Video & Transcript Research : '911 surcharge'
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WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session-Day 13, February 24, 2026-PM
Wyoming House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a $750,000 study. counties, there's over 40 plus 911 counties, there's over 40 plus 911 services
- </c><01:28:36.480><c> system,</c> governance of the 911 system, governance of the 911 system, operations
- ,</c> when we were having trouble with 911, when we were having trouble with 911, not<01:29:06.960><c
- But one of the 911 infrastructure.
- </c> dial 911. dial 911.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, February 23, 2026
Labor, Health & Social Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, the breakdown of that, roughly speaking, about half are 911 responses.
- Uh 16% are about half are 911 responses.
- </c><00:04:44.800><c> response,</c> be build uh for a 91 911 response, be build uh for a 91 911 response
- And that's because we know when we pick up the phone and we call 911, someone always shows up.
- so and so is a get a call 911 so and so is on<00:34:40.000><c> the</c><00:34:40.240><c> floor.
Bills:
HB0004
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- On page three, Senate Bill 77 by Senator Carley regarding the 911 board.
- On page three, Senate Bill 77 by Senator Carley regarding the 911 board.
- On page three, Senate Bill 77 by Senator Carley regarding the 911 board.
- On page three of the calendar, Senate Bill 77 by Senator Carley, regarding the 911 board, is pending.
- </c> regarding the 911 board. regarding the 911 board. >> Senator<00:47:34.640><c> Carley.
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 30 members. The chamber approved excusing absent senators, dispensed with reading the prior journal, and allowed introduction of bills and committee reports throughout the legislative day. It then took up a series of confirmation reports from the Committee on Confirmations, all of which were approved unanimously, confirming multiple appointees to the State Textbook Committee for Social Studies and Arts Education, including Harilyn Benjamin, Robin Dunn, Dietra Howy, Rebecca Mener, Lakesha Cohill, Kevin King, Kristen Law, and Dana Marie Liur.
The Senate also received a gubernatorial message returning House Joint Resolution 4 with an executive amendment; the chamber concurred in the amendment by unanimous consent. House messages reported several bills referred to committees, including measures on state employees retirement, EMS personnel education, seafood dealer licenses, local legislation for Monroville, law enforcement officers, state marine waters, evictions, and taxation. The Senate also re-referred Senate Bill 183 to the Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development.
Under motions and resolutions, the Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 23 honoring Junior Harold Sorrels and Senate Joint Resolution 24 honoring John Waller Giles. The Rules Committee report establishing a special order calendar for the seventh legislative day was adopted, and the Senate then passed several bills on the special order calendar, including SB 136 on the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board, SB 158 on public high schools and military recruiter testing access, SB 22 on the Commission on Uniform State Laws, SB 137 creating the Alabama Resilience Council, SB 60 on criminal procedure, SB 109 on peer-to-peer car sharing, SB 77 on the 911 board, and SB 163 on the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Most of these were adopted by unanimous or near-unanimous voice or roll-call votes, with no recorded opposition.
Near the end of the session, senators offered brief personal remarks, including thanks for support during illness and appreciation for floor coordination. The Senate then adjourned on a motion until Thursday, January 29 at 12:15 p.m., with the journal left open until 4:30 p.m. to receive messages.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Insurance Committee Mar 17th, 2026
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- that we<00:18:40.000><c> have</c><00:18:40.080><c> a</c><00:18:40.400><c> good</c><00:18:41.039><c> 911
- I've had 911 calls. I get a text message every time a 911 call is holding in this city.
- I've had 911 calls holding all day today in this city where somebody has dialed 911 and needs service
- Well, I just told you I got 911 calls holding here in the city.
- Well, I just told you I<00:33:33.679><c> got</c><00:33:33.840><c> 911</c><00:33:34.240><c> calls</c><
Keywords:
HB424, Montgomery County, sheriff, county sheriff, salary increase, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, public official compensation, law enforcement pay, elected official salary, Montgomery County legislation, sheriff compensation, term-based salary, immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Is there anyone else here in support of SB 911? Thank you.
