Video & Transcript Research : 'small modular reactors'
Page 180 of 500
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 5, 2025 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- the comparatively... ...multiply the total number of weighted FTE by the comparable wage factor and small
- And then second, the small district factor... ...school year 2024-25.
- We are the small, physically constrained district that you're referring to earlier.
- The common thread that I think you'll see here is that no matter if you're a large, medium, or small
- We're a small district, so we feel the pinch.
Summary:
The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference.
Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication.
The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- There are a number—probably more than half—of the ambulance services in New Hampshire that are small,
- So, you know, right now it's only small, it's only larger employers, ERISA, yes.
- Very small follow-up.
- Very small follow-up.
- <04:10:17.760>
followup belief very small followup belief very small followup okay<04:10:21.040
Summary:
The committee took up HB 297 with a non-germane amendment proposed by the Insurance Department to create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Commissioner DJ Beton explained that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce rising insurance premiums and avoid surplus lines coverage by funding proactive home and property improvements such as roof fortification, exterior and foundation work, flood protection, and tree removal. He said the proposal was developed after leadership asked for more statutory detail and for the idea to be vetted through policy committees rather than handled only in the budget process.
Beton said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. He described the program as modeled on similar efforts in other states, with means testing tied to the Department of Energy’s weatherization/home heating assistance criteria. He also said the department would administer the program using one existing staff position, with coordination through Treasury, and that unspent funds would roll over for several years before reverting to the general fund.
Members asked about the unusual use of a non-germane amendment and how the bill would be handled procedurally, since the underlying bill and the new insurance proposal were unrelated. The chair explained that the amendment was being used as a vehicle to move the department’s proposal through the committee process and that the committee could later accept one part, both parts, or neither. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting shown; the discussion ended with questions about administration, staffing, and the relationship between the underlying bill and the amendment.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- It is a small but significant reform that aligns economic incentives with the health of our planet and
- So it's difficult for me to imagine that a small increase in the tax would actually cause airlines to
- abandon... ...that a small increase in the tax would actually cause airlines to abandon flying here.
- transportation expansions to my personal favorite, which was the creation of a bike share program in a very small
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on bills related to transportation, telecommunications, and utilities, with Senators Eldridge, Rausch, and Jehlen and House members including Co-Chair Madaro, Leader Donato, Representatives Paulino, Wells, Gómez, and Plouffe present. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, deadlines for written testimony, and the new joint rules governing action on bills. No votes were taken; the hearing was for testimony only and was adjourned after public comment.
Testimony began with strong support for Senate Bill 1998 and House Bill 3230, An Act Enhancing Renewable Heating Solutions for the Commonwealth. A representative of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas said the bill would help decarbonize heating by allowing utilities to use renewable natural gas and other qualified renewable fuels, while also supporting jobs and local economic development. The committee then heard support for House Bill 4082, which would make the Title V septic tax credit refundable; the Falmouth Water Quality Management Committee said this would better help lower- and middle-income homeowners facing costly septic upgrades or sewer connections in nitrogen-sensitive coastal areas.
The committee also heard opposition to House Bill 4080 and Senate Bill 1924 from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which argued that higher aviation fuel taxes would not be justified without a clear aeronautical use for the revenue and noted federal restrictions on aviation fuel tax proceeds. In contrast, a coalition opposing private jet expansion supported Senate Bill 1924, saying a higher jet fuel tax would better align tax policy with climate and public health goals and help address aviation emissions. Finally, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council supported House Bill 3050 on regional ballot initiatives, arguing that local revenue tools could help cities and towns fund transportation projects and reduce pressure on state transportation dollars.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House committee advances bill to combat Medicaid fraud 5/5/26
Transcript Highlights:
- When you look at other similarly sized states, our unit is particularly small.
- :03:22.560>
unit <00:03:23.080>is <00:03:23.560>particularly <00:03:24.320>small - <00:03:24.920>
Most our unit is particularly small. Most our unit is particularly small.
