Video & Transcript : 'Legislative Appropriations Request' :
Page 178 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Natalie Gonzalez with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
- Natalie Gonzalez with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
- But money hasn't been appropriated for it.
- But money hasn't been appropriated for it.
- Lisa King with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
Summary:
The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard updates on higher education issues, beginning with California State University’s turnaround plans for seven campuses with enrollment declines. CSU said overall enrollment is growing systemwide, but some campuses, especially in Northern California, face structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. The plans focus on reengaging stopped-out and adult learners, expanding partnerships and guaranteed admissions, improving retention and student support, and reducing costs through program suspensions, hiring freezes, shared services, and procurement consolidation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the strategies were reasonable but urged regular legislative updates, and the Department of Finance had no additional comments. Committee members emphasized the need for implementation oversight, written updates, and attention to student outreach, financial aid, and privacy concerns around AI tools used in recruitment.
The committee then reviewed the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s request for a $10 million General Fund appropriation to repay litigation-related borrowing. Department of Consumer Affairs and bureau staff said the bureau has a long-standing structural deficit, has already cut positions and shifted some costs, and that the General Fund backfill would reduce future fee increases on institutions. The LAO opposed the request, arguing the bureau can cover near-term costs with its existing loan and that litigation costs should remain the responsibility of the regulated entities through fees. Finance supported the one-time backfill as a unique situation that would lower fee increases and avoid passing litigation costs on to schools and students. Members asked about preventing a repeat of the problem, and bureau staff said they are pursuing fee increases through the sunset review and have strengthened internal policies and disability accommodation practices.
The subcommittee also heard a broad update on Cal Grant funding and student aid. The California Student Aid Commission, UC, CSU, and the community colleges described Cal Grant as essential to affordability, but the LAO noted spending has grown faster than historical averages and said the state likely lacks capacity for major expansion in the near term. The segments highlighted the importance of state aid in covering tuition and living costs, and raised concerns about federal changes to student loans and Pell Grants, especially the elimination of Grad PLUS for some graduate students and limits on part-time borrowing. Committee members pressed for data on students who are eligible but not served by current Cal Grant rules, including adult learners and students affected by age and merit restrictions, and asked for analysis of phased-in implementation of the Cal Grant Equity Framework. Finance said full implementation would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and that affordability remains part of the state’s multi-year compact with the segments.
Finally, the committee began discussion of the Middle Class Scholarship Program. CSAC and the UC and CSU said the program is a key part of affordability and debt reduction, especially after the 2022 reforms that expanded awards to total cost of attendance and improved administration. They warned that cutting funding by more than half would reduce award coverage from 35% to 17.5% of cost of attendance and could affect enrollment and persistence, particularly for middle-income students who do not qualify for other need-based aid. The segments also noted that recent administrative changes have reduced award revisions and campus workload, but that data exchange and award volatility remain challenges.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- If you look at the legislation there, you've got essentially agencies have a year after their normal
- Bybee answer those, but that is all this legislation does at this point.
- It's the ability for the gentleman on the second floor to be able to spend those or appropriate those
- We saw during COVID with a lot of ARPA money that came in that the legislature didn't appropriate it;
- You'll notice there in the legislation it says cumulative expenditures shall not exceed $10 million,
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice May 27th, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- You didn't see that legislation coming back again.
- Until we Lawmakers budget appropriately?
- Chairman, are you then working on any proposals or requests for very specific to legislators as we convene
- And um I appreciate this legislation.
- I don't know if it's appropriate, Mr.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have an opportunity for Ross Brown from the Legislative Analyst Office to comment.
- It appropriates $5 million one-time general fund to the Department of Justice.
- There is money that was appropriated in 2021 and 2022 that CARB is still rolling out.
- This bill further undoes thoughtful legislation over the last five to six years.
- We look forward to the committee's engagement on our amendment request.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (03/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- and appropriate and will be useful for further legislation, as we heard from the bill sponsor.
