Video & Transcript Research : 'legislative reforms'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Mon Apr 20, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 47

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, just want to announce that, first of all, I want to thank legislators, all fellow members, as well
  • ,<00:23:49.880> all<00:23:50.720> all<00:23:50.920> fellow thank uh legislators
  • , all all fellow thank uh legislators, all all fellow members,<00:23:52.040> as<00:23:52.200><
  • 00:24:39.280> as<00:24:39.440> every<00:24:39.679> single<00:24:40.000> legislator
  • <00:24:40.600> who as well as every single legislator who as well as every single legislator
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 3/11/26

Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Legislative Auditor's office has also recommended doing away with legislatively named grants for
  • Thank you to the committee for the collaboration and the legislative process.
  • Thank you to the committee for the collaboration and the legislative process.
  • Thank you to the culture thinks the collaboration of the legislative process.
  • Legislative funding has directly translated into measurable system improvements.
Bills: HF3727, HF3684, HF3467
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The last legislative session.
  • We had budgeted $18 billion in the last legislative session.
  • We greatly thank you for the 2023 Reform and Relief Bill on property taxes.
  • We have in our legislative body a report from our legislative session in the House back last year.
  • You should also give serious consideration to tax reform.
Bills: SB4, SJR2, SB 4, SJR 2
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Rules Apr 23rd, 2026 at 08:30 am

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, this is the House of Representatives sending us some legislation regarding TSET and changing
  • of voters who created TS set specifically to be insulated from legislative control.
  • Once again, senator, that'll be up to the TE board, which remains intact under this legislation.
  • It could also be funded by the legislative control of this new fund as well.
  • Legislators and try to direct where that goes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - House Judiciary

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • For the record, I'm Senator Karen Horner, representing Legislative District 8, and I'm here today because
  • Carter reached out to me about the legislation, and really the main part is about the operator with a
  • And it's a piece of information that is helpful in making decisions about legislation, appropriations
  • We have an obligation to advocate for legislation for victims.
  • We've had legislative council opinions put out. It is very specific.
Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1170, which would impose enhanced sentencing for selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to minors when the sale contributes to the minor’s death, and would treat the offense as a dangerous crime against children if the victim is under 15. The sponsor and families of overdose victims urged passage as a way to hold dealers accountable, while ACLU/AACJ opposition argued the bill would sweep too broadly, remove judicial discretion, and increase prison terms for people with substance use disorders. The committee recommended the bill do pass on a 5-2 vote. Members then considered Senate Bill 1012, which would change concealed-carry signage rules for Series 12 restaurants and limit liquor-license consequences in those settings. The sponsor and gun-rights groups said the bill was a narrow correction that would not expand carry rights or property rights, while liquor-industry opponents said it would override restaurant owners’ decisions about whether to allow firearms. The committee approved the bill 6-2. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1511, requiring proof of lawful presence for drivers using non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses in Arizona and allowing citations and possible impoundment when proof is not provided. The sponsor tied the bill to trucking safety and fatal crashes, while no outside speakers testified. The bill received a 6-2 do-pass recommendation. Later, the committee adopted a strike-everything amendment to Senate Bill 1100 creating a state registration/disclosure system for lobbyists representing foreign adversary principals, with Homeland Security supporting the measure and CAIR Arizona opposing it as overbroad; the amended bill passed 8-0. Additional bills were heard and recommended do pass, including SB 1004 on GPS monitoring for homeless sex offenders, SB 1213 denying probation to unlawfully present defendants and requiring ICE notification, SB 1402 requiring probationers on electronic monitoring to pay the fee, SB 1709 mandating revocation and consecutive prison terms for probation violations by adults convicted of dangerous crimes against children, SB 1413 removing the $100,000 restitution cap for serious injury or death from moving violations, and SB 1416 updating missing-child notification and photo-distribution procedures. The committee also heard SB 1725, which would create a civil cause of action and petty offense for excessive marijuana smoke or odor drifting onto neighboring property; supporters, including a 13-year-old student and the sponsor, said it would protect neighbors and schoolchildren, while opponents argued existing trespass law is sufficient and the bill could conflict with medical marijuana protections. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1725, before a final vote is shown.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/20/2026 - Senate Judiciary and Elections

