Video & Transcript : 'accountability courts' :

Page 25 of 500
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Jan 27th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Early Learning & K-12 Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And just thinking as we're thinking about the required training and such, would that take into account
  • So we would have to contract that out to outside counsel or perhaps to some sort of forensic accounting
  • As you heard, this bill strengthens transparency and accountability in Washington's special education
  • As you heard, this bill strengthens transparency and accountability in Washington's special education
  • This bill provides needed transparency and accountability for both school districts and OSPI by creating
Bills: SB6130 , SB6247 , SB6260 , SB6268 , SB6278
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 15th, 2025 at 10:04 am

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can trust my account. I am one of them. Yes, ma'am.
  • Similar bills have already been struck by the courts.
  • We believe in accountability.
  • There's no separate bank account.
  • There's no separate bank account.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to technology, construction, economic development, and consumer protection. HB 3862 would restrict minors’ access to certain social media apps and limit smartphone use in classrooms; supporters, including Champions for Childhood, argued that smartphones and social media contribute to addiction, distraction, depression, self-harm, and trafficking risks, and the bill was left pending. HB 3712 would change Texas retainage rules so owners could not withhold payment on specially fabricated construction materials once they are delivered, approved, and warranted; subcontractors and suppliers said current retainage practices delay payment for years and create financial risk, and the bill was left pending. HB 2963, the right-to-repair bill, would require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information for independent repair of digital devices, with exemptions for medical devices, vehicles under existing agreements, and trade-secret protections; consumer, environmental, business, and repair advocates supported it, while Safelite asked that automotive manufacturers not be excluded from the bill, and it was left pending. HB 4308 would create county industrial development districts to attract major employers and finance infrastructure through local elections and bonds; Fort Bend County supported it as a tool to add jobs and broaden the tax base, and it was left pending. The committee also heard HB 3344, which would create a licensing system for re-roofing contractors, require insurance and bonding, and establish a public database and complaint process. Supporters said it would help curb storm chasers and protect homeowners after storms, while opponents argued it would add burdens on legitimate small roofers, duplicate existing fraud laws, and potentially restrict consumer choice and contractor pricing flexibility. After extensive testimony and questions, the bill was left pending. HB 4196 would create a task force on modernizing manufacturing through digital integration and automation; Schneider Electric and the Texas Workforce Commission supported it as a way to improve competitiveness and create skilled jobs, and it was left pending. HB 3874 would require contractors to receive copies of incorporated contract documents before signing if requested; subcontractors and construction attorneys said it would improve transparency and prevent parties from being bound by unseen terms, and it was left pending. In pending business, the committee voted out several bills. HB 74, creating the Port Verde Port Authority District, was reported favorably to the full House without amendment. HB 112, relating to a science park in certain counties, was reported favorably as substituted. HB 2214, on floodplain notice requirements for leased dwellings, HB 3016, on rental vehicle damage waivers, HB 3133, on explicit deepfake material on social media, HB 3173, on workforce development program planning and evaluation, HB 3807, on child care waiting list priority for children of certain child care workers, HB 463, on unilateral memoranda of contract for residential property, HB 4115, on shareholder proposals to certain domestic corporations, and HB 5008, on use of the Skills Development Fund by certain entities, were all reported favorably, most without amendment and some as substituted. HB 2652, creating a certified caregiver pilot program in the Borderplex workforce area, was also reported favorably and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 9th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Every Texan looks at this as an accountability mechanism for taxpayers.
  • This is really about making sure that taxpayers have accountability over our projects and that Texas'
  • that projects under project labor agreements can be more cost-effective because there is more accountability
  • you to consider the real impact this bill would have on Texans like me and on the quality and accountability
  • The accountability and organization that the PLAs provide are vital. for protecting taxpayers from cost
Committee: House State Affairs
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 9th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • , and to get costs under control in the courts.
