Video & Transcript : 'Imagination Library' :
Page 192 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Feb 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So you can imagine there being lots of different scenarios for the future of the state, right?
- And the second, similarly, but we've never dealt with this before, is can we imagine making more countercyclical
- ... ...with this before is can we imagine making more countercyclical investments within the state appropriations
- Maybe you'll tell, I hope you'll talk to us a little bit about that, but could we imagine a change to
- infrastructure, to some extent that's supplanting general fund spending. with this before is can we imagine
Summary:
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee held an informational hearing on California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or Rainy Day Fund, with opening remarks focused on the state’s long history of revenue volatility and the role reserves play in smoothing downturns. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that California’s personal income tax base is highly volatile because high-income earners’ income is tied to capital gains and other fluctuating sources, and that Proposition 2’s current reserve rules set aside 1.5% of General Fund revenues plus a share of excess capital gains, but cap constitutional deposits at 10% of General Fund taxes. The LAO said its analysis evaluates reserve policy over decades and found the current system would cover about 30% of funding shortfalls in a 90th-percentile downturn scenario over 50 years, which is an improvement over no reserve but still inadequate.
The LAO recommended raising the reserve cap substantially, ultimately to 50% by 2055, with an immediate increase to 20% and gradual increases thereafter. It also suggested either replacing Proposition 2’s deposit formulas with broader rules that capture volatility across all tax revenues or, alternatively, depositing all excess capital gains rather than only a share. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s prior proposal similarly sought to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exclude reserve deposits and withdrawals from the state appropriations limit, arguing those two constraints limited the state’s ability to save during recent revenue surges.
Other panelists and members discussed whether reserves should be paired with broader structural changes, including unemployment insurance reform, safety-net funding, infrastructure reserves, and the projected surplus temporary holding account. The California Budget and Policy Center supported reserve reform but emphasized balancing savings with current needs and noted other tools such as revenue increases, borrowing from special funds, and the new surplus-holding account. Members debated the causes and effects of Proposition 13, the appropriations limit, business departures, and whether reserve policy should be more directly tied to protecting Californians’ access to health care, food assistance, child care, and other core services. No votes or formal actions were taken, as the hearing was informational only.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Feb 11th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I think that maybe the best way to describe them is if you imagine sorting all of the corporations from
- Imagine, for sake of hyper-simplicity, you have a foreign-based company that has two subsidiaries.
- We are not a no-tax organization by any stretch of the imagination.
- So it doesn't fall into the definition of a loophole by any stretch of the imagination.
- And this is, again, very briefly: if you have it, just imagine a company, a U.S. company.
Summary:
The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the Water’s Edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Chairs opened by framing the issue as a review of whether current rules fairly and sufficiently tax foreign subsidiary income, given profit shifting concerns, budget pressures, and the long history since Water’s Edge was adopted in the 1980s. The first panel from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Franchise Tax Board explained the mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and the Water’s Edge election, and provided filing data showing Water’s Edge filers are a small share of returns but account for a large share of corporate tax liability. FTB witnesses said the agency already administers both methods and could handle a shift to mandatory worldwide reporting with education and outreach, though revenue estimates are difficult because foreign affiliate information is not directly available.
Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, administrative burden, industries with more profit shifting, revenue uncertainty, and whether companies would leave California. LAO and FTB witnesses said pushback from foreign governments was plausible, but they did not expect major business flight because California’s tax is largely based on sales rather than physical presence. They also said worldwide reporting could reduce profit shifting but might increase revenue volatility and litigation risk. A second panel of academic and tax policy witnesses argued that Water’s Edge is a loophole that rewards aggressive tax planning, that worldwide combined reporting would better capture income tied to California, and that modern federal and international rules such as NCTI/GILTI, CAMT, and Pillar Two reduce compliance concerns and make a return to worldwide reporting more feasible. They also said California’s current system can create selection effects and may under-tax large multinationals.
