Video & Transcript : 'Imagination Library' :
Page 212 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So I would imagine this will be on a voluntary basis? Oh, Senator, that's...
- We currently do not have the expertise in the House for something like this, so I would imagine that
- In that story, then, I mean, I guess I'm imagining that there's, I have sort of a dollar equivalent for
- Imagine had Texas led the charge to establish gold and silver as transactional currency in 1971 and backed
Committee:
Senate Finance
Keywords:
SB 524, Texas franchise tax, veteran-owned business, new veteran-owned business, business tax exemption, filing fee exemption, Tax Code Chapter 171, Business Organizations Code, Comptroller, small business, veterans, entrepreneurship, tax repeal, privilege tax, beginning date, franchise tax exemption, severance tax, oil, gas, restimulation wells
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, imagine your family members in this type of situation turned into a public spectacle.
- Can you imagine someone walking into a hotel room and finding heads in the bathtub?
- And I can't imagine the person. Is that where we are in society? We are with this group of actors.
- I can't even imagine an attorney redlining. Going back and forth redlining these contracts.
Committee:
Senate Health & Human Services
Keywords:
body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 2480, which would clarify that the Texas Medical Board may collect license renewal surcharge fees from all licensees to fund the Texas Physician Health Program and related administrative costs. The bill author explained the funding fix was needed after prior language was found to allow surcharges only for physicians and physician assistants. Witnesses from the Texas Physician Health Program supported the measure and described the program’s confidential monitoring and treatment services; members asked about the fee amount, which was described as capped at $15 per two-year registration cycle. The bill was left pending.
The committee then took up Senate Bills 1406 and 2721, both authored by Senator Parker, addressing the handling of human remains by non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, willed body programs, and related facilities. Senator Parker and several witnesses described alleged abuses involving unclaimed bodies, consent problems, body leasing, hotel-based dissections, and mishandling of cremains, and argued for strict licensing, inspections, transparency, and criminal penalties. Supporters included families of deceased veterans and other relatives, a biomedical ethicist, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and some public safety and hotel industry representatives who said legitimate training should continue but bad actors should be shut down. Opponents or cautious witnesses from accredited donation organizations and bioskills labs said they support stronger oversight but warned the bills could unintentionally disrupt legitimate medical education and urged clearer language and implementation of existing law. Both bills were left pending.
Senate Bill 1681, by Senator Menendez, would require counties and municipalities that regulate boarding homes to report facility standards and related information to the Health and Human Services Commission. The author said the bill is intended to improve state oversight of boarding homes that serve elderly and disabled residents and to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill was left pending after brief discussion.
After the testimony portion, the committee returned to voting on pending business and unanimously reported Senate Bills 527, 912, 1580, 1952, and 2032 to the Senate with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and each was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 and reported the substitute favorably, with six ayes and three nays. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 500 as pending business.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And if judges have to track the hours they spend on the bench, I imagine that they will be very reluctant
- But that's the fun stuff, you know, for me, you can imagine the jury trials, wish we could have more,
- As you can imagine, a number of these hearings, when they actually begin to take evidence, can require
- As you can imagine, a number of these hearings when they actually begin to take evidence can require
Bills:
HB40
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Summary:
The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges.
Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets.
There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Reed Rubinstein, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser, Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the State of Israel, and Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, all of the Depar Mar 25th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I cannot imagine under any circumstances. that any right-minded person would find it acceptable to support
- Uh, Mr Huckleberry, I can't imagine on one hand of more rewarding and on the other hand of more challenging
- And I wondered if you could speak for a minute about how you would imagine working hand-in-hand with
- How do you imagine working with other countries in the region and with Israel, of course, to expand the
Committee:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Summary:
The committee meeting was focused on various key issues, including the implications of recent violence in the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy in relation to Israel and Panama. Members discussed the need for diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Israeli officials following the recent attack by Hamas. Governor Huckabee emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and reiterated the need for accountability for terrorist organizations involved in violent acts against civilians. Senators shared their concerns regarding the ramifications of U.S. actions in Panama and the presence of Chinese influence, highlighting the significance of the Panama Canal in terms of trade and security.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Texas Ethics Commission Mar 11th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- This isn't cast in stone by any stretch of the imagination. The one in June probably is. All right.
- And I would imagine that the chamber also has no interest either in engaging in any sort of activity
- register as a lobbyist it has really no interest in providing that that transportation and I would imagine
- that the chamber also providing that that transportation and I would imagine that the chamber also has
Summary:
The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes.
The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting.
