Video & Transcript Research : 'Vision Zero'
Page 238 of 474
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Regulatory Authority Nov 6th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- states that just a 5% energy savings for legacy homes is the same impact as driving 10 years of net zero
- Legacy homes is the same impact as driving 10 years of net zero new construction.
- of just energy efficiency improvement in our existing housing stock is the same as 10 years of net zero
- A lot of folks come into each of these proceedings with a zero-sum perspective, that there's either going
- A lot of folks come into each of these proceedings with a zero-sum perspective, that there's either going
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Regulatory Authority held its first hearing to examine how California’s regulatory framework affects housing production, affordability, and timelines. Chair Pacheco and Assemblymember Haney framed the discussion around the state’s housing shortage and the need to reduce costs while maintaining environmental, safety, and community protections. The first panel featured housing experts and industry representatives who argued that state regulations, code complexity, utility constraints, and agency review processes add substantial cost and delay to development. Bill Fulton described overlapping state and local land-use authorities and the tension among housing, coastal protection, climate, and wildfire goals. CBIA’s Chris Ochoa and California Apartment Association representative Bob Raymer said building codes, energy mandates, and agency processes have materially increased per-home costs, and they urged more centralized affordability analysis and greater scrutiny of regulatory impacts. The Bay Area Council’s Louis Marante called for a statewide cost target for housing and stronger timelines and accountability for state agency reviews.
The second panel brought in state agencies to explain their roles. HCD said its housing element enforcement, streamlining laws, and technical assistance have helped increase production, shorten entitlement timelines, and improve compliance by local governments. CARB said SB 375 is a planning law that does not directly regulate land use, and argued that regional housing assumptions in sustainable communities strategies are not being fully implemented on the ground. The Coastal Commission said it works with local governments to balance coastal protection, sea-level-rise risk, and housing, and noted recent guidance and pilot efforts to streamline housing approvals in the coastal zone. The Energy Commission said its building energy standards are designed to be cost-effective and save consumers money over time, though they can add some design and documentation complexity. Fish and Wildlife and DTSC both emphasized early engagement and collaboration to reduce delays while protecting natural resources and public health; DTSC said it is refining vapor intrusion guidance and using brownfield grants to support redevelopment.
The State Water Resources Control Board said it uses general orders and basin planning to provide predictable permitting while balancing water quality, water rights, and housing needs, and noted billions in grants and loans for water infrastructure and site remediation that can support housing affordability. In response to questions from Assemblymember Haney, several agencies described ongoing coordination across departments, including regular meetings among HCD, CARB, the Coastal Commission, and transportation agencies, as well as broader interagency efforts to reduce redundancies and identify pinch points in project delivery. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the main outcome was informational testimony and discussion of possible future reforms to improve coordination, predictability, and affordability in state regulatory processes.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- There being 127 yeas and zero nays, the bill as amended is passed and its title is agreed to.
- There being 132 yeas and zero nays, the bill is passed.
- There being 131 yeas and zero nays, the bill is passed and its title is agreed to.
- There being 133 yeas and zero nays, the bill is passed and its title is agreed to.
- There being 133 yeas and zero nays, the resolution is adopted. Announcements. Representative KCA.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There being seven ayes, two nays, and zero present at voting, the motion prevails.
- There being nine ayes, zero nays, and zero present not voting, the motion prevails.
- There being seven yeses, two noes, and zero present, not voting, the motion prevails.
- There being nine ayes, zero nays, and zero present not voting, the motion prevails.
- That night when they pulled the tapes, she had zero votes in that voting precinct.
Keywords:
HB 817, Texas Election Code, majority vote, majority threshold, ranked-choice voting, preferential voting, instant runoff voting, vote reassignment, ballot ranking, election administration, public office election, Election Code Section 2.0215, runoff elections, plurality vs majority, voting systems, education reform, budget allocation, teacher retention, student performance, accountability measures
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And then my last question is, most of our housing programs were zeroed out in this budget.
- It's been frozen now for two years, particularly for our zero to five.
- Then it's kind of as if the clock reset to zero at that point.