- Is there anyone else here in support of SB 911?
- Is there anyone else here in opposition to SB 911?
- Item one, SB 911? Aye. Zabur, aye. Okay, that bill is out.
- Item one, SB 911, Becker. Connolly, Dixon, Herbedian. Aye. SB 911, Becker.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/07/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- The first is that it suspends the surcharge for 2 years.
- <00:56:39.080><c> suspends</c><00:56:39.680><c> the</c><00:56:40.040><c> uh</c><00:56:40.080><c> surcharge
- </c><00:56:40.680><c> for</c><00:56:40.840><c> 2</c> that it suspends the uh surcharge for 2 that it
- suspends the uh surcharge for 2 years. years. years.
- </c><01:07:05.920><c> represents,</c> that the surcharge represents, that the surcharge represents, uh
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (01/30/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- There is a small surcharge on the paint that’s charged at the point of purchase that funds the program
- The surcharge helps to fund the program, and we’ve worked very closely with DES on this.
- The surcharge helps to fund the program.
- And those surcharge charges—and we’ve worked very closely with DES on this bill—would entirely defray
- In this case, it is a surcharge put on paint specifically and only for the recycling of paint.
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 451, which would create a postconsumer paint stewardship program in New Hampshire. Prime sponsor Representative Karen Ebel described the bill as a bipartisan, broadly supported model based on PaintCare programs used in other states. She said consumers and businesses could drop off leftover paint at participating retailers or municipal household hazardous waste sites, with the paint then collected and recycled by the stewardship organization. She emphasized that the program is intended to reduce landfill disposal, improper dumping, and contamination of groundwater and soil, while also helping municipalities save on hazardous waste handling costs.
Members asked several questions about how the program would work and how it would be funded. Ebel explained that the program would be financed by a small fee charged at the point of sale on paint products, not a general sales tax, and that retailers could either list it separately or roll it into the price. She said the fee would cover the Department of Environmental Services’ administrative costs, which were described as minimal, and that the program’s structure was developed with DES and industry input. Questions also addressed whether cans would be recycled and how collected paint would be processed; Ebel said the ACA and PaintCare representatives could provide more detail, but that the paint and containers would be handled through recycling or other approved disposal methods rather than landfilled.
Representative Judy Aron, a co-sponsor and chair of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, testified in support, saying the bill had been developed over several years with stakeholders and would keep toxic paint out of landfills while saving municipalities and taxpayers money. Representative Peter Bixby, the ranking member of Environment and Agriculture, also supported the bill, saying his committee had heard it many times and that it had strong bipartisan enthusiasm. No vote was taken during the hearing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/06/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- and</c><00:31:57.000><c> 700</c><00:31:58.279><c> ,000</c><00:31:59.279><c> uh</c><00:31:59.440><c> 911
- </c><00:32:00.440><c> ambulance</c> 600,000 and 700 ,000 uh 911 ambulance 600,000 and 700 ,000 uh 911
- kind of your base cost of what it costs for you to be there and be prepared and able to respond to 911
- </c><00:51:23.839><c> calls</c><00:51:24.839><c> and</c> town and be available for 911 calls and town
- Have other staff available to cover the 911 need in our communities, so very low revenue if any at all
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- First up, we have the Alabama State 911 Board, and if you will please call those appointees.
- Anyone representing the Alabama State 911 Board here today? No. Any questions about these?
- And the Alabama State 911 Board appointees are approved. Moving.
- The Alabama State 911 Board appointees are approved. Moving on.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment revises the continuation of surcharges necessary to comply with existing bond covenants
- to require that such surcharges be phased out within three years.
