Video & Transcript : 'obscenity laws' :
Page 17 of 500
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Commerce and Economic Development Feb 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Isn't there a law about that now? “Of controlled substance? Isn’t there a law about that?”
- I mean, I believe everyone has some laws.
- Madam Chair, do we have any laws in the state similar to our liquor laws?
- They asked, what is obscenity in the Supreme Court?
- They asked, what is obscenity into the Supreme Court?
Summary:
The committee first took up HB 294, the Cannabis Product Packaging Regulation Act, with a committee substitute. The sponsor and Regulation and Licensing Department said the bill would tighten cannabis packaging rules to reduce appeal to minors by limiting colors, materials, and design elements, while allowing some color for warnings and approved logos; the substitute also addressed misbranding and third-party manufacturing liability. Public testimony was split: cannabis industry representatives and related businesses argued the bill would create major packaging costs, waste inventory, hurt small businesses and tertiary industries, and was better addressed through education, safe storage, and stronger enforcement; supporters from public schools, state police, and a cannabis company said the bill would help protect children and make violations easier to identify. Committee members debated whether “reasonably appealing” should be defined in statute or rulemaking, whether packaging changes would actually reduce youth access, and whether stronger penalties or warning labels would be more effective. The committee adopted the substitute and advanced HB 294 on an 8-3 do pass vote.
The committee then heard HB 298, as amended, which would create a 50% state income tax credit for maintaining or replacing existing short-line railroad track, capped at $5,000 per mile, after an amendment removed a proposed credit for new rail and reduced the fiscal impact. The sponsor and railroad representatives said the measure would help preserve and improve short-line infrastructure that supports mines and other customers, while committee members asked about the amendment, the scope of the credit, and why the state should be involved in what they viewed as a local economic development tool. The bill drew no opposition in testimony and passed unanimously, 10-0, as amended.
Finally, the committee considered SB 58, which would extend the property tax abatement period for metropolitan redevelopment areas from seven years to up to 14 years, with flexibility for shorter terms under the Senate amendment. Supporters from the City of Albuquerque, Realtors, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce said the change would improve project feasibility, attract investment, and help revitalize blighted areas; the sponsor explained that MRAs are locally designated redevelopment districts and that the longer abatement period reflects current construction costs and project timelines. Committee members asked about which areas qualify, how abatements work, why the state sets the term, and whether local governments could do this on their own. The bill passed on an 11-0 do pass vote, and the committee adjourned.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative, are there any books that are exempt from this law? Thank you.
- Exempt from this law? Thank you for the question.
- Is there any part of this law that would prohibit...
- the obscene material was very difficult to write around.
- or a hotel room law or any sort of law like this?
Keywords:
postsecondary education, standardized test scores, educational equity, higher learning access, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, HB2978, school libraries, library media center, library media program, community standards, sexually explicit conduct, obscene material, age-appropriate materials, school curriculum, book challenges, book banning, censorship, public schools, school board, education committee
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative, are there any books that are exempt from this law?” “Thank you for the question.
- Are there any books that contain this material that would be exempt from this law?”
- If this becomes law, it would not inside the school library, from what I understand.
- If you've noticed, I first had this written around obscene material, and we switched that when the obscene
- or a hotel room law or any sort of law like this?
Keywords:
postsecondary education, standardized test scores, educational equity, higher learning access, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, HB2978, school libraries, library media center, library media program, community standards, sexually explicit conduct, obscene material, age-appropriate materials, school curriculum, book challenges, book banning, censorship, public schools, school board, education committee
Summary:
The Education Oversight Committee heard several bills focused on higher education, school library materials, military student transfers, women’s privacy, academic grading standards, program review, and teacher professional development. HB 2950, by Rep. Woolley, would remove the ACT requirement for homeschool students seeking Oklahoma’s Promise and bar colleges from imposing extra homeschool-specific hurdles; supporters said it would treat homeschoolers the same as other students, while opponents raised concerns about oversight and taxpayer-funded aid. The committee also heard HB 3132, which would direct higher education institutions to seek accreditors that do not impose DEI mandates, and HB 3700, which would require colleges to grade students only on academic criteria rather than opinions or beliefs. HB 3701 would codify regents’ procedures for reviewing and acting on low-performing degree programs, and HB 4115 would cap required teacher professional development hours, with the sponsor emphasizing local control and that the bill is permissive rather than mandatory.