- </c> that the information that is requested that the information that is requested here<00:26:24.840>
- :26:26.559><c> and</c> here is warranted and appropriate and here is warranted and appropriate and will
- </c> will be useful for further legislation will be useful for further legislation as<00:26:28.520><c
- I think it seems to me that the wording is, you know, appropriate.
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 313, and Representative Perez moved to retain the bill, saying it needed work and was not ready as written. Representative Smith supported that approach, and the motion to retain passed 18-0. The committee then considered House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure. Representative Smith and others argued the bill was too broad, could create litigation and discovery disputes, and might even be read to affect criminal cases. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and the chair agreed to place it on consent with a report to be prepared.
The committee next heard House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved to retain, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0. The committee then took up House Bill 509, a fiscal note bill requiring reporting related to forfeitures. Members on both sides discussed the bill’s cost, the burden of collecting and collating the data, possible duplication across fiscal years, and whether the information was already being collected. The OTP motion passed 11-7, and Chairman Lynn asked Representative McFarland to prepare the report; a minority report was anticipated.
Finally, the committee considered House Bill 520, which would authorize Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas. Representative Kuttab supported the bill, saying similar authority exists in other agencies and states. Opponents argued the DOE already can obtain information through the attorney general, that the bill would create an unbalanced internal enforcement process, and that the subpoena authority was not tied to the curriculum-related concerns raised in testimony. Representative Ter offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena authority from DOE hearing officers to the attorney general; the amendment failed 7-11. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and the OTP motion passed 10-8, with a minority report also requested.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Mar 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We'd like to see legislation go further to expand access to E85 fuels.
- It died in Senate Appropriations. It died in Assembly Appropriations.
- request that I'd be added as a co-author again.
- Sean Drake, legislative manager for the Coastal Commission.
- On AB 439, the motion is due pass to Appropriations.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced a series of natural resources and climate-related bills. AB 70 would codify a definition of pyrolysis and allow procurement credit for projects using organic waste to generate pipeline biomethane; supporters said it would help divert organic waste from landfills, reduce methane, and support energy reliability. AB 30 would authorize E15 fuel sales in California, with supporters arguing it could lower consumer fuel costs and emissions, while opponents from boating and marine groups raised concerns about engine damage and the need for clear labeling and continued E10 availability. AB 66 would create a CEQA exemption for emergency evacuation routes in high fire-risk areas; supporters emphasized wildfire evacuation safety, while some members worried the bill lacked sufficient guardrails and environmental review. AB 399 would let the Coastal Commission consider blue carbon sequestration in coastal permitting and authorize blue carbon demonstration projects; environmental groups supported it, while business groups objected to new costs and regulatory uncertainty. AB 491 would codify California’s nature-based solutions climate targets for lands and wetlands, with supporters citing climate and adaptation benefits and the Farm Bureau opposing statutory targets. AB 580 would extend Metropolitan Water District authority related to the Colorado River Aqueduct, and AB 43 would make permanent state authority to protect federally designated wild and scenic rivers if federal protections are weakened. The committee also considered AB 436 to streamline siting and permitting of composting facilities and AB 539 to streamline certain Coastal Act procedures and reporting. Most measures received due-pass recommendations and were reported out on roll calls, with several bills also moving on consent; AB 404 was pulled at the author’s request.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The request will be for an open appropriation.
- The City of Red Wing and the Prairie Island Indian Community are requesting legislation to utilize the
- She said House File 1420 is a request for an appropriation of $20 million for the Park at Rivers Edge
- She said House File 1420 is a request for an appropriation of $20 million for the Park at Rivers Edge
- She said House File 1420 is a request for a $20 million appropriation for the Park at Rivers Edge, a
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- for direct appropriations as well.
- I respectfully request the committee's support for including this request in the omnibus bill.
- In the previous appropriation, and I don't know exactly.
- So being here, this would be the third state that has actually legislated this into their legislation
- I urge you to support this vital funding request.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Care & Wellness Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- A carrier may request a waiver of the criteria.
- I just want to be very clear about our main request.
- We are certainly supportive of the legislative intent, ...legislative efforts.
- This was at the request of the agency to make sure that the appropriate people are getting credentialed
- appropriately, so I am asking for a yes on the amendment.