- a little bit about, I'll just say generally as a statement, I'm more frustrated this year with the zero
- Position is: why go so hard on zeroing out, say, the affordable housing tax credit when we know that
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (3-3-26)
Appropriations & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 503 is amended with PHS 1 having received 19 yes votes, zero nay votes, and zero pass votes
- House Bill 651 as amended by PHS 1 having received 20 yes votes, zero nay votes, and zero pass votes
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:15
HB 503 Discussion 00:01:30
HB 503 Vote 00:05:30
HB 651 Discussion 00:07:15
HB 651 Vote 00:10:25, 958, all
Summary:
The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met on March 3, 2026, with a quorum present and took up two bills. First, the committee considered House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, as amended by committee substitute PHS 1. Sponsors and presenters described it as a continuation of recent budget approaches for the smallest of the three branches. One member asked about language in the substitute related to capital and capital annex construction expenditures and why certain statutes would not apply; the response was that the provisions were standard in recent years and intended to give the legislative branch flexibility for ongoing capital projects. The committee adopted PHS 1 and then passed HB 503 out favorably by a vote of 19-0, with no nays or passes.
The committee then took up House Bill 651, which makes changes to the Kentucky Waters program created in 2024. Representative Josh Bray explained that the bill, in consultation with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, updates project selection criteria to better target distressed districts and applies only to the next funding cycle. The committee substitute adds requirements for applicants to have an asset depreciation plan and ties that concept into best management practices, with the stated goal of avoiding repeated funding of the same projects as they wear out. Members clarified that the bill addresses the program’s structure rather than annual funding allocations, and Bray confirmed that annual project funding continues to be implemented through separate resolutions and KIA evaluation. The committee adopted PHS 1 and reported HB 651 favorably by a vote of 20-0.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Public Health REVISED: Links added Feb 4th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- Yes, nay, Roe, with a vote of Ivey, zero, nay. I declare your bill to have passed out of committee.
- Re Grego with a vote of five yes, zero nay. I declare your bill to have passed.
- Representative, with a vote of five yea, zero. Now, declare your bill to have passed.
- With a vote of five yea, zero nay, declare your bill to have passed.
Keywords:
public health, domestic violence, human trafficking, healthcare facilities, hospital protocols, behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, micropigmentation, medical procedure, physician oversight, nursing certification, state regulations, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department, investigation
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- It is that this bill adds another requirement for Zero nine is not the goal.
- I'm not convinced that it's a zero cost, so I've already asked for a fiscal note.
- By your vote of five ayes, two nays, and zero not voting, you have given SB 1009 a due pass recommendation
- By your vote of five-eyes, two-nows, and zero-not-voting, you have given SB-10-09 a due-pass recommendation
Bills:
SB1009
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Apr 2nd, 2025
Finance and Taxation Education
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill is given a favorable... zero nays. The bill is given a favorable report.
- Seeing none, 16 zero nays. Bill's given a favorable report. Thank you.
- And you said that the... for state bonds and you said that the state would assume zero liability.
- Seeing none, 16 I, zero nays. The amendments are accepted. The amendments are adopted.
Keywords:
sales tax, local exemption, Consumer Price Index, tax holiday, clothing tax exemption, school supplies, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
HF2039 hearing in the House workforce, labor and economic development committee 4/1/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Last year, there was a proposal to completely zero out federal youth workforce development funds.
- 04:03.840>
proposal <00:04:04.239>to <00:04:04.480>completely <00:04:04.959>zero - <00:04:05.400>
out was a proposal to completely zero out was a proposal to completely zero
AZ
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Should Minnesota mandate coverage for infertility treatment? 4/8/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You went from zero to the max.
- You you went from zero went a long way.
- <00:40:05.480>
And I mean, this is zero restrictions. - And I mean, this is zero restrictions.
- rather than going from zero to 100. rather than going from zero to 100.
Summary:
The committee heard House File 4609, the Minnesota Building Families Act, and laid it over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The bill would require insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF-related care, and the author emphasized that it would not change Minnesota’s current surrogacy laws. She also noted the bill already contains a religious exemption and clarified that it had been referred through commerce but came to health first because of reviser delays.
Supporters testified that infertility is common and financially devastating, describing personal experiences with miscarriages, cancer-related fertility loss, and large out-of-pocket costs such as second mortgages, retirement withdrawals, and fundraising. A physician testified that infertility is a disease, that delays in care can worsen outcomes, and that insurance coverage can improve health outcomes and reduce multiple births and costs. Supporters also argued that fertility coverage is already offered by some large employers and in other states without major premium increases.
Opponents, including representatives of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and Minnesota Family Council, argued the bill would subsidize IVF and potentially surrogacy, which they said raises ethical concerns about embryos, commodification, and exploitation of women. They urged the committee to vote no and instead support restorative reproductive medicine or other approaches that address underlying causes of infertility. In member discussion, some legislators expressed sympathy for families affected by infertility and miscarriage but raised concerns about insurance costs, success rates, and the need for guardrails; others noted adoption as another way families are built. No vote was taken beyond laying the bill over.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming
Transcript Highlights:
- Zero problems. Great. Good morning, Senator Creem and members of the committee.
