Transcript Highlights:

• Now those are wines that are made often in very, very small quantities. and are very, very limited upon
• As Chief Justice Blacklock noted in his State of the Judiciary Address, a small percentage, approximately
• them and largely vetoes their power to do anything. hold these judges accountable, and sometimes a small
• example is You know, Chief Justice Blacklock said a small example made out of these one or two... two
• congruent with the supposed need for tort reform I heard so often from the members of the party of small

Bills: SB240, SB1183, SB1184, SB1577, SB2043, SB2051, SCR42, SJR68

Keywords: biological sex, gender identity, public facilities, civil penalties, local government, EBT, electronic benefits transfer, food stamps, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, temporary assistance for needy families, welfare benefits, benefit card fraud, fraud hotline, card replacement, photo ID, recipient photograph, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are aware, there's a lot of particulate matter, which means, you know, those small particles,
• The establishment of a separate hall for families with small children, we did have an incident where
• We developed FAQs—a little small to read. Let's go to the next slide, please.
• We developed FAQs as a little small to read.
• We developed FAQs as a little small to read.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach. Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters. The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• talk of regulations, you'll hear the cautionary tale of what conduct is happening at some of these small
• We're a small business based in the Twin Cities metro area.
• business based in the Twin we're a small business based in the Twin City's<00:37:03.880> metro
• 20 ft of water this accounts for only to 20 ft of water this accounts for only a<00:37:49.400> small
• portion of the work either way a small portion of the work either way at<00:37:52.000> these<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, as a small community with a small tax base, finding nearly $2 million it would take to sprinkler
• I wanted to give a quick profile of a small town in northeastern Minnesota as it relates to home-sharing
• 39.319> a I wanted to give a quick profile of of a I wanted to give a quick profile of of a small
• c> in<00:41:40.160> northeastern<00:41:40.760> Minnesota<00:41:41.319> as small
• town in northeastern Minnesota as small town in northeastern Minnesota as it<00:41:41.560> relates

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• heard from businesses especially<00:49:06.799> from<00:49:06.960> our<00:49:07.160> small
• <00:49:07.480> and<00:49:07.640> midsize especially from our small and midsize especially
• from our small and midsize companies<00:49:08.760> on<00:49:08.880> the<00:49:09.040><
• This will be especially helpful to many small and midsize companies and manufacturing industries, and
• This will be especially helpful to many small and midsize companies and manufacturing industries, and

Bills: HF4, HF173

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• Class 1A is where hearts beat talent, where small towns prove that greatness has no zip code.
• Where small towns prove beats talent.
• HR 2066, an act to amend the Small HR 2066, an act to amend the Small Business<00:25:54.960>
• home buyers to expanding access to small home buyers to expanding access to small dollar<02:10:01.119
• There is a small problem. Let's start with the thing that enrages me the most.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I encourage you, please, commit a small act of justice today to protect the most vulnerable among us
• <00:55:53.240> act<00:55:53.400> of chance to preside over this small act of chance
• to preside over this small act of justice. justice. justice.
• I encourage you, please, commit a small I encourage you, please, commit a small act<00:55:59.120
• <01:37:23.640> business<01:37:24.160> and main streets of a key small business and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a small, common-sense step that strengthens accountability and protects the financial integrity
• grants program that fishing game small grants program that lots<00:50:07.599> of<00:50:07.680
• Yes, in which very small studies are not as high quality as studies that involve thousands of people.
• Yes, in which very small studies are not as high quality as studies that involve thousands of people.
• If you look on lines a small amendment.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you're looking at actual claims incurred, you know, in a small community, if one or two people
• And if you're looking at actual claims incurred, you know, in a small community, if one or two people
• Their budgets will not be flat, and especially small towns won't have the ability to deal with it.
• will not be flat and especially small will not be flat and especially small companies,<01:06:48.480
• > towns companies, excuse me, small uh towns companies, excuse me, small uh towns won't<01:06:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee continued work on Senate Bill 297 and a new amendment dealing with pooled risk management programs and whether they should be regulated under the insurance department. Lisa Duket, executive director of SchoolCare, testified at length that the draft language could allow co-mingling of public entity risk funds, could trigger producer-licensing requirements for staff who are not actually brokers, and may not fit public entity risk pools because they are not insurance companies. She also raised concerns about the March 1 reporting deadline, the proposed uniform accounting language, aggregate excess insurance, examination costs being charged to the program, and confidentiality provisions that she argued may conflict with right-to-know principles for public entities. She urged the committee to slow down and consider a study committee or more time for review, saying the regulated entities were not adequately involved in drafting the proposal. Chairman Hunt and the department responded that the bill is intended to create a licensure-based regulatory model, similar to other licensed industries, and that the pooled risk management program would be exempt from producer licensing while anyone else selling or negotiating such coverage would need a producer license. The department said failure to comply would be handled through an administrative licensing process, with denial or nonrenewal of a license and appeal through the department process. On the reporting deadline, the department said March 1 is a standard filing date used for financial analysis and that the filing can be the most recent annual report, regardless of fiscal year end. They also explained that the confidentiality language was taken from existing RSA 5B, that aggregate excess insurance was included as a solvency measure, and that the draft was intended to preserve familiar language while adapting it for pooled risk programs. The discussion did not include a final vote or formal action on the bill in the portion provided. The committee appeared to be compiling follow-up questions for the insurance department and considering whether additional revisions or a slower process would be needed before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I imagine with large agencies maybe that is doable, but maybe not with small agencies.
• officer to testify in court—I imagine with large agencies maybe that is doable, but maybe not with small
• make sure that the voices of small make sure that the voices of small medium<01:33:20.600> and
• I might have been on the same playground with Bob Small, but I was in first grade and he was in eighth
• Attorney and Judge Small.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Most often, monies earned or saved occurs in small increments.
• By vetoing this legislation, you can take one more positive, small, but meaningful step to balance our