Judiciary and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Emergency legislation, we've already done one actually this year earlier, and it doesn't bypass the legislative
  • As all of us know, even in legislation that we pass, when we begin to load up a lot of legislation, we
  • I've either drafted or participated in drafting the legislation, all of the legislation and rules that
  • And I don't think we should undo a reform.
  • Legislation. I mean, we need more specific language in legislation.
Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee heard and advanced several election, judiciary, child welfare, and criminal justice measures. SB 1489 would require paid petition circulators for initiatives and referenda to disclose their name, state of residence, and paid status verbally and on a badge, add registration requirements for certain local circulators, prohibit pay by signature for local measures, and apply strict compliance and funding-disclosure rules to local initiatives. The ACLU opposed it as compelled speech and a burden on political expression, while the Arizona Chamber supported it as transparency and parity with state-level rules. The committee recommended the bill do pass on a 4-3 vote. SB 1609, an emergency measure concerning political party names, would require proposed party names to be distinguishable from existing parties and bar use of terms like “independent” or similar variations. The Arizona Independent Party opposed it as a retroactive change and “cartel protection,” while county election officials and the Arizona Association of Counties supported it as reducing voter confusion. The committee adopted an amendment and recommended the bill do pass on a 7-0 vote. SCR 1040, a voter-approved constitutional referral, would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices of courts of record from 70 to 75; supporters argued it reflects longer life expectancy and preserves experienced judges, while opponents said voters previously rejected a similar proposal and that an age limit is preferable. It passed 5-2. The committee also considered SB 1234, which changes juvenile court representation rules by requiring a guardian ad litem in dependency and termination cases and allowing appointment of an attorney for the child depending on age and ability to express an opinion. Sponsor Senator Werner said the bill was part of a broader child-safety reform effort informed by cases such as Rebecca Baptiste, arguing that a guardian ad litem with attorney authority would better protect children’s best interests. Child welfare attorneys and advocates opposed the bill, saying children need a dedicated attorney-client relationship, confidentiality, and a voice separate from the court or DCS; DCS remained neutral. The committee adopted an amendment and recommended the bill do pass on a 5-2 vote. SB 1661 would allow a presumed father to be relieved of child support obligations if genetic testing shows he is not the biological father; supporters described cases where men remained liable despite exclusionary DNA results, and the bill passed 6-0. Later, the committee heard election administration and transparency bills. SB 1392 would give governing bodies canvassing elections access to locations where election materials are created, handled, processed, tabulated, or stored, so they can observe procedures and review records while protecting secrecy and security; county officials raised concerns about the term “agent,” and the bill passed 4-3. SB 1634 would require ADOT to provide county recorders with a copy of an applicant’s handwritten signature when facilitating voter registration; county officials said it would improve signature comparison, and the bill passed 5-2 after a vote correction. SB 1743 would redact an individual donor’s employer street number, employer name, or residence address from public campaign finance reports, with penalties for improper disclosure; supporters cited privacy and safety, while opponents argued employer information is important for transparency and identifying influence. It passed 5-2. SB 1099, a strike-everything amendment, set statutory criteria for defamation claims involving public or private figures and public or private concerns, including falsity, reckless disregard, and context; it passed 4-3. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1535, which increases penalties for buyers of sexual conduct, including making the conduct a class 6 felony and adding a $200 assessment to support anti-human trafficking services. The sponsor and supporters, including survivors, law enforcement, neighborhood advocates, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, said the bill targets demand that fuels trafficking and neighborhood disorder. Opponents from criminal justice and anti-violence groups said the bill should include a rebuttable presumption to better protect trafficking victims. The committee adopted an amendment and recommended the bill do pass.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Apr 10th, 2025 at 11:00 am

Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Bills: HB1015
Summary: The Government Operations Division met to review proposed amendments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) budget, with the chair noting the bill would not be voted out that day and would likely be held until the following week for any technical corrections. Members discussed a series of amendments, generally without objection: a $1.5 million appropriation for a pro-life education committee; a $40,000–$45,000 deficiency appropriation for Uniform Laws travel costs; creation of a state deferred maintenance fund with $40 million for deferred maintenance projects; adding the state hospital project to the OMB budget with $200 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund (SIF) and $85 million from a line of credit, plus construction management oversight; $110,114 for custodial equity increases; $1 million for a retirement incentive pool; $3 million to cover a shortfall in the new and vacant FTE funding pool; and $4 million for space reconfiguration and rent/moving costs. Prairie Public Broadcasting was also discussed, with a suggestion to change the purpose from local programming to infrastructure and set the amount at $850,000, likely as one-time SIF funding. The committee also heard a heads-up about a possible $180,000 federal reimbursement issue tied to an education grant, but no action was taken on that item. The committee further discussed a broader amendment to reduce the transfer from the social services fund to the human services fund from $250 million to $232 million, based on DHS needs and available carryover funding. Members also agreed to add emergency clauses to the capital assets, deferred maintenance, and moving/space reconfiguration items. The chair indicated Brady could begin incorporating the discussed changes into a consolidated amendment, while noting there could still be additional items next week. Staff also reported the SIF balance was about $280 million positive, though some removed agency items, including airport grants, would need to be considered. The committee then reconsidered its earlier action on House Bill 1581 and restored it to its original form at $100,000 after hearing that the funding would support tribal tourism-related events tied to upcoming 2026 celebrations and the Theodore Roosevelt Library opening. A motion for do pass on the bill as originally introduced passed unanimously by roll call. Finally, the committee postponed action on another bill until later that day, directing that revised materials be distributed and that the item be taken up in the afternoon session.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • So he hopes to work with us in the next year for some further legislation on That.
  • I don't think it's proper though to put that specific a process in the legislation.
  • or it's not definitely that designed to kill legislation.
  • So I've I've been in this building for a few years and I've run different legislation.
  • On past legislation, what third-party actuary would she be referring to? That was Aon.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 16th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • I would urge you to push for legislation to please return those back to the public record.
  • As you probably know, the Legislative Budget Board has given a report that confirms this.
  • It could be a legislative session. So, although notice, it would be nice.
  • It just reforms the...
  • to produce clarifying legislation going forward.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Ways and Means May 5th, 2026

