Video & Transcript : 'justified use of force' :

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MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming May 27th, 2026

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Transcript Highlights:
  • Even those of us who don't participate in the program directly.
  • And it helps us produce thousands of units of green and healthy housing, much of it affordable.
  • So given the high cost of energy, the best thing you can do in the face of that is to use less of it.
  • use less of it.
  • It actually pays us money back on the order of hundreds to thousands of dollars per ton.
Summary: The hearing focused on the value of Mass Save, with committee members and witnesses largely emphasizing that the program lowers energy bills, reduces peak demand, supports climate goals, and delivers benefits beyond direct participants. The chair opened by noting Mass Save’s long-term savings, its role in weatherization and heat pump deployment, and recent statutory changes directing the program toward emissions reductions, low- and moderate-income households, and fossil-fuel restrictions. Elizabeth Mahoney of the Department of Energy Resources said the program has evolved to broaden access and control costs, citing large weatherization totals, heat pump installations, avoided emissions, and budget controls that removed $500 million from the approved plan. She also said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer Mass Save was intended to reduce administrative and procurement costs, and she explained that outreach to low- and moderate-income communities is counted within marketing spending. Several witnesses addressed the program’s workforce and business impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, contractors, and thousands of jobs by creating stable demand for energy-efficiency work, while warning that sharp budget cuts would lead to layoffs and discourage investment in training, equipment, and hiring. Committee members pressed them on who administers the program, and both said the program administrators and utilities collaborate, with day-to-day contractor oversight and customer work largely delegated to private vendors and community partners. Other witnesses, including Brian Biot and James Collins of the low-income network, described the “quarterbacking” model used for income-eligible customers, where community action agencies provide full project management, technical support, and wraparound services to help households access fuel assistance, discount rates, weatherization, and electrification measures. A major theme was cost-effectiveness and system-wide savings. Anna Johnson of ACEEE and Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said Mass Save returns more than it costs, reduces peak demand, and lowers prices for all ratepayers, including those who do not participate directly. They cited avoided costs in the billions, strong state rankings, and examples of peak-hour savings that avoid expensive generation and infrastructure. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that energy efficiency is the cheapest way to achieve greenhouse gas reductions and that cutting the program would force more expensive power plants to run. Bronte Payne of Sunrun and Ben Sondaga of Highland Electric Fleets highlighted Connected Solutions, a Mass Save-funded virtual power plant program, saying it saves ratepayers money and can use home batteries and electric school buses to reduce peak demand and support grid reliability. Equity and affordable housing witnesses, including Mary Wampo and Barney Heath, said Mass Save has become more responsive to renters, low-income households, and designated equity communities, while also helping affordable housing projects meet passive house and electrification standards; no votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Transcript Highlights:
  • Even those of us who don't participate in the program directly.
  • And it helps us produce thousands of units of green and healthy housing, much of it affordable.
  • an office... 10 of us.
  • So given the high cost of energy, the best thing you can do in the face of that is to use less of it.
  • It actually pays us money back on the order of hundreds to thousands of dollars per ton.
Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Mar 11th, 2026

Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • That outcomes review process can allow us to look back and then also kind of look forward to examine
  • But it used to be 18% of our operating costs, and now it's 11%.
  • So 92% of the acres in Napa said, yes, please tax us to the tune of $14 an acre to provide for the farmworker
  • So helping us get ahead of the utilities—we can't afford solar right now. It's a huge investment.
  • A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated our second project using that model.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development Feb 24th, 2026

Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • MoDOT in the state of Missouri is using the design-build process to improve Interstate 70.
  • Modot in the state of Missouri is using the design build process to improve interstate 70.
  • And some people want us to make sure we get the low bid, but that's kind of a local thing.
  • processes that allow us to have the best people at all phases of a project.
  • So it prohibits the use of certain state funds.
Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met in executive session and first approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2151 by a vote of 11-0. The substitute removed CPI language so the measure would not allow a year-over-year increase, and the committee then voted the bill do pass. The committee then heard House Bill 2474, which would add progressive design-build as another procurement option for municipalities and other local political subdivisions. The sponsor and supporters said it would give local governments more flexibility, speed, and cost control on major projects by allowing a collaborative, multi-stage process before final pricing is set; no one testified in opposition, and the hearing was closed without a vote. The committee next heard House Bill 2693, a port authority bill that the sponsor described as clarifying port authority creation, districts, operations, and partnerships while preserving limits on state liability. Testimony from Port KC and the Missouri Port Authority Association focused on public safety needs, including authority for port rangers with arrest powers in Kansas City’s port district, board appointment and removal provisions, and the need to keep ports competitive for development. Questions also touched on labor standards, housing authority funding, and whether the bill affected data centers; the hearing ended without opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1716, which would create a Department of Economic Development grant program for rural workforce housing through nonprofit regional partners. The sponsor and Northeast Missouri witnesses said the program is already working in northeast Missouri through a revolving fund, with homes built and sold at cost to help attract and retain workers such as teachers, nurses, and tradespeople; supporters from housing, business, utility, and economic development groups backed the bill, while one witness opposed government involvement in housing. Committee members questioned eligibility, nonprofit-only administration, local contractor use, affordability, and whether the program could crowd out private builders. The sponsor said an amendment would be needed before a vote, and the committee adjourned after the hearing without taking final action on HB 1716 or HB 2693.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development Feb 24th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • MoDOT in the state of Missouri is using the design-build process to improve Interstate 70.
  • And some people want us to make sure we get the low bid, but that's kind of a local thing.
  • processes that allow us to have the best people at all phases of a project.
  • So it prohibits the use of certain state funds. So was that something that Port KC did use?
  • So for some of us, it's raised on the farm. It's really nice. So thank you. Thank you.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, those of us who worked hard for this kind of funding were faced with a criticism that this was
  • Both of us got to see many of you recently when Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick hosted us in his office
  • us dream of and all of us enjoy.
  • Own, not just of filmmaking, but of permanent movie studios. Absolutely. That's up to us.
  • This will make us one of the largest film programs in the country.
Bills: SB22 , SB 22
Committee: Senate Finance
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't get a copy of that autopsy unless the family sends it to us.
  • and retaining staff at the human development centers and the use of on-call, the high utilization of
  • And then chemical restraint review and oversight of when you can use that.
  • Because part of the value of having full-time employees and not using contractor staff is them getting
  • I have a request from DHS that you keep us abreast of all of the recruitments, the consultants, reports
Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve the October 8, 2025 minutes and then held an extended hearing on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. DHS officials Lori McDonald, Jennifer Brise, and Melissa Weatherton described the HDC system, staffing and resident needs, and said Moore died after being held in a prone restraint for about 13 minutes, followed by a delayed chemical restraint and delayed CPR. They said the family settled a wrongful death claim for $725,000, 13 staff were terminated, the facility leadership was changed, and at least five staff had been criminally charged, with the death certificate later described as homicide and the cause of death as physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. Members pressed DHS on why the family was not kept informed, whether there was a written restraint protocol, how staff are trained, and why the agency did not have more complete information ready for the hearing. DHS said staff receive CPI restraint training, annual restraint training is mandatory, and a consultant is reviewing policies, retraining staff, and conducting a root cause analysis under a directed plan of correction from the Office of Long-Term Care. Legislators also raised broader concerns about low pay, staffing shortages, use of float and contract staff, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based care. DHS said it is working on a retention and recruitment plan and a rate report for certain PASS services, but that the PASS rate study does not cover CNA pay. Several members said the incident reflected both a failure of restraint practice and a broader staffing and oversight problem. DHS acknowledged that prone restraint should not have been used, that the chemical restraint was given at the wrong time, and that multiple breakdowns occurred in supervision, communication, and equipment use. The committee also discussed whether there should be more regular independent audits of HDC policies, and DHS said it does not currently have a separate annual policy audit beyond existing oversight. At the end of the meeting, the committee asked DHS to keep it updated on recruitment, consultant reports, and to contact Moore’s mother about the communication she had been promised. The meeting adjourned without any additional formal action beyond approving the minutes.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming May 27th, 2026

Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Transcript Highlights:
  • Even those of us who don't participate in the program directly.
  • And it helps us produce thousands of units of green and healthy housing, much of it affordable.
  • So given the high cost of energy, the best thing you can do in the face of that is to use less of it.
  • It pays us money back on the order of hundreds to thousands of dollars per ton.
  • So energy efficiency is one of those savings measures that is really cheap, on the order of saving us
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't get a copy of that autopsy unless the family sends it to us.
  • and retaining staff at the Human Development Centers and the use of on-call, the high utilization of
  • And then chemical restraint review and oversight of when you can use that.
  • Because part of the value of having full-time employees and not using contractor staff is that they get
  • I have a request from DHS that you keep us abreast of all of the recruitments, the consultants, reports
Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve prior minutes and then focused on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center, later clarified in discussion as the Warren facility. DHS officials described Moore’s background, said he died after a prolonged prone restraint followed by a delayed chemical restraint, and reported that 13 staff were terminated, the superintendent was replaced, a consultant was brought in, and the agency entered a settlement with the family for $725,000. Members pressed DHS on the cause of death, restraint policies, staff training, supervision, family notification, and why the family had not been kept informed; DHS said a family-notification procedure exists but that communications during litigation had been handled through counsel. The committee also heard that six staff had been criminally charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person, and that the death certificate listed the manner of death as homicide with cause of death tied to physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. DHS officials gave broader context on the five human development centers, their licensing and accreditation, resident population, mortality review process, and training programs. They said the centers serve highly medically and behaviorally complex residents, that annual restraint training and CPI-based instruction are required, and that the mortality review committee and Office of Long-Term Care review deaths and make recommendations. Members repeatedly criticized the agency for not having complete information at the meeting and for what they saw as gaps in oversight, staffing, and chain-of-command clarity during emergencies. DHS responded that the Warren facility had not been meeting the same standards as the others, that the consultant’s root-cause analysis identified multiple failures, and that new crisis-team and chain-of-command procedures were being drafted. A second major topic was staffing and recruitment. Members discussed low pay, turnover, use of float and on-call staff, rural staffing shortages, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based services. DHS said CNAs at the centers start at about $39,000 a year, that a broader retention and recruitment plan is being drafted for all five centers, and that a separate rate study for PASS services will be implemented in January 2027 but does not cover CNA pay. The meeting ended with testimony from Moore’s mother, Angela Stevens, who said money could not replace her son and urged stronger training, background checks, and supervision so other residents would be protected. The committee asked DHS to keep members and Stevens updated on consultant reports, recruitment efforts, and follow-up on the family communication issue, and then adjourned.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Rules Feb 13th, 2026

