Video & Transcript : 'disability rights' :
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WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Local Government Feb 25th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, I think we can not adjourn, take a pause for a caucus, and we'll be back at 8:30.
- All right, we'll be back. Okay, welcome back, everyone. Sorry we're a little bit late.
- They get that right, and they should have that right.
- We think you're absolutely right. We want to make sure that we're honoring the ability...
- We think you're absolutely right.
Bills:
SB6132
Committee:
House Local Government
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (01/08/2026)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- All right.
- "Sounds right to me."
- All right.
- All right.
- >> All<02:28:11.439><c> right.</c> >> All right. >> All right.
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, you've got 10 minutes. Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
- I left that day with an eye patch and a disability.
- Oh, OK, all right, well then I stand corrected.
- right to do so.
- Pronounce your name right on Zoom. She's not joining us today, Mr. Chairman. All right, very good.
Committee:
Senate Senate Judiciary
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm all right, okay. Okay, so we're gonna go ahead. We should next.
- We don't want the government telling us what to do, yet that is exactly what we're doing right now.
- I think many of us, like what was mentioned in this room, don't want our rights taken away.
- This is our right to buy whatever we want.
- We'll be here on the floor, promptly at 11 or right after my seatmate makes his announcement.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, May 4, 2026 - PM
Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- All<00:34:38.000><c> right.</c> All right. All right.
- Is<00:45:09.320><c> that</c><00:45:09.440><c> right?</c> Is that right? Is that right?
- </c> for them, right? for them, right?
- right? right?
- </c> >> All right. >> All right. >> All<01:19:37.600><c> right.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, seeing no further discussion.
- All right. Is there any further discussion?
- Right now, across the U.S., we are seeing our constitutional rights literally being trampled upon.
- We are seeing our right to speak up against the government.
- respect state rights.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And before we tell Congress what to do, let's do it right here for each of us.
- Right now, across the U.S., we are seeing our constitutional rights literally being trampled upon.
- We are seeing our right to speak up against the government.
- respect state rights.
- All right. We have Tricia Moore. Man, I'm batting bad here. She...
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and a series of guest introductions and personal privilege remarks recognizing visitors, health care advocates, short-term rental representatives, firefighters, and a Guatemalan ambassador, along with a proclamation affirming Arizona’s bilateral relationship with Guatemala. Members also announced committee meetings, and the chamber later recessed and reconvened before adjournment.
The main floor action came in Committee of the Whole, where the House considered and gave do pass recommendations to HB 2029 (water grant application details), HB 2045 (addressing drive-by shootings), HB 2062 (Buffalo Soldiers monument), HB 2126 as amended (with a floor amendment after discussion with the ACO Association), and HB 2131 (criminal justice-related, described briefly as targeting “bad guys”). The Committee of the Whole report was adopted and those bills were sent to engrossing.
The House then took up HB 2792, an emergency measure on property tax exemptions for veterans, and passed it 57-0, with members from both parties praising the bill as veteran tax relief and a cleanup of prior budget language. The chamber also adopted HCR 2043, which applies to Congress to call an Article V convention for a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress; it passed 33-24 after extended debate, with supporters arguing for term limits and opponents warning about the risks of a constitutional convention and urging Arizona to impose term limits on itself first.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-29 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The section on page 4729 is the consumer personal data right section.
- But the seven rights generally are: 1) the right to confirm if a controller is processing the consumer's
- . 3) the right to delete personal data provided by or obtained about the consumer; 4) the right to obtain
- They have some disability concerns about that, and so they wanted to um...
- Right under Washington now.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Elections Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- All right.
- , only one right of action.
- Daniel Conway with Common Cause, a proud co-sponsor, and also Disability Rights California.
- Daniel Conway here in strong support on behalf of Common Cause, California, and Disability Rights California
- Daniel Conway here on behalf of Common Cause of California and Disability Rights of California.
