Video & Transcript Research : 'state constitution'

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - House Appropriations

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • State Representative, we'll be a suci.
  • I am State Representative Theresa Martinez, LD-16.
  • Chairman, members, there are 31 states that have enacted state programs.
  • Shepherd members, there are 31 states that have enacted state programs.
  • state.
Summary: The committee first heard HB 2584, which would prohibit public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment made by companies owned or controlled by entities domiciled in a foreign adversary. The sponsor said the bill is intended to prevent sensitive genetic data from being sold or used against the United States. There was little public testimony, and the committee approved the bill on a 13-5 vote for a do pass recommendation. Members then considered HB 2804, a rural development and housing tax credit bill that would let the Department of Housing allocate up to $2 million per year in credits for qualifying rural affordable housing projects, with the program set to expire in 2037. Supporters, including the sponsor, the mayor of Flagstaff, and housing investors and developers, said the credit would leverage federal LIHTC dollars, attract private capital, and help finance affordable housing for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents in rural Arizona. Opponents from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club argued state LIHTC programs are inefficient, costly, and hard to oversee. The committee passed the bill 13-4. The committee also heard HB 2388, as amended, which appropriates $100,000 to the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers, with a report due by June 30, 2027. Supporters said the study could help Arizona plan for future energy and data-center growth, while opponents argued the agency already has other funding sources and should not receive additional money for the study. The amended bill passed 10-7. After a presentation from Auditor General Lindsay Perry on county treasurer procedural reviews and the Santa Cruz County embezzlement case, the committee approved HB 2352, which provides $2,385,900 in FY 2029 for the Auditor General to continue county treasurer reviews, on an 11-7 vote. The committee then unanimously approved HB 2418, as amended, which directs $600,000 to be evenly distributed among five major incident task force counties and codifies the longstanding distribution practice. Finally, the committee took up HB 2499, the first of two ESA administration bills, which would appropriate $2.6 million and 12 FTEs to the Department of Education for ESA administration and oversight beginning in FY 2027; the bill drew extended debate about ESA growth, accountability, testing, and spending oversight, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's the reason I'm stating that.
  • It's a hot issue across the United States. Florida and Tennessee just passed bills.
  • I think there are now something like 31 states... Tennessee just passed bills.
  • A number of states have banned this. It's banned throughout Europe.
  • And I was aware that there were still flights of gray wolf pups into the state.
Summary: The Natural Resources Committee approved the minutes from January 20 and January 27, 2026, then heard several bills related to weather modification, water policy, wildlife, cosmetics, and groundwater management. SB 1278 would ban intentional solar radiation management in Arizona and bar public entities or recipients of public funds from supporting related technology development. Supporters argued it was needed to stop harmful geoengineering, while opponents said it would block research and distract from real pollution problems. The committee voted 5-2 with one not voting to give SB 1278 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered SB 1279, which would regulate weather modification licenses, require ADWR and ADEQ review of chemicals, public notice, and public meetings, and—under a proposed strike-everything amendment—shift complaint enforcement to ADWR and require rulemaking. Testimony was largely in support from stakeholders and SRP, while ADEQ was neutral but warned it lacked standards, resources, and expertise to develop the required chemical limits on the bill’s timeline. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 5-2 with one not voting. Members next passed SB 1005, which would prohibit the sale of cosmetics developed with animal testing, with supporters citing cruelty concerns and industry alternatives; the bill received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. SB 1202, requiring ADWR to include more detailed data in five-year groundwater supply-and-demand assessments, drew opposition from ADWR over feasibility, cost, and the risk of misleading conclusions, but still received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. The committee also passed SB 1280, which would bar Game and Fish from using public funds to transport Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona; wildlife advocates opposed it as harmful to recovery, while Game and Fish said it would not affect core responsibilities and was neutral. Finally, SB 1287, with a conforming amendment, was approved 5-1 with two not voting to extend certain irrigation grandfathered-right groundwater uses to subsequent active management areas. The committee then adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs Apr 14th, 2025

