Video & Transcript : 'Florida Legislature' :
Page 199 of 500
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Criminal Jurisprudence S/C New Offenses & Changed Penalties Apr 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- For the enhancement to work the way the state wanted and as the trial court applied it, the legislature
- We dwarf who's number... which is Florida and California.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 27 Mar 23rd, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So last year, with the support of, I think, everyone in this legislature, for the most part, So last
- But I think we have an obligation in the legislature to protect As well to make sure they protect their
- But I think we have an obligation in the legislature to protect the whole state and all the ratepayers
- But I still think, as a legislature, our job is to put basic protections in place and safeguards for
- Florida. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bills:
HB2059 , HB3920 , HB2992 , HB3267 , HB4457 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB4425 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4333 , HB4340 , HB4343 , HB4344 , HB4363 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB4236 , HB4246 , HB1979 , HB3431 , HB3052 , HB3047 , HB3048 , HB4092 , HB4302 , HB3261 , HB3704 , HB3312 , HB3546 , HB3849 , HCR1021 , HB4105 , HB4159 , HB4304 , HB3835 , HB3619 , HB4490 , HB3710 , HB4201 , HB3907 , HB3748
Summary:
The House met in session with prayer, the Pledge, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Jake Searock, Doctor of the Day Dr. Nicole Bowden, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Amy Cherry, Nurse of the Day Eileen Cooper Grubbs, and a presentation for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day. Members also welcomed student and community guests in the galleries. The chamber then moved through a long calendar of House bills, with most measures advancing on unanimous consent or broad bipartisan votes.
Among the major bills discussed, lawmakers passed measures on county jail medication reimbursement (HB 2059), a sales tax exemption for LifeShare (HB 3920), ratepayer protections for large data centers and crypto mining facilities (HB 2992), a felony offense for breaking and entering an occupied dwelling without intent to commit another crime (HB 3267), PBM access protections for specialty pharmacy patients (HB 4457), adjunct teacher guardrails in K-4 tested subjects (HB 4427), malpractice coverage for state-employed nurse practitioners and physician assistants (HB 4430), and several higher education, water, and state government cleanup bills. The House also approved bills addressing the 988 mental health lifeline, juvenile oversight disclosures, school support employee tracking, a federal education tax credit opt-in, firearms education curriculum development, AI personhood restrictions, child safety reviews related to fentanyl, and expungement relief for trafficking victims.
Debate centered most heavily on HB 2992, where supporters argued data centers should pay their share of infrastructure costs so residential and other ratepayers are not burdened, while some members questioned why the bill singled out data centers instead of all large-load users. HB 3267 drew questions about how the new offense would affect people with cognitive impairments, and HB 3312, the firearms education bill, prompted concerns about who would teach the curriculum. HB 3546 on artificial intelligence personhood also generated discussion about accountability and future regulation. Several bills were amended on the floor, including HB 492, HB 4302, and HB 4105.
The House recorded numerous final passage votes, with many bills passing overwhelmingly and some by narrower margins, including HB 3800, HB 4333, HB 3704, HB 4159, and HB 3619. Emergency clauses were adopted on some measures, including HB 4427 and HB 3312, while others were passed without emergency action. The chamber also reconsidered and then passed HB 1979 after a motion to reconsider a prior failure.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Feb 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So in 2015, the legislature changed what was considered a course to be taught as far as the required
- changed something and another legislature may want to come back and either implement or maintain or
- Representative Duke said that made sense and asked whether the legislature has the ability to change
- So do we have the ability to change as the legislature what our ESSA plan is?
- But to the broader question, that's more of a question for the department in the legislature to what
Summary:
The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy-related requirements. Staff reviewed the history of state curriculum and accreditation laws, the current standards for grades K-12, required high school units and graduation pathways, and recent changes such as career-ready pathways, embedded instruction requirements, and the distinction between courses required to be offered versus courses actually taken by students. Members asked for a chart comparing the 1997, 2003, 2015, 2017, and later law changes, and staff agreed to provide one.
The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff summarized ESSA requirements, Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and recent data showing that 2025 proficiency rates remained well below the 80% goal, while English learner progress and graduation rates were also below long-term targets. The committee discussed school support and improvement, equitable access to educators, report cards, and the apparent lack of evidence that equity labs are currently being conducted. Members requested follow-up from the Department of Education on equity labs, report card data, and whether the ESSA plan can be changed.
