Video & Transcript Research : 'firefighter'

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 7th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • science-backed policies, to bolster mitigation efforts, assist affected communities, support our firefighters
  • creating and maintaining defensible space, reducing hazardous vegetation, and hardening homes improve firefighters
  • He also served as a firefighter. He also served as a firefighter paramedic with the L.A.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then took up Assembly Bill 108, a budget bill providing a one-time $25 million grant program through HCAI for hospitals in immediate financial distress, along with a technical fix for the property tax postponement program. Senators Laird and Jones spoke in support, and the bill passed 36-0 with immediate transmittal. The Senate also adopted several resolutions by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, including SCR 162 recognizing CASA Appreciation Day, SCR 165 designating California Wildfire Preparedness Week, SCR 84 proclaiming California Rail Month, SCR 153 for the National Day of Prayer, SCR 167 recognizing Mother’s Day, and SR 106 memorializing Black April Month. Floor remarks highlighted the work of CASA volunteers, wildfire preparedness and local fire mitigation efforts, the importance of rail to California’s transportation and climate goals, the role of faith and prayer, the contributions of mothers, and the history and sacrifices of Vietnamese refugees and Vietnamese American communities. Most of these measures passed on unanimous roll calls; SCR 153 passed 31-1. The Senate also passed SB 1175, which requires lobbyists to file registration changes directly with the Secretary of State to improve transparency and reduce delays; SB 949, designating the Santa Cruz Mountains as a landscape of statewide significance; SB 1038, strengthening CalPERS audit notification for unions; and SB 965, easing library card access for 16- and 17-year-olds by prohibiting a parent’s physical presence requirement. All of these bills passed on roll calls with no opposition. The consent calendar was then approved, committee announcements were made, and the session ended with an adjournment in memory of Dan Hughes, a former public safety officer and local parks district member.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Mar 17th, 2026

Healthcare

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, this bill actually was brought to me by the firefighters association.
  • It is permissive legislation that allows a municipality to adopt a firefighters bill of rights.
  • Permissive legislation that allows a municipality to adopt a firefighters bill of rights.
  • I'd love to set some time up to talk with you about it, along with the lobbyists from the firefighters
Bills: SB367, SB368, SB350, SB351
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Insurance - Room 210, 26 February, 2026; 9:00 A.M.

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And what this bill does extends the repealer on volunteer firefighters award program created by the Department
  • does extends the repealer<00:04:43.919> on<00:04:44.080> volunteer<00:04:44.560> firefighters
  • <00:04:45.200> award repealer on volunteer firefighters award repealer on volunteer firefighters
Summary: The committee considered several House bills, most of them already passed by the Senate or previously vetted in other committees. House Bill 1075 would expand access for low-income housing authorities and related entities to participate in insurance pooling arrangements, with the sponsor explaining it would help lower insurance costs as housing funding structures shift toward public-private partnerships. House Bill 565, renamed “Jill’s Law,” would advance biomarker testing and related Medicaid/prior authorization conforming changes; House Bill 856 would remove a repealer from the state’s anti-step-therapy law after hearings found the cost impact negligible; and House Bill 939 would extend the repealer on the volunteer firefighters’ Length of Service Award Program, which was described as needing ongoing funding to retain and recruit volunteers. The committee also heard House Bill 1019, which would expand health coverage options for small businesses, professionals, and self-employed people through access to regulated trade association self-funded group health plans. House Bill 1117 would create a transparency requirement for dental insurance by reporting premium-to-services information to the insurance commissioner and making it available in a portal; the sponsor said the Dental Association supports it. House Bill 1332 would require insurance examinations to meet National Association of Insurance Commissioners standards and best practices, and a member said he would vote present but the bill was said not to affect existing continuing education rules. Finally, House Bill 1713 would codify Mississippi Military Department authority to oversee state-sponsored life insurance for National Guard members, with the Adjutant General designated as state sponsor; it was described as voluntary, already operating since 1962, and without a fiscal note because it is paid for by guardsmen. Each bill received a motion to do pass or title sufficient to pass, was approved without opposition or with only a present vote noted on one bill, and the committee then voted to rise and report.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Retirement and Government Resources Feb 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Retirement and Government Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then I believe firefighters, I may be fixing to get in real trouble here, but I believe there's 76
  • And then on the firefighter fund and then teachers are just are hit 80%.
  • I also disagree in the fact that we keep on some of these funds, firefighter fund for example, if We
  • wait until that firefighter fund is sending in 100%, we're gonna be waiting 2025 years.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/28/2026 - Senate Public Safety

