measure would help fill vacancies, attract restaurants, and boost foot traffic, while remaining temporary and geographically limited. The bill passed to Appropriations with broad support and no opposition. SB 783 by Senator Rubio would extend until January 1, 2029 the special outdoor advertising rules for signs in former redevelopment areas; supporters said it would give affected communities time to find a permanent solution, while billboard industry opponents warned about compliance and federal highway funding risks. The committee passed SB 783 to Appropriations as amended, and then adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Jul 1st, 2025

Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:
  • in a more coordinated approach using existing regulatory pathways like the safer consumer products program
  • As previously mentioned, the Safer Consumer Products Program is researching chemicals of concern in menstrual
  • And we feel that the goals of legislation could be accomplished through that program under DTSC's existing
  • From PCBs in transformer fluids and there were lots of chromium six, but a lot of that's gone away.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 28th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • from last year to further California's commitment to providing safe and fun access to youth sports programs
  • unanimously voted to approve a new standard of safety for youth sports by ensuring youth athletic programs
  • This incredible program is shaping the future of Marin City by empowering young people with leadership
  • As president of local 685, Ralph's leadership transformed the lives of probation.
Keywords: 988, house, all
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

ALC-REVIEW Mar 17th, 2026

ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is for their PET building cyclotron equipment program.
  • Well, my question is kind of a general thing, but what is this program?
  • Is this for day programs, for waiver, or just for studying those programs?
  • So it's an intensive in-home program for those children.
  • Number 23, Department of Transformation and Services, DIS, with Karasoft.
Summary: The ALC-Review Subcommittee reviewed seven methods of finance, including university projects at ASU Jonesboro and Mountain Home, Black River Technical College deferred maintenance, UA Batesville’s Farm Project Gateway Center, UAMS PET cyclotron equipment, a new allied health building at UAPB funded by a federal grant, and UCA’s multi-purpose arena design work. The committee also approved an alternative delivery construction project for UAPB’s Allied Health and Sciences Building, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members then approved discretionary grants from the Department of Health and DHS, including support for a heart attack center designation, community health worker training, homeless services funding corrections, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. In the contracts section, the committee reviewed RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and a large slate of out-of-state and in-state contracts covering topics such as seatbelt survey data collection, Medicaid and DHS systems, state hospital staffing and services, veterans’ services, education assessments, and state IT and procurement projects. Several contracts drew extended questioning. Senators and representatives pressed DHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs about heavy reliance on contract nursing and staffing costs, and officials said they were using pay incentives and recruitment efforts to increase state employee staffing. Members also questioned AEDC’s lithium supply chain study and the Department of Education’s security contract, with concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments. The committee held three in-state contracts—Department of Education security services and two DHS staffing contracts—until Friday, then adopted the remaining contracts and received informational reports on contract amendments, executed contracts, and emergency procurements before adjourning.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Finance - 04/23/25

