Video & Transcript Research : 'constitutional amendment'
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AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/12/2026 - Senate Floor Session - Opening Day Ceremony
Arizona Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Article 2, Section 2 of our Constitution clearly defines our purpose: protect and maintain individual
- Majority Leader, I move the proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A, as distributed, be adopted.
- I move the proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A as distributed to be adopted.
- In compliance with Article 4, Part 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of Arizona, I move that the Senate
- President Pro Tem, in compliance with Article 4, Part 2, Section 9 of the Constitution of Arizona, I
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
No operation of watercraft in a way that threatens uncultivated wild rice beds, HF3896 3/26/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Would you like to go ahead and explain your DE1 amendment? >> Yes, Chair. Thank you.
- Uh, all those in favor of the DE1 amendment signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Nay.
- <00:10:18.079>
We the United States Constitution. We the United States Constitution. - The bill is laid amended be laid over.
- The bill is laid over<00:33:47.760>
as <00:33:48.080>amended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee May 13th, 2026
Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- First off, inverse condemnation is a constitutional principle. It's a takings principle.
- The Constitution does not make a distinction.
- amendment to go... ...The question, and I appreciate the answer, I think the question is, if you have
- to do a constitutional amendment to go down that pathway anyway, you could craft it in a way that you
- I ask this committee to support any and all avenues from AB 2700, AB 1774, and to amend the wildfire
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 9 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment is adopted. Question now is on ordering the bill to a third reading as amended.
- The amendment is adopted. Question now is on ordering the bill to a third reading as amended.
- And amendment in the hands of the clerk. Clerk will read the amendment. Mr.
- The amendment is not adopted. The amendment is not adopted. Mr.
- Frost of Auburn, on Amendment 3, the clerk will read the amendment. This is Amendment number three.
Summary:
The House began with routine procedural business, including adoption of resolutions congratulating Yolanda Kruger on her 100th birthday and two orders extending the Public Health Committee’s reporting deadline on House documents 4984 and 4988. The chamber then moved through a series of local bills and calendar items, passing to engrossment measures including authorization for the town of Hudson to grant an additional wine and malt beverage license, authorization for Cohasset to grant five additional liquor licenses, and an amendment to the Plymouth town charter. It also advanced several other bills on second reading, including a land conveyance for Barnstable County and Bourne, a bill requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events, and a bill preparing apprentices through training and hiring in Massachusetts.
The House took up House 3417, designating June 16 as Domestic Workers’ Rights Day. Representative Sousa spoke in support, describing domestic workers as essential but often invisible workers and arguing that the designation would raise awareness of rights and protections under the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The bill passed to engrossment by roll call, 156-0. The House also passed House 4992, authorizing Barnstable County and Bourne to convey certain parcels of land, and later passed House 4994, the Paths Act, which would require a phased-in apprentice-hours requirement on large public construction projects, condition bidding on participation in approved apprenticeship programs, and create a commission to study apprenticeship participation.
The chamber then debated House 4993, the Preston Settles Every Minute Counts Act, requiring AEDs and trained personnel at sporting facilities and events. Representative Decker urged passage, citing the death of a young athlete and the need to close safety gaps outside schools. Representative Frost offered amendments to create a state fund to help communities pay for AEDs and to allow exemptions for remote fields without permanent power, arguing the bill could otherwise burden municipalities; both amendments were defeated on roll call. The bill itself then passed to engrossment by roll call, 154-1. The House also enacted a bill allowing Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, and the session ended with an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and adjournment.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 26, 2025 - 08:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Are there amendments on the bill? No amendments. Is there public testimony? No amendments.
- Are there amendments on this bill? No amendments on the bill.
- This is on the amendment still. Amendment number two, ma'am.
- However, the League of Women Voters supports the 1968 Florida Constitutional Amendment, assuring home
- Show the amendment is adopted. Back on the bill as amended.