The presentation also covered state assessment results under the Arkansas Accountability Act, including ATLAS, DLM, ELPA 21, ACT, and NAEP data, along with teacher access measures and geographic shortage districts. Staff reported that Title I and high-poverty schools tend to have more emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff, and that shortage districts are concentrated in parts of the state. Members asked for additional information on test highs and lows, the number of assessments students take, dropout data, and whether higher teacher salaries have affected shortage areas. The committee also discussed district levels of support under the state accountability system, including the possibility of state intervention at the highest level of support.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Health & Long-Term Care Jan 15th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Health & Long-Term Care
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm not here to belabor that data with you, but the cost board was created by the legislature with the
- Then the legislature has also added some additional assignments to the board with a focus on primary
- There are formal committees also required with the board that the legislature created to capture the
- Before... ...we move on from this slide, I want to just thank the members of the legislature for passage
- Idaho and Florida have ended vaccine mandates.
Committee:
Senate Health & Long-Term Care
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Florida meets for a grand total of 60 calendar days. They're at 23.3 million people.
- Chair, Representative Kavaro, as we debate the merits of a part-time legislature versus a full-time legislature
- We are a part-time legislature; it says so in our rules. We should be a part-time legislature.
- And so instead, the troopers have to come to us at the legislature.
- House Bill 2745 amends Section 41-1153, A.R.S., relating to the legislature.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- takes what we built for 2023 and says, well, if there are no more policy changes enacted by the legislature
- and</c><00:42:34.960><c> based</c><00:42:35.280><c> on</c><00:42:36.079><c> economic</c> by the legislature
- and based on economic by the legislature and based on economic changes<00:42:37.119><c> that</c><00:
- is the one that goes up from left to right compared to the three most regressive states, which are Florida
- </c> which is Florida, Texas, and Washington. which is Florida, Texas, and Washington.
Committee:
House Taxes
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- were smoking and we were increasing tobacco taxes, the answer used to be that if about 25% of the legislature
- had</c><01:14:50.400><c> a</c><01:14:50.719><c> particular</c><01:14:51.360><c> ethical</c> the legislature
- had a particular ethical the legislature had a particular ethical issue<01:14:52.320><c> with</c><01
- Frank</c><01:20:14.159><c> is</c><01:20:14.400><c> down</c><01:20:14.719><c> in</c><01:20:15.120><c> Florida
- </c><01:20:15.840><c> seven</c> when Frank is down in Florida seven when Frank is down in Florida seven
Committee:
House Ways and Means
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PBS Info Briefing - Mon Aug 18, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the opportunity to become, you know, to have a Hawaii effect on the rest of the country if the legislature
- wants to take this up and legislature wants to take this up and focus<00:58:33.119><c> on</c><00:58:
- It's very important because in particular we've seen Texas, we've seen Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida.
- </c><01:03:22.240><c> These</c><01:03:22.480><c> are</c> Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida.
- These are Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida. These are red<01:03:22.799><c> states.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires, with Chair Dela Alani framing the discussion around emergency preparedness, recovery, and lessons for future disasters. The main presentation came from researchers involved in the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, who described the project as a grassroots academic-community partnership that has enrolled more than 2,000 adults and children for health screenings, social assessments, and biomonitoring. They said the study has documented elevated mental and physical health conditions, housing instability, unemployment, barriers to care, and exposure to heavy metals and other toxicants, while also noting some modest improvement in adult mental health and self-rated health compared with the prior year.
The presenters emphasized that wildfire impacts remain severe two years later. They reported that about half of adult participants had worsening health since the fires, roughly 40% had direct or frequent fire exposure, and many adults showed chronic disease burdens such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory impairment. They also said about half of adult survivors reported depressive symptoms, about a quarter had moderate to severe anxiety, more than 4% had considered suicide in the prior month, and nearly one in four had PTSD. A clinician from the Lahaina Certified Community Behavioral Health Center described the clinic’s no-turn-away model, with case management, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for anyone who needs it, and urged lawmakers to fund and expand that approach.
The researchers also highlighted environmental findings, saying urine testing of more than 1,200 adults found heavy metal signatures that differed between burn-zone residents and those on the perimeter, with higher levels associated with displacement and ash re-exposure. They said about 20% of participants had higher-than-expected heavy metal levels 6 to 12 months after the fires, and cited a negative association between nickel levels and lung function. They argued for long-term monitoring, better cleanup methods, and a centralized health surveillance system tied to community outreach. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the briefing; the chair said the presentation materials and related reports would be posted for public access, and members were invited to ask questions after the presentation.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Children and Family Law (02/03/2025)
Children and Family Law
Transcript Highlights:
- However, are all of these rights or some of these expectations that the legislature agreed upon?
