Video & Transcript : 'nonpotable water' :
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NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (03/10/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, so it's not for water, just for electricity.
- It's for getting water via electricity, but it's not for water service.
- </c><00:21:10.919><c> Company's</c> reviewing let's say the Water Company's reviewing let's say the Water
- </c><00:21:33.360><c> just</c> system okay so it's not for water just system okay so it's not for water
- via electricity but it's it's not water via electricity but it's it's not for<00:21:38.279><c> water
Committee:
House Science, Technology and Energy
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jul 2nd, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Third reading of the bill, Senate No. 2505, an act relative to the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water
- Third reading, an act relative to the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water District, Senate No. 2505.
Summary:
The Senate took up several bills and conference matters, including a bill on the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water District, which was amended by substitute draft Senate No. 3160 and then passed to be engrossed. The Senate also handled House Bill 464 on enhancing child welfare protection, where the House had rejected the Senate amendment and appointed a conference committee; the Senate voted to insist on its amendment and appointed Senators Comerford, Kennedy, and O’Connor as conferees.
The chamber concurred in House amendments to Senate No. 2967, concerning ownership and maintenance of the Town Line Brook and Linden Brook culverts and dam, and to House Bill 4359, which authorizes the town of Milford to expand an alcohol license from wine and malt beverages to all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to the appropriate committees.
The Committee on Rules reported and the Senate adopted orders extending the Education Committee’s reporting deadline on two matters: Senate No. 2934, relating to expanding access to family-friendly and neighborhood child care administered by the Department of Early Education, and Senate No. 2769, relating to education matters more generally. The Senate also adopted an order setting up future consideration of Senate No. 30, a bill protecting children from addictive social media feeds, with a new draft from Ways and Means, Senate No. 3164. The session adjourned in memory of Doe Kwong M. of Dorchester, after a moment of silence.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The House bill, relative to employees of the Dedham Westwood Water District, House No. 2917, comes from
- reading of a bill, an act further regulating creditable service for two employees of the Dedham Westwood Water
Summary:
The Senate took up several bills on final passage and third reading, including measures on retirement benefits for a former Attleboro firefighter, maintenance of private roads in Gloucester, expanding a board of health from three to five members, and amendments to the Middleton charter. These bills were passed to be enacted. The Senate also adopted a series of congratulatory resolutions honoring Eagle Scouts Jack Goodwin, Charles Goodman, Liam LaCroix, Milo James Angel Burke, Harrison Aver, and Keziah Jane Reed.
The chamber then advanced a number of local and special legislation items, including a bill allowing Somerset to prohibit water fluoridation, a Fairhaven charter bill amended on the floor, a Boston easements/land takings measure, a Lancaster bill dissolving its animal control commission, an Orange annual town meeting bill, and a Dedham-Westwood Water District creditable service bill. Several committee reports were taken up under suspension of the rules, including orders extending committee reporting deadlines for Labor and Workforce Development and Transportation, and sick leave bank bills for Greg Pinkerton and Stephanie Rivera were ordered to a third reading.
The Senate also considered a Ways and Means report on House No. 5316, a bill promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment, with a new text amendment based on Senate Document No. 3072. An order was adopted setting the bill for second reading on May 7, 2026, with amendment filing deadlines and procedures specified. The Senate adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Dorothy Bonfanti and then adjourned to meet again on Monday at 11:00 a.m.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 99 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- House No. 4009, an act authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer services
- House No. 4009, an act authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer services
Summary:
The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural and legislative matters. Members adopted an order extending the reporting deadline for the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee on House Document 4654, and later suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a petition by Frank A. Moran for a commission studying topical steroid addiction and topical steroid syndrome to go to the Public Health Committee. The House also approved scheduling and advancing a local bill designating the tennis courts in Wether Park, Roslindale, as the Kim O’Connell Tennis Courts.
The chamber considered a Senate amendment to House No. 4615, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, but voted not to concur and instead appointed a conference committee. The House also moved several bills through second and third reading, including measures on child safety, loading light vehicles from car carriers on public ways, increasing penalties for passing stopped school buses, the retirement of Walter L. Gurn of Attleboro, and the Marlborough Ward 7 counselor office. Senate No. 2563, relating to individuals with disabilities, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
On final action, the House adopted the emergency preamble and passed House No. 4009, authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer service to a parcel in Sharon, and passed House No. 3901, exempting the assistant fire chief position in Natick from civil service. It also engrossed House No. 3897, authorizing Quincy to extend a lease with Quarry Hills Associates, and House No. 4381, regulating the term of the Norwood town moderator. The House then adopted an order to adjourn until Wednesday at 11 a.m. and stood adjourned.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/10/2026 - House Democratic Caucus Calendar #22
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate amendment also exempts outlined modifications to certain public water system infrastructure
- The Senate amendment also exempts outlined modifications to certain public water system infrastructure
Summary:
The caucus reviewed several House and Senate measures, mostly in concurrence form. HB 2611, which clarifies and expands children’s rights in foster care and kinship care, was presented with a Senate amendment requiring quarterly reports on random employee drug screening results at group homes to the Health and Human Services committee chairs; the sponsor intended to concur. HB 2048, on access to non-opioid prescription drug controls, would bar more restrictive utilization controls such as prior authorization or step therapy for clinically appropriate non-opioid pain medications approved by the FDA, with a repeal date of August 31, 2028; the sponsor intended to concur, though one member raised concerns about opioid addiction in tribal communities and asked about stronger warnings and Indian Health Service involvement.
