Video & Transcript : 'forest reserves' :
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LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Mar 31st, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- “Yeah, I appreciate your comments, and I guess that’s one of my biggest reservations about it, is what
- That's what I'm, you know, that's the bill with eliminating the stranded reserves.
- What we have found, the reserves that are out there, are the reserves.
- So EOR is actually the ability to produce more reserves because when you look at what we produce, we
- House Bill 7 preserves the principle of ensuring eminent domain is reserved for projects that serve a
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Mar 30th, 2026
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
Transcript Highlights:
- It's use of reserves, it's cutting spending, and it's raising revenue, right?
- One, we don't see any occasion where it was just reserves or just cuts or just revenues, right?
- So on reserves, the state's rainy day fund balance stands at about $8.3 billion.
- So on reserves, the state's rainy day fund balance stands at about $8.3 billion.
- That's larger. reserves. The state's rainy day fund balance stands at about $8.3 billion.
Keywords:
tax revenue, state surplus, taxpayer refunds, budget growth, Massachusetts General Laws, income tax, tax reduction, state law, personal income tax, tax rates
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on two proposed ballot initiatives: one to reduce the state personal income tax rate from 5% to 4% over three years, and another to revise the state tax collection cap law (62F) so the cap would be based on the prior year’s actual collections plus wage-and-salary growth and would include surtax revenue. Committee chairs outlined the hearing process and noted that the measures would need additional signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot if not enacted by the legislature.
The committee’s expert witness, Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, said the income tax proposal would lower the base rate in stages beginning in 2027 and would ultimately reduce state income tax collections by about $5.4 billion annually when fully implemented. He estimated savings would vary by income level, from a few hundred dollars for lower- and middle-income households to about $10,700 for taxpayers at the surtax threshold. He argued the proposal would improve tax competitiveness but would also require major budget adjustments, likely including reserve use, spending cuts, and possibly new revenue measures; he cited prior downturns and said the state’s rainy day fund is stronger than in past recessions, though spending growth and health care costs remain concerns. On the 62F proposal, he said rebasing the cap to prior-year collections would make refunds more likely, with modeled refunds totaling about $7.9 billion without the surtax and $10.1 billion with it over the last decade, and warned it could reduce stabilization fund deposits and constrain recovery after recessions.
Proponents of both petitions, including representatives from Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts, NFIB, Pioneer Institute, and the Mass Opportunity Alliance, argued that Massachusetts faces an affordability and competitiveness crisis and that lower taxes would help families, small businesses, job creation, and outmigration. They said the income tax cut would put about $1,300 a year back into the hands of average families, help pass-through businesses reinvest, and improve the state’s ability to compete with lower-tax states such as North Carolina. Their economist, Rebecca Paxton, presented a model projecting average annual revenue losses of about $680 million during the phase-in and a total net income tax revenue impact of $2 billion to $2.2 billion, while saying long-term revenue growth would be stronger after implementation. The hearing ended with committee questions and a brief dispute over a planned voter testimonial video, which the chairs said was not appropriate for the hearing at that point.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/03/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, Senator Maye Quade, just to clarify, you said this was coming out of the budget reserves, but in
- Um, we put kind of what has been described to me as like an imaginary gate around our budget reserves
- Chair and Senator Bahr, if I'm understanding the question, you're wondering how the budget reserve relates
- So, now it's just a general fund appropriation and the budget reserve doesn't enter into the bill.
- That's kind of what because your amendment said general fund and you said reserve.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- As we begin in bod testimony, I ask that you please reserve your questions until the has recognized those
- As we again invite a testimony, ask please to reserve your questions until the entire panel has completed
- They do not need a reservation.
- However, after 5 p.m., you can make reservations to use amplification. sound in other areas both in the
- For events inside our dedicated areas they do You need to follow the application and space reservation
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (09/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Han replied that he would be inclined to ITL it, but he was not reserving judgment until
- </c> it but yeah so and I'm not reserve it but yeah so and I'm not reserve judgment<00:18:57.840><c>
- I have some reservations about that. But anyway, that's kind of my sense of this.
- I have some reservations about that. But anyway, that's kind of my sense of this.
- I have some reservations about that. But anyway, that's kind of my sense of this.
Summary:
The committee began by explaining that the meeting was a work session and that votes would only be taken where there was clear consensus. CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” was discussed first but not acted on because the prime sponsor was absent. Members raised concerns about whether the issue belonged in the constitution and what the amendment would mean in practice, and the chair recessed the matter for a future meeting.
