Transcript Highlights:

• It outlines existing issues within governor-declared states It outlines existing issues within governor-declared
• The bill does not eliminate or weaken emergency powers.
• Emergency powers are essential, but so is democratic accountability.
• Emergency powers are a lot like war powers, where, when the disaster hits, you need them.
• Again, my interest is not in compromising the governor's powers.

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee heard five wildfire- and emergency-related bills. SB 1270 by Senator Richardson would expand the California Wildfire Mitigation Program to more counties based on wildfire risk and social vulnerability, with the author and county representatives saying the program should better target home-hardening assistance where need is greatest. SB 1079 by Senator Stern would create a Fire Innovation Unit within Cal Fire to identify operational needs, test new wildfire technologies, and speed deployment of successful tools; it drew broad support from fire, environmental, local government, and industry groups. SB 1020 by Senator Niello would require annual reporting on open states of emergency, including spending and lessons learned, to increase legislative oversight without limiting the governor’s emergency powers. SB 894 by Senator Allen would establish a wildfire resilience loan program modeled on the state’s Go Green financing platform to help homeowners afford wildfire hardening and defensible-space improvements; supporters included the State Treasurer’s office, counties, fire-safety groups, local governments, and credit unions. There was no opposition testimony on any of the bills. Committee members generally expressed support, with comments emphasizing wildfire risk, the need for home hardening, innovation, and accountability in emergency powers. Senator Rubio asked to be a coauthor on SB 894, and the chair noted the bill’s importance for making mitigation more affordable at scale. All five measures were approved by the committee on motions for “do pass as amended to appropriations,” with roll calls taken over several quorum interruptions. The bills were advanced out of committee, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It outlines existing issues within governor-declared states It outlines existing issues within governor-declared
• The bill does not eliminate or weaken emergency powers.
• Emergency powers are essential, but so is democratic accountability.
• Emergency powers are a lot like war powers, where, when the disaster hits, you need them.
• Again, my interest is not in compromising the governor's powers.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, are there any messages from the<00:37:00.880><c> governor?</c> the governor? the governor?
• </c> further messages from the governor? further messages from the governor?
• </c> messages from the governor? messages from the governor?
• ><c> Sylvia</c> Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.<01:
• Governor Josh Green and First Lady, [applause] Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and First Gentleman, [

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of power.
• of power.
• </c> this idea of the dispersion of power. this idea of the dispersion of power.
• </c> find a powerful protection in the other. find a powerful protection in the other.
• </c> governor, our chief executive, uh, Mr. governor, our chief executive, uh, Mr.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:41.360><c> must</c> While constitutionally the governor must While constitutionally the governor
• The BCA works for the governor<00:34:39.679><c> directly.</c> governor directly. governor directly.
• You're asking for all the law enforcement power to be under the reporting of the governor.
• You're asking for all the law enforcement power to be under the reporting of the governor.
• You're asking for all the law enforcement power to be under the reporting of the governor.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for inviting me here today to present Governor Ferguson's first proposed capital budget.
• In building his first capital budget, the governor established several priorities.
• each of you for your partnership and belief in the power of community-driven development.
• We were disappointed not to see this project in Governor Ferguson's budget.
• We were disappointed not to see this project in Governor Ferguson's budget.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Budget staff said the proposal uses nearly all of the roughly $400 million in available bond capacity, leaving about $5.4 million unused, and includes additional funding from the Common School Construction account, the Climate Commitment Account, and federal funds. OFM described housing as the largest priority, with $237 million total, including $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund for affordable rental housing, homeownership, preservation, and manufactured home community acquisition; it also highlighted urgent state facility needs, climate and clean energy investments, natural resource projects, and education funding for school seismic safety, small district and tribal compact school modernization, lead pipe remediation, and higher education preservation projects. Committee members asked about the timing of housing production, and OFM said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the biennium. Public testimony in the housing section strongly supported the governor’s housing investments, especially the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and homeownership programs, while several speakers asked for larger appropriations for workforce housing, community land trusts, right-to-counsel, and specific local projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, Casa Mia, and Native and immigrant community facilities. One testifier criticized overall state tax policy, but the chair clarified that the capital budget is bonded and does not directly raise taxes. Testimony on K-12 education generally supported the proposed funding for small school modernization, seismic safety, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools lead remediation, with rural districts emphasizing the importance of planning and construction grants for aging facilities. Higher education witnesses supported preservation and deferred maintenance funding but asked for additional support for projects at Cascadia College, WSU Spokane, UW’s decarbonization work, and other campus infrastructure needs. Natural resources testimony backed Salmon Recovery Funding Board and community forest investments, while asking for more funding for ranked RCO projects. In the final section, local governments and utilities opposed a proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance account to the operating budget, warning it would reduce infrastructure lending capacity; other speakers supported the Washington State Green Bank, public works financing, and several local economic development and utility projects. No votes or formal committee action were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> It baffles me that our governor, It baffles me that our governor, Governor<00:57:57.599><c> Basher
• It's really powerful.
• It's really powerful.
• The governor is given supreme executive power by Section 69 of the Constitution and charged by Section
• The governor is given supreme executive power by Section 69 of the Constitution and charged by Section

