Video & Transcript : 'Texas State Library' :
Page 250 of 500
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Just state your name, Mr.
- It's a professional association supporting library staff across the state by providing ongoing professional
- The Library Association is a professional association supporting library staff across the state by providing
- I know the sort of the alternative proposal is, you know, in the state constitution, when the state was
- I know the alternative proposal is, you know, in the state constitution, when the state was founded,
Committee:
House Government
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, September 9, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> provost at Eastern Florida State provost at Eastern Florida State College.<00:05:00.880><c> and<
- The Kansas State Fair is one of the crown jewels of our state.
- </c> sacrifice to our state of neighbors. sacrifice to our state of neighbors.
- States. And guess who would benefit from States. And guess who would benefit from that?
- Jackson of Texas. >> Gentleman from Texas is recognized. >> Thank you, Mr.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- in this state.
- Our state can do better.
- Margaret Carpenter faces indictment in the state of Louisiana and was sued civilly by the state of Texas
- States like Texas and Florida have already weaponized their PMP data.
- People across our state.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Summary:
The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing.
The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors.
The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes.
A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Local Government Mar 4th, 2026
Local Government, Elections and Pensions
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, so it is all city library, city-county library districts, but this would be in a county with over
- Louis County, we have the county library system, but we also have municipal libraries.
- Does this impact municipal library at all?
- city-county library.
- And the State Board of Mediation recognized that organization.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bills 2161, 1830, and 1728 together. Those bills would revise the appointment structure for the St. Charles City-County Library Board so that the four most populous cities in St. Charles County, based on the most recent census, would each appoint one trustee, while the county governing body would continue appointing five members. Sponsors said the change simply codifies an existing informal practice and does not change the board’s total size. St. Charles County supported the measure, and there was no opposition testimony.
The committee then heard House Bills 3283 and 3306, which were described as identical bills creating timelines and procedures for collective bargaining between public employers and labor organizations. The bills would require bargaining to begin within set timeframes, move unresolved disputes to mediation after 180 days, then to arbitration if mediation fails, and make arbitration decisions binding. Supporters, including labor representatives, firefighters, police, and some local officials, said the bills would curb delay tactics, reduce litigation costs, improve morale and retention, and provide clear rules when contracts expire. Several witnesses described long-running disputes in places such as Cape Girardeau, Robertson Fire Protection District, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood as examples of why deadlines and enforceable procedures are needed.
Opponents, led by the Missouri Municipal League, argued that binding arbitration would shift final fiscal authority away from locally elected officials and could limit cities’ ability to respond to budget stress or emergencies. They said the timeline provisions had merit but wanted alternatives to arbitration that would preserve local control and taxpayer accountability. Committee members questioned how good-faith bargaining would be enforced, how arbitrators would weigh municipal budgets, and whether the bills could affect police, fire, and other public employees. No votes were taken, and both public hearings were completed before the committee adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, June 26, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Texas.
- </c> Palmhurst and the great state of Texas. Palmhurst and the great state of Texas.
- </c> from Texas seek recognition? Mr. from Texas seek recognition? Mr.
- </c> across Texas.
- Texas has the second across Texas.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Mar 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am
Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- And we have terrorist cells In all 50 states.
- Guarantee you they're state operators in the state of Oklahoma who work for the Iranian regime.
- I am legally here in the state of Oklahoma.
- Had a gentleman who moved in from out of state.
- His former state allows self-certification.
Bills:
HB1016 , HB1453 , HB1992 , HB2015 , HB2940 , HB2959 , HB2997 , HB3037 , HB3045 , HB3053 , HB3087 , HB3267 , HB3301 , HB3453 , HB3495 , HB3521 , HB3581 , HB3584 , HB3586 , HB3587 , HB3662 , HB3691 , HB3695 , HB3697 , HB3742 , HB3743 , HB3845 , HB4058 , HB4125 , HB4198 , HB4227 , HB4425
Committee:
House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
Keywords:
minors, content creation, trust account, compensation, civil action, digital content, Oklahoma statutes, foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, motor vehicles, towing services, combination vehicles, wrecker fees, possessory lien, landlord
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Mar 3rd, 2026
Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- I guarantee you there are state operators in the state of Oklahoma who work for the Iranian regime.
