Video & Transcript Research

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Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Conservation and Natural Resources Apr 16th, 2026 at 08:30 am

Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 959, house, all
Summary: The Conservation and Natural Resources Committee first took up Senate Bill 953, as amended by a House committee substitute combining provisions from House Bill 1885 and Senate Bill 1397. Members discussed changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission’s conflict-of-interest rules and a provision giving a person who contracts for storage rights in a Corps of Engineers reservoir exclusive rights to return flows. The committee also added House Bill 1376 language to exempt certain non-point source agricultural activities from permitting. Some members raised concerns about conflicts of interest and potential impacts on neighbors and water quality, while supporters said the changes were cleanup language and would not change pollution levels. The substitute was adopted and the bill was voted do pass by a 6-5 roll call, with one present. The committee then heard House Bill 3193, a plastic waste reduction bill for Missouri state parks and historic sites. Sponsor Representative Wellenkamp said the bill would reduce plastic bottles, bags, and Styrofoam/styrene containers in parks and encourage alternatives, while allowing exceptions where needed. Supporters from conservation groups, a bird observatory, and private citizens said plastic waste harms water quality, wildlife, tourism, and cleanup efforts, and several noted the need to consider accessibility and disability-related needs such as straws and packaging. One opponent from the beverage industry argued that plastics are highly recyclable and that education and recycling are better solutions than bans. No vote was taken on HB 3193. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3320, the Drinking Water Transparency and Accountability Act. The bill would direct DNR to assign A-F grades to community water systems based on violations, finances, operations, and infrastructure, post the grades publicly, and impose stronger oversight on systems graded D or F. Supporters, including Missouri American Water, the Missouri Chamber, and some public witnesses, said the bill would improve transparency and help communities understand and address aging infrastructure and financial problems. Opponents from municipal utilities, water associations, and the Missouri Municipal League said the information is already available, that a single letter grade would oversimplify a complex system, and that the bill could create confusion, alarm, and unnecessary costs. The hearing on HB 3320 ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned.
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Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Government Efficiency Apr 16th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Government Efficiency

Keywords: 959, house, all
Summary: The committee first established quorum and met in executive session, where House Bill 2809 by Representative Knight was moved do pass and approved by a vote of 11 ayes, 0 noes, and 2 present. The committee then moved to public hearing, noting House Bill 3108 would not be heard that day. The main hearing was on Senate Bills 977 and 1011, sponsored by Senator Nick Schroer. The bills were described as a restatement of the supremacy clause, providing that foreign laws, foreign treaties, and related arbitration decisions cannot supersede the U.S. Constitution, the Missouri Constitution, or state law when fundamental rights are implicated. Members and the sponsor discussed concerns about foreign legal systems, religious law, COVID-era public health recommendations, and whether the bill could affect private arbitration, family law, custody, adoption, tribal law, and international agreements. Supporters said the bill was narrowly tailored, included carve-outs such as the Hague Convention, and was intended to guide courts and prevent foreign law from overriding Missouri law. One witness from Liberty Link Missouri testified in favor, saying the law should restate constitutional principles even if it is technically unnecessary. No vote was taken on the Senate bills during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2589 by Representative Mike Jones, which would require only a rear license plate on vehicles. Supporters said the change would save money for the state and drivers, align Missouri with many other states, and avoid the need to drill front bumpers or display plates in windshields. Members raised concerns about law enforcement, vehicle identification, stalking cases, and whether some vehicles or commercial vehicles should still require two plates. The sponsor said he was open to exploring exemptions or weight-based distinctions, but the hearing ended without a vote or further action on the bill.
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Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Health and Mental Health Apr 16th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Health and Mental Health met with a quorum and first voted in executive session to give House Bills 2370, 3278, and 1638 due pass, with recorded votes of 13-9, 15-0, and 17-0 respectively. The committee then moved to public testimony on Senate Bill 1015, which would create a court process for assisted outpatient treatment for adults with serious mental illness who cannot voluntarily engage in care and are at risk of deterioration, hospitalization, or harm. Senator Maggie Nuremberg and supporters from the Missouri Behavioral Health Council and the Missouri Association of Public Administrators said the bill would help people stay stable in the community, reduce hospitalization and incarceration, and save costs; there was no opposition testimony. The committee also heard a presentation on the STARS program from SSM Health, which was described as a Missouri-based emergency planning system for medically complex children. Witnesses explained that STARS provides physician-approved, electronic emergency care plans for EMS and emergency departments, with education and quality improvement components, and that it is funded by participating children’s hospitals rather than families or EMS agencies. Members asked about costs, access, and how the program differs from the bill previously discussed by Representative Burns; the witness emphasized that STARS is an EMS program and not the same as the proposed hospital-flagging requirement. House Bill 2903, sponsored by Representative Don Mayhew, would change rules for county and district hospitals to make them more competitive with private hospitals by narrowing Sunshine Law exposure for sensitive business information, adjusting board qualifications, and aligning financial reporting deadlines. Supporters from Phelps Health said the bill would reduce administrative burdens and protect proprietary information, while still preserving public transparency for core financial information. Finally, House Bill 3379, sponsored by Representative David Dolan, would expand and strengthen the employee disqualification list and mandated reporting rules for abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, including adding certain bank personnel and first responders as reporters and creating penalties for failure to report. DHSS supported the bill, while the Missouri Bankers Association supported the goal but raised concerns about mandatory reporting obligations for bank staff when customer participation in adult day programs may be unknown; the committee took no final action on the public testimony bills before adjournment.
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New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York State Senate Session - 04/16/2026