The committee also considered HB 2978, which would prohibit public school library materials from including descriptions or depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Supporters framed it as protecting children and aligning library collections with community standards, while opponents worried the language could limit access to materials that help students understand abuse and safety. HB 4274, a cleanup bill on military student schooling and school choice, would restore omitted transfer language, clarify in-district enrollment timing, and align the six-month relocation requirement with the Open Transfer Act. HB 3242, dealing with privacy for women in schools, universities, and domestic violence shelters, drew questions about how gender would be verified and how the bill would affect transgender students and shelter access.
Most bills advanced on motions for due pass after committee discussion. HB 2950, HB 2978, HB 3132, HB 4274, HB 3242, HB 3700, HB 3701, and HB 4115 all received due pass recommendations. HB 3467 was laid over until the next meeting, and the committee then adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Apr 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- comments, detailing some of our concerns and addressing some of our recommendations for change in the law
- They are making obscene profits.
- And the way that they're making these obscene profits is because they're not competing for our business
- Operators in the Commonwealth are effectively required to do so by law.
- I own Twisted Fate together with my husband, my sister-in-law, and my brother-in-law.
Summary:
The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees.
Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open.
Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- burden for law enforcement unnecessary burden for law enforcement officers,<00:14:29.839><c> but</c>
- They'll work with law enforcement.
- It's a question of contract law.
- </c> law and abide by our uh traffic signage. law and abide by our uh traffic signage.
- </c> order to comply with uh this new law. order to comply with uh this new law.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Education Policy and Administration (03/10/2025)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- But I felt that it's not a good signal to the public that K-12 is exempt from our obscenity laws.
- But I felt that it's not a good signal to the public that K-12 is exempt from our obscenity laws.
- But I felt that it's not a good signal to the public that K-12 is exempt from our obscenity laws.
- But I felt that it's not a good signal to the public that K-12 is exempt from our obscenity laws.
- But I felt that it's not a good signal to the public that K-12 is exempt from our obscenity laws.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 749, which would require high schools to provide at least one hour of instruction on the nature and history of communism. The prime sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns that students lack basic historical knowledge about communism and its effects, and argued that a short, flexible requirement could be embedded in an existing course without creating a new full class. He described communism as a totalitarian ideology and cited historical examples including the Soviet Union, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Cold War, and current events involving Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan as reasons students should understand the topic.
Members asked whether the subject is already covered in current social studies standards, whether one hour is enough, and whether the bill would apply to public, private, parochial, and charter schools. The sponsor said he did not believe communism is specifically required in current standards, that he would prefer a full course but was proposing a minimal requirement, and that he intended the bill to apply broadly to schools under the Department of Education’s umbrella, though he acknowledged the wording may need clarification for charter schools. He also said the proposal was both reactive and proactive, based on anecdotal concerns and his teaching experience.
A second supporter testified that he was born in the Soviet Union and favored the bill, but suggested the instruction should emphasize critical thinking and explain both why communism can appeal to some people and why it can have harmful consequences. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> unspeakable things, uh, obscene things. unspeakable things, uh, obscene things.
- </c> in the existing law and bill 106. in the existing law and bill 106.
- And the bill is much like a NY law, a law that we needed, a law that addresses the most violent of offenses
- </c><00:46:36.240><c> that</c> law, a law that we needed, a law that law, a law that we needed, a law
- </c> to become law. to become law.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- enforcement stakeholders provided feedback on how to improve upon that law.