The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 11, 2025 - 10:15 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- This is one area you can imagine in early learning: the entry-level tuition for an infant is typically
- Now imagine putting trauma on top of that because you have turnover with teachers and educators constantly
- So from a workforce side, I want you to kind of imagine what would happen if you shut down first grade
- So from a workforce side, I want you to kind of imagine what would happen if you shut down first grade
Summary:
The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and focused on School Readiness, specifically the new provider reimbursement rates and the School Readiness Plus program. The chair gave an overview of how School Readiness is funded and administered, noting that the Legislature now sets county-based reimbursement rates using market and cost data, and that School Readiness Plus was created to help families who would otherwise fall off the subsidy “cliff” at 85% of state median income by extending assistance up to 100% of state median income. Panelists from the Children’s Forum, the Association of Early Learning Coalitions, and the Division of Early Learning described the programs as major workforce and family-support tools that help parents stay employed and help providers recruit and retain qualified staff.
Testimony emphasized that higher reimbursement rates increase parental choice, help providers cover rising child care costs, and support better staffing and lower turnover. The panel also said School Readiness Plus is easing the pressure on families to turn down raises or promotions for fear of losing child care assistance, though uptake is still early because the program only began in late 2024 and is only available to current School Readiness families at redetermination. The Division of Early Learning reported about 275 children enrolled in School Readiness Plus as of March 10, with expenditures of about $161,420 through January 2025, and said participation is increasing.
Members asked about the federal-state funding split, wait lists, reverted funds, coalition accountability, county-based rate differences, and whether the entrance eligibility threshold should be raised or shifted to state median income. The panel said roughly 70% of School Readiness funding is federal, about 4% has typically reverted in recent years, and the wait list is around 12,000 children, with reasons including income ineligibility, lack of available seats, and funding limits. They argued that raising the entrance threshold would expand access but would require additional funding, and they also discussed the need to reduce workforce barriers such as in-person testing and training requirements. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond the presentation and member discussion, and the subcommittee adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- So the commission, you can imagine, looks at—we're here in 2025—so in this year, So the commission, you
- can imagine, looks at—we're here in 2025.
- It's just not as good as it's sort of saying imagine Nevada had hurricanes.
- So you can imagine the savings that it brings during those extreme weather events.
Committee:
Senate Regulated Industries
Summary:
The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection.
The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County.
Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs Mar 3rd, 2025
S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, and I would imagine that in most cases a typical scenario would be I filed a claim.
- Military city, uh, USA, as you can well imagine, uh, employers such as, uh, uh, USAA HEB, I mean, you
- oftentimes have designated personnel on staff to be able to manage all of those deployments and as you can imagine
- Now I can only imagine what's going on during a military drive.
Committee:
House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Addressing Abuses of AI Nudification Technology - 02/24/25
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, you wouldn't have to use your imagination.
- > use</c><00:12:06.839><c> your</c> you wouldn't have to use your you wouldn't have to use your imagination
- 07.959><c> it's</c><00:12:08.240><c> it's</c><00:12:08.480><c> not</c><00:12:09.480><c> it's</c> imagination
- I mean it's it's not it's imagination I mean it's it's not it's not<00:12:10.240><c> ideal</c><00:12
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 03/13/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- U, I would imagine, uh, issues like this are being followed by very interested people and, uh, I would
- imagine the issue is not yet resolved.
- , uh, issues like this are being imagine, uh, issues like this are being followed<01:32:41.199><c> by
- > issue</c><01:32:46.480><c> is</c><01:32:46.719><c> not</c><01:32:47.040><c> yet</c> uh, I would imagine
- the issue is not yet uh, I would imagine the issue is not yet resolved.<01:32:48.000><c> It'll</c><01
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (09/09/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I can really imagine this being very effective for student learning.'
- And it's I can't imagine a reason that you wouldn't do it other than you want the money for something
- And it's a it's it's I<01:15:11.920><c> I</c><01:15:12.239><c> can't</c><01:15:12.400><c> imagine</c>
- a reason that you I I can't imagine a reason that you wouldn't<01:15:13.679><c> do</c><01:15:13.760>
- Uh, you said you cannot imagine a reason why this would be lapsing.
Summary:
The subcommittee opened its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion broadly around whether school building aid should remain a state program, how to address limited revenues, and whether the current system should continue to prioritize debt service and the existing formula or move toward a different model such as per-pupil allocations, a dedicated fund, or a split between new construction and renovation. He also raised questions about whether leasing should be included and how to manage any new fund under current law and the school building authority structure. Representatives and department staff discussed the current backlog of applications, the age and condition of school facilities, and the possibility that large projects can consume available funding for a year while other districts go unsupported. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities introduced himself and provided technical context on the program and current debt levels.