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications. The Senate reported passage of Senate Bills 52 and 124, and several House committees reported favorable action on bills including HB 1, HB 2, HB 94, HB 246, HB 282, HB 299, HB 307, HB 519, HB 613, and HB 648. Most of those measures were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar; HB 1 and HB 307 were sent to the Rules Committee after having had two previous readings. The House then recessed briefly before returning to the orders of the day. The chamber took up HB 568, relating to public adjusters. The sponsor explained that the bill would prohibit new public adjuster licenses, allow current licensees to renew, impose conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, set a 5% fee cap, and bar public adjusters from negotiating claims, citing consumer protection concerns and legal opinions about the practice of law. After debate and a brief explanation of vote from a member citing local storm-related abuses, the House voted on roll call and passed HB 568 with one nay vote. The House then considered HB 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program. Supporters said it would allow private donations to scholarship-granting organizations to benefit Kentucky students without using state general funds, and argued it could help public, private, and homeschool families with education-related expenses. Opponents criticized the speed of the process, warned it could open the door to vouchers and charters, and argued it would mainly benefit wealthier donors while public schools remain underfunded. Members also questioned the bill’s waiver of 11th Amendment immunity and received explanations that the waiver was limited to federal-court jurisdiction over the federal program and would not create individual liability for state actors. A motion to table the bill failed with 19 votes in favor, and debate continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Governor. Secretary? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Governor. Good morning.
• Thank you, Governor.
• Thank you, Governor, and Mr.
• Good afternoon, Governor.
• We don't have actual subpoena power.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your presence here today is powerful because it reminds us in this chamber.
• When this fund was created in 2022, we limited the emergency spending power of the Governor to draw from
• But when we created this trust fund back in 2022, we limited the emergency spending power of the governor
• I certainly don't think the governor needs permission every time.
• And again, my argument is not how the governor spends his money, this governor or the next governor.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But so is not generating power.
• What is a power authority? Like New York Power Authority, Bonneville Power Authority, TVA.
• A power authority. Like New York Power Authority, Bonneville Power Authority, TVA.
• Nuclear power.
• nuclear power.

Summary: The meeting focused on finalizing recommendations from the Delaware Nuclear Energy Task Force, with most of the discussion centered on how the state should organize itself to evaluate and potentially pursue nuclear power. Public commenters strongly supported nuclear energy, emphasizing energy reliability, economic competitiveness, data center demand, and the need for Delaware to act quickly. Several speakers argued that Delaware is falling behind neighboring states and should not delay if it wants to attract developers and preserve access to federal tax incentives. Members then worked through revisions to the recommendations, especially the section on state actions moving forward. There was broad agreement that Delaware needs a clearly empowered leadership structure, but disagreement over the best form: a cabinet-level energy agency, an expanded existing agency such as DENREC, a dedicated coordinator, an expanded Sustainable Energy Utility, or a separate quasi-independent authority. Some members favored a nimble, one-off entity with bonding and financing authority; others cautioned against creating a new body outside state government and stressed the need for coordination with existing agencies, public oversight, and cost discipline. The group also discussed adding responsibilities such as site identification, public engagement, coordination with PJM and federal agencies, and financing tools, while removing or folding in items that seemed duplicative or too broad. The committee also revised earlier modules to broaden the focus from small modular reactors to nuclear power more generally, while keeping the task force’s original SMR work in view. Members agreed to keep recommendations on state and local regulatory readiness, financial mechanisms, permitting coordination, and public engagement, and to add a recommendation for Delaware to participate as an observer in the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative through NASEO and NARUC. The committee approved the revised Module Four recommendations by vote, with one abstention from Tom Noyes. Minutes from the prior meeting were also approved with minor corrections.

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, some states have started to tie that to separation of powers...
• , a power of the legislature, right?
• Knowledge is power. It's power.
• It says that we believe that we should just have all the power. The power belongs to the people.
• The power belongs to the people.