- I'm going to change the law. And so that's where we are.
- Then everybody across this state must be breaking the law.
- Everybody across this state must be breaking the law.
- Amendment 15 clarifies an exemption to proposed law.
Keywords:
public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- That is consistent with, although we're working in new law.
- We did that previously in the existing law on pages 3.
- That's what's existing law. Yes, are there further questions on the bill? See, none.
- In 2025 law, this was brought up.
- Well, as the law says here in the bill before you, the only thing we're changing is the Credit.
Keywords:
emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- That is consistent with, although we're working in new law, we did that previously in the existing law
- It's three, and so we are extending that same principle here in the new law.
- That's what's existing law, yes. Are there further questions on the bill?
- That is the sunset law.
- That is the sunset law.
Keywords:
emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan
Summary:
The Rules Committee met to consider a long slate of executive nominations and several bills. All of the nominations received broad support and were advanced to the floor, including Lori Burns to the Redlands Community College Board of Regents, Lisa Daly to the Oklahoma State Credit Union, Juana Ellison to the Forensic Review Board, Haley Frick to the Regional University System of Oklahoma, Michael Hillary to the Wildlife Conservation Commission, Dustin Hillary to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, John Holt to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission, Brian Sweeney to the Capital Medical Center Improvement and Zoning Commission, and Cale Walker to the USAO Board of Regents. Most nominations passed unanimously; Brian Sweeney’s nomination passed 15-2.
The committee then heard and passed several policy bills. HB 1675 created a severe-weather preparedness framework for youth camps and passed 16-1. HB 3242, the Women’s Safety and Protection Act covering shelters, schools, and higher education, passed 15-2 after questions about enforcement and legal remedies. HB 1739 increased state police pension benefits and employer contributions to help retain officers, passing 16-1. HB 3320 overhauled the sunset review process for boards and commissions and passed 15-2. HB 3047 designated LOFT as the central recipient for legislative reports and passed unanimously, and HB 4434 required the governor or acting governor to notify the next successor before leaving the state, also passing unanimously.
The committee also advanced HB 4432, which would restore the ability to deduct gambling losses against gambling winnings for state income tax purposes; supporters said it would help ordinary taxpayers, while opponents raised fiscal concerns, and it passed 16-1. HB 3705 raised the parental choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million and passed 13-3 after extended debate over school choice, public funding, and reporting. HB 3718 set timelines for school districts to process evaluations tied to the Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarship program and passed 12-2, with critics arguing it could create a separate track and strain school psychology resources. HJR 1089, which would have sent voters a constitutional convention referendum, was laid over and not voted on. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final vote.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/24/26
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> to landlord-tenant law. to landlord-tenant law.
- challenge to invalidate the law.
- Does it include law include agencies? Does it include law enforcement<00:14:10.480><c> agencies?
- </c> law enforcement if they fail to do this? law enforcement if they fail to do this?
- </c><00:34:46.120><c> enforcement</c> working with uh law enforcement working with uh law enforcement
Keywords:
submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, biometric data, consent, data protection, civil penalties, privacy laws, HF4585, Minnesota, harassment restraining order, HRO, restraining order, temporary restraining order, petitioner notice, service of process, law enforcement notification, sheriff
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Banking and Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- That conflict with federal HSA law.
- Thank you. to the law, the people of modest means to the law, the people of modest means and<00:34:20.480
- <00:59:05.280><c> market</c><00:59:05.520><c> share</c> law passing, the majority market share law passing
- After the law passed, the dental market.
- Due this unfair practice, he stated law.
Bills:
SB170, SB177, SB207, SB208, SB215, HB27, SB219, SB247, SB232, SB81, SB170, SB177, SB207, SB208, SB215, HB27, SB219, SB247, SB232, SB81
Keywords:
health insurance, health savings account, high deductible plans, federal regulations, cost-sharing, insurance law, breast cancer, health coverage, deductible, copayment, insurance, captive insurance, captive insurer, captive insurers, insurance regulation, Alabama Department of Insurance, insurance commissioner, premium tax, capital requirements, surplus requirements
TX
Keywords:
real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Does this conflict with federal anti-discrimination laws such as Title IX?