  • HB 2715 ensures that elected officials are held accountable for... up to holding their constitutional
  • It also takes into account the economic impact on rural communities, such as declining land values.
  • Supreme Court muster, and I would love to see it give us more independence here in Texas.
  • So, I feel confident this would survive a court challenge. If there are no questions, I close.
Committee: House State Affairs
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Higher Education Apr 8th, 2025

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I round that up to 85, being the good accountant I am.
Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Apr 8th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's a fiscal note, that is accounted for in the budget, there is a rider for that.
  • the TELPAS program was so frustrating to her as a sixth grade reading teacher. because she was accountable
  • Instead, what is needed is school-specific data to provide transparency. accountability.
  • urge the Commission to consider and implement such measures to provide real transparency and accountability
  • I think On the contraceptive pamphlets and issues, I think there's a case in court right now. No?
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Apr 8th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • critical support services, HB 1368 empowers them to make informed decisions and seek necessary accountability
  • That's right. given the buying power of the customer this is these are not accounts or customers they
  • on will file lawsuits to allege that it's causing a harm. that end up, once they get to the Supreme Court
  • representative. of the substitute, I want to point out, it does give them an extra year, so it takes into account
  • And it holds the district accountable by clawing back some of the funds if the interventions and tutoring
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Higher Education Apr 8th, 2025

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill also includes clear accountability a preliminary report on the study and pilot is due to the
  • And that's where we account for any sort of overs or unders.
  • Students share this information through through their MyTexasFuture accounts and can receive a list of
  • Students will know that there is an option for them to create a profile and account.
  • You know, I would actually defer to the court.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/20/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's important provisions in there in light of what happened in the courts yesterday with Feeding
  • Representative Rarick and I sit on the Fraud Prevention and State Government Accountability Committee
  • </c> state government uh accountability state government uh accountability committee<00:32:34.399><c>
  • act uh from from the accountability act uh from from the federal<00:44:14.440><c> government</c><00:
  • To make sure that we are being accountable and transparent, we're actually bringing this bill forward
Bills: HF1379 , HF1596 , HF2260 , HF1429
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 13th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • It puts $250 into all qualified Oklahoma children's accounts. Move to adopt.
  • Does this bill have a provision for philanthropic or corporate additions to these accounts, if you know
  • House Bill 4034 is a piece of legislation that increases the pay of court reporters.
  • It was one of the top three things at the Supreme Court and the court as a collective agency, as one
  • for their court reporters.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget 3rd Revised Apr 13th, 2026 at 04:30 pm

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • the Trump accounts, where the federal government is going to be putting $1,000 into an account for everybody
  • And being in this call, the Trump account, I'm not.
  • to a new savings account.
  • and CIO our pension funds and other accounts like that.
  • Are these interest-bearing accounts, or will this be an interest-bearing account?
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 13th, 2026

Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • It puts $250 into all qualified Oklahoma children's accounts. Move to adopt. Yield for questions.
  • Does this bill have a provision for philanthropic or corporate additions to these accounts, if you know
  • House Bill 4034 is a piece of legislation that increases the pay of court reporters.
  • It was one of the top three things at the Supreme Court and the court as a collective agency, as one
  • to talk for their court reporters.