Representative Luneau argued that under the ConVal decision, the state’s responsibility includes school buildings, construction, and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property wealth. He noted that construction and renovation have long been recognized categories and asked about leasing, which staff said is already supported in statute for charter schools and possibly CTE, with a cap of 30% of annual lease cost or $50,000. The discussion also covered CTE facilities: staff explained that capital funding for CTE centers is state-funded, that federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction, and that the current rotational capital model means only a few centers are funded each year, which may not match changing program needs. A committee studying CTE capital needs was referenced, along with concerns that the report from that work had not yet been received.
Representative Papich urged the subcommittee to focus on policy, principles, and structure rather than just numbers, saying the current system produces a few winners and many districts that never receive aid. He favored a simpler, more equitable per-capita or formula-based approach, while acknowledging the need for a transition plan for projects already in the pipeline. The chair later cautioned against mixing maintenance and operations with construction and renovation, noting that operation and maintenance are already part of the adequacy formula and should not be confused with capital funding. No votes were taken during the meeting; the discussion was exploratory, with members and staff laying out competing approaches and identifying issues for further work.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I truly cannot imagine how we would keep our scholars safe and healthy, and we don't talk about COVID
- I truly cannot imagine how we would<00:15:54.680><c> keep</c><00:15:54.880><c> our</c><00:15:55.040>
- As you might imagine, our scholars at Hope Academy suffer from some of the highest adverse childhood
- As you might imagine, our scholars at Hope Academy suffer from some of the highest adverse childhood
- As you might imagine, our scholars at Hope Academy suffer from some of the highest adverse childhood
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's imagine that's about 100 inches. All right?
- </c><04:48:03.280><c> Let's</c><04:48:03.480><c> imagine</c> as high as I can reach.
- Let's imagine as high as I can reach.
- So, we're going to imagine All right?
- And we could imagine that it's about a dollar a day going vertically.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (02/11/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- If you can imagine a community the size of Manchester, that is an enormous number of parcels to have
- If you can imagine a community the size of Manchester, that is an enormous number of parcels to have
- </c><00:50:56.799><c> Community</c><00:50:57.119><c> say</c> 1st and if you can imagine Community say
- 1st and if you can imagine Community say the<00:50:57.440><c> size</c><00:50:57.599><c> of</c><00:50
- </c> have to hire people to do that I imagine have to hire people to do that I imagine if<00:55:36.680
Committee:
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Transcript Highlights:
- So you can imagine that when I stand up here in opposition to House Bill 5036, of which I've provided
- So you can imagine that when I stand up here in opposition to House 5036, of which I've provided some
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing on two bills: House Bill 5138, concerning consumer protections for cash transactions amid penny scarcity, and House Bill 5036, concerning consumer information related to tariffs. Chairs Tackey Chan and Senator Payano opened the hearing, noted the committee’s one-year anniversary, reviewed procedures, and explained that the Senate and House were both in session, with Senator Payano prepared to take over if needed. The committee heard from several industry and legislative witnesses, and the hearing was eventually closed by motion and voice vote.
Supporters of H. 5138, including Senator Paul Feeney, the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, said the bill would create a clear statewide rounding standard for cash transactions if pennies become scarce. They argued it would improve operational efficiency, reduce confusion, provide legal clarity, and protect businesses and consumers by requiring notice and limiting the rule to cash payments. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts also supported the concept but suggested amendments, including changing mandatory rounding language to allow flexibility and clarifying that taxes and fees would not be affected.
Witnesses were largely opposed to H. 5036. The Retailers Association, the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, and the Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association said tariff-related shelf or price disclosures would be difficult or impossible to implement because tariff costs change frequently and are hard to trace through complex supply chains. Auto dealers emphasized the challenge of calculating tariff impacts across thousands of vehicle parts and models, while retailers said the proposal would add burdens and could increase costs. No votes on the bills were taken during the hearing; the only formal action was adjournment of the hearing after testimony concluded.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Jun 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- AI adoption is already happening in higher education and in ways that we couldn't have imagined only
- We know that AI capabilities, adoption, and use are expanding in ways that we couldn't have imagined
Summary:
The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard two Senate measures focused on artificial intelligence in higher education. SCR 82 by Senator Niello would encourage the California higher education segments to convene a work group and share best practices on AI use, including how to address academic integrity and student use of AI in coursework. Supportive comments emphasized the need for intersegmental coordination and faculty/student engagement, while the Faculty Association for California Community Colleges raised concerns about preserving faculty purview, academic freedom, and governance differences at the community college level. The resolution was adopted and re-referred to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on an 8-0 vote.
