Video & Transcript Research : 'Class III railroads'

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TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Transportation Apr 3rd, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The federal government, the Federal Railroad Administration owns the regulation for railroads, so they
  • But yes, I'm here, um, representing all of the railroads in Texas.
  • Texans and railroad employees safer.
  • A railroad flagger is the person who directs the traffic through railroad crossings.
  • It's a class C misdemeanor fine only.
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Highways and Transportation - Room 216, January 14, 2026; 10:30 AM

Highways and Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • running intercity passenger rail service throughout the country since 1971, when all the previous railroads
  • The purpose behind Amtrak's creation was that the railroads were hemorrhaging cash considerably in the
  • Services Act, and thus Amtrak has two key rights: right of access, which means that we can access any railroad
  • It's obviously got coach and business class as well, and it's operated with support, of course, from
  • It's obviously got coach and business class as well, and it's operated with support, of course, from
Summary: Amtrak officials Todd Stenis and Jeff Mann briefed the committee on Amtrak service in Mississippi, with a focus on the new Mardi Gras state-supported route on the Gulf Coast. They reviewed Amtrak’s national structure, including the distinction between long-distance and state-supported service under PRIIA section 209, and noted that Mississippi is served by the City of New Orleans, the Crescent, and the new Mardi Gras service. They said the Mardi Gras began service on August 18 and operates four trains a day between New Orleans and Mobile with Mississippi stops, supported by Mississippi, Louisiana, and Mobile. The officials reported strong early performance for Mardi Gras, saying ridership had already exceeded 60,000 by the end of December against a 71,000 first-year projection, with about 435 passengers per day and a 64% average load factor. They also cited 86% on-time performance, a 94% customer satisfaction index, and average fares of $27 in coach and $66 in business class. They said the service is benefiting from strong demand, good coordination with host railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern, and planned capital improvements totaling more than $200 million that they said should reduce trip times by 30 to 40 minutes. Committee members responded positively, with Senator Williams praising the train experience and another senator noting personal use of the Mardi Gras service. The presenters invited members to ride the train and described it as a state investment paying off across South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast. After the Amtrak presentation, the committee returned to business and took up one bill, 2019, which would delete the sunset on the provision directing the first $80 million of lottery proceeds to the state highway fund. Senator Blackmon asked for clarification, the chairman confirmed the bill would make the road funding provision permanent, and the committee approved the title and reported the bill out.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Public Works and Highways (01/28/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • the existing Conway Scenic Railroad the existing Conway Scenic Railroad use<01:32:05.600> no<
  • have accessed a revolving um railroads have accessed a revolving um railroad<02:23:08.680> fund
  • that use our those tenant railroads that use our railroad<02:23:48.520> lines<02:23:48.880>
  • That's the railroad revolving loan fund. It is restricted to certain classifications of railroads.
  • Lincoln Railroad and others but um I Lincoln Railroad and others but um I would<02:27:18.439> have
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee heard testimony on House Bill 375, which would allow municipalities to designate certain road segments for ATV travel, create maps and signage for those routes, set seasonal limits, and require certain equipment on ATVs such as lights, a horn, flashers, and directional signals. The sponsor, Rep. Dan Maguire, said the bill is intended to support tourism and give towns a structured, optional way to permit ATV use on roads, not to override existing uses. Members asked about possible overlap with agricultural vehicle rules, golf carts, speed limits, and whether the bill could allow ATV use on busier roads or expressways; the sponsor said he did not intend to interfere with existing lawful uses and believed golf carts would only be included if they met the relevant statutory requirements. NHDOT State Maintenance Engineer Alan Hennessy said the department had concerns with language exempting municipalities and the Bureau of Trails from the permitting process, arguing that the existing permit system provides needed review, public notice, and signage requirements. He also raised questions about road funding and maintenance if ATVs were allowed on state highways. Fish and Game Captain Michael Eastman testified that his commission opposed the bill as written, citing concerns about the ATV definition, the distinction between ATVs, UTVs, and other OHRVs, and the potential impact on state highways and road maintenance. He said towns can already open roads to OHRV use under existing law, and he noted that accident data for road use would generally be handled by local police or State Police rather than Fish and Game. Craig Reny, chief of the Bureau of Trails, said the current Bureau of Trails/DOT permit process for highway crossings and connectors works well and is used to ensure safety through engineering review. He said his bureau was not taking a position on the bill but wanted to clarify that existing procedures already address many of the issues the bill appears to cover. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce May 11th, 2026