- So this amendment that we just took sunsets the extension of the surcharge if the revenues are bonded
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions and recognitions, then moved to messages from the House and special order business. The chamber first took up House amendments to Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations, CS for CS for HB 1389 on affordable housing/Live Local, and CS for CS for HB 1451 on utility services. Senators asked about the naming of roadways, the Live Local changes for religious institution property and the removal of accessory dwelling unit language, and utility surcharge phase-out and reporting dates. All three measures were concurred in and passed, with votes of 31-4 on SB 628, 35-0 on HB 1389, and 30-6 on HB 1451.
The Senate then considered the education package, substituting CS for CS for HB 1279 for CS for CS for SB 7038. An amendment combining provisions from several education bills was adopted, and the bill passed 36-1. The chamber also took up CS for CS for SB 484 on data centers, where the House amendment removed the Senate’s NDA prohibition, kept a 12-month limit on public-records confidentiality, added a PSC tariff filing deadline, and required an OPAGA study. Senators debated transparency, local notice, and ratepayer protections; supporters emphasized that data center energy and infrastructure costs could not be shifted to other ratepayers. The House amendment was concurred in and the bill passed 31-6.
After a recess, the Senate returned to the land use and development regulations bill, substituting CS for CS for CS for HB 399 for SB 208. A proposed amendment to remove language affecting a Miami Beach Fontainebleau Hotel water park project failed, while other amendments were adopted, including a sunset provision and changes related to compost-processing facilities. The chamber then adopted an amendment preserving Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary supermajority requirement and related protections, with support framed around water, flood risk, farmland, and the Everglades. Finally, the Senate began debate on a broader amendment by Senator Martin creating a process for rural boundary property owners to seek removal or compensation without litigation; the discussion focused on property rights, county liability, and whether the proposal would affect Orange and Seminole counties, but the transcript ends before final action on that amendment.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment revises the continuation of surcharges necessary to comply with existing bond covenants
- to require that such surcharges be phased out within three years.
- So this amendment that we just took sunsets the extension of the surcharge if the revenues are bonded
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest and staff introductions. The chamber then took up returning messages from the House and acted on multiple bills, with votes recorded on each. Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations was concurred in as amended and passed 31-4 after discussion about naming roads for deceased individuals and an exception for President Trump. The House amendment to the Live Local affordable housing package, CS/CS/HB 1389, was also concurred in and passed 35-0; Senator Claudio explained it as the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act, including new provisions allowing certain affordable housing on qualifying religious property, extending some timelines, and removing accessory dwelling unit language. CS/CS/HB 1451 on utility services was concurred in and passed 30-6 after questions about phasing out surcharges and reporting requirements. The chamber also substituted CS/CS/HB 1279 for SB 7038 and adopted an education amendment package before passing the bill 36-1, while several other measures were temporarily postponed.
The Senate then considered CS/CS/SB 484 on data centers and concurred in the House amendment 383-957, passing the bill 31-6. Senator Avila said the amendment strengthened ratepayer protections, required a PSC tariff filing, and directed an OPAGA study on large-scale data centers. Several senators pressed concerns about the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure agreement prohibition, the possibility of delayed public awareness of data center projects, and whether costs could be shifted to other ratepayers; Avila responded that the amendment preserved local land-use authority and that ratepayer costs could not be borne by the general body of ratepayers. Debate reflected a split between senators who supported the bill as a needed regulatory framework and those who objected to the transparency changes and the loss of the Senate’s original NDA language.
