Transcript Highlights:

• It's like, I use the analogy, back in 2021-22, of a glass of water with different straws.
• One straw, the Navy straw, from one side of that glass on the Red Hill side, and the other side is the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Economic Development and Tourism met on February 11, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 1338, relating to long-duration clean energy storage, received support from the Energy Office, DEED, HTDC, and the gas company. With no opposition or questions, the committees recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and a deferred effective date of 5/13/2040. The committees then heard Senate Bill 233 on climate resilience, which drew support from the Hawaii State Community Office and other testifiers. SB 492, relating to the general excise tax, had mixed testimony, with support from DHHL, the Office of Planning, county representatives, and others, and opposition from the Grassroots Institute and another testifier. The chair explained that SB 492 would be amended to remove language that would prevent DHHL from benefiting, along with technical amendments and the same deferred date of 5/13/2040. For Senate Bill 1634, relating to water resources, the Board of Water Supply testified in support and urged expanding the bill from two to six monitoring wells, citing Red Hill contamination concerns, PFAS detections in Halawa Shaft, and the need for a broader monitoring grid to track groundwater movement. Members discussed the connected aquifers and the need for more data. The committee recommended passage of SB 1634 with amendments to allow funding for six monitoring wells, include a sentinel monitoring system, and make technical, non-substantive changes. The committee also voted to pass SB 233 unamended, and all recommendations were adopted by the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the massage parlors, we tend to have like a straw owner.
• TPD and Oklahoma City police say this will make it easier for them to force that straw owner to give

Bills: HB3239, HB4317, HB4321, HB4322, HB3832, HB3673, HB3783, HB3800, HB2956, HB3960, HB2471, HB3338

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, elevator safety, inspections, Department of Labor, safety standards, regulatory compliance, funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a Texas-made hat maker, and they'll make you a straw hat. They make palm leaf straw hats.

Transcript Highlights:

• location holds a lot, but they are, they are a Texas made hat maker and, uh, and they'll make you straw
• They make palm leaf straw hats, they do all kinds of stuff, and they'll fit them to your head.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are a Texas-made hat maker, and they'll make you a straw hat. They make palm leaf straw hats.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By a straw poll, the Senate Judiciary Committee is supportive of the changes from the other body.
• So, by a straw<01:08:58.440> poll,<01:08:58.880> the<01:08:59.120> committee straw
• By<01:10:10.320> a<01:10:10.400> straw<01:10:10.680> poll,<01:10:11.200> the<
• /c><01:10:11.400> Senate<01:10:11.680> Judiciary By a straw poll, the Senate Judiciary
• By a straw poll, the Senate Judiciary Committee<01:10:12.840> is<01:10:13.080> supportive

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By a straw poll, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously did not have any further recommendations
• By<00:34:20.240> a<00:34:20.480> straw<00:34:20.800> poll,<00:34:21.599> uh
• c><00:34:21.839> the<00:34:22.320> Senate<00:34:22.639> Judiciary By a straw poll
• , uh the Senate Judiciary By a straw poll, uh the Senate Judiciary Committee<00:34:23.839> unan

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She was not on any oxygen and was drinking from a bottle.
• We were just, you know, pulling at straws trying to get help, and they said it was a lateral move.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and began by announcing that HB 1142 was deferred. The committee then took up HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is satisfied, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens obligations. Commissioner Tim Temple and Rep. Sawyer said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million to the popular fortified roof grant program, which has already awarded thousands of roofs and is oversubscribed. With support from Citizens and others, the committee adopted technical amendments and reported HB 1187 favorably. The committee next considered HB 1210, a proposal by Rep. Dana Henry to create a pre-suit claim review process for Louisiana Citizens disputes modeled on Florida’s system. After explaining that the bill was prompted by constituent concerns about rising homeowners insurance costs, Henry voluntarily deferred the bill and instead moved toward a study resolution. The substitute version, which would have allowed Citizens disputes to be resolved through the Division of Administrative Law, was adopted for discussion, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony from Citizens and the department supporting further study. HB 1199, by Rep. Jordan, would require coverage for genetic testing and medically necessary treatment for SCN2A-associated disorders. After adopting an amendment clarifying that coverage depends on provider order and medical necessity, the committee heard emotional testimony from a parent describing her daughter’s severe SCN2A condition and the difficulty obtaining genetic testing. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. Jordan said the bill raised state-federal insurance regulatory issues and could jeopardize federal broadband funding, so he voluntarily deferred it; HB 920 was also voluntarily deferred. Finally, the committee considered HB 1221, by Rep. Amadee, which would narrow data collection under the surplus lines premium tax system to protect policyholder privacy. Former Rep. Bowler argued the department should not collect names, addresses, or coverage limits and that the bill would preserve privacy without affecting tax collection. The Department of Insurance said the broader data is needed for premium tax reconciliation, fraud detection, and post-disaster assistance. After debate, a motion to report HB 1221 favorably failed on a 6-6 roll call. The committee then moved on to HB 869 by Rep. Lyons, a health insurance bill covering injectable drugs for glucose or weight-loss treatment, but the transcript ends before further action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation that requires the CSU to provide drug testing devices defined as test strips, stickers, straws
• Devices designed to detect the presence of controlled substances in a drink will be provided at no cost