Summary:
The committee heard House File 2354, a bill by Representative Norris to strengthen Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and combat medical assistance fraud. Norris explained that the bill, previously part of a broader Human Services program integrity package, was being converted into a standalone measure through the A9 amendment. The amendment made conforming changes and shifted the appropriation to ongoing funding from a special revenue fund, which Norris said was important to secure a three-to-one federal match for additional staff.
As amended, the bill would increase investigative and prosecutorial capacity, create new penalties for Medicaid fraud over $100,000 and over $1 million, align prison time with other theft laws, extend the statute of limitations, and include medical assistance fraud under the state racketeering law. Norris and supportive members emphasized that Minnesota’s fraud unit is smaller than comparable states and that the added funding would help hire more staff. Members Pinto and Cleborne, along with Representative Koznick, offered supportive comments about the importance of the bill and broader legislative efforts to address fraud.
The A9 amendment was adopted by voice vote, and after discussion the committee voted to refer House File 2354, as amended, to the General Register. The motion passed by voice vote, with no opposition recorded.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- then we probably could We could have talked a little more about that because your concern is just a small
- is, they have to come back for reauthorization through the legislature Because y'all are in another small
- portion of the bill, because this is obviously a small portion of the bill, but another small portion
Keywords:
memorial, infrastructure, transportation, dedication, Toby Keith, SB 2049, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, ODOT, Transportation Commission, surety bond, surety company, performance bond, contractor nonperformance, construction contract, public works, transportation contracts, bond claim, state transportation projects, Title 69, OMES
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- There is also a Health and Human Services component to this bill, a very small one.
- <00:37:55.440>
one component to this bill a very small one component to this bill a very small - And so we would give that type of family a small scholarship.
- Rural and small urban funding that's coming into the state from the Federal Transit Administration.
- <06:16:03.440>
business advertisers uh we're a small business advertisers uh we're a small
Summary:
The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call.
The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work.
Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 14th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Colleagues, I rise today to recognize Royal Clothiers for being named District 15 Small Business of the
- Please join me in welcoming our 2026 Small Business of the Year for SD15, the Perez family, to the California
- Beale and based in Redlands, is a maker of small-batch citrus marmalades and botanical goods inspired
- Each year, the California State Senate proudly honors small businesses like this one that strengthen
- Our vibrant tourism sector fuels many small businesses, from family-run restaurants to local inns to
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the opening period on floor privileges and guest recognitions. Members welcomed a delegation from Catalonia and Spain marking the 40th anniversary of the California-Catalonia sister-state relationship, Solano Community College’s speech and debate team, and several small business honorees, including Royal Clothiers and Old California Botanicals. The chamber also recognized Tennessee Representative Justin Jones, with several senators speaking in support of voting rights and democracy.
The body then moved to business and confirmed two gubernatorial and State Bar appointments: Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Laura Ederton Speed as executive director of the State Bar. Senators also adopted SCR 163, recognizing May as California Tourism Month, with remarks emphasizing tourism’s economic impact and the work of Visit California and destination marketing organizations. The Senate next adopted SCR 170, declaring Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week, after extensive testimony from senators and firefighters about the trauma first responders face and the need to reduce stigma and expand support services.
The Senate also adopted SCR 174, marking the 60th anniversary of California’s pilot regional centers and highlighting the state’s community-based developmental services system. It then adopted SR 111, recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, after strong floor statements about discrimination, safety, and the need to oppose silence in the face of hate. The consent calendar was approved, SCR 116 was moved to the inactive file, reconsideration was granted on SR 111 for a later session, and the Senate adjourned in memory of Carl Anthony and Lupe Estrella, with the next meeting set for Monday, May 18, 2026.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes human services policy bill 5/11/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I do understand that DHS has some concerns that there may be a small cost associated.
- there<00:07:57.080>
may <00:07:57.320>be <00:07:57.440>a <00:07:57.520>small - <00:07:57.840>
cost that there may be a small cost that there may be a small cost associated - they can come back voluntarily if something happened and they just need additional support for that small
- they can come back voluntarily if something happened and they just need additional support for that small
Summary:
The House took up Senate File 476, the human services policy bill on continuity of care, assisted living safety, vulnerable adult protections, and program integrity. Representative Noor, the bill’s author, described it as a broad policy package covering direct care and treatment, Department of Health policy, aging and disability services, behavioral health, maltreatment of vulnerable adults, continuity of care, and miscellaneous changes. Representative Schumacher also supported the bill, saying the final language reflected extensive stakeholder work and compromise, especially in aging and long-term care, while also adding guardrails around fraud-related processes and other DHS policy decisions.