Summary:
The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 1, 2026, heard a full agenda of election-related measures, and took final votes on several bills and one resolution. The committee also adopted two consent items, SB 1429 and SB 1430, without opposition. Members and the chair repeatedly noted committee membership changes and the final meeting of the session, and the chair emphasized the committee’s focus on protecting democracy and election integrity.
Among the bills heard, SB 1369 would shorten the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls in larger counties and require paid gatherers to disclose they are compensated; supporters argued it would protect judicial independence, while the chair and some members noted the need to balance recall rights with county differences. SB 900 would reformat campaign disclosure language on large print ads and billboards to improve readability while preserving transparency, with broad support from outdoor advertising, clean money, and good-government groups. SJR 18, which condemns Citizens United and urges action against corporate spending in elections, drew support from reform advocates but also concerns about the resolution’s focus and scope; it was advanced on a party-line split with some members voting no.
The committee also advanced SB 1164, a major voting-rights measure expanding California protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, adding preclearance-style review for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to interpret election laws in favor of voting access. Local government representatives opposed it unless amended, citing uncertainty, loss of safe-harbor protections, and implementation concerns, while civil-rights and labor groups strongly supported it. SB 1360, which expands language-access requirements for voters with limited English proficiency and lowers coverage thresholds, was supported by voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups but opposed by elections officials unless amended; the committee acknowledged the need for further work on county-level implementation and data standards.
The committee also approved SB 1418, which extends protections against seizure of election records and voting systems beyond voted ballots, and SB 884, which creates a buffer zone around polling places and vote-by-mail drop locations to prevent interference with voting and ballot custody, though sheriffs and police groups opposed the arrest restrictions. SB 46, which would give the Secretary of State clearer authority to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the ballot, and SB 715, which moves candidate ballot-designation challenge deadlines earlier, also advanced. Most measures were sent to Appropriations or otherwise held on call for absent members, and the meeting ended with final roll calls and adjournment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Jun 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It builds on the foundation of the California Values Act, a landmark victory for immigrants' rights by
- Everyone has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and access to health care.
- Everyone has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and access to health care.
- Monica Madrid with the Coalition for Humane and Migrant Rights, cheer-la, in strong support.
- So this is a really important step in the right direction to protect all of our communities.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee heard several Senate bills focused on health care access, privacy, and public health data. SB 81 (Arreguín) would require health care facilities to create nonpublic areas and bar immigration enforcement from entering without a judicial warrant or court order, while also protecting disclosure of immigration-related information in medical records. The bill drew strong support from labor, immigrant-rights, health care, and patient advocacy groups, with committee members emphasizing patient safety and privacy; one member raised implementation concerns about how the restrictions would work in practice. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, with one no vote recorded.
SB 250 (Ochoa Bogh) would add skilled nursing facilities to DHCS’s managed care provider directory so Medi-Cal beneficiaries can more easily identify covered facilities. Supporters said the change would help seniors and people with disabilities avoid confusion and rushed placement decisions, especially during hospital discharge, and would make existing information easier to use. The committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a unanimous vote. SB 717 (Richardson) would formally recognize California’s three regional cancer registries in state law to help preserve federal funding and support cancer surveillance data collection. The author and supporters said the measure would protect more than $15 million in annual federal support and strengthen cancer research and tracking; the committee approved it unanimously to Appropriations.
SB 504 (Laird) would allow health care providers to disclose personally identifying information about previously reported HIV infections to state or local health officials when needed for disease control or care coordination. The author described the bill as a modernization of reporting and coordination practices, and supporters from the California Medical Association and Planned Parenthood backed it. The committee sent the bill out as amended to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on a unanimous vote. The meeting also included routine consent-calendar action and multiple add-on votes, with the committee repeatedly holding the roll open to record additional members’ votes.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management
Transcript Highlights:
- You can bring it right here.
- Go right ahead. Okay.
- Go right ahead. Okay.
- Please back him up in every way you can, because he's right. You will be right. Thank you, Dr.