HB 2404, changing inter-facility transport procedures, returned from the Senate with only a delayed effective date change, and concurrence was expected. SB 1630, a Senate bill, would create a home and community-based service program for adults who are seriously mentally ill; members noted there was no opposition, but also that the bill appears to have a cost and no appropriation. HB 2950, creating tourism improvement districts, was amended in the Senate to remove a lodging business assessment requirement for destination marketing organizations and allow local governing bodies to approve assessment rates; members confirmed it remained an opt-in/opt-out structure.
HB 2995, which rewrites Arizona’s domestic violence framework for legal decision-making and parenting time cases, was amended to make child and victim safety the highest priority, revise court findings and evidence standards, limit mutual domestic violence findings, and add an emergency clause; the sponsor recommended concurrence, though one member asked where the committee stood on the bill. HB 2265, concerning court fees and assessments, was amended to restore courts’ ability to adopt new fees, fines, and surcharges going forward; concurrence was recommended, but county supervisors remained opposed due to concerns about cost shifts. HB 2986, the annual ADEQ omnibus, was amended to merge the recycling fund into the solid waste fee fund and exempt certain public water system infrastructure modifications from plan review; concurrence was expected. The caucus also briefly noted the fiscal year 2027 budget bills, HB 4154 through HB 4169, before adjourning.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- So we also allowed the highway patrol language to allow them to pull over vehicles and added some water
- So we also allowed the highway patrol language to allow them to pull over vehicles and added some water
Committee:
House Commerce
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction - 02/25/2026
Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Transcript Highlights:
- in relation to requiring the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to make facility water
- are incarcerated and work in facilities, it's also important for the public because it's the same water
Committee:
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, chaired by Senator Salazar, met with Senators Harckham, Murray, and Bailey present, and considered 10 bills related to correctional policy, reentry, victim services, and public health in facilities. Measures discussed included educational access for incarcerated individuals, a phone call before transfer, expanded substance abuse programming for non-English speakers, commissary/canteen issues, a reentry pilot program, SNAP screening before release, discharge planning for wrongfully convicted individuals, public water testing transparency in correctional facilities, evidentiary standards in disciplinary hearings, and notification to victims about the address confidentiality program. The committee also corrected the record on one bill title during the meeting, clarifying that S. 1645 was actually a human trafficking assistance priority bill.
Members generally expressed support for the bills, with brief comments highlighting the importance of reentry services, public health, and victim protections. Senator Harckham spoke in support of the water testing bill, citing PFAS and other contaminants, and Senator Murray praised the address confidentiality program bill. Most bills were moved by motion and seconded without substantive debate.
All bills were reported out of committee, with several specifically reported to Finance. Senator Murray cast negative votes on some measures, while the rest were approved by the committee.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance Feb 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today, most granges obtain their water from a nearby city water association, but many of us still have
Summary:
House Finance held public hearings on two Senate bills. On Senate Bill 5252, staff explained that the bill would remove the one-acre limit on a property tax exemption for nonprofit public assembly halls, beginning with property taxes due in 2027. Staff said the fiscal impact would be minimal, with no loss to the state levy and only a small local property tax shift, though the Department of Revenue anticipates a one-time administrative cost. Senator Shoemaker and a grange representative testified in support, saying the change would help rural granges that serve as community gathering places and are facing rising costs and property tax burdens.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 5994, which would change how timber tax revenues are distributed to school districts. Staff said the bill would extend distributions to districts that had qualifying levies in either of the prior two years, even if they do not have such a levy in the current year, and that it would take effect immediately with no state revenue impact but an indeterminate effect on school district funding. A county assessor testified that he supported the policy but was concerned the immediate effective date would disrupt current levy distribution calculations and suggested a January 1, 2027 effective date instead. No votes were taken, and both hearings were closed before the committee adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/19/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- The speaker said he did not know whether water content really has any bearing on it, because the machine
- is supposed to dehydrate or freeze and then take the water out.
- </c> watermelon which has such a high water watermelon which has such a high water content<00:12:05.040
- in it so for example berries are water in it so for example berries are different<00:13:28.720><c> than
- That doesn't, in a sense, muddy the waters of what we already have currently.