Summary:
The committee took up a long agenda of criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections, and local government bills. Early measures included HB 743 on social media use by minors, which would require platforms to provide access to parents and law enforcement with a warrant; PCS for HB 1049 on protection of court officials; PCS for HB 491 restricting warrantless government use of AI cameras to detect concealed firearms; and HB 1053, an FDLE agency bill that removed obsolete provisions, renamed a program, combined reports, expanded security-related definitions, and added support for retired police dogs. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 1053 adopted as amended after some questions about eliminating the Victim and Witness Protection Review Committee and related reporting changes. The committee also approved HB 4075, a Leon County local bill capping reimbursement for inmate medical transport and care at Medicare-based rates, and HB 1095, a Hillsborough County pilot program for probationers with substance-abuse conditions that uses frequent testing and short jail sanctions for violations; both were reported favorably as amended.
Several bills focused on law enforcement and public safety. HB 1129 clarified that victims’ identifying information, including names, is protected from public release under Marsy’s Law, and its amendment added a 72-hour confidentiality period for law enforcement officers involved in critical incidents, with possible extension if safety concerns remain; the bill passed favorably as amended. PCS for HB 1371 addressed a range of protections and tools for law enforcement and first responders, including limits on vehicle kill switches, funding for critical infrastructure mapping, a 25-year minimum for attempted first-degree murder of specified justice personnel, and procedures after exposure to bodily fluids; it was reported favorably. HB 857 increased penalties for assault or battery on utility workers and was also approved. HB 317 required written, sworn complaints against law enforcement and correctional officers, imposed penalties for false complaints, and limited the use of unsubstantiated investigations in personnel files; it passed despite opposition from some law enforcement groups and support from others.
The committee spent substantial time on HB 903, a corrections bill that would tighten inmate complaint procedures, authorize tracking of inmate movement, adjust execution-related provisions, streamline mental health and competency processes, and change contracting authority for prison services. Members raised concerns about costs, civil rights, and the statute of limitations, but the bill was reported favorably as amended by a 14-3 vote. HB 181 on objective parole guidelines, which would require the Commission on Offender Review to incorporate vocational, educational, and self-betterment programming and provide its statistical analysis to legislative leaders, drew strong support from criminal justice reform advocates and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved HB 1455 on repeat sexual offenders, which creates mandatory minimum sentences for subsequent specified sexual offenses and bars gain time or discretionary early release; an amendment increased one mandatory minimum from 10 to 20 years for selling or buying minors for sexually explicit conduct. Throughout the meeting, several bills drew testimony from law enforcement, industry, advocacy groups, and members of the public, with votes generally favoring the measures.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 13, 2025 - 10:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Any questions on the amendment? Any public testimony on the amendment?
- By your vote, the amendment is adopted. We're now back on the bill as amended.
- Members, any questions on this amendment? Any public testimony on this amendment?
- By your vote, the amendment is adopted. We're now back on the bill as amended.
- Are there any amendments? Doesn't look like it. No amendments. Move to public testimony.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met and considered nine bills, with members hearing brief presentations, limited debate, and mostly unanimous support. Early measures included CS/HB 421, which expands peer support access for first responders to include support personnel, and HB 205, which creates a new offense for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster (“Troopers’ Law”). Both bills drew support from law enforcement and animal welfare-related witnesses, and both were reported favorably; HB 205 was adopted with a technical amendment.
The committee also approved CS/HB 157 on service of process, which clarifies that a prior statutory change applies to all causes of action, creates a safe harbor for compliance, tightens substituted service requirements, and allows individual registered agents to be served anywhere in the state. HB 693, which adds an aggravating factor for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for school, religious, or public government activities, drew both support and opposition; the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed expanding the death penalty, while supporters argued juries should have more tools in capital cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate.