- Go right ahead. Thank you. Oh, my pleasure. Thank you. Go right ahead, sir. Okay.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management held a hearing on several emergency management bills, with most of the testimony focused on Senate Bill 539, which would prohibit COVID-19 mRNA vaccination or gene-altering procedures as a condition of entry, employment, school attendance, or access to public venues. Senator Durant and many public witnesses supported the bill, arguing that COVID-era mandates were coercive, ineffective, and harmful, and that the state should not require proof of vaccination in future emergencies. One witness, Joanne Tuller, testified in opposition, saying the government should retain authority to impose public health measures in emergencies and warning against permanently limiting that power based on the COVID experience.
The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 540, concerning the prevention of radioactive material discharge, with a Sierra Club representative and local residents opposing Holtec’s disposal of wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant and citing health, environmental, and economic concerns in Plymouth and nearby communities. Senator Driscoll testified in support of Senate Bills 537 and 538, describing them as measures to strengthen the Commonwealth’s strategic preparedness stockpile and to create a framework for emergency response during surges in hospitalizations, including temporary waivers of prior authorization when hospitals are over capacity.
In addition, Dr. Jennifer Carlson testified in support of H.885, a resolve creating a special commission on the field of emergency management, arguing that the profession should be more fully professionalized and staffed by dedicated experts rather than part-time “second hat” officials. Several other bills on the docket, including H.883 and H.84, had no sign-ups. The chair closed each bill’s testimony section as the list was exhausted, and the hearing was adjourned without any votes taken during the session.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- . disability. disability.
- All<04:10:53.520><c> right.</c><04:10:53.760><c> Thank</c> All right. Thank All right.
- All right?
- All right?
- All right?
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Mar 9th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, the leaders of tomorrow, we're counting on you. We are counting on you. Thank you.
- He was a staunch advocate for Puerto Rican rights, for civil rights, and social justice, and he was taken
- But right now, we're saying... Thank you, Assembly Member.
- But right now, we're saying. Thank you, assembly member.
- But here's one thing that we can do right now, today, each and every single one of us, all...
Summary:
The Assembly met after a quorum call and brief procedural business, including approval of the prior day’s journal, suspension of certain rules for guest introductions, and moving AB 568 to the inactive file. The chamber then recognized several visiting groups, including a fourth-grade class from Marigold Elementary School, representatives of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and its Royal Court, and students from the University of California Students Association on lobby day.
The main floor actions centered on two resolutions. ACR 147 by Assembly Member Lackey designated March 9, 2026 as California Special Olympics Day. Members from both parties spoke in strong support, sharing personal connections to Special Olympics and praising its impact on athletes, families, and volunteers. The resolution received 70 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. H.R. 89 by Assembly Member Patterson declared March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Speakers emphasized rising colorectal cancer rates among younger adults, the importance of screening, and new testing options including blood tests. The resolution also received 70 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote.
After the resolutions, Assembly Member Rodriguez offered an adjournment in memory of Bob Yuloa of Chino, a Navy veteran and longtime community servant. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee and floor session dates and adjourned until Thursday, March 12 at 9 a.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee May 23rd, 2025
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- We know many of our constituents are suffering right now.
- Developmental Disability Services do pass out on a roll call.
- a gear curry autonomous vehicle do pass out with Republicans not voting AB 65 a gear curry paid disability
- Is that the right number, AB 288, sorry?
- 228 not 288 right 228 okay AB 228 is a two-year bill and AB 766 sharp Collins 766 sharp columns. 766
Committee:
House Appropriations
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- We miss what's right in front of our face because we can't see it.
- </c> We<00:04:14.799><c> miss</c><00:04:15.120><c> what's</c><00:04:15.519><c> right</c><00:04:15.760
- in</c><00:04:16.000><c> front</c><00:04:16.160><c> of</c><00:04:16.320><c> our</c> We miss what's right
- in front of our We miss what's right in front of our face<00:04:17.440><c> because</c><00:04:17.840>
- The first is House Bill 889, which is an act relating to an exemption for disability-related income on
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- All right.
- All right. Thank you. We have a motion by Vice Chair Grove. All right. Thank you.