Summary:
The committee first held a work session on HB 505, which would allow the sale of freeze-dried foods produced in homestead food operations. Members raised concerns about the bill’s broad language, especially the provision stating freeze-dried food would not be considered potentially hazardous. Several suggested narrowing the bill to specific products such as processed foods, berries, fruit, dairy products, ice cream, or vegetables, and requiring use of commercial freeze-drying equipment rather than dehydrators. There was also discussion of oxygen absorbers, moisture control, sanitation, and whether the issue should be handled in statute or rules. By the end of the discussion, members generally agreed the topic should be treated in a separate section of law rather than folded into the existing homestead food license, and the chair said the matter would be sent to the food safety subcommittee, with the possibility of a study committee if more time was needed.
The committee then moved to HB 277, a technical correction to the animal cruelty statutes. Representative Bixby explained that current law refers to a “colt,” which applies only to male baby horses, leaving fillies unaddressed; the bill would replace “colt” with “foal” and make related wording changes so the restriction applies to any horse under 90 days old not being nursed by its dam. The New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the change was requested to clarify and modernize the statute and that the issue had been identified during work on related animal cruelty legislation.
No votes were taken in the portion provided. The chair recessed the work session until 11:00 a.m. and announced that Representative Ktoa would take over the hearing on HB 277.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (01/29/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- ; you can be out of the water. ponds and rivers ponds and rivers and<00:25:29.799><c> these</c><00:25
- </c> in the water you can be out of the water in the water you can be out of the water the<00:26:36.720
- I’m honored that my two friends here, Representative Edwards and Senator Waters, are here.
- Thank you, Senator Waters. Welcome. I was just about to call you, so thank you.
- Senator David Waters from District 4: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 04/14/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- so that we aren't actually<00:08:56.360><c> muddying</c><00:08:56.680><c> the</c><00:08:56.760><c> waters
- </c> actually muddying the waters. actually muddying the waters.
- </c> a sewage treatment plant or a water a sewage treatment plant or a water treatment<00:20:06.800><
- treatment plant and to build a new water treatment plant and Senator<00:20:27.160><c> Klobuchar</c><
- treatment plant, that can be say a water treatment plant, that can be a<00:21:00.800><c> very</c><00
Committee:
Senate State and Local Government
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- I just want to make sure we're not watering down something. No, we are not watering down something.
- I just want to make sure we're not watering down something. No, we are not watering down something.
- I just want to make sure we're not watering down something. No, we are not watering down something.
- </c> Water Company, Sewage Disposal Water Company, Sewage Disposal Companies,<01:12:02.280><c> and</c
- </c> Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies,<01:
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 6, February 16, 2026-AM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- :24:32.880><c> use</c> House Bill 90, sponsored by Representative Stro, State Engineer Consumptive Water
- Use Study, an act relating to water.
- Speaker, your Committee Number Five, Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources, to whom
- was referred House Bill 90, State Engineer Consumptive Water Use Study, reports the report back to the
- </c> producing cleaner air or land or water producing cleaner air or land or water are<01:04:09.440><
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 2/12/25
Veterans and Military Affairs Division
Transcript Highlights:
- We had a response team that we sent up to the Boundary Waters when we had the tragedy of the canoers
- </c><00:20:40.960><c> uh</c><00:20:41.360><c> when</c> sent up to the Boundary Waters uh when sent up
- to the Boundary Waters uh when we<00:20:41.679><c> had</c><00:20:41.840><c> the</c><00:20:42.000><c>
- </c><00:31:31.639><c> and</c> you're standing on top of the water and you're standing on top of the water
- </c> closing the communities of Still Water closing the communities of Still Water Marshall He asked
Committee:
House Veterans and Military Affairs Division
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 38 Apr 9th, 2026
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In western Oklahoma, where water is scarce, as supportive as we are of Doc Newton's water bills, folks
- The reason we're so fiercely fighting for our water rights is obviously there's something special in
- He was talking about water, so I brought a group up here today that, well, we have plenty of water.
- Western Oklahoma is desperate for water.
- Western Oklahoma is desperate for water.
Keywords:
education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, tax credit, parental choice, private school, income tax, dental insurance, health care, medical necessity, insurance claims, dentist rights, military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, veteran burial
Summary:
The House convened, completed the roll call, received an invocation focused on grief and remembrance, and heard several special presentations recognizing a brave child, visiting groups, and multiple student-athlete teams and school groups in the galleries. The chamber also introduced the Doctor of the Day and Nurse of the Day. The main business was consideration of the Joint Committee report on Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriations bill, presented by Chairman Caldwell-Trey.