- some of these expectations<00:27:33.120><c> that</c><00:27:33.279><c> the</c><00:27:33.440><c> legislature
- </c><00:27:34.360><c> agreed</c> expectations that the legislature agreed expectations that the legislature
- I know Florida does training.
- </c><01:36:23.040><c> does</c> training I know Florida does training I know Florida does Texas<01:36:
Committee:
Senate Children and Family Law
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So the main thing that I want to ask is if the Legislature already struck a careful balance in AB 35
- We have worked with the State Bar and the Legislature before, and we know we can get to a place where
- They will be for the balance of my career and your career here in the Legislature.
- In 2022, the Legislature passed SB 1162, which required companies with 15 or more employees The Legislature
- This is the legacy of our state's Legislature and why I introduced AJR 18.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote.
SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously.
The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- So the main thing that I want to ask is if the Legislature already struck a careful balance in AB 35
- We have worked with the State Bar and the Legislature before, and we know we can get to a place where
- They will be for the balance of my career and your career here in the Legislature.
- This is the legacy of our state's legislature and why I introduced AJR 18.
- This is the legacy of our state's legislature and why I introduced AJR 18.
Committee:
House Judiciary
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 29, which would extend a sunset on California’s survival-action pain and suffering remedy and require additional reporting on settlements and cases. Senator Laird and supporters, including a family member describing a medical malpractice death and labor/building trades representatives, argued the bill protects victims whose claims would otherwise die with them and that there has been no demonstrated increase in malpractice rates. Opponents from the health care, hospital, and business sectors said the measure would increase costs, create a third category of damages, and could harm access to care, especially for clinics and rural providers. After extensive discussion about the sunset and data collection, the committee passed SB 29 to Appropriations on a divided vote.
The committee then approved SB 294, which requires employers to notify workers about rights if they are arrested or detained and directs the Labor Commissioner to create an annual notice template. Supporters said the bill is needed because workers often do not know their rights amid weakened federal enforcement and workplace intimidation; there was no opposition on file after amendments removed prior concerns. SB 697, which updates stream adjudication procedures to allow the State Water Board to use modern technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations, also passed without opposition after stakeholders worked out concerns.
Later, the committee took up SB 37 on attorney advertising, which would strengthen rules against misleading ads and allow consumer lawsuits. Consumer attorneys and supporters said the State Bar’s current enforcement is too weak, while joint-advertising businesses said they support the goal but want amendments to protect their model. The bill passed to Appropriations as negotiations continue. SB 645, dealing with peremptory challenges in civil cases and extending anti-bias procedures to certain discrimination-related matters, also advanced after supporters described it as a compromise and opponents said they were still working toward agreement. SB 303, narrowing protections for bias-mitigation trainings so good-faith admissions in those trainings are not treated as FEHA discrimination, passed after several groups moved to neutral. SB 464, requiring specified state workers to be included in annual pay-data reporting to better track racial pay gaps and promotion disparities, was presented as a reparations-related transparency measure and was heard with support from civil rights advocates.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- other states are doing this now, with foreign adversary prohibited investments: Indiana, Kansas, Florida
Committee:
House Commerce and Human Resources
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio are what
Committee:
House Common Education
Keywords:
HB4274, Oklahoma schools, interdistrict transfer, open transfer, school enrollment, military families, active duty, National Guard, Reserve orders, military installation, residency requirements, district of choice, public school transfer, student transfer, special education, IEP, Section 504, military housing, base housing, electronic enrollment
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- The three largest agricultural states are the most livestock in the country: California, Florida, and
- 54.000><c> California</c> Livestock in the Country California Livestock in the Country California Florida
- 55.960><c> all</c><00:31:56.159><c> have</c><00:31:56.360><c> versions</c><00:31:56.880><c> of</c> Florida
- and Texas all have versions of Florida and Texas all have versions of this this this um<00:31:58.799
- </c> enforcement officials with the Florida enforcement officials with the Florida Department<02:38:44.319
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Working Group on Omnibus Taxes Bill - 05/23/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's the kind of fraud where somebody, you know, calls you from Florida.
- In fact, this was a an an Florida.