- All right. That is five to zero.
- All right.
- All right. I see no one. Do we have anybody else? This is the moment. All right, thank you.
Summary:
The Senate Rules Committee approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Dorka Keene to the California Arts Council, Luciana Profaca to the Commission on Disabilities, Sarah Han Shapiro to the Commission on Disability Access, Robin Umberg and Veronica Zoror to the California Veterans Board, and Daniel Curtin to the California Water Commission. Two appointments to the State Park and Recreation Commission, Phil Ginsburg and Francesca Viter, were approved on split votes of 3-2. The committee also unanimously approved a motion to refer bills to committees.
The committee then heard testimony from three appointees to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors: Jesse Melgar, Tom Epstein, and Joseph Williams. They emphasized student success, affordability, workforce alignment, dual enrollment, basic needs support, housing, and adapting to AI. Members questioned them about financial aid and ghost-student fraud, regional career technical education needs, enrollment declines, standardized testing and AB 705, community college baccalaureate degrees, and the new career passport initiative. Public commenters strongly supported the nominees, and the committee voted 5-0 to send all three appointments to the full Senate for confirmation.
Finally, the committee heard from Mark Beckley, nominated as Chief Deputy Director for Operations at the Department of State Hospitals. He described his background in state operations and said his priorities would include recruitment and retention, improving treatment through a new electronic health record system, maintaining aging facilities, and supporting community providers. Senators asked about high vacancy rates at state hospitals, especially Atascadero and Patton, and about coordination with law enforcement oversight on patient deaths and safety trends. The committee voted 5-0 to advance his appointment to the full Senate for confirmation.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- than a biological right.
- Lawyer me, right?
- Lawyer me, right? So that's very clear because that seems to me like... “...me, right?
- Is that right? Yes. Okay. Thank you.
- Right, because they're the ones that can implement this in their own school districts. Right.
Committee:
House Children and Families
Summary:
The Committee on Children and Families met with a quorum and first took up several bills in executive session. It voted House Bill 1792, the Murphy Media Literacy Program, and House Bill 1770, dealing with time limits on abuse cases, both do pass by unanimous roll call votes. The committee then considered House Bill 2426, Representative Keebley’s parental rights bill. An amendment was adopted to align the bill with a Senate floor substitute, clarify judicial review and compelling government interest standards, update parent/child definitions, add transparency provisions, and revise medical consent language. After extensive discussion about parental consent, minors’ access to STI and substance use treatment, foster parent authority, and potential impacts on abuse situations, the committee voted the House Committee Substitute do pass by a vote of 11 yes, 3 no, and 1 present.
The committee then heard House Bill 2418, which would create the Missouri Crime Victims Fund within the Department of Social Services as a framework for future appropriations if federal VOCA funding continues to decline. The sponsor and numerous witnesses from domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, CASA programs, and prosecutors described major reductions in VOCA support, staffing losses, service cuts, and the risk of leaving victims without shelter, advocacy, counseling, and court support. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded without a vote.
Finally, Representative Schmidt presented House Bill 3077, which would require social media and internet safety curriculum for grades 6 through 12 and provide parent resources. Supporters said the bill would help students recognize grooming, sextortion, misinformation, and other online risks, while some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about adding burdens on schools and suggested the material should be embedded into existing instruction and possibly start earlier. The committee also heard House Bill 1819, “Conrad’s Law,” which would require safe-sleep training and rules for licensed child care facilities for children age one and older, set limits on weighted blankets, and require documented care plans and training for children with special needs. The sponsor and family members said the bill responds to a child’s death and is intended to improve child care safety without adding extra training hours. Both bills were heard in public testimony, and the committee adjourned after the House Bill 1819 hearing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Health Committee Jun 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, hold on. I want to watch my show. All right, wait, let's finish our speech.
- All right, hold on. Here, sit down. Is a twin. All right, hold on.