- I am legally here in the state of Oklahoma.'
- I had a gentleman who moved in from out of state.
- His former state allows self-certification.
- I can't state why.
Bills:
HB1016 , HB1453 , HB1992 , HB2015 , HB2940 , HB2959 , HB2997 , HB3037 , HB3045 , HB3053 , HB3087 , HB3267 , HB3301 , HB3453 , HB3495 , HB3521 , HB3581 , HB3584 , HB3586 , HB3587 , HB3662 , HB3691 , HB3695 , HB3697 , HB3742 , HB3743 , HB3845 , HB4058 , HB4125 , HB4198 , HB4227 , HB4425
Committee:
House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight
Keywords:
minors, content creation, trust account, compensation, civil action, digital content, Oklahoma statutes, foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, motor vehicles, towing services, combination vehicles, wrecker fees, possessory lien, landlord
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced a large number of bills covering tort claims, criminal law, child protection, licensing, housing, and public transparency. Early measures included HB 3037, adding students in curricular activities to the Government Tort Claims Act definition of employee; HB 3581, revising riot statutes and removing a no-bail provision; HB 458, allowing voluntary blood type notation on driver’s licenses; HB 2929, tightening mandatory child abuse reporting by school employees; and HB 3087, extending garnishment notice and objection timelines. All of those bills received unanimous or near-unanimous due-pass recommendations.
Several bills drew more substantial discussion. HB 4227, the Cindy Clemishire Act, was amended to allow minors to discuss sexual abuse with health care providers and was named after a survivor; it passed 13-0. HB 4125, restoring Second Amendment rights to certain nonviolent felons, passed 13-1 but members raised concerns about federal law and asked for further explanation before floor consideration. HB 1453, which would criminalize hostile foreign nationals and entities owning Oklahoma real property and agricultural land, generated extensive debate over indirect ownership, foreclosure timelines, logrolling, and constitutional concerns, and it ultimately failed 3-10. HB 3521, modernizing money transmission regulation and adding payment processors and digital asset kiosks, passed 13-0.
Other measures advanced after questions or minor amendments, including HB 3691 on self-certifying medical fitness for a Class D license, HB 2015 on landlord-tenant repair and tenant remedies, HB 2940 on recording public meetings, HB 1016 on trust protections for minors appearing in monetized online content, HB 3267 making breaking and entering an occupied dwelling a felony without needing proof of another intended crime, HB 3695 expanding the definition of great bodily injury for DUI cases, HB 3453 shifting the burden in eminent domain cases to the condemning authority, and HB 3053 creating parole review criteria for older eligible inmates. The committee also advanced bills on self-defense definitions, straw purchasing of land for prohibited foreign parties, human trafficking parole guidelines, child welfare/adoption terminology, outpatient treatment, child support-related license revocations, workplace violence protective orders, and protections for charities reporting sexual misconduct. The meeting ended with several bills laid over and the committee adjourning, with a note that it would meet again Thursday.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Mar 11th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This program is having a real Impact in communities across the state.
- The current state of that process really is that we have submitted our final proposal to NTIA.
- It's the whole state that you're managing.
- Are weak spots in the state for resiliency?
- Joining us today is the Honorable Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Summary:
The Communications and Conveyance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), focused on telecommunications, broadband deployment, resiliency, and the California Teleconnect Fund. Chair Tasha Boerner said the hearing was intended to examine structural issues at the CPUC, including whether telecommunications oversight should remain within the commission, while also reviewing major programs such as Last Mile, BEAD, carrier of last resort, and emergency preparedness. CPUC President John Reynolds and Deputy Executive Director Anna Maria Johnson described the commission’s work on public safety, universal service, broadband grants, Lifeline modernization, and network resiliency, including the 72-hour backup power requirement and merger review.
Members questioned CPUC officials about the pace and metrics for Last Mile and BEAD projects, the relationship between middle-mile and last-mile buildout, and how the commission balances carrier obligations with the risk of driving providers out of high-cost areas. They also pressed the CPUC on the California Lifeline home broadband pilot, asking when enrollment would be available, which providers were participating, how much of the state would be covered, and what the surcharge impact would be. CPUC said 15 providers had been approved, one was already serving customers, and the rest were still onboarding, and it committed to provide follow-up information on timelines, coverage, and costs.
