Video & Transcript Research : 'steafardship program'
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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:
- I mean, this program was established to give immunity, and it speaks to the origins of the program.
- I'm all for reducing costs and helping solidify the program.
- through on-road testing as part of the program.
- through on-road testing as part of the program.
- But we're doing a pilot program with J.A. in the St.
Keywords:
funeral homes, cemetery law, cremation, embalmer, funeral director, preneed contract, preneed funeral, human remains, unclaimed cremated remains, disposition of remains, hospice, palliative care, end-of-life care, direct disposal, mortuary science, funeral service arts, licensure by endorsement, cemetery license, contiguous acres, consumer services
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.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Health and Human Services Feb 4th, 2026 at 08:36 am
House Health & Human Services
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Housing Jul 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So a lot of those programs don't exist anymore.
- So in our programs, our registered apprenticeship programs in the state of Washington, we don't bring
- know, young people into the programs.
- So in our programs, our registered apprenticeship programs in the state of Washington, we don't bring
- you know, young people in to the programs.
Summary:
The Senate Housing Committee work session focused first on Civic Commons’ “starter home production plan,” a statewide strategy intended to increase production of homes affordable to households roughly between 60% and 120% of area median income. Presenters said the Covenant Home Ownership program will not succeed without more starter homes, and outlined recommendations including a temporary cross-sector crisis task force, a developer network, new financing tools, public seed funding, and a multi-site demonstration program to test off-site construction and standardized designs. Committee members asked about silos in the current system, the role of off-site and modular construction, target income ranges, and where the plan would be most useful. Civic Commons said the plan is meant to be statewide, community-informed, and respectful of local context, with pre-approved plans and standardized approaches for both single-family and multi-unit housing.
The Department of Labor and Industries then gave an update on factory-built housing oversight. Officials said residential factory-built structures are a small but important part of their work and described progress in prioritizing residential plan reviews, which they said has reduced review time from months to about two days. They also reported creating a plans examiner supervisor position, moving forward with rules for third-party plan review and inspection, and beginning analysis of national standards from the Modular Building Institute to see whether they align with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans, real-time tracking for applicants, and the role of state inspection in reducing local jurisdictional variation.
The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays and increase housing production, but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. The labor representatives said prefabrication and modular construction can help if the workforce is protected, wages and apprenticeship opportunities are preserved, and projects use tools such as community workforce agreements. They also raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and unlicensed contractors in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor education or licensing. Committee members responded that the goal is to expand production without sacrificing safety or good jobs.
The committee also heard city perspectives on local housing reforms. Olympia described its affordable housing emergency ordinance, which gives qualifying projects priority in the permitting queue, and said success depends on communication among housing staff, planners, engineers, and developers. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, reported increased ADUs, duplexes, and smaller-lot development after eliminating single-family zoning and expanding tools such as MFTE and ADU flexibility. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances in June 2025 after a lengthy public process, while Poulsbo described proactive code changes including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, manufactured home protections, expanded ADU allowances, and pre-approved ADU plans shared with neighboring jurisdictions. No votes were taken during the work session.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Jun 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We work through an identification process through the BEAD program.
- So with me also is Katrina Tuggle, program manager for the Office of Equity.
- So we've been working with these programs that you've spoken to that have been cut, the BEAD program,
- program, which is still sort of slow to deploy as well.
- An entry-level program that works for folks.
Summary:
The committee held a work session focused on technology in government, AI, broadband, and digital equity. Seattle CTO Rob Lloyd described the city’s AI strategy, emphasizing responsible use, privacy, security, community input, and data strategy. He said Seattle is using small pilots and partnerships to test AI for tasks such as public records processing, infrastructure inspection, and permitting, while keeping humans as the final decision-makers. Members asked about bias, liability, training on best practices, labor involvement, and public records; Lloyd said AI should remain an assistant tool, not a replacement for human judgment, and that Seattle is still testing solutions for records requests and permitting. WATech CTO Nick Stow and Deputy Director Mark Quimby discussed the state’s broader AI policy, the generative AI executive order, a sandbox with more than 15 agencies, and use cases including a resident portal, cybersecurity, and wildfire detection. They stressed consent, closed systems, human-centered design, and the need to govern all forms of AI, not just generative AI. Committee members raised concerns about federal data access, labor issues, and wildfire detection effectiveness.