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, this is Senate Bill 375 by Senator Mizell relative to firefighting foam, to provide for Class
  • Amendment number four would amend subsections B and C of R.S. 40:1615 to provide that Class B firefighting
Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • nation, the DT Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management, called GLEAM, is a one-of-a-kind megawatt-class
  • The Commission has a variety of different individuals, including the Railroad Commission, ERCOT, of course
  • implementation would be based upon the respective regulatory agencies, whether it's the PUC or the Railroad
  • , if you look at this graph, you see in the yellow, those are. ...solar storms, such as the 1921 railroad
  • concerned that the Security Commission, which is currently composed of representatives from PUC, the railroad
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • can do it through an ADER, and if that's what's holding back the industry, I think we need to have a class-in-five
  • It seems to create protected classes with different rights to assembly and speech, possibly violating
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part II) Apr 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • And if that's what's holding back the industry, I think we need to have a class in filling out forms,
  • The fact that there's a carve-out or exception for certain professions seems to create protected classes
Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard Senate Bill 2021 by Senator Johnson, as substituted, on distributed energy resources (DERs). Johnson said the bill was intended to create a regulatory framework for DERs and virtual power plants, address interconnection and registration issues, and prevent regulatory capture as the industry grows. Testimony was split: Texas Electric Cooperatives asked for clarification so co-ops would not be unintentionally excluded from owning or operating DERs; AECT supported the bill as providing needed rules and customer protections; TABA, Texas Solar and Storage Association, Sierra Club, Texas Solar Energy Society, and several others opposed it or raised concerns that it was too utility-centric, imposed red tape, and could burden homeowners and small businesses with registration and interconnection requirements. Johnson repeatedly said the bill was not meant to stop rooftop solar or backup systems and that he was open to specific redlines and further changes. SB 2021 was left pending after testimony. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2330 by Senator Parker, which would end government payroll deduction for dues to certain public employee organizations, while exempting first responders under Chapters 143 and 147 and making other conforming changes in a committee substitute. Parker argued the bill was about government neutrality, transparency, and employee freedom from coercion, and said organizations can collect dues directly using modern payment methods. Supporters from Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Business Coalition, Freedom Foundation, ABC Texas, and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said taxpayer-funded payroll systems should not be used to collect dues for private organizations, especially ones involved in political activity. Opponents, including ATPE, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Texas Public Employees Association, and correctional employees, said payroll deduction is a convenient, secure service that helps professional associations and employee groups, and argued the bill would burden teachers and other public employees. Several witnesses and senators focused on the bill’s exemptions and whether it treated teachers differently from first responders. Senator Menendez questioned why some public employees were excluded while others were not, and a Houston police union representative said he moved from opposing to supporting the bill after being told the substitute would preserve meet-and-confer deductions under Chapters 143 and 147. Senator Parker closed by saying the bill was not meant to eliminate associations or payroll deduction entirely, only to remove the state as a middleman. SB 2330 was left pending, and the committee then recessed subject to call.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part I) Apr 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • The TTU Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management, called GLEAM, is a one-of-a-kind megawatt-class
  • Lastly, it will require the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT, and the Railroad Commission to oversee
  • The commission has a variety of different individuals: the Railroad Commission, ERCOT, of course, someone
  • implementation would be based upon the respective regulatory agencies, whether it's the PUC or the Railroad
  • The 1921 railroad storm—we knew that there was almost 20 volts per kilometer field strength.
Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Energy Resources Mar 24th, 2025

Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • in case there are any questions for the Railroad Commission.
  • We believe that we've given our railroad...
  • And particularly as this authority transitions from the Railroad Commission to the TCEQ, having the Railroad
  • I think that's ignoring that the Railroad Commission.
  • And number ten was: the railroad is always right.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session E May 12th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • vested in us by our Florida House of Representatives, by virtue of the authority vested in us by Article III
  • 1, that the Legislature of the state of Florida is convened in special session pursuant to Article III
  • It also allows retirees in the special risk class to receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment
  • To be eligible, the retiree must have a completed six years of service in the special class risk.