Members then approved CS/HB 113, increasing penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, after discussion about marked versus unmarked vehicles and an amendment that restored current penalties for two related offenses. Rep. Bracey Davis voted no, citing concerns about unmarked cars and public safety perceptions. The committee also passed HB 91 on misdemeanor probation, PCS/CS/HB 383 allowing certain officers and service members to purchase firearms without the three-day waiting period, and CS/HB 195 to let correctional education count toward professional licensure requirements for incarcerated people. Finally, CS/HB 479 was approved to allow judges to order restitution in hit-and-run property-damage cases. All bills were reported favorably, most by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In 1972, Title IX was passed. as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make sure that women
- So I feel like this constitutes a form of discrimination.
- Constitutional.
- Constitutions.
- That this too will be held to be constitutional. I'm a little confused.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Mar 25th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- No, it's an amendment to the amendment that she has already.
- that is the amendment to the amendment to the amendment.
- We are back on the amendment as amended.
- We are back on the amendment as amended. Any questions on the amendment as amended? Any questions?
- Show the amendment that has been amended adopted. We are back on the bill as amended.
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of environmental and natural resources bills. It reported favorably SB 1784 on sewer collection systems, allowing municipal sewer revenues to be used for expansion; SB 1388 on vessels, which prohibits random vessel inspections without probable cause, creates a five-year safety decal, bars local fuel-type boat bans, and expands funding options for boat ramps and marinas; and SB 880, which designates the American flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the Florida scrub jay as the state songbird. SB 946, as amended, was also reported favorably; it restricts certain waste facilities and incinerators near the Everglades, with the amendment narrowing the focus to the Broward/Miami-Dade area near the C-9 impoundment project. SB 1792 on dry sandy beaches was reported favorably after amendment, creating a pilot and process to inventory beaches and explore voluntary public access or conservation arrangements with private owners. SB 866 on anchoring limitation areas was reported favorably despite opposition from cruisers and boaters who argued existing law should be used instead of new county-specific restrictions. SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands was reported favorably with amendments that removed language about the necessity of phosphate mining and clarified that landowners requesting a radiation study must pay for it. The committee also reported favorably SB 1326 on hurricane evacuation clearance times and permit allocations in the Keys, and SB 1580, after a delete-all amendment, which authorizes DEP to use public-private partnerships for coastal resiliency projects. Finally, SB 1300 on oil and gas drilling permits was introduced to require DEP to consider potential harm from accidents or blowouts to natural resources when reviewing drilling permits, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill. The committee also took up confirmations, temporarily postponing the vote on Rodney Barreto’s FWC reappointment after public criticism of his leadership, while recommending favorably the other listed appointments.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- amended is re-referred to judiciary. amended is re-referred to judiciary.
- . amendment. amendment.
- Do we want to do the amendment first then? Yeah, let's do the amendment first.
- Uh, the amendment is A1. Who has that amendment? I do, Mr. Chair.
- withdraws her amendment. withdraws her amendment.
Keywords:
Capitol security, public safety, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, corrections, legislative approval, rule-making, financial impact, jail regulations, expungement, firearm eligibility, criminal records, organized retail crime, retail theft, supply chain theft, theft enterprise, organized theft, cargo theft, shoplifting
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- File No. 7, AB 1828 by Assembly Member Chen, with amendments.
- File No. 9, AB 1651 by Assembly Member Dixon, with amendments.
- File No. 28, AB 1640 by Assembly Member Stephanie, with amendments.
- However, the amendment was not formally added to the U.S.
- and statutory protections, ratifying the 19th Amendment in 1919 and the federal Equal Rights Amendment
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Ethics and Elections Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I see no amendments. Is there a debate on the bill? Are there witnesses?
- It doesn't have the specific definition for what constitutes a major party.
- There are no amendments. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are there questions on the bill?
- I look forward to talking with you more, and we can work on that possible amendment. Thank you.