A major portion of the hearing centered on the California Teleconnect Fund and proposed changes to how schools would access the program. Superintendent Tony Thurmond argued strongly against shifting administration from county offices of education and districts to individual schools, saying it would add burden, worsen inequities, and risk underuse of a valuable broadband subsidy. Committee members echoed concerns that smaller schools and districts may lack the staff to manage direct applications and reporting. In public comment, the Los Angeles County Office of Education supported the CDE’s position and urged changes that would align the program more closely with E-Rate and reduce administrative burdens. No formal vote was taken, and Chair Boerner closed by saying she remained committed to pursuing reforms to the CPUC and referenced her bills AB 2289 and ACA 9.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/04/2026)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- First, several states have enacted laws just like 544, including Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, and New Mexico
- > funds</c><01:33:56.159><c> that</c> the state, it becomes state funds that the state, it becomes state
- In those states of Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma, do we know what the requirements are for them to get
- Um, in those states of<02:46:00.160><c> Kentucky,</c><02:46:00.720><c> Texas,</c><02:46:01.120><c> and
- </c><02:47:28.160><c> Uh</c> standard of other states? Uh standard of other states?
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- state<00:44:36.960><c> employment.
- Think about, you know, Liliha Library becoming General Motors Liliha Library or, um, you know, Clorox
- Think about, you know, Liliha Library becoming General Motors Liliha Library or, um, you know, Clorox
- Public Library Systems.
- Library becoming General Motors Liyha Library becoming General Motors Liyha Library<00:50:36.559><c>
Committee:
House Labor
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So that's about a third of all students in the state.
- They certainly may be spending some of that money on state...
- So typically other states are including those in that umbrella.
- We have state and local, and the Department of Ed has a state— they used to, I don't know if they still
- And because we have in the department SEA, which is a state education agency, and... ...which is a state
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Feb 16th, 2026
Washington Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- a robust economy in the state.
- You're very aware that Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library.
- Pardon founded the imagination library.
- We do not have many of these cases in the state of Washington.
- The state started it, and the state should pay for it. So I'm asking for a no vote.
Summary:
The Senate considered and passed a series of tax, economic, judicial, education, and health-related bills, often after adopting technical or clarifying amendments. Major measures included Engrossed Senate Bill 6347, which restores recent estate tax changes while preserving last year’s increase in the exclusion amount and inflation adjustment; Substitute Senate Bill 6289, directing the Department of Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162, expanding and simplifying senior citizen property tax relief. Senators supporting these bills emphasized tax administration, economic growth, and relief for seniors, while opponents raised concerns about regressivity, revenue losses, and tax shifts to other taxpayers.
The chamber also passed bills extending or clarifying tax preferences and fees, including Senate Bill 6244 (extending a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products), Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6113 (technical corrections to Department of Revenue tax law guidance, after removing a disputed section on advertising tax invalidation), Senate Bill 6114 (defining “fixture” and “affixed” for real estate excise tax purposes), Senate Bill 5970 (making a senior citizen center property tax exemption permanent), Senate Bill 5832 (raising the motor vehicle arbitration fee to support the Lemon Law program), and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6262 (expanding the vehicle weight threshold for transportation benefit district fees). Debate on these measures centered on whether they were modest administrative updates or additional burdens on taxpayers and businesses.
Several non-tax bills also advanced. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6086 strengthened security for judicial officers and court personnel, with amendments clarifying terminology and adding industrial appeals judges to the definition of judicial officers. Substitute Senate Bill 5961 transferred early literacy programs, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read, from DCYF to OSPI. Senate Bill 5868 added one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties, and Substitute Senate Bill 5923 reclassified a Skagit County hospital as a critical access hospital to improve reimbursement and help it remain viable. The Senate also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5520, revising the Wrongly Convicted Persons Act to improve compensation procedures, despite debate over whether to include civil detention-related claims. Most bills passed by constitutional majorities, with a few recorded nays and one division vote on an amendment; the Senate then adjourned until the next scheduled session.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE Mar 10th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And all funding sources includes all state, local, and federal funds.
- So that's about a third of all students in the state.