Summary: The Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget met to consider a long agenda of appropriations, retirement COLAs, revolving funds, and limits bills. Early actions included Senate Bill 1144 and Senate Bill 1145, which provided cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers and OPRS retirees, respectively, and Senate Bill 1146, 1147, 1148, and 1149, which extended similar retirement benefit increases or a one-time stipend for law enforcement, firefighters, judges, and certain retired police and firefighters. The committee also advanced bills funding the Pardon and Parole Board, OSBI cybercrimes and fraud work, juvenile medication, and several agency limits bills for Health Care Authority, Health Department, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and DHS. Members also heard and passed a series of education, public safety, and economic development measures, including funding for school security at the School for Science and Math and the Schools for the Blind and Deaf, support for National Board certified teachers, and appropriations for the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Decennial Census Revolving Fund, Task Force One, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation forensic center. Several bills created or expanded revolving funds and financing tools, including military readiness and aviation funds, a taxpayer endowment trust fund, water infrastructure loan and REAP-related measures, and a revised non-coal mining fee structure. The committee also approved a bill increasing court reporter pay and another reducing employer contributions to the retirement system after it reached over 100% funding. There was notable discussion on a $5 million film-related pilot program for sitcom production, with questions about the amount and certification requirements, and on a rural economic development package that included money for the state fairgrounds and a university energy plant, which drew objections over whether those projects fit the intended purpose of rural prep funds. Other debated items included a bill directing funds to the Oklahoma Dream Act/Trump accounts, a bill rejecting judicial pay increases recommended by the Board of Judicial Compensation, and a proposal to move $200 million from the stabilization fund into a new Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund. Most measures were reported out with due pass votes, though several drew dissenting votes, including the film bill, the fairgrounds/economic development bill, the water projects bill, and the trust fund and judicial pay measures. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Mar 18th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Balancing your bank accounts. bank account, personal financial responsibility, but you can't be. responsible
  • courts.
  • local court.
  • as opposed to federal court.
  • There's already a federal court process that is established under Supreme Court precedent to sort of
Bills: HB6 , HB27 , HB 123 , HB210 , HB213 , HB222 , HB610 , HB 1085 , HB1481 , HB6 , HB27 , HB123 , HB210 , HB213 , HB222
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • We heard the Supreme Court loud and clear, and the Supreme Court told this legislative body in the senate
  • Also, let's talk about these accounts. These accounts.
  • If there is an issue, the Supreme Court is going to ask a question.
  • So, if a court, if this goes to court if somebody sues for damages, and the jury agrees with them, then
  • The state's supreme court runs it, and so it's honestly...
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Yes, members, House Bill 3453 Says that if a condemnation for an imminent domain goes to court, the burden
  • They have to understand the whole court system.
  • how to come and present, or they have to pay somebody a large Amount of money to represent them in court
  • Like they've always done, run over the landowner, put in the project, and say we'll settle it in court
  • Part of the bills that we've run, in addition to this, this accounts for the meandering center line of
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Probably, so that's why there's an accountability metric.
  • And so, by having the teeth in this bill, the accountability, the high standards in the bill in the third
  • course of the past decade, we have school districts where their kids are going three years less of the court
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • of proof that... ...eminent domain goes to court, the burden of proof that the project is a public use
  • If there isn't an agreement that they're able to come to, then it would go to court.
  • They have to understand the whole court system.
  • how to come and present, or they have to pay somebody a large amount of money to represent them in court
  • like they've always done, run over the landowner, put in the project, and say, we'll settle it in court