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Fenwick Island is a very small coastal community.
• Most often, monies earned or saved occurs in small increments.
• By vetoing this legislation, you can take one more positive, small, but meaningful step to balance our

Bills: HB344

Keywords: campaign finance, elections, transparency, political committees, reporting requirements, enforcement

Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee heard several election- and campaign-related bills. House Substitute 2 for House Bill 155 would make Public Integrity Commission reports publicly available on the commission’s website, add a specific travel-expense reporting category, and remove the FOIA requirement for accessing reports; Senator Richardson said he supported the transparency measure and asked to be added as a co-sponsor. The committee also took up House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would create state protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, expand language access, prohibit intimidation and deception, and allow court remedies for violations. The bill drew strong support from advocacy groups including YWCA Delaware, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, and the Legal Defense Fund, and several senators voiced support and interest in moving it quickly. House Bill 430, a constitutional amendment proposal, would make explicit that only natural persons may vote in Delaware elections, including municipal elections, in response to concerns about corporate or other artificial-entity voting in some towns. The discussion focused heavily on Fenwick Island, where the mayor testified that the town’s charter has long allowed certain artificial entities to vote in local elections and said the system is limited and has worked for years; other speakers argued the bill was needed to prevent corporate dilution of residents’ votes. Senator Richardson expressed concern about restricting entities with a local stake, while Senator Hoffner and others emphasized the principle of one person, one vote. Senator Townsend presented House Bill 344, which would tighten campaign finance rules by requiring Delaware bank accounts for candidates and committees, recurring training, better documentation of candidate loans, longer record retention, automatic filing extensions, and inactive status for noncompliant committees; one public commenter opposed the bill on cost grounds. He also presented House Bill 448, which would allow campaign funds to be used for reasonable security expenses for candidates and elected officials, with guardrails, and a commenter suggested allowing electronic security systems without a cap. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 472, a local de-annexation measure for Noble’s Pond in Cheswold to remove scattered residential lots from town boundaries and resolve uneven tax treatment; Senator Hoffner noted local law enforcement supported the change. The committee adjourned after hearing no further public comment on HB 472, and the vote to adjourn was unanimous.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they were downright shocked at how expensive it was to rent a small sedan for the weekend.
• And they were downright shocked at how expensive it was to rent a small sedan for the weekend.
• : this is collections through two months this fiscal year, July and August, both of which are very small
• This is collections through two months this fiscal year, July and August, both of which are very small