Spokane County IT staff described a more restrictive approach to AI, citing privacy, bias, and cyber risks. The county standardized on Microsoft Copilot as its only approved chat-style AI tool, blocked other AI chat platforms, and requires human review of all AI-generated content. They said AI is also being used by criminals for phishing and deepfakes, underscoring the need for strong policy and security controls. The committee also received an update from the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Yuki Ishizuka said the task force has 19 members and eight subcommittees covering ethics, consumer protection, labor, health care, public safety, education, government efficiency, cybersecurity, and industry/energy. The task force is working toward an interim report due December 1, 2025 and a final report due July 1, 2026, and is reviewing recommendations through public forums and advisory committees. Ishizuka warned that a federal budget reconciliation provision could bar states from enforcing AI regulations for 10 years, and several members voiced support for state authority and asked about possible 2026 legislation.
The committee then heard updates on broadband and digital equity. Commerce’s Dave Pringle said the BEAD broadband program is being reshaped by new NTIA guidance, which removed or reduced emphasis on several prior priorities, and Washington is now working under an expedited process to submit its state application by September 4. He noted that no projects have been built yet, that four counties did not receive applications in round two, and that the state is trying to keep applicants engaged through office hours and a shortened review window. The Office of Equity and the Digital Equity Forum reported increased participation, new members, and ongoing outreach to tribal, rural, and underserved communities, while previewing recommendations such as creating an interdepartmental digital equity team and improving data use. Finally, Lumen’s Robert Thoms described private-sector broadband deployment challenges, including permitting, regulation, and the economics of extending fiber, while noting continued investment in overbuild projects, a $30 low-cost service option tied to the former ACP, and work with the state, tribes, and libraries. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of presentations and member questions.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 4, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- key We'll begin by identifying program participants, highlighting some key program features, as well
- And again, we are a state program here, and there are other states with different programs, but that
- is a key feature of our program here. program here and there are other states with different programs
- So this is the grants program that we are funding.
- So the grants program...
Summary:
The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met to receive oversight briefings on Florida’s medical marijuana program from the Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) and from the University of Florida’s Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research. OMMU Director Christopher Kimball outlined the program’s structure, including more than 900,000 active patients, nearly 7,000 caregivers, 27 MMTC licensees, 706 dispensing locations, and nine certified testing labs. He described the state’s pre-approval process for products and advertising, plain packaging requirements, seed-to-sale tracking, registry operations, and compliance efforts such as background checks, inspections, complaint investigations, and lab desk audits. He also said the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Jacksonville had been accredited to begin supporting testing. Members asked about telehealth, patient growth, product safety, advertising to children, inspections, and the status of MMTC licensure; Kimball said recertifications by telehealth now make up more than half of recertifications, that patient growth has slowed, and that ongoing litigation is delaying issuance of 22 new MMTC licenses.
Kimball also discussed implementation of recent legislation and licensure changes, including licenses issued under HB 387 and SB 1582 to applicants from the original Pigford-related pool, with additional cure opportunities still ongoing. He said the department is monitoring diversion, inversion, and unapproved products, and that it coordinates with law enforcement when needed but does not itself have sworn authority. In response to questions, he said the department does not regulate physicians directly, but may refer concerns to the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, and that caregiver and physician participation requirements are set by statute. Members raised concerns about edibles, child access, and continued use of child-attractive branding; Kimball said the department tries to catch issues through pre-approval and enforcement, and that complaints involving children are treated as serious and investigated using available records and camera footage.
Dr. Almond Winterstein then presented the consortium’s research overview. He explained that the consortium was created by statute in 2019, includes 10 universities, and is funded by annual state appropriations. He said its work includes grants, a research repository, a clinical core, outreach, and evidence synthesis, including a recent FDA-supported review of cannabis evidence. He emphasized that the current evidence base is limited and often low quality, with the strongest signals for symptom relief in PTSD-related symptoms, nausea, and some pain outcomes, but with many studies inconclusive or mixed. He also described the consortium’s use of registry data linked to Medicaid, Medicare, death, fetal death, and birth records to study safety and outcomes, including children, pregnancy, driving safety, opioid-sparing effects, and adverse events. Winterstein said adverse event reporting is sparse and likely underreported, with most reports mild but some serious events noted, and he expressed concern about use among young adults because of uncertain benefit-risk and possible effects on the developing brain. The committee discussed the need for better surveillance, more robust adverse event reporting, and the possibility of using linked data to identify harms more quickly. At the end of the meeting, the committee rose without objection.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Today, those programs are flourishing.