- At B or C school in 2025, about two-thirds of the students in the state.
- We have state and local, and the Department of Education has a state...
- And the Department of Education has a state...
Summary:
The House/Joint Education committee continued its adequacy study with a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, focusing first on matrix spending and then non-matrix spending. Staff explained the methodology for mapping APSCN expenditure data to matrix lines, reviewed district and school categories used in the analysis, and highlighted key findings: foundation funding covered a large share of matrix costs but total spending on matrix items exceeded foundation funding, with classroom teachers making up the largest share. Members asked for additional breakdowns on waivers, superintendent survey responses, trend data, and spending by district type, size, and rural/urban status. Staff also noted limitations in tracking two matrix lines—salary enhancement for other employees and all personnel health insurance—because of coding and definition issues.
The committee then reviewed non-matrix expenditures, including instructional aides, facilities, school safety, mental health, dyslexia services, gifted and talented, and career and technical education. Staff reported that non-matrix spending remained above $2 billion over the last three years, with most of it coming from other funds rather than foundation funding. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, mental health needs, school safety, food service, athletic transportation, and whether some items should be added to the matrix. The Department of Education clarified that the building fund reflects district-held funds for construction and maintenance projects, while the facilities partnership program is a separate state process for approved projects.
In the final discussion, staff summarized total spending as more than $15,800 per student in 2025, with about 69% going to matrix resources and 31% to non-matrix resources. The chair explained the adequacy process and the committee’s role in setting future funding recommendations, and members discussed the recommendations worksheet included in the binder. The chair then proposed postponing the remainder of Part Two of the presentation until a May meeting after the fiscal session, along with inviting the Department of Education back for more detailed questions; with no objections, the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Business and Professions and Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Mar 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And if you look at other states, 22 states have no physician-to-PA ratio.
- And the states that do enforce a physician-to-PA ratio, 45% of those states have adjusted their ratio
- You know, it's not many categories that we're the same as Texas, but we are the same as Texas.
- State license board.
- All states, I can tell you forthrightly, I don't hear great things from other states.
Summary:
The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs.
For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources.
The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates.
The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Housing Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Housing
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm State Representative Rich Haggerty.
- Massachusetts is one of a handful of states with our own state public housing, our own state rental assistance
- I think it's really exciting right now to have a new state housing plan, to have a state housing plan
- other state monies.
- But it's what else we can leverage at the state and, you know, the credits, the state credit, the federal
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Housing
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Housing opened its second hearing of the session with remarks from Chairs Haggerty and Cyr emphasizing that the hearing was a broad look at Massachusetts’ housing crisis rather than a single bill. They highlighted topics including zoning, permitting, rental assistance, public housing, homelessness prevention, and housing production. The first witness, Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus, reviewed implementation of the Affordable Homes Act and the state’s new housing plan, citing a 1.6% vacancy rate, a projected need for 222,000 new homes over 10 years, and ongoing efforts such as ADUs by right, fair housing enforcement, eviction record sealing, seasonal communities planning, and new funding for affordable housing, public housing, and the Momentum Fund. He also discussed infrastructure support for municipalities, technical assistance for ADUs, and concerns about possible federal funding cuts.
Committee members questioned the secretary about ADU financing and technical assistance, the likely unit yield from the Affordable Homes Act, infrastructure barriers in suburban and rural communities, public housing waitlist management, supportive housing, and federal budget risks. MassNAHRO then testified that public housing authorities are facing rising operating and capital costs, a statewide waitlist nearing 300,000, and uncertainty over federal Section 8 and HUD funding. Witnesses described recent state support for operating subsidies, capital improvements, vacancy turnover teams, and resident service coordinators, while warning that proposed federal cuts could sharply affect voucher issuance and agency operations.