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a series of resolutions and bills, beginning with unanimous adoption of resolutions congratulating two Eagle Scouts. It then advanced several local and special acts, including measures on Machado-Joseph disease awareness day, the Ipswich senior tax referral program, Swampscott conservation commission appointments, protections for individuals with disabilities in MassHealth day habilitation programs, continued employment in Brookfield, Marblehead parking fines, Natick’s home rule charter, and Boston affordable housing/branch library space. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. The Senate enacted House bills authorizing additional wine and malt beverage licenses in Lexington and a means-tested senior property tax exemption in Melrose. It also passed Senate Bill 2603 on affordable car rentals after adopting an amendment; supporters said the bill would reduce rental costs by changing Massachusetts’ rental car insurance rules to align with most other states. Senate Bill 1057 on fentanyl test strips was also passed to be engrossed after Senator Creem argued the bill would expand access to a low-cost overdose prevention tool and save lives. Senator Moore then spoke in support of expanding Nikki’s Law to cover MassHealth day habilitation programs, describing the bill as a needed protection for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. A major portion of the meeting focused on House 4530, a FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill providing $234 million for hospitals and community health centers. Senators discussed the Health Safety Net shortfall, rising health care costs, underinsurance, and federal reimbursement; Ways and Means explained that about $93 million was expected back in federal financial participation, making the net state cost about $140 million. The Senate also took up House 4531 on the 2026 state primary election date, rejecting an amendment before passing the bill to engrossment. The chamber later adopted emergency preambles for House 4530 and House 4531, and all three final bills—Machado-Joseph Disease Awareness Day, the supplemental budget, and the primary election date bill—were enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate adjourned in memory of Ricardo Barbosa after a memorial statement by Senator Miranda.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the Minnesota Senate, and we did it early, early, early, um was introduce and move a package of small
• 03:56.120> of um was introduce and move a package of um was introduce and move a package of small
• 00:03:57.800> um<00:03:57.960> that<00:03:58.240> was<00:03:58.400> in small
• business relief um that was in small business relief um that was in response<00:03:59.000> to

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The interview focused on the Minnesota Senate DFL’s end-of-session accomplishments and frustrations. The senator said the caucus entered the session expecting little to get done in a divided, election-year legislature, but instead passed a range of major measures, including emergency rental assistance, immigration enforcement, gun violence prevention, an independent Office of the Inspector General, consumer protections for homeowners associations, and a $1.2 billion bonding/infrastructure bill for water, roads, and bridges. He said the bonding bill was a success but criticized the limited funding for lead pipe replacement, noting only $15 million was included. He also discussed affordability measures, especially a vehicle tab fee reduction negotiated in connection with the bonding bill, saying Democrats wanted the relief to take effect sooner but Republicans pushed implementation to January. He described other unfinished or blocked items, including a small business relief package tied to Metro Surge and efforts to protect Medicaid and SNAP from federal changes. He said many Senate proposals were developed through committee hearings and were meant to be negotiated publicly, but argued the House often failed to do comparable work, leading to last-minute deals and more party-line votes. The senator was sharply critical of federal actions under the Trump administration, saying cuts and mandates were harming states, counties, Medicaid, and SNAP, and weakening the state-federal partnership. Looking ahead, he said interim work will likely focus on procedural changes and health care, including stabilizing HCMC and supporting rural hospitals. He said the session’s work was aimed at serving Minnesotans first, and expressed optimism about the upcoming election season and the possibility of changing legislative practices next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide life-changing services when we think about purchasing our first house, our dream home, or small
• c><00:04:39.040> or our first house, our dream home, or our first house, our dream home, or small
• 04:40.960> there<00:04:41.120> will<00:04:41.280> be<00:04:41.440> over small
• And there will be over small business.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Rabbi Deborah Wexler of Pikesville, and journalized the prayer without objection. The chamber also recognized several visitor groups, including Maryland Realtors Day, Maryland March for Change participants advocating for infant and maternal health, and students, faculty, and staff from Avalon School. Senators briefly highlighted upcoming committee meetings and caucus events, including a Legislative Black Caucus press conference, Aviation Day, and a reminder about protocol dues. On legislation, the chamber read Senate Bill 955 on real property, condominiums, and homeowners association election rules and referred it to the Rules Committee. Two Senate bond initiatives were also read and sent to the Capital Budget Subcommittee. Senate Bill 888 was announced as reassigned to the Rules Committee. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 46 concerning state veteran cemeteries, where Senator Simon offered a floor amendment. Senator from District 7 explained the bill was prompted by concerns about how caskets are moved at veteran cemeteries, describing a practice he found disturbing and saying the issue should be addressed separately from the bill. The amendment and the amended report were both adopted without objection, and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. The Senate then handled a brief procedural exchange when a senator asked about speaking on the reassigned bill, and the presiding officer ruled the matter out of order because it had already been reassigned. After additional committee announcements, the Senate remained in session with 40 members present and then moved to recess until noon in the House chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at the infrastructure of our small towns and our cities across the state.
• And a lot of these small towns do not have the revenue through taxes or their own resources to fix these
• Just this past week, a small town in my district, Ryan Oklahoma was without water for almost 48 hours
• The small communities do need this support. So, once again, I do appreciate this.