Summary:
The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held public hearings on HB 2564 and HB 2599, then moved into executive session on several bills. HB 2599, which would restrict the use of AI in therapy and psychotherapy services, drew strong support from the prime sponsor, mental health professional groups, a privacy advocate, and an AI ethics researcher, all of whom warned that chatbots can mislead users, encourage delusions or self-harm, and lack licensure, accountability, and confidentiality protections. Several witnesses from health systems and telehealth organizations supported the bill’s intent but asked for narrower definitions and amendments to avoid unintended impacts on clinician-supervised tools, screening questionnaires, scribes, and other legitimate uses of AI. No vote was taken on HB 2599 during the hearing.
HB 2564, which would give the Health Benefit Exchange authority to adopt market-factor certification criteria for exchange plans, was presented as a way to address affordability, bare counties, and plan duplication. Supporters included the Exchange, consumer advocates, rural and tribal representatives, navigators, and some individual consumers, who said the bill could improve access, preserve bronze plan availability, and help stabilize the market in counties with too few carriers. Opponents from health plans, Regence, Premier, and insurance producer groups argued the bill would expand exchange authority without clear standards, could reduce competition and carrier participation, and might conflict with existing OIC filing and confidentiality processes; the OIC supported the bill but requested an amendment on rate disclosure timing. The committee then moved to executive session and later reported out HB 1784, HB 2242, HB 2384, and HB 2505 with due pass recommendations, while deferring action on HB 1809 and HB 2261.
In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for HB 1784 on certified medical assistants by an 18-0 vote, adopted one amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2242 on preventive services and immunization recommendations by an 11-7 vote, and passed a substitute for HB 2384 on actuarial reviews for continuing care retirement communities by a 16-2 vote. It also adopted an amendment and passed a substitute for HB 2505 on limited adult family home licensure exemptions for certain foster family situations by an 18-0 vote. The meeting adjourned after those actions.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Child Custody Review Task Force Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- and filed a brief requests a hearing, the request must be granted.
- and filed a brief requests a hearing, the request must be granted.
- A party requests a hearing.
- And then if you request a hearing, what type of hearing are you actually requesting?
- So I really trust our legislative council attorney to draft that appropriately.
Summary:
The Child Custody Review Task Force met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and reviewed a memorandum compiling member suggestions for possible legislation. The memo grouped ideas into topics including creation of a family court, expanded education for parents, attorneys, and judges, expedited hearings for parenting-time violations, limiting law enforcement involvement in custody disputes, creating parenting time expediters, and adopting more uniform court procedures. Members also discussed whether to form subcommittees, but the task force decided to continue working as a full committee rather than create subcommittees at this time.
The committee then heard testimony from Dr. John Perez, a mental health professional, who described his personal custody experience and his professional work with families he believes have been affected by parental alienation. He argued for stronger education, faster court response times, and better tools to address intentional interference with parenting time. Members questioned him about his case history, the concept of parental alienation, and whether specialized family courts or judges with family-law training could help. Dr. Perez said a dedicated family court and faster hearings would likely have helped his situation.
The task force spent substantial time discussing the possible creation of a family court. Judge Hovey supported the idea of a specialized family court or at least a study of one, saying family cases are distinct from ordinary adversarial litigation and that judges with family-law experience could better handle them. Several members agreed that a family court could improve consistency, expertise, and speed, but others cautioned that the task force’s current directive is focused on enforcement of existing orders rather than broader custody policy, and noted that voters had previously rejected equal shared parenting proposals. The group also discussed expedited procedures for parenting-time disputes, with Judge Hovey suggesting a 30-day hearing timeline may be workable.