- Omer Altamie, here with the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, Disability Rights California, and Western
- Omer Altamie here with the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, Disability Rights California, and Western
- All right. With that, we will hold the roll open for another 10 minutes. All right.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Health met in Room 2100 and first handled its consent calendar, which included several bills and resolutions with amendments. The committee established a quorum, approved the consent calendar 6-0, and placed it on call. AB 2233 by Assemblymember Taw was then heard; the bill would clarify that authorized ABA therapy for autistic patients should remain usable across the authorization period rather than being effectively reduced by weekly utilization caps. Supporters, including behavior analysts, family advocates, and health organizations, described missed sessions caused by provider shortages, scheduling conflicts, and family disruptions. Health plans and insurers initially expressed fraud and utilization-management concerns but said they would remove opposition after the amendments preserved utilization management. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 2233 as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call.
The committee next heard AB 96 by Assemblymember Jackson, which would remove the high school diploma or equivalent requirement for Medi-Cal peer support specialist certification. Supporters from county behavioral health agencies, nonprofits, and local governments argued that lived experience, communication, empathy, and cultural competency are the key qualifications for peer work, and that the current education requirement excludes capable candidates and worsens workforce shortages. One opposition witness from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals raised concerns, but the bill’s proponents explained that peer certification still requires 80 hours of training, testing, and recertification on core competencies. The committee voted 7-0 to pass AB 96 and re-refer it to Appropriations, placing it on call.
AB 1876, the Fair Care for All Act by Assemblymember Addis, was then heard. The bill would codify federal nondiscrimination protections into state law to ensure people are not excluded from health care coverage or services based on a protected class. Support came from transgender health advocates, psychologists, county and state health groups, and other organizations, who said the bill would help protect access to gender-affirming and other medically necessary care. Opposition testimony argued the bill would force coverage of sex-rejecting interventions and weaken insurer safeguards, while the author responded that the measure simply mirrors existing federal nondiscrimination law and does not expand coverage. The committee voted 7-1 to pass AB 1876 and re-refer it to Judiciary, placing it on call. After the roll was reopened for absent members, the committee also finalized votes on the earlier bills and adjourned after concluding its business.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 16th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Dolores Huerta has spent her life advocating for women's rights, civil rights, and social justice.
- Women, immigrants, Latinos, the civil and human rights of all people.
- Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities in California.
- Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities in California.
- I've seen what happens when we get it right.
Summary:
The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through several gubernatorial confirmations. The chamber confirmed Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner in the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission. All four appointments were approved overwhelmingly, with final confirmation votes taken after the calls were lifted.
The main floor debate centered on SCR 152, designating April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day. Senators spoke at length about Huerta’s leadership in the farmworker movement, civil rights advocacy, nonviolent organizing, and ongoing influence, with several members sharing personal reflections and noting the role of Filipino farmworkers and Larry Itliong in the broader movement. The resolution passed unanimously. The Senate also adopted SR 91 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, SCR 149 marking World Autism Awareness Day, SCR 150 honoring National Librarian Day, and SR 98 designating Heat Pump Week in California.
The chamber also passed SB 1078, an urgency tax measure giving Santa Cruz County voters the opportunity to approve a local tax above the 2% combined rate to help fund services, including medical services. The bill passed 29-9 on both the urgency and the bill itself. Later, the Senate approved the consent calendar and special consent calendar without objection, and members made committee announcements about upcoming budget subcommittee hearings.
The session ended with an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a longtime San Francisco nurse, labor advocate, and community figure. The Senate announced it would reconvene on Monday, April 20, 2026.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I am the president of Texas Right to Life.
- Disability.
- We will reserve your right to close. Thank you. Thank you. Cox.
- We've all had the clipboard experience, right?
- Chairman, members, I reserve the right to close. I reserve my right to close.
Bills:
HB18 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1644 , HB2187 , HB1887 , HB 1275 , HB37 , HB1503 , HB1699 , HB1700 , HB2735 , HB1741 , HB1731 , HB1675 , HB18 , HB37
Committee:
House Public Health
Keywords:
rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting, good faith report