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • okay, a little background on what's going on, because this will be—we'll continue to have this legislative
  • we've run into a new problem after a new problem that's required us to come back in subsequent legislative
Bills: HB1039, SB423, SB436
Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 5, 2026, and first considered Senate Bill 436 by Senator Cloud, which revises how annual aviation fuel estimates are calculated for the Aviation Trust Fund. Senator Cloud explained that the fund supports airport and aviation projects and has been supplemented in recent years with general fund dollars because the estimated balance has remained stagnant. The committee adopted amendments allowing DOTD’s Office of Multimodal Commerce to use federal and other public data sources, requiring Revenue to provide annual aviation fuel sales tax collections data, and making a technical change. After a brief question about existing airport disclosure requirements, the bill was reported as amended with support cards entered into the record. The committee then took up House Bill 1039 by Representative Desotel, dealing with local sales and use tax audit procedures. The bill was presented as a fairness and transparency measure for audits, but members and the author discussed substantial amendments that would remove or modify several provisions. The committee adopted the amendments except for Amendment 4, which would have required private auditing firms contracting with taxing authorities to be domiciled in Louisiana; that language was set aside for further work after concerns it could affect audits conducted outside Louisiana. Members also discussed provisions on waiving prescription periods, suspending interest and penalties by agreement, and concerns about multiple parishes auditing the same business at once. The bill was reported as amended, with several support cards and informational cards entered. Senate Bill 423 was voluntarily deferred, and there was no other business before the committee. The meeting adjourned after a motion to adjourn was adopted.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Retirement and Government Resources 2ND REVISED Apr 7th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Retirement and Government Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • fellow for the 1889 Institute, which had helped a number of us on things like occupational licensure reform
  • But in terms of reforms and accountability and transparency and avoiding any potential fraudulent activity
  • , I think that this legislation will pay for itself and what it benefits us as legislators and the general
  • Yeah, I'm just thinking about the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency Report about central purchasing
  • You know, in the context of how Oklahoma legislators have treated gay people in Oklahoma from Curriculum
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/18/2026 - House Judiciary