- I look forward to talking with you more and we can work on that possible amendment. Thank you.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and considered several election- and ethics-related bills, along with a block of gubernatorial confirmations. Senate Bill 572, by Senator Harrell, updated ethics statutes so the definition of “relative” would include foster parents and foster children; the Commission on Ethics supported the change as a recommendation, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 414, by Senator Bracey Davis, would have allowed campaign funds to be used for campaign-related child care expenses, but the sponsor said it lacked the votes to advance and temporarily postponed it.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 500, by Senator Avila, which would provide FDLE protective security details for major-party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, and cabinet offices through the election and transition period. Senators raised questions about definitions, current protections, and public disclosure of travel information; despite some opposition over taxpayer funding, the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 620, by Senator Mayfield, required candidates to disclose any non-U.S. citizenship when qualifying for office; testimony from a dual citizen criticized the bill as unnecessary and stigmatizing, while supporters framed it as transparency. The bill also passed favorably.
Chair Gates then presented CS for SB 92, creating whistleblower-style protections for public employees who file ethics complaints based on firsthand knowledge, including remedies for retaliation; the Commission on Ethics supported it and it passed favorably. The committee also approved a slate of gubernatorial appointments en bloc. Finally, Senate Bill 564, by Senator Yarborough, would allow registered or pre-registered high school students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours; testimony from a supervisor of elections and advocacy groups supported the civics benefit, a senator asked about how it would interact with existing community service requirements, and the bill passed favorably. The committee then adjourned.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 02/05/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Draft the Kosovo constitution during their process of independence.
- DRAFT THE KOSOVO CONSTITUTION DURING THEIR PROCESS OF INDEPENDENCE.
- Calendar 196, Senate Print 2264, Senator Cooney, an act to amend the Civil Service Law.
- >> CALENDAR 203, SENATE PRINT 866 SENATOR BAILEY, AN ACT TO AMEND THE PENAL LAW.
- I believe that there is an amendment at the desk.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors.
The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness.
Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 12, 2026 - 09:15 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair: So the amendment is adopted. We are now back on the bill as amended.
- Show the amendment adopted. We are now back on the bill as amended.
- So the amendment is adopted. We are now on the bill as amended.
- So that is the amendment. Chair: Questions on the amendment?
- The amendment is adopted. We are now back on the bill as amended.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 56 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- When voters adopted the fair share amendment in 2022, it was their expectation that this revenue would
- Under the Constitution, a vote is required. Members will rise. A vote is required.
- Under the Constitution, a separate vote is required. We've already done that. Okay.
- Jones of North Reading, the order in the amendment, in the hands of the clerk.
Summary:
The House first adopted several noncontroversial resolutions, including congratulations to the Rotary Club of Watertown for its 100 years of service and to Mystic Valley Elder Services on its 50th anniversary. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance a petition establishing a sick leave bank for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee, James Caruso, sending that matter to the Committee on Public Service. The chamber then recessed and later confirmed a quorum after a roll call was called and withdrawn.
The main substantive item was House Bill 4227, the final conference committee report on supplemental FY2025 appropriations using FY2024 fair share surtax surplus funds. Members heard that the bill would spend about $1.38 billion, with roughly $716 million for transportation and $593 million for education. Transportation funding included support for the MBTA, regional transit authorities, Chapter 98, and municipal bridges and culverts; education funding included special education circuit breaker reimbursements, higher education deferred maintenance, vocational school capital, early education supports, endowment matches, and Green School Works. The House accepted the conference report by a roll call vote of 146-3, then passed the bill to be engrossed and later enacted it by a roll call vote of 148-4.
The House also advanced House No. 422, establishing a sick leave bank for Esther Adafwa of the Department of Mental Health. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. Throughout the session, the House observed moments of recognition and silence for guests and for the deaths of Richard Serino Sr. and Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and it adopted an order to adjourn in Hortman’s memory, with the House set to meet again Monday at 11 a.m.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/03/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, members, House Bill 2148 grants the legislature the authority to appropriate non-constitutional
- The bill outlines requirements relating to the legislative appropriations of non-constitutional federal
- There are no amendments. If there's any no further discussion, seeing none, will the Secretary...
- All right, there are no amendments. Is there any further discussion?