- <00:28:52.159>
are women's court today those programs are women's court today those programs - <00:30:24.519>
for implemented a pilot program for implemented a pilot program for mediating - <00:45:13.480>
the courts in the community program the courts in the community program the - <00:59:18.280>
that the eviction mediation program that the eviction mediation program that
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- since the program was created. since the program was created.
- underutilization of the Chaffi program underutilization of the Chaffi program funds<03:16:45.680
- , construction, modernize HUD programs, construction, modernize HUD programs, and<05:48:23.600>
<06:18:51.200>- credit
program. - low-income housing tax credit program. low-income housing tax credit program.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (02/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- He said this is another program that's funded outside of CCSNH's budget and it's an ongoing program,
- He said this is another program that's funded outside of CCSNH's budget and it's an ongoing program,
- He said this is another program that's funded outside of CCSNH's budget and it's an ongoing program,
- He said this is another program that's funded outside of CCSNH's budget and it's an ongoing program,
- programs.
Summary:
The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which clarifies that dual and concurrent enrollment courses may not exceed four credits. Members said the bill came from the community college system and was intended to preserve the program’s high school-to-college pathway. An amendment changing the effective date to passage was adopted 18-0, and the committee then voted 18-0 to recommend OTPA on the bill as amended, with the bill placed on the consent calendar.
The committee then retained HB 295 and HB 366, both related to school building aid, after members said the issues were complex and needed more work. Both motions to retain passed 18-0, leaving the bills in committee without reports. The chair also said HB 354 would not be taken up that day because of possible changes from the Department of Education and others.
HB 494, funding the math learning communities program, was then amended to flat-fund the program rather than increase it, with members citing budget uncertainty. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted 18-0 for OTPA on the bill as amended, placing it on consent. Finally, HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid, drew debate over whether charter schools should be treated differently from traditional public schools. The committee voted 10-8 for inexpedient to legislate, sending the bill to the regular calendar; Representative Damon was assigned the minority report and Representative Popovic the majority report. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program, where members discussed flat-funding the program at $2.5 million per year and the potential impact on course availability, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So but are boards drive decision making and program services and choice of program services.
- We provide a state approved program so that those teachers can receive training instructional programming
- . for that program.
- Now we have to stop and look at programs first. Is that program economically feasible?
- If Ble FFA, all those things are programs that we don't get the same funding for those programs.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Transportation Subcommittee Mar 30th, 2026 at 10:00 am
A&B Transportation Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- And that really funds five separate programs.
- One is our competitive grant program that we have every year.
- That could range from an afterschool to a summer camp to an AOPA program, AOPA aerospace program, anything
- And that's a new pilot program we just started up.
- So, retro fund again, just the program overview.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 03:29 pm
West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4010, providing a statutory program for loaning financial
- Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5527, relating to wellness reimbursement program.
- Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5527, relating to wellness reimbursement program.
- district terminates its program.
- programs, and requiring a report to the Legislature if a school district terminates its program.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- VALENCIA PROVIDES PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.
- PROGRAM BUT IT WAS STRESSFUL BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY TWO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN MIAMI AND
- SETTING UP THE PREEMINENCE PROGRAM HAS MADE EACH OF US A BETTER UNIVERSITY.
- REGARDING FUNDS WHICH REWARD EXCELLENT NURSING PROGRAMS TO BE USED FOR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY RELATED PROGRAMS
- AND TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Health Services (2-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Jenna Cassidy, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. Good afternoon. I'm WN Stevens.
- good afternoon I'm WN Stevens programs good afternoon I'm WN Stevens I'm<00:01:52.880>
here <00 - , explained that the training is done in collaboration with the sexual assault nurse examiner program
- has a skill bridge program organization has a skill bridge program where<00:16:29.279>
it <00: - Has the Department of Labor and other organizations that support military programs like this.