In the next panel, a California Budget and Policy Center witness urged eliminating the Water’s Edge election, calling it a costly loophole that benefits large global corporations over smaller domestic businesses and deprives the state of billions in revenue that could support health care and other services. A Silicon Valley Leadership Group witness gave historical context for why Water’s Edge was adopted and began outlining concerns about compliance, double taxation, and the risk of overreaching beyond income truly connected to California. No bill was voted on or advanced; the hearing was informational only, with members using the testimony to weigh the policy trade-offs and possible transition periods if the Legislature were to change the current rules.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- And as you might imagine, in eastern Washington, our cities and counties have grown exponentially over
- I believe the AGO has a lot of work to do, and I can't imagine them doing an experimental challenge,
- I believe the AGO has a lot of work to do, and I can't imagine them doing an experimental challenge,
- being rejected twice and that being considered a material disparate burden, and then also you can imagine
- being rejected twice and that being considered a material disparate burden, and then also you can imagine
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, failure to register, criminal justice, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, nonprofit, grant funding, pilot program, financial support, community development, child care, childcare, subsidy rates, rate regions, market rate survey
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Health Committee and Privacy Committee and Consumer Protection Committee May 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And during this time, as you can imagine, I've... For Optum.
- And during this time, as you can imagine, I've seen a lot of health care data and processes.
- You know, we have all the technology we can imagine. I think to lead in this space.
- You know, we have all the technology we can imagine.
- But imagine if Medi-Cal could say, we want an algorithm that is going to detect this cancer at least
Summary:
The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Health and Privacy Committees focused on generative AI in health care, with opening remarks emphasizing both its potential to improve care and its risks around privacy, bias, liability, workforce impacts, and unequal access. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Chair Bonta framed the discussion around how California can encourage beneficial innovation while protecting patients, especially given the sensitivity of health data and the possibility that AI could worsen existing disparities if not carefully governed.
The first panel featured representatives from Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Penguin AI, and Google, who described current uses of AI such as ambient clinical scribes, nursing documentation tools, imaging triage, maternal-fetal risk prediction, and administrative automation. Speakers said these tools can reduce clinician burden, improve patient experience, speed treatment, and in some cases improve outcomes, including a reported mortality benefit from a Kaiser predictive model and faster thrombectomy times at Cedars-Sinai. Members raised concerns about accuracy with accents and multilingual visits, whether predictive tools could reinforce bias or lead to more interventions such as C-sections, and how to ensure a human remains in the loop for important decisions.
The second panel, including representatives from the California Health Care Foundation, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, focused on policy and governance challenges. Testimony highlighted examples of AI supporting homelessness outreach and community health work, but also warned that biased algorithms can encode inequities, especially when trained on data that reflect under-treatment of Black, rural, or low-income patients. Witnesses urged clearer standards for trustworthy AI, stronger monitoring and governance structures, better data access for accountability, and attention to the safety net’s limited resources. Several speakers argued that states should require health systems to have AI governance processes, clarify liability between developers and deployers, and regulate downstream uses of AI while preserving access to data for lifesaving research and oversight.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 3rd, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Unintentionally, she made me laugh, trying to imagine getting in a purpose. But I understood.
- Can you imagine?
- Imagine standing surrounded by the ashes of the LA Fire. where thousands have lost everything they've
- Jews were being round up and sent to the most horrific death any of us could ever imagine.
- Imagine you leaving your children.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/11/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- I imagined how he or she would look or what their personality would be like.
- I imagined how he or she would look like or what their personality would be like.
Keywords:
technical registration, engineering, architect, land surveyor, reciprocity, endorsement, qualification standards, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, contractors, administrative recovery, regulation, statute of limitations, residential contractors' recovery fund, 1182
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee May 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- came out at the beginning of April announcing the BRIC program cancellation, I think you can all imagine
- came out at the beginning of April announcing the BRIC program cancellation, I think you can all imagine
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Emergency Management met to consider Assembly Joint Resolution 11, which urges the President and Congress to restore funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. Chair Rhodesia Ransom and Assembly Member Lisa Calderon described the resolution as a bipartisan effort to preserve funding for hazard mitigation projects that help communities prevent disasters rather than simply recover from them. They cited major California impacts from the program’s cancellation, including losses for wildfire mitigation, seismic retrofits, and dam safety projects in several counties and districts.
Support testimony came from Catherine Freeman of the California State Association of Counties and Robin Finning of Cal OES. Freeman said counties rely on BRIC for flexible, proactive disaster-prevention funding and warned that canceling the program would set back years of resilience work. Finning said 49 communities had contacted Cal OES after the cancellation announcement and that the agency had been working closely with them on next steps. Stephanie Stevens of the California Residential Mitigation Program also testified in support, noting the loss of more than $40 million for earthquake soft-story retrofit grants.