Several amendments were considered. A DE3 amendment was offered and adopted, and an A8 amendment to the amendment was initially discussed as a way to create a legislative working group and bring more community input into human services program changes, but Representative Curran withdrew it. Curran then offered A11, which would have changed billing limits for individualized home supports with training, but withdrew that as well after noting DHS concerns about possible costs. The House then suspended the rules to allow Noor’s A13 technical amendment, which was adopted.
On third reading, Representative Frederick praised the bipartisan work and highlighted provisions addressing intimidation of staff in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, extending voluntary return time for certain civilly committed individuals, and allowing some DCT staff to move from unclassified to classified positions. Noor thanked staff and reiterated that the bill protects vulnerable people while preserving program integrity and taxpayer dollars. The bill passed as amended by a vote of 93 ayes to 39 nays, and its title was agreed to.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development May 7th, 2026
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- They don’t know anything about those small towns. So I always love that idea. Thank you.
- They don't know anything about in those small towns. So I always love that idea. Thank you.
- This program is 100% committed to supporting our farmers—not only our small farmers, our urban farmers
- There was a disconnect during the pandemic between the small farmers and some of the large farmers as
- So we're heavily engaged with the small farmers.
Summary:
The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development met to approve the October 3, 2024 interim minutes and then took up two resolutions. HCR 205, by Representative Kerner, urged USDA to use its Commodity Procurement Program to purchase domestic Louisiana shrimp. Supporters said shrimpers are facing very low prices, full cold storage, and an urgent need for federal purchases to stabilize the market and help local processors and fishermen. Commissioner Mike Strain explained that USDA commodity purchases can support schools, nursing homes, and food banks, and members discussed the need for cold storage, marketing, and better promotion of local seafood. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. The committee also considered HCR 188, which memorializes Congress to oppose any federal farm bill language that could negatively affect the use of hunting dogs; members said the provision had raised concerns about field trials, scent hounds, and hunting practices, and the resolution was also reported favorably without objection.
The committee then received a presentation from Southern University Ag Center and College of Agriculture leadership, led by interim president and chancellor Orlando McMeans and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin Walker. They outlined the center’s research, teaching, and extension work, including medicinal cannabis research, beef cattle and smart ranching, viticulture, aquaculture, precision agriculture, food and nutrition, and support for small farmers and K-12 dual enrollment. They highlighted scholarship and enrollment programs, including USDA-supported 1890 scholars and JAG Stars, as well as partnerships with LSU and USDA. They also described major facility projects, including a high-tech meat processing facility, research labs, a vineyard, and a proposed 1,300-bed disaster shelter/mega shelter at the experiment station.
Members asked questions about meat-cutting and processing training, cattle genetics, and the shelter’s use when not needed for disasters. Southern officials said the new processing facility is intended to support training and workforce development, and that the shelter could also be used for events such as weddings, graduations, and agricultural activities. The committee expressed appreciation for the presentation and the work of the Ag Center. Representative Broussard then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- I printed out a small presentation here just to give a little bit of an idea of where Cibola started
- The Village of Milan has a very small budget.
- It's a really small town, but there are other avenues because we don't want to be in that situation.
- I live in a small community. I'm in rural New Mexico.
- Small community to build it back up.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 21, 2026 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- I understand as an attorney, a lot of these H.O.A. dispute, our individual unit owners may be small dollar
- My name is Jenny Donovan. 10 years ago, my family built our forever home in a small H.O.A. community
- This small. There's no practical way to push back.
- Israel and the personal nature of such a small neighborhood makes a unavoidable.