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • All across this great state.
  • to a license issued by this state.
  • Members, House Bill 2210 relates to the inclusion of the United States Space Force in the United States
  • HJR165 is proposing a constitutional amendment to include the United States Space Force in references
  • to military service in the state constitution.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:01:58.719> of executive branch in the state of executive branch in the state of Minnesota
  • welcome to the committee please state welcome to the committee please state your<00:05:06.759>
  • He said Minnesota is state administered and state supervised, county administered, and that Minnesota
  • He said Minnesota is state administered and state supervised, county administered, and one of 10 states
  • Are getting state grants, state funding, for some of the work that they do.
Bills: HF1, HF98
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Insurance Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • former well, she's a retired state former well, she's a retired state employee employee employee
  • EMS director for the entire state.
  • EMS director for the there as a state EMS director for the entire<00:28:28.000> state.
  • In other states, the ERISA plans have participated. Not in all states.
  • In other states, the ERISA plans have participated. Not in all states.
Bills: HB424, SB63, SB269
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Commerce and Economic Development Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:14 pm

House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • By moving forward with these bans, the state is inviting an immediate constitutional challenge.
  • Beside the gross negligence towards the constitutional part of this, the impact to the state involved
  • Your authority stems from the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State
  • their state laws.
  • their state laws.
Bills: SB48, HB250, SB17
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Ethics and Elections Jan 28th, 2026

Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • It prohibits the state protocol officer, the Secretary of State, from encouraging a sister city or sister
  • state affiliation.
  • The state protocol officer, the Secretary of State, is prohibited from encouraging a sister city or sister
  • state affiliation with a foreign country of concern or its subdivision, and the Department of State
  • states to help them build out state solutions to national security problems.
Bills: S1622, S1178
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senator Garcia. The bill would expand state restrictions on foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including creating a state registration framework for foreign agents, banning gifts to public officials from covered foreign entities, requiring ethics training on foreign influence, tightening procurement limits for information technology and critical infrastructure, restricting sister-city/sister-state encouragement, revising linkage institute rules and tuition provisions, and criminalizing certain conduct tied to foreign governments or unauthorized enforcement of foreign law. Members asked extensive questions about how the bill would affect election technology, software development, federal foreign-agent registration, educational exchanges, and the treatment of organizations such as CARE; the sponsor said the bill focused on ownership/control and foreign countries of concern, not specific components or general participation in events. An amendment by Senator Grall was adopted to clarify definitions, align penalties with willful violations, and specify that new ethics training content is additive. The committee then heard supportive testimony from Kelly Curry of State Armor and Rob Pierce of American Global Strategies, both of whom argued the bill would help Florida counter foreign influence, protect data and infrastructure, and improve transparency. CS for SB 1178 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure under specified conditions, including that the filer submitted the disclosure before the maximum fine accrued and had not previously received such a waiver. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified in support, saying the bill preserves transparency and compliance goals while making the fine and appeals process more workable. The bill was reported favorably by roll call vote. Finally, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments in tabs 3 through 26. No separate votes were requested, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointees was recommended favorably to the full Senate by roll call vote. The meeting then concluded with no further business.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Higher Education Apr 8th, 2025

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Can you tell me your tuition and fee structure as it relates to in-state, out-of-state, out-of-country
  • if rural Texas was its own state.
  • , even states like Maine and Alaska and Montana, that didn't need... ...every state, even states like
  • state.
  • That will be in our stated commitment, but also our stated documentation for our COCA application.
Bills: HB42, HB125
Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAM-LBT, WAM Informational Briefings 01-20-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:37:39.760> jobs other state jobs other state jobs available?
  • Other states have done it. Other states have done it.
  • have to spend state dollars on<02:37:28.880> state<02:37:29.120> property, on state property
  • This is a state project, state funding.
  • state >> correct this is a state project state funding<02:42:08.479> we<02:42:08.720>
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 23rd, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 646 by Representative Bowie, a joint resolution to amend the Constitution relative to state
  • Other states? I don't work for other states. You think so? Other states?
  • Louisiana's 1868 Constitution was among the most progressive state constitutions in American history.
  • Louisiana's white political class convened a constitutional convention with a single openly stated purpose
  • Louisiana's white political class convened a constitutional convention with a single openly stated purpose
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Government Oversight Mar 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Government Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • We do a lot of across the state driving and working on These projects.
  • House Bill 49193 members just simply seeks to prevent state contracts and state taxpayer funds from flowing
  • There's latitude granted to the state purchasing director, which, by the way, OMES and the state purchasing
  • This bill's been adopted by several states already.
  • I'm not aware of any of our state banks that are having trouble.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The main reason that the bill is apparently discrimination and uh violates the United States Constitution
  • I'd like to share some sentences from the United States, uh, Constitution.
  • Based on the right to equal protection under the United States Constitution, no person should be denied
  • I'm here today to against RGB 1743 and protect my rights to protect the United States Constitution, to
  • There's two, so the first one is it says that unless required by the United States Constitution, I'm
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee Feb 18th, 2025

Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Transcript Highlights:
  • Additionally, one academic pharmacist will be appointed by the lieutenant governor from the two state
  • The two state schools of Pharmacy will each have a representative, and one at-large pharmacist will be
Bills: HB123
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Opening Day Floor Session 01-21-2026 10:00am

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, and that I will faithfully discharge
  • <00:07:43.919> Under people of the state of Hawaii. Under people of the state of Hawaii.
  • Senator Brian Shots, United States Senator Brian Shots, United<00:10:32.720> States<00:10:33.040
  • States Representative Ed Casease, Casease, Casease, United<00:10:43.839> States<00:10:44.240>
  • lunches, state hospitals, and prisons. lunches, state hospitals, and prisons.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/10/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • , by the way our founders stated it.
  • Here in the state, from Nogales to Page, from Lake Havasu to Thatcher, or on the east side of the state
  • That's a state tax, as a state tax per gallon tax. It's a state tax.
  • It's a state tax, but it's not TPT.
  • But we do have a constitution.
Summary: The committee first approved the February 3, 2026 minutes and reordered the agenda to accommodate sponsors and speakers. SB 1114, which would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to investigate behavioral health patient brokering statewide, was presented as a response to Medicaid fraud and exploitation of vulnerable Native American patients. After brief questions about why Maricopa County would handle statewide oversight, the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote with one member not voting. The committee then took up SB 1111, as amended by a strike-everything amendment regulating automated license plate readers. The amendment limited use to specified law enforcement purposes, required verification of alerts when feasible, imposed data-retention and handling responsibilities on agencies, and created a misdemeanor penalty for unauthorized release of data. Supporters from Phoenix, Tempe, Prescott Valley, the Arizona Chiefs of Police, and the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association argued the bill provides needed statewide guardrails while preserving a valuable investigative tool for missing persons, stolen vehicles, and serious crimes. Opponents from the ACLU, Institute for Justice, and private citizens raised privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns, warning about dragnet surveillance, unclear terms like “legitimate” law enforcement purposes, lack of public access to records, and the risk of misuse for immigration or abortion-related tracking. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 1111 as amended a do pass recommendation on a 7-2 vote, with one not voting. Next, SB 1116, as amended, was approved. The bill requires appeals or adverse determinations on behavioral health claims under AHCCCS fee-for-service to be reviewed by someone with relevant clinical experience, and the amendment broadened the requirement to include medical-necessity denials and specified at least two years of similar clinical experience. Senator Werner said the measure was intended to curb inappropriate denials and improve payment for behavioral health providers serving Native communities. Access was neutral but said the bill’s terms were too broad and could require additional staff; the committee nonetheless adopted the amendment and passed the bill 10-0. Finally, SB 1122, as amended, was approved 10-0. The bill bars AHCCCS from requiring prior authorization for behavioral health services under the American Indian Health Plan, while the amendment prohibited 100% prepayment review and adjusted the corrective-action language. Senator Werner and provider representatives said the measure was needed because providers were being delayed or denied payment, contributing to closures, workforce shortages, and patient brokering. The committee then began hearing SB 1072, a major appropriation to increase reimbursement rates for home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with testimony focused on severe caregiver shortages, overtime costs, and unassigned service authorizations.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Welcome back, the Senate Committee on State Affairs will come to order.
  • Why wouldn't this exception for this company be applicable to another out of state?
  • permit, and you cannot at the same time hold a G permit in the state of Texas.
  • Louisiana, but I don't I don't hold any special privilege to any other state.
  • The Senate Committee on State Affairs stands in recess subject to call of the chair.