- And I really think it's because they didn't the legislature didn't pass a PGA sales tax exemption in
- And I really think it's because they didn't the legislature didn't pass a PGA sales tax exemption in
- And I really think it's because they didn't the legislature didn't pass a PGA sales tax exemption in
PA
Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Jun 25 2026)
Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The question Lee puts to us here in the legislature... We agree.
- The question Lee puts to us here in the legislature is a different one.
- And Pennsylvanians deserve better than that from their legislature.
- And what the legislature needs to do in light of the Lee case is to provide new guardrails.
- Legislature failed to act.
Summary:
The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House.
The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over.
Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- Megan Mulva Hill, staff to the committee, for the record: In 2025, the legislature established the wildfire
- I wish I could tell you it cost X amount to do it in Idaho or Y amount to cost it in Florida.
- To clarify, this is temporary funding that sunsets in 2029 with report back to the legislature.
- We would then come back after the report, provide the legislature a buffet of options on how to fund
- One thing I would challenge everybody on this committee and everybody in the legislature: ask OIC to
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Business
Keywords:
SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- As way of background, in 2025 the legislature established the wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards
- I wish I could tell you it cost X amount to do it in Idaho or Y amount to cost it in Florida.
- The work group recommended that the legislature establish a voluntary grant program to retrofit homes
- To clarify, this is temporary funding that sunsets in 2029, with report back to the legislature.
- We would then come back after the report, provide the legislature a buffet of options on how to fund
Summary:
The committee heard public testimony on several insurance and consumer protection bills. On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5928, staff and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner described wildfire risk score and model disclosure requirements for homeowners, including notices when policies are nonrenewed, canceled, or premiums are adversely affected, plus insurer website disclosures about mitigation discounts and rate filing transparency. Supporters, including the OIC, AARP, the mayor of Medical Lake, and a fire chief, said the bill would improve transparency, help homeowners understand and reduce wildfire risk, and protect consumers facing cancellations and rising premiums. Industry witnesses said they supported the goal but warned the bill could add regulatory cost and complexity, and some urged narrower, simpler disclosure language and a delayed implementation date.
On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6031, which would expand the insurance fraud program and create a standalone Class B felony for insurance fraud, the OIC and AARP supported the bill as a tool against organized fraud and restitution for victims. A criminal defense representative raised concerns that the new felony language overlaps with existing misdemeanor insurance fraud law and could create conflicting statutes and harsher penalties for the same conduct. The committee also heard testimony that the bill had already incorporated amendments limiting criminal investigators’ role in regulatory investigations and focusing them on complex schemes.
The committee then heard substitute Senate Bill 6248 on travel insurance, described as largely mirroring a House bill already passed by the committee. Testimony from the travel insurance industry said agreed-upon amendments had been incorporated, including changes addressing conflict-of-interest concerns, and urged the bill’s advancement. Finally, the committee heard substitute Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes grant program to fund wildfire home-hardening and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk as a disqualifying factor for homes meeting IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. The OIC, fire commissioners, AARP, and the prime sponsor supported the bill as a way to reduce nonrenewals and improve insurability, while insurers opposed Section 7, arguing it could interfere with underwriting and should be removed if the bill is to remain a grant program. The committee also began hearing engrossed Senate Bill 5280 on virtual currency kiosks, with staff and the Department of Financial Institutions describing daily transaction caps, fee limits, disclosures, and receipts to curb fraud; consumer protection and law enforcement witnesses supported the bill, while industry witnesses raised concerns about burdens on compliant businesses and passive retail hosts.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Finally, as the last slide shows, NTTA serves the mission it was created for—created by the legislature
- I would just note that the legislature has been very supportive of increasing TxDOT's funding over the
- I do think that given the biennial nature of the legislature, but given the transportation needs that
- The last thing the legislature should be doing... I mean, is raiding those funds once again?
- Prop 1 and 7 were needed because the legislature couldn't keep its hands off our state highway funds.
Bills:
HJR58 , HJR63 , HB263 , HB542 , HB905 , HB 1288 , HB1402 , HB2003 , HB2262 , HB2323 , HB2429 , HB2876 , HB3019 , HB263
Committee:
House S/C on Transportation Funding
Keywords:
healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Dec 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- JLARC is a bipartisan, bicameral committee of the legislature.
- The particular study we're talking about today was directed by the 2023 legislature.
- The particular study we're talking about today was directed by the 2023 legislature.
- The study we're talking about today was directed by the 2023 legislature.
- The social equity program was created in 2020 by the legislature.
Summary:
The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states.
The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement.
Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.