Keywords:
00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call
01:23 Discussion of 25RS HB 219
06:40 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 219
07:44 Discussion of 25RS HCR 20
09:36 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HCR 20
10:58 Discussion of 25RS HB 303
17:02 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 303
18:38 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations
21:46 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 219, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Raymer. The bill requires emergency services to provide mandatory training for emergency medical staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, with the training developed in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Response Team advisory committee. Testimony from Jenna Cassidy of the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and WN Stevens of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky explained that the training would help emergency department staff properly respond to sexual assault patients, preserve evidence, and connect patients to needed resources; the committee also clarified that the bill is training-focused and not a certification requirement. HB 219 received favorable expression and was reported to the House floor.
The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 20, also from Representative Raymer, which directs the Legislative Research Commission to study gaps in sexual assault nurse examiner coverage, why those gaps exist, and what hospitals do when no SANE nurse is available. Raymer said the study was intended to gather data for future legislation, and members noted the importance of documenting current practices and supporting efforts to expand SANE coverage. The resolution was adopted with 16 favorable votes and recommended for passage on the House floor.
Next, the committee took up House Bill 303, sponsored by Representative Steve Bratcher, which creates a pathway for military medical personnel to translate their training into civilian Kentucky credentials through colleges and universities. The committee substitute broadened participation beyond KCTCS to any Kentucky institution with accredited programs, and Bratcher explained that schools would evaluate military experience, award applicable credit, identify gaps, and still require the relevant licensure exam. Members asked about university participation, credentialing standards, and how prior military radiology training would transfer; Bratcher said the program is voluntary for institutions and works with existing SkillBridge and veterans’ programs. HB 303, as amended by committee substitute, passed unanimously and was recommended for passage.
At the end of the meeting, the committee briefly reviewed administrative regulations. Representative Fleming asked about a behavioral regulation that had previously been found sufficient, and staff indicated it had been deferred, later found deficient again in the Senate Health Services Committee, and may be addressed through Senate Bill 65. The chair then allowed members to record additional votes before adjourning and announced the next Health Services meeting would be February 20 at noon in Room 149.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So we're leaning in to the Healthy Incentives Program.
- Those are anti-poverty programs.
- And we've all heard about the potential cuts to this program at the federal level.
- We have the HIP program, which is also mentioned as well, which is $25.4 million for this program to
- and the RAVP program as well. ...in the MRVP program and the RAVP program as well.
Summary:
The Senate took up debate on the FY2026 general appropriations bill, with several members speaking in support of the Ways and Means budget. Senators Comerford, O’Connor, Feeney, and DiDomenico emphasized the budget as a values-driven response to federal uncertainty, highlighting investments in MassHealth, education, housing, food security, local aid, libraries, transit, mental and behavioral health, and support for vulnerable residents. They also praised the budget’s lack of new taxes and its focus on spending within available revenues, while noting major cost pressures from health care and federal policy instability.
Specific programs and items repeatedly cited included universal free community college, expanded financial aid, rural and minimum school aid, TAFDC/EAEDC increases, the Healthy Incentives Program, universal school meals, housing supports, Home and Healthy for Good, and funding for Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital. Speakers framed these investments as both fiscally responsible and morally necessary, and several noted that amendments would be considered during the debate. No votes on the budget itself were taken in the excerpt.
After the budget remarks, Senator Miranda spoke in recognition of Haitian Flag Day and the history of Haiti, including foreign interference and the importance of protecting Haitian immigrants in Massachusetts. Another senator then honored Malcolm X on the 100th anniversary of his birth, connecting his legacy to the budget process and calling for investments in equity, education, housing, and health care. The Senate then adopted an order to meet the next day at 10 a.m. with the general appropriations bill as the only item on the calendar, and adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Finance Sub Committee Nov 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So, the Health Care Authority was authorized by the Federal Medicaid Waiver Program, or 1115 Waiver Program
- In January 2025, Corrections launched their MAT program.
- And does this program really work? So, Mr.
- We've always tried to start programs the sooner the better.
- It is not a permanent program.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations - Government Operations Division Apr 2nd, 2025 at 10:00 am
Appropriations - Government Operations Division
Transcript Highlights:
- The only thing, the internships program, the Senate put 20,000 in. We haven't put it in.
- For instance, we had a cytoplasmic male sterility in a crossing program.
- The only string is it goes to a station that has a wheat breeding program.
- What does it cost to run a breeding program? Thank you.