Later, the Senate took up land use and development regulations, substituting CS/CS/CS/HB 399 for SB 208. An amendment by Senator Jones to remove language affecting a Fontainebleau Hotel water park project in Miami Beach failed 17-20 after debate over local control and preemption. Senator McLean’s amendments then added a sunset date and other changes, and Senator Claudio’s amendment preserved Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary supermajority protections and related planning provisions. The chamber then began extended debate on Senator Martin’s amendment creating a process for property owners to challenge rural boundary designations and seek compensation or removal from the designation without going to court; supporters framed it as a property-rights and due-process measure, while opponents argued it would undermine local planning, impose costs on taxpayers, and weaken voter-approved rural boundaries in Orange and Seminole counties. The transcript ends amid that debate, with no final vote shown on the rural boundary amendment in the excerpt provided.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-13 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- retains the Senate language with the following changes: the amendment revises the continuation of surcharges
- necessary to comply with existing bond covenants to require that such surcharges be phased out within
- So this amendment that we just took sunsets the extension of the surcharge if the revenues are bonded
Summary:
The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions of guests and staff. The chamber then took up returning messages from the House and acted on several bills, including transportation facility designations (SB 628), affordable housing/Live Local Act changes (HB 1389), utility services (HB 1451), education (HB 1279 substituted for SB 7038), data centers (SB 484), and land use/development regulations (SB 208/HB 399). Several other measures were temporarily postponed, including education, emergency services, and environmental rule ratification bills.
On SB 628, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 31-4. On the affordable housing bill, senators discussed the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act, including a new provision allowing certain affordable housing on religious institution property, removal of accessory dwelling unit language, and changes to tax exemption and expiration provisions; the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 35-0. On the utility services bill, the House amendment shortened the surcharge phase-out timeline and advanced reporting dates; the Senate concurred and passed the bill 30-6. The education package was substituted with the House companion, amended to include agreed-upon provisions on student health and safety, early learning, math, virtual instruction, career and technical education, school choice, accountability, tuition protections, and financial aid, and passed 36-1.
The data centers bill drew extensive debate over transparency and ratepayer protections. Senators questioned the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure agreement prohibition, the 12-month confidentiality period, and whether costs could be shifted to residential and commercial customers. Supporters said the amendment strengthened ratepayer protections and maintained local land-use authority, while critics objected to the loss of transparency and the possibility of local NDAs. After debate, the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 31-6.
The land use and development bill generated the most contentious discussion. Amendments addressed a Fontainebleau/Miami Beach resort water park issue, a sunset provision, and a major rural boundary/property rights proposal affecting counties such as Orange and Seminole. Senators debated whether the rural boundary language protected property rights or undermined local planning and environmental safeguards, with concerns raised about takings, county liability, and the use of an Attorney General opinion. The transcript cuts off during extended debate on that amendment, so no final vote on the land use bill is shown in the excerpt.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-13 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment revises the continuation of surcharges necessary to comply with existing bond covenants
- to require that such surcharges be phased out within three years. ...or be phased out upon the retirement
- So this amendment that we just took sunsets the extension of the surcharge if the revenues are bonded
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/21/2026 - House Appropriations
House Appropriations Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- So they would add the daily $3.50 short-term rental surcharge.
- are depositing or asking for those bills, then DOR levies on top of that this one cent per gallon surcharge
- The surcharge of a penny a gallon that would project, you know, do their $6 million.
Summary:
The Committee of Appropriations met on January 21, 2026, and first considered House Bill 2116, which would appropriate $1 million in fiscal year 2027 to the Colorado River Litigation Fund. The sponsor and Arizona Department of Water Resources both supported the bill, describing it as a backup measure to protect Arizona’s Colorado River entitlements if post-2026 negotiations among the basin states fail. Members discussed how the bill relates to the governor’s separate Colorado River Protection Fund proposal, and staff clarified the two funds serve different purposes. The committee approved HB 2116 on a 17-1 roll call vote.
The committee then took up House Bill 2053, which would provide $100,000 for updated stormwater recharge mapping and expand the work beyond state trust lands to private lands. An amendment in the chair’s name was adopted to extend the coordination timeline, broaden the agencies involved, and revise language about mapped sites and appropriable surface water. The sponsor said the bill is intended to identify more places to capture stormwater for recharge rather than letting most rainfall evaporate. ADWR testified neutrally, supporting the mapping effort but raising a concern about language that could be read as requiring the department to determine whether water is appropriable, which it said is a legal question for the courts. The amended bill passed 11-7.