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • So the sheriff's wholly support this legislation. We like the amendment.
  • And if the chairman is okay, I have a memo from legislative counsel with an opinion on whether or not
  • I urge you to vote no and instead direct this body to consider serious legislation.
  • And instead direct this body to consider serious legislation. Thank you. What are they?
  • And thank you to Senator Carroll for working with us to help sponsor this legislation.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills dealing with criminal justice, victims’ rights, education funding, and public safety. SB 1094, which would create a civil cause of action for minors who received irreversible gender reassignment surgery in violation of Arizona law, drew extensive testimony. Supporters argued it would provide compensation for harmed minors and extend accountability similar to sexual abuse cases; opponents said it was discriminatory, targeted transgender people and providers, and interfered with informed consent and parental decision-making. The committee voted 6-3 to give SB 1094 a do pass recommendation. SB 1635, which creates the offense of unlawfully alerting someone to an imminent arrest, also passed 6-3 after strong debate. The sponsor said it was intended to stop people from warning specific targets of arrest, including in immigration enforcement and other criminal cases, while preserving First Amendment protections for general alerts. Opponents, including the ACLU and community members, argued the bill criminalized speech, was overbroad, and duplicated existing obstruction laws. SB 1673, appropriating money for the crime victim notification fund, passed unanimously after an amendment increasing the appropriation from $5 million to $8.2 million was adopted. The committee also approved SB 1092, which bars early termination of probation for dangerous crimes against children, after testimony from victims’ advocates and defense-side witnesses about probation, online evidence, and the risk of re-victimizing survivors. SB 1239, extending the statute of limitations for failure to register as a sex offender, passed 6-4 despite arguments that registration is already continuously monitored and that the bill could create redundant liability. SB 1139, a strike-everything bill requiring GPS monitoring for registered sex offenders without a permanent residence, failed after members noted existing monitoring systems already cover many offenders. Later, SB 1502, increasing penalties for unlawful flight when accompanied by aggravating danger, passed 5-1 amid concerns about over-criminalization and possible impacts on drivers trying to pull over safely. Additional measures included SB 1248, clarifying county use of accommodation schools for juvenile detention and jail education programs, which passed unanimously, and SB 1240, excluding dangerous-crime-against-children probationers from county probation incentive calculations, which passed 5-4 over objections that it would undermine rehabilitation incentives. SB 1669, changing rape-shield evidence rules to focus on physical injury, passed 6-3 after a dispute over whether the bill would narrow or clarify admissible evidence. The committee then began hearing SB 1540, a new offense targeting fuel dispenser theft and manipulation devices, with the petroleum industry describing organized gas theft schemes and the sponsor’s amendment removing mere possession of a device from the criminal statute.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/04/2026 - Senate Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • of Representatives and the Senate President that summarizes the outlined reviews and recommends legislative
  • During the same legislative session, where HB 2379 would require school board members to stay up to date
  • This bill legislates a problem that does not exist.
  • So if you're so concerned about those two areas, are you interested in bringing bills to the legislators
Summary: The committee took up several education bills. HB 2395 would create a voluntary Arizona School Fitness Program in ADE to recognize schools that participate in nationally recognized fitness testing or events and allow the designation on school report cards. Supporters, including the sponsor and outside witnesses, argued it would encourage student activity and support the whole child; the bill passed with a 6-0 do pass recommendation. HB 2409, the Getting Arizona Ready for AI Act, would create a voluntary summer AI course program through ADE with curriculum on digital hygiene, civic integrity, and AI for small business/entrepreneurship, with optional facility use and academic credit. The sponsor said it was meant to prepare students for AI-driven job disruption without requiring new appropriations; it passed 4-2. HB 2203 would direct ADE to review public school and agency reporting requirements for duplicative, expired, or obsolete reports and recommend consolidation or repeal, and an amendment making a technical correction was adopted before the bill passed 6-0. HB 2008 would bar school libraries from using public money to pay dues to certain professional library associations; opponents from Secular AZ and the ACLU argued it was viewpoint discrimination and a threat to professional association rights, but the bill still received a do pass recommendation on a 6-0 vote, with one member explaining a no vote because the problem did not exist. The committee also heard HB 2075, which would require school districts to submit superintendent and CFO employment contracts to ADE, post them online, keep them available for five years after termination, and create a searchable database with compensation details. The Goldwater Institute supported the bill, citing difficulty obtaining contracts through public records requests and examples of very high superintendent compensation and opaque contract terms; the Arizona School Administrators opposed the bill as singling out districts while not applying to charters or other public-dollar schools, though they said they could support it if expanded to all schools receiving public funds. Members debated whether charters are political subdivisions and whether the bill should extend to charters and ESAs, and some discussion also focused on transparency and public records access. The bill ultimately received a 4-2 do pass recommendation.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's legislating the way legislating should be done. It was utterly nonpartisan.
  • Uh it's legislating the way<00:07:18.240> legislating<00:07:18.880> should<00:07:19.120
  • So this next slide legislation.
  • the core legislation. the core legislation. >> Thank<00:23:08.159> you.
  • to state service or comes to legislative to state service or comes to legislative service<01:30:
Bills: HF3422, HF3461, HF2904
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 16th, 2026 at 10:48 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • family-centered universal child care program can grow responsibly while remaining aligned with legislative
  • problems, but more in line to say that workers everywhere, firefighters included, benefit from legislation
  • The second The amendment instructs to report to the Legislative Health The report must also include redacted
  • Presenters, those who spoke against the legislation initially, their concern was regarding their salaries
  • But instead, one person made a directive preceding this legislative session and has decided how this
Bills: SB132, SB241
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Rules Feb 13th, 2026 at 09:19 am

Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • So there's some things that we've already begun to think of as to how to reform. Right?
  • We stand in opposition to this legislation.
  • You have every right to bring memorials like this or any piece of legislation forward.
  • Memorials like this or any piece of legislation, that comes with the territory.
  • Legislators don't have that capacity. I see your expert, Scott.
Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 23rd, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • The substitute clarified... ...that the cost will be determined by the Legislative Budget Board.
  • well as any legislative appropriations made towards the amendment.
  • It also does not affect the ability of agencies to appeal to the Legislative Budget Board.
  • As of today, 23 have introduced this legislation.
  • These efforts resulted in a report with robust legislative recommendations.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Intergovernmental Affairs Mar 18th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • But under this legislation, it's very clear and there's no... ambiguity.
  • I'm a Dallas City Council member and Chair of the Legislative Committee.
  • This item is actually specifically outlined in our legislative program.
  • We did PFC reform last session. Why did we do that?
  • But they didn't talk about reforms.
Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223