New York Senate Floor Meeting

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Human Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Human Services Finance and Policy

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Edfin Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Education Finance

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Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/16/2026 - House Conference Committee HB2133

Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House and Senate conference committees met on April 16, 2026, at 9:51 a.m. to consider House Bill 2133. Members present were Representatives Cooper, Wynn, and Garcia, and Senators Rogers, Ortiz, and Fincham. The main action was a motion to adopt a five-page amendment dated 4/15/2026 at 12:30 p.m. to the Senate version of HB 2133 and to authorize staff to make any necessary technical and conforming changes recommended by the rules attorney. During discussion, Senator Ortiz raised a question about the amendment’s effect on motion pictures and TV shows produced after the law’s effective date, asking whether future PG-13 or R-rated productions with sexual material would need explicit informed consent and whether the measure would create two different categories of media subject to different online enforcement. The response given was that the answer was yes, but no further explanation was provided before the committee moved on. The motion to adopt the amendment was put to a vote and passed, with ayes recorded and no opposition noted. After the action was approved, both the House and Senate conference committees adjourned.
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Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/16/2026 - House Conference Committee HB2003

Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House and Senate conference committees on House Bill 2003 met on April 16, 2026, with members from both chambers present. The committees considered a motion to adopt a seven-page amendment dated April 13, 2026, at 2:07 p.m. to the Senate engrossed version of HB 2003 and to authorize staff to make any necessary technical and conforming changes recommended by the rules attorney. The motion was put to a voice vote in both committees and passed, with the ayes prevailing. After the action was approved, the House conference committee adjourned.
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Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/16/2026 - House Conference Committee HB2874

Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House and Senate conference committees met on April 16, 2026, to reconcile differences on HB 2874, which deals with campaign finance termination statements and penalties for committees that had no contributions or expenditures. Staff explained that the Senate version retroactively voided certain penalties for late campaign finance reports if a committee certifies no activity, and the conference amendment further refined the bill by requiring public posting of committees that owe late-filing penalties, clarifying termination-statement requirements, extending the no-penalty provisions to some committees that had received contributions, and capping penalties at $5,000 per late report beginning July 1. The amendment also moved the retroactivity date, added a session-law provision, and included an emergency clause. Members discussed whether suspended accounts with no activity would be covered, and staff indicated that while not expressly named, they would likely fall within the bill’s criteria. Supporters said the measure would help clear old compliance issues from the books, improve transparency, and provide relief to smaller candidates and local officeholders who may not have the resources to manage complex campaign finance requirements. One member noted the bill would create a practical safe harbor for inactive campaigns and reduce penalties that continue to accrue on closed or empty campaign accounts. A motion was made and adopted to approve the five-page conference amendment dated April 16, 2026, at 9:03 a.m., to the Senate engrossed version of HB 2874, with authorization for technical and conforming changes recommended by the rules attorney. The motion passed by voice vote, and both the House and Senate conference committees adjourned.
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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/16/2026 - House Conference Committee HB2010

Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The House and Senate conference committees for House Bill 2010 met on April 16, 2026, at 9:31 a.m. with members present from both chambers. The committee considered a motion to adopt a four-page amendment dated 4/13/26 at 9:28 a.m. to the Senate engrossed version of HB 2010 and to authorize staff to make any necessary technical and conforming changes recommended by the rules attorney. The motion was put to a voice vote and received ayes, with no recorded substantive discussion of the bill’s contents. The chair declared the motion adopted. The House conference committee then adjourned.
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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Workforce Development Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

State Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

State Government Finance and Policy

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Cap Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Capital Investment

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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Environment Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

04/16/2026 - Finance Advisory Committee

Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: At the April meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee, staff presented an updated state revenue forecast that was more cautious than January’s because of heightened economic uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and broader national risks. The general fund’s available resources were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in the April forecast, with the lower estimate driven by reduced revenue projections while spending assumptions were unchanged. Staff said the outlook depends heavily on how long the Middle East conflict lasts and noted that a prolonged disruption could weaken the forecast further, while a quick resolution could improve conditions. George Hammond of the University of Arizona gave a broad economic overview, highlighting geopolitical risk, elevated oil and gasoline prices, sticky inflation, weak Arizona job growth, and uncertainty around federal policy, tariffs, immigration, and AI-related investment. He said Arizona’s recent job growth has been very weak and concentrated mainly in health services, while most other sectors lost jobs, and he attributed much of the slowdown to low hiring rather than layoffs. He also discussed population growth, noting that Arizona remains above the national average but is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows, and he warned that housing affordability remains strained even as Phoenix inflation has moderated. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook but pointed to some offsets. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenues could benefit from tourism tied to spring training and the Final Four, though higher fuel costs could dampen discretionary spending. Other panelists noted that the federal policy environment, tariffs, and immigration changes are likely to restrain growth, while productivity gains, especially from technology and AI, may help businesses maintain output. Several members also discussed housing, saying single-family permits have fallen while rental supply has improved affordability, and they raised concerns about labor-force growth, wage disparities, and the reliability of recent employment data revisions. No formal votes or actions were taken.
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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Press Conf: DFL Leaders Speak on Vote Overturning Boundary Waters Mining Ban - 04/16/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: Minnesota legislators held a press event responding to a U.S. Senate vote that they said would remove federal protections and allow copper-nickel mining activity that could affect the Boundary Waters. Senator Foung Hawj opened by condemning the vote as favoring corporate interests over Minnesotans, and Representatives Leach Kozlowski and Shelley Buck, along with Senator Jen McEwen and Senator Ann Johnson Stewart, framed the Boundary Waters as both an environmental treasure and, for Native communities, homelands with treaty-protected rights. They argued that copper sulfide mining poses irreversible risks to water quality, wildlife, and tribal fishing, gathering, and hunting rights, and said the federal action lacked adequate government-to-government consultation with affected tribes. The speakers highlighted several state bills they said are intended to fill the gap left by the federal vote. McEwen described her “Prove It First” bill, which would require a mine of the same type to have operated in the U.S. for 10 years and closed for 10 years without pollution before a similar project could be permitted in Minnesota. Johnson Stewart outlined three measures: a permanent protection bill for state-owned lands in the Rainy River watershed, a taxpayer protection/financial assurance bill requiring non-iron mining companies to fully fund cleanup guarantees in cash up front, and a “bad actor” bill barring permits for companies with records of corruption, bribery, or environmental destruction. The speakers said these bills need hearings and discussion and urged Governor Walz and state agencies to take action now, including possible permit revocations. In response to questions about economic arguments for mining, McEwen said she understood why some Northland residents might hope for jobs but argued that mining companies exploit economic desperation with propaganda and that most Minnesotans oppose this type of mining near the Boundary Waters. She said there is limited Republican support for some narrower bills, especially financial assurance, and suggested the issue could become a political liability for Rep. Pete Stauber. The event ended with a call for bipartisan action, state-level enforcement, and continued public pressure to protect the Boundary Waters.
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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Press Conference: Majority Leader Erin Murphy Media Availability - 04/16/26

Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: A Senate DFL leader discussed the upcoming supplemental budget and said nearly half of it is being shaped by the federal budget bill passed last July, which he argued is driving hospital distress, higher county costs, and pressure on family budgets. He said the budget will focus on affordability, health care, and responding to federal actions, including an uncompensated care fund for hospitals in distress and possible one-time county technology upgrades to handle new Medicaid-related requirements. He estimated Senator Wiklund’s health and human services proposal includes about $50 million for those upgrades and said that item would likely be handled in an appropriation bill rather than a bonding bill. The leader also said bonding is a top priority this year and that public asset maintenance remains important, including projects tied to sports and civic facilities. On HCMC and broader hospital funding, he said he is confident the Legislature will act, but wants to address the hospital within the context of the statewide hospital delivery system. He also said the Senate has not yet taken a position on a proposed tax related to fraud restitution, but emphasized support for fraud prevention, an independent inspector general, and more resources for the Attorney General. School safety was another major topic. He said Senate Democrats plan to bring a comprehensive package to the floor that includes school safety funding, mental health care, and measures addressing weapons of war, and he expressed hope that some Republicans will support it. He said the Senate education finance bill already includes more school safety funding than the House GOP version, less funding for private school safety, and no weapons-of-war language, but that a broader package will come through the Finance Committee soon. He also said the Senate expects to take up a stand-alone building security package to cover ongoing screening and staffing costs, and he supported creating a special security response unit for threats against lawmakers. Other issues mentioned included support for banning NDAs for local governments, continued attention to public safety and accountability in response to federal immigration enforcement actions, and interest in a bill affecting Minneapolis sports-related taxes and PGA funding, though he said those proposals are still being worked on and may not pass this year.
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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislation to fund extra security for Minnesota courtrooms, judges stalls in divided committee Apr 16th, 2026

Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 3874, the Judiciary budget bill, and first moved it to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was described as funding the judicial branch’s budget request, including courthouse and judge security measures, home safety for judges and staff, a $1 million courthouse safety grant program, and funding related to paid family and medical leave costs that the courts must absorb. A court administrator explained that some base adjustments were budget-neutral internal shifts within the court system, moving money from district courts to other courts to better meet overall needs. Members then debated several amendments. The A7 amendment, which reduced some of the requested security funding for administrators and aligned it more closely with legislative security levels while retaining flexible Supreme Court security personnel, was adopted. The A1 amendment, which would have deleted the additional operating adjustment for paid family and medical leave, failed on a 7-7 tie after debate over whether the courts should bear the employer share of that cost and whether the program itself was an unfunded mandate. The A2 amendment, also related to paid family and medical leave funding, likewise failed on a 7-7 tie after similar discussion about the judiciary’s ongoing employment costs and the branch’s inability to raise its own revenue. The committee then adopted the A4 amendment, which increased the courthouse safety grant program from $1 million to $4 million. Supporters said there was unmet demand for courthouse security grants and that the money would help with hardware such as screening equipment, while the court administrator said the branch would not spend more than it could use and that the grants would be reviewed by a committee including law enforcement and county representatives. The administrator noted the funding would be one-time money and would not cover staffing costs. The committee also discussed the judiciary’s ongoing need for funding, with members arguing both that the courts should be treated like other employers and that the judicial branch, as an independent branch of government, must be funded by the legislature. The final A5 amendment was then introduced, with staff noting it would delete a section already covered by the adopted A7 amendment and reduce an appropriation on page four, line 14.
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Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House higher education committee approves omnibus bill 4/16/26

Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 4252 and first heard a walkthrough of a DE2 amendment that largely incorporated Office of Higher Education technical and statutory cleanup items, including reporting consolidations, updates to postsecondary registration and licensing statutes, and an anti-fraud provision. New provisions in the DE2 would require public postsecondary institutions to explain developmental courses before enrollment and obtain a written acknowledgement, revise the state grant tuition cap, add a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation in FY 2027 for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and provide $5,000 one-time funding for reforestation at Bemidji State University. Fiscal staff also noted additional special revenue fund revenue and expenditures tied to licensing and registration litigation response. The main debate centered on the A8 amendment offered by Representative Rarick, which would require the governor to appoint University of Minnesota regents only from candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature fails to elect regents. Rarick argued the amendment was needed to address what he described as conflicts of interest and pay-to-play concerns in recent gubernatorial appointments. Several members questioned whether the language was constitutional, whether it actually addressed conflicts of interest, and whether it should instead refer to ARCAC-screened or ARCAC-recommended candidates. Nonpartisan staff said the governor’s appointment power is addressed in the university charter, not directly in the constitution, but could not definitively assess constitutionality if challenged. Members were divided: some supported the goal of cleaner governance but said the amendment was not ready or did not match the problem being described; others argued the legislature had failed to complete its own regent appointments and that the amendment was a response to that failure. No vote on the A8 amendment or the bill was reached in the portion provided, though a roll call was requested on the amendment and the chair indicated the bill would continue through amendment consideration before final discussion and vote.