Video & Transcript Research : 'declaration of war'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Feb 25th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I know that some of you have been told that there's a lot of bad actors out there and a lot of people
  • I'm Sean Golder, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida.
  • Hundreds of millions of dollars to pull septic tanks out of these critical areas.
  • Some of our larger cities, actually some of our cities as a whole, to go to some of the senator's points
  • , each of them.
Summary: The committee first took up appointments, recommending confirmation of James Patrick Grambling and Brian J. Aungst on a single favorable vote. It then heard and approved several committee bills, including CS/CS/SB 1260 on building code inspections, which directs the Department of Management Services to contract with private providers for plan review and inspections; CS/SB 1668 on NICA, which updates benefits, oversight, funding, and immunity language; SB 1300 on a workforce/CDL training program for selected nonviolent inmates; CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral and cemetery services; CS/SB 1580 on illegal gaming enforcement; CS/SB 934 on Florida Keys affordable housing tax exemptions; and CS/CS/SB 1452, an agency bill updating DFS programs and licensing rules. Each of those bills was reported favorably after committee debate and, in several cases, amendments were adopted. The committee spent substantial time on CS/CS/SB 1510, the DEP package, which reorganizes environmental rulemaking and land acquisition authority, expands septic-to-sewer and nutrient-reduction requirements in sensitive areas, updates stormwater and resilience provisions, and revises related permitting and grant programs. Two amendments were adopted, including one adding solar-energy and stormwater-related provisions and another removing septic disclosure reporting language. Testimony included support from DEP and concerns from environmental advocates about septic timelines and implementation. The bill was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also considered CS/CS/SB 1566 on local government budget transparency, requiring counties and municipalities to post budgets and related materials online for extended periods in a standardized format. The League of Cities opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate, while the sponsor argued it would improve taxpayer access and accountability; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 7034, a rule ratification for minimum flows and levels for the lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers and priority springs, with testimony focused on the proposed Water First restoration strategy, conservation measures, and concerns about water quality, funding, and local opposition. The transcript ends during closing remarks on that ratification bill, before a final vote is shown.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Jan 28th, 2026

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, I'm in favor of the bill. direction. So, I'm in favor of the bill.
  • is a true matter of public safety. is a true matter of public safety.
  • Pettus, just real quick, as I heard some of the objection kind of lie into a spot of not being able to
  • Now, could you kind of give us a little bit of what? >> Yes, sir.
  • bit of what? bit of what? >> Yes,<00:47:24.720> sir.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Jan 20th, 2026

Ways and Means Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's in the Department of Revenue.
  • We need graduates to stay in the state of Alabama and a variety of other things.
  • the state of Alabama and a variety of the state of Alabama and a variety of other<00:09:55.120><
  • Alabama School of Medicine.
  • Is that part of all of this? I don't know.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Mar 20th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I kind of had a love-hate relationship with that part of the bill, and I just spoke to a lot of members
  • It just provides another piece of data for the Secretary of State to use.
  • service of the people of Texas.
  • Section 22.002A of the Government Code to the text of Article 5, Section 3A of the Constitution.
  • and clarifying the jurisdictional limits of the Supreme Court of Texas.
Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs met and heard several bills related to legislative process and court jurisdiction. Senate Bill 1386, by Senator Huffman, would change compelled legislative testimony from blanket transactional immunity to testimonial immunity, allowing compelled statements or documents to be used against a witness in criminal prosecution only if not derived from the compelled testimony, while preserving protection against perjury and false statements and retaining the right to counsel. No public witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1470, by Chairman Hughes, which would require DPS to share existing data on cross-state driver’s license cancellations with the Secretary of State for voter-roll maintenance. Hughes said the bill does not create new data collection and is intended to improve list maintenance. A DPS resource witness was present, there was no substantive opposition, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1210, also by Hughes, would address conflicts between the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals on constitutional questions by making the Supreme Court the final arbiter in limited circumstances. Chris Hilton supported the bill, but Allen Place, Jack Rohde, and Philip Furlow opposed it, arguing it was unconstitutional, unnecessary, and could create practical problems in criminal post-conviction litigation. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard Senate Bill 311, which would conform the Government Code to the Texas Constitution by clarifying the Supreme Court’s original writ authority against lower courts and officials other than the governor. Justice Evan Young and Chris Hilton supported the bill as a clarification of existing authority, while no one testified against it; the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed to allow the chamber to rearrange for the Senate session.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Having failed to receive a majority vote of those 2/3 of those elected to unconstitute the House, I declare
  • Having received 2/3 of those elected to unconstituting the House, the plan of the emergency is declared
  • Declare the vote. 13 nay and received 2/3 of those elected to unconstituting the House.
  • Declare the vote nay having received 2/3 of those elected to and constituting the.
  • I declare the vote. I zero, nay, I received 2/3 of those elected to and constituting the House.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Lord, you put a song in our heart, a gift that declares thanks because of all that you have accomplished
  • Representative War of that now moves parts of the bill. Will there be debate?
  • Very great job, Representative War. We appreciate your service to the state of Oklahoma.
  • vote of those elected to and constituting the house, I declare the bill to have passed.
  • Declare the vote: 22 nays having received 23 votes of those elected to and constitute the House.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee Apr 1st, 2026