House Rules & Order Of Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • And of course, you give us the reasons why we're not. Why aren't you spending it?
  • I'm really proud of us for doing that.
  • of us.
  • But Madam Chair and Senator, I think PNM's one of the driving forces for this transaction.
  • I think I bring us back to the whole point of the study.
Bills: SM20 , SM9 , SJR6 , HB124
Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Mary Patricia Roman to the State Investment Council. Senator Campos presented her as highly qualified, citing more than 34 years in global investing, leadership at J.P. Morgan, and prior service on the SIC investment committee. Roman described her experience with asset allocation, fiduciary responsibility, and the SIC’s vetting process. Senators asked about the council’s role in pension investments, staffing levels, and whether personal values could influence decisions. Roman said the SIC process is robust, heavily staff-driven, and insulated from individual value judgments. The committee reported broad support and voted 8-0 to advance her nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard the reappointment of John F. Bingaman to the SIC. Senator Worth praised his leadership as SIC chair and his background in private equity, public service, and economics. Bingaman emphasized the growth of New Mexico’s sovereign wealth funds to more than $70 billion, the importance of staffing and asset allocation, and the SIC’s role as a fiduciary for New Mexicans. Senators asked about protecting the funds in a weaker market and about the Blackstone/PNM matter; Bingaman declined to comment on the memorial because he had not read it. The committee voted 9-0 to send his reappointment to the full Senate. The committee next took up Senate Memorial 20, calling for a statewide youth violence summit. Senator Lopez and an expert from the Council of State Governments said New Mexico lacks a cohesive statewide infrastructure for youth violence prevention and intervention, limited data collection, and enough evidence-based services. Supporters from the ACLU, behavioral health organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, and youth advocates backed the memorial as a way to center lived experience, community engagement, and research-based solutions. Some members raised concerns that victims’ families were not explicitly included in the planning group, but the memorial passed on a 6-3 vote. Finally, the committee debated Senate Memorial 9, which asked the Legislative Finance Committee to study whether New Mexico should invest in equity stakes in PNM and New Mexico Gas Company and requested that the PRC pause consideration of the private-equity acquisitions while the study was completed. Supporters argued the state should examine whether utility ownership value could remain in New Mexico, protect ratepayers, and diversify revenue, while opponents from PNM, Blackstone’s representatives, chambers of commerce, and utility advocates said the proposal would duplicate the PRC’s review, create uncertainty, and risk higher rates and delayed investment. The committee adopted an amendment removing references to the PRC, but the memorial then failed on a 4-4 tie after a motion for due pass as amended.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't get a copy of that autopsy unless the family sends it to us.
  • and retaining staff at the human development centers and the use of on-call, the high utilization of
  • And then chemical restraint review and oversight of when you can use that.
  • Because part of the value of having full-time employees and not using contractor staff is them getting
  • I have a request from the DHS that you keep us abreast of all of the recruitments, the consultants' reports
MO
Transcript Highlights:
  • And some of us are in agreement with this bill. Some of us are not in agreement with this bill.
  • And most of us won't be here when that gets done.
  • , at the laws of the state of Missouri, and said, you can't keep us from that. at the laws of the state
  • of Missouri and said, you can't keep us from doing this.
  • choice for us to kind of go down this route.
Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal by a 134-0 roll call vote, and then moved through a series of introductions recognizing guests and student groups at the Capitol, including Turning Point USA chapters, CASA volunteers and staff, JAG students, university groups, nursing students, and several legislative interns. The chamber also handled a point of order about an unauthorized prop in the room, which was removed. The first major bill taken up was House Bill 1766, dealing with personal property tax treatment and new construction calculations. Supporters argued it would treat personal property more like real estate under Hancock-style limits and provide fairness to taxpayers, while opponents warned it could reduce revenue for taxing districts. After debate, the House passed HB 1766 by a vote of 94-50. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2989, a major gaming measure that would criminalize illegal gaming machines, create a regulated framework for video lottery terminals, give local governments an opt-out, and expand enforcement authority for the Attorney General and prosecutors. Members debated whether the bill was a needed enforcement tool or an inappropriate expansion of gambling, with concerns raised about addiction, local control, revenue distribution, and whether the bill should have gone to Fiscal Review. A motion to refer the bill to Fiscal Review failed 69-44, and the bill itself passed 83-66 with one present. The chamber next took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2014, the supplemental appropriations bill. The sponsor said it provided just over $3 billion in additional authority, including tax refund authority, disaster relief, St. Louis tornado recovery funding, and major MoDOT funding, along with other smaller items. Members from both parties supported the bill, while also noting concerns about reliance on supplementals and the need to budget more accurately in the future. The House adopted an amendment reducing some general revenue authority, then adopted the bill and perfected and printed it. The meeting ended with announcements, including a notice that the Super Committee on Tourism would meet immediately in Hearing Room 6.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 21st, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • used to in the state of Texas.
  • But those of us that are, the clarity of this particular bill is exactly your question.
  • claimed excessive force that was used on him.
  • There are the interests of the members of commissioners court, which I used to have the privilege of
  • You have the interests of the members of commissioners court, which I used to have the privilege of serving
Summary: The subcommittee on county and regional government heard a long agenda of county-related bills, with most measures left pending after testimony. HB 2097, by Rep. Martinez, would let counties that opt in use an independent hearing examiner instead of a civil service commission for certain deputy sheriff discipline appeals; the bill drew support from CLEET’s Robert Leonard, who said it would be fairer and faster, and it was left pending. HB 4642, by Rep. Gonzalez, would require counties that contract with out-of-state jail facilities to include Texas jail-standard protections and oversight; Gonzalez, detainee Jess Hampton, his wife, Texas Jail Project’s Krish Kundu, and TCJS director Brandon Wood all discussed deaths and poor conditions in Louisiana facilities, staffing shortages, and the need for guardrails and data collection. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4350, by Rep. Capriglione, allowing peace officers to request redaction of personal information from online real property records. Supporters said officers face targeted threats and should have protections similar to judges; a title industry witness warned about preserving the integrity of land records. The bill was left pending. HB 3687, by Rep. Harless, would require county fire marshals in counties over 100,000 to meet training and certification standards within set timeframes; Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen supported professionalization, and the bill was left pending. HB 4105 would let very large counties give a local-bid preference for construction and infrastructure contracts, and HB 4205 would require pay parity for similar law enforcement ranks within large counties; both were supported by Harris County officials and constables and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 5403, which would repeal a special rule limiting Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs’ control over commissary funds; the author said it would remove an outdated population bracket, and the bill was left pending. HB 4462 would require large counties to allow elected officials named in civil suits to seek outside counsel and have a role in settlement decisions; supporters argued county attorneys and commissioners court can have conflicts of interest, while questions focused on who qualifies and whether the bill could complicate settlements. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 240, by Rep. Swanson, would restore a five-member quorum requirement for Harris County tax levies, effectively preventing tax action without all commissioners present and defaulting to the no-new-revenue rate if quorum is not met; urban counties opposed it as a potential budget obstruction, while supporters said it protects taxpayers and representation. That bill was also left pending. The transcript ends as the committee begins HB 3319, which would create a civil service system for constable department employees in large counties, but the discussion is cut off before testimony or action.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Insurance Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And what remains ahead of us in 2026.
  • Both of the, all of that are great ideas and let us know we can help.
  • So, you know, in the boat of RBK over here, there's a lot of us suffering.
  • That's what we're kind of tracking, and they've been tracking it with us.
  • That's what we're kind of tracking, and they've been tracking it with us.
Committee: House Insurance
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Insurance Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • And what remains ahead of us in 2026.
  • Both of those, all of that, are great ideas and let us know we can help.
  • So, you know, in the boat of RBK over here, there's a lot of us suffering.
  • That's what we're kind of tracking, and they've been tracking it with us.
  • That's what we're kind of tracking, and they've been tracking it with us.
Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing a detailed update on implementation after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Lara said the strategy has helped stabilize the market, speed claims payments, and keep insurers in California, citing $22.4 billion paid to wildfire survivors, 94% of 4,121 claims paid fully or partially, $210 million returned through department investigations, and a 27% reduction in claim closure time. He said major insurers, including Mercury, CSAA, USAA companies, Pacific Specialty, and California Casualty, have filed under SIS, with several more filings pending, and that approvals have generally been completed within 100 days of public notice. He also discussed modernization of rate review, a new data reconciliation tool, a planned regulation to require rate reviews within 60 days plus a possible 30-day extension, and ongoing work on Fair Plan oversight, wildfire risk modeling, and mitigation standards such as Zone Zero. Committee members focused on wildfire survivor non-renewals, Fair Plan growth, claim handling timelines, and whether new legislative proposals could help or hinder market stability. Lara said visible consumer relief should begin in 12 to 24 months, with broader market stabilization expected over three to five years, and emphasized that mitigation, faster rate review, and insurer participation are key to reducing reliance on the Fair Plan. He also highlighted his 22-bill package, including SB 876 on disaster claims handling, AB 1795 on smoke damage standards, AB 1680 on Fair Plan accountability, and reforms to the intervener process. Members raised concerns about balancing consumer protections with insurer participation, and Lara said the Legislature should weigh those tradeoffs through the committee process. Public commenters were divided but generally acknowledged the importance of the issue. Consumer and survivor advocates argued that insurers still delay or underpay claims and that more protections are needed, while industry representatives praised the department’s work and urged caution so the new system is not undermined. Several speakers stressed the need for mitigation, Zone Zero rules, and adequate rates, while others warned that wildfire and liability insurance problems are affecting foster care providers, commercial coverage, and utility wildfire costs. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after public comment.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jul 1st, 2026