- Zero problems. Great. Good morning, Senator Cream and members of the committee.
- When it comes to moderate-income heat pump installs, we had zero in 2022. We have 282 currently.
- the project to pursue both passive house certification and compliance with the City of Boston's net zero
- indicated that Mass Save support helped convince local decision-makers that ultra-low-energy and net-zero
Summary:
The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends.
Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding.
Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Declare the vote with a vote of 10 high and zero nay. We'll report your bill out. It is due passed.
- Archeri declares the vote with a vote of 11 ayes and zero nays.
- Morei declares the vote with a vote of 11 ayes and zero nays.
- Morei declares the vote with a vote of 11 ayes and zero nays.
- The vote is nine iron zero. Neighboring will report your HDR out as due passed.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Civil Judiciary REVISION 2: HB4094 and HB3407 - Added Feb 19th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Civil Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- Nine aye, zero nay.
- Eight aye, zero nay.
- Ayes, zero nays.
- Eight aye, zero nay.
- Seven aye, zero nay.
Bills:
HB1453, HB2933, HB2941, HB2945, HB2959, HB3087, HB3094, HB3297, HB3298, HB3319, HB3321, HB3386, HB3453, HB3471, HB3505, HB3510, HB3544, HB3549, HB3652, HB3727, HB3791, HB3845, HB3906, HB4119, HB4125, HB4126, HB4198, HB4236, HB4425, HB4343, HB4094, HB3407
Keywords:
foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, fentanyl, overdose, first responders, drug reporting, immunity, controlled substances, penalties, abortion
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, four ayes, three nays, zero not voting.
- Members, by your vote of four ayes, three nays, zero not voting, you've given SB 1567 a due pass as amended
- Members, vote of four ayes, three nays, zero not voting.
- Members, I vote 4 to 3, with zero not voting.
- Members of vote, seven aye, zero days, and whatnot voting.
Bills:
SB1433, SB1434, SB1435, SB1567, SB1571, SB1686, SB1745, SCR1024, SCR1025, HB2671, HB2676, HCR2044
Keywords:
county boundaries, Maricopa, Gila, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma, La Paz, local governance, Arizona Revised Statutes, Maricopa county, county division, new counties, intergovernmental agreements, special election, shared use agreements, education, explicit material, parental consent, student protection, library access
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There being 31 ayes and zero nays, the rules are suspended.
- There being 31 ayes and zero nays, the bill is finally passed. Congratulations. Mr.
- There being 31 ayes and zero nays, the rules are suspended.
- There being 31 ayes and zero nays, the motion is adopted. Thank you, members.
- There being 31 ayes and zero nays, the motion is adopted. Thank you, members. Thank you, Mr.
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation by Senator West, approved the previous day’s journal, and then adopted several recognitions, including Senate Resolution 625 honoring the McLennan Community College Dance Team for winning two 2025 National Dance Alliance national titles. The chamber also recognized University of Texas Rio Grande Valley interns, the doctor of the day, and the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families. The governor’s withdrawal of a Texas Lottery Commission nomination was received and the nomination was returned, and the Senate appointed numerous conference committees on pending bills.
The body then took up and passed several measures, often by suspending the rules and the constitutional three-day rule. Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23 were concurred in House amendments as part of property tax relief, with supporters emphasizing homeowner savings. House Bill 20 creating the Applied Sciences Pathway Program passed after a floor amendment and was described as a way to expand career and technical education and help students earn industry certificates in high-demand trades. House Bill 2594 passed to expand venue options for prosecuting certain theft and cybercrime cases, and House Concurrent Resolution 167 was adopted to correct a typo in House Bill 1314.
The Senate also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, Senate Joint Resolution 5, and Senate Bill 6. SB 9 and SJR 5 were presented as major bail-reform measures, with supporters saying they would strengthen public safety, clarify appeal procedures, and give judges and prosecutors more tools in serious cases; the debate included questions about records, counsel, and the standards for denying bail. SB 40 dealt with nonprofit bail-bond funding, and SB 6 addressed electricity and data-center growth. The chamber also passed House Bill 423 on digital asset service provider reporting and auditing, with amendments adding protections for cryptocurrency kiosks and a technical correction.
Additional bills passed included House Bill 4690 on motor fuel standards, House Bill 1094 on transportation protection agreements, Committee Substitute for House Bill 2731 on roadside vendors and solicitors in certain border counties, Committee Substitute for House Bill 127 on protecting higher education from foreign adversaries and trade secret theft, and House Bill 549 on airway clearance devices at public school campuses. The Senate granted or requested conference committees on a long list of other measures, including HB 4, HB 145, HB 493, HB 2974, HB 3071, HB 3372, HB 3556, and multiple Senate bills. The session ended with adjournment until the following Friday morning.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Apr 9th, 2025 at 09:30 am
Appropriations - Human Resources Division
Transcript Highlights:
- It's point zero zero zero zero zero zero five.