Keywords:
federal funding, state budget, appropriation, block grants, noncustodial funds, legislative authority, Arizona attorney general, Department of Public Safety, DPS, consumer fraud revolving fund, consumer protection fund, gang and immigration intelligence team enforcement mission fund, public safety appropriation, supplemental appropriation, outside counsel, state agency legal representation, legal services, state settlement proceeds, general fund, A.R.S. 41-192
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We are proud sponsors of AB 635 as amended.
- Chair, support if amended? Sure. Okay.
- We have a supportive amendment.
- We'll be accepting all committee amendments.
- Oh, and you've accepted the amendments. Yes, I have accepted the amendments. Thank you. Thank you.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/12/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I note that there is an amendment, 0090, and I see I am a co-sponsor of that amendment. Mr.
- There was another amendment to the amendment. I put in an amendment to the Kuttab amendment.
- an amendment to the katab amendment an amendment to the katab amendment right<01:00:25.119>
I'm - c> on<01:40:03.320>
Amendment <01:40:04.239>you Amendment ought to pass on Amendment - <01:40:12.159>
Amendment amendment Amendment amendment Amendment 0338 Chairman Noble, yes.
Summary:
The committee first addressed House Bill 415, which would remove the requirement that schools provide menstrual products. Members supporting an ITL said the mandate was unfunded, had been in place since 2019, and was already working without complaints from districts. Other members opposed the bill, arguing menstrual products are essential and that the requirement helps students, especially those with fewer resources. The committee voted ITL on HB 415 by a roll call of 17 yeas, 0 nays.
The committee then took up House Bill 388, concerning public reports on special education. Supporters of ITL said they agreed with the goal of transparency but were concerned about student privacy, especially in small districts, and thought the bill’s information requests went too far. They noted that related issues could potentially be addressed in another bill, HB 557. The committee voted ITL on HB 388, 17-0.
House Bill 730, which would require schools and some colleges to provide information on adoption, was also moved ITL. The sponsor said adoption is personally important to him but that the bill was not the right vehicle and involved entities such as colleges and the Attorney General unnecessarily; he said related ideas might be folded into other bills later. The committee agreed and voted ITL, 17-0.
The committee then discussed House Bill 671, a preschool/early literacy proposal involving a statewide nonprofit digital program, likely Waterford. Members raised questions about who would be covered, data privacy, prior use of federal ESSER funds, whether the program had measurable results, and whether the bill’s nonprofit requirement was too restrictive. Department of Education witness Melissa White said the state had spent $400,000 in FY22 and $600,000 in FY23 on a Waterford contract using ARP ESSER funds, but she did not have participant counts and said the department could not measure literacy gains for that population. She also said the bill’s funding level would likely require an RFP and that, if enacted as written, the program would probably still be Waterford-based. The discussion continued without a final vote in the portion provided.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (3-10-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Very well, we have a quorum duly constituted to conduct business. We will proceed.
- I'm in fact wondering if perhaps I can put an amendment and some sort of a resolution that asks to provide
- <00:10:18.160>
by <00:10:18.240>the <00:10:18.320>committee the measures amended - by the committee the measures amended by the committee senate<00:10:19.079>
committee senate - to do just strongly consider amending to do just that<00:15:53.880>
for <00:15:54.120>Augusta
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:05
HB 537 Discussion 00:00:40
HB 537 Vote 00:02:45
HJR 34 Discussion 00:03:30
HJR 34 Vote 00:07:45
HJR 30 Discussion 00:08:30
HJR 30 Vote 00:10:25
HJR 32 Discussion 00:11:00
HJR 32 Vote 00:41:00, 958, all
Summary:
The committee took up several measures related to appropriations and school facilities. House Bill 537 was explained as a technical fix to Kentucky’s opioid abatement settlement framework so the state can accept funds from national bankruptcy settlements under the allocation structure now used by the courts; the bill was supported by the Attorney General’s office and local government groups and received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 34 authorized release of previously appropriated KCTCS funds for three projects, and members discussed whether KCTCS facilities could be used more broadly for community needs such as public health, workforce, and other services. KCTCS officials said they were open to that idea, and the resolution also received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 30, concerning the Waters program and release of funds for projects that had remained in design, was adopted by committee substitute and passed favorably.