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:35:49.920> Oh,<02:35:50.319> straw<02:35:50.560> poll. >> Yeah.
• Oh, straw poll. >> Yeah. What else we have? Oh, straw poll.
• Um we took a straw >> Oh, my apologies.
• Um we took a straw poll<02:35:54.560> in<02:35:54.720> our<02:35:54.880> committee
• The straw poll vote in our committee was actually 6-12.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with several announcements and recognitions, including a lengthy tribute to Representative Carolyn Brangan of Georgia on her retirement and years of service, followed by remarks from Brangan explaining that she is leaving to care for her husband during cancer treatment. Additional members offered brief reflections, including one on the end of the session and another welcoming students from Founders Memorial School to the gallery, and a member from Brattleboro highlighted a collaborative mural in the card room titled “These Green Hills, Vermont State Symbols and Personal Reflections.” The body then took up its calendar. It adopted Joint House Resolution 12, authorizing limited remote voting in joint committees through the remainder of the calendar year, with an ADA-related accommodation for members physically present but unable to access a meeting room. The House also suspended rules to take up and concur in the Senate amendment to House Bill 935 on emergency management. The committee report described grant programs for emergency response and technical rescue, new definitions and shelter-planning language centered on “whole community,” a wildland fire response task force, and an emergency rulemaking provision requested by the Agency of Natural Resources; the committee approved the Senate proposal on an 8-3 straw poll, and the House concurred. The House next adopted the conference committee report on House Bill 952, the capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment bill. The report explained changes made in conference, including shifting funds to cover a higher-than-expected bid for the St. Johnsbury facility, restoring some funding for maintenance at the women’s correctional facility in Chittenden County, and setting aside $750,000 toward planning for Wi-Fi installation in correctional facilities. It also noted a lease-related language change for a Vermont Huts project at Little River State Park, with notification to the institutions committee chairs. The House then took up Senate Bill 64 on optometrists’ scope of practice; the committee presentation supported allowing specially credentialed optometrists to perform certain minor surgical, laser, and injection procedures, citing improved access, safety, cost, and workforce development, and the bill was read for second reading with committee recommendations for concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they will actually drink that if they don't have the choice.
• But even as they go on to college, what have you, they're drinking less, smoking less, drinking less.
• , they drink quickly, and then suddenly you get a rush of people all at 145 2 o'clock out on the roads
• and accessories. from irresponsible vendors who have failed to perform background checks, prevent straw
• Has access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ; I<00:10:01.839> drew<00:10:02.080> the<00:10:02.240> short<00:10:02.480> straw
• <00:10:03.760> My >> I drew the short straw. Good morning.
• My >> I drew the short straw. Good morning.

Bills: SF0009

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, minors, drug distribution, enhanced penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee voted to do so via straw poll by a count of 11-0. >> The member from Virginia's moves that
• Representative Hango; and the member from Charlotte, Representative Waters Evans. committee voted to do so via straw
• pole committee voted to do so via straw pole by<00:13:30.079> a<00:13:30.240> count<00