  • If enrolled, class risk. It initially enrolled prior to July 1, 2011.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 03/25/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:06:41.400> tracks, buy a house near the railroad tracks, buy a house near the railroad
  • active railroad tracks.
  • And so, the railroad got kind of boxed in, but we don't have much control over railroads.
  • railroad tracks. railroad tracks.
  • railroads. They're federally regulated. railroads. They're federally regulated.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Mar 5th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the interim, after the wildfires, the Railroad Commission and the PC entered into an MOU.
  • At this time, has the Railroad Commission asked the PUC to ask a utility to sever power anywhere?
  • from the Railroad Commission, although I will caveat that that's only if they're not able to resolve
  • the MOU has been used yes sir what we continue to look at the MOU we meet twice monthly with the Railroad
  • The weatherization inspections, the firm fuel, coordination with the Railroad Commission on critical
Keywords: 1184, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-05-12 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, by virtue of the authority vested in us by Article III
  • That the Legislature of the state of Florida is convened in special session pursuant to Article III,
  • The bill establishes contribution rates by employers for each class of employee who participates in the
  • It also allows retirees in the special risk class to receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment
  • It also allows retirees in the special risk class to receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment
Summary: The Senate convened in special session with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed moments of silence for Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget, implementing, collective bargaining, retirement, education, health, taxation, corrections, fuel tax, and related conference-report legislation. Chair Hooper then outlined the process for taking up Senate conforming bills first, followed by House bills once received, in preparation for budget conference. The chamber passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after delete-all amendments were adopted to place the measures in proper posture for conference. Measures taken up included fuel taxes (SB 2506E), the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge (SB 2508E), judges (SB 2512E), pre-K-12 education (SB 2514E), retirement (SB 2E/HB 5205E), higher education (SB 2516E/HB 5601E), health care (SB 2518E/HB 5301E), collective bargaining/state employees (SB 2504E/HB 5201E), government administration (HB 5203E), correctional facilities financing and capital improvements (HB 5403E), documentary stamp tax distributions (HB 5501E), petroleum cleanup programs (HB 5701E), and the general appropriations and implementing bills (SB 2500E/HB 5001E and SB 2502E/HB 5003E). In each case, the Senate either passed the bill as amended or, after failing to pass the House version as received, requested conference with the House. During debate on the tax package, Leader Berman urged lawmakers to consider suspending the motor fuel tax for the summer, citing high gas prices and the need for immediate relief at the pump. The Senate ultimately passed HB 7031E as a blank vehicle for conference and then requested conference with the House after failing to pass it as received. No substantive amendments were adopted beyond the conference-posture delete-all amendments, and no recorded opposition votes were cast on the measures considered. At the end of the session, the Rules Chair announced the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet that day or the next, and the Senate adopted a motion to establish the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session by website publication and secretary announcement. The Senate then adjourned upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other business.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • A lot of the input from stakeholders as well as the Railroad Commission on the fiscal note.
  • After discussions with the Railroad Commission, we changed the Railroad Commission and Active Wells Report
  • Chairman, the Railroad Commission has the authority to.
  • You know the Railroad Commission's compliance.
  • Is that an issue with the Railroad Commission?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So as we do Article III, we can see a whole picture and move from there.
  • So we're not in Phase III. We'll do Phase I.
  • But not Phase III.
  • The universities, you know, have room in their classes.
  • The universities, you know, have room in their classes.
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Mar 5th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Back in the, in the interim after the wildfires, the railroad Commission and the PC entered into an MOU
  • At this time, has the railroad Commission asked the PUC to, to ask a utility to sever power anywhere?
  • To date we have not received such a request from the railroad commission, although I will caveat that
  • We meet, um, twice monthly with the railroad commission and we're looking at ways to, you know, further
  • Our mission is to represent small commercial and residential consumers as a class in utility proceedings
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill would require landlords to notify tenants of nearby water hazards, HF1566 3/18/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • information, such as for YMCA of the North or any parent can contact organization about water safety classes
  • in favor say aye. contact organization about water safety contact organization about water safety classes
  • <00:00:51.199> and<00:00:51.360> a<00:00:51.520> swimming classes and a swimming
  • classes and a swimming lesson<00:00:55.160> great<00:00:55.440> representative<00:00:56.039
  • And I wanted to address someone said, well, what about roads and railroads?
Keywords: 1183, house