House Bill 2148, as amended, was then heard and approved 11-7. The bill would give the legislature authority to appropriate non-custodial federal monies and set requirements for those appropriations. The chair’s amendment excluded federal research grants to universities, university employees, and the Arizona Board of Regents. The sponsor framed the bill as a transparency measure, saying the legislature should know how federal funds are being spent. No outside testimony was offered, and the committee approved the measure after debate about legislative oversight of federal funds.
After the bills, the committee received a lengthy JLBC presentation comparing the executive budget with the JLBC baseline. Discussion focused on revenue forecasts, tax conformity, sports betting, lottery and tourism revenue assumptions, SNAP administrative costs and error-rate penalties, developmental disability and Access caseload growth, and K-12 enrollment and ESA spending. Members repeatedly questioned the executive budget’s use of one-time funding for ongoing costs, especially for SNAP administration and DES staffing, and expressed concern about rising supplemental needs and the lack of long-term budget capacity. No votes were taken on the presentation.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on SF2077 5/9/25
Transcript Highlights:
- the support from the Senate, including the fee increases, including the groundwater use and AIS surcharge
- And also the AIS surcharge.
- Association and other lake associations at the fishing opener, they strongly support the AIS fee surcharge
Summary:
The conference committee on the Environment budget for Senate File 2077 met to introduce members and staff, then walked through the Senate and House budget spreadsheets side by side. Nonpartisan staff explained that the Senate budget was built around a smaller general fund increase and more use of environmental and dedicated funds, while the House met its target through several reductions, including cuts to DNR, PCA, and Board of Water and Soil Resources appropriations. The committee reviewed major agency items for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Zoo, and other accounts, including operating adjustments, permit-related funding, and transfers between funds.
Several major differences were highlighted. For the PCA, the Senate included operating adjustments, permitting efficiency funding, composting grants, outreach funding, and a closed landfill investment fund approach that repeals an expiring statutory appropriation, while the House instead extends that appropriation for four more years. For the DNR, the Senate included operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, aquatic invasive species funding, trail grants, outdoor schools for all, abandoned watercraft enforcement, and a sustainable foraging task force; the House had fewer of these fee and policy items and used reductions to meet its target. The committee also noted Senate-only policy provisions on outreach to diverse communities, field citations and mercury certification for skin-lightening products, disabled veteran license fee changes, and a moratorium on foraging rulemaking until July 1, 2027.
Agency testimony followed. The MPCA commissioner praised both chambers for recognizing core agency work and urged adoption of operating adjustments, the closed landfill fund access, and the air appropriation increase. The DNR assistant commissioner supported operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, and the veteran license proposal, but raised concerns about the Senate’s foraging task force language, saying it overweights consumptive users and could limit the agency’s ability to manage foraging without clear data. He also noted support for the land transfer funding and said the agency would continue working with the committee on unresolved issues. No votes were taken in this portion of the meeting.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (02/09/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:01:20.000><c> CARES</c> medical condition and that's 911 CARES medical condition and that's 911
- </c> utility as well as maybe through 911 utility as well as maybe through 911 CARES,<01:06:20.319><c
- ><c> care</c><01:11:05.120><c> is</c> why I think you know the 911 care is why I think you know the 911
- </c> more n there is 911 cares there as well. more n there is 911 cares there as well.
- </c><02:32:32.399><c> system</c> FN relative to the enhanced 911 system FN relative to the enhanced 911
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Budget and Revenue - 02/10/2026
Budget And Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- An act to amend the tax law in relation to the public safety surcharge. Any discussion on the bill?
Summary:
The Senate Budget and Revenue Committee met for its first meeting of 2026 with a quorum present and considered nine bills, mostly tax-related measures. Bills discussed included S196 on the public safety surcharge, S939 on gifts to the affordable housing for veterans and seniors fund, S985A on sales tax treatment for feminine hygiene products, S1140A on a tax on non-essential helicopter and seaplane flights in cities of one million or more, S1145 on increasing contributions to family tuition accounts, S1527 on a sales tax exemption for energy storage, S4601 on a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies, S7641 on dedicating opioid excise tax revenue to the Drug Treatment and Public Education Fund, and S7875 on ending the sales tax exemption for precious metal bullion held for investment.