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm here today in strong support of the bill before us.
  • stop every one of us.
  • stop every one of us.
  • taking advantage of the most vulnerable workers among us.
  • That is not an issue in front of us because it's federal, but what is in front of us in this bill is
Bills: H5085 , H5286
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Feb 5th, 2026

Agriculture and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:
  • Luke always. >> I'm one of the few Polish people in the state of Alabama, so I'm pretty used to it.
  • c> pretty</c><00:08:50.720><c> used</c><00:08:50.880><c> to</c> state of Alabama, so I'm pretty used
  • those kernels of wisdom that the Lord has granted us to make the best possible decision on behalf of
  • use those kernels of information and use those kernels of wisdom<00:10:04.399><c> that</c><00:10:04.640
  • they can't use risk as a method of determining what these regulations might be.
Bills: SB71 , SB71
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Corrections Mar 26th, 2025

Corrections

Transcript Highlights:
  • alternatives to physical restraints, and techniques to... ...the use of force, awareness of persons
  • of force.
  • Let us find out first of all, thank you for being here.
  • of force in a cell where a team or staff are needed to enter.
  • of force, unreasonable and bogus disciplinary cases, and denials of required medical attention.
Bills: HB1482 , HB2017 , HB2103 , HB2341 , HB2756
Committee: House Corrections
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Corrections Mar 26th, 2025

Corrections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Any of us could fall victim to a drunk driver at any time we're on the road.
  • He stole two of our children from us. He changed many lives.
  • There's a lot of evidence that strongly points to the ineffectiveness of using increased incarceration
  • We're incredibly smart, and there are a lot of us in this room.
  • facts of the cases that led us to this.
Bills: HB1482 , HB2017 , HB2103 , HB2341 , HB2756
Committee: House Corrections
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/25

Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think it’s important for us to kind of get a grasp of where we’re at currently and where we need to
  • for us to kind of get a grasp of<00:31:31.159><c> where</c><00:31:31.360><c> we're</c><00:31:31.639>
  • She said she thinks it is an inefficient waste of money, or an inefficient use of money, when giving
  • </c><00:58:47.680><c> of</c> would be considered a wise use of would be considered a wise use of resources
  • </c><01:42:50.719><c> us</c> trip to Fargo but I know a lot of us trip to Fargo but I know a lot of us
Bills: HF1167 , HF1242