Most of the floor time was spent on extended questions about the budget’s major features. Caldwell-Trey explained the bill as a largely flat or modestly increased budget that includes a $200 million transfer to a new sovereign wealth fund, $225 million in set-asides, a $12.5 million “dream accounts” program for newborns, and funding tied to teacher pay, education, workforce, public safety, agriculture, and health agencies. Members questioned the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses, the reduction in state contributions to the OPRS pension system, Medicaid assumptions, emergency management funding, veterans’ services, child care, school counselors, and the lack of funding for some requested items such as National Board Certified Teacher stipends and veterans’ facility maintenance. Caldwell-Trey defended the budget as transparent, early, and designed to preserve cash reserves while supporting core services.
No final vote on the appropriations report is reflected in the transcript excerpt. The House also heard explanations that the limits bills would be run later in committee, and that the budget negotiations were still ongoing with the Senate and governor on some related items. The session ended with the queue closed after the budget questioning, and the transcript cuts off during additional remarks from Representative Timmons.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Finally, under certain circumstances, the bill requires rate parity for municipal water and wastewater
- Finally, under certain circumstances, the bill requires rate parity for municipal water and wastewater
- Committee substitute for House Bill 4081, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Eastpoint Water
- Committee substitute for House Bill 4095, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Headwaters Water
- Committee substitute for House Bill 4095, a bill to be entitled an act relating to the Headwaters Water
Summary:
The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, heard an opening prayer and pledge, and included a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a doctor of the day, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to special order business, with several bills temporarily postponed before taking up a series of measures on health care, public records, cybersecurity, court clerks, trademarks, septic permits, and elections.
The first major bill, CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, would require hospitals with emergency departments to adopt evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, train staff, designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator, complete the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment, and have AHCA publish scores and adopt minimum standards. Senator Harrell said the bill was intended to ensure emergency rooms are prepared for children, and it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, which protects victim identities and temporarily exempts the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim from disclosure, after questions about access for victims of police misconduct; it passed 33-4.
The chamber then approved CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, after adopting an amendment and an amendment to the amendment that kept the program within Florida Digital Service and extended the grant-award timeline; Harrell said it would help local governments defend against ransomware and hacking, and it passed 37-0. CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments that let clerks retain more excess revenue and adjusted related fee distributions, though Leader Berman warned it would shift revenue away from municipalities and law enforcement. CS/HB 679 on trademark registration and CS/HB 589 on septic system permits also passed unanimously after technical amendments, with the septic bill intended to reduce permit delays and clarify liability if construction begins before a permit is issued.
The most extensive debate came on the elections bill, CS/HB 991, which incorporated citizenship verification using Real ID data, changed candidate-qualifying rules, altered acceptable voter IDs, and added other election-related provisions. Multiple amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to preserve student and senior IDs for voting, exempt some seniors from citizenship-document requirements, rely on human review rather than automated systems, and delay implementation. Supporters argued the bill would improve election integrity and address non-citizen registration and voting, citing state reports and examples of prosecutions; opponents argued it would disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors, and create barriers based on access to documents. The amendment package was adopted, and debate on the underlying bill continued with questions about federal law, documentation, and whether voters could still participate if state verification failed.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:09:04.399><c> And</c> water services, and sewer services.
- And water services, and sewer services.
- , and then the tax expenditure for residential water services was enacted in 1979.
- and then the tax expenditures for water and then the tax expenditures for residential<00:15:43.839><
- water services was enacted residential water services was enacted in<00:15:46.399><c> 1979</c> in 1979
Committee:
Senate Taxes
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I think we all can agree water is.
- Representative, Madam Chair, I think we all can agree water is necessary and essential. Okay.
- Additionally, the energy drink was $3, the water was $0.50.
- I'm going to get my water back. I don't know.
- Madam Chair, for the sake of hydration, please give his water back. All right.
Committee:
House Health & Human Services
Keywords:
physician assistants, licensure compact, medical services, multistate practice, patient care access, healthcare workforce, military families, adverse actions, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, HB 2233, rural health transformation, rural health transformation program, AHCCCS, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, JLBC
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Housing Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Housing
Transcript Highlights:
- really expanding resources so those communities that don't have easy access to roads and sewer and water
- There are legitimate needs for water, sewer, sidewalks, and traffic intersections.
- I can only imagine if that resource goes away that, come hell or high water, we'll find a way that we're
- have been poisoned there is I I can only imagine if that resource goes away that come hell or high water
- Water infrastructure is much less sexy, but just as important, and not just to housing, to be clear.
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.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Three - Tuesday, May 5th
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is on the fire hydrant testing for community water systems.
- They were in a floodplain, camping next to a river, and the water came in so quickly.
- When they finally got him out of the water, they had an AED machine there, and they didn't know how to
- When they finally got him out of the water, they had an AED machine there, and they didn't know how to
- Gentlemen, all water lines, for instance, are about four foot deep in Missouri, anywhere between two
Summary:
The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures.
Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted.
The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.