Most bills were advanced without significant opposition and were reported to the Finance Committee. S985A and S4601 were reported to the calendar/Finance after brief discussion; S4601 drew one negative vote. S1140A also advanced, with two no votes. S7875 received the most discussion, with the sponsor arguing that repealing the bullion exemption would recover an estimated $600 million in foregone revenue and better align with affordability concerns; it was reported to Finance with one member recorded as without recommendation.
Members generally framed the bills as affordability or revenue measures, citing rising costs for families, school supplies, housing, and the need to redirect or recover tax revenue. The meeting concluded after all agenda items were moved and reported.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Warner, a police officer from New Jersey, bought two Texas lottery tickets for face value plus a surcharge
- It would help if you were able to at least surcharge the processing fee.
- Do you surcharge processing fees? For a debit card transaction?
- Okay, so it's a surcharge, so it's basically you're recouping that fee.
- And it's through this work around, through calling it a surcharge versus calling it a processing fee.
Keywords:
lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts
Summary:
The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes omnibus pensions and retirement bill 5/13/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, last year we uh, started uh, there was a need in the 911 telecommunication folks and probation workers
- There's going to be a lot of good discussions, a lot of things that I heard, like 911 operators, how
- There's going to be a lot of good discussions, a lot of things that I heard, like 911 operators, how
- </c> the EMT folks, the 91 opera- 911 the EMT folks, the 91 opera- 911 operators<00:30:07.400><c> all
- </c> of things that I heard, like 911 of things that I heard, like 911 operators,<00:30:30.440><c> how
Summary:
House File 4074, the second engrossment of the retirement bill, was presented as a broad pension package with changes affecting multiple public retirement systems. Rep. Lilly described provisions including bringing St. Paul teachers closer to parity with TRA, reducing the COLA waiting period for police and fire retirees from two years to one, lowering the retirement age for certain probation, corrections, and 911 telecommunicator workers from 60 to 55, addressing a State Board of Investments fix, and creating or continuing work on Secure Choice and other retirement-related issues. Members also noted help for volunteer firefighters, EMS-related workers, and a local fix for Maple Plain’s volunteer fire system. The bill was repeatedly described as bipartisan and the product of successful working groups and negotiations with the Senate.
Several members spoke in support, emphasizing the importance of public pensions, the impact of inflation on retirees, and the value of the bill’s targeted improvements for workers who are often not covered by Social Security. Rep. Johnson, Rep. Hill, Rep. Vega, Rep. Robbins, Rep. Cha, and others praised the work of the pension commission, staff, and the co-chairs. They highlighted the St. Paul teachers changes, the police and fire COLA adjustment, and the bill’s efforts to honor promises made to public employees. Some members also pointed to the importance of work groups as a way to develop better long-term solutions.
The main point of debate centered on the duty disability amendment, which would have addressed disability issues for first responders. Supporters said the issue is serious and needs a work group solution rather than piecemeal changes, while Rep. Johnson and others warned that the proposal could create problems by treating psychological injuries differently from physical injuries. Rep. Roach said the body should not have passed the prior law and urged a fix for disabled law enforcement and first responders. After discussion, Rep. Lilly withdrew the A3 amendment. Earlier technical amendments A9 and A10 were adopted by voice vote, with members noting they were non-substantive and intended to keep House and Senate language identical and avoid a conference committee. The bill then moved to third reading as amended, with members urging a green vote.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- people living in different areas that aren't heavily populated and having a response time for your 911
- people living in different areas that aren't heavily populated and having a response time for your 911
- Really, what I would like to say is, like, in a true 911 emergency situation, I think this is a In a
- true 911 emergency situation, I think this is a great one, and I actually like my odds because we're
- And so if you live out in a rural area like I do, you could call 911 and it would be a long time.