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day. The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal. In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• 45.119> short guess my kids always just drew the short guess my kids always just drew the short straw
• 35:46.560> they<00:35:46.800> took<00:35:46.960> it<00:35:47.200> every straw
• uh because they took it every straw uh because they took it every single<00:35:47.599> time<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed and approved the prior day’s minutes after making several corrections, including changing references to the “majority report,” fixing wording and spelling in the special education section, clarifying language about NAPE scores, and correcting a funding figure from 2,000 to 20,000. Members also agreed to add a sentence noting that the conclusions of the special education study commission should be considered in any consolidation plan. The minutes were then adopted unanimously. The committee then worked through the minority report, making edits to soften or clarify language. Changes included replacing “partisan” with “participation,” revising a statement about test scores so it reflected that “the minority believes” some committee members lacked a complete understanding, and adding “the minority believes” before a statement that the structure of education funding is inequitable because of its reliance on local property taxes. Members also discussed whether some wording was factual or opinion-based, and agreed to leave some comments in place or make minor wording adjustments. After discussion, the committee voted on the final report of the majority of the committee, with edits and appendices, and approved it by a 5-2 vote. Representatives Damon and Bricky voted no. Members noted that a minority report would also be included in the final materials. Finally, the committee authorized the committee assistant to make technical corrections, fix remaining typos, and include the minutes of the meeting, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee did have a straw poll of 5-2. We did support the amendment.
• The Appropriations Committee did have a straw poll of 5-2. We did support the amendment.
• <01:24:18.840> poll<01:24:19.640> straw<01:24:19.960> poll<01:24:20.440> of
• <01:24:21.800> We<01:24:21.960> did straw poll straw poll of 5 2.
• We did straw poll straw poll of 5 2.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, to that end, we straw polled that out 7-0-1.
• Madam Speaker, your House Judiciary voted a straw poll of 11-0-0 to concur with the Senate's proposal
• <00:59:00.120> Judiciary<00:59:00.720> voted<00:59:01.160> a<00:59:01.240> straw
• <00:59:01.640> poll your House Judiciary voted a straw poll your House Judiciary voted a straw

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate Bill 323, suspending the rules to consider it immediately. The bill was described as a broad agricultural measure with committee amendments and fiscal implications, and it was reported favorably by the Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee, Ways and Means, and Appropriations. Members outlined sections dealing with milk market corrections, farm-to-school language, repeal of the obsolete pest control compact, pesticide applicator licensing changes, seed law updates, the Vermont Agricultural Credit Program, hemp regulation, and CAFO-related provisions. The Agriculture committee reported the bill out 7-0-1, and the effective date was described as July 1, 2026, except for the hemp provisions, which would take effect upon passage. Much of the discussion focused on the hemp sections. Supporters said the bill updates Vermont law to reflect federal changes and shifts hemp oversight from the Agency of Agriculture to the Cannabis Control Board. The hemp provisions would create registration and licensing requirements for hemp producers, processors, and certain hemp products; set fees; authorize testing, inspections, stop-sale orders, and administrative penalties; and allow rulemaking on product standards, labeling, insurance, additives, and age restrictions. Speakers said the changes were intended to help Vermont’s hemp industry maintain access to banking, insurance, and interstate commerce while improving consumer safety and regulatory clarity. Other agricultural provisions were also explained in detail. The bill would clarify milk producer hearing rights, update farm-to-school grant/contract language, remove outdated pest-control compact language, and adjust pesticide applicator exam and fee rules, including removing the limit on retakes and eliminating certain government applicator fees. It would also modernize seed labeling and definitions, transfer the Vermont Agricultural Credit Program into a new statutory structure under VEDA, and make conforming cross-reference changes in tax and cannabis fund statutes. The final sections would add a CAFO permit working group and require consultant training for state agencies on CAFO inspections, with those provisions contingent on future funding. Ways and Means noted the bill’s fee changes could affect state revenues, including an estimated hemp-related impact of roughly $10,000 to $90,000, though the exact effect was uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• build on my office's authority to seek civil penalties and injunctive relief against traffickers, straw
• WOULD BUILD ON MY OFFICE AUTHORITY TO SEEK CIVIL PENALTIES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST TRAFFICKERS STRAW
• out by the Minnesota Gun Caucus and other special interest groups, they would've also gone after the straw
• OUT BY THE MINNESOTA GUN CAUCUS AND OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS THEY WOULD'VE ALSO GONE AFTER THE STRAW
• It's a straw man argument to say this law would not have prevented this incident.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• less, smoking less, drinking less soda.
• , they drink quickly, and then suddenly you get a rush of people all at 1:45, 2 o’clock out on the roads
• , they drink quickly, and then suddenly you get a rush of people all at 1.45, 2 o'clock out on the roads
• , and accessories from irresponsible vendors who have failed to perform background checks, prevent straw
• works toward ensuring that every person in California has access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and first dealt with a procedural dispute over four amendments to AB 1240. The Speaker ruled the amendments out of order as not germane, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on a 49-16 vote. Members then added co-authors to several consent-calendar resolutions, including measures on the National Conference of State Legislators, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Month, before adopting the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions, including a welcome for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and took up a motion to bring AB 41 up out of file, which failed 19-48. The bulk of the meeting was floor action on a long series of bills and resolutions, many of which passed with broad bipartisan support. Measures approved included ACR 40 supporting immigrant students and FAFSA privacy; AB 917 on permanent status for certain school employees; AB 985 on anesthesia access; AB 7 and AB 42 on higher education and student services; AB 245 providing property tax relief for wildfire victims; AB 255 allowing funding for drug-free recovery housing; AB 279 updating K-12 library standards; AB 289 creating a pilot for automated speed enforcement in highway construction zones; AB 291 on an educator apprentice program; AB 327 addressing swatting; AB 340 on confidential union communications; AB 341 creating an oral health technical assistance center for people with disabilities; AB 356 on San Diego health care infrastructure; AB 410 on bot disclosure; AB 476 on copper theft enforcement; AB 477 on educator pay targets; AB 485 on stolen wages and business licensing; AB 487, the insurance committee’s technical omnibus bill; AB 573 on tobacco retail license fees; AB 598 on school mapping technology; AB 635 on mobile home law enforcement referrals; AB 651 on remote participation for incarcerated parents in dependency hearings; AB 654 on homelessness hotline assistance in Los Angeles County; AB 662 creating a South County higher education task force; AB 667 on language access in professional licensing; AB 669 limiting early denial of addiction treatment; AB 670 on naturally occurring affordable housing; AB 695 on online continuation of community college for deported students; AB 723 on disclosure for digitally altered real estate images; AB 727 placing Trevor Project information on student IDs; and AB 736, a $10 billion affordable housing bond for the June 2026 ballot, which passed on a 61-11 urgency vote after extensive debate. Debate on AB 736 was the most extensive of the day, with supporters arguing the bond would help address California’s housing crisis and give voters a chance to weigh in, while opponents criticized the state’s bond debt and past spending results. The Assembly then recessed for caucus meetings and later returned to continue the daily file, where additional measures were taken up, including AB 798 adding diapers and wipes to the emergency food bank reserve program, which passed 56-0, and AB 821 on career technical education, which was presented as bipartisan-supported as the transcript continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• we go any further with the... ...before we make any other changes to this, I just wanted to get a straw
• wanted<01:29:50.000> to<01:29:50.239> get<01:29:50.320> a<01:29:50.560> straw
• <01:29:50.880> poll this, I just wanted to get a straw poll this, I just wanted to get a straw