Bills: H5004

Keywords: public records, public records law, transparency, open government, government accountability, legislature, general court, governor's office, executive records, legislative records, constituent communications, policy drafts, deliberative process, freedom of information, FOIA, records access, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Chapter 4, veterans services records, initiative petition

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-14, H 5-004, “an act to improve access to public records.” Chairs Cindy Friedman and Alice Peisch outlined the Article 48 process and explained that the committee was hearing expert testimony, then proponents, then opponents, before any public testimony. The first expert, Will Clark of the National Conference of State Legislatures, gave a general overview of public records laws across the states, emphasizing that all states have some form of open-records law but that exemptions, timelines, fees, and coverage of legislatures vary widely. He discussed legislative exemptions, legislative privilege, and court cases showing that outcomes often turn on the exact language of state constitutions, statutes, and chamber rules. Rebecca Murray, General Counsel for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, testified about Massachusetts public records administration, saying requests and appeals have risen sharply since the 2017 law update, with state agency requests increasing from 22,572 in 2017 to 47,776 in 2025 and appeals reaching a record 4,051 cases in 2025. She said the initiative would extend the law to the General Court and the Governor’s office and add exemptions for those branches, while warning that the volume and complexity of requests could require more resources. The proponents, led by Jesse Littlewood of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, Scotia Hila of Act on Mass, and Auditor Diana DiZoglio, argued that Massachusetts is an outlier for exempting the legislature and governor from public records law and that the proposal would create needed accountability without exposing personal constituent communications or internal deliberations. They said the measure would make records such as committee votes, final bill drafts, amendments, expenditures, attendance records, minutes, and public testimony available, while preserving exemptions for constituent services, draft legislation, internal staff communications, and policy development discussions. DiZoglio emphasized that the initiative is aimed at basic administrative and financial records, citing her own difficulty obtaining receipts, contracts, and procurement documents, and said the public should be able to see how taxpayer dollars are spent. Committee members questioned the witnesses extensively about the scope of exemptions, constituent privacy, legislative privilege, and whether the measure could reach communications with nonprofits or lobbying-type interactions; proponents responded that privacy and constituent-service exemptions were intended to remain in place, though some members pressed for clearer statutory language. The hearing also included a contentious exchange over whether the initiative could affect legislative communications and whether the Senate had already taken a position against the measure. Some members raised concerns about separation of powers, legislative privilege, and the possibility of exposing constituent communications or internal deliberations, while proponents argued that the initiative was narrowly tailored and that any legal disputes could be resolved in court. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing. The committee concluded the testimony portion after hearing from the proponents and their questions, with the matter left pending for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and to those with no perceived power at all.
• It is time to go home, governor.
• I hope Minnesotans heard you, governor.
• . governor. governor.
• </c> leading Democrat candidate for governor leading Democrat candidate for governor is<00:11:53.000>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:38.240><c> and</c> and recommendations to the governor and and recommendations to the governor
• </c><00:16:00.280><c> and</c> peers peer committee subpoena power and peers peer committee subpoena power
• </c><00:16:04.040><c> that</c> regular legislative subpoena power that regular legislative subpoena power
• </c> subpoena power. subpoena power.
• </c><00:17:49.440><c> for</c> we're stripping out subpoena power for we're stripping out subpoena power

Keywords: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency - Room 210, 3 March, 2026; 2:30 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To promote nuclear power this year, the nuclear power developers are not going to look at the state of
• A power authority. Like New York Power Authority, Bonneville Power Authority, TVA.
• pursuing nuclear power now.
• ...nuclear power.
• G, purchase and sell electric power.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Appointed by the governor, which I think it currently is.
• They submit their nominations to the governor.
• In some way can this be equated to, with PERS last session, you know, the governor, we gave the governor
• And it just seems it gives the governor a little more power and authority, I guess, in that process,
• But regardless, the governor is the governor, duly elected by the electorate in the great state of North

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened to work through the amended version of Senate Bill 2025, beginning with a clarification from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the source of funds used to cover the commissioner’s salary equity increase. Commissioner Lonnie Wong explained that the money came from federal highly rural transportation grant administrative/salary funds, within the allowable 10% administrative cap, and that the department had not exceeded that limit. The committee then reviewed the major House changes to the veterans budget, including funding for a veterans benefits specialist FTE, salary equity increases for veterans service officers, additional operating funds, one-time funding for homeless veteran services and the Veterans Post-War Trust Fund, carryover authority for Fisher House and veterans transportation projects, accrued leave, and a document scanning project. Members also discussed a section changing governance authority for veterans affairs and the veterans home, with questions about the ACOVA board and the governor’s appointment authority. The committee debated the appropriateness of using federal grant administrative funds for salary adjustments and the broader shift in authority over veterans affairs, with some members emphasizing legislative control over salaries and budget decisions and others supporting the reorganization as a way to improve administration. After discussion, Amendment 25.092.0203 was moved, seconded, and adopted on an 8-0 roll call. The committee then moved SB 2025 as amended, and that motion also passed 8-0. The meeting then shifted to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget issues, where members reviewed FTE reductions, salary equity funding for correctional officers and parole/probation officers, and the status of federal ARPA dollars that had previously been used to backfill salaries and bonuses. DOCR officials described pay levels for correctional officers and compared them with county jail wages, arguing that the proposed equity funding was needed for retention and competitiveness. Members also discussed transitional facility costs, women’s treatment unit funding, and county jail overflow housing, including new or planned bed capacity in Grand Forks, Burleigh-Morton, Rugby, and other facilities. The committee agreed to continue refining the budget through a new long sheet and planned to request amendments for consideration in the following days before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you Governor Patrick, Mr. Speaker, Blaylock is close Just enough. Thank you.
• Thank You Governor Abbott. But more than anything, I want to say thank you to my wife, Jessica.
• The officers who wield the judicial power of the state. state of Texas.
• Even though the judges' jobs are so much more important and the judges wield so much more power.
• Who do we want wielding all of that power and influence?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• explicit powers.
• Where is the power grab specifically?
• The state constitution lays out the powers and duties of the legislature: the power to enact laws, statutes
• and ordinances, the power to tax, the police power, the power to appropriate public monies, to erect
• I mean, obviously the executive has the veto power, and the courts have another check and balance power