- The last category compared to the House is zero; we just haven't filled it in yet.
Bills:
SB2399
Keywords:
mental health, psychiatric treatment, reimbursement, medical assistance, legislative report, 908, all
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations HR Division met to work through amendments and budget items in House Bill 2012/HB 1004, focusing first on long-term care, disability services, and behavioral health. Members discussed competing approaches to a four-plex for medically complex individuals, a value-based care payment withhold for nursing facilities, accreditation requirements for providers, a study of developmental disability services, and funding for Family Voices and Ann Carlson-related services. Several amendments were accepted or set aside after discussion, including a study amendment for disability services and a Family Voices grant amendment that was adjusted to remove “one-time” language so it could continue as an ongoing grant. The committee also agreed to keep or defer some items for conference committee, including the youth crisis stabilization pilot and other long-term care proposals.
A major discussion centered on the state hospital project. Members debated whether the $330 million project should remain in the DHS budget or be moved to the OMB budget for construction management. After discussion of costs, alternates, and the role of a steering committee and BND loan language, the committee agreed to remove the state hospital funding and related loan language from the DHS budget while leaving the steering committee language in place. The committee also considered a proposed Altru grant for additional beds and settled on a smaller planning-focused approach, with a $1 million grant and a line of credit concept to be refined later.
The committee then turned to behavioral health items, including QRTP funding, nursing home behavioral health training, and a youth crisis stabilization pilot. Members generally supported keeping the QRTP funding level, but were divided on the nursing home behavioral health training and the crisis stabilization pilot, with some preferring to leave those issues for conference committee. The division also reviewed the HHS block grant and underfunding structure, with Donna Ackland explaining salary, vacancy, and flexibility calculations; the committee discussed adjusting the underfund and revenue assumptions but did not finalize every number before moving on.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1577 on wastewater treatment grants. Senator Davison moved to hoghouse the bill into a study-focused version using the proposed amendment language, and the motion passed. The committee then moved HB 1577 as amended with a do pass recommendation; the roll call passed with Senators Cleary, Davison, Dever, and Mathern voting yes, and Senator Magrum not recorded as voting. The meeting adjourned with plans to return later in the day to continue budget work.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- votes, zero no votes,<00:52:29.599>
and <00:52:29.760>one <00:52:30.000>pass <00 - With seven yes votes, zero pass votes, and zero no votes, Senate Bill 170 as amended by the Senate committee
- <00:59:07.760>
pass <00:59:08.079>votes, with seven yes votes, zero pass votes, with - seven yes votes, zero pass votes, and<00:59:08.880>
zero <00:59:09.200>no <00:59:09.359 - Uh, Senate Bill 170 and zero no votes.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and took up Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Chair Storm and President Stivers, a broad probate and trust measure. Stivers and attorney Barry explained that the bill updates Kentucky probate and intestacy procedures to better fit electronic filing and modern family structures, adjusts inheritance tax classifications to reflect longer lifespans and more complex family relationships, and adopts newer trust tools used in other states, including electronic wills and directed trusts. They also described a domestic asset protection trust provision, saying it is intended to level the playing field with other states and is not meant to help people evade existing creditors; they noted one non-uniform section may have fiscal impact and could warrant referral to Appropriations and Revenue.
Members asked about the asset protection trust language, especially whether it could shield assets after a lawsuit is pending or threatened. Barry said the bill would not allow transfers to defeat existing or threatened claims and that the protection only applies where there are no such claims at the time of transfer. Senators also discussed whether the trust could be used for spendthrift-style family planning, with Barry noting trusts can already be drafted for that purpose and that the bill is not aimed at that issue.
Senator Thomas requested more detail on the inheritance tax changes, and Stivers explained that the bill would move more beneficiaries into the no-tax category because estates now often pass to older children, grandchildren, and step-relatives, creating unexpected tax liability. He and others said the changes were meant to reflect modern family patterns and longer life expectancy, and Thomas said he was not opposed to the tax changes but wanted the public to understand them.