Summary: The House began with a quorum call and several introductions, including Wagner Student Council, Heartland Homeschool educators, Northwest Technology Center leadership students, Leadership Oklahoma Class 37, and guests from domestic violence and sexual assault service providers. The chamber then took up House Bill 3131 on homeless shelter standards. The bill, as amended, would set baseline health, safety, sanitation, incident reporting, and fiscal transparency standards for shelters receiving state-administered federal funds, with a limited board to help write rules and local officials notified of issues. Supporters said it was aimed mainly at smaller communities lacking resources, while opponents argued it added state oversight without collaboration or funding and could burden nonprofits and faith-based shelters. The bill passed 65-31. Members then passed several other measures: House Bill 3015 authorizing Service Oklahoma to issue and manage electronic credentials; House Bill 3472 on environment and natural resources; House Bill 3453 on eminent domain, shifting the burden of proof in court to the condemning authority while carving out utilities and oil and gas; House Bill 1638 expanding the Governmental Tort Claims Act definition of public trust to include trusts overseeing county jail facilities; House Bill 4128 on Game and Fish, adjusting bear hunting rules in selected eastern counties; and House Bill 4126 limiting liability for motocross and similar recreational tracks. House Bill 2710 created a 15-member committee to review future statewide radio system needs, and House Bill 2696, an open records bill for school district security and cybersecurity information, was amended and passed. House Bill 3552, giving child care providers flexibility to bridge subsidy reimbursement and tuition rates, also passed, though its emergency clause failed. Later, House Bill 3031 was amended to create a workforce development fund in the Department of Commerce and passed, but its emergency clause failed. House Bill 3544 was narrowed to regulate social AI companions and protect minors from harmful interactions, and passed unanimously. House Bill 3521 modernized money transmission law, updated fees, and added rules for digital asset kiosks. House Bill 4488 established a standardized appraisal process for first-party motor vehicle damage disputes under insurance law. House Bill 1746 allowed juvenile detention facilities for high-risk youth to adopt safety plans. Finally, House Joint Resolution 1069 updated constitutional county boundary language and county-seat references, including adding Cotton County to the Constitution and making other boundary cleanup changes; it passed 74-14. The House then recessed.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • We heard the Supreme Court loud and clear, and the Supreme Court told this legislative body in the Senate
  • Also, let's talk about these accounts. These accounts... ...people of Oklahoma.
  • Also, let's talk about these accounts. These accounts...
  • If there is an issue, the Supreme Court is going to ask a question.
  • So if a court, if this goes to court, if somebody sues for damages and the jury agrees with them, then
Summary: The House considered and passed a series of bills focused on public finance, securities, pharmacy regulation, criminal penalties, energy, housing associations, and Medicaid. Early votes included House Bill 4428, which requires public retirement systems to base proxy voting and related engagement on fiduciary, pecuniary factors, and House Bill 4429, which adds disclosure requirements for proxy advisors and excludes charitable organizations from the definition; both passed. House Bill 1170, also dealing with public finance and aligning definitions with the earlier retirement-system bill, passed the House, but its emergency clause failed. The chamber also adopted a motion to suspend House Rule 4.4J to allow food on the floor for the rest of the legislative day. Members then passed House Bill 3538, a negotiated pharmacy benefits manager measure that establishes a mandatory minimum dispensing fee for pharmacies and was described as intended to help independent pharmacies; it passed unanimously. House Bill 4124, allowing pharmacies to sell human ivermectin over the counter, also passed after extended debate. House Bill 3904, which changes Oklahoma Medicaid maternity payments to separate prenatal, delivery, and postpartum reimbursements, passed with broad support. House Bill 4106, lowering the felony threshold for repeated petty larceny from $1,000 to $900 and tying it to multiple offenses within 180 days, passed after amendment. The House also approved House Bill 2999, which would prohibit requiring public officials to sign nondisclosure agreements under certain conditions, and House Bill 3982, addressing temporary tags for new and used dealerships and commercial vehicles. House Bill 3464, an energy bill adding landowner protections, notice, decommissioning, and permitting reforms for wind, solar, and battery storage facilities, passed unanimously and its emergency clause also passed. House Bill 2588, requiring HOA board members to own property and physically reside in the association, passed as well. A major debate centered on House Joint Resolution 1077, a constitutional amendment to restructure how tobacco settlement funds are used: it would move TSET legacy functions to the Health Department, direct more funding toward Oklahoma’s Promise/OLAP and related education opportunities, and preserve the corpus while redirecting distributions. Supporters framed it as a long-term investment in education and workforce opportunities; opponents argued it would undermine public health funding and repurpose a voter-created trust. The resolution passed the House, and the special-election referral required for the constitutional amendment also received the necessary two-thirds vote. Later, House Bill 4440, which would move Medicaid expansion from the Constitution into statute and separate expansion from traditional Medicaid, also passed after substantial debate over health care access, provider rates, and the role of voters. Finally, House Bill 3462 on plumbing licensing was laid over after amendments were discussed, including changes to apprenticeship and out-of-state reciprocity.