- me only after I demanded accountability for $37,000 in this scene association and it's along with a small
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Select Agencies Subcommittee Jan 5th, 2026 at 09:00 am
A&B Select Agencies Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, pretty small set of employees for think that was all I put together.
- A total of 374 employees, which I thought was small until we hear some of these other agencies that have
- But it feels pretty small. Our agencies help manage over 80 wildlife management areas.
- Mostly, those are small projects that entail, I mean, small, relatively small.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- If you're in a small county and you have a power plant or a large manufacturing facility, that very likely
- There's only kind of one small exception to that, and that deals with veterans and their ability to get
- lot of acreage and a small structure on them, it probably needs a change of use.
- when you get into different commercial properties or properties that are underutilized maybe have a small
- a lot of acreage small structure on them you know it probably needs a change of use then that's when
Summary:
The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court.
Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure.
Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Jul 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to, first of all, thank the committee for working with my staff and the small technical changes
- Small and medium-sized manufacturers face a disproportionate share of economic burdens, increased capital
- This credit is especially vital for small and medium-sized manufacturers who have been hit the hardest
- SB 710 renews an important tax incentive for homeowners and small business owners to install solar panels
- Specifically, SB 710 will provide exclusions for systems, including residential properties, small commercial
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard a series of tax-related bills, with several measures referred to suspense and a few advancing. SB 284 would clarify Proposition 19 rules for inherited family homes in probate, including when the one-year residency clock starts and whether title consolidation among siblings triggers reassessment; supporters included the California Association of Realtors, while county assessors opposed the sibling-transfer language as creating ambiguity. The bill was sent to suspense. SB 863 was taken up on the consent calendar and passed 6-0 to the Assembly floor.
SB 333 would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising a local tax rate limit to fund transportation projects; supporters said it would help the county become self-help for major road needs, while opponents argued it would make it easier to raise regressive sales taxes. The committee approved the bill 5-2, as amended with a five-year sunset. SB 376, which clarifies that charitable remainder trusts are not treated as incomplete gift non-grantor trusts for California income tax purposes, drew support from the California Lawyers Association and no opposition, and passed 5-2 to Appropriations as amended.
The committee also heard SB 591, which would replace steep penalties for failing to use electronic funds transfer with fixed penalties of $100 for a first violation and $500 thereafter; supporters said current penalties can be excessive and out of proportion, and the bill was sent to suspense. SB 419 would partially exempt hydrogen fuel from the state sales and use tax while leaving the existing road fee in place; supporters said it would help hydrogen adoption and parity with other clean fuels, while one environmental group opposed unless amended, and the bill went to suspense. SB 587 proposed a state tax credit for local sales tax paid on manufacturing equipment to encourage investment and jobs; it had broad business support and no opposition, but was also sent to suspense. SB 710 would extend and update the property tax exclusion for solar installations, with broad support from clean energy and local government groups and some opposition from large energy consumers; it too was referred to suspense. Finally, SB 663 would extend deadlines and exemptions for wildfire victims and certain nonprofit and disabled veteran properties; it received support from assessors and committee members but was also sent to suspense for further work.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- If HEAPR allows us to make lots of small improvements, it's the line item appropriation projects that
- limited the amount of companies should have more information as the de minimis was removed because of small
- Is it a flat fee if you have any preferences on small or big businesses, smaller or larger users?
- Many of them are still kind of small-scale pilot projects.
- No, the intent is to keep small toys from their mouths, not something they can ride.
Bills:
HF3220
Keywords:
school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Without clear, concise education codes and necessary safeguards, any board could be hijacked by a small
- They just want their own small district in their community just kind of like South Lake is that about
- It should not be made behind closed doors or by a small group of individuals.
- Since the plan went public, a small but vocal minority in Keller published heinous things about the Fort
- This bill would prevent a small cabal of unscrupulous board members from splitting up the districts they
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 23rd, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Overall, it'll just help small and midsize businesses navigate child care options without extra burden
- But at the same time, about 90% of restaurants are small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
- Like restaurants and mini-churches, childcare providers are small businesses, and we need them focused
- It is a bad bill for consumers, a bad bill for the arts, and a bad bill for small businesses.