HB 74, concerning the definition of “citizen” for the right-to-know law and disclosure of preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or majority of a public body, drew little support. Members noted the Senate’s prior rejection of a related bill and agreed the proposal was unlikely to advance. A motion to ITL the bill passed unanimously by roll call, 15-0, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar.
HB 232, dealing with rights of conscience for medical professionals, was also recessed. Members said they had not yet seen the amendment, which was described as narrowing the bill to abortion-related issues and limiting penalties. Several members said they could not judge the bill without the amendment and expected disagreement, so the chair recessed it. HB 253, on interest-bearing pooled trust accounts maintained by lawyers, was discussed at length; the chair said the bill did not address the underlying IOLTA issue and would likely create conflict with the bar and judiciary. Members cited existing Supreme Court procedures and suggested the bill was unnecessary. A straw vote showed support for interim study and ITL, and the committee ultimately voted 15-0 to place HB 253 on consent.
HB 293, aimed at preventing minors from accessing obscene material on internet-connected devices, prompted substantial debate. Members generally supported the goal but objected to the bill’s private right of action, its focus on manufacturers rather than content providers or internet platforms, uncertainty about the filtering technology required, and concerns about defining obscenity on a national rather than community basis. The committee discussed forming a subcommittee to work on the bill further, and members volunteered to serve, indicating the issue would be revisited rather than voted on immediately.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- the real world, is this going to be parents provide to the school and they have a supply but it's reserved
- You want to have some reserve there just in case someone forgets it. Maybe something we can add.
- You want to have some reserve there just in case someone forgets it.
- You want to have some reserve there just in case someone forgets it.
- Have some reserve there just in case someone forgets it.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And we just don't think that's a good approach, spending more reserves, spending down reserves at a time
- Instead, we recommend the Legislature use this time of really booming revenues to build up reserves.
- So that way you have that money, you have reserves that you can call on if and when there is a revenue
- So you're not drawing down those reserves and so that you can help maintain the state's budget resiliency
- And thanks as well to the L.A.O. for sharing some of your concerns about pulling from our reserve funds
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/26
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- to park closer at a fair and not have to walk so far, or when you're going camping to be able to reserve
- spots that are reserved for handicapped individuals that are closer to the bathroom because people with
- 52.720><c> to</c> when you're going camping to be able to when you're going camping to be able to reserve
- <00:15:53.360><c> spots</c><00:15:53.759><c> that</c><00:15:53.920><c> are</c><00:15:54.240><c> reserved
- </c><00:15:54.560><c> for</c> reserve spots that are reserved for reserve spots that are reserved for
Keywords:
cancer, disability, parking certificates, transportation, state law, school bus, schoolchildren, student safety, traffic safety, stop arm, flashing red lights, amber lights, passing a school bus, 20 feet, vehicle stopping distance, driver duties, school transportation, Minnesota traffic law, school bus law, bus stop signal
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (10/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- that essentially 1 million megawatt hours of any PPA that’s generated through this statute would be reserved
- that essentially 1 million megawatt hours of any PPA that’s generated through this statute would be reserved
- that essentially 1 million megawatt hours of any PPA that’s generated through this statute would be reserved
- </c><00:55:47.920><c> real</c> Association expressed some real Association expressed some real reservations
- reservations reservations about<00:55:50.079><c> this</c><00:55:50.400><c> bill.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 1/22/25
Veterans and Military Affairs Division
Transcript Highlights:
- I farm back home and am a major in the United States Army Reserve currently, with about 11 and change
- I farm back home and am a major in the United States Army Reserve currently, with about 11 and change
- I've staffed this committee along with Public Safety, and I'm also a member of the Army Reserve. military
- National Guard is a reserve component to supplement the active Army and Air Force in times of war and
- National Guard is a reserve component to supplement the active Army and Air Force in times of war and
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Anyone voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measure is adopted, Mr. Chair.
- Anyone voting with reservations?
- Measure is reservations? Any no votes? Measure is adopted.<01:26:02.400><c> Mr.
- Anyone voting with reservations?
- </c><01:27:20.800><c> Hearing</c> reservations? Any no votes? Hearing reservations? Any no votes?