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • is the address confidentiality program is the address confidentiality program that<00:59:16.559>
  • <01:05:01.760> require and I think different programs require and I think different programs
  • , safety, youth and family programming, safety, youth and family programming, street<01:09:52.480
  • programming. That That's what I heard. programming. That That's what I heard.
  • you tell me specifically what programs you tell me specifically what programs are<01:43:10.480><
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 6th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And there are, last count, about over 32,000 folks utilizing this program.
  • parity across programs because our workers operate across multiple programs.
  • That's not how any other program I've ever seen does.
  • The state general fund program has a limited service menu.
  • There is also the what-if around needing to backfill other programs or services.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Mar 4th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Therefore, transforming... acts of random kindness into acts of routine kindness.
  • His success is a testament to the strength and quality of TSU's academic programs.
  • The university continues to uplift students through groundbreaking programs like TSU Promise.
  • We have programs like A Brother's Keeper, Hopeless People, and Go To High School, Go To College.
  • They're here to commemorate a great achievement, the opening of the university's nursing program.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 22nd, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The containers were added to the recycling program just two years ago.
  • One, it would develop priority policies and programs.
  • One, it would develop priority policies and programs.
  • SB 1016 does not create a new program or expand Care Court.
  • into law to allow future state treasurers to use and expand this program.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a Memorial Day weekend prayer, and welcomed a third-grade class from Sacred Heart Parish School to the chamber. Members also handled several procedural motions, including suspending blackout-period rules for budget subcommittee hearings, removing certain items from the inactive file and consent calendar, and confirming multiple gubernatorial appointments, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then took up a series of resolutions and bills. Resolutions approved included National Safe Boating Week (SR 102), Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month (SCR 172), World No Tobacco Day (SCR 177), Lupus Awareness Month (SR 107), and the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris (SR 115). Senators used those measures to highlight boating safety, asthma and food allergy risks, tobacco harms, lupus awareness, and the economic and cultural importance of California wine. The Senate also passed SB 1341 on bag-in-box beverage container processing fees, SB 1083 on school employee misconduct procedures, SB 1153 on wildfire preparedness for urban retail water suppliers, SB 1199 on prescription cost-sharing and out-of-pocket accounting, SB 1240 creating an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, SB 1337 establishing an energy coordination working group, SB 1360 expanding language access for voters, SB 920 on gaming fee transparency, SB 1016 on mental health/Care Court evaluation options, SB 1198 on reckless driving penalties, SB 1213 on reporting prices for subsidized medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, SB 1265 codifying the Go Green financing program, SB 1338 on post-repossession vehicle transport interference, and SB 1135 on wildlife coexistence. Most passed on unanimous roll calls; SB 1265 and SB 1135 drew a small number of no votes. The session concluded with a lengthy adjournment-in-memory ceremony led by the Veterans Caucus, reading the names of 82 fallen service members and pausing in their honor. The President pro tempore then announced the Senate would recess and return for the next floor session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 57 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This legislation will also expand upon the 2024 pilot program for paid teaching apprenticeships in the
  • This was a truly, what I felt was a truly transformative look at early education literacy, not to get
  • A new $75 million authorization funds the Mass Trails Program to expand our most-used trail network,
  • This bill provides $315 million in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
  • These four important programs will certainly help... ...and private wells.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed several student and community guests, including ambassadors from Robinson Middle School in Lowell, visitors honoring the Gaudet family and Patricia Rappucci, Scottish visitors celebrating Scotland’s World Cup appearance, Top-Notch Scholars students from Lawrence, and the King Philip Regional High School baseball team after its first state championship. The chamber also adopted several routine resolutions and orders, including extending the reporting deadline for the Health Care Financing Committee and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a condominium-related petition. The House then rejected concurrence with the Senate on the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and instead voted to appoint a committee of conference. The major policy action was on Senate Bill 3064, the Mass Ready Act, a large climate resilience and environmental bond bill. Members speaking in support emphasized flood protection, clean water, PFAS remediation, municipal vulnerability preparedness, coastal resilience, parks, trails, housing, and agricultural and food-system investments. The bill was described as authorizing roughly $3.8 billion in general obligation bonds, with discussion of specific funding for the Clean Water Trust, PFAS remediation, coastal infrastructure, biodiversity, healthy homes, and farmland preservation. A consolidated amendment was adopted, and after debate the House passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote. The House also took up the conference report on H. 5511, the early literacy and teacher preparation bill. Supporters said the measure would require evidence-based reading instruction, move away from three-cueing approaches, support educator training and apprenticeships, and improve student literacy outcomes statewide. The conference report was accepted on a roll call vote of 152-0. Later, the House considered amendments to the Mass Ready Act, including one proposal to increase PFAS remediation funding that was ultimately withdrawn, and adopted another consolidated amendment before passing the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 151-0. The House then adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjourned to an informal session.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Rules Jan 27th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next, we're going to take up tab 20, SB 7016, on OGSR, administration of small business loan programs
  • Next, we're going to take up tab 12, SB 624, on batterers' intervention program activities.
  • SB 624 on batterers' intervention program activities.
  • ' intervention programs are very near and dear to our hearts.
  • The second part of the bill modernizes Florida's address confidentiality program.
Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early measures included CS/SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would allow qualified candidates or political parties to sue over violations of party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and impose a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of it, arguing the bill removed existing limits on force and erased sentencing distinctions. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including CS/SB 7014, SB 7016, CS/SB 7012, SB 7000, SB 7002, SB 7004, SB 7006, and SB 7008, all of which extend or preserve public records or meeting exemptions for topics such as social media investigations, small business loan records, motor vehicle enforcement records, emergency shelter information, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, Public Service Commission proceedings, and Gaming Control Commission records. The committee also approved SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and opponents not appearing in the excerpt. HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably after supporters from the Florida Chamber and Associated Industries backed the bill, which limits strict liability claims involving natural geological substances on former phosphate mines but not phosphogypsum stacks. CS/SB 48 on housing, as amended, would require local governments to allow accessory dwelling units, limit certain local barriers, and extend housing incentives; it drew broad support from housing, business, real estate, and advocacy groups. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, CS/SB 364 on CPA licensure modernization, SB 292 on public records protection for appellate court clerks, CS/SB 296 and CS/SB 298 on domestic and dating violence protections and related public records exemptions, and SB 386 on farm equipment warranty protections were also reported favorably, generally with supportive testimony from affected industries, advocacy groups, or public safety stakeholders. Later, the committee approved SB 168 expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increase penalties and enforcement tools. It also heard but temporarily postponed CS/CS/SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services after the chair allowed public testimony because many stakeholders had traveled to attend; one opponent, a longtime builder, argued the bill could criminalize contractors who withhold payment for deficient subcontractor work. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes on selected bills and then adjourning.
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session, 3/23/2026 #2

Maryland Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:10:08.360> is this address confidentiality program is this address confidentiality program
  • <00:10:21.240> for the the the confidentiality program for the the the confidentiality program
  • Senate Bill 455, Senator Rosapepe: Economic Development Transformational Project Financing Program Establishment
  • Economic Development Transformational Economic Development Transformational Project<01:37:58.520
  • Project Financing Program Establishment. Project Financing Program Establishment.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation, and welcomed guests including the doctor of the day, a Johns Hopkins student, and visiting scouts. The chamber then moved through first-reading introductions of several House bills, including measures on bullying and harassment reporting, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, Baltimore County nuisance actions, parole hearing commission procedures, a blockchain technology task force, and a task force on deed fraud, all of which were referred to standing committees. The main floor action centered on layover bills. Senate Bill 932, concerning social media platforms displaying a user’s usual location, was amended to broaden the protected location reference and to protect participants in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program; after discussion about whether minors and child-abuse victims were covered, the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, drew multiple county-specific amendments. Howard County and Baltimore County amendments sought to give priority to existing local tobacco businesses for the new licenses. Supporters said the changes would protect established local shops from out-of-state entities, while opponents argued the bill should remain statewide and not be amended county by county. A motion to special order the bill failed, and the amendments were adopted before the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 84, on collective bargaining for graduate assistants, also advanced after a committee amendment was adopted. A District 2 amendment was offered to clarify that graduate assistants are employed as teaching, administrative, or research assistants, but the floor leader opposed it, saying the bill’s definition was already clear and the change would create confusion. The minority leader questioned the definition and the relationship between graduate assistants and employees, prompting discussion of collective bargaining as bargaining by employees through representatives. The transcript cuts off before final disposition of that amendment.