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:
  • I need a point of order. All right, it is 9:45. We're going to, uh, Clerk, call the roll.
  • Which is a good piece of legislation.
  • Uh, I think the intent of the legislation is good.
  • Uh, my desire today would be to move it out of committee, but probably let it sit the rest of the year
  • Because here's sit the rest of the year.
Bills: HB444, HB444
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo? Present. Senator Eckhardt? Senator Hinojosa of Nueces.
  • to the clerk of the committee.
  • The war in Ukraine is a good example of advancing technology and the drones that are being used, so it's
  • Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo? Aye. Senator Hinojosa of Nueces?
  • Before we close out, Senator Hinojosa of Nueces.
Bills: HCR98, HB180, HB180
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Mar 6th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • On behalf of the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, testifying on the bill.
  • of teachers of foundation. and subjects.
  • About three quarters of that big jump of money, that $1,600 plus of money, about three quarters of that
  • Lots of writing, lots of processing, lots of collaborating, talking.
  • But because of what you heard in terms of the uncertainty of getting all of the all the way through to
Bills: HB2, HB2
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Mar 6th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Its basic allotment of $220 falls way short of what we are capable of doing.
  • I am president of the Board of Trustees. of the Texas Business Leadership Council.
  • Is there a are we getting copies of all of the written?
  • All of us. But I am a prodigy of public education.
  • of Texas.
Bills: HB2, HB2
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Mar 4th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • of Health.
  • Oh, and then all of a sudden that kind of shifted.
  • of House Bill 2.
  • You talk about the cost of instruments, the cost of that.
  • I'm also the president of the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, otherwise known as
Bills: HB2, HB2
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Mar 4th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We filed in the history of the state of Texas.
  • of Texas.
  • sort of.
  • I show you registered as Heath Morrison, CEO of Teachers of Tomorrow. test on behalf of teachers of tomorrow
  • So you kind of remind me of her. me of her, but you also remind me of a good friend of mine who was a
Bills: HB2, HB2
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.(2-10-26)

Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • of what uh the import of 500 would be. of what uh the import of 500 would be.
  • of it.
  • the has assisted of of going through the has assisted of of going through the codes<00:38:02.720
  • breakdown of some of those expenditures. breakdown of some of those expenditures.
  • We are adjourned. exhaustive list of points of interest, exhaustive list of points of interest, but<00
Summary: The committee met for a budget-only discussion with no bills scheduled for a vote. Members first welcomed a group of high school guests, then heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on funding issues for child advocacy centers, domestic violence centers, rape crisis centers, and SNAP. DCBS Commissioner Lisa Dennis and budget director Misty Sammons said the victim-services programs were included in the current baseline budget, but it was too early in the budget process to know final funding levels. They said earlier reports of major cuts were based on a misunderstanding, that conversations with the agencies were ongoing, and that they would provide the committee with the agency’s base-budget information. A member also asked about domestic violence shelter funding, and the cabinet explained that prior one-time money had been used to replace lost federal Victims of Crime Act funds. On SNAP, the cabinet said Kentucky does not expect to need additional money for benefit costs because the payment error rate is about 4%, below the threshold that would trigger added state costs. However, they said the federal HR1 change shifting SNAP administrative costs from a 50/50 state-federal split to 75% state and 25% federal will require additional funding to operate the program. Members praised the eligibility and family support staff for keeping error rates low and asked to be notified quickly if more implementation support is needed. Representative Bojanowski asked whether a specific SNAP administrative cost figure was already in House Bill 500; the cabinet said it was not, and that such an item would be an additional budget request not included in the bill. The committee then heard from the Department for Medicaid Services. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Senior Deputy Commissioner Veronica Judy Cecil described Medicaid fraud-and-abuse monitoring, including a new CMS file and guidance on concurrent enrollment across states. They said DMS refers suspected fraud or abuse to the Attorney General’s office and that the relationship is working well. When asked about using AI, they said the department is not yet using AI but does use internal algorithms to flag potential fraud, waste, and abuse. Finally, Eric Lowry of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services discussed fiscal note processing, saying House Bill 2 is a complex Medicaid bill and that the cabinet is working to set up a meeting with the sponsor; he said the cabinet is responding and hopes to meet on Monday. The committee also briefly heard from the Kentucky Department of Education, where Matt Ross said the existing $7.4 million for school-based mental health services is already in the base budget and that no additional language is needed in House Bill 500 to distribute it, though KDE has requested additional funding to raise the overall appropriation to $18 million.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • So, unless one of y'all can go snag one of these guys, but I know there's a lot of BRs going on and I
  • What are some of the benefits of this plan for the employees?
  • the to the efficacy of the programs of the to the efficacy of the programs of the Commonwealth,<00
  • the type of audit gets a certain type of the type of audit gets a certain type of fee.<00:36:43.280
  • By way of each hour of audit work build.
Summary: The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders. State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.