Keywords:
Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, state funding, public performances, educational programs, cultural arts funding, historic properties, preservation, inheritance, working group, public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, historic preservation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, construction, state review, burial sites, cultural artifacts, development review, phased review, administrative fees
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt.
Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt.
Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- We have clear reserve targets. We have monthly budget monitoring.
- We<00:45:26.480><c> have</c><00:45:26.640><c> clear</c><00:45:27.040><c> reserve</c><00:45:27.520><c>
- </c> We have clear reserve targets. We have clear reserve targets.
- </c><00:46:23.520><c> our</c><00:46:23.760><c> cash</c><00:46:24.000><c> and</c><00:46:24.240><c> reserve
- </c><00:46:24.640><c> levels,</c> looking at our cash and reserve levels, looking at our cash and reserve
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, are there any votes with reservation? Any nays? Two. Okay, thank you, Chair.
- c> with amendments um are there any votes with amendments um are there any votes with with with reservation
- reservation reservation reservations<01:34:32.960><c> any</c><01:34:33.199><c> n</c> reservations any
- n reservations any n votes votes votes no<01:34:37.239><c> two</c><01:34:37.400><c> of</c> us<01:34:
- Any members voting with reservation or no?
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/16/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm I think we're all aware of what's happened, say, out in California with the forest fires and Utah
- Despite my deep reservations around assessments, I'm not in opposition to this bill.
- despite<05:16:43.040><c> my</c><05:16:43.200><c> deep</c><05:16:43.600><c> deep</c><05:16:43.920><c> reservations
- </c><05:16:45.000><c> around</c> despite my deep deep reservations around despite my deep deep reservations
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts.
Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised.
Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the threshold in this supplemental budget that now pends before the Senate would go to a so-called reserve
- counted, and the body made the decision to put those excess capital gain funds into the Deficiency Reserve
- It's a tall order, even with $8 billion in reserves from Massachusetts to cover these costs with no guarantee
Summary:
The Senate first adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4521, establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Roder of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, by standing vote, with 8 in favor and none opposed. The chamber also suspended rules to refer several petitions to committee, including a resolution to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications and a petition on officer training related to stage suicides. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including legislation clarifying the duties of the Adjutant General and enhancing access and support for military-connected families, both with new drafts, and a bill designating Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, which was ordered to a third reading.
A major portion of the session focused on the House’s nonconcurrence in the Senate’s amendment to the fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget and the appointment of a conference committee. Senators from both parties debated how to respond to the federal government shutdown and the threatened lapse in SNAP benefits, with repeated calls for the Commonwealth to use available state resources to prevent hunger, protect vulnerable residents, and seek federal reimbursement. Several members criticized the governor’s use of taxpayer-funded communications on the issue, while others defended the administration’s limited initial response and emphasized fiscal constraints. The Senate ultimately insisted on its amendment and appointed a conference committee consisting of Senators Rodrigues, Comerford, and O’Connor.
The chamber also passed several local and special bills, including measures exempting Natick’s assistant fire chief from civil service, authorizing sewer service in Sharon, changing the term of the elected moderator in Holden, updating Medford’s linkage exaction program, and establishing sick leave banks for Candy J. Pike and Kathleen Roder. The Senate later adopted amended resolutions calling on the President of the United States to release contingency funds for SNAP during the shutdown, adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday, and then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Appropriations Committee May 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 1188, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The motion is do pass.
- Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The motion is do pass.
- I do look forward to working with the author and the sponsors, and I do reserve the right to vote against
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee met for a suspense-file hearing and voted only on measures already heard previously, with no public testimony. The chair explained that bills were taken up quickly in author order, with amended bills to be followed by addendum analyses. The committee considered a very large slate of Senate bills and two Assembly measures covering wildfire resilience, housing, insurance, energy, transportation, public safety, elections, health care, labor, environmental regulation, and various administrative and tax issues.
Most measures were approved, many on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a substantial number passed on 5-2 or 5-1 party-line votes with Republicans generally voting no. Several bills were amended before passage, including changes to funding contingencies, timelines, reporting requirements, definitions, and removal of certain enforcement or private-right-of-action provisions. A few members noted concerns on specific bills, including Senator Richardson on SB 1203 (private security training), though he said he would vote for it at this stage.
Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on wildfire smoke, wildfire recovery, mobile home parks, insurance nonrenewals, AI transparency, data center energy issues, Medi-Cal and health coverage, criminal justice, election administration, housing, and labor/workforce standards. The committee also approved AB 46 and AB 736. No bills were held for testimony because the hearing was vote-only, and the meeting adjourned after all items on the agenda were disposed of.
CA
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 22nd, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- President, on page 14, I think that As it talks about historic reservation lands and provides a definition
- , have you had or have you heard any concerns as it relates to the definition of the historic reservation
- with particularly in Tulsa, Oklahoma Within a very short distance, you have different traditional reservations
Bills:
HB3834, HB3940, HB4346, HB2947, HB3257, HB3264, HB4326, HB4421, HB3944, HB3979, HB4118, SCR22, SB169, HB1047, HB2123, HB2650, HB3260, HB3403, SR41, HB3649, HB3742, HB3831, HB3996, HB4321, HB4339
Keywords:
HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs, clinical trials, FDA approval, breakthrough therapy designation, opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, traumatic brain injury, mental health, neurological disorders, drug development, public-private partnership, State Department of Health, intellectual property, revolving fund, research funding, medical licensing
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/11/2026 - Senate Judiciary and Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- By the way, I'm going to get you a reserved seat so that it's not behind this post all the time, but
- And as Chairman Finchem here said, there's fire departments here and there, but on the reservation, in
- our reservation, we probably have five fire departments scattered throughout the whole Navajo Nation
Summary:
The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the minutes from February 18, February 20, and March 4, 2026, then took up several measures while holding others in reserve. House Bill 2006, which would require counties without a USPS processing and distribution center to mail printed sample ballots 14 days before an election instead of 11, received support from the Association of Counties and passed on a 7-0 vote. House Bill 2167, which would impose liability on the Attorney General for certain public nuisance or consumer fraud actions that are dismissed or found meritless, drew opposition from some members who said it would interfere with the AG’s work, but it passed 4-3. The committee also discussed House Bill 2109, a hands-free driving bill that would increase penalties and expand the prohibition to watching or streaming video on a device; after extensive testimony and concerns about vagueness, dash cameras, CarPlay, navigation, and other in-car systems, the chair held the bill without prejudice for stakeholder discussions.
The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 2016, which would send to voters a proposal to eliminate county vote centers and on-site early voting and require precinct-based polling places with a 2,500-voter cap per precinct. Testimony from voting rights groups, county officials, and rural and tribal representatives strongly opposed the measure, citing higher costs, more provisional ballots, longer lines, delayed results, and reduced access for voters in rural areas and on the Navajo Nation. County representatives asked for a delayed effective date, funding, a higher precinct cap, and a fallback option if precinct sites cannot be secured. After hearing the testimony, the chair announced the resolution would be held without prejudice until the following week to allow further stakeholder discussions with the sponsor.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We adopted two policies: one, the 17th Amendment, and the other, the Federal Reserve Act, which dramatically
- We adopted two policies, one of 17th Amendment and the other one, the Federal Reserve Act, which dramatically
- The Federal Reserve Act dramatically changed the balance of power and our fiscal methods.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then heard House Concurrent Resolution 25, which would apply for an Article V convention limited to proposing a balanced budget amendment, with a seven-year sunset on Idaho’s application. Senator Doug Ricks presented the resolution and argued that the federal debt is unsustainable and that the states should use Article V pressure to force Congress to act. Supporters, including Lauren Enz and several members of the public, said the national debt is a crisis, Congress has failed to control spending, and a balanced budget amendment is needed to protect future generations. They argued the resolution is limited, that ratification would still require 38 states, and that Idaho should join other states already on record.
Opponents warned that an Article V convention could not be safely limited and could lead to a runaway convention or unintended constitutional changes. Testimony from Republican Party representatives and other citizens emphasized that Congress would control the process, that Article V lacks clear enforcement mechanisms, and that Idaho should not risk the Constitution when the state and federal governments already rely heavily on federal funds. Several speakers also argued that the real problem is failure to follow the existing Constitution, not a need for a new amendment process. A few speakers said they supported the goal of fiscal restraint but opposed the convention method because of uncertainty and risk.
After public testimony, Senator Ricks closed by saying Congress has repeatedly failed to balance the budget and that Idaho should help apply pressure through Article V. Senator Foreman moved HCR 25 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, and Senator Ricks seconded. Following discussion, the committee voted by roll call; the motion failed 5-4, and HCR 25 was held in committee.