On education, members generally supported requiring parents to complete a parenting education course and adding educational materials explaining court process, child support, and what judges can and cannot do. Mr. McLean suggested a short instructional video for litigants and more family-law education for judges and attorneys, while Ms. Moldenhauer said education could be incorporated into scheduling orders or mediation orders. Members also discussed the Parents Forever course, including whether it should be mandatory in all counties and whether cost is a barrier; no vote was taken on any of these proposals.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- About half of it's been used. was one time you know appropriation at was one time you know appropriation
- </c> funds what is the purpose of the request funds what is the purpose of the request to<00:55:20.880
- amounts the commissioner May appropriate amounts the commissioner May request<00:55:45.920><c> of</c
- </c> them to appr um increase appropriation them to appr um increase appropriation um<01:00:20.119><c
- </c><01:21:55.080><c> program</c> build back to the appropriate program build back to the appropriate
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.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/5/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- just didn't seem like spending requests just didn't seem like the<00:22:23.520><c> appropriate</c><00
- </c> to request a roll call. to request a roll call.
- The clerk will close the roll. request. So if there could be a future request.
- Speaker, what legislative body are we and what legislative business are we on?
- </c> legislative business are we on? legislative business are we on?
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M.
Judiciary, Division B
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> legislature</c><00:07:58.080><c> once</c> appropriation of the legislature once appropriation of
- </c> out through the appropriation process. out through the appropriation process.
- </c> your legislation Senate Bill 2314. your legislation Senate Bill 2314.
- . legislation. legislation.
- We have not led any legislation on That. We have not led any legislation on that.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The other aspect of the request is to make the bonus payments permanent.
- So that is the bulk of the request.
- In the appropriate level of care? Type 3?
- There's been legislation in the past.
- , or whoever is making those decisions can do the job appropriately.
Summary:
The committee heard an overview from the Office of the Inspector General and California Correctional Health Care Services on prison oversight, medical care, reentry, and related budget requests. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two additional intake analysts, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025 and explaining that the unit reviews and routes complaints, including PREA and staff misconduct allegations, within 30 days. Its medical inspection unit reported on cycle seven prison health inspections, noting generally adequate case-review performance but weak policy-compliance results, especially in medication management and health care environment indicators, and said it was beginning cycle eight with revised inspection methods.
Members questioned the OIG about what kinds of complaints were driving the increase, whether the office tracks validity or systemic patterns, and how it distinguishes duplicative complaints from those already handled by CDCR. OIG said the largest categories were prison conditions and staff misconduct, that it does not determine whether complaints are “valid” in a statistical sense, and that it forwards issues to CDCR or other entities as appropriate. Senators also asked about the medical inspection findings, the remaining prisons not yet delegated back from federal receivership, and whether more detail should be provided in future reports. LAO and Department of Finance staff said they had no concerns with the OIG proposal.
The committee then reviewed the correctional health care budget, including staffing, pharmacy, contract medical costs, and the state’s progress toward ending the Plata medical receivership. CDCR said it is trying to reduce vacancies through hiring events, social media outreach, new classifications, and more on-site care, while also using CalAIM to improve reentry services; CalAIM officials reported 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% managed care assignment, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about $14.7 million in reimbursements to date. Members pressed staff on the cost of receivership, the pace of delegation, whether more care could be consolidated into fewer facilities, and whether the state should seek more federal reimbursement or alternative staffing models.
Finally, the committee discussed the new mental health receivership and a telemental health staffing proposal. The receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for the receiver’s office and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent; CDCR also sought about $8.9 million for telemental health staffing, growing to $13 million ongoing. LAO recommended approving the action plan and portions of the telehealth request, but urged the Legislature to monitor progress, consider out-of-state recruitment and expanded telehealth, and avoid across-the-board salary increases; Finance cautioned that out-of-state licensure would require major statutory changes and that staffing-ratio changes would need receiver approval. Senators raised concerns about the high cost of receiverships, vacancy-driven fines, the need for more detailed benchmarks, and whether the state should consolidate mental health populations and better target recruitment to fill hard-to-staff positions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on H.F. 4252 - Omnibus Higher Education Finance and Policy - 05/14/26
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> that information to the appropriate that information to the appropriate committees<00:07:44.319>
- </c> to conform to the advisor's request to conform to the advisor's request recommends<00:12:54.240>
- </c> paragraphs are cleaned up appropriately. paragraphs are cleaned up appropriately.
- </c> context about the legislation. Mr. context about the legislation. Mr.