Tim Shank of the Kentucky Bankers Association testified that the bankers were not opposing the bill overall but had concerns about the domestic asset protection trust section, particularly its treatment of existing mortgages and creditor claims. He said the bill’s notice and claim-extinguishment provisions could create unintended consequences for mortgage holders, and he urged changes to protect existing debt. In response, Senator Thomas questioned whether a lender that takes no action for the bill’s six-month-to-two-year claim period should lose its claim, but Shank replied that federal mortgage rules and payment status could complicate that assumption. The discussion ended with acknowledgment that the mortgage issue was likely unintended and would need further review.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Apr 28th, 2026
Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- Seven ayes, zero nays. Senator Woods, do you care to vote? Yeah, yes. Is that an aye, sir?
- Eight ayes, zero nays.
- Having received eight ayes and zero nays and probably the most dysfunctional committee of the day, Mr
Summary:
The Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee met to consider the nomination of Cecil “Andy” Duval of Jenks to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission for a six-year term. Senator Reinhardt presented Duval, describing his background as a plumber and business owner, his community service, and his interest in tourism, outdoor recreation, and even noodling. Duval told the committee he loves Oklahoma, the outdoors, and serving people, and said he was excited to learn more about the commission’s work.
There were no questions or debate from members. Senator Reinhardt moved for approval, with a second from the chair. The committee voted unanimously, 8-0, to approve the nomination and forward it to the full Senate for consideration. The meeting then adjourned.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- votes in the negative, Senate and zero votes in the negative, Senate Bill<00:26:41.200>
number - If not, the clerk will call the roll. and zero votes in the negative, Senate and zero votes in the negative
- votes in the negative, Senate and zero votes in the negative, Senate Bill<00:33:03.240>
number - votes in the negative, House and zero votes in the negative, House Bill<00:46:47.240>
number < - votes in the negative, House and zero votes in the negative, House Bill<00:48:43.920>
number <
Summary:
The House met with 122 members present, heard the journal read, and proceeded through a long series of Senate messages, concurrence motions, and third-reading votes on a wide range of bills. Early business included conference committee appointments on Senate Bill 159 (Emergency Medical Services Vehicles and Ambulances, Required Supplies), Senate Bill 514 (Third Degree Assault), and Senate Bill 866 (Chain Restaurants, disclosure of sodium and added sugars), along with several other bills where the House declined to recede from its amendments and named conferees. The chamber also adopted concurrence on House Bill 1181 (children in out-of-home placement) and House Bill 1219 (climate change/homeowners insurance study), and adopted a favorable committee report on House Bill 1602 (no-cost cancer screening for volunteer firefighters), which was amended to add sponsors, make technical changes, and include retired volunteer firefighters before being ordered printed for third reading.
The House then took up a Rules Committee consent calendar and moved a batch of bills to the appropriate committees. On third reading, it passed House Bill 1028 (Caroline County Board of Education compensation increase) and House Bill 1599 (Choptank River Enhancement Program and Maryland Seafood Industry Financial Assistance Fund) by constitutional majorities. It also rejected Senate amendments on House Bill 107 (Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program), House Bill 153 (residential rental apartments air conditioning requirement), House Bill 1063 (hunting management), and House Bill 1067 (lead and lead-based ammunition phase out), appointing conference committees in each case. House Bill 717 (Baltimore City raffles for organizations affiliated with professional baseball and football teams) and House Bill 892 (cemeteries, actions for sale/transfer/alternate use) also had Senate amendments rejected.
The chamber then passed a series of Senate bills on third reading, including Senate Bill 309 (precious metal bullion or coins sales tax exemption), 523 (vernal pools identification), 742 (Maryland Protecting People with Disabilities Act), 141 (election misinformation/disinformation and deep fakes), 298 (Maryland Capital Police statewide jurisdiction), 515 (Health Services Cost Review Commission rate setting), 638 (Maryland Heritage Areas funding and grants), 28 (state employee arbitration reform), 72 (Baltimore County off-premises alcohol sales), 361 (Baltimore City alcoholic beverages license extension), 414 (Anne Arundel County nonprofit swim club license), 601 (cybersecurity standards), 305 (incarcerated individual training and reentry grant fund extension), 331 (retired law enforcement handgun permit renewal), 516 (protective body armor requirements and reporting), 651 (transfer-on-death deed establishment), 865 (private passenger automobile insurance work group), 933 (temporary appointment to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities), 261 (money transmission act definition changes), and 823 (Parole Commission selection committee changes). Most passed with little or no debate; Senate Bill 523 drew opposition from a delegate who warned that identifying vernal pools could lead to future regulation and land-use restrictions, while Senate Bill 823 prompted questions about victims’ rights and whether state’s attorneys remained opposed, with the floor leader saying the bill added a victims’ rights advocate to the selection committee and that opposition had been limited to written testimony. Several members later changed votes on Senate Bill 638 and Senate Bill 865 before the House moved on.