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• director of DTSC, Katie Butler, and also the chair of the Board of Environmental Safety, Andrew Rake Straw
• And as we heard from Chair Rick Straw, we are receiving that feedback that it's not keeping pace with
• Chair Rick Straw, just a couple questions. Great. Chair Rick Straw, just a couple of questions.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products program. Senators and Assembly members emphasized protecting overburdened communities and asked how DTSC and the Board of Environmental Safety are using their authority to improve accountability, reduce delays, and address hazardous waste facilities and consumer product chemicals. The hearing also included discussion of extended producer responsibility programs and whether DTSC can support them more efficiently, including through coordination with CalRecycle. DTSC Director Katie Butler said the department is now more transparent, accountable, and fiscally stable, citing stronger enforcement actions, an interactive inspections map, expanded community outreach, and emergency response work on the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup. She said DTSC has made progress on fee reform, the hazardous waste management plan, cleanup grants, permit renewals, and safer consumer products rulemaking, including adding microplastics to the candidate chemical list. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw said the board has held multiple public meetings and hearings, is working on fee rates and performance metrics, and is revising the hazardous waste management plan after public comment, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. He also noted remaining concerns about fee structure, permit delays, and the pace of the safer consumer products program. Public witnesses offered sharply different views. A representative of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance said SB 158 reforms have improved permitting and transparency, but urged more attention to risk-based decision-making, reduced duplication, and possible General Fund support for plan implementation rather than relying only on fees. Earthjustice argued DTSC remains too slow and that communities continue to suffer from long-delayed permits and weak protections, urging the Legislature to take a more active role and to prioritize eliminating hazardous substances rather than minimizing costs. Committee members pressed the witnesses on permit renewals, community impacts, and the pace of the safer consumer products program, while DTSC defended its progress and said further legislative collaboration may be needed on hazardous waste management and emerging waste streams.