- As a small business owner, to put on a show takes three essential ingredients: it’s really the artist
Bills:
HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122
Keywords:
construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There's one small part of the bill that causes a little bit of concern.
- This bill would allow these small school districts the flexibility to hire former trustees immediately
- This bill addresses critical challenges that small school districts face in isolated areas.
- So we hope that you'll look favorably on this flexibility for our small school districts.
- But we have had an increased number of schools, you know, starting from the very first year, a very small
Bills:
SB2920, SB2929, SB2398, SB865, SB401, SB2619, SB2927, SB1395, SB1972, SB2540, SB1635, SB1581, SB2008
Keywords:
steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine reducing waste, fraud and abuse through innovation, focusing on how AI and data can improve government efficiency. Apr 9th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Joint Economic Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- government is providing healthcare for veterans, social security checks for seniors, or loans for small
- For example, in response to our recommendation, the Small Business Administration screened all Paycheck
- working together to stop criminals who have multiple shell companies that have been defrauding our small
- question, several examples going back to the start of the pandemic, and I want to give credit to the Small
- written testimony that we discuss how if you go too far in one direction, it certainly over-impacts small
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, waste reduction, fraud prevention, government efficiency, improper payments, data reliability, oversight
Summary:
The meeting was chaired by Chairman Schweikert and involved a comprehensive discussion on how to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for reducing waste, fraud, and improper payments within federal programs. Key witnesses, including Mr. Andrew Canarsa from the Council of the Inspectors General, provided insights on the potential of AI in enhancing government efficiency. The committee emphasized the importance of reliable data and thorough examination of AI application to avoid unintended consequences while addressing the estimated $162 billion in improper payments reported by the federal government. Concerns were raised regarding the recent firing of inspectors general and the impacts that could have on oversight and accountability processes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 1st, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- addresses a lot of that administrative hurdle by ensuring timely post-entitlement plan checks for small
- have to do bills to take away the authority of the Coastal Commission to allow somebody to build a small
- have to do bills to take away the authority of the Coastal Commission to allow somebody to build a small
- The district has already identified potential opportunities for small hydropower facilities in the existing
- The district has already identified potential opportunities for small hydropower facilities in the existing
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then took up a series of procedural motions and a large third-reading file focused heavily on housing, wildfire recovery, insurance, and related regulatory changes. Early actions included a successful motion to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 on the third-reading file, followed by a unanimous vote on SB 26, a cleanup measure related to lemon-law civil discovery procedures and automaker opt-outs from the AB 1755 framework.
The chamber then moved through a package of urgency bills tied to the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires and broader housing affordability concerns. Measures approved included AB 311 allowing displaced tenants to temporarily house wildfire victims and pets, AB 299 extending hotel/motel/short-term rental stays beyond 30 days for disaster-displaced families, AB 226 giving the California Fair Plan access to bond financing in catastrophic-loss scenarios, AB 253 allowing third-party plan checks when local review exceeds 30 days, AB 301 aligning state permitting timelines with local deadlines, AB 306 imposing a six-year pause on new residential building-code updates, AB 462 exempting certain ADUs in Los Angeles County coastal zones from coastal development permits, AB 493 requiring interest to be paid to homeowners on insurance proceeds held by lenders, and AB 597 tightening rules on public adjuster solicitation, fees, and contract transparency. Each of these urgency bills passed, generally with strong bipartisan support and mostly unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The Assembly also approved several non-urgency measures, including AB 293 on groundwater transparency and board disclosure, AB 251 on elder abuse litigation standards when evidence is intentionally destroyed, AB 59 removing a sunset on Reclamation District 108’s hydropower authority, AB 417 streamlining EIFD and CRIA financing tools, and AB 312 updating procedures for agricultural theft proceeds. In addition, ACR 6 was adopted by voice vote, recognizing Black April Memorial Month and the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, with extensive remarks from Assembly Member Ta and support from other members. The consent calendar was adopted, and the body later heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for David Myers and Olivia Guerrero before adjourning to April 3, 2025. Several vote changes were announced after adjournment, including changes on AB 251 and AB 417.