CDAC’s executive director Roger Herzog described the agency’s role as a quasi-public source of early-stage financing and technical assistance for nonprofit housing developers, noting its loan capital, supportive housing bond programs, home modification loans, and preservation work under Chapter 40T. He said CDAC has helped produce or preserve more than 55,000 units and stressed the importance of patient capital and preservation tools. CHAPA CEO Rachel Heller urged the committee to focus on production, preservation, planning, and political will, supporting goals for affordability, supportive housing, and homeownership, and endorsing policy changes such as YIGBY, clearer site plan review rules, stronger fair housing funding, and more support for vouchers and public housing. MassHousing then outlined its financing role, including mortgage lending, down payment assistance, the Community Climate Bank, and the Momentum Fund, while noting that permitting delays, capital gaps, and possible federal changes could affect production. Members also asked about transparency, prevailing wage compliance, and a recent internal restructuring related to diversity and business engagement.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Mar 2nd, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I also want to recognize the critical role of our libraries.
- For many families, libraries are a gateway to literacy and academic success.
- And especially ...such an awesome program here in the state of California.
- As part of the program, students visit the state capitol and state agencies for first-hand exposure to
- In fact, I credit my being here in the State Senate to her.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor recognitions and resolutions. Senators also welcomed guests including California Conservation Corps members, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agriculture leadership students, and College of San Mateo championship athletes. The chamber approved the journals, stricken items from the daily file, and referred SCR 112 back to the Assembly floor.
The main legislative actions were on two resolutions and two gubernatorial appointments. SR 81 by Senator Pérez, designating March 2, 2026 as Read Across America Day, was supported by Senators Choi and Rubio, emphasizing literacy, libraries, and reading access; it passed 37-0. SCR 125 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Ramadan, was supported by Senator Becker and adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate also confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes.
Much of the remainder of the session consisted of adjournments in memory. Senators honored Stephen Cassidy, former San Leandro school board member and mayor; John Joseph Zoria, a San Jose farmer and community figure; Crystal Schoenfelder, a workers’ compensation attorney and advocate; and Belinda Baraghani, a prominent Latina political strategist and community leader. The session ended with remarks about Ramadan’s themes of empathy and community, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- tax as the state school levy.
- Libraries across the state are very concerned about the impact of this tax to their services, in particular
- A lot of libraries do that.
- A lot of libraries do that.
- and academic libraries as well.
Committee:
House Finance
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Mar 23rd, 2026
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- So what that did is it took that definition straight from state statute.
- Independence is the only city in the state that has a six-year school board term.
- Around the state.
- I'm going to go back a few years, but in 1989, we didn't have libraries in our county.
- I'm going to go back a few years, but in 1989, we didn't have libraries in our county.
Summary:
The committee first took up executive-session action on House Committee Amendment ending in point 02H and adopted it, then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and adopted the substitute for House Bill 3210. The committee then voted House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3210 do pass by a roll call of 9 ayes and 5 noes. Next, the committee corrected a script issue and voted House Bill 3510 do pass by a roll call of 14 ayes and 1 no, after brief confusion over the bill number.
The meeting then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Senator Joe Nicola. The bill would reduce Independence’s school board term from six years to three years to match most other districts. An amendment added on the Senate floor would allow a student to be excused from school once per scheduled election to accompany a parent who is voting. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve accountability and make school board service more accessible, and he said the amendment promoted civic engagement.
Committee members asked about why Independence had a six-year term, whether three years is the norm, and whether the voting-related amendment was unrelated to the bill’s original subject. The sponsor said he did not know why the six-year term existed and said the amendment had been reviewed for title compatibility. A representative from Missouri NEA testified in support, explaining the unusual structure of Missouri school-district statutes and saying the organization supported both the shorter term and the student voting absence provision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded without further action.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:09:20.800><c> of</c> time for us to talk about the state of time for us to talk about the state
- </c><00:09:22.360><c> of</c> it here in this in the state of it here in this in the state of Minnesota
- We are Minnesota's depository library for documents from state agencies, boards, task forces, and commissions
- for documents from depository library for documents from State<00:10:47.920><c> agencies</c><00:10:48.760
- ><00:26:39.880><c> you</c><00:26:40.039><c> know</c> state or that state has you know state or that state
Committee:
House State Government Finance and Policy
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Working Group on Omnibus K-12 Education Appropriations - 05/22/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> three is uh um codifying the state three is uh um codifying the state complaint<00:22:07.360><c>
- to a district, charter school, cooperative unit, library system, or library district.
- or federal aid to a district, charter, cooperative unit, library system, or library district.
- </c><00:26:22.159><c> Um</c> library system or library district.
- Um library system or library district.