- We don't know how much the breeding programs are, what we put into there now, the breeding programs are
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 2023 for the Racing Commission. Members confirmed the bill’s existing items, including the internships program and copier replacement, and then adopted an amendment based on the worksheet that moved those items to one-time funding. The committee then passed SB 2023 as amended, with the only noted differences from the Senate version being the one-time treatment of the $20,000 internship item and the copier replacement.
Next, the committee considered House Bill 2011 for the Highway Patrol. Representative Pyle explained a series of verbal amendments that shifted several one-time and ongoing expenses from the general fund to the electronic permit fee fund, including body armor, preliminary breath test devices, handgun replacement, emergency vehicle operations course resurfacing, and related items, while also removing the shooting range ventilation project because it could be completed with existing funds. The committee also added a section allowing carryover authority for federal grant dollars tied to the in-car router system. After adopting the amendments, the committee passed HB 2011 as amended.
The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2014 for the Industrial Commission, focusing on a proposed amendment by Representative Fisher that would direct additional percentages of North Dakota Mill net income to wheat breeding programs at NDSU’s main experiment station and branch research centers. Members asked about current funding, the size of the proposed transfers, and how the money would be used, with Fisher arguing the funds would support breeding, disease resistance, and related research. Several members said they wanted more information on existing funding and program costs before advancing the idea, so the committee held the amendment for further review and took no final action on the bill during this discussion.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, January 12, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- compensation and assistance programs. compensation and assistance programs.
- vital US program. vital US program. >> Thank<05:35:09.200>
you. - vote for this program. vote for this program.
- reauthorization of this vital program. reauthorization of this vital program.
- These programs hope and help programs.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 02/25/26
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- investment relief initiative program investment relief initiative program modification.
- Uh the program provides with an I.
- players, and that program is called the CLC Market Builders Program.
- <00:54:32.240>
and then brings me to the eco program and then brings me to the eco program - Um, I am happy to Green program.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- and I'm the antiterrorism program and I'm the antiterrorism program manager<00:28:40.840>
and - manager and The Insider threat program manager and The Insider threat program manager<00:28:42.600
- <00:34:53.200>
don't <00:34:53.520>always programs don't always programs don't always um - any that type of a pilot in that program any that type of a pilot in that program okay<00:36:13.040
- <01:22:23.360>
then whatever state take that program then whatever state take that program
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- the operation, staffing, and programming the operation, staffing, and programming of<01:17:01.160
- If so, all those in favor, please say aye. forensic program. Thank you. forensic program.
- this<01:53:56.240>
program, <01:53:57.200>in It creates a program, this program, in - the program if this program<01:56:29.440>
goes <01:56:29.760>forward <01:56:30.320> - working on creating a full program. working on creating a full program.
Summary:
The House first returned to Senate Bill 71, a consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed language allowing companies to rely on consumer consent to sell certain sensitive data. Supporters argued consent pop-ups and terms-of-service notices are not meaningful consent and that sensitive data should be categorically protected, citing Maryland and other states. Opponents, including the committee presenter, said the bill was a carefully negotiated compromise needed to establish Vermont’s first data privacy framework and warned that adopting the amendment could jeopardize passage in the Senate or with the governor. The committee reported the amendment unfavorable on a 9-0 straw poll, the House rejected the amendment, and then approved the committee’s recommended proposal of amendment by roll call vote, 129-3.
During questioning on S. 71, members discussed the bill’s applicability thresholds, with the presenter explaining that the 35,000-consumer threshold was modeled on Connecticut, while lower 3,000 thresholds for sensitive data and data sales were based on business testimony and intended to capture smaller entities such as accountants, lawyers, nonprofits, and trade associations that share or sell lists. Members also asked about the bill’s many exemptions, which were described as covering entities already regulated by state or federal law, including health care entities under HIPAA and banking and insurance sectors. The presenter and supporters emphasized that the bill still requires clear privacy notices, limits data collection to what is reasonable and disclosed, and gives consumers rights to opt out, correct, and delete data. After the roll call vote, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place S. 71 in all remaining stages, passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules to message the action to the Senate forthwith.
The House then moved to Senate Bill 193, relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons. The committee presenter from South Burlington previewed that the bill would create a permanent forensic facility, with a separate amendment expected to address interim arrangements while the facility is being developed. The transcript ends as the House begins second reading of S. 193 and the committee reports are introduced, with further debate not shown.