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee hearing focused on whether the Office of the State Auditor may constitutionally audit the Massachusetts Legislature under Chapter 250 of the Acts of 2024 and what such an audit could include under generally accepted government auditing standards. Chair Cindy Friedman opened by explaining the background: voters approved Ballot Question 1 in November 2024, the law took effect in January 2025, and the Auditor then initiated audits of both chambers. The chair said the subcommittee was seeking expert testimony because the proposed audit scope, constitutionality, and possible bias concerns remained unresolved. Public testimony was invited, but no members of the public pre-registered; written testimony remained open for a short period after the hearing. The hearing then proceeded with invited experts on constitutional law/state government and auditing-related issues. Professor Lawrence Friedman testified that the ballot initiative’s approval by the Attorney General and by voters did not resolve constitutional questions, and he argued Chapter 250 violates the Massachusetts Constitution. He said the Legislature has constitutional authority to set its own rules and manage its proceedings, and that an executive-branch audit would intrude on legislative deliberation, speech and debate protections, and separation of powers. He also warned that even audits of supposedly administrative matters could become a vehicle for repeated document demands and litigation that would indirectly burden legislative functioning. In questioning, senators pressed him on the line between administrative and deliberative functions, the role of the Attorney General versus the courts, the possibility of retroactive audit scope, and whether prior legislative consent to audits mattered; he said prior consent would not bind future legislatures and that constitutionality is ultimately for the courts. Professor Ray La Raja also opposed the audit, framing it as a threat to institutional independence and representative democracy. He argued that allowing an executive-branch official to audit the Legislature without consent would upset separation of powers, chill internal debate, and create a precedent for broader executive intrusion. He said voters often support “transparency” reforms without fully appreciating institutional consequences, and that legislatures should defend their autonomy, especially amid what he described as broader executive overreach nationally. Senators asked about chilling effects, the practical distinction between administrative and core legislative functions, and whether the courts or the Legislature should resolve the issue; he said the courts would ultimately adjudicate disputes, but the Legislature should not waive its constitutional authority lightly. Jean Kempthorne took the opposite view, arguing the audit is permissible and should proceed. She said the state auditor is a constitutional officer accountable directly to the people, that the audit power can be expanded by statute, and that separation of powers does not require watertight compartments. She contended the audit would not displace core legislative powers because the auditor can only evaluate operations, report findings, and make recommendations. She also argued the Legislature itself already conducts audits of other branches, so it is inconsistent to claim an audit of the Legislature is unconstitutional. In response to senators’ questions, she said there are guardrails against truly intrusive requests, but that the administrative-versus-legislative distinction is not a workable bright line; she suggested disputes should be handled case by case, with objections, negotiation, or litigation if specific requests go too far. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see the governor was proposing.
• </c> operating account than what the governor operating account than what the governor had.<00:17:59.039
• </c> billionaires aren't going to lose power billionaires aren't going to lose power at<01:49:12.639>
• And a lot of the normal power plant.
• </c> as a power plant that is operating 24/7. as a power plant that is operating 24/7.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill will expand the powers of that office.
• No, and it does have separation of powers.
• Separation of powers, which would, if you did believe that this was a violation of separation of powers
• The founders understood one thing better than anyone: concentrated power is dangerous power.
• Do you want to trust the other party to hold this much power, unchecked power?

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14, HB 8, HB 12, SB 3, HJR 1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• And Gretchen G, we are looking at different alternative energies to power the scoreboard and power music
• It was undone because the current governor that was in office wanted additional power over education,
• This is giving the governor some Impact with appointments, but not giving them the complete power to
• The governor at the time had five appointees, so a full third of the board was appointed by the governor
• Outside of governor veto power on how it's set up.

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University