- Uh minstate appropriation. Uh minstate appropriation.
Summary:
The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education.
After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed.
During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-13 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm not alleging that you don't have a right to file legislation as a senator.
- That is what you told me when I asked you if you intended to file legislation to do this in this legislative
- So my question... ...you intended to file legislation to do this in this legislative session.
- It was clear because I didn't file any legislation. I filed an amendment.
- I don't know that I would agree with automatically given out when requested a process.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> As the House Committee on Appropriations As the House Committee on Appropriations Budget<00:02:46.400
- Members, we have received a request to Members, we have received a request to read<00:03:47.360><c> a
- </c> The committee heard from legislative The committee heard from legislative council.<00:14:35.440>
- But alas, I did agree, at the request of Legislative Council, to carry this bill, and I ask the support
- But alas, I did agree to at the request But alas, I did agree to at the request of<00:14:56.880><c> legislative
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Public Safety Committee Mar 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And my legislation would not impact that.
- And it's entirely appropriate for us to address that.
- I would love to be added as a co-author at the appropriate time as well.
- For these reasons mentioned, we respectfully request your aye vote.
- I respectfully ask for an aye vote at the appropriate time.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Public Safety met on March 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and hearing several bills and a resolution. SB 936 by Senator Blakespear would prohibit retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Supporters, including prosecutors, county officials, and local government groups, described rising misuse among youth, impaired driving crashes, deaths, and environmental waste from large flavored canisters. The ACLU opposed unless amended, arguing the bill was too broad and should use a regulatory approach rather than criminal penalties; the author said amendments were being considered to narrow the language. Committee members largely expressed support, though some raised concerns about wording and implementation.
SB 941 by Senator Padilla would extend a prison commissary price cap framework to private for-profit immigration detention facilities under federal contract in California. Supporters said detainees and their families face extreme markups on basic necessities and that the bill would curb exploitation. There was broad support from immigrant justice, civil rights, and disability rights organizations, and no opposition testimony was presented. SCR 118 by Senator Gonzalez urged release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. Supporters framed it as a transparency and survivor-accountability measure, with testimony from CAST and a survivor statement. One committee member voiced concern about incomplete facts and the risk of political overreach, while others supported the resolution as part of broader anti-trafficking efforts.
SB 1009 by Senator Becker would require clear and convincing evidence before detaining youth in juvenile proceedings and would emphasize less restrictive alternatives. The author and supporters argued that detention harms youth, increases recidivism, and is overused, citing a personal witness who described spending more than 200 days in juvenile detention before her case was resolved. Probation, district attorneys, and AFSCME raised concerns that the bill could limit judicial discretion, strain county resources, and create public safety risks or uneven implementation. Committee members were split, with some supporting the bill as a needed safeguard and others saying the system needs more resources before changing the standard. AB 46 by Assemblymember Nguyen would narrow mental health diversion by allowing judges to deny diversion when public safety is at risk. Supporters, including district attorneys and a crime victim’s family, said current law is too restrictive and has allowed dangerous offenders to reoffend; opponents, including public defenders and the ACLU, argued diversion is already limited and effective and that the bill would reduce access to treatment. Finally, SB 948 by Senator Aegian would require more comprehensive firearm safety training for firearm safety certificates and require new California residents to register firearms and obtain a certificate within 60 days. Supporters, including Brady and youth gun violence advocates, said the bill would close loopholes and improve safety; gun rights groups opposed, calling it an unconstitutional financial barrier and a burden on new residents.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session - Part 3 - 05/17/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Legislative intent was clear.
- President, I would request roll call. Roll call is requested and roll call granted. Sen. Miller.
- President, I would request Roll call. Roll call requested and roll call granted.
- President, I request roll call. Roll call is requested and roll call granted.
- President, I request roll call.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 04:01 pm
Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- I just wanted to add my support to the legislation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
- I just wanted to add my support to the legislation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
- The next is the Tax Department promulgating a legislative rule regarding the soft drinks tax.
- But the relevant legislative... ...authority is also corrected.
- So any county could be eligible for that if they request it and the Office of EMS deems it.