The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Joint Resolution 32, which concerns school facility gap funding for districts with low bonding capacity. The chair and sponsor explained that the General Assembly had previously asked the auditor and Blue & Co. to analyze district data because of disputes over project costs and bonding capacity. Superintendents from Marion County, Augusta Independent, Williamstown, and Walton Verona described their projects and financial constraints. Marion County and Augusta argued that full gap funding is necessary for new school or multipurpose facility projects that cannot be phased in; Augusta emphasized its old building stock, high poverty rate, and the need for a gymnasium/multipurpose space used for school and community functions. Williamstown described a STEM center and field expansion, saying the project would be delayed for years without full funding. Walton Verona described rapid growth, overcrowding, and an intermediate school project that had risen sharply in cost from the original estimate.
Members asked questions about the accuracy of cost estimates and the scope of the projects, including why some estimates differed from the auditor’s figures and whether the funding requests covered only parts of larger phased plans. The testimony generally supported full funding for the listed districts, with the districts arguing that the projects are necessary for safe, modern learning environments and that local tax effort has already been substantial. Each of the measures considered during the meeting was reported out favorably, with the chair voting no on the resolutions and bills before the committee.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant May 30th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Appointing committee, of which the commission found was in violation of the Constitution.
- New Mexico's constitution is the only state constitution that mentions the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
- They never adopted any of the Mexican constitutional laws that states did during that period of independence
- To look at the treaty as being incorporated into our Constitution.
- I would love to talk with you more, especially given the constitutional protections for Spanish descendants
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Commerce and Tourism Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Are there questions on the amendment? Questions on the amendment?
- Show the amendment is adopted. We are back on the bill as amended.
- The amendment is adopted. We are back on the bill as amended.
- Show the amendment is adopted. We're back on the bill as amended.
- the amendment?
Summary:
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism took up several measures, beginning with SB 1666, which would adopt Florida’s version of UCC Article 12 to address commercial transactions involving digital assets such as cryptocurrency, smart contracts, blockchain, and NFTs. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably. It also approved CS/SB 480, a proposal to create affordable health coverage options for farmers and ranchers through a nonprofit agricultural organization model; the bill drew significant questions about preexisting conditions, ACA coverage, costs, and whether the plans would function like insurance, but it was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from some members and outside groups. The committee then unanimously advanced CS/SB 1172, which expands business development incentives for veterans and military spouses, including procurement preferences, fee waivers, tax exemptions, and an entrepreneurship program; an amendment added military-spouse hiring preferences and protections for private employers that adopt them voluntarily.
The committee also approved CS/SB 1400, a bill aimed at non-consensual AI-generated sexual deepfakes. The measure requires covered platforms to provide a removal process, post clear notice of that process, and remove identified content within 24 to 48 hours, with liability under the Florida Unfair Trade and Deceptive Practices Act for noncompliance; an amendment carved out internet service providers from liability. Members raised concerns about repeat uploads and the meaning of “reasonable efforts,” but the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adopted SM 1488, a memorial urging Congress to create a sovereign wealth fund, despite testimony opposing it as unnecessary and constitutionally questionable. It also passed SB 1252, which would create a centralized statewide system for sharing pawn and secondhand dealer data among law enforcement agencies; the sponsor said the first step would be a $250,000 feasibility study, and the bill was reported favorably.
Finally, the committee considered SB 922, which revises Florida’s restrictive covenant laws by creating a streamlined process for certain non-compete and garden leave agreements involving employees with access to sensitive information and higher wages. The bill drew extensive debate over worker mobility, global scope, and whether it would strengthen employer leverage too much; after a technical amendment, it was reported favorably. The last major item was SB 1776, a Florida Whistleblowers Act revision that adds a notice-to-cure requirement, narrows retaliation and employer definitions, and limits claims where another statutory remedy exists. Members and public speakers raised concerns that it could make whistleblower claims harder to bring and give employers time to destroy evidence, but the bill was amended and then reported favorably.