Bills: SB1191, SB1314, SB1319, SB1333, SB1346, SB1439, SB1509, SB1510, SB1613

Keywords: SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, groundwater, indemnity fund, well drilling, pollution prevention, regulatory compliance, SB1319

Transcript Highlights:

• I'M EXPECTING THE TOP BAR TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT ARE A SMALL NUMBER FOR BEHAVIORAL
• UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY WE HAD A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF ENROLLEES.
• AND WHILE THEY ARE GROWING IT IS STILL RELATIVELY SMALL.
• I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS SUCH A SMALL POPULATION OVERALL IN YOUR MANAGED-CARE SYSTEM.

Transcript Highlights:

• not waiting until we're in a crisis, like flooding, severe flooding, where we spend $20 million in a small
• little, actually twice, in small little farmworker communities because we didn't see excess water coming
• not waiting until we're in a crisis, like flooding, severe flooding, where we spend $20 million in a small
• little, actually twice, in small little farmworker communities because we didn't see excess water coming

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it comes with a relatively small price tag, do you think there's a good chance it could move
• <00:03:13.120> with<00:03:13.360> a<00:03:13.519> relatively<00:03:14.159> small
• Because it comes with a relatively small Because it comes with a relatively small price<00:03:14.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not know an exact number, but I can tell you it’s not a small amount.
• about efficiency, fairness, and common sense, particularly for tenants who are just trying to resolve small
• There have been concerns and confusion about whether small exempt wells, such as those used solely for
• resolution of support from Kendall County, and this will ensure that private landowners who operate small

Bills: HB3115, HB5671, HB5693, SB790, SB1055, SB1302, SB1504, SB1625, SB1663, SB2692

Keywords: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater, water wells, domestic well, livestock well, exempt well, metering device, well meter, groundwater conservation district, Special District Local Laws Code, Water Code, Section 36.117, groundwater regulation, water rights, aquifer management, municipal utility, retail public utility, groundwater export, water supply contract, election

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony on a series of water, utility, and groundwater-related bills. Early items included HB 5693, which would let Drainage District 7 hold board elections in November of odd-numbered years when a countywide election is occurring, and HB 5671, which would update the Johnson County Special Utility District by clarifying board eligibility, allowing bond issuance, and removing redundant TCEQ approval language to reduce costs and delays. Both bills were left pending after brief testimony from bill sponsors and local witnesses. The committee also heard SB 1504, which would update the Gulf Coast Authority to allow video-conference participation in meetings, and SB 1302, aimed at closing a TCEQ permitting loophole that allowed dischargers with prior denials or suspensions to reapply through an automated process without meaningful review. SB 2692 drew substantial discussion: it would change the signature threshold for outside-city-limits customers appealing municipal utility rates to the PUC by customer class. Valero supported the bill as a way to avoid requiring large-volume users to gather signatures from unrelated residential customers, while the City of Corpus Christi opposed it, arguing that lowering the threshold to one customer could trigger expensive appeals costing $500,000 to $1 million. A PUC witness said such cases are increasing and that the agency would need additional staff under the fiscal note. SB 790, creating a simplified PUC complaint process for small water and wastewater billing disputes, and SB 1663, expanding TCEQ notice requirements for nearby residents when groundwater contamination is discovered, were also heard and left pending. Additional bills included HB 3115, clarifying that the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District cannot require meters on exempt domestic or livestock wells; SB 1055, raising the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District’s production fee cap from 1 cent to 7 cents per 1,000 gallons; and SB 1625, requiring private water and wastewater utilities to report cybersecurity incidents to TCEQ and DIR. The committee then took up pending business and adopted a substitute for SB 7, which made several changes to water fund use, eminent domain coordination, and EDAP-related provisions, and voted 10-0 to report it favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2347, a county water conservation program bill, and reported it favorably 9-1. HB 5675 and SB 2476 were each reported favorably 10-0. The meeting concluded with adjournment.