Members expressed support and noted the importance of the affected district projects. There was no opposition testimony. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt AJR 11 and refer it to third reading, with all members present voting aye. The meeting was then adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, I know it's been a long day, but I want you to imagine with me for a moment that you are shopping
- It is a household benefit, so I don't imagine that that would happen, but Texas will have to face that
Committee:
House Human Services
Keywords:
DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Apr 10th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Agriculture and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- into just all the way around causing different types of diseases, cancers, anything that you can imagine
- of diseases, cancers, cancers, causing different types of diseases, cancers, anything that you can imagine
Bills:
HB1318
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs
Keywords:
HB 1318, pesticide labeling, pesticide warning, duty to warn, failure to warn, labeling defense, EPA-approved label, Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA, North Dakota agriculture commissioner, product liability, tort reform, preemption, carcinogenicity classification, human health assessment, pesticide regulation, agricultural chemicals, herbicide, insecticide, rodenticide
Summary:
The Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee met on April 10 and took up House Bill 1318, a bill dealing with pesticide-related liability and warning-label issues. The chair explained that the bill had drawn strong interest from both agriculture and public health sides, and that the committee was trying to craft language that would protect consumers without unduly harming agricultural production. He said the committee had worked through multiple draft amendments and was now considering Amendment 1006, which was described as a compromise combining earlier proposals and narrowing the bill’s scope to pesticides registered with the state commissioner.
Members discussed whether the amendment would weaken the original intent of the bill. Senator Myrdal said the revised language added needed guardrails and addressed concerns about overly broad preemption language and warning-label standards, while also preserving agriculture’s ability to operate. After a motion to rescind the earlier action on the bill passed, Amendment 1006 was adopted unanimously by the members present. A motion to move the bill without committee recommendation failed for lack of a second.
The committee then voted on House Bill 1318 as amended. The do-pass motion passed on a roll call vote, with Senators Weber, Luick, Myrdal, and Lemm voting yes, and Senators Marcellais and Weston voting no. The chair said he would carry the bill. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff for their work during the session, and the chair noted he might call the committee back if a conference committee report required further input.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- 46.000><c> going</c><01:26:46.080><c> to</c> can't imagine that's actually going to can't imagine that's
- I can just imagine what the tweets would have been.
- I can just imagine what the that did it.
- ><c> impact</c><01:45:38.000><c> young</c> imagine how this will impact young imagine how this will impact
- </c><02:32:43.600><c> why</c> bill came because I couldn't imagine why bill came because I couldn't imagine
Committee:
House Transportation
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/16/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:38:21.440><c> And</c> that we probably can't even imagine.
- And that we probably can't even imagine.
- </c> Na I I mean I can certainly imagine Na I I mean I can certainly imagine scenarios<01:54:28.719><
- I would imagine. I don't know why it has I would imagine.
- I can only imagine what their illegal.
Summary:
The committee first discussed a budget-related issue involving liquor commission enforcement staff and tobacco enforcement funding. A member explained that proposed cuts to “group two” enforcement positions at the liquor commission could jeopardize the tobacco enforcement money that flows to Health and Human Services, and expressed confidence that the enforcement division would ultimately be preserved.
The main hearing was on Senate Bill 19, which would modernize hotel and motel statutes by repealing outdated requirements. The sponsor and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association said the bill would remove obsolete rules such as the old guest book/card system and antiquated posting requirements for room rates and motel signs. Members questioned whether the bill would eliminate the requirement to record guest departure dates or affect inspection rights, and the witnesses said the intent was only to remove the book-and-card reference while leaving the rest of the recordkeeping requirement in place. Supporters argued the rate-posting rules are widely ignored, hard to enforce, and outdated in an era of digital reservations and variable pricing; the committee also discussed whether any consumer-protection purpose remained. The public hearing on SB 19 was then closed.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 280FN, which would require food delivery services to have an agreement with a restaurant or food retail store before offering delivery from that business. The sponsor said the bill restores a prior law that had sunset and was intended to prevent third-party platforms from listing restaurants without consent. Restaurant industry testimony strongly supported the bill, describing problems with unauthorized listings, delayed deliveries, and reimbursement disputes, and saying the agreement requirement protects restaurant brands and consumer expectations. Members shared examples of delivery problems and voiced support for reinstating the safeguard.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- President, it would be hard to imagine that the Senate, understanding the consequences of this, taking
- It would be hard to imagine that the Senate would, understanding the consequences of this, taking action
- I cannot imagine that this Senate, that holds high the values of accountability and transparency and
Summary:
The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote.
The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote.