- Trump's executive order into state law.
- And are laws against murder unfunded mandates? Should we repeal those?
- , and our laws and Constitution are not suggestions.
- We're changing that to law enforcement as sometimes these cases begin.
Keywords:
real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Apr 28th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Nineteen of them are lawful; one of them is not.
- Of course, with the employers, we truly hope that they are only hiring people that are lawful.
- The other thing is, who's providing law enforcement and EMS?
- Our understanding of the law is we can't oppose it if they ask for it.
- No other business comes before the Senate Committee on Rural Law.
Keywords:
migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Apr 16th, 2025
Ways and Means General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 556 concerns the employment of certain retired law enforcement officers.
- So, it might limit it just to an ETF or ETP—something that's more controlled by federal law.
Keywords:
firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (03/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> expungement of criminal records the law expungement of criminal records the law says<00:40:12.800
- </c> thing that that that that that the law thing that that that that that the law that<00:50:49.119>
- The requirement of actual knowledge is in so much of the law because, in the law of willful blindness
- </c><01:58:18.960><c> laws</c><01:58:19.280><c> and</c> says you can infringe under law laws and says
- you can infringe under law laws and regulations<01:58:21.040><c> if</c><01:58:21.320><c> they</c><01
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, a bill allowing classification by biological sex in limited settings such as multiple-use bathrooms, certain sports, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters said it was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for minors, and argued it was consistent with recent federal and state developments. Opponents said the bill was poorly defined, unnecessary, and could create discrimination or confusion, especially because it did not define “biological sex” in the text. The committee voted 10-8 ought to pass, and the chair said a minority report would be written.
The committee then considered HB 254, a bill concerning medical aid in dying. The chair moved ought to pass and described the bill as a matter of liberty for terminally ill patients within six months of death, arguing it should not be treated as suicide. Opponents raised religious, ethical, and policy concerns, including worries about a slippery slope, misuse by vulnerable people, and the effect on death records and public health data. The committee voted 11-7 ought to pass, and the chair said a majority report would be written with a minority report by Representative Perez.
Finally, the committee turned to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment dealing with recoupment of costs for appointed counsel. The chair explained the amendment would restore the law to its pre-2020 form, allowing the Office of Cost Containment to seek repayment from some recipients of appointed counsel services, including those found not guilty, if they had the ability to pay. Supporters said the prior change had sharply reduced collections and that the state should not treat indigent defendants differently from people who hire private counsel. Opponents argued the policy unfairly bills innocent people and children who were entitled to counsel. The transcript cuts off during debate on the amendment, before a vote is shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This law will place an undue burden on public libraries.
- or obscenity as to minors.
- Laws similar to this bill have been introduced.
- Let's be clear, this bill does not clarify the law; it distorts it.
- How would this law define me?
Keywords:
social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 2/20/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> especially when motans believe the law especially when motans believe the law has<00:03:19.080><
- Both can be upheld in a fair and lawful manner.
- </c> our police departments and our law our police departments and our law enforcement<00:37:53.960><
- </c> be a lawyer but you are here writing law be a lawyer but you are here writing law and<00:52:51.400
- </c> estate attorney I find real estate law estate attorney I find real estate law very<01:09:12.239>
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 5, 2026 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Instead, they ensure the protections already authorized by law function as intended.
- For red flag law. Sir, today we are not, I was just talking about the process of how. Perfect.
- And expand allowable uses for local law enforcement. Mr. Chair, that's the bill. Thank you.
- This bill provides those law enforcement officials with the accurate resources.
- To go after people that are doing obscene things to children in the state of Florida.