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • 1, 2027, on traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and for peace officers and firefighters
  • Firefighting and police work has always been difficult; it's getting more difficult.
  • When firefighters and police officers need treatment because they've witnessed a traumatic event, if
  • So it's good for the firefighters and the police officers; it's good for the employers.
Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and approved several bills, beginning with SB 1107, which creates an alternative Arizona peace officer certification pathway for honorably discharged veterans who served as military police. The sponsor and a former military police officer testified that the bill would recognize existing training while still requiring Arizona-specific training, certification testing, background checks, and fitness standards. The committee adopted a clarifying amendment limiting the pathway to military police veterans and then passed the bill 7-0. The committee then passed SB 1308, which creates a Foreign Adversary Fraud Office in the Attorney General’s Office and related funds to pursue consumer fraud claims involving technology from foreign adversaries and to help replace such technology in critical infrastructure. Supporters argued the bill would address both consumer fraud and national security risks tied to foreign-made technology in utilities, communications, and other infrastructure. The bill was approved 7-0. The committee also passed SB 1020, creating an Arizona Space Commission specialty license plate to support the commission’s work; supporters said it would raise voluntary revenue and promote Arizona’s growing space industry. That bill also passed 7-0. SB 1160 was approved after amendment. The bill restricts drones near ticketed entertainment events, and the amendment expanded the restricted area from 400 feet to 5,280 feet. The sponsor, along with representatives from NASCAR and Live Nation, said the measure would close a public safety gap and protect large crowds from unauthorized drones. The committee passed the bill as amended 7-0. SB 1117 was also approved 7-0; it appropriates funds to DPS crime lab services for processing evidence from counties with populations under one million, with the sponsor saying it would help rural counties handle DNA and other evidence backlogs. Finally, the committee passed SB 1216, which removes the sunset on traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and expands eligibility to include crime scene and digital forensic technicians. Testimony from the Arizona Police Association supported making the counseling program permanent and extending it to additional employees exposed to traumatic material. The bill passed 7-0, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
  • Bud McMillan led his team members, including Lieutenant Drew Finley, Engineer Corbyn Thompson, Firefighter
  • Jeremiah Jones, and farmer firefighter Chris Brocklebank, in responding to historic flooding, pulling
  • victims out of vehicles, and saving the life of a fellow firefighter who had been pinned against a tree
  • Firefighter who had been pinned against a tree after being swept off the road.
Keywords: 959, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Land & Resource Management Apr 17th, 2025

Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • Of course, as firefighters, we're always going to respond no matter what the district it is.
  • We show you're registered as Trevor Stokes on behalf of yourself and the Texas Association of Firefighters
  • OK, go ahead, Trevor Stokes, Texas State Association of Firefighters.
  • As an ESD firefighter for 25 years, I've lived in the shadow of annexation.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, January 15, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • or a teacher by the way in firefighter or a teacher by the way in kelpers<00:37:28.160> they<
  • I want to maximize return for that firefighter, that teacher, that police officer.
  • Be Noli leapt firefighter Harper and Mr.
  • Lieutenant Urers and retired firefighter Lieutenant Urers and retired firefighter Harper,<02:06:
  • <02:07:00.960> Mark Urers, retired Akran Firefighter Mark Urers, retired Akran Firefighter
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/01/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2641, in the next section 36-1696, A.R.S., relating to firefighting foam.
  • I'd also like to thank the firefighters for working on this and for also taking the initiative above
  • and beyond to make sure that their firefighters are safe.
  • We now know that using foam is laden with chemicals that has higher rates of cancer for firefighters
  • So just thank you to everyone that helped partner this to make this a reality for firefighters in our
Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, guest introductions, and routine communications from the governor and Senate. Members then moved into multiple Committee of the Whole sessions to consider a large number of Senate bills and later House bills on final reading. Several measures were retained on the calendar, while many others advanced with or without amendments. The House also adopted a group concurrence motion on numerous Senate amendments to House bills and later took up third-reading votes on a series of House bills. Among the main committee actions, SB 1049, SB 1315, SB 1401, SB 1418, and SB 1540 were amended and recommended do pass; SB 1332 and SB 1538 also advanced, while SB 1016, SB 1519, SB 1624, SB 1627, SB 1723, and SB 1725 were retained. Debate centered on school safety and interoperability equipment in SB 1315, housing and zoning issues in SB 1118, and school discipline/bullying transparency in SB 1684. Members also discussed SB 1074 on student discipline notifications, SB 1275 on diversion program wording, and SB 1684 on bullying reporting and school liability, with supporters emphasizing safety, accountability, and clarity and opponents warning about unfunded mandates, litigation, and impacts on public schools. On final reading, the House passed a long list of bills, including HB 2032, HB 2035, HB 2109, HB 2120, HB 2176, HB 2189, HB 2195, HB 2203, HB 2342, HB 2383, HB 2423, HB 2428, HB 2439, HB 2440, HB 2573, HB 2594, HB 2621, HB 2641, HB 2673, HB 2693, HB 2752, HB 2756, HB 2875, HB 2895, HB 2916, HB 2923, HB 2946, and HB 2999, with recorded votes ranging from narrow to unanimous. HB 1118, dealing with municipal zoning and historic properties, failed on the floor after debate over housing policy and charter/public school issues, though a motion to reconsider was later made. The session ended with personal announcements, including recognition of Child Help, a memorial reading for Major General W. Bill Van Dyke, caucus meeting notices, a retirement reception reminder, an anniversary acknowledgment, and a Pride Month statement.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education May 14th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 48 is a scholarship for any fallen firefighter or police officer in the state of Louisiana
  • Chad Major represents professional firefighters.
  • The state started out paying $100,000, and the children and our spouse of the fallen firefighter or police
  • Jason Turner, firefighters in favor of not wishing to speak.
  • Professional firefighters. Corey Sharp, Representative, and Cynthia Posey.
Keywords: 974, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill is going to help our retired police officers and firefighters who are. and their families.
  • agreed upon by all impacted stakeholders: the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters
  • relating to. the Administration of Contributions to and Benefits under Retirement Systems for Firefighters
  • This is the Austin Firefighter Retirement Fund Pension, a bill that's been agreed to by the parties.
  • on the voluntary funding soundness restoration plan agreed to by both the city and the Austin Firefighters
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 15, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • We've got financial services, which is what you would think of in a CFO office, and we've also got firefighter
  • We've got financial services is what you would think of a CFO, and we've also got firefighter support
  • and criminal investment. financial services is what you would think of a CFO, and we've also got firefighter
  • and auto liability, property insurance, civil rights insurance, PTSD for first responders, and firefighter
  • The final area is criminal investigations and firefighter support.
Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 67 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2260, relative to firefighter residency.
  • An act relative to firefighter residency, House Bill 2260.
  • An act relative to firefighter residency, House number 2260.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and first took up a Rules Committee report recommending adoption of a resolution honoring the 200th anniversary of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Bedford. The House suspended the rules and adopted the resolution. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee then reported a series of local bills for consideration, including measures on legal notices, charter changes for Chicopee, Bridgewater, Wellesley, Weston, Somerville, and Watertown, as well as bills on firefighter residency, a checkout bag fee in Sudbury, senior tax exemption eligibility in Williamstown, and liquor licenses in Lexington. The House suspended Rule 7A, gave the bills second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The House also considered a Ways and Means report on H. 4257, financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. The committee recommended an amendment in the form of a substitute bill, H. 4307, authorizing $1.185 billion in general obligation bonds. After suspension of the rules, the House adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to a third reading. Later, during floor debate on H. 4307, members spoke in support of the bill as a major transportation funding package, emphasizing Chapter 90 aid, road mileage-based distribution, culvert and small bridge repairs, congestion relief projects, and the bill’s fiscal and credit-rating benefits. A roll call was ordered, and the bill passed to be engrossed 156-0. The House also passed to be engrossed a bill validating the results of a special election in Hardwick. In addition, the House adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and agreed to adjourn in memory of former Representative and Senator Matthew C. Patrick of Falmouth. The session included several guest introductions, including Mandela Fellows studying at Bridgewater State University, former legislator Vincent Dimacido, Bellingham Council on Aging guests, and interns in Representative Linsky’s office.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 3rd, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I represent the State Firefighters and Fire Marshals Association of Texas.
  • We represent... 17,000 volunteer firefighters, and looking at this committee, we appreciate all of y'all's
  • up in the Panhandle while all of that was taking place, the most encouraging thing was to see firefighters
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Transportation Apr 24th, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the proud president of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association.
  • Over the past three years, Houston firefighters have responded to more than 8,200 emergencies on the
  • So I have an incredible amount of respect for my brother, whether police officers or firefighters.
  • That comes down to approximately 54,778 firefighters on the toll roads responding.
  • That's what our firefighters deal with every day. Every day.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Policy Mar 2nd, 2026

Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • bill say 59% of, say, school bus drivers isn't enough, but 51% of your police officers or your firefighters
  • Would that only apply to teachers, nurses, and doctors, or does it apply to police officers or firefighters
  • I'm a retired Polk County firefighter, and I'm a proud voting Republican.
  • . ...and are injured at work at far higher rates than police or firefighters.
  • Teachers, firefighters, they can't purchase a home.
Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • the agency worked with stakeholders on a year-long project studying governance issues of local firefighter
  • And on occasion, we had issues or concerns by firefighters or whatever about their pension plans.
  • TESSRS volunteer firefighters were the first to battle the Texas Panhandle fires.
  • Benefits for volunteer firefighters.
  • TESSRS provides a mechanism for communities to support their volunteers, part-paid firefighters, and
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select Aug 5th, 2025

Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select

Transcript Highlights:
  • but, uh, any additional hours that they have to take, or would they be exempt if they're already firefighters
  • Like you, I spent 21 years as a firefighter and still had to learn how to be an emergency manager.
  • So if, uh, let's say for example, we have a fire academy, which I'm a, I have a, my master, uh, firefighter
  • But, um, and, and to your point, sir, it, it capitalizes on things we're already doing for firefighting
  • It's just like with the Tithmas firefighters that we bring in, we can put up to 6000 firefighters that
Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jun 25th, 2025

Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • 2025-26 and $78 million General Fund in 2026-27 and ongoing to begin transitioning a portion of Firefighter
  • To hand crews within the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to a permanent firefighter employment
  • Transitioning a portion of seasonal firefighter positions within the Department of Forestry and Fire
  • to hand crews and expresses the legislature's intent to transition the remainder of the seasonal firefighter
  • I am very pleased to see that the right grants and the funding for incarcerated firefighters made it
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 27th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, we were able to add 40 firefighters and support personnel and make 17 major equipment purchases and
  • We want to increase our pay levels again and the quality of life for our firefighters or and conservationists
  • Always good seeing you and, you know, being a fellow firefighter and a paramedic, uh, gone through many
  • You know, the training that you provide, uh, I, uh, firefighters is probably the most obvious because
  • Not only saves lives of citizens but saves lives of those firefighters and uh you spread that across