The committee also heard SB 928 by Senator Cervantes, which would establish guardrails for AI use at CSU by requiring that faculty employee positions be filled by humans who meet CSU minimum qualifications and that instructors of record be human faculty for credit and non-credit instruction. The author and supporters, including the California Faculty Association, Teamsters California, the California Federation of Labor Unions, and the State Building and Construction Trades Council, argued the bill is needed to prevent AI from replacing faculty and to preserve the human role in teaching and student support. Members asked for clarification that the bill would not apply to classified, administrative, or clerical employees, and the author’s office said the definition was intended to mirror CSU faculty classifications and bargaining language.
Both measures received unanimous support from the committee after discussion. SB 928 was passed to the Assembly Floor on a 10-0 vote, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The consent calendar, which included SB 308, SB 892, and SB 968, was also approved unanimously, and the committee adjourned after announcing its next hearing date.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Jun 9th, 2026
Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- AI adoption is already happening in higher education and in ways that we couldn't have imagined only
- We know that AI capabilities, adoption, and use are expanding in ways that we couldn't have imagined
Committee:
House Higher Education
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission May 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I would imagine.
- I would imagine it would take a good part of the summer, but we could get it going as fast as we could
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction - 05/05/2026
Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Transcript Highlights:
- You may imagine that I'm not in support of repealing the whole solitary confinement law, so that's my
- You may imagine that I'm not in support of repealing the whole solitary confinement law.
Committee:
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction met with a quorum of members present and considered 10 bills. The committee held a lengthy debate on S.2656, a bill to repeal provisions related to solitary confinement, with supporters arguing the current law is not fully implemented and that solitary confinement is harmful and ineffective, while opponents said the law has made facilities less safe and removed needed disciplinary tools. After discussion, the bill failed to advance, with five negative votes and no report to the floor.
The committee also considered several correctional administration and health-related measures. S.394, the Clemency Justice Act, and S.2509A, concerning transfers of incarcerated individuals from county jails to state facilities, were both reported to finance. S.5134, creating a uniform electronic medical records system for correctional facilities, was reported, as was S.9126A. S.8492, establishing a digital legal mail program, drew concerns about privileged communications and was defeated in committee. S.9467, setting radiation standards for employees and visitors at correctional facilities, was reported to the Health Committee.
Two additional bills, S.9916 on employee mental health services and S.9928 on rights of sexual assault survivors during the investigative process, were reported after brief discussion and expressions of support. One bill on the agenda was laid aside at the sponsor’s request. Overall, the meeting featured a mix of correctional policy, facility operations, health, and survivor-rights legislation, with several bills advancing and one major reform measure on solitary confinement failing to move forward.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development - 04/20/2026
Housing, Construction, and Community Development
Transcript Highlights:
- But if there were other workforces that either would fit within this bill or I imagine the sponsor might
- But if there were other workforces that either would fit within this bill or I imagine the sponsor might
Summary:
The Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met in Albany and considered a series of housing and homeownership bills. Early actions included reporting S.852 (Homebuyer Renovation Property Tax Exemption Act) to Finance, S.955 on smart access systems to Internet and Technology, and S.7933A on registrations of residential mortgages in default. The committee also advanced S.8675, the CAREforce First-Time Homebuyers Act, after a lengthy discussion about whether the bill inappropriately targets a specific workforce; supporters said it addresses a documented shortage of human services workers and includes existing SONYMA income eligibility, while opponents raised concerns about favoring one occupation over others. The bill was reported with some members in the negative and others voting to advance without recommendation.
Members then reported S.9650, which would prohibit landlords from including incorrect rent decontrol information in certain leases and standardize notices for Affordable New York Housing Program units, and S.9679, which would codify the Block-by-Block Home Ownership Program in state law. Both had prior Senate history and drew some negative or AWR votes. The committee also discussed and advanced S.9742, which would allow residential units in multiple dwellings to omit openable windows if they meet ASHRAE ventilation standards; supporters said the change is needed to facilitate office-to-residential conversions, while members raised questions about maintenance, egress, and the bill’s limited application to localities under the multiple dwelling law.
Finally, the committee reported S.989, establishing the vacant rental improvement program, after noting it had previously passed the Senate and was being reintroduced. Throughout the meeting, several bills were described as reintroductions or prior Senate measures, and multiple motions were made to report bills either to Finance, the floor, or another committee, with several members voting in the negative or to advance without recommendation on selected measures.