The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Code Commission Jun 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Or conversely, it's not hard to imagine someone would be smarter than McCullough and come up with better
- terms that would be suitable... ...imagine someone would be smarter than McCullough and come up with
- I would imagine we'd want some folks from the forms committee on that work group as well, some folks
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Legislative Evaluation and Development Committee REVISED: Meeting room changed to House rm 450 May 13th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Legislative Evaluation and Development Committee (LEAD)
Transcript Highlights:
- We talk about that a lot, and I guess my I'm imagining lots of states have the same issue.
- In terms of, I mean, I would imagine that would be one thing that we might want to look At and filter
- I would imagine that the workforce commission and the investment that we have made with that and concentrating
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- If you can imagine, If you can imagine another three and four-light downtown Kansas City with the cover
- If you can imagine another three and four-light downtown Kansas City with the cover over, I think that's
Committee:
House Rules - Legislative
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Children and Families May 11th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Children and Families
Transcript Highlights:
- I just cannot imagine this situation, this scenario. Video.
- I cannot imagine this, this situation, this scenario. It's horrific. Yeah. Do you have any stats?
- So I imagine they were allowed to testify. Thank you so much. Thank you for your testimony.
Committee:
House Children and Families
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
FULL INTERVIEW: Serving Minnesota by Modernizing Human Services Systems | Senator Melissa Wiklund Apr 24th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So, it's really inefficient, and you can imagine that each of these applications, if they have to do
- So, it's really inefficient, and you can imagine that each of these applications, if they have to do
- And you can imagine that each of these applications, if they have to do that, the time it takes is going
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- So my inquiry would be, in passing this resolution, would you imagine that we would talk more about this
- Well, imagine that. You're right there. Perfect. Thank you. Representative Faruza.
- Well, imagine that. You're right there. Perfect. Thank you. Begin when you're ready.
Committee:
House Health and Mental Health
Summary:
The House Committee on Health and Mental Health heard testimony on several measures. HCR 42, sponsored by Representative Perkins, urged Congress to support programs aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for Medicaid and Medicare patients. The sponsor said it would help elderly and low-income residents, while Representative Dahl argued the referenced program could cost more than other pharmacy options and criticized the resolution. No one testified in support or opposition, and the hearing on HCR 42 was closed.
The committee then heard SB 878, a pharmacist practice act bill sponsored by Senator Fitzwater. The bill would make permanent several pandemic-era pharmacy practices, including pharmacist administration of certain vaccines, medication therapy plan authority, dispensing of some medical devices and supplies, over-the-counter availability of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine with warning labels and standardized procedures, and nonprofit pharmacy emergency waivers. Supporters said it would improve access, especially in rural areas, reduce delays in treatment, and help pharmacies remain open. Opponents raised concerns about vaccine authority shifting away from the governor, the safety of over-the-counter hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, and whether pharmacists should be treated as equivalent to physicians. The Missouri Pharmacy Association, Walmart, and Walgreens testified in support, and the hearing was closed without a vote.
The committee also heard two resolutions. HCR 538, by Representative Hruza, would designate May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month and encourage support for research and advocacy. Members generally supported the resolution, with comments about the severity of ALS and the importance of early communication supports; no opposition was presented. HCR 4661, also presented by Representative Hruza, would encourage awareness and screening for chronic kidney disease, especially among high-risk patients, and promote public-private education efforts around urine albumin-to-creatinine testing. Testimony emphasized the prevalence and cost of kidney disease and the value of early detection. The committee took no votes on these measures and adjourned after the hearings.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism 2ND REVISED Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- The list changes regularly, as you might imagine, but this is just a way to promote Made in Oklahoma
- I would imagine fraudulent activity would be reported by the employer to the OESC, so that would be one
- I would imagine some interim study could be done on this.
Bills:
SB1327 , SB1372 , SB1403 , SB1937 , SB277 , SB2131 , SB1749 , SB1348 , SB1469 , SB2018 , SB1931 , SB1530 , SB2155
Keywords:
tourism, recreation, economic development, Oklahoma Commission, executive director, probation, credits, educational advancement, Oklahoma Statutes, criminal justice reform, job incentives, tax rebates, Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, employment growth, wage requirements, labor organization, incentives, employer practices, union neutrality, worker rights
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/12/2026 - House Rural Economic Development
Rural Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And so imagine, imagine, you have other videos? No, ma'am, just this.
- Imagine, if you will, if you are customs and border...
Committee:
House Rural Economic Development
Keywords:
utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation